Zonk, never once did I claim to be an expert, I was just simply trying to find a small glimmer of light, in what turned out to be a long ugly game, but thanks for the smart ass comment.

Looooooong walks with the dogs guys and lets get ready for friday. [It can't be worse than today so chill!]

Lieber is a good backup plan. By "backup" I mean someone gets injured, and we need another guy starting for a few games in the injured pitchers place.

What shouldn't happen is that Lieber is pitching because a supposed phenom, Rich Hill, is sent down.

It took me a while, but I am back to ragging on Larry "By God, Throw A Towel!" Rothschild.

Who has Rothschild ever helped as a pitcher?

What young talent has he ever nurtured?

Wood and Prior couldn't stay healthy under his watch. Wuertz is still inconsistent...not to mention the lack of consistency/development of: Wellmeyer, Farnsworth, Ohman, Guzman, Rich Hill, Jerome Williams...the list goes on.

The only two pitchers doing well, that Rothschild could even try to take credit for, would be Marmol and Zambrano. But they are both freaks, and it is debatable that Rothschild is the reason for their success.

Yet the Braves always had good pitching under Mazzone...and the Cardinals take retreads and make them pitch well enough to currently lead the division thanks to Duncan.

Why are we still saddled with the clown/albatross that is Larry "By God, Throw a Towel!" Rothschild?

By the way, zero runs scored today, and no Soriano in the lineup. Soriano was never the problem. Having too many weak links, such as DeRosa, Theriot, Fontenot, Pie, and Johnson in the lineup is what hurts.

When you build an offense, you want Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, and Soto. They are the reason the Cubs will win the division.

However, no division title is guaranteed if you have a rotation comprised of one Ace (Z), and four guys that are pitching like #4-5 starters.

I know Dempster is off to a hot start, but history is not on his side. Hendry needs to look to fleece a couple of teams that are out of the race earlier, and that either can't resign their talent, or just want to rebuild. We need to get a starter, or two, from teams like that.

The DBacks were smart enough to get Haren for a bunch of unproven farm talent. Back in November, if anyone suggested giving the A's Rich Hill, Felix Pie, Matt Murton, and Ronny Cedeno to the A's for Harden, Cubs fans would have been in an uproar.

But I would rather have taken the proven star 26 yr old starting pitcher for a guy demoted to AAA (Murton) a pitcher demoted to AAA (Hill) a CF that should be demoted (Pie) and a SS that isn't being given a chance to start over a less-talented player (Cedeno).

But that is Hendry for you...

Luckily, he has/had Tribune money to play with...that is the only thing masking his ineptness at drafting/grooming farm talent and maximizing the ROI on his assets.

"Voquez is not his sharpest today, if we can get to him, and get to the bullpen, we can get right back in this one."

THIS IS GREAT!!! BWAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

What an EXPERT!

We are going through a bad funk right now, every team, let me repeat, every team goes through this at some point in time in the year, hopefully we are just getting it out of our way now. One good way to get things turned around is to take 2 of 3 from the D-Backs this weekend.

when it rains, it pours...

9 - 0 you gotta be kidding me!!! Versus the Reds, the last place Reds?

We've lost 2 of 3 to Washington (last place) lost 2 of 3 to Milwaukee, lost 2 of 3 to St. Louis now loose 2 of 3 to the Reds? Notice how we always lose the 1st game of the series? And since that Wood let down blown save, we've gone through hell. It's not looking good.

I see alot of characteristics of our previous years, where we can't put it together. Lou has to start playing tough, you don't hit...you sit and watch on the bench. You don't feild...you sit and watch on the bench. You don't pitch (walking and making mistakes leaving the ball over the plate) you sit and watch someone who won't make the mistake. This is very frustrating wioth a team like this. I though we were done with frustrating years...hell it's been 100.

I am glad that one is over. Now hopefully they take that off day tomorrow and get there crap together before the weekend.

It looks like we should have started Wuertz. What were we and Lou thinking?

Isnt David Wells a free-agent.... ??

Go get Boomer.

j/k!

Oops...insert "Lou" before "finds the right spot in the lineup for him." All things considered (team morale, productivity, table setters at the top, etc.), I think that spot is 6th.

Speaking for Neil too, I think Gallagher will do better if he starts in normal conditions. To those who think we can change 3 or 4 position players and 3 or 4 pitchers, it isn't going to happen--and it doesn't need to. A solid starter and a lefty reliever via a trade would likely give us the edge we need. Look for Pie in Iowa soon and Johnson in center. Soriano is looking better, is ours for the duration, will play unless injured--and hopefully finds the right spot in the lineup for him.

Neil I am with you, Volquez has a 9 run lead and thrown 120 pitches and Baker leaves him in, man.

I hope we go with a rotation of

Z

Lilly

Dempster

Gallagher

Marshall/Hill

From here on out, put Lieber back in the bullpen.

The Reds simply put a beating on Cubs pitching today. Lou should empty the rest of his bench. It is very interesting to me that Volquez is still in the ballgame with a 9-0 lead.

Hopefully this will wake them up

This Cubs team's current build is simply not capable of winning. I mean, take a look at that awesome April we had: no Soriano, very little Pie, and a bullpen and offense that could save Lilly, Hill, and Marquis. Rebuilding is no longer an option for us, we have to win now out of necessity, because otherwise, we're going in a downward spiral for the next few years. If they want to win, they need to have an outfield of Fukudome, Reed, and DeRosa, and an infield of Lee, Cedeno, Theriot, and Ramirez, with Fontenot and Ward on the bench, and a pitching rotation that does NOT have Jason Marquis (face facts: the only reason he has a job is because of that game in St. Louis where he was OK with staying in despite giving up a lot of runs because of the bullpen issues St. Louis had and managers love that selflessness) in it. They need to go out and get a good fifth stater (I'll give Lieber the benefit of the doubt today...look at everyone's numbers against Lieber listed in the article and tell me you didn't see this coming; but if he doesn't get back on track I'll say trade him too but don't bother grabbing another "Veteran" arm...we don't need it), and as of April, Pie is showing that he is becoming a trade chip with degrading value, but one that, with Murton packaged in, we could at least get a decent 5th starter...and yes, we will have to spend players to get a player, but now we know everyone's worth and, quite honestly, not very many of the expendable ones have much.

And finally, Soriano is going to have to be an overpaid bench player. Who cares if it hurts his morale? He's killing ours.

I have a question, hopefully someone can answer this for me.

Theriot goes 1-1, and in the 3rd inning, Lou double switches with Theriot, now the pitchers spot will always be in front on Lee, to me that doesn't quite make sense, especially that early in the game when there was plenty of time to come back.

I think this game has turned into a tryout for the last rotation spot. First Lieber, then Marshall, now Gallagher. Hopefully Gally can pitch well and force Lou's hand. I think it's obvious he's got the most potential out of all of them. We really need someone to step up besides Z and Demp.

Since when did Paul freakin Bako, become a hitter?

I am glad Gallagher is in

nick, I'm with you. It's time for Gallagher to get a couple of starts. And Cory, our lefty alternatives at Iowa don't remind anyone of Kenny Holtzman.

We are OK from the right side with Z, and D and Lilly will win a dozen or more. Carlos and K Wood are solid in the pen. But we badly need a 2-3 starter (preferably a lefty) and a good lefty reliever. As posted several times, we could solve both problems in a deal with the Giants--if they want needed middle infielders.

As I write this, the Reds just hit two more home runs off Marshall. I'm guessing we see more bench players very soon. Or maybe the rain ends this one before anybody gets hurt.

hey Bo,

That's 6 homeruns given up today. Game over yet?

please you people cry more than sox fans. i amashamed. if you have not noticed the best team does not always win. in this case they do not even play well all the time. everyone goes through bad stretches and i hope this i ours. this game is not over but you act as if it is. it is prob best that you do turn the game off and grab your sox hat, pull it over your eyes and walk off a bridge because of course this season is over. we will never play better than this, and we will probably loose every game. have some confidence in people. we are still in this game we just have to get that first run......

Voquez is not his sharpest today, if we can get to him, and get to the bullpen, we can get right back in this one.

I should be concentrating more on the work here in my office, but as I watch the game on MLB tv, the camera shots each time of Lieber today had him looking like he was over heated, exhausted, and ready to roll over. Is he even in shape and good condition to last the entire year?

I forgot to ask, I take it the wind is blowing out there?

This is what Hendry has given the team....

His great pitcher signings were Marquis and Lilly

and his farm studs -- Marshall and Hill

The guy is a complete doofus.

I'd rather see Gallagher get whacked around a bit if necessary... at least he has upside... Lieber is not going to show much more than he has right now -- which is serviceable sometimes, but hardly dominant.

There are not even words that describe how ugly this is going. Judas Priest.

"Hello Lou, my name is Shawn Gallagher, I am better than Leiber or Marquis, can I please have a chance?"

I don't understand this team!...Frankly I have better things to do today than watch this ridiculas excuse for baseball! If they don't care then neither do I. See you guys friday.

nothing like a 4 homer inning to get the game kicked off right! I seriously think it is time to do something about or lack of quality starting pitching. 3 out of the 5 guys we have do not even give us a chance to win the games they start. I would rather see the young guys like gallagher get a chance instead of these retreads like lieber.

chris

christ....when did bako ever do anything for us...and hairston...unbelieveable.....4 jacks in one inning...and its still not over

Lieber as starter experiment is over. And this game is now over. Embarassing.

Wow!!!!!

IP H R BB K HR

Hill 5 7 2 1 5 1

Eyre 1 2 1 0 2 1

Cotts 1.1 3 1 0 2 0

That's the lines from a few of our lefty's at last night's Iowa Cub's game. Hill's 1st start since being demoted.

All three were less than impressive and Tacoma won 5-2.

Oh and in case you were wondering about Sam Fuld... he's batting .200.

Looks like Lieber is throwing batting practice out there. New starter please.

Lee needs the day off tomorrow. Just 2 walks first 2 innings

But with everyone getting a day off tomorrow, I do wonder if this is related to Sori's quad, and Lou wanting to maximize the rest he gets. But who knows?

Joe, it looks like a normal day off...seems weird, as I agree with Drew, Fuk and Lee definitely need one badly

Soriano just getting rested today or is there another reason, anyone know?

Interesting strategy by Lou today. I think there's a general consensus here that maybe Lee and Fuku need a day off, yet he gives Sori one. I think Sori is starting to come around so I'm not sure I would've sat him but I see his point in trying to give his leg 2 days off in a row. I know it would've depleted our lineup significantly but I wouldn't have been opposed to inserting Ward and DeRo into the lineup and giving all 3 a day off.

Today's lineup:

Johnson - LF

Theriot - SS

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Fukudome - RF

Soto - C

Cedeno - 2B

Pie - CF

Lieber - P

This is not a game that we should win in the mode of sweeping out the trash. Lieber hits a lot of bats; Volquez does not. Pitching edge to the Reds. I'm elated that we have Lieber, but he may be best suited for long relief--one time through the order. Lee and Dome show some signs of fatigue, and you wonder if Lou will give either the day off.

In short, we likely have to score 5 to win today--which will take patience, execution and some luck against Volquez. I'm hoping that he has a "rookie bad day", and that we play very well. If either happens, we can win.

And lets not forget about the Astro's.

Pound-For-Pound, The Tejada-Berkman-Carlos Lee trio packs as much offensive punch as anyone in the division and the Astros are notoriously streaky...

This is pretty much a must-win game with the Dbacks Series next.

Mark, I love the passion! I completely agree. This is a game we should win. Hopefully we can get some runs early against this guy. We need the momentum for the weekend!!

We have to stop pussy-footin around and destroy team like the Reds, Nationals. If we want win the division we have to execute and sweep out the trash. We had to sweep the Nationals and even the Reds. No excuses! We gave Milwaukee and even St.Louis 2 games each. The Cards are winning this year with a mediocre team, and Milwuakee seems shakey. If we are the team everyone says we are, then we have to play like one and stop loosing to bad teams. Possitive point is that we've been in every game, but, we have to stay dominant, execute, finish at the end and WIN.

Let's GO DAMN IT!