Bryan & Shawn,

Nice work again on the podcast.... you two are awfully optimistic about "Jimmie Ballgame" there. You were talking about August in regards to him and a Sept call up for Felix. NO WAY! If Edmonds doesn't starting hitting by the 3rd week of June he's done. The Cubs had success w/ Pie/Johnson and Felix did have some clutch hits during his time up. I cannot see any way the Cubs hold onto Edmonds thru the end of June if he's still batting below .240. You can't even hide that crap in the 8 hole. Otherwise, you all didn't talk about the issues @ AAA where you've got Hart, Marshall, & Hill. Don't you guys think Lou wants another lefty in the rotation? I know Gallager looked decent, but Weds night in Houston he showed us he still has work to do re: perfecting his out pitch... way to many 2 strike hits, he needs a hammer. My hunch is Lou wants Marshall back to take his spot, any thoughts on when anyone thinks that might happen or if my idea is even right? Hill is clearly getting buried until September unless he's LIGHT'S OUT after returning in a few days, which is NOT out of the question. We all forget he did K like 187 guys @ the big league level last year. Anyone care to share their starting rotation in Mid August?
Z, Lilly, Dempster, Gallager, Hill is my best guess.
Later, & thanks again for the "riveting" 80's movie enuendo's....

I mentioned this in another post the other day and I bring it up again with it being noted above that the Pirates are throwing 3 straight lefty's this weekend.

Anybody else notice how the Pirates make an effort to throw lefty's against us and we (cubs) are a righty dominant team?

I was at the game Sunday when late in the game they brought in a lefty to face Houfpauir who pinch hit toward the top of the order. They kept the lefty in to face Lee and Aram in a 1 run game... I believe this was very well thought out and was not a coincidence or bad managing. They actually relieved the righty with a lefty to face Hoffpauir (1st major league AB) and KEPT HIM IN to face the heart of our order (1 run game late in the game). They didn't even have a righty warming up at the time.

I believe their advanced scouting has picked up on the obvious fact that the Cubs do far better versus Righty's. I hope this doesn't become a big trend because in my perspective they are spot on with this concept. The Cubs of the past 5 years (give or take) have built a team around players who hit hard throwing righty's and struggle against lefty's in my opinion.

Hopefully I am just over-analyzing and this is nothing.

Did a little research... it turns out that the Pirates starting rotation has 4 lefty's in it so my conspiracty theory loses a little weight.

OR...

Did they set up their rotation at the beginning of the year so that their 1 righty wouldn't face us?

Hmm...

Cliff, we are 10-5 against left handed starters this year.

Are we beating lefities, or is it because most of the lefties we've faced play for the Pirates???

I think Austin is correct. We are 10-5 vs. Lefties, because most of that is against the Pirates, whose starting rotation is probably their #1 weakness. It's not a master plan, because if it is, it sure hasn't worked so far, so why keep going?

Ask Tom Gorzellany if we struggle against Lefties. His ERA against the cubs is over 18, and under 3.00 against the rest of the league.

PS, I looked it up; EVERY Cub starter has a better split vs. LH than RH, with the exception of Fukudome, who has only a 20 pt. OPS difference.

We are better against LHP, it's in your head.

There are some thoughtful roster commentaries today and yesterday, and my attempts at thoughtful follow.

Aaron's seeming inclination to throw a third of the roster under the bus (I think) is excessive in these ways. You can't fix that many problems, and comments like Lee finding his stroke again while Aram goes clueless demonstrates only that exceptional players like Lee and Aram do something positive at the plate only about 4 times out of 10. That would be a big hit, advancing a runner, getting a walk, etc. Six times out of 10, the "stars" are not productive, and infrequently (we hope) they have a four or five game slump. Solid "average" players like DeRosa and Theriot should be productive 3 times out of 10 with a hit, a walk, advancing a runner, taking an extra base, etc. My take is that D and T are doing that; and, until they don't do that on a consistent basis, we shouldn't throw them under the bus.

Aaron's "Soriano effects" on team performance are interesting. I commented a while back that Alfonso's early difficulties probably let him, Lee, Aram and Dome know that Alfonso is at most only one of the "Alhpa Dogs" or pack leaders on our team. But it's not out of the question that one player's actions or lack thereof can detract from other players' performances. Soriano seems to be liked on the team which counters the distraction case, and we all know that we need his good weeks to win. All of this doesn't mean that anyone shouldn't note or fault poor play or failures to do something good on a timely basis.

Dave in STL asks for thoughts on our rotation later in the year and notes (correctly I think) that Edmonds may not be the answer in CF. He has to hit and do so in his next 10 games. I am not confident that two candidates from Gallagher, Hill, Marshall, Marquis and Hart can be good enough for us in the 4 and 5 slots. And I don't think that Eyre is more than a one lefty hitter type guy any more. So I would trade for a couple of pitchers--and a couple of our "candidates" would likely leave in the trades.

I think the young and generally impressive lefty, Jon Sanchez, can be obtained in a fair deal with the Giants. I would slot him 4th behind Z, Ted, and Demp. He's probably a 2-3 sooner rather than later. I think a lefty reliever like Marte (Pirates) is a necessary addition too. The Padre's Young, broken nose and all, would work as an alternative to Sanchez. One of our remaining candidates would fill our 5 slot and another would fill in where needed. There may be a trade deadline opportunity to help our pitching too--but I'd rather get something done in June.

Cliff, you are right that in past years we stuggled against lefties but not this year, so far.

So your not totally crazy

I typically would give Edmonds a few more games, but watching him against the Astros this past series, he was basically the same Jim Edmonds as always: hits when he's by himself but poison to the team when there's anyone on base. Unless they plan on putting him at leadoff, he is probably worthless to us. But then again, maybe Kosuke and Ryuji will beat the patience into him like they did everyone else (yeah, his translator: there's more than likely a reason no one talks to him and its probably because he's Kosuke's personal bodyguard/discipline giver/ninja...yeah, a ninja would be cool). I say give him another series next week and see if he shapes up, and if he doesn't, he's finished.

Edmonds will get till the end of June before thye give up on him.

Which its fair.

I know he was a ex-card but dang guys. He really has only played 4 games. played 1 game then took 3 off then played another 3. If it was Pie everybody would be saying that he ain't playing enough and should replace Fukodome or something.

Where not losing anything defensively(ex. the catch he made in the first Astros game, Pie wouldn't of caught that). He not hitting any worse the Pie was doing.

You guys are just to quick to judge.

I didn't like the guy either. But I'm going to give him a month, at least, Before I make a decision. He's not hurting us and thats the key.

jerljr...I like Edmonds, since he is on our team and he would be huge for us if he's capable of something like .275, 15 home runs and 50 + RBI's the rest of the way. When you are not hitting, you are hurting the team--whether you are Pie, Edmonds or someone else.

Maybe 50 or 60 AB's is not fair--but all of the games count now, as you know. Veterans shouldn't take long to show what they can do, and he did have 80 or 90 AB's in San Diego too.

Since Lou wants to win, his comment that the Cubs signed Dome to play right field may not be binding. But then again, he said the same thing about Alfonso being signed (maybe that means promised) to lead off. And Soriano is leading off. So CF could remain a challenge for a while.

jerljr: I don't mean to take anything away from the Edmonds catch, but to say Pie wouldn't have caught it isn't right. We simply don't know. We do, however, know that Edmonds traditionally plays a shallow centerfield. I think Pie makes that play in a more routine fashion, and the same goes for Johnson based on the virtue of Pie's speed and either of the two playing a few steps deeper.

Now if your argument is that Pie doesn't catch a ball that sends him sprinting straight back to the extent of his range while still adjusting to the wind.... I have a harder time defending that. Great catch by a great veteran defender. Let's hope his bat heats up some.

I don't care what people say...I'm Excited, I'm Excited and I'm Excited! Believe me guys I am a lot happier this year at this point than last year at this same time. The Excitment does drop a little when you lose a big series to a division rival that you should have beaten. Our team looks good but so does the division so far. Does not feel that week to me anymore.
We have to keep the Fukuway going and we need that #2 Pitcher some time down the road without a doubt.

I like Sanchez from the Giants JimK.
Young...I'm not so sure I mean...first Edmonds to Big Z then Young to DLee? Lol! Whats next ablack cat for Santo?!

Lets not let the Pirates taste revenge...go Cubbies!

Agustin I am completely with you, I am still very excited for this team. There is just somethin' about this team that I haven't felt in a long time, I can't really put a finger on it, maybe it is the Cubbie Swagger Lou has been talking about. Whatever it is, I think this is going to be a very fun season.

I agree this team just seems different than in the past. I just wish we wouldn't have the let downs against below average pitchers like Estes, Sampson, Chacon, etc...heck two of those dudes got their 1st and I believe only win against us. The other troubling thing is that we havn't won a road series since way back in Pittsburgh. Whats frustrating about that is I don't blame the pitching, it's been our bats on the road that have more times than not been the culprit.

Eventually we will need another starter but not till the trade deadline. As far as "Edmond's catch" Pie for sure would've caught it....as he would've thrown out Tejada at 3rd the other night. I've seen him in person ALOT down here and say what you will about his hitting in the "Bigs" but don't down play his defense. He's more like Bourne, the way he made that catch to rob ARam Wednesday night, it looks easy to guys like that where Edmonds has a flair for the dramatics. Actually Bourne is a good example of why we should just let Pie play. Bourne is hitting what .200? They don't care they just run him out every day and he makes great defensive plays,(that save runs), and hope that his offense picks up. It can't be that bad...they're only 2 games behind us.