Book written by Jim McArdle, former editor of "Vine Line"
Basically about how he followed the 2008 Cubs season. He had incredible access to players and other personnel, so the stories and pics are definitely one-of-a-kind.
He needs a guy who will strike out wiht the bases loaded and then argue until he gets thrown out. JH has failed so far to me this season, and it’s not looking promising.
Swim on his own? What other team lets their closer go “to swim on their own” And why exactly did you have no problem letting go of a guy who was incredibly productive during his time here?
letting DeRosa go (although I’m still not sold on what we got back) because he had his career year on the wrong side of 30. He peaked. Long way back down.
And I don’t know the whole story on why Woody left. But it takes two to deal. If he didn’t want a 1 year deal or what Hendry was asking, he had the right to leave.
And I’m not a Hendry apologist. I don’t think he’s perfect. Wasn’t excited about the Gregg sign, but think if we get the other wrinkles ironed out, he’ll be fine.
Hill has been acceptable as the backup catcher, Hoff has performed in his limited PH roles, Gregg hasn’t been awful in single inning save situations and Viz is a mediocre to poor pitcher acquired in a salary dump.
Anyway, it’s not surprising you’re still waiting on 4/16.
I assume you will only agree with success if Bradley plays 135 games, has 50 home runs, and 100+ RBIs?
I know it’s early. But the Cubs are facing a lot of injuries, our bullpen has issues, the Cardinals are coming up big, and we seem to be leaving a lot of RISP. And I say “seem” because I haven’t actually looked at the numbers.
But I’ve got Cotts back this season. At least for now. He’s got good stuff, he throws hard, he just struggles with his control. I think he could be a key part of this bullpen.
I really don't know what to say about this bullpen. They have some good arms, but
a lot of the are struggling with control. When the offense fails to ake advantage of an opportunity, it seems to take the sails out of the rest of the team. A lot of the guys aren’t seeing the ball to well now and they are getting some really poor at bats. I don’t know what to say.
If the offense lets opportunities like the one we saw in the sixth slip away, the pitcher’s a) feel that much more pressure and b) possibly feel letdown.
“I didn’t see the pitch that got Milton out”
“I’m not crazy about how our offense has performed”
“What do you want me to say to that?”
“Does it really make a difference if me or Larry make a pitching change?”
Look — we can all read a calendar. But losing this way, to our arch rivals, sucks. And there’s NOTHING wrong with complaining about how the Cubs failed to hit with RISP or how the bullpen has been bad.
This is a public forum for the longest suffering fans in the history of professional sports. We’d have to be drugged not to cringe after a game like today’s.
I’m definitely cringing. Milton and Sori making outs with the bases loaded hurt. But even the best hitters fail in those situations all the time. Its baseball its part of the game.
All I am saying is that its really early and that a lot of people seem to be indicating that they see no hope for the rest of the season.
… after I compared the play in early 2009 with the play in 2004. I think that’s totally valid — high expectations, bad bullpens, bad situational hitting and an over-achieving Cardinals team. Which we all saw today.
And … I made the caveat that it’s early.
Is all hope lost? Of course not. Are there reasons for concern? Hell, yes. And the non-ledgejumpers should realize that raising concerns isn’t the same thing as saying that the freaking sky is falling!
why expressing concern = ledgejumping. And I know YOU didn’t provide the initial label, wax eagle.
That said, we’re all a little testy, and I hate, hate, hate losing to the Cardinals. Going to school at Mizzou gave me a lifetime of anger toward the self-proclaimed “best fans in baseball.” Most of them are a bunch of self-congratulatory idiots who would cheer for one of their players if he was an mass murderer or the former head of AIG.
but the long stream of “OMG we suck and won’t win another game ever with this bullpen/offense/GM/etc” just gets old and so the next comment that even has sort of that tone makes you fly off the handle.
We all hate losing to the Cardinals. And losing games you could have won or at least kept closer is esp frustrating, regardless of who you play.
but the opposite is equally frustrating. A long stream of, “We’ll get ’em tomorrow,” or “They gave it the ol’ college try!” for a franchise that hasn’t won in SO long annoys me a lot, and can even make me fly off the handle.
When those comments come up, I try to ignore them. This is a public forum.
Soem of us have been, unfortunately, watching this kind of baseball for way too many years and so, yes, occasionally the frustration gets to us and we have to vent.
For me, it has nothing to do with my love for the Cubs. I come back every game and hope for the best. I’ve just learned over the years to keep from getting too carried away with my enthusiasm.
Okay, well first off, I don't pay any attention to
“we suck” type comments. To me, that’s just frustrated fans blowing off some steam.
But, I COMPLETELY agree with elgato; there is a certain element on this site that gets way too angry any time we express ANY criticism of the Cubs.
Look, if you can come away from a loss like this and say"it’s just one game. it doesn’t mean anything, etc", that’s fine. I almost envy your attitude. Personally, I find it impossible to think that way. Losses like this, when we had golden opportunities and couldn’t capitalize, eat away at me (maybe way more than they should).
It’s not ledgejumping to point out this team’s flaws. It’s part of being a fan.
I’m not on this site to fight with my fellow Cub fans-I think it’s a complete waste of time and energy. But it’s really annoying to feel like I can’t express an opinion without being slapped down by some people for being a “hater” and “ledgejumper”.
It’s just that some of us are more disappointed when those hopes are dashed. And we’re more worried that they WILL be dashed by bad situational hitting, bad pen, etc.
So says one of the biggest bedwetters on this board
Listen, the sky is NOT falling. It’s a little hard to take your criticisms seriously when you (and I’m being general here) say things like "this is 2004 all over again) when we’re barely one-twentieth into the season.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. I suggest you treat it as such.
Tomorrow will be different. I’m a Cards fan and expecting the Cubs to win handily. If Wainwright couldn’t beat Marshall the Cards have deeper problems.
Cards and Cubs both have shoddy bullpens from what I can tell. I’m just hoping they don’t let the Reds take this division. THAT would be shameful – especially with Dusty Baker & Walt Jocketty at the helm.
Zambrano appears to have matured a bit in the off-season
He got into a situation in his last start that would have unhinged him and led to a meltdown in previous years. He pitched through it and ate up his 6 innings, instead. There’s hope there.
The scary part for me is the new kid y’all have throwing. Almost every memory I have of the Cubs facing a guy in his first Major League start is a bad one. Theoretically, they should hit this kid all over the ballpark. Reality may not match that.
I have the same feeling whenever the Cards face a new kid. It always seems they have some electric stuff and strike out eleventy batters. It’s just not right.
Come on Cubs!
kanderber - April 16, 2009
First for runs
Runs now!
Scott G F - April 16, 2009
we need more bull pen arms
Endrick - April 16, 2009
I've turned off the audio...
Because watching it on Gameday is more palatable….
Hilary Lee - April 16, 2009
+1
Mutz - April 16, 2009
Wow, knew Fonty was struggling
didn’t know he’d sunk all the way to .233
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Miles.........
stand by please
Clutche - April 16, 2009
Does LBR have a hit on this homestand?
let’s get the party started.
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
One, I think.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Nope, 0 for his last 13 now
though he does have quite a few walks. 8 times in the last five games counting today
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Aren't you out getting that tattoo?
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
thanks for the info :-(
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
I thought they said 0 for his last 13
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Come on Cubbies.
slcathena - April 16, 2009
Runs?
Please?
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
LET'S... GET... SOME... RUNS!!!
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
Nobody beats the VIZ
Warming up.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Time for Geo's first RBI of the season
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Or not
Damn
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
He'll get it back.
:)
slcathena - April 16, 2009
Yankees celebrate opening their new stadium by getting killed 10-2
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
I hope they go 0-81 there.
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
+81
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Who they playing?
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
CLE
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Wow
thats even worse. CLE has been brutal this year
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Had to break out sometime
Glad it was in the Bronx.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Cleveland
slcathena - April 16, 2009
I hate it when the Cards win
Amongst other reasons, it prompts nonstop harrassment from my nephew
Craig in South Bend - April 16, 2009
*psst.
They haven’t won yet.
slcathena - April 16, 2009
I feel like Pop Fisher in "The Natural"
I shoulda been a farmer…
spaceboy2001 - April 16, 2009
Absolutely agreed, LAcarl519.
spaceboy2001 - April 16, 2009
Put. Him. On.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
OT: Anybody experiencing gmail failure?
Mine’s been dead since about 1 p.m.
chilango2 - April 16, 2009
It's GFail again today
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Cloud computing
IT’S GREAT!
Craig in South Bend - April 16, 2009
Just noticed a minute ago
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
I've heard from people in TX, FL, CA, NY and OH
reporting outages too. I keep getting “Server error (500)” when I try logging on.
chilango2 - April 16, 2009
you
can add TN to that list too.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
And GA
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
and NE
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
It's all over the wires and people are freaking out
I just wanted to check if my idiot pals had sent updates on our Champions League fantasy teams.
chilango2 - April 16, 2009
Fine here in IN
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
And in CA too...
CubsWin!Oregon - April 16, 2009
Got it in Chrome
May be back…
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Nope, mine seems to be all good
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
I just logged in thru Chrome. No problemo
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
I just sent myself a message and it came thru gmail
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
I fail
in Chrome too.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
my gmail in chrome sent a message back out too.
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
Cubs look like scattered ass today
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
Can we put "scattered ass" in the BCB Dictionary?
Please? I’ll pay for it and everything.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Go for it
one of the posts should be open.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Actually
I lied. They’re both closed.
Email Al. He’ll open one of them so you can add it. :-P
It really is apt.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
WHat's a photo of that look like?
Zeke - April 16, 2009
Thank God SWL is at the DMV
DO NOT ask questions like that. It always ends bad.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Inquiring minds want to know...
Zeke - April 16, 2009
NO
we don’t.
God I hope he really did go to the DMV.
He’ll find a picture that’s uglier than this game and scarier than Pujols with the bases loaded in the bot 9.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
OK, I gotta say it. If he went to the DMV
What will his driver’s license photo look like?
Zeke - April 16, 2009
'Shopped!
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
HA HA HA HA HA
slcathena - April 16, 2009
two days in a row
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Well...
I WAS going to start “Livin the Dream” today but now I’m not so sure that I want to!
Hilary Lee - April 16, 2009
Do it
I’m halfway through, and it’s awesome so far.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
What is
it?
DamonBerryhillsMitt - April 16, 2009
Book written by Jim McArdle, former editor of "Vine Line"
Basically about how he followed the 2008 Cubs season. He had incredible access to players and other personnel, so the stories and pics are definitely one-of-a-kind.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Oh, okay
I skimmed Al’s review on that one. That title wasn’t ringing a bell though. Thanks.
DamonBerryhillsMitt - April 16, 2009
*two out of three, two out of three, two out of three*
sigh
slcathena - April 16, 2009
4 game series
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
3 out of 4?
slcathena - April 16, 2009
All I can think about is
How pissed Lou must be about all those walks
Hilary Lee - April 16, 2009
as he should be
Zeke - April 16, 2009
What walks?
daver - April 16, 2009
All 4 of them
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
He's totally right to be.
slcathena - April 16, 2009
WTF?
What happened…
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
How
Did pujols get to 3rd on the GO?
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
Hit and run, and he kept going on the throw to 1B
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Thanks
i was wondering wtf happened.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
did Theriot just ignore him?
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Miles is in as SS
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Sadly, that sort of explains it
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Don't think he saw him :/
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Vizcaino- best air hanky in the league
davidalanu - April 16, 2009
WTF?
What happened…
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Hey everyone.
Rough game today :(
heine41 - April 16, 2009
That's
One way of putting it
Hilary Lee - April 16, 2009
still got hope for the ninth though....
law of averages has gotta swing back our way on all those bs calls
heine41 - April 16, 2009
To put it mildly,
yes.
chilango2 - April 16, 2009
very rough
Emelie - April 16, 2009
Nice couple of strikeout pitches against Molina and Rasmus
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
we need a field goal to tie
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
Rally time
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
each cub reliever
let up only 1 hit & no bb’s. how are they doing so terrible?
brian custer - April 16, 2009
The hits keep going over the wall :(
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
isn't the wind blowing out today?
brian custer - April 16, 2009
In.
Oh, the huge manatee!
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
oh
brian custer - April 16, 2009
C'mon Cubbies...
Let’s get some runs! Time for a 9th inning rally!!!!
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Who's hitting to start the 9th?
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
Miles
on the double switch
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
Aaron F'n Miles
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
He's gonna get on...
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
The pine. K :(
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
We came back before
time to do it again.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
miles is trash im sorry
cubbiepride - April 16, 2009
He's a backup middle infielder...
what do you expect?
kanderber - April 16, 2009
anything more then he is giving us which is nothing
cubbiepride - April 16, 2009
a hit from time to time.
He’s a major leaguer is he not?
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
He's played 4 games!
kanderber - April 16, 2009
and Rich Harden has played 2...and has the same amount of hits
cubbiepride - April 16, 2009
Great argument
kanderber - April 16, 2009
don't waste your time, kanderber
Emelie - April 16, 2009
Absolute horse crap
He is useless
louslovechild - April 16, 2009
Ryan Franklin is their closer now?
The Motte era didn’t last long!
kanderber - April 16, 2009
Two shittastic games in a row
This sucks.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
like a newborn babe
Emelie - April 16, 2009
My god this game should have come with a packet of lube
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
Wow, Aaron Miles, um, sucks
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Who needs Mark DeRosa?!?!?!?!
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Not Jim Hendry...
He needs a guy who will strike out wiht the bases loaded and then argue until he gets thrown out. JH has failed so far to me this season, and it’s not looking promising.
sloathcheck78 - April 16, 2009
That strikeout was bullshit
and he should’ve been pissed.
I had no problem trading DeRosa and letting Woody go was fine. We’d sheltered Woody enough, it was time for him to swim on his own.
And B&Ming about the offseason is tired and old.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
What?
Swim on his own? What other team lets their closer go “to swim on their own” And why exactly did you have no problem letting go of a guy who was incredibly productive during his time here?
Talk about a Hendry apologist.
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Too expensive
and very much an injury risk. not worth what he wanted in money. it was time for him to go get paid elsewhere.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
I had no problem
letting DeRosa go (although I’m still not sold on what we got back) because he had his career year on the wrong side of 30. He peaked. Long way back down.
And I don’t know the whole story on why Woody left. But it takes two to deal. If he didn’t want a 1 year deal or what Hendry was asking, he had the right to leave.
And I’m not a Hendry apologist. I don’t think he’s perfect. Wasn’t excited about the Gregg sign, but think if we get the other wrinkles ironed out, he’ll be fine.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
explain the bullpen
sloathcheck78 - April 16, 2009
Explain what?
They’re not pitching well.
That doesn’t mean they’ll NEVER pitch well. OR that they suck.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Aaron Miles
Best. Signing. Ever
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Two words: Mark DeRosa. One more word: WAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
(that’s… um… me sobbing)
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
I'm still waiting for one of Hendry's offseason moves to actually pay off
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
He moved Dome to Center,
Hill has been acceptable as the backup catcher, Hoff has performed in his limited PH roles, Gregg hasn’t been awful in single inning save situations and Viz is a mediocre to poor pitcher acquired in a salary dump.
Anyway, it’s not surprising you’re still waiting on 4/16.
I assume you will only agree with success if Bradley plays 135 games, has 50 home runs, and 100+ RBIs?
N Oakley - April 16, 2009
The same Mark DeRosa
Who’s hitting about .150 for the Indians. That one?
Not Bruce Froemming - April 16, 2009
DEROSA = most overrated Cub player EVER!!!!
cubswin - April 16, 2009
C'mon fonzie!!!!
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Sori Ks
Robodome time!
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
FU-KU-DOME!!!!
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
fails
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
No kidding...
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
A fitting end to this one......
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
not with a bang but a whimper
Emelie - April 16, 2009
twss?
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
ugh.
Emelie - April 16, 2009
1-3
Game Over.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Back to listening to NPR
Good night everyone.
chilango2 - April 16, 2009
later ya'll...
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
night Jimmy
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
Not the way to start a series.
Yuck.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Z needs to put an end to this tomorrow.
bring his arm and his bat!!
LAcarl519 - April 16, 2009
What time is tomorrow's game?
I’m already over this one
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
1:20
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Cool. Thanks HBCG
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Wow, three day games in a row.
I may make 30,000 comments by the weekend.
daver - April 16, 2009
Same Cub time...
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
1:20 CT I believe...
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Bye everyone
malicedoom - April 16, 2009
See ya!
slcathena - April 16, 2009
*sigh*
I’ll see you all later. I am flying to Vegas tomorrow, so may miss the game, but I’ll be thinking of ya all. ;)
slcathena - April 16, 2009
Lose some money for me! :)
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Have fun!!!! :D
sue369 - April 16, 2009
Wow we blow. This game pissed me off. We played like shit.
1/8 in RISP, 4/6 of our pitchers gave up earned runs, and no one but Dome cares to hit the damn ball. Our bullpen and our bench both suck ass.
Also, the sky is falling.
Dan
dtpollitt - April 16, 2009
Would you feel better if I got you a pony?
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
What kind of person leaves a pony country for a non-pony country?
daver - April 16, 2009
Did you just have a Seinfeld marathon or something?
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
It's all in the archives.
And by “archives,” I mean my brain.
daver - April 16, 2009
Very appropriate episode, though.
Maybe Manya cursed the Cubs today.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Manya
died!!
DamonBerryhillsMitt - April 16, 2009
There must be some other website
I can waste the rest of my day on.
This sucked, but I’ll sure as hell be back tomorrow.
Til then, folks.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
see ya
sue369 - April 16, 2009
At least
We don’t get Carpenter tomorrow
Hilary Lee - April 16, 2009
Yeah we get a guy making his major league debut
those dudes tend to own us
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Total pwnage.
daver - April 16, 2009
Don't Like
Emelie - April 16, 2009
Cubs loss
DO NOT WANT
spoiledcubbage - April 16, 2009
Sucks, but...
The Cards should’ve won this game. They’re ace against our 5th starter. No biggie, let’s take the next three.
kanderber - April 16, 2009
Wainright=NOT AN ACE!
Ron Trauma - April 16, 2009
Wainright = the Cardinals ace!
Allow me to rephrase. Their best starter beat our worst… that’s expected.
kanderber - April 16, 2009
Absolutely no fight, after loading the bases with 1 out in the borrom of the 6th
Looked like complete trash from that point on
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Yeah, we got that.
daver - April 16, 2009
God
why did no one tell me!
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
We saw the game
don’t need a replay.
sue369 - April 16, 2009
You should do a fanpost recap of this game...
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Don't forget to promote Hoff!
And mention the Peavy trade.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Not sure why everyone...
who replied decided to be a prick about it. Weird.
kanderber - April 16, 2009
Because this guy has been negative on EVERY FREAKIN POST?
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
And he still hasn't gotten that tattoo
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Go read yesterdays
and todays posts by him. He’s not a ray of sunshine.
sue369 - April 16, 2009
Yesterday and today....Hmmmm what's the common denominator there?
Could it be there was almost zero to be happy about? I celebrated the Fuku homerun, other than that, what exactly is there to be happy about?
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
And on top of all that
you continue to use “Fuku.”
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Apparently he doesn't learn
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Nor has he responded
when I’ve pointed that out.
But I think it’s best for all of us if I just ignored him.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Because it's a nonsensical thing to get your panties in a bunch about
and this is the first time I’ve seen you say something about it
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Then you haven't been reading.
And the man himself has said his preferred nickname is Dome seeing the conotations the phonetic pronunciation of Fuku can have in America.
He wants to be called Dome. We oblige. Really isn’t difficult.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
at least you're not nitpicking
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Since when is calling someone by their name
picking nits?
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
I don't have that much time on my hands...
Nor do I care enough to actually do so if I did. I’ll take your word for it.
kanderber - April 16, 2009
Turn about is fair play
Everything written by Vandy has had a snarky & negetive undertone.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
clearly you haven't been in the game threads
we’ve spawned our own Linus.
Emelie - April 16, 2009
Wow, I go away to cover a class, and the Cubs have the lead
Wha’hoppen??
spoiledcubbage - April 16, 2009
Choke
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Time to focus on the Blackhawks
Hopefully we get things sorted out tomorrow. So far it’s not a good way to start the season.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
we're 5-4
It could be worse.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Like the Nats
Still winless…
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
The missed opportunities are what get me
Good teams are supposed to capitalize on other teams mistakes.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
I wish we were stepping on necks too
Hopefully that begins at 1:20 tomorrow.
Go Cubs.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
And with a bit of clutch hitting, it could have been a lot better
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
that is why i am
not so ready to blame this loss on the bullpen
brian custer - April 16, 2009
When's the Bears season start?
Ron Trauma - April 16, 2009
Somewhere around the time
when we’re looking back and going, “Hey, remember when people were panicking about this team?”
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Agreed, I just hate losing to that team from Missouri. Buncha rednecks.
Ron Trauma - April 16, 2009
How do you think I feel?
I frakkin live here!
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Ick. Im pretty close, like 7 miles from Kentucky here.
Ron Trauma - April 16, 2009
Ten or so from downtown St Louis.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Who got tossed?
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Milton
sue369 - April 16, 2009
Gameboard
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
Bradley
as a PH
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Gameboard.
Bad 3-2 bases loaded call.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
I'm getting bad 2004 vibes
I know it’s early. But the Cubs are facing a lot of injuries, our bullpen has issues, the Cardinals are coming up big, and we seem to be leaving a lot of RISP. And I say “seem” because I haven’t actually looked at the numbers.
elgato - April 16, 2009
9-53 (.169) with RISP over the last 6 games
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
thank you
Now I need a drink.
elgato - April 16, 2009
You seem to be enjoying that stat
what the hell man.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
I know
I’m outta here. I can’t take this negative crap any more.
sue369 - April 16, 2009
Funny, I have problems
dealing with the mindless cheerleading crap.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
Mindless cheerleading?
the hell does that mean?
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
+1
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Yeah, cos that's exactly what we're doing.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Then leave.
sue369 - April 16, 2009
It's a fairly pertinent stat
considering it shows just how bad we’ve been with runners in scoring position. As of late
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
It's not even 10 games in...
Let’s get 25-30 in, and see where we are.
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
I know, I know
You’re right. But if we get 2004 II after last year’s playoff collapse, I don’t know if I can take it.
elgato - April 16, 2009
The 2004 team collapsed at the end of the season.
That’s months – literally months – away.
daver - April 16, 2009
The collapse happened at the end ...
But the team lost a lot of games early because of the issues we’ve seen in the past 10 days.
elgato - April 16, 2009
LOL, a lot of games? They're 5-4!
daver - April 16, 2009
I mean, the '04 team lost a lot of games early in the season
elgato - April 16, 2009
You're wasting your keystrokes, Jimmy.
Only ledgejumpers are hangin’ around and they’re havin’ a party.
daver - April 16, 2009
Um, I wouldn't consider myself a ledgejumper
I prefaced my comments by saying “it’s early.”
elgato - April 16, 2009
To some people, any criticism of the Cubs whatsoever
equals “ledgejumper”.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
I dont think that is it.
I think they are really just concerned about the total freakout when we are 10 games into a 162 game season.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
Bingo
Getting vibes about 2004 when the season is barely 5 percent old is asinine.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 16, 2009
And those two words negate just about everything else you wrote.
It’s simply too early to start even thinking this team is like the ’04 version.
daver - April 16, 2009
Look, daver ...
Don’t tell me what the hell I should worry about. If you don’t like my comments, don’t read them. I certainly won’t be reading your freaking tweets.
elgato - April 16, 2009
Good point.
thanks daver… Goodbye ya’ll!
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
Agree
That season still haunts me-we were supposed to run away with the division and instead the cards look like the ’27 Yankees.
Bullpen issues are definitely worrisome but it’s the RISP that REALLY hurts.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
Like the '27 Yankees...
Not even close.
Jimmyeatworld - April 16, 2009
I'm talking about the 2004 Cards when they ran away with it pretty much from the start
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
Fill me in
From what I see, Cotts still sucks, right?
spoiledcubbage - April 16, 2009
The sky is still blue, yes.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Lol
and water is still wet—thanks
spoiledcubbage - April 16, 2009
yes
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
No, give Neal a shot.
daver - April 16, 2009
I'm all for shooting him.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 16, 2009
I know I'm going out on a limb here.
But I’ve got Cotts back this season. At least for now. He’s got good stuff, he throws hard, he just struggles with his control. I think he could be a key part of this bullpen.
daver - April 16, 2009
It's the hair, innit?
You love the hair.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
He is a swarthy looking man.
daver - April 16, 2009
I really don't know what to say about this bullpen. They have some good arms, but
a lot of the are struggling with control. When the offense fails to ake advantage of an opportunity, it seems to take the sails out of the rest of the team. A lot of the guys aren’t seeing the ball to well now and they are getting some really poor at bats. I don’t know what to say.
willie mays hayes' gloves - April 16, 2009
That may translate to the pitchers.
If the offense lets opportunities like the one we saw in the sixth slip away, the pitcher’s a) feel that much more pressure and b) possibly feel letdown.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
A shot to what part of the anatomy?
spoiledcubbage - April 16, 2009
Through the heart!
And you’re to blame.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
You give pitching a bad name!
Nah, I’m not down on Cotts yet. Short leash though.
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
He gets that first pitch as a strike
(which gameday said it was) and that AB is all different.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Lou
“I didn’t see the pitch that got Milton out”
“I’m not crazy about how our offense has performed”
“What do you want me to say to that?”
“Does it really make a difference if me or Larry make a pitching change?”
Lou is a little pissed at the dumb questions…..
carmen_fanzone - April 16, 2009
other than the question about the pitching change
were they really that dumb?
BoVandy - April 16, 2009
Yeah ...
he’s pissed that the Cubs lost and the manner in which it happened.
elgato - April 16, 2009
Cards Magic # = 151
quick everyone freak out…
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
lol
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Aaaaghh!!!
Where’s the ledge?!
neverAcquiesce - April 16, 2009
Wait, so your point is it's early in the season?
Look — we can all read a calendar. But losing this way, to our arch rivals, sucks. And there’s NOTHING wrong with complaining about how the Cubs failed to hit with RISP or how the bullpen has been bad.
This is a public forum for the longest suffering fans in the history of professional sports. We’d have to be drugged not to cringe after a game like today’s.
elgato - April 16, 2009
You're not drugged?
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Gotta love Can haz chezburger
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
That one's my second all-time favorite
Right behind this one. I had that taped to my windshield last time I drove cross-country. The truckers loved it.
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
This remains my favorite
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
lol
sue369 - April 16, 2009
ha! ha! ha!
after my kitty day today I can so relate.
Emelie - April 16, 2009
Oh
I’m definitely cringing. Milton and Sori making outs with the bases loaded hurt. But even the best hitters fail in those situations all the time. Its baseball its part of the game.
All I am saying is that its really early and that a lot of people seem to be indicating that they see no hope for the rest of the season.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
I have criticized for ledgejumping today
… after I compared the play in early 2009 with the play in 2004. I think that’s totally valid — high expectations, bad bullpens, bad situational hitting and an over-achieving Cardinals team. Which we all saw today.
And … I made the caveat that it’s early.
Is all hope lost? Of course not. Are there reasons for concern? Hell, yes. And the non-ledgejumpers should realize that raising concerns isn’t the same thing as saying that the freaking sky is falling!
elgato - April 16, 2009
sorry "have been"
elgato - April 16, 2009
elgato
I also wasn’t aiming that at anyone in particular, just some of the atmosphere, so please don’t be personally offended.
wax eagle - April 16, 2009
I just don't get ...
why expressing concern = ledgejumping. And I know YOU didn’t provide the initial label, wax eagle.
That said, we’re all a little testy, and I hate, hate, hate losing to the Cardinals. Going to school at Mizzou gave me a lifetime of anger toward the self-proclaimed “best fans in baseball.” Most of them are a bunch of self-congratulatory idiots who would cheer for one of their players if he was an mass murderer or the former head of AIG.
elgato - April 16, 2009
or "a mass murderer"
elgato - April 16, 2009
Can't speak for everyone
but the long stream of “OMG we suck and won’t win another game ever with this bullpen/offense/GM/etc” just gets old and so the next comment that even has sort of that tone makes you fly off the handle.
We all hate losing to the Cardinals. And losing games you could have won or at least kept closer is esp frustrating, regardless of who you play.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
Fine ...
but the opposite is equally frustrating. A long stream of, “We’ll get ’em tomorrow,” or “They gave it the ol’ college try!” for a franchise that hasn’t won in SO long annoys me a lot, and can even make me fly off the handle.
When those comments come up, I try to ignore them. This is a public forum.
elgato - April 16, 2009
That's the key
Soem of us have been, unfortunately, watching this kind of baseball for way too many years and so, yes, occasionally the frustration gets to us and we have to vent.
For me, it has nothing to do with my love for the Cubs. I come back every game and hope for the best. I’ve just learned over the years to keep from getting too carried away with my enthusiasm.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
Okay, well first off, I don't pay any attention to
“we suck” type comments. To me, that’s just frustrated fans blowing off some steam.
But, I COMPLETELY agree with elgato; there is a certain element on this site that gets way too angry any time we express ANY criticism of the Cubs.
Look, if you can come away from a loss like this and say"it’s just one game. it doesn’t mean anything, etc", that’s fine. I almost envy your attitude. Personally, I find it impossible to think that way. Losses like this, when we had golden opportunities and couldn’t capitalize, eat away at me (maybe way more than they should).
It’s not ledgejumping to point out this team’s flaws. It’s part of being a fan.
I’m not on this site to fight with my fellow Cub fans-I think it’s a complete waste of time and energy. But it’s really annoying to feel like I can’t express an opinion without being slapped down by some people for being a “hater” and “ledgejumper”.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
thank you
That’s exactly right.
elgato - April 16, 2009
And I'll TRY to do that
but I can’t promise I will.
And I can’t speak for everyone, like I said.
But if ALL you do is criticise, that gets just as old to those of us who are sunshiney “get ’em tomorrow” types as we do to you.
I’m a Cub fan. All I have is hope that the next game, next year, next time will be different and better. I don’t know any other way to be.
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
We all hope
It’s just that some of us are more disappointed when those hopes are dashed. And we’re more worried that they WILL be dashed by bad situational hitting, bad pen, etc.
With that, I’m off. Good night.
elgato - April 16, 2009
Night
halfblindcubbiegirl - April 16, 2009
So quit feeling sorry for yourselves
Every team, even the best ones, go through stretches like this one. And this really isn’t much of a stretch.
Sack up and keep going. It’s going to be a long ride.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 16, 2009
"Sack up"?
Why don’t you “sack up” and learn to deal with a discussion on a forum for discussion?
elgato - April 16, 2009
You're having a discussion?
To me, it sounds like you’re just whining.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 16, 2009
Way to comprehend the point "Not Bruce"
But I guess that’s to be expected. The next time you make anything resembling an intelliegent comment will also be the first time.
bluekoolaide - April 16, 2009
So says one of the biggest bedwetters on this board
Listen, the sky is NOT falling. It’s a little hard to take your criticisms seriously when you (and I’m being general here) say things like "this is 2004 all over again) when we’re barely one-twentieth into the season.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. I suggest you treat it as such.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 16, 2009
Well said NB.
sue369 - April 16, 2009
The Cards should have won this one
Tomorrow will be different. I’m a Cards fan and expecting the Cubs to win handily. If Wainwright couldn’t beat Marshall the Cards have deeper problems.
Cards and Cubs both have shoddy bullpens from what I can tell. I’m just hoping they don’t let the Reds take this division. THAT would be shameful – especially with Dusty Baker & Walt Jocketty at the helm.
rencelas - April 16, 2009
Zambrano appears to have matured a bit in the off-season
He got into a situation in his last start that would have unhinged him and led to a meltdown in previous years. He pitched through it and ate up his 6 innings, instead. There’s hope there.
The scary part for me is the new kid y’all have throwing. Almost every memory I have of the Cubs facing a guy in his first Major League start is a bad one. Theoretically, they should hit this kid all over the ballpark. Reality may not match that.
My prediction: Take the under. :P
Clutch16 - April 16, 2009
Funny...
I have the same feeling whenever the Cards face a new kid. It always seems they have some electric stuff and strike out eleventy batters. It’s just not right.
rencelas - April 16, 2009
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