Open Thread: Cubs vs. Phillies, Friday 5/6

by Al Yellon on May 6, 2005 8:28 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

After eighteen straight games against the NL Central (in which the Cubs went a mediocre 8-10), the next forty games are all outside the division (except two at Pittsburgh and three home games against Houston later this month).

There are rumors being floated that the Cubs are interested in acquiring the Yankees' Felix Rodriguez, who several years ago was a terrific setup man for the Giants. Peter Gammons on Baseball Tonight said the Yankees are interested in Todd Hollandsworth, though he went on to say "that won't happen", which probably means it still could.

Today's Starting Pitchers


M. Prior Cubs	vs.	C. Lidle Phillies


3-1	W-L	2-2
3.75	ERA	4.88
29	SO	13
8	BB	5
3	HR	1

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

Hollandsworth

They're probably interested in him because they see Baker misusing him. He's a utility outfielder and, IMO, the everyday play is slowing down his bat. Every other team he's been on has concluded that he's a utility player.

Here's the question: would Hendry trade Hollandsworth to get more playing time for Dubois? This could be further work by Hendry to Dusty proof the team and get his way. Of course, if this happened, Dusty would probably hand the starting LF job to Ben Grieve. But Hollandsworth to the Yankees for Felix Rodriguez could mean more starting time for Dubois and likely David Kelton into a utility role.

I'm not all that sure that I want Rodriguez nor that he's all that much better than Roberto Novoa. As I've said all along, Dusty's misuse of the bullpen is the bigger issue here. Having someone to close would help those matters, and I still think that could be Wuertz (and for the record, all of his earned runs except for one have been given up on the second game of back-to-back games).

DmL

by dmlichte on May 6, 2005 8:55 AM CDT reply actions

Super

Hendry wants to add ANOTHER pitcher.

Can someone find out how much Anheuser-Busch stock both Hendry and Baker own?

by AlabamaCubFan on May 6, 2005 8:56 AM CDT reply actions

Todd

Aww, I hope they don't trade Hollandsworth. I'm having too much fun making fun of his fan club!

by T Miles on May 6, 2005 10:04 AM CDT reply actions

maybe not a bad idea

I know nothing about Rodriguez, so take this opinion with a grain of salt: Hollandsworth is not being played the way that he is most effective, and it looks like management will continue to do so for the rest of the season. It's doubtful that he will have the kind of season that Dusty seems to think he will have, so I would be in favor of trading him for someone dependable in the bullpen. Again, I don't know who this guy is (I've only been back in the loop since 2003), so maybe now isn't the time. But maybe it's worth considering.

by Zachary on May 6, 2005 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

Oh please no

Not FeRod. Please. He sucks. As an Angel fan, i remember him blowing in the 2002 Series. I kept making fun of my Giants fan friends -- Angels had the real F. Rod (K-Rod), and the Giants just had a FRod. (Fraud!)

by cephyn on May 6, 2005 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

Piniella man to right ship

I think the only man who can right the Cubs ship is Lou Piniella. He would make them play hard for 9 innings every game and Patterson wouldn't make those boneheaded mistakes.

Josh the Cub fan

by Jmnor18 on May 6, 2005 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

I agree

Someone like Pinella would be great. I don't think he's the exact right choice -- although he would be 1000% better than what we have now -- I was thinking someone like Jim Leyland, etc. Someone with some age who can act more as a father figure, not a best bud.

by AlabamaCubFan on May 6, 2005 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I fear

that trading Hollandsworth away would just mean that Jose Macias would suddenly see a lot more game action.

Jmnor - Lou Piniella is not walking through that door any time soon. Sorry.

That said, I wouldn't mind this trade.

Embrace the Neifi!

by Whitebacon on May 6, 2005 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

Macias sighting

Can we not talk crap about him today since he got a base hit? Nahh, I still want to. Macias sucks!

by Slaky311 on May 6, 2005 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Somebody give Hairston a shiny medal

Cos he just walked on four pitches. =)

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

D-Lee!

What a home run!

Hmm...I wonder how the bullpen's gonna blow this one?

by gharp on May 6, 2005 4:32 PM CDT reply actions

Whoa

I wouldn't have predicted that it would happen like that!!?

by gharp on May 6, 2005 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions

DERREK!!!

I just stood up to bow in Derrek Lee's general direction. Can he stay this hot all season?

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

it's derek lee's world

we're just living in it.

by billywan on May 6, 2005 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Have we learned nothing? >_<

50% chance of this game being blown right here, folks.

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 4:37 PM CDT reply actions

uh oh

getting higher than 50% real fast

by cephyn on May 6, 2005 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Walk........

I think that Hawkins is quite possibly the worse 0-2 count pitcher in the history of professional baseball.

I never understand how you go 0-2 on a guy and then walk him.

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 4:46 PM CDT reply actions

You've got to be kidding me.

I don't think I need to say anything else...

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 4:50 PM CDT reply actions

O M G

WHY does dusty keep putting in Hawkins! argh! poor Prior. I feel worst for him.

by cephyn on May 6, 2005 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

That was a new one

Now I have seen it all. This actually comical now.

by Slaky311 on May 6, 2005 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Hawkins Blows!

I can't believe how many different ways he can screw up a save situation. For Hawkins, it's an art form.

"Everything that rises must converge"

by jpalaska on May 6, 2005 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

trade hawkins for bob wickman!

sure, wickman's saves are hideous, ugly rollercoaster rides...but at least they're still saves!

by cephyn on May 6, 2005 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Dusty avoids playing Dubois, again.

Just thought I'd point that out.

If any of you are seeing U2 in Chicago, I'll be there, tomorrow in the upper deck and the other three nights on the floor. And pursuant to this year's new tradition for me, I WILL be wearing Cubs gear on game days.

by gjdow on May 6, 2005 4:57 PM CDT reply actions

IF

Barrett had tied it up, I guess he would have had to use him in left, since his boytoy Macias was already out of the game.

Embrace the Neifi!

by Whitebacon on May 6, 2005 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Ye Gods

Latroy Hawkins: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for YOUR Chicago Cubs since 2003.

Embrace the Neifi!

by Whitebacon on May 6, 2005 4:57 PM CDT reply actions

I'm in the

uncomfortable position of hoping that they lose 10 more in a row. That way maybe Hendry will pull his freaking head out of his ass.

Terribly, terribly, terribly disapointing. This squad is a .500 team at BEST.

I don't know why I keep coming back to this shit year after year after year. I'm an RCH from quiting this team altogether.

by soonerbered on May 6, 2005 5:10 PM CDT reply actions

Not hawkins fault (totally)

Hawkins sucked as a closer in Minnesota.
Hawkins sucked as a closer in Chicago last year.
Hawkins sucks this year.

At some point, isnt mis-management of resources the real problem here? Think of your workplace. If someone sucks at the fax machine, or the bull-dozer, or whatever you do, at some point dont you put them on a different job?

Management to be blamed for Hawkins mis-use.

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on May 6, 2005 5:14 PM CDT reply actions

Or you fire them...

Yeah, management has to take a lot of the blame, but the Cubs don't have to be a paternalistic, old-fashioned employer where people can work until they retire. At some point, if an employee is really bad at his job, you get rid of him altogether.

by Molechaser on May 6, 2005 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

A lot of people around here don't like Dusty, and I'll agree that he is frustrating sometimes. However, Dusty can only play what he has on his roster.

It's time to call for Hendry's head. If for no other reason than not addressing the closer situation in the off-season. That major blunder has cost us at least 4 games already.

I just can't believe that this management team looked at our bullpen last year, and the closer position especially, and said "I like what we have." Truely astoundingly stupid.

by soonerbered on May 6, 2005 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Why not pinch hit

Dubois in that situation? Using Barrett for Hollandsworth means you have to bring Dubois in anyway, or if you're planning on using Grieve as the "defensive" replacement, why not pinch hit Dubois for Burnitz? Since Dusty likes to play the lefty/righty game, that would seem to give us better odds than leaving Burnitz in to face the lefty Wagner. That is of course, if we managed to tie.

Embrace the Neifi!

by Whitebacon on May 6, 2005 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Why Hawkins?

I know I'm not the only one PISSED OFF after todays game.

LaTroy may be a talented pitcher, but he doesn't have the mental toughness of a true closer - like Gagne, for example. His confidence is LESS THAN ZERO.

What baffles me, and probably every other Cub fan in the world, is why Baker CONTINUES, game in and game out to put him out there in the ninth??? One run situations no less?

Weren't last years end-of-season "gems" at Shea a clue? How many games will Hawkins have to blow before Baker finally gets it through that thick skull of his that LaTroy ain't NO CLOSER AND WILL NEVER BE!

Totally agree with soonerbred, sure, Sosa was a distraction, but where was the plan to get a quality RP?

Fact is, there wasn't one - Hendry put all his eggs in Borowski's and Hawkin's bank accounts and this is what he has to show for it - Borowski playing in Iowa and another Cub loss.

Get ready for a long, hot, depressing summer people.

by JFCubFan on May 6, 2005 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Somebody

Just shoot me now.

This team is not only bad, but it's unlucky too. It's a bunch of veterans who just know how to find a way to lose.

Looks like I'm going to spend the summer watching the Angels again.

Get in touch with your inner Neifi

by Josh Timmers on May 6, 2005 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

Don't torture yourself with that!

Be a Cubs fan. Don't give up. Yeah, it looks pretty bad right now.

Things WILL turn around.

by Al Yellon on May 6, 2005 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok, Al

I'll hold you to that comment in September 21, 2005.

Agreed?

Michael Wuertz cheerleader.

by Carlos on May 6, 2005 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Now I have to know...

... why September 21?

by Al Yellon on May 7, 2005 4:04 AM CDT up reply actions

It's just

The day the Cubs will clinch the NL Central. It's going to be a three-sided race between the Morans, Brewers and Cubs, mind you; the clinching game on Sept. 21 will be against second place Brewers in Miller Park.

Optimism, people!

Michael Wuertz cheerleader.

by Carlos on May 7, 2005 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I got tickets

on Memorial Day to see the Cubs play the Dodgers. They'd better at least be OK by then.

I will have to watch the Angels with my Angels fan wife however. (Which I did to her, since I was the one taking her to Anaheim to see the games. Wrigley was too far a drive. At least I didn't make her a Dodger fan.)

Get in touch with your inner Neifi

by Josh Timmers on May 7, 2005 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions