1/2 year adjustment

by Scott G F on Jul 31, 2006 8:43 AM CDT

I wrote in a thread not to long ago that Steve Stone observed that for newly aquired players it takes about 1/2 a season to get used to playing during the day and Wrigley and for the Cubs in general. Look at D Lee's first half of the season with the Cubs.

The new Cubs first season list include:
Cedano
Murton
Peirre
J. Jones
Marshall
Marmol
Mabry
Eyre
Howry
Theroit
Pagan
Bynum

That is a lot of players that started off bad. Add injuries to the Cub "vets" like Prior, Wood, D Lee and now you have to rely on Am Ram, T Walker, Zambo, Maddux, Barrett, Blanco and Neifi. Of the remaining group Am Ram slumped T. Walker was Okay, Barrett was above avg. Blanco was Blanco, Neifi was Neifi. Zanbo started off okay then got great. Maddux started off great then went south.

But now JP is htting and stealing bases. JJ is hitting and going opposite field. Am Ram got out of his funk, (with no pressure mind you). Murton and Cedano have had rookie up's and downs, but I like both, both are playing better.
Marshall and Marmol are giving the Cubs a chance to win, Barrett is contining his career year (offensively). Blanco is still Blanco and Neifi is still Neifi.

I see the Cubs continuing this winning trend for the rest of the year. Will they catch anybody? Probably not, but it'll be nice watching Cubs baseball once again.

0.500 by Setp. 11th. (Guess, Hope)

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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FWIW

JJ has been awful in July and is so terrible against left-handers he shouldn't be allowed to swing the bat when facing one (just hope for a BB). I hope this isn't a reversion to the mean but my fear is that's just what it is. Cedeno has been patently awful at the plate sans April and has struggled mightily in the field making the (although making the occassional stunning play).

by Thunderclap Newman on Jul 31, 2006 9:24 AM CDT reply actions

In early defense of Cedano

He took pitches yesterday. He is actually looking out of both eye's at the plate. Which to me brings up the question, why was he only using one eye in the first place? Maybe the entire team was doing that. Possibly Hendry is evaluating the Cubs with just one eye? So many unanswered questions. Maybe at the end of the season you'll have to see the Cubs record with one eye and it'll look better.

BTW feel free to boo J. Jones if he bats against lefties.

You're never a loser untill you quit trying - FortuneCookie

by Scott G F on Jul 31, 2006 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Put Down the Koolaid

.500 by September 15? The Cubs have 43 games between now and then. They are 18 games below .500 right now. To reach .500 they would have to have a record of 31 and 12, or a winning percentage of .720. Its exactly this kind of thinking that enables Hendry et al to continue to pull the wool over Cubs fans eyes every year and prevents the team from getting better. Its why the Phillies, even though they are much closer to the playoffs than the Cubs, were major sellers. They know that they need to make changes now to be competitive next year.

I am not sure which is the bigger problem. The brain dead Trinity that runs the Cubs or the Cub fans who think a pony is hidden in every pile of manure.

by frustratedfan on Jul 31, 2006 9:59 AM CDT reply actions

The Phillies...

... were "major sellers" because they wanted to dump Abreu's contract.

by Al Yellon on Jul 31, 2006 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

That explains Abreau

but it doesn't explain Liddle or Cormier. The Phillies have also talked about Burrell. The trades sure look like a "Wait Until Next Year" approach from the Phillies. Even though they are only 5 out of the wild card and second in their division.

by frustratedfan on Jul 31, 2006 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, but...

...second in your division doesn't do you much good when you're 13 1/2 games behind the team in first place. Such a situation was the reason the 2004 season was so frustrating for the Cubs.

by gauchodirk on Jul 31, 2006 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Its the 5 out of the Wild Card

with not that many teams in between which is the "surprise". The Phils may well be realistic about their prospects. But if the Phils are "out of it", what about the Cubs?

And that's the problem. The Cubs fans (and if reports are to be believed some of the front office) honestly believe that the Cubs can still pull this off. So, instead of trading away guys that will likely be gone next year (A-Ram and Walker) or guys that will likely be of little help once the team is good and can be replaced (Eyre, Howry, Dumpster, Maddux), the team is going to stay put and not even take on ANYTHING that may or may not help.

by frustratedfan on Jul 31, 2006 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I wasn't talking about the Cubs

I was talking about the Phillies, who are in second place, but as I said, are 13 1/2 out, and have six teams to pass for the wild card. I know that the Cubs aren't getting back in this thing. What I don't know is why the Phils traded Abreu and Lidle and got so little back unless it was a salary dump of some sort. The Cubs haven't played them yet, so I don't know much about them this season, but it didn't look like they were going to get back in it, and I agree that they are probably being realistic about their prospects.

And as far as Walker goes, you can't trade a guy who nobody wants. Plus there is no indication either way that Ramirez is going to opt out of his contract, so saying he's as good as gone is a bit premature, at least in my opinion.

by gauchodirk on Jul 31, 2006 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

So lets clarify a little

Hendry, Dusty and The Cubs back office are to stupid to spend money on players that'll bring a World Series Championship to Chicago. Then at the same time are brilliant enough to keep the Cubs just good enough for the fans to keep coming? I'm sure that's exactly the goal.

OR maybe the Cubs had a crap first couple months and will do better for the rest of the year. I get the feeling you wouldn't mind if the Cubs rattled off a nice winning streak. Getting back to a 0.500 record might be considered over-the-top I understand that. I don't swell the blue kool ade. I do think this team was playing so bad in the first half that the second half, us Cubs fans would see better baseball being played (mostly because it couldn't get any worse).

I don't give in until mathematically out of it anyway. Miracles happen (see 1969 Mets).

I have nothing to lose. (psst...neither do you!)

You're never a loser untill you quit trying - FortuneCookie

by Scott G F on Jul 31, 2006 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

re

I have nothing to lose. (psst...neither do you!)

...sanity?

Nothing good can come from the Cubs ending up with a .500 record, or even playing .500 from here on out. Fortunately, they're not good enough to do either.

"You hit your way on, you don't walk your way on" - Jim Hendry

by VS on Jul 31, 2006 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions