Game Seventy-Two: Cubs (35-36) vs. White Sox (36-38)
Game Time - 1:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 180
Location - U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 3.48/1.27) vs. John Danks (5-6, 4.43/1.29)
Today concludes Interleague Play for all but two teams in the majors ... the Cubs and the White Sox. The make-up date from the rainout on June 16 has not been announced but the all signs are pointing to the game being played on September 3 at Wrigley (both teams have an open date on September 10 as well). The Cubs are 6-7 against the AL with two games remaining on their schedule ... and the game against the Sox in September could end up being a formality if the Cubs continue to struggle the way they have throughout the first three months of the season.
Saturday was not a good day for the Chicago Cubs. Not only did they lose to their crosstown rival in a game the bullpen could not hold, every team in the central took care of their business ... and then there's the little trade involving Mark DeRosa going to the Cardinals.
Aramis Ramirez Update: Aramis Ramirez took batting practice again on Saturday. He told the media that his shoulder was a little sore after Friday's session, but not more than could be expected. As mentioned last week, Ramirez said during the pre-game before the Cubs-Tigers game on Wednesday that once he returns he will require extra rest for the remainder of the season. Ramirez pointed out he likely would not be able to play day games following night games, depending on how he feels. The Cubs have missed his run production, and his glove, but the return of Aramis Ramirez will not be a cure-all for this team. The Cubs need help in the bullpen and a player similar to the one that is now with the Cubs' biggest rival. According to multiple reports Ramirez could begin a rehab assignment within a week, which if all goes well he could be back in time for the four-game series against the Cardinals at Wrigley (July 10 - July 12).
Mark Teahen was rumored to be on the Cubs' radar over the winter and reports are suggesting he is once again ... so stay tuned.
Today is just not the rubber game of the series against the Sox but an important game for the Chicago Cubs. Lou Piniella needs production from both Milton Bradley and Alfonso Soriano and to have someone in the pen step up and provide some much-needed stability late in games ... and it all starts with Carlos Zambrano.
Carlos Zambrano has put together a very good month with only one win to show for it. Zambrano is 1-0 in his last four starts with a 2.20 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, opponents have hit just .168 against him. Zambrano was inline for his fifth win of the season in his last time out after Micah Hoffpauir gave the Cubs a lead in the eighth, but ...
Zambrano gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings to the Tigers in his last start.
Big Z will make his second start of the year against the White Sox. He received a no-decision back on June 18. Zambrano surrendered three runs on six hits in seven innings. Zambrano has been pitching to contact more of late and doing an excellent job of keeping the ball down. Since his return from the DL on May 22, Zambrano has pitched into or through the seventh inning in five of six starts (five straight) ... and into the eighth once.
This afternoon will be Zambrano's 11th career start against the White Sox. In his previous 12 games, 10 starts, Zambrano is 5-2 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
- Brian Anderson - 2-for-2 with a walk
- Gordon Beckham - 1-for-1 with a walk
- Jermaine Dye - 4-for-19 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Josh Fields - 0-for-3
- Chris Getz - 1-for-3 with a double
- Paul Konerko - 7-for-25 with 4 home runs and 3 walks
- A.J. Pierzynski - 5-for-17 with a home run and 3 walks
- Scott Podsednik - 6-for-30 with 2 doubles and 2 walks
- Alexei Ramirez - 1-for-4 with a home run
- Jim Thome - 4-for-12 with a double, a home run and 2 walks
- DeWayne Wise - 2-for-8 with a double
Hopefully the second time is the charm today against John Danks. The young southpaw dominated the Cubs and Ryan Dempster on June 17. The Cubs managed only one run on five hits in seven-plus innings ... and no walks. Danks really enjoyed his afternoon at Wrigley and tipped his cap as he left the game.
John Danks has put together a good year and has been excellent of late. Despite just one win in his last four starts (1-3), Danks has allowed only 11 earned runs on 19 hits with 6 walks and 25 strikeouts. The Cubs made it easy on Danks 11 days ago and must not employ the same game plan this afternoon.
The Dodgers beat Danks in his last start, 5-2. Joe Torre's team scored three runs on three his with two walks (five strikeouts) in seven innings off the lefty.
- Milton Bradley - 3-for-6 with a home run
- Mike Fontenot - 0-for-3
- Kosuke Fukudome - 2-for-3
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-5
- Aaron Miles - 1-for-3 with a double
- Alfonso Soriano - 0-for-3
- Geovany Soto - 1-for-5
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-6
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Bad feeling about today. I look for bridgeport to smoke the cubs. Big Z who has pitched well recently is probably due for a bad outing. The psychotic jerk off will probably be manning Rf again and he will be wondering to himself why he has no friends.
You called that man!
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Bradley - RF
Lee - 1B
Fox - DH
Soto - C
Freel - 3B
Fukudome - CF
Blanco - 2B
From the Sun-Times: Theriot on DeRosa being a Cardinal, "It sucks. What do you want me to say?"
Neil,
Can you give us your thoughts on the sale to the Ricketts. Do you think they are pushing to get the teams with sufficient time before the trade deadline? There is and article on mlb about it.
Do you have a link to the report on MLB.com? The one I read I do not remember it mentioning the trade deadline.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090627&content_id=5563684&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc
It doesn't say they are pushing for before the trade dealine. That was my own query. The thing that made we wonder if that was what they were doing is the fact that they were considering a previous bidder again.
With the trade deadline a little over a month away, the first thing Zell and the Ricketts family have to do is agree on the selling price, as we all know. Then the owners have to approve the sale of the team to the Ricketts … plus the bankruptcy court must get involved. I cannot remember the exact dates in August but the next owner’s meeting is scheduled for then. From what I have read/heard Bud Selig wants the deal done and may do a ‘conference call’ with the all of the owners before the meeting in order to get their approval.
On adding or ‘eating’ payroll, the way I understand it is Hendry’s hands are tied until the sale is done. He might be able to trade a contract for a contract (Freel/Gathright) or add a small salary to the payroll but that is it. Again from everything I have read/heard Hendry will not be able to take on a significant contract until the sale is finalized. That is what made the DeRosa addition possible. He is not owed that much for the remainder of the year.
Mark Teahan is intriguing. I stated that in the reports last winter. He is a good player, similar to DeRosa before he came to the Cubs. The only thing with Teahan is that he has never played in a situation like Chicago. As Derrek Lee said repeatedly on Saturday when discussing Bradley, “Chicago is a different animal.” Even Lou knows this now.
I think once the two sides agree on the selling price, the approval from the other owners and the bankruptcy court will be formalities. No one right now can raise the same amount of money the Ricketts already have. Once it gets to the final two steps Hendry should get the approval to add or ‘eat’ payroll as he sees fit.
As I have said all along, the sale of the team is the most important deal that must get done.
I couldn't find the article either...
But Rich & Neil...My understanding of the process...is once Ricketts and the
Tribune agree on a deal...then it goes to bankruptcy court for approval.
That process, according to previous articles...should take around 5 weeks.
AND then it goes to MLB for approval...
which should rubber stamp it.
BUT MLB has to meet to approve...and the next scheduled meeting is not until August.
SO...unless something really unusual
happens...it is already too late for the July 31st trading deadline.
Thanks.
Hope getting snuffed out left and right this season.
Come on! Not even a good trade rumor out there. Throw us a bone. Lie to us.
Almost painful to say it today but..."Cubs gamecast is on the air". I am wearing black today as one of the beloved goes to the hated. I get to see it with Favre in MN, and Dero in Stl. UGH!
Please someone tell me that Jim is going to answer. Please tell me that Bradley and Sorry-ano are going to have great 2nd halves. Please tell me the bullpen is going to STOP WALKING PEOPLE, you are losing games! Please tell me that we are not now wasting 2 roster spots on Bullpen guys who NEVER pitch, when the guys who can are being used up, GASSED! Please tell me that Lou is going to wake up and start managing like this is his last stint in the bigs. PLEASE!!!
I have tried really hard to keep the faith, lift up fellow Cub fans, but someone PLEASE tell me a reason to not say the dreaded wait phrase. 3.5 out with a team that should be 10. A starting staff that is at the top or near the top. But, dead last with RISP, dead last in production from our 2nd base position, and a GM and Manager that quite frankly don't seem to care. We are 2 weeks from that dreaded phrase if nothing changes!
With that being said... GO CUBS GO!!!!
Matt, don't know how you pull this off, but is there a stream out there that would allow some of us without WGN tv to view the game today? Thanks for any help along these lines throughout the season.
That would be awesome, at work today, Thankfully and almost sadly my last Sunday working, I go to M-F next week, but Thanks to all of you who have helped to make my Cubby Sundays more enjoyable!
cloycub....Jim's best answer may be no answer. I too hope for big-time 2nd halfs from our laggards.
But just in case, I'm sending Neil a good supply of bullets to bite on while enduring pain. The powder will have been removed to protect the numbers of Faithful. So, if necessary, let Neil know when you need a bullet.
Sadly I think you may be right. I think I needed that bullet as of game 2 of the season, this has been really painful to watch at times. But as always, I believe Bon Jovi said it best "Keep the Faith". We are Cub fans after all.
Soriano 2 hr in the last 33 games...wow, that is terrible. Sould have had a double on that play. Theriot trying to hit it out all the time instead of doing what a guy batting 2nd should do. Cardnials just got Dero, what in the heck is going on. I'm going back to bed.
The Cubs have had a ton of scoring chances early in ballgames throughout this summer but only very rarely have they produced anything....as I recall, that wouldn't have been the case last year. Yeah, I'm living in the past but it was so much more pleasant and fun!
Nice 10 pitch first for Z and I think that bodes well for the rest of his outing. I see Denks has 2 pitch locations. Outside and further outside.
call me a fairweather fan...but, I'm gonna be watching mostly the Cardinals game today. I am now only curious if my prediction will hold up. I am NOT curious whether or not the Cubs will win this game (they won't), or if they will come back to win the division/wild card this year (they won't). No, I'm most interested in all the moves that Hendry didn't make that were blatantly OBVIOUS moves.
Moves like Abreu/Ibanez/Dunn vs Bradley, and giving the closer's job to Marmol (who won the right last year to at least be considered) in favor of acquiring Gregg. I'm curious, watching DeRosa, just how much of a difference he would've made (huge, as Bradley would be on the bench, and he could've been a replacement for ARAM when he went down).
I'm curious to learn what our minor league system is doing (our recent draftees are doing HORRIBLY...all you have to do is look at Boise to learn that), so we have yet another failed draft.
In fact, the only reason I have left to watch/follow the Cubs is to see if and when the Cubs new owner is installed...if he fires Hendry immediately, or waits until after the season.
wow this is as quiet as I have ever seen this site.
that's because all the "joy" of being a Cubs fan and the wind has been taken out of our sails.
I think there is a big hangover from Saturday.
Soriano gave up on the double to left center by Konerko. I really wish for just a week, that is all I am asking for, just a week he would appear to play at the cliche 110%.
I agree 110% LOL
Brenly is riding Soriano today. Did ya'll hear him?
What did he say, rip? I'm unable to see the game where I live.
I am going to ask it folks, Was the Dero deal the deathnail??????? I know it hurts like heck, like a kick in the "you know what's" but does it really foreshadow doom? I know it places a huge spotlight on the guy we want the spotlight and the microscope on (Hendry). Is he now the most hated man in Chicago sports? I am at a loss as much as everyone, I do not hve a solution, but I do not make millions a year to find one either, and they would not listen to me if I did have a solution. But are we really giving up?????
Another scoring chance in the 2nd but again no results. This is how a floundering team like the Cubs shows its true colors. Now don't start with the "don't be so negative" retort. As one ESPN Chicago writer said today, "This Cubs team seems to be coming apart at the seams." We fans can and will recognize if there are developments to get excited about...for now, I can't find much of a silver lining that bodes well for this team's future.
The Cardinals are trailing 3-0 early today.
They still have Joel Pineiro and Todd Wellemeyer in their rotation. And Kyle Lohse, who was garbage until he got there. And if Carpenter goes down, forget it.
So relax people. I don't see DeRosa being the difference between 85 wins and 95.
That said, though, Hendry absolutely needs to get off his butt and do something NOW. And he needs to get creative if he is strapped by the budget.
Gotta play from behind once again.
wow, shock, down 2 because of a walk or HBP when it could only be 1. Amazing? If they kept those stats, how many of the walks that the Cubs have issued scored??? How many in HUGE spots. How many 1 run losses could have been avoided if a dang walk did not put the tying or winning run on. These are fundamentals of winning ball, and the Cubby nation is waiting to see it in 09.
I'm done, this team is going to crushed!
1) it's clear this game, at 2-0 is over
2) In DeRosa's first AB, he took the count to 2-2, then hit it to the hole in short, and almost legged out a hit. I don't know of one single player we have (maybe Freel) who could've made it as close as DeRosa did. He's a player, and we are screwed because of it. He just gave Poop holes protection. 13 hr, 50 RBI blows all of our players out of the water with production
3) It looks like the entire team is down by this, judging by comments on the trade. That's fairly telling to me. Hendry and Piniella have indeed lost this team, and deserve to be fired. First of all, they traded an excellent teammate, and an even better player. Then, they go out and trade him, essentially to sign the polar opposite player and human-being (Bradley)...though I doubt the legitimacy of Hendry's contention that they had to move salary to "get more left-handed", when in fact, they added more salary altogether with Gregg, Vizcaino, Miles, Bradley, and Heilman than they would've had staying pat....but anyhow. You look at the Cubs dugout, and everyone seems pissed as hell, and I think a lot of that has to do with Hendry's moves AND Bradley's cancerous attitude in the clubhouse. No doubt DeRosa would've lit a fire under these guys to play better, AND backed it up with his excellent, and unselfish play on the field.
Buck Showalter today on ESPN radio described how in his entire career, he'd never seen a player as unselfish as DeRosa, and that he'd do whatever was necessary in the best interest of the team. He said unquestionably, this makes the Cards the favorite to win the division
Aaron, I have begrudgingly and very hesitantly come over to the side of Hendry and Piniella. And I now 100% agree, they both have to go now. I agree that they have lost this team.
From the Sun-Times: Theriot on DeRosa being a Cardinal, "It sucks. What do you want me to say?"
Sea change in Wrigleyville, GM and Mgr need to go! That can be the only solution, that can be the only culprit!
You know it is bad when the national media (Nick Friedell ESPN.com): Points out that the fans saw this coming more than Mgmt.
"The fact DeRosa is now a member of the Cardinals turns the pressure up on the Cubs' GM that much more. If Bradley, Miles and the rest of the team's shaky bullpen don't turn things around and knock off St. Louis down the stretch, Hendry is going to face a firestorm of criticism, the likes of which he hasn't seen during his tenure on the North Side. Many Cubs fans predicted that the DeRosa deal on New Year's Eve 2008 would be the Cubs' undoing this season -- as time wears on it looks like those people might have been right.
What few people saw coming was that the DeRosa deal, and the all the moves that followed, might end up being Hendry's undoing, as well."
But we Cub fans shouldn't be negative, right, Aaron? That's pure bullcrap and you, I, and most of the others on this blog know it. Rather than things getting better, seems to me that it's only downhill further from here. The Cub players are down as you say...and they have plenty of reasons to be so. Zambrano will not win this game, just adding to the gloom that gets ever more pervasive.
As several of us have commented in the last few weeks, last summer we would all be thinking the Cubs would likely come right back in this game and have a very good chance to win it; this year is SO opposite. I don't think I'm really different from most of you when I feel that chemistry, momentum, call it what you wish, is not with the Cubs and they are having so much trouble with Danks that a comeback is highly unlikely. Just scoring any runs at all will be problematic. UGH, ugh, ugh!
Good job by Z to pickoff Beckham
Excellent play by Freel
Is there any positive we can draw from a 1-6 record on the current road trip?
Make no mistake about it. I will not tolerate wasting any more of my time on this pathetic group of over paid pieces of crap like Z, Soriano, and Bradley. As soon as Bears' camp opens, I am jumping this sinking ship.
I have been waiting all day to see a glimmer of hope, and it is VERY hard to see. Even as a Cub fan used to having hope dashed and blown up, and having to search and dig with tweezers to find the tiniest sliver of hope, I am having a very hard time finding one today. Sad day Cub fans, let's hope the 2nd half is much more exciting. Ha ha ha there I go again, Bi-polar dilluded Cub fan.
Include Rothschild in that lot too! BIG TIME!!!!
Gotta bunt Kosuke in that spot ... down by 3 in the 5th against a pitcher that has owned them.
The fact that Fukudome didn't bunt in that situation. means that the bench did not call for it, or the hitter didn't see it it as a viable option. Either way, it was a clear sign of a team that is no way, shape, or form, is planning on pulling out of this tail spin.
When are the Cubs going to pitch Alexei the same way teams do with Soriano?
Two pitches, two singles ... WOW!
This verson of the Cubs is fastly approaching the dreaded tag of HAPLESS...from the penthouse to the outhouse or so it seems. Hendry absolutely failed in his attempts to "tweak" this team from last summer. Instead,all his moves cut the heart out of it and the results are becoming more evident each and every game. Pitiful..I feel sorry for the guys on the team who came so far in 2007-2008 and then got sideswiped by management.
Good job by Z to not give up any more runs in the 5th.
Hey sori, right where you demand to be, leading off, let's do something and I dunno, spark this team, you know like lead off hitters do from time to time (see Scott Podsednik)
Hey look!
RISP 0 outs again, different story???
gonna call it right here, MB walks, Lee ties the game!
Never mind
Horrible at bat for Milton ... runner on 3rd, 1-out no contac and struck out swinging.
this is the worst played game collectively i have seen by the cubs yet this year. they are so flat.
Brenly: "Seems kinda funny to worry about Fox and Hoffpauir's defense when you see Soriano blow plays in LF on a daily basis."
2 GIDP's in crucial situations. Lack of focus, lack of fundamentals, lack of discipline has over-run this team, and it's contagious.
As was said, "Cubs nation could see this coming in the offseason" by an overwhelming majority, including national media outlets, and especially myself. I might've been the most outspoken on here regarding where I saw the team going. I thought they got worse, that they didn't solve the bullpen, nor a lefty power bat, and I was beside myself over the DeRosa trade.
This team is going nowhere, and it's going nowhere for 2-3 years folks...if that. The free agent market is barren next year (no quick fixes). We have no offense at the minor league level (which we need), and we have untradeable contracts for the next few years.
I could list (as I did in the offseason), nearly every MLB team that has a 20-something slugger or two on their roster at this point. We have Fox and Hoffpauir, both of whom proved they were sluggers in the minors, but haven't proven anything yet at the MLB level in terms of power.
If you look just in our division, you have the following "power hitters" (players that have proven they can hit over 20+ hr in the big leagues...and are 30 and under):
Cards: Pujols, Duncan, Ankiel (though both Duncan and Ankiel have been injured this year) and Ludwick (Rasmus up-and-coming)
Brewers: Fielder, Braun, Hardy, Hart (Gamel in the wings)
Reds: Bruce, Votto, Encarnacion
Pirates: Adam LaRoche, McLouth (until recently)
Astros: Pence
Now why is this significant? Well, with our chief competition in the Central being the Cards and the Brewers...and both having multiple 30 and under hitters capable of doing significant damage, then you're screwed for years to come. We happen to have only one legitimate power prospect in the minors right now (Vitters). Sorry to say, but unless we make some trades, we're going to be bad for a very long time.
I love the Cards, and I love the Brewers now...both teams play the game the right way, and both have super exciting offenses where, as a fan of baseball, you know they're not out of any single game.
When we give up 2-5 runs, it's been "game over" for us this year, and it has been for many seasons (last year was an exception). It puts an immense amount of pressure on your pitching, and the one way you can solve it is by getting young, up-and-coming power/RBI threats in your everyday lineup instead of recycling veterans at nearly every other position.
Lee, Soriano, and Fukudome will all be a very ugly 33 and over next year (both have regressed SIGNIFICANTLY the past 2 seasons). None were particularly consistent throughout their careers to begin with, so they age even worse, whereas an Adam Dunn, Berkman, Carlos Lee, etc. will age far better.
I've had it with this team, and I'm thinking about cancelling my subscription to mlb.tv
It's just really ugly baseball. Ugly hitting. Ugly defense. Ugly bullpen. Ugly effort. Ugly managing (both field and upper management), and it's time the fans stood up to this crap and stopped going, just as they did at the end of 2006. It's the only way changes get made.
GAME IS OVER
(CLAP! CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP)
what an ugly, ugly, unprofessional team we have right now
Just when you think you've seen it all, a run scored on a infield fly out rule. Don't know if I've seen that before
I've seen it before, Neil--in Little League baseball game.
Great point!
And some of you guys think the Cubs are going to win the division? This is EMBARRASSING. It is AWFUL BASEBALL.
Patton did a good job. They either must use him more or move on. I agree with what Brenly said about Soriano's defense.
Patton needs to stay. He's not the problem. At least he throws strikes. More than Cotts, Marmol, Heilman, Gregg, and Ascaino can do.
This team is in total disarray. If they quit on Pinella like they did Baker, they could lose 100 games this year.
If the Pirates win today, they'll have more wins than the Cubs.
I think Pat and Ron seem to be grasping at straws to find something positive or hopeful to say about this Cubs team....they can't keep from sounding almost cynical, however. Who could blame them. The wheels have definitely come off with no spare tires in sight!
In honor of Harry, HOLY COW.....what an amazing amount of change in the week that I've been on vacation.
I'm speechless. As Neil said above, I don't think I've ever seen a run scored on an infield fly out rule. Not even on my son's little league team.
I am amazed, in a sickening way. The whole Bradley thing has been a disgrace. Soriano's play in the outfield has also been a disgrace....as evidenced by Brenly absolutely calling Soriano out live on TV. Oh, and that was after completely trashing Theriot for his play at second on steal attempts.
I'm just disgusted. I don't WANT to be disgusted, I really don't. I want to believe that we can somehow turn this thing around, with our current players or minor league call-ups.
But it can't. It won't. It's going to be 90% ugly the rest of the season.
Most of all, I'm sad. Profoundly sad.
Zambrano doesn't have his "good stuff" one more time, likewise Dempster and Harden. Will the rest also join the crowd? More than likely so the team can then have the offense, defense, AND pitching join together in a downward spiral to last place in the division. For weeks, we've been waiting for glimmers of some type of recovery but the signs point decidedly in the very opposite directon. As Scott said, this is PROFOUNDLY SAD!!
Beautiful 8th Cubbies, Strike outs galore. I keep going on Cubs.com, or ESPN.com after games expecting a trade, firings, etc. Nothing! I think that is the most disconcerting part of this whole thing! If mgmt can see what we all have seen they would do something right??? Or would they honestly just give up? I better see some posts on the web soon or this year is lost, and I hate to say it but I agree with Aaron, the next 2-3 could be lost as well. The last true Window for this team was this year, except we do not have the team that the window was open for, we have a pathetic, malcontented, heartless, leaderless shell of our team! Thanks Jim, Thanks a whole freaking lot!
I'm with you too...I look every damn day on mlbtraderumors, this site, cubs.com, espn, foxsports, and suntimes for updates on the team to see if they'll make changes. I've NEVER done that before. I guess I keep thinking, "man, we've been awful in _______ area...Hendry's gotta do something, right?"...and I keep coming to those sites more and more, because it keeps getting worse and worse, and yet, NOTHING...not a single damn thing has been done, other than Vizcaino DFA'd (big surprise) and Gathright traded for Freel (big deal...LOL). I kept thinking a trade would go down for Peavy in the offseason, because that's the ONLY way trading DeRosa for those prospects made sense. I kept thinking that even if Peavy happened, a trade most surely would go down for Teahen, which would somewhat justify the DeRosa trade. And I kept thinking that when ARAM went down that Hendry couldn't possibly make the same mistake he did in 2006 by not replacing Lee's bat in the lineup....and yet, in all accounts, he failed miserably, and isn't it so convenient for him to cry about the budget right now....A little too convenient perhaps? The sale of the team?....
He is notoriously one of the slowest moving GM's in the entire world....
We have been deceived, deprived, and taken advantage of for many years...it's about time we change it.
sorry guys for being overly negative...I realize I have been...But I hate this team in every possible way, and it's mostly because of Hendry...and it's because we have a 90 year old manager that can't even remember his own age (did you guys see that recent interview?)
I love watching good baseball, but I don't tolerate crappy play. I couldn't stand it as a player, and would call out my teammates, and I couldn't stand it as a coach. You play the game the right way, or you get replaced in the lineup....Plain and simple.
Also...sidenote...I know it might be far-fetched, but do any of you think the Cubs are tanking it offensively because of what Hendry did. It's fairly clear nobody wants Bradley on the team, and Miles has been equally as awful. Could it be that they're like, "you took away one of our best players...Why would we play hard for you."
I mean, it's clear they were VERY close last year, and yet, instead of making one minor tweak (power lefty bat), Hendry blew up nearly the whole roster. Granted, I thought the roster of old guys (Lee, Soriano, etc. should be flipped anyhow...but not with more players their age...think Fielder, Braun, McLouth type of players) Furthermore, if you're going to get rid of DeRosa, at least replace him with an equally versatile (and cheaper), and younger version in Teahen, NOT a crappy, less versatile and 30-something Miles.
I can't be a fan of this crap, because to be a fan of this garbage would be admitting that I'm okay with it, and I'm not. I know I can't make a difference by myself, but I would hope that Cubs fans wake up, and stop going to games. Watch it on tv...that's fine. But don't go to games. It's the ONLY way things will change...All good teams have that element to them (fans that demand a lot). If you think about it, when the Yankees and Red Sox started getting better is when their fans stood up, and stopped coming. Similarly, with the White Sox, we all know their fans don't stand for crappy teams, and the Yankees and Red Sox have some of the craziest, loyal fans in the world, and yet they won't come if the team doesn't win.
I think Cubs fans in general have this sort of arrogance about them, like, "I'm been a loyal fan for 40-50 years, and I've attended 500+games in person, and had season seats several seasons....I've stuck with the team in all the losing seasons, blah blah blah." I think that's the biggest reason we haven't won in 100 years. It's because fans have that mentality, that somehow, if you don't buy apparel, hang out at Wrigleyville, buy a subscription to Vineline, or mlb.tv to watch them, or whatever, that you're a "fairweather" fan, because they see other team's fans as such, when in fact it's almost like a civil disobedience type of think to provoke change. Owners care about money. If they're not drawing fans, they'll make changes, and they'll make sweeping changes, generally starting with upper management. They know that every fan that walks through the turnstiles is going to spend $20+ on ticket, $20+ on food, $10+ on parking, and $10+ on merchandise on average. So, off one fan, a team can generate about $60 average, which for 40,000 fans, equals about $2.52 million every game, and would generate $204,120,000 in revenue on average. (this does not factor in suites, mlb revenue, other merchandising, more expense seats, etc.)
Now, if you practice civil disobedience, and only 25,000 fans come through the gates, that represents about an $80 million loss (which is what separates typical "small market" teams vs "big market" teams in general)
That's why effectively destroying their revenue leads to change. Nobody wants to miss out on $80 million, and that's pretty damn close to what would happen. In fact, maybe the Ricketts are holding off to show Zell that fact....LOL. But for real, let's say you view it as a 20 yr asset (which is above average in pro sports). You could equate that to a loss of $1.6 billion in revenue. I'd have to consult my buddy on what that does to the asking price (he's in finance), but my guess is that it'd reduce the price by at least $200 million, which in this case, would make it a $700 million investment vs a $900 million investment.
I believed when ramirez got back things would change. I think he would have a direct impact on the team and the lineup. I thought we were a couple small trades away from the Central division. But it looks like the Cubs are in full melt down mode and by the time ramirez is back its too late.
The only thing to look forward today is maybe Lou blowing up in the press conference and guessing which move is next.
Something has to happen. This can't continue.
What a game. Cubs can't even score a run. Zambrano can't be the stopper the club so desperately needs. The defense is suspect one more time. All the ingredients of a team in disarray. It hurts all the worse because of the very high expectations we all had for this team with good reason. Many of us had some serious reservations about the offseason moves and now our worst fears are coming true. The team now is two games below .500 for the lst time this season, and it will be a stretch if they reach .500 again the whole damn year.
Good day Cub fans, I will be watching the wires again hoping that maybe enough is finally enough! Til tomorrow....Go Cubs Go, I guess.
Not living in Chicago, I can't be sure about this, but it seems Wrigley Field will be filled every single game, win or lose, because of the "in-thing" phenomenon of seeing baseball at this old, beloved park. Thus, Aaron's suggestion of boycotting the games just doesn't seem a feasible way of sending messages to management. Could game after game of LOUD booing get their attention? I agree that there is a long standing mentality of supporting the "lovable losers" no matter what. But the Cub Nation is restless and wants change. Will it come?
One last Killer if anyone is still logged in...Cards GM on making the trade for Derosa ""Sometimes you have to look at short-term decisions vs. long-term planning and he recognized we have something special going on and didn't want to leave it for chance that things would just get better," Mozeliak said. "We understood the cost and we went ahead and did it."
See Jim, that is what we are asking for!!! "Didn't want to leave it to chance that things would just get better"
I saw that too. In fact, Hendry has made almost identical remarks in 2009 post-ARAM injury as he did in 2006 post-Lee injury. He kept saying, "when we get him back later in the year, it'll be like making a blockbuster trade" Really Hendry? Is that how you justify your inaction and poor decision-making. You have to always be on the lookout to make changes, and yet, when Hendry has made "good" trades in the past, it was always other teams initiating talks (Pittsburgh, Marlins, and Red Sox come to mind). In all cases, he didn't have to give up much, because it fell into his lap. Yet, when he has to make trades to sure up his team, he ALWAYS gets taken advantage of, and it's ridiculous.
Hendry has ruined all of our hopes for the summer...there's nothing left to hope for now, except that the Bears will finally win it all.
Okay, now THAT is regression. After a hard fought game, the Cubs just showed absolutely pathetic effort all around. Maybe it's the fact that they know they have to take on DeRosa more this year...maybe the Bradley talks finally got to the Cubs. Whatever the reason, this was absolutely inexcusable all around.
WGN Radio is reporting the Indians called the Cubs about DeRosa before dealing him to the Cardinals.
Don't you think, Neil, that Hendry needs to go public about this and why he couldn't or wouldn't make that deal?
Aaron is reporting that if that indeed is true, then he will wait until further information is available (who did they ask for?) and what Hendry's reponse was...well, okay, Hendry's response obviously was, "no thank you....we got this season taken care of thus far"...but, I will wait...and if it comes out they weren't asking for the moon, and we could add his salary (which Crane Kenney already confirmed), then I can no longer be a fan of this team (this year...well, actually....until Hendry is fired), because if I am, then I agree and approve of this team, and I don't. The blame is ALL on Hendry's head.
The fact is, nearly all of us saw this coming...and he didn't?!? And he's the one that's supposed to be an "expert" in this position. Why would we support him? Why would we support this garbage?
Protection for the most lethal hitter in the game is NEVER a good thing for us, and the Cardinals just landed that...BIG TIME!!!!
http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/the_rest_of_the_story.html
Price too high according to this report.
Aaron, once I have more I will post it. I was shocked when I heard this deal because everything I read in the Cleveland papers said they were looking at Major League-ready starting pitching.
It will interesting to see who the PTBNL ends up being.
Is there any reliever on the Cubs staff right now that is comparable... Ascanio, Gaub, Stevens I do not care ANYONE!!!! The price was too high? I do not get it! What price would have been acceptable Jim, Neal Cotts straight up?? You have lost it, and I for one believe you never had it in the first place. Always a Cub fan, til the day I die, but I rue the day Jim (I got Aramis Ramirez and D Lee gift wrapped for me) Hendry came to town. Thanks Jim, again my profound thanks for yet again singlehandedly wasting another wait til next year on your own Dang ego. See ya Hendry in the hall of Shame next to Jim Frey, and the many others who failed this team epically! You have joined an elite and selective crew that has blue blood of 100 years on your hands.
If true......HENDRY & LOU OUT TODAY NO QUESTION, they are done in Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!