Obviously Carlos Marmol is an extremely talented pitcher who has the skills to be dominating. It's also evident that he has lost his way somehow and is doing some things physically and perhaps mentally that are making him very high risk. This needs to change for the Cubs need him badly as this season progresses. I think it is Larry Rothschild's job to figure this out and get this young man straightened out..whatever it takes. It could be the most important thing Rothschild could contribute this entire year. Is he up to this job? I just don't know but there are pitching coaches who could do it. It might not be something big...an adjustment of sorts, who knows. Rothschild should be accountable to do his job.

Come on, Aaron! You know that Milton Bradley is the salvation of this team! The proof is . . . he bats lefthanded.

LOL The guy is hitting .207 or so lefthanded.

FYI...I'm enjoying every minute of this, because it makes Hendry look like even more of a douche bag, and might FINALLY lead to his much needed firing.

When you haven't won a championship in over 100 years, and you claim you're going for broke, and your payroll says as much, then you simply CANNOT take on risk like Bradley. EVERYONE knew it. And here's the kicker....if this was a general business (right now Hendry's essentially the CEO), his ass would be canned, and he couldn't find a job for his idiotic moves.

First, we questioned his sanity for trading one of our top pitching prospects for a guy that just blew 9 saves, coming off knee surgery, and by all accounts was going to be non-tendered and become a FA anyhow. Then, we questioned it even more for the DeRosa trade, while some gave him a pass, saying, "well...let's see where this leads. It can't possibly be just this...it's gotta be something bigger", etc. Then, he goes out and signs Miles...Yup, guess that was the "big" move for the DeRosa trade. And we were all kind of puzzled.

Then, to compound matters, he signs Milton Bradley with Ibanez, Abreu, and Dunn in play. ALL were more consistent. ALL did NOT have character issues, and ALL were lefty sluggers the Cubs so desperately sought after. It just blows my mind why the hell you would even consider signing a head case that had a career year with just 22 hr, 77 RBI. And it's not like he didn't have time to prove himself----he's been in the league for 10 damn years, HENDRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For crying out loud, I almost wish MacFailed was around to watch over him. Maybe he wouldn't have doled out ridiculous contracts to the likes of Soriano, Bradley, Miles, and traded for Gregg. You simply do NOT trade away young, fireballers throwing 100 mph heat for washed up veterans...Sorry, that's an indefensible move.

I keep holding out hope that the Ricketts sale goes through, and they put a smart person in charge of the team. It's necessary, and LONG overdue, just as firing Hendry's bff Rothschild is long overdue.

Heck, if we let Hendry stay on board, I bet money we'd see his other bff Paul Manieri (LSU and former ND head coach) in an elevated role when he belongs in college.

Take Ibanez out of the list of Hendry's choices. The Phillies jumped on him way before Hendry could clear space....Whoever was hosting WGN just after the game stated that Ibanez was Hendry's first choice...and that could be plausible.

It does not excuse Hendry from signing Bradley...but remember how nothing happened until Marquis went to the Rockies?...(And we got Viscaino)...at the time...I thought Hendry would turn around

and trade Viscaino for the lefty reliever

we really needed...but then nothing happened.

Re Bradley...I'm amazed at how bad this has really turned out...EVERY, and I MEAN

EVERY worst fear in signng the guy has come true.

I actually feel bad for the guy...it's worse than Pigpen and the constant cloud of dust that follows him around....Only

"Our Pigpen" does it in front of...if you count TV...millions of people.

It must be tough living inside that head of his.

Aaron...they are not going to fire Hendry

until the sale goes through. Once the new owners are in place though...all bets are off.

I smiled when you said you were enjoying this...but wouldn't you be HAPPIER if Milton did the unexpected and really produced?...I know now...it's probably not going to happen...but it would be so

much better for our team if he did.

I am not trying to 'pile-on' here but go and look at the Cubs win-loss record when Milton plays. They should be 6 games under .500 including today. That is all I need to know.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-27-cubs-milton-bradley-side-jun27,0,40471.story

sorry, forgot to include the link for the Soriano comment....

this is getting REALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYY interesting

Aaron:

Do you think Milton is suicidal?

not even close....I think he's a messed up person, and would belong out of the sport, and not employed anywhere you have to work as a team...because it's all about him. In fact, in his "career" year in Texas, the Rangers finished below .500, and this year are in first place with roughly the same players AND an injured Josh Hamilton to boot. Think it was all just better pitching? Nope, sorry, it's been slightly better, but nothing too dramatic.

Couldn't this all be because the Rangers wanted him gone?!? Couldn't it be that he was a distraction and "me first" kind of guy, where everything was about him? We've seen first hand how he likes to make it about him when it's not even that. It's like Jacque Jones part two, but an even worse hitter, and an even worse person.

Is it any wonder that we're like 8 or 9 games over .500 when he doesn't start?!?

Fact is, everyone plays looser, and Soriano AND the douche bag that signed him (Hendry) even notice that....Soriano was brash enough to say something....Hendry merely inferred as much.

So, no, I don't think that...I just think he's a very very messed up person that belongs in a sport like tennis, or golf, or whatever where you don't have to be a good teammate.

Look, if we play that good of baseball without him around...(even the games we've lost, to my recollection have been by 1 run or so, and it's funny...because he usually pinch hits in those games anyhow, and K's very ugly in doing so in key situations)...but if we play that good without him, I'd say cut your losses like Soriano said, and get him the hell out of there, and bring DeRosa back immediately. If the Cubs make that move, they instantly become my favorite to go back to the playoffs, because mentally they'll be prepared for it, and prepared for success having gone through the debacle that is Bradley.

But mark my words....NO team with Bradley will ever be successful. He's just that bad of a teammate, and we all know that baseball is most certainly a team sport.

Did you guys see Soriano's comments:

Alfonso Soriano said he'd never seen a player and manager fight the way Piniella and Bradley did.

"I hope he comes back and he can help the team to win," Soriano said of Bradley. "If he's not that way, we don't need him. We have 25 players, we have to be on the same page. If he's not 100 percent to help the team to win, we don't need him. If he's 100 percent and he comes and wants to play, he's more than welcome."

Additionally...Jim Hendry's:

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2197

compliments of Mr. Bruce Miles...

Apparently, the Cubs feel that Bradley is acting selfishly. GM Jim

Hendry talked with us in the runway after the game and said he wanted

players to be "all in."

I pressed him on that, and he said that "all in" means all for the

team. Some of Bradley's teammates also are beginning to wonder.

You think Miles will be gone this year or even next year?

I know I'll sound arrogant saying this, but Miles is making $5 million. He stays and some cheap guy who is actually producing has to go. So it will be Blanco. Or Fox. Or Hoffpauir. But it won't be Miles.

Can you imagine how many more wins we would have if Hoffpauir and Fox had been in the lineup for the last month or two? I am just baffled, as everyone on here is, as to why management can't see what we all see by watching the games. I know they think it's all a money thing, but I thought you played the game to WIN! Damn, it's not that hard to see!

Yeah, Hoffpauir instead of Bradley would have been a great boon for us. But Jake Fox is a bit of a different story: obviously, had he been up at the start of the season, he'd have started his mechanical work on his defense a bit earlier. But really, I think the mental aspect of him having gone through Triple A and having that huge hot streak helped Fox out immensely...had he been in the majors at the start of the season, he might have been as hot, but possibly not.

Still, with Fox continuously working hard on his defense and hitting the cover off the ball, coupled with Hoffpauir being Mr. Clutch when we get good scoring opportunities or just need one, coupled with Andres Blanco being Mr. Defense, it's becoming less and less justifiable to send any of them down to the minors once Ramirez comes back. I, for one, fully expect to see Miles gone when he returns.

Rich, Boseph, you will be eating your words the rest of the season. His (Marmol's) mechanics are awful just as Steve Stone pointed out.

well, they just promoted a guy (Gaub) to AAA that strikes out a TON of batters, but walks a lot too.

In fact, on a post earlier today, I talked about our prospects...The one intriguing one to me is all the way in low-A Chris Huseby (2 walks vs 39 K's in just 27 2/3 IP). JR Mathes at AAA(though a lefty starter) is another one that rarely walks anyone 66 IP, and just 6 walks. Jeremy Papelbon-AA has also been decent, splitting time between starter and reliever with 39 2/3 IP and 10 walks. Jay Jackson-AA at 61 IP, and 21 walks is also not bad, because as a starter, his WHIP is just 1.18, and Marco Carillo-AA is also intriguing with 15 2/3 IP, 7 walks, but a 1.02 WHIP. Cashner-high-A too, has been awesome, with 38 IP, 12 walks, and a 1.08 WHIP. De Leon at Low-A has 19 IP, 8 walks, 1.00 WHIP

But that's all I can think of internally

Just watched the press conference.

Lou found his inner dragon apparently.

Quote:

"I told him to take his jersey off and go home."

"(The gatorade bashing and helmet tossing) is a common occurrence and I'm tired of it. I've been looking the other way and it's time to stop."

"I don't believe in discipline. We'll put his name in the lineup tomorrow and go from there.."

Accorfing to wgn radio...Lou sent Bradley home...after words in the tunnel...but plans to have him back in the lineup tomorrow.

I've been saying it on here and let me repeat. Marmol sucks and sucks bigtime. WWWWWAAAAAAYYYYY too many walks! I can't believe this guy is in the majors.

What are we going to do people? We have to find some way to get rid of this guy. He is killing the cubs! Love Fox. We have to find a way to keep this guy in the game.

Yeah, there's plenty of people who deserve ragging on on this team. Marmol may be walking guys, but he's not one of them: when he's good, he's great. And more often than not, he's good. But when you put a guy out there every day, and the guy wants to be closer, and he's not closer because we have a less-deserving candidate in place there due to GM politicking, that's when you start getting some headcase decisions.

i couldn't disagree with you more. yeah way too many walks. But we have seen what he is capable of. Marmol is not our worst problem. We aren't paying him millions.

Boseph,

Are you sure about that rule...not that I don't trust you, but Neil, can you please verify that for us

If Bradley is suspended (by Cubs management)....Do we get to replace him? Or do we just have to play a man down like a normal suspension.

Furthermore, when Manny was suspended, did the Dodgers get to bring anyone up? I'd think with 50 games, they would've been able to....If so, then the same rule should apply in this case (that's my opinion). The whole team shouldn't be penalized for some jack-asses actions

I'm going off of a minor thing I heard from Steve Stone in that last game he did for the Cubs. Sosa had left the ballpark and, obviously, Stone was getting on him more than he got on anyone else that season (which is a lot, mind you :) ). Anyways, he was glad he decided to show his true colors at the end of the season, because now he couldn't hurt the team for an extended amount of time by taking up a roster spot and not participating. He didn't directly mention suspension, but he hinted towards it.

Coincidentally, I watched a Sox/Reds game last Friday with Steve Stone commentating by himself...actually rooted for the Sox for a while there. Hawk Harrelson is a cancer to that team.

My game ball goes to the Game.

He leaves. We win.

It's mathematical.

I love me some crow....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm good.....but still think Gregg sucks donkey balls.

Game ball (shared...though Soto might eat it from the rest of them LOL...I heard he still has the munchies) goes to Wells, Soto, Fox and Marshall (hasn't Marshall gotten us out of some pretty ugly jams this year?....he's been huge in the pen)

right there with you on Gregg. He and Bradley need to go.

And how did it take the Cubs so long to have Fox in the starting lineup. This guy has done nothing but crush the ball. Glad to see him in there.

This team still needs a Closer, a new RF and a new 2B. Kills me to say that because I really wanted Fontenot to have a good year.

Agreed. I mean let's face it...who knows how this would have ended if the umpire made the right call on that last pitch?

Positives.

We Beat the Sox!

Our young guys are lookin awesome!

Negative.

We have all kinds of money tied up in steaming piles of crap.

NATION REPRESENT!

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

Anyone else on this board despise "Hawk" Harrelson as much as I do???

He is the worst.

He is so childish.

Now i know where some of their fans get it from.

Dadgummit.....Mercy!

I can't listen to a game he broadcasts. I would rather watch the game on mute than listen to him.

CUBS WIN!!!! YES!!!!!

Bad call..

I'll take it.

Phew...

Umpire ends the game the way he started it.

GAME~!

....you can just see Pods ending this game on a walk-off (a la World Series) can't you?

Gregg just can't put anyone away. PERIOD. END OF STORY

Oh no...

Please get this guy. This feels close to Tuesday.

Please, please, please get Podsednik..

hey hey guys..

before you start getting on Jim Hendry about Bradley..

There is no way Hendry could've known this would happen.

Heheheheh...I like you, you're funny.

...here we go....I wish Len and Bob would be honest about their feelings. For instance, you know they're thinking Gregg shouldn't be closer, based on their comments in the past....so, why not say it like this: "Cubs closer Gregg into the ballgame to blow the lead." Okay, that wasn't very funny, but it was the best I could do

I hope Len and Bob were right with Sullivan's observation: "Bradley left the park already in street clothes"

Question: If Bradley is suspended by the team, can we bring someone else up? Is it like a normal league suspension where you're not allowed to replace him?

If so, who comes up? Colvin? Deeds? Fuld?

Nope, just like a regular suspension. So he'd be screwing us over again.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I'd like to see Fuld get another shot.

Perhaps... "Gregg enters the game, Lou sacrificing the possible win to hopefully give the fans a little free baseball."

How great would it be if the cubs put him on waivers???? And cross your fingers someone is dumb enough to claim him.

Gregg is dealing with the bottom of the order...if he can't nail this one down then I think that'll be it for him.

I should mention I wrote that BEFORE the Cubs made it a 5-4 game and will now have the game blown by Gregg. I hope Lou gets after him too.

This team's starting to fire up now. Hell, I'm starting to get fired up now! I have a friend at "the Cell" who got a glimpse of that sixth inning Lou/Bradley confrontation and from what he's heard (though this may be of the "urban legend" variety after what a lot of people just saw), Bradley may not even be in the stadium anymore. And good riddance.

One thing's for certain: no one can say Lou won't get fired up after that. He went after the guy who hasn't performed up to his contract, will probably get some grief from our crappy GM, and the team will benefit from it. Good job Lou.

Boseph, Trib is reporting Bradley's left the park...he was seen in the player's parking lot.

A fan commenting on the Trib story...which mentioned he hit the cooler said,

"First thing he's hit all year!" lol

Wow Bradley has left the park. He should be gone for that.

#21 disease

my goodness I'm still pissed as hell at Marmol and Gregg right now....it's EVERY DAMN time....EVERY DAMN time they try to blow Wells' starts. Do they have something against him?

Marmol can't even come close to the zone, and we all know that Gregg is going to give this up, so we just have to hope we score 3 more runs to make it a non-save situation, so Lou won't go to him....I just can't believe it...Has Lou learned anything this year?

Tell me why it is he can bench Miles for sucking, but refuses to do so with Bradley, Gregg, and Marmol (demoting them), or Fontenot for that matter? It's getting really ugly, and VERY predictable.

With Soriano and Fontenot, you can guarantee they will swing at the first pitch. For Marmol and Gregg, you know they'll walk runners easily. And in both their cases, you just have to lay off their breaking stuff and sit on their fastball. In fact, with Gregg it's so pronounced that I can't think of any batter that has swung on his breaking pitches and missed (either they watch it go in the dirt, or they wait for him to hang one). It's a cake walk with them...I could write an entire scouting report on those guys. With Bradley, it's usually just throwing a strike letter high in the zone, getting him pissed off, and mentally out of the game, thinking about it, then curveball in the dirt, then elevate again, and you got him.

PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE BAT AND ACT LIKE A BASEBALL PLAYER.

Soriano is the Worst!!

Biggest bust ever!

I am through with him. Bout time fans at wrigley start really giving it to him.

We are so screwed. second time this season he has done that! How bout some fundamentals Sori!

This pen blows!

::sigh::

A double play?

I missed it. But thank God he got it.

Lets tack on. And god damn, do not put Gregg in...

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! 3-2-3 double play!

Nice DP. Good Job Marshall.

actually, AJ....always kills us....would not be shocked if he hits a slam here...He's VERY clutch, and I watched him hit a bomb against the Dodgers....even with Marshall in here... If you're gonna put in a lefty Lou, why didn't you put him in against Thome, a guy who K's a TON...NOT against AJ, who I believe I heard was one of the most difficult guys to K (I don't know...just remember hearing that)

Hey Aaron...why do you think Marmol is having such a problem this year?...He had a little blip last year...but other than that he was lights out.

Soriano is the Worst!!

Biggest bust ever!

I am through with him. Bout time fans at wrigley start really giving it to him.

We are so screwed. second time this season he has done that! How bout some fundamentals Sori!

Great game management on Lou's part.

This is just unbelievable to watch. Lou should be canned after this one, regardless of the outcome.

I wish I would have never turned this on.

Speechless ...

oh...that's smart....let's walk the bases loaded with a guy that can't throw a damn strike.....Piniella is OUT OF HIS MIND!!!!!

is Piniella asleep?!?!? that's where you throw in Marshall

Outrageous.

I can't believe this...

Story of the year!

Wow

God damn Alfonso.

Bench him too.

Ludicrous...

Unbelievable.

wow

speechless

Marmol is KILLIN' ME

Get Marmol out now! Two more walks, here comes Dye...

actually...in a few seconds I can hear:

"______ hits it deep...and we are tied"

Not good ... leadoff walk up by 3

"walks the lead-off man to start the inning"

How often have we heard that with Marmol and Gregg this year? Actually, if you go by numbers alone, we've heard it EVERY SINGLE OUTING by them

now it's up to Marmol and Gregg...the same clowns that have blown Wells' other games....game over...White Sox win (that's my prediction)

Enough. Let some of us enjoy the game.

Here's the link for the Bradley incident (and pasted):

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/06/did-piniella-and-bradley-have-it-out.html

Piniella and Bradley have it out

By Paul Sullivan

After flying out in his last at-bat Friday in the sixth inning, Milton Bradley threw his helmet in the Cubs dugout and took after the Gatorade cooler. Manager Lou Piniella then followed Bradley to the tunnel leading to the clubhouse, where the two exchanged angry words.

Bradley was replaced in right field by Ryan Freel.

*****************************************

hopefully the Cubs wise up and suspend this idiot internally, and/or put him on the DL, and/or expose him to waivers and the minor leagues. I can't stand him

Is Bradley on the bench or in the clubhouse?

Or halfway to the broadcast booth for them saying he has a slow bat?

Soto is hitting like he's got the weight of the world off his shoulders... next step... get the weight of the world out from around his gut.

HaHa!!!

Put that on your board and shove it.

thanks!

for the record... Steve Stone almost called Sotos HR..... How they can pair just a brilliant mind like his with a hilly billy is beyond me

Way to go Bong Boy!

SOTO!!!!

Smokin' Soto!

SOTO!!!!!

3-run homer!

for the 2nd day in a row, Fox is a triple away from hitting for the cycle

Guys, I only have the radio...what happened with Bradley???

He looks helpless against Contreras.

Soriano's performance day is most concerning. Tells me he is hurt. With his career numbers against Jose I thought he would have a nice game.

I meant Game.

From the Tribune:

Eyewitnesses at U.S. Cellular Field report that Milton Bradley and Lou Piniella exchanged angry words in the tunnel after Bradley's sixth inning flyout.

Bradley was pulled after the at-bat and replaced in right field by Ryan Freel.

The Cubs haven't announced an injury to Bradley, so his removal from the game is mysterious. We'll update you later as more news filters in.

Thanks Neil,

Somehow, I don't think Lou will be the loser here.

Suzy

I'm curious too.

Oh, Fever pitch is a great movie.

Have I mentioned I cannot stand intentional walks?

They got away with it that time Neil. But I agree with you.