It seemed over before it even started.
No, I'm not talking about the 2009 season, although it is rapidly fading unless the Cubs can make a quick turnaround.
I'm talking about today's Cubs 6-1 loss to the Phillies. With a pitcher as good as Cliff Lee going, there is little margin for error on the part of his opponent. Ryan Dempster didn't pitch a bad game, but he made two mistakes -- one was a wind-aided homer by Ryan Howard into about the second row in left field, the other a solo shot by Pedro Feliz two batters later, and they might as well have called the game off right then, because Cubs hitters had no idea how to solve Lee.
That's not a knock on them, necessarily -- many teams have had the same trouble. The Cubs scored exactly as many runs -- one -- off Lee as the Giants and Rockies did in his two previous National League starts after he came over to the Phillies from Cleveland. The Cubs' best shot at Lee was in the second inning when they loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single by Jake Fox. However, the bases-loaded batter was Dempster, who came into the game with a .089 career batting average and who was 3-for-40 this year (.075) starting today's action.
Naturally, he struck out.
The rest of the game played out fairly evenly, with the Phillies dinking out a couple more runs and the Cubs getting a consolation run in the fifth on a Jeff Baker double, followed by a Ryan Theriot single. If there has been any bright spot over the last week, it's been the play of Baker, who is 11-for-19 (.579) over the last five games with two doubles, a triple and a pair of walks and who is now hitting .333/.397/.526 in an admittedly small-sample-size 63 plate appearances as a Cub. With Mike Fontenot struggling, expect Baker to play second base regularly for a while, at least.
There's no doubt this team is far different with Aramis Ramirez not in the starting lineup. As I mentioned earlier, the Cubs are 25-17 with A-Ram starting, now 33-38 without, and watching him drive down Sheffield about 10:45 this morning in his red Maserati, I wondered when or whether we'd see him back in the lineup. There seems no word from anyone on when he'll return; we were all hoping for today. Maybe tomorrow. Lou Piniella seemed completely discouraged and defeated in his postgame news conference, offering little more than platitudes. It may be that Lou and the team could come to an amicable parting of the ways after this year, and new ownership, wanting to make a splash, might go after Tony LaRussa, whose Cardinals contract is up at the end of this year. This was total speculation on the part of my friend Dave this afternoon, but it's certainly food for thought, especially if this season doesn't wind up in a comeback.
I also wanted to say a few more words about last night's beer-tossing incident in the bleachers. Both the Cubs and Phillies CF Shane Victorino have filed a complaint against the fan who did it. The only problem:
... the Chicago Police Department is looking for the individual.
As you may have heard, security in the bleachers got the wrong guy, who, protesting was handcuffed and taken to the Town Hall police station down Addison before they checked TV replays and discovered that the protests were valid. At Chicago Sports in Haiku today, they posted a pretty good screen cap of the guy who apparently did it and said, in haiku:
Do you know this guy?
Then you should pick up the phone
And call the police!
I watched the video of the incident. It is my opinion that the man pictured at Chicago Sports in Haiku is the one who threw the beer. The cubs.com article linked above also says:
The Cubs do have security in the bleachers, and Kenney said he wasn't sure what other steps the team could take.
"What are you going to do?" Kenney said. "We serve beer and people sit in the bleachers. If you think about how many years we've gone with no issues of any kind, including situations where we had our fans in some way animated about our own players, where they weren't favorable towards them -- so this is an isolated instance. [We'll] handle it the right way, we think, with the police."
While Kenney is correct -- this is an isolated incident -- there are some measures they can and should take to keep the rowdiness down. I will say that security has been much more vigilant about underage drinking this year, but there's more they can do to calm the idiot behavior. So Crane, here are my suggestions for making the bleachers a better place to be, all of which I think are reasonable and none of which are too onerous on fans or the team:
Will this cost more money? Sure it will. But wouldn't it be worth it to keep from having more black eyes on the franchise like this one?
Enough. At least the weather's been nice the last three days, for really the first time all summer. Too bad the baseball hasn't been as nice. Onward, and let's sweep the Pirates this weekend.
0 recs | 494 comments
LaRussa a Cub
Wow. My mind is boggling.
Total unfounded speculation by Dave. BUT…
LaRussa has a history of bringing players with him.
Mr. Pujols, your keys to the city are waiting.
Worf - August 13, 2009
Whitey Herzog
I heard the Cubs had some interest in him around 1980 after the White Rat got canned by Kansas City, but Whitey didn’t like the fact the Cubs played all their home games during the day back then. I wonder how good the Cubs could have been in the 1980’s with Herzog at the helm. Could Whitey Ball have worked at Wrigley Field?
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
sure
as long as Vince Coleman, Tommy Herr, and Willie ET McGee were occupying the top 3 spots in that batting order.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
they could have planned @ dawn or at midnight
with as bad as those teams were I find it doubtful
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Take Away 1984 and 1989
The Cubs were bad back then. I wonder if the Cubs would have been any better, if they had been more speed-oriented. Of course, the Cubs have traditionally built around power because of Wrigley’s reputation as a home run park.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
Well a part of the speed of the Cardinals teams was the Astroturf
FlimtotheFlam - August 13, 2009
Coleman and McGee
There was one game at Wrigley when Coleman and McGee stole 2 bases a piece on the same play when Ron Cey was arguing a call at third base.
The daily double of Dernier and Sandberg was the best 1-2 speed combo I can remember the Cubs having.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
it was
and it was short-lived when Dernier forgot how to hit.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
Highly doubtful that we would have seen "Whiteyball" in Wrigley
I remember reading an interview with Herzog several years ago (I don’t recall where) where he said that he built the Cards for speed because they played half their games in Bush and if he had managed the Cubs, he would’ve built the team for power because of Wrigley.
bluekoolaide - August 13, 2009
Whiteyball
He used that speed game to a certain extent in Kansas City, when he had Willie Wilson, Freddie Patek, and Amos Otis on the artificial turf there. I wonder how well Whitey could have done with a team that was power-oriented offensively. I suppose the Royals lineup with Brett, John Mayberry, Amos Otis, and Hal McRae in 1976-77 was the most powerful lineup Whitey ever had. They came within one win of the American League pennant both years.
memphiscub - August 14, 2009
I may hate TLR but I even thru I'd like to hate Pujols
I find it just impossible.
The other day a buddy of mine who is Red Sox fan (grew up in burb of boston and has been since he was a kid so not one of the bandwagoners) and were just discussing how much we’d both love each of our favorite teams to get him.
He’ll be 31 when he is a FA. If the Cubs don’t get him, I hope someone in the AL does.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Would the Yankees
throw half a billion dollars at him?
chitownhawkeye - August 13, 2009
They do have Teixeira at 1B already, so you would think not
dtc0405 - August 13, 2009
could use pujols as DH
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Yeah, he may go for that...
dtc0405 - August 13, 2009
considering
that pujols is a better defender, i really, really don’t see albert just conceding to only playing half as much baseball as he wants to
prophetjohn - August 13, 2009
texiera plays a great first base too
Allie - August 13, 2009
Not that I know the inner-thinking of Pujols
But he plays a pretty good 1B, and I’d think he’d want to stay there.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
when youre handed the kind of money the yankees would give him
you dont care where you play
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
That's true.
I just automatically assume that they will.
chitownhawkeye - August 13, 2009
Tex is still there
Would the Cubs?
socalbob - August 13, 2009
When have the Cubs gone out and got the absolute best player available at the time?
They’ll wait…piddle around…and then sign a much lesser player and bid against themselves to do it.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
it could be argued
Sori was the best available player the year he signed.
But, yep you are absolutely correct. They’d f*ck it up, somehow.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
True
But SWL I can dream can’t I?
Having our luck, he’d end up with a career threatening injury.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
of course
I am dreaming with ya on that one.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
2006....
we could have gotten….
J.D. Drew
Tori Hunter
Carlos Lee
and not had to give them an 8 year contract
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
i would not want nancy drew
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
I'm glad we don't have Drew or Lee
But Hunter definitely would have been nice.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
but none of them I would have ponder a year ahead of time
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
We couldn't have gotten Hunter in 2006
Unless we traded for him. He wasn’t available for free agency until winter of 2007. And he does have a much nicer contract than Soriano.
Spotacus - August 13, 2009
Tori Hunter had a clause in his contract where he could prevent 10 teams
of getting him in a trade, and the Cubs were one of them.
Cubs and Hawks fan - August 14, 2009
The only reason they did that...
…was because they’d passed on Beltran prior to the 2005 season, and convinced themselves that Sosa and Alou would be better replaced with Hollandsworth and Burnitz.
So, with a gaping hole in CF, they throw Soriano the same annual salary the Mets gave Beltran, plus an extra year for good measure. Notwithstanding the fact that Soriano was 4 years older than Beltran had been, and couldn’t play CF.
D98 - August 13, 2009
They should have a new owner in place by then, new owner, new attitude perhaps,
this would also be dependent on the Cubs not resigning Lee after next season.
dtc0405 - August 13, 2009
More likely the Red Sox
as they have room for a 1B
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
2011
If he’s a FA, one would almost think he’d get AROD $$$ from someone
If I could pick anyone to be a Cub, I would have to say he’d have to be it. I can’t off the top of my head think of anyone else.
How great of a player must you be, if 2 years ahead of time people are talking about this. :)
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
answer
the best hitter in baseball—truly great.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
Truthfully if TLR managing would help that
I feel dirtyt typing that
But I’d like to see the best player in baseball a Cub.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
I think he'll make ARod's contract look like minimum wage
We’ll may be not that bad, but its going to be huge.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
damn you wolf
I wasn’t going to log on saw you comment and did……you optism has made me late for supper.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Wolf?
Shanghai Badger - August 13, 2009
hahahah
oh wait. you’re serious
prophetjohn - August 13, 2009
As a Cardinals' fan,
the idea of TLR going to the Cubs was fine with me. I was like: TLR? You can has. I don’t particularly care for him as a manager, for reasons which many Card fans can tell you.
However, the idea of TLR dragging along Pujols with him scares me. At first I scoffed, like What a stupid idea. That would not happen! But the slim chance it would, if TLR went to the Cubs, scares me.
Nightmares tonight. Yay. =)
ilrosso - August 13, 2009
cubs won't be able to afford him
if he doesn’t re-sign, he’ll most likely go to the mets. which, as a mets fan, is about the only place i could handle him going. i think he re-signs, though
prophetjohn - August 13, 2009
I would be all over this.
If TLR comes packaged with Dave Duncan, I say GET IT DONE. That then might be a good opportunity to bring Ryne Sandberg up as bench coach, where he can learn the ropes.
lapetino - August 14, 2009
OK, before I head to an evening meeting
Silver linings from the New Optimistic Worf:
Worf - August 13, 2009
was the Earth scheduled for that today????
cozmotaylor123 - August 13, 2009
i like the new worf .... maybe
lexmarklover - August 13, 2009
Maybe the earth will crash into the Sun soon....
I’m happy I turned it off early, that being said I came here for the recap and wasn’t going to comment due to my disgust.
But an optimistic wolf might be nearing sign of an apocalypse.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
wolf?
irony is so sweet
socalbob - August 13, 2009
This looks like a pretty optomistic wolf:
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
nicely done
socalbob - August 13, 2009
i for one welcome our new second baseman
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
TWSS for bullet point #2
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Not everybody who drinks more than 4 beers
turns into an idiot. For some of us that is our only vacation every year or two. I would be highly pissed if I got to Wrigley and they said you can have 4 beers.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
Really?
Your having a good time at Wrigley is dependent on you drinking more than four beers?
That’s really sad.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
I'd have a hard time drinking four beers at a Cubs game...
…(eyes get bigger as the realization of what he just said hits him)…
“What am I SAYING?”
(Kidding) ;)
Zeke - August 13, 2009
I'm 6'3" and 230 and yes I like to drink beer
I watch baseball. Especially the way they have been playing lately.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
or after the game.
but if more than 4 beers means that much to you. I got a deal for you buy me a ticket and I’ll you have my share. So at least if you get kicked out…. I’ll enjoy a free game an extra spot on the bleachers. LOL
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Deal...But, I wouldn't do anything to kicked out.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
I will also need money to get me from Madison to Chicago.....
If you go for that deal……………………..
Those beers are WAY TOO IMPORTANT to you LOL
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
You will have to arrange your own transportation.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
Damn
Would I atleast get food and score card?
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Only the ticket in this economy. :)
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
No deal then
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Perhaps another time.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
maybe next year :)
Hell come up to Miller Park, trust you prolly can’t outdrink some of them. Plus it’s a beautiful park. Brewer/ Cub games are a lot of fun.
This is the first year in about 3 or 4 that I’m not going to one
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Well, I have never been to Wisconsin.
I had a friend from Madison, WI in undergrad at Southern Miss.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
Email him/her
plan a trip for next year :)
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Haven't spoken to them in years.
I wouldn’t know how to track him down.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
I agree with you...
I don’t get to go to many games a year but I enjoy drinking my beer at sporting events especially with friends. I don’t get belligerent and control myself, but it just makes the atmosphere funner, especially if the Cubs are getting blown out. It was an isolated incident. I understand doing something if this is something that happens time after time. I think some people are overreacting to this one isolated incident.
aznsensation - August 13, 2009
There is nothing wrong with having
a good time if you don’t bother others.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
you most certainly need more than 4 beers
to watch them play right now.
I think a few Vodka-Tonics may help as well.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
All we drink at football games in the south is Bourbon.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
Camp Randall here in Madison
believe it or not but I think it is the only place in Madison that doesn’t sell booze on Football Saturdays…..
Doesn’t matter many undergrads start @ 9am and are drunk by the time they get to their seats for 11 am kick off
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
I prefer to smuggle a little into the games.
At the beginning of the season I just watch at home as it is still far to hot to watch a game at 11am outside. Even the night games are brutal.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
9am?
There is no way. I’m an Iowa fan, and we usually start around 7 or earlier. I cannot accept that a fellow Big 10 school would devalue those 2 (at least) extra hours of drinking
chitownhawkeye - August 13, 2009
Heck, at UI they don't even tailgate.
An absolute disgrace.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
What?? The hell we don't tailgate in Iowa City!!
Cubs and Hawks fan - August 14, 2009
Hell we always
do when we go to football games there. Not sure where he was coming from saying that.
sue369 - August 14, 2009
I always wanted to do Breakfast Club
Halloween costumes in Harry’s at 7am then to Slayter Hill at 10 to walk behind the band and the Special to the stadium.
Always looked fun. Boiler Up, baby. :-P
Allie - August 13, 2009
If he wants to buy more than four beers he should be able to....
and if he goes too far he should suffer the consequences just like the beer-throwing yahoo hopefully will.
Where do you get off telling him that that’s his dependency on having a good time? You don’t know a damn thing about it.
Gibbon Jockey - August 13, 2009
have your other 4-8 beers before entering
now you are up to 12 and perfectly happy.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
Before getting bent out of shape
realize that along with the 4 beer limit, the author also suggested LaRussa would manage the Cubs.
I’m not sure which suggestion is more offbase.
Gibbon Jockey - August 13, 2009
Neither is off base.
I’ve had a four beer limit wristband on my body more than a few times, especially at some of the larger music venues.
And its been openly discussed in StL that the new ownership group and LaRussa aren’t especially fond of each other, and that TLR will need to see “marked improvement in effort by the front office to put a competitive core around Pujols” for TLR to stay. The moves thus far this year have undoubtedly helped though.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
TLR and management's issues have exactly what to do with him coming to the Cubs?
especially when they already have a manager under contract for next year?
And as for the wristband thing – so what? That’s one venues policies and the policies at Wrigley are far different. You really expect them to give up the revenue derived from beer sales?
I don’t think LaRussa or Beer Limitations are really realistic solutions or possibilities.
Gibbon Jockey - August 13, 2009
I don't think it's coming out of left field to think that if the season continues
the way it has this week, we WON’T have a manager under contract in 2010. Not saying LaRussa is coming here for sure, but us not having an opening is probably not going to be the deal breaker
Illicat - August 13, 2009
On TLR...
… him not being happy with the management may cause him to leave, leaving him open to manage other teams including the Cubs. I’m assuming you realize all that, but beyond that i’m not exactly sure what your question is.
From this article on how the Cards could lose Pujols:
Now, i think the acquisitions so far this season prove they aren’t being as cheap as was assumed at the time of this writing, so i’d be slightly more inclined to believe he’d stay as when i read this originally.
As for the wristbands, i don’t know what to tell you. Policies can change in the face of things like fans throwing beer at opposing players on ESPN in prime time. Why did LiveNation give up that extra beer revenue when they put a wristband with four tabs on me the last time i was at First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre? Its not impossible, and it’s not even unrealistic.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
I understand your position and I'm not trying to be antagonistic at all
I just don’t see the Cubs giving up that cash – especially considering how vocal management has been about squeezing as much revenue as possible out of wrigley.
cool.
And on a lighter note, isn’t it a bit funny that here we are discussing Tony LaRussa and a 4 drink limit to curb drunkenness? hmmm………
Gibbon Jockey - August 13, 2009
Why not hire Joe Morgan
away from ESPN? He knows everything about baseball and already loves the Cubs.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
I would support this idea...if only because of the entertainment value it would provide me.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
That and we wouldn't have to listen to him
on Sunday Night baseball anymore.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
They mic the managers...so we'd still hear him for awhile.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
He is a genius.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
And he knows how to win in the postseason too:
“You can’t win in the postseason unless you can manufacture runs.” – Joe Morgan
dtc0405 - August 13, 2009
I can hear it now on Sunday Night Baseball
Miller: Joining us from the Cubs booth is the manager of the Chicago Cubs, Joe Morgan. Joe, how are you tonight.
Joe: Great Jon, thanks.
Miller: How has your season been going thus far?
Joe: I remember in 1975 when I had to turn an unassisted triple play to preserve our 4th consecutive perfect game and then hit the game winning walkoff grandslam, but this is more exciting.
Miller: Sure Joe. Sure.
Gibbon Jockey - August 13, 2009
im pretty that grand slam was his 5th of the game. get your facts straight
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
I did briefly ponder the humor in the two points up for debate. Glad i wasn't alone.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
The solution is quite simple.
Take a vicodin or a xanax right before you go into the park, and when you finish your fourth beer, have someone wake you up to see if you’d like a fifth beer.
Goodie1969 - August 13, 2009
Da BEARS!
imknowdummy - August 13, 2009
Suck
Cubs and Hawks fan - August 14, 2009
TWHS
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
Security
I may be mistaken, but as I watched the video I thought I saw a security person just a couple of bodies away from the thrower? Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered if there were 10 guys in the aisle, as they wouldn’t have stopped the guy from doing his idiotic deed.
The only thing they can really do about this is to have a total zero tolerance. Find the guy, arrest him, prosecute him, make him a pariah, make his name a joke about idiotic “fans”. It won’t stop people who are dead set on being fools, but it may give others a second thought.
As for the beer limits, I am too cheap to buy one watered down ballpark beer, not to mention 4, 8 or 12.
Ross - August 13, 2009
Right, and...
… they’d have gotten the right guy if they had more security.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
why not watch replay from the TV booth or whatever and go back and get the guy...
it wasnt the bottom of the 9th was it??
cozmotaylor123 - August 13, 2009
No, it was the fifth inning.
Identifying the guy is easy. Finding him is more difficult. I heard that while they were arresting the wrong guy, the guy who actually did it sneaked out of the park unnoticed.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
not suprising
he’s a little punk. They’ll get his ass now that the picture is out there.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
Jeff Baker?
Uh, when Jeff Baker is your big stick in the lineup for even one week, you know things are going badly.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
Sure, but...
… once the actual “big sticks” get going, and they will, having Baker hitting this way gives you ANOTHER bat.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
we cant wait much longer for them to get going
DC Cubbie - August 13, 2009
True.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Uh - no
when Aaron Miles is called upon to PH, for the pitcher, to lead off an inning and 4 runs behind, you know things are bad.
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
or you have bad manager...
DC Cubbie - August 13, 2009
or a combo of the two
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
LMAO!
Oy.
Funny, sad, shit, there.
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
Want funny
Not sure how many listen to WGN, but we almost always do. Anyone who listens knows how players will say this is so and so and your are listening to Cubs baseball.
One of the Aarons did the other day and I boo’d him, I don’t know when I’ve seen my bf laugh that hard. He couldn’t believe I actually boo’d the radio.
I am someone who has never boo’d at a single game I’ve ever went to
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Please enlighten an unbeliever
When can we expect the big sticks to begin their surge?
tharr - August 13, 2009
Just give them moar time.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
If you're going to post
in anagram form, I’ll need more staff to translate. ;>
tharr - August 13, 2009
October 1st
when they take their sons to the batting cage.
Allie - August 13, 2009
zing!
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
Wow.
I do hope the Cubs turn it around this weekend and hopefully regain at least a game in the playoff hunt.
But I gotta tell ya, I am sick to DEATH of watching this offense play against quality teams. It is just embarassing – downright sickening. Scoring thirty runs this weekend against the Pirates isn’t going to give me any more confidence that in the unlikely event that this team backs into the playoffs, it won’t be a another three-and-out with impotent bats.
Forget anything else – if this team doesn’t learn to score runs against quality opponents, or go out and acquire someone who will, there’s not a chance in hell the 2009 Cubs are going to fare any better than the last two years’ teams.
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
Lou excercised his option for 2010 according to D. Kaplan
He might get fired though … who knows
lexmarklover - August 13, 2009
Lou exercised that option before the season even started.
Doesn’t mean it couldn’t be amicably bought out.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Can he hit with RISP?
if so, just keep him around.
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
Only if
he’s a lefty
chitownhawkeye - August 13, 2009
Lou still has a big gut for a guy that exercises
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
I think Lou realizes its all but over for this year.
this team as currently constructed ( with injuries) simply is not good enough to be good teams consistently. That what it takes to make the playoffs. 4 1/2 games out with a only 49 left is surmountable, but with the Cards playing they way they have since getting Holliday , it seems extremely unlikely we have enough to overtake them. The Cubs would probably have to go 30-19 the rest of the way to catch the Cards. Does anyone actually see that happening?
Furthermore, i could really care less about the beer incident. I hope the guy gets arrested and all, but the amount of attention its getting is amazing. Nice to see three articles about it on the Tribune website.
DC Cubbie - August 13, 2009
Well...
“4 1/2 games out with a only 49 left is surmountable”—-
Yes, but barely. They are now in a positon where they basically have to win every remaining series to get in – and that’s assuming the Cardinals don’t stay hot. It’s a tall order right now, and management is making it very clear that no additional help is coming.
If the bullpen were at fault for a lousy season, Hendry would have six new faces in there by Spring Training. So what does he do when the offense finishes last in almost every category?
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
give aaron miles more money?
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
HE cant anything because he signed much of the offense to
horrible contracts. Think you’ll find anyone willing to take any of our outfielders? That whats even mor distressing about this whole situation, we will at this lineup guys next year. Maybe we’ll get a new 2b or SS (or JH will give Baker a ridiculous four year deal because he has a good month) but you aren’t generally going to get get big bats at those positions.
DC Cubbie - August 13, 2009
"He can't do anything..."
DC Cubbie - August 13, 2009
Barely surmountable
is a 4.5-game deficit with six or seven to play. Not 49.
If it takes a week to go from zero to 4.5, it can just as easily take a week to go the other way.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
So your saying we could be 10 out by next Friday.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Spoken like
a true Cubs fan. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Damn - Bruce!
I am so impressed with your constant positive stance – sigh -
My attendance record now stands at 2-11 I think.
There is nothing in the last two weeks to make me believe that they are going to do anything but go down the toilet.
Maybe I should hire you to be my career counselor, buddy.
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
Stop going to Cubs games!!!!
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
I am done until
September.
If they are out of it, I’ll try to sell as many as I can!
However – last year I was 17-3 (do not count the Playoffs!)
This year the baseball gods have punished me for the fun last year.
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
Yeah, E,
Ever think maybe it’s all your fault? :-)
Hang in there, buddy. It’s baseball, not life and death.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
How can you say
the Cubs are not life and death? ;)
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
I know
It’s much more important than that. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Mine is 24-12
And I have even better on the road than at home.(18-10 at Wrigley and 6-2 on the road) Alas I won’t be at my next game till the 25th. HOLD ON BOYS TILL I GET THERE.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
8-8 this season
4-0 in Washington, 3-2 in Milwaukee, 1-1 in Cincinnati, 0-1 in St. Louis, 0-1 in Philly and … 0-3 in Detroit. Ouch.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
0-3 in Spring Training. 1-0 In Miwakee. 1-0 at Wrigley. 0-3 in Detroit.
About the average year I’d say…
Zeke - August 14, 2009
Miwakee=Milwaukee
Need more coffee…
Zeke - August 14, 2009
Forgot 0-1 in spring training
Did make it to a Cubs-Rockies game in Tucson.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Yes, I had forgotten how good your record was.
We need you to go on the next road trip.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Bad timing
I will be in LA when the Cubs are in New York and of course in New York when the Cubs are in LA.
They will have to survive the next 10 days without me but that is an impressive record and I did nothing to game it.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
That is TRULY
impressive!
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
TWES
ballhawk - August 13, 2009
Could you
break it down further for us? What is your record when the Cubs are playing teams with a winning record?
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
A respectable 12-9
Rockies 1-1
Cards 4-3
Marlins 3-0
Braves 1-2
Giants 1-1
Phillies 1-2
White Sox 1-0
What can I say . I am a lucky charm.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
You know the Cubs SHOULD pay me to go to games
I can be had for well under half the MLB minimum which is somewhere north of $400,00 and obviously the can
pro rate it for the remainder of the season but I would expect a full share of the post season bonus.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
Is someone always after you?
ballhawk - August 13, 2009
Just How Well Do the Cubs Need To Finish
The Cardinals need to go 26-20 the rest of the way for 90 wins.
The Cubs need to go 32-17 the rest of the way for 90 wins.
If the Cardinals just go 23-23 to finish the regular season, then the Cubs would have to go 29-20 to tie St. Louis.
It’s possible for the Cubs to win the division, but they’ve got to get their stuff together in a hurry.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
That is....
disturbing news.
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
Reality
The problem is: If you figure it will take 90 wins to win the division, which I think is about right – then you look and see the Cubs have to go 32-17 to get to 90 and the Cardinals only have to go 26-20. Factor in the difference that Holliday has made (he is still 1.300+ OPS with St. Louis) and you can see the problem. Can the Cubs go 32-17? Well, yeah – but I wouldn’t count on it.
Of course, you always have the Wild Card, but I still the WC will likely come out of the West. The Rockies and Giants are playing pretty well and it in unlikely they will BOTH stumble down the stretch.
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
Oops
Memphiscub got in before me, but he is exactly right.
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
The beauty of baseball
is that its fortunes can change from day to day.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
The reality of baseball is...
…the Cubs’ fortunes don’t even change from century to century.
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
And this is exactly
the mind-set that much change around the supporters of this franchise.
Unless you have followed this team for 101 years, you have no right to cite any of that. It’s a copout.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
It's factual history. You're allowed to cite facts.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
It's a crutch
The current Cubs fans have no right to be any more pissed off than Mariners fans.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
yes we do...look at our payroll/contracts compared to our performance
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Ask a Mets fan
about that.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
you said mariners, make up your mind.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Mets have won championships in my lifetime...
….even had more than a couple of World Series appearances.
The Jade Scorpion - August 13, 2009
The thought police
strike again. Are there any other rules that you’d like to issue while you have the floor?
tharr - August 13, 2009
Yeah
You should be banned for life.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
How incredibly
democratic of you.
tharr - August 13, 2009
More like
a benevolent dictatorship, although that’s up to Al.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Ha ha ha
I would be in favor of that….as long as I can be the dictator. Can I count on your support?
tharr - August 13, 2009
I always support
whoever’s in charge. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
I can see you
as an essential member of my inner circle.
tharr - August 13, 2009
Just know that I run a very dirty campaign...and Sue is a pittbull.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Rest assured
that my Army Chief of Staff Not Bruce Froemming knows how to deal with dissidents.
tharr - August 13, 2009
Remember Kevin Kline's character
from “A Fish Called Wanda”? Sign me up.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Dear Otto
may you always remain the wonderful wacky guy that you are.
Regards,
The Despot
tharr - August 13, 2009
haha
sue369 - August 13, 2009
with lipstick
Emelie - August 14, 2009
and she can see from Russia from Em's house
ballhawk - August 14, 2009
I propose a ban on bans...
ballhawk - August 13, 2009
True
but it is somewhat predictable. I said at the beginning of the month that the Cubs mission for August, given their schedule and St. Louis’ schedule, was to not get buried. They are well on their way to doing just that. They do have a shot in September if they don’t get too far behind.
You say they dropped 4.5 games in a week and they can make it up in a week. The problem is, here is who the Cardinals play the rest of August: 3 vs SD at home, 3 vs LA away (the Cards just took 3 out of 4 from LA at Busch), 3 vs SD away, 3 vs Houston at home and 3 vs Washington at home.
Do you see anyone gaining 4.5 games on the Cardinals during that stretch, given the way they are playing right now?
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
The odds are against them but it is THEIR HANDS
They are now 3 games back in the loss column and have three games left with the Cardinals. I don’t want to calculate the odds of the Cubs sweeping in St. Louis but as of today it is still in their hands.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
If the Cubs Sweep the Cardinals...
The Cubs have 46 games left against teams other than the Cards.
The Cards have 43 games left against teams other than the Cubs.
If the Cubs sweep the Cardinals in that 3-game series in September, then that would mean the Cubs would have to go 26-20 in remaining games NOT against St. Louis to tie the Cards, if St. Louis goes 23-20 in remaining games NOT against the Cubs.
It’s possible.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
Oh I get all of that
I just mean that as of today it is in their control.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
Well it is always
in a team’s hands as long as they have more games to play than games they trail.
The loss column argument has always struck me as very weak. When you are essentially a .500 team, you are as likely to lose a remaining game as to win it.
Besides, the way the Cubs are playing at the moment, I’m not sure having their fate in their hands is a good thing…they’s probably drop it.
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
Hendry made this bed. It should cost him his job.
One Soriano-level mistake should cost a GM his job. Hendry has made several 8-figure errors. Sadly, it’s time for him to go. The window has closed on this era.
Unfortunately, the hangover is going to be a bitch. Waiting the Soriano-Dempster-Fukudome- Bradley contracts out is just going to be a painful stretch, and it’s going to be equally painful if Harden were to join, say, the Cardinals.
D98 - August 13, 2009
I couldn't agree more...
…and some of his mistakes extend beyond just bad contracts.
I do believe the teflon is likely starting to wear thin for Hendry.
MPH73 - August 13, 2009
Spring training game??
Al, you were there but for me at home once the 6th inning hit it was eerierly like a spring training game. Just going thru the motions, no enthusiasm, we appeared dead. Hope that changes. That and Soriano, every game I am feeling worse about the next 5 years. Not caring much for Geo right now either.
mrcubsfan - August 13, 2009
I like
your suggestions for more effective security, but I’m not sure about the armbands. Not that it isn’t a good idea, but I think it is too easily circumvented. I am not a beer drinker and not terribly creative, but off the top of my head, I can think of multiple ways someone could get around this. I’m sure a serious beer drinker would not let an arm band with holes in it prevent him from getting more beers.
But, it is a good topic for discussion and anything that slows people from getting wasted and doing foolish things at the ball park is all to the good as far as I am concerned.
Too bad they didn’t get the right guy to begin with so they could determine how intoxicated he was. I think the guy is a real scum bag – pointed at someone else at then slinking out of the stadium. Can’t get more cowardly than that. I am confident he will be identified.
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
The wristbands wouldn't FIX the problem...
… but they’d help. 4 beers per legal adult may still result in 8 drank buy one guy and zero by his wife, or 6 each by two people and zero by their friend, but it still caps the total debauchery and drinking in the area.
The real question is then, do they go stadium-wide with the policy? Because you can exit the bleachers and come back in…
And how would this affect revenue? As i said in the fan post on this issue, i’ve heard they team does between three quarters and $1.25 million in beer sales per game.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
That's an incredible amount of beer sold.
At $6.75 per beer that would mean 148,000 beers per game — about four for every single person in the park.
Now, since some people don’t drink beer and there are underage kids at most games, that seems like a lot.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
I agree Al, I think 1 mill from beer each game sounds like too much...
Crunching the numbers, it doesn’t seem right. I would think they make maybe half a mill per game which is still a big chunk of change.
aznsensation - August 13, 2009
Of course, that's gross revenue, not profit.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Pretty close to profit, i bet.
What do you think they have in a cup of beer? Probably more in the solo cup than the beer itself i’d bet.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
I think you're right.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Hummmm... yeah, that does seem like a bit much.
I heard that figure after a game i worked at vs. the Sox last year… maybe that’s just what they were estimating for THAT game?
I wouldn’t be surprised if they got CLOSE to that on occasion though. For every kid drinking no beers, a dude drinking 8?
Maybe not.
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
The big thing about Ramirez
is not so much the Cubs record when he is out of the line-up (you would expect that) but how many games he has missed. 71 games? That is a TON of missed games and it makes you wonder. He has always been prone to hamstring pulls, etc., but when your best hitter is missing 60% of the games, that is a real concern.
azjazzman - August 13, 2009
.595 winning % with A Ram
plays out to 96 wins. If we were on that pace, we’d all be pretty happy. He obviously is the one player on the team they could not afford to lose.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
he dislocated his shoulder
what exactly does it make you wonder?
Illicat - August 13, 2009
It's over...and it's been over
This Cub team has not looked good for an extended stretch at any period of time in 2009. This Phillies series was almost as sobering at the playoff debacle versus the Dodgers last year. The tale of this clusterfu*k of a season boils down to the following.
1. Cubs are a whopping 21 games UNDER .500 against teams with a winning record, or so says WMVP ESPN 1000 Radio on my drive home.
2. Cubs pissed away two months of exceptional starting pitching earlier in the season. The cardinal rule of baseball that was pounded into my head as a youngster and a player was the following….“thou shalt not waste quality starting pitching, or lest your season will go down the tubes.” Well, that is precisely what the Cubs did in the first half. With the starting pitching the Cubs were blessed with they should have been in a position to run away and hide in the NL Central. But that didn’t happen AT ALL.
3. Alfonso Soriano is awful. Awful offensively, awful defensively, and non-existent against upper echelon teams. And there is not a single damned thing the Cubs can do about Soriano for the next several years other than banishing him to the bench.
BLou - August 13, 2009
Don't worry everyone!
BLou is here! I was so curious as to what you had to say, its so insightful and varied that I just can’t wait to hear your opinion.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Before you jump down his throat
Read his comments. He’s 100% bang on.
Canadian Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009
absolutely true
it’s a bit blunt but its still very true.
aznsensation - August 13, 2009
Oh, I read
I’ve read it a hundred times, its the exact same crap repeated every time the Cubs lose.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
From Day One to today
Some people enjoy being miserable, and making others miserable, too. This season, and this board, have absolutely convinced me of that.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Life is as it is.
Sometimes the only conclusion of a baseball analysis is negative. If we were confined to positive analysis only, we wouldn’t be truthful, and frankly, this site would be very boring.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
The negativity
is there even when they win. And it was there last year, too.
It’s always there.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
There is probably only one thing that will make most of it go away....
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
A hug?
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
No
Cubs fans have to shake their neuroses and quit acting like every normal part of a baseball season signals the beginning of the end. That’s no way to go through life, son.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
I'm not one of those people.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
You aren't
Many others, far too many, are.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
You can't change people Bruce. You can only try to understand them.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
That's very philosophical
And, sadly, very true.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
PV?
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
one of these
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
A red background?
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
That's the problem with BLou.
He only points out the negative. That doesn’t mean that what he wrote above is wrong, though.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
That's not it.
You can agree with his minor points (not that I do), and still realize that the overall conclusion is blind to basic baseball reality. Any team can go into a massive slump – even the current Cardinals. Any team – see the Nationals recently – can string off 10 wins out of 12.
Things look bad right now, but the season is hardly over.
DGU - August 13, 2009
True
stats and all that are predictors of potential future performance based on the past performance. What we are all commenting on it what we see this year on the field.
It is MOST LIKELY true that some of these players will regress to the mean, but when? It may not happen until next year?
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
Baloney.
Posters want to be happy, and what will make them happy is the Cubs winning.
Silly moves by Hendry, like trading away Mark DeRosa for middle relief prospects, are (and were) likely to result in a less productive 2009 season.
And in your warped worldview, anyone who sees the objective truth of that statement is needlessly “miserable.”
You’ve taken it so personally that you’ve totally refused to back down — and in fact, have continuously ratcheted up the stakes throughout the year — even as it has become more and more apparent that trading DeRosa hurt the team’s offense in 2009.
Cripes, you’ve even photoshopped an image of DeRosa as Christ, in order to mock posters like me who can see that, objectively, DeRosa’s 103 OPS+ and 21 HR would have looked a whole hell of a lot better than the total black holes and ciphers we’ve had at the 4 all year.
No one thinks that Mark DeRosa is Jesus Christ. No one even thinks he’s Ryne Sandberg. Or Chase Utley.
What Mark DeRosa is, and has been for the last 4 years, is an incredibly useful – and cheap – piece of a hopeful championship team’s 25-man roster.
You’d rather be willfully obtuse, objectively wrong, AND remarkably arrogant in presuming to know what other posters are thinking — and in telling them HOW they should be thinking.
Here’s the bottom line – criticism of bad moves and bad play aren’t happening because posters want to be miserable – it’s happening because posters want to be happy and see winning baseball, and they hate the counterproductive moves the Cubs have made, which they anticipated — correctly — would make them unhappy.
D98 - August 13, 2009
Haven't said this in a while.
But: Loud, sustained applause.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
indeed
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Of course
If DeRosa were on this team, it would be in first place by 12 games. How silly of me not to notice.
I will never back down from the absolute overreaction to his departure. Another chapter out of many in the history of Silly Cubs Fans.
You say he’s not Jesus Christ, but you certainly act like he is.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Did he?
I quote from his post:
That’s all any of us have been saying. That incredibly useful and cheap piece was removed and not replaced by anything nearly as useful.
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
Forget it, Al.
For all of NBF’s valid points, and he has them more often than not, he simply refuses to be objective or reasonable on this.
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
Yeah, I know.
Lost my head for trying to be reasonable.
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
And you're the biggest agent provacateur
on this subject, Al.
D98 contradicts himself all over that post.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Where does D98 contradict himself?
Not being a smartass; seriously asking.
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
He's no Chase Utley
but trading him make the Cubs worse.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
How is that a contradiction?
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
Trading him does not necessarily
make the Cubs worse.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Two problems with this train of thought
1 – Trading anyone doesn’t necessarily make the Cubs worse. However, that’s not a contradiction.
2 – It’s pretty easy to say, looking backwards, that trading DeRosa for the return that they got made the 2009 Cubs worse.
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
I'll grant you
the first point.
Looking backwards … well, hindsight is always perfect. But I didn’t have a problem with the move at the time. Hendry sold high and saw an opportunity to build the farm system a bit while still maintaining the quality of the big club.
Bottom line is, losing DeRosa does not make the difference between first place by 5 games and second place by five games. And having him does not improve this team noticeably.
Having players like Soriano, Bradley and even Miles perform up to historic norms while having a full season of Ramirez does improve this team by leaps and bounds.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
This response is measured and reasonable.
I can’t ask for anything more than that.
The underperformers are indeed the root cause of the Cubs not having a better record. I do think they’d be a bit better if they still had DeRosa, but that won’t be why they fail to finish first if, in fact, they do fail.
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
That term.... it does not mean what you think it means.
D98 - August 14, 2009
And to correct something
I didn’t Photoshop my avatar. One of the other posters here did (I won’t reveal his/her name, lest the DeRomaniacs pounce on this person), and I asked if I could use it.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Oh, that would be me
And I’ve subtly (or not so subtly) mocked DeRomantics in the past. I complained loudly when he was traded away, but I learned to live with it.
Do I wish he were still a Cub? Sure – we could have used the help at 3B when Rami went down. Do I stare at his line in a Cardinals box score every night and curse the day that Jim Hendry was put upon this Earth to cause pain to me specifically? No chance.
Clutch16 - August 14, 2009
Very well said and too sadly true
Emelie - August 14, 2009
Because the Cubs play the same crappy way every day.
We all dislike that BLou only appears when the Cubs lose, but that doesn’t cancel the truth of his analysis. We have to learn to take the criticism like grownups. Otherwise, we’ll start to sound like the players who are talking about Brenly because he’s calling the plays as he sees them.
The odds, quoted above, say that for all practical purposes, the Cubs 2009 season ended last Saturday in Colorado. That’s why Lou sounds and looks as he does. He just cannot say that aloud. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Lou is reevaluating whether he wants to come back next year, because with the contracts that management gave to the same sucky players, most of them will be back next year. The bright spot for next year is that RamÃrez, Lilly, Zambrano and Dempster should be healthy most of the season.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
I thought the Cubs won last Saturday in Colorado
So you can’t even get that straight.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
My mistake. Make that last Sunday.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
Are the Braves out of it, too?
After all, they’re as far back or farther than the Cubs are.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
realistically?
Yes
Illicat - August 13, 2009
Yes, out of the East race. Still in in the wild card race, IMO.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
So are the Cubs
still in the Wild Card race?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
5 out
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
And a worse record and in a losing streak, compared to the Braves.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
Well, that tells me
about your prejudicial thought processes.
Let’s revisit this all in 10 days, shall we?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
That wasn't prejudicial, just what the standings show
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
The Braves are on a five game winning streak
and have a better record. So his “prejudicial” thought processes, are often referred to by others as “facts”
Illicat - August 13, 2009
And you know as well as I do
that unless the season ended tomorrow, it really doesn’t mean much.
Another team is in the Cubs’ position, they’re right in it. But if it’s the Cubs, they’re hopeless.
Doesn’t sound too objective to me.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Read any hopelessness in that? Or just the facts?
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
That's the case TODAY
that’ doesn’t mean it will be the case in a week, or 10 days, or six weeks. Since it wasn’t the case a week ago.
Unless the season is supposed to end this weekend, and nobody told me.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
That's all was asked and answered
Your question
I am sure we both assumed you meant today, not September 27th, 2009.
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
I'm just trying to see
where their heads are at.
In the toilet, evidently.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
To be fair
This recap was going to be and is negative. That probably influenced the tone of any answer given to a direct question and direct answer. See how things get started around here? Myself and FJ just answered the question. No one mentioned that it was hopeless or not.
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
Actually Bruce, what you're looking for is Subjectivity, dressed up as objectivity
The Braves are playing much better baseball. The Cubs are falling in the standings, while the Braves are rising. If the situations were reversed, and THEN he was saying the Braves have a better shot at the wildcard, he’d have a lack of objectivity.
Illicat - August 13, 2009
I thank my lawyer for stating my response accusately and succintly. :)
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
I meant "accurately". #*% keyboard!
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
TheyDO have a mind of their own, don't they? LOL
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
Yes. Sometimes I push the finger and nothing happens. TWSS
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
Hopefully, that's NOT WSS lol
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
Hah! Touché!
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
TWSS
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
What about the 4 straight months of "ALL IS WELL!!!"
After a while, can’t anyone give some credit for legitimate baseball analysis?
Since April, for instance, I’ve been posting that it was a Bad Idea to trade away Mark DeRosa, especially given that there was no financial incentive for doing so, and doubly so because of the middling return Hendry got.
The response has been, in the following order – “DeRosa is a journeyman who would not have helped this team!” when he was struggling in April. Then, when he turned it on, it was “He is only driving in all those runs b/c Cleveland’s offense is so good.” (That was kind of hilarious.) Then, it was “He is in the AL where he can’t hurt us, except for one solitary series.” Then, it was “Yes, he’s on STL, but hey, he’s hurt.” Now there are no more excuses.
And finally, the last refuge for the pollys – “you all just want to be miserable.”
NO!
We want to be happy, and what will make us happy is a winning Cubs team! And stupid moves by the front office — and horrible performance from the current roster — are likely to result in me being miserable.
Which is why I decry stupid moves by Hendry as they happen, and why I continue to do so when things turn out precisely as anyone should have expected.
What is incomprehensible is the mindset that Cubs fans should be blindly happy until the team is mathematically eliminated. Open your eyes, people!
D98 - August 13, 2009
You must have been reading the wrong posts
There are many, many “blind” spot you can accuse BCB folks over but DeRosa is not one of them . I think over 90% of posters were outraged over that trade. It might have been the ONLY thing I Al and Blou agreed on. It was the most senseless of all the off season moves. Frankly I don’t think most people liked ANY of the off season moves but trading DeRosa was by far the worst. It looks like we got some very nice young pitchers but they won’t help much this year with
apologies to Stevens.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
Talk to NBF about DeRosa.
He’s actually changed his user avatar to a picture of DeRosa as Christ, in order to mock anyone who would question the decision to trade DeRosa.
Believe me, this argument has been going all year. Now that I think about it, it’s completely remarkable. At what point will he admit that it was a bad trade? The end of the year? The end of DeRo’s career? The end of Stevens-Gaub-Archer’s careers?
D98 - August 13, 2009
Don't worry about it
The impudence is recognized as foul and received by others who post too.
Post your thoughts and don’t worry about it. There are all kinds on the www and no need to think those attacks are a legitimate reponse to your comments or argument.
AboutTheCubs - August 13, 2009
It was
a totally defensible trade.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Not from the day it happened
Stevens might be of some use this year and some day he and Gaub and Archer might all be on the MLB team but not having DeRosa this season has been devastating. He would hardly have replaced A-Ram’s bat but
he could have done a perfectly effective job at 3rd when he was out.
Doggie Stalker - August 14, 2009
"Devastating" is too strong a word, Jess
I was talking about this very issue with a Cardinals fan tonight and he found the Cubs fans’ reaction to this eminently laughable. Granted, he doesn’t think much of DeRosa, anyway.
I’ll say it again: If this season hinged on whether or not the Cubs had DeRosa, this team wasn’t very good in the first place.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Well I am sure Cardinal fans are laughing their ass off
We trade DeRosa to save 2.5 million in payroll this season and replace him with Aaron Miles. There are lots of dominos in what has been going wrong this year but trading DeRosa for players who could not make any important contribution and leaving the Cubs exposed for he massive gap when A-Ram went down is one of the biggest.
Doggie Stalker - August 14, 2009
Hendry ain't a mind-reader, Jess
It isn’t his fault Miles is hitting almost 100 points below his career average. And quite a few Cards fans I know (I live amongst a ton of them) weren’t too pleased about losing him.
Maybe I’m in a minority about the DeRosa deal, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong about it.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
You're talking to a minority of Cardinals fans, too.
I don’t think too many of them were unhappy to see him go.
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
(Miles, that is.)
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
At what point will you cave on this issue?
Seriously, do we have to wait for all of the players involved to finish their careers and retire? The results are in, NBF. 95% of precincts have reported. It’s over.
2009 was an absolutely key year for this current group of players. The key players are aging, and the roster is going to lose some useful parts in 2010 (Harden, for instance).
2009 was a “go for the brass ring” sort of year.
And instead, Hendry traded one of the team’s top run producers, who also happened to be the effective backup at 4 positions, for 3 players who had a zero-point-zero percent chance of helping the 2009 squad.
And then he invested the “savings” from trading DeRosa into 2 years of Aaron Miles, a 32-year-old player with a career OPS+ of 74, who has less positional flexibility than DeRosa and absolutely zero power.
And just to be a nice guy, he doubled Miles’ salary.
We now know that the results of the trade have been an unqualified disaster. Neither Fontenot nor Miles have been able to replace even a fraction of DeRosa’s production…. and when Ramirez was hurt, Fontenot had to play out of position and Miles was able to show his career immolation as an everyday player.
And for the cherry on top of this 2009 crap sundae, we got 7 innings worth of 7.36 ERA from Stevens. Awesome.
And you’re still holding out hope that these three middle relief prospects are going to have such a massive effect on our bullpen in a few years that it will justify going into the 2009 season shorthanded. That’s lovely.
D98 - August 14, 2009
You just might be
the King of the Neurotics. Get passionate about something that really matters in life, will you?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
If being passionate about the Cubs is "neurotic".....
….then you’ve spent a great deal of time posting on this board and engaging in the same neuroses.
I’m getting awfully tired of dealing with your ad hominems, and your habit of ascribing ridiculous, over the top arguments to me. You’d rather fight a strawman, because you know your position is indefensible.
Your avatar is the best evidence of your tendency to build strawmen. With every post you make, you’re re-affirming your false argument that other posters said that DeRosa would be the Cubs’ saviour.
Your avatar is offensive, and was explicitly designed to incite, and to be offensive, to me in particular.
D98 - August 14, 2009
You really are an idiot, aren't you?
Yes, I selected that avatar just to piss off you, and only you.
If you had read more carefully, you’d see I didn’t create it. I picked it, however, to mock myself more than anybody else. If you had a brain bigger than a walnut, maybe you’d understand that.
You’re right, you might not be neurotic. You might be psychotic. Is this Ted Bundy communicating from the great beyond?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
You continue to embarrass yourself.
D98 - August 14, 2009
Not nearly as much
as you, pal. I suggest you drop it.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Replacing a 105 OPS+ with a 26 OPS+ is devastating.
And the result was completely predictable, as evidenced by the fact that I repeatedly predicted it.
Going into the 2009 season with no backup 3B was ridiculous, and completely indefensible. Hendry traded DeRosa with absolutely no plan in mind for a backup 3B, and had to make one up on the fly, first signing Koskie (who retired), then trying Miles over there (and learning he couldn’t make the throw), and finally throwing his hands in the air and deciding that our new starting 2B was also our backup 3B. Awesome.
I’m sure you’ll have the last laugh in 2012 with 2 of the 3 of Archer-Gaub-Stevens are in our middle relief corps and earning 400K, thereby saving the team the trouble of signing a couple of equivalent middle relievers, and saving the team a couple of million for a couple of years.
In the meantime, the window of opportunity for the Lee-Ramirez-Soriano-Zambrano Cubs will have closed.
D98 - August 14, 2009
So you're basically saying
No DeRosa is the reason for the Cubs’ failings this season.
Unbelievable. Simply, astoundingly stupid.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
When you can't win an argument, build a strawman.
….or, in your case, just lie about what the other guy is saying.
No, neither I, nor anyone else, has said that losing DeRosa is THE reason for the Cubs’ failings this season.
What I, and others, have repeatedly said, is that losing DeRosa is A reason for the Cubs’ failings in 2009.
That is now an objective fact. With 110-odd games played, we know what DeRosa has done in 2009, and we know what DeRosa’s replacements on the Cubs roster have done in 2009. You can no longer reasonably argue that the Cubs’ 2009 team was improved through that trade. (Although Lord knows, you’ll still try.)
Trading DeRosa is also, unfortunately, the most unnecessary reason for the Cubs’ 2009 decline. The drop-off from DeRosa to Miles was a 100% self-inflicted wound.
For example, Soriano’s unexplainable 2009 suckage could not have been avoided by the front office. Neither could Soto’s fall-off, Dempster’s return to the mean, Marmol’s wildness, Fontenot’s failures… those are on-field failures to execute.
The DeRosa trade, on the other hand, was completely avoidable. In fact, it could have been avoided quite easily. Simply saying “no thanks” to Cleveland would have sufficed.
D98 - August 14, 2009
Blah blah blah
Maybe you can get a job as DeRo’s personal assistant or something.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
You forgot those three little words...
“at the time”
because at the time, a totally reasonable sane person could probably make that argument. Some might agree, some might not, but that argument could be made.
But that same totally reasonable sane person would probably look at that trade now and say “boy, that really blew up in our faces”. And most people now would probably agree.
Call it gut instinct, a wild hunch, maybe I have ESPN, boy I’m really going out on a limb here, but somehow I have this feeling you’re the exception to that rule.
ballhawk - August 14, 2009
Some trades work
and some trades don’t.
The fact that a lot of Cubs fans don’t understand that, and attrribute supernatural powers to certain players, is not my fault.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
But that's not it
And either you know it and enjoy the silliness, or you are being thick. Since you generally seem to know what you are talking about, I have to think it may be the former.
No one is saying the Cubs would be in first with DeRosa. What people have maintained all season is that there was no backup at 3B, and trading a useful piece with no viable contribution for the present – for a team with championship aspirations, makes little sense.
Now, you’ll reply to my post and accuse me of saying DeRosa is the greatest player this side of Babe Ruth when I’ve done nothing of the sort – but that’s how you’ve been replying to all these comments all season. Go ahead and knock yourself out if you want; I long ago accepted the fact that you’re on this bizarre crusade to paint others as they are on a bizarre crusade that they really aren’t on.
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
The bizarre crusade is coming from your side, Shanghai
When people are comparing the DeRosa trade to the Lou Brock trade (as was done on another thread), I don’t think I’m the one being “thick.”
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
See, that's a strawman argument
Because it’s not “my side” unless my side is why can’t you be objective on this?
I never equated that trade to the Lou Brock trade, and anyone who did is dellusional.
Essentially, what you have just said is, if someone agrees with you on one topic, but they say something else that is completely ridiculous, that makes your statement ridiculous.
Enjoy the crusade!
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
"Defensible", if you're a team in selling mode, like CLE.
The Cubs were not sellers going into the 2009 season.
Do you think that STL would trade DeRosa, right now, for three organizational arms with “set-up man” as their best-case upside? Of course not. Heck, they just traded one of their best relief-prospect arms away for DeRosa.
Of course, they’re trying to win the 2009 World Series.
D98 - August 14, 2009
Well he is and was in a distinct minority on that.
I mean perhaps there was a a little too much delusion that Cubs could actually get him BACK and it would solve everything but it was by far the most inexplicable trade and I hold to the conspiracy theory that it was part of the
psycho to desire to get more left handed. I would like to think it was part of carefully calculated strategy to get Peavy and I still would think it was bad idea but it would make more sense.
Doggie Stalker - August 14, 2009
getting more left handed wasn't exactly a "conspiracy theory", was it?
I think that was a pretty well-known and evident objective for the off-season. Obviously, its need and/or validity can be debated but it was no secret.
ballhawk - August 14, 2009
And it became Hendry's and Lou's white whale.
They sank the ship looking for it.
Fraggin Judge - August 14, 2009
Idiotic
If it’s their white whale, it’s the white whale of every GM/manager in baseball.
But for simpletons, it’s an easy thing at which to point a finger.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
I too hold out hope for this team
however, Blou is spot on. Soriano has been brutal this year, add that with Soto, Fontenot and Bradley (at least until 1 August), this team has not hit when they need to get a hit.
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
That was a refreshing read.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Almost like you'd seen it before?
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
i had not
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Can you do all of us a favor
And stop watching the Cubs this year. Then we can stop seeing a waste of space for everytime you post.
Thanks
-Disgruntled Cubs Fan
ak123 - August 13, 2009
He's a miserable attention seeking lil man
whose joy comes from them losing and him logging on his computer and saying I told you so. We don’t even know if he truely feels that way or if he just likes the attention.
He’s already suffering more than I am.
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
The way I look at it
If they are mathematically eliminated, I don’t have to get in trouble at work logging on here to chat or follow games on gamecast :)
ak123 - August 13, 2009
I listened to them in 06
I didn’t get into online until 08 actually.
But I did try once to tell someone to pound sand…….. but I giggled so much it didn’t work
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
speaks volumes as to your baseball upbringing
if your coaches used the words “thou” or “lest” when giving instruction or advice.
All kidding aside, I do agree with you on points 1 and 2. The offense has been truly offensive this season.
Sori is no different than LBR, MB, Dome, D Lee, A Ram, and Soto for extended periods of “suckage” this year. The team has lacked consistency.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
The Thou & Lest
are just part of his upbringing as a Quaker.
Doggie Stalker - August 13, 2009
LMAO
nice!
socalbob - August 13, 2009
I would agree...
…that if they fall short this year (and that is looking more and more likely), the number one thing you can point to is how many well pitched games they pissed away.
If you can’t win your share of games when your pitching is stellar, it is very difficult to overcome.
MPH73 - August 13, 2009
Thank you, Cubs.
For putting me out of my misery early enough to enjoy the rest of the summer with my two young daughters.
Injuries, under performers, and Lou shutting down. Oh well…wait til next year…
Canadian Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009
There probably won't be room on the bandwagon
should you decide to jump back on if they get hot later … so make your decision wisely …
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Whatever
Can you point to even one shred of argument that suggests the 2009 Cubs will be just fine? Answer is no. All you do is crap down the throat of the objective who know a rotten ballclub when they see one. And then to top if off with a cherry you label anybody who is negative on this team a non-Cub fan.
BLou - August 13, 2009
Far too talented
to stay this bad this long. And not out of the race by a long shot.
Don’t you have better things to do, like breed pit bulls or something?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
It's 4 1/2 months into the season and they have looked like garbage throughout
21 games under .500 against plus .500 teams. And not one sustained stretch during any point of the season where you could say to yourself, “wow this team is on a roll.” To top if off the most vital member of the offense is out with a bum shoulder and the resident “ace” / assclown is on the DL. I won’t even mention the wondrous bullpen.
But you stick to the same unsubstaintiated argument…the 2009 Cubs will be just fine.
BLou - August 13, 2009
The truth is
neither of us know how it’s going to play out.
I’m not saying it absolutely will work out. You’re saying it absolutely won’t.
You’re the one who’s talking out his ass.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
better be careful NBF
you in line to be told to pound sand
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
As I think Worf and Pierre Trudeau once said,
I’ve been called worse things by better people. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
me too
hell to my face I have been LOL
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
and both were caught flipping the bird in public
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
Believe me, I hope you're right
and I would be very pleasantly surprised. It just doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of magic in this team.
The pitchers didn’t get the support they needed in the first couple months and the pen is getting worn down. No Aramis, Sori unpredictable to say the least…not feeling it.
Canadian Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009
Exactly
I Hope NBF your right and this team gets there shit together, however there are so many aspects going against them. The team looks like its manager, " screw it, we won two division titles get off my back". They play listless ball.
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
I'm sure I'll keep paying attention to them
I could never walk away. But I feel freed emotionally from the 2009 season. We had a great regular season last year. Won the division 3 straight years. If it doesn’t happen this year…so be it.
Canadian Cubs Fan - August 13, 2009
I can get them to the postseason
Listen I’m on a 9 game winning streak in person at Cubs games. That includes seeing them in 4 different ball-parks so it works on the road too.
Pay for my flight to Chicago and tickets to the game. They will win. And if they lose at the game I’m at, I’ll reimburse you for the tickets.
Seriously this is your last chance for post season possibilities. Take this post seriously!!!!!
ak123 - August 13, 2009
I was kind of hoping for 3 roundtrip tickets by now
:(
ak123 - August 13, 2009
Team looks beat and tired
Sure good pitching will do that, but the Cubs have looked like a team not going to the playoffs playing teams that say " we will be in the playoffs"
I just can’t see this team going 31-18 and getting to 89 wins. There schedule is favorable, However with Ramy out there offense is abysmal.
You watch the Phils and you see how a team gets built correctly. There homegrown players in Utley, Howard, Rollins, J A Happ and Hamels. Then they add perfect pieces, Ibanez, Lee, Werth, Victorino, Lidge, Blanton and Feliz. Meanwhile the Cubs homegrown players are, Soto, Theriot, Shark, Fox, and “Z” and the pieces they add: Dome, Soriano, Lilly, Lee, Ramy, Harden, Bradley and Miles. A huge disparity in homegrown talent, and Hendrys failure to improve from the 2008 team leaves us with this team that can not beat a team that has a winning record. I still hold on and hope this team can right itself, however by watching this team they appear to be down and have no desire to go the extra to get it done.
Lou and Hendry need to be let go, and a new fresh look needs to be put in place. Sadly this team has run its course, changes need to be made. Players will be tough to move, that is why management change should be in order.
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
Yep, burn through another manager and GM
and start all over again.
Just like the Pirates.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Memo to Bruce
The past and previous “formulas” for winning haven’t worked over the past 101 years.
BLou - August 13, 2009
So you recomennd
Hendry and Lou comeback? Seriously? Hendrys moves this offseason were terrible. Goodness we been down that road. His contracts have handcuffed any moves that possibly could be made. Lou’s dugout decisions have been, I am being kind here, average at best.
Enough, they fail to make the playoffs, they should be let go.
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
What is their overall body of work?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
There overall
body of work is 0-7 in the playoffs. That is the goal right? Advance in the playoffs. They have not done that, and this team has contracts that no team would take on in a trade.
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
sorry 0-6
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
I'd say having a horrible idea at how to improve a 97-win team
Lou said, “Let’s get more left-handed.” Hendry proceeds to gut said team. No thanks. Let them both go.
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
*Sigh*
Nobody gutted anything. Virtually every key member of that team is on this team.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
We apparently have a difference of opinion
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
Oh really
Grockcubs - August 13, 2009
Well, let's see ...
Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Fontenot, Theriot, Fukudome, Marmol, Johnson …
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
I'll see your see and raise you...
Wood, DeRosa, Edmonds, Blanco, Marquis.
A reasonable person would probably say those guys were key members of last year’s club.
ballhawk - August 14, 2009
Yes, no Henry Blanco
means no World Series. Marquis? The guy two-thirds of this board hated (including myself, for a start or two)? Edmonds, Gary Gaetti in waiting? DeRosa, an aging utility player who had a career year? Wood, whose arm could fall off at any moment?
The Cubs kept the right guys. And they added good pieces. If the guys who still are here played to their norms, and if injuries were half of what they’d been, we’re not having this conversation.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Silver lining of the season being over????
This trainwreck of a season will hopefully launch the “Ricketts Revolution” just as soon as they take ownership reins. And that revolution should mean the ouster of the entire front office and the very tired and defeated Lou PIniella (who wants nothing more than to go home).
New strategic vision for building a winning franchise, new player scouting and development philosophy, new salary management approach, new front office, new everything ….. AN EXTREME LONG OVERDUE REBUILDING JOB. No more slapping a new coat of paint on a pig like Hendry does.
BLou - August 13, 2009
My question is...
… do you actually retype this stuff daily, or just have it saved in one central place for your copy and pasting needs?
AndrewJStone - August 13, 2009
slap a coat of pain on a pig??????????????????
what does that even mean?
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
Old baseball term, you wouldn't understand.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I tried googling it slap coat of paint on a pig and
slap a coat of paint on a pig baseball and didn’t come up with any hits
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
you need moar baseball acumen
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
SIgh....
For those of you who take the short bus to school, the reference is interpreted to mean you can’t keep going after band-aid solutions to fix something that is fundamentally flawed to begin with.
BLou - August 13, 2009
tanks smurt ghuy
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I think it has something to do
with “thou” and “lest”—but I am not completely sure.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
BCB has devolved into the land of attacking objective messengers
The only sentiments that are permitted to fly around here are the kool-aid comments and the ramblings of the eternal optimists that fly in the face of reality and objective conclusion. It’s all about attacking the negative and labeling them an anti-Cub fan.
And Al Yellon has let that happen. Which is really quite sad. Because there was a time during the heyday of this board where the debate was rich and intelligent.
BLou - August 13, 2009
Oh shit...you're not going to leave us are you?
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
As long as you don't have more than 4 beers.
CubbieintheSouth - August 13, 2009
What are you talking about?!
You’ve been kicked off this board multiple times for multiple reasons. When have you ever been a part of rich and intelligent debate on BCB?
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Really?
Because you are the farthest thing from an “objective messenger”.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
Wait...most of us "object" to his "messages" don't we?
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Have you read your game recaps lately????
Or the horse nonsense you permit on this board during game threads??? This board used to be participated in by a lot of true diehards who could go beyond the default conclusion that Dusty sucks or Lou sucks and who could actually debate what was right or wrong with the club. Posters like MPH73 for example.
Objective? Tell me then Al how do you chalk up the Cubs being 21 games under .500 against plus .500 ballclubs and say that is OK?!? After all, that is an OBJECTIVE fact.
BLou - August 13, 2009
That doesn't make any sense at all.
Where did I say that was OK?
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
ANSWER THE QUESTION>>>>
For JUST ONCE how about one of you kool-aid drinkers make it NOT about attacking the messenger and address the issue !!!
SO AL YELLON, tell us what YOU think of the FACT that the Cubs are 21 games under .500 against plus ballclubs???
I’m waiting….
BLou - August 13, 2009
You're demanding someone answer a direct question? Of all people? Really?
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
i could have sword it was 21-28 or something...
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
I think you'll need another timeout.
Is it good? No. Does it mean the Cubs can’t win the division? No, it doesn’t.
Satisfied? Or are you going to start yelling again?
I can’t imagine you actually like being a sports fan at all, you’re so negative all the time.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
There in the fine print and a font size of .00000001 Al Yellon says the complete thought of "no" in response to asking his opinion on the record thing against plus .500 ballclubs
Then he calls me negative. It’s all about Blou and his negative ways folks….the 2009 Cubs will be just fine.
BLou - August 13, 2009
what?
Illicat - August 13, 2009
Funny that you're the only one in the thread whose typed the words...
“the 2009 Cubs will be just fine”
And I still havent’ typed them…I cut and pasted from your comment.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
After Al responds...could you tell us what's "right" with the club? I think we're all pretty aware of what you think is "wrong".
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
still waiting.....
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
It's said when even Lou Piniella isn't right for BLou anymore.
DGU - August 13, 2009
and waiting....
santoswoodenlegs - August 14, 2009
Obviously you don't read the recaps
to quote Al from THIS recap, “No, I’m not talking about the 2009 season, although it is rapidly fading unless the Cubs can make a quick turnaround.”
Doesn’t sound like its all rainbows and butterflys from Al, does it?
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Al is a Cubs fan, obviously
but I think he’s also objective and calls a spade a spade.
You forget something, BLou: This is supposed to be fun.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 13, 2009
Hmmm....
So “FUN” equal only being a kool-aid drinker and never dare challenging the current condition of the ballclub????
BLou - August 13, 2009
No BLou...
fun is enjoying something for what it is. Baseball is a game. A beautiful game. A difficult game…but you already know this. You played it. It’s fun to play and fun to watch. Try expanding your character a little and embrace things for more than just the surface tension of “right and wrong” that you have in your head.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Ladies and gentleman, I give you the author of "Cubbie Luvable Loser Philosophy for Dummies"
I read it again and I still can’t believe it.
BLou - August 13, 2009
Or just go on being an irritating asshole.....that works too.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
No, you have to be miserable when your team is doing poorly
Don’t you realize this, this isn’t just a game, this is personal. You must be an asshole when the Cubs are losing, you can’t be positive and say, “this is just a game,” you need to make everyone around you miserable to compensate for the fact you are a miserable person yourself.
God, don’t you know anything?
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
You know, I actually made BLou take a two-day timeout.
I’m guessing you all noticed. I agreed to let him back after today’s game. Of course, if they had won, he’d be nowhere to be seen.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
What two days
did he miss? He was in the game threads Tues. and Wed. night baiting people and calling names as usual.
sue369 - August 13, 2009
I didn't see him in Wednesday's
Of course, I wasn’t in all the threads
Shanghai Badger - August 13, 2009
I think Badger is right
I seem to remember reading comments wondering why BLou hadn’t shown.
Worf - August 14, 2009
Badger is correct.
I gave him a two-day timeout.
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
This speaks to another problem
No disrespect meant towards Sue, but this is a pretty good example of a problem that several posters have noticed and commented on.
Some people react negatively to BLou’s posts for no other reason than they are from BLou.
I won’t say that he isn’t annoyingly negative and repetitive; he is. He also runs away when presented with facts that refute his arguments.
However, sometimes he is correct. The message gets lost because there is so much dislike for him that people think he’s on here posting rudely when he can’t log in.
He’s earned a lot of what he gets and I think he loves the reactions. I’m sure he really will love hearing that he was pissing people off when he wasn’t even on BCB. (A quick check of his posting history shows that he didn’t post on Wednesday, but he was during Tuesday’s game.)
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
Look, that's the risk you run
I’m sure there are posters who feel the same about me. Hell, mambochicken remembered our argument about 20 times better than I did.
I think I haunt his dreams.
That’s part of the chance you take when you adopt certain stances or personas.
Worf - August 14, 2009
I'm not so much defending BLouMBDNIUBlueMIke
As I am suggesting that people take a step back before responding. The discussions can be a lot more interesting.
I’m guilty of it, too. (One recent example was I got pissed at Wreckard because I thought he’d incorrectly accused me of something when he hadn’t. After I responded, I realized that I was wrong and posted a reply. He was cool about it, but I was pissed at myself.)
Shanghai Badger - August 14, 2009
I totally agree with you.
BLou earned the animosity with his negativity, to be sure, but the negatives about the Cubs need to be said, along with the few positives out there.
As I always say, attack the message if you disagree, but never attack the messenger. It’s not worth it.
Fraggin Judge - August 14, 2009
I was wrong on
the days he was in the game threads. I checked and it was Monday and Tuesday.
sue369 - August 14, 2009
But he didn't call out Soriano as a waste and say Hendry was fat! HE"S SUGAR COATING EVERYTHING!
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
The rich and intelligent era....
what was your username back then? Because I forget the last few after your bannings for inappropriate attacking and slanderous remarks towards people here.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
SWL or Al
Want to start a pool on how long BLou can stay away?
Madison Cub Fan - August 13, 2009
I bet he's gone now
but next time the Cubs lose, he’ll be back.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Damn, I was wrong
He’s still here
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
only until the next loss
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
On One Hand...
I’m glad you play the devil’s advocate on this board. Everything’s not rosy with the Cubs, and you point that out often. On the other hand, there doesn’t seem to be much positive coming from you, even when the Cubs are winning.
memphiscub - August 13, 2009
I could give a crap if he's positive or negative
it’s just the pomposity. The holding himself up as the final word on anything he talks about is………revolting
Illicat - August 13, 2009
+1
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
I'll be plenty positive when there is something to be positive about
But in my opinion this team has been in a tailspin since the 2008 playoff series. I’m not going to say everything is peaches and cream when I have to stomach watching Soriano play left field last night 100 feet from my seats. Or when I have to see $48 million pissed away on a singles hitting Japanese import. Or a ballclub with the 3rd highest payroll in the game fielding a double play combo of Theriot, Fontenot/Baker. Or a catcher who was so committed to this organization that he felt it appropriate to put on 25 pounds of fat during the offseason. Or a starting pitcher in Zambrano who is baseball’s biggest assclown and with a sickly win total. Or Dempster being paid $52 million for ONE career year. Etc.
BLou - August 13, 2009
So If I'm understanding you....
there is nothing positive about this team.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
What IS the positive my friend?????
Instead of the quipping one-liners why don’t you for once engage in some specificity. Tell me what in your mind is positive???
BLou - August 13, 2009
Randy Wells
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Good point
But why o’ why will I find this positive fact less than satisfying when the 2009 Chicago Cubs finish the season with 79 to 83 wins and I’m watching Joe Buck announce the Cardinal playoff series???
So we should all be gloriously positive on the 2009 Cubs because Randy Wells came out of nowhere to be a good starting pitcher and Kosuke has a nice OPS?? Do we at least get to gather hands in a circle and sing kumbya at Wrigley once the season is put to a merciful end???
BLou - August 13, 2009
holy hell...
you ask for answers and then casually flip the answer giver the bird and wax eloquent about it.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I'll be honest
I don’t think the Cubs are going to win this division (and the Wild Card is not coming from the central). Do I hold out hope that they do? Of course, but I’m not going to wallow in the fact they are doing poorly.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
It's not satisfying. It's just a positive development.
Even if the season overall has been negative, there are some positive spots there. No one likes to lose, BLou. All these folks are saying is that a complete analysis takes both the positive and the negative into account. Your analysis of the negative was dead on. Can you not forget the positives, as few as they are?
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
Oh, and I hate kumbya
Here’s your “party” gift. LOL!
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
BLou
look dude, you are correct that there are not very many positives and a lot of frustration over this year. We have had craptacular years from every guy at one point and most are performing far below their norms.
Well, the upside is the 2010 version will show a marked improvement by guys just regressing to the mean. You are smart enough to understand that.
So people get rubbed the wrong way with the “fire and brimstone” speeches of everthing is wrong and Fire Donuts schtick. Take the emotion out of your posts and present factoids and it will be much better received.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
So if I understand your approach correctly...
…at the end of every season, there is only one team’s fanbase that is happy and 29 teams’ fanbases that are completely and utterly miserable, pissed off, and ready to give Mr. Rogers an atomic wedgie?
ballhawk - August 13, 2009
I'd pay a dollar to see that!
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
I know I am, when the Cubs and Tigers don't make it in
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
So assuming you're younger than 64...
you’ve pretty much been miserable all your life?
ballhawk - August 14, 2009
As a baseball fan, yes.
CaliCub - August 14, 2009
Fukudome and his .850 OPS
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
D. Lee's .896 OPS and his defense; today's debut by Justin Berg.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
OK
Lee’s return to form
Randy Wells
Milton Bradly’s OBP
Jake Fox’s Bat (i know, i know he’ll turn back into a pumpkin any minute)
Harden’s health (knock on wood)
A stumbling first half of injuries and woeful underperfoming players and being within stiking distance of 1st place with plenty of time left.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
NONE OF THAT MATTERS WHEN THE CUBS WILL ONLY WIN 79-83 WINS
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
games.. not wins...
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Thay still matter, even if they don't make a difference in the standings.
Those are the cornerstones of next year’s team.
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
i guess i forgot to use my sarcasm font
(this)
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Got it now. Sorry! :)
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
This is the Cubs...I could see them losing a win
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I think the old saying goes...
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
Give them time, they have the technology
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
It's kind of hard to hear positive from him when Cubs are winning
Since he chooses not to log on when we’re in good moods.
ak123 - August 13, 2009
Bleacher beer thrower turns himself in.
Front page post here.
Al Yellon - August 13, 2009
He was wearing white framed sunglasses...that should have been security's first clue.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
hee!
Emelie - August 14, 2009
And I'm going to the STL game tommorow....
I had planned on wearing a Cubbie shirt, but now I won’t bother I don’t feel like being told to F off every 10 min. especially when I have nothing to come back with. I guess the bright side is I’ll be @ Wrigley for the game this Sunday.
TuscaniLove - August 13, 2009
Loved the Kenney quote
(my emphasis)
Is he channeling Lou here? All he has to do is add “Look” in the beginning, gain about 50 pounds and not shave for a few days and the transformation will be complete. :-)
ballhawk - August 13, 2009
In summary
One broad conclusion I have arrived at today. I guess I too am guilty of living in denial. Denial that is about the current condition of the once proud and relevant website known as Bleedcubbieblue.com.
— This is blog of the kool-aid drinkers and eternal optimists who are not altogether concerned whether the Cubs really win or lose. After all, “it is only a game.” What BCB really has become is a social network to hang out in and make anonymous cyber friends that shall last a lifetime.
You shall see very much less of me here on out. That statement should be good for at least 250 posts by the Luvable Loser Society and the kool-aid drinkers who find BCB the perfect cozy nest in which to hang out in.
BLou - August 13, 2009
The internets
Serious business.
People disagree with me here all the time. I even get called stupid. That’s life.
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
Also want to add
Would you rather post at espn.com? Every Cubs game thread gets invaded by trolls with these basic messages:
“Cubs suck.”
“1908”
“Bartman”
“Cubs fans don’t know anything about baseball.”
I can’t even imagine what they posted when the idiot fan threw beer on Victorino. I take that back. I can. This place is ten times better than espn.com.
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
I can top that
I’ve been called a shithead by the moderator !!! I guess it comes down to the widespread perception around here that I pee in the Cubbie kool-aid punch bowl and that is not to be tolerated. That and I refuse to participate in the kumbya singing practices.
BLou - August 13, 2009
And?
You could always go look for pr0n if this place bothers you that much.
Ace Venom - August 13, 2009
it's not your message
but rather how you deliver it
socalbob - August 13, 2009
Sorry we could all join you in your redundant pissing and moaning insulting the players and staff....
go in peace gentle prince.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Hope today is better than yesterday
And I mean that for you. Sorry to hear about your parents and of your computer crashing. But that later sort of stuff will happen when you log onto all those porn sites. Later my friend.
BLou - August 13, 2009
BLou, fist class as always.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I'm glad to see BLou
take the high road out of here.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Hey, that was funny...and you don't really believe he's going to be long do you?
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
Not at all
He needs us more than we need him.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
He....
completes me.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
He's like the ying to your yang
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Um....that make me feel uncomfortable.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
lol
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
TWSS
BigJohnAZ - August 13, 2009
he'll be back
if he loses this account…. what do you think the next one will be?
at least he’s not doing a gaius marius
tootle - August 13, 2009
damn
I forgot about he/she
socalbob - August 13, 2009
I miss Chuck too
socalbob - August 13, 2009
when in doubt
suck up
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
"Porn sites" and "fist class"? Hmm...
TWSS
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
Now I have to go look up the infamous "pornograhy thread" BLou started.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
LOL
Fraggin Judge - August 13, 2009
I have it saved
here you go.
My favorite thread of all time.
Allie - August 13, 2009
Al needs to make a special section on the front page for threads like that one.
santoswoodenlegs - August 13, 2009
I agree
I have it bookmarked though… just when I need a laugh I scroll through it.
So silly.
Allie - August 13, 2009
is he into fisting?
intended pu in reply to his porn comment?
Very witty SWL! Nicely played.
socalbob - August 13, 2009
damn
pu = pun
socalbob - August 13, 2009
The voice of experience?
Goodie1969 - August 13, 2009
Whats wrong with watching porn?
xene - August 13, 2009
Absolutely nothing
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
"You shall see very much less of me here on out."
How many times have you said this? How many times have you been kicked off the board but begged to be allowed back? Honestly, answer this question. However, you won’t, cause that’s what you do.
DTJchris - August 13, 2009
Richard Nixon, 1962
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
seriously, how self important can one person be?
I mean holy shit. Dial your pompous ass down a notch
Illicat - August 14, 2009
out of the box
Wondering whether the beer thrower went to the game by himself and then left after the incident, or did he and his companions all leave.
Not assuming the beer thrower was intoxicated, but they might want to impose a 4-beer limit, keep checking ID’s and have better training for the security personnel. But what happens after the 4-beer limit could be an increase in the price of beer. The additional revenue would then be used to payoff Soriano’s contract! Not sure how long it would take to payoff and that has to be considered in setting the price increase. There could be an opportunity here to kill two birds with one stone.
AboutTheCubs - August 13, 2009
Bright side of this season so far:
I’m spending a LOT more time outside playing with the dog. She got annoyed by my swearing during this series so we spent the time usually spent following the game playing ball outside instead.
I think Ginger will be sad when the season’s over and I’m less annoyed! :-P
Allie - August 13, 2009
I taught my dog Bond
to turn the DP at 2nd. However, he is having difficulty switch hitting. Any suggestions?
tharr - August 13, 2009
Aaron Miles
“how to” instructional video?
socalbob - August 13, 2009
That has the same value
as a Michael Vick tape on “Raising dogs for fun and profit”.
tharr - August 13, 2009
songs on my playlist.... dedicated to BLou... (find your happy place dude)
Dreams… VH
Top of the World… VH
Best of Both Worlds… VH
Right Now… VH
Ramblin’ Man… ABB
Don’t Fear the Reaper… BOC
Simple Man… LS
I Never Dreamed… LS
It’s a Long Way to the Top… AC/DC
Don’t Stop Believin’… Journey
Suicide is Painless… (MASH Theme) Johnny Mandel
Comfortably Numb… PF
Wonderful Tonight… EC
tootle - August 13, 2009
On Aaron Miles...
For our Southern Illinois and Mizzou residents who saw a number of Cards games last year, how did LaRussa use Miles?
I am just curious because the Cards organization would not tolerate the suckage that this player has displayed during his Cubs season.
Was he purely a utility spot starter guy? Did he PH much?
I just do not get it.
Help a brother out here…
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
He started a lot
Last year they really did not have a SS or a 2nd basemen that was worth a shit so he got a lot of playing time at those positions. Towards the end of the season when Dunkiel were both hurt, he played some outfield as well.
For whatever reason, TLR gets a lot out of his players.
TheRiot Police - August 13, 2009
He started
81 games…of those 81 games he finished 71.
53 games he game into the game as a pinch hitter or as part of a double switch.
TheRiot Police - August 13, 2009
He started frequently
and was used as a pinch hitter often. Over at VEB there was a lot of consternation about how often La Russa used Miles. He had no business being used at SS or 3B and Tony would play him there. He’d use him instead of Kennedy at 2nd when Kennedy was playing circles around him defensively (which isn’t hard to do, btw.) But Miles had a good BA and was scrappy! and came up w/ some big hits for the team. Tony hated seeing him leave, but over at VEB, we were extremely happy.
If you look at his numbers for last year and this, they’re not even remotely similar. This year, his Ks are up and his BBs are down. His infield fly balls are up by more than 10%. He was a respectable hitter last year, if overused b/c of Tony’s love for all his “grit”. This year, he’s just awful.
chuckb - August 13, 2009
wow
he was IBB this year? now thats odd
jesus christos - August 13, 2009
Simple
This. Season. Is. Over….and has been over for some time.
krummy12 - August 13, 2009
Well, that is not answering
my specific question
The E-Man - August 13, 2009
BLou; the legend continues...
Not only do I find your posts entertaining (even when I don’t necessarily agree with them), but the full fledged conflagration they always start on this board are ten times more entertaining than most of what’s showing at the local multiplex.
You sir, have a positive genius for stirring the pot.
bluekoolaide - August 13, 2009
"After you buy four, you're done. "
Oh, please. You would think that someone who lives in Chicago would know that Prohibition doesn’t work.
salparadise23 - August 13, 2009
Speakeasies would crop up all over the stadium.
“Pssst. I know a guy who knows a guy who can get you a beer. Knock three times on the 3rd stall in the mens’ room behind section 511. And bring cash.”
D98 - August 14, 2009
Really, it's sort of surprising
Year after year, you always piss and moan about the drunks in the bleachers(and I’m going back to the Usenet days here). Seriously, why don’t you get seats in the grandstand? The view is much better and the game is easier to follow. You’re starting to sound like the grumpy old man who wants those kids to stay off his lawn.
The bleachers are a beer garden. They have been for some time. Do you to the racetrack and complain about those degenerate gamblers as well?
salparadise23 - August 13, 2009
CaliCub's Musings and Wheezings
1) Put armed security in the front row of the bleachers. No more incidents like last night, plus we could get rid of “Banks Blvd” (Joe Morgan, you’re a putz).
2) There’s four things you never discuss with friends and family: religion, politics, child rearing, and the right way to run a baseball franchise. WAY too divisive.
3) I have belonged to many Cubs message boards in my time, but one thing that makes BCB truly unique is the vigilant – dare I say militant – attitude of the optimists. Never seen anything like it before. Typically it’s the fatalists and naysayers that are ready to pounce at the drop of a hat.
4) Very hard for me to see the Cubs getting into the postseason at this rate, unless the other contenders have some serious meltdowns. And with the salaries and NTCs sprinkled throughout the roster, it may well be 2012 before the window of opportunity opens again for the Cubs.
5) Joe Morgan, you’re a putz.
CaliCub - August 13, 2009
another dissappointing season
yeah…nuff said…….
but i will always bleed cubbie blue……
SoN of a GuN - August 14, 2009
Basically, this season is starting to sort of remind me of the 2008 Tigers' season...
Both the 08 Tigers and the 09 Cubs has high expectations and high payrolls entering the season. The Tigers were even the most popular pick to win the World Series that year IIRC. Both teams (acknowledging that there is still over a month to the 09 Cubs’ season) suffered from multiple stars going on the DL for a signficant period of time (Verlander, Cabrera for the Tigers; Ramirez, Lilly, Soto for the Cubs) and still not being “right” when they returned. And yes, both teams also suffered from their stars simply under-achieving even when not on the DL. In both cases, the team chemistry appeared “off” or non-existent, and both managers’ decisions regarding the bullpen and position players were questioned.
Now here comes the good news. First, despite the similarities the Tigers were below .500 for almost the entire 2008 campaign and were clearly out of the playoff hunt by mid-July, and in fact finished LAST in a weak AL Central. The Cubs, despite all of the problems this year, still sport an over-.500 record, are still (at least for now) comfortably in 2nd, and in fact still have a shot at winning the division.
Second – and this is important – this year’s Tigers have managed to turn things around with just a few tweaks, such that a flawed team is now in playoff position and could contend for the WS. (Okay, technically they have an almost identical record to the Cubs, but the point is that this represents a major improvement from 2008 and in fact reinforces Good News #1.) The only major personnel changes from last year’s team was getting a good starting pitcher in Edwin Jackson and a good fielding shortstop (but poor hitter) in Adam Everett. Both were important acquisitions but hardly the type of complete re-vamping that has been advocated by some posters here. Beyond that, their turnaround can be attributed to the fact that most of their players have stayed healthy this year, and simply put that last year’s underachieving players have regressed to the mean this year.
So the conclusion I draw from this is that yes, clearly this year’s version of the Cubs has some significant flaws, as BLou et. al. have posted. But that doesn’t necessarily prevent us from contending for a playoff spot this year, or failing that, coming back strong next year with a few minor tweaks (say, a decent 2nd baseman, a solid lead-off hitter, and/or a reliable set-up man.)
cdnsportnic - August 14, 2009
Sorry for the length, btw. Didn't realize it took up so much space until I posted.
But my venting is done now.
cdnsportnic - August 14, 2009
Interesting analysis
And pretty level-headed. Good work.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Huh.
A “decent 2nd baseman” would help. Seems to me we had one.
Al Yellon - August 14, 2009
As Ronald Reagan used to say,
there you go again, Al. Put away the security blanket, will you?
Not Bruce Froemming - August 14, 2009
Agree with Bruce, good work
A couple other things that helped the Tigers was 1) replacing IRod with the low-key but useful Gerald Laird, 2) putting Inge back at 3B to help the defense, and 3) a nice dose of young talent (Porcello, Clete Thomas, Ryan Perry).
The Cubs have enjoyed contributions from the farm this year, and hopefully will continue to in the near future (Vitters, Cashner, Castro). Although I’ve been critical of the general organizational philosophy, I’m still willing to give Tim Wilken a bit more time.
There’s no metrics handy at the moment, but going by what I see for myself I’d rate the Cubs’ defense as adequate. That said, they won 97 games with an adequate defense – so maybe the solution here is better hitting with RISP.
Good health, a better bullpen, and deeper depth would help too.
CaliCub - August 14, 2009
One thing that the Tigers have learned ---
When there is a Miguel Cabrera-type of player available, you do whatever it takes to get him!
That is what the Cubs are missing. A truly elite offensive player. They are very hard to come by on the open market, as they are only rarely made available when they’re still in their prime. (and yes, adding a 1B like Cabrera would provide the smallest marginal increase, as one of our best offensive players currently plays 1B.)
But the Cubs need to recognize that if they intend to be a big-market annual contender, it’s a whole heck of a lot more useful to spend $20M on Miguel Cabrera or Carlos Beltran or Albert Pujols or Manny Ramirez, than it is to spend the same $20M on Kosuke Fukudome + Milton Bradley.
This all goes back to MacPhail refusing to allow the Cubs to sign Beltran. Hendry then overcompensated and went nuts signing Alfonso Soriano, who, for all of his talents, is a markedly worse ballplayer in literally every respect (and much older, too.)
Now, Hendry’s successor is going to have his hands tied for a while, to a large extent.
D98 - August 14, 2009
An argument can also be made
that Hendry really and truly thought Soriano was a Pujols/Cabrera/Manny elite level player after his 2006 season, and (over)paid him accordingly. If so then Hendry needs a new pair of glasses.
CaliCub - August 14, 2009
I'm sure that is what happened.
It seems pretty obvious in retrospect that Hendry was going to sign the player he identified as the #1 free agent, and by any means necessary.
It’s just our rotten luck that the decision to do so was made after 2006, instead of after 2004 or 2005, in which case we could have put that cash toward Vlad Guerrero or Carlos Beltran.
D98 - August 14, 2009
Bradley is still a pile of crap at any spot in the order
and Soriano is worse, watching him try and bunt today was comical.
Itchy - August 14, 2009
jesus christos - August 14, 2009
The sad thing is the number of underachieving players
Assuming that what I hear and read is correct, a whole series of players are performing up the their potential and/or past seasons. As much as, I hate to place the blame on the coaching staff and replace them – it always seems to me to be the easy way out – Lou and co. have to face up to the question why is this so. Why is the team physically and/or mentally unable to play as well as they should? I say this in full awareness that the injury situation has made things rather difficult for the Cubs this year. Nonetheless on would expect to see more effort, hustle and intelligent offence and defence, with the “replacement” players stepping in and taking more responsibility.
The season is not over yet, and I have not given up on this year’s team, but the clock is ticking, ever louder. The entire organization needs to get their act together and at least make the will to win visible and the effort to do so apparent. If they don’t make it to the playoffs but we have seen a real and honest effort, then I can excuse them. If they don’t and did even not look like a hungry team, then I’ll be very unhappy indeed.
eths - August 14, 2009
Correction...
…a whole series of players are not performing up the their potential and/or past seasons…
sorry
eths - August 14, 2009
I believe many of them are playing to their potential.
Fontenot is who he is. Bradley is not a regular OF. Lee is having a good year. Miles has always sucked. Soriano is older. He cannot run anymore, has never been a good OF and has always struck out a lot. And I doubt he’ll see many more fastballs the rest of his career. Fukudome improved from last year. So dd Theriot. Arguably, only Soto and RamÃrez are playing belo their capabilities, mostly because of injuries. And Bradley could have played better at the beginning of the year. He’s now doing what’s expected of him.
Fraggin Judge - August 14, 2009
"Miles has always sucked ?"
Um he has a career average of .283 INCLUDING this year. He is by far the most underperforming player on the roster. At least
lets not re-write history and say he was a terrible player before this season.
Doggie Stalker - August 14, 2009
He has a career OPS+ of 74.
He has pretty much always sucked. Last year was the first time he was even “moderately below average.”
Obviously, he’s beyond “sucking” now – he’s the worst player in MLB.
But even if he’d performed up to his career norms, he had absolutely no place on the 25-man roster of a team that fancied itself a contender.
D98 - August 14, 2009
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