Bleed Cubbie Blue

That'd work for me.

The first one

is seeming more and more needed…

but Fox in LF is terrifying.

It's probably the safest place to hide a defensive liability.

And he hit the ball harder today than Soriano has hit it in days, maybe weeks. It’s all I’ve got really.

Go for it

We’re already losing, I guess it couldn’t really get “worse”

Yeah, LF is the place to put your bad fielders...

If Fox can hit, that’s the place to put him. Unfortunately, one of our streakiest players is out there.

I do find it interesting that Piniella subbed Fox in for Soriano late in the game after he pinch hit, when he just as easily could have left Soriano in LF in the game and had Ascanio take the 9th spot in the batting order. Seems like maybe Soriano might get a day off soon?

Or 12

He’s been brutal. And he looks awful.

We’ve heard his knee is bothering him… but has anyone heard what’s really wrong?

Lou said in the postgame...

…that Soriano should be well-rested after the off-day and the rainout, but I think he needs a long rest. Maybe rehab on his knee if it’s that bad. Something.

Something is going on...

As far as I can tell this1.5 month stretch of sub-.650 OPS ball is the longest stretch of slump that Soriano has had since he emerged as a big-time hitter. He’s definitely had bad months, but they’re usually surrounded by solid or great months.

I'm finding humor in Soriano right now

Like I’m wondering if it’s possible for Aaron Miles to get a higher batting average than him.

All joking aside, he’s starting to hit worse than Andruw Jones.

ak123 - June 17, 2009 reply

Hell, I'd take Andruw Jones over him now.

+1

Soriano is crying for a DL stint right now. If he were a horse, they would have shot him by now.

The thing is,

is he hurt? Or isn’t he?

If he isn’t, then going on the DL isn’t going to do anything to help.

+1

The rehab stint might

15 days off and a week in Iowa to fix his brain when facing low-and-away may be just what the doctor ordered. Now we gotta pay off the doctor in order to order it.

The doc can always say that Soriano was blown away by the sound system in his car.

Talk about decadence, is this something that Soriano really likes in his car? Where does he keep the groceries?

Groceries? Who needs groceries when you're on cribs! Biatch!

Agreed...

I’m only a proponent of DLing Soriano if he’s actually hurt. If it’s just a really prolonged slump, there’s not much you can do but try to help and wait it out.

Comparing this year to every other full year he's been in MLB....

The dude’s hurt – I’ll bet on it. Sore knees don’t do a lot for balance in the batters box. The guy’s never played this badly since his first full season.. by a LONG shot.

DisCUBbobulated - June 17, 2009 reply

I wish this guy was buying the team.

santoswoodenlegs - June 17, 2009 reply

Our luck he'd move the team to Atlantic City!

ak123 - June 17, 2009 reply

dude's defiled the precious skyline

any more fingerprints on Chicago institutions is grounds for a treasonous hanging….

YES THAT IS WHAT......

Needs to happen…But i don’t think it will………..

cubs north - June 17, 2009 reply

Jake Fox

needs to start. See what he can do. This offense sucks, and you just gotta give him a chance.

But all I know, is that Jim Hendry has to be thinking about cutting his wrist after signing Soriano to that long, long contract. He’s a good player — but I just cridge at the thought of Soriano in years 6, 7 and 8 of his contract.

Unique - June 17, 2009 reply

We'll probably still be paying for him for those years

But if he keeps showing his current prowess, I can guarantee he won’t be playing them in a Chicago Cubs uniform.

The thing is.

He should be the most dangerous bat in this lineup. Instead, he might be the third or possibly fourth (when Ramirez gets back) BEST hitter in this lineup.

He will hit 10 HR in 2 weeks and then hit .140 for the 2 weeks after that. Way too streaky to be getting paid the salary he gets.

Unique - June 17, 2009 reply

The Rockies kept paying

for Mike Hampton long after, yet they still made the World Series somehow.

Right now

There really isnt much to say. This team needs a shakeup. Lets start with getting rid of Miles.

jkobus - June 17, 2009 reply

That'd work for me, too.

Yet another Quality Start ruined

We should’ve got the live chicken.

Dempster was very fortunate to get that quality start...

Six walks and four hits and a WP through 6+ is not great. But given that he was generally able to get out of jams, we definitely had opportunities.

quality?

I wouldn’t call 6 walks in 6 innings quality. I know the definition of a quality start, but this one is quality in name only.

danimal15 - June 17, 2009 reply

It's a controversial term.

Still, Demp kept the team in the game. This anemic offense asks too much of any pitcher.

No kidding on that one

Not seeing the controversy here

Demp wasn’t unhittable, but the fact of the matter is that he only gave up 3 runs. That our offense couldn’t at least match that number is where the trouble lies.

I think the "controversy"

is over what should be considered “quality”.

But I don’t really see it either. Anything at or less than 4.50 ERA is quality starting pitching, i.e. you should be able to win consistently with that sort of pitching.

It resulted in a quality start...

Dempster didn’t have a great performance, giving up 10 baserunners. But he managed to only allow 3 runs in 6 innings. That’s the worst possible quality start, but it’s still a quality start.

I agree he didn’t look good in doing it, and 6 walks is not indicative of a good performance. But, as I said, he was VERY fortunate to only allow 3 runs.

The home plate umpire was also only allowing him to use 2/3rds of the plate.

NOTHING on the inner 1/3 was a strike for Dempster.

santoswoodenlegs - June 17, 2009 reply

Seems like we can't get anyone going at the same time...

First Lee, Soto, and Bradley couldn’t touch the ball, but Soriano and Fukudome were killing it. Then Lee heated up and Fontenot fell off the map and Ramirez got hurt. Now Bradley and Soto seem to be waking up, but Fukudome and Soriano are slumping mightily.

We never seem to have any more than a guy or two going really well at any point, and when the guys are not doing well, they are REALLY not doing well.

I don't think Soto is heating up, I think he's eating up.

Geo’s has packed on some pounds and I think that’s affecting him. Has anyone else noticed this?

smash! - June 17, 2009 reply

You don't think Soto heating up?

I would have to disagree

BA, OBP, SLP, OPS

Overall .223 .332 .318 .650
May .278 .376 .354 .730
Jun .250 .314 .500 .814
Last 7 days .350 .381 .600 .981

Yesterday: he missed every ball by A MILE.

smash! - June 18, 2009 reply

Is it true

that Sori is signed thru 2014??? If so, God help us!

Itchy - June 17, 2009 reply

Great scam, huh?

Must be nice to be get a huge paycheck for not performing with no chance of not getting paid.

Gotta love free agency and swindling agents. At least during short-term contracts a team gets the benefit of a player playing lights out during his contract year.

That’s my opinion of Soriano and many other players who go through the motions of being a professional baseball player after signing huge long term contracts. Yes, there are exceptions, but, hey, if he can get away with it and handle the press and booing fans….

BTW, Soriano, why do you seem dis-interested in the game and stare at your fingernails in the dugout?

OK, flach, get down from your soapbox….

Now. hold on a minute..

Since his first full season in the league in 2001, Sori has never hit less than .268, and never more than .300. His .229 BA and OPS under .800 (at .749 WAY under) for the first time since 2001 says somethings wrong right now that wasn’t wrong the year before that, or before that, or before that. He’s hurt, and needs to get unhurt. We don’t need him, hurt or healthy, in June, we need him healthy in October.

Thank God we have Soriano through 2014. He slugs the snot out of the ball, can steal bases, and fields serviceably (did you know he totalled only 11 errors in 2007 and 2008 combined?).

DisCUBbobulated - June 17, 2009 reply

He slugs the snot out of the ball, can steal bases, and fields serviceably (did you know he totalled only 11 errors in 2007 and 2008 combined?).

Which is why I call him the best LF in the league.

When he’s hitting.

And when he's healthy

He usually runs really smooth and quickly without laboring… but he looks bad out there now.

My opinion is that he's complacent

First, let me say that I am a fan of Soriano’s. It is my opinion that no baseball player is worth locking in for 8 years after age 30. Soriano signed this deal at age 31. He’s signed until age 39.

The dollars are locked in at $18M a year for the next 5 years. Rising payout. Diminishing returns? Maybe.

We have over 5 more years of put up or shut up.

One of the best hitters in baseball, Albert Pujols, is 29. He’s under contract through 2010 ($16M per year) with a club option in 2011. Pujols will be 32 when he signs a new contract in 2012 (unless he re-negotiates sooner). Do you think a team is going to sign him for 7 more years (through age 39) at $25M-30M a year?

That’s basically what Soriano did. Signed at age 31 for 8 years. I think that’s insane.

Do you think Joe Mauer will get an 8-year deal for $25M-30M a year? He’s only 26. He signs a new contract in 2011 (age 28).

My opinion is that contracts have gotten out-of-hand. Paying a player what equates to $25.000 per at bat means the player has to produce for the next 5 years! That’s asking a lot from a player like Soriano.

Ryan Braun has, what, 0 or 1 errors in LF?

Lousy, lousy way to judge someone’s fielding

the error he got was for an awesome throw to the plate

The catcher dropped it. I’m hard pressed to find anything that he isn’t doing an excellent job at.

ol Pete - June 18, 2009 reply

Maybe

but evaluating a fielder on their errors isn’t the best way.

That's my point, and he knows it

And he won’t be back to reply because you stated it clearly.

Didn't he misplay a ball badly in the Cubs first series with them?

Mapmaker - June 18, 2009 reply

Yes, one has to love FA and "swindling" agents?

They are just as endearing as swindling owners that want taxpayers to subsidize their investments, and GMs that seem to offer such contracts knowing the chances that they will be around then are lower so if it doesn’t workout it’s not likely their problem.

DudeVf11 - June 18, 2009 reply

Again, I'd like to

see RJ, and not an empty out leading off for at least five days-a week.

It is so pathetic.

I'd be okay with Theriot leading off...

A Johnson/Fukudome platoon in CF batting 2nd, and Fox/Hoffpauir in LF batting 6th or so.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Soriano, but this is getting ridiculous. If his injury is affecting him, I’d go with the lineup I mention above.

However - unless Theriot

stops trying to believe he is an HR hitter, he will not make a good lead-off guy. He has hardly taken anywhere the amount of BB’s as last year at this same time I’d think.

Great point

Every Cub needs to be working the count more and drawing some walks. DeLee has been hitting the ball to right field lately, but EVERYONE else seems to be swinging for the fences. Reed Johnson and Theriot come to mind today.

DKT - June 17, 2009 reply

I wonder if Lou considered having Reed bunt when he came up with runner at first and second

and nobody out? The team is not getting any big innings so they need to scratch and claw more. You could just smell a double play ball coming up. Danks was throwing inside a lot and we were hitting a ton of grounders to third. You cn’t sit on your hands and wit for a big blow with this team now. No one is hitting the ball out of the park.

I was wondering that too

Especially after the first big swing. It would have been a surprise, if nothing else.

It's not like Reed is a power hitter. On his best day he gets a hit and drives one in. At

least a bunt puts some pressure on the defense. Who knows, Beckham may have throw one in the stands.

He's been more productive than Johnson...

That’s why I’d bat him there if Soriano is given time off. There just aren’t a lot of alternatives.

Johnson has been really productive against LHP, but he’s proven to be a platoon hitter throughout his career (RHP tend to eat him up). So while Theriot isn’t an ideal candidate to lead off, he’s the best alternative we have if Soriano is given rest and Fukudome still isn’t hitting.

Another frustrating game to watch

This team isn’t interested in manufacturing runs. Don’t we have anyone that can bunt? Steal a base? Move runners along? Get hit by a pitch? The Cubs aren’t stringing any hits together. And when someone like Fox crushes a ball, it always lands just short of the basket.

The White Sox executed a perfect squeeze, got a solo HR and put the Cubs on the defensive immediately. The Cubs best chance is to score some early runs and take a little of the pressure off…

DKT - June 17, 2009 reply

Sad thing

is that Fox had the hardest hit ball of the day. Actually woke me up.

Unique - June 17, 2009 reply

In fact, why Reed

did not get a little more PT when Dome was whiffing time after time, is perplexing.

Why platoon, if the player cannot het at all?

What about reeds game today makes you believe that?

Agreed - however

I believe he was the NL player of the month for May (or maybe Cubs player of the Month?).

He needs PT. And, based on the results of his team mates, he deserves it. At least for a week or so…

Definitely not the player of the month...

Didn’t play enough. Justin Upton was player of the month.

The problem with Johnson is that he just doesn’t hit RHP very well. He absolutely KILLS LHP though.

He didn't today...

I’d like to see Reed, Fukudome, and Milton play tomorrow. Time to rest sori, we need you to figure it out.

I think Dome can hit... but I also think you're right.

He needs a mental break. Let him be a late-inning defensive replacement for two weeks, and let him spell Johnson every four days or so when there’s a good pitching matchup for him. Put him back out there in a couple of weeks. Maybe he can take some pointers from Z on how to unload some of his stress (he’s pressing) so he doesn’t get wound up (like a corkscrew) to the point where he outthinks his hitting. Since i’m also thinking DL’ing Sori would be a good call, the cubs outfield will be RJ, MB, and Hoff, with Fuke platooning. It’s just for a couple of weeks.

DisCUBbobulated - June 17, 2009 reply

het==

hit

decisions

I agree I’d like to see Lou do something to shake up the club, but I would hope he doesn’t do anything rash, just because people are demanding that he shake things up. It’s still pretty early, and the team is still near .500 and not too far back in the standings. The way Lou is talking, he sounds like he’s ready to “white flag” it, as the Sox did in mid-season some years ago. I think if “shaking up” means putting Soriano on the DL and letting Fox and Hoffpauer get regular playing time, that’s fine. But don’t do anything stupid that’s going to hurt later, because there are still close to 100 games left.

danimal15 - June 17, 2009 reply

Lou may be stubborn

but he’s not stupid.

There is a point when no matter who the Superstar is, they hurt the team with prolonged spells of failure.

Ugly

I can’t think anything else to write.

Okay I'm an optimist.

Is milton finally figuring it out?

I dunno.

Had two hits today, but then looked really bad striking out vs. Jenks.

No. He is just making more contact. When was the last time he hit a ball hard? He seems to

hit a bunch of flares and wounded ducks. He never seems to catch the ball on the sweet meat of the bat. He also seems to have a problem catching up to a decent fastball. I can’t remember the last time he squared one up.

Mmmm

Sweet bat meat…

Making contact is good progress

He wouldn’t be the first guy who needed to catch some luck by hitting wounded ducks before he got on a roll of squaring the ball up.

I just expected a lot more thunder out of his bat. He was hitting ropes in ST and I

was really excited. Now he hits like the rest of the smurfs on the infield.

lol

those smurfs are going to be my demise. How can Miles be on this roster?

Ryanocm1 - June 17, 2009 reply

I blame Milton Bradley.

Just because?

Or did he do something I missed?

/sarcasm

Figured

But sometimes…. It’s hard to tell. ;-)

You’ve figured me out, HBCG.

I have my moments

Really?

Didn’t he have two hits today? I think he’s had some decent at bats recently. He works the count, has a good eye and rarely looks lost at the plate.

DKT - June 17, 2009 reply

Von said today that he's been

watching film of the guys hitting and has talked to MB and Dome a little bit. He said he is anxious to start working with the players. Make it soon Von and make it work!!!

He got a man's job on his hands. I can't remember the last time I saw a Cub team look this

lost at the plate. The only player hitting the ball with any authority is Jake Fox. DLee is hitting line drives, but he is strikking out a lot too. Every pither we face now looks like Cy Young. Our hitters seem to be getting fooled by too many pitches. It’s painful to watch this team hit now.

I agree

Its even more frustrating to me b/c of how close the pitchers are keeping the games. Knowing that we’re 3 good ABs away from a win is unbelievably aggravating.

It may be 3 good ABs away, but it feels like a thousand.

True dat

I've seen bad Cubs teams play badly

But there really is no reason for this group of hitters to be scuffling as much as they have. This prolonged a slump is beginning to defy explanation.

When does it stop being a 'slump'

and just the reality of what this team is. I’d say we are just about there.

sadly I agree that we are just about there

the reality of the team

is that they’re all slumping. The reality is that they should — that’s SHOULD — regress to mean, which means that everyone starts hitting more.

Maybe they won’t, but they’re NOT this bad a team.

SMALL BALL

If they Cubs had runners in scoring position twice today, with no outs, where are guys taking at bats to advance the runners? WIth this team obviously struggling to score runs, a few bunts here and a squeeze there to put a run or two on the board would go along way. Our pitching staff is keeping us in these games, its time we gave them some run support. Getting a run back can sure ease some pressure off of the starter.

WindisBlowingOut! - June 17, 2009 reply

+1

Reed should have been bunting with runners on and no outs.

thinking the same thing

Cubs need to get on a mentality that every inning is extra innings and they need to score one run. If they can successfully do that 3 innings, we would have won a bunch more games!

ak123 - June 17, 2009 reply

No doubt about it

With no outs and after Beckham made a couple of bad plays at 3rd, bunt the dudes over. I kinda wanted to punch Lou in the face on that one.

Yeah, we hit 3-run homers all of the time, right?

I would prefer to just look @ him and say WTF are you thinking this year?

I think Lou

has checked out for the season. He looks more lost than the batters at home plate.

I agree

He’s looks disintrested at best

Curtain Jerker - June 17, 2009 reply

What can we expect?

Sean Marshall and Big Z. are hitting almost as good as Bradley (.234), better than Soriano, and much better than Miles (.203) or Soto (.217) or Sori (.225).

Something has to happen soon.

Outplayed today in every facet of the game....

Pitching, hitting, running, fielding, throwing, managing…..

i’m sure there are others to add to the list.

Somewhere Gerald Perry is laughing at Jim Hendry

Lucky for us at this rate Hendry will be looking for work pretty soon too.

+1

Grockcubs - June 17, 2009 reply

Even if I don't agree with what Hendry's done

I’m not going to be happy that anyone has lost their job.

There’s already been enough of that.

I was doing yard

work after the game, and was mumbling to myself about Soriano. He has to go on the DL. Platoon Fox and Hoff in left, bring Fuld up to play some “D” late if the Cubs ever get a lead.
When your leadoff hitter is useless, doesn’t walk, doesn’t take pitches, is always staring at an 0-2 count, the manager refuses to put him down in the lineup, then DL him, enough.
What a joy it must be for the opposing pitcher to throw to this lineup. All you have to do is stay away, whether it is a fastball or a breaking pitch. I have watched the Cub hitters closely the last two weeks, and they refuse to go the other way, except for Lee and Theriot ( Theriot almost naturally hits to right unless he is trying to jack everything). Cub hitters are so pull happy it is not funny. The visiting team scores 3 runs and it is ballgame time, just plain sad.
One other thing, I do not want to hear about " Well when Ramy comes back", enough of that. Mets are 4 games over .500, without Delgado, Reyes, Church was on the DL, Maine is on the DL, O. Perez on the DL, Ramon Martinez on the DL, Pagan on the DL, Putz on the DL. They are hanging in there, sure they play the Nats, however they got the Phillies also.
Lou and Jimbo you are running out of time, DL Soriano and please for all us release Miles.

Grockcubs - June 17, 2009 reply

who do you send down

to bring Fuld up? We really need another light-hitting scrappmeister?

Open up another can of smurfs.

Did anyone see Lou's presser?

If so, did Lou draw back into the “I’ve tried everything” woe is me response?

N Oakley - June 17, 2009 reply

Lou looks defeated and not very happy. He looks exhausted. He'd rather be sailing....

Bring on Bob!

willie mays hayes' gloves - June 18, 2009 reply

+1000

Obviously it is easy to look good when you dont have to make the critical decisions, but Brenley’s commentary suggests to me that he is hungry to manage again, acutely aware of what is wrong with this cubs team, and willing to make a go of it. Id take that anyday over what we have now.

Lou is joining the long list of Cubs managers who have just been beaten down by this team. Last season’s playoff “run” might have been his last hurrah.

Ryanocm1 - June 17, 2009 reply

"Acutely aware of what's wrong with this team"? Everybody knows

what’s wrong – they don’t hit. I doubt it very seriously if Brenly has some secret idea of why this team is in a collective slump. If he knew why, it would have been solved by now. This team is a puzzle wrapped in a question mark surronded by an enigma. This team defies conventional wisdom and has a good baseball man like Lou scratching his head. This season is so Cub-like it’s not even funny.

I thought Lou was a great choice for this team when hired and

I still like him. However…

I usually thing baseball managers are looking for their walking papers when they say stuff like this and his I’ve tried everything dandy from Saturday.

I don’t buy into the fiery manager versus player manager stuff as both kinds work. Lou looks like the Lou that gave up and drifted off in Tampa.

Anyway, I’m not too optomistic, but there’s still time. I say give Lou and the squad until closer to 7/1 to show turnaround and some life.

If there is no life, there may be something to the theory that 35 is the new 40 in this post PED and Greenie world and it’s time for the team to get younger in manager and lineup.

N Oakley - June 17, 2009 reply

thing=think

N Oakley - June 17, 2009 reply

Rec'd

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - June 17, 2009 reply

Ha, came back to amend my comments from yesterday and am pleased to

see it green.

Anyway, I listend to Lou’s complete postgame conference last night and I’m not sure he’s thrown up his hands, yet.

I didn’t hear “whaddya gonna do” or “I’ve tried everything.” I heard the team has a couple more games in the current version before Lou makes major lineup changes. I also heard implied that nothing is off the table so Bradley, Soriano, & Soto could be sitting, Soriano hitting at #6, Fox starting in LF, etc.

I still wonder about whether superstar players, in the aggregate, will perform past 35 as they have the last 15 years and and not sure Lou has abandoned ship just yet.

N Oakley - June 18, 2009 reply

Not only is this losing baseball

it’s incredibly boring baseball. I’m beginning to ignore the games.

It's also depressing baseball

when the other team scores first early & the Cubs find themselves playing catchup.

JFCubFan - June 17, 2009 reply

I agree

I can’t remember a more lifeless Cub team then this one. When you come off back to back division titles and play like this, just no excuse. Sad to say this team would have trouble beating the Nats. This team is just plain bad.

Grockcubs - June 17, 2009 reply

Boring is right!

That was a brutal game to watch:

Your starter couldn’t find home plate and would have given up 6-7 runs against a better team.

The offense, was woeful. Not one hitter ever went with a pitch (with runners on base) and there were some absolutely feeble swings.

Every hitter on the club should be thinking about driving the ball up the middle, but most are trying to yank everything.

This season compares to many others

In that the Cubs just aren’t patient hitters. Today the Sox had six walks and we had none! We swing at the first pitch in many instances and really don’t work the count.. How do you solve this situation and when it’s so obvious? It’s also possible that the powers that be fells that this isn’t a problem. What do you all think?

Saratoga - June 17, 2009 reply

great observation

the hitters are pressing. all of this great pitching is going to waste…

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - June 17, 2009 reply

Too much pressure on Cub pitching

Go with 11 pitchers and put Waddell on the DL, if he isn’t already there, to make it happen. They have to keep 14 position players.

Everybody knows what to do with Soriano. So, first he goes on the 15-day DL. From there a minor league stint and then back in LF, at least for a while, batting him 6, 7, or 8 in the lineup. Put a slugger in LF, and if there is a disaster on D then Johnson. Theriot leads-off.

I agree, the most recent radar reading says Bradley is coming around. Pray that it is true and continues because they need his bat and they need his defense in RF.

Fukudome can draw walks when he’s not pressing. They need his defense in the outfield.

Sit Soto more and if necessary get another backup catcher. I have more more confidence in Hill than that sounds like.

Again, pray that Lee can start hitting with more power. He has to go yard and get extra base hits. Move him down in the lineup too or bat him 2nd, assuming Bradley and Fox can take the 3 and 4 spots.

Still think it is a good idea to get a serviceable 3rd baseman for the rest of the season. Not relying on Ramirez being full-strength when he returns.

I don’t understand how Jim Hendry keeps his job. Granted, Lou should have fixed lead-off a long time ago.

Cub pitching has to hang-in there tough. The White Sox aren’t as good as they looked today, but they have a good bullpen.

AboutTheCubs - June 17, 2009 reply

You know, what's even worse

is that not only is this losing baseball, it’s about as boring as baseball could be.

erm. you said this already. look up!

He must really mean it to say it twice lol

BigJohnAZ - June 17, 2009 reply

If the lack of patience is obvious to us

The Cubs management has to have addressed this lack of impatience with the players. I understand that you don’t want to take the bat out of the players hands, but the old cliche still works, “A walk is as good as a hit” especially when the team is struggling. I wish I had the answer, but I think we need to be much more selective in our pitch selection. My opinion only.

Saratoga - June 17, 2009 reply

I think someone wrote today that the Cubs haven't had a homer with a guy on base

in a month. Is this true?

This team has absolutely no power

Mapmaker - June 17, 2009 reply

I think it was one homer with a man on base since May 19.

That’s from my memory from earlier today, but I think that was the poster said.

Saratoga - June 17, 2009 reply

Its just sad

I really don’t know what can be done. The guys that should be producing are all there except for Ramirez. Sure sit Soriano and play Fox in left but that leaves what 3 guys that are any semblence of decent hitting (Lee, Bradley, Fox) it just won’t be enough. To be a really good team you need contributions up and down the lineup we saw that last year.

I think its just a matter of time before Pinella’s gone.

I guess I should be happy for rain outs

Earlier today I was saying how frustrating it was for me to get home from work yesterday and then see that the game was rained out. I only had to suffer through todays game on gamday. I feel sorry for my 81 year old mother in Burbank, CA who had to see this pathetic game today.

tucsoncubsfan - June 17, 2009 reply

And listen to Hawk and Stone to boot

Tell your mom “sorry” from every Cub fan.

pedro martinez?

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)—Pedro Martinez…. could be back on a major league mound soon.

The right-hander said on Wednesday that he has had talks with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays and hopes to sign a contract in the near future.

can he hit with runners in scoring position?

yeah, that surprised me

where would he fit in?

pedro quote

"Chicago and Tampa Bay are the two teams that have shown the most interest and we are negotiating with them, although I’ve told my agent not to call me until it’s a done deal," he said.

Martinez wants to sign with the team that has the best chance of winning a pennant.

"I need the emotion of competition," he said.

well i guess Jim gets Pedro and trades Harden for a bat/3b

I couldn't see Hendry trading Harden for a 3B...

but maybe a 2B bat and a reliever (and/or prospects)? With Ramirez hopefully back in a month or so, I can’t see trading for a position that will soon be filled.

Note: this would only be if Martinez proves capable of giving 6 innings of quality pitching on a consistent basis. Otherwise, trading Harden for a bat is just an example of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I'd do that.

Harden for DeRosa? A possibility?

I'll give you this, Al

You never give up. There’s something to be said for that. :)

LOL

What would you say if they actually made this deal? Or some other deal for DeRosa?

I'd say

I hope he does well (as I would for any new acquisition the Cubs make). But if you’re expecting miracles, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. And the woes of the current club have nothing to do with him not being on it.

Now please, I don’t want to keep revisiting this subject every night, so don’t bait me on it any longer.

No miracles expected.

However, he’s far better than trotting Aaron Miles out there every day. On that, I don’t think you would disagree with me.

At this point, right now,

YOU might be better at second base than Miles. :P

He'd upgrade the offense, BUT...

1. it’s not going to happen; and
2. I don’t think it’s worth the downgrade in the rotation from Harden to Marshall/Martinez

The other thing involved in this DeRo love is

Even if the Cubs did get him, would they sign him to another contract? I’d doubt it immensely.

Oddly, I’ve heard people say DLee should go because he’s in “decline,” but Hendry gets filleted for taking that step with DeRosa when there was good reason to think he wouldn’t top what he did last year.

I need the emotion of competition

So do the Cubs.

CAN HE PLAY SECOND BASE??

What I want to know if the Cubs checked how he fields the position.....

of 3rd base

I heard today that the Cubs pitching is 3rd best in the NL

and our hitting is second-to-last. The fact that our record is right about .500 makes a lot of sense when you consider those stats.

But wait....isn't pitching king?

Sure

but 0-1 is still checkmate

willie mays hayes' gloves - June 18, 2009 reply

We only have thirteen more runs than the Padres. The PADRES! The ones who

play in a cavernous ball park and have one descent hitter. That is really embarassing.

I'm sure you meant "decent" hitter

The Cubs have a bunch of descending hitters

I haven't checked in

a week -

but I believe they were #1 with WHIP and BAA.

If it wasn’t for their starters, they would be honestly in last place.

Only good part of my day.

During the 7th inning stretch, Hawk was waving his arm at Cubs fans. Sitting in row 1, section 421, he looked down at me and I flipped him the bird. Class? No I didn’t demonstrate that. But for those 5 seconds, it made a small part of me feel better.

Good job, man!

You see, I’m not feeling too classy myself today :-)

Like I said earlier,

I think this slump is beginning to defy explanation.

I’m beginning to wonder if the pressure of playing for or managing this franchise is more than anybody can bear. More than the Red Sox, more than the Yankees, more than anybody.

How else do you explain this many proven hitters failing? How else can you explain managers who have had success everywhere else coming to Chicago and not living up to expectations?

Sometimes when you want something badly, it doesn’t happen. And sometimes when you least expect it, something good happens.

I don’t know if this makes any sense. But if I’m right about this, then I don’t know if there is anything anybody can do about it.

I've thought about this many times before.

I agree with you. All it takes is for that one group of guys to have the make-up to say, who gives an f. Let’s just play the way we do and what happens, happens. It takes a moment in time when a team’s back is so far against the wall that they just let things flow. What keeps my faith is thinking about the Red Sox and Dave Roberts.

At this point I’m hoping we back our way into the playoffs, no one gives us a chance, and we come out playing loose. I know it may be a stretch, but hey I’m optimistic.

I don't think it's a stretch

I think they probably will back into the playoffs. After that, anything’s possible.

"Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do...

…win the whole f___ing thing!"

Yeah!

Yes!

The pressure is too much for them to bear IMO

I had to laugh watching Lou in that press conference today- he looked like a beaten down old man who Cubdom has eaten up and spitten out. I hate to say it, but the North Side is where managers go to die. They may show up with fire, passion, and optimism, but give em a few years, and they’ll be relegated to confusion and apathy, muttering “I don’t know, dude” as the Cubbie occurrences add up. Same goes for some of these free agent signings of ours- they show up in Wrigley and suddenly forget how to hit a baseball , bunt, or run bases. I personally don’t believe in curses, but it makes you wonder sometimes…
I think the pressure is too much t for these guys to bear. As I’ve said before, it would take incredibly strong men to win a World Series for the Chicago Cubs.

reedjohnson - June 17, 2009 reply

As a Packer fan, I can make the comparison

Coaching the Packers in the era between Lombardi and Favre had a similar effect on the guys unlucky enough to get the job. They would come in full of vinegar and assure the huge, loyal fanbase that changes were coming, and things were going to get better and better. Two to three years in, with no success to their name, they would slink quietly out of town, beaten men who had no idea it could get that bad that fast.

Pictures of Forrest Gregg in 1984 show a man in his early fifties, with more than a little hint of his youthful fire. Pictures of the same man 3 years later show a guy who looks like he’s pushing seventy with just a couple of marbles still rolling around upstairs.

willie mays hayes' gloves - June 18, 2009 reply

What amazes me is all of the players who say that the want to play for this team. I just

don’t understand it. If I were a free agent, I wouldn’t come within a thousand miles of this franchise. For some reason, it just chews people up and spits them out. They leave here looking like the just got run over by a garbage truck. Even the few lucky ones like Maddux end up coming back. It defies any explanation that I know of.

Everyone wants to be the guy who ends it

A legend.

Plus, Wrigley is full, interesting and historic even when the team sucks.

Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009 reply

The question is,

why does it leave people looking like they just got run over by a garbage truck? Why?

There could be some truth to that.

But no one forced Hendry to sign Soriano for a perverted amount of money (and all of us here in DC already knew him all too well), and then give away DeRo for pittance. No one forced Hendry to sign Dome, Bradley, or Miles, Gathright or Farney/Freel. Or to depend on Fontenot. This is Jimbo’s team.

Very fair point.

Hendry made back to back division championships, but he also has to take ownership of this team too.

I'm sure he does

But I think there were legitimate reasons for each move. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t and sometimes it’s too early to tell.

Not Gathright

There was no excuse for anyone thinking he could contribute.

He's also

the 25th guy on the roster. I’m not going to get too out of joint about that.

Agreed

but I’m still amazed that the Cubs signed him. As you said, you could find reasons for the other moves. I still can’t figure out what they wanted with someone who slugged .272 in almost 300 AB’s last year. He has a lifetime .303 “slugging” average.

A guy like that

is also pretty fungible, too. If he doesn’t work out, you can get rid of him somewhat easily without much of an issue.

Maybe Jimbo was upset that he had to get rid of Pie.

And he thought that Gathright would be a good replacement?

Not a bad theory at all

They’re very similar players.

Hendry signed

exactly the kind of player Cubs fans were screaming for. Lots of power, lots of home runs.

I disagree...

This team just has problems. The Ramirez injury just exposed them.
- The roster was poorly constructed.
- Fukudome has not shown he is major league hitter.
- While still good, Lee is not the same hitter either due to age or the injury.
- Fontenot is not a major league regular.
- Soto is coming around but has struggled in his second year.

Only Bradley could be explained by too much pressure. The starting pitching sure isn’t struggling under the pressure.

Good point about the pitching

Well,

In my opinion, only some of those are true. Yes, ish, yes, no and yes. This roster has absolutly no depth and it has been very noticably exposed. Although fukudomes struggled recently and his “falling off the face of the earth” last year, he has shown he can hit major leage pitching and he takes tons of walks. hes being too patient tho, taking first pitch fastballs right down freakin broadway. Lee is a declining player even tho he has seemed to have a bit of a rebirth as of late. fontenot just like everybody else on this team is “slumping”. im using quotations becuz this is one helluva slump for the entire team. Soto was god awful in the beginin of the year, but has little by little looked like the guy who won ROTY last year. And (cross yoyur fingers), the monopoly man has actually been looking like the guy who led the AL in OPS last year. I would be very angry if the cubs signed Pedro. HENDRY! GET THIS IN UR HEAD!! UR TEAM CANNOT HIT TO SAVE ITS LIFE BUT UR PITCHING IS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE MAJORS!!! ADDING PEDRO WOULD BE USELESS!

Chicago White Sux - June 17, 2009 reply

If they sign Pedro

with the idea they can trade a pitcher (Harden?) for another bat or two, I’m good with it.

Otherwise, it really doesn’t make any sense, unless you think you’re going to win every game 1-0.

Agreed...

Getting Pedro would only be useful if it allows trade flexibility. Improving our starting pitching isn’t really a need at the moment. The staff can’t do much better than it’s been done.

For trade flexibility

Wouldn’t we have to showcase him? When would that happen?

Not trading Pedro - trading someone like Harden...

I think Harden is already (or soon will be) in play

He’s a FA after this year, and he hasn’t shown any less inclination to go on the DL. If we can get 4 starts in a row out of him before July 10th, I think Hendry starts calling around and seeing what he can get for a starter who tosses more than 1 K per IP.

I don't see Harden being traded unless depth arrives first

I think you give Wells a couple of more starts

If he does well, trade Harden and bring Marshall back into the starting rotation.

I don't think the team will be comfortable going with both young guys...

for extended time. I think they’re going to go with proven guys 1-4 and one of Marshall and Wells as the #5.

At this point

What do we have to lose by going young in two starter spots? We start losing games 6-1 instead of 3-1? Assuming Wells can (reasonably) fill a rotation spot, you can deal Harden for a bat, keeping salary numbers even and providing what this team really needs to compete right now.

If you sign Pedro

and he’s effective — he doesn’t have to be lights out — then Harden becomes expendable. And you can leave the rest of the pitching staff as is.

I'm just saying what I think will happen...

I don’t think the Cubs are going to be comfortable going with Marshall and Wells (with no fallback) as the #4 and #5 on the back end of the rotation.

I’m not sure if Pedro is going to be acquired. But if he’s productive, that gives the team the flexibility to trade Harden and still have six capable starters (one in the bullpen just in case).

I’m also not sold on Wells continuing his success. He’s wildly exceeded his minor league performance. I fear that as teams get accustomed, they’ll start hitting him better. We’ll see though – I hope I’m wrong.

Agreed about Wells

I think he could be a good one, but I’d like to see more before I go all in with him.

I agree

Want to see more, but he’s impressed me so far.

Not just b/c he’s pitched well, but b/c he hasn’t let a lot of the crap around him get to him. Seems very chill.

That's the way I see Wells, too

I’m reserving judgment on him until his second start vs. any given team. If they bat him around the yard, we’ll know his stellar beginning was just due to inadequate scouting.

And that's why I think the Cubs are hesitant to trade Harden...

I don’t think they’re sold on Wells or Marshall enough to rely on both in the rotation down the stretch in a pennant race. One or the other is fine. But having four “reliable” guys in the rotation is what I think they’ll go with.

I think they're pretty sold on Marshall

but they do need to watch his IP. A full season in the rotation would jump his career high up by about 70 IP, I think.

Thats a lot for a young-ish guy in one year.

The question is

would Pedro be as good as or an improvement over whoever is in the starting five currently?

That is a good question...

And that’s why you’d have to wait and see what he can do before making any trades.

Really, Harden might be the only guy

who you can/should trade. He and Pedro would be a push contract-wise, presumably (I can’t imagine the Cubs would want Pedro in 2010).

Agreed

I definitely don’t think Pedro can pitch as well as Harden. But he may be able to pitch well enough to make Harden expendable (for the right pieces).

Obviously, they can’t know that until they see what Pedro can do. So if we were to get Pedro, I wouldn’t see any trade of Harden until after Pedro came up and proved he can still be a productive starter.

Certainly

If they sign him soon, the trade deadline should provide enough time to tell.

Yup

As an aside

I know we’ve had our disputes, but I’ve really enjoyed the give and take tonight.

me too

see – we can be civil! :)

After another wrenching defeat

I’d say that’s a big accomplishment. :)

Managers who have had success everywhere else?

Piniella: Last WS victory was 19 years ago, recent history with Seattle shows a manager who can get into the play-offs and do nothing else. Recent history with Tampa Bay shows an old man who throws in the towel when the going gets tough.

Baker: No WS rings. Made the WS once, and lost it with the best* hitter in baseball.

Kimm: (shudder)

Baylor: Nice regular season record with the Rookies, one embarrassing post-season appearance.

Shall I keep going back?

Please no

No sense reliving them.

I disagree

At least the last two have had significant posteason successes.

Who would you have hired AT THE TIME (not with hindsight) other than Baker and Piniella?

I know Joe Girardi isn't doing too well with the Yankees.

But he “gets” the Cubs and Chicago and he wanted to come back “home”. Maybe that would have been better?

At the time was in favor of Girardi over Lou.

I thought Lou was too old and didn’t understand the intangibles he brought. Hindsight is showing that he just doesn’t make the moves that we would like. But again I say, he got us back to back division championships. The players failed more that he did in the NLDS’s.

I think Lou is tired and a little disinterested like Leo the Lip was.

Maybe Jimbo didn’t give him good players, but what’s the use of keeping Sori and Miles in the lineup day after day? He’s also made some bizarre moves—especially this year. He should be dealing with Sori and Miles and everyone else….

I made this comparison a few days ago and still believe it to be true.

Lou now = Leo in his latter days in Chicago.

Lou’s given up, or he would not have put up with this BS for this long.

Unless Hendry makes a move, it will requite ownership intervention.

So, we’re screwed, basically…

Zeke - June 18, 2009 reply

requite=require

Zeke - June 18, 2009 reply

Maybe "getting" the Cubs and Chicago

is exactly the WRONG thing that was needed, if you know what I mean.

(Don’t get me wrong, I love Joe — he’s from my hometown. But …)

My first example

Although at the time, I’ll not quibble, Piniella looked like a better choice.

2002 was the year of the fired manager – plenty of them available. Baker may have seemed like a decent choice at the time, but Cito Gaston (who had actually, y’know won a couple of World Series) was also looking for work.

Come to think, Gaston was also looking for work in 1999. Hindsight tells us that Mike Scioscia would have been a better choice than Baylor, but at the time Gaston’s record in circumstances nearly as daunting as an expansion team’s was far superior.

Cito Gaston would have been a good choice

Not necessarily better than Piniella, but a good one. For those who like fiery managers, however, he wouldn’t have been.

Yeah Cito's third through sixth inning nap would be bothersome

Though personally I don’t need a firey manager, I just want a manager to stick with what he’s best at.

Sweet Lou's third through sixth inning naps

Are starting to be bothersome, as well. Just sayin’.

I agree

The difference IMO is that Cito has always done that. Lou got where he is by being a guy who yells and screams.

Why on earth was he out of the dugout for so long?

He’s been really good in Toronto in both stints… I just don’t understand why no one else gave him a shot in between.

That's a mystery to me, too

I don’t think it was his choice to sit out that long. Sometimes there’s more to this stuff than meets the eye, though.

Who's looking for work right now?

Other than me, that is.

Barking up the wrong tree...

…if winning a championship was as easy as getting one guy (the right manager) the Cubs wouldn’t be abscent a championship for 100+ years.

Winning championships is about getting the right players, not the perfect manager.

No disagreement here

I was just responding to one of NBF’s points – not prescribing a panacea for the Cubs.

I think the line from Miracle said it best

I’m not looking for the best players, Craig, I’m lookin’ for the right ones

The more years that go by,

the more you wonder if those players have even been born yet. :)

Sadly

we’ll only know once it’s happened. Till then, everybody’s just guessing.

One of my...

…favorite sports quotes of all time, and also very true.

Pressure?

For Milton it makes sense, Fontenot too. For the rest of them, it doesn’t make sense.

If the most combustible player on the team (Z) is able to pitch as well as he has under this pressure, nobody else has an excuse.

You may be onto

something NB.

Or

I may just be “on” something. :)

LOL. well

there’s that too. :D

EVEN TIGERS SKIPPER.....

Sparky Anderson when tired and the team was having troubles headed home to rest up…Lou looks worn out and from the Comcast interview today a bit confused ….Something has to change with this club ……

cubs north - June 17, 2009 reply

Dude

Can you write in sentences, please?

Why all the ellipses? And random caps?

Enjoyed the win...

Seeing the Sox beat Dempster (who opened his mouth after the ’05 World Championship and the put-downs flowed).

Seeing Ozzie push all the right buttons. A very good game by the Sox today. Even Ozzie’s response to (yet another) racist shirts sold outside Wrigley was spot-on.

Do you enjoy hearing the Hawk? Tell me truthfully...

I do enjoy when Hawk says...

… “AND THIS BALL GAME IS OVAH!”

Hawk ...

Cubbie fans hate him because, well because they’re Cubbie fans (and let’s be honest, Cubbie fans are often searching for something to hate in relation to the Sox).

Hawk is much the same as Harry Caray to me, a cartoonish character. And when Harry was a Sox broadcaster, many Cubbie fans I knew hated him. Put Harry down and mocked his pet phrases, “Holy Cow!” etc.

Now, we have The Hawk, you have Santo.

At least Santo is ‘funny’ now and then. Hawk just seems like a miserable person, but thats just me. Maybe he’s not a jerk.

Stop......the both of you.

There is no defending either Hawk or Santo. They are the broadcasting shame of each franchise, and each fan base is forced to accept the worthlessness of both.

THANK YOU

They are both clowns for their teams and love the attention their obsessions and derisions bring.

What?

Santo is an eternal optimist and never says anything bad about anybody. Hawk is a bitter sack who takes any opportunity to rip anything that doesn’t fit into his sad worldview.

dr stabbingworth - June 18, 2009 reply

That just means they have different schticks.

It doesn’t make either one of them worth listening to, and until management agrees to change, both ends of town are stuck with these two.

tville - June 18, 2009 reply

Eh

from a Cub fan perspective, Hawk would’ve been more bearable if we hadn’t looked like garbage.

Broadcasters are like everything else, really subjective. If you’re on one side of the fence, you probably like/enjoy them.. if you’re not, they’re probably awful sounding.

I like Santo on the radio, but know that a huge part of that is the fact I’m a Cub fan.

how exactly is the cubs looking like garbage Hawk's problem?

that’s what makes him most important.

Its not

Its me.

Hit post too early

Like I said though, good announcing depends on where you are. If I’m a Sox fan watching that game, I’m probably enjoying the game itself…therefor I’m enjoying Hawk.

I’m not though, so I’m watching a horrible groundhog day game as a Cubs fan, so Hawk just seems boring and contrived to me b/c I don’t care about the Sox in any meaningful way.

Chicago has been known...

…for announcers that take the term “homer” to an all new level and Hawk is one of those guys. The thing that I don’t like about Hawk is he is a major “ass kisser” of the Sox owner, and it gets a little old after a while.

Harry’s best days were with the Cards and White Sox, by the time he got to the Cubs he best days were behind him.

You are aware that

Outside of US Cellular there are many homo-phobic shirts being sold by your Sox fans?

I haven't seen them lately...

But I’ve only seen one such shirt. And I don’t see anyone wearing them around. I did see this last time I was at Wrigley and the Cubs were not playing the Sox.

another victim of selective vision

its a shame.

What's selective?

The way you see so many horrible racist shirts at Baseballs Greatest Shrine

Yet have only seen “one such shirt” of homo-phobic nature around the Cell. We both know there are many more than 1.

well covered.

The shirt I saw outside The Cell years ago was, “Wrigley Field World’s Largest Gay Bar.” Do you know of others? That’s the only one I’ve seen. And as I said, the only time I’ve seen anyone wearing one was a Cubs/Sox game.

Wrigley?

Horry Cow shirts
Slurs on Cardinals fans (as described here too)
About the Cell, “World’s Largest Ghetto”

Posters here have argued that the last one is not racist or a smear. Well if that’s true, then I suppose one could argue that the Wrigley bar shirts are not homophobic.

Well

The Sox Parade/Cubs Parade shirt with two men holding hands
A shirt that says Cubs fans depicting one man performing an act on another
My personal favorite is the middle finger shirt with the WS ring that says “This one’s for you Cubs fans” because even in your greatest moment, you couldn’t help but think of big brother up north.

Either way, I've still seen my team win a World Championship.

You might be able to find stereocards of the Cubbies last World Championship.

Now, really

Is that called for?

All NJI is saying is that you all aren’t saints on your side of town either.

C’mon Doc. You’re better than that!

^^This^^

In kind...

… I only whip out that wonderful trump card when pushed. He got his dig in. Mine was about baseball, not impressions of the fans.

True but as bad as the Cubs have played they still have a better record than the Sox

but truthfully I don’t care that or their WS. Now the Cards winning in 06 irrates me

Interestingingly...

… not long ago Al was glad to talk about the Sox games back from first and people here were dancing on the Sox grave.

Wonder if it will be discussed tonight?

Brewers win tonight, Cubbies slip to 4.5 games back. The Sox are closer at 3.5 back.

4.5 games and 3 teams

between us and first.

Starting to feel a little bleaker, at the mo’. Sigh.

That's about where they were

two weeks ago. Meh. Call me in September.

True

but unless they start to consistantly play better and soon, Sept is going to be too late.

60 games isn’t a stretch. Its a trend. And I’m not comforted by how “early” it is anymore.

Oh, sure,

but talk about bleakness, etc., is unwarranted on June 17.

I probably overstated it

but…. I’m feeling much less confident about the whole thing. Bleak was a bit much.

It's a long, long, long, long road.

I’ve posted quite a few positive comments about the Cubs this year. The season is not over for the Cubs and the Cards/Brewers have their holes. I think what could be a problem though is that the other divisional opponents are improved over previous years. I don’t think the Cubs will go 14-4 (or whatever it exactly was) over the Pirates this season.

Hopefully for the Cubs the return of Aramais Ramirez won’t delay much longer and when he does return he can ignite the offense. He’s a terrific offensive force. It’s too bad he got hurt, no doubt things would be different for the Cubs.

True

the fact that no one took this time while we were scuffling to run away, means we close enough to still get there.

But you’re right. The division is overall much more balanced (at least, so far)…

because clearly each team should be judged

by how the other side of town is doing.

3 out, thanks Cards.

and yet

you’re still jealous.

You're projecting.

Which shirt would that be?

Registration is required to view that post, and I don’t really want to sign up for a Sox board just to see how terrible Cubs fans can be. Could you elaborate, or post a link to something on a registration-free site, please?

The Ozzie mows lawns tee. Same as the Zambrano one cards fans wear.

Now can we please stop encouraging him?

Eh - he doesn't bother me

Mostly because I can see his point a lot of the time. He tends to get obsessive about certain things, but I don’t usually press those buttons the way others do.

He has bragging rights for one game – nothing to be done about that. I’ll leave it at that, though.

PLEASE DONT RESPOND TO HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s what he wants. Please.

But its fun

The double standard he has is too funny.

Double standards are the standard here.

Don't. Respond. To. Him.

He's really not that bad

Raggin on him just b/c he’s from the other side is dumb.

I saw A. Ramirez hit a HR in the box, I got excited

then I realized….

Chanman25 - June 17, 2009 reply

I think Alexei and Hanley

Are the only Ramirezes left who are currently starting on an everyday basis.

Alexi Ramirez is a rapidly rising star. I'd love to have him on the Cubs.

Jimmyeatworld - June 17, 2009 reply

huh? He was like their Soriano there for a while I believe he was benched or close to it.

Still has a long way to go to prove himself in the majors.

True

I’m not ready to anoint the Missile quite yet. But he does have potential.

The kid can hit. He's slick as hell in the field. He's a star in the making. I don't give a rat's bass if he slumped - he's young.

Jimmyeatworld - June 17, 2009 reply

True

Seems no one picked up on the Theriot..........

………tag play. Perhaps I looked back late, Al, but it didn’t appear to me that Theriot was even in position to tag. He was off the bag. Based on the awkward catch by Anderson, I was stunned to see that he was not trying to tag and score on the play. Anderson would have needed to right himself quickly and make an accurate throw to get Theriot, and if it had dropped he could have walked home from the 3B bag.

To me that was a modest turning point, because given the inept Cubs offense, scratching out an early run like this could have been huge.

The Ramirez homer in the first was the turning point. Ouch.

I agree...

…Anderson was in no position to make a throw without taking time to get his feet under him.

But he was very close to the infield

I think Quade made the call on that one.

He was close...

…if he would have caught the ball with his feet under him, but Theriot would have been 15 feet down the line by the time he righted himself.

It’s possible he could have thrown him out, but considering how the team has been hitting, sometimes you have to push the envelope.

We've done that too

Dodger series, I think it was, RF dives Cliff tries to tag up, and he’s out by 6 feet.

Cliff?

Cliff who?

Cliff = Reed Johnson

From the strangest fanpost, ever.

It goes back to how badly you wanna produce runs

Not having Reed bunt (as discussed above – don’t hurt them too bad, DCF!) could be seen as another example of waiting for a hit rather than producing right now.

And let’s face it – it’s Theriot. If he had beaten the throw, he’d have probably missed home plate on the slide and been tagged out trying to crawl back.

That's the point.

This team is struggling to score. It’s a dicey play, but given the situation I think Theriot needs to be tagging and trying.

The problem I have is it appeared he was down the line ASSUMING it was going to drop and therefor was in NO POSITION to tag and score. If that’s the case, Theriot should be benched. He must be hugging that bag with less than two outs.

Ironically, a similar play took place last night in the Jays/Phils game and the runner on 3rd (Rios) failed to score on a fly ball. The Jays tied it nonetheless and won in extras, but the way the Cubs are playing, they have to seize every opportunity.

He acutually tagged up...

…and started down the line but stopped.

They had the third base coach miked up, and it sounded like he told Theriot “no”, which means to not try to score.

I was in the bleachers............

……….and after watching Anderson make the catch, I glanced over to 3B and it looked like Theriot was no where near the bag. He could have tagged and started up the line by the time I checked, and while I still believe he should have gone (even though that was the 1st out), I’m happy to learn that he was fundamentally sound and tagging up on the play. Thanks for the insight.

Replay shows he held the bag

And then started running up the line. It appears Quade called him off.

if there's someone on this team who can screw up baserunning

EVERY TIME, it’s Ryan Theriot.

How many players you going to bench?

He's got his pros and cons.....

But….it isn’t an Ozzie league at SS anymore (an TheRiot CERTAINLY isn’t the Ozzie fielder)…..He’s a decent hitter for a 2B who bats 1/2 to SET THE TABLE…

Start getting a little pissed off

Al, nice to see you ratchet up a notch your state of anger with the state of things. But this is a direct question, not rhetorical, that I would like to see answered: how can we get Len (mainly) and Bob and Pat to GET A LITTLE PISSED OFF at the state of the offense SUCKING as much as it does??? It drives me to bonkers to watch the few games on WGN (that aren’t rained out…and that is another story, how those of us outside of Chicago sooooo look forward to a game on WGN only to have it rained out) and to have Len and Bob and Pat so casually doing their spiel and not remotely calling them out for sucking the way the offense has. I’m not talking about the Santo groans, which is horrible on the other end of things….but please….it would so help us all to suffer through these horrible games if you knew the guys calling them even remotely acted like they felt the same way. And also, don’t get me started on the fake laughter that Len and Bob keep doing to each other to their little quips that normal people would NOT LAUGH AT!!!

UGGGHH……thanks for letting me vent.

jimvanders - June 17, 2009 reply

And them getting angry solves what?

That doesn’t make sense. Irrational anger over something Len, Bob, Pat, Ron, etc have NO CONTROL over… just to make you feel better?

different era

The era of the announcer who actually does negative opinions is over, and thats not good. Len Kasper has never really said anything negative about anyone, and if anyone has ever thought he did he bends over to kiss their ass the next day. Pat Hughes is the same way. Its just not what these guys do these days. Its more of an infomerical for the team than what Harry used to do.

I'm pretty sure I've heard Len being critical of the Cubs.

It just doesn’t sound like criticism, because it isn’t frustrated or angry-sounding. And Brenly gets his digs in all the time, you just have to read between the lines. Although his most famous line was, “You could throw a baseball into that dugout and hit a better left fielder than Soriano,” which isn’t really subtle at all.

I’d rather have the announcers be even-keeled, because I’m generally pissed enough about the game without having to suffer their negativity on top of it.

I can't see Pat expressing a strong negative opinion ever

He gets paid to do play-by-play, and so he goes out there and does it. He may not be happy about the current state of affairs, but the next pitch is only 20 seconds away.

You can tell with him and Len

when they’re displeased with something. But I’d rather they play it down the middle rather than go through prolonged silences when their team isn’t doing well, like some other announcer in Chicago (whose name escapes me, but I think he now works with Steve Stone) is prone to do.

I hear you all..

and respect your points of view. As I said, it was venting and I guess that is where I am going with this. As maddening as these games are to watch, it’d be nice to hear MAINLY LEN, sound at least a little more perturbed at the state of things. Would it help the team any? of course not. Would it make me feel a little better? hell yes. Thats alls I’m saying.

jimvanders - June 18, 2009 reply

I can tell by

the tone of his voice when Len is not happy with a play. Maybe you just don’t pick up on that.

sue369 - June 18, 2009 reply

I hear you, but

Len, Bob, Pat and Ron are employed by the biggest stakeholder of the Cubs. Thusly, they are more likely to ratchet down any criticism, deserved or otherwise.

I would like to see

Zambrano and Bradley get pissed and go on a clubhouse rant. Maybe that would light a fire for this team.

Cubsfan Waveland - June 17, 2009 reply

I don't think a clubhouse rant would accomplish anything...

.. other than, likely, getting someone hurt with a non-baseball injury.

If it is Miles

Do we have a problem?

Cubsfan Waveland - June 17, 2009 reply

stymied

Any Triple A pitcher you want to pull up right now could stymie the Cubs,stupid headline

dhouse - June 17, 2009 reply

you come up 170 headlines for games

Some of us..................

were beat up weeks ago for “being negative” when we expressed our unpopular opinions that Soriano is no lead off hitter and a liability in LF; LBR was no more than a mediocre infielder and an overrated hitter; Soto came in overweight and out of shape; Fukudome’s 2nd half slump last year was the real Dome etc., etc.

I admit I was dead wrong about Lee because he appears to have more in the tank than I gave him credit for, and I’m happy for him.

Now I’m reading the same “negativity” from those that were most critical of opposing opinions in the past.

I hope this team turns it around, but in the meantime, during this difficult stretch, let’s be more tolerant and respectful of those that express their opinions whether your in agreement, or not.

Clutche - June 17, 2009 reply

Revisionist history...

Jimmyeatworld - June 17, 2009 reply

No doubt

Don’t try to portray yourself as some sort of Nostradamus, Clutche.

The bottom line is it’s a difficult stretch. It’s gone on longer than we’d prefer and longer than perhaps it should, but that’s all it is — a stretch.

The Cubs aren’t trotting out Neifi Perez, Jose Macias and Juan Pierre every day. And if you’re already saying the sky is falling 2-3 weeks into a season, you’re going to get a ton of crap. And you’ll deserve it.

The Cubs could use Juan Pierre right about now

He’s filled in nicely as the Dodgers’ LFer during Manny’s suspension

Only because the guys behind him are driving him in

Its not like he scores himself.

He's doing his job!

He gets on base (.395 compared to Soriano’s .296)
He steals bases (16)
He gets hits (62 compared to Soriano’s 57 in almost 70 less plate appearances!)
He doesn’t strikeout as often as Soriano (15 to 66)
And he drives in runs, too. 21 RBI. Soriano has 27 in many more chances.

Yes, the Dodgers are good. The Cubs are not so good at this point in manufacturing runs.

I’m not saying Pierre should replace Soriano. I’m not even saying the Cubs should go after him. I’m simply stating that he’s doing good in Manny’s absence.

What has Soriano done for you lately?

Broken my heart and driven me nuts

Mostly.

But that wasn’t really a dig. The Dodgers are playing way better than us.

Not my intention whatsoever.................

I hope you’re correct that it’s just a stretch, but it is 2 1/2 months into the season and calling it a stretch, may in fact, be a stretch on your part.

And, I didn’t say the sky was falling, in fact, I said, "the Cubs would struggle this year, but would win the division by 3 games over St. Louis. with a late-season surge.

Clutche - June 17, 2009 reply

Hey....

The good news is the Cubs are just 2 GB in the Loss column….keep it bout that close til ASB…and take ur chances in the 2nd 1/2…..

BUT….I see COMPLETE LACK OF OFFENSE…..and NO PEN….SP will get you so far….and playoff time U need a ACE (cubs don’t have NOW…I could see Lily maybe step up) and a CLOSER….(Gregg ain’t it)…..GOOD BULLPEN will win NLC…

No....

But they are trotting out the 15th best offense in the NL and pretty good starting pitching….just enough to fool everyone.

indeed.

Physician, heal thyself.

Out of curiosity

Who is LBR? I’ve seen the initials tossed around out here, and I can’t figure who it it’s supposed to refer to or what they stand for.

Whitebacon - June 17, 2009 reply

LBR = Little Babe Ruth = Fontenot

Fontenot

Little Babe Ruth

CyberCyclist - June 17, 2009 reply

You choose to skip your love affair w/ Micah and how we didn't see what a player he was going to be

a

That's Lou's fault...........

He chose to stay with Soriano, Bradley and Fukudome despite their horrendous numbers. Platooning Hoff and Fox could conceivably contribute 30+ HR’s and 70+ RBI.

Clutche - June 17, 2009 reply

I don't know about the RBIs

Somebody else has to hit too :-)

based on what

blue-sky fantasy? Neither of these players has an MLB track-record. It’s not like Micah Hoffpauir has been making the most of every opportunity.

So...(this isn't directed at you clutchie...but in general)

how does that make Lou any different than Dusty?

Well, Trevor Hoffman just blew his first save of the season

Milwaukee was leading 8-4 in the ninth. Now it’s 8-8.

Hoffman gave up his first run of the season against the Sox. Now he blows a save against Indians. It’s not easy pitching in the AL.

Technically, not a blown save, is it?

Because if he came in with a 4-run lead and held it, it wouldn’t be a save. Unless he came pitched 3 innings…

ChipSet - June 17, 2009 reply

He came in with a two-run lead

The Cubs are making me not like baseball.

santoswoodenlegs - June 17, 2009 reply

If you've made it this far and still like it,

… well, you’re hopeless. :)

Here's something else that has not been mentioned.

With runners on 1st and 2nd in the 7th and Danks squaring to bunt with nobody out, Guzman had a CERTAIN play on the lead runner at 3B. Instead he throws to 2B, BARELY forcing the middle runner. So with one out and runners at 1st and 3rd, the Pods bunt pushes across the third run.

Yes, they still lost 4-1, but these are the kinds of plays that make a difference in tight games. If the Cubs lose by a single run, I think Guzman becomes more of a goat for making a poor decision.

Again, I have to disagree

Guz snagged that ball and looked directly at the runner who was about 15 feet from third. He kept spinning and got the put-out at 2nd, instead. While getting the lead runner would have been nice, you get the best out you can in that situation. The replay shows he made the right decision.

Having the benefit of replay...........

………..I’ll take your word. In live action, it certainly seemed like the better play was at 3B, and the throw would have been significantly shorter.

tville - June 18, 2009 reply

Al, Please No Complaining About the Weather

Today in southern Indiana it was in the 90s and extremely humid. I’ll take 64 degrees anyday. Also, I bought “Cubs By the Numbers” today at my local Barnes and Noble. I haven’t had time to look at it too closely yet, but from what I’ve seen, it looks excellent. Congratulations to you and kaseyi.

markleonette - June 17, 2009 reply

I'll take the heat and humidity, thankyouverymuch.

This cold, gloomy, rainy weather sucks.

Thanks for buying the book! Hope you enjoy it.

Al Yellon - June 18, 2009 reply

Heat is bearable, high humidity sucks

Point taken.

Al Yellon - June 18, 2009 reply

High 80s, low 90s in Florida right now but balmy, sweaty yuck

I love Arizona in the spring. High temps, no sweat.

Rah Rah Jim....

Here’s to the 15th best offense in ther National League

and for FIVE more years of Soriano!!

At about $18 mill per. Feel free to get sick! Remind me, who were you bidding against that you just had to give him an 8 yr $136 million deal??

Itchy - June 17, 2009 reply

Damn....

Too bad he insn’t (SORI) in an option year…..MORON

Players tend to play better in their contract years

What’s wrong with that picture? Shouldn’t EVERY year be a contract year?

YES

n/t

Basically the same offense the Cubs had last year

You can lead horses to water, KC, but you can’t make ’em drink.

I diddn't trade away a GOOD HITTER...

to get left handed batters that can’t hit.

Yes...it isn't that simple...

blah blah blah…..but this team is poorly constructed….If u trade away 42 RBI’s in Cleveland…you NEED an ACE in the starting staff….decent starting pitching will get u so far…maybe even the plaayoffs….BUT u need an ace and a LIGHTS OUT closer….and some guys that will hit with RISP.

Trading the unspeakable's name

was a rational thing to do. A good case can be made for it.

Please don’t fall into this trap that everything would be different if the Cubs had … you know who.

Everything wouldn't be different...

but it wouldn’t be the same….windows are small….PLEASE tell me what you know who yielded….if you could say Wells….OK…i could maybe live with it…BUT….this is a small salary that CAN HIT….and PLAY EVERYWHERE…if he has a bad year let him go…if he has a great year and is too expensive next yyear …let him go…..who knows….perhaps he is good leverage at the deadline…if the Cubs caan’t find a spot for him because nobody gets hurt……

Look at the yankees….they are the Cubs best trading partnet right now…they desperately need pitching…and the Cubs desperately need some O

My conscience is clear

And I’m tired of talking about him. Moreover, I’m tired of half the people on this board bringing up his name six times a day.

But I know this weekend is going to be an orgy of angst for his followers. I just hope to hell the Cubs sweep the Tribe and get back on track.

But it still doesn't mean Jim Hendry isn't an idiot...:)

And no,

things wouldn’t be much different were he here. This malaise is too widespread for one person to make an appreciable difference. Unless that one person is Manny or A-Rod, I suppose.

Problem is that you're as obsessed with him as the people you criticize...

…you’re just negatively obsessed.

bluekoolaide - June 17, 2009 reply

Who...me or Froemming?

...I really try to stay away from...

Criticizing…other BCB’eers….My sincerest aplolgies San Diego Smooth Jazz Man…but I will criticize the Cubs….and their management…and players

Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009 reply

SDSJM

Is one of the more rational, realistic posters on this site, KC. Don’t sweat it.

i know...koolaidd is usally good...

I misread the post and reaccted too fast

Oh...no...

I went off on SDSJM….after another pathetic offensive performance by the Cubs … and a bit of vodka…..he said his usual about the 84 SD fans…I owe him an apology…I get tired of hearing about 84,,,,but that doesn’t mean that others shouldn’t hear what he has to say….hopefully…I did it late enough that I might have been edited and many might have missed it (Thanks Al)

Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009 reply

It isn't my problem

I wouldn’t say a word about it if it didn’t come up every hour on the hour.

.....being 2 GB back in the loss column...

Insert DeRosa’s offensive line in for Miles/Fontenot/Scales…….see what it does to Pathageroyum..(u know what I mean)

Pythagoras didn't play baseball

:)

Changes

It is time for changes. Previous articles talk about what to do with Harden. I would put this strike out pitcher in the bullpen as a setup guy like Wood was a couple years ago. I think he could have shut the door on the Sox and improve the bullpen which I think is a bigger problem than the offense.

As for the offense, Soriano should be on the bench today. Put Hoffpair in LF and Fox at 3B. The lineup would be:

Theriot – SS
Fukudome-CF
Bradley – RF
Fox – 3B
Hoffpair – LF
Lee – 1st
Fontenot – 2nd
Soto – C
Z – p

You alternate lefty/right with high on-base people at the top with the sluggers in the middle and still pop at the bottom of the lineup. Later in the game you can do double switches for defense. This may give a little of defense at 3rd but up and down the order runs should be scored. Forget the egos of Lee in the cleanup slot and just go out and win!

Trade him for (Harden) A-Rod...

Or some other offense form the Yankees….Jeter is gettting old…maybe he’s available for SS…(move the Riot to 2B where he belongs)….

Now you're talking, KC!

:)

...and don't say I'm smoking crack....

The Yankees have ZERO pitching…and a SOLID “2” or close-to-anace….is JUST what they need…

Theriot

Theriot is better at SS than 2B. If Jeter came to the Cubs he should be 2B.

Ugh

My head… its exploding.

:)

<

You should have said

Jeter hasn’t been a SS for 3 years (thought they still trot him out there as one) and has a DH future unless he learns an OF position.

I realize...

That creates another Blauzer/Bowa situation….who was the 98 SS?

Who is playing 2b for the yaanks...

Perhaps we can dump Harden and Bradley(or Soriano) and say …Miles…for Sheffield and Jeter (or A-Rod)…win now baby

OK OK....Sheffield is with that at other NY team...other

Cano plays 2B for Yanks

OK....

Harden and Soriano, for Cano and AROD

There's no way in Heaven or Hell

That the Yankees are trading A-Rod.

Ur kiddding...aren't u...

I ddon’t particularly like him….but he provides a great bat for the regular season….u don’ t thinlk the yankees would gve up some offense for some reliable pitching right now????

They aren't giving up A-Rod

Oh, and have you seen that contract?

Look at Soriano's....

There’s not a lot of love in NY for A-Rod….
2. He probably could still play SS
3. I believe he still has an opt out….after like this yr and next….

so…4. He makes the Cubs win…he writes his own ticket…but
5. his choking tendencies fit right in with the Cubs offense…

Look…the Skanks are desperate for pitching….and well..the Scrubs are desperate for offense…

In your world

We might as well trade Soto for Mauer, Theriot for Hanley Ramirez, Lee for Pujols, Ramirez for Wright, Fontenot for Utley, Soriano for Ibanez, Fukudome for Hunter, Bradley for Ichiro, and our entire starting rotation for Lincecum, Halladay, Greinke, Santana, and Lee.

Deal with the players you have

Pre you are absolutely right. Effort should be to look at the Cubs major and minor league roster.

OK.....

What is so pie-in-the sky about Harden for (pick) Jeter/A-Rod or (Cano +1)….

The yankees DESPERATELY need pitching …..A-Rod…is well …OLD…and so is Jetet…

These aren’t particularly good deasl for the Cubs…BUT … FILL NEEDS NOW….and WIN THIS YEAR…

Is the Yankees objection going to be Harden’s health??

Hey everyone, isn't this a great idea?

Instead of using one of our starting pitches as a trade bait for a deal that’s even remotely possible and might actually help this team, let’s add 54.6 million in payroll in order to add two players that don’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of being traded.

Yankees

If I was the Yankees GM, I would not be trading the infielders. The Yankees have extra outfielders and DH players. Also I would not take Harden becuase of his health and would seek out instead Dempster or possibly Wells in a minor deal. I figure Lilly and Z are untouchables.

And Pre...if your a yankee fan....

The Cubs have a better chance at the playoffs right now that the Yankees…frankly..just because the Cubs aren’t in the AL East. The trades you describe aboveAREpie in the sky….but the YANKEES have ZERO/0/NIL/NONE…pitching…and the only way the can even stay in it in the AL east is to get MORE PITCHING….and the Cubs are the ONLY team with an excess of (starting) pitching

KCJONES as Cubs GM

What would you offer for Dempster?

If you want A-Rod then you would have to offer Z and A-Ram.

Dempster Soriano and Theriot

For 2 of the 3…Cabrera/Jeter/Cano

Z, The Riot, Soriano and Lee

For JEter Cabrera and Cano

And there's a reason why Jim Hendry is the GM of this team

and you are not

I doubt I'd make a good GM....

but Hendry still hasn’t assembled a team that can win the NL…and frankly I think he makes some boneheaded mistakes while doing so…I think He’s aa lot like Cashman…all aabout $$$$$ but not aall about being the best ORG. in baseball…..see Epstine.

Sure

on the 12th of Never.

Yikes.

Dude - the drunken posting is a bit excessive

Nothing against bending the elbow, mind, but you may want to re-read this stuff when you’re sober in the morning. If nothing else, you’ll be feeling our pain and a bit more, as well.

Rah Rah Rah thanks Brian...

For that 12h best pitching staff in the AL….

Dude

he has a point.

I'm pretty sure KCJones is a woman not a dude

I have a bad habit of calling

just about everyone “dude”

I may be confusing KC with a Casey

so I’m not sure, either.

Casey in OK, maybe?

You're beyond delusional

Making a point

No GM would trade a front line offensive stud for Harden and other cast offs.

I agree

That was meant for KC.

They aren't going to trade Alex Rodriguez

One of, if not the best hitters in baseball, and the reason their prize Free agent first baseman started hitting for Soriano.

Umm...or Cano

So those empty seats in the new park can pay him...

and they can boo him in September when the playoffs are on the line?

If we trade for a second baseman

Trade for Freddy Sanchez.

Pre - June 17, 2009 reply

OK...but who does he play for.....

and does that team need pitching (of the starting variety)…and do they have a 1B or outfielder that can produce….(and can they take on some salary)

Pirates

And they can use starting pitching, but I would be more interesting in trading them a lesser piece along with a couple of prospects. They seem to be willing to trade their best players these days.

Look at Iowa....

Perhapss Hendry can steal another one….and get the Bucks to take MILES ….

If MIles is as garbagy as we think

why on earth would anyone take and pay him?

Not happening.

The Milwaukee Bucks

have no use for Miles. His jump shot is terrible.

Try this lineup against Right handed starters

Theriot – SS
Fukudome-CF
Bradley – RF
Fox – 3B
Hoffpair – LF
Lee – 1st
Fontenot – 2nd
Soto – C

Once A-Ram is back

You don’t have to worry about 2B once A-Ram is back.

No other team is going to take on salary this year except the Yankees. It is a waste of time thinking of options that have as much chance as the Washington Nationals making the playoffs.

sacrifice some defense

you have to put some fresh bats in the lineup for a while atleast
Fox at 3B …. Hoffpauer to right… Fukudome in center… Soriano stays put in LF…
bench Bradley and Fontenot
Not Ideal, but standing pat doesnt work either

LouPrules - June 18, 2009 reply

Bradley is getting on-base more and who would you have play 2B. I hope not Miles. Instead versus right handers:

Theriot – SS
Fukudome-CF
Bradley – RF
Fox – 3B
Hoffpair – LF
Lee – 1st
Fontenot – 2nd
Soto – C

15th best offense in the NL...

needs more than that.

It is a start

Lou should forget salaries and move Harden to the bullpen as a setup guy. Whoever has a hot bat should play i.e. Fox.

I say...

Lou… Bench Sori for a few days and when he’s ready bring him back in the 5 slot…
If he gives you any lip sit his ass down on the bench and tell him to shut up and
count the 18 million he’s paid to play like crap…

Endrick - June 18, 2009 reply

and just for the record...

I am so tired of Sori and that hippitty hop when he makes a catch…
his insistance on hitting in the one slot…

Endrick - June 18, 2009 reply

This is a Christian house, boy. No hippity-hop language in here.

+1 for the Ladykillers reference

CaliCub - June 18, 2009 reply

My pet peeve with Soriano is his obsession with his fingernails

It seems every time the camera shows him in the dugout, he’s checking out his nails or chewing on them. Almost like he’s bored. Trivial, yes, but it drives me crazy.

LOL...

Endrick - June 18, 2009 reply

Tape-loop Lou

`in his postgame remarks Lou said that it was “getting close to time to make some tough decisions”.’

Barry Rozner's column

Hits the nail with a sledgehammer, re: ownership.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=301255

i didn't do that correctly

Perhaps this was a throw away line,but

It’s no news flash that the Cubs need help, and we have it on good authority that they’d take back Mark DeRosa in a heartbeat.

That’s assuming Cleveland makes him available in the next few weeks.

What you can’t assume is that the Cubs will have any flexibility or power to make it happen.

Right now,

I don’t think DRo would be anything more than a marginal improvement. They’d still be losing.

I think DeRo would help quite a bit.

Is he a savior? No. But right now, he’s hitting better than anyone on the team (except for Derrek Lee).

The price asked might be too high, unfortunately.

Al Yellon - June 18, 2009 reply

That and he plays a pretty decent third base.

N Oakley - June 18, 2009 reply

Its hard to believe...

that we are forced to continue to watch Lou trot out the same slumping hitters every day. I think it is way past time to make those tough decisions.

TRock - June 18, 2009 reply

Lineup for today should be

Theriot
Dome
Z
Lee
Bradley
Soriano 2b
Fox
Soto
Fontenot

Lineup

You sit Soriano for couple of games. This is a season crushing slump he is in. Hoff and Fox need to be in the lineup more.

TRock - June 18, 2009 reply

Sitting him isn't the answer

You don’t magically start hitting after a day off. See what happened yesterday after two days off, meaning Soriano got that day off everybody wants. Move him down in the lineup if thats what Lou is going to do. Put him at second base so Fox can play- it doesn’t matter how bad we are at defense if we are going to lose anyway.

Sitting Soriano...

I dont think that sitting him will cure his ills, but it will get him out of the lineup which has to help.

TRock - June 18, 2009 reply

Hoff and Fox would combine...

For 30 HRs and 100 RBIs easily. If you do not believe they could then you know nothing about baseball. Hoffpauir alone could hit 20 and 75 the rest of the way. I am tired of all the D-Lee and Soriano apologists neglecting the fact that Hoffpauir can really hit, not to mention Fox.

if you do not believe they could, then you know nothing about cooking.

buckmulligan - June 18, 2009 reply

Nice attitude

If you do not believe they could then you know nothing about baseball.

Personal attacks like this are always welcome. Not.

Not a personal attack...

A general statement. I specifically said “apologists” as in many people. When quoting someone, you should take into consideration the entire context.

It IS a personal attack. You replied to something that was posted in the original.

And just because someone disagrees with your opinion, that doesn’t meant that they know nothing – or they are an apologist.

Haha

You are in need of a life my friend. Learn how to spell while you are at it. Are you the personal attack police?

I see that you're relatively new here

Tones like yours don’t last long.

Please take notice of it and change it.

Are you the grammar police?

I’d suggest you take note of Allie’s response. And I am NOT your friend.

Yes I am the Grammar Police

Who are you two to tell me what I can or can not say. Reality is something you should look into. For the record, any Badger is no friend of mine.

You'd think the grammar police

would properly end a question with a question mark.

Fail. Try a new one, n00b

Actually, it was a statement.

Therefore I ended it with a period. Nice quote of Bill Simmons. Knowing you read his garbage helps me understand where you’re coming from.

Actually, it was a statement.
Therefore I ended it with a period

This should read:
“Actually, it was a statement; therefore, I ended it with a period.”

Nice quote of Bill Simmons.

This is a sentence fragment. You should consider revising it.

Come on, grammar police. Get with it, man!

Nice

Goodie, you are awesome

I do what I can.

:-)

This isn't that kind of blog.

The people here, by and large, are interested in talking about the Cubs, and sometimes other topics, in a civil manner.

As to your original question, it is somewhat self-policed. The moderator can’t possibly read every comment, but as Allie said, that kind of tone generally isn’t welcomed, and certainly doesn’t encourage people to have discussions with you.

As far as the rest of your statements, whatever.

You may not have noticed

but Derrek Lee is not part of the problem right now.

Oh but he is

What this team needs is a clean-up hitter. I like Lee, but all he does is hit singles and grounders. The Cubs need a guy who can hit for power, Lee does not, the numbers do not lie. Plus he is being paid 13M to be a slugger, not a slap hitter. 27 RBIs in Mid-June from your clean-up guy is pathetic, so yes Lee is “part” of the problem.

Last year

Much as we loathed to see a guy on first with GIDLee coming to the plate, we’re reaping the opposite reward this year. Lee has had no one to drive in.

He is being paid to be a #3 hitter,

not clean-up. Unless you want to fault him for Rami’s injury, I don’t understand that logic. The dollar amount on his contract is frankly irrelevant. There are ways to get Hoff and/or Fox in the lineup without supplanting one of our best hitters right now.

Lineup for today's game ->

Soriano LF
TheRiot SS
Bradley RF
Lee 1B
Soto C
Fontenot 3rd
Fukudome CF
Andres Blanco 2nd
Z SP

cubsnlinux - June 18, 2009 reply

Really Lou? Sticking with Soriano 1st? Bold move

Mapmaker - June 18, 2009 reply

I don't think so after listing to Lou yesterday.

I believe he’s giving the current lineup a few more chances before a big shakeup is made.

N Oakley - June 18, 2009 reply

No Miles!

It’s a start.

Well

at least with Z in the lineup… maybe we should get a run before its over.

Who's he gonna knock in?

Those three guys in front of him aren’t exactly on-base machines this month. That just means Z will K a lot while swinging for the fences. Again.

Himself

Don’t you know? The pitchers have to do everything on this team.

For real?

I was really hoping Sori would be sitting for a few days. He even said he would sit if that’s what it took to get this team going. Come on Lou!

sue369 - June 18, 2009 reply

So much for the so called changes..arghh

Thank you Lou for Nothing..zip..nada

cubsnlinux - June 18, 2009 reply

At least

Miles is out of the line-up.

yeah right

This clusterfuck is definitely on Hendry for assembling a god awful team given as many resources as he got over the past few years..unbelievable

cubsnlinux - June 18, 2009 reply

All right, wrap it up folks

More arguments to be had in today’s pre-game thread. Jump!