How Long Do We Wait?

by ajshafran on Jul 10, 2009 10:54 AM CDT

I've read the majority of the posts on here and I think the sentiment is, and there really isn't much of a choice otherwise at this point, that the Cubs just have to ride out Soriano and Bradley until they get hot or at least do something. My question is, how long do we wait? What happens if the Cubs still manage to stay about 1-4 games out of the division come mid-August and Soriano and Bradley's numbers have stayed exactly the same? What if we dont make the playoffs this year and Soriano and Bradley both finish with sub .240 batting averages? What if we actually somehow make the playoffs and Soriano and Bradley havent turned it around at all? I know some people talk about Fox, and Fuld to some extent like they are god-sends. I don't think that, but I think they've at least show significant major league potential. Obviously Soriano and Bradley are under substantial contracts, but how long do we wait?

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Ask Drew and BLou

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

by chilango2 on Jul 10, 2009 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

And Eric Hanna too

The could be the new BCB poem!!!
Do you guys think Carlos Marmol should be the closer?
Ask Drew, and Blou, and Eric Hanna too.

"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 10, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 5 recs

You, sir, deserve a Rec.

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

by chilango2 on Jul 10, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

If it continues

You might see Fox, and Reed playing for them more regularly but I don’t see them being benches permanently. Unfortunetly they are both virtually untraceable.

by Notsnud on Jul 10, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

I would imagine

that if they still haven’t made improvements by the deadline, they’ll make some changes. Certainly, by September. Fox will get more at-bats, so will Hoff, if he can pick up the slack (which doesn’t currently seem to be the case, but if we’re going to be patient with Sori and Bradley, we need to be patient with Hoff). I’ll note that Bradley IS improving, just slowly.

But neither is going to be completely benched.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 10, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think completely benched

But is there a scenario where either Bradley or Soriano is no longer the everyday starter? Also, I don’t think its necessarily fair to compare what Hoff has done or not done with Bradley and Soriano because he hasnt had the opportunity to start on a daily basis. It’s alot harder not knowing if you’re gonna play on a given day and having to come off the bench in the middle of the game. Im pretty confident that if Hoff was starting every single day his average would be around .270 or so.

by ajshafran on Jul 10, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

It's Hoff's job

to come off the bench and provide lefty power.

Anyway. Dome ended up riding the pine a lot late last year. When the rosters expand, I expect Fuld to be brought up. I can certainly see games where Dome is in RF, Fuld is in center and Reed is in LF.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 10, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

And I think Hoff has done exactly that

He has 7 homers and 22 rbis. Thats pretty solid for a guy thats not an everyday player. Im just saying I think his average would be higher if he played everyday

by ajshafran on Jul 10, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

+6

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 Jul 10, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

But he'd still be Micah Hoffpauir

And Micah Hoffpauir is a pretty bad outfielder defensively.

by Wreckard on Jul 10, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

i don't think we can do anything but play them.

i don’t see them really getting much better this year. who knows about next year, but i’m starting to feel like we’re in for some lean years.

"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie

by buckmulligan on Jul 10, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Their hitting

Bradley hit .270 in June which is an improvement. He’s hitting .190 in only a handful of games in July so there need to be more hits (granted I don’t remember if he played the game that Vazquez pitched but there was good defense on the Braves that might have robbed him of a hit or 2).

Soriano is batting .238 in July. Not great. But what I do see is 2 multi-hit games. Hopefully he adds some power and comes around.

by ak123 on Jul 10, 2009 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

You're seriously asking Cub fans how long they they'll wait for something?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 10, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

That is the question

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

by Ace Venom on Jul 10, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

It's the only thing we know how to do.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 10, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Unless you're Chief Wahoo

Or whatever Lou Piniella calls HWSNBN.

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

by Ace Venom on Jul 10, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

my thoughts exactly

waiting is a tradition, that pre-dates TMOTTBG

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 Jul 10, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry untradeable

by Notsnud on Jul 10, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

My patience level is thinning faster than my hair

by Notsnud on Jul 10, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

If that were true

Every Cubs fan would be bald.

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

by Ace Venom on Jul 10, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't ask me

Subject line should read “If that were true for every Cubs fan…”

I hate explaining these things. The weekend can’t come soon enough.

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

by Ace Venom on Jul 10, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions

What if I have no hair?

by Arbusto on Jul 10, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

There is no "if"

in my case. The hair is gone

July: New month, new team

by chitownhawkeye on Jul 10, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Fox and reed should play more

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 10, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I've been waiting over thirty years...

…so what’s another couple of decades?

by bluekoolaide on Jul 10, 2009 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

2029

by ak123 on Jul 10, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Half a century?

by Arbusto on Jul 10, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

We have to wait until their contacts expire

Whats so hard to comprehend about this?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jul 10, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

If they can't see...

Get glasses.

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

by Ace Venom on Jul 10, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Just throwing it out there...

should Bradley just stick to batting right handed until he can work out the negatives in his approach on the left side of the plate? I know he’s a switch hitter, but even Von Joshua said that he’s doing a lot of things wrong fundamentally on the left side that’s causing him to sometimes not even see the pitch. I’m no baseball scout, but that’s a HUGE problem for a hitter.

Bradley should stick to the right side of the plate until he gets things back to normal. Work on the mechanics during bp. Once he feels comfortable adjusting his mechanics on the left side, he should be able to find a little more success during games.

by cufban2522 on Jul 10, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions

He's already been working on his LH mechanics in BP.

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 Jul 10, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I know that, but...

his left handed at bats are obviously hurting the team during games. I think he should stick to the right side during games until he fixes his problems on the other side of the plate.

by cufban2522 on Jul 10, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I expect

that he’s being told to bat Lefty by Lou and Von.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 10, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Given that both have shown themselves to be elite MLB players as recently as last year...

…given that you have a significant financial commitment to them for the next 1.5 years and 4.5 years respectively…

….given that you don’t have the payroll flexibility to take on any new, large contracts, nor the prospects to trade for anyone better anyway…

….and given that you don’t have any better internal options….

…you wait as long as it takes.

by Wreckard on Jul 10, 2009 1:28 PM CDT reply actions

What's the point of this?

They have long-term contracts. They are not performing. Fantasy baseball has ruined Real baseball in the eyes of some fans. You just can’t trade players like GM’s used to do years ago. It’s hard to believe people don’t get this.

You can’t trade them. You hope they come around. If that’s what you are waiting for, that’s your only positive outcome.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 10, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Wait for what?

Do you really think the Cubs benching Bradley and Soriano for an outfield of Johnson, Fukudome and Fuld (or Fox, take your pick) is going to be a playoff team?

Bradley and Soriano are here for the season. They are not being sent to Iowa or DFA’ed. If they never turn it around then the Cubs likely will not make the playoffs. That is the way it goes.

The posts are around here are getting worse by the day.

by rlpete on Jul 10, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions

you are assuming we are not in 3rd or 4th

come September

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 Jul 10, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Even if the Cubs are out of it in September

they are not going to bench Soriano for a month for Fuld. I understand your point. Soriano might get more time off but he is the left fielder for the next 5 years. He will be playing in September whether the Cubs are in it or not. Asking how long we wait is silly. We wait until the end of the season for Soriano and Bradley.

by rlpete on Jul 10, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed

I was being more of a samrt ass than anything, I agree 100% with you

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 Jul 10, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought this was going to say...

how long do we wait until we become sellers instead of buyers…might be time to consider although who would want what we have…

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Jul 10, 2009 10:19 PM CDT reply actions

Here's the problem...

…no one is going to run away with this division and it’s unlikely the Cubs would be far enough out to be legit sellers. In a sense, it would be the best direction to go (if it isn’t looking good) because at least you could do something to get younger and prepare for 2-3 years down the road. Even if they were sellers, it also won’t be easy to unload for obvioius reasons.

If this season does tank, you could be looking at a few years of rebuilding and cleaning up the mess.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 10, 2009 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I am afraid...

we might already be looking at that mess with Bradley and Soriano’s contracts and a relatively barren minor league system.

100 years would have been nice, but 101 years still has a nice ring to it.

by airweino on Jul 11, 2009 1:45 AM CDT reply actions

fonz/bradley

you cant bench your top paid players. unfortunately. i still say call detroit.bradley for ordonez. bradley will never adjust to the pressure of playing for the cubs. not with his attitude.

by NOMAR on Jul 11, 2009 6:54 AM CDT reply actions

I'd

say boh Soriano and Bradley return to career norms after the all star break. I am still skepictal that even that will help this team. If it does I would fully expect the Cubs to come on later and at minimum content for a spot in the playoffs.

It would be different this year as opposed to last where they pretty much had it wrapped up early. Maybe by coming from behind this year if they make the playoffs they will be more relaxed.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Jul 11, 2009 8:59 AM CDT reply actions

Wait through the Nationals series

41-42, with three more games against the Cardinals, then the ASG break, then four at the lowly Nationals.

- A strong championship team should be able to go 5-2.
- A team that has a chance to back into the playoffs should be able to go 3-4.
- A team that cannot go 3-4 against the division leader at home and the worst team in baseball… they are sellers at the trade deadline.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Jul 11, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

Plus, they get three vs. the Phillies at home.

… where the Phillies are 20-23 at home.

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 11, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I

am NOT taking the Phillis for granted. If we can split this series with the Cardinals, got 3-4 against the Nats and take 1 from the Phillies, I wouldn’t be upset. Obviously, sweeping the Double Header, sweeping the Nats and taking 2-3 of the Phils would be better.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 11, 2009 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions