Step Up Yo D

by lexmarklover on Jun 7, 2008 10:29 PM CDT

The of the major weak links on the Cubs team is their defense. In today's game against the Dodgers, the D showed its ugly head once again. I would even say that it cost us the game. Ramirez had the poor throw to Lee, who usually eats those things up. Ramirez always has a strong arm, but the accuracy aspect is always iffy. Fukudome had the fly ball, but he dove somewhat late causing the ball to get under him. Although he has been quite excellent in right field, that single play led the team and Zambrano towards the lose today. Theriot needs to be able to catch a throw from Soto. I think that if he would of caught two balls today, then the stolen bases would have gone for naught. I'm just really disappointed not only from the defense but the inability to work the count. DERREK LEE, what is up with you? You swing early in the count at bad balls, you take the strikes, and your defense (although at times spectacular) has gone down a bit. All in all our team needs tomorrow's game to avoid a Dodger series win. Also, we haven't lost three in a row, which is a very impressive stat. Looking on the bad side, Joe Morgan is announcing. On a different aspect, our draft pick, Andrew Cashner, is quite the stud from everything I've read. He is compared to Max Scherzer, throws 96-98 mph, has a nasty slider, and could possibly come up to the big club this year. Man that would be a tough bullpen if Cashner do what people think he can do.

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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I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine

by Wreckard on Jun 7, 2008 11:53 PM CDT reply actions

Serious response

Even good defensive teams have bad days. We’re really only week defensively up the middle – Theriot and Derosa are both below average defenders. In the outfield, Soriano is below average.

Beyond that we have an average to above average team defensively. It’s a very kneejerk to freak out about one bad inning in one bad game and just post a rambling diatribe about our defense (and a bunch of other unrelated things you threw in) as though it’s been some sort of ongoing problem.

All in all I give this diary a D+. Needs improvement, see Al after class.

by Wreckard on Jun 7, 2008 11:57 PM CDT reply actions

I agree...

This is still a good defensive team. Derek Lee has won several gold gloves, Aramis Ramirez in my opinion, should’ve won it last year, Edmonds isn’t what he used to be but he’s still good, Fukudome is above average, and Soto has a nice blocking ability and a good throwing arm. Which leaves three under-average fielders on the field, DeRosa, Theriot and Soriano, all of whose bats are to productive to take out of the lineup. And Lou can always pull them late in guys for guys like Reed Johnson, Ronny Cedeno, and Mike Fontenot.

"You know they're not going to lose 162 games." Harry Caray

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jun 8, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions

The problem is that Lou doesn't make those late-inning replacements

with the exception of Fontenot for DeRosa, and I’m not convinced that one’s an improvement.

by DGU on Jun 8, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe...

But I wouldn’t say DeRo’s under-average.

"You know they're not going to lose 162 games." Harry Caray

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jun 8, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

He's made the RJ for Soriano swap a number of times recently.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on Jun 8, 2008 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Re: draft pick

Has a draft pick ever come up to the majors during the year in which he was picked?

CUBS WIN! CUE THE ORCHESTRA!

by Keith on Jun 8, 2008 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

Many, most famously Dave Winfield

Winfield came straight to the majors without ever playing a game in the minors, one of very few players to have ever done that. He was drafted in 3 sports by 4 different leagues.

by Wreckard on Jun 8, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions

David Aardsma and Chad Cordero did, as college closers.

So it’s certainly possible.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Jun 8, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Olerud too

John Olerud never played a minor league game til late in his career (with the Mets I think, due to a rehab assignment).

by kanderber on Jun 8, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Bob Horner

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jun 8, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Pete Incaviglia

Didn’t sign until Nov the year in which he was drafted, but he never set foot in the minors until he’d been in the bigs for 10 years. Despite his hackalicious ways (136+ K’s in each of first 5 years) he actually had an OPS+ at or above league average 8 of his first 10 seasons. He’s was a member of the “three true outcomes club” from day one, but he used to hit some absolute moon shots.

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

by JD McCubbie on Jun 8, 2008 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions

you must be joking, right?

This year, the Cubs have taken TONS of walks. Fukudome was taking a chance diving for that ball; I think it was the only thing he could do, but I also didn’t think he was going to catch it. And it doesn’t matter—if Theriot catches either of those CS throws, it’s a totally different inning.

We have a good team, defensively and offensively.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jun 8, 2008 11:23 AM CDT reply actions