Bleed Cubbie Blue

Well played!

Yeah it was, but Al makes a good point

We need our horses back in the starting rotation ASAP. And Aram is a huge HR/RBI threat in the middle of the order. Not making excuses while these guys have been on the DL, but I like our chances when everyone is healthy. And what better way to (hopefully) get healthy than to see the Pirates coming to town.

First things first, let’s find a way to get a W today. Props to the Phillies – they have one Hell of an offense…

DKT - August 13, 2009 reply

Their first 5 hits went for at least 2 bases

That indicates an offense which is pretty decent.

Hopefully, Demp can hold them down in the first three innings while Dome, Bradley, Riot, and DLee can figure out Cliffy enough to scratch out a couple of runs.

Not holding out hope that Rami will start today, BTW…

And a nervous SP making his first start and can't keep the ball down

Angels

Look at the Angels…injury riddled all season (best two pitchers…Vlad, Hunter, etc…), but found a way to take charge of their division

NashvilleBlue - August 13, 2009 reply

Funny you mention...

I’m from southern Cal, and I grew up rooting for the Angels (before living in Wrigleyville for 10 years after college). Found myself wondering this morning why I don’t pay more attention to the Angels than I do the Cubs. More fun being a Cubs fan, I concluded, but from a baseball perspective, the Angels are a much stronger and smarter organization from top to bottom.

Cubs might be headed the Angels way, as an organization

Perhaps Tom Ricketts will be just as fan-friendly and committed to winning as Arte Moreno, and the next GM/skipper will have more of a long term vision when it comes to developing refined, quantifiable talent through the entire minor league system. Hope so anyway!

Dusty?

That’s all I can remember Dusty saying in ‘05-’06.

Wasn't it around this same time last year

that the Dodgers acquired Manny Ramirez?

RynoHoF - August 13, 2009 reply

Is he available?

Put him in LF RF CF 3B?

Manny came to the Dodgers at the trading deadline, July 31.

Their first month with him, they went 13-16.

Who knows, maybe this will be a wakeup call for the team!

One can only hope…

eths - August 13, 2009 reply

how many times have we said that this season?

Emelie - August 13, 2009 reply

Too many, but hope dies eternally

or are realistic Cubs fans an oxymoron?

eths - August 13, 2009 reply

Yes, we are

Or,

“this team is better than this.”

if getting beat 11-5 twice didn't wake them up

why would getting beat 12-5 do it?

Illicat - August 13, 2009 reply

Wow...

Giving up 34 runs in 3 games, just brutal.

Especially when they had chances to score that many as well

Except last night for the most part

I guess we can be thankful....

that we play Pittsburg 8 times, Washington 3 times, and San Diego 3 times. We cannot beat teams that are in contention, but we can beat up on the last place teams!

CubfaninRaleigh(869milestoWrigley) - August 13, 2009 reply

What about Piniella's performance?

My perspective is from afar, but I’m not seeing evidence of his “managing involvement” in the games. (eg, why did he leave Marmol in for the 8th, and not have action in the pen 2 nights ago).
I’m currently reading George Castle’s book “Sweet Lou and the cubs-A year inside the dugout”, and what I see written about, and said about PIniella’s style, talents as a manager don’t seem to be about the same guy!

The only similarity I’m seeing is with Castle’s description of the end of Lou’s tenure w/Tampa, when he had apparently given up. I hope thats not what we are seeing.
So, is Lou still managing??
My hope is that both Lou and the team will will rebound to the style that characterized last years team, and Lou’s style for most of his managing career. Lou really has been a great manager for most clubs, most of the time, including the cubs!

Yes, he is still managing.

In name only, apparently.

At what point...

Do you look at this managing and say it is Dusty all over again. I said it when Lou got here that he manages similar to Dusty, just with a little fire…. Lets not forget, that Lou has had a far superior team than Dusty did too.

For me, it was when

Lou intimated that it’s tougher than he thought to manage the Cubs. At that moment, he became a toothpick and a set of wristbands away from being Johnnie B. Baker.

No way.

Dusty would do things like double-switch with every pitching change, just because.

Even if it was the third inning.

And even if the double-switch meant that John Mabry was going to be playing RF.

And even if he had no intention of letting the new reliever go more than one inning anyway, so he could have just pinch-hit for the guy later, and left his regulars in the game.

Lou may be guilty of the occasional crime of omission, as in, “Aw, he could have done X there!”

Dusty was continously guilty of crimes of “commission” – he’d intentionally do “unconventional” things that went against common baseball strategy, simply because “wouldn’t it be awesome if it actually worked? People would think I was a genius!”

And for the record, Lou’s team is somewhat better than Dusty’s, but that’s due in part to Dusty’s insistence on benching 2 starters for every single game all year to “keep the guys rested”, and Dusty’s (now abandoned) claim that pitch counts were for nancy-boys and that Dusty – and only Dusty – could tell when a pitcher was laboring.

I just don't get that.

I agree with your assessment of two night’s ago, Marmol and Grabow and whatnot. But is there some other evidence I’m missing that he’s quit on this team? Doesn’t look like it to me.

People used to say “he doesn’t get tossed anymore, he must not care.” Well, can’t use that one, as he got rung just a few nights ago. That’s not my definition of “managing”, but its also not a sign of quitting.

Other than that what is his mortal sin? Running out starters like Shark? If his main guys were healthy, he wouldn’t need to. But they’re not, so what would a brilliant and active manager do that Lou is not?

Do we remember 2006....

We were without DLee all season, no starting pitching, and a poorly built team. Guess who got blamed, Dusty. So why was it ok then, but it isnt now, because it is Lou? Come on.

Dusty had other problems.

But I’m also not going to change my opinion on Lou just because you read OTHER PEOPLE blaming Dusty unfairly.

Yep.

2004 is when Dusty lost me.

People need to let the Dusty hate go, but the Cubs were right to let him go. I still don’t understand how Hendry managed to survive that purge.

He won't survive the next one

Ace Venom - August 13, 2009 reply

Oh dont get me wrong...

i think Dusty needed to go, I was just point it out that it is like a cycle with the Cubs, we are always blaming someone and it is usually the manager.

I'm not going to start a major debate on this

but suffice to say Dusty lost me a lot later, and i mean a lot later. 2003 built up an enormous reserve of good will for me — he managed the team that came closest to a WS of any Cubs team in my lifetime (and yes I was alive and watching in 84), and really didn’t get there because Gonzalez couldn’t make a routine play when it counted. Not his fault.

04 ended rough, but a different final week of the season and we all would have been singing a different tune.

By 06 it was time for a change, and he had done a lot to burn up that reserve of good will. Lou, in contrast, has taken us to the playoffs in back-to-back years, the only time that’s happened in my lifetime. And today his team is a week of good play away from being back in first place. People deserve the opportunity to succeed or fail, and he hasn’t failed yet.

A "time for a change" can happen sooner these days

To me the manager and the roster are really starting to question their ability, and as a result they’re playing not to lose (which guarantees they will).

The seeds of doubt in their psyche, borne of back-to-back blowouts in the postseason and nurtured by the fans and media, have started to sprout. Much as I’d like to dump the veterans on the roster, economics dictate otherwise. Best you can hope for is that a new face in the manager’s office somehow sparks the team.

It’s absolutely unfair to make managers scapegoats, but thanks to the exorbitant salaries and NTCs in the clubhouse there might not be any other alternative.

There are alternatives, but they just aren't very palatable.

The #1 thing that could be done would be trading Soriano to anyone who will take him, along with 5 post-dated checks in the amount of $10 million each.

That would save the team $50M in future payroll expenses, and would be an earthquake-level “shaking things up” message. It may not help the team – heck, it may hurt the team – but you’d be cheaper and younger from Day 1.

The most likely solution to the Hendry Mess? Wait 4-5 years and be frugal in the meantime. These contracts are gonna end eventually.
Just because the Cubs have money to spend, doesn’t mean that they should spend it stupidly. Ideally, the Cubs would run themselves just like a smart small market “moneyball” team— and also sign 3-4 superstar elite players to $15-$20M deals.

And when Lou decides to hang it up, you put his picture up in the concourse as the first manager with an overall winning record in freakin’ forever. Lou isn’t the problem here.

Dusty was awful in 2005-06.

He deserved all of the flak he took for that horrific year.

When you’re dealt a bad hand, you can make the best of it, or you can do a bunch of ridiculous BS like using Freddie Bynum in 71 games, or John Mabry in 107.

Or getting Neifi Perez over 600 plate appearances in 2005, while getting Jose Macias into 112 games.

And insisting on leaving C-Patt and Neifi in front of D-Lee’s season for the ages, to the point that Lee winds up with 107 RBI in a year in which he had 46 HR.

Let’s think about that. Lee only drove in his teammates 62 times in 2005! In a year in which he had 46 HR, 50 2B and 3 3B!!! That’s absolutely astonishing, and it’s almost completely Dusty Baker’s stubborness that caused the anomaly.

Lee had 99 extra-base hits, and another 100 singles, with which he drove in 55 baserunners (he also had 7 sac flies.) That almost defies explanation.

Until you recognize that the three hitters preceding Lee were the pitcher, Corey Patterson (.254 OPB), and Neifi Perez (.298 OPB). For the season, 1-8, the two lowest OBPs on the team were the #1 and #2 spots in the order. And Dusty would not listen to criticism and adjust.

Lou, for any faults he may have, is willing to try new things.

Well said.

Rec’d

cpat and neifi just clog bases....

jesus christos - August 13, 2009 reply

I'll go beyond Rec'd

I’d like a feature where that post can be made a macro and will automatically respond every single time someone even hints at saying something nice about Dusty Baker.

Misuse of the bullpen

Misuse of the bench, not playing Fox for weeks, his refusal to move Soriano out of the leadoff spot, push button use of Guzman, Marmol & Gregg, his refusal to use the guys in the bullpen, resting everybody in the game against Lincecum, his inability to get Zambrano in line, game # 1 of the playoffs last year. What more do you need ?

The guy who should be coaching in DA BRONX

The teams last 3 years would of been more successful if JOE was hired.

This will be Lou’s last year and PLEASE take Soriano with you.

Next years coach is with the team currently – sitting in a loft position behind home plate

parrotinct - August 13, 2009 reply

You have got to be joking.

There’s no way the Cubs would have even made the playoffs the last two years with Girardi as manager.

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with this statement

but what makes you say that? He’s currently leading the best team in the majors, he also did an incredible job with a young, cheap Florida team. What would prevent him from having success with the Cubs?

madcow256 - August 13, 2009 reply

Yeah, that comment seems odd

Don't want Girardi

His reputation of being a micromanager and alienating people is enough to stay away.

Question is

can he win? I do not care if he is a “player’s coach” or whatever, Just show me the W.

copes006 - August 13, 2009 reply

I think we'll find out this postseason.

A fair question.

Piniella has won.

Lots of hindsight and generalities there

and I probably agree with his approach to many of those. He’d be blamed if he used Heilman and Patton in key situations, so you blame him instead when he uses his best relievers (Guzman, Marmol, Gregg) and they let him down? Come on.

Fox I agree with, but he’s a 3B/LF on a team that has Ramirez and Soriano in those spots. Koyie Hill played well at C when Soto was out (notice the winning percentage, etc.) so hard to find fault with that decision. Yeah, he could have pinch hit him more, but then he had no backup C if Hill got hurt.

Soriano he did move out of the leadoff spot. Took him awhile, but anyone who’s followed the history of that over the years knows its a touchy issue for Soriano.

And also, let me see if I understand this: he’s “not managing” anymore because of “game # 1 of the playoffs last year”? I guess by that definition, you would also say Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Dome and Soriano (combined 2-19) are “not playing” this year either

OK, let me be more precise.

He uses Marmol in the 8th whether the team isn up 3-2 or 7-1. Why not use Heilman, Patton and others in those games and rest Marmol?

Why not use Guzman in the 8th until Marmol gets it together in less key situations ? This could be a dogfight until the end and losing a game or two now because of his stubborness or inability to change could be the difference down the road.

If everyone in BCB land knows that you don’t bring in Heilman with runners on, why doesn’t Lou know ?

He refuses to use Marshall for more than a batter or two, then throws him into the emergency start in Colorado.

He doesn’t recognize game situations quickly enough to get his bullpen ready. The most glaring examples of this are Monday night and Game # 1 last year, but there are many others.

Why pinch hit Miles when you’ve got Fontenot, Hill and Ramirez on the bench ?

He did not use Fox for weeks when Ramirez was injured.

As for Soriano, who is he managing ? Soriano’s ego or the Chicago Cubs ?

Can you honestly say that Lou’s managing in Game # 1 last year was not horrible ? Yet, he makes the same mistakes again this year.

I’m sorry, I usually am a very optimistic person, but this is a very frustrating year. I’m not blaming Lou for everything, my response above was in response to your question regarding Lou.

CubfaninRaleigh(869milestoWrigley) - August 13, 2009 reply

Maybe to call attention to a notion I had

that managing can be variously interpreted; micro v -macro management, delegation of management activity to coaches, etc.
Castle writes extensively on Lou’s style of giving lots of authority to his coaches regarding preparation of the team.
On the other hand, Lou historically was very involved (I dont mean tantrums!) in games, but in recent weeks hasn’t seemed to me as involved.

probably not a good idea to attach too much import to it. :P

LOL wow that's thorough.

I was being sarcastic!

CubfaninRaleigh(869milestoWrigley) - August 13, 2009 reply

LOL, I obviously missed that! :)

sorry to be so dense!

The last 4 games...

Have been some of the worst played games by a Cubs team in a long time, simultaneous failure of pitching, defense, hitting, and effort.

Well 3 out of 4

I don’t think the Tuesday game was THAT bad. Annoying and frustrating but not the disaster of the other 3.

Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009 reply

Yep, Demp's start in Colorado...

…and Harden’s start on Tuesday give me hope – because the starting pitching has to be there for this team to have any chance whatsoever.

Correct

At least since June, 2009.

"Chill rains..."

Not even sure what to say…still a shread of hope, but a low point in the season. I’m feeling that depressed feeling I get every fall when the season is over. You know, when “the chill rains come…”

NashvilleBlue - August 13, 2009 reply

To the douchebag that threw his beer at Victorino....

You sir, are a class ‘A’ jagoff. I hope you get gonorrhea. I’ve lost much hope for the Cubs this season, and I am redirecting whatever I had left toward the Chicago Police in their search for your sorry ass.

redivycubs - August 13, 2009 reply

Because

Nothing says “insult” more than wishing an STD on the offender.

Not that is a touch ’o class

StevenABQ - August 13, 2009 reply

at least he/she didn't say "rheumatoid arthritis"

with gonorrhea you can still go dancing.

Good point.

Yeah but with limitations

I’m thinking “scrotal pain” will put a whole new meaning on “Twist and Shout”.

StevenABQ - August 13, 2009 reply

Feelin' the love

BLou would be proud

copes006 - August 13, 2009 reply

Uh, a bit overstated...

…but I agree that fans like that are an embarassment.

It's People Like That

That leads to the stereotype that Cubs fans are the worst in the league. It’s a damn shame.

Sam Householder - August 13, 2009 reply

Lots of ifs...

If the injuries stop occuring, if Rammy can play, if our bullpen doesn’t blow, if we pound out 17 hits and win the game, or allow 3 hits and win the game. It’s easy to say the Cubs could do it, but comparing to the Dodgers of last year is just convenient. The Dodgers had young, healthy talent: Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw, Billingsley, Martin, Loney, etc. + a hall of fame roider Manny. We’re depending on older players that aren’t healthy.

Sorry to be negative Nelly, but this season is adding up to a flop. Lou and the players don’t seem to be on the same page. And Lou is just irritable b/c of lack of consistency from Sori, MB, Marmol for sure…and the injuries are mounting.

With Holliday adding needed punch to the offense, Carpenter returning to form and Franklin…StL is just playing better and is more fundamentally sound.

Can I hold you to this?

StL…is more fundamentally sound.

Gonna guarantee that ’til the end of September?

Yes

It’s not even close.

Intriguing...

Hold me to it too...

The Cards are a better team than us, and they might be the best in the NL.

My hand raised

too.

The best player in baseball, plus an excellent supporting cast, including one renewed ace pitcher and a fantastic #2.

“If playing at this level”, I could envision the Cards and Phils in the NLCS.

And to be honest...

As a fan of baseball that would be fun to watch.

If your team

is out of it -

Yes, I suppose it would be.

and

JESUS HOLLIDAY AND ST DEROSA!!!

jesus christos - August 13, 2009 reply

OT TLR

On his cell during post game press conf last night. Funny stuff. Half asleep when I saw this.

Sure hold me to it

Pitchers throwing strikes is a good start to being fundamental…Cubs have walked 102 more batters than the Cards. I’m not a Cards fan lurking either…hate them and all their mustaches.

Also Cubs last in MLB hitting with RISP. Rarely can we bunt or move guys over. Our circus in LF on defense.

Yes, I will guarantee

that St. Louis will play fundamentally sound baseball for the rest of the season.

We might still catch them, but it won’t be because they make stupid mistakes.

Plus

their front office was fundamentally sound of mind enough to not re-sign Aaron Miles

You ever think LaRussa

just closes the door to his office and giggles himself into a coughing fit over Miles?

Yes and

He show’s video’s of the Cubs defense, bunting skills, base running and mis use of the bull pen on team flights, right after America’s funniest home videos

parrotinct - August 13, 2009 reply

Thanks Worf

You prob said it better than me.

Can you guarantee their starting 8 will still be there, though?

Tto expect that the Cards will not face more adversity than a DL stint for Schumaker and Carpenter (And Dero, PBUH) is optimistic at best.

Or is that pessimism around here? Or reality? Hell, I can’t tell anymore.

Anyway, Joel Piniero ain’t all that….

So to say...

we wont have any more setbacks is ok? Works both ways.

I expect Cubs setbacks

And I do not expect Cards setbacks. That we’re still this close this far into the season gives me hope.

That Cub fans are willing to stake their reputation upon an overacheiving Cards team fills me with greed. Sorry – I may be a bad fan, but I have still never lost money betting on baseball.

Me and Vegas are going to have a few words come Sept. 1, I think…

Your writing is a waste of space

Why don’t you stick to what you’re good at on here and write the play by play of the game. No one cares if you get down and never lose betting baseball. I’m sure it’s a lie as most gamblers are. Always win a lot less than you say and lose a lot more than you admit.

The numbers say the Cards are due for injuries…okay. They had their share the last 2 years. And they won the flipping World Series with 83 wins. And we won 97 games and didn’t sniff a playoff win. So what is your point?

wow.

that was completely uncalled for.

Overreact much?

No, I can'[t guarantee that

I also can’t guarantee they all won’t get swine flu and they have to call up their entire AA roster to finish out the season.

I sometimes play the lottery. It’s fun to dream about what would happen if I won, but I don’t plan my household budget around it.

There ya go

Gotta love someone with one hand on the grill tools and the other one holding their wallet firmly in their pocket.

Take a lesson, y’all…

Um, what?

Let's just say

I am currently very happy that people are assuming Cards’ dominance at this point in the season.

Is this evan a "good team"?

“…a look at what can happen to even good teams at this time of year…”

I would propose that the Cubs are not even a “good team”. “Around .500” with total record.

Well below .500 against + .500 team. Lost every series against these teams, too.

And – a GM that has his hands tied. Up and down the Dodgers have more talent in their entire organization than the Cubs. When Colletti makes stupid mistakes, he seems to cut bait and move on (Jones). Are the Phils 7 runs better than the Cubs in “talent”?

No – but they are World Champs currently, and their pitching staff is arguably the best in baseball now, 1-5.

We’ll see soon enough, but my fanpost of a few days ago sums up my sentiment that the cards (and even Cards) are stacked against them right now.

With only one decent winning streak to speak of, I’d say it is unlikely that some of the current under-performers are going to all of a sudden pull it together. Soriano, the 2nd base Crap-Load, and the back end of the bullpen.

Could not agree more

This team seems to reflect the boredom and apathy of its manager. What’s the likelihood that this team starts to put it all together, and starts to display some of the esprit de corps that characterizes almost every team that plays well and performs well.

Frankly, I have a hard time cheering for this team, which I think is characterized by a lot of laziness and stupid mistakes.

I know I’m not the only Cubs fan whose skin crawls a little when he thinks about this year’s team- they are simply not that likeable and I really don’t mind seeing them fail most of the time.

SouthsideCub - August 13, 2009 reply

Then I must ask...

Why is Lou still the manager?

He won't be next season

He’s made enough to allow him to spend the rest of his life siting on a beach in Tampa, a drink in one hand, a smoke in the other, watching his grandkids play in the ocean.

He looks like he’s already decided he doesn’t need this stress, and frankly, who does?

SouthsideCub - August 13, 2009 reply

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE

head . Lou already looks semi-retired . Next Spring you will see another skipper in Mesa . Can’t say I will be sorry to see him gone either .

cubs north - August 13, 2009 reply

Agreed...

On other blogs as well, quite a few have mentioned that due to the points you mention, it is not a “like-able” team. LAst year’s version had the slow start, but when the wheels started rolling, it was a joy ride until the end.

And, how can you not root for a guy like Mark DeRosa, who never shied away from the media?

PBUH

power to the pbuh

It seems

Cubs have made this difficult series of games more difficult. Such a crucial segment of the season and the lineups have been handicaped beyond the injuries. Rest this guy, give that guy a shot etc. This is just an overview on my part of the last few weeks. We can come back but we have let some games go where there is damage to be done – wildcard.

Yes getting our ass handed to us by playoff caliber teams

Sounds like the playoffs of recent memory.

Yep

But I dont think we have put our best team out there on a consistant basis during this run. Nor have we made the correct call-ups when needed. Spilled milk I guess.

Hindsight says

Spellcheck should not have started last night and maybe a minor league call up. I think the $10 million given to him spoke too loudly. We need everyone healthy and on the field for a month to truly evaluate this team…..but they sure looked lifeless last night.

We trot Hill

out there for 50 games on end and understanding that this team has’nt had a day off in two months (exg) but could we not consider moving someone up a day to start or maybe let Dome play through, bring up an infielder that has an upside, make a point to Soriano who is currently on a team all by himself.?? Frustrated.

BTW - "Shark"?!

Why is Samardjia deserving of this nickname?

ISn’t “Goldfish” or “Guppy” more appropriate?

Can someone explain this?

Is this from college?

Yes

Shark was his nickname at ND. Kinda looks like one, don’t you think?

Thanks!

I suppose with the mullet – and imagination.

And the long, pointy nose

You said mullet

Too good!

He was given the nickname by some of his college buddies.

Here’s why:

Maybe it's because

neither has an arm that can keep breaking balls down

Salmon

Swims up to the bigs only to perish..

Someday he may deserve shark???

I vote for suckerfish

salparadise23 - August 13, 2009 reply

This album's two word review might be applied to this game.

katie casey - August 13, 2009 reply

I felt bad for Jeff last night.

You got the feeling he got thrown to the wolves. He’ll be OK when he gets more experience. Once we get healthy we’ll see how this plays out.

NWIowaCubFan - August 13, 2009 reply

Uh

Despite what the Cubs are paying him, the reality is that guys like Jeff Samardzija are a dime a dozen. Tons of minor league guys throw hard with little command and less than a 50% chance to throw a strike with anything offspeed. Those kinds of guys litter the minor league landscape.

He clearly was not ready to face a strong offensive team like the Phillies.

I still think there’s a chance Samardzija could turn out to be a decent arm but, again, his development has been so rushed and scattered that it’s really not surprising he’s struggled so mightily this season.

At this point I would prefer we don't see any more of Jeff Samardzija before Spring Training 2011

He needs time down in the minors to work on his stuff. And not just a few weeks, but probably a full season.

madcow256 - August 13, 2009 reply

Yeah, not a bad idea.

I might amend that to say we shouldn’t see him again until 2010 September callups. But if they really want him to be a starter, he has got to have more time to develop all four (five?) of his pitches somewhere other than the major leagues.

In a perfect world, he'd be in Bourbonnais.

While he gets knocked around Wrigley, the Bears need a tall receiver to pair with Devin.

For as much as I think the Cubs overreached and overpaid Jeff S, he certainly was one hell of a wide reciever. Great hands, tough to bring down, and he can out-jump anybody.

I almost wish that would happen just to see the sports media go completely bonkers.

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - August 13, 2009 reply

1+

No more Iowa shuttle. Decide what he is a starter, or a closer. Let him work on one of the two options. Just because you gave him a huge bonus, it doesn’t mean he’s ready immediately. Leave him there for a year.

Guys like Randy Wells toiled under the radar. He got his shot when he was ready, and obviously, it shows.

I felt bad for Marshall

Sean didn't look well to me.

And I mean that literally – he looked either sick or really exhausted. Didn’t anyone else notice this?

Yes

But I believe the physical side of it was derived from the emotional [pounding]. I think it’s one of the few times I’ve felt bad for an underperforming player. I openly question Piniella’s decision of leaving him in the game, even to bat for himself in the 5th.

His arm probably felt like a noodle.

Between throwing 60 pitches on Friday, tossing again Sunday, warming up on Tuesday and then throwing last night, he’s close to cooked, if he isn’t already.

Yeah, that's what I thought as well.

I don’t want to make excuses for Sean, but he’s been used in so many different roles this season that it must be difficult for him to get into any kind of rhythm. Plus, last night was the second game in a row that he’s been brought in to a blowout – that can’t be easy.

Plus, he's now thrown 151 pitches inside of 6 days

so I don’t think we’ll be seeing Sean anytime soon.

Geez...the starting pitching has just been a debacle as of late.

Between Zambrano and Gorzelanny going down in the last week

it has reeked havoc on the bullpen.

Last night, the Cubs basically asked Marshall to take one for the team (as he has done throughout his career), and he did.

Bummer

Yet another series loss to a winning team (with a really tough, unfamiliar starter on the hill today as we try to salvage one. Luckily there’s still time left to recover, but I won’t be fooled again by 2 or 3 wins this weekend against, effectively, a minor league team. We really need Z, Lilly, and A-Ram back.

And security definitely nabbed the wrong guy last night (I watched it a couple times on my DVR – what an a-hole). The dude who was tossed was still an idiot for pointing and taunting and drawing attention to himself, but he didn’t toss the beer. Unfortunately, just more fodder for people who enjoy marginalizing Wrigley as an oversized beer garden.

Cliff Lee...

It could get ugly… again.

The Cubs faced Cliff Lee in June.

So they’re not completely “unfamiliar” with them.

Not gonna look it up

How did they do against him?

3 earned runs in 7 innings...

… including HR by Derrek Lee and Reed Johnson.

Cubs won the game in extra innings.

Thanks, Al

That was an odd series starting w/Harden’s shellacking.

Can't they throw beer on Soriano instead?

Is that wrong?

reedjohnson - August 13, 2009 reply

lol

I had to laugh at that one!

As much as I loathe these actions in the ballpark – that is a funny thought.

I guess...

Sometimes the fans are too “amped up”.

Just got to let this one go.

Yes, it’s been ugly to watch over the last week or so. But I would argue you could find stretches like this for most teams in baseball this year.

Will the Cubs snap out of this funk? It remains to be seen, but the overall talent level of this team is too much to continue losing 12-5 and 11-5 games the rest of the way.

Right.

The Phillies just got swept by the Marlins before they came to Chicago, by a combined score of 21-9.

Precisely.

Every team goes through this kind of malaise over the course of the year (the 1998 Yankees lost 4 straight at one point).

We’ll find out a lot about this team’s mental resolve in how they come back from this.

Also, St. Louis is in a stretch in which they play 19 of 22 games against teams under .500, which is helping them. If the Cubs can tread water (and not take it on as they appear to be now), they’ll have a shot over the next month and a half.

The Cubs have done it more than once.

Posted too soon

Remember the second half of May?

Oh, I remember May fondly.

But that’s not because of the play of the Cubs during the month.

I agree, this team has had this issue before (and I would say a May swoon is worse than one that comes in the heart of summer). They responded to their struggles of May and June positively in July, so we’ll see if they can rebound. Playing the Pirates, Mets and all those teams can’t hurt.

Can't hurt, no

I just hope it’s not too late.

I share that sentiment.

They are quickly backing themselves into a corner after giving themselves ample opportunity earlier in the summer to take control of the proceedings.

They should have been up 5 games at the ASB

I know . . . coulda, woulda, shoulda.

What happened in May, btw?

I tend to lose focus of the Major League Baseball season in May.

Between coaching baseball and paying attention to the goings on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I’m not nearly as involved in the Cubs. And given how they played that month, it’s a good thing.

So you didn't win the lottery or have a life-changing event, then.

It was a good time to be away from the Cubs. I visited friends in China and Singapore during most of the 8-game losing streak. From a Cub fan standpoint, it was a great time to be out of the Western Hemisphere.

To Trey and SB:

I’m jealous. I wish I could turn away.

Don't forget, I joined the threads last night

Yeah, that was a rare treat

The treat was

The NBF/Worf accord

obviously

I missed some stuff. :D

There might have been kissing

I don’t remember. Was a little drunk

you naughty boy

Tongue?

Definitely not

maybe a peck on the cheek, though.

I wish. Just an average month of May.

But seeing as how the team couldn’t score a run to save their lives over that span, it was great to be away.

Another one of our guys too "amped up..."

I hear those post game remaks from the Shark and I wonder to myself, don’t we seem to hear alot of remarks like this from our players? Let’s see, Samardizja gets all geeked out from the pressure, Marmol can’t throw a strike because he “thinks too much,” Bradley can’t hit as a Cub because “he doesn’t like being the center of attention”,and then Zambrano…need I say more? I wonder if we have a disproportionate amount of head cases on this team at times. Or maybe it’s just the inordinate amount of pressure being a Cub, I don’t know.

Here’s my point: we really think we’re going to win a World Series with players with this kind of mental makeup? Are we just picking the wrong guys, or is it just the pressure of being a Cub?

reedjohnson - August 13, 2009 reply

Shark is too amped up last night...

Yet Monday night Theriot said they were all tired and “blah”. This team definitely has its fair share of mental midgets.

So they're dumb now?

I'm not talking about intellectually...

I mean there are some mentally weak individuals on this team. They collapse under pressure, they wilt with the slightest adversity, and some resort to blaming others and makings excuses.

I see. Not sure I completely agree, but I see what you mean.

that's

quite an assumption.

I have a basis for such assumptions...

The last two playoff collapses, players’ attitudes and explanations during tough stretches or adversity.

The time is now

I think if the Cubs are to have any chance, they need to go something like 14-4 or 13-5 the rest of the month. They have to do no worse than split with the Dodgers and beat the crap out of the dog teams.

If they don’t, and I hate to say this, but BLou could be right with his 83 win prediction. This team is very fragile (both physically and emotionally) and don’t have the type leadership, either from the manager or players, to get them out of tough stretches. If they don’t get it together soon, I could see them going in the tank. Then BLou might end up looking optomistic.

CubbieFaninOhio - August 13, 2009 reply

After 40 years of heartbreaks

I am so tired of player excuses.

IT is unfortunate that our GM has to force Samardjia on his manager b/c he is Hendry’s “Golden Boy”, instead of being allowed to learn how to pitch in the minors.

Shark's contract is terrible

but nobody forced him on Lou. He could easily be in Iowa trying to get better. Marshall, Mathes even Heilman were options for a start
since in this case the Cubs DID have 5 days to get whoever it was on proper rest and practice sessions.

Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009 reply

Silver linings

Al is obviously entitled to his opinion and effort at pointing out the needle in the haystack such as the late stretch the Dodgers had a year ago but the troublesome fact remains that hundreds of teams have found themselves four games out at this juncture of the season and ended up completely melting. That is probably much more likely with this club than the rise-up-and-steal-this-division act that is now fantasized about. Quite simply, this just isn’t a very good team. Too many once-talented guys either having terrible seasons or have begun their steady descent to retirement. Yes, I’m staring right at you No. 12.

5. More. Years.

No 12

Now batting a robust .171 for the month of August. Glad to see him stepping up his game with A-Ram being hurt.

I think we can safetly say that this team lives and dies on Aramis Ramirez

I don’t know the exact record, but it feels like we had a better winning percentage whenever he plays. This lineup is not complete with him and it is showing.

The exact record is...

… posted in my recap. Go back and look.

hah that's embarassing

but at least I was right…I guess that’s what having two summer jobs does to you!

Well then

They should take 3/4 of Soriano’s salary and pay it to Ramirez.

Crowd leaving

I couldn’t remember the last time (outside of nasty weather) that I saw a Wrigley crowd leave during a game as much as last night, that was sad……sad how this team has looked.

I have to agree with Santo who said cubs fans never give up (last night 7th inning stretch). The eternal optimist I guess is right. We have too much baseball and a lot of players M.I.A. right now. Teams go through stretches like this, but I don’t like them.

Ont thought for everyone, should Hill get most of the starts with the pitchers throwing better (it seems) to him or wait for Geo to get it going? Not much you can do with anyone else. I think I would consider a long stretch on the bench for Soriano…he is not doing anything for me in the field or at the plate.

He wasn't too amped up. He was throwing the ball down the middle.

It’s the middle of August and we are still “hoping” that they play like they are capable. Well, maybe we are not going to get healthy this year. And they aren’t capable of any better. Let’s face it, Soriano is a bad baseball player. The pitching carried them as far as it did. The offense, except for Lee, never contributed. Go Bears!

Rick B - August 13, 2009 reply

BEARS!

(raises glass)

Happy Jay Cutler day!!

He is just not that good!

He should consider going back to playing football, but wait why should he, Hendry guaranteed him 10 million dollars and a NTC. He can save his knees for a couple of more years and play football later.

cubdreamer - August 13, 2009 reply

Don't know

if you can name many starting pitchers that have only one good pitch. A good team like the Phillies will just eat up a strong fastball. He just stinks.

Da Bears Bears Bears...

Bears!

Speaking of the Bears,

don’t you think at this point Samardzija would make a bigger impact for the 09 Bears, than the 09 Cubs? If we put Jeff on waivers can the Bears claim him? There must be some marginal Bears rookie that has a baseball background – maybe a trade?

Cutler to Samardzija – touchdown! — sounds a lot more plausible right now than — a quality start for Samardzija.

BatCubFan - August 13, 2009 reply

should have traded Shark for Grossman when they had him

Rex knew how to throw the perfect strike to the other team

I appreciate the examples of teams coming back

From the Phillies just coming off a sweep by the Marlins to the Dodgers’ record last year to our own 2003 experience. You can obviously go back through baseball history, with the 1964 Cards and the 1977 Yankees being famous examples of comebacks.

But I also don’t blame fans for not believing until it happens.

It is very possible they win today and kick off some 11 of 13 winning streak. It is very possible that the return of Zambrano, Lilly and A-Ram combine to form a perfect storm in the staff and the lineup.

But you know something? They have to show me. At this stage of my life, having survived every major Cubs failure since 1984, I need them to show me some life before I jump on again.

And I bet Yankees fans in 1977 and Cards fans in 1964 were damned skeptical too.

Or Phillies fans in 2007...

… when they came back from 7 games out with 17 left.

Another good one

My point is that every couple of years, some team comes from behind to win in August and September after being down 5-10 games.

I refuse to believe that we are the only fans who get frustrated, look forward to football season, and even get a little irrational before that push starts.

And I also believe there is no real shame in that. Part of the reason “Miracle” comebacks are so labeled is because few people believed.

That Mets team had some clear holes though

Not that the Cardinals are perfect – they aren’t.

But they are a good baseball team, with a remaining schedule pretty similar to that of the Cubs

Dave Roberts Moment

They definitely need that moment that you can look back on and say it was the turning point. Perhaps it’s a come-from-behind walk-off homer. Perhaps it’s a great defensive play in the top of the 9th to truly save a victory. Something, anything has to propel them.

I’ve been as critical of this team as any Cubs team in years, mostly because they have performed so far below expectations. However, truth be told, this team has caught exactly zero breaks since this season started. If…and that’s a huge if, the breaks start falling their way, and nothing leads you to believe they will after watching how they have gone against them since April, a 4-game lead is surpassable.

But the “IF’S” certainly carry the day right now.

Bill Simmons talked about that last year

From his experience as a long-suffering Red Sox fan.

He said the Cubs, or any team with that kind of history (like the pre-2004 Red Sox, or the Indians) can’t come into the playoffs as the juggernaut, like last year. One little slip, or bad outing, or error, and the world caves in.

He said you need something like Boston had, coming back from 3-0 down, to really throw all the garbage off.

Of course, we tried that in 1998 too, squeaking into the Wild Card in Game 163. A sweep later…

So, you might be onto something. Just one little thing and we could be right back

But it has to happen after hope is seemingly lost.

We kind of snuck in...

In ‘07. We didn’t clinch until Sept. 28th, and we only won 85 games, yet that ended in disaster.

I do remember the consensus being that we were the superior team to the Diamondbacks

It might be nice to be considered an underdog for once.

madcow256 - August 13, 2009 reply

Well then

By all accounts, if this six-game stretch hasn’t produced the answer that “all hope is lost”, let me be the first to concur that it is.

Plus, the Cubs aren't exactly known for miracles

Well

Neither were the Red Sox pre-2004. Just saying.

Hope Springs Eternal

I guess that’s why I’m here

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - August 13, 2009 reply

Hasn't, historically been in the team's DNA

There is a first time for everything. Doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals

aren’t the Mets.

cubdreamer - August 13, 2009 reply

yeah they are a worse team

the Cardinals that is

Oh really, why is that?

cubdreamer - August 13, 2009 reply

No, they aren't.

Amped UP ??? , We need a Pep Rally

Maybe if the next time SHARK ptiches we all stand up and start doing silly things with our hands and chant like the old days at ND Football Game he will feel at home and relaxed

parrotinct - August 13, 2009 reply

"The Shark"

Next time? How many times do we need to see him get jacked before Hendry realizes Smarajda is not a major league pitcher. he has one pitch and it has consistenly been getting smoked.

Keith Moreland - August 13, 2009 reply

Funny thing is, the first I saw him play last year, I really thought WOW

I tend to agree with the people who say that he has not been developed well by the Cubs organization with all the switching back and forth from relief to starting, and all the bouncing back and forth between the majors and AAA.

eths - August 13, 2009 reply

Proof positive

that the Cubs’ organization is being run poorly. The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Plenty of people on here

would disagree with you about Shark. “He needs more time.” My question is: Ok, well has there been progress since last year? No, just regression.

He's basically been developed in the big leagues...

…so a regression really isn’t surprising.

This team

has really folded as of late. I stopped watching after the 3rd inning last night because it’s getting embarassing to see this kind of effort. Lou clearly doesn’t seem to have any answers at this point. This team has too much talent to keep getting pounded by any decent team. Oh well, guess I will have to wait for them to beat up on the Pirates to give me some hope they can make up some ground on the Cards.

The Dodgers won last year after a bad August...

because they had a good September and also, because the other teams in their division didn’t win consistently. The Cardinals this year are in a winning streak, after bolstering their offense at the trade deadline. The Cubs, meanwhile, are losing consistently because they didn’t improve their singles-only, no-slugging, no-Ramírez offense.

Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009 reply

Yo. Ballhawk. Still bearing witness? ;-)

Emelie - August 13, 2009 reply

If Tuesday night's game was a nighmare...

…last night’s game was the nightmare you wake up to when you think you’ve awoken but actually haven’t. It’s hard to imagine Cliff Lee allowing the Cubs to regain consciousness today either. Running the table against the Pirates would seem the only way we’re going to salvage this homestand.

Give the Phillies some credit – they’re the champs and they’re playing championship ball, preying on a team cut down by injuries and simply unable to rally itself. And they’re doing it on the road no less. If Victorino catching that fly ball while some idiot Cubs fan pours a beer on him doesn’t symbolize this series perfectly, I don’t know what does.

Nine innings to play today, though. Let’s go get ’em.

CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009 reply

like I have said

The Cubs cannot beat a good team. You tend to find good teams in the playoffs. Did yesterday mark the end of the 2009 Cubs? No, this was marked awhile ago. If you are disappointed in October then you are a true optomist.

P.S – Can someone explain to me how Skip Bayless ever gets a camera pointed at him. This dude is a straight up moron.

1060 W Addison - August 13, 2009 reply

I agree with everything except,

Notre Dame being the biggest of the big time programs.

I said "one of the biggest".

Which it is.

CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009 reply

Ah, my bad.

Just trying to talk about something other than the Cubbies this morning.

Yo Worf, NBF

This is a OT, but last night we were talking about Vick, Stallworth, NFL suspensions.

Stallworth gets the season off without pay. Justice is served by the NFL.

nji232 - August 13, 2009 reply

And you doubted it!

Good to hear

Win today and sweep the Pirates

tough order, especially today, but a little 5 game win streak would do us a world of good. Aram, I hope you’re in the lineup today.

4 game win streak.....not 5

but Lilly is scheduled Monday so call it 5!

Yeah so everyone can get their hopes up

similarly to when we swept the Nationals after the ASG.

the team that swept the marlins?

the nationals are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now

jesus christos - August 13, 2009 reply

It's the beginning of the end

if they lose 2 of 3 to the Bucco’s this weekend.

blackhawk24 - August 13, 2009 reply

Hendry you are the biggest idiot on this team right now. You should be fired for the way you put this team together.

It starts and ends with him

Ricketts needs to clean house by ousting him and Lou, and promoting Sandberg to AAA in preparation for next season.

If Ricketts starts making baseball decisions, God help the franchise

He needs to hire a president and step back.

I meant for him

to make executive decisions to clean house, but not for him to make organizational philosophical baseball moves.

Ok, that I can be on board with

Whoever comes in (if someone else does) needs to make their own decision regarding Sandberg, et al, though.

Yeah - this isn't the White Sox

where the GM is, IMHO, largely a figurehead. I think Reinsdorf has way more input into roster assembly than other owners.

Hire everyone in the Marlins organization pronto

Not the marketing guys!

This also ain't Pittsburgh.

(Just mentioning out of general principle.)

You just gave me an interesting thought

We’ll know the season is bottoming out when someone starts creating fanposts debating if the Cubs or the Pirates have a better outlook in the next 5 years . . . .

Don't give nutdrinkingamp12 any ideas!

He won't see this

He’s busy working on tomorrow’s projected lineups.

Canadian Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009 reply

It's getting easier

to take these losses in stride and not be bothered by them. It’s becoming more and more apparent that this is not our year. The injuries, guys underperforming, Lou basically shutting it down intellectually…I really hope he walks at the end of the year and they let Alan Trammel run the show next year.

as much as i hate to agree you, you're probably right

lou can’t use his bullpen correctly, the offense is too inconsistent, injuries …. just doesn’t look like our year

Problem

with this comparison. The Cards are playing very well with their great pitching, acquisitions of Lugo, DeRo, and Holliday. It will prove too much for the Cubs to overcome cause they don’t look poised to win the WC. Last year the Dodgers played in a terrible division, and had little resistance even though they were down 4.5 games.

Cubs will need some help for sure

But the Cards don’t have a reliable 5th starter. If Carpenter, Wainwright, Pineiro, or Lohse went down, they would be throwing out two really bad SPs every 5 games. Also, Pineiro’s was able to recover/get some timely outs in his last start, but he was hit hard and the Mets tagged him for 7 Rs in 5 IP the game before that. Even if Pineiro regresses, the Cardinals would be in some trouble.

The same goes for Ryan Franklin and Trevor Miller. Playing WAY over their heads. Everyone could steamroll the rest of the year and keep it up but it’s not like we are talking about aces and shutdown closers here.

IllinoisCubs - August 13, 2009 reply

Can't that be said for any team?

How many teams in baseball have a reliable #5?

dcfcblues - August 13, 2009 reply

Well, the Rockies have Jason Marquis

/ducks

No, here's the thing

The Cards don’t even have a decent option for 5th starter. Mitchell Boggs is a stretch. If anything happens to their 1-4, all of the sudden Boggs or Brad Thompson become the No. 4 and No. 5 pitchers for the ball club. The Cards could stay healthy and win the division easy, but the poster I was replying too makes it seem like the Cards are this stocked deep team. They are stocked but very fragile.

IllinoisCubs - August 13, 2009 reply

Don't forget

Lugo actually somehow being healthy enough to play without leg injuries and actually producing and Holliday hitting nothing like he was in Oakland.

Great title Al!

I will try and read the recap later today, right now it is just making me angry to think about the Cubs.

I had tickets to last nights game, but due to a Phish show Tuesday, and heading to WI for a wedding tonight, I sold them…thank God!

slocs55 - August 13, 2009 reply

Did that guy a favor by tossing him out of the game.

You mean the heckler - not the actual beer tosser, right?

Because the tosser, ironically, didn’t get tossed.

Yes

but anyone being tossed during last night’s game would’ve been given a favor.

Oh, I see what you mean.

Yeah, that’s true.

It's funny how Hendry always talks about not having the money to make moves

that nobody’s fault other than yours! You were the one who signed these players to these massive deals.

I know I've said this before in the last two days, but

The massive deals don’t bother me.

It’s the large deals to the middling, role-type players that get me. I think it was D98 yesterday that said someone needs to sit Hendry down and explain that instead of paying $10-12M each for two mediocre players, he would be better served to spend $20M on one superstar.

like sori?

I think he should have signed Abreu, and kept Dero. I would have loved to hear Hendry’s discussion with Randy Bush contemplating Bradley’s signing, pure stupidity. I’ve said these things since winter.

The Cubs rolled through last year, played 3 bad games in the playoffs, and the team was completely turned over.

I’m alwasy optimistic, and I apologize if I sound rude, but I think this is a turning point. Either they start to play to their potential, or this season will be over be August is done.

slocs55 - August 13, 2009 reply

The team wasn't completely turned over

Almost all of the same guys who were here last year are here this year, too.

There was a lot of turn over for a 97 win team.

It was more than tweaking…

slocs55 - August 13, 2009 reply

And, on paper, the moves they made

made the team better.

Maybe to you,

and you were wrong.

slocs55 - August 17, 2009 reply

Could not agree more...

He is using the Cubs situation as a bailout. If he would have spent the money the right way the first time it would not be an issue now. What is he gonna say in 2 years when the sale of the team is completed and all these backloaded contracts comeback to bite him in the ass.

He'll probably say:

“I did what I had to do to sign the best players I could find at the time to give the team a chance to win right then and there. We made it to the postseason two (three?) years in a row with those players, and we just came up short (?).”

I’d agree with Shanghai that it’s not so much the big deals that bother me as the smaller ones that add up quickly and take away flexibility.

and

he’s be utterly right to say what he said, if that’s what he says.

He'd be lying by omission

“And what I had to do was bid against myself for the likes of Jacque Jones, Neifi Perez, Glendon Rusch, John Mabry and Aaron Miles. "

This season is far from over ... but when i look at the contracts on this team

Fukudome and Miles have to go. As great as Fukudome has played this year, 12.5 mil and 13 mil next year is just wayyyyyyyyyy too much for the type of player he is. Miles …. well that speaks for itself.

I'll keep Dome, thanks.

But, obviously, Miles can be released as soon as Andres Blanco is brought back.

i meant like after the season

I'm with Daver; I'd keep Dome for 2010.

Here’s the thing – if the Cubs decide the contract isn’t worth it, why would someone else take it?

You can complain about him (which makes little sense this year), but unless you have someone better to take his place, what’s the point in getting rid of him?

Maybe he's the best a mid-market team can do.

I guess that the reason to get rid of him is because you can do better.

As a caveat – I don’t even know if a replacement is available, so I’m definitely not recommending moving Dome at this time.

That being said, the idea would be that Dome costs $13-odd million, and is a somewhat-above-average producer for a centerfielder, and as such, isn’t earning that much more than he’s worth.

That may be exactly what a mid-market team, like, say, a Seattle, is looking for. Getting $13M in production out of a $13M player.

As one of the biggest big-market teams, the Cubs can set their sights a bit higher, and aim to get an elite outfielder – getting $18-$20M in production out of an $18-20M player.

That being said, a situation where a Carlos Beltran becomes available at age 27 doesn’t happen very often. We blew that one off. And as such, Dome may be the best option for CF for the next 2 years. Now that we know he’s a decent leadoff hitter and a decent CF, he looks a whole lot better than he did as a slap-hitting, no-run-producing RF.

Beltran . . . the dominoes

Because Soriano’s contract was to reverse the perception that the Cubs don’t go after the big names.

They don’t need to get everyone like the Yankees try to, but you’re right that they should go for someone that you can build a team around when that type of player becomes available.

Too bad it won’t be in November. And too bad Hendry will probably still be the GM.

Didn't the Sosa contract prevent Beltran from signing with the Cubs?

I can't see how.

Neither Sammy Sosa, nor Carlos Beltran, were on the 2005 Cubs.

Worst case, we were looking at 1 year of overlapping salaries there. And Moises Alou was leaving anyway, so any salary issues would have been mitigated somewhat.

Long story short, they totally wussed out, and then dramatically overcompensated the following offseason, giving Soriano the exact same contract Beltran had gotten from the Mets, and then adding an extra year to it, despite the fact that Soriano was incapable of playing CF, and the fact that Soriano was like 4 years older than Beltran had been.

By "the following offseason", I mean "after 2006."

Just keeping the timeline in order.

i don't really know the situation but i remember reading about Sosa's contract

I remember reading about bacon, but I don't think that had anything to do with it, either.

Silliness aside, supposedly MacPhail said they were committed to whoever the hell they had in CF at the time (I can remember the lineups of the 1980’s, but not that . . . ).

If true, that’s astoundingly stupid. Whoever it was was nowhere near the caliber of Beltran, and it was clear at the time.

D98’s right – Sosa was already gone.

In fairness, I think Sosa was traded after Beltran signed.

I don’t think that exonerates the Cubs, though.

The deal they worked for Sosa wasn’t made from a position of strength. It saved them a little bit of cash, but BAL would have been there even if we’d already signed Beltran. The Trib was in full-blown “Sammy Must Go!!!” mode by that point, publicly feuding with him and whatnot.

link

-10 BCB points to me. You are correct, sir.

Still, one year overlapping.

That was certainly the story back then

In retrospect, we now know that story was completely bunk.

The money was absolutely there. What was the Cubs’ payroll back then? 80-90M? It escalated substantially from there, to say the least.

In 2005 and 2006, Hendry added Burnitz for $4.5M, Howry for $4M, Eyre for $3M, Blanco for $3M, and Neifi Perez for $2.5M, Jones and Pierre at $5.75M each…. there was payroll room.

And as we all noted, Sosa had $17M left on his deal, which was moved a couple months later despite the Cubs waving a giant neon “Sammy Must Go” sign all winter. Worst case, one year of overlap.

I know that the company line was “we can’t sign Beltran b/c we still have Sammy for another year and it would be too pricey to have both in 2005.” But that company line was disingenous at the time, as subsquent events have conclusively proven.

and you can thank Fiscally Responsible Andy for that

“that” being an utter refusal to bend and accept a single year of overlapping salaries.

It was the weirdest, most arbitrary rule.

Yes, Sosa was still around, but Alou was gone! That was $9M saved right there!

So Alou leaves, we add Burnitz ($4.5M), and we’re already almost all the way to matching Beltran’s salary. Especially when you factor in the insane raises given to the Blancos and Neifis of the roster ($3M and $2.5M, respectively).

And then we ditched Sosa anyway. Talk about your missed opportunities.

I dunno...that really depends on what the Cubs could get for him.

If he can finish out the season strong, Kosuke appears to be a pretty strong option at the top of the lineup and, as always, a strong defender in the outfield. Again, you’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to match the value of almost any player’s production to the contract he negotiated.

Miles will certainly

be gone. Dome needs to stay, and I think he’s certainly worth it.

+1

Vermont Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009 reply

I put up a white flag after the fourth inning, when it was 12-1.

Stopped keeping track of the game entirely. Not often do I do that, but I could tell last night’s game was out of reach.

Is there any kind of timeframe on when Lilly and Zambrano return?

Don't attack me .... i just want to talk about something other than last night's game

if Harden is let go, John Lackey seems like a good fit.

After today, the Cubs have 12 games left against teams currently at .500 or better.

I think there’s still time to make a move.

To a dome in Schamburg?

I keed . . . I keed . . .

Arlington Heights. Right by the track.

Retractable roof and all the amenities of today’s soulless stadiums. It’ll be great.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

I could bike/walk to every game!

I'd visit my relatives more if it was there, I know that much.

Plus, Saturdays spent bouncing between a Cubs game and the horse races would be excellent.

Maybe they could combine the two.

That would certainly put Miller Park’s sausage races to shame.

I understand it's "just get to the playoffs and see what happens," but

realistically – any team we play IN the playoffs will be over .500, so that record-against-over-.500-teams thing is misleading.

A quick comment that has no scientific basis

but just is kind strange. Each month of play this season has rotated between an over .500 record and under .500. August is (so far) right on course as an under .500 month. If this trend continues, Septemaber will be over .500 and so far this year, our over .500 months are pretty good months. We aren’t dead yet! LOL

HELL YEAH!

Yeah, but . . .if they continue to alternate . . .

D'OH!

Wait, it might be ok.

World Series starts October 28….DAMN STUPID FIREWALL BLOCKING MLB.COM!!!!!

Assuming they play 2, day off, play:

Go 3-2 in NLDS. Go 4-3 in NLCS. Go 0-3 in WS in October for a losing record. 4-0 in November!!!

IT’S HAPPENING?!?!?!?!?1?

IT'S HAPPENING!?!?!?!?!?

It would be nicey

HELL YEAH!!!!

ADAM LIND

what about october then? ;-)

cubsnlinux - August 13, 2009 reply

Don't you know the post season is a crapshoot!!??? ROFLMAO

Rest of the season

Based on what I’ve read in the media, I think Ramirez should be shutdown for the rest of the season. They might want to consider that for any player not physically able to play 100%.

I haven’t heard such discouraging news about Lilly and Zambrano, so I’m assuming they are the best shot at salvaging the season. That and the Cardinals losing.

Among more interesting position players to watch for the rest of the year are Baker, Bradley, Fuld and Fox. Baker has stepped it up a few notches and that’s good if he can play and sustain it. Bradley has stepped it up a few notches and, if he keeps going, he can be more tradeable. Fuld is the potential guy who would play CF or RF next year with Bradley gone. If they don’t have a better candidate, I would try to make Fox a leftfielder and substitute 3rd basemen and make Soriano a bench player. Fox would supply the clout that Soriano hasn’t provided this year. Wait for back-loaded contracts to expire in future years to bear the cost of higher impact moves.

Any money that is spent in the offseason should be spent on pitching. Do the Cubs want Harden back? Right now I would say yes. Do they want to revamp the bullpen? Most certainly at least half of it. I’m tired of Samardjiza; put him in the minors where he belongs.

AboutTheCubs - August 13, 2009 reply

So you're advocating

playing Fuld and Fox over Bradley and Soriano.

I get on my knees and thank God you have absolutely nothing to do with managing/running a professional baseball team.