if the deal gets held up and not done because of this im going to go absoutly ####### apeshit

Thanks to retro-shiite.

I don't believe I have ever felt worse about being thanked for anything. Could the timing of this possibly have been any worse? All reports made it sound like a deal would be done within days, if not hours. I think my reaction in the original Trib sale thread says it all.

Or am I (we) simply being paranoid? I don't think so, because of the "at the appropriate time" language quoted above. But why should this adversely affect the Zambrano negotiations anyway?

1. Z at 16M per year is likely to be an outstanding bargain in today's market.
2. The new buyer's only on the hook for Z's contract for 4 years anyway.
3. What--they don't think the new buyer's going to be scared away by having to pay $7M a year for 2 years to Jason Marquis, 4M+ a year for 3 years to Mark DeRosa, or $17M a year for 7 years to Alfonso Soriano? Why the hell would Zambrano's contract make such a potential difference in the ability to sell the franchise?
4. The franchise is a feckin' Cash cow to begin with.
5. Last, and most importantly--THE VALUE OF A FRANCHISE IS ONLY *ENHANCED*, NOT DEGRADED, BY STAR ATTRACTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AS GOOD (AND ENTERTAINING) AS CARLOS ZAMBRANO.

Goddammit--I've had a fairly hectic last couple weeks, I survived a nasty rollover car accident 5 weeks ago, yet somehow, none of it has aggravated me or gotten under my skin (literally, in the case of some shards of glass) like this has.

They spent $300 million in the off-season for a bunch of players, none of whom is a standout to the degree Zambrano is. And they did this knowing that the Tribune Company (and thus, the Cubs) were for sale. Now that the Tribune and Cubs are going to be sold, it’s as though this was a completely unforeseen circumstance.

Thanks to retro-shiite.

Heh--rereading it, it almost looks like AR's blaming me for this. I certainly hope that's not the case.

Heh--rereading it, it almost looks like AR's blaming me for this. I certainly hope that's not the case.

We have to blame someone. Consider yourself the Antonio Alfonseca of BTF Cubfandom.

We have to blame someone. Consider yourself the Antonio Alfonseca of BTF Cubfandom.

Gah--you're blaming me, the man who bought a custom-made Zambrano jersey before they were even available off-the-rack in Wrigleyville shops? Surely you jest. Don't shoot the messenger.

And despite the copious scars on my hands incurred in my recent wreck, I think I'd still make a better hand model than Alf. I'm deeply hurt, man.

Consider yourself the Antonio Alfonseca of BTF Cubfandom.

Besides--I've got 10 fingers, I like the drink, and I tend to shoot off my mouth. Maybe I'm the Todd Hundley of BTF Cubdom. Then again, I bat righty...

Or am I (we) simply being paranoid?

Yes, IMO. Zambrano has made no bones about the fact that he sees himself staying -- he even said so yesterday. It may take a few weeks, maybe even until the offseason, but I don't imagine that Zambrano is eager to look elsewhere.

Famous last words, but in this case I believe them for now.

It may take a few weeks, maybe even until the offseason, but I don't imagine that Zambrano is eager to look elsewhere.

Famous last words

It's the former that makes me concerned about the latter. The longer this drags out, the closer we get to the existence (and lure, notwithstanding Z's stated desire to stay with the Cubs) of competitive FA bidders being a reality, and the greater the risk of losing him. (I mean, I'm just stating the obvious here, but still...we don't know what the proclivities of the new owner would be. I can't believe I'm implicitly defending the Tribune Company here...)

That's what I thought about Ramirez, and the risk of losing him was even greater.

Heh--rereading it, it almost looks like AR's blaming me for this. I certainly hope that's not the case.

That's what I thought when I read it.

Relax everyone. If the Derrek Lee situation taught us anything, it's that the Cubs will sign Zambrano to a big, huge contract and he'll get badly injured less than a week later. Chin up everyone!

To tie it all together -- Zambrano will sign a big, multi-year contract, and then retroshiite will injure him, possibly in a car accident. Unless the car accident was too severe/recent to be funny, in which case I immediately apologize for it.

The point is, whatever happens is all retroshiite's fault.

That's what I thought about Ramirez, and the risk of losing him was even greater.

That they survived that scare doesn't make dragging the process out a good idea.

Unless the car accident was too severe/recent to be funny, in which case I immediately apologize for it.

If you refer to my own, I object not at all to making light of it. I'm fine, and I'm happy to be alive.

The point is, whatever happens is all retroshiite's fault.

That seems to be the consensus, notwithstanding my being perhaps the biggest Zambrano fanboy alive. I suppose I must do my penance before the baseball gods.

I suppose I must do my penance before the baseball gods.

You're a Cubs fan. I think that should cover it many times over.

Unless this is punishment for that Cleveland Indians foray...

Unless this is punishment for that Cleveland Indians foray...

Say--the Boys from the Cuyahoga looked pretty good yesterday, huh? :)

Say--the Boys from the Cuyahoga looked pretty good yesterday, huh? :)

You can keep your designated hitter, overtly racist mascot and winning baseball.

I'll take the Cubs, thank you very much.