This isn't quite fair to Drese -- I've put his overall numbers here, but since the Nats acquired him he's 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three games (two starts).
This is how lucky the Nats are -- they pick up a guy who sucked for a team that really needs pitching, and he turns out great.
I note, however, that here's another guy who walks a fair number of people (more than he strikes out, anyway), and that if the Cub hitters would just exercise even a tiny bit of patience at the plate, maybe they could generate some offense.
Or not. It's up to them.
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Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 11 comments
Taking pitches
I thought the Cub hitters did show some patience against Armas yesterday. They did get a lot of 3-2 and 2-2 counts. I always believed patience at the plate is not necessarily taking walks but getting a good pitch to hit. I thought that they swung at bad pitches, or did not put good wood on the ball when they did swing. The bigger problem was not getting hits/wood on the ball in key situations. The first inning and the inning where Corey popped up with 2 men in scoring positions.Again I agree with you about Corey's ABs from yesterday. He did get the counts to 3-2, but swung at bad pitches or did not swing at a pitch on the corner (that looked out). Brenly was commenting that when a hitter is struggling, the ump does not give you those close calls.
The bigger problem here is Dusty. He refused to remove Hawkins from the closer role when even Hendry told him in spring training to try Dempster as closer. I felt bad for LaTroy sometimes as he was being asked to do something he was uncomfortable with. His insistence on using remlinger as a LOOGY even when he himself admits that rem cannot get lefties out. And finally this Corey-at-the-bat saga.
I remember reading an interview with Dusty where he felt that when people called him a 'players-manager' they were selling him short. He felt as though that shortchanged the amount of preparation he puts in, and hinted that old-prejudices may be at work. But when he continually does things that make you scratch your head, you have to wonder whether he is putting the players welfare before that of the whole team.
I mean, what is the point of having the hottest hitter in the league if the table setters are not getting on base?
Sorry for the ramling rant.
victor @ Bleed Cubbie Blue - July 3, 2005
thanks for writing this ...
I won't have to now! :)kjk - July 3, 2005
I felt bad
for Corey when he struck out. As most of us knew the first time, the high fastball was coming and it did. The walks he has had he has taken that pitch and I honestly thought he was going to take it. The next AB showed me Corey does think about his AB's. He had 2 strikes and like always the fastball was going to come and he guessed that and was ready to take it. It ended up being a strike. And there are many managers that do questionable things and if they are successful nobody would be pointing it out, unfortunately for Dusty they arent working.Big Z knows how badly we need this game and he will go out there and pitch well as he does most of the time. Corey might be sitting today, but I am 99% positive he is not going to leadoff today.
sparkles721 - July 3, 2005
I was right
He is sitting and not only that Neifi is hitting lower in the order, which I thought wasnt going to happen. This is a lineup that should make many people happy. Lets see what happens now...sparkles721 - July 3, 2005
Corey needs a vacation or a massage
Instead of consistently batting Corey first in the lineup every damn game, I think Dusty should send him to Tahiti, Bermuda, or any number of island paradises for the poor guy to decompress.Or, if the CPD vice squad hasn't put all the masseurs out of business, a daily erotic massage with a happy ending or two may relieve the obvious tensions the poor guy must be experiencing at this time.
In the meantime Walker can take his place in the lineup, Lee can rack up more RBIs, the Cubs can win more games, and everyone is HAPPY!
JFCubFan - July 3, 2005
today's lineup...
Hairston, CFWalker, 2B
Lee, 1B
Burnitz, RF
Ramirez, 3B
Hollandsworth, LF
Perez, SS
Barrett, C
Zambrano, P
Patrick - July 3, 2005
Nice
That's what I like to see. Hairston did great today. Very pleased w/ today's game despite the loss.agameofyou - July 3, 2005
You're PLEASED?
A loss is never pleasing. Yes, some good stuff happened. But some very bad stuff happened too. This one has to be very discouraging. Game post coming.Al Yellon - July 3, 2005
Not Pleased with a Loss
I do feel sadly resigned to the fact that this lineup change is too little, too late. The Cubs have already squandered too many games sleep-walking through the first half of the season. Hey, dude, try not to give away the next several games.At least there was a workable lineup today, and -- if it's not completely revamped tomorrow -- it should pay dividends in the coming days. At least DLee will get a few RBI opportunities if in fact the worst 1-2 combo in MLB has been dismantled. We can always root for DLee to hit home runs ... right?
Serena - July 4, 2005
Well...
being a Cub's fan for about 20 yrs now I can't get down about every loss. If so I'd have killed myself long ago or at the very least, stopped watching baseball entirely. I'm pleased that we finally saw a lineup we have all been screaming for. Pleased w/ Hairston's performance. Pleased at how hard we battled only to lose to the best team in the NL. You have to tip your hat to them. At least I do. They're playing outstanding ball. A credit to Frank. It was a well fought game and sure I'd rather win as much as possible but as a Cubs fan I have to try to be positive as much as I can be or just give in to a team that has continously let me down my entire life. I'm looking forward to some games w/out Patterson and to what Hendry has in store. Let's see how we do against the Braves. GO CUBS!agameofyou - July 4, 2005
Corey's going to sit for a couple of days
Good. SOmeone get his head straight.AlabamaCubFan - July 3, 2005
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