Bleed Cubbie Blue

I'll channel Worf:

“PTOOEY.”

Phht

Emelie - July 8, 2009 via mobile reply

First

That is a first for me.

wccubfan - July 8, 2009 reply

Keep trying.

Shucks

Can’t let the old guy have one, huh?

wccubfan - July 8, 2009 reply

2 runs in 24 innings

Thats DEFINITELY not going to get it done. The pitching has been good enough to sweep this series. The hitting just keeps stagnating. Bradley with 19 RBI’s in the first half. Ouch. I knew he would maybe have behavoir issues, I didn’t know he would stop being a productive hitter.

The opening day lineup made a one day reapparance Monday and now who knows what will happen between then and when Soto gets back.

They have put some pressure on themselves for this weekend, esp if the Cardinals win their next 2.

Right.

So, for the next two days: GO BREWERS GO.

Batting Average with RISP

Santo said the Cubs have a team avg of .210 with RISP? Is that right?

wccubfan - July 8, 2009 reply

last I heard it was around 239? but its been a few weeks

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?sort=avg&split=39&group=9&season=2009&seasonType=2&statType=batting&type=reg

223

Oh fudge

Dead last…

The Cubs are 2nd in the majors with 14 bases loaded walks

Of course first is the Nationals lol…so I guess thats not a good stat to count on, better to get bases loaded hits than bases loaded walks.

cubs pitching giving up the walks or the cubs receiving the walks

hitters getting bases loaded walks

Something this offense has actually been good at.

Feast or Famine

That seems to be the story this year.

Danwood - July 8, 2009 reply

that's a good way to put it

katie casey - July 8, 2009 reply

ok when has the 'feast' been? lol

I’ve missed that…seems like even the wins have been squeakers.

Yeah, I was going to say "famine or famine and death is not an option".

The players should answer the question about hitting...

Piniella can only do so much. Joshua can only do so much. It is the players who walk to the plate, the players who truly know what their mental approach is. They are the ones who should be answering the questions.

I feel for Piniella, the players and the media. The media have to ask the questions, and Piniella is the scapegoat that is put in front of them every single day. He has said he wants more offense, more consistency, but it is up to the players to provide it.

I think too many of these players though take questions from the media as a personal attack (Milton Bradley, I am looking at you).

Oh, I agree.

I think Lou was being sarcastic.

Woah

That gives him ten walks in 10.1 innings in the major leagues

Always knew it was bad… didn’t know it was that many.

thats why it hurts to waste a good start from even bad pitchers :(

I'd like to see Marshall back in the rotation too.

Actually, I wasn’t too happy when they took him out of it.

katie casey - July 8, 2009 reply

Baseball-Ref is a horror story

Cubs: (out of 16 NL teams)
15 in R
15 in H
15 in 2B
14 in SB
14 in BA
12 in OBP
13 in OPS
12 in Total Bases
13 in Sac Flies

Even a league-average offense would have this team in first place with this pitching staff.

ERA: 4th
WHIP: 5th
Fewest hits allowed: 3rd
Fewest runs allowed: 3rd
Team ERA+: 3rd
Quality Starts: 1st

Thats the only thing saving us from being the Nats

Even being in the middle 1/3 of the teams would have us in first… and above that would have us on a runaway from the division.

Yikes

It’s a wonder we’re actually .500.

Yep

Shocking even.

Just had to share the horror…

Even scarier...

What happens when the pitching stops holding up?

we go on a 8 game losing streak

again

But the pitching was actually good in the last one

Right.

The hitting has been the problem all year.

I know

We’ll be lucky if the pitching only goes on an 8 game skid.

Its not right to ask the starters to carry this much over such a long haul.

Has an offense ever gone this sideways after being so good the year before?

What changes did we make to get better on offense again? Oh yeah…we signed Milton Bradley and Aaron Miles.

Just two people

That’s no excuse for the entire team.

yep

This team on paper shouldn’t be this awful offensively.

correction:

This team on ~~paper~~ a baseball field shouldn’t be this awful offensively.

well obviously they have been awful on the field.

Its obviously Von Joshua’s fault.

this team shouldn't even be this far below average

ugh

They aren't who they thought they were

If I can borrow from a famous rant

thats what happens when everyone crowns your ass

I think

Soriano completely imploding has had an effect on the whole team.

just stunning when you see it in print.

JB 23 - July 8, 2009 reply

It's gonna be a long 42+ hours until Friday afternoon

My predictions:
Number of times the name “Roy Halladay” is brought up: 304
Number of lineups proposed: 12,907
Number of trades proposed: 759
Number of trades proposed involving Brian Roberts: 582
Number of comments pleading the immediate benching of [name your own player]: 2,744
Number of comments channeling Eric Hanna: 992

NEEDS MORE HANNA!!

I gotta have more Hanna

You forgot BJ Ryan.

He’s the flavor of the afternoon. Let’s talk about signing him — get him here by Friday. Hart can go back to Iowa.

I'm sure...

Mark McGwire has a home run left or two. As long as he doesn’t talk about the past…

Oh snap!

That post only has 17 comments

and I’m not entirely sold on the idea. That’s mainly why I didn’t consider him. But what if the Cubs traded Bradley, Soriano, Miles and PTBNL to St. Louis for DeRosa… Oh, right.

FAIL...

You forgot to use the phrase “and a package of prospects.” Therefore, this hypothetical trade is a fail.

Of course

I Fail.

As of 9:52 p.m.

It’s begun. These two days are gonna be so much fun…

You forgot

Number of comments proposing no make that demanding Sam Fuld be brought back – 15,331 ( only 14,000 of which are by me)

Doggie Stalker - July 8, 2009 reply

This team shrivels up at bad news

Dempster pulled before the game and Z goes on three days rest. Z pitches like a true ace and a true champion and the hitters fail.

Today, Soto yanked, but Hill goes 1-2 with a walk. Not his fault. The team fails.

I spit on this team and its horrendous lack of courage. PTOEEY!

Worf - July 8, 2009 reply

"Z pitches like a true ace"

You were watching the same game I was?

He may be OUR ace at times, but not top ten NL, even, imo.

Not good enough to beat Vasquez, last night.

Disagree

Over the last seven seasons, there are nine pitchers who have won 90 or more games (wins being a statistic the angry hordes can understand and usually cling to): Johan Santana (107), Roy Halladay (104), Roy Oswalt (100), Carlos Zambrano (95), Andy Pettitte (94), CC Sabathia (94), Derek Lowe (92), Josh Beckett (90) and Mark Buehrle (90).

    Of those, only Sabathia is younger than the just turned 28-year-old Zambrano – by 50 days.

    Of those, only Lowe (218) and Buehrle (214) have started more games than Zambrano (206).

    Of those, only Santana (2.88), Halladay (3.18) and Oswalt (3.26) have a lower ERA than Zambrano (3.41).

    Of those, only Santana (1,462) and Sabathia (1,151) have more strikeouts than Zambrano (1,141).

    Of those, only Santana (.217) has a lower batting average against than Zambrano (.228).

    Of those, none have a lower slugging percentage against than Zambrano (.351).

Link

if you’re interested…

Disagree with your

disagreement.

Sorry, I am talking 2009, not historically, even last several years. Also, many stats mongers will agree that Pitcher’s w-l records are not the best metric equating dominance (wwhich is what I mean by “Ace”)

And, any “list” that does not contain or acknowledge TODAY’S true aces (dominating pitchers that teams can seemingly count on for a W every time out) in the NL (which is all I mentioned) like Carpenter, Lincicum, Webb, Peavy, Hammel, Sheets, Billingsley, et. al., means nothing to me. Yes I know Sheets is injured, but he certainly was an “ace” by the above standard.

rec'd baby!

Zambrano did the job last night

That loss, like most of them, is on the offense.

Yep.

No doubt, no doubt, Shanghai.

But Vasquez out-pitched him last night, I am sorry to say.

The above named “Aces” will more than not come up with a 1-0 win when they must – or in a tight one-run game, seem to come out on top.

But with out a doubt, the team has been shut out 7 or 8 times already, and what’s their record in 1-run games?

I have said this before here, but I believe in the first half Mark DeRosa (ducks) would have easily have banked 4-6 more wins for the club.

Well, yes, sometimes you have to win 1-0

But while I’m no Z apologist, I think he stepped up last night on short notice.

4-6 with DeRo? I dunno about that. It’s not like they’ve gotten absolutely no production at 3B w/Ramirez out – even though it seemed like it.

If losing Rami

meant that we lost an additional 1-2 games, keeping DeRo was NOT going to get us 4-6 runs.

~~runs~~ games.

Look again at Mike

Fontenot’s production in April, MAy and June and you will see that the only 3rd baseman (a month too late) who added was Jakey Fox.

4 games is a lot, though.

On 3 days rest?

Really?

Sure they’ve probably won more 1-0 games than Z… but that doesn’t mean that Z isn’t a great pitcher.

What makes Theriot arm so weak? Courage!
What makes Bradley’s bat so meek ? Courage!
What makes Aaron Miles so bad, popping out to second and making Lou mad? What makes Blou and NBF sad? Courage!
What makes Soriano chase balls in the dirt? Courage!
What makes Gregg giving up 2 runs hurt? Courage!
What makes the Hoffpauir so hot? Who sold Soto his stash of pot? What have they got that this team ain’t got?" COURAGE!

no no no

SIROTT!

Al, I respect your opinion

but, do you really think that the Cubs would have had a chance the way they have not been succeeding with RISP? I was there today, too, and I don’t think so.

They had men even IN scoring position I think twice?

And, with RISP and two outs? Forget it, brother! It ain’t happening now.

It is clear from Crane Kenny’s recent statements, that we will not be acquiring anybody. Jeff Baker will be below .100 before the week is out, and frankly, it may just be, “one of those years”, of the team not getting the breaks, and people that should be hitting to their averages picking this year not to. It happens.

Time will tell, and right now watch out for the Astros.

yeah, i feel the same way.

this team is cruddy, and help is not on the way. disgusting year.

buckmulligan - July 8, 2009 reply

I think they would have had a shot in the 9th if not for the two runs in the top of the inning.

When that happens it often takes all the wind out of a possible rally.

Interesting Milton Bradley Statistics

Milton’s career lines as an AL and NL player. Some of these numbers are park and career factors, but for some reason, he is a better AL hitter. The doubles number is striking, as is the vast difference in RBI, Ave. and OBP. Style of pitching? Statistical aberration? Who knows? Just interesting, IMHO.

AL (6 yrs) 450 G 1550 AB 455 H 103 2B 57 HR 230 RBI .294 Ave .390 Slg .481 OBP .871 OPS
NL (6 yrs) 434 G 1516 AB 396 H 75 2B 52 HR 188 RBI .261 Ave .349 Slg .423 OBP .771 OPS

either of those seems better than the guy we got.

i’m betting on imposter.

buckmulligan - July 8, 2009 reply

While sitting in the rain

I was wondering what MB’s LH splits are now? I am too lazy to look. It must be pretty shitty, though…

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=bradlmi01&year=Career&t=b

Well, since I have the page...

Career as a LH 266 362 431
Career as a RH 306 389 503

1500 more PA as a LH than as a RH.

This is the statistic bothering me the most with the Bradley signing.

Lou demanded a power LH bat to complete him and Hendry went shopping.

Hendry kicked the tires on all the free agent and probably tradeable LH sluggers and pulled the trigger on a RH batter who has the ability to swing from the left side.

Having been a Hendry lover for a while, I keep finding myself on his doorstep when looking at the flaws of this team.

N Oakley - July 9, 2009 reply

He did have his career year in Texas, which is a pretty extreme hitters park. He should still be much, much better this year even if he doesn’t replicate his 2008 numbers.

Bradley had his best year last year in Texas, an extreme hitters park. Its unlikely he would have put up those kind of numbers this year but that doesn’t explain why he’s been so awful this year.

BJ Ryan is interesting but he's throwing 87 on his fastball

I know velocity isn’t everything but I don’t think he’s anything he use to be.

true

but he could have a couple good outing left.

he’d cost the minimum and if he doesn’t work out… just cut him.

Al’s right. He could be this year’s Jim Edmonds.

He's worth a try

But no way is he going to ‘save the season’, theres obviously something broken with him or the Jays wouldn’t have let him and the gazillion dollars they owe him go.

no one person is going to "save the season"

at this point, find a piece that fits and go with it.

Ryan’s got anything left, Marshall goes back to the rotation (where he’s needed), Hart goes back to Iowa and Demp’s toe gets to heal.

Bingo!

And if he has nothing left, just release him. But he’s worth a shot for a couple of weeks.

true, i guess he's worth a shot

i’m just hoping that Ryan has some of his 2008 season stuff left in him. Cause he was sick nasty

I don't know guys

I have seen him pitch a couple of times, and he has nothing. He is batting practice. I don’t know but there has to better options.

Paul Bako

Bako is now playing for the Phillies, where do I start the thread about what a mistake Hendry/Lou made letting him go in spring training?

For real?

Or are you just pulling [our] leg?

yes just a joke :)

Its the year od the ‘Hendry mistake’ thread.

OK cool

Please do write a FanPost. I need something to read on the off day tomorrow.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/?pl_id=47094

Paul Bako sucks

I’m wondering why Al failed to mention Chris Robinson, who’s catching at Iowa.

Robinson was acquired for Neifi! a few years back. Granted, 4 walks is pretty brutal, and his .310 BA may well be lucky, but we’re only looking for potential backup. What am I missing?

Mike D. - July 9, 2009 reply

I thought the play of the game came with one out in the 8TH

Runner at second, one out – Dome absolutely CRUSHES a ball that would have put runners at the corners with only one out had it not been speared by Escobar at SS. A sac fly ties up the game and who knows what would have happened from there. Escobar was positioned well – give them credit.

DKT - July 8, 2009 reply

agreed

that was the turning point. If Hendry would’ve just traded for that guy like I asked for a couple weeks ago, they might’ve had a victory today.

Escobar's defense really helped the Braves in this series.

I hadn’t realized just how much range he has.

And by comparison

how little we have at SS

This is what the year will be.

Highs and Lows because of constant inconsistency with the lineup. What is killing this club is Bradley and Soriano having real off years, and the over inflated expectations of Fontenot. 3 Huge holes.
If Bradley and Soriano stay cold, this team will stay that way.
Have to get 2 of 3 this weekend.

Its a 4 game series with the DH Sunday

a split would be minimally acceptable, 3 out of 4 would be nice.

I just saw that they open the 2nd half with 4 at Washington, I hate to get my hopes up but you would think there is at least 3 wins there.

My fault

forgot about the DH on sunday.

A .500 style ballclub playing to expectations is what this is

79 to 85 wins in 2009. That’s it folks. This is one of the most poorly constructed sky-high payrolls that the game has seen in awhile. What somewhat buoys my spirit is that this trainwreck of a season will be in the nail in the coffin of Jim Hendry’s tenure. I look forward to the day after the final game of the season when Tom Ricketts holds press conference to announce that Jim Hendry has been fired and the organization shall go on a fundamentally different strategic direction.

And that direction will be?

To much payroll, to many bad contracts. So what pray tell is Ricketts going to do overnight.?

He will do NOTHING overnight

The new GM has got a major project on his hands. Only thing to do is wait until some of these horrendous contracts unwind and in the meantime get to work on building a true quality farm system.

I suspect you're going to be really disappointed when Tom Ricketts takes over.

Just sayin’.

Whatever Al

You keep insisting that Tom Ricketts is going to walk right in and maintain the status quo having just spent $900 million on a ballclub that last won a World Series in 1908. Crane Kenney stays, Jim Hendry stays, etc.

Whatever Al.

I am worried aboutt how much money ricketts has left.

You know why this deal kept falling through. Ricketts was having trouble getting credit. Also three years ago the cubs were valued at 450 million or so. How does that value double? Also rickets is only getting 25% of the CSN. That missing 75% is a lot of revenu Ricketts will be missing out on.

I am also worried Ricketts paid a lot more than market value of the cubs.

It is not hard to imagine him over paying because he loves the cubs so much. With all the money on the books and the huge bank notes he is going to have it is going to be tough to spend more for free agents and improving Wrigley. Hello higher ticket prices, higher beer and food prices, and maybe even in stadium advertising. I know there are a lot of positives in Rickets probably taking over but there are also a ton of question marks and negatives. I wish people would at least acknowledge and discuss some of the question marks and negatives. Nothing is a slam dunk especially buying something for close to a billion dollars.

Hence why Al Yellon and others are dead wrong on what Ricketts will do

Ricketts didn’t spend $900 million on a franchise to embrace the status quo. It doesn’t take Branch Rickey to understand that the current model for building a winning team at Wrigley Field is deeply flawed. Hopefully Ricketts comes in and clears the deck. Then he hires a baseball leadership team that understands HOW to build a true quality minor league system AND is smart and savvy enough to build a consistent winner with a payroll limitation that is distinctly less than the over inflated $136 million figure of today.

Kenny Williams does it on the Southside. The Braves have done if for years. The Cardinals have done it for years. So too should the Cubs be able to do so.

I agree with you those organizations got a lot of cornerstone pieces from inside the organization. not outside.

A lot of our quote un-quote minor league successes are not real prospects. More of them are journeyman without a natural position. All those past failures with high round draft picks have really set us back. Pie, patterson, list can go on and on. Our front office has really set us back. Were lucky enough to have this high of pay roll and we cannot capitalize on this HUGE competitive advantage. It is inexcusable.

Yep

We are overwhelmed with an infestation of minor league journeyman types. Hoffpauir, Fox, Fuld, Hil and Fontenot aren’t the future of a damned thing.

Yet again I am confussed on why Blou Mike is a Cubs fan

not a Sox or Cards fan.

Kenny Williams does it on the Southside. The Braves have done if for years. The Cardinals have done it for years. So too should the Cubs be able to do so.

Madison Cub Fan - July 8, 2009 reply

Are you saying its impossible for

Kenney or Hendry to say?

B/C I don’t know how likely it is, but I sure think it MIGHT happen. At least for a while.

yes!

because our farm system has only given us

marmol
soto
marshall
theriot
wells
fox
blanco
the pieces to get Harden
the pieces to get Ramirez

darn that farm system! darn it to HECK!

Maybe you should sit the next couple of plays out

lol +1

maybe you

should see this team for what it really is — a team with enormous talent, that is playing way below level.

You look at this team and say “a .500 team, what a waste.” I look at this team and say “a .500 team? They can do better then that.”

you constantly complain about a farm system that gave us the ROY in 2008, and Randy Wells — who has pitched a darn sight better then your golden boy Harden has this year.

But whatever. Blame it on Soriano, right?

well I have no doubt you will be able to supply that new GM with a lifetime supply of fertilizer to build that quality farm system...

A fundamentally

different direction is going to take a LONG time with a LOT of losing to accomplish. There are too many big, bad contracts and too bereft a farm system to expect any quick changes, regardless of ownership. This isn’t the NFL, it takes a long time to put your stamp on a team.

and 85 wins

could easily win this division. So.

Everyone please cross

your fingers for a beautiful warm day and a Cubs victory Friday. I’m taking the train in from Wisconsin, have awesome seats, and I don’t want any rain on my parade, literally or figuratively.

Note: I know nobody cares about my plans.

It's supposed to be warm, but...

… a 30% chance of thunderstorms.

Where in WI?

Appleton-Fox valley area

tomas21 - July 9, 2009 reply

Bit of a haul. I hope the weather holds out - and they win.

Shanghai Badger - July 9, 2009 reply

I hope so too

I was at the game yesterday, on a bus excursion from Madison. Great time as always, but I’ve not dropped to 0-2 at Wrigley this year. I still have my undefeated 1-0 Miller Park record buoying my spirits, however.

Have a good one, and I hope you’re a bit luckier.

wallrock - July 9, 2009 reply

We care

I hope you have a great time

and get to go home with a certain song stuck in your head.

it's just your fantasy team we don't care about.

I care more about these plans than I do somebody's fantasy team.

“Argh, man, I didn’t start _______ today!”

dtpollitt - July 8, 2009 reply

If I told

you there was a left-handed reliever who threw in the mid 80s and had a whip of 1.9, would anyone be interested? Don’t get seduced by the name, BJ Ryan is not the cure for what ails us. We HAVE to have someone in our system that can get lefties out better than him.

I agree.

BJ Ryan is done.

Quote from me last May...

… “Jim Edmonds is done. D-O-N-E done.”

Guess I was wrong about that.

There is zero risk in signing BJ Ryan. No financial risk — he gets the minimum salary from us. If he sucks for a game or two, release him.

YES! YES!

We can do the same with Jeff Baker, right??

Let's not get carried away here.

All for signing BJ Ryan.

What’s the worst that can happen? He sucks? So you cut him, and it costs you virtually nothing. By signing him, you allow Marshall to move back into the rotation while Dempster is hurt. And if Harden keeps sucking, having an effective BJ Ryan in the pen allows Marshall to STAY in the rotation and they can make up some injury and put Harden on the DL. I know there are a lot of assumptions in all that, but BJ Ryan came back from TJS and pitched pretty well last year (1.276 WHIP). It’s worth a shot, especially considering the bullpen problems we’ve had all year.

kanderber - July 8, 2009 reply

People keep saying

if he sucks he costs us nothing. If he sucks, he costs us GAMES. We are not scoring runs. We can’t gamble with bad pitchers. We can gamble with a hitter with upside, since at his worst he’s probably not hitting any worse than Soriano or a couple of these other guys. But our pitching is pretty darn good, don’t mess with that.

well if we cant score and he gives up 5 runs in an appearance, what do the cubs lose?

It might give Lou ulcers

God knows he’s had enough reasons to have them this season.

Our starting pitching has been pretty darn good...

Our bullpen has been an issue.

kanderber - July 8, 2009 reply

unfortunately our pitching just got messed with - and not by our collective choosing.

Dempster just got hurt. His spot in the rotation needs to be filled. Do you have any internal options that WON’T be a gamble? You think Hart is not a gamble? Shark is not a gamble?

Sign him

put out in a blowout (either way) and see what he’s got.

If he’s really got nothing… then that game’s been decided and we can just ride with what we currently have.

omg brewers omg

gonna need a sweep of the cardinals at this point.

buckmulligan - July 8, 2009 reply

ooo soup

Great finally getting to meet Al today

Too bad the game and weather were stinkers. Oh well, on to Friday.

Steve Larson

thermal54 - July 8, 2009 reply

Nice to meet you, too.

Sorry you couldn’t see a win today.

Weird

You have the same name as my 2nd cousin.

Hilary Lee - July 8, 2009 reply

you have

a second cousin named thermal? wierd.

tomas21 - July 9, 2009 reply

BTW, Al

I yelled at you from the street – but you were hunched over – in either conversation or disgust at the end of 8.

Probably both.

What were you doing down there? Did you see Hot Dog Guy?

LOL!

No – missed him.

Just saw Ball Hawk or his minions sitting bored on the corner of Kenmore and Waveland.

And you didn't stop and say hello?

That E-Man… he never calls, he never writes…

and yes, I was most definitely bored today

Well, I hope my prediction was underestimating the Cubs

Last week, I figured 3-3 combined against PGH and ATL . . . and 4-4 against MKE and STL.

Time for the Cubs to prove me wrong and show that they are better than a .500 team.

brewers cards tied at 4

When the Pitt series

started, I stated, “The next 12 games will determine if the Cubs will be buyers or sellers.”

This of course, was prior to Kenny stating, “Our All Stars just have to start performing like All Stars.”

Which means they will ONLY be sellers if any of the above.

Speaking of Jake Fox ( I did above)

He reminded me a little of A.Dunn out there.

“You folks at home” could not see the routes he was taking to the ball. In the Upper Deck boxes, it was really something…

Which is more cringeworthy?

Fox’s routes to the ball in LF?

Or Soriano’s hop?

And death is not an option.

Yoko Ono records

I found another option.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Well-played and cringe-worthy!

Can she play LF and hit?

Al Yellon - July 9, 2009 reply

If she could

We could forgive her for breaking up the band.

Ace Venom - July 9, 2009 reply

Cubs can use a day off!

I would be fine with Soriano having the entire weekend off, get that knee better, and give him a break mentally. Let Fox and Hoffpauer fill in.

slocs55 - July 8, 2009 reply

with the way hoffs been playing lately ill take soriano over him

My hope

is with the rest Soriano could possibly revert to form, not so much that Fox and Hoff will outplay him.

slocs55 - July 9, 2009 reply

OT: Manny just took K-Rod deep to start top of 9th

Cardinal's Brewers tied at 4 in the bottom of the 7th.

Ludwick really starting to get hot. GULP AND NOT GOOD.

braun triples with one out. brewers about to get lead.

god it feels so wrong cheering for them.

Who cares?

An enemy of my enemy is still my enemy, but one I can use.

good quote. well fat prince failed-at least were not only team struggling with risp

Not so much.

4-4 in the 8th

ya prince grounded out with drawn in infield.

they then got next two guys on to load the bases and they left them loaded.

Oh SHIT

link thats all I will say

cubsluver22 - July 8, 2009 reply

I have a bad feeling

That the Brewers or Cards will end up with Halladay

cubsluver22 - July 8, 2009 reply

brewers arent going to give up their top prospects

Doubt it

Roy Halladay will cost 2 or 3 crown jewels of any team’s minor league system…PLUS other considerations. Toronto isn’t going to trade Halladay unless they receive bonafide prospect STUDS, preferably pitching studs. Think something in the neighborhood of Tommie Hanson in Atlanta. Neither the Cubs, Cardinals or Brewers have anything remotely touching that in their minor league systems right now.

I disagree

cubsluver22 - July 8, 2009 reply

Gotta agree

BLOU

Its gonna take a LOT by any team.

Plus, he has a NTC. Plus, he said he wants to stay.

Too many teams are still in the race, anyway, imo.

SportsCenter has said

Halladay has given permision for the Jays to seek a trade.

But its going to cost a lot to get him.

More than anybody in the NL Central can afford

Blue Jays are a pitching starved organization that has little problem in consistently producing true quality positional talent. I suspect they will want a couple true elite pitching prospect for Halladay for starters. Think Tommie Hanson now or a Yovani Gallardo a year or two ago.

There's a better chance...

…that “The Oath” will be on the setlist on a Kiss tour than an NL Central team will get Halladay.

Then watch the Cardinals get Halladay. You reading this blog, Gene and Paul?

I know they're not

So stop hitting that reply button.

Must move Bradley

Cubs have plenty of meatheads to play right and play it with fire. As much as I like milton, he is last years version of Jim Edmonds. I dont believe he will improve here for whatever reason. Time to work one of those Hundley type trades and take your lumps.

truelinkfence - July 8, 2009 reply

How about

send Bradley to the Indians for Wood, and let Fox/Hoff play right. Wood and Bradley have similar contracts, and if we got Wood back, I could hang up my autographed jersery.

tomas21 - July 9, 2009 reply

If they trade Bradley, should they get a LH power hitter?

N Oakley - July 9, 2009 reply

middle infield

should be the focus IMHO. Most other positions seem servicable to me. Cubs current pair SSn2B (take your pick of which pair) is pure poison to the line up and at times defensively. One real new compliment to Theriot may help???? Also, noticed Cedeno on the hot list this week..Remember the days? I think I underestimated his contributions off the bench.

truelinkfence - July 9, 2009 reply

I think Jim's going to change something about this lineup.

Jim, he's a doctor

Not a manager.

i meant like the players

he’s gonna deal

gotta have a partner to make a deal

with so many teams still in it… he’s not going to be able to swing any thing bigger than the Baker deal.

Also have to have something to deal and a place to have the acquisition play.

N Oakley - July 9, 2009 reply

Yeah, he's going to call-up another journeyman smurf infielder from his endless pit of that commodity in the farm system

I bet David Kelton regrets hanging up his spikes. Hell, if I was a late 20’s career Triple A type I would think I died and went to heaven if I were traded to the Cub organization.

lol. I shouldn't be laughing you are probably right.

Fat just singled...

5-4 Milwaukee. Bases still loaded

nice

Top 9 now...

still 5-4

On a side note, i'm sorry fellow cub fans

the reason why the cubs lost the last two games was due to my laziness. I left my cubs hat in the back seat of my car :( . It will never happen again!!!!

Hell's Bells coming in for the 9th

who promptly lets up lead off double

who promptly lets up lead off double

Shoe Maker...

leads off the 9th with a double. Stay tuned, I’m following the game on Gameday. The machine is on deck.

see above. I got it on Extra Innings on the TV

see above. I got it on Extra Innings on the TV

1 out...

The machine is being walked. I kind of hope the game is tied and the Suds win in about the 35th inning. :)

don't get greedy. if cardinals tie it here. they will probably win it in extras

Intentional walk to albert

so many cardinals so many mustaches

wow kendall almost dropped a ludwick foul pop behind home plate. two outs two on for cards

Hoffman walks Duncan to load the bases.

Hoffman gets molina to ground out to end game. Cards lose.

In play out(s)

Molina grounds out to third with the bases loaded. Suds win 5-4.

Hopefully, tomorrow is the 35 inning marathon.