Glimmers of hope?

by wicubfan on May 30, 2006 1:59 PM CDT Comment 61 comments

With the Cardinals expected to place Carpenter on the DL today with shoulder problems, comes news now that Jim Edmonds may have a sports hernia and could miss a few weeks. Does anyone here still hold out hope for capturing the NL central. I know it's unrealistic, but the Cards losing 2 of their top players for an extended period can't hurt..

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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At the very least...

... it will make the Cubs more competitive with them when they visit St. Louis this weekend.

by Al on May 30, 2006 2:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They have Albert Pujols.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 30, 2006 2:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen.

Give it up. The Cardinals have little to fear from this Cub team.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pujols is great, no doubt

but don't expect him to carry that team.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Cardinals...

...are more than Pujols, contrary to Cub nation's best hopes. They are solid in every category and should put away the NL Central in July at the latest.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Without Edmonds

their outfield is just about as bad as ours, but they have the benefit of having their healthy first baseman and their third baseman still.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on May 30, 2006 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

That's not true at all. Juan Encarnacion and J. Jones are a wash in RF. So Taguchi is hitting .342/.385/.294, and is a good fielder, so he easily beats Juan Pierre, and the platoon of Spiezio/Bigbie/Rodriguez is more than a match for Murton. Don't take my word for it, look it up.

But that tells us nothing, because the Cardinal infield is far superior to the Cub infield, and that's where much of the offense comes from anyway. Even with Derrek Lee, the Cubs' infield wouldn't be putting up the offense that the Cardinals infield is consistently producing.

Michael Barrett is clearly a better offensive catcher to Yadier Molina, but other than that, there's really no comparison between these two teams, injuries or not.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay since you dared me to look it up...

Taguchi is hitting .294/.342/.385

This tells me that Taguchi gets basehits some of the time..
His 109 AB's are a fair enough sample

Scott Spiezio has played 8 games in LF and has a .211 BA. YAY His OBA is .400 but his OPS is .660 which blows.

Matt Murton after sa slump is hitting

.286 4 hrs 20 RBI 23 R

OBA .362 OPS .771 League Average.

Now you tell me and sir I would like to be honest here.

Player A: .273/.313/.453 (BA OBA SLG)
7 hrs 22 RBIS

Player B: .249/.281/.425 (BA OBA SLG)
6 hrs 23 RBI

Which player would you rather have?

a Wash .. hardly..

Which would you rather have?

by cubsfan2883 on May 30, 2006 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Granted...

...Encarnacion's numbers look worse than Jacque's, but he's had a good May, and both players have very similar career lines, so it's not unreasonable to expect the wash I mentioned. Except Juan is a better fielder with a better arm, so that must be accounted for.

I agree that Spiezio has been sparingly used in LF, but you conveniently left out John Rodriguez (.406/.440/.345), who more than makes my point.

Is the Cardinal outfield the Yankees (when healthy)? Hell no...it's not even the Reds; but it's not terrible and it's not the offensive shoulders of that team anyway. Plus, the Cardinals will get Edmonds back, and despite the cute nicknames and epithets thrown his way by knowledgable Cub fans, he will more than likely hit a hell of a lot better than he has thus far.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh please

Even the best have their limits.

I think your assessment may be a tad over zealous.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Based upon what?

The Cardinals are (and were) the cream of the NL, let alone the Central.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just love it

when Cardinal fans feel they must go to Cubs boards to defend their 1st place team.

On your way to the KC board after this pallie?

and by the way, Edmonds is a BIG pansy and couldn't catch Andruw Jones' jockstrap (tho I'm sure he'd like to).

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice try...

...but you're talking to a Cub fan, just not one who sets aside the evidence when talking baseball. Like I said, the Cardinals (and their fans) have little to fear from the Cubs (and their fans).

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How long...

is Carpenter going to be out? I was trying to figure this out yesterday, but all I could find was that they were going to be cautious and stuff like that. They have a good offense with Pujols and Rolen in there, but their rotation has carried them. We shall see how they do. I hope not good.

Edmonds hasn't been great this year. It's just that Albert Pujols is a monster. He is probably going to be the greatest player I will ever see. I'm so jealous of the Cards.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 30, 2006 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carpenter...

...hasn't even been put on the DL, nor has Edmonds, so I wouldn't worry too much about this thread, sparkles.

And it's fair to say that Albert Pujols is the best player any of us will ever see, when all is said and done. I hope Cub fans can put aside their hatred of all things Cardinal and enjoy this masterpiece he is painting, especially in the Year of Barry.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope...

he breaks every record he can. I like him, and I wish he wasn't a Cardinal. Cardinal fans are so lucky.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 30, 2006 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my problem

with Pujols is that there is very little to dislike about him (other than he plays for the Cards) I've only ever heard positive things about him as a teammate, citizen, husband, father etc etc etc.

so I dislike him, but in that I have to respect him which just pisses me off way

"In this life there are nothing but possibilities."

by flyball on May 30, 2006 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate that.

When you wish you could hate someone, but you can't. That drives me crazy.

I boo Pujols whenever he comes to Wrigley. I don't like to boo, but I boo him one time during a game. I don't boo him because I don't like him, I boo him because he's just too good.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 30, 2006 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carpenter

I'm surprised he hasn't been put on the DL - they have been reporting around here (deep Cardinal country) that he was definitely going to be today -retroactive till his last start. (Which would mean he'd be out at least 12 or 13 days from now, Sparkles.)

No question that PuJoLs is the best in baseball right now. I think that every Cubs fan would grudgingly admit that. It's pretty amazing how sometimes you can just KNOW that he's gonna hit a homerun... and he seemingly does EVERY TIME.

Oswalt had him knots yesterday tho... anyone know what happened to him? He was cruising when they lifted him.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not one to believe rumors,

but someone told me that they heard from their friend at ESPN that there are verified reports of Pujols steroids use, but they are keeping it underground for awhile for the sake of the popularity of baseball.

But like I said, I'm not one to believe rumors.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard from a guy at my H.S. newspaper

that PuJoLs hates kittens, parks his Hummer in handicap spots, and drinks strawberry, meth, & marlboro smoothies before games.

bastard.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

mmm...

Marlboro smoothies....

(cue Homer Simpson-esque drool)

"People are too hung up on winning. I can get off on a really good helmet throw." -Bill "Spaceman" Lee

by elscorcho0682 on May 30, 2006 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually heard....

That he hates the handicapped, and parks his hummer on kittens.

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 31, 2006 6:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baseball Tonight...

commented on this. 'They had a game plan.'

They were pitching Pujols inside, and Oswalt is pretty amazing too(he looks scary though). That combination worked out well, and since Chad Qualls(I think)is not even close to Oswalt, Pujols did better once he came in. I think Maddux has done a great job with Pujols this year too.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 30, 2006 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs fan?

You might tell your parents that. You might tell your friends that. You might have even been to some games @ Wrigley.

But I think, deep down, you know you're a Cardinal fan.

You'll feel better when you come out and say it.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eeeeeaaaassseee it out, chmcneel.

Let it come.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clever.

Very clever. And cute.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I try.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cards

I was pretty sure the Cards clinched the NL Central last week at some point. I can't see anyone in this division coming within 10 games.

by Slaky311 on May 30, 2006 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

The Reds have begun to show their weak pitching, the Astros bullpen has imploded and their offense is struggling, and while the Brewers have more than enough offense to hang with St. Louis, the injuries to Sheets and Ohka really hurt. I still think that the Brewers, if they can hang within five-seven games, could threaten once the pitching is healthy, but as of right now, the Cardinals could easily put this away before the All-Star Game and then trade for whatever they need on July 31.

by chmcneel on May 30, 2006 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Do you really think that whether or not a team's star first baseman is healthy will make that much of a difference? ...oh wait...

Go Cubbies!

by NC Cubs Fan on May 30, 2006 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is nothing wrong with a little hope...

...just don't be disappointed if things do go the way we want them to.

I think we all have had that thought, somewhere in the back of our brain we haven't given up yet. I know I haven't. If they blow it - life goes on.

by tcjhawk on May 30, 2006 2:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm a big Cubs fan and all, but . . .

. . . what kind of Kool Aid are you smoking?

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg

by Tom on May 30, 2006 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harold Reynolds

over at Baseball Tonight seems to think that the return of Wood, Prior and Lee will fix all.

Oh, Harold. You so crazy.

"People are too hung up on winning. I can get off on a really good helmet throw." -Bill "Spaceman" Lee

by elscorcho0682 on May 30, 2006 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!

But really, how could getting those guys back make things any worse?

by Al on May 30, 2006 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

But these ESPN folk, for all of their knowledge, seem to be living in a giant bubble that only consists of the East Coast and Barry Bonds. They talk about Prior coming back as if there's a definite date, and if anyone even has a clue as to what on earth is really wrong with him. They seem to think the Cubs and Dusty will just magically get it together without any shakeups anywhere.

"People are too hung up on winning. I can get off on a really good helmet throw." -Bill "Spaceman" Lee

by elscorcho0682 on May 30, 2006 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just because . . .

Just because an entire month with 5 wins to show for it has made me a bit cranky, I'll play devil's advocate and answer by saying:

Lee's return can be nothing but positive. Lee's our Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Wood looks to be the same old Wood. A mediocre pitcher who will get his K's and will get rocked occasionally and will never win more than 14 games. He's just not going to be the boy wonder his 20 K game as a rookie led us all to believe. He's not worth picking up his extension, and even if he stays healthy (which is a bet I wouldn't take), he'll certainly not be the savior of the team. He'll just be another guy who will lose regularly with the amount of run support this offense can provide.

Prior's return can definitely hurt the Cubs. I have been a huge Prior supporter since he first came up. But I'm done now. He has lost ALL of my confidence. Pitching him now will just continue to erode any trade value he has. Same thing with Rich Hill. We could have gotten the moon by including Rich Hill in a deal this spring; after his performance this year, the Cubs would be lucky to include Hill as a throw-in on a deal.

All Prior is worth now is trade bait, and the more he pitches the more that value is going to slide.

NOT that Hendry would ever think of dealing Hill or Prior, as he stands by his "boys" until death.
The Cubs' postseason dreams death, that is.

Go team!

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg

by Tom on May 30, 2006 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HEY!

It's SIX wins!

;)

About Rich Hill, I agree his value has gone down. But he has one thing going for him that might retain some interest in him: he's lefthanded. Just about anyone who's lefthanded will be in demand. Evidence of this: Glendon Rusch.

by Al on May 30, 2006 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO

there goes the Coke again. . .

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 30, 2006 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love me some H.R.

last year he was talking about the passing of an old Negro League player (can't remember his name, dammit) and he says, "he was 105... he had a good run..."

Yah, I guess 105 IS a pretty good run. For some reason that still cracks me up.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to morph

HR and Kruk into a single player and see what happens. . .

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 30, 2006 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HR + Kruk =

Albert Pujols.
But with better quotes.

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg

by Tom on May 30, 2006 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HR+Kruk=an overweight Joe Morgan

n/t

by cubsfan2883 on May 30, 2006 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't that be an...

...overweight, one nut, Joe Morgan?

"I was not in optimum condition to manage ," Dusty said. "I regret that lapse in judgment."

by Reverend Jim Ignatowski on May 30, 2006 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

kOOL-aID

for the correct effect you don't smoke it you snort the powder

"In this life there are nothing but possibilities."

by flyball on May 30, 2006 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you inject,

the effect,
is correct.

"I was not in optimum condition to manage ," Dusty said. "I regret that lapse in judgment."

by Reverend Jim Ignatowski on May 30, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My hope

is that the Cubs manage to win a game Saturday or Sunday while I'm in the Lou to watch the games.

I'll already have to hear enough crap on the bus-ride over and back w/out a sweep.

And by the way, Edmonds is a pansy.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 2:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hee hee

Gotta love the cheap shot :)

she

by Sarah Hope on May 30, 2006 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cheap shots on Edmonds

are all I got left.

"I got no place left to go!"

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO

n/t

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 30, 2006 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh yah, BTW,

mildly amusing shirt they are selling outside Wrigley now: Large letters saying, "Who says the Cubs can't hit?" and picture of Barrett's cheap (and well placed) shot.

I resisted the temptation to buy even tho I'll be @ Cubs/Sox next month.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 30, 2006 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm excited

about the runor that Lee gets his cast off tomorrow

"In this life there are nothing but possibilities."

by flyball on May 30, 2006 2:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm just hoping

the Cubs can take 2 of 3 this weekend and pull a little closer..

by wicubfan on May 30, 2006 2:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I refuse to like Pujols...

Whether i respect him or not. How about his lack of personality. He doesn't seem to be unlikable, but i dunno if he has the charisma to "capture a nation" with a run at Bonds' mark.
McGwire was pretty likable, and Sosa, yes Sosa, was very likable when the HR chase was on.

Before there was Carlos...there was Eddie!

by thekansasian on May 30, 2006 4:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to respect Pujols

Even if he does spend his entire career in Cardinal red, and as much as that will suck for the Cubs, how often do we see a guy play for just one team these days? And besides, I'd be much happier seeing him break records than Bonds. I suppose no personality is better than a colossal jerk personality. He's probably the best player any of us will see. Gotta respect him, even if it is grudging (and it is).

by Perkins on May 30, 2006 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs