Bad Habits
It was all going just fine.
I was getting ready to say "told you so" to all of you who had dissed Jason Marquis -- who threw a fine six innings today, allowing only four hits, two walks and a run, throwing 82 pitches, 51 for strikes (and that pitch count is a bone to pick with Lou Piniella, I think).
And then the bullpen imploded. And then Michael Barrett, probably tired from the short-turnaround catching a day game after a night game, committed a passed ball that allowed the lead run to score, and isn't this the way it always happens: down only 3-2, figuring there's at least a chance of still tying the game, Scott Eyre came in and made it 5-2 on a Scott Hatteberg HR, and that's the way it ended, 5-2 Reds.
So the Cubs leave Cincinnati losing two out of three -- the reverse of what they did a year ago, when they WON two of the season-opening series against the Reds.
Those of you panicking right now, remember that. I'll grant you, the last three innings did seem as if the Cubs had suddenly forgotten everything Lou taught them in spring training. After Marquis' good ball/strike ratio, the bullpen threw 45 pitches in the seventh and eighth innings -- only half, 23, for strikes. That is, as Jack Brickhouse would have reminded us years ago, a "recipe for disaster", and it happened just that way.
It wasn't the only thing the Cubs did wrong today. Alfonso Soriano got himself picked off. The Cubs left RISP in the first, second, fourth, fifth and eighth innings. Lou boxed himself into a corner by playing the platoon game -- sending Ronny Cedeno in to pinch-hit for pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd.
I'm not that big a believer in the platoon differential myself, although Floyd doesn't hit lefties that well any more -- but why would you ever do this? Yes, Cedeno had a good spring, but read that again:
No, there's something wrong with that picture, and Cedeno popped up. Sigh. Further, let's say the Cubs DO tie the game -- that leaves only Daryle Ward on the bench for extra innings. Lou's got to remember he's not managing an AL team any more.
And then there's the 82-pitch removal of Marquis, who was sailing along -- and his batting order slot hadn't even come up, and Marquis hits well anyway. There's no reason he shouldn't have at least been allowed to start the seventh inning.
But, it is way too early to panic. Games like this happen to every team. How'd you like to be a Cardinals fan right now? They not only got swept in their opening series, they got outscored twenty to two. Think they're panicking?
Well, they sort of are, according to some email I got from Larry at Viva El Birdos. He's worried.
Good, I say. Let's hope they're six games, or maybe more, behind us when they come to Chicago on the 20th.
A couple of random baseball notes: there's still no Extra Innings free preview on my north-side Chicago Comcast cable system. But I am now getting the NHL game schedule screen, which I wasn't before -- and those are the channels that EI has been carried on in the past, so I suspect that's where they will appear -- and inDemand's EI page says a free preview begins later today and continues through Sunday -- but then has no game schedule listed. However, it does appear things are happening.
Also, in checking some Baseball-reference.com information today, I note that they are doing daily updates on the site with 2007 stats! (See, for example, the Cubs team page, which includes games through yesterday.) This is great news for getting up-to-date info on current players, since they have game logs for every active player.
Finally, I received today and am posting here, four photos from BCB reader Molechaser, who attended the two games in Las Vegas last weekend. These are really nice closeups. And if anyone can identify #36 (who appears on no roster anywhere), let us know!
Michael Barrett starting his warmups by playing catch with a mystery guest; Henry Blanco jogging/walking at the beginning of his warmup; Neal Cotts came over to sign autographs for about 10 minutes after finishing his warmups--that's why this picture was shot through the crowd; Carlos Zambrano during his side throwing session on Saturday
(as always, click on thumbnail to view full-size in new browser window. If you are using IE, you may have to click the lower-right corner of the image in the new window to expand it to its full size; in Firefox click anywhere on the image. Photos by Chris Kaiser)
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So would I.
by Al on
Apr 5, 2007 3:45 PM CDT
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I'd rather have Ted Lilly bat than Cedeno.
by Maddog on
Apr 5, 2007 7:06 PM CDT
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Let's just hope...
by dat cubfan daver on Apr 5, 2007 3:49 PM CDT 0 recs
Yeah,
by eswan9 on
Apr 5, 2007 3:54 PM CDT
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Like Al pointed out
I'm gonna cut him some slack though as this is his first year back to the NL in 17 years and we know the NL is a completely different beast than the AL, which is why I expect Pagan to be back with the team in the next couple days.
by lemon17pie on
Apr 5, 2007 3:59 PM CDT
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Soo
by HerrProf on Apr 5, 2007 3:53 PM CDT 0 recs
A few things
As for Cedeno, either he should be on the team or he shouldn't. If he is, you use him. If you can't use him, send him to AAA. Thats that.
DmL
by dmlichte on Apr 5, 2007 3:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Exactly.......
by PriorandAramisfan23 on
Apr 5, 2007 3:59 PM CDT
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Yup...
In am game like this one, you go with your best arms, and today those arms crashed and burned.
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 4:19 PM CDT
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Agreed
by 26.2cubfan on
Apr 5, 2007 7:49 PM CDT
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Thanks for the heads up
FWIW, if I was a Cardinal fan right now, I would worst case scenario be remembering the World Series last year and on the flip side I would be waiting to see who's going to step it up and get things rolling in the other direction as they always seem to do.
The Cubs on the other hand.......
by lemon17pie on Apr 5, 2007 3:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Zambrano picture...
by lemon17pie on Apr 5, 2007 4:02 PM CDT 0 recs
Ha.
by BigDumbFace on
Apr 5, 2007 4:06 PM CDT
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Too much partying in Vegas?
by Al on
Apr 5, 2007 4:16 PM CDT
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Not to mention...
by Molechaser on
Apr 5, 2007 4:22 PM CDT
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I guarantee you...
..If Jones does not start to hit in the next week, then people will be wanting Pie...
This loss makes me so mad...I don't think we get get many good starts out of Marquis and that one was wasted..
by Chanman25 on Apr 5, 2007 4:04 PM CDT 0 recs
Fair enough assessment
But, in fairness to any Cardinal fan panicking...I'll take a World Champoinship....JUST ONE....and then will lead a life filled with panic over a season-opening sweep.
by krummy12 on Apr 5, 2007 4:14 PM CDT 0 recs
Story of this series
Three games does not a season make, but while I like the batters we have, I cannot stand the line-up.
DmL
by dmlichte on Apr 5, 2007 4:22 PM CDT 0 recs
OK...
Murton hit second today -- that's what so many of us wanted to see.
The Cubs left ten men on base today. That's not good. They had plenty of baserunners -- ten hits and two walks. That should generate more than two runs.
by Al on
Apr 5, 2007 4:25 PM CDT
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Thats the damn point
So if no one is concerned about the lack of runners getting on base ahead of Lee and Ramirez, I don't know what to say.
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 4:29 PM CDT
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If Izturis keeps it up
by lemon17pie on
Apr 5, 2007 4:33 PM CDT
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Right on
The team had plenty of chances - and getting picked off at 1B, with Murton's hit just following this play, would have had men at the corners with no outs.
What just grinds at me, is that the entire ST, Lou and Trammel have been working on these guys to play smarter, fundamental baseball.
Today was a reversion to the Dusty team.
CAN YOU teach old dogs new tricks? And F'NG WALKS BY THE RELIEF PITCHERS HAS TO STOP!!
by TheEman on
Apr 5, 2007 5:15 PM CDT
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"What just grinds at me"
Peter Griffin: "Save your money, Tucker. This place doesn't have porn. They think its immoral. You know, that really grinds my gears. Where in the bible does it say that a man can't fire off some knuckle-children in the privacy of his own neighbor's living room while his neighbor's at work because I don't have a DVD player? Well, I don't know where it says it because the Bible was way too long to read"
by lemon17pie on
Apr 5, 2007 6:55 PM CDT
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Bad baserunning..
by wicubfan on
Apr 5, 2007 4:33 PM CDT
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I would've let Floyd hit.
And you can't say 'I told you so' now, Al. It's way too early.
by sparkles721 on Apr 5, 2007 4:38 PM CDT 0 recs
Don't sell yourself short Sparkles..
by wicubfan on
Apr 5, 2007 4:48 PM CDT
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Maybe
But unless there was a good reason for him to be taken out that I don't know about, I'm going to just believe that Piniella made a boneheaded decision. As someone else here said, you're not going to get that many good starts out of Marquis, so if he's pitching well and has only thrown 82 pitches through 6 innings, why not leave him in?
Of course, if the bullpen had done its job, we wouldn't be here complaining about Lou's move.
by danimal15 on Apr 5, 2007 4:48 PM CDT 0 recs
Soriano
by danimal15 on Apr 5, 2007 4:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Number 36
by kilo14 on Apr 5, 2007 4:52 PM CDT 0 recs
Comeon Al..
by wicubfan on Apr 5, 2007 5:07 PM CDT 0 recs
Extra Innings
by northofwrigley on Apr 5, 2007 5:20 PM CDT 0 recs
Sometimes, Al
This is great, but as the previous person said, the passed balls and poor defensive stuff Barrett continues to do, really is getting SO old.
AND - if you are an 0-fer for the series, you SURE better do whatever you can with your "D"!
by TheEman on Apr 5, 2007 5:20 PM CDT 0 recs
Who's panicking?
April was a good month for the Cubs last year:
April 2006
Won 13
Lost 10
RS 109
RA 112
WP 0.565
My expectations are that this team should exceed last years' numbers across the board. Anything less and I will be nervous.
by JFCubFan on Apr 5, 2007 5:31 PM CDT 0 recs
Just got home from the game in Cincinnati
by Jettero2112 on Apr 5, 2007 5:32 PM CDT 0 recs
Agreed.
Hope you didn't freeze to death!
by Al on
Apr 6, 2007 4:33 AM CDT
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Thanks.
by Jettero2112 on
Apr 6, 2007 6:58 AM CDT
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This is a terrific article
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/couch/325821,CST-SPT-greg04.article
by TheEman on Apr 5, 2007 6:03 PM CDT 0 recs
Disagree 100%
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 6:27 PM CDT
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Nope.
If that is an ego, I'm all for it after witnessing the "Lovable Losers" for 40+ years!
by TheEman on
Apr 5, 2007 7:56 PM CDT
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Ego...
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 9:25 PM CDT
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As of this evening
I have the feeling that the tech guys are completly confused at to what's supposed to be airing. Good thing the Cubs were on early.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 5, 2007 6:17 PM CDT 0 recs
Boy, these cable providers
The tech said that the Free Preview starts "Sunday." (and will continue to the 15th) However, the CSR said earlier in the call (before I was tossed around) I could buy the package Saturday. So, who knows.....
I'm sure, tomorrow will bring new information. But, at least the Cubs are on WGN the next 2 days before we need the package on Sunday.
Perhaps MLB requested this of In Demand, thinking many of us would forget to end our free subscriptions to MLB.TV, and they could get another month out of us.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on
Apr 5, 2007 6:53 PM CDT
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The problem has been
by Me and Lou WS 07 on Apr 5, 2007 6:46 PM CDT 0 recs
Would be interesting to count...squandered opp's
Also, keep track of games possibly lost by Barrett's below-avg. catching and wins by his above-avg. offensive contributions...Can you win with a guy who gives up the PB at clutch times like this guy?? Can you imagine a WS?? When runs at a premium, late in games, it's scary, the guy simply seems to have "stone hands.'' There's no cure for that.
Seems like teams have a no. of games they "coulda'' won that good teams do...and then a number they maybe don't deserve to win but somehow do because they get a break or the other team's bullpen or defense screws up...so far we're -1 in that category. As is Barrett.
by writerinwrigley on Apr 5, 2007 7:01 PM CDT 0 recs
Don't Panic!
I'm not clear on the Cedeno mirage either. Why is your defensive specialist hitting for your offensive specialist? But, if Lou is a good manager, then he must have had a reason.
Pulling Marquis was a good idea, I thought his fastball was losing its pop.
by Woodstock on Apr 5, 2007 7:07 PM CDT 0 recs
Disagree
Jim Hendry built a front line relief corps, spending big dollars to land a top righty and lefty set-up man. Today they both folded. It happens. But for those who are annoyed at Piniella's decision to pull Marquis, had Howry done his job in the 7th and Eyre done his job in the 8th, giving Dempster the opportunity to close the game out, they'd likely be saying that Piniella used his pen the way he should have.
Lets also not forget the baserunning mistakes by Soriano and Theriot. The Cubs could've started the 7th out with runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out for the middle of the line-up. That didn't happen.
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 7:49 PM CDT
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I agree with this
by Imtrejo on
Apr 5, 2007 11:00 PM CDT
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Not just righty/lefty
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 5, 2007 11:37 PM CDT
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Still
by danimal15 on
Apr 6, 2007 8:29 AM CDT
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you're missing the point
DmL
by dmlichte on
Apr 6, 2007 10:50 AM CDT
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The Dude says don't worry...
by DudeVf11 on Apr 5, 2007 8:35 PM CDT 0 recs
If the Cubs knew what they were doing...
That solves a couple of things:
* Puts Theriot in the infield where he belongs * Pagan Addresses a serious need, Defensive OF * Would be able to keep 12 Pitchers
Or if they want they can just send down one of the crappy BP pitchers they have and bring up Pagan. One way or the other, they really need to bring Pagan up to atleast be a Defensive OF replacement. I do not trust Theriot out there whatsoever.
Pagan was solid in the OF last year and overall, he wasn't that bad. Plus he's a SH, so he's versatile in that regard.
by lemon17pie on
Apr 5, 2007 8:50 PM CDT
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"bulleted lists"
by lemon17pie on
Apr 5, 2007 8:51 PM CDT
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More on the EI/InDemand
Unfortunately a bit of a slow baseball night. Flipping between the DBacks/Nats and Yanks/DRays. I saw Elijah Dukes hit a laser homer. Check out the replay if you can. This guy has a lot of talent if he gets his head on straight.
by rlpete on Apr 5, 2007 8:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Those are always good ones.
by sparkles721 on
Apr 5, 2007 10:32 PM CDT
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I can't tell you how easy is it...
Soriano has straight up sucked thusfar in the leadoff spot, nobody has been on for our big boppers. I'd say the biggest dissapointment thusfar in the season is the fact that the offense isn't gelling, an offense that was supposed to put runs up with ease. I know, it's early, it's cold, whatever, I wanna see some manufactured runs. I didn't mind giving CedeƱo a shot with that AB, what I DID mind was that fact that he swung at a shitty pitch on an 2-0 count (I believe it was). I hope Lou tore into the team about their offensive approach this series, I felt like I was watching a team worth a measly $120 million or something.
I'm absolutely, completely blanking, the Brewers have indoor capabilities right? If so, I'll be waiting to see the offense step in to high gear and not have the weather as an excuse.
I've come to the conclusion that my mood for the remainder of the day (after a Cubbies game) depends solely on if they win or lose, and the fashion they do it in. It just seemed like when we were up 1 run there was no urgency in the team to get some insurance and get out of Cincy with a series victory. I don't care how much money you have, no one is going to win a ballgame by just showing up, not on the major league level.
by lilkimmer77 on Apr 5, 2007 11:47 PM CDT 0 recs
Well said.
Think about this. What would Dusty have done after a game like this? He'd have said, "Man, dude, got some bad breaks" or something like that.
I can imagine Lou Piniella had some more choice things to say behind closed doors. I'm guessing we'll see a better performance tonight, win or lose.
by Al on
Apr 6, 2007 4:32 AM CDT
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Re
This team is still a work in progress. Lou's finding his way as much as some of the players are. It's just one series - away - and they didn't get swept. And the last two games were played in extreme weather.
One thing's for sure, though: where Baker would have just shrugged off the mental errors and shoddy relief pitching, Piniella will continue to coach and teach and demand improvement. His little trip to the mound Wed. nite has already pushed him ahead of Baker in that regard.
Now, if we still see the same kind of screw-ups in a couple of weeks as we saw yesterday, count on the buffet getting overturned.
Visit The Digital Gazette
by Jed Taylor on
Apr 6, 2007 6:10 AM CDT
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Agreed!
by Al on
Apr 6, 2007 8:30 AM CDT
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This was one of those
by deadcatbounce on
Apr 6, 2007 6:41 AM CDT
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I wish
by lilkimmer77 on
Apr 6, 2007 10:08 AM CDT
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I'm meeting Chris Cornell
by lemon17pie on Apr 6, 2007 1:16 AM CDT 0 recs
FYI...in 2006
by cubbie08 on Apr 6, 2007 10:13 AM CDT 0 recs
In 2006...
by Al on
Apr 6, 2007 2:21 PM CDT
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Brew Crew wearing the throwbacks!
by NightPutting on Apr 6, 2007 7:06 PM CDT 0 recs






