Ken Rosenthal: Cubs Have Enough to Win Now

This is written by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

4 months ago memphiscub 50 comments 1 recs |

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This is all I got out of that...

it’s pathetic that such a talented club would miss Ramirez this badly.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jul 1, 2009 9:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's because sports writers in general underestimate Ramirez

He’s a power third baseman in a golden age of power third basemen. Cubs fans know that if Ramirez isn’t hitting, the Cubs won’t do that spectacular. That’s what we’ve found out for two years in a row in the playoffs. Ramirez wasn’t hitting and no one else could pick up the slack. I’m honestly concerned about Soriano because I know he’s not this bad and shouldn’t be declining this much. I suspect his injuries since coming to Chicago are coming back to haunt him.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But would injuries...

Cause you to fail to recognize pitches and lose all form of plate discipline.? I agree he’s probably not 100%, but he looks just lost at the plate.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jul 1, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Soriano has had that problem for years

The big difference between now and then was his bat speed. If his bat speed is down this season, it’s tough to explain the fast start he had. People forget that his hand was broken last season and his legs have been a problem ever since he came to Chicago. I realize there’s a lot of frustration going on here with Soriano, but he’s not the only one.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True...

But he came back after that hand injury and had a pretty solid end of the season, didn’t really lose any power. If he does have a leg injury though, he needs to be honest with the staff and they need to either rest him or DL him.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jul 1, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Statistically, he appears to be in the decline phase of his career

So it’s basically a moot point. Dale Murphy couldn’t get his ISO above .200 after 1987 and he was done after the 1993 season. Soriano appears to be following a similar trend, but I think he can pick his ISO up over .200 if he has a decent second half.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But

He’s being paid handsomely to produce, not just show up. If you’re willing to sign the big deal, you should be willing to have the finger pointed at you when you’re awful. And for the better part of the past eight weeks, he’s been exactly that…awful.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jul 1, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a minor annoyance of mine, so pardon me a minute, here.

But players are not paid to do something. Players are paid because of what they did before and how it makes you hope they will keep doing it. Every one of our players are paid to show up and do their best. We’d have complaints if a player was signed and then let his body go to pot, not taking care of himself. But when a player gets injured in the course of playing or just gets old, it happens. The risk is on management for signing the player.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...let his body go to pot..."

ISWYDT

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, he made a bong point there.

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 Jul 1, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is pathetic

Sure, Ramirex being out should hurt a bit, but this is ridiculous.

I think it is time to challenge the mental makeup of these guys. it seems to me that they are quite weak in that department. This is one example but it also showed in the playoffs the past two years. How can the Dodgers get better with their Ramirez out and the Cubs get so much worse?

by jerry morales rules on Jul 1, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ramirex, is that one of those new cold medicines?

"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko

by DTJchris on Jul 1, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are your bases clogged?

Try fast-actin’ Ramirex!

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 Jul 1, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Nice

"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko

by DTJchris on Jul 1, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a cream to cover ugly offensive scabs.

by jerry morales rules on Jul 1, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shhhhh!!! Keep it on the down-low.

We don’t want to end up on one of those lists.

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 Jul 1, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In this division, they do

They have far and away the best starting staff in the division. That alone should give them a leg up.

by rlpete on Jul 1, 2009 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree...but

Almost half way into the season, all that starting staff has gotten them is a ticket to 4th place. Read that again…4th place. I don’t care how many games they are out, 4th place is 4th place. Their starting pitching can be even better in the second half and it’s a distinct possibility that the team could lose even more ground.

Face it, this team has to hit, and hit a ton, in the second half of this season to have any chance of competing with the three teams in front of them. Yes, Cincinnati included.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jul 1, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree

They won’t compete without some turnaround but the team as currently constructed, warts and all, should be able to compete. Whether they do is another question.

by rlpete on Jul 1, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Rosenthal's premise.

Most people here want Hendry to make a trade for things to just magically work. How about holding the current players accountable for their play?(and Lou too)

We have enough talent here, even without Ramirez, to be a winning ball club. It’s a copout to say that DeRoa or Teahan or any marginal player will make the difference in this team. Just demand the players get the job done or watch the game from the bench.

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Jul 1, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs

Rec'd and I hope you are right.

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

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the only place where we might NEED outside help...

would be the bullpen. Otherwise, I agree that everywhere else the team should be good enough.

If Bradley and Soriano were performing remotely close to expectation, this offense would be a very strong offense once Ramirez returns. Lee has long since righted the ship, and Soto has really turned it up since mid-May.

The bullpen is the one place where we could use help, and that’s only because Guzman and Marmol haven’t been both effective simultaneously. Another consistent arm or two there and the bullpen would be fine.

Now, I don’t know if the offensive players will get it together. It’s been a very long slump for Soriano and Bradley hasn’t shown the power yet. Hopefully they get it going though. But I agree – getting another bat isn’t the answer now that Ramirez is almost back. It’s getting the bats that we have going.

by SouthernCub on Jul 1, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthal's big point

is that the Cubs appear to be wound too tightly. He raises the point that with so many people underperforming, it’s hard not to look squarely at the manager. Given the recent SI poll and Piniella’s inappropriate words to Bradley, I think Rosenthal’s theory is as good as any other.

That said, I don’t think Hendry will consider firing Lou until Hendry’s own job is on the line, and even then he still might not.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 12:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to be a fly on the wall...

…if Hendry ever fired Lou. Man, that would be great theater.

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 Jul 1, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question, then, is...

… how do you unwind them? Sometimes firing a high-pressure manager like Lou might be just the ticket.

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

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I see firing Lou as a non-starter, especially after he was foolishly extended at the end of last season.

Plus, Hendry seems to be opposed to that in principle, which I can respect.

So, I’d say, bring up some youth with something to prove, but we did that already. Or maybe bring in a joker, except Dempster does that stuff already. I’d suggest – just win already, but the argument here is that’s putting the cart before the horse….

Um…. any suggestions?

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting stuff you bring up here

I don’t see why, last November, it was foolish to extend Piniella’s contract. Then, he was seen as a messiah in the making. So I personally can’t fault the higher-ups for exercising the option.

The youth brought up is of great talent, but hardly superstars-in-the-making. Maybe Jake Fox can thrive eventually and Andres Blanco—if he learns to slap a few hits—could be a good middle infielder. So the youth movement wasn’t too helpful.

Dempster is going through such a rough time with his family issues, that I just don’t see him being jovial for a long time. Other than him, Zambrano is goofy but in a bit of a psychotic way—my uninformed opinion—and I don’t see his brand of humor being everyone’s cup o’ tea.

Other than trying to shut the media and us up, I don’t see how the current roster can shake off the doldrums.

(I’m very scared. I’m beginning to agree with Blue Mike—and I’m even sounding like him. Save me Jeebus…)

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seems to me

that it’s foolish to extend anyone until you have to. It also seemed to me at the time that the Cubs just extended him to counter the story that came out about Lou retiring. Jim Hendry’s worst mistakes seem to come when he is trying to control a bad p.r. story.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Calmly pondered, you're right

However, don’t you think that if Hendry were so consumed with bad PR, he would’ve never traded Wood and DeRosa?

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We know he was bothered by the bad pr -

it’s why he acquired Gregg and Miles the same day he let those players go, respectively. And those were two of the bigger mistakes of the off-season.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 1, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oddly...

… acquiring those two players, neither of whom made us go, “Wow! Great acquisition”, probably gave Hendry WORSE PR than if he had waited.

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

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said.

Firing the manager is looking like a more attractive option.

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

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoever is expendable

You can’t fire players, so you fire coaches. If that doesn’t work, you fire managers.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 2, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

three years ago

… a lot of us were upset with Dusty’s laid-back ways. They didn’t get us all that far, either.

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Piniella's biggest problem

Piniella is managing a team with high expectations. Given the fact that he led this team to two quick playoff exits after two division titles, you can say the voices to get rid of Piniella that were silenced after the 2008 season are growing louder. In all honesty, I really don’t know what’s wrong with this team. You obviously can’t put it all at the manager’s feet, but sometimes you have to even when it’s not entirely deserved. Here, I’m starting to believe it is. He will not be fired during the season, but I think he will quietly be forced into retirement and Jim Hendry will likely be canned.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some of us

were not upset with Dusty’s laid-back ways, but with his pitcher-burning, Neifi-lovin’, base-clog hatin’ ways. I have become more and more appreciative of laid-back in a manager, but Dusty was a baffling manager altogether.

by cubmudgeon on Jul 2, 2009 7:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kegger?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 1, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been saying that for weeks

Lou should go. I don’t know whether it will help but I don’t like what I’m seeing now.

by rlpete on Jul 1, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthal's Home Run

Is calling Soriano an “enduring bust”. Nothing could be more accurate than that.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jul 1, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Calling Soriano an enduring bust is a bit premature at this point

Just because I’ve noted that Soriano may be in his decline phase doesn’t mean I think the signing was a bust. It’s far too early to say that for sure.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(See Lee, Derrek.)

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 Jul 1, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I completely

agree. When the cubs bat, the home plate ump has to brush sawdust off the plate.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Big 4-game series

We’ll either be as many as 10 games back or possibly tied in winning the division by Monday morning.

by ak123 on Jul 1, 2009 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My worry ...

and this probably has been expressed before …

I do think the Cubs hitters will regress to the mean and play better. I’m worried, though, that they’ll do so in the way many of the guys on the ‘06 team did — when the season was already lost. When the season ended, Ramirez, JJ and Pierre all had decent numbers (great numbers, in A-Ram’s case). But most of their best play came when it didn’t matter.

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 1:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No one is running away with the division right now

I have trouble seeing that happen in the near future, though the season could very well be lost if the Cubs continue to do poorly in July. Seasons aren’t won this early, but they can be lost this early.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 1, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

If the Cubs don’t at least split with Milwaukee this weekend, there is a decent chance that even though no team will be running away with the division, they may be running away from the Cubs.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jul 1, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Big difference between 2006 and 2009...

The pitching in 2009 is much better than the 2006 staff. The rest of the division is about the same though.

At this point in 2006, we were 14.5 games back.

The next two weeks are very important as we face Milwaukee and St Louis. If we split and remain 3-5 games back, we have a solid chance of winning the division. If we fall to 7-8 games back, it will be very very difficult to make up the ground.

by SouthernCub on Jul 1, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I almost agree with the article....

I’ve been a huge fan of Gregg this year, but while he has been very acceptable in my opinion, he’s not the lockdown closer we need in the post-season. I have secretly hoped that Marmol would emerge in that role, but am thinking that we need to trade for this. I am intentionally silent on the offense, though leadoff is a problem that I hope gets resolved.

by DisCUBbobulated on Jul 1, 2009 9:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Leadoff

Will be a question as long as Soriano continues to decline. Lou may actually stop going to Soriano to bat leadoff if his decline continues. Players have to adjust to new positions and new roles in the batting order as they age. For Soriano, his bad speed and speed around the base paths is what made him a threat. Now that appears to be quickly becoming a thing of the past. Soriano can still give you instant offense, but he’s producing far too many outs and his play in LF will probably get him moved to 1B after D-Lee is gone if that doesn’t improve.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 2, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs