Okay, NOW You Can Worry About The Cubs' Offense: Cubs 1, Cardinals 2
by Al on May 21, 2009 8:12 AM CDT
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368 comments
I was hoping this would be a happy recap after the Cubs made a stirring ninth-inning rally to win, but instead it's another frustrating loss, 2-1 to the Cardinals, the third loss in a row, wasting a fine outing by Ryan Dempster.
Dempster allowed only six hits and two runs in seven good innings of work, lowering his ERA to a still-too-high 4.40, but the Cubs could do nothing against Chris Carpenter and three St. Louis relievers.
Only when the strange-bearded Ryan Franklin (that beard is the strangest one in baseball, even weirder than Chad Gaudin's) entered the game in the ninth inning, did the Cubs generate any offense. For those of you who have been on the Micah Hoffpauir bandwagon, I think I'm about to join you. He drove in the only Cubs run last night, lashing the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI single. This is exactly the kind of thing I wasn't sure the Hoff could do -- fill a role where he'd come up to bat once a game and have to produce -- but he's showing he can handle it, and Paul Sullivan writes that Lou may be considering some lineup changes:
But after three straight losses and a grand total of one run over their last 18 innings, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he was close to making some changes, including sitting Lee and catcher Geovany Soto.
What can be done about the Cubs' offense?
"I don't know. I don't know," Piniella replied. "I've thought about it a lot. Believe me, while everybody is sleeping, I'm up. I've got to be as patient as I possibly can to give these people ample opportunities to shake out of it. But sooner or later ...
"You know, [Micah] Hoffpauir is hitting .300, and [Koyie] Hill is hitting .300. Sooner or later, I mean, I've got to do something. Let's hope these guys start hitting the way they're capable of and we can mix and match and rest our people and so forth. But gosh, it's a struggle at times for us."
It wouldn't hurt to shake up the lineup tonight to try to salvage one game in this series. (Soto, for his part, had a good at-bat in the ninth inning last night, finally drawing a walk.) And it also wouldn't hurt if Milton Bradley didn't make embarrassing baserunning mistakes as he did in the fourth inning last night. Chris Duncan made a nice, but not spectacular, catch on Mike Fontenot's drive with Milton on first and nobody out. Unfortunately, Bradley had already rounded second base and was doubled off first -- it looked like he still hasn't completely recovered from the hamstring problems of April. Bradley took full responsibility:
He referred to the base-running gaffe as a "mental lapse" and conceded he didn't pick up on his coach, or the ball, while running on a 3-1 pitch.
"It's inexcusable," he said. "I don't like making mistakes. I'm a perfectionist. When you're not swinging the bat, you can't make base-running errors."
When you're not scoring runs, there's little margin for errors like this. Maybe the Cubs would have scored in that inning; at the time the game was still scoreless. And in the bottom of the fourth, Albert Pujols hustled to a double on what looked like an ordinary, routine single to left field.
Fortunately, it is still early in the season -- we haven't even reached the one-quarter mark yet -- and the Cubs will get Carlos Zambrano back in the rotation tomorrow at San Diego. In the meantime... please don't get swept by the Cardinals.
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They will bring it around
Heck, couldn’t get any worse than the last 2 games.
by jajonez77 on May 21, 2009 8:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sure it could...
The offense could bust out but the pitching nose dives. As much as there is room for improvement there is always room for further decline.
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on May 21, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and if we are really lucky
the Cubs move to Montreal
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or maybe they can move here to DC and I can go to every game!
"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 21, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um, you know DC already has a team, right?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that what you call that?
:) i kid, i kid.
by CubsWin!Oregon on May 22, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or San Antonio
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
This thought mostly steemed from the fact that me and Murphy seem to keep running into each other this week. On consecutive days this week, I had to be at work before my normal start time. Both times, I got caught in traffic jams. First, I hardly ever have to be at work early and two the roads I travel maybe average a signficant traffic Jam 5 times a year.
However, my past experiences with any baseball season is that this is what tends to happen when a team goes into a pro-longed slump. You will see a few games where they are lights out on the mound and terrible at the dish. Then, you will see the bats bust out and the pitching go south.
Note, I am not predicating a long slump and not hoping for a long slump. I am not a fatalist.
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on May 21, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again...
The approach to the game was poor. Cards did all the right things to grind out a win (dropping down bunts, taking extra bases, executing). Cubs did all the wrong things (base running gafe’s (2nd game in a row), not making plays not hitting).
Again, I try to stay positive with another great starting pitching effort but to watch these guys bat is painful.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It was painful last night
Especially watching Sori at the plate. It looked pretty bad.
by jajonez77 on May 21, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess what makes it worse for me was
watching the Brewer series against the Cards. The Brew made them look silly in every aspect of the game. I guess my expectations were that the Cubs were gonna do the same. I didn’t think the Cubs would sweep them but the way the Cards were playing and the way the Cubs played on the homestand I figured they would take 2 of 3. Here’s hoping they can salvage one.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in cubs' defense
Brewers didn’t face the Cards top two pitchers, correct?
by TC Cubby on May 21, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They faced Wainright
I don’t and won’t consider Pinero one of their top 2 pitchers.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he was referring to Carpenter & Wainwright.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then yes... The Brewers beat Wainright.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but...
Wainwright threw 8 innings giving up 1 run on 2 hits. He took the 1-0 loss because the Cards offense is just as anemic right now.
by paposse on May 21, 2009 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
anemically better than the Cubs offensive smelling offense
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
by kcjones on May 21, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Few things in sports
Are as ugly as a baseball team all slumping together.
It’ll pass.
And if they get swept, it’s not the end of the world. Four games out before Memorial Day is nothing.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on May 21, 2009 8:24 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Santo on Hoff
After Hoff hit the single, Santo said something along the lines of “he needs to play every day.” Not sure who Ronnie was lobbying for to hit the pine, though.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Loss of Ramirez being painfully felt
Ramirez is the best hitter and most important run producer on the Cubs. Opposing pitchers can now attack this Cub lineup differently. Right now there is nobody in this lineup who scares you. Also, if there is a particular Cub hitter that scares a pitcher then the option exists right now to simply pitch around him given the feeble nature of things.
Solutions?
1. Mike Fontenot is being horribly exposed. Last year he was selectively used to maximum benefit, but now with Mark DeRosa gone the situation is a big fat mess. Frankly, I’m not sure what the options are with Fontenot and 2nd base. Aaron Miles sure ain’t it.
2. Micah Hoffpauir has to play more at 1st base. It’s that simple. He is consistently driving the ball and needs to be in that lineup at 1st base.
3. Geovany Wilkins? I’m not sure what to say at this point. I’d be inclined to split playing time with Koyie Hill and limit Soto to the #8 spot in the lineup here on out. Maybe he is a former juicer, maybe he just returned to being fat, maybe he was indeed a one year wonder. But right now I have extraordinarily hard time seeing why to be hopeful with Soto.
4. This will come under fierce attack, but the Cubs no longer have the luxury of keeping Alfonso Soriano in the leadoff spot. He must move down to the middle of the lineup.
5. Kosuke? I sure hope he isn’t starting to melt again, but I did not like at all the at bats I have seen from him in the St. Louis series. Way too early to panic. But…
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
3rd base
Why aren’t we trying Freel at 3rd?
by Jasely on May 21, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think...
… he went right into Lou’s doghouse by getting picked off in Milwaukee.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately I think you're right....
That or in Lou’s eyes he’s literally the replacement for Gathright — strictly pinch runner or last man off the bench.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So let's see.
We have a 12-man pitching staff; Lou won’t use the 12th guy (it’s now 12 days since Patton has pitched).
We have a five-man bench, but Lou won’t use the last guy except to pinch-run.
Congratulations, Jim Hendry! You have given Cubs fans a 23-man roster to root for.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
any chance Freel is still nursing a sore hammy?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he is, then he should be on the DL...
because he’s wasting a spot as it currently stands.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that..
1. Fontenot is not an everyday player. I have said this all along that he should be on the bench and backup utility IF
2. Agreed.
3. Soto’s struggles are getting over exposed because other starters – Lee, Bradley, Fontenot have been unable to get going so far.
5. Kosuke will be fine.
I disagree that..
4. Soriano should be moved away from the leadoff spot. Has been tried and tested.
by cubsnlinux on May 21, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soriano scares opposing pitchers
The problem is that he’s incredibly streaky. Ramirez is the only hitter who scares opposing pitchers and hits steadily.
As for Geo … I’m really not sure why Hill hasn’t gotten more playing time recently (when was his last start?). I’m no Lee defender, but he has hit better in the past few games, although “better” in this case isn’t really impressive.
Other than playing Hill more, I’m not really sure what to suggest, at this point. If we were playing at home the next few games, I’d say put Hoff in right and bench Milton. But Hoff in the big outfields in St. Louis and San Diego is scary.
I’m not yet worried about Kosuke, though.
by elgato on May 21, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone loves the rush to judgment.
1. Fontenot took a month to get started last season. Especially with Aramis out, he deserves more time to see what he can do.
2. Hoffpauir to LF; Soriano to 2B.
3. Soto is disappointing right now – a two-year wonder?
4. Lineups don’t matter that much.
5. Sure, he could be “melting again” but he could also just be going through the same pattern EVERY ballplayer goes through, of hitting hot then hitting cold. No one hits .300 every week.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoff
Maybe I’m nuts, but has anyone thought of teaching him to play second base? I guess he doesn’t have the right physique for the position, but everyone always said Cal Ripken wasn’t built to play short.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoff is a lefty
that would cause all kinda of obstacles at 2B
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK - good point
Maybe catcher, then? :)
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we move him
he shuold learn to be a LOOGY IMO
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Averaged 21 errors a year
Do you really want to see another defensive trainwreck with Sori at 2nd?
"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
"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu
by propheteer on May 21, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'd love to see Sori at 2nd
I wonder if he would like that
by ol Pete on May 21, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and I'd love to see Braun back at 3rd.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe we could swing a deal.
We’ll put Soriano at second if you put Prince Fielder in center.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel pity
for the center field wall if that happened
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
by gwood on May 21, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see a football score,
if they both played that way in the same game.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's May 21st.
Derrek Lee has a 695 OPS. Micah Hoffpauir has a 914 OPS. Why in the hell does Lee continue to get the vast majority of playing time. I’m glad that Lou is finally coming to his senses, or at least kicking the tires on the idea. I’ve been saying this for weeks now, but as long as Micah is hitting so much better than Derrek, it’s incredibly stupid to keep running Derrek out there.
If Lou’s public comments don’t light a fire under Lee (and Soto) then I don’t know what will.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sub-.700 OPS for Lee
It’s a sad thing to see for Lee, but he just simply isn’t what he used to be. I think this neck injury is more serious than he’s letting on. I would start Hoff for at least the next few games. Maybe, Lee needs to go on the DL.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on May 21, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Put lee on the 15 day DL
Star Hoff at 1B… and call up Fox to spell Hoff for 1 or 2 games, and get some major league at bats. 1 hot bat could jump start this offense again, like Scales did.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
by SackMan on May 21, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't get it.
Derrek Lee is hitting .314/.400/.629 in May. And kanderber, memphiscub, SackMan, and BLou think you fix the lineup by taking that out of the lineup? How many people would still say DPLee (still 0 DPs on the year) is in Decline if he continued to hit that way for another 2 weeks?
If you have to get Hoffpauir in the lineup, move Soriano to 2B.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its time for Hoffpauir to play
I really don’t like the Lee Hoffpauir debate because I’m not sold on either one of them being very good, but Hoffpauir is the better option right now. Better hitter, not the drop-off devensivly that people think, and the left handed power bat that still hasn’t arrived.
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point about the LH power.
Hadn’t even considered that. That, afterall, was the focus of the offseason and while Hendry acquired Bradley to hopefully fill that void… it hasn’t happened. Our best LH power hitter is sitting in favor of a declining first baseman who’s OPS is currently, and has been, in Neifi Perez territory.
If Derrek Lee were 8 years less experienced and didn’t have the tenure in MLB that he does, there’s zero chance he’d be getting this much playing time.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It isn't fair to ignore his previous accomplishments
However it is very fair to point out that those previous numbers aren’t coming back and he needs to be replaced. Especially since we have a viable replacement on the team already.
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A whole lot of LH power walked away with Jim Edmonds.
Now it’s fair to assume that Edmonds wouldn’t have been able to perform to that level in 2009, and that signing Bradley was the best possible way to ensure some LH power this year. Obviously, it hasn’t worked out, and our decision to break up the Edmonds/Reed and DeRosa/Fontenot platoon situations looks pretty dire at this point.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"dire"?
That’s a little strong. But the decisions aren’t looking good in the early going.
by elgato on May 21, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, just look at the production.
We’re looking at sub-.200 hitting with very little power at both RF and 2B. Obviously, both situations could improve – (I fully expect Bradley to improve, less confident about Fontenot), but we can only report what has actually happened.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So...
Is Lee back slumping or coming out.
He’s hitting .467 with a 1.233 OPS over the last week. If he’s coming out, is now the time to sit him or see if he can keep it up.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since Derrek rejoined the lineup...
0-3, 3 K’s, 1 BB
0-4
1-3, 1 K, 1 BB
4-5, 1 K
1-3
1-4, 2 K’s
So he’s 7-22 with 7 K’s and 4 BB’s. Take away the one great game he had (I know, I know) and he’s 3-17 with 6 K’s and 4 BB’s. Is he really coming out of it? Maybe, maybe not. He had a nice three games, after two dreadful ones, then last night he looked lost again. We’ll see. I’m sick of being patient with him though when we have a better option in Hoffpauir. It’s late May.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see why everyone wants Hoff to replace Lee
instead of playing LF with Sori replacing the guys we all know can’t hit (Miles, Freel) at 2B.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because that's not realistic and everyone knows it?
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How is it unrealistic?
You take Lee out at 1B, you expose the horrible arms we have on the right side of the IF. Defensively, Soriano at 2B / Hoff in LF isn’t going to be that worse than Hoff at 1B and the not-so-great-to-begin-with Miles/Scales/Freel at 2B.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come on...
You know good and well that Lou wouldn’t even consider moving Soriano to 2B. It’s pointless to talk about.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta disagree with you here.
Hoff is a natural first baseman – not spectacular, but solid. I think it’s a myth that he’s awful at at that position. Meanwhile, putting Soriano at second base would expose the Cubs to defense carnage the likes of which we’ve never seen.
Ryan Freel hasn’t played 1,000 innings at second base yet, so his UZR numbers are inconclusive. For the 716.2 innings he has played, he looks just a touch above a league-average replacement (aka, Bobby Scales).
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Hoff gets the shaft there
His defense is being compared to D. Lee’s, which I understand doing, but you gotta see that Hoff is clearly not D. Lee. But I havent seen anything from him at first this year to jump on that “Hoff’s awful at 1st” bandwagon.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Hoff's defense is awful
I think that Lee’s receiving skills cover a multitude of errors.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That may be true...
…but, still, playing the “Sori to Second” card is a risky move that’s a little too rich for my blood.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
when healthy yes
but twisting and turning to get throws could actually cause more damage to his neck if it is not healed
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please go look at the stats of Soriano playing defense at second
and just say no thank you
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not talking about everyday.
I know he’s bad. But play Hoff at LF one day, rest Bradley in RF one day, Lee at 1B one day – the point is that there is a much bigger offensive upgrade from Hoff to Miles than replacing Lee who is out-hitting Hoff in May.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anything that gets Aaron Miles on the bench or off the team makes me happy
But Soriano is settled into left, he just isn’t a second baseman anymore. Why risk him getting hurt or watch him throw the ball all over the poor people in the first row? Soriano shouldn’t have to move around because Lee sucks now. It only makes the team weaker. Hoffpauir should be getting his starts over Lee, and at DH next month in interleague play.
After interleague play is over, if Hoffpauir is still hitting significantly better than Lee, I don’t see how Lou keeps him on the bench.
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The point is that Lee does not suck now. He is one of the best hitters on the team in May.
But I agree about the injury risk in moving Sori back to 2B. That’s a significant concern.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Certain parts of the team should never be touched
Soriano in left and leading off when healthy
Aramis hitting fourth and playing third when healthy
Z starting every 5 days- same with Ted, Demp, Harden
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't see the rest of the
team raking over the last two games and Lee had a hit each night.
On Tuesday the opposing pitcher had what may have been a career night and everyone looked like crap and last night the former Cy Young winner looked pretty damned good.
I’m not saying there’s no reason to be concered with Lee, but I don’t believe Lee’s bat is what’s hurting the team over the last 10 games and don’t see Hoffpauir replacing Lee as changing the won/loss record over those 10 games.
Hoffpauir at first does nothing with second base, right field, catcher or the bullpen.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So given the choice between...
a 900 OPS and a 700 OPS you’d rather have the 700 OPS?
What Lee did in the past means nothing at this point. He hasn’t shown any sign of being that same player. It’s foolish to assume that he’s somehow going to return to form when, nearly two months into the season, he hasn’t given any indication that he’s capable.
Come on, we’re not talking about a 750 OPS vs. 800 OPS. A 200 point difference in OPS is staggering.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Past
Which past? Isn’t April past? Why not count just his May stats?
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I basically did that below.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, I see it now.
Rec’d (below).
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See below, I'm discussing today 5/21, not how
their Aprils compared.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lee has had a long track record of above average offensive performance and good defense
Hoffpauer on the other hand, is a 29 year old rookie, who’s offensive success has been mainly fueled by a .410 BABIP in his career so far. Plus all reports suggest he plays shitty defense. Lee is still a much better option than Hoff.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 21, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sammy Sosa has a long track record of being great...
Players eventually stop being great.
Hoffpauir’s age is irrelevant to the discussion of who gives the Cubs the best chance to win today.
Hoff’s defense is inferior to Lee’s, yes. But it’s not “shitty” at least not at 1B.
His OPS is over 200 points higher than Lee’s. To say that Lee is a much better option at this point is just silly.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Over the last 10 games played
Their numbers are roughly the same, one is .285 average, 3 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 walks and 6 runs, the other has a .281 average, 2 HR, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 5 Runs. 1 has 35 At bats, the other 32.
Hoffpauir has been selectively deployed by Lou over that period of time and put in platoon styled situations where his chance of succeeding is higher. If Hoffpauir is so obviously better, why aren’t his numbers towering over Lee over a similar range?
As of today, this minute, how is Hoffpauir a better option, let alone much better?
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
As of today?
Who drove in the only run in last nights game? Hoffpauir. Who struck out with a man on second and one out looking? Lee.
Hoffpauir has 43 less at-bats, one less double and the same amount of HR. Hoffpauir has 22 hits vs Lee’s 26. Hoffpauir also has a higher OBP, OPS, and batting average. That is why he should start over Lee today.
by tripdenten on May 21, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two things...
1. The 10 games thing sure is convenient, isn’t it? If you add on the prior two games, that’s an 0-7 for Lee and 2-3 with 2 BB’s for Hoffpauir.
2. More importantly, what exactly is the point of looking at 10 days? Great, Lee’s been good over the 10 games. As a Cubs fan, that makes me very happy to see. But up until that point, he was pathetic and had a 537 OPS on the year. (Hoffpauir’s was 921). Hoff has consistently been good this year. Derrek has sucked beyond imagination and has had a few good games in a row. I’ll take the consistent 900 OPS. And that’s not even bringing into discussion the fact that Micah actually swings at strikes, while Derrek routinely lets them sail into the catcher’s mitt. That, of course, isn’t a flaw limited to 2009 though.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought you said we shouldn't look at the past?
Why do you think 10 games isn’t enough to look at, and May’s games aren’t enough to look at, but just add April’s and it’s enough?
Either look at their complete career stats or don’t look at any. By the standard of May, Lee is better than Hoff. By the standard of careers, Lee is better than Hoff. The only case to be made for Hoff being better than Lee is one that over-weighs just one month’s stats.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh.
I thought when I said “the past” that it was pretty straight-forward, but apparently not to all. Clearly, my point was that Derrek Lee isn’t the same hitter that he was in his prime. So his “past” is irrelevant to what he’s doing this year. I don’t think I need to explain how the 30 of the first 50 days of the season ARE, however, relevant. If I do need to explain to you, it’s probably best for this discussion to cease now.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not clear to me that Lee is the same hitter in May that he was in April.
Let me try to put this a different way.
Derrek Lee and Mark Teixeira are on parallel 2009 career paths right now. Both struggled in April, but are tearing the cover off the ball in May. Both looked bad in April. Now, assuming you aren’t a Yankee fan or not invested in Teix through fantasy ball, we can both step back and say, “Mark Teixeira is just coming back to his career levels.”
I’m suggesting that the only reason we can’t say the same thing about Derrek Lee is that we are too close to the situation emotionally, that we’ve invested so much hope and reaped so much disappointment that we can’t see what’s really the most likely occurence. All hitters fail at least 3/5 of the time, so as long as you are looking for proof that guy’s no good, you’ll be able to find it the majority of the time.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand that you like Hoff
and believe he is currently a better option. I disagree and tried to use a large enough recent stretch to prove my point.
I resent your implication that I picked a data sample to steer my argument. 10 Days is a pretty common game log sample as provided by many sites. Like the one on Yahoo I reviewed. The fact is I didn’t start disagreeing with you. I reviewed the stats to see if my opinion that Lee was breaking out was valid.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sorry
But some of these guys aren’t “slumping”. You guys can wait around for Derrek Lee to get hot and take off but the reality is that he’s been regressing for the past three years. His hot streaks are much, much shorter and much less hot than they were before. HIs refusal or inability to drive the ball to the right side of the diamond shows that he had completely conceded that he can’t handle fastballs inside. His glove is not what is needed in the middle of that lineup. Hoffpauir has shown the consistent ability to hit the ball and hit the ball hard. He deserves at least a two week period of time as the regular 1B while Lee contemplates either making adjustments or moving on to Phase 2 of his career. Don’t get me wrong, Lee is a great guy and probably a great teammate but the reality is, he’s nothing even close to a great player.
Everyone keeps saying Bradley will hit and I’ve been and will continue to be in his corner…but betting on the come is getting old and pointless. These guys either do it now or you can’t count on them to do it at all. It’s that simple. Same goes for Fontenot, Soto and just about everyone else that isn’t performing to what their perceived capabilitieis are.
Unfortunately, the reality may be that this team just isn’t that good. The lineup surely doesn’t scare anybody the way it is currently performing and the whole “It’s early, it’s only May” routine only carries you so far. 40 games is a pretty good indicator of what you’ve got and to this point, you’ve got a 4th place club or worse.
The window of opportunity was a year ago I’m afraid, and nothing so far suggests otherwise.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
by krummy12 on May 21, 2009 8:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
4th place club or worse...
If the season ended today they’d be the Wild Card team, come on. Let’s not get too carried away here.
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look ahead
If they keep playing like they are, they’ll be 15 games under .500 when the season really ends. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t argue it’s a long season and be patient and then say that if you looked today, they’d be a wild card team. Fact of the matter is, if the season continued from today, which is what I believe it does, and they continue to play the way they have for the better part of this season, they won’t be four games over .500. They will be 15 games below. If that’s good enough for the wild card, God bless Bud Selig.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
by krummy12 on May 21, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Back this up with evidence...
If they keep playing like they are, they’ll be 15 games under .500 when the season really ends.
The math, at least to this point, says in spite of injuries, slumps, and whatever else… we are an above .500 team with a good chance at the wildcard. And that’s IF we don’t take off when Rami comes back. That’s IF these slumps don’t end. That’s IF the cards and brewers, both playing much better than expected, don’t come crashing back down.
Nothing i’ve seen indicates we are headed for 15 games below .500. We were hot last week. We aren’t this. The lineup is in flux, injuries have sent our best players to the DL and kept others from performing at 100%. This isn’t a settled team. We haven’t seen it fire on all cylinders. Hell, we’ve barely even seen our best players on the field all at once. We’ve been scrambling since day 1 this season, and have managed a respectable record in spite of it.
Maybe we’ll get our bad luck out of the way before All Star Break. Maybe once everyone is back, we’ll take off, peak in September / October, and make something beautiful happen. Maybe not. We aren’t sure. But i’ve got about as much evidence of that as you have of us ending the season well below .500…
Maybe i’m an optimist, maybe i’m too “glass half full”, but at the very least… the glass isn’t broken yet. Chill.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reality
Unless you want me to look into a crystal ball, there isn’t any emperical evidence to support my assertion that if they keep playing like this, they’ll be 15 games under .500. But you hardly need evidence to support that assertion, all you have to do is watch them play lately and that is easy to figure out. If you’d like to feel good about a 5-1 home stand against San Diego and Houston, that’s your prerogative. I would prefer to look inside the box now and see what is being produced on the field and perhaps with the exception of said homestand, this team is simply mediocre…or even below average…and has been for most of this season.
The expectations are a litte higher which is fully understood but I just can’t come to the same conclusions you come to concerning luck and all of that. Look within for a second…what if the bad luck hasn’t even happened yet? What if they don’t take off anytime soon or anytime later? What if more injuries further hamper the offense or pitching staff?
I’m not trying to be pessimistic here but the argument that they’re treading water and are fortunate where they are given the adversity is purely gambler’s fallacy. Tomorrow will be better…that’s what this franchise has sold to its fan base for decades. Well, I’m not subscribing to that newsletter right now and that is entirely based on what I see on the field.
Chill? I’m not excited…just stating my opinion on what I’ve seen so far. Go ahead and choose to be the optimist…I’ve been there. But on some level, at least look inside and give a thought to the fact that this may indeed be the best stretch the Cubs will play all year. No, I don’t believe that, but that could just as easily happen as the suggestion that all of a sudden this team will snap out of its current funk and rake all year. To that I say nonsense because the pieces just aren’t there this year.
Like I said, I firmly believe the window closed in 2008. Nothing I’ve seen so far would crack that window back open. Not a series against San Diego, not one against Houston…nothing.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
by krummy12 on May 21, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you are missing my point...
… i wanted evidence for a prediction you threw out. You said we’d finish 15 games below .500. How do you figure? You DO need evidence to support that assertion if you want it to be taken seriously, just as much as i’d need evidence to support the assertion that we’ll finish out the season as WS champions if I wanted it taken seriously.
We don’t have evidence of either. You are correct… there is a chance we’ll continue this current 2 game slump and finish 15 below .500. I am also correct… there is a chance we’ll get Rami back, Lee will perk up, Milton will take off, Soto will eat a salad and get out of his funk, the team will make a nice move or two before the deadline, and snag another 90 win season. I don’t know. Neither do you. But your assertion is based on no evidence and on watching a team with fixable problems… DL injuries to our best hitter and “ace” (yes, i use that term loosely here) pitcher. Nagging injuries to other important cogs. A lack of viable infield options to cover for our injuries. All of this can be, and very well may be, fixed.
Maybe years of disappointment have trained many Cubs fans to think this way. Even as we sit in wild card contention with a good portion of our good players hurt, people are freaking. Its fine. Really. Just know that there are those of us out there that haven’t given up yet, and who won’t as long as the team stays in contention and has room to improve.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not quite...
if the season ended today, we’d be out by one game.
But your point appears to be that, despite the rough play so far, we’re only a game out of the wild card. The question though, is whether Soto, Lee, Fontenot, and Bradley will get substantively better.
Lee has a 1.000+ OPS in May so far (granted, small sample size). But he’s made up a lot of ground on his horrific April. His sub .700 OPS is actually quite a bit on the rise at this point. His (overall) positive returns in May give him a little room for further review.
Soto hasn’t been great in May (still no power), but he’s been around .740 in OPS for the month, with a .360 OBP. The lack of power is a concern. If he’s not hitting for power, he’s not a huge plus.
Fontenot appears to be a platoon player. He has a .784 OPS versus RHP this year, which is pretty solid for a 2B. But he can’t hit LHP at all, apparently. That was fine last year when we had a quality option to platoon with him, but we definitely lack that guy right now. I don’t think any of Freel, Scales, and Miles fit the bill.
Bradley will hit. Given his slow start, it’s very unlikely that he’ll have a .900 OPS this year. But I wouldn’t be shocked if he finishes over .800 in OPS for the season, which would mean a strong performance the rest of the way.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tough road
The “it’s been a tough road” argument is only valid if it is an absolute certainty that the Cubs will play better ball from here on out. I’m not sure you can say that. Other than simple regression to the mean numbers for individual players, I’m still not convinced the totality of it will translate into smoother water ahead. As I said, that’s betting on the come which often times is a fool’s argument for why things to date haven’t gone right.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
by krummy12 on May 21, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Derrek Lee is not in a slump. Derrek Lee is a shadow of his former self, driven by a combination of erosion of skill level and injuries. He plays like he is a 43 year old man and the diagnosis for recovery is bleak.
Mike Fontenot is not in a slump. Mike Fontenot is over-exposed as an everyday player. He shouldn’t be an everyday option in any situation, not a Pittsburgh type situation and certainly not on a team that thinks it is playoff material and supports a $140 million payroll. AND THAT USED TO HAVE MARK DEROSA ON THE ROSTER (SOB).
Geovany Soto is not in a slump. Geovany Soto is fat and bat speed slower than Derrek Lee right now.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are the definition of negative
I agree with you on 2/3 of this…but is there a need to make it all so negative?
D. Lee isnt slumping hard, but he is slumping. I dont expect to get much more from him this year.
Agreed on Fontenot
But Geo I think can still come around this year.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why is there so much faith in Soto?
I understand people looking a Lee or Bradley and saying they will come up to their career numbers, but Soto? I looks like he is a one year wonder who has been figured out by the league and also gained some weight/lost batspeed.
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cause he has shown some spark to me
I agree that he has gained weight, and why the Cubs arent addressing that IDK. But I think he can come around. But they should be addressing what changed from last year and play Hill for a couple games.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Weight
I don’t watch on t.v. so I hadn’t noticed, but I do recall Geo saying that losing a lot of weight was the reason he broke out in AAA. So if it is true that he has gained weight, I hope that Geo and the training staff are working on a way to slim down.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's definitely
heavier this season and I hope he’s working on getting in better shape.
by sue369 on May 21, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He ain't heavy....he's my catcher.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soto and Fontenot are the only ones who I don't see hope for improvement...
Soto had two monster years (one in AAA, one in MLB) that were way out of line with all of his other performance. The numbers he is putting up in May (.280/.360/.380) are more in line with his career.
Fontenot appears to be more of a platoon player than an everyday guy. His numbers against RHP are pretty good despite the low average (.784 OPS), but he’s not hitting LHP at all.
Lee has actually had a really productive month, and I expect Bradley to hit better moving forward. But the other two just don’t have much of a track record of success.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lee and Soto
I’m really worried about Lee. I hope he can find a good chiropractor for his neck. I can’t see Lee returning to form before the end of this season, if ever. I saw Soto play several games in the minors with West Tenn and Iowa. He was an average hitter but nothing special. I was very surprised when he had his breakout season with Iowa in 2007 and even more surprised with how well he did in 2008 in Chicago. Was the pre-2007 Soto the real Soto? I’m not ready to throw in the towel on Soto just yet, but I certainly haven’t liked what I’ve seen to this point.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on May 21, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Soto has battled weight problems throughout his career...
He apparently got in good shape in 2007 and 2008. He is apparently not in good shape this year.
If weight problems have a lot to do with his inability to drive the ball, then pre-2007 may be the real Soto.
It is important to note that Soto has been hitting much better in May. He’s hitting about .280/.360/.380. The problem for Soto in this month hasn’t been hitting – it’s been a lack of power.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When someone plays THAT BADLY in April
it will take a while to get the BA/OBP/SLP up. But his lack of power does concern me.
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on May 21, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still don't get it.
I can’t see Lee returning to form before the end of this season, if ever.
Then what’s he doing right now, this month, hitting with an Albert Pujols like OPS?
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lee Has Been Better, But...
a lot of those numbers were achieved in that 4 for 5 game against Houston. Since the second half of last season, we’ve seen a drop in power from D-Lee. In this good month for Lee, he only has 3 HR’s. That’s not bad by any means, but if this is as good as it gets for D-Lee, when he’s going well, he’s in trouble. His bad streaks have been more bad than his good streaks have been good.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on May 22, 2009 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slumps
If the Cubs had faced Wellemeyer in this series you might be talking about how prolific the offense is. I think for Cubs fans it was just bad timing to run up against a rare Piniero gem and Carpenter coming back. Actually I think the StL offense is still slumping worse than the Cubs. Both are hurting (Aramis, Ank/Ludwick) and both have key members scuffling. Things will turn around for both.
I just hope one of out teams snaps out of it enough to start beating Milwaukee.
by paposse on May 21, 2009 8:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The teams are a mirror of each other in this series... sort of.
Good starting pitching and little offense. Cards have been able to play small ball/do those extra little things which has helped them win ball games.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We've scored 1 lousy run in two games
And in those two games, our star left fielder got picked off at 1st base… and our multi-million dollar cry baby right fielder got doubled off at 1st base. Grand. Just grand.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
by SackMan on May 21, 2009 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish I was good at finding stats
I would like to find Hoff’s line with 2 outs and 2 outs with runners on compared to D. Lee. I dont see how Lou has much of a choice, this offense needs a spark and Hoff has been able to do that pretty well this year.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Go to ESPN.com and look at each player's splits
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, go to Baseball Reference
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, you could do EITHER...
as both accomplish the same thing (I assume baseball reference does it too).
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BR is better
Also, for the lazy, 2009 clutch batting:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=hoffpmi01&year=2009&t=b#clutc
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=leede02&year=2009&t=b#clutc
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you
Well looking at their splits for scoring Position and 2 outs
Lee –
AB – 13 AVG – .308 OBP – .400 OPS – .785 RBI – 7 SO – 7
Hoff –
AB – 8 AVG – .625 OBP – .667 OPS – 1.417 RBI – 6 SO – 1
Its a small sample I guess.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, considering that the whole season is a small sample so far...
it’s not surprising that hitting with RISP and 2 outs is a REALLY small sample.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
but it is still quite a large difference
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's way too small a sample to note a meaningful difference...
That’s not actually as large a difference as you’d think. What you have is:
8 AB, 5 H, 1 2B, 0 BB for Hoffpauir
12 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 2 BB for Lee
If Hoffpauir goes 0 for 4 in his next four opportunities in those situations (which is certainly reasonable), he’ll have slightly worse numbers than Lee for the season.
FYI, you used OPS when I think you meant SLG.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoff and Hill
should be getting more starts at this point over Seo and Lee. You have to play the players who are getting it done. If Lee is having trouble due to his neck, do not ask him, tell him he is going on the DL until it is healed. If he is 100% healthy, then we are in more trouble. Geo needs to get back into the shape he was last season. Not sure why he decided to put on the added weight, but maybe he needs a strict diet and a fitness instructor.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 9:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is there any reason to believe that a DL trip would fix Lee's neck injury?
People keep saying this, but why do we think it’s true? If it was the case, wouldn’t the team have recommended it? It’s a bulging disc, not a pulled hamstring. I could be wrong, but there’s no reason I can think of why rest would fix a bulging disc issue permanently.
The injury sounds to me to be more of a recurring thing that will occasionally cause problems. Unfortunately, it sounds like surgery is risky, so the gameplan is to rest when necessary and play when able.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed - if rest would help, why didn't last winter help?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In fairness, I'm not sure when the neck thing came about...
But if it was present last year, then I agree that that’s further evidence that rest won’t fix the problem.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently it's been with him since 07.
Hurt it during a collision at home plate.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that's the case, then a DL trip should not help at all...
as has been noted by D98, he’s had an entire offseason of rest (actually two), and the problem hasn’t gone away.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's hoping we can salvage tonight's game...
…then tear off another 3 straight against SD this weekend. 4-game winning streak, anyone? :)
Wait a minute... who am I here?
by malicedoom on May 21, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I like your thinking...
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anybody hear Kaplan last night
on Chicago Tribune Live? They were discussing the possibility of getting DeRosa back at the trading deadline. Kaplan seemed to believe that Hendry would surely explore that possiblility.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope they're right.
Forget sentimentality. Mark DeRosa is exactly the type of player the Cubs need right now — versatile, can play multiple positions. Also, he has a .307 lifetime BA in Wrigley Field.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
we need him, and he’s startring to hit again. 3 hits last night i think
"I won't be like A-Rod" - Z, 3/17/09
by Ihatethecards on May 21, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's more than just that -
He’s a right-handed 2B, so he can platoon with Fontenot there, ensuring that Fonty sits against all LHP. (And, if he doesn’t start hitting, against all RHP when Aramis gets back.)
He’s also a very capable 3B, which means that he could start there vs. all RHP until Aramis gets back.
Mark DeRosa is precisely what this team needs. It’s infuriating that Hendry traded him for so little.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said...
DeRosa is certainly no superstar. But he’s exactly what this team needs: a solid option to fill in for Ramirez at 3B, and a solid option to platoon with Fontenot at 2B.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Mark DeRosa is precisely what this team needs. "
not to say that the cubs shouldn’t have traded him, but I would say the Cubs need a starting shortstop (move Theriot to 2nd) more than a platoon player.
by TC Cubby on May 21, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pshaw.
Theriot is an above-average MLB shortstop offensively, and is at least MLB average defensively. I’m not going to tinker with one of the few places where the team is actually getting it done.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget the attitude
Seems to me this team needs another “cool guy” to relax the others and shake things up a little bit.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
by chilango2 on May 21, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's ironic...
because some of the sentiment after last season was that we had too many relaxed guys, and needed to get more “fired up” guys.
For what it’s worth, I doubt that the personalities were the problem last year nor do I think they’re the problem this year.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
For the record
I never said they were “too relaxed” last year. And in my very humble, uninformed, myopic and misguided opinion, the “fire” they brought in this year, i.e. Bradley, is of a noxious type, like a tyre fire.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
by chilango2 on May 21, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
stupid Jim Hendry
Next time don’t trade a player and then spend the next season trying to replace him
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have never been a real fan of Kaplan
but if he is right on this…. I might be :)
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on May 21, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds like pure speculation and nothing more...
I’d read that to be that Kaplan this Hendry would have to be willing to try to get DeRosa back. It doesn’t suggest that Hendry will try to get him back, and it certainly doesn’t make any claims about the likelihood that we would be successful in getting him back.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course it's speculation
but it is speculation made by someone with a little more credit (a very little) than the posters on here who have been saying the same thing. As said above, DeRosa is exactly what this team needs right now and he may be available at the trading deadline. Kaplan went on to say that usually Cubs players leave the team on good terms (meaning no hard feelings). Compared to the South Side whose players seem to always be peeved at Ozzie and K.Williams when they leave.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't necessarily agree that he has any more credit than posters...
Unless he’s actually quoting Hendry (which I doubt to be the case), I don’t think he’s doing anything but talking like a sports fan.
My point wasn’t that it was just speculation. My point was that we don’t know if it’s speculation based on reasonable evidence (i.e., discussions with Hendry) or speculation based on a sports fan’s opinion. I tend to suspect it’s the latter.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep, I agree 100%
Kaplan doesn’t hide the fact that he is a huge Cubs fan. I guess I was just happy to hear somebody outside of BCB discuss this possibility.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I sad about a month ago
that the only way I saw Lou moving Lee in the order or sitting him was if th eoffense completely went into a nosedive. And, as much as I hate to see that happening, I think it’ll be okay if it does cause Lou to finally acknowledge what most of us see; that Lee’s days as a productive hitter are most likely over.
We can’t continue to carry two automatic outs (Lee and Soto) the way the rest of our offense is performing.
Hendry also made a horrible mistake in believing Fontenot was an everyday player. I’ve always liked him as a 250-300 ab roleplayer, but I had a bad feeling going into this season that, on an every day basis, his limitations would be magnified.
Would Hendry actually try to make a play for DeRosa? I’d love to see it but I don’t believe it will happen. Trading for DeRo might be a little too much like admitting he made a mistake in letting him go in the first place. I’d love for Hendry to prove me wrong and put the good of the team ahead of his personal feelings.
by bluekoolaide on May 21, 2009 9:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In Soto's defense last night he got a walk and out of the 6 hits one of them
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on May 21, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In Soto's defense, he's been hitting pretty well in May...
he just hasn’t shown any power.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
NOSEDIVE IS RIGHT....
Let’s hope they can turn this around real quick….The coaching staff needs to address their poor baserunning . To make a play for Dero would be to admit they made a huge blunder….Not sure any GM is ready to do that .
by cubs north on May 21, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding Hendry
I don’t care if it is DeRo he’s going after. It’s Jim Hendry making the trade. After what, 9 years?, I have little faith that he can put together a World Series team. And that is the goal right? He hasn’t yet and nine years is a long time. He put together this team we’re watching (and rooting for) now. He left it unbelievably thin at positions where the starters have histories of injuries. I think the move that needs to be made has to start at the top. And for that we’re going to have to wait for ownership to change and for the season to end. So, while I still believe that the Cubs will win this division, I don’t see how they get any farther.
"Any old kind of a run wins it!"--Jack Brickhouse
by mattvegas on May 21, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hendry has been GM for slightly less than seven years, IIRC
And the Cubs won back-to-back division titles, were two innings from the World Series in 2003 and would have won the wild card in ‘04 if Dusty had not let the team spin out of control during the final week. Plus, Hendry has had only one truly awful year (’06) when he was GM for the entire season.
Is he a perfect GM? Obviously, no. But I don’t think dumping him would solve all of the Cubs’ issues.
by elgato on May 21, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who hired Dusty Baker?
"Any old kind of a run wins it!"--Jack Brickhouse
by mattvegas on May 21, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And did I miss something?
Is there a trophy for being two innings from the World Series?
"Any old kind of a run wins it!"--Jack Brickhouse
by mattvegas on May 21, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No....but it beats the heck...
oUT OF NOT EVEN WINNING ANY POST SEASON GAMES…
aT LEAST THE 03 CCUBS SHOWED UP FOR THE PLAYOFFS….
aND YOU COULD PROBABLY EVEN ARGUE….THE 03 CUBS BLEW GAME 1 OF THE NLCS AND SHOULD HAVE SWEPT IT.
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
by kcjones on May 21, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It continues to amaze me.
Call me the broken record, but I’m responding to a broken record that’s statistically broken.
In the month of May, Derrek Lee is not the problem. He’s been part of the answer.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've not been paying close enough attention to Derrek Lee
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps it is YOU who hasn't been paying enough attention to Lee...
He’s put up pretty good numbers in May. Way better than what you would expect from a guy who’s in a career nosedive.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My god
people are still going to defend Derrek Lee. if he’s putting up such good numbers in May, then somebody better explain this to Pinella because he’s the one who was quoted today about starting to sit Lee more and get Hoffpauir more ab’s.
I swear-Lee could hit under .200 for the season and there would still be people who defend him.
by bluekoolaide on May 21, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One thing to salvage about last night
was the overall attitude seen on the game threads. Ninety-nine percent of those who hung around til the end are what defines a real Cubs fan. Your KOWZR ballooned last night.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
by chilango2 on May 21, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder what we were talking about a year ago....
…oh, wait, the Cubs threw Dempster, he pitched well, and we lost! Lee was in a “slump”, Al was talking about starting Hoffpauir over Lee, and Houston still sucked! Wow, funny how the glass looks half empty or half full…and we turned out alright last year, didn’t we?
Dan
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Clarification.
I wasn’t advocating starting Hoffpauir over Lee. Direct quote from that link:
There was some talk about starting Hoffpauir tonight to give D-Lee two days off in a row, but maybe now he doesn’t need that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In retrospect, however -
Lee posted 5 straight months of sub-mediocrity from that point forward.
Perhaps some Hoffpauir starts would have helped Lee out. As we now know, it couldn’t have hurt.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm a huge fan of DLee and not so much of Micah
I don’t think Micah is the next big thing but with the O struggling so much seeing what Micah could do won’t hurt.
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on May 21, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry Al, didn't mean to misquote or cite.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a good thing Lee pulled out of that "slump".
It’s been 12 months! Lee never hit again in 2008, and he’s been even worse in 2009.
Meanwhile, over those same 12 months, Hoffpauir has been smashing everything he sees.
If you think that the 2009 team has the same outlook as the 2008 team, you’re looking at the situation through rose-colored glasses.
First, the offense:
Lee was obviously struggling in every month of 2008 after April, but his April 2009 was substantially worse than any of his 2008 months.
While Aramis was the best offensive player last year, he is, obviously, gone for an extended period this year.
Edmonds/Reed was a phenomenal CF last year — Bradley simply isn’t going to match that level of production if he goes 2 months worth of .189 hitting.
Kosuke is matching his 2008 first half — let’s hope he doesn’t match his 2009 second half. Soto is obviously trailing his 2008 production quite badly. Fontenot simply isn’t going to match DeRosa – especially not against LHP.
On the mound, Dempster isn’t going to match his 2008 season – he hasn’t been terrible, but he’s already banked almost months worth of 4.40 ERA pitching. Honestly, is anyone outperforming their 2008 counterpart? Sean Marshall to Jason Marquis, maybe? Certainly not Kevin Gregg to Kerry Wood… maybe Aaron Heilman to Bobby Howry? By a little bit? Maybe? Good grief, that last bit is so pathetic it makes me want to cry.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dempster's last three starts
2-1, 3.54 ERA, 21 K in 20 innings. If he can keep that up, we’ll be just fine.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on May 21, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fortunately
our pitching staff hasn’t been the problem. Even with Zambrano out, our pitching staff has kept us in most every game. That is a good sign at least.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
by gwood on May 21, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dempster is hard-working and dedicated.
And I don’t expect him to revert to his career norms – I think that his new regimen and his experience has allowed him to turn a corner and that he’ll be very good for most of this contract.
But last year was really, really awesome, and it would be a lot for us to expect Dempster to match 17-6, 2.96 – especially now that he’s got a full 8 starts at 4.65 in the books. He’d have to turn into Johan Santana to drop the ERA a full 1.70 during the next 22-ish starts.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lilly is an upgrade over himself last year as well...
And Soriano is doing better than he did at this point last year. And Kosuke is performing better than he did at this point last year too, even though he was better early than late last year. And Harden is outperforming Hill as the other fourth/fifth starter.
And remember – Edmonds was phenomenal at the plate last year, but he didn’t start performing for us until June.
But yeah, for the most part, we’re getting less this year than last year.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say this without looking at numbers ...
But Theriot’s playing better in early 2009 than he did in early 2008, isn’t he? Or am I just confused by the power numbers?
by elgato on May 21, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think his BA was well over .300 last year at this time.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was walking more and striking out less last year also.
So on the whole his OBP, his most useful contribution to the offense, is down several points. His SLG is up considerably, although that would be much less true were it not for one day at Wrigley when the wind was blowing out hard. (I’m not trying to say those two homers should be discounted completely — every hitter in the lineup had the chance to hit fly balls to left and Riot is the only one that did it twice — but I am trying to say that it doesn’t predict much, and that the slugging is likelier to fall than the OBP is to rise given his worse K/BB ratio. He’s probably been slightly more productive than last year to this point but just a bit and it’s not necessarily likely to hold.)
by aldimond on May 21, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn you Dan
I was just about to log off…. really I was…..
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on May 21, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What About ?
Obviously there are a lot of concerns about the offense — and most likely about several members of our bullpen once we need them again.
What about calling up Tony Thomas from Tennessee and giving him a shot at 2B? He’s not a high schooler — 1-1/2 years out of Florida State — and has been ripping the ball at AA. Hasn’t the school of thought been that a team’s best prospects play at AA with a lot ot career minor leaguers and yo-yo MLB players at AAA? Give Thomas a shot and he may provide some offense.
While they’re at it — please bring up Jake Fox. As I said recently, does he have to hit .500 to get a shot at least as a bat off the bench?
Our starting pitching has been pretty damn good most of the year so far. We do not need to have 11 pitchers. Take your pick — Patton, Cotts, Heilman, Ascanio. One of them goes when Z returns tomorrow. Make the move for Fox and remove another thrower. Then remove a third one from that group and give Stevens or Reinhard a shot. As for options, Hendry should see if the Nationals would trade one of their racing Presidents for any of the four previously mentioned arms.
by ceegeewow on May 21, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Meant to Say --
The Cubs do not need 12 pitchers —
by ceegeewow on May 21, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree they don't need 11
10 should do. Think of how much that would improve our offense. And would the team really be that strapped without Patton and Ascanio? I guess if there was a 14-inning game, we might have a problem.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Once Z comes back they need 11
The only reason Patton is still on the club is because he was a Rule 5 pick, who if we send down, goes back to the Rockies. The Cubs brass like his arm, therefore they want to keep him. I am not sure how long they have to keep him on the big-league roster though until they can send him down.
by tripdenten on May 21, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not sure how long they have to keep him on the big-league roster though until they can send him down.
All season I believe
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by jkobus on May 21, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are correct...
Wells got returned to the Cubs when he didn’t stick with the Blue Jays for a full season.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark
by Fishbone2 on May 21, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peavy
Sounds like Peavy is going to the White Sox.
by Jasely on May 21, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, sounds likely
He’s been traded there pending his approval and his waiving of his no-trade clause.
Cubs record since April 2004: 4-0
by Vermont Cubs Fan on May 21, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope he declines this trade.
Not because I think the Cubs will get him. Just to hear him tell the Sox he’d rather play for the terrrible Padres than go to the Sox.
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need him to accept this deal.
Avoiding the southside has him potentially in Milwaukee or St. Louis. He won’t hurt the Cubs more than once or twice as a White Sox.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good point
but still……… White Sox???
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They're the ones with the deal.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right on...
… this deal hurts our pride maybe, but won’t affect our record. And THAT is whats important.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sox
From what I can tell, they desperately need hitting, not pitching.
I agree with all who said the Cubs don’t need a 12-man pitching staff. I’m sick of having a guy in the pen who never pitches (Patton) while hearing that the Cubs are out of pinch-hitters if the game goes to extra innings.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might affect our record
since it means we won’t have to face Peavy in the upcoming series against SD.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
by gwood on May 21, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sit Lee start Hoffpauir!
The Cubs can not win with Lee batting clean-up. He has no power. Hoffpauir has been better than Lee all season and needs to start. I believe I read somewhere that Hoff leads the Cubs in BA w/2 outs RISP, but I am not 100% sure of that. The Cubs should trade Lee to the Mets for anything and use the money they would save by doing that to trade for Peavy.
by tripdenten on May 21, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Please refer to discussion above.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup
Here is what I would go with for awhile. Soriano is needed in a run production spot, period.
1. Kosuke – CF
2. Miles – 2nd (and selective use of Fontenot)
3. Bradley – RF
4. Soriano – LF
5. Hoffpauir – 1st (and selective use of Lee)
6. Freel – 3rd
7. Theriot – SS
8. Soto / Hill – Cat
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Why to so many things?
Fukudome has been the only run producer on the team before the last two days. Why the hell would you play Aaron Miles? Why? His defense is worse than Fontenot, he can’t hit, Fontenot can at least fall into a homer from time to time. Just keep Miles out.
Theriot should be at the top of the order, hitting behind Soriano.
Why the hell did we trade DeRosa? He would solve this entire problem.
Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Miles batting 2nd....FAIL.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Com'on Mike.
We all know Soriano (1) prefers lead-off and (2) hits a hellva better there.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And awaaaaaaaaay we go!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm assuming you're going to some games this weekend?
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sunday's game only this series. 2 games of the next series.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One game? WTF!
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Life is busy right now.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Necessity dictates Soriano move down to a run production spot right now
Aaron Miles? It beat trotting a clearly overmatched and overexposed Mike Fontenot until a real solution can be had at 2nd base. I’ve seen enough of Fontenot everyday to give Miles a chance to create something. He sucks. I understand that.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
um....
bobby scales.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bobby Scales Reality Tour has replaced the Bobby Scales Pee Your Pants In Excitement Tour
Sorry. Ticket refunds can be had for 2 more weeks before the tour heads back to Des Moines.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That some nice prose BLou. Now how about addressing the actual topic.
Bobby Scales has played better baseball than Aaron Miles at the big league level in 2009.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fine...insert Bobby Scales
Mix and match to death at 2nd base. Scales will not give 5 more big league hits in 2009. Miles at least stands a chance of doing something. But I’m not going to get into a pissing argument over 2nd base.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
5 hits for Bobby Scales the rest of the season
I’ve marked it down.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I spite you you filthy Tiger!
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mark it down
Bobby Scales isn’t a major league ballplayer. The moment is over. 5 hits he will not get to in a Cub uniform. Two weeks from now he is back in Des Moines for the duration until he bounces around to yet another triple A affiliate of another team looking for warm bodies.
I’m not going to defend my thinking on Scales anymore. It just incites an insane riot around here. If some of you are too damn stupid to understand a journeyman cup of coffee then I can’t help you.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand we aren't dealing with a star player here
Or even an average player, but he will fall into 5 hits on accident simply by being on the team until Aramis comes back.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said...
BLou – you make yourself look more silly when you say things like “Scales won’t get another 5 hits.”
I don’t think Scales is a regular MLB player either. But he’ll do better than five more hits as a Cub.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
My disagreement on the subject shouldn’t turn to hatred and ridicule. Should it now.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No it shouldn't...
but when you dissagree by saying…
If some of you are too damn stupid to understand a journeyman cup of coffee then I can’t help you.
You should maybe expect a little more than a polite retort. If you spoke like that to someone in a personal conversation what exactly would you expect their response to be? Thank you?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yup...
If one is respectful of others, they’re likely to get treated respectfully in a disagreement. If they’re rude and condescending and insulting, they’re likely to get hostility in response.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting advice
speaking as if it were in person that is.
by ol Pete on May 21, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And if you didn't say such offensive things to people so regularly, it wouldn't
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm a hypocrite
I took the oath and everything.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a rational argument. You win.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Scales defense was okay.
I don’t see him giving anyone hits.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I were a betting man, I'd take that bet...
He’ll get at least five more hits. Don’t let hyperbole get the better of you (again).
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Facts, Mike, facts.
Soriano performs below his personal average at every position that is not lead-off. His OPS, OBP, AVG—everything—is lower in the 2-9 hole. The $136 million dollar man likes to bat lead-off and performs better when he’s there.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
A stat none of us like, but there it is.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love it
Think of all the times the bottom of the order has started a rally the last three years. Soriano is up in key RBI chances because he hits leadoff. See Saturday.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
countless times in the last couple years I remember being so happy we have Sori coming up in the lead off spot instead of a Kenny Loften-type singles hitter when the line-up rolls around. Now if we can only get him to come through more often when he IS in those huge RBI situations!!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. -John Fogerty
by muehlman on May 21, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have at least three wins from him this season
in that exact situation, which is pretty damn good
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Necessity is the mother of invention
If Ramirez is healthy and Lee didn’t fall off the face of the earth and Soto didn’t turn into a fat blob and Bradley was doing something then YES Soriano should be the leadoff hitter for eternity. But right now the situation dictates otherwise. Team ballplayers rise the ocassion. Despite my criticism of Soriano throughout the years I think he can and will rise to the ocassion.
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well then common sense is the father, and he's one mean SOB.
Not gonna happen.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't try to fix what's not broken
Soriano works at the lead-off position. There’s no reason to move him out of the spot in which he has had the best numbers.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if it aint broke
fix it until it is
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Batting Miles second in any lineup is ridiculous...
What an incredibly irresponsible allocation of at-bats. I find it especially ridiculous given how you told us all of last season how great Theriot was.
Miles or Freel should platoon with Fontenot, and that’s it. Neither Freel nor Miles should be an everyday player. Fontenot is better offensively and defensively than Miles, and thus should not be the toss-in.
I honestly wonder if you think (or do any actual research) before posting these things.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball Acumen means never having to say your sorry.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or you're sorry.
I’m sorry.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Starting
Freel, Miles & Hoffpauir? Wow.
I understand the love for Hoffpauir as he’s looked good (bat) in the situations used. I still haven’t seen enought to declare him better than Lee, especially over the last month.
As for Miles, aren’t you the one who declared Miles useless with no value?
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on May 21, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, unless I missed Brian Roberts or Chase Utley as options on the Cub roster I'm hard-pressed to come up with something better in the temporary
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fontenot is better than Miles...
that’s not saying much, but there it is.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I prefer seeing if Miles can do SOMETHING for $5 million versus continuing to run Fontenot into the ground in a role he is failing at
Fontenot is salvageable under a situation where the manager has the luxury of playing him like he did last year. But right now Fontenot is a big, big, big mess at the plate. I’d bench him and let Miles take a whack at things. Then if Fontenot can show signs of recovery I try my best to play him selectively ala the formula employed last year. Trouble is Lou doesn’t have the MEGA-MISSED Mark DeRosa at his disposal to do these sorts of things !!
You know they can't prove whose vomit it was...they don't have the facilities at Scotland Yard...you can't really dust for vomit.
by BLou on May 21, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We know what Miles can do, though. The jury is out on Fontenot...
Firstly, I’m unclear as to why you think Miles will improve when he’s shown for years to be a bad hitter, but you think Fontenot won’t improve because he’s shown 1 month of being a bad hitter.
Further, the $5 million is a sunk cost. It shouldn’t have been done, but that doesn’t mean we should compound the problem by playing him more.
I agree that losing DeRosa was a mistake. And if Piniella hadn’t overreacted so much to the need to get more left-handed, we might still have DeRosa. Piniella and Hendry definitely bungled that one.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DeRo's money had to be moved to acquire Bradley.
So if Hendry kept DeRo then what would you have suggested he do to replace Edmonds? If Hendry doesn’t acquire MB then Fukudome stays in right and you have Reed Johnson full time in center? Bad idea. Fontenot was a cost controlled replacement of DeRosa and he was at the very least a better fielder at 2nd. We still don’t know what he will be at the plate but he’s not much worse than the .242 DeRosa has been averaging this season.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DeRo's salary has already been cut
In the form of Vizcaino and Gaudin.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vizcaino was actually part of the Marquis dump so letting him go was still cheaper than keeping Marquis.
Gaudin doesn’t factor into the equation because he was already a sunk cost when Hendry acquired Bradley. Vizcaino and Gaudin do not equal DeRosa.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
But the fact remains that for such cash-strapped GM, Hendry “sunk” a lot of costs.
Then he signed Aaron Miles. Yuck
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't like Miles signing either.
Being cash-strapped didn’t matter when he let Vizcaino and Gaudin go because he was replacing them with cost controlled options. It’s not like he had to go out and spend money to replace them which is why he let them go. I also thought he should have kept Gaudin.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The whole offseason was a PR crapfest from the Cubs
They didn’t have a salary limitation, they just made one up so they could justify dumping a fan favorite because he hit from the right side.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's just not true. If Hendry was concerned with PR why would he dump beloved DeRosa for a lightning rod like Bradley?
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They wanted to get left handed hitting
He wanted Bradley, heck I wanted Bradley too, but it didn’t have to cost DeRosa. There were no limitations, if Hendry had agreed with the high asking price he would have added Peavy’s salary without thinking twice.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Miles + Gaudin + Gathright + Bako’s buyout essentially gets you to the $5.5 million needed for DeRosa.
DeRosa AND Bradley could have been on this team.
by elgato on May 21, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry -- didn't see the comment below ...
that already said this
by elgato on May 21, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's not entirely accurate...
since the Cubs then paid the difference in DeRosa’s salary to sign Miles, Gathright and Gaudin.
DeRosa’s salary did not keep the Cubs from getting Bradley. It was based on two reasons:
1) Hendry and Piniella overreacted to last October and decided we had to get WAY more LH
2) Hendry miscalculated the quality of player he was getting in Miles (whom he thought could be a DeRosa-like utility player.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
My question still stands about center and when Bradley was acquired it was only because Hendry had dumped DeRo's salary.
Subsequent moves aren’t really relevant.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Subsequent moves ARE relevant...
If Hendry didn’t have the budget to sign Bradley and keep DeRosa, then how did he have the budget to sign Bradley, Gaudin, Miles, and Gathright for the same price?
The signing of Bradley was not necessitated by the signing of Bradley. Thus, the plan all along was to move Fukudome into a platoon in CF with Johnson.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess where I disagree is that Hendry didn't know what his subsequent moves might possibly be.
At the time he acquired Bradley he didn’t know what subsequent moves he could make and maintain the payroll at $140 MM but he did know that if he moved DeRo he could fit in Bradley. His need to replace Edmonds with Bradley was what precipitated the DeRo trade and was his main priority at the time. You still haven’t told me what he should have done to replace Edmonds if he had kept DeRo. At the time he signed Bradley he didn’t think he could afford to keep DeRo and he was getting back 3 pitching prospects for a 34 year old poor fielding 2nd baseman coming off a career year. I think Cleveland is regretting giving up those prospects for a guy they are already looking to deal.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have told what he would do to replace Edmonds...
As I said, I don’t think getting Bradley required dropping DeRosa. Thus, I think Bradley was still the gameplan for replacing Edmonds even if we had kept DeRosa.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was absolutely not the case at the time of the Bradley pick up.
Hendry did not have room on payroll for Bradley at that time unless he let DeRo go. Not to mention he got 3 pitching prospects and had a cost controlled option in Fontenot who was a better defensive 3rd baseman. It was many factors that caused him to move DeRo and yes money was one of them at the time he made the deal.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's just not true though (about the money)...
Because Hendry almost immediately spent the same amount on Gaudin and Miles as he spent on DeRosa.
I agree that there were multiple reasons why DeRosa was moved. But money was not one of them.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was paying Gaudin before DeRo the same amount as after, it was not relevant.
Do you not understand Hendry didn’t lose or gain money by releasing Gaudin?
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was signed in December...
And Hendry knew he was going to sign Bradley as of November. Thus, he paid Gaudin AFTER essentially committing to Bradley.
If money was a reason money was traded, it made no sense to sign Gaudin (whom Piniella didn’t want) and then almost immediately sign Miles, committing the same money.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's just twisted logic.
Hendry came to terms to avoid arbitration with Gaudin. The money that he gave Gaudin was not significant and made sense as he had to figure he would either fill out the Cubs bullpen or be traded. After a poor spring and being unable to deal him they were stuck with Gaudin. In retrospect you can say he shouldn’t have signed Gaudin but it made sense at the time and was not significant money. It was not enough money to enable them to sign Bradley.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd
The whole “DeRo’s” salary argument was PR. The best construction on it is that they were trying to protect Fontenot since they knew DeRosa was so popular. But it’s pretty clear that the Cubs figured they could get from Fontenot and Miles a rough equivelant of what they got from DeRosa. It wasn’t a bad gamble, really, and since DeRosa’s not hitting that well this year, it may even be true so far.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe in my original comment I mentioned part of the reason they moved DeRo was because Fontenot was cost controlled replacement.
It really was not PR at the time to say it was DeRo’s salary because they did need leeway in order to sign Bradley who was essentially replacing Edmonds. Had they not moved DeRo they had no wiggle room at the time in order to pick up an Edmonds replacement.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The gamble was that we'd not have a serious injury to Ramirez...
as long as it was just a Miles/Fontenot platoon at 2B, I agree that we’d be fine. And such a platoon combination (if it were actually used) might in fact match DeRosa’s production.
But the REAL value of DeRosa was that he was a .750+ OPS option who could sub in if we had an injury at 3B, 1B, 2B, LF, or RF. Considering that there wasn’t much expectation for Hoffpauir to pan out as a 1B/corner OF, that’s a relevant risk.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is true but they certainly didn't expect DeRo to repeat the career season he had last year either.
I would also imagine Hendry liked the idea of adding 3 pitching prospects that he might be able to use as trade bait at the deadline or bolster the Cubs down the road.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DeRosa could hit .250 for the team right now
The point is he can play third base, and keep Miles out of the lineup.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So can Ryan Freel.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but Lou hates him already
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if the Cubs didn't get to expecting Koskie would be an option
because it’s hard to see how they utterly failed to get a 3B option, especially including their total pass on Dallas McPherson.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good point.
Hendry may have thought Koskie would be his option at third. I felt they should have gone after Ty Wigginton.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Koskie was a plan B after Piniella gave up on Miles
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How could Lou give up on someone before spring training?
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, we are talking about Aaron Miles here.
(Poor guy.)
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because Lou is a quitter.
At least that’s what my wife, mom, grandmother, 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Taylor, the women’s quilting group at my church and Aunt Vanessa told me.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
these are all women
I’m going to make a fanpost about this
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was watching The View yesterday...
…and, man, Barbara Walters was ripping Lou somethin’ fierce.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but they all love
Larry Rothchild and want him to be the next Mgr
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was signed at the end of February...
By that point, Piniella had seen Miles for almost a month.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He had seen very little of Miles in spring training when Koskie was picked up.
Not to mention that I doubt Lou gave a crap what Miles did in spring considering he was a veteran position player. Your theory doesn’t hold water.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He had seen two weeks of Miles...
which was enough to know that Miles wasn’t going to be able to field the position of 3B. Which is why they signed Koskie.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I knew when we signed Miles that he couldn't play 3rd I imagine Hendry and Lou knew.
Two weeks of Miles in spring training meant nothing.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on May 21, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they just gambled on Aramis...
…not having this type of injury and DL stint and lost.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, it did not.
Primarily, because we know that DeRosa’s money went elsewhere. Miles’ 2-year deal is worth what was remaining on DeRosa’s contract. Even if we only use half of that deal, Miles + Gaudin + Gathright pretty much = DeRosa 2009.
Hendry’s big $$ contracts are hurting the payroll, but at least those guys occasionally contribute. (Albeit, nowhere near what a true difference-maker is expected to contribute.) Hendry’s infuriating tendency to spend $2.5M-$4M on the roleplayers – the likes of LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Eyre and Bobby Howry and Henry Blanco and Aaron Miles, is what truly damages the team.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't this whole offseason
dumping in salary in order to get Peavy. We were always going to be a LH RF that could hit in the middle of Lee and Aram.
But correct me if I’m wrong, but the dumping of Marquis, DeRo was an attempt to get rid of salary to afford Peavy. (and get some pitching in return to give to the Pads) Then Towers happened and the deal went belly up. Hendry continued with dumping of DeRo and Pie in order to get the pieces that would make the deal work out at a later point. And now it looks like Peavy work cure the problems these Cubs currently have.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's the 5 million
that bothers him so much. In his eyes Miles 5 million means he should start. BM guaranteed us Miles would be starting at 2nd base because he is being paid that much money.
by sue369 on May 21, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Simply put this offense is going to struggle without Aramis
No team will perform without their top run producer. For about a week we didn’t feel the affect, but now its happening. No amount of mixing and matching is going to make for what we lost at third base.
The only hope is the magical improvement of Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hoff
I still say teach him to play second. Or, like some posters said, move Soriano to second and play Hoff in left, where he can’t do much damage.
I like the suggestion of starting Hoff every day for 2 or 3 weeks. I don’t think he has the skill to be an everyday player (I hope I eat these words), but we’ll never know till they try it. Right now he’s the hot hand, so why not give it a try? Lee could certainly use the rest.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 1:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree. Let's put Soto in RF and Dome behind the plate, too, while we're at it.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."
--Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on May 21, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like that
But why RF for Soto? With Dome behind the plate, Geo should have no trouble patrolling center.
"They found a delivery in my flaw." - Dan Quisenberry
by danimal15 on May 21, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want Zambrano
to be used only as a PR
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They could try a lot of things.
And lose a lot of games in the meantime. Putting Soriano or Hoff at second base would expose the infield in horrific ways. It seems like a lot of this handwringing is based on the fact that DLee had a bad night and Hoff got a timely hit. DLee’s still hitting well in May. If Lou insists on putting Micah in the lineup, he’s just going to have to sit either Soriano or Bradley.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DLee had a "bad night"..really? that's it? just a bad night?
by cubsnlinux on May 21, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know, I know...he's had a lot of bad nights.
But he’s hitting better in May, and Lou’s not going to put him on the bench in favor of Hoffpauir anyway.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hoff throws left-handed
They won’t move him to second. I can’t think of a left-handed throwing second baseman. Can you?
That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lou considers putting Sori at second. But given Sori’s apparent lack of mental fortitude, I think Lou will decide against it.
by elgato on May 21, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Fontenot
Everyone’s on the “Fontenot is over-exposed” train. I’ve had my doubts about Fontenot in the past, but my mind is hardly made up on him. He had a whole month of bad hitting last year before he got going. This year he started hot and went cold once he got moved to 3B. Plenty of hitters struggle when learning a new position because their focus is shifted to getting their defense right.
I think the jury is still out on what Fontenot can do and be for this team.
Derrek Lee is good.
by DGU on May 21, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed...
I find it amusing that people (or one person) is willing to drop Fontenot like a bad habit based on one horrific month in favor of a guy who’s basically had a career’s worth of bad.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Giving Fontenot the full-time job was a bad decision
He had 259 plate appearances against RHP in 2008 and 25 against LHP. This year he is hitting .063 against LHP (SSS disclaimer). At a minimum, this calls for a platoon situation. I think Miles can hit a little better than .063 against LHP.
Now, I’m all for seeing what you have with Fontenot, but not when Aramis is out of the lineup, and others are not contributing in the way we expected, experimentation takes a back seat to fielding the best line-up.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it's a small sample, how can it call for a platoon situation?
And who do you platoon him with? And where?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's hitting .063 against RHP
The Cubs scored 1 run in the last two games. I don’t care who you put out there. Scales or Miles can do better than that. Let him hit all the LHP he wants when Aramis is back in the line-up.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Cubs faced no starting LHP the last two games though...
and Fontenot has hit RHP fairly well this year.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, well, yeah...maybe Lou should go that direction.
Let LBR build up some confidence vs. RHP. Problem is, Lou doesn’t seem to want to put anyone at third base but Mike Fontenot.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which makes no sense
Freel has to be the better option right? I think Lou put him in the doghouse a bit too quick.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because Fontenot and Freel are the only options...
And it appears that Fontenot is a reach. Scales and Miles are 2B only.
If Freel is healthy, then it makes no sense why he’s not being given a shot at the job. If he’s not healthy that explains it. But I have to think that Piniella and Hendry discussed the idea before Freel was acquired, so clearly Freel was brought in with the idea of filling in at 3B.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Freel must be either injured...
…or he somehow managed to piss off Lou so much in the dugout or clubhouse that he’s not seeing the field. I don’t get it. Maybe I’ll head over to Bruce Miles’ blog and ask him.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be great to figure that out...
Not that I expect much from Freel though. But maybe getting back to 2B full time will get Fontenot back on track. And then you could legitimately platoon Fontenot with Miles.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But Fontenot is still the best option...
I agree that Fontenot shouldn’t play against LHP. But he’s hitting at a .784 OPS clip against RHP this year, even with his slump. I’d be just fine with platooning him at 2B, but I wouldn’t bench him if the gameplan is to field the best lineup.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So we agree?
I don’t think he should be benched against RHP either. He has shown that he can hit RHP.
by dr stabbingworth on May 21, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except that you just implied he shouldn't have been in the lineup the last two games...
If that’s not what you meant, then I agree with you.
by SouthernCub on May 21, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't want to dump LBR
But there’s nothing wrong with giving him a few days off either. Let’s see what Freel can do; if he sucks let’s know now and dump him.
by salparadise23 on May 21, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree.
I’m concerned about Fontenot, but not ready to throw him under the bus yet either.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think he'll get more than 5 hits the rest of the season?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meh, 5 to 10 if he's lucky.
Fortunately, they will all be grand slams.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
with the bases empty
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Totally agree
Fonty was below avg before Aram went down. He has been absolutely horrible since. The third base thing has to be waying on his mind a little. He might not be an everyday player, time will tell. Just give him a couple of days off. Isn’t that why we acquired Freel anyway, c’mon Lou play the guy.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At this point
I think I’m happier about adding Z’s bat to the lineup than his arm too the rotation.
by helen on May 21, 2009 2:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There are some here that would rather he not be good at hitting
However I sort of agree with you
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember a lot of people being made about him being a hitter
or the fact that he was out there trying to be a hitter
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe he can play 3rd base
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cubs
This team is missing their best hitter, best pitcher and 60% of their lineup isn’t hitting. It’s May 21 and they are 21-17(tied for 4th best record in the NL). It’s realistic to think they won’t continue to be plagued by the injury bug and players will regress to their norms. I don’t know about you, but I kind of like the Cubs chances going forward.
by McRipper on May 21, 2009 2:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Except that "best hitter" isn't coming back any time soon
A good portion of those who aren’t hitting prolly won’t. I’m not sold on us being able to weather this storm of injuries.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 losses ago we won 5 games in a row
We will do better, and Lou will make changes, that is his MO.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brewers get former Cub in trade.....
with Padres. (Jody Gerut for Tony Gwynn, Jr.) Announced a short time ago on Evil BCB.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on May 21, 2009 2:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Does he play second or third?
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's pretty... interesting for the Padres.
Are they doing this simply because he’s Tony Gwynn Jr.?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When Chris Duffy beats you out in spring....
you should probably expect a trade soon. I don’t know how it helps the Padres much.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on May 21, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The old senile portion of the fan base will return to see Tony Gwynn come out of retirement.
That should almost double the home attendance # for the next month and a half, until they start to figure it out.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's what I'm getting at.
It’s like they’re doing this strictly for PR purposes, or for laughs, or just for something to do. Why else would any team bother to trade for Gwynn or Gerut?
Did both managers get sick of looking at the same guy at the end of the bench every day, like that time Uwe Blab got traded for Christian Welp?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 21, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What else to the Padres have to do with their current team besides stuff for laughs?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
another good quote from Bradley
“It’s not like we’re going out there facing ‘Joe Blow,’” Bradley said. “Their pitching coach is one of the best pitching coaches. He can take a turd and polish it into something, it seems like.”
So which came first the polished turd or the unvarnished shitty hitting.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL Milton
Classic stuff again.
Oh Mark DeRosa how we need you at third base.
by nji232 on May 21, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL, awesome. Where is that quote from?
by kanderber on May 21, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
linky
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
see below at bottom of post, it's fixed
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bradley then added...
“And lemme tell ya something, folks, Joel Pineiro is a turd. I mean, I’m pretty sure the Cardinals picked him up with a pooper-scooper at a doggy park. The guy is crap is what I’m tryin’ to say.”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
holy crap!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they dont need Peavy
they need 5 Peavys
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh man.
It’s their desperate plea to Jake Peavy. “See, Jake, we really, really need you!!! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?!”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
right now
they need three Marshalls, two Lilly’s, three Cedenos and one Hoff
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Jake is saying
no way do I want to pitch in that park.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL, yeah really.
I can hear Kenny Williams’ voice cracking on the phone, “No, Jake, really – this is just an anomaly. Freak windgusts. C’mon, you know our bullpen sucks. Please, Jake…hello? Hello?!”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe
instead of negotiating the final guaranteed year of his contract, he tells Kenny that the only way that he’ll pitch for them is that they move they move the fences back 50 feet.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and make it a Dome
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And invent reverse gravity...
… seriously, could this now 20-1 blowout come at a worse time for them? I almost feel bad, but…. naaaaaaaaah.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In respect to their record...
it’s just the same as out 2-1 loss last night. If you want to look on the bright side.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
out = our
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only 20?!?! Against Colon?
The Minnesota Twins have some serious problems this year.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
by chilango2 on May 21, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
headlines..
Twins get plenty of runs from Guillen’s Colon.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Colon pounded for 20
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Colon Cleansed by Twins
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Per the box score...
…Colon threw 60 pitches in 2 innings, only 35 for strikes.
“Please, Jake, please?!”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
try again
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oops reply is my friend
this is the link for the Bradley quote above.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on May 21, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My head hurts reading this thread
Summary conclusion? DUMPING MARK DEROSA WAS AN ENORMOUS MISTAKE. We had one of baseball’s most versatile selfless performers operating on an advantageous contract that we DUMPED. A player who provided the manager with all sorts of flexibility to get the best out of players like Mike Fontenot and who provided wonderful insurance policy at 3rd base, 1st base and right field.
Who is to blame for this clusterfuck? My finger points to the fat man in the front office who apparently has been sharing his daily Krispy Kreme allotment with Geovany Soto.
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
by BLou on May 21, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That last sentence is a classic.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
by dat cubfan daver on May 21, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait... just to be clear...
… were you, or were you NOT a fan of letting DeRosa go? I’m not sure everybody here quite got the picture.
Kudos on the Krispy Kreme thing though. You got a literal LOL on that one… something uncommon thus far in today’s conversation.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on May 21, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Go back and review the transcripts Walter Cronkite
I’ve always been a Mark DeRosa fan and screamed when he was traded for the equivalent of a bag of magic beans from Cleveland.
Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...
by BLou on May 21, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are you serious that..
Jeff Stevens+Chris Archer+John Gaub are the equivalent of a “bag of magic beans” ?
by cubsnlinux on May 21, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We won't know until we bury and water them.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 21, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
do magic beans need water?
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
by Cubbie-Tim on May 21, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
also, hindsight is 20-20
If Lee, Bradley and Soto have been hitting anywhere close to their expected levels then we would not be even having this conversation.
We are in a major unexpected slump and s*** happens in baseball.It’s a long season.
by cubsnlinux on May 21, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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