Bleed Cubbie Blue

This made me puke in my mouth...

Aaron Miles is almost ready to return from Iowa, which could mean a demotion for Andres Blanco.

I couldn't describe

the nausea I felt, but you hit it right on the head. Just disgusting.

I call to order the Just say no to Aaron group.

Present

Present

and pissed off

here

pass the Scope, please

Can we make it the "Just say no to Aarons" group

and include Heilman too?

The Presiden of the Aaron Heilman Sucks Fanclub duly notes this here message

That is what I meant

Sorry :)

I like this...

I’m in.

Chris Dobbertean - August 4, 2009 reply

No to Aaron

Present

mrtobby - August 4, 2009 reply

I'm in

how much are the dues?

$20

If enough of us join, we can pay the salary, right?

I choose mine to go twoards Heilman. With Ramirez back, Miles should have less opportunity to, well, suck.

No!

These two clowns are making millions of—partly—our hard earned dollars. They can pay for their own tickets out of town. The dues will be used to cover our collective psych and vascular bill.

And the cleaning bills

for all the vomit this move has caused

I'm in.

mykalmorgan - August 4, 2009 reply

Here and fuming

Here

raising my hand

with two fingers showing. (quietly laughing at the irony of that….)

MOCubsfan - August 4, 2009 reply

I'm here!

Present

Fraggin Judge - August 4, 2009 reply

I find it interesting that....

… last night, Lou said it would mean a “demotion” for Blanco, then suddenly he’s on the DL. Fishy.

+1

they probably realized this morning that he has no options left

He came up

doesn’t that mean he can go back down?

I will NEVER understand how this works!

no he never had options left

he was signed to a minor league deal. Once they brought him up they couldn’t send him down without a number of loopholes. His callup basically meant he would either finish the season here.

TWSS

hahahhaa. yes.

FTW

Fishy indeed

Sounds like political backstabbing. I feel inclined to hold judgement until I hear a bit more, but this seems very Machine-like.

WanderingWanderer - August 4, 2009 reply

I cannot believe this guy is going to wear a Cub uniform in the heat of a race...

…..MIND F’ING NUMBING!!!!

JB 23 - August 4, 2009 reply

I actually moaned out load when I read that line

just more poor roster decisions from the dynamic duo

Blanco came in as a defensive sub last night, right?

Did anybody notice a limp or something?

I doubt he's really hurt

So do I

and that’s why I wanted to ask the astute BCB collective if you saw something I didn’t. I feel nauseous.

Pretty amazing that the demotion of Andres Blanco

… is stirring such anger. I wonder if any Cubs fan will/can defend this move.

Maybe there will be a run on ginger in the greater Chicago area

As it does wonders to relieve nasua

he isn't

He's got David Patton...

Disorder now. I hear it lasts until around September 1st.

On the contrary

was pretty giddy and pumped when Marmol finally got the 3rd out

He hurt his ego...

Zeke - August 4, 2009 reply

Excuse my French, but Miles being actived and Blanco going on the "DL"...

….is BULLSHIT. Just when I think Management is actually putting together the right combination for this team, they fuck it up…..

Who’s our back up shortstop now?

that would be Aaron Miles

Why Aaron Miles, of course.

Which is…of course…total BS.

Stands for Bad Shortstop

brilliant must +1

oakley that should be green

Jim Hendry proved to me today that he isn't committed to putting together the best 25 man roster he can

Its pathetic really, still backup infielder is a pretty meaningless position and hopefully we don’t have to see Miles more than three times before September callups.

That is what I just said in an email I sent out

Meaningless, probably so.....

So have a defensive standout for late innings instead of one who gives us nothing.

And, knowing Lou, Miles will be the first freaking guy in there to PH.

This really pisses me off.

Oh I'm pissed off too

its a crime that Blanco gets pushed out of the way because a lesser player can’t be stashed in the minors and Hendry isn’t man enough to admit his mistake.

I never root for injuries.

Except now. Please get hurt again, Aaron.

lol

sue369 - August 4, 2009 reply

I never thought I'd hear that from you Al

But then again I never thought BCB would be in total agreement on something either

"Miles to PH"...

Is an oxymoron.

Miles to pinch make an out is more accurate

Usually 1-3...

Zeke - August 4, 2009 reply

If anyone has Hendry's e-mail

Could he or she please send this link to him?

Cubs email addresses...

… generally have the form

firstinitallastname (at) cubs (dot) com

Just sayin’.

stupid question

if BLou is right, and we are all living in a fantasy world about the cubs making it to the playoffs…..

and no one cares about your fantasy baseball team,

do you care about the cubs?

tootle - August 4, 2009 reply

Huh?

Started a little early, huh?

Let's carry 25 pitchers!

/sarcasm

WanderingWanderer - August 4, 2009 reply

what exactly made you think management was putting together the right combination?

The team is playing well in spite of continued mismanagement by Lou and Jim. We are seeing Koyie Hill’s 25th consecutive start because of that continued mis management.

Jim and Lou need to be shown the door

Our record without Aaron Miles

is no fluke. I really, really wish the team would rethink this decision.

ambrosiadreams - August 4, 2009 reply

Miles must have inherited...

… the Complete Collection Of Compromising Photos of Jim Hendry And Lou Piniella.

You know, the one that used to belong to Lenny Harris, Jose Macias and Neifi Perez.

I thought

Corey Patterson and Jason Dubois held those as well.

Chad Fox?

he has them

on DVD and jump drives with a mass mailing ready at a moments notice

Bob Howry last year had them also

and Hellman

mrtobby - August 4, 2009 reply

so neal cotts for awhile

Every time he came in, I ponder outloud that I am left handed and would play for league minimum.

yep

but you don’t throw 92 with absolutely no command. You would have to be able to NOT throw strikes for that role.

I would walk a lot of batters

plus the whole being female thing would be a problem in this case

Ila Borders???

C’mon now.

That was the magic package that had Stevie Ire looking everywhere. I hear he

never found it.

but is damn happy he didn't

since he got the last laugh and a ws ring

Howry

Or...

He’s just signed to a ridiculous contract through next year. But there are probably some photos involved too.

A flash flood watch has been issue for the greater Cincinnati area...

…so I’m really doubting whether this game will get played at all.

LINKY

The two teams do have a mutual off day on Thursday.

The rain

is already south and east of Cincy. Game will be played after a short delay. Nothing is to the west moving that way either.

Ah, OK. Thanks.

That’s why my name isn’t Tom Skilling.

I haven't had

a thing to do today….work blows…probably going to be laid off soon. Needless to say, I’ve been checking the weather a lot…

Bummer - well, you've given many of us something to be happy about.

I'm real sorry to hear this

Maybe you can strive to look like the guy on your profile pic. That’ll be a fun time, like when Homer gains 63 lbs. to go on disability.

I tried adding

a pic of my wife and I at Wrigley, but it wouldn’t load up. Still searching for the “right one.” Maybe I’ll take a cute one of me with a Ryno Bobblehead next Tuesday!

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully it won't happen.

Fraggin Judge - August 4, 2009 reply

Maybe if the game gets rained out there should be a group showing of Bull Durham

we watched Bull Durham on Sunday and I have to admit that it really helped me feel better after a not so good weekend of baseball

My favorite baseball movie....hands down

Ever been

to Dyersville, IA and the farmhouse where “Field of Dreams” was filmed? Amazing!! You can play pick-up games there everyday!

Yep

I watched it w/ someone who never saw it…. so made it even more fun.

I use both the couldn’t hit water falling out of boat and million dollar arm and 5 cent head quite a bit.

Who did you refer to with the $1,000,000 arm

and $0.10 head?

Actually the line is $18 million arm and 5 cent head.

shame on you for baiting me hehehehe

Just wonderin' . . . .

people can draw their own conclusions now from that :)

Was that on purpose?

Nicely done!

Summer Catch?

Is anyone here willing to defend the decision to bring back Miles?

We might actually have something that all BCBers agree on, Al!

No

I want Aaron Miles over Blanco

I mean come on, the dude is like 5 feet tall (MASSIVE I KNOW!!!!). Think of the range he can provide for SS, absolutely amazing. And with that freaking arm? holy cow, how can he throw that hard??

Don’t even get me started about his hitting. Absolute beast at the plate…better than Pujols…nuff said.

ugh

dude!! you got the sarcasm all over my screen. Its going to take days to get that all out!

Is it possible that Todd Hundley is no longer the most hated Cubs player of this millennium?

Rec'd

no

LaTroy Hawkins would be my most hated

And I actually don’t think every Cubs fan hates Miles. He isn’t a jerk like Hawkins or Hundley. He’s just terrible.

Right.

I don’t hate Miles. I don’t think he’s not trying (a la Hundley) or has an attitude (a la Hawkins). He just isn’t very good.

I agree

I save my actual hatred for Braun. Slightly OT last night in the 1st or 2nd inning he made Sori look like a damn good left fielder.

Braun and Hart

are two guys that I just feel I would punch in the face if I had the chance. Thoughts?

I'd punch Miles in the face

Except I’d have to dig a hole in the ground first.

I'd put most of the Astros in that group

And TLR.

Corey Hart

yep and I’ll raise you a Jason Kendall too.

Hart I am rather indifferent about

But those Bug eyes just irrate me. Plus living in Madison there are girls who thinks he’s cute.

But those girls think their cousins are cute.

+1

I actually had a girl @ the gym saying him being cute is what got her into baseball this year

Otherwise she didn’t want to watch it w/ her boyfriend. I had to bite my tongue.

is it appropriate

to say “only in Wisconsin are mullets thought to be cute?”

Only way up north in the back woods

Believe it or not most of us are civilized. :)

just playin'

n/t

Braun certainly thinks a lot of himself, doesn't he?

I’d guess he’d be a real jerk to date. Arrogance is not the best trait in a significant other.

He's single

Surprise Face

:-|

There's a shock.

Braun surprise face

Braun happy face <00>

Braun mad face

Hunter. Pence.

I would agree that Hunter Pence

is the creepiest player in MLB.

those eyes man...

i think he is worse than braun

I agree.

Any way we can get him out of those socks he always wears way too high?

Really.

He might be the most awkward looking player I’ve ever seen. Nothing he does looks normal.

STLCubFan - August 4, 2009 reply

Braun and Hart are annoying

but Pence & Berkman remain the worst in my mind.

berkman would be #2

yep on Berkman

can he lay on the ground faking he got hit in the head again?

As long as there's no lightning in the area

You know today's the one year anniversary of the infamous

“grab my necklace and run to the dugout” act by Berkman.

The thing that gets me about Berkman

is the way he runs. I don’t why the way he runs bugs me but it just does.

He tore up his knee in the off-season

the winter before the Astro’s were in the World Series.

That may be why he runs differently now.

You know Braun would top my list...

But for some reason, Jayson Werth from the Phillies looks like he needs a good smack to me.

STLCubFan - August 4, 2009 reply

Fielder

used to be at the top of my list until this year. His tip of the hat to Johnson and the story about his uniform being a tribute to the old Negro League players raised my respect for him immeasurably.

Braun has now assumed the top spot for me too, followed closely by Berkman.

Fielders never really bothered me

Not sure why

me too

I actually like Prince a lot. He is on my keeper team. I started loving this guy when he was a 14 year-old launching them into the upper deck at Old Tigers Stadium. It just sucks he’s a Brewer.

I'm waiting................

Prince won me over

when he tipped his hat to Reed after he brought his grand slam back and made it an out.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/7/3/937257/walk-off-walk-jake-fox-one-of-many

Al's recollection of this story also helped me to stop disliking him

“True Prince Fielder story, relayed to me by a friend who often waits outside Wrigley for autographs while visiting players are arriving. Fielder came in a taxi, got out and signed and posed for photos for about 20 minutes, by all accounts being friendly to everyone. Then one of the people who sells candy for fundraising purposes came up to him with the usual sales pitch. Fielder gave him a $100 bill and took the entire box. True story.”

madcow256 - August 4, 2009 reply

Hahaha

Fielder gave him a $100 bill and took the entire box

No offense, but I doubt Fielder carries much less than C notes in his pocket, who cares what it costs Me wants some CANDY!

StevenABQ - August 5, 2009 reply

To be fair, I think Miles is a better player than he's shown this year.

I think the reason he’s been so bad is he has been hurt for the entire season. He hurt his should back in ST and I think he’s tried to play through the injury.

still doesn't mean he should replace Blanco

And I’m not sure you’re right.

Baseball is a business and Miles is signed for 2010.

It’s as simple as that.

The Cubs are without an owner who can make decisions for 2010 and I don’t think there is anyone who could authorize releasing Miles if they wanted to.

then DL him again

Send him and Chad Fox on a cross-country driving tour.

The collective bargaining agreement

doesn’t allow them to do this. If a player is physically able to play, he has to be activated or a team has to release him.

then what about Chad Fox?

Chad Fox is hurt,

he blew out his elbow, remember?

the point is that the Cubs play fast and loose with the DL ...

all the time. I don’t see why Aaron Miles should get special treatment.

Maybe Miles threatened a grievence?

That would be ironic.

Well, he's been on the DL,

likely for much longer than his injury required.

You can only keep a player on the DL for a minor injury for so long. If a player is good enough to play, a team is required to activate them.

He’s been on a rehab assignment for quite a while and I suspect he must have gotten to the limit or was getting close to the max number of days allowed for a rehab assignment.

There's the loophole we need...

If a player is good enough to play, a team is required to activate them.

Yep

He’s isn’t good enough to play healthy or otherwise :)

Maybe he could get hurt again tonight.

man, you are really hoping he goes down....too funny

not that i completely disagree, he sucks….but ouch

Zakh - August 4, 2009 reply

I just don't think he helps the team at all.

There doesn’t seem to be another way of getting him off of it.

true. but with all of our injuries,

i just hate to wish for someone to be hurt, it puts that bad karma out there…just don’t want to see anyone of our guys get hurt…if we are going to pay his salary one way or the other, release him, i don’t see the big deal. it isn’t like it will cost us anything in the long run (i am assuming someone would give him the min, so we can keep Blanco at the min.)

Zakh - August 4, 2009 reply

Is it possible for this team to have worse karma this season?

Do I even want the answer to that?

see Cubs 2004 for that answer

Zakh - August 4, 2009 reply

You've been a Cub fan for a while now

You should know that “yes, it can always be worse” unfortunately.

Yeah I should know better than

tempting the levels of Cubbie occurrences.

What's Milton's excuse?

can't catch up to a fastball on the left side

I think it’s as simple as that.

yep

he’s diving into the ball and locking himself up. Fastballs in are easy outs versus Miltie.

Yeah ...

I haven’t seen him pull a fastball from the left side in months.

I'd rather he turn

into a little leaguer and “step in the bucket” opening up and driving hte ball to RF making the pitcher adjust to him. Make a drastic change.

Maybe

but his career year, last year, still had him posting an OPS of .753

Isn’t the league average .749ish? Wow. He peaked at average!

Correction

His OPS+ last year was 99 – in his career year he was actually below average.

This year his OPS+ is 30 (Rich Harden’s is 33)

Wow

that’s just sad

so what you are saying is

he is less valuable than a former AL pitcher who is in his first full season hitting in the NL. Right?

That’s so awesome.

But on the plus side

Joey Gathright’s OPS+ with the Cubs was 27. So Miles has that going for him.

true

but Gathright could jump over a car

Miles can too

Don’t matchbox count?

got me there

are we sure he has the hops to get over one?

I don't know

lets have him try again… maybe he can go on the DL b/c of soreness after a tetnus shot?

you are always thinking

2 steps ahead

He could walk under a car

If Matchboxes don't count...

I’ve got a real car we can use.

STLCubFan - August 4, 2009 reply

Wow

even worse

agreed

Yes

I really don’t get all the Miles hate. It probably is a very bad contract like several others I can think of but he has hit very well the
last two seasons and is decent fielder. Blanco has a better glove but I think Miles has more potential as a hitter.

Doggie Stalker - August 4, 2009 reply

He has an OPS of .503.

You could hit better than that.

He's also 32 (almost 33)

Without the help of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez’s buddies, he’s only going to get worse.

He is about 70 points under his 7 year career BA

I am willing to assume that like a lot of Cub players who struggled badly he might be able to come back closer to his norms.

Doggie Stalker - August 4, 2009 reply

Blanco is a plus plus fielder at two postions......

….Miles is at best an average defensive player and is at best an equal to Blanco at the plate (this season)

JB 23 - August 4, 2009 reply

Please, I don't want Miles back.

Andres Blanco takes pitches, at least.

Anyone know what Miles’ pitches per plate appearance is this year?

3.61

Blanco… 3.38

Okay ... as usual, I don't know what I'm talking about.

But I’d still take Blanco over Miles.

For their careers:

3.82, the same…

*crickets**

…uh, apparently not…

Zeke - August 4, 2009 reply

I read Soto

did well in TN last night. Any word on if he’s been laying off the Krispy Kremes?

you wanna throw a weed joke in there as well?

it’s all the rage these days

I would guess while he was in AZ

They said he was conditioning, I won’t be surprised if they made him lay off the donuts :)

Actually, I think that's why they sent him to Arizona.

me too

You know whats sad?

When a major league organization thinks its okay to activate a player with a .566 OPS in AAA.

Very sad.

All we can do is hope he’s never needed to actually play.

Well, Blanco didn't play much

so I doubt this will matter much.

Poor Riot, somebody seems to always get hurt when Lou tries to give him a day off.

in this case, you mean "hurt"

Well, let's turn the page

C’mon Gorzelanny!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pay some early divdends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually think he was brought in next year for the 5 spot, but he could be huge for this year.

Back to roster back log

Blanco now to DL, and when Soto returns one of the pitchers that start with ‘S’ goes. Then when Lilly returns does the other go back to Iowa as well?

Ivy Walls - August 4, 2009 reply

wouldn't that leave us

with 11 pitchers?

drewishdrewid - August 4, 2009 reply

Gorz will probably go down when Lilly returns?

or if he plays well

could be slide into the bullpen and knock heilman out? Wishful thinking I know

I'm sure someone will be "injured" again at that point...

I'd assume he'd

stay just to keep another healthy lefty in the pen. Get Headache-Home Run- Hurling- Heilman outta there!

Seilman, Sarmol, Sregg? Which one?

Ron Trauma - August 4, 2009 reply

Good luck tonight Tom.

I hope he does well and the Cub bats are on fire.

sue369 - August 4, 2009 reply

Johnny Kuato is pitching for the Reds???

daeviant - August 4, 2009 reply

that's disturbing

oh come on

open your miiiiind!

daeviant - August 4, 2009 reply

not a fan of gore and horror...

I prefer that part of my mind to remain closed, thank you.

that is

just wrong. Aaron Miles wrong.

Get your ass to Mars

Aaron Miles

JFCubFan - August 4, 2009 reply

Aaron Miles getting to play baseball for the Cubs at the major league level again:

Hmm. thread is slowing, can't quite figure out why...

Hendry's fault

Marriotti

on ATH just said Randy Wells is the biggest suprise in MLB this year. Adande said Mark Reynolds was and that punk Reale gave the point to Adande. Damn!

Well actually I don’t mind that Jay got punked, but just wanted to love for Wells.

how can watch that show?

It makes my ears bleed

bored

waiting fo the Cub game

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=ind&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no

Radar looks good

not really, more storms are forming on the back end of that system, which is why the flash flood warning was issued.

Doesn’t look good for the game tonight.

Looks like the rain has cleared the Cincinnati area for now.

I see on the radar the other storms forming, but they appear to be all going south of Cincinnati.

I suspect they’ll play.

Alright, here we go!

Pulling big time for Gorzy tonight, I’m hoping he gives us a good performance.

Please tell me Aaron Miles isn’t coming back and I just had a very disturbing hallucination…

ZachenFoot - August 4, 2009 reply

Seriously, who is really the Reds' pitcher today?

You posted a picture of an 11-year-old.

As for Miles, didn’t we speculate at one point that he could be hurt? If so, he deserves a chance to show us he’s better.

Two at-bats ought to do it.

Worf - August 4, 2009 reply

Still no tweeted line up :(

Lineup

fuky, riot, lee, rami, fox, sori, font, hill, gorz

thanks.......

was wondering if maybe it wasn’t going to get tweeted (?)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=90332fb8-67ca-4cdf-884c-1c48841afc04&cat=d3f6f830-04b5-4416-9fc1-d59ac92b4b8a&src=front

On a side note

We have a lineup!

cst_cubs Bradley ’’rest’’ day against nasty-stuff RHP. Lineup: fuky, riot, lee, rami, fox, sori, font, hill, gorz.

I like it...

A little bit of Fox, not too much Bradley…

I like it too

Lets hope they get the game in tonight! and that Johan Santana throws a No-No!

pretty amazing ...

Lou is sitting two lefty bats (Bradley and Hoff) in favor of Fox.

fly balls

seem to go out in Cincy—maybe playing a hunch with Fox?

Oh, I like the decision

I’m tired of lefty-righty crap taking priority over the hot hand.

not surprising...

Hoff 156 AB = 8 HR
Milton 184 AB = 8 HR
Fox 80 AB = 7 HR

Forgot to add that those are their splits facing RHP

He hits righties...

Better than both of them.

why

jake fox is better suited for the middle of the order.

CTL is favoring sending Fuld down over

Hoffpauir, thoughts?

That would be stupid

so thats probably what’ll happen.

agreed

apparently tribune guy feels, “you can’t send him down at this point in the season, can you?”

Of course you can.

Ya, I'm not exactly sure what he was supposed to mean by that

cause it didn’t make much sense.

I'd prefer to

see Hoff get sent down. Unfortunately Hendry no longer take smy calls. ;-)

sue369 - August 4, 2009 reply

"He had a fine year in 2007, winning 14 games for the Pirates."

Really, Al? This is your proof of a fine year?

kanderber - August 4, 2009 reply

OK...

… he also had a decent 3.88 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, and threw one shutout. It wasn’t fabulous, but it was a solid first full season for a 24-year-old lefthander.