Well..there's a prime example that guts and hustle aren't everything. Theriot could use some baseball IQ to go with those other characteristics.

I have to agree that he has made some bone-headed moves.

Hes playing like the anti-Ryan. Hes hitting out of his mind and making mental gaffs. I think Agustin hit it on the head when he said Ryan was trying to hard and outsmarting himself.

Hes sees RC Cola knockin on oppurtunitys door and hes makin the mistakes.

Ryan just needs to clear his head.

Just got home from work and man that one hurt! Howry is getting paid WAY too much to be giving up first time homers to 4th string jerk-off catchers! I'm sorry but that really pissed me off!

Johnson's catch....probably best i've seen! & I remember that a-hole in the Met's organization that went through the wall!

Dempster was solid though and I think we're gonna be alright. I'm sure most of you went to bed but Milwaukee lost and the Cards were up 2-0 in the 9th and Izzy blew that bad boy!

let's get these nats mananana!

Agustin, You will be 2 up, 1 down the rest of the weekend. I've spoken to the Commisioner. Aram's hustle play and another really great one by R.J. are omens of more great things to come from them. Has anyone heard anything about Aram's weight and/or fitness programs? He looks 15 lbs. lighter or in much better condition.

I suppose it's baseball to have only 6 or 7 pitchers doing well and the rest being iffy or worse. But I'm a little anxious about Lilly and Wuertz and a lot anxious about Howry and Eyre.

Here's hoping that our next "jump start" from a player comes from Soriano. In my good dream world, his legs hold up, he hits a home run every 4th game, and he tells Lou he would like to bat 6th behind Dome for the good of the team.

Hubert,

You can put a reign on Theriot's baserunning, but you can't teach guts and hustle. The kid busts his ass FOR THE TEAM and yes, sometimes he may make a mistake, but if Lou said it was a good gamble, I have no problem with it. GO CUBS!

I believe that Theriot realizes that in terms of PT he is the most controversial player on this Cubs roster. That said... I believe that he is pressing because he knows that after Soriano returns many critics are going to be asking for Cedeno to get more PT (at SS) because of his recent production.

Some posters on here confuse me... I have a theory though and I am probably going to get ridiculed for this but I don't care. I assume many of us played this game at one point in our lives. I bet most of us no longer play this game with the exception of some softball leagues, etc. I would bet many of us had this game taken away from us by players with more talent (and probably more flamboyant) but less hustle/heart so we are automatically inclined to root for the Theriots/Murtons because they remind us of ourselves... SERIOUSLY, it's time to start hating the more talented player(s). It's time to come to grips with this, our opportunity has passed. This is the HIGHEST level of baseball there is people. Don't get so sentimental when someone makes a negative comment on your favorite "all-heart" player that reminds you of yourself. Of course Louie P is going to back these "minor league" mistakes by Theriot BECAUSE he doesn't have another choice UNTIL Cedeno turns the corner and takes the job away. I'm sorry but I call it like I see it... a spade is a spade and Theriot is overmatched at this level MOST of the time. I forget which poster always says that Theriot would not be starting on another team in MLB but it is true… period.

Cliff, I don't have time to research this for comprehensive evidence, but I'm suggesting that you are wrong on why most of us no longer play the game, why thinking some of us "hate" talent or prefer hustle over talent. Some evidence and reason does come to mind, and here it is.

I think all of us, including those you are criticising, prefer talent AND hustle. All of us who see "flamboyance" or as I like to say "Stylin" get in the way of best possible performance ought to criticise flamboyance. All of us who see lack of hustle and focus by professionals cost the team in material ways ought to be critical. Errors of commission/hustle (kept to a few) are O.K.

Albert Bell comes to mind as a super talented slugger who decided to loaf half the time and blew his opportunity for greatness. Ron Santo had a much better career with less pure talent--because he played the game the way it's supposed to be played, and he hustled every day. Bell contributed far less to his teams than guys like Jim Edmonds too and many more who had less talent and more hustle and focus.

Think about the Cardinal and now Toronto S.S. Eckstein, who lacked talent with arm, speed and power, but who got timely hits, made plays and hustled his way to the MVP award in the 2006 World Series. Theriot may not be Eckstein, but he is a lot like him in many regards and could (I said could) turn out to be as good a player.

I think Theriot and Cedeno have a place in the bigs--if they continue producing either by means of their talent or hustle. In their cases, both will be required for success. If the Jays had had Theriot, they likely wouldn't have signed Eckstein, and R.T. would be starting for the Blue Jays. He likely would be starting for the O's and the Giants--where Vizquel finds age taking its toll.

On the Cubs, I want both T and R.C. to do well--and I want the best consistent performer to play more often. They are both getting their chance. (That isn't saying that I would not prefer Derek Jeter over both of them.) Also on the Cubs, I want Soriano to do well with his superior gifts and to hustle too. Like defense, hustle can show up every day and doesn't go into a slump. Lack of hustle and focus on a team is a cancer that shrinks a team's competitiveness.

Most of us amateurs who no longer play either lost our eligibility via graduation, found other interests or responsibilities that were more compelling or may have been beaten out by a competitor(s) with more talent who also gave his/their all on the field. We walked away with heads held high (at least eventually)knowing that we had done our best. We still know how winning baseball is played. We are all about winning and not much for "stylin".

“Albert Belle comes to mind as a super talented slugger who decided to loaf half the time and blew his opportunity for greatness.”

Hmm… Interesting.

• Albert Belle was 1 of 5 players to have led the AL in HR’s, Runs, and Slugging % (Other 4 are Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski, Ken Griffey Jr., & Alex Rodriguez)
• First player to ever hit 50 HR’s and 50 doubles in a season
• Led MLB in RBI’s in the 90’s
• Led MLB in Extra Base Hits in 90’s
• Became the 4th player ever to have 8 straight seasons with 30 HR’s and 100 RBI’s (Foxx, Gehrig, Ruth)
• One of 6 players to have 9 consecutive 100 RBI seasons.

True, Belle did not have a great personality but it would be hard to argue about his heart if you watched this guy produce in the 90’s.

Did you know that many people thought Willie Mays was “styling” or “flamboyant” with his basket style catches? Willie later explained that it helped him keep his eyes on the ball and position his feet for the throw.

NOW… I agree with you that I would prefer a team full of Jeter’s, Lee’s, and Fukudome’s but I think we can both agree that can’t happen in today’s game because of a lack of players with BOTH talent AND heart.

I don’t “hate” Theriot… In fact I do respect him. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the liberty to have off days or worse cold streaks because when it is all said and done his numbers are replaceable. Soriano on the other hand will carry an entire team on his back when he is playing well and at the end of the season it is hard to argue with his numbers.

I don’t want to argue with you and I am not trying to be rude… I respect your opinion. At least we can agree that this team looks great (most of the time).

Thoughts and prayers are with Kerwin Danley (umpire who took Brad Penny fastball square in the face-mask tonight).

I wish more people were just as respectful in their arguments. Well said Cliff. Valid stuff.