Game One Hundred Sixty-One: Cubs (82-77) vs. Diamondbacks (69-91)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Randy Wells (11-10, 3.18/1.31) vs. Daniel Cabrera (0-5, 6.07/2.04)
Only two games remaining on the 2009 schedule ... Weather permitting the big question is, will the Cubs show up to play this afternoon? The Cubs have not shown up to the park since Ryan Dempster pitched a complete game shutout on Tuesday night against the Pirates. The Cubs have been outplayed in all aspects of the game by two 90-loss teams. This is not the way to finish a disappointing season.
Derrek Lee is expected back in the lineup this afternoon ... Lee has missed the last two games due to personal reasons.
According to a report from the Daily Herald, most of Lou Piniella's coaching staff is expected back next season, including Larry Rothschild. The official announcement could come as early as Monday.
Today it all begins with Randy Wells and just playing baseball ...
Randy Wells is stumbling toward the season's final game like the rest of his teammates. Wells' over all record in September was okay (2-3 in six starts with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP), but teams are hitting .311 (highest single month, second was in July, .272) and his WHIP is rather concerning. Wells has given up five earned runs in two of his last three starts and has completed six innings only two times in his last five outings.
Wells is running (or has ran) out of gas. Today's start is meaningless for Wells and the Cubs. While it is important for all players to finish the season on a positive note, Wells has succeeded any and all expectations and should have been shutdown two starts ago.
Randy Wells is 6-5 in 13 starts at Wrigley this season with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.
Today will be his first career appearance against the Diamondbacks.
The former Baltimore Oriole (and Washington National) will face the Cubs' for the first time in his career this afternoon. Daniel Cabrera will make his first start of the year for the D'Backs and just his sixth appearance.
Cabrera was 0-5 in nine games, eight starts, for the Nationals with a 5.85 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP ... the Nationals released Cabrera on June 5. Arizona called-up Cabrera on September 3 from Triple-A and in six innings (five games) Cabrera has allowed five runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
The Cubs must be patient with Daniel Cabrera this afternoon if they want to end their three game losing streak.
- Reed Johnson - 3-for-16 with a double and 3 walks
- Aaron Miles - 2-for-2 with a walk
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
A good amount of players, fans, and writers seem to be lobbying for a Mark DeRosa resigning. There's no good reason NOT to do it.
boy, what an incredibly disappointing year all around. First of all, Hendry was a disappointment, then Piniella, then Kenney (although the disappointment with him dated all the way to the playoffs with his stunt), then Bradley, then Miles, then Gregg, then Heilman, then Soto, etc.
When we hear news that all are expected back, it makes it even more disappointing. When we hear Hendry and Piniella alike claiming that big changes won't happen. Really?!?!?!?!? It almost makes you want to find a "surrogate" team to be a fan of for at least one season until these clowns get their act together.
Anyway, this all got me thinking....what should happen next year. I know I've posted similar things in the past, but here's my two cents:
1)fire Hendry
2)fire Piniella and/or force him to retire
3)fire Rothschild
4)fire Kenney
5)hire LaRussa and Dave Duncan (both free agents)
6)Onto the players:
trade/DFA/not re-sign-Gregg, Heilman, Miles, Bradley, Soto, Fontenot, Theriot (trust me, it'll make sense), Lilly (only starter worth much in trade value, and set to come back to earth in a big way next season), Fukudome, Stevens, Grabow, Reed Johnson, Chad Fox, Neal Cotts (obvious..though both Fox and Cotts aren't technically on the roster anyway), Patton, and Taguchi, and see what the market is for Derrek Lee (at 34, he's going to keep regressing, and have you really ever seen a clutch hit from him?!? No...it's mostly strike outs or lazy fly outs in crucial situations this year)
Want list: re-sign Harden, Dunn, Prince Fielder (perhaps in a trade of Lilly and prospects, or straight up for Zambrano), BJ Upton, Carl Crawford, Josh Fields, Chris Davis, Mitchell Moreland, Felipe Lopez, Holliday, Ankiel, Lackey, Billy Wagner
in-house: Colvin, W. Castillo, Cashner, Jackson, Papelbon, Castro, and Adduci
The funny thing is, they think no changes need to be made, but Hendry blew up half a roster that won 97 games....so he doesn't want to overhaul an old, tired, underachieving and overpaid team of losers that quit on this season?!?!? Unbelievable.
I would do anything to get Fielder, Upton, and Crawford on this team. We'd have an unbelievable lineup, even keeping Soriano.
Aaron...I look forward to dissecting the offseason with you...no time today...preparing a house and contents for sale(my brother's).
I don't disagree with most of what you say...including Theriot...but teams don't move that fast.
After the Rockies and Red Sox finish the World Series...the new era will begin.
Happier times are ahead...but it will take a little time.
Today's starting lineup ... Tyler Colvin will make his Wrigley Field debut
Theriot - SS
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Baker - 2B
Johnson - LF
Soto - C
Colvin - CF
Wells - P
This is a pretty solid lineup that should be able get a win today. I suppose Wells is arguing that he's got some strong innings left, but I wouldn't let him struggle (if that occurs). Our stronger pen guys should be able to handle 3 or 4 innings.
Good job by Randy not allowing the leadoff double to score ... first time since Tuesday the Cubs were not in a hole after the top of the first
Very easy first inning for Cabrera, gotta make him work and beat himself ... he will.
I read on mlbtraderumors.com that the Dbacks may be open to trading SS Stephen Drew. I'd go for that. I wouldn't move Theriot to second...I'd include him in the trade for Drew if they want him. I'd either see what Baker could do at 2B or see if signing Hudson would be possible and then Baker is backup.
Seeing eyes can be very helpful in hits and in dogs. Cubs score 3 in the 4th and lead 3 zip.
I have to leave for a re-hab patient visit. And, I can't take much of DLee's regression this year. LOL
JimK,
before dismissing the effects of age on a player's production, why don't you do some research, please....pretty please....LOL...
Great, you'll always disagree with me...but if you do...at least back it up. you capitalize on a player's production like that...like Lilly's as well, and trade him before age rears its ugly face, and historically, it's been proven that past age 33, players regress exponentially from their prior career numbers.
Lee has been one of the best run producers since June in MLB, and might have the record for most RBI since then I think. But how many of those have been absolutely worthless. What's are record, by the way?!? We sure had the pitching, didn't we? ARAM has far more clutch RBI in less than half the season of Lee, so I'm pretty sure Lee is not that valuable. Also, in Lee's "career year" in 2005, how'd that pan out for us?!? Exactly.
You should know with all of your infinite wisdom and consulting work you did before, that if you're going to talk quality/performance/etc. improvement with a company, you better back it up with facts, right? Where are your facts?!?
....just sayin'
Make that "much more" above.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Recognize.
CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!
Just had to stop and take an opportunity to type that again.
A couple thoughts and observations. First, nice to see that our rookie pitcher showed more heart than our $90m ace in this last week of the season. Great season for the kid, and good job going out on a high note.
This team will be disastrous next year if Pinella is allowed to stay on. He needs to be shown the door, and quickly. If we thought he was sleep walking this year (which would be a compliment to his effort), just wait to him being the lame-duck manager.
Desired key moves:
Move Zambrano to the Mets for Jose Reyes, solving our SS and 2B issues.
Move Fukodome, and get what prospects you can.
Eat Soriano's contract, and just take your organizational lumps. We can't afford a lineup spot being taken anymore by an offensive and defensive liability.
Move Lee (Aaron, you are 100% right here) to the Giants, and attempt to land one of their young rotation arms. Give Fox the 1B job, and let's see him for full year.
Get very aggressive in landing Carl Crawford. Let's see an athletic outfield with a rotation of Crawford, Fuld, Colvin and Johnson.
With some skepticism (just based on age), I'd like to see a return of DeRosa based on his versatility and leadership. He and Baker could be big role players.
Allow Harden to go...we don't need a $10m 5-inning pitcher.
Aaron and others have nicely highlighted the other "bums" that should be released.
Here's hoping for major moves in creating a new team make-up and attitude, starting with a non-AARP manager.
And needless to say, move Bradley, and get whatever prospect with a live pitching arm.
Lee v. Fox...
Derrick had a great year with 162 Hits, 35 HR's adn 111 RBI's. Truly an MVP caliber season.
Fox has had 56 hits, 11 HR's and 44 RBI's in sporadic play. If you equal out at-bats for Fox (v. what Lee had), he would potentially yield 140 hits, 27 HR's and 110 RBI's.
Now certainly it's hard to replace a perennial gold glove at 1st, but in getting 8 years younger and saving significant payroll dollars it's a move to consider.
Bryan, While I love DLee...I'm not adverse to trading him.
I'm one of those that believe Hoffpauir
would hit over .300 with power if given consistant at bats....So either Fox or Hoffpauir could replace Lee.
But if DLee goes...we better upgrade both 2nd AND SS...defensively...and offensively. Theriot can't play SS w/o
a gold glove at 1rst. Maybe if he played at second it would be ok...Offensively Theriot is just OK...but he is a gamer...
But 2nd and short definitely need strenthening.
Suzy...I agree with you. As suggested (or "wished for") perhaps a Reyes for Zambrano trade could settle down our SS/2B situation.
We got what I wanted today--an impressive win achieved by a lineup that was more competent than those we have been seeing lately in the late-season tryouts. I was anxious going in on
Wells strength given a lot of innings pitched--but he was sensational.
It wasn't I who needed to "do my research, please" re the questions raised about DLee.
The comments were: "At 34, he's going to KEEP regressing." "Have you ever seen a clutch hit from him?" "No...." I simply countered the non-factual idea that Lee regressed in 2009. I ignored the certainty that research and simple recollections demonstrate that Lee had dozens of clutch hits.
Now the inaccurate speaker on the topics he questioned is asking that I do some research on topics that he and I and nearly all "dummy squats" agree on. Of course, athletes skills erode (or should) in their 30's. That happens even earlier in some sports. Some athletes do sustain beyond the norm, but it does make sense make age a factor in trades.
Bryan's position that Lee should be moved to SF for a young rotation starter (and Aaron being 100% right on that) has to be looked at in context too. That's the case with contracts usually--unless you are dealing with fantasy league--what ifs. Context/practical issues also likely apply to Lilly. I suspect that he, Lee and ARAM see themselves as a package, and that they have no reason to hang their heads over their performance for the Cubs. They and the new management will not be asking them ,in effect, to give themselves up, to solve JH's problems.
If Lee wants a new three year deal, e.g., he may be tradeable for good quality in return. One year of Lee is not likely to get one of SF's young starters. If Lee wants to play one more year and wants to do that in Chicago, his contract allows him to do that. He will have a productive year, and it's not his burden to solve the team's payroll limitations. Ninety per cent of Cubs fans would be pleased to have DLee retire as a Cub.
The hard jobs ahead are to do somehing about the big contracts that are problematical and to steer a transitional course from the old to the new. That does take a lot of research, some deal brilliance and a little luck. I've been working hard on at least the research aspects of that.
Perhaps we can have the TW weigh in as well.
Bryan....The TW and are back from dinner at Indy's Union Jack Pub. Saw Shawn's team pull one out. My stromboli was good. I don't know if it's true, but a few Notre Dame alumni I know say that 1/2 the people connected with the Dome don't like Weiss. These alumni add, that the other half haven't met him.
No need for the TW to weigh in. Who do you think writes these posts? I just peck away at the keyboard. LOL