Eruption time for Lou?

by Chadnudj on May 22, 2009 6:56 AM CDT

A listless team....underperforming offense...recent bad performance....getting swept...injuries...falling perilously far back in the standings....heading into June with things looking bleak....

Cubs 2009, right?

Wrong. Try 2007. It was right around June 2, I believe, when the infamous Barrett-Zambrano fight happened, with the Cubs in the midst of a tailspin.

All of which begs the question -- is it time for Lou to erupt, and head out to abuse an umpire for no other purpose than to get the press/fans off of the team's back and onto his, so that the players can relax a bit and just focus on playing ball (something which we all know based on past numbers these guys can do)?

Will we be seeing Lou kicking dirt, throwing bases, and turning purple in the near-term for no other reason than to shake things up?

I'm interested in your thoughts....as well as whether you think this could work as a motivating factor....it sure seemed to work in 2007, so why not do it again now?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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i would like to see that

Right now might seem like the right time but we cant use Lou’s eruptions to get out of slumps. I know it worked that time in 07 but lets try other things like hitting the baseball or maybe a change in the lineup

by Aramis Ramirez on May 22, 2009 7:21 AM CDT reply actions

June 1, 2007: Z - Barrett Fight

(Also, the only MLB game I’ve been to to date… sigh… stupid five hour commute to Wrigley with no disposible income….)

June 2: Lou throws third base into shallow LF, gets suspension.

June 3: Cubs begin turnaround.

So, yeah, I hope Lou’s about due for an explosion.

Judd Sirott is responsible for EVERYONE'S injury. And all the current slumps.
Bradley watch -- out 10 games of 39

by znohitter on May 22, 2009 8:21 AM CDT reply actions

Am I misremembering?

Lou didn’t toss the bag, did he? He kicked dirt all over the ump, but I don’t think he pulled the bag out and threw it.

"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 DamonBerryhillsMitt on May 22, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, I don't think he tossed a bag.

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 daver on May 22, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

He didn't.

Here’s a home-video made by a fan at that game; it shows Lou kicking his cap a few times, but not throwing a base.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Oops, sorry.

Wrong water commecial. I really gotta take a few days off from the greenery, it seems.

Judd Sirott is responsible for EVERYONE'S injury. And all the current slumps.
Bradley watch -- out 10 games of 39

by znohitter on May 22, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Why?

Other than the injury to Ramirez this is the team Lou wanted. So is he going to blow up at himself?

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on May 22, 2009 8:32 AM CDT reply actions

Rec'd.

Exactly. This isn’t the WWE, it’s baseball. Who cares about a blowup? All they need to do is play better.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of the WWE...

…when exactly did Soriano appear in that wrestling match? Because he’s looked ice cold at the plate ever since I saw that clip.

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 daver on May 22, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Funny....

I was just thinking about the same thing last night, and was going to google it this morning to see what the date was when those two incidents (the fight and Lou’s eruption) happened in 2007. Thanks for saving me that step.

I’m not sure if it’s quite time for Lou to try something like that, but it also wouldn’t shock me if he did, particularly if the Cubs continue their listless play.

Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.

by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on May 22, 2009 8:40 AM CDT reply actions

Lou erupting was just becase of a slump

He did that to take the tension and media off his team. Barrett and Zambrano fighting got national exposure and was embarrassing to the team. Lou took the tension off the team.

While I like seeing Lou go nuts, I don’t think that’s the answer.

Now playing a really crappy team and hopefully sweeping them, that can be the answer!

by ak123 on May 22, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions

Eruption accomplishes nothing

This current nightmare isn’t the doing of Lou Piniella regardless what his persistent critics will say to the contrary. Rather it is severe and shocking underperformance on the part of Soto, Fontenot, Bradley, Lee and others. That and losing the best and most vital member of the Cub lineup in Ramirez.

Blow up? At what? Serves no purpose.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 22, 2009 9:03 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Agreed...

It’s not like these guys aren’t trying. They’re just not performing. Throwing a tirade isn’t going to fix that. Better perfomance is all that can fix poor performance at this point.

by SouthernCub on May 22, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

+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 22, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

Wanting Piniella to pitch a fit is just another emotional, superficial response to a problem that only better pitch selection, quicker batspeed and a little bit of luck can cure.

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 daver on May 22, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

This is really scary.

That makes twice in one day that I am in 100% agreement with BLou.

Maybe that alone will end this losing streak.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Back away from the ledge

It is amazing how a simple 3 game slump suddenly pushes people to the edge (or how 4 runs not scored can do this as well 2 on Sunday 2 on Wednesday). We are only 4 games back with 123 games to play and many of us agree that Milwaukee is playing above their level right now. I think that if we drop 2 to San Diego because of guys having their heads up their butts (baserunning errors – seem to happen rather frequently lately) then Lou needs to throw a couple bases…maybe do a low crawl behind the mound to fire the team up. We have the guys, we have the technology. Oh and Soriano to second is NOT the answer…try Lee at second first and Hoff to first before you move Sori in.

I will treat you, sir, as a gentleman. Not because you are one, but because I am...Thomas Jefferson

by hansman1982 on May 22, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions

Is Lou tossin crap in the dugout?

Is he screamin in the dugout? Or takin the guys downstairs out of camera view and pulling their pants down? Someone needs to be spanked here. Lou screaming at the umps for making bad calls isn’t the answer. Scream at the players and at the GM that traded their sorry butts to the Cubs in the first place. I see why they replaced the Gatorade bucket with that $5000 drink dispenser. It’s SCREWED into the dang wall.Throw bags of sunflower seeds out. We need a garden out by third base anyway.

"It was a wise Man that invented Beer" (Plato)

by LarryCubFan on May 22, 2009 11:22 AM CDT reply actions