Sean Marshall made one mistake today, and that was basically the game, because the mistake was deposited into the left-field bleachers by Bengie Molina with two men on base and gave the Giants a 3-0 lead before the Cubs had even batted.
In that first inning, the other two runners reached on a perfectly placed bunt by Edgar Renteria (who, at nearly 34, has almost none of the speed he once did, and looks pretty overweight, but ran that one out well and also later stole his first base of the season), and a seeing-eye single that just got past a diving Mike Fontenot.
Still, the Cubs pecked away at Tim Lincecum, who matched Marshall through seven innings and was good but not dominant today and when Marshall let the first two men on base in the eighth inning, the game was still within reach at 3-2.
Enter Jeff Samardzija, and I hope soon EXIT Jeff Samardzija, because the Shark was awful today. He hit the first batter he faced to load the bases, then gave up two solid hits and that, as they say, was the game, a 6-2 Cubs loss to the Giants. Maybe Lou figured this one was a lost cause anyway vs. Lincecum, because the lineup he sent out there was more worthy of Ho Ho Kam Park than Wrigley Field. Still, if you are going to have a productive bench, they have to get some starts, and the team, as I mentioned, did at least make it close.
Joey Gathright led off for the first time this season. He saved me a lunch of my scorecard by leading off with a single (for those who don't remember, I promised to eat my scorecard if Gathright ever led off a Cubs game with a home run. I think I'm still pretty safe). Aaron Miles promptly hit into a double play, ending that "threat". Derrek Lee produced the first run by hitting a double that hit high off the LF wall and scored on a couple of outs, and the other run scored when Bobby Scales got his first major league hit, a single to center, and scored after a walk and a single by Marshall. Scales looks like a useful player -- he made a couple of nice plays in the field, runs well, and can switch-hit. My feeling is that he may stick around and Gathright might not be long for this roster.
Another roster move that has to be made soon involves Samardzija. I want the Shark to succeed and I do think he has the talent to do so. But as Lou said in his postgame remarks, you cannot be successful at the major league level unless you trust your second and third pitches, and Samardzija clearly doesn't. He doesn't throw 95+, so the fastball isn't going to blow anyone away, and his offspeed pitches aren't good enough to get major league hitters out. Here's what I'd do: keep him till Z comes back, and then let Randy Wells, who is going to be called up on Friday to start in Z's place (perhaps with Gathright gone?), remain in the bullpen with Samardzija returning to Iowa at that time.
Today's bleacher crowd, perhaps attracted by the "value" price of "only $25, was a bit rowdier than usual and quite a number of people were ejected. They didn't miss too much, to be honest.
About today: Marshall deserved better; he should have gotten out of the game with only three runs allowed, but Samardzija tacked two on to Marshall's total with his bad pitching. Good pitching by Neal Cotts -- who got two outs on a nifty 1-2-3 DP with one pitch -- and David Patton ended the afternoon. The Cubs finished up a 4-2 homestand -- that's good. Keep winning like that and this season will come out just fine. And, this afternoon The Astros and Nationals played ten innings, tied 10-10, and were suspended. They'll finish it in Houston on July 9 -- hope the Astros' bullpen was worn out from this game, approaching the two-game series for the Cubs in Houston starting tomorrow night.
0 recs | 144 comments
Molina hit the 3 run HR in the first, not Rowand.
santoswoodenlegs - May 5, 2009
Wow, it really was a bad day.
I’ll fix the post.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
sorry Al, but...
Didn’t theriot lead off a couple of games down in the St. Louis series?
frisch - May 5, 2009
Damn, Al, 2 errors already.....
Speaking of people needing to go down to AAA. :)
carmen_fanzone - May 5, 2009
Like I said...
… it was a bad day!
I’ll fix it.
Anything else while I’m at it?
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
Al didnt have his Slurpee today
Cubbie-Tim - May 5, 2009
You mean Super Big Gulp.
And yes, I did. I have no excuses. I’ll try to have a better recap tomorrow with fewer errors. Maybe someone can calculate my UZR.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
If Samardzija returns to Iowa...
… should he continue to stretch with the intention of making him a starter, or should he be kept as a bullpen guy, considering it seems that is what we’ll needing this year for the most part (and barring injury to starters)?
I guess i’d be inclined to keep him training for bullpen duty… there is no reason to believe he’ll be able to pitch 7 innings when he can’t pitch 1 well now.
AndrewJStone - May 5, 2009
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but
wasn’t he pitching OK at the beginning of the season in Des Moines, as a starter? Wouldn’t it be in the Cubs’ best interest to keep him in that position for the duration of the summer, and only recalling him if it’s absolutely necessary?
chilango2 - May 5, 2009
If the Cubs want him to develop all of his pitches
it would make sense to use him as a starter.
cowsarecool220 - May 5, 2009
agree
I believe Shark is suited to be a starter, stop jacking him around, He should start either in Iowa or Chicago
Grockcubs - May 5, 2009
there's no way
he’s ready to start in Chicago.
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
That's just wishful thinking. He's got a long way to go. If the Cubs want him to be a starter,
they should leave him in the minors until he’s a polished product. This bouncing back and forth is doing nothing for his development. In fact it’s slowing it. Let him learn to be a starter and then bring him up. His secondary pitches aren’t nearly good enough to suceed at the big league level. He needs some seasoning.
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 5, 2009
I think Drew meant,
“There’s no way he’s ready to start in Chicago”
But I can see what you read from his post.
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
yes
that’s what I meant. There’s no way he’s ready to start here. He needs to go back to Iowa.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
That's exactly what I thought he meant. We're all on the same page. He's definitely not
ready to start yet.
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
Then I was confused
I thought you read it as two separate thoughts, and was telling him that he’s not ready.
Whoops!
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
What???? Huh? I'm so confused!!!!!!
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
exactly.
I just don’t like the idea he keeps getting jacked around. Start him in Iowa and leave him alone for the year.
Grockcubs - May 6, 2009
I was very
disappointed in the Shark today. If he is indeed sent back here I think it should be as a starter. I think that has been the Cubs long term goal for him.
sue369 - May 5, 2009
Let's play armchair gm!!!
Here’s my moves for this week. DFA Joey Gathright, send down Jeff Samardjza. Bring up Randy Wells to start on Friday, and bring up Chad Fox for the bullpen.
wrigleyrocker12 - May 5, 2009
Chad Fox?
Why? Is the average age of the pitching staff too young?
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
No
He’s been great in Iowa and times running out. If not him, go with Reinhard.
wrigleyrocker12 - May 5, 2009
Reinhard?
Did I miss something? Who’s Reinhard?
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
Been pitching great
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Greg%20Reinhard&pos=P&sid=t451&t=p_pbp&pid=489234
25 years old, one earned in 16 and a third, with 24 strikeouts and 1.10 whip.
wrigleyrocker12 - May 5, 2009
No offense...
…but you should probably run this idea past Josh or toonsterwu first.
daver - May 6, 2009
I realize this is a futile gesture
but let me try to stem the tide of “Why did Lou send out this lineup” posts by suggesting that maybe, just maybe, the guy who has a ton of experience playing and managing had a plan. Maybe he was both resting tired (and possibly injured) players due to the quick turnaround, as well as challenging some of the bench guys, who understand that some roster moves are coming. Scales was looking to stick around, and both Miles and Gathright needed to step up and show that they deserve their spots. Let them show their worth.
I’m just thinking that instead of throwing the game, Lou was asking the guys to step up in unusual circumstances. And all in all, I think they did a decent job. The final score doesn’t show it, but the end result down the road may be positive.
chitownhawkeye - May 5, 2009
Rec'd
I think this is spot on.
Not Bruce Froemming - May 5, 2009
Very well put
Please enlighten me: what can the Cubs do with Miles? Is he veteran enough to have a no-trade? Will the Cubs have to eat his salary if put on the wire?
chilango2 - May 5, 2009
He's got a two year deal.
Yes, I know. Ridiculous. But the Cubs would likely have to eat it unless they could trade him.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
Miles will be fine
It’s just too bad he got two years.
elgato - May 5, 2009
He's just another scrappy guy who isn't extremely talented.
The contract is bad though.
aramis - May 5, 2009
Have to get this in....
we had a guy whho was scrappy and talanted and IN HIS CONTRACT YEAR…..
So why do we have Miles?
kcjones - May 5, 2009
OK, Mr. DeRomantic
Not Bruce Froemming - May 5, 2009
I agree with you completely.
aramis - May 5, 2009
And that guy is
hitting .239 in his contract year after having a career year in 2008.
cowsarecool220 - May 6, 2009
And he's still 220 OPS points above Miles this year...
and 80 OPS points higher than Miles for their careers.
Signing Miles was a bad idea. I’m not saying DeRosa is great, but we’d definitely have been better off just keeping him around and not wasting money on Gathright and Miles.
SouthernCub - May 6, 2009
He's a flat out better hitter than Miles....
I don’t care about L/R matchups…..a lousy left handed hitter is a lousy hitter.
I’d rather have a good hitter…..
.239 is BETTER than Miles and he leads Cleveland in runs and is 2nd in RBI’s…
kcjones - May 6, 2009
Mark DeRosa jumps up, down, turnaround...
…he thinks about true romance…yeah!
daver - May 6, 2009
...whispering in my ear,
tell me all the things that I want to hear,
‘cause it’s true, I like DeRosa at two.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
Reminds me of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82py_wk5vE4
elgato - May 5, 2009
and I'm NOT equating presidential politics with baseball decisions
elgato - May 5, 2009
Rec'd +1
eswan9 - May 5, 2009
I think you
said it all.
sue369 - May 5, 2009
Thank you
and rec’d!
Craig in South Bend - May 5, 2009
beautiful
rec’d
Cubbie-Tim - May 5, 2009
Agreed and rec'd
This may not have been throwing the game, but instead, resting some regulars. The Cubs have a tough road trip coming up (2 in Houston, 3 in Milwaukee). Hopefully, what you said is true, and the end result is positive as the Cubs swing hot bats in both of those series.
It’s also worth remembering that a 4-2 homestand would ordinarily equal two won series, so this is a good homestand.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 5, 2009
hey, I wasn't in favor of it when I saw it
but this lineup kept in the game until Jeff Spellcheck threw up everywhere. I don’t think I’d like to see this lineup again, but they did ok. :D
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
I agree...
But I also hope that people are being consistent. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we were hearing the “Games in April count too!” routine.
Taking one game out of 162 to rest some guys and give the bench guys a chance IS a great idea.
Worf - May 5, 2009
The problem is using them ALL AT ONCE
and pretty much putting up a “B” squad which was particularly unfair to Marshall who is getting no run support. I suspect part of thinking was well we can’t be Lincecom anyway so let the big guys rest. Bad idea. Frankly is this not the same managerial genius who thought it was a good idea to rest most of the regulars for SEVERAL games after they clinched last year ? That worked out as well as today’s game. Again I have no problem with giving Scales, Gathright and Miles a start but all in the same game not to mention the same game you put Micah in LF ( A minor miracle that no fielding miscues were made). Sorry but conceding a game is not a good managerial move but I think my opinion of Lou is widely known anyway.
Doggie Stalker - May 6, 2009
It was a rough game to attend as a Cub fan.
Marshall pitched okay, certainly not well enough with the second team playing.
As much as I like Fontenot, and I really do, he had good chances at three balls that went through and I had a great vantage point to see those plays. It appeared to me that an average third baseman could have had 1 or 2 and Fontenot’s jump was late on these balls hit to his left. With Ramirez just coming back, I was surprised not to see him in the lineup.
Further, does anyone have evidence on Marshall’s fastball velocity. I thought he used to throw it in the 88-89 range? Yesterday he was between 83 and topped at 86. He only hit 86 a couple of times. Probably not a big deal, but noticable on a day where Timmy was hitting 96 with his fastball, low 90’s on his slider, mid 80’s on his change and low 70’s on what looked like a curve and moving everything everywhere.
As a baseball fan, seeing little Timmy pitch was impressive. Would have liked to see the starters face him and see how good he really is.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
I would have put Rami in
and rested Fonty. He’s been playing out of position for at least a week now, and he’s probably exhausted.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
BB claimed that Rami was a little sore from the previous night's game. Perhaps a bit
of the Linecom flu? (wink, wink, nudge nudge)
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
well
I guess. I’d prefer he play through it, unless there was concern about reinjuring himself.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
this lineup
should not have been out there as it was.
To do this: 1) At home, 2) with our fifth starter, 3) against the reigning Cy Young winner, is a joke. As soon as I heard the lineup, I knew that the game was being sacrificed. To have only three regulars (and I’m counting Fontenot as a regular) in the starting lineup is just a travesty. Why would Lou not put the best he could out there? Most certainly this was not the best lineup he could field. This is not fair at all to Marshall, either.
This was the first game I had been to in a few years. It was the first time my wife had been to Wrigley Field, the first game EVER for my 2 year old daughter, and the first time I had ever been to a baseball game with my father. Except for the fact that we could take in the scenery, snap some pictures, and enjoy the ambience of being at a live MLB game, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. To pay even the discounted prices for a game for this split-squad action is just stupid. I will not be going to any games anytime soon, be they the Cheap-0 tickets or not, because of this.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Floyd10 - May 6, 2009
So a 4-2 homestand,
Which ordinarily counts as two won series, is bad? The Cubs have a tough road trip coming up (2 in Houston, 3 in Milwaukee). And while I agree this was not fair to Marshall, he is long overdue for a win this year and should have gotten one last Thursday.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 6, 2009
they stayed in the game
till Spellcheck threw it away. I thought they did ok.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
WELL I HOPE THEY.....
Got the needed rest Lou talked about ,,,, But yes from your situation it looked bad at worst ….Our neighbors went and called me once they got home…Very upset about the B team/split squad…. It’s very hard going with family and then seeing the B team parade out on the field….This was a game that should have been won….Maybe next time thw W flag will go up,,,,,
cubs north - May 6, 2009
I feel your pain....
….though, quite frankly, I’m guessing your two-year-old’s opinion of the game probably wasn’t affected by the starting lineup too much. :-) Simply put, you lost the lottery on this one. Anytime any of us buy tickets in advance, there’s a chance we could end up seeing a game like this.
Fact is, the team accomplished its objective on this homestand before yesterday’s game. The Cubs are in a stretch of 20 straight contests right now, and Lou felt it was in the team’s best interests to field a B squad against a pitcher who probably would have dominated them anyway. Honestly, scoring two ER of Lincecum, keeping him to < 10 Ks and getting him out of the game after 7 IP wasn’t a bad result at all.
I’d also point out that, if Samardzija had done his job, the regulars could have gotten into this game late and garnered you and yours a nice late-inning or even walkoff victory. But the game was likely out of reach when the Shark spit the bit. (Did I just mix an animal metaphor?)
Again, though, I do sympathize with your plight.
daver - May 6, 2009
Did anyone read Imrem in the Herald?
He gives an interesting perspective on the Zambrano injury. I can be found online here.
Great point, great article.
wrigleyrocker12 - May 5, 2009
You, sir, just made me smile.
AndrewJStone - May 5, 2009
TWSS
santoswoodenlegs - May 5, 2009
Great article indeed.
sue369 - May 5, 2009
rec'd and agree 100%
Cubbie-Tim - May 5, 2009
a-freakin-MEN!
rec’d!
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
Randy Johnson
looked like a clown with a bat in his hand.
Why don’t you tell him to his face he didn’t want to win and was stealing money? Let me know how that goes.
Curt Schilling and Jack Morris were two of the best big-game pitchers ever. Morris swung a bat four times in his big-league career and never got a hit. Schilling hit .151 in the regular season and .083 in the postseason.
Go tell them they were stealing money because they weren’t “complete”
“Primary Assignment” are the key words there. For the next 2-4 weeks, he won’t be doing it.
Morris went 10 innings in the biggest game of his life. Zambrano walks off the field with cramps.
You tell me who is stealing.
Worf - May 5, 2009
None of them, Z included, were stealing...
… they were all DOING THEIR BEST TO HELP THEIR TEAMS WIN.
Just because Z is better at the non-pitching part of the game and plays in the league that requires him to do it, does NOT mean he should be asked to not contribute a 100% effort for his team.
You think Schilling was thinking about the World Series, the next 2 – 4 weeks, when he risked injury pitching with a bloody ankle in the ’04 ALCS? NO. He was thinking about that game, that inning. Just like Z was thinking about that play, and the runs he and his team needed for the win, as he legged out that bunt.
This is common sense. Seriously. Let it go. You aren’t going to convince anybody, including Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Jack Morris, Lou, Z… if you have a tool to help your team win, you use it 100%. Dude isn’t gonna play at 50% because he might get hurt.
AndrewJStone - May 5, 2009
Al
do you know anything about the cubs choosing just one public address announcer ? I’ve noticed that just paul freedman is announcing.
Cubbinstrongsince86 - May 5, 2009
Yeah, Al made a post about this
back in March. Here it is…
DamonBerryhillsMitt - May 5, 2009
thank you
I perfer Friedman
Cubbinstrongsince86 - May 5, 2009
YW
DamonBerryhillsMitt - May 5, 2009
While I liked Mike Terson and think he did a good job...
… and Wayne Messmer is a local legend, I think it was smart of them to have just one voice.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
I agree
Comfort in consistency.
DamonBerryhillsMitt - May 5, 2009
Maybe I should save this until after Randy Wells starts
but anyone wish we still had Vizcaino in the majors and Samardzija stretched out in the minors?
DGU - May 5, 2009
Yes.....I never understood the move
….but if Lou doesnt like you, your toast.
JB 23 - May 5, 2009
I do.
daver - May 6, 2009
I now pronounce you Daver and DGU.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
Don't make me cry! My makeup will run!
daver - May 6, 2009
would have at least liked to see Vizcaino fail before we cut him loose
cutting a guy with an 0.00 ERA because sooner or later he probably coulda might have, per chance, sucked doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. Especially when you’re eating $3 million to do it, and you’re bringing up a kid who had an atrocious spring, and who you’re trying to teach how to be a starter.
BoVandy - May 6, 2009
My dad has this golf phrase
“Hit your second ball first” on a bad shot, when you are sitting in front of a green, with an easy approach shot for 100 yards. When you screw it up, and drop a ball for practice, of COURSE that ball hits the green.
Sean Marshall has one mistake, and is beat by it on this day. He is the 2009 tough-luck pitcher – and facing the opponent’s best pitcher:
Brewers – Looper, 4-3L
Cards – Wainwright, 7-4L (the Bradley Game), 5IP 3R
Cards – Boggs (ok, NOT an Ace yet), 8-2L, 6IP, 3R
Fish – Volsted, 8-2L, 7IP, 1RUN!
It does not help matters that the team has the least productive offense in the NL.
Not a good trend, folks.
The E-Man - May 5, 2009
agreed
in 1998 Mark Clark (9-14) and Kevin Tapani (19-9) were very similar in a lot of stats, but their Win and Losses were not even close.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=1998+Cubs
Cubbie-Tim - May 5, 2009
Wow! Good call...
Did you check Woody’s stats that year? 233K’s in 166IP! SHEE-IT!
The E-Man - May 5, 2009
Yovanni Gallardo is the Brewers' best pitcher, not Looper
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
Indubitably.
daver - May 6, 2009
Whoops - and today
Marshall v. Tim “Cy Young” Lincecum.
8.1IP, 5R – but as Al said, he settled down for six innings pitching shut-out ball.
The E-Man - May 5, 2009
And, two of the runs scored after he left the game.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
Only 7.1 IP, but I agree he was better than the results suggest...
One bad pitch in the first cost him 3 runs, and he got left out for too long in the 8th and got hung out to dry by Samardzija.
SouthernCub - May 5, 2009
Good news
The cubs haven’t won this season when I’ve been working in the office when the whole game was played during worktime. Friday I worked from home and they won.
I’m going to be primarily working at home for the next couple of months while my ankle heals (had a setback today) so the Cubs should be helped.
puckishcubsfan - May 5, 2009
Maybe you should just quit your job.
PurpleLineToWrigley - May 6, 2009
Dangit
I had high hopes for spellcheck.
Emelie - May 5, 2009
If he gets sent down, that might be a blessing in disguise...
Remember, the guy is still learning how to pitch. He needs to be in AAA working on his secondary pitches. Calling him up was a knee-jerk reaction (no reason Vizcaino couldn’t have handled those mopup innings in previous games), and sitting at the end of the bullpen does nothing to help Samardzija develop his secondary pitches.
I’m not sure if he’ll get sent down, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he does. And it may be the best thing for him long term as a pitcher to get time to actually work on his pitches in the Iowa rotation.
SouthernCub - May 5, 2009
Exactly correct.
And rec’d.
Al Yellon - May 5, 2009
I still don't understand the Vizcaino release
He had to be in Lou’s one-way doghouse. He didn’t pitch enough to show he was bad enough to be released.
rlpete - May 5, 2009
Everyone knows Vizcaino was released because he can't bunt.
santoswoodenlegs - May 5, 2009
he can bunt
he just can’t RUN.
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
how about that Bobby Scales
and his first hit in the show! I was bouncing in my seat in the car!
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
No kidding
Just gets the call up, starts, has his first hit, would’ve had 2 if not for a great defensive play, and makes some good defensive plays.
Not a bad day for the “kid”
chitownhawkeye - May 5, 2009
Feel Good Story Of The Day and perhaps more than that.
Congratulations to Bobby Scales! If he does nothing else in his MLB career, he’ll always have Cinco de Mayo, 2009.
DrCrawdad - May 5, 2009
It was fun watching the ball being tossed in
As I was at the game and not in the thread I don’t know if it was mentioned but the ball which of course is given to the player after his first hit was overthrown and hit the top of the Cubs dugout. A guy in the front row retrieved it and I was waiting for someone to come out and trade him another ball but they did not have to as he just handed it to whoever came out of the dugout. I suspect it was someone that has been around since he was seating in the row behind the dugout but it was a nice bit to watch. I assume Mr. Scales will use it for show and tell when he is substitute teaching in the off season.
Doggie Stalker - May 6, 2009
is heilman secretly
being stretched out on a hs ballfield somewhere for a starting role? i sure hope so, because between injuries and sub-par preformances; we could use some help on the mound…
brian custer - May 5, 2009
the only pitcher
Heilman could possible replace would be Marshall, and why would you want to replace Marshall — he’s been very goood? No way Heilman takes a start from Dempster. Wells is being called up to start for Z. Lilly is doing fine. Harden… well, hopefully Harden settles down, he’s either feast or famine these days.
Heilman is pretty good as the long man/7th inning guy. I’d keep him there. Send Shark back down, bring up Ascanio or something, and solidify the bullpen.
drewishdrewid - May 5, 2009
We have to have Heilman in the pen as the long man....
who else can you really go to if you need a reliver to give you 3 or more innings?
santoswoodenlegs - May 5, 2009
Cotts?
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
Patton could maybe go three at some point soon.
daver - May 6, 2009
he said give you 3 or more innings
not 3 or more walks
BoVandy - May 6, 2009
in a third of an inning
BoVandy - May 6, 2009
I was kind of joking
although he did come up with the one pitch he needed to in order to get out of Samardzjia’s jam.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
Neal has shown some signs of maybe coming around.
He hasn’t given up an earned run in his last two appearances. And I’d remind everyone – yet again – that his K:BB was an outstanding 3.31 last season. How ’bout we all cut the guy some slack and see if he can pull himself out of his early season morass?
Oh, wait, that’s no fun, is it? OK, go ahead. Keep ripping on him.
daver - May 6, 2009
Ok, I'll take a shot at him.
What’s with the mullet?
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
He smells bad, too.
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
I say, I say, I say, Willie, old boy
My dog has no nose
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
(psst):
No nose? How does he smell?
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
Terrible, just like a dog.
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
That's a glandular thing!
daver - May 6, 2009
Hey, Lincecum's got one, too!
daver - May 6, 2009
That's no mullet,
it’s a full Prince Valiant. Some could argue it may be worse.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
Lieber
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
vroom vroom der former Cubs starter
daver - May 6, 2009
what
the Reds haven’t hit enough homeruns lately?
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
He's got as much chance being used as a long reliever by Piniella
As anyone on the current roster.
Shanghai Badger - May 6, 2009
You are truly his No. 1 fan....
…but Heilman is doing just fine in the pen, and situations like Z’s injury are the perfect opportunity to give Triple A starters like Wells some Big League experience. I don’t believe Wells is projected to be much more than a back-of-the-rotation kinda guy but, well, the team needs those, too.
daver - May 6, 2009
stats & a quote from lou from the trib
“The Cubs relief corps ranks 13th in the National League with a 4.83 earned-run average, including 5.25 from Marmol and 4.97 from Gregg. Piniella said before the game that neither would be used Tuesday because of their heavy workload recently.
“They’ve pitched in five out of six games,” Piniella said. “It’s early in the season. There’s no sense in pushing the envelope too much, and we’re not going to do it.”
brian custer - May 5, 2009
Right, so let's move Heilman to the rotation!
See the problem here?
daver - May 6, 2009
few notes from this game
Wrigley Field smelled like an elemantary gym today!! the lady usher told me about 14,000 students were there on a field trip..
i was in section 500 something, 1st row 3rd base side of upper deck, saw bleacher boobs from way up there!!
hiphopgamer26 - May 6, 2009
marshall
marshall belongs in the bullpen.as inconsistent as marquis was he would still win 12 to 14 games.i knew when he was traded the 5th spot would become a black hole.sean is good but eventually the other team catches up to him.or the cubs get him no runs.how about trying heilman in the 5th spot???marshall has proved he cant do the job.
NOMAR - May 6, 2009
Absolutely wrong.
Marshall has been quite good this year — yesterday’s start was excellent. By the end of the year he’ll have put up numbers as good as Marquis did.
Al Yellon - May 6, 2009
Lack of Run Support
Doesn’t mean you have proven you can’t do the job.
Marshall has been MORE than competent in the 5th Spot
heine41 - May 6, 2009
you have your facts wrong on a # of fronts.
1) why is it Marshall’s fault that he is not getting run support?
2) Marshall started throwing late this year, so he i still getting stretched out. He will work up to 115 pitches eventually
3) For now, Marshall has given this team many quality starts (relative to games started) but the bats or bullpen have let him down.
You could argue that Lou should have never let Marshall throw the 8th today as he gave you 7 good inning (only 3 runs). I have no doubt that if Lou trusted his bullpen, Sean would have been gone at that point. To say that “Marshall has proven he can’t do the job” is based on information I just don’t see,
LAcarl519 - May 6, 2009
Agreed.
Marshall didn’t have his best stuff, but only made one true mistake. Sadly, there was a Molina there to take advantage of it.
Even worse, that mistake happened in the first. The crowd was already flat with the understudies in the lineup. Going down 3 at the beginning was rough. Even worse as I was traveling with my buddy, the a**hat, in the Willie Mays jersey with the Dusty Baker autograph. I’m still ashamed.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
Yikes
I left San Francisco and went home to Vermont the day this mini-series started.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 6, 2009
didn't he throw
108?
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
95 yesterday
LAcarl519 - May 6, 2009
ok
I must have misheard.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
What? Marshall threw 108 MPH? What a stud!
willie mays hayes' gloves - May 6, 2009
does lou trust heilman
or not? if lou does not ’trust" heilman in his current role, and will not, for whatver reason9s) let him start, then what good is aaron to this team? maybe he should be traded…
brian custer - May 6, 2009
Heilman is a solid set-up man.
Ballclubs need those, too, y’know. Your Fully K obsession is starting to creep me out.
daver - May 6, 2009
he won't let him start because he's a reliever
and he’s not in the rotation. It’s not as big a mystery as you seem to want to make it
BoVandy - May 6, 2009
I think
Lou trusts him fine, as a long-man out of the pen.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
Marshall
well, there’s no point in joining in on the gang-bang. Let me just say that I don’t think he’s pitched badly at all; he’s just gotten unlucky with the bullpen twice in a row now.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
I'll ignore the first sentence and look at the second.
I’m not sure Marshall pitched well yesterday at all. The bats in the SF lineup are anemic and not a good point of reference.
As I said above, I’m wondering if Marshalls velocity is down. This could be a result of lack of work, etc., but I wonder as SF seemed to be getting frequent lumber on the ball.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
Marshall
is a pop-out pitcher, isn’t he? He isn’t going to strike a lot of guys out — although his last outing, he has ten, didn’t he? — but he pitches to contact.
The one mistake to Benji sucked, but other than that…
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
Well, he didn't seem
“in it” over the first inning, therefore the Molina mistake was a 3 spot rather than solo.
I’m not trashing Marshall. He battled and worked hard, with success, for the remainder.
N Oakley - May 6, 2009
the first inning
wasn’t his best, I agree.
drewishdrewid - May 6, 2009
no offense NOMAR but you need to watch the games a little more closely
daver - May 6, 2009
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