Game Fifty: Cubs (25-24) vs. Braves (25-25)
Game Time - 6:00pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Turner Field, Atlanta
Randy Wells (0-2, 1.80/1.16) vs. Kenshin Kawakami (3-6, 4.73/1.50)
The Cubs open an important nine-game road trip tonight with the first of three against the Braves. The Cubs have struggled mightily on the road this season and will spend a majority of June away from Wrigley Field. The Cubs have lost nine of their last 10 road games, including seven straight...for the season, 9-14 in 23 road games compared to a 16-10 record at Wrigley.
One of the many reasons is the fact the Cubs' big bats are not hitting away from Wrigley. If the Cubs are going to have a successful third month of the season Derrek Lee (.196/.258/.286 with a home run and two doubles), Milton Bradley (.188/.325/.313 with two home runs and two doubles) and Alfonso Soriano (.221/.265/.547 with nine home runs and four doubles) must start producing.
Will Bobby Cox go head hunting over the next three games with Alfonso Soriano? The Cubs left fielder loves playing against the Braves (.353/.410/.747 with a 1.156 OPS with 15 home runs and 10 doubles in 36 games). The past two seasons Cox has had his pitchers throw up and in on Soriano. In 2007, Tim Hudson tagged Soriano on Saturday after he hit three homers the night before...then last season Cox had Jeff Bennett go up and in and the inexperienced pitcher broke Soriano's hand.
Alfonso Soriano is supposed to be out of today's lineup...but it will be interesting to see if he talks his way onto the field.
It is very important to start the trip on a positive note, especially with Derek Lowe and Jair Jurrjens going for the Braves on Wednesday and Thursday.
Randy Wells will make his fifth start of the season tonight, his third away from Wrigley Field. Wells has been very good over his first four big league starts and has shown the ability to clean up his own messes. Lou Piniella apparently will leave Wells in the rotation when Rich Harden returns from the DL and tonight is a big start for the young right-hander.
Wells is 0-1 in two road starts this season with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. While he has given up more runs away from the Friendly Confines (two runs in 13 innings at Wrigley, three runs in 12 innings on the road) he has been pretty consistent in a small sample of Major League innings.
The Cubs need a good start from Randy Wells tonight and for him to help start the long road trip on a positive, winning note.
Tonight will be Randy Wells' first career start against the Braves...and no one on the Braves' active roster has faced him.
The Cubs offense will get their first look at Kenshin Kawakami tonight...with the exception of Kosuke Fukudome who was a teammate of Kawakami with the Dragons. The soon to be 34-year old rookie signed with the Braves in the off-season for three years and $23 million after spending his career in Japan.
Kawakami has been very good at Turner Field this season. Despite a 2-3 record in five starts he has held opponents to a .227 average (3.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP). Like many rookie pitchers, he has struggled on the road and the splits are pretty severe (1-3 in four starts with a 6.33 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP with a .333 batting average).
Lefties and righties hit the same against Kawakami (.271 with three home runs and nine walks from the left side and .277 with two home runs and 14 walks from the right side). The Cubs must be patient early on and see what he has...a good sinker. If the Cubs' offense swings early and often they could end up making Kenshin Kawakami look like Derek Lowe.
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Tonight's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Fukudome - CF
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Fontenot - 3B
Soto - C
Blanco - 2B
Wells - P
Lou should have given Soriano the night off with his knee injury and started the red hot Reed Johnson in LF.
I guess Soriano is on the lineup. It might be because he is so good against the Braves.
Is Fox ever going to play. I think he should play second, it is eaiser than third.
Actually we could also play Fox at catcher and lose nothing since Soto hasn't been hitting or throwing runners out.
The pitches could easily be called from the dugout.
alot more to catching than throwing runners out and calling a game.
not to mention turning the double play...nobody wants to see Fox do that from 2nd
Does anyone watch Chicago Tribune Live?
I think they have no clue what they are talking about.
If you do watch it, what do you think?
I have once. Those guys are bafoons.
especilly when it comes to Hockey. They have no idea what they are talking about.
Yah when you listen to them, they are clueless.
Remember when the Braves were on TBS all those years?
I have here a sign.
T he
B raves
S uck
So clever..
If no one else will, make yourself laugh.
All jokes aside though, I hate the Braves. The folk here in Mobile are Braves fans. Some it's a pretty personal week in my neck of the woods.
Not to mention that fossil Bobby Cox turns every one of these games into a beanball war. Robert Fick in 03...
I hate that club.
Soriano eats Braves pitching. I don't mind him starting here.
Let's do this.
Be lucky that you don't live near Wisconsin. Ever since 07, Brewers fans have started crawling out of their caves and trailers trying to keep Miller Park from turning into Wrigley North officially. And they're not just ignorant hicks: they're ignorant, VIOLENT hicks. I actually saw a group of them circle a Cubs fan at Miller during the first Cubs/Brewers series, spit on his shirt, and call him a "disgrace to America" (I don't think they liked it when they found that this particular Cubs fan was a marine on medical leave from Iraq after taking a mortar shell in his shoulder, nor the fact that the Cubs fans in the concession area, most of whom never met this man in their lives were all quick to surround the trailer park trash).
So yeah, go to Miller Park for a Cubs/Brewers match and see how long you hate the Braves for. I know the White Sox (and their fans) certainly look a lot better once you meet the Brewers fans.
Ryno will be in here in town next weekend with Tennessee.
Dudes...I love this Site! Lets rock theese Braves.
Well, same old line-up...after all our talk. Let's get Wells a win tonight.
Just because they are playing the Braves doesn't heal Soriano's knee.
Soriano's injuries seem to magically heal when facing a team/pitcher that isn't so good.
I agree with an earlier comment.
My boy Reed should be playing.
Sit Soriano down.
And to say a guy traditionally does well against a particular team's pitching is totally meaningless in this day and age when the players change teams each year faster than you can blink your eye.
I agree with an earlier comment.
My boy Reed should be playing.
Sit Soriano down.
And to say a guy traditionally does well against a particular team's pitching is totally meaningless in this day and age when the players change teams each year faster than you can blink your eye.
So.... how mad will everyone be if DeRosa gets traded to the Cardinals? I have been reading alot of rumors about DeRosa to the Cards. Hope they don't have the pitching to get the deal done.
Jim, it would be the perfect move to stick in our craw...I'm sure JH misses him as much as we do...
Problem is...DeRo by himself couldn't
do it all for us...we need Sori/Lee/Bradley/and Soto to all do what they are supposed to do.
What type of package are they saying Cleveland wants for him?
The Indians want Starting Pitchers. Ones on the verge of making it in the Bigs. So top pitching prospects. I read 3 names trying to find them.
Mitchell Boggs, P.J. Walters, and Chris Perez
Thanks for the info...wherever he goes...it will be painful for us.
But especially so if it's the Cards or Brewers.
Does anyone have a minor league depth chart. Want to know who is a starter and who is a releiver. Just says P on the Roster.
yes, both cubs.scout.com, and thecubreporter.com websites should have something. I don't have time right now to investigate, but I know I came across it the other day. It has a complete listing of the ENTIRE minor league system...I think even including Extended Spring Training...just search there, and you should find it somewhere...I'll look more later for you if you can't find it
http://thecubreporter.com/cubsdepthchart
There you go...don't ever say I didn't do anything for you....LOL
Thank you Sir.
Obviously we would not be too pleased if that rumor were true, or Milwaukee to replace weeks. I live in Wisconsin and yes there are alot of ridiculous Boower fans out there. They also think their team is flawless. And their best argument is 1908. Folks if that is your only argument, you have none! As for tonight, go wellsey, and if Soriano suddenly "shows" up like y'all are saying it will seal his fate in this fans mind. (IE: whiffing like a little leaguer at every pitch batting 3rd)
Guess we will see if Soriano continues to give Braves' pitching a hard time, OR, as I unfortunately predict, he is in such a funk now that his average will continue to fall which might even convince the stubborn Piniella that he needs to rest (knee injury or not)!
SO-RI-ANO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!
It's been a while...
Maybe I can't predict...wouldn't it be nice if that Soriano homer would be the start of a VERY hot June for him. We can hope.
That is good Pinella never bench Soriano.
Man I hope I don't jinx him, but I friggin' love Wells!
Way to go Wells!!!
Nice to see Soriano tattoo a pitch. That's good to see him do that. Hopefully he'll build off this.
Also, regarding Wells...I'm not trying to be a downer, but we need controlled optimism with this guy. He throws strikes, and works quickly, which is what I love about him, but those 3 balls in the first inning were smoked...they were just under or a little behind them. I tend to reserve judgement on pitchers until the second year. It's kind of like position players such as Cedeno, Soto, etc. in their brief call-ups, or Hart in 2007.
But he's a stud as far as I'm concerned right now, just don't be surprised if the league catches up to him later.
Did Soriano have a leadoff HR?
Yes, Jim, he did.
I also completely agree with Aaron on the guarded optimism comment about Wells.
-Frank Castillo
-Jeff Pico
-Mike Harkey
I could go on for a long time. Aaron is dead on about the league catching up to Wells. Many times rookie pitchers can smoke teams for awhile with limited scouting reports. Once they have more tape on him, things could change. I am not saying things will change. I am saying that it happens quite often.
Yes
Francouer(sp) looks smaller to me.
This is the real reason I didn't want to sign Bradley. He is made of glass.
Bradley may be the piece of straw that breaks the camels back. The new ownership must look long and hard at Jim Hendry. His infatuation with certain players such as bradley cost us a lot in talent and I couldn't help but get upset after reading the "Rosenblog" yesterday, Ibanez and Dunn's numbers are phenomenal compared to Bradleys. And he is the clubhouse cancer we all feared he would be.
I never want to celebrate injuries of any type....and I am not right now...but at the same time, I'm thinking positively about this. This is our chance to finally get that dud out of our lineup, and someone more deserving in his place.
He has been absolutely HORRIBLE at the plate, and it's a good thing that this happened. I'm sad for him, because I do know that the guy does try very hard, and works in the cage a lot (Lou had to get Perry to physically remove him from the cage to get him some mental time off earlier this year), so I know he cares...but dude is a DUD of a signing, and now we have a chance to get on a roll without him in the lineup (if he's truly injured).
(sigh...thinking what might've been with Dunn, Abreu, or Ibanez instead)
I like Hoffpauir in the everyday lineup, or Fox...This is exactly our opportunity to get them in. You think Lou will do it? Absolutely not! He'll insert Johnson, who has been hot...(but has no real power like Fox and Hoffpauir)
Why did Lou not start Hoff tonight? He usually loves playing the law of averages, but I guess his Man-love for Lee outshines this.
As for Bradley.....he is a worthless POS!
Bradley out. Johnson to center and Kosuke move to right.
Did Bradley get hurt? I can't watch the game right now.
What happens if at the All-Star break Bradley is still batting around .225ish and has only 8 HRs and maybe 25 RBIs?
(yes I know he could so drastically turn it on and hit 20 HRs the 2nd half)
but realistically, say he doesn't. then what?
He came up limping running down to first. He was hustling.
That hit the bat. What an actor.
Like my oldman would always say "cheaters justice". Double play.
Anybody have any news as to what leg injury Bradley sustained? Was it just a strained hammy again?
Escobar=public enemy #1 for selling that horsesh$t
wow...holy crap...I literally had one small glitch in my system, and it knocked out the mlb.tv for exactly 1 minute...I come back, and the Cubs are already done batting...WOW!!!!!!!!! Our offense blows like none other
Right calf strain I hear...day to day.
Milton Bradley is Day-to-Day with a right calf strain.
Official word on Bradley is a right calf strain...he is listed as day to day
i'm thinking 'no hitter'
never say that....what were you thinking?!?
so what are the rules here? no mentioning the word 'no hitter' until he records the 27th out?
i'm feelin it though
and pat just mentioned him not allowing a hit.. so if it's broken up.. not my fault
Brenly made a great point...since he was hit by the pitch he could not reach it.
Neil, what is that in reference to? Escobar? If it is...I don't get it
Yes it was, sarcasam by Mr. Brenly. I did a horrible job passing on his statement...
Great slide by Fukudome!
Excellent job by Fontenot!!!!!
I love fundamental baseball....
There is the offense we all know and love!
great job by Fukudome, Lee, and Johnson as well, getting on base
I know it probably wont happen, but say the cubs put bradley on the dl, who would they call up? Fox is here, so maybe Taguchi or Sam Fuld?
Maybe, Taguchi would have to be added to the 40-man roster, Fuld would not.
Neil I didnt really pay attention to the I-Cubs last year. What happened to Fuld, he wasnt called up last September. Did he struggle last year or whats the deal?
Fuld battled with injuries all last year..started poorly in the spring and had a bad year
DERREK LEE!!!!!!!!!
Fuld is hitting .249 with a .314 OBP this season, but playing much better of late.
Another option may be Jason Dubois...but I would imagine they would want to add defense...will have to wait and see.
nice to see Andres Blanco get a base knock
Damnit!! Great job tonight Wells!
Damn..I can post now...
So much for the no-no, clean hit. Excellent outing...and its not over.
Dammit Chipper.
Question: not saying it wouldn't have been a hit anyhow....but for argument's sake...is there a chance a taller 3B (say ARAM or Scales) would've gotten that liner by Jones? I didn't see a side view of that, so I don't know if it would've been possible
GRRRRR!!!!!
Another magnificent outing from Wells.
Okay, now that we can talk about it. Here's the deal. The words 'no-hitter' cannot be used after six innings. Pat Hughes uses phrases like "he has not allowed a hit" or "(insert team) does not have a hit yet" or reading the box score.
damn. The Dude can pitch.
D. Lee!!!!!
Tremendous ballgame pitched by Wells tonight. He deserved better (and what I mean by that, is had Lee caught that ball, he might've finished the game, not chancing another one of his sure wins by handing it over to the pen)
Thank you Fukudome!!!
Excellent catch by Kosuke!!!
WOW...I don't know if I can be a fan anymore if Wells doesn't get this win.....it's an absolute disgrace if he doesn't get it
I'm inclined to agree fully.
Yeah, he gives this one up, I'm done. There'd just be way too many things that you could say are wrong with this team by that point. I mean, right now Marmol's starting to get outs, but he's giving up a run per out. Kinda past pathetic there.
And here we go again
What the hell is wrong with Marmol...damn it!
yup....and it looks now like we might even lose
Hi guys....just started watching in the bottom of the 6th.
Did you guys see Lou's expression right before Marmol walked that guy? HILARIOUS.
This shit is beyond not funny, if wells does not get this win I want heads to roll, Rothschild first!!!!!
that was horrifically wild stuff from marmol
Offense needs to tack on here...
One thing is for certain: the Cubs offense needs to make up all those runs they just gave up. There's no way Gregg hangs onto this if Marmol can't.
Thank God.I'm already strating to pray for the some help in the bottom of the 9th.
I feel just awful for Wells. Did you see face in the dugout? Poor guy looked like he wanted to cry.
Additionally, I think there definitely needs to be changes in scoring things. That run should NOT have been charged to Wells...well, because it was an error, it won't...but even so...Marmol walks the bases loaded, then a run in himself. There should be circumstancial scoring. Team errors, walking runs in, etc. All those contribute to pitchers' ERA's going up, yet they shouldn't, because of idiot relievers that can't throw strikes. (which is why many on here...myself included have advocated for getting rid of Gregg, and moving Guzman to closer, because he actually throws strikes)
Man, have you ever had a "tivo moment"?
I'm watching this game and seeing all the comments about Fuko's catch and then Aaron saying we might lose.....
....and then I realize that I got up to tuck my son into bed and paused it.....
Wow do I feel dumb.
Neil,
Wasn't it in 2006 when you were writing a lot about in your recaps how "Cubs find another way to lose".....that's exactly how I feel every single time Wells pitches---we just find a way to lose the game for him. It's ridiculous. I mean, it's not just Wells though....in general we've found odd ways to lose games----losing 8 in a row, scoring about 5 combined runs or whatever it was.
It's turning into another bizarre season.
Needless to say, I'm back "live" now.....
when a pitcher pitches 2 times in 2 weeks, he going to be wild especially Marmol. Marmol is a pitcher who likes to pitch every day, or every other day and his stuff will be good.
Don't expect Soto to help adding on anything. He's worse than bad right now!
Soto....are you kidding me?
Seriously, he just LOOKS like he doesn't want to bat anymore.
Our bullpen comes to the rescue again. Jesus, we better get Wells the win. The kid deserves it.
Oh boy, here comes Gregg
classic quote from one of the Braves announcers, "that's the key to moylan's success, getting that slider to dive away...not that he's going to get actual major leaguers swinging and missing like that--2 feet from it" (Re: Soto swingning, and missing by 2 freaking feet)
We're just an awful team. I don't even care if we win. I'll still say it. 5-0 in the top of the 8th with the braves having just one hit...
words cannot express my disappointment in these clowns...they're a joke of a team. Everyone should apologize to Wells and should be fined if he doesn't win this game...every last one of the guys that played
Oh for the love of Christ.....
No blame on Soto on that...I applaud him for going full speed after that pitch...but if they lose this, I'm still done.
Thank God we did not see Jake Fox tonight. About 1 more week of inactivity, should be the perfect tonic for what was the #1 hitter in AAA.
Oh my God!!! We SUCK. Gregg needs to be demoted immediately!!
So i left when it was 4-0. What happened.
I have 0 confidence in Gregg.
I think I'm pulling for Guzman to get a shot at closer.
I'm done.
Man we need a DP
here we go... I salute Gregg and Marmol for an outstanding job... NOTTT!!!!
I'm morbidly disgusted..
God..damn..it...
You know what..this is bullshit. Wells pitches his heart out..Gregg and the bullpen serve up the game to the Braves.
Sheesh, just get it done already.
Belt high fastball with no movement...speechless!
Right down the frikkin heart of the GODDAMN PLATE. I HATE GREGG!
The weird thing is I'm not mad, because I'm not surprised.
Leave it up to Gregg...if Lou sticks with that clown for a closer he needs to be fired right now!
I can't be a fan of this bullsh$t...sorry...I know that makes me sound fairweather, but sorry....this is disgraceful.
no words. Piniella should fine his players for losing the game for Wells, specifically Lee, Marmol, and Gregg
Gregg reminds me of Borowski
Borowski could actually close a game from time to time. Gregg cant't, period. What a turd.
You know what would be great right now..? If Zambrano popped out of the dugout and uppercutted Gregg right in the chin for blowing the save and the win for Wells.
Randy Wells has seen two gems blown by this bullpen.
So can anyone on this board still defend Hendry's offseason for the argument that he made us a better or more athletic team?
From a potential no-no to a potential (likely?) loss.
Oh, but we're okay. Really, we're fine, it's only June 2nd.
If it's not the offense, it's the pen. If it's not the pen, it's the offense.
I'm thinking if I was Ricketts, I CLEAN HOUSE. The three stooges, Jim/Lou/Larry, and their supporting band of idiots.
GONE.
Well Gents... do you believe it? I am speechless.
I said in a post the other day that Gregg would have to fail in several important save situations for Piniella to FINALLY make a move and get him out of there. Well, as predicted, step 1 is now in the books....three or four more to go. Unbelievable..NOT!
Guys...I was at the game tonite (left in the 8th after Chippers hit). Wells is the real deal, and was lights out tonite. Unbelievable efficiency.
This one goes on Lou. Why pull the kid after 70 some pitches. Idiot!
especially with the Cubs bullpen. I feel bad for Wells. Has he gotton a win yet? Has the bullpen blown every outing fro him?
Nope...bullpen has blown two in the ninth
Gregg should be demoted to AA. Thats were I put him in my MLB The Show league lol.
What a pathetic closer. Words cannot describe what happened. Jeff Francour(sp) has been so bad that the Braves are trying to get rid of him and Gregg gives up a 2run shot that was riht down the middle of the plate. Guzman and Marmol should be the 8th, 9th inning guys.
DFA GREGG
What the hell kinda motion does this dude have..
Pinch hit Jake Fox PLEASE!!!!! BRAINSSS
I feel that if the Cubs don't score here, they will lose.
I love that they walked Lee to get to REED! GO REED!
game over....this team can't come back from this. ARe you kidding me?!?
As I said before, I hoped Lou would've learned with Gregg....but he didn't. I never thought after last season we'd see Gregg on this team in the first place after the 9 blown saves with the Marlins. But, hey, I guess Hendry was trying to catch lightning in a bottle again...WOW
This team has no heart, and Wells deserves better.
If Hendry were smart, he'd force Bradley on the DL, regardless, force Soto to DL to get himself right, and DFA Gregg and Miles...his 2 of his 4 biggest mistakes this offseason
When Len said after the 9th ended: "And Fracouer tied it."
No!
Gregg freaking tied this freaking game!
We have one of the best pitching rotations in baseball, but where we ended with?
Games of error plus error and then Blown Save-s (!
What is Hendry doing? Call more "internal options" up? We have options!
When your bullpen sucks, do it the other way. Hit some long balls!
!Good job Kohsuke to the opposite side! (But I really hope you find your power sometime after the All-Star, better later in the season and keep up with it than too early...)
I know Fox will lose runs defensively. Maybe Hoffpauir would.
But we are already losing runs with a mediocre 3B out of Fontenot. There's no loss to try something different. Fielding is something players can develop with experience. But the longball, it's not. It's talent. And Hoffpauir and Fox need more playtime...
Lou & Hendry's company, learn from mistakes! Learn from success stories (Phils, Cards, longballs win)!
>Lou & Hendry's company,
>learn from mistakes! Learn
>from success stories
>(Phils, Cards, longballs
>win)!
Well, I need to add that both these teams have excellent infielders. J-Ro and Utley is arguably the best mid-line combo in the Major League. While the Cards, they did great converting a good athlete of Schumaker into second base, in addition to Pujols and Duncan...
... I meant to say Thurston, but Duncan is a good leftfielder. He can catch deep flyballs and turn difficult outs. Quite a long way to get here, dffensivley, but he made it well... or should i say the Cards coaches turned him around?
*sigh*
We need better coaches.
If Marquis becomes stellar late in the season, I would jump into the fire-Roschild boat...
Lou is a bad manager. If he can't figure out by now that KEVIN GREGG STINKS UP THE JOINT, he can't figure at all.
I don't know who plays worse, the Cubs or me internet poker.
Gregg is a Joke and Soto better get on a Jenny Craig diet.
I think Soto ate her.
internet poker.
Scott...I have to agree. How can Lou say we're OK. We are far from OK...we are terrible. When one thing finally goes right, another part of the team falls apart. There HAS to be some changes now...if they keep waiting, the season is gone.
Jim's comment about Franceour wasabsolutely correct. This kid has been skewered in the local Atlanta press, and the Braves are looking to peddle him. But Gregg throws a batting practice ball right down the middle to him.
What a joke of a night this has been. You just wonder what Lou was thinking.
No question. You walk Chipper.
The only runner than matters is at third..
What were the Cubs thinking when you bring up Fox who's batting over .400, and then sit him on the bench to now get 2-3 at bats a week. This is ridiculous roster management. The kid's was on a roll, and he collects pine. More Lou brilliance.
I have a horrible feeling....
All closers have that one bad game when a save is blown BUT this team really, really needed to start this roadtrip on a positive note and needed this save from Gregg very badly (particularly so after Wells' sterling performance). But did they get it? Of course not because Gregg is not a closer for a winning team. Does Hendry and Piniella need any more evidence?
The Cubs really want to lose this game don't they.
Walk McCann too now. No sense in giving him something to hit...
The walk usually haunts back at ya, so ... well, Wells, bad sad mad...
WOW.
Oh man.... pass the Dewars
Guzman stunk and is yet so much better than Gregg. Lets go Cubs, we need this one.
tonite's game, it was Lee who saved Guzman's ass with the bases loaded and this pitcher gave away a strong liner to the first baseman. Any other league-average fielder would have lost the game, thanks, Guzman, you made my heart weak.
Cubs management is really FUC#$# with Fox..... he is now a MLB bench warmer....
why not send him back to AAA if this is how it's going to be --- because Jim Hendry has the brains of a Rhinoceros
At times I really hate this team.
Hahahahaha....do they really think HEILMAN is the answer to this?? Really?? And they've gotten to face Soriano in this game, why are they not swinging for the fences? Christ this team is awful.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Heilmans warming up....
My thoughts exactly Baron.
Koyie Hill? Are you sure Lou? I don't think he's spent the appropriate amount of time on the bench.
I don't know who is more useless... Gregg or Heilman?
This game will be remembered as representative of how the wheels have come off the Cubs' season. It's so disappointing for us but the handwriting has been on the wall, so to speak, for the month of May and now into June. This Cubs team, as now constituted, is not a contending ballclub and time is short.
Heilman? Good night folks.
Brenly's commentary on Cox v. Lou is really accurate. "Lou carries his emotions out in the open, and that can intimidate some of the players". I really think this team has stopped responding to him.
What a F-ing joke!!!! This team is a joke! Can't hit, now they can't play defence, the reliof pitcher can't throw f-ing strikes and they can't even win 1 f-ing game for a kid who alomost throws a no hitter? OHHH but it's early, and we need Ramirez back!!!!!!!
What a bunch of pansies!!! Two playoffs withoput a f-ing win. Another 100 f-ing years without a World Series!
Heilman coming in now. GAME OVER. CUBS LOSE. NATION PRESENT. CUBS LOSE.
Heilman is losing this game for us...I have no confidence in him..NONE.
wow...Atlanta can actually get a bunt down.
everybody is gonna blame people like marmol and gregg for this loss.. but i'm blaming wells for not pitching the no-no..
I sure hope you're kidding 09Shine.
Haha, that's a good one~
KOSUKE! WOO! Jesus..
And Fukudome saves Heilmans butt.
Kosuke with another good catch.
It will be incredibly disheartening if the new owner is a new clown owner. It breaks my heart to watch such frightfully bad mangement of my hometown team.
One pitch one out. Going back to the same crap that lost us games before.
Does Soriano EVER hit a ball in the hole, up the middle, etc for a single? Stop swinging for the darn fences everytime! 13 HR's and 26 RBI's. Does anyone know how many RBI's he has outside of HR's.
I'm starting to pay more attention to the Movie Underground commercials than this game.
the Nightie Watchman indeed.
Hmmm.
Nothing like an 0-6 night, huh Theriot? Remember, you are NOT an f'n homerun hitter!
Where's your hittability, Riot? It's really sad that our on-base machine from last year lost it. This might turn epidemic: the virus that eats away Cubbie hittabilities...
MAn vs Wild with Will Ferrell. Hilarious.
Regardless of the outcome, this team needs an Extreme Makeover, plus a heart transplant.
I live in Peoria and was going to watch the Chiefs play tonight against Beloit. My sister and I entered the ballpark when the gates opened and much to our disbelief saw Jim Hendry at the condiment bar loading up his hot dog. We said hi, made a little small talk, and made on our way.
We originally thought he was just down to see Vitters, who is leading the league in HR and second in AVG, because he might be a long shot at 3B this year.
The game was delayed about 30 minutes because of the threatening weather, they eventually decided to start it, but only got in a little over an inning of very wet and sloppy play. The word from one of the grounds crew workers was that Hendry wanted to see the starting pitcher tonight for the Chiefs and they were holding off covering the field as long as they could.
Chris Archer was the pitcher; the same Chris Archer that we recieved with two other pitchers for DeRosa.
Speculate all you like, but I know the DeRosa rumors have been flying about and thought this could be more fuel for the fire.
LOL...Lee so completely overmatched against a flamethrower. What a joke.
This whole team is crap, except for our rotation and Fukudome (maybe even Johnson)...
wow!! I can't say any good things, because I honestly hate this team right now for what they did to Wells.
Staked to a 5-0 lead, they couldn't pull it off.
I blame Lou mostly for throwing Gregg in there.
Can we all adopt the Peoria Chiefs as our team? At least they have some decent prospects like Vitters, Harrison, and Flaherty to get excited about, and others like Rhee on their way from EXST.
Neil,
Can we start a Talkin' Live: Peoria Chiefs chat, just to rub it in Hendry's face for the crap he gave us?
well, Hendry DID build the Peoria team, so i can't see how the new Talk'n Live will slap on Mr. GM's face.
The GM is learning new things everyday, it seems to me, but he had good moves as well as bad moves.
I'm not on the fire-Jim boat, you know.
MLB's worst LF almost threw that ball into RF. Did you see that hustle?
Hey, you think Lou will talk to the media after this one?
Here's how it will go down:
Ques: "What happened in the 9th, Lou?"
Lou: "Hey, whatta want me to do about it? Whatta want me to do?"
Nothing Lou, just like you've been doing - nothing.
He's more of a whiner than Dusty.
ernie,
do you think we can hire Charlie Brown as our new manager?
He whines privately to his penpal, at least, and if this game would have prolonged longer, we'll run out of options, and Lou could have pitched like Charlie!
So Fox sits on the bench. Now Vitters is lights out, and he "waits".
How about a lineup of:
Johnson CF
Fukodome RF
Hoffpauer 1B
Fox LF
Vitters 3B
Scales/Fontenot 2B
Hill C
Theriot SS
Vitters is light out in rookie ball.
Let him do it in AA or AAA then we can talk Vitters.
Matt...would it make a difference at this point the way this team is playing....they need an injection of something.
Weak...
The LOVABLE LOSERS of yesteryear have officially returned to Chicago! But they are not so "lovable" this time around. By the way, didn't I read a recent quote from Piniella stating his bullpen was "finally coming together?" Is he in total denial? The list of what's wrong with this club is lengthy, all defining a second division loser. That's negative but truth is truth.
And there you have it...PATHETIC!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3LazuRx6Eo
What if we hire Charlie Brown as our new manager?
He keeps his complaints privately to his penpal, a little better than Lou?
And if this game would have prolonged longer, we'll run out of options, and Lou could have pitched like Charlie, and take the responsibilities!
(I actually like Lou, but tonight he's an easy target for trusting Gregg... since opening day...)
If the Cubs do get a good owner, and that's a big IF, the first thing he should do (if he is a good owner) is fire Piniella and his staff, then fire Hendry. Bring in a good baseball man as GM, and let someone else manage the team through the rest of the season.
And if they do get a good GM, he will find a way to dump Soriano, Lee, Gregg, and Heilman. Then send Soto back to the minors to get in shape and work on his game. Hill is OK until then. Play the kids; Fox, Hoffpauer, and Vitters.
Can't be any worse than what's out there now. At least there would be a future.
Aaron,
I'm all for that. The Chiefs have as much talent down here as I've seen through the last 15 years. (Including when the won the Midwest League title as a Cardinals' affiliate.)
Don't forget Brenly, Ridling, and the big kid Nelson Perez in right field. Perez was playing catch before the game, and one of his teammates coaxed him into trying to throw the ball from the rightfield line into the left field bleachers (much like Z tried to do last time out). The first one banged off the wall, and his second shot fell harmlessly on the warning track. You could see them laughing after they looked at the flags and threw some grass into the air just to watch the 15-20 mph winds throw it back into Nelson's face.
$10 says that he'll try again tomorrow when the winds are calmer AND he'll reach the bleachers.
His partner over threw him in warmups and we were able to get them both to sign the ball we retrieved.
I love minor league ball.
oh...classic line from Chip in this game...and so true:
"boy, you really have to feel for Randy Wells in this game, pitching no-hit ball, 5-0 lead, and the Cubs can't hold it. This could really be the turning point in the season for the Braves."
Ironically, June 2nd, is the turning point in our year, if we already didn't have an epiphany.
Prediction: By All-Star break, we're 10 out. Bradley is finally placed on the DL, Lee sits at around .250, Soto around .240..Bradley, while on DL is at .230. Combined, they have 17 hr. Harden is placed on the DL in August, and is shut down for the rest of the year.
Despite their 5+ERA's, Gregg and Heilman are still on the team. So is Miles, who hovers around .220 with his average.
Hendry says, "we did what we could with the ownership situation being what it was. It just did not allow us to make many changes. We had to fill holes from within, and we had to deal with a lot of injuries. You can't account for those things in constructing a team."
Uh....actually Hendry, you can. Bradley and Harden already had health issues, and you knew that. You also knew about Soto's hand, and in ST, you knew about his shoulder. You were hoping that Bradley and Miles would continue with their career years, and yet, you seem surprised when they flopped. Why? They had no history that'd suggest they could sustain their production.
Anyhow, back to what I was saying...
Piniella resigns at the end of the season, much like he did with the Rays, and retires once and for all, claiming, "boy, this season took a lot out of me" Actually Lou, you took a lot out of our season that could have been better by continually running out Cotts, Patton, and Gregg, when they were so clearly overmatched. You killed us by leaving Soto, Bradley, Lee, and Fontenot in there on an everyday basis, when it was so evidently clear that they needed a week off to clear their minds and play better.
I am going to post in the Community section now if anyone wants to join me, because I need to explain more and don't want to piss others off on here that don't want to hear it.
Come join if you want.
They should sell off if it comes to that.
This team isn't going anywhere.
Twice in extra innings, we got a runner on 1st... Didn't even attempt a steal either inning.... The team has 0 speed.... this might be the first season no one steals even 10 bases.
Something needs to happen.
-The hitting coach should get the ax.
-Heilman and Gregg need to go.
-Fox has to get some starts somewhere. No point in having a guy as hot as him not play.
-One of Scales or Blanco needs to be sent down.
- Need to get someone who can produce at 3rd. Should have happened by now.
"What if we hire Charlie Brown as our new manager?"
Who, or what, is Charlie Brown?
And if he is with the Cubs present organization the answer is NO!
As we all know, this is a TEAM sport and unfortunately even an experienced J. Vitters could not make this a good, winning ballclub. There are too many missing pieces and the team is demoralized, without leadership, without the chemistry it takes to be a winner. Sad but true.
There's no winning with this team. There's no effort with this team. Every single thing this team did after Wells finished pitching was wrong. Not only that, but this game signified EVERY problem the Cubs have: they have no offense, their bullpen is horrible, their big bats are shoddy on defense, their coaching is clueless...every facet of this team is just horrendous. Hell, I'd like to blame the lack of ownership but even with an owner, trading away DeRosa and not resigning Wood to favor more left handed hitting and go with a completely average PITCHER (meaning completely below average closer) would mean this team would be awful until the ownership could authorize a big trade.
There's a lot of things that just aren't good with this team. There's very few things that are good with this team. And, realistically, there's no quick fix: you can't just bring up Vitters because he's not MLB ready yet...he's doing great in the minors, but he needs to progress through AA and AAA for a year or two more before coming up to the bigs, and even then, it'd be better if he didn't have the current coaching staff up in the majors.
There's absolutely nothing watchable with this team without a big trade or signing to shake things up. And even if they do win more, I just don't think I could watch, cause they certainly don't deserve to...
I can't watch this anymore.
Aaron....I agree with your assessment of how Hendry will spin this season. I think though that Lou will be gone by the All Star break. Tonight will break this team's heart, and this team won't rally for Lou's management style.
this is the worst day of my life.. i want to kill things
Don't bro, go to sleep tommorrow can't be worse.
So many of us live and die with this great game of baseball because it reflects life so much and in so many ways. We get our hopes and expectations up, only to see them often squelched in painful and cruel ways. The exhilaration can be wonderful but the lows can be agonizing. Sorry, I was just thinking about this as I contemplated this gut-wrenching loss tonight to the Braves. There is always "tomorrow" in a long baseball season and we faithful want to hope that the new day and another game will give us a start toward better things to come....just as hope does in our real lives. It's just really hard sometimes to move ahead positively, isn't it. Thanks, Neil, for such a great place to get it all out!