That is an excellent post Aaron.

For those who say -- well we won the last 2 divisions... that is the attitude that has kept the Cubs from winning a World Series in over a century....

division wins DO NOT COUNT. REPEAT: DO NOT COUNT. nobody cares for division wins...

I wish I would've stayed out drinking tonight, and doing more brewery tours...this sucks ass.

As I've said, Hendry deserves....AND needs to be fired for this mess. He created it.

Make no mistake, Piniella can only deal with the cards he's been given, and it looks like he got the short end of it all, and ultimately, it's the manager and coaches that get fired---not the GM for putting them in that position, and that's sad, because Hendry should NEVER have lasted 3 separate managerial regimes unscathed. Neither should Rothschild, but they're tied at the hip, just as Hendry was to Cliff Floyd, and Chad Fox, and whoever else he had as butt buddies. I'm so tired of Hendry it's driving me insane.

In order...here you go:

Add:

Gregg

Delete:

Ceda (top pitching prospect)

Add:

Miles, and 3 low level pitching prospects

Delete:

DeRosa...20+ hr, 80+ RBI

Add:

Gathright and $800k

Delete:

essentially Pie (though it was later) and his lesser salary

Add:

Bradley

Delete:

your brain. Why the hell would you sign an enigma that is always hurt, and has driven in a max of 77 RBI his entire career in a clear RBI/power position in RF?

Gregg, Miles, Gathright, and Bradley all took up valuable roster spots in place of serviceable guys we already had that performed better, and/or free agents that cost less or the same than those guys. Again, how is Hendry not fired for this?

If other GM's can't get away with crappy moves like that, then how does that idiot get away with even dumber moves?!?!

I told everybody on here that offense should be our main concern in the offseason, and we needed to take care of that. So Hendry trades away a guy that produced 20+ hr, and 80+ RBI, both more than Bradley ever produced in his career, then signed an expensive, lesser offense player (Gathright vs Pie), and had the opportunity to grab Hudson, Dunn/Abreu/Ibanez, and failed to do so, and could've had Beimel instead of Cotts in the pen.

The stupidity of Hendry killed this team. Has Hendry ever heard of quality over quantity. Him and Lou talked about being better balanced...well, I'm sorry, but you still have to get on base, and Miles can't do that very well, and never had really until last year....and you have to remain on the field to produce...Bradley hasn't EVER done that in his career. So how the hell did that make any sense whatsoever?

How did placing all your eggs in one basket work out for you too, Jim? We all know you worked overtime on the Peavy deal. One, Peavy wouldn't have even made sense given his regression, questionable injury history, and stats away from PetCo,and the fact we were fairly set in our rotation to begin with....but then you spend all those hours trying to make a splash, and couldn't seem to, so you tried making things happen...

you traded Ceda, one of the players the Padres originally wanted for a crappy reliever that blew nearly 10 saves last year.

then, you realized you had to get more talent to complete the deal, and the Pads needed pitching, so you sent your most versatile player to the Indians for 3 pitchers that weren't even in their top 30 prospects!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then, you realize you just screwed yourself, so you had to make due with Aaron Miles to cover for DeRosa's loss.

Then, you realize that free agency is starting to pick up, so because you spent so much time trying to go after Peavy, and getting what you knew you couldn't have....you accepted the easy route, and went after Bradley solely because he recruited you and had "potential" if healthy.

then, you realize you still don't have enough for Peavy, so you trade a very cheap and serviceable outfielder (Pie) for Olson, whom you know the Pads were hot after before.

But that still wasn't enough, so to cover that gaffe, you flip that same pitcher AND a serviceable young and fiery shortstop (Cedeno) for a guy that couldn't even handle the scrutiny of New York, and was practically booed out of there in Heilman.

Then, you realize that you still haven't solved your pitching situation, because you spent so much time trying to get Peavy, that you have to settle for what's left, and opt for a player that never pitched above A ball, a lefty who you know can't throw strikes, but hell, he's a lefty, so we better keep him.....and a player you didn't even want (Vizcaino), but had to take on his salary for another one of your mistakes (Marquis).....then you finally realize that your "versatility" spin with Miles isn't working because he can't handle 3B, so you sign a dude with concussion syndrome that's been out of the game for 2 years in hopes that he can take the last bench spot that should've gone to a deserving Micah Hoffpauir...you figured that since he had options, he'd be the odd man out. You were so enamoured with Gathright's leaping cars ability that you forgot he had no talent, and couldn't steal 1st base, but nevertheless, you were prepared to go without Hoffpauir because he had options.

But wait....Koskie makes your decision for you, and Hoffpauir lives to see another day.

See guys, the fact is, everything Hendry and the Cubs brass has been feeding us all is pure bullshit.

I've posted the math for you before, so I won't go down that path again, other than to say Gregg, Miles, Bradley, Gathright, Vizcaino, Gaudin, and Heilman make a combined $26 million. We don't even have 2 of those players (Gaudin and Vizcaino) and their $7.5 milllion (if you count the $1 million we sent with Marquis)....so the crap about him cutting expenses, and blah blah blah that you all seemed to buy into when he traded DeRosa is complete and utter bullshit.

If he was willing to swallow $7.5 million of salary from guys no longer with the team, then why couldn't he afford DeRosa's $5 million salary?!?!?

I'm sorry, but when you make the same mistakes over and over again, you need to be fired. Jacque Jones=Jason Marquis=Aaron Miles=Milton Bradley. They all have something in common....multi-year deals at contracts above what they should be paid, and deals that significantly hand-cuff the team for years to come.

Remember Jones....I had a legitimate argument that Hendry should've been fired the day he let Josh Hamilton pass him by in the Rule 5, if anything, because he and everyone else in the organization knew Jones sucked a big one, and they needed to fix their OF situation. So what does Hendry do? No, he doesn't trade Jones and get a young outfielder in there full of potential....he keeps Jones, and signs an aging and immobile Cliff Floyd (who reminds me a lot of Milton Bradley...and should remind you all of Bradley) Why? Because the PR machine spinned Floyd the same way. "he crushes the ball, and hits everything hard. Even his outs are 'loud outs'. The ball sounds different coming off his bat. When healthy, Floyd can put up big numbers"

Does any of this sound familiar? It's EXACTLY...almost verbatim what those jackasses said about Bradley's bat....and his health.

We need new leadership. Lou is too old to light a fire under his player's asses, and Hendry doesn't have a clue what he's doing. It looks like a tired organization with absolutely no direction or sense of identity.

Some may say it's still early, and we're "only 3.5 games back or whatever"...but it's not early when teams around you are killing you, and you can only seem to beat equally bad and down-trodden teams. Fact is, we're near the bottom of the league in every statistical category there is....from offense, to pitching, to defense.

We are soooooooooooooooooo lucky we're even that close to the top of the division. But stats will catch up to you. If it smells like shit...and looks like shit....then it must be shit....and that is exactly what this team is.

I keep telling everyone..."look at historical stats...look at historical stats", and most on here just think I'm being overly negative.

Tell me then....How many years do you have to go off of for Soto? What did his minor league stats tell you? He's average to slightly above average offensively at about a .265 avg, 5-10 hr, 40-50 RBI....and that's minor league ball, by the way...

What did Dempster's stats tell you? He'll get you anywhere between 5 and 14 wins and 3.66 ERA to 5.38 ERA (in statistics, if you have enough in your sample size, you throw out the high and low....otherwise it'd be between 1 wins and 17 wins as a starter and 2.96 ERA and 7.08 as a starter) Therefore, is it any surprise that his ERA is hovering around 5 right now?

With Fontenot, how many years did you have to go off of? Exactly...not even a full year, and yet most on here were saying he could equal DeRosa's production.

How about Gregg? I sense some on here are shocked by how awful he is. Why? He's always been average as a reliever...around 3.41 to 5.04 ERA. He walks a ton of batters, gives up a lot of hits, and doesn't strike out many. Are you shocked? You shouldn't be.

I could go on and on....it's why as a GM you try to minimize risk, signing veteran players to compliment youthful exuberance (ie.-Fontenot, Soto, Theriot, and Hoffpauir among others last year). You want solid veterans with a decent track record.

Dunn, Ibanez, and Abreu would've been excellent choices to give consistency on the field. Hudson over Miles would've added a track record of consistency vs a one year wonder with Miles. Joe Beimel has WAY more consistency than Cotts, and he would've been a better choice. Juan Cruz finally gained consistency once teams stopped jacking with him, moving from pen to rotation, and has finally come into his own.

Most on here were begging Hendry to sign Beimel and/or Cruz. How good would they have looked?

We are stuck with a tired, old-looking, injury-prone team now. Lee, Soto, ARAM, Soriano, Bradley, and Harden all have injury issues. Hendry knew this, and didn't plan accordingly, which should earn him a ticket out of town.

Fellow sufferers, please call the show on Monday night.

For all those fans that are not going to get too "invested" emotionally during the regular season and are going to wait for playoffs, I have a message for you:

Don't hold your breath.

I'd personally like to see Sandberg coach this team, with Brenly as the pitching coach, joined by Steve Stone as GM.

If this slide continues I predict that Lou will be gone over the next couple weeks. With the 3rd highest payroll our manager is just dumbfounded on how to manage this team. And as we can blame JH a-plenty, I'm personally tired of Lou's doghouse mentality. Watch for a Brenly or Sandberg move soon.

please dont mention Dave Duncan and Larry Rothschild in the same sentence... Dave Duncan can coach circles around Larry Rothschild with his eyes closed....

Thats my point. Duncan takes career relievers and turns them into capable startes. Todd Wellemyer, Braden Looper. Takes discarded starters and restarts there careers.Joel Pinerio, Kyle Loshe, and Jeff freakin Weaver. I have been screaming for Rothchild to be fired for years.

leftover crap goes to Dave Duncan and he turns them into 15 winners.

Remember, last year the Cubs were 3rd in the league in ERA, and nobody gave Rothschild credit. But now that the Cubs pitchers can't throw strikes, the blame goes on the pitching coach. Rothschild didn't forget how to coach, the pitchers forgot how to pitch.

Justin name me one pitcher that has gotton better under his coaching?

Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Marmol to name a few.

Ted Lilly can't agree with you on that one. Dempster was all himself not Rothchild. Marmol needs alot of work. He is just all raw talent.

Jim,

I have to side with you on that one...I've actually seen Rothschild at ST with these guys and he doesn't do much at all. Conversely, I've been to old Busch Stadium, and before games, I'd see Duncan constantly working with the guys to fine tune things.

Lilly came to the Cubs already well coached, and even though I criticized his signing at the time, he was always a fairly consistent pitcher, getting 10-15 wins and mid 4's ERA....please keep in mind that most pitchers, when they cross leagues into the NL, have a reduction in ERA, and better overall stats.

As for Dempster, it truly was ALL Dempster. He worked out hard by himself running up and down Camelback Mountain, getting into shape, and worked on his splitter more in the pen without Rothschild there. How do I know? Because I was there, watching him do so, and could hear him talking to the catcher, asking how it looked, etc. Rothschild was nowhere in sight...and sadly, at most games and ST games I've been to, he hasn't been around. He was around a lot though with Wood and Prior...It's just so bizarre...

I also have to agree with you on Marmol. I heard that it was a minor league coach that taught him the wicked slider....Was it that guy that Girardi pilfered from us when he was coaching the Marlins? Whoever it was, I remember it was the roving pitching instructor, and he also got tips from Zambrano.

Also, it should be of note that many pitchers sought advice NOT from Rothschild, but from Maddux when he was here. Both Rich Hill, Jason Marquis, and Sean Marshall were all known to have credited Maddux with their success.

There is simply not a single "go to" guy on this team that is healthy right now, Offensively or Defensively. This is very disheartening.

I can't remember the last time I saw an 0-2 count follwed by 4 straight balls. Is there a quicker way to demoralize a team than field a pen with an ERA over 6?

Hendry is responsible for putting this mess together.

So now that the MLB season has seen it's first manager firing I think it's time for the first GM firing and Hendry should be shown the door. Randy Bush can take over in the mean time until a search can be done for a replacement.

This really was just a poorly put together ballclub..and don't use the excuse he only had so much money to work with...why not?...look at the smaller market clubs that are outperforming the Cubs..the Royals and Marlins for examples.

Rhothschild needs to go too.

Lou is just sitting there on his fat ass doing NOTHING. Light a fire under the team or something.....would it be a problem if he showed some emotion once in a while?

I predict a walk.

The Brewers first six hitters have 8 hits and 8 walks. Cubs pitchers just can't get 'em out.

Somebody has to get fired tonight.

Can we have Ronny Cedeno back.

Neil, COMPLETELY agree.

If the D-backs fired Melvin this early, we should fire Rothschild tonight.

DFA this BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God damnit....our bullpen f%#king sucks!!

Heilman is such a a waste of a roster spot. I'd rather have Ascaino

I hope Lou goes completely ape-shit and knocks Heilman out. Just clocks him.

This year in AAA, Jeff Stevens stats: 13 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0.85 WHIP. Seems like he would be the likely call-up for Chad Fox.

Justin, you did not mention the 7 walks and a hit batsman.

Question, when does Larry Rothschild get on the hot seat?

He should have been canned 2 managers ago. Can anyone name one pitcher that has gotton better under him???? Dave Duncan takes leftover crap and turns then into 15 game winners.

Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk.

Lose. Lose. Lose. Lose. Lose. Lose.

Well, not alone with your feelings about JH. I don't think I'd say, "finally, it's about time". I know you didn't mean to wish ill on Fox, but it came across that way.

Looks like the Shark's on his way back.

The Shark started tonight for Iowa. Should be Stevens.

Now Fox throws his arm out. This team is destructing in front of our eyes. If this keeps up, .500 will seem like a good season.

It better be Jeff Stevens. He's been lights out lately.

finally, it's about time. I was wondering when Fox would get hurt again. What the hell was Hendry thinking? He's in love with the guy since he dominated us in the 2003 playoffs. I don't get it.

I feel bad for the guy, and I wish him the best, but he never should've been on the team. He's got more guts than a lot of guys do, pitching on his 2nd TJ surgery, and multiple other surgeries. He just looked like he was trying way too hard to keep playing. Am I alone in this?

Curse is alive and well fellas. Holy Cow, indeed.

So who gets the call-up for Fox?

Aaron any names?

Well, if Hendry's an idiot (well...that's a given), he'll bring up Jose Ascanio, just because he's done so well....in a starting role (which is where he should remain), but if he thought logically like most of us think on here, then he would bring up Jeff Stevens. You can't beat a 0.00 ERA in I believe 10 appearances.

But the real problem facing the Piniella and Hendry is what to do about Cotts and Patton. Essentially they're pretty damn useless. They always seem to have to burn another reliever because they can never get out of an inning unscathed. But who do you bring up for them? Reinhard maybe (.55 ERA)? Waddell (3.38 ERA)? JR Mathes (3.81 ERA)? I mean, I just don't know.

Heilman for sure landed in Lou's doghouse last night, and surely tonight. To think without Patton, Cotts, and Heilman we would've actually been in this game...it's just mind-blowing. This so reminds of 2006 with all the injuries, poor managing, and lack of leadership. The similarities are just so uncanny.

Lee goes out for a long time (back when he was good) 2006 vs ARAM going down for a long time 2009

Wood and Prior both missed time 2006 vs Zambrano and now maybe even Lilly (tight elbow last start)

It's like deja vu for us

Jim, I mentioned the other day that all indications were Jeff Stevens would be the next in line.

Stevens has pitched well, just a lot of walks.

Thanks Neil

Oh boy, what now!!??

Fox is hurt again.

That is it for him. I wish him the best. Seems like a great guy.

I really don't like Chad Fox....and I hate Ryan Braun even more. If he was gonna put him on, he should've hit him right in the wrist

Also, just wanted to say the following high level players are absolutely tearing it up:

Catcher: Chris Robinson (AAA).359 avg; Clevenger (also plays IF, AA).364 avg; Chirinos (high-A..also played IF before) .353 avg

IF: Tony Thomas (AA).351 avg; Blake Lalli (AA).362 avg.; Darwin Barney (AA).353 avg; Jake Fox (AAA..IF/OF) .389 avg....and though he's low-A, Josh Harrison at Peoria, is batting .380

OF: Brad Snyder (AAA).316 avg; Jason DuBois (AAA).362 avg

anyway, there's at least a few guys to maybe look forward to, who knows if they'll ever make it, but all the AA and AAA guys have a shot.

I bet Bernie Brewer has something to do with it. He's always trying to give his team an edge.

Bradley with a nice double

Is the light swith in the mensroom???

is the whole stadium completely dark?

No, dropped to about 25%. They are starting backup.

thanks Neil

Just got done talking with my brother at the game. He said that the security that was near his section got a call and apparently they're all looking for someone. So it sounds like "foul play" can be tagged onto this one. Sounds to me like a stupid Brewers fan figured that they could escape with a win if they shut the lights off, completely oblivious to the rules.

guys...thought I'd give you an update...now that the Cubs blow goats (no pun intended), I've been following the minors a lot lately.

Apparently Jake Fox isn't playing tonight. Could that mean trade? Could that mean Freel is going on the DL and Fox is up? hmmmmmmmmm

Yeah, don't read too much into that, it's most likely a day off.

Could it be just a day off?

Stupid question but...If these lights stay out for an extended period of time, does that mean the game get's postponed..?

Not sure I've ever seen anything like this. A power outage?

The Cubs seem to have had a power outage all season.

this just keeps getting better.

Here's in order the mistakes Hendry/Piniella made this year:

1)trading DeRosa, elminating depth that made us so good last year

*way more valuable than Miles, and could also sub for Lee, and more importantly, for ARAM

2)signing Bradley instead of any of the other 3 main OFers we could have gotten

*when your $10 million/yr player has 4 RBI on the season, and we're into the 2nd month, you know you're a HORRIBLE talent evaluator

3)not reprimanding Soto for showing up so fat and out of shape, and proving a point by benching him in favor of Hill to start the season

*when your back-up catcher has more RBI (6) than your starter (4), and more home runs (1) than your starter (0), and is hitting over 150 points higher, and 100 points better OBP, then you know you're a horrible manager, and play favorites instead of the best players

4)leaving camp without a clue what the pen would look like, and still a month into the season, not knowing what it should look like

*when you have the likes of Gregg, Marmol, and Heilman in your pen to start the year, that's not bad---all are proven, and decent relievers with ERA's under 4. But when you combine them with Patton (never pitched above A ball), Guzman (never healthy enough to pitch, and no real track record), Cotts (one good season with the White Sux, otherwise has sucked his entire career), and Vizcaino (who everyone knew sucked ass everywhere he went)...and now Fox (hasn't been healthy since what, 2003?) then you're doing your team and fanbase a disservice

5)signing Aaron Miles. Please tell me why. I will never understand this move, because he doesn't add versatility at all. Versatility is where you technically can step in at multiple positions without downgrading your offense significantly. In every position he can "back-up" (that's debatable, given 2B seems to be the only position he can back-up), he's a SIGNIFICANT downgrade offensively AND defensively because he's so short. Orlando Hudson was still available, and signed for close to what Miles is getting...and for one year, which is less than Miles. This move probably hurt us equally as much as the DeRosa trade, simply because Miles is nowhere near the player DeRosa was offensively, and can't play many other positions. Isn't funny though how Miles was touted as such?!?! LOL....ah, the Cubbie PR machine never ceases to amaze me.

Milwaukee is playing lights out tonight.

Hey fellas. It's so nice to be a part of a community that can share in my misery with this team. I just can't believe it...

This has been an epic, disastrous attempt by Jim Hendry to rebuild this bullpen

With the 3rd highest payroll in baseball, you would have thought we might have picked up someone reasonably capable...

Patton is not (yet!! ill give him time.) Heilman is a BUM with a capital B, Cotts is super erratic...

With the Bradley pickup -- this is not looking like a banner year in the career of Hendry.... His job should be very shaky at the end of the season....

first to go, should be Larry Rothschild.... He has rarely taken a pitcher and improved him. Everyone that fails with the Cubs and leaves, seems to improve some other place. He must be the worst pitching coach in baseball, and needs to be fired immediately.

right in the Ribs. That will hurt for about a week.

Wow. Wow.

I

CAN'T

BELIEVE

WHAT

I'M

SEEING.

I wonder if Braun will get one, due to leadoff the next inning.

Ron said Braun was really "hotdogging" it on that home run earlier. Surely the Cubs noticed that but it just shows how the Brewers (and others) just have no fear or even more embarrassing, real respect for this Cub team...poor performance and not surprising they get their butts kicked and handed to them. DISARRAY is the operative word. No way you can spin this to be just a bad stretch, in my view.

This is really hard to watch. That "swagger" from last year is gone.

Watching the 2009 Cubs season is like watching a car crash in slow motion. Absolutely brutal.

This is one of the worst innings in years. Unbelievable.

I used to be in Lou's corner, but he is doing all he can to show that he's a failed manager. He didn't prepare the team for the NLCS last year, and his roster picks (Pie over Hoffpauir!!), well, what more evidence do you need that baseball has indeed past him by? Tonight he is giving us much more evidence that 2009 is not going to be the year. Tony LaRussa would have this club winning.

Cotts is another example of the talent evaluating capabilities of JHendry. He is the residue of the LaTroy Hawkins trade. LaTroy is the current closer for the Astros; David Aardsma is the current closer for Seattle (2.19 ERA, 3 svs, 4 holds).

Different pressure when pitching in Houston and Seattle. Aardsma could not cut it with the Red Sox either.

Aardsma actually performed quite well for us. But yes, not so hot for Red Sox.

Thats because our pitching coach is horrible.

disgusted.....and actually amused at how bad we are....(maybe it's cynicism?...I don't know)

Geovany Soto does not belong on this team....nor any other MLB roster right now he's so bad.....HORRIBLE. In fact, he's the worst starting catcher in the league right now, and getting worse by the minute. And he's fat to boot....

Our season is over in 6 outs...this is the season boys. If we can't win this game, they're so mentally out of it right now, they've packed it in

Were 2.5 games out of first.

Lou leaving Dempster in the game with that pitch count is careless and stupid. He cost us the game. 120 something pitches and he goes out for another innning, pure stupidity.

Jim, the offense had a runner on third twice with only one out and did not plate any runs.

Neil I agree with you but you do not leave a pitcher in who had 100 pitches in the 5th inning.

Time to send down Soto!!!!!!!!!! How many times can we watch him hit grounders to third and short. Loose some weight there big guy.

Jim, to the best of my knowledge Soto is out of options. He cannot be sent down

Then put him on Jenny Craig.

Oh great!!! now we got Cotts. At lest they won't hit homeruns. They'll just walk.

Ryan Braun is classy!

Just proves - you can win without getting hits when men are in scoring position. Just hit homeruns.

Bastids....

Speechless...

Soto is hitting a buck, sixty-four and was no threat at all. AWFUL! Plenty of guys in scoring position but no clutch hits for Cubs so what happens, the Brewers take advantage....Counsell of all people...disgust all around, plenty for all of us.

that made SO much sense for soto to be batting instead of hill

I'm no longer cynicaal. I'm just plain disgusted.

A K on 3 pitches. OK I was wrong. But I am still cynical.

I have become extremely cynical. I see a DP coming up. I hope I'm wrong.

If big things don't happen here we should send everyone to Omaha... and they don't even live there.

Good throw by Soto.

The ball hit the bat, Braun is very upset

I'm watching gamecast... did soto catch it or did it hit the ground?

The ball was high and tight to Braun, he squared to bunt, pulled the bat back and started to bail. The ump thought the ball hit him on the bill of the helmet, but replays showed it did not.

Braun popped right up and appeared to be complaining at first base.

Oh thanks, I thought you were talking about when he got thrown out.

MICAH MONEY!!! 2-run shot after a 2-out single by Bradley

Derek who?

Someone signing in for the first time would surely notice we all seem a bit disgusted and negative, but Cub followers like us know "good" baseball and this ain't it (and not too much faith that it's going to turn around). For the life of me, I can't understand why Soriano can NOT lay off a curve in the dirt..does he just make up his mind to swing before the pitch regardless of where it is? Don't you just know the Brewers are gaining tremendous confidence they can take the Cubs any time, any place.

The story Bob just told about Ted Simmons I have heard before but it was Johnny Bench and not Simmons