Thoughts After Tonight's Game

by bergs55 on Apr 30, 2008 12:29 AM CDT

Just got home from the game and had a few thoughts...

1. After the game, Lou was talking about how the cold weather hurt the pitching night. I hate to break it to Lou, but if the Cubs make the playoffs/World Series, it's not going to be 80 degrees and sunny in Chicago at the end of November.

2. The middle relief is pretty lousy. They haven't really showed anything for a few games now. Specifically Marshall, Wuertz and Hart.

3. Don't understand why the Cubs aren't running on Kendall more. His arm is a noodle as we all learned last year but in both series against the Brewers we haven't taken advantage of this.

4. When the home plate ump left the game in the third inning, there was never any kind of announcement made to the fans. The players just ran off the field. They should have let the fans know what was going on instead of just having us sit there for 15 minutes.

5. There were a lot of Brewers fans in the stands. Lots of vulgarities being thrown back and forth and in the bleachers there appeared to be a bunch of fights/ejections.

6. It was cooooooold.

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Comments

good post

agree with all but

7. pie needs to play

8. I need to post here every game i think we are undefeated when i have fifty plus posts durig a game

"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"

by fischisgod on Apr 30, 2008 12:52 AM CDT reply actions

9

Cedeno needs to get in there….the kid could hit a homer. Fontenot had a nice game, lefty or not, I would have like ONEDEC in there. COnsidering he was hot and I havent seen him

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 30, 2008 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

Theriot and Fontenot’s lack of range is really starting to bother me. And I’m finding myself cringing every time Theriot has to make a throw from anywhere near deep in the hole. I’d like to see 1Dec get more chances at shortstop. I guess the only advantage Theriot might have over Ronnie defensively is, if Ryan misthrows a ball, it’s more likely to end up in the dirt rather than in the box seats behind first base. But I’ll take my chances.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 30, 2008 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

When there

was a routine grounder to Theriot yesterday and he short armed it and bounced it to Lee, I thought Lees body language seemed like he was annoyed.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 30, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

You are slowly starting to see...

...Theriot’s arm get exposed at SS. Last year, I was really surprised he held up as well as he did, but I thinks you will see more of this as time goes on.

As we approach June, I think the club will increase the priority on upgrading the SS position for the 2nd half.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Apr 30, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

It was about Memorial Day when Lou changed SS's last year.

There is a thing when you break from camp and someone earns the starting spot. Recently I was told that Lou usually gives position players 40 games or so in a rotation set in the beginning of the year to either hold to the level of performance or changes will be made. Pitchers, Lou has shorter patience since it effects the team greater when a pitcher lacks in performance.

So 26 games Lou will probably begin looking at a change at SS in a week and a half or so. Ironically today some bloggers are talking about Kahil Greene who has gotten off to a real slow start in SD where the Padres are falling to 9 games out of AZ who want to run and hide in the NL West.

This also could pose issues as LA falls back as well. What would Greene cost not a bunch, maybe they could even through in Maddux if Greg would like to return again.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Apr 30, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

If Theriot stops hitting...

... that will force Lou to try Cedeno. I like Theriot, but he may very well be better suited to be a backup.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

6.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 3:42 AM CDT reply actions

Is blaming the cold justified in this case?

After all, both pitching staffs suffered and gave up a lot of runs.

But what do people think of Kevin Hart these days? When he was being lauded last September, I was skeptical because of the small sample size. Is he likely to get better this year, or more likely to continue his mediocre/poor 2008 performance ?

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on Apr 30, 2008 5:41 AM CDT reply actions

Agree with the cold

Also Hart looks like he has lost some zip on his fastball, and soley relies on sliders and curveballs.
Lieber needs to be in the rotation
Pitchers need to throw STRIKE ONE
And I know it is early, Cubs need to win on Wendesday, 1st big game of the year IMO.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Apr 30, 2008 6:29 AM CDT reply actions

I hate the fact that we're talking about "must win" games in April

but I think you’re right. After a nice run, this team has started to show some pretty troubling holes.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 30, 2008 7:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely Agree

Cubs cannot lose two series in a row at home to the Brewers.

by Holy Cow on Apr 30, 2008 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Bullpen moves coming up

I think there’s a good chance that in a couple of weeks, both Chad Fox and Scott Eyre will be ready for the majors. I don’t expect either to be a savior, but I can imagine sending Hart to Iowa and maybe Marshall, too. Trading Murton for a solid reliever seems like a good idea at this point.

Bullpen management mainly consists of going with the hot hand, IMHO. Stashing a couple of guys in the minors and giving someone else a chance is fine with me.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Apr 30, 2008 7:30 AM CDT reply actions

It may not be Fox.

It may be Jose Ascanio, who has thrown really well at Iowa.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions

middle relief

obviously the control is the main issue here as the walks out of the bullpen are just killing us.

I can’t help but wonder if the quick hook Lou is showing with the middle relievers isn’t helping things as guys look to making “the perfect” pitch to get out of jams instead of trusting that if they make a mistake and give up a 1B they’ll be allowed to work out of the jam

by DartmouthCubsFan on Apr 30, 2008 7:33 AM CDT reply actions

Positive sign

We faced Ben Sheets and drew 7 walks. Fukudome’s approach is spreading.

by IllinoisCubs on Apr 30, 2008 7:35 AM CDT reply actions

Good point

It appears all of the team is taking a different approach at the plate, Ramy had 3 straight walks, and Pie took a walk, Good sign, Just have to me more consistent with the big hit.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Apr 30, 2008 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Game Encouraging Offensively

I worried that the Cubs weren’t going to get many baserunners against Ben Sheets, but they did get a lot of people on base. The Fukudome approach is something the Cubs have needed for decades. I am glad I live down south and don’t have to deal with downright plum cold nights in late April as the people in Chicago do.

by memphiscub on Apr 30, 2008 7:55 AM CDT up reply actions

The walks are great.

But they have to get the runners home.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Can't Argue With That

The winner scores more runs and doesn’t necessarily have more baserunners. Still, drawing walks does tend to lead to increased run scoring. However, it doesn’t always work out that way, if you don’t get timely hitting. I still think the Fukudome approach is the way to go.

by memphiscub on Apr 30, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely.

You need both—on-base guys and RBI guys. I think the Cubs have them, if only they had produced last night.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions

#5

so it sounds like Cubs – Brewers games have devolved to the point of Cubs – White Sox games…..great. There’s another set of games I’ll most likely avoid.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Apr 30, 2008 8:27 AM CDT reply actions