Fixing everything - accomplishing nothing

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:09 AM CDT

Looking back over the last 4 years I cannot think of one time when the Cubs had a steady line-up. In 2003 they had a somewhat steady line-up but the following year it was never consistent. As a result you get what we've all witnessed the past 3-4 years which is inconsistency out of the offense.

In 2007 it seems to me Piniella is moving to many parts and tinkering to much to see if any one of his moves has worked. It's similar to trying to solve a algebra problem with 2 or 3 unknowns. You cannot solve them all at once.

I don't understand the thinking of Baker and now Piniella that every bench player needs to play. He needs to stick with a steady line-up for 2 weeks and see what happens. I can care less about ego's and playing time. If he just sticks with one line-up for some consistent amount of time he can see what needs to be fixed easier then fixing 2 or 3 things all at once.
(BTW save the argument that the players are professional hitters and should perform in any spot in the line-up, I'll never buy it!)

As for the bullpen, I can't help but to think that it begins and ends with Rothchild. The dread I feel when the bullpen begins to warm-up is palatable. The pen has no confidence. How do you get them to gain confidence? Lou has his work cut out for him on that topic. I think a Rothchild firing would be an interesting choice.

This team has the ability to string some wins together. The starters have given more quality starts then not. The offense would produce if given the chance at consistency. These 2 factors would go along way in giving the pen some time to gain confidence when entering a game.

Lou needs to stop all experiments and stick with a team that will win some games. I don't want to see Marmol, or Guzman in a game except in a mop-up role. Stick with one line-up for 2 weeks and tweek after that if necessary.

Does this seem unreasonable to anyone else?

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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If...

... the bench players don't play, you will wind up with a team like Leo Durocher's 1969 team, which had a bench full of players that never player, and then when called on couldn't perform.

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

by Al Yellon on May 30, 2007 9:11 AM CDT reply actions

Al

But bench players don't need to play as much as they have been. I don't even know who the bench players are any more, beside Ward. Lou need to establish bench players and starters. Right now he's trying to get 25 men to be consistent instead of 9 or maybe 10 players. That will never happen. Put Pagan in Center and Murton in right and see what happen over 2 weeks. If it's all good then stay consistent. That is not to say that Jones and Cliff can't pinch hit in certain situations.

I never said, never play the bench player. Just give the players who he (Lou) thinks given his the best chance to win consistently.

Right now he's not doing that.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

The reason for the mixing and matching

is simple, Hendry put together too many duplicate parts that don't compliment each other. Since 04, Cubs lineups have been one dimensional and easy for the advance scouts to get a read on, hence the continued streaky performance as the years have gone on.

"Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year" - Sparky Anderson

by MPH73 on May 30, 2007 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Tough to agrue with that

But Isturis is a defensive replacement, pointblank end of story. Theriot should be in the line-up everyday.

I hate the platooning garbage that seems to have infected the Cubs organization over the year. Murton on a team like the Marlins would be better off because he would get time to develop, same with Pagan. The current situation is not going to win games.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Then Hendry

should not have put the team together the way he did.

"Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year" - Sparky Anderson

by MPH73 on May 30, 2007 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

But...

His collection of second basemen and outfielders is nearing completion.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions

shaking my head in disbelief

Soriano, Ramirez and Lee have played steadily, when not hurt. They're supposed to be the big guns. At this point D.Lee is the only one I have any faith in. I agree going to the bullpen makes me queasy. The starters so far have generally done a good job only to get no offensive support or to watch the bullpen give it away. Wonder how they feel. Does anyone else think Lou or someone needs to go into the clubhouse and just really rip some A#*.

by iowacubfan on May 30, 2007 9:25 AM CDT reply actions

Lou

That doesn't seem to work. The team seems to lack any personality whereas the Brewers are on TV shows.

For some reason I think Lou will do something to turn things around. I just don't know what that is yet.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

What?

"...whereas the Brewers are on TV shows."

What the hell does THAT mean? Cub players need to be guest judges on "Dancing With The Stars?"

Personality? Right now, the Brewers are better ball players, it doesn't have a damn thing to do with their 'personality.'

Would you consider Nomar Garciparra a 'personality?' Well, the Cubs didn't win with HIM, either.

Pitch, field, run the bases properly -- that wins ball games. Not your...."personality."

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 30, 2007 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

SDJM

This team doesn't have a leader. It's doesn't have that one person that would cause a team to come together. No personality!

The Cubs are boring and look like they're sleep walking on the field.

There is more to the game that. The Cubs lack the intangibles that make up a good team. The Yankees are going through the same thing.

The Cubs need a polarizing event that will pull them together.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 31, 2007 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Personality?

Sure they have a personality. The lovable losers, right? Sorry it's just that the Cubs ability to lose seems to transcend time dosen't it. Stranded runners and blown saves have been the rule around Wrigley for years. I just think someone needs to light a fire under some of them.

by iowacubfan on May 30, 2007 9:41 AM CDT reply actions

yeah well

Lighting a fire and getting someone to perform doesn't always work. Consistency in the field and line up would go a long way to solving the Cubs problem right now.

I realize the teams personnel short comings but Lou is tinkering to much and it looks like the players are not able to get on any streak, except the bad streak the pen is in that it.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think Piniella wants to keep shuffling

but when things aren't working, he's not going to keep trotting out the same team. Going into the season, the spots were settled. Of course, it was quickly realized Soriano can't play CF so he has to go back to left. Howry and Eyre have been bad. He's trying to find something that works. If you go back to his Seattle teams, they seemed pretty settled. I really don't think he's swapping things around just to give his bench players work.

by rlpete on May 30, 2007 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

The bench players play

because the "everyday" options available Dusty and Sweet Lou aren't satisfactory. Barrett is a trainwreck behind the plate, the outfield is a clusterfuck, the middle infield options are all less than inspiring...

You make it sound as if Sweet Lou has wondrous lineup options available so that he should be able to stick with something. Well, crap doesn't stick very well.

"It's not early anymore" - Sweet Lou

by BlueMike on May 30, 2007 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

Options

"because the "everyday" options available Dusty and Sweet Lou aren't satisfactory"

How does he know this? He never gives them a chance at putting a good streak together.

Barrett can and will pull out of this funk he's in, granted he isn't the best catchers around, but he's what we have right now. I say play Blanco a couple days and have Barrett try and relax a bit.

He hasn't found the "wondrous line-up" because he rarely sticks with one to discover if it is wondrous. Thus the point of the diary.

Stick with one line-up over sometime and see.

Go 'head and Jump! --- Van Halen

by Scott G F on May 30, 2007 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Not sure what your beef is...

with Marmol and Guzman. They've looked really good out of the pen so far. It's been the other guys (Howry and Eyre mainly) who've struggled in the pen.

As for the lineup, I kind of agree. I think they should go with Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Floyd, Barrett, DeRosa, and Jones as regular starters, with Murton and Pagan filling in against tough LH starters and Izturis playing sparingly. You make some concessions, but I think the continuity will help the lineup. And when Jones is finally traded, you bring Pie up and put him in CF and the 8th spot in the order.

by SouthernCub on May 30, 2007 9:53 AM CDT reply actions

Marmol and Guzman

Well, sure, they've looked good.

And bad, too -- remember last Sunday?

They're young. They're inconsistent. Eyre has been consistently bad, Howry good at times. Wuertz was fine till last night.

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

by Al Yellon on May 30, 2007 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Guzman had 2 perfect innings....

and Marmol threw one bad pitch in that game.

by SouthernCub on May 30, 2007 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha, ha, ha

And other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln? Ha, ha, ha..... Talk about rose-colored glasses. Guzman and Marmol combined for some of the crappiest pitching I've seen in a long time. They gave the Dodgers the winning run without making them hit the ball. That is inexcusable.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Wait just a minute --

Yeah, Marmol hitting Pierre was another unique way to win the game.

I contend that game lies right in Lou's lap. Guzman gave them two great innings. He should never have been out there to start the 11th. Dempster should have been inserted in the game -- why place a rookie in a continually tense situation? In fact, you could have gotten him out of there feeling good about his performance.

Then, you bring in ANOTHER rookie -- why not Dempster? ( Granted, Marmol did perform well in another clutch situation on Friday) But, this was a much worse situation, with the game on the line, in extras. It looks worse to you because Marmol hit Pierre -- Pierre was already oh-for-5 Sunday, and even his 6th fly ball would have scored the winning run.

But, I'll say it again -- Depmster should have started the 11th, and, hopefully, gets through the inning, and the offense does something in the 12th. Dempster would have to pitch 2 innings, or THEN you bring in Marmol to hopefully, close.

The Cubs screwed themselves with the usual lousy baserunning, and runners LOB. (And, of course, Eyre's continual ineffectiveness,) The game could have been a 1-0 Cubs victory, at the very least.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 30, 2007 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

None of that

changes the fact that Guzman and Marmol were terrible. If they're unable to pitch in "tense" situations they should be in the major leagues.

As for your armchair managing, I disagree. Guzman had been sailing so I can't fault Lou for sticking with him. He's a former starter and he's young and he hadn't thrown a lot of pitches. Plus I believe his spot was due up in the next inning so you'd have had to do a double switch if you wanted Dempster in there for two innings and I believe there wasn't anything left on the bench. I don't think you know what you're talking about.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Correction

"shouldn't" be in the major leagues.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the insult.

I wasn't insulting you, I had a different take.
Like none of us here are'arm chair manage?' Every freaking post is from an 'armchair' manager.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 31, 2007 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Whatever...

Marmol threw one bad pitch. That was the entirety of his outing. It's hard to say he's terrible based on that one pitch.

Similarly, Guzman pitched two perfect innings before that inning. After that, he gave up a walk in a great at bat by the opposing hitter (went about 10 pitches). Then, he gave up the walk. Then, Barrett blew the game by allowing the runner to get to third with no outs. This forced the Cubs to give the walk (to create the force at home).

So one bad pitch and one bad walk (the first walk by Guzman is the type of walk that can happen occasionally - only the second was inexcusable). That's hardly terrible.

by SouthernCub on May 30, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

No

You never, EVER walk the leadoff man in extra innings. Especially a guy hitting under .200, I don't care what kind of at bat he has. That is inexcusable. You HAVE to make him hit the ball. And you never, EVER walk a man to put the winning run in scoring position. That is even more inexcusable. Take off the rose colored glasses and deal with reality. Guzman was terrible. Barrett's mistake was stupid and also inexcusable, but it most likely didn't matter. When you walk the first two men in the inning the odds are pretty good the other team will score, even without a defensive miscue. Guzman blew that game. You really need to learn to deal with reality. You seem like you're in some sort of denial when it comes to certain aspects of this team.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Unless they are the cubs....

in reply to:

" When you walk the first two men in the inning the odds are pretty good the other team will score, even without a defensive miscue."....

and I would add...even with a defensive miscue....

by kcjones on May 30, 2007 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions

What's the excuse

for tonights pathetic Guzman performance? Let's hear it. Tell me about all the wonderful things he did.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions

He had a terrible game...

he had a bad inning on Sunday (after two perfect innings, one might note) and he had a terrible game tonight.

That does not mean he sucks. Pitchers have bad nights. It happens.

And you still have yet to address Marmol (who's been terrific except for one bad pitch).

by SouthernCub on May 30, 2007 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll get to Marmol

He can't throw strikes. You just watch he'll be walking people in a ballpark near you.

As a whole, Guzman's major league career has been awful so far. This is indisputable. You can make excuse after excuse for him but you know I'm right. It's not just one game or one inning. Yes, he's had his moments, but on the whole, he's been bad. Stop making silly excuses for the guy. It's beneath you.

by cubsbak on May 30, 2007 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions

inspiration

Your're right they do need consistency. However I still think they need someone to get them fired up. It just seems like business as usual, for the last 30 years around there. Although I am starting to see fewer smiles in the dugout while they're going down in flames. they just don't seem to have that one guy that so many really good teams have. That can get everyone to give 110%. Also I have to say I feel sorry for Lou. Looks like he's the next manager to get swallowed up by the curse dosen't it.

by iowacubfan on May 30, 2007 11:22 AM CDT reply actions