Miller Park Lights Go Out, But Brewers Light Up Cubs Bullpen, Defeat Cubs 12-6
by Al on May 10, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
in Recaps
132 comments
The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 last night, taking a 3-2 series lead and with one more win, will be in a conference final for the first time in 14 year. The 'Hawks...
Oh, wait. You mean this hasn't turned into a hockey blog? It might as well have after last night's ridiculous 12-6 Cubs loss to the Brewers.
If the Cubs can salvage the final game of this series, they will come home with a winning road trip, something I suspect they could really use after the three losses so far in Milwaukee (yes, I said "three": two lost games and one lost third baseman).
Don't blame A-Ram's injury for this one: the Cubs generated some offense even without him last night, with 11 hits and seven walks. That produced six runs. It should have been more: the seventh inning was particularly ugly, when the Cubs loaded the bases with one out, only to see Micah Hoffpauir strike out and look bad doing it and Geovany Soto hit a meek little grounder to Craig Counsell for a ofrce to end the inning. (Credit where credit is due: Hoffpauir's two-run homer in the fifth had been the only Cub offense up to that time.)
That was when the score was only 3-2 Milwaukee. Why Lou chose to send Ryan Dempster, who had thrown 111 pitches and might have had other things than baseball on his mind (there were radio reports yesterday that Dempster's new baby has been in intensive care since birth a month or so ago), out to throw the seventh inning is beyond me. Dempster had nothing left and gave up a pair of solo homers to Counsell (who hadn't homered since last June 17 and had only that single roundtripper in his previous 380 at-bats) and Ryan Braun. Even that might have been manageable, but Neal Cotts and David Patton got pounded and the inning ended with the score 9-2 Milwaukee.
I've been lobbying for the last couple of days for Chad Fox to be removed from the roster -- and he will be now, because the inevitable Fox elbow injury happened during his 8th-inning appearance. I actually feel bad for him; he is, from all accounts, a good guy and a hard worker. To see him led off a major league mound, injured, and probably for the last time, was sad. He'll be placed on the DL, and as we have discussed, that way he'll pile up the service time he needs to get to 10 full years in the major leagues and get an increased pension. I hope the Cubs recall Jeff Stevens, who has been impressive at Iowa, to replace him on the roster. (While they're at it, bring up Jason Waddell and let Cotts go.)
The Cubs mounted a comeback during a bizarre eighth inning during which half the lights at Miller Park went off, forcing a 10-minute delay. When they got the lights back on, Milton Bradley doubled in Kosuke Fukudome, bringing the Cubs to within 9-6, but between the injured Fox and the wild Aaron Heilman, they put the game out of reach at 12-6. Cubs pitchers walked nine last night -- way too many.
Finally, there's enough blame to assign some to Lou. In addition to leaving Dempster out there too long, his original lineup had Ryan Freel at 3B, but Bobby Scales got the start because Freel came up with tightness in his left hamstring. I wanted Scales in the lineup, but at 2B, not 3B. Scales isn't a very good third baseman and it showed in the first inning, when Braun tried to steal third. Geo's throw got away; the error was charged to Geo but perhaps Mike Fontenot, who should have been at 3B with Scales at 2B, would have stopped it and kept the first-inning damage to a single run.
Enough. Win today and the road trip is, at least, a modest success. The pregame thread will be up at 11:30 am CDT.
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If we're going to talk about first inning fielding, it wasn't just Scales
A decent throw from Theriot gets Counsell at the plate by 3 feet. Scales was late covering third, but Soto’s throw was bad and would not have gotten Braun had Scales caught it (yes, his tardiness probably contributed to the throw).
Surprised you didn’t mention Braun’s stare-down of Dempster. I thought that was a bit over the top. Braun’s one hell of a hitter, but he acts like every homerun he hits wins game 7 of the World Series.
There’s a long way to go and the Cubs aren’t in an awful position, but it’s time to start playing better — and getting hits with runners on base.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 7:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They scored enough to win last night.
The loss is almost completely on the bullpen (and Lou, for leaving Dempster in too long).
At least a better 3B prevents that throw from going into LF — maybe Braun gets stranded in that case.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 7:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, they scored enough
But, do you think Julio sees the mound in a 1 or 2-run game?
Not scoring in the 2nd and the 7th did the Cubs in.
I don’t know if anyone could have prevented that throw from going into LF — it was pretty bad. And, my point was, if you’re going to reference fielding miscues, Theriot and Soto deserve equal time for their foibles.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
al
who knows – maybe fontenot would be better than scales at 3B, but to my novice eyes, fontenot has looked terrible at 3B and as far as the first inning error goes, it was a terrible throw from soto – ramirez wouldn’t have caught that and fontenot definitely would not have have caught that. you can’t hang that one on scales. that’s on soto, who also had a lazy passed ball last night on what should have been a K for a third out for dempster.
by amory blaine on May 10, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And, I agree with you about Braun.
The people at evil BCB had a different take on it, but there’s no way that throw that went off Braun’s bat (not his head) was deliberate.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 7:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course they did....
….. the people at evil BCB think “hello” is in invitation to start a fight.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By all accounts.......
…….and this includes Brewers employees, Braun is a jerk.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
by tville on May 10, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brewer employees think so too?
Interesting. Got any details?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a friend...........
……..who has a friend that works in/around the dugout during games. He claims Braun is incredibly arrogant, and generally aloof to those around him.
That said, he has been known to sign things for little kids, but otherwise he’s an ass.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
by tville on May 10, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think the stare had anything to do with exuberance over a home run
it was about throwing at his head.
by ol Pete on May 10, 2009 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See above.
That was NOT a deliberate throw.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I sure don't know
but what makes you so sure?
by ol Pete on May 10, 2009 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because professionals don't do that "just because"
The players don’t have the same chips on their shoulders that one fan base does.
And if he was going to be thrown at, it wasn’t going to be a changeup.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't get the "just because"
and people get thrown at all the time with breaking balls
by ol Pete on May 10, 2009 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
It almost never happens, and as other have mentioned, if you are going to throw at a guy’s head, you don’t do it with an 82 mph changeup. To me, Braun acts like a spoiled brat sometimes. Inside pitching is part of the game, he needs to keep this in mind. And, sometimes pitches get away. Dempster did not do it intentionally, just like Soriano did not get hit intentionally in the head.
As they say, act like you have been there before. Dempster got shown up, and for that Braun needs a message sent. I would think a pitcher staring down and showing up Braun after he strikes out in a big spot would show him how childish he looked.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean that pros don't throw at someone just for the sake of doing so
Even though fans think so.
Incidentally, sooner or later, Braun is going to get drilled by someone. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was the Cardinals. I have no issue with what he did on Friday, but he often goes overboard.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to disagree
with that. There are times, when protecting your teammates or retaliating for a bean ball, when a manager orders a pitcher to hit a batter. Pujols got hit in retaliation for the Soriano hit to the head, and he knew it (as evidenced by the stare he gave). The key is, the Cubs kept it clean. You try to hit the guy in the buttocks area to minimize injury. You will never hear players/managers admit beanballs due to suspension, but it does happen.
Another example would be (can’t remember the year) when Ozzie Guillen sent a player they just called up back down to Triple A because he ordered a batter hit and the player missed the batter. He even berated the kid in the dugout, it was a pretty big deal at the time.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You didn't read what I wrote
I said they don’t do it just for the sake of doing so.
What you described is not just for the sake of doing so, it is for a purpose.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My bad
You are in fact correct. I really hope we can figure our bullpen woes out, we may end up being pretty active this year at the deadline.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No worries
Wasn’t ignoring you; I had to leave for the game. Of course, you’ll probably never see this reply now. Oh, well….
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
because
that’s not Ryan Dempster.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on May 10, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're probably right.
But if a guy gets a ball that nearly hits his head (and the ump tells him it did), doesn’t that mitigate the staring after the homerun?
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 10, 2009 7:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe.
Dempster has been pretty wild this year. If he had any intention of throwing at Braun, why not do it in his first AB?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To try to make it less obvious.
I’ve certainly seen payback beanings the following day occur in the 3rd or 4th inning instead of the first go through the order.
But hey, my first reaction to the thow by Dempster was that it didn’t look intentional.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on May 10, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and his pissy fit when he got walked?
With the series he’s had so far, he would have gotten 4 pitches high and wide for a free ride.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on May 10, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or the obvious
who goes headhunting when you’re only down by one and Prince Fielder, who though a little cold still has proven this year that he’s got the power to take Dempster deep. You know…obvious.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on May 10, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder what Hendry thinks about his off-season moves now.
Gregg hasn’t been such a success. Heilman is serviceable, but not more than that. Cotts is a failure. Gathright’s gone. Chad Fox is gone. Aaron Miles is fine, but not more than that. What now, Jimbo?
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
by zevkalman on May 10, 2009 7:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
now
we see if Bradley can step up, and what Freel can do. The offseaon moves were the offseason moves. They haven’t panned out all that well, but if Bradley can become the producer he needs to be, I’d call it worth it.
Right now, we’re in “stay in the race” mode. We need Lee, Soto and Bradley to step up, and we need Freel to hold down the infield till Rami gets back. Of course, that would necessitate Freel actually playing.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on May 10, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank God...
I was at work last night and I couldn’t get anything more than a line score update. Last nights game would have killed me to watch. Are there any quality bullpen guys out there? WE NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by TennesseeCub on May 10, 2009 7:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
cubs
gonna be a long season. now i see where lee will be going for an mri.losing ramirez and lee will be devastating. good practice i guess for when they will both be gone in a couple of years.as far as hendry goes no owner no money.i doubt he will be pulling any blockbusters off at the deadline.i think hoffpauir will do a good job but we have no one to replace ramirez.
by NOMAR on May 10, 2009 7:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Despite All the Bad Stuff Happening...
the Cubs are only 2.5 games out and are 2 games over .500. I’m extremely glad there is no team running away with the division right now with the Cardinals cooling off.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on May 10, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
just saw on Sportscenter
Pujols is 0-10 with 4 Ks.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on May 10, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone else need pillows to punch or bite when Heilman comes in?
I know he’s been pretty reliable but it drives me nuts when relievers walk first batters.
"They say we don't look good on paper. Well, we don't play on paper." Joe McCarthy (1926)
by Bricks and Ivy on May 10, 2009 8:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey Al, there's a typo
in the 4th paragraph. Just wanted to let you know.
“…Geovany Soto hit a meek little grounder to Craig Counsell for a ofrce to end the inning. (Credit where credit is due: Hoffpauir’s…”
by gocubsgoradio720 on May 10, 2009 8:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
One comment on last night's game:
The Blackhawks were impressive.
"If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong." - a well known stock market guru
by LAcarl519 on May 10, 2009 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the fonts on my computer are messedup. Can someone verify Chad Fox’ ERA.
by Comfortably Numb on May 10, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
135
And I wasn’t supposed to put a decimal in there.
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and he;s 38!
you would think by now he would’ve given up the dream, ya know?
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When is it time
To give up on the David Patton experiment? Hopefully soon, with Reinhard (I just love talking about this guy), and Stevens pitching great in AAA, they need to quit on Patton and Fox. And what if the Cubs let Cotts go, and Waddell is just as bad? Who will be the lefty in the pen?
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oh, don't worry, fox is done
i think he broke his arm and may or may not have overdosed on sleeping pills last night
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's really not all that funny
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Jokes about suicide, not so cool.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mitch Atkins?
He looked fairly good in ST. Maybe time to give him a shot? He can’t be any worse than Patton.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They need to do something
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on May 10, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Makes me wish we still had Donnie Veal. I was always a big fan of his, I personally thought we had a potentially great player on our hands. He was a lefty, which would have really helped us out right about now too.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you could overdose on sleeping pills without dying
so who said anything about suicide?
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please.....
…stop. There’s no defending that remark.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Siggghhhhh....
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep starting Hoffpauir over Lee...
until Micah gives a reason not to. The guy is just simply a good hitter. Lee, as we all know, has been awful this year.
Hoffpauir’s OPS is 250 points higher. Enough said.
by kanderber on May 10, 2009 8:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
100% agreed
I don’t even care that Lee is hurt, Hoff is just becoming a flat out better player.
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lee "Ain't" Right
Hoff is healthy, and Lee isn’t. I’m concerned that this disc problem in Lee’s neck will bother him for some time because of Lee’s age. It’s not as if younger people exactly recover overnight from such things. A healthy Hoff is better than a half-baked Lee.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on May 10, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
unlikely.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on May 10, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, MB had a really nice game.
2-3 with 2 walks. Hopefully a sign of things to come.
by kanderber on May 10, 2009 8:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I was going to say that
Yes, not all bad things.
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whatever happened
To Billy Petrick? Does anyone remember him?
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Looks like he's playing for Daytona
1-2, 4.09 ERA in 11 IP.
"The finish line is just the start of the next race."
by Sobenergy on May 10, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
IIRC....
… he got suspended for a while last year. I suspect he’s pretty far off the radar now. Too bad, he had a good arm.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why did he get suspended?
PED’s?
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 10, 2009 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lou has had a terrific
run in baseball.
This is going to be a year like he had never anticipated I am sorry to say.
I like him, and was happy Hendry hired him at the time. Now, he makes too-many head-scratching moves me.
It is time for him to retire, though. Bring on Trammel, or whomever…
by The E-Man on May 10, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not Trammell.
I just don’t see him as the leader this team needs.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, what's the scuttlebut?
How long will Rami be out; has there been any announcement? And Freel, will he get the start today at 3rd? Hamstring tightness? We need him to play 3rd, not LBR, and not Bobby the Scale(s).
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on May 10, 2009 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Figure All-Star Game,
James…
Bobby was played out of position. But, he’s still a member of the “Scrap Pack”.
by The E-Man on May 10, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets win one today, okay?
Have a good day everyone, and happy Mother’s Day to any mothers out there! I’m out with a coffee to go.
by Craig in South Bend on May 10, 2009 9:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It was hard to put that game out of its misery
convulsions to the bitter end.
by Emelie on May 10, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Chad Fox
So what happened to his arm? Same thing from the last two seasons?
Drive, Monkey Drive!
by VegasCubFan on May 10, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Elbow
It looked like it on TV, and the Cubs’ website says the same thing. Two Tommy John surgeries, 38 years old, he gave it a good shot. This ought to be it for him. He needs to start thinking he’ll need that arm for regular, everyday things the next 40 years ro so. If we could transplant his desire into a few others guys, the Cubs would have something.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay look,
what are you, 12? Grow the hell up.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey i'm just asking a simple and honest question, no need to get all defensive
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ya know...
It’s not my fault you made a bad joke about suicide. Give it a rest. Move on.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 10, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's true.
Your question was simple. As, I suspect, are you.
"I'll never forget how I felt last October." ~Kosuke Fukudome
by Goodie1969 on May 10, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahhaha, so i'm a simpleton?
you truly diced me there. you’re the man.
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
desire
I agree, I’m not a Chad Fox fan but man, the guy would not give up. I would like to see that heart in some of our full-timers.
The Brewers look like they are fired up for this weekend, we look like, “ho-hum…guess I’ll go out on the field today.” Especially our pitching staff.
Drive, Monkey Drive!
by VegasCubFan on May 10, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what do you mean, "man, the guy would not give up"
seriously, what is he supposed to do, stop pitching the ball? ask to be taken out of the game? that statement makes no sense.
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in other words..
i ask you to find me one instance in the history of baseball where a pitcher “gave up”.
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think
he is talking about coming back from elbow problems. I know the rehab is long and heard, and he has come back twice and now blew his elbow out again. It shows a lot of heart, but I would be shocked if his career continued after the 3rd Tommy John surgery.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh well if that's what he's referring to, then i get it
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I would have probably called it quits the second time it happened. I have never had to have the surgery, but I have friends who have, and they say it sucks. And they were pretty young, I would imagine a 38 year old trying to rehab the elbow would be a nightmare.
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch. -Ty Cobb
by SotoRiot on May 10, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea at what point does he just realize his career as a professional athlete... well, the ship has sailed long ago
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's what I'm talking about
he kept coming back from injury.
Drive, Monkey Drive!
by VegasCubFan on May 10, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would like to see Braun get drilled in the back today.
Someone needs to put this guy in his place. I don’t personally have a problem with what he did Friday night, that was a late inning HR against his rival to give his team the lead. Big HR for him. But for him to stare at Dempster after hitting that HR? WTF was that? Classless prick.
by kanderber on May 10, 2009 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oh braun thinks he's God's gift to earth
i’ve never seen anybody self-massage themselves the way he does
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't agree with that
He was a little mad last night when he fouled off a ball that went by his head. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t intentional, at least I’m hoping not. Can you imagine the antics when it’s obvious? Plus that starts a bean ball war and knowing our luck one of our guys will get hurt, Braun is hot right now. Not a whole lot you can do. He’s just a good hitter.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on May 10, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
These ledge-jumper posts need to stop
Can’t you do something about these guys, Al? Oh wait… ;-)
by lswaidz on May 10, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I've got to disagree...
… again, with the overall premise of this game summary. Sure, the Cubs ended up scoring enough runs to win a game, but I think it misses how the game actually came down, and that was with the seventh inning. Again, with the bases loaded and less than two outs the Cubs were unable to score a run. Tonight’s game was lost in the seventh inning and the tipping point was in the top when the Cubs failed to score. The entire outcome of the game came from that. If the Cubs get even one run in and tie it, the decisions by Piniella as to which pitchers to use likely change. If they have the lead I think Dempster is done in the game.
This has been an ongoing problem for this team. The Cubs are not scoring runs when big inning situations are presented to them. I understand that you’re not always going to score runs in those situations, but good teams do more often than the Cubs are and this has been an ongoing problem all summer. The Cubs aren’t even getting deep fly balls to get in one run off a sac fly. The Cubs lost two games here in Milwaukee with these situations and good teams win those games.
You want to blame Piniella for trotting Dempster back out there? Who would you have sent out there? One of the four relievers who also allowed runners after Dempster was pulled? This bullpen sucks and Dempster looked to still have good stuff when he finished off the 6th inning. The bullpen is bad and has been overused and I know that had Lou gone straight to Neal Cotts in the 7th and he and Patton had let in 4 runs after Dempster was pulled people would have been piling on Lou for pulling Dempster after he had finally settled down. The pen sucks aside from… the pen sucks, and as a result you’re going to have to over extend a starter from time to time.
This team is playing very poor ball and it is time for Lou and Jim to sit down and make some roster decisions.
by dmlichte on May 10, 2009 10:02 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs
good post
they really are sucking, but after last year i vowed not to care about anything they do, positive or negative, until at least september
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good job DmL.
We are 30 games deep and right now our team feels lost. I commend them on their over-.500 record considering our injuries, poor bullpen and sub-standard pitching, but these problems don’t appear to be getting better. I’ve complained about Jim Hendry’s moves this off-season, and thus far, none of them have panned out, sans Aaron Miles (!!). I think Cubs’ fans are just as quick or quicker to scream “GET A TRADE DONE!” or “DFA HIM!” than any other fans, but I really have no idea what else we can do to fix these problems. Lou has been a pretty crappy manager this year, and I’m not sure why he acts so old and slow to respond to situations.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
by dtpollitt on May 10, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lou
What I will say is that what has impressed me most about Lou during his Cubs tenure is his “process”. Spring training is not the end of the evaluative period for him. Especially during his first year w/ the Cubs he spent several weeks getting to know his club. Recall back and a month or so in people were calling for his head, questioning whether or not he still had the goods to be a major league manager. Players were not totally behind him and he seemed very out of it. This team is a very “new” team to him, particularly the bullpen, where most of these guys are somewhat or totally new to Piniella. Lou gets to know these guys, starts figuring out where they are most successful, and put the pieces into place and I believe he has done this with his relievers.
The problem is several of these relievers just are not performing and, IMO, its time to make changes. While I’ll be the first to scream for Cotts to be sent packing, I understand why Lou has kept trying to see if he can get him to succeed… but now its time to get going. The Cubs are still only 2.5 games out but they need to start performing. And to do that, some changes need to be made. I’ve detailed the changes in the pen I’d make. I would also put Lee on the DL, see whats wrong with his back, and see if Hoffpauir (and perhaps Jake Fox) can’t put up better numbers at 1B while Lee hopefully gets healthy. The other glaring issue, IMO, is that Fontenot is not an every day starter and Theriot is not a starting SS. If there is any way that Hendry can swing a trade for a SS, I’d have Fontenot and Theriot platoon at 2B, get some more consistent offense from those two, and hopefully some better defense at SS.
by dmlichte on May 10, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Your analysis is accurate.
And, I suspect tomorrow, during the off day, they will sit down and try to figure stuff out.
Again, all these roster moves over the winter came because Lou was convinced that we lost the playoff series because we didn’t have enough LH hitters. That wasn’t the reason, but it became an obsession. And that is why, in large part, the Cubs are in the fix they are in.
No one is running away with this division. There’s plenty of time left.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd
Along those lines, the player I’d really like to see brought in right now is Brandon Wood. Stick him at 3B while Aramis is out, then shift him into a job-sharing position at SS, with Theriot shifting into a job-sharing position at 2B with Fontenot. He’s a risk because he hasn’t performed at the ML level, but he would represent a move that could actually help our team immediately, and in the future.
That said, Lou and Jim have seemed to act in a way that protects Theriot-Fontenot, making playing time for them. Perhaps that’s an investment that will pay off, but I tend, instead, to agree with your analysis.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 10, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd love to get Brandon Wood.
What would it take to get him?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably too much.
Before Kendry Morales started hitting, I wondered if a 1B might interest the Angels as a start to talking trade. But Morales has started hitting and the Angels have been loathe to trade any of their prospects.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 10, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Wood would cost a fortune right now
The Angels simply don’t trade their prospects, and Wood is still the crown jewel of their hitting prospects.
by SouthernCub on May 11, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dan they already MADE roster decisions that led to this
Wuertz, Vizcaino, Gaudin etc.( I am not saying we had to keep Gaudin but we paid a BIG price for not deciding that in December).
This is NOT new. The Howry/Eyre fiasco of last season pretty much summed up for me what was wrong with Lou’s bullpen management.
I think Hendry has let Lou have TOO much say in the bullpen ( as well as the rest of the roster). Now we have a overly left handed hitting team that can’t hit and bullpen without an effective lefty reliever that can’t pitch.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 10, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To answer Al's question on why Dempster was left in
I don’t trust the bullpen and my guess Lou and I are on the same page with that, and quite frankly he ended up being right. Is giving up 5 runs (4 earned) great? Absolutely not. I’d like to see where our bullpen ranks in certain stats. I’d be shocked if weren’t bottom 3 in most pitching categories. Last couple of years we had a bend but don’t break bullpen. You still had your heart attacks but you took a pair of Bayer and survived. Now I see our bullpen and I go “how many runs are you going to give up?” I’ve been 3 games and all 3 have been blown by our bullpen and Aaron Heilman having a direct effect on two of them. Having a crappy bullpen affect everything we do. The hitters are pressing because they no they need to outscore every team by 10 so when the bullpen comes in we can win by 3 or 4. The starters are pressing because they know they absolutely have to be lights out and go complete games for them to gurantee themselves a chance. And the relief pitchers are pressing because they know they suck.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on May 10, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not trusting the bullpen can be a self fulfilling prophecy
If you leave in Dempster who has thrown 111 pitches , if you use Marmol with 4, 5 and 6 run leads, if your communication with your pitching staff consists of " just throw strikes" than bad things happen. Baseball is a mental game as much as it is about talent in some cases, especially pitching. If you treat them like they will fail, they will often fail.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 10, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
dude, you're really digging way too deep there...
bottom line is, they just suck
by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why would you use Marmol in those situations?
I’d rather see him come in when we are leading in a close game.
Cubs record since April 2004: 4-0
by Vermont Cubs Fan on May 10, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um that was my point.
Since early last season Lou has used Marmol with LARGE leads and NOT because he needed the work but from my point of view to show the rest of bullpen that he was the only one he trusted. So Marmol overuses his arm and the rest of bullpen reads loud and clear Lou has no faith in them. I went ballistic on this last year when he was put in with 5 and 6 run leads ( he blew a five run lead) and little has changed other than now he goes in with four run leads.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 10, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's absolutely no case to be made
that Marmol has been overused this year. He comes in to pitch a not-close game when he needs to keep the rust from forming. It’s not Lou’s fault that Marmol blew Marshall’s win.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on May 10, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where's Dero?
Oh that’s right, his trade is turning out to be one of the worst moves in his tenure, and might be in all of baseball this year. With that said, the bullpen needs to be revamped immediately in order to win some of these close ballgames.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on May 10, 2009 11:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hendry's tenure.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on May 10, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well that may depend on Jeff Stevens
the only close to MLB ready of the 3 pitchers traded for DeRo. He is lights out in Iowa and probably next one on the carousel.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on May 10, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except that Ascanio got called up instead of Stevens.
Ascanio’s a Quaduple-A player.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still say that was Hendry's worst trade.
How useful would Infante be right now? He’s hitting .338/.373/.426 in Atlanta and is taking Kelly Johnson’s job away.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 10, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Given Infante's numbers up to and including the 2007 season...
… would you have predicted that would happen? I wouldn’t have.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 10, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not totally out of his range, especially not when you assume the average will come down.
But Infante was not bad at all last year, either. It’s really not out of bounds to say he would have been the best SS on roster last year, if the Cubs hadn’t traded him and he performed as he did with Atlanta. So, Infante and that year of Ohman far, far outweigh Ascanio so far. Hopefully that all changes starting now.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 10, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
But again, look at Infante’s numbers up to and including 2007. They are Neifi-like. I don’t think any one of us here would have predicted he’d do this well in Atlanta.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 11, 2009 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed...
in retrospect, it looks like a horrible trade. But at the time, it made sense. While it was certainly possible for Infante to become a good hitter, it certainly shouldn’t have been expected.
by SouthernCub on May 11, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd argue that it really only made sense at the time
if you worked under the assumption that we just had to get rid of Will Ohman because Lou didn’t like him. After all, a top-notch left-handed reliever might have helped, I don’t know, say, when Andre Ethier and James Loney came up to bat.
Lou costs us talent, plain and simple. He probably adds more than he subtracts, given the eye he’s had for players like Fontenot, but it’s irritating to see the Cubs just throw away guys like Wuertz and Ohman.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 11, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have been fuming about
the DeRosa thing since A-Ram went down.
However, after listening to Bruce Levine yesterday on ESPN, the prospects according to the Cubs Regional scout (the REAL grunt baseball guys), Jeff Stevens, et. al., are MLB prospects.
Should the Cubs get buried in 2009, which could happen as easily or more than them getting into the playoffs, with an expiring contract, having the three prospects could turn out to be a good thing. Time will tell.
by The E-Man on May 10, 2009 11:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
DeRosa
I don’t fault the Cubs for trading DeRosa to give Fontenot a chance. Fontenot was an awesome hitter last year and he’s not that bad this year. All he has to do is get his LD rate back up and we’ll be glad he got this shot.
The real problem was failing to get a 3B backup. The Cubs knew Aramis’ injury history, that he’s always a risk, and went into the season pretending it might not be a problem.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 10, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's precisely why I fault the Cubs for trading DeRosa...
The Cubs could have gotten Fontenot more playing time AND kept DeRosa. There’s no reason both players couldn’t have gotten 100+ starts a piece, with DeRosa replacing Fontenot against LHP and giving players rest all over the field.
Given the injury histories of Ramirez, Bradley, and Soriano, it would have made sense to keep an .800+ OPS guy around this year as insurance at each of those spots. DeRosa provided that, as well as platoon protection for Fontenot and a backup for Lee. It was unlikely that the team could find a replacement to do those things and give an .800ish (or better) OPS at the plate. Instead, we got Aaron Miles, who can be expected to give us a sub .700 OPS and is basically a 2B.
If the Cubs could find a guy to back up 2B, 3B, and 1B and provide an .800 OPS, I’d have been okay with letting DeRosa go (as Hoffpauir and Johnson appear to be adequate backups in the OF). But that wasn’t available, and that’s why I’m irritated with the DeRosa trade.
Miles wasn’t a suitable replacement for DeRosa in the utility role. Koskie wasn’t a realistic option either – he was a longshot after the Cubs realized Miles probably wasn’t the answer.
by SouthernCub on May 11, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's why I wish we had signed Dallas McPherson
but it’s definitely possible the Cubs scouts were agreed he’s a Quad-A guy.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 11, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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