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Here's All You Need To Know...

Yelloncard_tiny by Al on in Recaps

... about the Cubs' 2-1, 11-inning loss to the Dodgers.

From Sportsline's pitch-by-pitch account of the 11th inning:

Ramon E. Martinez: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Ball, Ball, Martinez walked.
Wilson Betemit: Pickoff attempt to first, Foul, Pickoff attempt to first, Ball, Pickoff attempt to first, Ball, Ball, Betemit walked, Martinez to second.
Rafael Furcal: Intentional ball, Martinez stole third, Carlos Marmol relieved Angel Guzman, Intentional ball, Furcal intentionally walked, Betemit to second.
Juan Pierre: Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Pierre hit by pitch, Martinez scored, Betemit to third, Furcal to second

In case you don't want to count, that's twenty-one pitches, sixteen balls, two called strikes, and three foul balls. And three pickoff attempts.

That's about the worst relief pitching the Cubs have had yet in this horrid relief season, and that's saying something. And, of course, had Pierre not been hit by the pitch, it being out of the strike zone, he would have walked, and that would have ended the game.

I am not sure how many extra-inning games in major league history have ended on a bases-loaded hit batsman, but it cannot be many. I know there's been at least one that I personally attended -- this one at Wrigley Field on August 26, 1972, that the Cubs won 10-9 in 10 innings, after having blown a 7-4 lead.

I don't know what else to say this evening. There's no reason the Cubs should not have won this series -- in fact, there's no reason the Cubs shouldn't have had a 4-2 road trip, at the very least, instead of a 2-4 road trip. They allowed only 21 runs in the six games -- that's 3.5 per game. Any team with a decent offense ought to win at least four games out of six where their pitching staff performs that well. But, the offense managed only 18 runs in the six games, and that's simply not good enough.

Once again, the starting pitching was outstanding today. Rich Hill, who has been shaky lately, threw six shutout innings, though he was yanked for pinch-hitter Daryle Ward after only 66 pitches. The problem today was the bullpen, yet again, and you've surely been waiting for me to mention Scott Eyre.

Eyre has to be hurt. Remember 2004? When Joe Borowski kept going out there time after time after time, before finally admitting after 21 appearances and an 8.02 ERA that his shoulder was injured? How else can you explain a guy who lets a fat pitch right in the middle of the zone on an 0-2 count to be hit for a game-tying home run?

I got a text message from the San Diego Smooth Jazz Man, who was at this game (bet you're glad you drove all the way to LA, right?) right after Andre Ethier's HR that said, "Eyre dfa", and that's not the answer. Get him on the DL where he belongs, and at this point, I think Carlos Marmol has to go back to Iowa and Rocky Cherry recalled, because Marmol simply has not learned how to throw strikes.

And don't suggest acquiring Damaso Marte to replace Eyre, because as I have said in other threads here, if Marte is acquired, in a week we'll all be saying exactly the same thing about him that we've said about all these other guys:

WHY CAN'T THEY THROW STRIKES????

The guy the Cubs have been rumored to be chasing for a month or more, and who could really help this team right now, is Scott Linebrink. At this point, whatever it would take to get Linebrink, DO IT, because:

  • this is still a good team. It just needs bullpen help. Unlike other years where there were so many holes you didn't know where to start filling them, this problem is tightly focused.
  • this division sucks. Remember all those people who kept saying, "Well, if the Brewers just play .500 ball the rest of the year they'll win 90 games"? The Brewers did even worse on the same West Coast swing the Cubs just had -- they went 1-5. And so guess what? If Milwaukee plays .500 from here on out, they'd win 84 games. This division is still winnable. The Cubs are only five games out of first place, and still second -- once again, everyone in the Comedy Central lost today, except the Pirates, who beat the Reds by the football score of 14-10. The Pirates don't scare me; the Reds are horrible; the Astros have no pitching and the Cardinals are done.
Let's go get the Marlins tomorrow.

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I will be at the game tommorow
And if I see a meltdown I will be pissed beyond belief.
We will get to Byung Hyun Kim

by gocubs40 on May 27, 2007 8:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Izturis
I agree with most everything in your post, Al. Good wrap-up.

One thing you didn't mention about the game: The continued poor hitting of Cesar Izturis, who failed in a key situation with men on second and third and none out earlier in the game. His weak grounder ahead of the pitcher's spot in the order set the team up for the failure that ultimately followed. All the team needed was a fly ball, and Izturis couldn't deliver. Having Izturis in the lineup is like having two pitchers in the lineup.

Also, the Cubs continue to exhibit awful baserunning. Why the heck is Michael Barrett trying to steal third with two out? Was that his own idea, or some sort of missed signal?

And I've once again got to question Piniella's strategy. Why does he waste Cliff Floyd in a pinch-hitting role with none out and a man on first? In my opinion, with the game so close and in late innings, that is a sacrifice situation, and one of the pitchers should have been brought up to lay down a bunt, with Floyd preserved for use later in the inning or game. Now of course, if Floyd had homered, I wouldn't be writing this. But I think it's a move that's legitimate to question, especially because it failed.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on May 27, 2007 8:32 PM CDT   0 recs

That was Murtons fault
 The weak tapper to third by Izturis, was good enough to score a good baserunner (which we all know Murton is not) who is aware of the situation; nobody out and the 8 and 9 hitters coming up needs to get a little momentum on the pitch towards home and off on contact,has to score there. I liked the shot of Piniella the next inning I believe, waving his arms back and forth indicating to Pagan to "get some space" at third, something Murton obviously didn't have.

 Also, a buddy of mine who is a Dodger fan was at the game and he had 3rd row behind the Cubs dugout, called me up after the HR Eyre gave up and said he could from his seat easily hear Piniella chewing Eyre out from the railing.

by lemon20pie on May 28, 2007 3:43 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bull ____
If Murton had gone on the Izturis weak roller and had been thrown out (which would have happened to most baserunners) you would have been leading the charge that Murton was a bad base runner because he went.  (Hmmm.  I seem to remember Murton getting doubled off because he was aggressive in an earlier game and getting ripped for being "too aggressive").  

Murton did the right thing.  He made sure that he didn't make the first out of the inning at home.

by frustratedfan on May 28, 2007 11:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You fail to mention Lou
who was to blame for today's loss. No way Eyre should have been in there in the 8th of a 1 run game. And let's not excuse his preformance by claiming he must be ailing. But, and this is a big but....no way Eyre should have been there tonight. LH batters have a .500 OBP against him. That's not bad, that's inexcusable and for Piniella to put the team in the position to lose is all on Lou.

And again, after throwing a no hit no walk inning, why was Wuertz taken out. Barrett was horrible again. Let's not blame the bullpen. This game should never have gone into extra innings. And that can be laid mainly at the feet of Piniella.

Hendry needs to make some move. Any move. Even a symbolic move. But this team is regressing. It's playing terribly.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on May 27, 2007 8:33 PM CDT   0 recs

I see your point...
... about Lou's bad decisionmaking in putting Eyre in the game in the first place.

But the point is, Eyre was good a year ago, and sucks now. What is the most logical explanation for that? An injury that's going unacknowledged.

Time to get him off the active roster, now. I agree that some move, even just a symbolic one, is necessary (Marmol back to Iowa would work, too).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 27, 2007 8:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not everyone who sucks is injured
Howry is terrible also. Barrett is playing poorly. Zam was supposedly injured until his last game.

And if we look at Eyre's career, he's had one very good year. Even last year his WHIP was 1.48 which isn't setup material. This year it's around 2.50. He doesn't have a strong history of success. He's giving up almost 8 walks per inning. He may be injured, but, I suggest, he's never been that good to begin with.

Finally, sending Marmol to Iowa is no message to this team. Think bigger.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on May 27, 2007 9:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I could not agree with you more
There are way too many 'injuries' out there excusing those who are struggling, justifying their poor performances.  The truth is that every MLB player is playing 'hurt'.  Every one of these guys has a sore muscle(s), sore joint, and various aches/strains.  It's awfully easy to blame poor perfomances on hidden 'injuries' that are convenient to uncover when they have a bad day or are in a bad streak.  

You can MRI every muscle and every joint in every ballplayer's body and find minor tears/strains/injuries in just about everybody.  
These do not, in most cases, limit their performance.  

Enough of the excuses.  I agree with Al's optimism that on paper this team, while not great,  is not that bad and still has a chance in this weak NL Central.  However, this team will end up right where they did last year unless the high school efforts/execution is not abandoned soon.

by LuisSalazar on May 27, 2007 9:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Somebody needs to get fired!
Al, with all due respect - sending a Marmol to Iowa is even less then symbolic. Marmol has been up and down as has Rocky Cherry. The symbolism is lost after the first or second trip. Telling a pitcher who broke camp with the team to pack it up and go to Iowa - or out of the organization completely is about the only thing left.

We all are sure that the players feel terrible about the way they are playing - to a man the bullpen will say they let the team down. Barrett KNOWS he messed up, Eyre KNOWS he sucked. The list goes on. Until something happens to let the players know that knowing you suck and doing something about it are two different things, the carnage will continue.

The play ride from LA is going to be a somber, quiet one because as a team everyone knows they should have done better. Until the management of this organization fires some players, the same thing will continue. Over the winter there was big money spent on this team to get some talent. It is time for that talent to become evident.

Football and basketball are just things to do between baseball seasons.

by MetsSuck on May 27, 2007 9:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Symbolic = DFA Scott Eyre
Send Howry down to the corn fields.

Move Alfo out of the Lead off spot and move him to the 5th spot.

Sending a rookie back to Iowa isn't symbolic to for the Cubs, in this organization it is know as Thursday.

by MrDurden on May 27, 2007 9:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agree
Hate to say it, but Lou doesn't appear to be playing with a full deck any longer.

Make Wuertz the setup man and move Guzman ahead of Eyre and Howry.  He did a nice job..  Relievers aren't supposed to go 3 innings..  Also, a decent defensive catcher should have had Martinez picked off.  I never played catcher, but do know, you should run at the baserunner in such a situation.

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!!

by CubFaninCA on May 27, 2007 10:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

YOU'RE HIRED!!
Eyre should be relegated to mop-up/blow-out status.  There's no reason for him to be in a close game.

Howry might still have a clue, although I see no reason for him to be in line ahead of Guzman.

Did you see Lou giving Barrett "catching lessons" in the dugout after the 8th inning?  Too bad Lou didn't cover ALL the defensive angles else Barrett might have executed properly in the 11th.........

I've been saying for a long time that Barrett is an anchor to this team and he continues to prove it again and again.

Bat Blanco 8th; play The Riot at SS; move on.

by tville on May 27, 2007 10:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder about Rocky Cherry....
Over the past two days at Iowa he's thrown 51 pitches and only 22 of them have been for strikes.  Is there some kind of bullpen disease that's spreading through the organization?
Neifi, we hardly knew ye.

by Krande on May 27, 2007 8:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Damaso Marte........
Go get him NOW Jim Hendry! ;)

Al, you are wrong about him.  Look at the numbers!  

RIP kerrysotherwife!!!!

by timeforachange on May 27, 2007 8:53 PM CDT   0 recs

You cannot be serious.
I'll say this again. If Jim Hendry does as you wish, within a week -- maybe less -- you and everyone else will be bitching about how many people Marte walks, and how many games he's blown.

If you want to "look at the numbers", please look at Marte's numbers from 2005 and 2006. They're horrid.

Keep this pitcher far, far away from a Cubs uniform. He'd be a disaster.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 28, 2007 4:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In all honesty.......
I could care less about Marte.

I do find it funny that you are so anti this type of player and embraced the Marquis signing.  This also flies in the face of your "they have finally got it" stance.  Why is this?

The sole reason I brought up his name was because it seemed like the type of player that the Cubs COULD acquire.  This talk of Linebrick coming here is laughable.  

RIP kerrysotherwife!!!!

by timeforachange on May 28, 2007 9:16 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Al, I hate to "bitch and moan" again...
but how in the hell can you proclaim "this is a good team"?

This is a team that has shown absolutely no consistency on any front this entire year, except finding comical ways to lose.

This is a team that looks good on paper, but that's about where it ends.

Still bad baserunning, still not getting the clutch hits with men on base, bad outfield defense, overall stupid baseball.

That has nothing to do with the bullpen, which does absolutely suck by the way.

This is going to be quite a year.

by Peoria Matt on May 27, 2007 9:03 PM CDT   0 recs

I agree
I think that the team we have seen thus far is what this team really is and will continue to be. It isn't just a horrible coincidence that we continue to lose one run games and blow late leads. This just isn't that good of a team and I think they will struggle to finish at .500 for the season. It surprises me because I really thought that this team would contend this season. It's really a shame too when you consider how good our starting pitching has been so far. I thought it would be the other way around, we would score a lot of runs but our starters would give up a lot themselves. Very disappointing year.

by qccub on May 27, 2007 9:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen Brother
No heart on this team at all.

by MrDurden on May 27, 2007 9:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: "Amen Brother...
no heart on this team at all."

Heart is something people that never played baseball past the age of twelve (or ever) talk a lot about.  It's why people love Zambrano.  He breaks bats, points at the sky but, unfortunately, leads the league in walks.  People that haven't played think there's some way less talented players can somehow will their way to win.

Talent wins.  End of story.  Michael Jordan's killer instinct wouldn't have meant shit inside of Wes Matthews.

by TR on May 27, 2007 10:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But "killer instinct"............
........and no talent played pretty well in David Eckstein.

by tville on May 27, 2007 10:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thats exactly...
what I see and try to point out ... for the last month...

by kcjones on May 27, 2007 11:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You win some
you lose some. Our team lost today. Life goes on.
Make this game number 10 for games the Cubs should have won but found a way to lose. - MrDurden, 5-24-07

by sue369 on May 27, 2007 9:04 PM CDT   0 recs

No.
You win a few, you lose a lot more, including lots you should have won.  Life does go on.  And thank God you're right about that, because if life or death depended on this team winning, it would be like when the plague hit Europe in the middle ages.
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 9:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So I guess today is game 11
the Cubs should have won but they lost.

By the way it only took you until Memorial Day for you to start truly talking like a defeated Cubs Fan.

Have a great weekend.

by MrDurden on May 27, 2007 9:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hahaha
nicely said ksreed and mr durden couldnt agree with u guys more

by bennyha on May 27, 2007 10:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't feel
defeated. I would love for this team to win every game but that just isn't going to happen. My life goes on whether they win or lose. The doom and gloom that goes on in here just isn't me.
Make this game number 10 for games the Cubs should have won but found a way to lose. - MrDurden, 5-24-07

by sue369 on May 27, 2007 10:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not to nit pick
It would have been a wild pitch if it didn't hit him but I believe the count was 2-2 on that last pitch.

by LT on May 27, 2007 9:25 PM CDT   0 recs

I think you're right.
If so, ALL the online PBP accounts are wrong.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 28, 2007 4:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Soriano
Assumign taht his hammy is still no 100%, when will it be?  When will this guy actually be able to run?  How long do these things typically take to heal?
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 9:27 PM CDT   0 recs

3-6 months
And it could be longer because he is playing on it not allowing it to heal.

by MrDurden on May 27, 2007 9:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

At this rate
he's not gonna be a 10-10 guy.
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 9:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just give the 8th
inning to Guzman.
Everybody on the count of three kick karma in the ass, maybe that will wake her up.

by Me and Lou WS 07 on May 27, 2007 9:31 PM CDT   0 recs

guzman was kept in too long
lou can share the blame

by dalehenderson on May 28, 2007 6:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Barrett
was the goat today as far as I'm concerned.  If he could've laid down a bunt in the 8th an insurance run would've scored.  He made a terrible baserunning play earlier in the game stupidly trying to steal 3rd with 2 outs.  And he had Martinez dead to rights between 2nd and 3rd in the 11th and he screwed it up.  This confirms my suspicions that the Cubs can't win with such a lousy catcher.

by cubsbak on May 27, 2007 9:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Barrett Is Not Among Our Top 10 Problems
He's no All-Star to be sure, but if you were to rank the Cubs top 20 major problems (and that would only cover about half of them) he's not in the top half.  I would say they are these:
  1.  Bullpen
  2.  Inability to move runners with less than two outs - we can't bunt, hit sac fly or hit to the right side)
  3.  No right fielder
  4.  Zambrano MIA
  5.  Soriano can't run - no threat to steal
  6.  No power in the outfield
  7.  Baserunning sucks
  8.  Inability to work counts, drive up pitch counts
  9.  Jacque Jones - offensive death
  10. Lee's power drop
Seems to me unless we cure at least the top 3, this team ain't going anywhere, even in this AA division.
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 9:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Right On...
but I would switch #1 and 2.  This game was lost BEFORE it went to extras.  Nobody wants to bunt or play small ball.  When Izturis walked and Lou bats Floyd who failed to move the man over into scoring position (with the top of the order coming up), it was only a matter of time.
can we work some bunting into bp, please?

by copes006 on May 27, 2007 9:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well I think..........
........the point of the previous person was that Barrett's dogshit play was a problem today.

Without question, that's a fact.

But to address some of the issues you raise that are a problem on a grander scale, I would simply state.........

- The Cubs lead the NL in hitting with runners in
  scoring position.  So much for moving guys up.

- If you consider only Floyd and Murton as our
  "RF" position, on a combined basis they'd be
  tied for first in runs scored (27).  They'd be
  hitting an acceptable .287 while ranking third
  on the team in RBIs.  That's not a bad RF.

- Zambrano leads the team in wins and the ONLY
  time he ever got to five victories sooner than
  this was in 2003.  And oh, in 2003 he won his
  5th game on 5/25, not 5/26 like this year.  So
  much for Z "MIA"..........

- The "no threat to steal guy", Soriano, still
  leads the team in SBs notwithstanding his  
  missing several games with a hammy injury.

And if we look deeper, it seems that Barrett's game-calling skills are very poor and likely a contributing factor in the bullpen's problems.  Any catcher who calls for 11 of 12 fastballs (as was Howry's downfall Friday night) or 3 straight breaking balls (as he did for Eyre today) has to shoulder some of the blame.

Michael Barrett has long been overrated by Cubs fans and management, and his play so far is yet another indicator that he's not a "poor man's Mike Piazza".

The team's woes are not entirely his fault, but he has to shoulder more of the blame than you are indicating in your post.

by tville on May 27, 2007 10:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's an interesting and thoughtful perspective.
I can't explain how we can be leading in hitting RISP, but the problem may be that we don't get guys into scoring position often enough.  We don't get people from first to second, and we don't get people from second to third.  Maybe we lead the league in singles with men on second, but that still leaves two thirds of the time when the man on second stays there.  If we moved him to third some of the time we make outs, there would be more runs.

Decent point, but together they make up only 2/3 of a competent defensive outfielder.

The fact that Soriano leads the team in steals just makes clear how slow this team is.

Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 10:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Cubs are currently..........
.......tied for 8th in NL steals and could be 4th with just three more SBs.  A healthy Soriano changes this quickly.  Clearly this is not a root cause for the team's malaise.

Floyd and Murton have combined for two errors so far this season.  Again, not the end of the world after 47 games.

There is some validity to your point about moving guys up - a problem since forever with the Cubs - but if the bullpen was even .500 in holds/saves, this team would be in first place.  Dempster spit the bit in an ugly non-save situation, but otherwise you have to wag the finger at Eyre/Howry/Cotts/Ohman for the lack of "dubyahs" for this ball club.

by tville on May 27, 2007 10:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

There's a reason Blanco was Maddux's caddy
1-RUN GAMES = 2-12 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-5

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bad defensive catcher
Barrett is an offensive catcher, not a defensive catcher and Lou knows it know. Why do you think Dusty Baker had Blanco catching Zambrano and Lou just conceded and announced just that? The problem is that the catcher is a defensive position; that's why LaRussa had Yadier Molina as his regular catcher despite his anemic bating average. I just hope Barrett is a quick learner or those pitchers are going to allow a lot more runs.

by Fraggin Judge on May 28, 2007 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Couldn't agree more
The Cardinals regularly contend with the likes of Yadier Molina and Mike Matheny behind the plate. Defense there matters.
Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on May 28, 2007 4:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

barret
everone has a bad day sometimes

by dalehenderson on May 28, 2007 6:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

when your relief pitching is bad..
every shortcoming is amplified. Managerial moves, lack of clutch hitting. (bases left loaded twice) etc etc...my problem is that this team appears to have NO heart and NO soul and very little if any leadership. It is statisically improbable to lose 12, count them 12 one run games in less than a 1/3 of a season.
Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on May 27, 2007 9:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Statistically improbable...
is no match for the Cubs.
1-RUN GAMES = 2-12 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-5

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good news!
At least the Brewers lost too so we didn't lose ground.  Thank God for the Padres.
"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse

by ronsanto10 on May 27, 2007 9:46 PM CDT   0 recs

I'd say the consistency of the offense is
as big of a problem as the bullpen, but for some reason I'm a little more confident in the offense than the bullpen.  The Cubs have lost 15 games this season when they had a lead or at least a tie at some point beyond the 6th inning.  Those aren't just losses, they're demoralizing losses.  If they could manage to win just half of those then they are above .500 and knocking on the Brewers' door.

Linebrink would be an excellent addition, but he was available all offseason and there weren't any offers good enough to pry him away from the Padres, so obviously he's not coming cheap.  I can't think of any ML ready talent that the Cubs can offer.  Maybe Jones since they are thin in LF. Maybe a lefty reliever, but ours look like crap.  It's going to take a combination of players to get the job done and the Cubs would have to part with at least one of their more prominent prospects to get him.  I think you make that sacrifice if you think this team can win now.  If not, then you ride it out and try to find a solution in house.

"Baseball is like Church. Many Attend; Few Understand." - Leo Durocher

by JD McCubbie on May 27, 2007 9:51 PM CDT   0 recs

Agreed
You're more confident about the offense because they aren't the ones throwing balls down the plate on 0-2 counts to the opposite hitters. Catcher's or pitcher's fault?

by Fraggin Judge on May 28, 2007 12:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Back from Game
Wow...what a give away! And here I thought Friday night was bad; little did I realize that there are even more insidious, mind-exploding ways to lose a game.

After serving up that fat pitch to Ethier and then summarily dismissed by Piniella, Eyre sat down in the dugout and sat there in a zombie-like trance - kinda like Howry on Friday.  I am beginning to think that this pattern of failure has settled deep into their pysche and there now exists a systemic problem that will be difficult to solve. I don't know what the answer is, but I pray Hendry/Piniella/Rothschild are working it.

Better luck tomorrow back home in Wrigley - I will be barbequeing with friends and saluting our Armed Forces with many cold beverages, and in the process hopefully forget this most forgetable series.

by JFCubFan on May 27, 2007 9:54 PM CDT   0 recs

So many things wrong with this game
  1. Why isn't Soriano scoring from 1st on Theriot's gapper in the 8th? Instead, that punk ass lucks out and he scores anyway on Lee's hit.
  2. Why is Barrett, an RBI guy, laying down a sacrifice bunt with runners on 1st (Lee) and 2nd (Theriot)later in the 8th?
  3. Why can't we score more than 1 god damn run in that inning?
  4. Lou goes by the book and puts in a lefty to face a lefty leading off the bottom of the 8th. However, the book doesn't apply to this team, and Ethier homers to tie the game. We need 3 hits to score 1 run... and they come back and do it in 1 at-bat.
  5. Top of the 9th, Izuseless actually leads off with a walk, and instead of sending in Marquis to lay down a sacrifice bunt, Lou sends in Floyd to swing away. A total wasted lead-off walk... and a compete head scratcher after Lou sends Barrett to sacrifice with runners on 1st and 2nd in the 8th.
  6. Guzman sits down his 1st 6 batters, then falls apart in the 11th. With the bases loaded, Lou brings in Marmol? Lou used Marmol late in a game earlier this week, and he was so god damn wild, he made Rick Vaugn look tame. Yeah, great decision there Lou.Marmol hits Pierre to bring in the winning run.
1-RUN GAMES = 2-11 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-4

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:18 PM CDT   0 recs

yep
  1.  Soriano can't run.  His hamstring is hindering him.
  2.  I think that's the right call, but Barrett didn't execute it well.  Nobody on this team can bunt with any consistency.
  3.  We consistently fail to put together rallies.
  4.  Right on.
  5.  Right on.
  6.  Right on.
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 10:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why the heck is sending Barrett to bunt
the right call?

He's batting clean-up for crying outfucking loud!!!!
He's supposed to drive in runs, not lay down bunts with runners on 1st and 2nd and no out.

1-RUN GAMES = 2-12 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-5

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's batting clean up
only because Ramirez sat today.  
Did we really put Jose Macias on the field? Really???

by ksreed on May 27, 2007 10:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

re: he's batting cleanup
Yes... I know that.

But, in any god damn fucking line-up, you don't ask your clean-up hitter to lay down a bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and no out.

And, i wouldn't ask Michael Barrett to do that no matter hwere he was hitting in this line-up. Barrett's an RBI guy. His job is to drive in run's...

1-RUN GAMES = 2-12 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-5

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Precisely!!
This is just one of several bad moves by Lou over the past few days.

I gotta think the bewildering play of this cast of characters is finally getting to him.  He's so distraught he's not sure what to do and when.

He needs a MAJOR BLOWUP complete with an EJECTION in the very near future.  Only then might he be able to cope with the cards he's been dealt........

by tville on May 27, 2007 10:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Brew Crew have lost 5 in a row
and are 3-7 in their last 10... and we've only picked up 1 fucking game. Unbeleivable.
1-RUN GAMES = 2-12 | EXTRA INNINGS = 1-5

by SackMan on May 27, 2007 10:26 PM CDT   0 recs

Tough one today...
I thought it was a good omen when Hill threw
his warmup ball to #1 son when he left the bullpen. Should have known better.

Anyway, nice to see so many Cubbie fans in LA. But it would be better to see them win once in a while.

by bison on May 27, 2007 10:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Lack of fundamentals...
...is why this team is so bad. From not bunting to bad baserunning to ugly defense to pitchers throwing too many balls, etc. I could go on for days but I am trying to control the rage.

The biggest problem I have with this team is they cannot do the little things in baseball that ALL of us were taught when we were 8,9,10 years old. I can accept getting beat on days where you play smart baseball - I will not accept losing on days when you keep beating yourself. And this team continues to do that.

I want to believe that this is a good team, but, in my heart, I know they are not. I think Lou is starting to see that as well.

"Although slow, and dangerous behind the wheel, you can still serve a purpose."

by ilovepie on May 27, 2007 10:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Sweet Lou
This L's for you, and so is Friday's loss imo.

When he goes to take out Wuertz to open the seventh, it looked as if his move was even being questioned from the dugout. He looked back at the dugout throwing his arms in the air as if to say "what the heck". I've never seen a manager backpedaling on the way to the mound before. Anyone else catch that? He's told us he wants power arms in the bullpen, so he can groom a new closer.

He has had a chance to use Guzman in the setup role twice now and hasn't done it. Seeing if he can handle the eighth first sounds like a good idea to me, isn't that how one would go about "grooming" a closer?

So I guess all that was talk to scare our pair of 5 million dollar relievers who can't get people out. How's that working out for you Lou?

The Stone Pony will ride again...

by TheRamZamDLEE on May 27, 2007 10:50 PM CDT   0 recs

Yeah, I saw that
motion, from Lou but didn't understand what it meant. I doubt if it was being questioned, but the moment was....strange.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 27, 2007 11:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He was buying some time...
and was asking if the reliever was warmed-up. That's my impression.

by Fraggin Judge on May 28, 2007 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why? Why? Why?
Would Lou take the ONE guy in the bullpen who has shown ANY consistency (Lou's favorite buzzword)? Weurtz, maybe he would have given up the run, maybe not. But Eyre? I'm shaking my head at the ways this team can lose. This sickens me. Lou's an asshole.

by teacher tom on May 27, 2007 10:51 PM CDT   0 recs

To Live and Die in LA
Well, it was a beautiful day in the Ravine. My Dodger Dog was grilled, so I don't understand yesterday's complaint about a non-grilled wiener.

And, the new Dodgers parking rules are a smash hit, in my world. With 51K -- I was out of that lot in 15 mins. No more clusterF.

And, Dodger Stadium looks pretty darn good. The old gal doesn't look her age. But you know a new stadium lurks....Los Angeles likes new, shiny things....and a sparkling downtown ballpark will  eventually appear. (I know many of you in LA don't agree, and I'd hate to see it, but that will happen -- with a "Football Village" in the Ravine, and the Saints will come marching in........oops, off topic.)

OK, that's the good. Now the not-so-good.

All right, I'll give Rich Hill the benefit of the doubt. he rebounded from last Tuesday night in SD.
My take is similar to Al (although I was only partially kidding about Eyre DFA) but this trip could really have been 4-2. This should have been a sweep in LA. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

This, even though the Cubs left 9 on base, and 5 RISP. (If I hear ONE more time from some swarmy out-of-town announcer (Not YOU, Vinnie -- you say whatever you want) "The Cubs are one of the best teams w/ RISP" (As Matt V must have said 20 times on Saturday) I'm GONNA sceam, for that stat is meaningless, if the pen can't do the job.

Erye shouldn't be anywhere near a rubber. I cringed when he waddled in. And, Guzman SHOULD NOT have been out there in the 9th, no way. It HAD to be Depmster in that slot, assume he holds -- and pray that somehow, the bottom of the order gets it done in the top of the 12th.

So, Lou has to take some of the heat -- but this could, and should have been a 1-0 victory.
This should have been a successful weekend in Hollywood.

But doesn't this HAVE to even out? I was told by a friend watching in LA that Vin was discussing the unusual position the Cubs find themselves in, for the statistics seem to tell another story -- with the pen (obviously) as the reason for this sub .500 record. Vasgergian made the same point on Fox yesterday.

So -- can we stretch a bit? What if the pen can be turned around? Again, in the Comedy Central -- it seems as if only the Cubs could challenge the Brewers. If you think WE have problems, look at everybody else in this crappy division.

I'd love to squeeze Scotty Linebrink out of the Padres -- but J. Jones as bait just isn't gonna do it.  They need a power, right handed bat. But why should they make ANY trades, really -- The Pads have lost only 9 games at home this year. Pitching wins at Petco -- what if somebody goes down? Their pitching might be the best in the NL right now -- I believe they now lead in ERA. (I haven't checked) I bet the Padres will stand pat. Kevin Towers has struck gold with players nobody else wants, why change a winning hand? Jones won't help them, and we're stuck with him, and Eyre.

Hope isn't lost yet, but it's stuck in traffic on the Golden State Freeway.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 27, 2007 11:10 PM CDT   0 recs

At last
you have given us hope. The law of averages is on our side.
If the law of averages are to be believed this is our year....or not.

by tharr on May 28, 2007 12:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Murder the Marlins!
Need some mojo - hell, we're still 5 out, and it's May.  New day.

by scottsdalecubs on May 27, 2007 11:39 PM CDT   0 recs