The Cubs salute veterans on the scoreboard before Saturday's game. (BCB Photo by David Sameshima)
Bruce Miles confirms that the Cubs are thinking about going to 11 pitchers on Monday:
Lou says one solution to Monday's impending roster crunch is to get to to 11 pitchers instead of 12. That would mean just one position player would have to be sent out when Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and pitcher Angel Guzman come off the DL Monday. Jeff Baker and Andres Blanco are going to stay, meaning Mike Fontenot, Jake Fox, Micah Hoffpauir and Sam Fuld will be watching things nervously here the next couple days as will pitchers Kevin Hart and Jeff Samardzija.
I'm all for that. My solution: send Hoffpauir, Hart and Samardzija back to Des Moines. Sam Fuld can handle the outfield positions that Hoffpauir wasn't all that good at (not to mention that since May 25, Hoffpauir is hitting .189/.204/.377 in 53 AB with one -- yes one -- walk and 17 strikeouts), and Fox can back up first base.
Baseball note: golf great Tiger Woods weighs in on Yankee Stadium ticket prices:
Tiger Woods can afford to buy tickets to a game at Yankee Stadium. Heck, he can probably afford to buy Yankee Stadium. But he's still aware of how costly attending sports events can be for, you know, us mere mortals.
Asked about price-setting policy at this week's AT&T National tournament, for which he serves as host, Woods chose Yankee Stadium as Exhibit A in "What NOT to do" when putting on a family-friendly sports event.
"We don't want to have what happened at Yankee Stadium," Woods said Friday. "Tickets are so overpriced that you can't bring the family. We want to have everyone come out and enjoy being in a family atmosphere, walk around, have a good time and not have it cost an arm and a leg."
This upcoming offseason is going to be a time of major recessionary adjustment for major league teams and players. You already saw some of this late last offseason with some of the free-agent signings; this winter, I think you are going to see many teams tighten their belts and all teams will have to think long and hard about ticket price increases -- case in point: the Tigers. Detroit averaged 39,539 last year, raised prices significantly in the city perhaps hardest-hit by the economy, and despite having a first-place team this year, attendance in Detroit so far is down almost 25%. Same in Toronto, where the Blue Jays have played well and are still in contention -- down about 23%.
Cautionary tale for owners, including the soon-to-be new owners of the Cubs. The Cubs may appear recession-proof, but there is a point at which even Cub attendance may start to tail off.
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Mike Burns, in case you haven't heard of him before, is no kid prospect -- he'll be 31 in nine days. In fact, the Cubs should have a pretty good book on him, since he spent 2008 in the Cub organization at Iowa. He's been around so much that the only photo available of him is in a Red Sox cap, and he only made seven appearances for them in 2006. The Brewers are his fourth ML team; he made two relief appearances vs. the Cubs in September 2005 when he was with Houston and two more in April 2006 as a Cincinnati Red. He never started a ML game until eleven days ago. He has allowed a fair number of walks (six) given his number of innings (16.1). Derrek Lee is 2-for-2 (both doubles) against him. In short, who knows what to expect?
Ted Lilly is 4-1, 1.85 in seven starts at home this year, and has not faced the Brewers in 2009. Watch out for Ryan Braun (6-for-13, 2 doubles, 2 HR) and Prince Fielder (6-for-15, a double).
Today's game will be available nationally on TBS -- except in the blackout areas, as pointed out by Allie in last night's recap. It's also on CSN Chicago and FSN Wisconsin. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 174 comments
Can Tiger Woods play LF?
zevkalman - July 5, 2009
We need a big win today, boys...
Hopefully Master Ted goes out there and mows them down… I’d love to see a Sammy Fuld start in the lead off spot too… since Fukudome didn’t work out too well… let’s put Fuld in at center, or sit Sori, but Fuld in left and move Fukudome down to 7 or 8 in the order.
lswaidz - July 5, 2009
it's almost as though Lou wants to avoid starting Fuld in the lead-off spot, as
that may put even more pressure on Soriano (if both are playing in the same game).
Shouldn’t winning be the top priority? If Soriano is already a head case and batting under .200 (since mid-May) does any of this other stuff really matter? Winning and not losing contact with the Suds & RedBirds is all that matters right now. Soriano’s feelings should be low on the list.
LAcarl519 - July 5, 2009
I agree he's struggling...
But what gives you the impression that he’s a head case? He’s always shown composure throughout his struggles and acknowledges that he needs to get better to help the team. Not sure where people get this misconception.
CubsBullsBears - July 5, 2009
He has composure, but it doesn't seem like he gets the fact that significant adjustments
might need to be made. Don’t try to pull every low and outside pitch to LF and maybe try a lighter bat: I mean, as someone ages his bat speed doesn’t get better. I hope he has the smarts to realize that.
zevkalman - July 5, 2009
DLee was doing the same thing...
During his struggles, and people were saying his bat speed was too slow and that he had rapidly declined. I think Soriano will come out of this like Lee did, but I agree with the lighter bat idea.
CubsBullsBears - July 5, 2009
It is Lou who said Soriano is putting pressure on himself.
Look at the guy’s lifetime #s with the bases loaded: just awful. He may not react when he screws up, but his composure after failure is quite different than the composure he brings to big situations (RISP situations). He does hit most of his HRs with no one on base.
To say Soriano is not conscious of the situation he is in would be a bit naive. But, let’s say he is not a head case, my point is, it is not like he is coming back from an injury and hitting .300 and we don’t want to disturb a GOOD THING.
My point is, Fonzi is already in major struggles and the downside to messing with him is minimal, so just do what is best for the team. I say ignore what may be going on in his head. Believe me, I want Fonzi to succeed, but in the interim, I want the Cubs to stay in this race.
LAcarl519 - July 5, 2009
I agree...
And I think batting him 6th is best for Soriano and the team right now. Maybe it takes some pressure off him down there, and let’s us put someone better suited for the role in the leadoff spot. Also, if and when he does come around, now he’s in a prime RBI spot behind Lee, Ramirez, and Bradley/Fox to drive some runs in.
CubsBullsBears - July 5, 2009
i'd like to see him hit seventh when rami gets back.
buckmulligan - July 5, 2009
I believe...
Lou is hoping that if he keeps running Sori out there and bat him in Lead-off that he will hit his way out of the slump. I would think that if Big Papi could get dropped why can’t Sori be dropped?
gaclaudy - July 5, 2009
Forced!
We need this one bad.
3 out of 4 is a hell of a lot better in terms of giving us a chance for a 7/4 or 8/3 homestand. We lose today and we are looking at a 7/4, 6/5 homestand if we are lucky. Today is a big day for MoJo into the ASG break.
LAcarl519 - July 5, 2009
Hopefully we can win this
After yesterday, people are seeming to forget that id we win today we will still have taken 3 of 4 from the suds.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 5, 2009
Roster to win now.....
I have advocated 11 pitchers for some time and reality is that those who have options remaining and can go down to IA and do something productive is the decision tree.
Of the 12 pitchers on the roster Hart and Samardzjia have options and are not instrumental right now so 2 go down and Guzman returns.
That leaves 14 position players: Ramirez and Johnson return, so if Baker stays and Fontenot who has options remaining goes down to get right. Then the question is between Fuld, Fox and Hoffpauir….
Defensively Hoff appears to be the odd man out and with his recent slumping he too goes down to get right.
Ivy Walls - July 5, 2009
hoff and fox
are pretty much the same player (in what they can do, save for 3rd base).
that said, fox has the good bat right now, we’ll see hoff back soon enough.
laidbackliam - July 5, 2009
I think Fuld should go down
Reed Johnson is a better overall player. Not quite as good defensively, but a much more productive hitter.
Poloplaya14 - July 5, 2009
The Baker trade happened way too late, and has partially caused this log jam.
You deal for a guy like Baker 6 weeks ago, to try and fill the void at 3rd while A-Ram is out. Now, Aramis is back already, and Fox had already been handling 3rd adequately in his absence while driving in runs.
That deal made little sense at the time. And… it’s an admission of failure because both Miles and Freel couldn’t fill that role.
How they’ve handled Jake Fox also makes little sense. They were struggling and needed a bat. So they called up Fox, and basically only used him to PH, while Trammel worked with him at 3B. Then, they sent him down to Iowa, where he played 1B and DH for a week, even though they needed him to play 3B. They lost 4 in a row that week (2-1, 2-1 in 13, 7-4, and 2-0). All winnable games in which they could’ve used his bat. Then, they re-called him and started him at 3B ever since. Ridiculous.
SackMan - July 5, 2009
+1
I don’t get it either. The roster moves you cited make absolutely no sense. Jim Hendry is his own worst enemy right now. He keeps adding the same type of player and it’s making his decisions that much tougher. I’m trying to see a plan to what he is doing, but it just confuses me. There seems to be no stategy to his moves. Just throw them in a pot and hope something good cooks up. When they get a hot player like Fox or Fuld, Lou locks them to the bench. I realize playing AAA players is not a long term solution, but isn’t that why you have these guys down on the farm?
willie mays hayes' gloves - July 5, 2009
I think Fuld goes back down...
Although Hoff is struggling right now, he’s had some success in that pinch-hit role off the bench. Although Fuld can play all the OF positions, we’ll already have 4 OF’s with RJ coming back and possibly 6 with Fox and Hoff able to play LF. We’ll see, I just hope it’s not Fox going down.
CubsBullsBears - July 5, 2009
agreed
Too bad. Fuld will be the odd man out. He’s a good player and I’m afraid he’ll be trade bait .. the roster realities will never give him a chance to shine as he could, same as McGehee ..
cubnational - July 5, 2009
Ted will shine them on
even if I never liked Dos Equis when I was drinking ..
cubnational - July 5, 2009
Try Dos Equis Amber....I bought some a few days ago. Of course, I'm partial to amber.
BTW, Emily, have you tried Alaskan Ale yet? Yummy….
zevkalman - July 5, 2009
haven't drank since 1982
my last two beers were aboard my ship, the USS Forrestal (CV 59) doing circles in the Indian Ocean in Mr. Reagan’s Navy .. 68 days at see and your tax dollars bought every man in the task force exactly TWO beers of this English brew. It was English alright. Last time I had Dos Equis was at my cousin’s wedding in South Deering in 1979.
cubnational - July 5, 2009
at SEA, pardon me
cubnational - July 5, 2009
I'm not a beer drinker, Zev
but I’ve heard it’s a great brew.
Emelie - July 5, 2009
Attendance at Wrigley
will probably remain strong throughout the summer but wait until late August if we are out of the race I can see attendance dropping. Many will have spent vacation money by then and will be looking to save up. If we’re in the race, it will be packed till the end.
mrcubsfan - July 5, 2009
Pretty much like every other year?
CubsBullsBears - July 5, 2009
Attendance would only drop a little
Wrigley Field is still a draw for tourists. As we saw with the Twins (but not with the Tribe) fans (like St. Louis) will make the trip to Chicago, and many midwest Cubs fans will still come to town. You’d probably see those obstructed RF seats empty more often than not — but it would take a long, long recession to see Cubs attendance drop below 30K per game. On the south side, it’s a completely different story. You can see White Sox crowds down at many games. The Cell is just another ballpark. Nothing unique about it.
There’s still plenty corporate support of the Cubs, so those tickets wouldn’t be cancelled. Wrigley Field — and 90% of the NFL stadiums are recession-proof.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - July 5, 2009
I think you're right on regarding ticket prices
I’m not a season ticket holder. I’ll get a handful of games via the VWR when tickets go on sale in Februrary. And every year I would have a few opportunities to get tickets when friends, co-workers, etc., have extras they’re trying to sell. Until recently, I would take any opportunity to go to a game.
But now… when the opportunity comes with a $60-80 price tag, I have to think about it .
And it’s not recession-related; thankfully I’ve not personally felt the pain of this recession. It’s just that as recently as, say, 2000, I could go to a game for $10, and I have a hard time justifying $60 for the same experience.
ChipSet - July 5, 2009
Even the Brewers, who raise ticket prices when the Cubs are in town,
Do not charge exorbitant rates, or at least they did not a few years ago. I got two front-row loge tickets in June 2007 for about $30 per seat.
Vermont Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
There's only so much you can charge for tix
in a small market. That’s another one of the problems for SD, Milwaukee, etc. Not enough corporate support — or, if there’s a choice…the available money goes to the Packers and the Chargers..
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - July 5, 2009
I think, if a miracle occurrec
and I made it back home to Chicago, depending on employment, I would strive to get to one or two games a month just because I’d be so deliriously happy to be there …
but after the wallet got hit, I am sure I’d be thinking twice.
The Steinbrenners are such pieces of work ain’t they
cubnational - July 5, 2009
Yes, ticket prices for the seats behind home plate
At the new Yankee Stadium are $2,625 per seat. I was talking to some Phillies fans when I had a layover in Philadelphia recently, and they went to the interleague games between the Yankees and Phillies in New York. They told me Phillies fans outnumbered and out-shouted Yankees fans.
Vermont Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
DL
DL Soriano for 14 days, give him time to get his mind right. That won’t happen, but I think it would definitly help him. If Hendry doesn’t go that route then Hoff, Font and Hart should be sent down. Fontenot did a decent job at 3b, but Baker and Blanco are out of options so Fontenot needs to go down and work on his hitting.
TheCubsGuy - July 5, 2009
good answer is there is a medical reason, it also gets him off the hook for the ASG
Ivy Walls - July 5, 2009
Soriano needs the time off for his knee.
SackMan - July 5, 2009
hypothetical question
… let’s say either Soriano or Bradley goes down with a season-ending injury. Would we be lobbying to trade for someone like Adam Dunn, or would we look for Hendry to fill the position internally with Fuld/Fox/Hoff?
It’s an interesting question, IMO, because many of us might be clamoring for less Soriano/Milton and more young guys, but there IS something about veteran experience down the stretch?
I had this thought because Gammon’s yesterday said Dunn will be traded if Washington can find a taker. Clearly, we wouldn’t be interested right now (where would we play him?), but if one of our corner guys goes down soon, would we as fans be in favor of the deal?
I’m not sure what I think on the matter (I’m a big Jake Fox fan). But I thought I’d throw it out there …
elgato - July 5, 2009
Gammons, sorry
elgato - July 5, 2009
Being forced to deal b/c of injury
almost always results in overpaying. I hope we don’t have to do that.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
same lineup as yesterday
lou, why the hell is fukudome leading of? God, you’re so stubborn.
lexmarklover - July 5, 2009
I don't understand that.
Take another guy who is slumping terribly and put him there? At least Done will take walks, but I just don’t understand.
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
My vote is Fontenot.
cubswynn - July 5, 2009
I agree
I don’t see a need for Fontenot and Blanco both to stay. Fox, Micah and Fuld can swing the bat. I’d say It’s Micah or Fontenot going down
Cubsfanatic - July 5, 2009
fuld is probably going to sent down because lou doesn't like it when his players get hits.
lexmarklover - July 5, 2009
I can't believe nobody has mentioned this...
…but from 12-1 pm (CST) on TBS will be the announcement of the 2009 All-Star teams. My prediction: Theodore and Soriano (?!) make it. I’m more than fine with one Cub this year; we don’t really deserve any more.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Soriano? Seriously?
I can see Lilly making it, but Soriano?
Vermont Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
fan vote
lexmarklover - July 5, 2009
True.
Do you think BLou will vote for Soriano again this year?
Vermont Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
No, but drew did, I know he did.
Drew where are ya, I know you voted for the .220 batting lead-off hitter!!
You know who SHOULD start in the OF? Adam “I’m a Lumberjack” Dun.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
ASG voting
should be taken out of the hands of the fans. Blatant homerism and popularity, it has nothing to do with performance.
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
But it's supposed to be a popularity contest...
The point of the exhibition is so that the fans can see who they want to see.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Then if Sori gets voted in
(which I don’t believe will happen) so be it.
I don’t believe that’s the point of the exhibition. Maybe it is now, but I hate calling it the All-Star Game, but then populating it with guys who aren’t having the best years. But I also hate the concept that it’s in the middle of the season, so players like Dome can’t have great first halves, make the ASG, then drop off a cliff.
It’s just me. I don’t like it. I don’t watch it.
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
I haven't voted
for anyone in teh ASG. I find it to be particularly useless, and I won’t support Bud’s insistence that it determine home-field advantage for the WS. I won’t turn it on, either, especially because it’s on Fox.
drewishdrewid - July 5, 2009
Seems a bit harsh.
I’m a baseball fan first, and I can’t do crap about how all-stars are selected, nor can I do anything about the game counting for WS home field. I’m still going to watch the game because I love the game of baseball.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I love baseball too
but I hate what Bud Selig has done to it.
drewishdrewid - July 5, 2009
Cubs Lineup
K. Fukudome
R. Theriot
D. Lee
M. Bradley
J. Fox
A. Soriano
G. Soto
M. Fontenot
T. Lilly
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
What a piss-poor lineup.
Because it worked so well yesterday!
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
My opinion
Fukudome should not be leading off. Theriot-Bradley or Fuld-Theriot should be 1-2. Soriano should not be in the game. Let’s count how many RBI opportunities he has and misses.
Fuld is no savior, but what does he have to do (or what does Soriano have to fail to do) to get in the game.
I think I am pretty much done defending Lou. This is just stupid. He finally takes Soriano out of the leadoff spot, and inserts the only player (pitchers included) hitting worse than him into the leadoff spot. So any “experiment” they do trying to jumpstart the team by moving Soriano down is destined to not make a difference. AND, once Ramirez comes back, the 1-5 lineup will likely improve, and Soriano will have even more opportunities to fail.
tomas21 - July 5, 2009
i think i know how this will end
jesus christos - July 5, 2009
Well
It turns out I’m only blacked out b/c I don’t have CSN.
Its on “local” tv (even if its a channel I can’t get) so the national broadcast is blacked out. Which is still stupid, IMO, but… there it is.
Allie - July 5, 2009
Wimbeldon update
Federer up 10 games to 9 in the final set over Roddick.
Tennis is fun.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
11-10
Federer
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Really good stuff... Roddick has played his best tennis ever...
Hasn’t been broken yet, but is just matching Federer at this point.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
11-11
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Agreed
This really is a transcendent display.
11 games all.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
They're both so dominant on serve...
but even the groundstroke play has been impressive.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
I hate to admit
It just seems like Federer is a machine and Roddick is soon to falter.
Hope I’m wrong.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Yeah, that's the expectation...
Federer is just so good, and Roddick has been clearly playing above himself to this point today.
But he hasn’t blinked yet. Maybe Federer will have a hiccup somewhere.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
13-13...
Hopefully Roddick can break soon. I’d like to be able to get lunch before the game today.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
But it doesn't look like Roddick is going to get that break
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Fed keeps winning 40-0
Roddick keeps going to deuce.
It would be quite a shock if Roddick pulled it out. But this has been one for the ages.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Roddick has played the best he possibly can...
and he’s just matching Federer. Federer is going to have to choke for Roddick to win this.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Roddick's groundstrokes are giving out on him now
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Bittersweet
for the American.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
I have no idea
what to expect from this team today. Ted has flirted with no hitters last year and this year maybe he does it today. ;-)
sue369 - July 5, 2009
yes... enough flirting. He needs to consummate the deal!
Emelie - July 5, 2009
AL STARTERS
Mauer
Tex
Pedroia
Jeter
Longoria
Bay
Ichiro
Hamilton
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Texas fans really went vote crazy this year
Hamilton has had a terrible season… surpised Kinsler didn’t squeak in
Cubsfanatic - July 5, 2009
Eye-brow raiser
Hamilton over Hunter
Pedroia over Hill
I dislike the fan voting system.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
I dislike the whole premise of the ASG
Especially the idea it needs to “count” for something.
Allie - July 5, 2009
I'm fine with the all-star game, but the "making it count" thing is stupid...
it’s an exhibition, voted on by the fans. I’m totally okay with a popular vote format for an exhibition game. But having the game mean something is silly.
Granted, it hasn’t really made a difference to this point (as I don’t think any of the World Series games have gone 7 since they went to the format), but it’s still ridiculous. Especially when you consider that the fans often pick poorly.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Maybe I am late to the game and this is off topic
BUT, is anyone watching this tennis????
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
See above
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Thanks
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
YOUR 2009 ALL-STAR WINNING NL STARTERS
MOLINA (YADIER)
PUJOLS
UTLEY
HAN-RAM
WRIGHT
BRAUN
IBANEZ
BELTRAN
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Beltran and Ibanez probably wont play
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
They won't.
Which means Soriano will be starting, and striking out in all three of his ABs in the all-star game.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I believe that the coaches make the decision in case of injury...
in which case, Soriano will not make the team.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
That is correct.
But I believe it is tradition to allow the next vote-getter to fill-in.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I don't know that I believe that to be the case...
do you have evidence of such things happening regularly in the past?
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
No, I left my "All-Star Game Unwritten Traditions" textbook
at the office.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I'm not saying you're wrong, just that I don't remember that being practice...
You seemed more definitive, but I take it you’re just guessing as well?
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
I just rmemeber last year...
…Soriano couldn’t start and Holliday, who, IIRC, was the next leading vote getter, started for him.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Holliday was selected as an alternate last year...
He was hitting .337 with 14 HR and was voted in by the players. He only got the start after it was announced that Soriano wouldn’t play.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9801835
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/news/story?id=3481665
So I’m thinking Soriano won’t be selected.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Yeah
I think if you don’t make the top 3 in the outfield it is up to the mgr
LT - July 5, 2009
Super.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I agree
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
I'm glad we don't have a starter
Call me Benedict Arnold if you will.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
We don't deserve any.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Indubitably
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
So who will be our representative?
Lilly?
Vermont Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
Yup
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Aramis almost has more HR for the season
as David Wright. Wright shouldn’t start the all-star game.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Wonder who will rep the Cubs.
I wish it was Randy Wells.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Theodore. And Soriano.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Soriano?
Unique - July 5, 2009
I hope not
That would be embarrassing.
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
He was 4th in OF voting.
I’m not saying it is fair, just stating the facts.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Ok ..
but he’s not selected.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Huh?
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
You said Soriano was selected because he was
4th in voting right?
Unique - July 5, 2009
I still think he's gonna be picked for Ibanez or Beltran...
…but I’d love to be wrong.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Going by the selection process last year, I'd say Upton and Hawpe...
those appear to be the two top vote-getters among the player vote (among those who didn’t win the fan vote), and that’s how Holliday got it last year.
Hopefully that rationale holds again. Soriano has no business being there, and I don’t think it will help the team for him to go.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Probably the man on the bump today
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
We could be at the end of this marathon match
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
The end
is nigh
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
HaHa
Match Point Federer
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
Honestly
4 hours ago I thought Roddick was more frat boy than Tennis pro. Not any more.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
He did one hell of a job.
He derserved to win. Would of beat anybody else.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Best match of Roddick's career...
Just unfortunate that he had to face the best player on the planet on his best surface.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Federer wins
louslovechild - July 5, 2009
He is better at tennis
than anyone I know about is good at anything.
Better than Pujuols is at baseball
Better than MJ was at basketball
Better than Bill Gates was at the interwebz.
Better than Kasparov and Fishcher were at chess
Better than Tiger is at golf.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s just the way it is.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Hard to compare individual sports to team sports...
as an individual in an individual sport doesn’t rely on others for dominance. But it’s a reasonable argument. He’s pretty ridiculous.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
True...
and true.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
Better than Gretzy at hockey?
I’m not convinced of that one…
CubFanInCanberra (9387milesfromWrigley) - July 5, 2009
NL PITCHERS
CAIN (P)
LILLY (M)
HAREN (M)
LINCECUM (M)
BILLINGSLEY (P)
JOHNSON (P)
FRANKLIN (M)
BELL (?)
BROXTON (?)
K-ROD (P)
SANTANA (?)
CORDERO (?)
MARQUIS (M) !!!!!!!!!!!
P – Player’s selection
M – Manger’s selection
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
with ted lilly the NL will crush the AL!
jesus christos - July 5, 2009
Marquis makes it
he’s had a good year so far
LT - July 5, 2009
he really has
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
Raise your hand if you saw that coming...
There should be no hands raised.
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
oh oh..me!
No, that would be a lie.
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
He's never been as awful
as everyone liked to think he was.
Allie - July 5, 2009
NL RESERVES
UPTON
McCANN
HAWPE
PENCE
TEJADA
O-HUDSON
FIELDER
HOWARD
SANCHEZ
A-GONZ
ZIMMERMAN
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
thats a lot of first basemen
LT - July 5, 2009
Yes it is.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Yeah, but all deserve to go.
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - July 5, 2009
I would break the law
if it would allow Hawpe to play RF for the Cubs
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
If you break the law
might as well allow Grienke and Utley play for them also.
Unique - July 5, 2009
touche
Reddevil - July 5, 2009
I think the NL has better individual players than the AL.
We could go tit-for-tat at position by position, and I’d almost always take a NL player over an AL one. Doesn’t seem to translate into All-Star game victories, though…
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
last year Cubs had 6
this year they get the cursory selection
Ivy Walls - July 5, 2009
That's what happens when your best players all struggle (or get hurt)
.500 teams don’t tend to get tons of all-stars.
Luckily, all-star selections don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
How many people here watch the All-Star game from start to finish?
cubswgnrocks - July 5, 2009
I do.
Are you kidding me, all the fun stuff happens when the managers don’t know how to shuffle the lineups. Stupid rules.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I'll watch pieces of it
But frankly, the last few have gone on for WAAAY too long.
Allie - July 5, 2009
It's interestiing that Z isn't in this year but was last year..
He’s actually pitching at a similar level – and is well below his ERA for 2008 (though this might have been different at the All star break). Winning changes everything. However, I don’t think it’s a problem that the Cubs aren’t so represented this year – keeping things low-key this years seems like the way to go.
DisCUBbobulated - July 5, 2009
AL PITCHING
GREINKE
HALLADAY
VERLANDER
WAKEFIELD
BUEHRLE
PAPELBON
NATHAN
RIVERA
FUENTES
BAILEY (only rookie)
FELIX
BECKETT
EDWIN
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Greinke should start.
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - July 5, 2009
I love that Wakefield is pitching well this year
Damn kids! Get off my lawn!
chitownhawkeye - July 5, 2009
A-JONES
YOUKILIS
V-MART
GRANDERSON
HUNTER
MORNEAU
BARTLETT
CRAWFORD
ZOBRIST
YOUNG
HILL
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Love Ben Zobrist and Jason Bartlett.
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - July 5, 2009
LOVE Ben Zobrist
he is my fantasy all-star
CubbyBlues - July 5, 2009
Good omen from Ballhawk:
Hopefully its better than this one earlier:
Allie - July 5, 2009
well thats not good
jesus christos - July 5, 2009
Who do you think will be on the fan voting list?
I could see Derrek Lee or Ryan Theriot being one of the options (prob. DLee). I don’t think they put pitchers on there. If they did I’m sure Zambrano would get the option.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
Randy Wells
deserves it more than Z.
Unique - July 5, 2009
Agreed
But he has only had 10 starts and managers probably overlook that (especially since Lou is not one of the managers).
ak123 - July 5, 2009
I doubt Lee will be on the list with so many 1B already selected...
don’t know otherwise though.
SouthernCub - July 5, 2009
Just announced
We’re not represented.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
and D-Lee
would make it 4 first basemen in the game. Theriot would be a good choice.
Unique - July 5, 2009
FINAL VOTE NL
REYNOLDS
KEMP
VICTORINO
SANDOVAL
GUZMAN
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Guzman
over Theriot?
Unique - July 5, 2009
Managers made it clear
After strong representation last year, they didn’t want Cubs clogging the team.
Fans also made it clear. Other than Soriano we didn’t even make the top 10 lists.
Whatever, now I don’t need to watch the game.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
I don't think that has anything to do with it.
The vast majority of our team has sucked this year. I don’t see any “deserving” all-stars on our team that didn’t make it.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
You could argue
Theriot but yeah I agree.
D-Lee has good numbers. But the other first basemen have better numbers.
Unique - July 5, 2009
I really thought Theriot was going to be selected
Only for team representation. There are better SS but with 33 players, it would have been nice to give the rub to someone who works hard.
Speaking of replacing players, with Beltran not playing, do they have to pick an OF to replace him? I feel like they have reserves for that. Can they choose a backup to a different position?
ak123 - July 5, 2009
Well fans made it clear
Last year it seemed like Cubs were team to choose. Every starter made it on the top 5 voting. other than Soriano we weren’t on there anywhere.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
Fans aren't best indicator
but yeah, I agree.
Unique - July 5, 2009
We were good last year.
And had career years from just about everyone on the team.
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
Agreed
But even Fukudome got voted in and he was undeserving by July 1st.
I would have thought there would have been more votes from Home Games. We do sell out more than most teams.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
+100
Clutche - July 5, 2009
I would have put Theriot over Guzman
Doesn’t matter, Victorino or Kemp will probably get the votes.
ak123 - July 5, 2009
AL FINAL VOTE
FIGGINS
INGE
PENA
KINSLER
LIND
dtpollitt - July 5, 2009
I really hate Chip.
I’m so glad we have Len.
Unique - July 5, 2009
It's time to...
JUMP!
GateCity, VA Cubs Fan - July 5, 2009
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