Game Eighty-Two: Cubs (41-40) vs. Braves (40-43)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Kevin Hart (0-0, 1.59/1.41) vs. Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.46/1.38)
Weather permitting ... The unofficial start of the second half kicks off with the rubber game of the series, and the last game of the year against the Braves. After taking the first game on Monday, a win this afternoon would give the Cubs a season series split against Atlanta. Today is also the conclusion of a long string of games for Lou Piniella's crew that began back on June 17.
The Cubs complete a streak of 22 games in 22 days this afternoon with a chance to post a winning record after a difficult stretch. The Cubs are 11-10 in the first 21 and have shown a lot of improvement over the last nine days. Tomorrow will be the team's first day off since June 15 ... the rainout against the White Sox was on June 16.
Carlos Zambrano was scheduled to take the mound today but with the injury to Ryan Dempster, the Cubs have decided to give Kevin Hart his first start at the Major League level. The Cubs will need a solid outing from Hart in order to post their third straight series win.
Geovany Soto should be back behind the plate this afternoon ... and look for Jake Fox at third base.
The Cubs offense must do their job against Kenshin Kawakami but this afternoon it all starts with Kevin Hart ...
Kevin Hart will make his first career big league start this afternoon. Hart burst onto the scene in the Fall of 2007, dominated out of the bullpen (0-0 in eight games with a 0.82 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP) but faltered out of Spring Training a year ago.
The Cubs had high hopes for Hart. He made the team out of camp then forgot how to throw strikes. Hart was 2-2 in 21 relief appearances last season with a 6.51 ERA and a horrible 2.06 WHIP. Hart developed a bad habit of nibbling around the plate and whenever he got into trouble, he could not get out of it. Hart gave up 39 hits along with 18 walks in 27 2/3 innings ... opponents hit .325 against him.
Hart has a lot of ability and the stuff to be very successful at the Major League level ... its time for him to follow Randy Wells' example and make the most of his opportunity.
Today will be Hart's fifth game of the season. He has allowed a run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings with a strikeout and five walks. Hart must be aggressive today, like he was in 2007, or it will be a very long, short outing this afternoon.
Kevin Hart has faced the Braves once in his big league career. He tossed an inning of relief on June 22 ... the makeup game in Atlanta. Hart walked a batter and did not give up a hit.
- Garrett Anderson - 0-for-1
- Jeff Francoeur - 0-for-1
- Casey Kotchman - 0-for-0 with a walk
- Nate McLouth - 0-for-2
The Cubs faced Kosuke Fukudome's former teammate during their first trip of the season to Atlanta. The Cubs put up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in seven innings against Kenshin Kawakami. Randy Wells was in line for the victory but the Cubs' bullpen gave up the win in the final two innings.
Kawakami has been very good of late, like the entire Braves' pitching staff. While Kawakami has received only one decision in his last six starts (posted a win in Boston on June 19), the Braves are 4-2 over that span ... and the last time he was beaten was on May 27 in San Francisco.
Kawakami was 1-0 in five June starts with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP but is coming off a bad start against the Nationals. Adam Dunn and Company plated five runs, four earned, on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
This afternoon will be Kenshin Kawakami's first career start at Wrigley ... he is 2-3 in seven road starts this season with a 5.65 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP.
- Andres Blanco - 1-for-3
- Milton Bradley - 0-for-2
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-2
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-3
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-3 with a double
- Alfonso Soriano - 1-for-4 with a home run
- Geovany Soto - 0-for-2 with a walk
- Ryan Theriot - 0-for-4
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
This game may very well not happen if the weather I got between last night and right now is anywhere near Chicago.
Aaron...who do you think will win the Halladay sweepstakes?
-I don't think the Blue Jays will deal
to NY/Boston.
-Word is The Angels are interested...without saying...the Brewers and Cards...hope not them.
rumor has it Riccardi's only "considering" Boston and NY to drive the price up. My guess is that he lands either with the Phillies for some package involving Carrasco and Michael Taylor, or to a darkhorse candidate---the Brewers, involving Gamel and Escobar.
also...forgot to mention...you all do realize why the Jays are said to be making this move, right? It's all about the money. They can't afford his Peavy-esque salary next year, and know the haul will drop considerably if they wait until next year to deal him.
If I were Hendry, I'd have Riccardi on speed dial right about now...and NOT for Halladay, but the deal I proposed before. The Jays LOVE Halladay, but with Wells, Rios, and Ryan eating up a ton of their payroll they can't fit Halladay in. If the Cubs take all 3 off their hands, they save more than $30 million, even if they have to take on Soriano, Fukudome, and Bradley. (or, if they take on just 2 of the 3, they save even more). We could throw in Colvin, and Marshall to get the deal done if need be. I just think that's a trade you HAVE to at least consider at this point. I mean, because they don't really want to trade Halladay, but would love to find a taker for Wells, Rios, and Ryan.
Make it happen JIMBO!!!!!
Re Halladay...you don't think the Angels will make a serious play?
Re Hendry's speed dial...He may not be able to think that big...you might consider sending him your proposed trade by courier...to point him in that direction....(I'm not being facetious or sarcastic here...just truthful.)
Ryan has been released
Today's lineup:
Fukudome - CF
Bradley - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fox - LF
Soto - C
Baker - 2B
Blanco - SS
Hart - P
I like the lineup.
Baker cant do any worse than Fontenot. Bradley is better in the 2 hole, can get on base but has trouble getting runs in. Soriano is out and Fox is in good move.
I am surprise Theriot is not in with a off day tomorrow or is he injured.
I think just a day off for Theriot ... I have not heard about an injury. And to the best of my knowledge he has played in every game this season.
Theriot's been promised around 5-6 games off, but he's probably only had two or three due to Miles and Freel constantly getting hurt. This would fall in line with one of his "scheduled" days off.
WOW...we might have some scoring punch
1 - 5....and we finally get to see if Baker can do anything.
Hope Hart has it...if not...Ascanio
back up for Sunday.
1-6 Soto has been hitting the ball well lately.
This lineup is very interesting to me. I just hope they get a game in to actually USE said lineup.
One last thing: if this game does get rained out, August 24th has to be the makeup date simply due to the fact neither team has an identical day off other than that one. Coincidentally, that would also make it the start of a long homestand at a crucial point in the season, so maybe getting rained out today wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
also dig the lineup...especially Bradley @ the 2 hole. So far he's been able to get on base, but not hit very well.
Did ya'll read Theriot's comments about his recommendations for a new owner? If I remember correctly: a retractable roof...no scratch that...just a roof that they can put somewhere on Waveland when they don't need it, a bigger clubhouse...big enough to fit an olympic sized swimming pool in, private jets for all the players, and "do something about Fontenot's hair".
Any word on how DJ LeMahieu is doing? Has he even signed yet? For those of ya'll who were watching LSU win the CWS, you may recall his CLUTCH double in the bottom of the 9th that tied the game w/ two outs. Good for the bayou bengals, and good for the Cubbies! Some sowf in ya mowf Chicago!
Mario,
I actually was wondering the same thing yesterday about LeMahieu, so I did some research myself, and found an LSU blog talking about it...granted most of the comments were from back in June, but there were varying opinions. Here's a couple links:
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/messagetopic.asp?p=13756872&pg=2
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090705/SPORTS20/907050316/1068/NEWS23/After+helping+LSU+win+crown++LeMahieu+ponders+next+move
The LSU one had several bloggers say he's gone, and others saying he wants to get married, stay for one more season, then leave his junior year. The other link is saying he's a huge Cubs fan, and with Manieri's relationship with the Cubs and with Hendry, it states that a deal will probably get done.
It'll be interesting to see...Also, another link talks about signings...it's a little out-dated, as some of the picks listed have already signing....but the one of note is Austin Kirk. He's excited about playing for the Cubs, but doesn't know if they'll offer enough money to keep him from going to school:
http://www.mouthpiecesports.com/cubsblog/2009/06/23/2009-mlb-draft-updates-on-cubs-picks/#more-1301
thx man...tough to choose for myself, but I'd have to say I hope he starts w/ the Cubs organization more than stays @ LSU (other than the obvious educational issues). This past season for LSU was pretty magical, and while I hope they can, I don't think they'll be able to reproduce next year...
also, neat story about lefty/righty hitting. I was always a little too scared to try lefty. I did in the cages, occasionally at practice, but never in a game
well, I wish a lot of little leaguers out there knew how to do the eye test. If you don't know, it's where you focus on a distant point (usually a foul pole) with both your eyes. Then you close one eye. If the object slightly jumps, then it could go either way, but if it jumps big time, then you're dominant in the other eye (which is what happened to me). See, I couldn't handle breaking pitches or offspeed pitches righty when I'd turn my head to locate the ball. This is because the level of eyesight changes when you turn your head, thus exposing the dominant eye. If that makes sense...
Anyway, as a lefty, my right eye (dominant eye) is always on the ball, so I was almost like Randall Simon or Vlad Guerrero, where I could hit absolutely anything----you name it, shoe tops, head high, belt high, outside, inside, and I was still getting the bat on the ball. I also think it was due, in part, to my right arm (pitching arm) being much stronger than my left (which was the lead arm when I was batting righty). Anyway, I bet there's a lot of young kids struggling out there, that if they'd be informed about that test, they could see huge results.
Sorry to sound all Steve Stone...LOL..."for those of you kids out there"...LOL
As an avid Cubs fan, I thought you might be interested to know more about an opportunity for one lucky Cubs fan to win a once in a lifetime Wrigley Field moment. This Sunday July 12th, Valspar, the official paint of Wrigley Field, will be raffling off the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the game versus the Chicago White Sox on September 3rd, as well as two tickets to the game. Fans can sign up to win at either game of the doubleheader versus the St. Louis Cardinals. There is no charge to enter the drawing, but entrants are encouraged to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity and Valspar will be collecting cash donations during the games. Please help us the word to die-hard Cubs’ fans about this unique opportunity to stand on the pitcher’s mound at Wrigley Field. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at jslevin@peppercom.com.
do you have to be present at the ballpark to sign up???
You can actually sign up at http://www.valspar.com/fieldcolors, and the contest has been extended through August 3rd so it's not too late!
Line up has been updated per Muskat...soto is pulled andf Theriot is at ss batting 2nd.
CF Fuky
ss Theriot
1B Lee
3B Aram
RF Milton
LF Fox
2B Baker
C Hill
P Hart
Soto out due to Mild Left Oblique strain and is day to day.
Oh good, another injury.
I saw Robinson played first yesterday with Clevenger catching (Iowa)...are they converting him or just a way to get his bat in the lineup...I wonder.
not converting. Iowa has been killed lately with all the call-ups, and their own injuries. Scales, Dubois, Fox, Deeds, and I believe even Clevenger have seen time at 1B this year in addition to Robinson. When you have all the roster shuffling going on with players going down to AA, or to the big club, sometimes you have to make moves on the fly, and that's what they're doing there.
I sure hope the Cubs do the smart thing, and send up Clevenger. Though I posted awhile back that Robinson was hot and should've been brought up earlier, shortly thereafter I practiced my preaching, did research, and found his stats to be VERY underwhelming in his career. On the other hand, Clevenger's average and OBP has always been high, no matter what level he's at. Historically, it shows that he takes about a half season to get familiar with each league, then he sets it on fire to the tune of a .300+avg, .390+OBP, while you can expect Robinson to be around the .250-.260 avg range with a .320-.335 OBP
Thanks for sharing your research...re the catchers.
I like this lineup better than the earlier one. I just don't like Blanco in the lineup....late inning defensive replacement, fine...but he's really NOT a good option on offense, (which we need badly), and you can see Piniella's thinking...he views Hill as significantly lesser offensively than Soto (which is correct), and if you throw Blanco in there, then it gives up even more offensively to the other team.
I should note to you guys that Kevin Hart is a pretty good hitting pitcher. In college, he hit .369 avg, .403 OBP, 8 hr, 33 RBI and at Iowa in 2007, he hit .444, .500 OBP with 8 hits in 18 AB's, and .364 avg and OBP this year with 4 hits in 11 AB's (2 doubles)
Aaron:
Were you a good hitting pitcher?
Were you Micah Owings or an automatic out?
I was a crappy hitting pitcher, until my pitching coach and I were messing around one day, and we both did the "eye" test to see which side we were supposed to hit from. He had been hitting lefty his whole life, and I had been hitting righty my whole life. His came out to about even, but he gave it a try righty, and was spraying balls all over the place.
So I decided to give it a try myself. Sure enough, I started banging them off the wall, over the fence, straight up the middle lefty, and the funny thing is, neither of us had really faced live pitching from the other side of the plate before. I mean, we'd swung the bat from the other side, but not against live pitching.
We had this bet going that during fall ball, I'd go up and hit left-handed, and swing, instead of bunt (he said he'd have my back if I did it...with the head coach). I go up there, and I'm facing our Saturday starter (which, if you know college baseball...it's generally your best starter). Everyone's hootin' and hollerin' in the background with me going up left-handed, and I could see our head coach arguing with my pitching coach in the dugout...he finally got him settled down. First pitch, I foul straight back, next pitch curve in the dirt. Third pitch, I hit a line drive off the top of the yellow line straight away center about 400 feet away, and slide into 3rd with a triple.
I get back to the dugout, and my head coach goes, "don't think that'll earn you any at bats"....it kind of pissed me off at the time, because some of our starters doubled as DH's every now and then when they weren't pitching, and I thought since I switched to lefty, and was hammering the ball, he'd allow me to do it...but oh well, what can you do
i hope we can get a win today we need it and hart is a very good batter
According to the Sun Times, the Cubs might call up Chris Robinson or Steve Clevenger for the weekend.
Updated lineup, Soto scratched with mild left oblique strain.
Fukudome - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Bradley - RF
Fox - LF
Baker - 2B
Hill - C
Hart - P
Lou just announced the lineup (same at what Neil had posted earlier)
Fukudome - CF
Bradley - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fox - LF
Soto - C
Baker - 2B
Blanco - SS
Hart - P
I think that interview with Piniella was recorded earlier BEFORE Soto hurt himself in batting practice and had to be replaced.
Okay, I see, thanks! (Neil, you can delete my lineup, haha)
Hi Charles,
I've been meaning to ask you...
If the Cubs and Rangers ever met in the
World Series...who would you be rooting for...and would you be torn?
Also just announced....even though rain is falling, the game should start right on time.
Scratch that...Rain Delay :(
Yep...rain delay
Does it look like we'll get this one in today, if not I'll actually have to work today.. At least I get to watch the Iowa team for 4days this week in OKC 5 games, 4 days NICE...Take care all,
any time on when the game will start?
Not yet...I'm listening to WGN right now...I'll let ya know as soon as they announce it.
ugg...it's been raining like hell here in the dirty south this past week. We went almost all of June w/ nary a drop, and now it's on like Donkey Kong. Hope that doesn't mean hurricane season is starting early...
You can scratch Soto from today's linup when we start back up again. Ugh...
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2009-07-08-2030193378_x.htm
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/07/cubs-start-delayed-by-rain.html
tarp being taken off, supposedly starts at 2 pm CST
PLAY BALL!!!!
Game on ... set to start at 2:00pm. Cubs just took the field.
Another blown call...
Horrible call, Fukudome was safe by a mile.
I am surprise he missed that call the ump had the perfect angel.
well....looks like another game is over before we even have an official game...1-0 with an inept offense like we have....pretty much says it all. Before Jake Fox slowed the inning down a bit by seeing like 7 pitches, he had only thrown 3 and gotten 2 outs
50 pitches so far not promising... kinda looks like the wheels are getting wobbly... good job to escape the 3rd with limited damage though
BJ Ryan was just released by the Blue Jays. Woul;d you want JH to try an sign him cheap. He is having trounle this year but was reliable before this year?
Kawakami: no hit through 3 IP
39 pitches
Dealing Strikes
We can do better than this.
The Cubs, the Cubs will get a hit the next time up and more after that.
Suzy, I guess the Braves are thinking this Cub team is "easy" and not at all hard to stifle their "offense"...seems they have reason to think that. By the way, if in my lifetime a miracle happened with a Cubs vs. Rangers World Series, I would be rooting for the Cubs since I have been a fan of that team long before the Rangers came into existence. Guess, however, it would be a win-win situation which I would welcome!
Well...it would be a miracle on both sides of the coin, Charles...Glad to hear you are "true blue"/
With both my parents and I initially
from Boston...my Red Sox roots are deep...but not quite like my passion for the Cubs...while torn in a series like that...I would be Cubs all the way...
that's why I was curious about you.
Re our offensive offense...while Atlanta
may feel that way...in my gut I feel we will win today....btw they said Lou was
"cranky" due to yesterday's offensive
performance.,,,
I like when Lou is "cranky"! ! !
No hits after 3 innings?!?!?!?
WHEW!!! Hart's done ok for a guy that hasn't really been stretched out or pitched that much...72 pitches,,,he may be done.
We need to score...right now.
Go Cubs!!!
wooohooo No No buh bye
Nice to see the start of the 2nd half of the season (game number wise) is starting off just like most of the first half went...no hitting, no offense
Just like the season...This game ain't done yet!
Still can't count on Bradley to get a clutch hit when really needed...nothing new but oh so very disappointing!!
OK it is time to go get the Kid, he has been more than adequate BUT 2-0 counts are gonna start biting back!
Blue Jays just released B.J. Ryan--their former closer. Now here's a chance to pick him up off the scrap heap and send him down to Iowa to get ready to help our pen. He's lefthanded, has had success in the past, and might just be lightning in a bottle. Can't be worse than COtts.
Let's get Hart a few runs so he might be a winner.
I get this strong ,unsettling feeling that the Braves will get to Hart soon and score some more runs. I don't, however, think the Cubs seem in a mode to score several runs and take this game. Back to that same old frustrating scenario of wasting a decent pitching performance with no offense. Boy, does that ever get old...another relatively unknown pitcher looks great against this feeble Cub lineup, particularly so with runners in scoring position. Don't you know this looks inviting to the soon to be invading Cardinals.
oh boy...this could be insurmountable the way the bats are going today...not good.
Yep, this game is over.
Back to lousy hitting.
Speechless...
You know I try to keep the faith, try to get excited, try to have a good run where I am not spazzing on how bad this team can be.....and then they pull ths junk!
rally caps...boys...rally caps!!!
It's April in July...weatherwise...no reason we can't score here.
this team is so incredibly boring on offense....they literally put you to sleep...I started dozing off myself.
horrible game by the offense. Two bad calls by the 2nd base ump today...just awful calls...and it's worse, because I think he's out to screw the Cubs, honestly---with games he's called in the past....but it's still no excuse. We've GOT to swing the bats, and Hendry's living in a dream world right now, saying, "if everyone hits like they're supposed to..." For real, Jimbo, GET A DAMN CLUE!!!!!!!!!! If that was really how it worked, then there would be no need for trades, right? Because you would never put a team together that was doomed to fail, would you?
It's absolutely ridiculous that anyone would buy into his crap. Freel and Baker are all we have to show for "offensive improvements" this year. LOL....how pathetic is that?
Shake up the roster Jimbo, before it's too late!!!!! If guys aren't performing, then get their ass a one-way ticket out of town...plain and simple.
AMEN, amen, Aaron. What's so terribly frustrating is our pleading voices remain ignored and unheard. That statement of "if everyone hits like they're supposed to" was very insightful into Hendry, wasn't it. How condescending can he get!
Kosuke breaks the Ice !!!!
KOSUKE!!!!
Yesterday, the Braves defense beat us up. Today, our defense has kept us in the game. Kevin Hart gave up 9 different baserunners in 5 innings. That's not good regardless of how many come across to score. We should be thankful only one guy scored on those and that the other one scored on a homer.
And right on cue, there's the offense.
when are our hitters going to learn to stop pulling outside pitches, thus rolling over pitches into easy double plays....it's pathetic
that's actually basic fundamentals you learn in Little League, by the way...we used to get drilled on it by our coaches, and yelled at when we tried to pull it in practice. For some reason, the Cubs are the worst in the league at this very fundamental aspect of baseball
and just as I was talking about fundamentals with offense, we almost botched a fundamental run-down play. We ended practice with that every day when I was younger. You held the ball out in your hand, and ran the guy back to the base he was coming from, then threw when he got about 10 ft away, went in the direction you threw it, and took that guy's place in the run-down...we suck in everything but starting pitching right now....as I've stated repeatedly
Unfortunately they can't do that when the situation calls for it (Runner on second no outs)
In the case of a lefty. (That's how my mind thinks of hitting)
Guess Lee couldn't stay that hot for too much longer, but since certain others (Bradley, to be specific) can't be counted on, Lee's torrid pace will be sorely missed. How many of us think the Cubs will come back and win this game when the dust has settled? Do I see ANY hands? If the Braves tack on any more runs, then things look rather hopeless in light of recent past history. I just didn't feel that way last year because that ballclub had that intangible something that spelled victory, often snatched out of what would seem defeat. What a difference a year makes!
can we please just cut our losses with Bradley right now?!? Hoffpauir everyday can't be worse than that joker. In fact, in 90 less plate appearances than Bradley, Hoffpauir has 1 more home run, 3 more RBI, and has just one less double than Bradley has. If you average it out, Bradley homers once every 40 AB's, and Hoffpauir, once every 22 AB's. If you average it out, and Hoffpauir had as many plate appearances as Bradley, then he should have about 11-12 home runs by now, which would mean he'd double Bradley's output there, and I'm sure he'd double his output with RBI too.
It's an interesting take. I can handle a high OBP, low average, so long as you produce the home runs and RBI necessary to put a winning product on the field (Dunn)...but even Dunn has a higher avg and OBP than Bradley now, and has about 4 times as many home runs as Bradley, and 3 times as many RBI (and that's on a crappy Nationals team...imagine how many RBI he'd have with the Cubs....I think about Pujols numbers, actually...which is why I begged for him in the offseason). Bradley's a joke, and I hope Hendry wakes up from his coma to realize that, and the fact he NEEDS to get another RBI threat to compliment ARAM ASAP
I'm starting to think that Jim Hendry saw "big, black DH with 20+ homeruns" and assumed he was a serious power threat he could put in right. With the way they keep using Bradley, his high OBP is completely useless to us. He's not going to hit 20 homeruns. He's probably not going to hit 15. They need to realize that, bat him either first or second to use him in a situation where his high OBP can be of use, and go from there.
Which would be a great plan if we didn't have a guy leading off who can typically net us two bases when he gets on instead of one.
Ok...it's July 8th. About six months since we got Bradley and not Dunn.
Bradley is no good... no doubt.
But Dunn as a topic is from the department of the reduncy department.
Giving you the benefit of all previous posts...I'll start from today::::
Aaron & Dunn: plus 1 ( plus 2 not that long to wait I trust.)
19 RBI's halfway through the season for a guy batting in the middle in the lineup is inconceivable.
It's really beyond belief.
and we have 3 more years with this guy !!!
UGH
Escobar again?!?!?
Ugh...
This sucks. I rushed home for this crap?
What the hell was Kosuke doing?
Bad breaks keep happening to the Cubs, a cloud hanging over them, raining down all kinds of negatives. This team does not have IT, whatever "it" is. The reasons are many, but the facts are evident, much to the dismay of us who want to stay positive and have hope.
Gregg really put that one out of reach.
I turned off at the Fukudome blunder...I'll wait for the recap, but I'm thinking 1-2-3 in order in the 9th. Lee strikes out, ARAM lofts an easy fly out, or chopper to short, and Bradley goes down swinging pitifully to end the game.
The only thing I care about at this point is....what are we gonna do about it?!? Hendry....you're up to bat. You heard your manager before the game...you see the crap on the field....now do something about it!!!! That's what you get paid for. I'd also love to see the post-game.
Neil, can you post Piniella's video link somehow for after the game?
Lee whiffs
Aramis flies out
Bradley Ks....
You called it.
Nothing I can say.
I'm out of ideas and enthusiasm...St.Louis looms large...
Ricketts/Kenny/JH/Lou...right this ship.
As I said in an earlier post today:
Nice to see the start of the 2nd half of the season (game number wise) is starting off just like most of the first half went...no hitting, no offense
And now add same crappy closer.
Well, this team sure knows how to put things out of reach for themselves and take any pressure off the Braves should they have had only a one run lead in the 9th. Same song, untold number verse....no Cub offense means defeat, even with sterling starting pitching. What seemed a hopeful turn of events leading into the All-Star break (3 of 4 from the Brewers) has now turned distinctly sour and ugly, an omen of a frustrating and disappointing second half. Bradley strikes out to end the game, a totally representative sign of the times!
Wow Aaron you were totally right on
LOL....oh my goodness....according to game trax, I called that 9th inning....i'm laughing my ass off right now....in utter shock....but not really, as I'm sure anyone could call this team's offense this year, along with the pen.
Runner on 1st, less than 2 outs, almost guaranteed double play. Runner on 2nd, less than 2 outs, almost guaranteed strike out, then unproductive ground out, followed usually by a K or lazy fly out....I mean, is that not right? It's like with Marmol and Gregg....you can virtually assure they will walk a batter...maybe two...it's like a guarantee.
When Bradley's on a pinch hit role, or late in games, you can almost guarantee a strike out. Why? Because I've seen this team play all damn year. What's going to change?!? Tell me!!!
So, as I said, if Jimbo doesn't understand that, then he needs to get a job back in college, coaching ball where not much changes...because clearly he can't handle that when we need it most.
100% my friends...100%, that's how dead on I've been about this season. If anyone needs their palms read....I'm available for hire....maybe we can see if Hendry will hire me for palm reading....he seems to love throwing cash around, hoping it'll stick
Now take it easy there, my friend. The Cubs are so damn predictable it's pathetic!! Admittedly, you have been "dead on" about lots of things. This I believe, were you the GM of this club on this date, there would damn sure be some changes made. Lou can't figure it out. He said as much after the game..."Go ask the players why they're not hitting, or the hitting coach. Don't keep asking me." Very revealing or is it?
sorry, just have to toot my horn a little bit, because I've earned it:
start with the offseason:
1)Myself, along with Neil commented that the Cubs would need McGehee, and were stupid to let him go, especially when we had like 5 or 6 spots open to protect him on the 40 man
2)I said trading Ceda for Gregg was idiotic...it sure has been, though Ceda is hurt, taking on $4 million for that turd (Gregg) was inconcievable, especially when we had Marmol at $500,000
3)I said trading DeRosa would cost us....sure did, didn't it, as he outperformed several of our players early on COMBINED...I think early on he was beating Bradley and Lee in hr AND RBI combined
4)I couldn't fathom the Miles signing, and said at the time that he was very inconsistent, small, and not that talented..just over-hyped...sure enough, he was
5)I couldn't fathom the Gathright signing. I said at the time...Why? For crying out loud, we had our own Gathright already for half his price ($800k vs $400 k for Pie)
6)I also called the Heilman signing, saying we gave up way too much for him with Cedeno AND Garret Olson. While Cedeno sucks, Olson has done an admirable job for them since his addition to the rotation. I still thought we could've gotten more for Cedeno. Heilman was the equivalent of Gregg, where he was a DFA/non-tender candidate waiting to happen. Heilman has been a HUGE disappointment this year, making us realize why he was loathed so much in New York.
7)I called the Bako signing too, saying it was HORRIBLE, considering the fact we already had Koyie Hill on our team. I believe I commented at the time that if we were in such a money crunch, then why would you even tender a contract like that to someone who you most likely will cut, thus eating $200k, which is precisely what happened.
8)I called the Marquis deal too...though, I stopped short of saying we'd miss Marquis, I did say he was an effective 5th starter, but I said Vizcaino didn't even belong in the league....Sure enough, major league baseball seems to agree with my assessment, as he's currently out of baseball
9)Perhaps my biggest "call" was the Bradley deal. I said the Cubs would regret not signing Dunn....We're now into the 4th month of the season. Bradley has spent time on the bench for poor performance, a suspension (anger problems), another benching related to a run-in with Lou, then comes word his teammates dislike him....all the while Dunn is raking in Washington with nothing to play for...on a crappy team, and he's still driving in runs. .262 avg, .398 OBP, 22 hr, 59 RBI....to Bradley's pathetic line of: .241 avg, .371 OBP, 6 hr, 19 RBI
Folks, how was it that I was able to predict all that? STATS....some on here have said I use stats to manipulate my assessment of the team, etc. Really? Then how come I've been so spot-on with my assessment. How come the players in question: McGehee---playing an integral role for the Brewers, Pie---doing better than Gathright...and at least in the bigs with Baltimore, Dunn---playing to his career averages, which I talked about on here a TON
and...on the flipside, Gregg, Miles, Gathright, Bako, Heilman, Bradley, etc. suck up the joint. Why? Because you just have to look at career averages. If they player in question is in his 30's, statistically he will NOT get better. He might play to his career averages, but in most cases, you'll see slight regression. That's precisely why you hedge your bets on the consistent performers.
There's another one I forgot to add to the list....I also called the performance of Dempster, didn't I? I said he'd revert back to his 4+ERA of old, because that was the norm...last year's 2.98 ERA was a statistical anamoly. In fact, in statistics, when determining averages, and forecasting results, you generally throw out the highest and lowest numbers. When you do that with players like Dempster, Lee, Bradley, and Soriano, then you begin to see how good, solid predictions work.
This team sucks....and so does Hendry!!!!!!!
We really need a manager who has the balls to really make some radical changes. How long is Lou going to remain in comatose mode?
Hart does fine as a late minute fill-in, and as usual has nothing to show for it.
So many fundamental mistakes today....all for $130 million in payroll. Nice!
Personally, at this point, I wouldn't do anything if I was Hendry.
I know this will never happen, but if Lou put the right guys (Fox, Hoffy, Reed, Fuld, Blanco, etc) on the field, and the wrong guys (Sori, Psycho, and Fontenot) on the bench, this team would be good enough to win this weakass division.
But again, I know it will never happen, b/c of the money the "wrong guys" are making.
Very frustrating.
The DBACKS are in selling mode what are Felipe Lopez, he is way better than Fontenot.
Lopez is batting 303 in 77 games. It will cost only abot 2 prospects. He is a free agent after the season.
I agree that Lopez is a better option than Fontenot at this point, but think what you'll be getting relative to his career numbers. You'll get a .265 avg, .335 OBP, 10 hr, 50 RBI, which isn't terrible, but for his salary....you could do much better.
I'd prefer either Sanchez or Teahen. Sanchez, you'll get about a .300 avg, with around a .340 OBP. But more importantly, a lead-off hitter...and a doubles threat. As for Teahen, he'll produce about a .285 avg, .350 OBP, but he'll bring you versatility and a little power as well. Lopez I'm not a fan of, because he's just too damn inconsistent, and we have enough of those players already.
Just imagine folks...If Hendry had made the one, logical, and most sought after move by a lot of Cubs fans (Dunn), we most likely are not in the predicament we're in, because when ARAM goes down, we still have a power/RBI threat, and you take away Bradley's cancerous clubhouse personality, and poor performance in the lineup, and Dunn would've been there to wipe away our sorrows....I could care less about the other moves, so long as he just made one LOGICAL move in the offseason---and that was precisely the move he HAD to make...and didn't. And we're stuck with his garbage for the next 2 1/2 years.
I don't think we'll have him for 2 1/2
years...One way or the other Ricketts
will jettison him...as a fan. As an owner, he'll try to recoup whatever...
and Hendry...if he does do something to redeem himself...is gone too...it's the first thing I would announce when I took over.
He's probably putting his short list of GM's together now.
As it looks now Sanchez and Teahen will cost more than Lopez. Lopez might cost cheaper because he is a free agent after this season and will probably be a type B free agent.
I'll never give up the whole Bradley over Dunn thing, btw, until Hendry's fired. I think this one single move shows just how bad of a GM he is with very poor foresight. Both the trade getting ARAM (positive) and the not signing Dunn (negative) will define his legacy. We were coming off a season in which we won 97 games, with solid chemistry, and he goes out and not only turns over 60% of the roster, but gets rid of the main leadership we had (Wood, DeRosa, and Edmonds), AND signs noted clubhouse cancer and resident IDIOT, Bradley, who not only can't stay consistent on or off the field, but can't stay healthy either.....it really makes you wonder what kind of hamsters are spinning the wheel inside of Hendry's head. Has he completely lost it?!?
Words cannot express how angry I am at Hendry. Please keep in mind that while the players are the ones that play the game, and generally decide the outcome (managers can usually sway about 10 games/season themselves), it's the GM that puts the team together ultimately. He's got to take the time to do research, pour over numbers, do his own scouting on free agents...and even the draft. And in all facets of his job, he gets a failing grade. And with that failing grade, he's full of excuses, isn't he?
1)the sale hasn't helped
2)we're on a tight budget
3)we're not fully healthy
4)(fires the hitting coach)...that's an excuse if I've ever seen one
5)guys will hit for their career averages...Really Jim? And what exactly is that?!?
there's all this talk by him, and no action...it's getting to the point where it's like, "either put up Jimbo, or SHUT UP!!!" Excuses aren't going to cut it....The Cardinals are 7 games over .500. Do you guys even understand that? That means...even if we sweep the 4 game set against the Cards, we're still a game behind them in the win column, and given our play of late, I don't think we have a chance in hell to beat them even 2 out of 4. So, if you split the series, we're still in the same spot, then aren't we? That's why I kept chirping earlier this season to all the kool-aid drinkers who kept telling me, "but Aaron, we're still only 1,2,3 games back in the loss column (whatever we happened to be at the time)"...I kept saying that you have to still win games to make it close...and if we're a .500 team (which we've clearly shown we're either average or even below average consistently this year), then you're basing your whole season's hopes on the other teams above you failing, and that is NOT the way to make the postseason...and that's a fact.
The Cubs need a off bay, they look tired batting and in the field, well the umps didnt help.
Just root for the Brewers today which suck right now.
Lee look tired batting.
Aaron, your modesty is overwhelming.
:-)
I did not see the game.
What were the fundamental mistakes ?
And the bad ump calls ?
The ump at second blew 2 calls 1 on offense and 1 on defence for the Cubs.
The Cub salso field bat in the )F the ball went past them whick scored runs and advance runs.
They went 11-11 on the 22 straight games
This was a team loss by a poorly performing team. It makes no difference the reasons, but the Big People have not performed. Now with the team back to .500, the planning has to be focussed on next year.
While I was hoping for 5 - 2 in the last 7 for a little hope, that was below what I thought was needed (be 7 or 8 above .500 at the break). A sweep of St. Louis still gets the Blue to 5 - 2, but that isn't in the cards (no pun intended).
As stated earlier, I suspect that Lou and JH knew shortly after Rameriz went down and with Bradley and Soriano doing little that we did not have a winning team. It was not a team that could be altered much in the short run. So it came down (mostly) to playing out a poor hand--and it still does.
Those who blame management and don't blame the dramatic fall off in individual performances too are only half right. BUT MANAGEMENT IS TO BLAME! That blame simply attaches to those accountable for exceedinly poor results.
I think, after the break, we can can expect to see a team in rebuild mode. If we can't move a couple of big contracts, rebuild will mean doing something to upgrade the Little People pieces. Then it will likely take until 2112 for a highly competitive team to emerge.
Maybe the new owner can drop a contract or trade one and sign one solid free agent to accelerate the process a little. Maybe a couple of turkeys learn to fly like eagles and a positively surprising season results. And most of us won't leave the scene of this year's accident, because we will be witnessing encouraging signs of getting better.
I do expect solid effort by those who play the remainder of this year--just nothing more than a 50% won--loss record.
Sad part is that even though we're still in it, so are a lot of other teams. At this point in time, there are only about 8 teams that can really be called sellers in between now and the deadline. Out of all those teams, not one of them has a player that can help us win that they'd be willing to part with.
Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates, Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays (granted they actually WANT to move him), and MAYBE Bobby Crosby from the Athletics are going to be the only realistic moves we can make that will help us...of those three, I think Crosby is the only doable option and that's really just going to be a crapshoot as to whether or not it pays off.
I just re-emphasize that I really hope we're not in a seller mode at the deadline, cause this team will not recover if we are.
We would be no better off today with Dunn vs Bradley.
They are both terrible.
We might have a some more Hr's and RBI's, but most of them would have come in blowout games. And we'd have another strkeout king in our lineup. And our defense would be worse. My dead grandmother could outrun Dunn.
no thanks.
There's a reason nobody wanted to touch this guy until the middle of Feb when the Nats came swooping in. LOL.
The guy is a losing type player.
I just don't get opinions like that, "we would be no better off" blah blah blah, "
This year, with RISP, he has 7 hr, 36 RBI (almost double Bradley's RBI #'s)... a .257 avg and .446 OBP
Additionally, when his team is within 1 run:
12 hr, 35 RBI, .273 avg, .415 OBP
what does Bradley have?
RISP 2 hr, 12 RBI, .220 avg, .429 OBP
within 1 run:
4 hr, 9 RBI, .218 avg, .352 OBP
So, please stop saying they're the same...do your freaking research, then get back to me...and you should know to come out swinging with stats when you're trying to debate with me...Bradley and Dunn are apples and oranges....
actually, a more suitable analogy is lemons (Bradley) and oranges.
here's another more telling stat (if you consider when they're on good teams...what they'll do)
In wins for Dunn:
.280 avg, .424 OBP, 183 hr, 473 RBI
In wins for Bradley:
.303 avg, .407 OBP, 65 hr, 263 RBI....Yikes....looks like Dunn wins by a large margin there, doesn't he?
So, moral of the story is, you put Dunn on a winning team, and he WILL surprise you, and put up even bigger numbers, and his average is 40 points higher.
So...like I said....stop comparing lemons and oranges. these guys are totally different. Bradley's a bum, and Dunn is gold
What a difference a year makes.
Soto went out with oblique problem before game. If its serious, he could be out a month.
The interesting thing to me is that if this happened last year, people would have been jumping out of their windows. This year, I sense a collective yawn from everyone.
LOL.
I guess that will happen when you're hitting .230.
Boy, do things change in a hurry.
Here's an "If Only" that's better than the one for Dunn. It's better because Dunn was still outside the budget when Bradley was signed. My "If Only" is that, had we waited until the last two weeks or so of spring training, we could have had both Abreu and Hudson on one year deals for the $10 mil per that Bradley gets. Those two guys would have put us 10 + games over .500 at this point, and Dunn probably wouldn't have.
"If Only's and similar statements have some personal meaning, but not much more than that.
LOL...oh your innuendos...let's keep it real though.
I have a legit question for you, as you like research as much as I do...(well, maybe not as much, but close)...
You said basically we're looking at rebuild mode....I've given my take on it. What's yours? What reasonable and feasible moves do you think the team can make to either A) get rid of contracts or B) set us up for the future
(if you can separate both...like the now..which would be DFA's, call-ups, and future, which would be trading big contracts, that would be great).
I'm interested in your thoughts..Also...2112? Gee, I hope we all live that long...but that's even more depressing....LOL
JimK..."If Only" is a term readily applied to our team on a regular basis.
"If Only"...the Cubs had let Sam Sianis and his goat in...in 1945...we wouldn't have to hear of it ad nauseum.
"If Only"...the black cat hadn't crossed Santo's path in 1969...AND Leo the Lip didn't drive his team into the ground.
"If Only"...the ball didn't go through
Leon Durham's glove in 1984.
"If Only" the entire starting pitching
staff did not hit the DL in 1985.
"If Only" we could have held onto Gregg
Maddux his entire career.
"If Only"...Kerry Wood and Mark Prior
could have stayed healthy...(btw we were
robbed of seeing some fantastic pitching because of that.)
"If only" Moises Alou and Steve Bartman
did not become a comedy routine.
"If only" Jim Hendry wasn't given the checkbook just when the Tribune went up for sale.
"If only" we had signed ANYBODY else
but Bradley...( I can see Aaron starting
posts 20 years from now...the Cubs downfall began when we did not sign Dunn.)
"If only" I wasn't a Cubs fan right now...that's the biggest "If Only" of all. lol
While Freddy Sanchez would be a nice upgrade over what we have now at 2B, I'm a little perplexed over the amount of love given this guy on this site. The guy has 6 HR and 33 RBI, and yet you would think he was the second coming of Ryno by what I've seen here.
Put it this way, I know Fontenot avg is terrible, but even he has 6 HR 28 RBI, which is basically the same as the great Freddy Sanchez. And we all know how bad Fontenot has been. Plus, Sanchez does not steal bases, and his K's are fairly high, and he's 31. So what gives ?
Seems to be to be another case of the backup QB being the most popular guy in town.
I don't get it.
cc002600...fact is we need a better second baseman...Sanchez or not. His .301 average is probably the thing
that attracts the most attention.
I don't think it matters right now...Our
attractive strength and trading chips to other clubs WAS starting pitching....With Dempster and Soto down...we really cannot afford to trade the almost ready prospects right now...
we might need them.
Unless Hendry can pull something out of his...shall we say sleeve...I don't see any big contracts being traded.
Sanchez is a top of the order guy and Fontenot is a perceived middle of the order RBI guy.
Sanchez eats Fonty for lunch and dinner.
Dude, you really need to stop with the Dunn love.
First off, please stop comparing Bradley to Dunn. If you think I'm sticking up for Bradley over Dunn, you are not paying attention. Bradley is possibly the worst signing I have ever seen. I cannot stand the guy. He's terrible.
The point I'm trying to make is that Dunn is not much better and certainly NOT our answer.
I could care less about some of the stats you quoted, becuase while that is interesting, (maybe to you, not to me)it does not tell the whole story. I have seen plenty of Adam Dunn down through the years. He's not a good player. Plain and simple. Let me ask you this, Do you like Soriano ? They are very similar. How many years has Sori put up 40 HR's and 80-90 RBI's ? But I know for a fact you hate Soriano. So why would you want Dunn ? They are the same type of player. They are losers.
Things the stats don't tell you about awful players like Dunn and Soriano:
1.)They ARE Brutal on defense. How many balls have we seen drop in LF this year ? Why would you want another butcher in RF ? Makes no sense.
2.) They put up their numbers against weak middle relievers in blowout games. But when the game is on the line in the 9th and all you need is contact, you'll get a K. Did you see how Sori did in playoffs last 2 years against good pitching ? Enough said. again, they are losers.
3.) We don't need another guy that's going to K 150-200 times a year. THAT IS BRUTAL.
4.) Dunn is slower than my grandma. Do we really need another guy who can't run ?? who can't go from 1st to 3rd on a single or score from 2nd on a single ?? no !!!!! please no.
Sorry, but just becuase a guy hits HR's doesn't make him a good player. There's a hell of lot more to this game than that. Dave Kingman used to hit a ton of HR's too, did you like him too ? please.
Stop with Dunn. HE'S NOT GOOD !!!!!!!
Matt and Suzy,
I'm not saying Sanchez is not an upgrade over Fonty. He has been absolutely brutal for us this year. All I'm saying is that while Sanchez' 316. BA is impressive, I don't get why everyone is drooling over this guy like he's a young Ryno or something.
The rest of his numbers don't jump off the page at you.
That's all.
Aaron,
By the way, some of your posts are so hilarious.
While you are breaking your arm patting yourself on the back for predicting that the signings of Miles, Bradley Gathright, etc would bomb, I have a newsflash for you:
1.) Predicting that was as difficult as predicting that Wednesday will come after Tuesday. Please.
You obviously must not pay much attention to what everyone else was writing during the winter. Because I don't remember one person that was happy with any of the moves that Hendry made over the winter, including myself.
There wasn't ONE person who liked the moves.
So please stop with patting yourself on the back as if you are clairvoyant or something. We ALL saw this coming.
cc002600,
a quick fact check shows you are, indeed, incorrect. Of course people aren't going to like ALL of the moves a GM makes. But the results were 50-50. So, stop inferring that NOBODY was on board with the moves, because that simply is misleading and not true at all. There was, in fact, a reason why I posted in opposition in the winter, and debated with several on here about the moves Hendry made. It was NOT because they disagreed with the moves...but because they agreed with the moves, so again, I have NO idea where you're getting that from.
Secondly, as I addressed JimK as well, the commentary I provided after my prediction came true was mostly sarcastic. After reviewing it, I can see how it might rub you wrong....but I think a majority saw the sarcasm, as only 2 of you pointed it out, and had a problem with it.
I see nothing wrong with pointing out you were right about a prediction, and how you came to that prediction. And, I highly doubt you would've predicted the same outcome....K-lazy fly out-ugly K...and that's exactly what happened, so, yeah, I was being VERY cynical when I was saying I was right, because, fact is...I didn't WANT to be right. I wish they'd proven me wrong so I could eat crow.
I then went a little overboard, showing how much I hated how this team was constructed, and related my predictions to that in the past to how they've turned out now...I agree, it was over the top. But you and JimK are so easily rubbed wrong, I just don't understand.
Both of you have said some pretty questionable things in the past, yet, you don't see people attacking you for it, do you. Learn to handle other people's viewpoints a little better, and you might live longer
Freddy Sanchez also has held a batting title in the past that, in later years, he proved wasn't a fluke. But at the same time, I think Freddy Sanchez may be comparable to Carlos Lee, as in "Does he hit well because it's Wrigley or does he hit well at Wrigley because it's against the Cubs?"
And for the record: Dunn is the exact type of player we did need this off-season. He's very much comparable to Mark McGwire: he doesn't hit much, but when he does, he makes it count. Power, if anything, was what Hendry was targetting when he wanted his right fielder. He saw Bradley's 22 homers plus his high OBP, figured it was a "can't lose" signing, and chose him over Dunn and Abreu (notice I did not mention Ibanez: he took the bigger contract when it came down to it, and we would have had to make a much bigger contract to get him here).
For what Bradley was signed to do, and make no mistake about it that he was signed to hit around 30 homers and drive in over 100 runs, he has and will fail miserably. And while Dunn may not be the greatest ballplayer in the game, had we signed him, he would probably have between 17-22 homers, around 50-60 RBI's, and an average of .245-.255 with around 40-60 strikeouts. And believe me when I say that we wouldn't even care in the least about it.
Let me tell ya something, if we had Soriano, Fuku, and Dunn in our OF you had better score 8 runs a game, because that would be BY FAR the worst defensive OF in baseball.
While Fuku is a terrific OF, he is NOT an above average CF'er becuase he doesn't cover the ground that a good CF would.
I know this may come as a shock to all you big power guys out there, but stopping the other team from scoring is just as important as hitting HR's. Just in case you forgot. If you hit a 2 run HR in 1 inning but then drop a flyball in the next inning that causes a big inning, how did you help the team ???? What does that HR matter ? How many runs has Sori let in with his terrible defense this year ? Did you see the difference when Fuld played those 2 games ? It was like night and day. We lose those games if Sori was playing.
And please please don't talk about Bradley, becuase he is God awful. I am in no way defending him.
It's too late to be talking Sanchez and other veterans unless you see him as a key in 2011 and beyond. (There I got it right 2011 instead of 2111). In my view, trying to save 2009 is no longer the point.
Aaron....Some of my recent trade ideas, however difficult to execute like the Z and Soriano ones, and playing-time ideas like playing Fox at 3rd until he makes two errors fit the re-building mode. I'll have more later.
Right now, I'm going to make one last effort to help you see the error of your ways in how you express your views. That is (again) because I care about you. It has nothing to do with being holier as you have mentioned, but it does have to do with being loftier.
Some of us older guys, no matter our walk of life, are at the pinacle of successful journies. We have learned a lot and have some nice achievements in terms of work well done, families to be proud of, personal recognition, etc. We can see a lot more of what's real and practical from our loftier positions on the hill than people in their 20's can. (We also know the only direction available to us from our pinacles. LOL)
Today you are so blindingly egotistical in speaking to your greatness--in the name of condemning team results--to be a cause for concern. Team results, in fact, deserve much criticism. A little self-stroking is OK, but you are way overboard.
I'm suggesting to you that your having to proclaim "rightness" so very often is detrimental to your effectiveness here; and, if any of that is with you in real life, you are hurting your chances to get where you want to go. To make matters more disconcerting, part of your "rightness" is because you often take positions on both sides of the seessaw so-to-speak and then you can argue the wisdom of the side that suits your interests later.
Here's some of my "cited" research that may partly make my point. I could give you several more examples, but I won't. What I'm trying to get through to you is, that there is no reason to see proclaiming "rightness" the way you do.
On 10-31-06 and about JH being able to open the checkbook you said on COO: "This is ridiculous! If what they say is true, and they are going to boost payroll "Soriano, Rameriz (a re-sign), and two more decent to good starting pitchers can be had easily if Hendry would just drop the donuts and pick up the phone and start writing checks."
You added, "I feel Carlos Lee might (might) be a better option than Soriano....Make Lee the number one target, then make a run at Soriano and others. Soriano, Lee, Zito and ARAM...these are the guys we need."
Clearly Soriano hasn't worked and, even a likely) preference for Lee doesn't change that you wanted Soriano and the grossly overpaid Zito. You were only half right on that foursome. But since then you have said repeatedly that you knew Soriano would not perform and that Lee was your choice all along. If JH had done it your way, we would have had both Soriano and Zito.
In more recent times, at the end of spring training we were posting who stayed and who went in the pen. Leading off your "dream pen" as closer was Kevin Gregg.
I am hoping that some of my points get you to thinking of how to use your intelligence, energy, and passion with
optimal constructive results for Aaron. I would also suggest that others here who are at the beginning of your adult lives look around for successful practices to emulate.
Thanks JimK. I have gotten to the point that I ignore certain comments in here.
The way I look at it is that there are 31 other major league teams. Root for one of them if you don't like the Cubs!
I was at the game today and while I hate to lose, I still had a good time. I would be in the loony bin if I took this as serious as some of the people in here. It is a game.....a pastime. It is something that you can leave if you don't like what it is doing to you.
As for some of the past comments that say my reasoning is why the Cubs have not won a World Series: I also do not like to lose, but there are other things in my life that are far more important. I have had many happy times because I am a Cubs fan and win or lose, I will still be a Cubs fan. As always GO CUBS!
LOL make that 29 other teams!
Only thing I have to say is that I wouldn't consider Soriano a "failure". Is he slumping now? Yes. Did he seriously underperform the first two months he was a Cub? Again, yes. But could we have gotten this far without him (as in two postseasons in a row)? Very doubtful.
I think that the best way to look at Soriano, and athletes in general, is solely by their performance. Soriano is being paid a ridiculous amount of money, no question. But he'd have made that much even if the Cubs hadn't signed him. With Soriano, I look at him by performance. Right now, he's doing pretty bad, and he's been in a slump for a lot longer than usual. To me, that tells me that he should be given some time off to clear his head. If that doesn't work, then you have to move him. Fans should not ever look at a contract as a reason to like or dislike a player, because they're all going to be overpaid at one point or another (case in point: when Theriot's contract runs out, he probably won't resign for any less than $5-10 mil a year..and that's WITH a hometown discount). Contract really don't have anything to do with the fan, because unless the team says specifically they can't sign anyone because they don't have the money (while in a stable ownership), it won't affect anything. Large contracted, underperforming players can always be moved...just look at Sosa.
I'll be giving Soriano another month and assume he'll get hot by that time. If he doesn't, then he probably needs to be (and can be) moved. In the meantime, I'll get on players that don't perform up to their role on the team (I'll never be mad at Bradley for what he's getting paid...I will get mad at him because he's supposed to drive guys in and he is, most decidedly, not doing that) and give credit to the ones who do.
Maybe coming into the season expecting a .500 finish is a good thing for expectations.
First of all,
Quite a lengthy post attacking my credibility, etc., and I've responded in the past about you taking things out of context...but I guess I'll respond yet again.
almost of my "patting myself on the back" tonight was said sarcastically if you could tell...(the whole palm reader, etc. obviously didn't give it away, and I should've been a little more clear).
your condescending rhetoric really doesn't help you either, and further alienates young people, because while you say, "I'm doing this for your own good"...no, you're actually doing it to pat yourself on the back for how you called it "holier than thou".
I remember working for a guy like you. He wanted me to take over his company after he retired in about a year. I studied, and did my job exceptionally well that he gave me a raise right away, and gave me even more control. It was at about that time when he started the condescending tone like you are. See, he had it in his "old school" mind that certain clients wanted his ideas, etc. It was almost like he was trying to compete with me, which was crazy. He'd tell me things that I'd already ran by clients and they loved it that, "oh, they won't go for it....absolutely not."
But they did go for it...and we ended up losing them as a client, because they wanted my idea, and he forced his idea on the bank that we were working with.
I ended up re-signing from my post, and started my own company, because he was so condescending, and he ended up being a one man shop after I left, because everyone else took off too because they were so mad at him.
I'll briefly go over the other points. You're absolutely correct about the Lee and Soriano post. And you even posted most of it. I don't know what you were getting at. I guess you were trying to say, "ha ha...you said Soriano and Zito"...yes, but did you see the context? Did you also pour over my other posts in which I compared stats, and why Lee would be the better choice of the two (even back then), but the proper context, which you fail to point out was, "....if Hendry's opening the checkbook, then why not all of them." I encourage to waste some more of your time (as you quite obviously have....I mean, who in their right mind would pour over thousands upon thousands of posts just to try to prove someone wrong....and then when they can't, they have to resort to taking out of context, don't they?)....which leads me to another point that I'll get to in a minute. And actually, "if Hendry had done it my way" we would've had Carlos Lee, Soriano, AND Zito, among others...I think I wanted Meche too at the time. Point is, I was pointing out the fact that it was absolutely crazy that the Trib was FINALLY opening up the pocketbooks, that hell, if you're going all out...you might as well go ALL out in free agency, right?
There have been times when everyone waffles...yes, Jimk, even YOU waffle....LOL....but I'm not going to waste hours of my life pouring over comments just to show that. A case in point of my recent waffling (I'll save you the research...LOL) is Chris Robinson early this year. I said "DL Soto, and bring up Chris Robinson". Why? Because Soto was overweight and his hand was coming off the bat, and Robinson was tearing it up to the tune of a .370 avg. However, at the time, I mistakenly did NOT do my research (which I try to research every time that I can), and about a week or so later realized my error...that Robinson is NOT the type of guy we want to bring up, because his overall stats are underwhelming, and he'd get eaten alive at the major league level...I then went onto state my error, and then backed it up with stats, stating that Clevenger would be the better option.
As for the bullpen scenario.....once again taken out of context....with what we had in Spring Training, he was the best option, wasn't he? Marmol was lit up in Spring Training and couldn't find the plate (still can't), and at the time, he was the best option now, wasn't he....we hadn't even finalized the pen yet...I can't remember exactly...I couldn't even find it actually, and stopped short when I found your hilarious post dated March 31:
"Maybe we're forgetting the circumstances of the DeRo, Pie and Hill trades--and letting Woodie go. DeRo and Woodie got us the $15 mil that enabled signing Bradley and Dempster. DeRo also got us 3 mid to lower level pitching prospects. (That's not as good as a top 10 type prospect--but I'm remembering that Soto was a mid to lower level prospect once. The RHP, Stevens, and the LHP, Gaub, appear to have some promise.
Pie got us Garret Olson and the pitching prospect Henry Williamson. Olson and Cedeno got us Heilman--who looks to be strong in the pen. At this time Pie has a .231 BA and a .293 OBP. Olson has a 11.57 ERA and Cedeno is just OK with a .297 BA and a .328 OBP. Hill must be disabled because he has no stats with the O's.
Like everyone else, I see DeRo and Wood as top tier players, and I loved having them on the team. But they were the two guys that could be moved if we were to try to improve our post season performance."
-so, you thought Heilman was strong, DeRosa and Wood were expendable, and Bradley and Dempster were both strong signings?
How have those moves worked out Jim? Anyway...point is, you might've said something in the days prior to that/months prior to that, which qualifies those comments, but just as you didn't do so, I'm not going to list all of the other comments, because I don't want to waste hours of my time doing so.
My last and final point is this, JimK....nobody comes on this website to look at long rhetoric about life, innuendos, etc. They come to this site for baseball.
Stick to baseball, and leave out the personal crap. I've tried not to answer a few of "you" posters out there that try to make things personal. Sometimes, I get fed up with it, and I defend myself, because frankly....I don't really like your tone with me. I might like you and have a beer with you in person...but I can't say I like you on here...and it's all because of your condescending tone.
If you were to take that tone with the players, management, etc. I wouldn't have a problem with it...because we're talking baseball, aren't we? You can be sarcastic with your comments, and say you called things, equally as much as I can...and you can eat crow when you're wrong...(just as I have). But when it gets to, "sit on grandpa's lap, and let him tell you like it is" sort of garbage...that's where I draw the line.
STICK TO BASEBALL JIMK!!!!!!!
Aaron,
You need to get over yourself, and stop lecturing other people.
We all enjoy the bantering back and forth on baseball, but really, I have never seen anyone compliment themselves more on a daily basis than you do.
Like I said before, you stated the obvious over the winter that signing Bradley, Miles, gaithright, etc were bad moves, like everyone else said, and yet you keep telling how smart you are. Please. Gimme a break. We ALL said that.
and by the way, for the record, you said the Heilman trade was a good move. Butnow you say, it was awful and that you are smartest man that has ever lived.
make your point and move on, but please stop telling us how smart you are. Its nausating.
Aaron....I called it "loftier" because experience can be the best teacher, and rising above the fray (which often comes with experience) can enable a better perspective of things.
There were no mass leavings in companies I managed, and literally a hundred or more young persons starting out can be identified who credit me for being a positive influence in their lives and/or boosting their careers. My "search" in your case was happenstance. I wondered a couple of weeks ago what was actually going on when the Trib decided to spend a lot of money. I went back to that 2006 time in the archives--and there you were.
I agree that a forum like this is a difficult place to be a constructive influence. I probably won't get over thinking out loud that "How you practice, is how you play" in baseball and in life. I'll assume that you have sufficient tools and wisdom at this point.
There is one lingering question. Where do you bury your dead? There are so many. LOL