Bleed Cubbie Blue

No man

I share your opinion. But what are we gonna do?

chilango2 - August 30, 2009 reply

I give him credit

but I would have preferred that he got it fixed back in APRIL! As we saw a 65-80% Sori wasn’t worth it.

gaclaudy - August 30, 2009 reply

We complain bitterly about players who remove themselves from the lineup with a hangnail. I agree that Sori’s decision to quietly continue to play has ultimately hurt the team, but let’s give the guy some credit. The Employee he’s not.

leothelip - August 30, 2009 reply

he's done this before

in late 2007, he started taping his wrists. Anyone remember that?

Um...who we?

cubzfan - August 30, 2009 reply

Jake Fox should start in left

for the rest of the season. Sori can PH and his “you can’t see me” bit will come true.

santo4hof - August 30, 2009 reply

If Fox does not start today

Lou should be fired now

per yahoo Fox in LF today

LT - August 30, 2009 reply

Sylar

is pitching for the Mets? Uh-oh. :P

So what’s the projected fix for Soriano NOW? What are they gonna do? Cortisone shot? The MRI showed no damage that needs surgery to fix. If his bat really is back — and he needs to play to show that — how do we get him in the lineup?

Nice reference

He is a look a like. With Young Spock pitching who knows what could happen

Krug - August 30, 2009 reply

Am i correct in beliving...

… that today is your birthday?

you are indeed, sir.

I don’t feel a day over 40. Unfortunately, I’m 39. :P

Happy Birthday!

I think the cubs should give you a sweep. Just an idea.

that would be

very nice. :D I thought about posting a birthday wish list, but…

Hmm. I have foot callouses that are 39...

You’re a young pup!

Zeke - August 30, 2009 reply

LMAO

Caps are obnoxious. =P

Azul Cachorro - August 30, 2009 reply

Frankly, the whole story seems fishy to me...allow me to elaborate :-)

1. Even the little league managers I had wouldn’t play me if they knew I was injured, and especially if I was hurting the team by sucking.

2. If I thought I had a bad knee, I sure wouldn’t play on it until I knew for sure that continued play wouldn’t make my knee worse. Did Sori do that?

3. Have they found anything wrong with his knee with the MRI?

4. Could this be an excuse for Sori’s poor play, like “my dog ate my homework”?

It does sound that way.

Lou had an excuse to play Fox and Fuld because of an injury and they wait for 3 months to do it as the season goes down the toilet. If he is hurt he should be sitting. He has had one decent game in a month. And even then he couldn’t field. What has he done this season do justify him starting of Fox?

If we only had Hubbs - August 30, 2009 reply

You don't take superstars out of the lineup.

Duh.

(Sarcasm alert).

cubsforever - August 30, 2009 reply

I tend to agree...

…something isn’t right here. Look at Lilly, he had his knee scoped and was back 3 weeks later. If things were this bad, I have no ideas why they wouldn’t have done what was necessary back in May to get this taken care of properly.

This makes no sense what so ever!

MPH73 - August 30, 2009 reply

Lilly

Took care of the knee problem while he had to be out to recuperate from his other injury (can’t remember what that was, but the knee clean out was definitely secondary).

vonde6 - August 30, 2009 reply

Sori

It does sound pretty selfish.

what is the management doing?

I commend Soriano for playing hurt but a couple months of sucking won’t change your mind? This team is hard to understand.

lexmarklover - August 30, 2009 reply

Very

Jimbo's bad year just wont end....

….its been obvious to most he has never seemed right at the plate or the field for long stretches this season.

What even more frustrating that we had a good replacement for Sori in May, Jake Fox but Jim dragged his feet getting him up here too.

JB 23 - August 30, 2009 reply

let's keep in mind

that if Fox had become “the” replacement for Soriano, Fox wouldn’t have been able to play at third when Rami went down.

It took a Long time for him to replace Rami

We watched Fronty struggle along with Sori. Of course this was set up by the earlier DeRosa screw up.

exactly....Fox should have been up to replace Rami too

….regardless, Fox should have been up long before he was.

JB 23 - August 30, 2009 reply

He was only hitting .420

Not good enough. What was worse was him not playing 3B in the minors after the injury. Don’t prepare him or anything…..

even Jake Fox

can’t play two positions at once.

I understand that

But he wasn’t playing any for the Cubs while he was sitting in Iowa.

I know.

I’m just saying. If you’d pulled Fox to play in Soriano’s place, that’s a lot more Fontenot at 3rd, and Miles at 2nd. I wonder how the Freel DFA would have played out in that situation…

id take a few more weeks of fontenot and inches if it meant soriano was healthy

me too.

like I said below, I sure wish we could have a better accounting of how this all actually shook out.

Yes, because we put Fox in RIGHT AWAY

I know we didn't

but if Fox had become the replacement LF, we would have had Fonty at second MUCH longer, and a lot more Miles.

Anyone remember

When everyone here just said he was slumping and let’s keep running him out there so he can hit his way out of it?

gaclaudy - August 30, 2009 reply

yeah but a lot of people said

if soriano was actually injuried, sit him down.

lexmarklover - August 30, 2009 reply

I do remember those calls as well

Anyone wanna say “I told you so” to anyone specific?

gaclaudy - August 30, 2009 reply

why would we want to do that?

Many of us said it

It is too easy going after the ones making excuses for Soriano. Not worth the time.

YES !

but to oo one specific , well OK maybe Drew. I kept saying over and over something was physically wrong with him and I thought it was his leg. Ironically his refusing to admit might have helped Fuld make the team because is Sori had been honest, Hendry would have been out looking for a full time replacement . I don’t think they would have gone for Fox in April. I get trying to play hurt and I blame the Cubs more than Soriano for this. They should have been able to see it.

Doggie Stalker - August 30, 2009 reply

The announcers yesterday

said that Lou admitted he messed up by not letting Fox just play everyday when A-Ram went down.

Then they sent him back down when we has 5-6 as a PH

Not a great year for front office decisions.

I'm trying to figure out which game he injured himself....

Article doesn’t necessarily say it’s at Wrigley.

He didn’t miss a game in April.

I think they are making excuses

What team would let him linger and slump for 3 months if he is really hurt. Especially with better options.

Well, what if Fonzie didn't tell them?

Said that he was “fine” and kept going out there? Maybe the injury has just gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on? To me, he really hasn’t seemed to be “hobbling” until the last couple weeks.

The article said he's

been getting treatment for months so they had to know.

One would think so

I can't remember either

I can’t remember any time Sori has gone hard into that side wall (that usually isn’t his “style”). DeRosa comes to mind later in the year, but not Soriano. Anybody remember the event?

Krug - August 30, 2009 reply

I seem to remember a player crashing into the phone box in the bullpen

Not sure if it was last year or this, but this may have been Soriano

That was DeRo when the

Cards played here.

Someone last week

said the April 22nd game.

The key words are

He was getting treatment.

That means management should have known he was having a bad time.

I am sick of people saying Soriano lied, or covered up.

It is the height of hypocrisy to expect players to play hurt and then blame them when they do. I spit on you.

Aaron burr has something to say to you

“I challenge you to a duel!”

BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - August 30, 2009 via mobile reply

+1 for the historical reference.

Or maybe he WAS "fine" in April when it happened....

…and it got progressively worse.

I think to a certain degree all ballplayers “cover up” a nagging injury to stay on the field.

OK-If he isn't hurt or not telling them

Why play him? He hit like .170 as they fell out of the race. He is playing because he makes a lot of money. If he and Fox made the same who would be the starter?

he is playing

because when he’s on, he can carry the team, and you can’t tell when he’s going to be on.

I really wish that people could understand that you don’t sit your way out of a slump.

You don't play your way out of a knee injury either

That’s what this is about.

Correct Worf

How would a knee get better by playing on it. Wow…..Of course he should have been sitting.

except

that the supposition was that he WASN’T hurt. At least part of the supposition in the comment I’m replying to.

He's barely been "on" this season

and now they say he’s been hurt. How long do you ride that guy?

theres a difference between being in a slump

and playing on a gimp knee

Either way

The answer was not playing him

"He had treatment for months"

But if this is a situation where one 15-day DL stint would have gotten him back to 95% strength, then it’s pretty stupid that he kept playing on it. Rest, heal up and come back strong.

DKT - August 30, 2009 reply

Last I checked...

players don’t put themselves on the DL

I get that

but it’s an organizational decision and it’s about communication. I’m sure they had a conversation and Sori said “It’s good enough to play.” But when he sunk into an extended slump, you have to re-evaluate that decision.

DKT - August 30, 2009 reply

He was getting treatment

Did Lou and Hendry not know he was getting treatment? Did they ask the doc?

Both good questions - we may not get the answers, though...

DKT - August 30, 2009 reply

If they didn't

that is a real problem

how could they not know?

the team doctor doesn’t report to the manager?

Maybe

Maybe he was getting treatment and was having a thing where it looked like it was going to be fine then he’d have a setback.

Maybeknowing how much the team needed him he pushed himself too hard and wasn’t completely honest with Hendry and Pinella on how bad it was,

FOX AND FULD EVERY DAY TILL THE END PERIOD END OF STORY

.

cozmotaylor123 - August 30, 2009 reply

It only ends once everything else is just progress.

BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - August 30, 2009 via mobile reply

Fox

Fox every day Fox every day and twice on Sunday. Want to get him as many ABs as possible.

We need to get as much info on him as possible in order to make decisions in the offseason,

I think Fuld is a 4th or 5th outfielder Fox can be a corner outfielder. Meaning if Bradley is gone he could be an option,

I agree completely

He reminds me a lot of Moreland. The positions, the way he seems to be clutch, the way he carries himself. You never heard bitching from Keith and while he was not the most graceful player, he got the job done.

Just curious....

not trying to start an argument, sincerely just want your opinion…

what have you seen (or not seen) about Fuld so early on that already tells you that he’s not going to be a really good Leadoff/CF Kenny Lofton/Brett Butler/Lenny Dykstra type??? (reaching back there)

have you already seen limitations in his game or his physical build that tell you he isn’t likely to blossom?

i just go back to lofton… he was a small guy, but he took us to heaven’s door and was in the playoffs everywhere he went

Lofton

could hit?

Lofton hit well

Not a great CF, but played well.

there's no indication

at least not yet, that Sam Fuld can hit.

I am talking about Fox playing everyday.

Fuld can field much better than Soriano, but hey, even you might be able to. If Soriano is not hitting he is terrible because he brings nothing else to the table.

I think he means Fox for 7 innings

and Fuld to replace him in the 8th and 9th to protect those leads. Fuld should get a start once
or twice a week for Dome or Bradley but if the Cubs have a lead or are tied the OF should ALWAYS BE Fuld, Dome, Milton at least until RJ is back.

Doggie Stalker - August 30, 2009 reply

Lou and Hendry KNEW Soriano wasn't right

and simply believed he was still the best option, especially when Ramirez went down.

There is no way in hell he makes the executive decision to get treatment on his own.

The rosters expand this week

Once Blanco and Scales come back, Miles should just go home because every AB is a waste. Anybody particular you guys want to see up?

Hoff and a SS named Darwin Barny

I would like to know if he’s can hit MLB pitching cause he’s a plus SS in th field.

BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - August 30, 2009 via mobile reply

I would like to see colvin at the big squad as well

BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - August 30, 2009 via mobile reply

I would too

Nah, too early on Barney and Colvin

Barney has only had a little over a season hitting with a wooden bat, and he needs to build on his success, not get dominated by ML pitching. Colvin was recuperating from injury and rebuilding his swing this season. He should play in the AA playoffs, then go get some rest and come back ready to hit next year.

cubzfan - August 30, 2009 reply

Miles is to Lou what Neifi was to Dusty

they are in love

This is on Lou and Hendry

AGAIN. They knew he was banged up, why not DL him early in the season, get him healthy. Sure Sori wanted to play, good for him, but this is where management has to step in and put him on the DL to get well.
Jeez I hope Lou knew that Sori was getting treatments.

Grockcubs - August 30, 2009 reply

per yahoo starting lineups (of course they were wrong yesterday on Rammy)

R. Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
M. Bradley rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
D. Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
A. Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330
K. Fukudome cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J. Fox lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
M. Fontenot 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
G. Soto c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
C. Zambrano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

LT - August 30, 2009 reply

everytime i see theriot lead off

i cry a little

Actually they weren't wrong

Rami was supposed to have the day off but got put in the lineup after Baker got hit in the pinky during BP

Allie - August 30, 2009 reply

I would like to see this lineup become a fixture for the rest of the year, with the exception of Fontenot starting over Baker.

cubsforever - August 30, 2009 reply

The one good thing about this

Is it gives me more hope he’ll rebound and 2010 will be more like 2008 for him after an offseason to recover.

Okay assuming they’re all Cubs who do you all think in order will have the best 2010?

Bradley
Soriano
Soto

Bradley

Actually

Am I the only one who thinks unless during this rest they win 4 in a row and get seriously back into the wc or even division race it’s time to put Soriano out the rest of the season to not risk making it worse?

I think they should do it either way

Ramirez

I’d also think about doing this with Aramis. Even sending him to the specialist to make a final decision on that surgery they talked about. Even though the tightening up surgery would make him ready for spring training why not if they decide to do it give him the extra month to give more time for a possible setback?

rammy said he wasnt going to have surgery but a shoulder conditioning program

Why not get it started a month early?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who would take a few less wins this year if it meant Soriano and Ramirez were healthier and better in 10.

you don't

play it safe when you’re in contention.

Playing it safe is playing Soriano when he is either hurt or sucks

I should say not today but if they are really dead by mid week or so it’s time to think 2010.

It's Sunday

if we lose eight straight, then, probably we’re out for the season, yes. But it’s the Mets today, and then the Astros… I don’t think we’re out of it.

That's what we said about the Padres and Nats

The Cards are doing what a good team does to the Nats.

I seriously doubt the Cubs can catch the Cards

but the wild card isn’t completely hopeless. So….I still hope.

teacher tom - August 30, 2009 reply

The Cards are going to the playoffs

The wild card could still be had…….

Not Bruce Froemming - August 30, 2009 reply

Well, the Cubs did go

5-2 against the Nats this year …

the time to pull key players

is when you’re mathematically eliminated. Till that happens, you play Rami, and you at least spot-play Soriano. Fox is a nice backup, but he’s a backup. Fuld is a nice backup, but he’s a backup. Hopefully, they can manage Soriano’s play a bit better, get him some real rest, treat the problem.

I’d sure like an accounting of how this knee thing shook out.

I'm not so sure Fox is a backup.

I think his hitting is starting-caliber; defensively, not so much. If we had an open 1B spot or played in the AL I would be open to letting him play 5-6 times a weak.

cubsforever - August 30, 2009 reply

You refer to Fox as a backup

because he has outplayed the guy you have been making excuses for. Right now Fox should be playing everyday in LF.

right now

Fox should play till Soriano is rested. We don’t go to the playoffs on Fox’s bat. We could go to the playoffs on Soriano’s bat.

How long do you wait?

Fox is hitting, do you go back the slumper after a couple of days? How does that help?

his bat has carried us no where all season

but let’s hope it suddenly provides a spark. At least I get why you don’t think Lou should be fired.

Illicat - August 30, 2009 reply

OT: peavy is experiencing tightness in his pitching elbow

i find this awfully funny

When the Cubs who have signed clinically dead players in the past take a pass partially because of injury worries the Sox should have thought twice.

Soriano

Well… on a positive side, if he has been hurt this whole season, then his decline may not be as age related as many feared. If he gets healthy, he should be able to put up some good stats again next year… i hope… really…. I really hope…

TheHawkRules - August 30, 2009 reply

What I find sad

What I find kind of sad is how much I know about the Bears this year. How into the Bears early on I am is largely dependent on the Cubs. IF my life depended on telling you aboujt the early seasons of the 84, 89, 98, 03, 07 or 08 Bears I’d bedead.

On the flip side because of the 06 Bears the 07 Cubs spring traing snuck up on me.

we're only 4 games out of the WC in the loss column!

which is why they should be playing the hot hands

Not Soto and Soriano

but don't you see? Soriano will MAGICALLY turn his entire season around and start hitting

it must be true, because the fact that he’s simply having a terrible season(thanks to a knee injury the club refused to address) just can’t be possible

Illicat - August 30, 2009 reply

Big Z today...

… do do his best impression of 9/14/2008 Big Z.

Easily the happiest i’ve ever been at a sporting event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC5aIiVsODY

do-do?

daily2b - August 30, 2009 reply

If big Z do-dos today...

… i’m switching to Pat & Ron.

Z will dominate the mets today

cuz I said so!!

daily2b - August 30, 2009 reply

Weather looks cool with a definite breeze blowing in from left

or so sez Wunderground

Go Cubs!!! We need this win!!!

Ugh, its like Lovie Smith is running this team too.

Why would they conceal his injury from the public for this long? And the spin they are now throwing out about how they would have DL’d him, but Fonzi just wanted to play so badly, is a pathetic cop-out. The buck stops with management on that issue. I respect Fonzi for wanting to play regardless of the pain, but that’s why you don’t let players tell you if they’re ok to play. I’m with Al: if the evaluation was that the injury wasn’t healing, and was causing his slide, then the responsible grown-up thing to do is put him on the DL and let him heal.

Orval Overall - August 30, 2009 reply

They've been saying this the last few weeks.

I’m surprised Al wrote that this is new information.

cubzfan - August 30, 2009 reply

Aaron Miles is optimistic with 35 games left...

heard on the WGN radio pre-game show

I'd be more optimistic if he could land a job in advertising to free up a roster spot.

Hendry better cut his ass once this season is over

Pre - August 30, 2009 reply

Maybe we can smuggle Hendry a cake with a shank in it.

...

oh boy

Excuse my language

but fucking fire Lou and Jim the day after the season ends. This has been the biggest circus of a season I’ve ever seen, and it all boils down to horrendously inept management from our two top guys.

The roster management, and lineup management have been absolute jokes. So Lou admitted that he was wrong not to allow Fox to fill in for ARAM right away, and rectified that by basically relegating Fox to once a week playing time once Hill went down, because they didn’t want to call up another catcher.

As someone else said, if Soriano has been getting treatment for his knee since April, both Jim and Lou knew about it. Lou pretending he didn’t realize he was trotting out an injured Soriano every day is simply beyond ridiculous.

Holy god, I thought I wanted Lou and Jim fired before. If one or both are not fired, I just don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m tired of getting kicked in the nuts by this organization, simply because they know they have incredibly loyal fans who will bend over and take it.

Illicat - August 30, 2009 reply

Jump

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/8/30/1007404/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mets#comments

JUMP!!!