Lou is angry at reporters
and most all his offense including his hitting instructor. After back to back losses to Atlanta when the offense scored 2 runs on 13 hits while drawing only 2 walks, Lou was asked all the usual questions about the team. As the 15th best team in the league on offense, had he noticed any problems or discussed any impending changes? Well, says Lou, in his inimitable style, why don't you talk to the players. And while you're at it, talk to Von Joshua, because that is his responsibility. I guess Piniella must be missing his pal Perry, who was forced out by powers above his head.
But after reading the flame out, I agree with him. Just what have our sports reporters done to hold the players accountable by asking them the very questions we ask here on a daily basis. Why is it that everyone in baseball knows how to pitch Soriano, but the player hasn't made any effort to adapt? Why is it that Soto ballooned up over the winter? And what has that done to his game? Why has Fukudome been so hot and cold while his plate performances have at times seemed comedic in execution. When Lee was in a tailspin, what was he doing differently? What goes through Zambrano's head at times, if anything? Why hasn't he learned what works for him and what destructs?
The questions and comments are endless on BCB, yet when have we heard any of our sports reporters pose those questions to the players? Lou, maybe you have something there.
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.
24 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
There was a post here sometime back
Sorry, but I don’t remember exactly where I read it, but I know it was on BCB that Lee had been trying something different at the plate for the first part of the season. Decided it wasn’t working and went back to what he’d been doing before and starting hitting again.
The information given here was pretty vague as to what he noticed. Hitters tend to keep that pretty general anyhow.
I think it was mentioned by Len and Bob.....
….during a game. If I recall, they told them the adjustments he made, but said that they wouldn’t discuss specifically what it was on the air.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jul 9, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
"Lee told them".....not "they told them"...sorry.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Jul 9, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I've been saying your comment about Soriano
for quite some time now. Although I’ve been saying “Every pitcher is baseball knows how to get Soriano out, but Soriano doesn’t know how to get Soriano out.”
Meaning he has no idea what the pitcher is trying to do to him up there. He’s like a lost little boy.
Lou has every right to be pissed
at the greater majority of this club…and the reporters. He can only manage to an extent. When you have players too lazy to work on adjustments, and not being held accountable, you will always fail. Even Von Joshua has only so much to work with. There seems to be an obvious split on this team of players who will work hard, make adjustments, and try to better their play in order to better the club. Then there is a group IMO, that just marches out there, based on their history as a player, and approaches this ever changing game as they always have.
In most of our professions, we have to learn and grow. We are faced with new and different situations and circumstances that require us to do so. Just because people are paid way more than us, doesn’t mean they are not responsible for doing the same thing.
Zambrano, Soriano, Bradley are a few names that come to mind. We may not love the others like Theriot, Fukudome, Hoffpauir, and Marshall as much because they aren’t superstars, but they seem to be hard working guys who attempt to change with time to become better players.
I know some will be upset with me for saying this but…I say again that this is laziness and needs to be addressed. I think that guys like the three mentioned above are lazy. I don’t care if they show up early, or tell the media that they “want to play a lot this year”, if they don’t try to adjust their game. Show up three days prior to game time for all I care, if you remain in your little narrow, outdated baseball world where you were a 40/40 guy, or were the “ace” of this team, you will sink…and drag the rest of this club down with you.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Jul 9, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Sorry, his comments screamed Dusty Baker to me.
“That’s not my department dude”
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 10, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions
The questions and comments are endless on BCB, yet when have we heard any of our sports reporters pose those questions to the players?
LOL. They’re never going to ask these questions, and the players are never going to answer them. Judd Sirott asked Lee “what are you doing differently now”. As if opposing teams aren’t listening to tell their pitchers.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
I would caution against the idea...
that just because we don’t know if/what they’re doing to adjust or improve, that that therefore means they aren’t doing anything.
There’s all kind of criticisms here based on presuppositions that we have no basis to know…
(By “here” I mean BCB; not this post in particular).
However
should a slump go on for month after month, with the same shotty play being displayed, one has to assume that there is little to no adjustment being “made”. They can try all they want, but until you can actually see a change, why can’t we speculate?
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
For me, it's b/c...
hitting a baseball is an incredibly difficult thing to do, where being slighly off on one of any number of lil bitty things can mean the difference between success and failure. For all we know, these guys are trying to change everything all the time, but just aren’t correctly the one thing they need to…
I guess I just don’t get why people see a result, and assume they know the ’cause without any information whatsover to back up their assumption.
by CubsWin!Oregon on Jul 9, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions
One HAS to assume that a result (positive of course)
is because of adjustments. At least when the flaw or “hole” in their approach, is so very obvious. By obvious I mean Soriano’s inability to lay off low and away pitches.
Trust me, I am in no way presuming it is easy to even make contact with a major league pitch…but he has always been a solid hitter, so I “assume” he has the ability to adjust his game. I then have to “assume” that he has not done so becase he is still flailing at those pitches.
The guy HAS to make another adjustment then, if he has already made some b/c he is still totally vulnerable.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Jul 10, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions
It's the old adage...
…we have always seen; managers get too much blame when the team is struggling and too much credit when things are going well. Also, it’s easier on reporters to focus in on one person (the manager) as opposed to drilling the players with why they are not performing. In general reporters tend to shy away from putting players on the spot, because they want them to talk with them the whole season. Also, players are typically more sensative these days and wig out when they are put on the spot.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Cubs and Astros
Have best record in last 10 days in NL Central.
This is why we should all worry about offese after the 4-game set with Cardinals. That series will be very telling about where the team stands in the second half.
The same thing could
have been said about the 4-game series with Milwaukee; that it was going to be a very good gauge of where the team was at heading into the break. Granted, Milwaukee isn’t going to win the divsion, but they were in first place at the time, and the Cubs more or less took them to school over the weekend.
That being said, any momentum the Cubs may have gained from taking 3 of 4 from the Crew disappeared when they fell asleep against Atlanta.
Taking 3 of 4 from St. Louis, or even splitting will only confirm what has been very evident for weeks now – that this is a .500 team, and that’s probably where they’re going to be at seasons end.
I agree the loss of the Braves series was a terrible momentum killer.
But how does a series win vs. the Cards condemn the Cubs to be a .500 team? That would mean they beat both division leaders in four-game series leading up to the ASB – a pretty noteworthy accomplishment. To be honest, I don’t think a four-game sweep of any major league team is a particularly easy thing to do, so it’s not particularly realistic to expect the Cubs to do that IMHO.
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.
Agreed...
winning 3 of 4 would put us at 44-42, and almost certainly within 2 games of the division lead. And we’d have just beaten the two top teams in the division in 5 of 7 games. That would be a good thing.
It wouldn’t be a guarantee that we’re back, but it’d be a really good sign.
I certainly don’t see a 95-win season for the Cubs (going in I figured 90-95). But 85-90 is still very doable, and winning 2 or 3 of four this weekend would go a long way toward achieving that goal. And 85-90 wins would give us a very good chance at winning the division. I think 90 wins takes the division for sure, and 85 will put a team in the hunt.
In a whiny voice:
But I want them in first place NOW!
(no offense, THH — playing off something Dave posted yesterday)
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 9, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions
"But I always sweep the Cardinals on my Xbox...
…Moooooom, where’s that meatloaf?"
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.
what do you MEAN
I can’t trade Aaron Miles for Pujols?!?
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 9, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
"Livin the dream Chaz...livin the dream!"
(Makes obvious humping motions to woman next to me)
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Jul 10, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions
No...
You take 3 of 4 from the Brewers, and look damn good doing, don’t lose 2 of 3 to the Braves – especially when you win the first game. There is a reason that Kawakami was 4-6 with an ERA over 4 heading into the game yesterday, and the Cubs made him look like Sandy Koufax out there.
This teams seems to play up or down based on the level of the team they’re playing. They rose to the occasion against Milwaukee, but spit the bit against a piddling Atlanta team. At this point, taking 3 of 4 from St. Louis wouldn’t surprise me, just like losing 3 of 4 to Washington next weekend wouldn’t surprise me.
Losing 3 of 4 to Washington would be an absolute embarrassment.
The Nats have won three series at home all year: two vs. Atlanta, one vs. Toronto (both 3-game series).
The Cubs should win 3 of 4, and a sweep would be nice.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I think they took two of three from the Yankees, though.
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.
I would agree with that
but you never know which Cubs team is going to show up. The one that kicked the shit out the Brewers twice last weekend, or the team that looked like it was asleep over it’s last two games.

by 

















