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Jim Hendry, please listen to my plea and go out and get Manny Ramirez for my beloved Cubbies.  I've even looked over our roster and know the line up that we could run with if you pulled the trigger. 

If the Cubs were to sign Ramirez all of a sudden our outfield becomes Soriano in left, Bradley in Center (platooning with Johnson) and Manny out in right.  Now I realize that this might be the worst defensive outfield ever assembled, but I'm willing to give up a few runs here and there when we are putting up 10 a game.

The Cubs would have, arguably, the best hitting line-up ever assembled.  Lead off with Aaron Miles to Alfonso Soriano followed in the three spot by Manny Ramirez and Aramis Ramirez at cleanup.  Then  bat Derrek Lee hitting in the five hole followed up by Milton Bradley, Geovany Soto and Ryan Theriot rounding us out at the eight spot.  That lineup is ridiculously scary.

Now I'm sure that there are plenty of arguments against bringing in Manny and I'd love to look into these.  We have shelled out a lot of money over the past few seasons on Aramis, Soriano, Zambrano, Bradley and others, but every time they open the gates at Wrigley they are basically printing money. So I don't want to hear how we can't afford this guy, because the Cubs are one of the few teams that can. 

Another argument would be that we don't have any room for him in the field, but I already showed how we could fit him in above, so that point is out. He can fit into our line-up without doing too many crazy things.

Next you might argue that we don't need another possible locker room cancer after bringing in Milton Bradley already this off season.  Well this is a risk I am willing to take considering you are bringing in one of the best offensive player in the league and one of the best right handed hitter of all-time.  Not to mention one of the best post-season hitters of all-time, which is a place where we kind of need some help. 

Also as far as Manny being Manny goes, this city tends to embrace guys with big egos and side shows.  Chicago tends to enjoy it actually and it raises their spirits.  Chicago gets guys that to play within the team and win championships (see Rodman with Bulls and the entire 1985 Bears), because they don't want to let Chicagoans down.  He could be the one that gets it done for the Cubs.

Well we refuted most of the big negatives, now let's look at some of the other positive things Manny would bring to the team.  He plays huge in the post-season and he has been ot Series and won it, twice.  The Cubs don't have a lot of guys on the roster that have won a post-season series, let alone a World Series ring. 

All in all though, I know this isn't going to happen.  It was my pipe dream, brought together over a few beers at a Wrigleyville establishment.  But since this can't happen can you get out there and trade for Jake Peavy already?  I heard he did a great rendition of "o Cubs Go!" while he was out in Las Vegas this weekend.