Bleed Cubbie Blue

Glad you said it

and you’ll bear the brunt of the flaming.

j/k

It’s pretty unreal how superstitious humankind is. I find it fascinating.

Chris Dobbertean - September 1, 2009 reply

Speaking of which...

I’m wearing the giveaway shirt from my birthday (Saturday). Cubs did a good job on that particular day. :-)

Superstition is a byproduct of our analytical minds

But then, so is the computer you’re typing on.

You take the good, you take the bad, you take ’em both and there you have…

dont they cancel each other out

Cubs win by 7.

cozmotaylor123 - September 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Let's just win.

mrcubsfan - September 1, 2009 reply

Wells

He has been one of the few pleasant surprises for the Cubs this season.

memphiscub - September 1, 2009 reply

Hopefully he gets his Internet back

I enjoy the job he does.

cubsluver22 - September 1, 2009 reply

+1

memphiscub - September 1, 2009 reply

August 7th the beginning of the downfall.

I think Lou changed the lineup was become he heard about the lack of RBIs from Bradley in the 5 spot and wanted to move himand his OBP in front of Lee and Aram. But then Lou had to have that lefty in the 5 spot and naturally he chose Dome to put there and that left Riot at leadoff.

It had reason, it wasn’t totally out of left field. But the big thing is that it hasn’t worked!

And whats worse is that when he moved Bradley, which many people were calling for, the team was scoring at a 5.03 clip/per game. Sometimes the fix is worse than the problem itself.

Jody Jody Davis - September 1, 2009 reply

Actually, the downfall began on Aug. 5

Going into that night’s game, the Cubs were 9 over .500 and 1/2 game ahead of St. Louis. The Cubs lost that night to Justin Lehr.

What else happened on Aug. 5 that could have started the downfall? Hmm, I wonder….

That c-s’er m-f’er… Of course it’s all Miles’ fault. Brought the entire team down singlehandedly. Everything he comes in contact with becomes rotten. May his name and legacy live in infamy.

Jody Jody Davis - September 1, 2009 reply

Notice how much better the Cardinals are this year?

Is that just a coincidence too?

Not at all, it's a superstition!

I cannot think of a ML team who’d take him next year—even if the Cubs eat the contract. I really can’t think of who’d be so blind. Thusly, the curse will continue next year.

Unless we just cut him

He gets a paid vacation, we get a roster spot – win-win!

Where would he go? He's not tall enough to ride the rides.

I have ideas

but I don’t want to be insensitive and un-PC.

Yeah, dwarf tossing should be outlawed!

Wat!

That's not up to your standards SWL.

I expect a photoshop version with Miles’ head on there.

That IS Miles head.

I didn't recognize him without his goatee, my bad.

Yeah, August 5th was the shutout that put Lou over the edge.

But Aug 7th was the date that the new lineup went into effect.

I’ll ignore the Miles thing like we all should ignore him.

Do so

At your peril

Jody Jody Davis - September 1, 2009 reply

There was a new lineup on the 5th

Not only was Miles reactivated, not only was he inserted into the lineup that night, but for some insane reason Lou batted the guy with the worst OBP on the team second.

Stupid Cubs named Aaron. :(

Lineup Game 2 vs Astros: Same as Monday:

riot, milt, lee, rami, fuky, fox, baker, hill, wells.

Via twitter.

AndrewJStone - September 1, 2009 reply

Also of note from Twittermyer:

One more day for Sori. To play Wednesday.

AndrewJStone - September 1, 2009 reply

Le sigh

We have all of these guys up from Iowa, who could give some starters (Riot) a chance to rest, and Lou just trots out the same group that couldn’t buy a hit yesterday.

Thanks, Lou!

Kali wrote this on the recap:

Lou+Dusty = Lousty

We get to see Lousty managing from here on out.

Please no.

Lou was pretty good the last two years, I don’t get this at all.

Yeah, I don't want it to be so either, but

Piniella has shown traits very familiar to us.

unfortunately

wtf

fukudome- .321 average lead off, theriot – .271

lexmarklover - September 1, 2009 reply

.291

lexmarklover - September 1, 2009 reply

sure, but irrellevent, the OBP there is damning. :(

And right on cue for the lineup

Inertia = means that an object will always continue moving at its current speed and in its current direction until some force causes its speed or direction to change.

Lou and his inertia lineup. Maybe we need to lose 10 in a row before he makes a change.

Time to start the 26 game hot streak....

Go Cubs!!!

+1

+1 to you both.

win

one day at a time.

I lke my dated sitcom reference more

Craig in South Bend - September 1, 2009 reply

Well, some of us never dated a sitcom.

N Oakley - September 1, 2009 reply

I have

It’s terrible. They’re always telling you when to laugh or be sad…They’re never really that funny either. It was good for a little bit though, but it soon just gets soooo tiring.

Its nice when you're finished with her to hear the crowd applaud. :)

come with me

if you want to win.

The playoffs… the final frontier

1969, a crack baseball team was sent to prison by a commissioner for an error they didn’t commit. This team promptly escaped from a contention to the Chicago underground. Today, still wanted by the fans, they survive as players of fortune. If you have bleacher seats, if no one else can bring beer, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The Cubs-Team.

Craig in South Bend - September 1, 2009 reply

1969, Star Trek, Dwight Schultz

1969 was the year Star Trek: TOS was cancelled. Dwight Schultz played Howling Mad Murdock on the A-Team and Reginald Barclay on a few episodes of Star Trek: TNG and Star Trek: Voyager.

memphiscub - September 1, 2009 reply

For the love of Pete

WIN THIS GAME!

As long as Pete is betting on us to win, I'll take it.

pete is not betting on us tonight

Is that a sign?

cozmotaylor123 - September 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Can you repete that?

I hope the Cub's five bar gate jumps and over stuff.

I don’t know what this mean, it just sounds distinguished.

Cubbiegoon - September 1, 2009 reply

Cubs'

Cubbiegoon - September 1, 2009 reply

How about a rousing game of Mornington Crescent?

Craig in South Bend - September 1, 2009 reply

Alright, back to work

Hope we win today. And, if any of you are there tomorrow, I hope we all get to take in a win tomorrow as well. Lets build one of those, what are they called? Streaks?

Gosh, I hope SWL is not around...(streaks)

I'll just get it out of the way

Down past the quad and the gymnasium

Ace Venom - September 1, 2009 reply

As in...

I forgot about you eths, you're making a name for yourself too.

I assume this is a compliment...

By the way, thanks for giving me the idea – there has been so much talk about the entire team going on a streak, that I should have thought about this sooner.

It was a comp

Although you do have a ways to go to get to SWLs level of ~~funniness~~ derangement though.

SWL is afaict The True Master

::blushes::

me too

this guy could use a mangroomer so he can maintain himself

katie casey - September 1, 2009 reply

He needs some "manscaping"

I warn yee, tis not pretty

People along the Isar river in Munich during the summer months.

These are the true needy, oh manscapers and groomers….

I can imagine doing many things in my life.

riding a bicycle naked is NOT one of them.

Imagine a wipeout, oh the humanity.

According to article:

The saddle does “rub” as much when naked. Nude bathing I understand, but buff bike riding is not my scene.

I'm not as worried about the rubbing

Yes

the “boys” and all that bouncing. Ouch.

BigJohnAZ - September 1, 2009 reply

Don't buy your Lineup-Follies theory

Regardless of who was batting first & second in the lineup, production went down from July to August for both Lee (9 HRs in July vs. 6 in Aug) & Ramirez (5 HRs in July vs 2 in Aug) with corresponding declines in BA/OBP/OPS. So even if Fukodome continued batting in that position with same BA/OBP, fewer runs still would have scored.

I think the real reason for the drastic July-August decline is a little more complex than Fukudome getting moved in the batting order.

JFCubFan - September 1, 2009 reply

how about the

5.00+ Team ERA over the same stretch and bullpen follies. I think that had more to do with the lousy stretch than who was batting leadoff. I agree with you.

socalbob - September 1, 2009 reply

They were some other issues

But Lou did take a lineup that appeared to be “clicking” so to speak (the record was good), and began tinkering with it. In doing so, things have gone south.

Obviously, Kevin Gregg’s meltdown, injuries and other matters didn’t help, as well.

Bill Potter - September 1, 2009 reply

In July we scored 141 and gave up 124

In August we scored 105 and gave up 140. I think the pitching and hitting were both to blame in August.

BigJohnAZ - September 1, 2009 reply

I liked the idea of getting Bradley in front of Lee and Rami

both to get his OBP there, but also to get him pitches to hit so he could start showing more power.

But I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, Ryan Theriot is not a top-of-the-order bat. He just doesn’t get it done there.

DGU - September 1, 2009 reply

"this is a game the Cubs should win easily"

the Karma Kops would like a word with you, Al. Aren’t the Cubs having enough problems?

It’s not like Aaron Miles was dropped from the roster today. The living voodoo doll will still be sitting in a Cub uniform tonight. Nothing comes easy as long as he keeps suiting up for the Cubs.

Maybe we just need...

an Aaron Miles ~~voodoo doll~~ bobblehead night. :)

Lou would start the doll

Taller, better range, better OBP.

Sadly, Lou would STILL start Miles over the doll...

no doubt they would have to make it larger than lifesize to make it a standard-size Miles' bobblehead

If the Cubs follow their monthly trend

they will play over .500 ball this month. Too bad they tanked in August and made the playoff chase pretty damn tough. If we go 23-10 the remainder of the season, all STL has to do is limp along at 8-22.

Even if we played .500 in August, we’re still 8½ out with 4 weeks to play. Making up 2 games + per week would still be difficult.

BigJohnAZ - September 1, 2009 reply

Chilly and clear wih a breeze blowing in from right

so says wunderground.com.

This is a good day to win!

blanco or miles

Who gets more at bats between now and end of season?

cozmotaylor123 - September 1, 2009 via mobile reply

fontenot

tootle - September 1, 2009 reply

via Len and Bob

Soriano must have talked his way into the lineup. He’s in for Fox.

Scrapptastic - September 1, 2009 reply

Now that is funny, just typical Lou.

Not Bruce Froemming - September 1, 2009 reply

yep.

higher salary = more playing time

Scrapptastic - September 1, 2009 reply

Yeah,

this is just a total disaster. (rolls eyes)

What the hell?

as was true with Soriano's last game in LF,

his defense, or lack thereof, will likely lead to at least 2 runs for the Ass-tros tonight. I hope the offense is ready to make up for the weak leak in LF.

Not Bruce Froemming - September 1, 2009 reply

And they were winning so much

the last two days with Fox out there. Oh, wait …

Some things in life are bad,

They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you’re chewing life’s gristle,
Don’t grumble,
Give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best.
And…

Always look on the bright side of life.

I don't even know what to say

I just hope Lousty knows something we don’t.

Of course he does

that would be…umm…well…
What do you want him to say?

He'd better hit, then.

Bill Potter - September 1, 2009 reply

does Lou not care about my fantasy team?

This makes me angry

cozmotaylor123 - September 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Paging carmen

Oh Lou.....

make your damn lineup and stick to it.

cmon.

There were something like 120+ line-ups last year.

It’s not like the lineup with Fox produced the last two games. If Soriano is ready to play, then let him play.

I don't have any

faith in Soriano being productive at all.

can't find out

without putting him out there.

We'll see.

150 hits in 125 innings...

…let’s hope the Cubs don’t make him look like Greg Maddux in his prime.

MPH73 - September 1, 2009 reply

I agree, in general, with Al's...

…analysis of Fukudome’s drop correlating with the slide. But, in the last month Aramis’ production has also dropped off. That has been mitigated, however, by Lee’s continued production.

It’s interesting that Al posted this because it was just over the weekend that I commented to my wife about how I couldn’t understand why Fukudome was dropped. There’s theory (l-r-l-r-l-r, etc.), and then there’s the reality of your team. If a few righties bat back-to-back and the team keeps winning, then you don’t change things until the team proves you wrong.

And I thought all Americans were a posteriori/inductive thinkers. Pragmatism clearly does not rule. – TL

timlacy - September 1, 2009 reply

Line Ups ala Yahoo

Houston
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
M. Bourn cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M. Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
L. Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C. Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
G. Blum 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
H. Pence rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
K. Matsui 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C. Coste c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
B. Moehler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .029

Chi Cubs
AB R H RBI HR BB K SB LOB Season Avg
R. Theriot ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M. Bradley rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
D. Lee 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
A. Ramirez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
K. Fukudome cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
J. Fox lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J. Baker 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
K. Hill c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
R. Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

so where is Fonzi?

did Lou come to his senses?

Y! is always a little slow

On the last-minute changes…

On WGN Lou just said the Fonz will play tomorrow.

Today he might pinch hit.

CSN just showed Fonzi playing instead of Fox...ugh.

let’s hope that shot did “magic”

cozmotaylor123 - September 1, 2009 reply

ESPN has fox out

Don't lineup orders not matter?

I GUESS I’ll watch this game tonight…at least until SHAQ VS. comes on.

Shaq’s playing Pujols tonight!!!

dtpollitt - September 1, 2009 reply

That should be fun

I saw Shaq on the Cardinals game a few weeks ago, wearing a Cardinals jersey. That alone was hilarious.

Not Bruce Froemming - September 1, 2009 reply

Hate linking to the Trib, but:

PWSullivan Should Cubs play young guys down the stretch? Lou says: “We don’t have any young guys coming up.” In Hardball. Link.

That's

umm…bad, right?

You can say that again, Mr. Garrison...

We all knew this, right?

The Cubs have had plenty of injuries this year, and we have seen everybody from AAA who might be ready to help in any capacity. It seems to me that is all Lou is saying here.

You should read the minor league reports that are periodically posted here, so you would know that our best apparent prospects are still a year or two away in A or AA.

vonde6 - September 1, 2009 reply

It's 1:49 AM here - I gotta turn of the light now - Guten Nacht.

Maybe someone can use this in about three hours from now.

night

Having a hard time understanding him, but Soriano says on WGN that

he’s feeling better and will play today and tomorrow.

Anybody else having issues with SBN sites?

This site and at least 1 other don’t seem to be loading properly on the main page, and when I reply to comments, the reply box is showing through the comments below, not just moving them down

no prob so far, but I am using Safari on a Mac

Same here. Everything A-OK.

Fine with Firefox on a Mac.

AndrewJStone - September 1, 2009 reply

and the common denominator is???????????

heine41 - September 1, 2009 reply

Nobody else is using my crappy work computer

which, in addition to being slow, is not just using IE, but is still using IE6.

Have I mentioned that I don’t much like our IT dept?

Need some help?

I could use the work…

same here, everything works as usual :)

heine41 - September 1, 2009 reply

I'm not having any issues.

Time for a

JUMP!