7 Back, 17 To Go: Cubs Nearly Done For Year After 7-4 Loss To Brewers
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
in Recaps
814 comments
And after all was said and done, it wasn't the grand slam by Jody Gerut that did the Cubs in, although that did give the Brewers a lead today that they never relinquished.
No, it was the little things, and Randy Wells acknowleged so in his postgame remarks: giving up a two-out hit to a pitcher who came into the game with a .100 (3-for-30) season batting average. That hit prolonged an inning that should have been over; Wells had retired the first two batters in the fourth inning easily, and seemed to have settled down after a shaky first inning. But then the #8 hitter, Alcides Escobar, walked; Bush singled; Wells, rattled, walked Felipe Lopez, and then Gerut hit the slam, only the second of his career.
It was a thrill for Gerut, I suppose; he was the 1995 Illinois High School Player of the Year for Willowbrook High, and he's struggled this year, coming into the game hitting only .215. For Wells, it was the most walks (five) he had given up in any one game this season (one intentional), and he also admitted in the postgame news conference that he had stopped doing what had made him successful earlier, attacking the zone, and was trying to nibble. Why pitchers do this, I have no idea; if something's working for you, why change it?
The Cubs lost to the Brewers 7-4, splitting a series they should have won and realistically needed to sweep to have any chance to get back into the thick of postseason contention. Now, nine games out of first place and seven games back in the wild-card race, they are in 2007 Phillies territory (the Phils made up 7.5 games in 17, but they had no one else in front of them), and I can see the numbers as well as anyone else can. It'd take a major miracle now.
The Cubs did do their best to get back into the game. Micah Hoffpauir pinch-hit for Wells in the bottom of the fourth and doubled in a pair of runs, making it 5-4 and at least giving the Cubs a shot at it, and Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman threw scoreless innings. But the Cubs couldn't do more than two more baserunners the rest of the game, on a single by Milton Bradley and a walk to Mike Fontenot in the sixth. That put two runners on with one out, but Koyie Hill struck out and Aramis Ramirez, pinch-hitting on a day he was otherwise off, hit a ball that might have gone out had the wind not been blowing in strongly from right field.
You all know how I feel about Milton Bradley. But today really was the last straw for me. Bradley took himself out of the game after that sixth-inning single, claiming knee problems. He didn't seem to have any trouble in the field or any trouble running to first base. Maybe it's legitimate, but honestly, isn't this enough of this act? I've heard the same stories about Bradley when he was with Oakland -- taking himself out of games on a moment's notice on the flimsiest of excuses.
Enough. Bradley was a bad fit in Chicago from the beginning; his production, after taking a bit of an upswing in August, has collapsed again in September (.196/.226/.275 with zero walks in 53 plate appearances). Enough. If I were Lou, I'd bench him for the rest of the season. He's got to be traded -- to anyone who will take him. Go ahead, flame away, but that's how I feel. I'll talk after the season is over about how I think the Cubs should go about getting that LH bat they were looking for last offseason -- this wasn't the right way to do it.
Amusing: watching Prince Fielder pound around the bases for a triple after his ball got beyond Bradley to the wall in the fifth. It was, believe it or not, his third triple of the season. He may seem overweight and out of shape, but Fielder is an excellent athlete who runs the bases well. However, the Cubs might have to have Roger Bossard redo the field after the season due to that run. Fielder also was held RBI-less in the series; he's currently tied with current Houston manager Cecil Cooper for the Brewers' season record with 126 RBI. The Brewers are playing the Astros this weekend, so Cooper can see his record broken in person.
It's been a frustrating season; with four of the seven games remaining to be played in October, this might have been the last bit of nice summer-like weather we'll have for baseball on the north side of Chicago in 2009. It may not mean anything, but I do hope the Cubs can at least win the series in St. Louis this weekend. The Cubs are 5-8 vs. the Cardinals this year; if they can somehow sweep (yeah, I know, a pipedream), they'd even it up. That's a goal they can shoot for.
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I'm glad I was in meetings all day
and didn’t have to suffer through this with the rest of the faithful.
"Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come. " Pedro Cerrano
by shifafaontheside on Sep 17, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Who is the left handed bat you seek Al?
That is attainable for next season, I am not aware of who is going to be in the next free agent class ? Who in their right mind would even take Milty, the Cubs would have to eat almost his entire contract. I am not sure if the Nationals would take him.
by tripdenten on Sep 17, 2009 5:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't know yet.
Would have to look through free agent lists. Also, do not discount the possibility of dumping a contract on someone, then using the money to make a deal for another contract.
Eat the contract? If necessary, yes. But I think they’ll find a taker without having to eat the whole thing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Texas?
They might be interested in getting him back, he played well there.
by tripdenten on Sep 17, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They let him walk for nothing after a great year...
Now they’re going to give up something to get him back, after having a terrible season?
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Texas proposed on here, and it probably won’t be the last. It’s incredibly illogical to suggest that they might want him though. I wish people would stop with this.
(Sorry for the probably overly aggressive tone)
by kanderber on Sep 17, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the rangers wanted to resign him
but bradley went to chicago because jimbo offered more dough
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
First I've heard of that...
Got a link to that?
by kanderber on Sep 17, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
rangers offered arbitration but bradders refused
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/milton-bradley.html
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
did they offer him arbitration because they wanted him back?
or because they wanted the draft picks, and knew he would refuse the arbitration?
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
by everything i read
he was really liked in texas and the players wanted him back
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice tone indeed
It is not a bad idea, so maybe you would like to rethink your stance, since you know so much about baseball, the Rangers, and Milton.
For the record, they did want to resign him, but could not afford him!!!
by tripdenten on Sep 18, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, three factors to look for in a trade partner...
- American League so he can DH
- Homer-UNfriendly park (i.e. big) to take advantage of his line drive stroke, more doubles, etc.
- Stat-friendly organization that appreciates OBP.
Off the top of my head, that sure sounds like Oakland. I’ve lost track of Milton’s travails – was Oakland a Paradise Lost for him or did he burn bridges there?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Oakland's biggest problem with Milton
was his injuries, he was very productive there when he played.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But aren't you overlooking
The fact that Billy Beane doesn’t pay big money, even medium-big?
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 17, 2009 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope
At this point, I’m not in favor of moving Bradley, but if Hendry is, your description of Beane is something I think he’s counting on.
Yes, Beane doesn’t like to pay big/medium-big money. Consistent with that thinking, I bet he can’t resist a sale. Close-out. Markdown. Priced to move. etc. etc. Add to this the fact that Bradley’s contract is relatively reasonable to begin with, then I’m guessing if Hendry eats a million or two, I think Beane would kick the tires.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Your reasoning is good. I read Moneyball, and it is not all about OBP, it is about finding the next undervalued thing. And you are right, that could well be Milton Bradley.
I am not in favor of a move with Bradley, especially one that undervalues him, either. The slash/burn/dismantle crowd could leave us in a bad state overreacting to this train wreck of a season.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
'Overreaction' is the truth
I think some Cubs fans, perhaps a lot of them, don’t realize teams underachieve and overachieve in baseball all the time.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Sep 18, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sox would be nice:)
It would be fun to watch what Ozzie would have to say about him. The contract we’d have to eat would be worth it for entertainment value alone.
"Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come. " Pedro Cerrano
by shifafaontheside on Sep 17, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was travelling from Knoxville to DC for most of the day.
Saw bits and pieces when I was at the airport. Milton Bradley should never have been on this team.
Is it wrong to say I can’t recognize this team from last year (except for Lou who is taking more naps and showing more disinterest.
"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 Sep 17, 2009 5:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In Bradley's defense - well, maybe in his defense...
Didn’t he get HBP earlier in the game? If it was anywhere near his knee, that might be a possible/plausible explanation. Sometimes the pain/injury isn’t immediate, but after a little swelling, yada yada…
However, if the HBP was somewhere else, then off with his head!!!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 5:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, L&B said
his calf area and they also said he was lumbering running to get on base too.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From Twitter...
Milton Bradley told Lou before his at-bat in 6th Thursday his knee was bothering him, so if he got on base, he needed to be pulled
Via CarrieMuskat
I interpret this to fly in the face of Al’s “taking himself out of games on a moment’s notice on the flimsiest of excuses” analysis, especially considering he’d been hit by a pitch earlier in the game…
But i suppose defending him at this point is a lost cause. Everyone has been comfortable making him (and the loss of DeRo) the scapegoat for this disappointing season since day one, so… so be it. I guess we’d rather ship off a guy (while likely getting little in return and being forced to pay him anyways once he’s gone) who has, for the most part, been on the field, not causing troubles, and getting on base. Why everyone would like to focus their energy on this rather than address this teams real issues, who knows.
Whatever.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 17, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FACTS
GET HIM or just ignore him. Probably the latter.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Al and facts
are not on speaking terms lately.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lately?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said AJS.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 18, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
It only takes a dig here and a jab there to force an over-reaction, and the MB haters have been tweaking the nerves all season. If your impulse is to defend him, it has to be a pretty strong impulse to keep you going.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but then Al would be wrong.
And we couldn’t all be mad at Milton Bradley, which is obviously the only rational thing to do.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't be mad at Milton?
But I wanna! Damn you and your Earth logic, ballhawk!
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
by Clutch16 on Sep 17, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully
this means more playing time for our friend, Mr. Fox!
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Sep 17, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
if he hasn't gotten playing time yet
I wouldn’t count on this doing it.
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know who hasn't been seen?
Any of the folks who claimed Bradley was an underappreciated salesman, or who claimed that their slide rules showed Bradley was due to come back.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 5:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
blame the racist fans
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep, I guess that was it
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've seen them around
and they still defend him. Oh well, to each his own.
by chilango2 on Sep 17, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll al least chime in, since I'm a big Bradley fan.
I still want Bradley back, but I realize that the pitchforks are out in the media and in the stands.
I hope calmer heads will prevail, but I’m just a guy watching the team and Hendry will have to gauge how the team is made up for next year.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They're all resigned to the fact that the haters have won, and Bradley will be traded in the offseason
Great work, Worf et al. Great work.
/Slow clap
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 9 recs
Rec'd, +1, LSA
I read every word.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rec'd as well
I am resigned to the fact that words in his defense are like spitting into the wind.
I don’t see him as a poison that is bringing down the team, and I think that paying someone to take him is a huge over-reaction. Reasonable trades should always be explored, for him and for anyone else, if it will give us a better team.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 17, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Same here
Just because you don’t like a guy personally doesn’t mean you can’t like what he does professionally.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Sep 17, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes it does.
So much so it means you ignore facts all together.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It can mean that to some NBF
But you definitely have the right approach here.
Despite the fact that I think TLR is a huge tool, I think he’s one of the better managers in baseball. His snarling sycophant Bissinger: not so much.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nail, meet head
TLR is a first-class jerk, but the guy is a hell of a manager.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Sep 17, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but it is Dave Duncan that makes me weak in the knees.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Sep 17, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Read this week's SI. Long article on Duncan.
"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)
Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...
by Zeke on Sep 18, 2009 6:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
those people
Are the same ones that claim Soriano is one of the best defensive LFs in the game. Must be nice to live life blinded by the flowers in the grass.
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 5:57 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
broad brush much?
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Alfonso Soriano's UZR, 2007-2009:
2007: 18.4 (very very good)
2008: 2.5 (above average)
2009: -11.5 (very poor, but he’s been playing on a bum knee the entire year)
Alfonso Soriano’s arm more than makes up for his poor fielding.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you forgot
to quote his errors the last two years. Blame his knee all you want, he’s not a good outfielder. Don’t get me started on all the balls he jogs to.
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 6:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't "forget".
Errors are to the evaluation of a player’s defense as W/L record is to the evaluation of a pitcher’s ability. I’d rather use more accurate metrics.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so
you’re saying all the flyballs he drops don’t count? Sorry I don’t see the correlation between errors (which he directly controls) and won loss record. Maybe you have another stat to make more excuses for him.
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 6:10 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Do you have a stat that counts the number of balls he does get to, doesn't drop, and runners he throws out relative to other LFers
I’m all ears
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
try
Using your eyes. To quote Bob Brenly, you can throw a dart and find yourself a better defensive outfielder.
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 6:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
My dart hit Chris Duncan
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mine stuck in Dunn's butt.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 17, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
at least
Dunn doesn’t disappear for months at time at the plate
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 6:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
he will next month, just like us.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
just like Soriano
does in the playoffs
by VillanuevaExperience on Sep 17, 2009 6:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Small sample size.
Any player can suck for a three game stretch. Well, except Albert Pujols.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've seen Pujols suck for a series
once…
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can throw a dart
But Alfonso Soriano can throw it better.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Joey Gathright can jump over a (Dodge) dart...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish Miles couldn't jump over a baseline!
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's what UZR is for.
It’s not perfect, and for a position like LF that doesn’t get a whole lot of chances there’s a lot of uncertainty in single-season numbers. But that’s essentially what it tries to do.
by aldimond on Sep 17, 2009 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton Bradley has been actually playing to his career norms, power aside.
Why his power disappeared, I have no idea. Part of it could be his 19.9% LD rate, which is below his career norm. All of his peripherals are around his career averages, so I’m as baffled as anywhere else. But don’t act like Bradley hasn’t for the most part started playing better. If you think that he’s still playing as poorly as he was in the beginning of the season then you’re full of crap, I’m sorry.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keith you're forgetting something
2 weeks of recent performance > the rest of his career
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, right.
I guess I was too caught up in my ZORPDORP9000 to realize that.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You gotta use the R+RBI meter on your slide rule
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does he tape his fingers?
That’s all that matters.
by sitrick3 on Sep 18, 2009 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton has still earned his salary for this season
I still want Milton back next season, I think it is hard for any free agent adjust to the Chicago environment and for some reason Milton has been made the face of failure here. Yes I do think his race has something to do with that, but I won’t get into that here.
The thing is almost all Milton supporters understand that he will be on a new team next season and that is a damn shame. It signals an organization listening to idiot fans who don’t know how to properly vent their frustrations about a disappointing team. Milton Bradley isn’t the problem, team chemistry isn’t the problem, people claim Z is a cancer yet he’s been on 3 Cubs playoff teams.
I wish Milton the best of luck on his new team, I look forward to the fanposts of his production next season and the hand wringing over his departure, I look forward to the Cubs giving away a productive right fielder for free while paying his salary. Trading Bradley does nothing but give you Micah Hoffpauir in right next season or Sam Fuld in center. I can hardly wait.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I hope Bradley is traded to the Cardinals
And puts up a .300/.400/.500 line on the season. That would be fun to watch
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I'm to this point too
People on this board have made me sick enough that I’d love to see him go to a ballpark that appreciates players and destroy the Cubs.
by Mike Martin on Sep 17, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you just exposed your loyalties
A true Cubs fan wants badly to be wrong about Bradley and for him to come back next year and win the MVP.
You’d rather see him win elsewhere just to prove a point
Fuck you
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
So you're not a true Cubs fan then?
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And you'd rather see him fail miserably with the Cubs just to prove a point?
The hilarious thing is that berselius or I would get banned for using profanity, but Worf won’t.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I WANT him to succeed
The team is better if he does.
He didn’t. And he proved more trouble than he’s worth.
You want him to succeed somewhere else. That’s all hunky-dory.
I would have preferred he succeed here.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never wanted Bradley here
I hope the hell he is traded. That being said, I wanted him to do well. Him doing well helps this team win, PERIOD. However the problem is Bradley is a OK player, nothing special. He is more pain than he is worth. Sure spout out the wonderful year last year, other than that Bradley has been hurt for the most part of his ten year career.
This is not about hate not about race, this is about Bradley not being that good of a player and not fitting in here in Chicago.
I take offense to the claims that if your not in Bradleys corner you hate him or call him racist names, that is bullshit.
The guy needs to move on. It was a bad signing.
by Grockcubs on Sep 17, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one ever said you call him racist names if you aren't in his corner
That’s a strawman at best. The only thing someone will call you for wanting to get rid of a player solely for his personality is an idiot.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the 3 people who do want Milton back next season
and for him to win the MVP are the three who replied to you here. We just know it won’t happen.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The personal attacks will stop, NOW.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was referring to the royal 'you'.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 17, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Queen will not stand for this!
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
by berselius on Sep 17, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hold on one minute there B, now I’m happy for you, and imma let you finish, but coleslaw references are the best non-sequiters of all time!
by sitrick3 on Sep 18, 2009 12:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
true, and it's also the perfect medium....
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 12:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wooosh
sound of the joke going right over you head.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa!
It’s amazing to hear YOU question someone’s loyalty when you’ve done nothing but shit on this team all year. Only person who has been worse than you is BLou. Assholes like you are why I feel the Cubs don’t deserve to win.
by Mike Martin on Sep 17, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But Worf is at least funny about it
A sense of humor goes a long ways.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
by Clutch16 on Sep 17, 2009 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed he's hilarious
It’s really, really funny to watch someone drool on themselves.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like Diet Pepsi out the nose hilarious?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
and steam coming out of ears hilarious
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're not an Ace pitcher
Aces don’t get angry.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And neither do good players.
They just waste potential if their angry.
That or they get really tired.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and or just uppity
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't have uppity
No sir-ree.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That would be something
Though I don’t know that STL would be the greatest place for Milton either. The idea is right though, watching Milton dominate elsewhere next season will be a lot of fun.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When has Bradley
ever dominated? I give him one All Star year, that was last year. Other than that, fill me in. He is a OK player.
by Grockcubs on Sep 17, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Facts
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=369&position=OF
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is some interesting stuff here
His career numbers are good, and his post-season numbers are very good. I wonder how the other RF candidates last season stacked up in these stats? I would eliminate some candidates (Dunn, for sure — sorry Al) as incapable of playing RF in Wrigley.
In spite of the often-quoted left-handedness issue, the higher-order reason why the Cubs felt they had to make changes (and you know this is true) is because of the post-season failures the past two seasons. The Bradley acquisition was part of their attempt at a solution. It looks to me like they had some stats to back them up.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
David Kaplan just creamed his jeans at the thought of that.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Kaplan's reward for all the moves he wants
Is a nice 70 win baseball team that will all play really hard and still suck really bad.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And that'll make you happy
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, it'll make me unhappy.
But maybe it will show idiot Chicago fans that driving away good players to play rookies who could barely make it out of AAA isn’t such a hot idea.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't get it, do you?
It doesn’t matter one god damn what the fans do or say.
If Lee, or Ramirez, or Dempster, or any other leader on this team went to Pinella or Hendry and said, “We’ve GOT to keep this guy,” then he would be here regardless.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I submit the name Mark DeRosa to you
I bet those 3 all would have like to keep him around.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ahh saint derosa...
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something tells me Dempster went to those guys and said
“We GOT to keep DeRosa” Jim hendry then said too bad and traded his ass.
I would hope Lee, Rami, and Dempster would realize that Milton Bradley in right field is more productive than Micah Hoffpauir in right field.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
mark derosa would have fixed ramirez's shoulder
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
with a tear from his eye
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DeRosa's tears don't have the healing ability
of Ted Lilly’s blood. Close though
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
albert pujols' sweat is like derosas tears and lillys blood
mixed into 1 holy solution
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ahh, I get all those white guys mixed up.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Bradley is traded
Micah won’t see rightfield, Cubs will have someone else.
by Grockcubs on Sep 17, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty much
Good luck finding anywhere from 2.5-4 WAR to put in RF after Milton is traded.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
STATS!
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh I'm sorry
Something about passion, chip on shoulder, fiery emotional leader, us against them attitude comma
Prove me wrong.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it all goes back to one thing
are they better with him in the lineup? does he play the game the right way? I believe we all know the answer is taco.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was 42?
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well see it's kind of hard
because you have to take the scrap% into account too.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think scrap %
is weighted correctly.
Dirt over replacement Jersey is a vastly superior statistic.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it adjusted
For player height? Anything over 5’9" can seriously skew the numbers.
And Bat choking-up-ness?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I specifically like to put
them into 5 separate buckets when talking about bat-chokedupness. Provides better statistical analysis on who really chokes up on two strikes. Such beautiful poetry in motion as a David Eckstein bat choke can never be repeated.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is nothing more beautiful
than watching a guy struggle to throw a routine groundball from 2B to first. GOD THAT IS SCRAPPY.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is this reflected in DC%?
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
by Clutch16 on Sep 17, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps
But you’d really have to look at dirt per plate appearance to get the basic data.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and amount of WAGs
while running like a gnome to first.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you guys know each other?
I am enjoying this.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We don't have a player leader and that is much of the problem.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that would be including yourself, yes?
It doesn’t matter one god damn what the fans do or say.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly what Keith says
The results won’t make be happy, but seeing the same people who want these AAAA guys complain about them sucking next season will make me happy.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What a crock of bullsh*t!
What he’s produced is worth about $2 million per. As for wanting to him to succeed elsewhere to stick it to the Cubs, no Cub fan alive wants to see that and anyone who does, isn’t a Cub fan, period.
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
by Itchy on Sep 18, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That $2 million thing has been roundly disproven here multiple times.
Its not worth my time to dig in to sabermetrics and replacement value and whatever else disprove it again, as it’ll just be roundly debated as inaccurate and conveniently ignored in the next Bradley conversation, but still… get a grip. His production has outpaced his $7 million dollar or so salary this season.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 18, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please see my comment above.
While i agree with you that he’s not the #5 that the Cubs needed (and that certainly isn’t his fault… blame Hendry & Lou for that misstep), he’s a productive dude who’s been largly injury and trouble free this season. He gets on base, plays defense well enough…
He’s a scapegoat at this point. Anybody looking objectively at this team and acting as if they’d be marching in to the playoffs if only we’d have gotten whoever else everyone was clamoring for instead of Bradly isn’t recognizing the real issues… Sori sucking, Rami hurting, Soto sucking, Miles existing…
There are more important things to take care of in the off season than ditching Bradley, but i’m guessing its all we’ll hear about. Oh well.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 17, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Because why bother?
Any of the folks who claimed Bradley was an underappreciated salesman, or who claimed that their slide rules showed Bradley was due to come back.
Al’s made it abundantly clear that personal attacks on Bradley are encouraged from the top down, that trying to look at him and the rest of the team objectively is worthing of front-page mocking, and that question Al’s personal biases against the man is a bannable offense.
There’s been a pretty active campaign here to push out any kind of intelligent discourse on baseball. Most of the best posters have left either out of frustration or simply been banned. Turning on the spigot to Yahoo just tipped the scales well into the cro-magnon direction around here.
Bradley is like watching a perfectly conceived experiment to prove the existence of confirmation bias. Anything he does, no matter how big or small (he took himself out of a game with sore knees for christ’s sake) gets turned into the latest example of what a horrible person he is.
And honestly arguing with people like that is like trying to like arguing with a birther; sure it’s fun at first, but they’ll talk in circles, stringing together one offensively stupid comment after another, to the point that the only reasonable course of action is just to walk away with a little less faith in the human race.
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The best posters = Blou, Clutche?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
have you read all of this recap? specifically the late-night three ring circus?
I hope those weren’t the “best posters” you were referring to…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 18, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1, too
Well, I complimented those guys on their first run through, above this, because I found it funny. Then I stared amazed at their later musings, as they went on and on…
It looks like they all went to a frat party together and came back to their computers intoxicated and with a mission. I am trying to appreciate it as some kind of bizarre performance art.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ever since Lou
called him out in the dugout this summer I’ve considered Badley a POS.
The only way they can get rid of him is trade for another bad contract. But he’s got to go.
by Clark Addison on Sep 17, 2009 5:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lou took it back, but you won't?
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 17, 2009 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The end may not
be official but I can see it from my porch.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 5:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Can you see Russia?
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 Sep 17, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank goodness no
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you can from Em's porch...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that is a possibility
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When he took himself out...
Did he literally go towards the dugout before the trainer and/or Lou came out? If so, that’s shit. At least wait for someone to come out.
by kanderber on Sep 17, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
That’s exactly what he did.
I honestly don’t care about zone ratings or any other statistical measures of Milton Bradley. He was a bad choice last winter, and he’s a bad choice to be on the team now.
Adam Dunn’s defense is awful. But his offense would have made up for it. Jim Hendry picked the wrong guy.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to argue with you about.
but I realized that anything I say will simply be meet with unfalsifiable, psuedo-psychological claims.
you indeed did shut me right up.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LSA
Rec’d. +1. NAMBLA
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oooh
The faux-rec. The check-raise of the BCB world. Nicely played.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
by Clutch16 on Sep 17, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's why they send me
Because I am best.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you're not going to let FACTS
get in your way of your evaluation of a player. Splendid.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is beyond ignorant.
It has already been said that Bradley told Lou that his knee was acting up, most likely when it got hit by a pitch earlier in the game, and that if he got on base, he was going to have to go out because he didn’t feel that he could run on it 100%.
“I honestly don’t care about zone ratings or any other statistical measures of Milton Bradley.” This is just… infuriating. I can’t think of any other way to describe that statement.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
C'mon Keith
Facts and Statistics? Spreadsheets don’t play baseball. Prove me wrong.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shut me right up.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But, how; would one, evaluate:
talent if they couldn’t use sites like fangraphs.comma and, thehardballtimes.comma?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RBIs
comma. R+RBI. CERA. Y’know. The non basement dwelling stats.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
R+RBI gives me a raging crotch tent.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
'You should see what cERA can do!
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This Season was Sweet Dreams and Flying Machines in Pieces on the Ground
by cubsgocubs on Sep 17, 2009 6:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Perry got fired, and Lous insane....
It took 50 game for Ramirez’s shoulder to mend.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 17, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We lost games we should have won when Gegg pitched in the end
But we’ll win next when we get ADAM LIND!!!!!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 17, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOOOHOO
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've looked at Lou from both sides now...
From win and lose…and still somehow…It’s Lou’s delusions I recall….
"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 Sep 17, 2009 6:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
dont worry
ADAM LIND will save us
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan on post game scene
I see previous was deleted do to copyright issues so here is link.
Lou is LOSING it and I am not happy Fuld had to wear another cartoon superhero costume but I bet he looks good in drag.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 6:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
FYI Second time they have hazed Fuld
In 2007 he had to dress at Batgirl and walk with the other rookies from Great America Park back to the hotel. Technically he is still a Rookie but it seems unfair to make him do this again. That said. first person who gets a photo of him as WONDER WOMAN can have a free bleacher ticket if you want to go to a game on the last weekend.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funniest photo
Had to be Theriot in the cheerleader outfit in 2005 or 2006. I don’t know where photos are anymore but it was hysterical!
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fonty in blonde
pigtails was pretty funny too. He was acting the part real well too.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember the video
I wonder if its on youtube still. But the Theriot one was hysterical. It was before he grew into the go to guy for interviews. He looked extremely uncomfortable in that outfit.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm, I don't know.
Maybe cubs.com in the archives?
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Def. wasn't on mlb.com
It was like WGN.com or one of those site.
by ak123 on Sep 18, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan was lying
Didn’t you hear?
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why is everything about extremes with you?
I’m just saying that Paul Sullivan has shown the tendency to present biased reporting. It doesn’t mean that he always does, it just means that you should really think about everything that he’s writing because there is a real possibility that it is not true.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would go right along with the rest of Bradley's bullshit
He’s a loser and needs to go
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You said you didn't trust a word he said
That means you think he is lying each and every time.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No it doesn't.
First of all, I never actually said that. Second of all, you’re thinking in extremes again. I don’t trust a word he says because he has shown to me that he does not possess the moral diligence to do his job, which is to offer an insider’s perspective of the Cubs team, not to promote one’s agenda. If Bruce Miles or some other equally trustworthy writer in Chicago (all two of them) confirms something that Paul Sullivan has written, then I will believe him.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in other words
you think he’s lying each and every time, unless someone else confirms it.
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be a lot easier if he just owned it, wouldn't it?
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never said that.
If you knew someone who constantly lied (and I do know someone like that, actually), would you accept everything they said without a second thought?
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, you're talking yourself in circles
you claim you didn’t say you don’t trust him, but you don’t trust him. You can not believe anything he says, that’s fine, but don’t claim that isn’t what you’re saying
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not going to believe anything he says until someone confirms it.
I’m sorry, I misinterpreted what you said. College is obviously destroying my brain.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so what the hell were you arguing about?
you straight up said that’s not what you were saying
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah he apologized too
And said he misinterpreted. So yeah. Mood point now.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you know
we did this thing in 8th grade where a person falls backwards and the person behind will catch him if he is trust worthy. i say paul sullivan and david kaplan do that by falling backwards off the sears willis tower. whoever gets caught is the more trustworthy writer
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who's the other one?
A sophomore from DePaul?
by chilango2 on Sep 17, 2009 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he was lying every time then we'd know what was truth
The problem is people who lie some of the time.
Do you even follow the Cubs? Sullivan has been completely disproved twice this week – once in a story that Harden was being shut down for the season (he isn’t) and once where he claimed that Pinella had benched Bradley (he didn’t).
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ummm
FWIW — I just wanted to note that your obsession with Sam Fuld, coupled with your Stalker username might someday lead to a restraining order.
Good luck with it though…
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shut Wells down for the season
Cubs are pretty much out of it. He’s pitched more innings than they probably thought he would. Stretch him out longer in a season that matters.
He could turn into our ace in 1-2 years with more experience in the majors.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep, he's into the 170's now from 123 last year.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea IMO he should be done
Shutting down Wells is more important than shutting down Harden unless Rich resigns with us next year and that extension happens before the end of the season.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if we were smart, but I would never say that about us(team)
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to act like I'm smarter than an entire organization
But in this case…why are we having him go out there anymore. To pitch close to 180 innings? There’s no reason to push him right now.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I said it on August 4
(patting himself on the back)
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate being right
I was the first to predict Gerald Perry would get the axe. I really hated being right that someone would lose their job.
But hey we do watch Cubs more than anyone else so obviously we should know what we’re talking about.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perry getting axed...
…sure helped a lot didn’t it?
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perry was the sacrificial lamb...
… just like the White Sox’ batting coach was in 2001, after they made the playoffs in 2000 and got off to a bad start the following year.
Know who that was? Von Joshua. Guess the batting coach really doesn’t matter that much.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OR......the Whitesox were right to fire Joshua
as he clearly isn’t that good or influential.
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe both.
I suspect Joshua won’t be back next year.
He was apparently highly regarded at Iowa.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so was Felix Pie
I kid, I kid.
I agree that firing Perry was nothing but, as has been said many times “rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic” but from all accounts, Von Joshua’s approach was the opposite of what the team had been trying, and succeeded in moving towards, as far as being more patient and taking pitches.
Joshua is someone who loves aggressive at-bats. He would have been better suited for Dusty.
I think firing Perry, and hiring Joshua were bad moves in and of themselves
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hitting coaches are like...
…golf swing coaches, which means you will never get one guy that will really connect with more than a half dozen guys on the team.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ace? Randy Wells?
I appreciate your optimism but I think thats doubtful
by bheidge on Sep 17, 2009 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why the hell not?
He’s pitched exceptionally well, seems to learn new things and with experience I can see it.
I mean had the bullpen not blown his games and he had run support we’d be talking about a rookie with atleast 15 wins.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hope your right
but I dont expect anything more than a #3-4 starter from him
by bheidge on Sep 17, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
He’s been more like our #2 starter this year. With experience, you can only hope. I mean he’s prboably going to be in the top 5 for ROY voting.
He’ll either go in a good direction or unfortunately be the next Rich Hill.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Wells > Z ?
Is Z a true ace? Who is left? Demp? Lily?
"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 Sep 17, 2009 6:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
In Cubs terms
You could refer to Wells as a potential ace in hopefully a few years.
I’d trust Z on the mound more than Wells in a big game situation. I’d still go Z, Lilly, Dempster, Wells, Harden.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's why I wrote it ;-)
"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 Sep 17, 2009 7:01 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Miracles?
Hey, it can happen.
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on Sep 17, 2009 6:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So we are the team that's doing the chasing right?
I’d wear swimming trunks.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tweet from Muskat
#cubs Milton Bradley told Lou before his at-bat in 6th Thursday his knee was bothering him, so if he got on base, he needed to be pulled
So much for all of that, Milton warned Lou. Go back to unfairly judging him now.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 6:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You are going to believe Muskat???????
She is a shill for the Cubs……A giant excuse maker.
If he was hurting, why did he bat at all?
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
She’s just the PR writer. But then again, and as discussed above, the beat writers for this team—save Bruce Miles—have little-to-no ethics.
I hate when I can’t trust the media. I feel like Pravda is telling me what the Politburo wants me to hear.
I’ve had a real bad day, so pay no mind to my rambling.
by chilango2 on Sep 17, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you are saying that it is impossible that Milton told Lou in the dugout
“If I get on here I can’t run because my knee hurts”
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if he did say that, why have him bat?
Haven’t we learned a little something about playing a guy with a knee injury?
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're kidding, aren't you?
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 17, 2009 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But the pitchforks are already out.
Truthfully, Al said this was the one that broke the camels back. Right, like in a couple of weeks he was going to say he wanted to keep Bradley.
The people that want Bradley outta here are looking for anything to use to get him outta here. The pitchfork brigade.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 17, 2009 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
If I'm part of the "pitchfork brigade"
I don’t have to look very hard for reasons.
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Media that says what you already believe -- GOOD!
Media that says what you don’t — BAD!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Paul Sullivan vs. Muskat
I’ll take the lesser of two evils.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who's that?
Press releases are less evil than botched and libelous reporting, IMHO.
by chilango2 on Sep 17, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan would always be better for a scoop.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's Paul Sullivan.
He wouldn’t know a scoop if it bit him in the ass. He’s a hack.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All due respect
but compared to Carrie Muskat, he’s Joseph Pulitzer
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe in your world.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
have you actually read Carrie Muskat?
I get that you’ve got a grudge against Sullivan, but seriously, she’s a PR pumper for the club
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortnately,
Sullivan has a horse in this race as well. He is staking his reputation as the only hobbit to also be a sports writer. He constantly needs to prove himself to bring recognition of the plight of the hobbits.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan has said
on CTL if he doesn’t like a player he will show bias against that player in his writing. Sullivan gets bashed in here on a regular basis by many so I find it hilarious that he writes something that several of you on here happen to agree with and this time he absolutely correct. It’s beyond laughable.
I don’t read Carrie much at all.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 18, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Don’t make Carrie Muskat the strawman to compare Sullivan against. He is just crap. Carrie is a club mouthpiece, so she is not very good in a whole other way.
Sullivan manufactures negative stories — so it is not surprising that the nega-posters flock around him like pigeons around a garbage dump.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree...
…and I know this doesn’t mean everything, but am I the only one that thinks Sullivan was picked last in neighborhood games?
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think Muskat was picked first?
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
She probably...
…wasn’t even a choice!
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He still is.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This reminds me
Of the famous Saturday Night Live sketch lampooning George Will the Cubs fan.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you'd take the person who is told what to say by the Club
over the independent journalist?
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"journalist"
Boy has that word taken a beating in the past few years.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've gotta go with TJ on this
If it had been an actual writer saying that, it’s one thing, but Carrie Muskat is the Baghdad Bob of the Chicago Cubs. I can still remember when Carrie compared Latroy Hawkins to Mariano Rivera.
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
She has said many things like that.
Baghdad Bob is the perfect word for her.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have sent her questions that require real thought and have gotten answers that do not appear in her website.
It pisses her off if you ask about Soriano’s play in LF or Why Neifi played over Theriot. She seems like kind of a bitch….
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my favorite are when she posts a clearly easy question
and then responds by basically belittling the person who wrote it. As if she only got five questions that week, and it was beneath her to really answer the question.
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm there too
it’s sad, because other “team correspondents” actually fulfill a purpose, whereas she’s clearly sold out in order to get closer to the team.
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
reading this again
if Milton had not gotten on base, would he have stayed in?
IF THIS IS TRUE what is it about Lou sending guys out there with obvious knee injuries?
And why the hell does MIlton himself go out of his way to make this a bigger story than it was. Someone asks him how long he thinks he’ll be out, and he freaks?
Good lord
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, no, that's the part Sullivan is lying
You see, when a reporter says that Bradley was OK, he or she is telling the truth. When someone reports that he wasn’t, he or she is lying.
My wife is due to give birth any day now. I can’t always be around to help you keep this straight.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
could you make me some flash cards or something?
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flow charts are back in
And quite helpful
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate those effing things
my old boss used to love to have us make them. Even if it was like a two step process
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BCB Flow Chart
Cubs win -—> Post Season is closer -—> Positive Thoughts ensue -—→ someone here finds a way to find something wrong with Bradley or Zambrano or both.
Cubs lose -—> Post Season is over -—> Fights ensue on BCB -—> Lou is blamed -—> 2 posts are made on who we should sign on offseason -—> BLou laughs at us all.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you forgot
-—> cubs trade for adam lind b rob and PV
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
obviously this mood swing thing isn't limited only to the expectant mother...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No they just had a baby.
He’s referring to Worf.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know, see it was an allusion to Bradley's mood swings
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh!
I see what you did there
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sullivan first told us that Lou had "benched" Bradley after that at bat
So which is it?
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Given the way it happened
that was certainly a reasonable assumption to make. Ron and Pat thought the same.
It turns out it was wrong, but that doesn’t equate to anything but a mistaken assumption.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It does when you run it as a story
Especially when you juxtapose the claim with Lou denying said claim.
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I read Sullivan's story
in the Trib and I didn’t see that. All I saw was him asking Lou what happened and then quotes from Lou in his office.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here was the passage
Bradley looked so disinterested during his second-inning strikeout that Piniella yanked him after the third. Piniella downplayed it afterward, saying it was only a double-switch.
Sullivan: Bradley was benched. Lou: it wasn’t a benching.
Sullivan did something very similar earlier in the season, claiming something despite it being denied:
Manager Lou Piniella has benched Bradley today against Detroit, and said the mercurial outfielder probably won’t play on Friday either.
“Let’s just call it a day off for today,” Piniella said, adding Bradley will play on Saturday and Sunday “for sure.”
Call it what you want, but it’s still a benching.
Lou: it wasn’t a benching. Sullivan: Bradley was benched.
Seriously how can people following this not think this kind of thing hurts Sullivan’s credibility?
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
First of all
that quote was not in the story I read.
Secondly, in the story I read, Lou was quoted as follows: “When he went over to first base, I motioned to him and he said he couldn’t run, and we just took him out of the ballgame”,
That certainly could be interpreted as Lou having “yanked” Bradley.
As far as the second one is concerned, when Lou says, “Let’s just call it a day off”, he clearly is implying that it was something more. Sullivan is just reporting what is intuitively obvious. If you MB defenders are going to have any credibility, you are going to have to do better than this. Very weak.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Offending your baseball sensibility again, are we?
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 18, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
just lacking common sense.
Let me know when you have something to contribute baseball-wise. You seem to be stuck in rut.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup, everyone is dumber than you.
That’s the ticket.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 18, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well now you're just going out of your way to sound like Al.
There’s plenty of compelling reasons to distrust Sullivan’s coverage of players he doesn’t like. ACB has done a series of articles on the subject.
I’m simply drawing a parallel to a situation earlier this year when Sullivan called something a benching that wasn’t. He’s done it again. It’s a very deliberate choice of words, chosen to depict the story in a negative light towards Bradley, and then later denied and disproved in both cases (in the former, by the injury story coming out; in the latter, by the fact that Bradley was playing the next day).
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because he has none?
Seriously how can people following this not think this kind of thing hurts Sullivan’s credibility?
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 Sep 18, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if you want to use his words
for more ammunition against Bradley.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I take things that Sully says with a grain of salt
He made the Wells-Piniella discussion sound like a confrontation – quoted Wells out of context. I’d heard the post-game interview.
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 Sep 18, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am the *last* guy
to buy into conspiracy theories, but this really sounds like an attempted cover up to me.
When you look at the sequence of events – Lou skipping the post game news conference, and then when he finally did let reporters into his office, the first thing he referenced was the incident with Bradley, in an attempt to downplay it. Not the Grand Slam, not bringing in Patton when he did, just Milton, front and center. I don’t know how you can infer anything but the fact that he was pissed at Bradley and knew he would be asked about and wanted to cool off first, lest he throw Milton under the bus, again.
Lou has enough experience with Bradley now to know the press was going to jump all over this incident. He, Muskat and the Cubs organization has gone into damage control mode now. It is as plain as the nose on your face.
Whoever it was that pointed out that there is no way Lou and MB co-exist at Wrigley Field in 2010 hit the nail on the head. One or the other, or both, will not be back.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How man Jazzmen do we have to hate on MB?
Perhaps we should collect one from every state? Just a thought.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The one in
San Diego is smoooooooth.
Me, not so much.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe in name
but I wouldn’t qualify his comments as anything close to smooth.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smooth is an attitude
and a lifestyle.
I’m sure being a Cubs fan wreaks havoc on that at times. Therefore, SDSJM deserves some slack.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I for one would like to see what an IdahoJazzman would be like...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nothing like montanajazzman
hes a party animal
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You should hear the trumpet of the Guam Jazzman
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure on the theory
but bringing in Patton was a question for yesterday’s game.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice catch
but it doesn’t change the overall point.
I would bet the farm that the old Lou would have gone to that press conference and ripped Bradley a new one.
As it was, even after taking some time to cool off, he couldn’t restrain himself from saying the Cubs need players who can play and aren’t taking themselves out of ballgames with minor injuries. The comments were only slightly veiled. I would have loved to heard how he expressed it if he had gone to the PC.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh just returning the favor
You always spot those things in my post. It is a little late for a full fledged Lou meltdown . I would have a lot more sympathy with his anger at MB if he had not coddled Soriano ( who kept himself IN games he should not have and actually caused more damage) and continues his inexplicable bullpen management. I agree that it would have been fun to watch though and I sure could use some fun these days ( A reminder that a picture of Fuld as Batgirl would help).
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Surely you can see the difference
between how a manager perceives a player who wants to play when injured and one who takes himself out of games because of a tweak. A warrior vs a guy you can’t count on. I think the blame on Soriano is misplaced. It is the training and medical staff’s job to determine if a player is unable to play. I think there is plenty of blame to go around re: Soriano.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding Soriano...
…I would tend to agree with that. Something still doesn’t jive with how that whole thing was handled.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know I am repeating myself
but this is something I do know about. Torn cartilage in a knee can be tricky. Sometimes it will feel just fine, and then it will “float” into the joint and suddenly become very painful. But, the alarm went off for me when they said that Soriano reported that it hurt for him to put his weight on it. I don’t know when he initially said that, but when he did, the Cubs should have been thinking MRI and scope immediately. I would guess that would have been shortly after he suffered the injury.
I think it is a strong possibility they thought he could nurse it along and Soriano would still be able to play at near 100%. Obviously, they guessed wrong, and it was only when they were pretty much out of the race that they did what they should have done to begin with.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll second the torn cartilage can be very painful argument
When I was having some knee issues of my own, there were times when I would wake up screaming because I had moved around in my sleep and that wayward cartilage found itself where it shouldn’t be.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can relate to this
I still have those sleep episodes, and will until the eventual knee replacement. After years of problems and the eventual arthritis, my knee can slip out of place when asleep — it feels as weird as it sounds.
But I started with a destroyed ACL and cartilege tears. The thing that still does not add up with Soriano is that after the MRI, the diagnosis was still knee tendenitis. I was waiting to hear about ligament or cartilege tears, but I still haven’t seen any details like this. When they said he was being scoped, I still didn’t see any details about what the underlying issue was. Does anyone have a more informative link, or has it just been as vague as the articles that I have seen?
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nothing specific to Soriano
just my 2 cents that the MRI, while an awesome diagnostic tool, doesn’t see everything. Or maybe doesn’t reveal everything is a better way to put it. My knee doc found a thing or two he wasn’t expecting when he finally got in there and looked around.
So in my best “I’m not a doctor nor did I even play one on a soap opera” opinion, what would interest me most on Soriano is anything post-scope.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 18, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is exactly right
Things get missed on MRIs all the time. The biggest variable is the person looking at it.
Also, my understanding was that they did not do an MRI until after a diagnosis of tendinitis was made.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since neither of you guys has any more details
I assume that I didn’t just miss the last press release.
On the MRI issue, I am very lucky, with my knee problems, that my brother-in-law is one of the best sports medicine radiologists around. He works with Dr. Steadman in Vail. I have had more MRIs than my insurance would probably allow. I am grateful, in the knee surgeries that I have had, that the state of the art has been advanced so far by catering to rich, pro athletes. I would expect that they would generally get the best medical advice around, but I know a contrary example. Dr. Ting, who did Barry Bonds’ last knee surgeries, is not well thought of by the medical community around here.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see the difference
but the fact is Soriano continuing to play when he flat out sucked caused more damage to the team on the field
than Milton. There is plenty of blame to go around re playing Soriano ( I got dissed around here for repeatedly saying I thought something was physically wrong with him , likely his foot) but regardless of his physical issues he should not have been allowed to play as much as he did and that is on Lou. Soto got a lot less playing time when he was in his epic slump but not Soriano. Perhaps if Lou had lived up to his kick ass reputation Soriano might have been forced to confront his injury sooner but hey he was the guy Lou said they could not win without so despite his horrific batting, fielding and running he played the vast majority of games.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A manager
has to rely on the medical staff to give him information as to the extent of an injury, and he bases his decision largely upon that. If, as I suspect, they were telling Lou that Soriano could play, then you really can’t fault Lou. We know, for instance, that at one point in August the diagnosis was tendinitis and that a few days rest should be sufficient.
I know you like to blame everything from the Cubs not making the playoffs to the brush fires in CA on Lou, but it really doesn’t hold water in this case.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are missing my point
or I am not stating it clearly. It does not matter if Lou did not know Soriano had a PHYSICAL injury, he was playing like CRAP and should not have been playing every day especially because in addition to not hitting his fielding and running were also terrible. He was hurting the team , BADLY. I am not stupid enough to think you can bench an 18 million dollar player but if you are going to be a MANAGER then you have to start sitting him a lot more than Lou did. The “we have to rely on our vets as we can’t win without them” got pretty tired by AUGUST. Even taking into account his time on the DL the badly slumping Soto played a lot less because well he too could not hit. I don’t blame brush fires for the Cubs problems , I blame a large number of players playing , way , way below what one would expect and Lou adding fuel to the problem in how he played favorites and his monumentally bad in game moves.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 17, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well hold on a minute
Soriano has a history of slumping badly and then catching fire and carrying a team for a month at a time. I’m sure Lou and everyone associated with the Cubs were expecting and hoping that would happen again this year. And when it became clear that it wouldn’t, they shut him down.
It’s easy to say after the fact that they should have been better able to see into the future, but that is not realistic. The comparison to Soto is not really appropriate, as Soto does not have the established history that Soriano does of carrying a team for extended periods. I think a good case could be made that they may have stuck with Soto too long, too…because when they started playing Hill, they team as a whole played better.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Soriano has indeed been streaky
but there is a BIG difference between streaky and sucks. After the first 6 weeks of the season Soriano we into one really , really long slump broken up basically by ONE decent series against the Nats in July. Lou “stuck” him after is was pretty obvious he simply could not play. Most of his few hits were bloop singles. He had ONE home run in the month of August. He was misplaying balls at an alarming rate and he was not a good runner. He was failing at every level and yet played nearly every game. Apparently everyone but Lou , Drew and the Cubs trainers realized there was something very wrong with him. At some point a manager has to say this guy is not doing his job and even if he has been great in the past I can’t let him play everyday when I have enough other guys with problems. As you ( and everyone else here) knows I have not liked Lou’s managing since very early LAST year and while most of my disgust is at his in game moves , how he blindly keeps using some players ( Howry, Soriano, Stevens etc) who are clearly NOT performing and not using others ( Fox, Marshall, Blanco) who could have helped, also drives me nuts.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 18, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1, rec'd
It took awhile for the Sori experiment to reach a sorry conclusion, and Soriano’s streaky nature contributed to that. But I think that you are probably right that Lou et al (not Al) thought that it was the best hope after Aram was injured. Losing both of them for an extended period almost certainly meant that this was a lost season, especially with everything else that was going on.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the thing is
soriano usually goes cold for a few weeks, not a few months
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 18, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 17, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being unwilling to accept the obvious
doesn’t make one noble or dedicated.
It simply means you’re obstinate.
Wake up.
WOXY.com - The Future of Rock and Roll
by Gibbon Jockey on Sep 17, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn, Al
You are reducing the trade value of Milton Bradley with your every utterance.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 17, 2009 7:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bradley does that on his own. Only Hendry was stupid enough to fork out that much money and years for this bum
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly.
I’m only stating what should be obvious to every Cubs fan.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was really referring to some of your jabs at Lou
For bad-mouthing some players and “reducing their trade value”.
I thought that this was a bogus argument to begin with. While a manager should be somewhat nurturing, I think that he should be also be able to wield a whupping stick too, when the situation calls for it. The player’s performances are always out there for everyone to evaluate. If anyone cares to evaluate the situation, they can tell who does not really fit in your organization, and come to you with that argument and a proposal to take the problem off your hands.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is especially odd
in light of the oft stated desire for Lou to “hold players accountable”. It’s kinda hard to do that if you are not allowed to be critical of them.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Accountability...
…starts from the top down in an organization. Hendry himself is horrendous at holding people accountable. He talks circles and makes excuses and never simply says a player has been a dissapointment and he needs to play better.
If the GM doesn’t tell it like it is, why should the manager?
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 18, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a fine line
as someone else mentioned, one of the biggest things you need to do as a manager is to shield the people under you from taking excessive heat. It is hard to perform when you are constantly subjected to negative scrutiny.
But, these are professionals and substandard performance is not acceptable. How a manager or a GM deal with that is a pretty big deal. Most of it happens out of the public eye…as it should.
I do not necessarily subscribe to the theory that Lou and Hendry have failed at their jobs. I do, however, suspect that Lou is dealing with health issues that have sapped his enthusiasm for dealing with the fallout of a disappointing season.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting theory
That is a good point, that I had not thought of before — and here I am, Lou’s chief apologist. You get used to speculating about the players’ health, but it never occurred to me to think that a 66-year-old man might have health issues. This, in spite of watching lots of baseball games, and sitting through the associated Flomax, Cialis, and yadda yadda commercials.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't let facts
over and over and over and over and over and over again skew that.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What facts are those, precisely?
His 40 RBI? Yeah, those are great. All the walks he’s had this month? Wonderful.
Trade him ASAP once the season is over.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RBI?
Really? That’s the stat you want to go by?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, do tell, what wonderful "advanced metric" shows Bradley to be a good player this year?
This, I gotta hear.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh jesus Al
It’s funny. It’s been shown ad naseum, Al. At this point you’re just out for blood and honestly it’s pathetic.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about one more time
because other than some obscure metric that was made up this season, I doubt there’s one that shows he’s been a productive player this season
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh.
I shouldn’t do this. I should not, but here we go.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=369&position=OF
Just read. if you need an explanation look it up. Has he been the end all be all? Not at all. But slumping sluggers be damned has there been ALOT of hand wringing.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
His fangraphs page?
I thought you were going to make an argument. Saying that the reader should “look it up” is surrender. Then you refer to him as slumping as part of your argument that he has been good this year.
At least the fangraphs page has his RBIs – heh.
by ol Pete on Sep 18, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blood?
Hardly. It’s really simple. I don’t think he’s been a productive player, and I think he’s been a distraction. Neither of those are good things to have on a baseball team.
I’ll be very happy when he’s traded.
And you didn’t answer my question.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also am waiting for that magic stat....
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See above
I’m not citing one simple statistic, I’m going to link you and make you read perhaps you’ll learn something, a better way of evaluating a player than a team-dependent statistic.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has choked so many times with runners in scoring position
Even if it is a team dependant stat he should have a lot more. Dunn managed to do it in Washington on a shitty team. Bradley has just sucked and is an ass on top of it. Why are you fighting for him so much?
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
as much as i dislike the bradley signing
the dunn argument is stupid, washington is a good offensive team
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Partly because of Dunn, right?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bradley over Dunn signing made me sick then and still does now.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ofcourse
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dunn would drive in...
…more runs than Bradley in his sleep.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
sigh.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are happier with Bradley than Dunn?
A yes shoots down ALL credibility you have.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This year?
No.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The last 5 years?
Dunn has been a steady run producer. Bradley had one decent year and it still was not as good as Dunn. Hendry screwed up bad. Dunn was your LH batter to bat 5th and would have been cheaper without all the baggage that Bradley brings.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Facts
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looks like the chart backs up the claim on Dunn.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 18, 2009 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't even care about the RBIs
Slumps happen. Guys have down years. Guys have problems adjusting. It happens in sports and in life.
I just want him to shut up about it
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ignore him
he’s not calling you personally telling you, “Worf, I’m tired of the racism and it’s your fault”. Stop reading the papers. If it bothers you that much stop paying attention to him.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
because he's had a down year
this happens to players. It irritates me to see people jump on a player who’s had a down year. There’s a term in statistics that says the territory is not the map.
Sample size alert too.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey rage pull out his wonderful numbers this year
Where are they, He has a bad year, whether it is OBP, his OPS his UZR and any other 3 letters you can make up.
The Bradley lovers just put the freaking blinders on, any time us Bradley doubters come up with the numbers you shove down our face in defense of Bradley, that actually show Bradley has had a bad year, you then surprisingly dismiss those numbers. Quite hilarious
by Grockcubs on Sep 17, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you're dumb then?
Because I posted the link. Try and keep up champ.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll state this sucinctly
1. Milton Bradley is a useful player who your paying for essentially his career overage of about 3ish WAR over his average seasons worth of games played. He’s underperformed this year, but he’s still not one of the primary reasons this team is not going to the playoffs.
2. You’d have to eat a lot of MBs contract and sign a new player to upgrade the position. Then you’d be paying this new, better player, more money than MB and so MB’s remaining contract + MB= more than just MBs contract. So you’re not actually spending a lot more money than you have to by “upgrading the position” leaving even less money to fix other problems.
3. You will not get another 10 Million dollar player per year to produce over the course of his contract as well as MB.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jake Fox, who rarely plays has 39
Fronty has more than Bradley. Pretty sad for 10 million
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RBI's
You’re basing this off RBI’s. Do you realize how insanely ludicrous this is?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So, again.
Tell us which one of the sainted advanced metrics shows Bradley to be a productive player, THIS YEAR.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OBP
hm..
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which, coming into today's game....
… stood at .376, third on the team, and 22nd in the NL among qualifiers.
Yeah, that’s really, really great. Worth all that money, yessir.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well third on a team behind DLee and ARam...
…ain’t exactly chopped liver.
I’m not sure this helps your “get rid of him” position.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? How so?
There are 16 teams in the NL So just by applying even distribution, being #22 means he’s in the top half, almost top third of the 2nd round, i.e. he’d be the 2nd best OBP guy on more than half the teams.
Of course, reality hardly ever reflects even distribution but truth is he’d be
- the team leader on three teams (LAD, PGH, CIN),
- 2nd on eight teams (StL, PHI, SD, HOU, NYM, CHC, ARI, SF), and
- 3rd on four teams (MIL, COL, ATL, and either FLA or WAS depending on how you want to account for Nick Johnson)
So tell me again, why does being one of the top OBP guys on your team constitute grounds for removal?
FYI: Here’s #1-21 (Evidently ARam doesn’t yet qualify):
Pujols, NJohnson, HRam, Utley, Prince, Dunn, Helton, AGonz, Berkman, Wright, Votto, LCastillo (really? wow…), DLee, Chipper, Willingham, Hawpe, Escobar, Braun, Upton, Sandoval, Coughlan.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats funny
No Nick Markakis, I guess no one would want Nick Markakis over Milton Bradley. That is why this whole freaking OBP, OPS, and Fangraph can be sometimes misleading.
by Grockcubs on Sep 18, 2009 5:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's funny
do you believe nick markakis plays in the national league?
i’ll get you a prescription to the internets, if so.
by galloway0023 on Sep 18, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
He didn’t play in the #2 spot so often.
He should have more RBIs since he played the #3 and #6 spot.
His OBP has been solid though.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So instead of six bags of sunflower seeds
We’re down to two bags of Cheetos.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and a warm Fresca
I really think we could get that out of someone
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think soto would like the cheetos
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: to Jesus christos
Soto would prefer baked cheetos…
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i know for a fact he wasnt eating baked cheetos during the 2008 offseason...
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Worf
I’ve already gotten banned once for this so I won’t spell it out like I did last time, but you should be forced to take part in a certain operation with a rusty spoon.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 8:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I figure after Worf dropped a F Bomb
This should be an interesting case study in the banning practices around here.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BUZZ IN THE HIZZY!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The political discussion will end, NOW!!
Rec’d
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I missed this guy
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Savor it.
+1
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man do you look tired.
Just really tired.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if today's events involved Ryan Theriot or Mike Fontenot
What the reaction would be. I promise Muskat’s tweet would have been accepted a quoted as gospel for the events that happened and that the “offending” party would be praised for even attempting to play with a hurt knee.
I has become sad the way Milton Bradley is treated by Cubs fans, especially many here.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel your pain.
Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT
by sue369 on Sep 17, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But they wouldn't have.
Because Theriot and Fontenot wouldn’t do that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know that how?
You seem to be very sure of yourself you know exactly what Bradley did today. Nevermind the knee has been a reoccurring problem throughout his career he’s a terrible person. You love that you’re psuedo-right about Bradley don’t you?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Pseudo-right".
Great. Did you make that up yourself?
I cannot see how anyone can defend Bradley any more. He has not produced. He has been a distraction. Why would you want anyone like that on your team?
The Bradley defenders, as noted above, would love to see him succeed with another team, so they can be right. You’d rather be right than win, wouldn’t you?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I did make that up myself you like?
Because most Bradley defenders recognize a decent player when they see it. He’s had a down year, how many times do you or anyone have to be told this? STILL in a down year he’s been decent with a .390+ OBP. I’m not saying he hasn’t been a let down but all this hand wringing is obnoxious.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obnoxious?
as opposed to those of you who want to be proven right so badly, you’d rather he go to another team and beat us?
You’re seriously calling US obnoxious?
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
See I never said that. I never said anything about wanting Bradley to go elsewhere. I understand as an inevitability it’s going to happen but I’v’e never said anything about it. Check.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still think he can succeed here
of course, everyone’s definition of “succeed” is going to be a little different.
Me? I subscribe to the “Milton plays better when he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder” theory. And this year’s events have surely given him plenty of chips to put on his shoulder next year. So assuming he’s in good health, I would expect him to be quite productive next year offensively – and I would hope that’s here.
Yes, he’s still going to have issues with the media, Lou, and the fans. But as long as he doesn’t go psycho (and my apologies to all the psychos out there) on or off the field, I can live with the attitude issues, real or perceived.
Of course, it’d be nice to have – as an insurance policy – a pretty strong clubhouse presence on the team to put the clamps on MB when the situation calls for it. Maybe Lee already does that out of the public eye – I dunno. But man, I’d love to have Glenallen Hill back here as a hitting coach. I’m pretty sure he’d keep MB in line and very productive.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think so
“Maybe Lee already does that out of the public eye”
If Lee is doing that, he’s not doing a very good job. Unless Milton is Carl Everett crazy, and some of the stuff has been contained
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really did like that theory
I was one of its main proponents.
But I’m tired of it. I’m tired of him walking off the field when guys like Aramis are playing hurt, when Soriano tried to play hurt, when Fuld is out there throwing himself into walls.
He may very well be a guy who needs to be angry to succeed.
His success isn’t worth it.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right.
If management thought that “chip” was what was missing from last year’s team, they were misinformed.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Per usual...
…it was a square chip, for a round hole.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Sep 17, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmm.... Wheat Thin or Triscuit?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
TRISCUITS SUCK!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what are those little yellow pseudo-cheddar things?
Cheeze-its? Those weren’t bad.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Remember those Sociables?
Different shapes and kind of a ranchy, basily thing? I loved those.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they're still around
I saw them at the store today
by Illicat on Sep 17, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Oh, yes, Cheez-Its.
Don’t worry about the pseudo-cheddar part. Cheddar cheese is colored to make it orange in the first place. It is naturally white. So, it has its own phoniness quotient (desperate need for attention?).
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But...
Theriot would:
a. repeatedly miss tags at second base.
b. repeatedly get thrown out attempting to advance a base when there is no hope of success.
c. throw to the wrong base with the game on the line.
d. dive for balls 3-5 feet beyond his reach that other SSs have a reasonable chance of getting in the normal course of their daily jobs.
Is that playing the game the proverbial right way?
by galloway0023 on Sep 18, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's called credibility
People with a history earn the benefit of the doubt — or earn the forfeiture of same.
Fontenot and Theriot — nice touch, picking the white guys — have not caused the problems Bradley has. (And neither has Lee, Ramirez, Scales, Fukudome, or many other minority players.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fine Lee does that
And HAS done that. Left the game because of a reoccurring injury. Surgically reconstructed knees occasionally flare up, it happens get over it.
There is no venom when Lee leaves the game with neck pain. What about when Aramis got pulled in colorado because of shoulder pain?
No surely only Milton Bradley, the most evil baseball player on earth, would even stoop as low as to leave a game in the middle because they are injured.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because Lee and Aramis
have earned the benefit of the doubt. You refuse to get that concept.
And Lee and Aramis don’t act like the reporter is asking them when they stopped beating their wives when asked about it later.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bingo
his behavior when he was asked “how long do you think you’ll be out?” was extremely odd
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So because you don't like Milton's personality
It means all he does is make up injuries.
Credibility doesn’t have a thing to do with it, he said he’s hurt, get over it.
Why is it that some players on this team (Lee, Rami, Ted, Dempster) can get injured and not be thrown to the wolves, while others (Milton, Z) get ripped to shreds? Simply because you don’t like who they are as a person?
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because... Milton...has...wasted...his...credibility
Are you deliberately being dense or are you just that stupid?
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When has milton made up an injury this season?
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so you're just throwing out all his behavior
before this season?
And yes, there have been reports questioning just how hurt he was in the past. Athlon had an article in their pre-season mag talking about how he sat out with a bad finger last season until he thought he might lose out on some incentives.
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is exactly the behavior I've heard he's had throughout his career.
It hasn’t changed at all.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What has he done with the Cubs?
He gets pissy with the media? So what, no matter what Milton does you all would rip him. Talk to the media? He says something that pisses you off. Doesn’t talk? He’s a surly asshole that has no credibility.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again, his credibility extends past his six months with the Cubs
I really don’t think you understand what the word means.
You think he’s magically a different person because he came to Chicago?
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is no such thing as a clean slate?
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When?
Was it when he said he faces hatred on a daily basis? Evidence from here suggests he does.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It seems to be one of many of his excuses
If you think he is playing bad you must be a hating racist. Thats how he thinks. Just once I like to hear him take responsibility for his own actions.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he's had like nine of them
at some point, he has to earn it.
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is funny
First you say ‘F You’ to someone now you’r’e blatantly are calling folks stupid. You thought Buzz was joking when he spoke of the banning practices?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are you TRYING to change the subject?
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really no
Just pointing out something quirky I think is funny.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How long are you going to let Worf personally attack people Al?
by Mike Martin on Sep 17, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Al never responds to these things
Because he is really tired and has to get up early. Just plain “fucking” (to borrow Worf’s filthy, filthy language) exhausted.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FLAGGED!
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it makes you feel better
Al warned me. I will go forth and sin no more.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i have forgiven you as well
be at peace
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And also with you...
Oh sorry wrong place. I should make that offering to DeRosa at Wrigley right?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you'd do well to hold a more reverent tongue
when speaking of the Lord Mark DeRosa.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
saint derosa...
The Cardinal Trinity does not like it when people get their names wrong
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In all fairness
Pujols may be some sort of baseball deity. That dude transcends good, he is godly at baseball.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he cures someone with cancer with every home run he hits
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cancer
Pshhh…
He leaves that to DeRosa. His home runs cures AIDs.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and hunger
and Hepatitis C.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FLAGGED
This was the worst thing every done on this blog. I’m watching you.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dammit I'm being watched
This totally sucks.
Can I at least take off my ankle braclet?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fixed
Can, I, at, least, take, off, my, ankle, braclet?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The political talk will stop, NOW.
I’m watching both of you.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shut em' right up.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Why is it that some players on this team (Lee, Rami, Ted, Dempster) can get injured and not be thrown to the wolves, while others (Milton, Z) get ripped to shreds?"
Do you understand what credibility is?
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is some serious excuse making going on for Bradley here.
I have even noticed the race card being played when comparing him to other players.
Is that where it has to go when you don’t have any ammo to back up a weak idea?
Did someone REALLY just compare the credibility of Theriot and Fronty to Bradley?
WOW!
Theriot is having a crappy year in the field but I never thought he was dogging it. Bradley has a bad rep and gets cut loose from every team he’s been on for something other than talent.
Jerks get plenty of chances with their teams, so he must be a real ass to be constantly having to change cities all the time.
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly, add in his total lack of production an you get a total unmitigated diaster.
When he stood there and took strike three with the bags full and got tossed and suspended against Wainwright in a 4-4 game on April 16, I knew this was match made in hell. It was all a train wreck after that, just 9 games into the season and the Milton that we had been promised didn’t exist appeared and suddenly all the media focus was on him and things would get worse with the forgetting of how many outs there were and the accusasion of racist taunts and the general excuse making was here. Now we’re left with a guy with a .256 BA and a suddenly sore knee. We’ve been had again and it’s time to cut our loses and move on.
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
by Itchy on Sep 18, 2009 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you knew that then
you would be one of the most brilliant baseball minds ever.
Being able to predict a bad season after one ejection 9 games into the season. I wish Lou Piniella had your baseball instincts.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 18, 2009 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i remember
Ramirez being very upset with Theriot earlier this year.
Z being upset with Theriot’s play or lack thereof earlier this year.
Those are problems caused, are they not?
by galloway0023 on Sep 18, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, I for one NEVER accept what Carrie Muskat says as gospel.
and if a reporter had straight up said that Theriot or Fontenot took himself out of the game, and then Theriot or Fontenot had acted bizarrely in the locker room after it.
discounting that, Bradley has lost the benefit of the doubt thanks to his actions in other places. Some of you act as though the media everywhere has gone out of their way to villify Bradley for no reason. There have been stories like this at every stop. Not just Chicago
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Accurate reporting or no
I think it is safe to assume that what Muskat reports has been rubber stamped by the Cubs organization.
by azjazzman on Sep 17, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Paul Sullivan's reports
have stamped by the aging lesbian hobbit community. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
*have been stamped
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not that there's anything wrong with that
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this entire bradley signing has divided the great land of BCB
i sense trouble
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 8:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
there are 17 games left in the season
we’re teetering on the edge of being eliminated, and NOW you sense trouble :)
by Nunyabidness on Sep 17, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no not that trouble...
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't argue with that!
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LSA
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Noooooo
you don’t say?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No flippin' way.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is the worst thing every done on this site.
Prove me wrong.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shut me right up.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1 NAMBLA
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the political talk ,will stop, NOW!!,!
if you’re not into coleslaw trysts, you’re D-O-N-E on this site.
You see, 2-3 times each season Al has to go through and ban everyone who doesn’t follow step with his LF bleacher, worthless stat-ignoring views on players like Bradley and Zambrano.
by philadelphiacub on Sep 17, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
ok seriously
+1 on this one.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It really is all there.
Rec’d +1 for sure
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
its gotten downright unpleasant….
Jerry’s been so distant lately and Lovie barely calls.- Just Dave
by Allie on Sep 17, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree.
I’m staying out of the Bradley talk. I have done this for a while.
"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Sep 18, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me give you some stats of a free agent signing
This guy signed for 3 years and 27 million. He was a known injury risk and tended to be rather fragile.
His first season he played 132 games and started the season on the DL.
His batting line was .250/.309/.382/.691 Thru July 30. He finished .275/.337/.419/.757.
Do you want that player traded after his first season?
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I know you're talking about Moises Alou...
… who went on to have two good years over the last part of his contract.
And, many people DID want him traded after his first season. Further, he was not a distraction in the way Milton Bradley is.
Two different situations.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is my point though
Why not give Milton another year? There isn’t a better alternative, if you present me one then I suppose I can accept it, but there isn’t one in house.
Plus Alou couldn’t be a distraction with Sammy running around.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So let's bring Sammy back!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2003 Sammy would be an alternative to Milton
I would accept that
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2003 Sammy???
Let’s just bring in 1987 Dawson and be done with it!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Never heard him complain about racism in RF
And does anyone think he would have pulled himself out like Bradley today?
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dawson was worshipped while he was here
But I guess those white fans bowing to him were just being ironically racist.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There might be a better alternative.
Let me think this over for a while. It doesn’t have to be a free agent; maybe a trade could be made.
What a mess Hendry made with this signing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This quote from Alou sounds familiar
“To tell you the truth, I think (the umpires) are after me,” Alou said after the game.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously? You want to replicate the 2004 team?
God help us
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm just saying Milton isn't the only one.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, let's keep a guy whose best model
is someone who was mediocre for his first year and statistically improved, but was such a lousy clubhouse presence that he made the 2004 Cubs the most unlikeable team in years.
I personally don’t want to replicate guys who blame the umps, the announcers, the media and little green men from Uranus for every failing.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 18, 2009 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That guy who made that team unlikeable
happened to be the best Cub in 2004. Who care if you like a player’s personality? That has nothing to do with their on field performance.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 18, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 2004 Cubs team
was a choking dog of a team that was filled with guys — Alou, Hawkins, Mercker — who found everyone to blame for their problems but themselves.
If the goal is to replicate that team, let me know. I’m out.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 18, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The goal is to build a good baseball team
Alou wasn’t the problem with that team. Sammy Sosa, Dusty Baker, LaTroy Hawkins, and Kent Merker were all whiny punks- Alou too- but that team was still really talented. Put Lou in charge of that bunch- perhaps getting rid of Hawkins and Merker, and that team makes the playoffs 9 times out of 10.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 18, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the way that you think
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh this is rich
Further, he was not a distraction in the way Milton Bradley is.
Yeah, Alou’s on-field temper was never ever a costly distraction for the Cubs.
Not ever.
by Wreckard on Sep 18, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He didn't ruin some poor guys life or anything like that
oh wait
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 18, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Alou's baserunning was much more costly.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, at least he didn't play shortstop...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 18, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I should add that this player had quite the temper
and did have issues with umpires.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
by nji232 on Sep 17, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, although...
… that didn’t seem to come out until after that first year.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 17, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And of course, he nearly got Steve Bartman killed
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And he was the worst baserunner for any good player I've ever seen
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Sep 17, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Stone liked to bring that up
And man, did that piss Dusty off!
by TJ11 on Sep 17, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That foul ball he hit in the double-header nightcap against the Cardinals in September 2003,
I’m talking of the one he had issues with—was that a fair or foul ball?
I remember reading that it raced down the third-base line, kicking up chalk. Is that line fair or foul?
"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Sep 18, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's fair
If any part of the ball hits any part of the line past the base when it first touches the ground, it’s fair.
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 Sep 18, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
FAIR??? You can NOT be serious!!!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 18, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"you're lucky I don't shove this ball up your..."
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
by N Oakley on Sep 18, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting how the word "credibility" is being used here
Credibility has nothing to do with the actions of an individual, but everything to do with how those actions are perceived by the rest of us.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 17, 2009 9:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In the immortal words of Vincent Kennedy McMahon
Tell Milton Bradley to go f’ Milton Bradley.
This season should be ending better than this, and it may still, with or without (more likely) a postseason birth. As I’ve said before though, there’s a whole other world away from this game, and there’s no point in letting it get me, or anyone else down. If anything, we needed a season as frustrating as this one has been, full of the failures we’ve seen, and the small accomplishments made by others. Last year set the bar way too high and made too many believe this team was World Series bound, so at the first sign of trouble, there was far too much angst and frustration. It’s still baseball and anything can happen. There are no certainties. Next year will be better for us having to endure this year. Goodnight all.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Sep 17, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually my boss would have said
Milton Bradley screwed Milton Bradley.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So Yellon and Worf
How many wins would a team with Adam Dunn replacing Milton Bradley have? With DeRosa and not Bradley?
(let me predict your answer Al)
/Pulls out magic 8 ball
//Shakes
the political discussion will stop NOW!
hmmm, not quite
/Shakes
You can observe a lot by wathcing
not quite, but closer
/Shakes
Statistics don’t tell the whole story
Ding! Ding! Ding! we have a winnah!!!
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
LSA
Rec’d. 1lb of coleslaw.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
(dying laughing)
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A whole pound is a bit excessive
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seventh inning bathroom tryst?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even for a tryst, it maybe excessive
I suppose you could do a slip n’ slid in the bleacher troughs with coleslaw, but preferable a pound would be preserved for outdoor cooking outings like campouts and things of that nature.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
B==D~~~
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
1/2lb of Coleslaw.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is true
Nothing beats a good bologna sandwich.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Especially,
if you, get a free big gul,p to wash it down.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
over dinner?
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
Have you interviewed any famous Chicago baseball executives or infielders?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do have season tickets
and a business card.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Newsleter too?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What other kind of literature do you offer?
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I tend to stay away from stat sheets
But I am quite fond of Vineline.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You two enjoy your own company
Your smugness gets old.
by Grockcubs on Sep 17, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We do enjoy our companies
Just not in the seventh inning or over dinner.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seventh inning? Over dinner?
I’m there!
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
BOO YAH
8===D
(icy Tony LaRussa stare)
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just don't
know what exactly your implying. Perhaps you could explain it with some kind of picture that vaguely relates to popular culture.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smashing Pumpkins
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DESPITE ALL MY RAGE
I AM STILL JUST A RAT IN A CAGE
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like a Freddy Bynum encounter.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not my fault I'm such a tool.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
Freddy Bynum can be very intimidating. I think a Tommy Lasorda stare down is more pertinent.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Maybe if you didn’t tell him to go pound sand up your ass he’d be nicer to you.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
(dying laughing)
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will admitt
that had crossed my mind.
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you really wannt to get on his good side
A picnic. LOTS of coleslaw. Like a pound
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know he has t-shirts.
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Sep 17, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah!
i have t-shirts……and an awesome grip on,how,to,use,the,comma.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton Bradley
Has been on ’7 different teams.
The Lord Mark DeRosa 5. He must be the crappiest teammate ever.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
you got it wrong it again
you cannot escape your fate now..
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 17, 2009 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oooh Dear
“And DeRosa will strike down upon thee with great Vengeance and furious anger”
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Sep 17, 2009 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As opposed to Chicago's secondary man crush
Ted Lilly who has punched who has punched his manager and been ejected from the dugout for arguing balls and strikes.
" I hate that lady , but would totally do her. So strange is this mind of mens." - Skisgaar Skwigelf
by Rage and Grace on Sep 17, 2009 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will always believe DeRosa was not in good company with Cubs management
I’d love to still have him on the team but it seemed like they were interested to move on without him at the end of the 2007 season too.
by ak123 on Sep 17, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got the feeling
That he was seen as a weak link after the playoff failure last year. Did anyone else get that impression? He was one of the guys that talked about being on the team that ended the drought, and how great it would be, and then he contributed to the errors-fest at Wrigley. I saw several comments on bulletin boards to that effect.
Anybody here subscribe to that theory, or has his subsequent sainthood converted all DeRo-detractors?
"When you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
by vonde6 on Sep 18, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was just another player...
… on a team that did well for a while, then fell on its face when it counted. Letting him go didn’t cause some sudden improvement, obviously… and keeping him wouldn’t have gotten us one either.
Its not about one player. Its bigger than that. Which is why all the harping on Bradley is so redic. He’s not even one of the dudes that’s been hurting the team the most this season. All off the venom should be reserved for Lou, Hendry, Soriano, Soto… but hey, lets all pick on the new kid!
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 18, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
batting in the middle of the lineup and only hitting .243 in the first half doen't let him off the hook completely.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
None of us has said that..
How about this, Bradley has been one of the many disappointments on this failed team.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All off the venom should be reserved for Lou, Hendry, Soriano, Soto…
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh okay, I'll let Andrew speak for himself then.
I have said that I would blame those folks before I blamed Milton too, but in my world, Milton doesn’t get off scott free of responsibility from this failed season. Just he isn’t the first or main reason.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The entire offensive lineup has contributed to this abortion of a season in one way or another.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't blame Lee or Aram.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or Baker or Fox
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Theriot?
He is still hitting .289. He has not succeeded in the leadoff role.
Fontenot has been a big disappointment. Last year, those two guys, with Soto won a lot of games with lower in the order run production. Tha has been non-existent this year, and has added to it all. There were time last year the middle of the lineup wasn’t getting it done, and the little guys picked them up.
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
by BleedsbluinMI on Sep 18, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In my view I wouldn't be patting Riot on the back on a season well done.
He isn’t all to blame for his misfortunes though, Lou wanted him to swing for the fences, Lou kept hitting him leadoff even though Dome was doing great at the time.
But he does had really bad range at SS, he double clutches every third throw, he has a horrible stealing percentage, and he has no patience at the plate, those would be on him.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, I think he is better suited lower in the order.
I think from the plate he has done ok, the patience has been a problem. It was fun to se him hit for power the 2 1/2 weeks he did, but I think his success lies in going back to slapping it the other way.
The problem is hitting the (pull) homers, is its real hard not to look for that every time it seems.
I don’t think he is quite as bad defensively as he is made out to be, but then I watch Blanco play there. It is a whole different level.
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
by BleedsbluinMI on Sep 18, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding on the appreciation for Blanco.
Imagine how much better our defense would be with a Blanco playing at SS every day. (I know his offense isn’t that great)
Why Lou keep marching him at leadoff is perplexing, he should be hitting eigth.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, other than the first 19 games Lee has performed well
and Aramis getting hurt has limited his opportunities, but he’s done great this year too. It’s been a perfect storm of Soriano, Soto, Bradley and Fontenot simply NOT hitting for extended periods of time.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 18, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, we have found common ground,
the team has failed and there have been many disappointments, not just Bradley. I think what the Bradley defenders get riled up about is the disproportional blame he gets for the season going down in flames.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disproportional?
I think the blame is exactly proportional to the amount of salary being paid and the degree to which the team was counting on Bradley.
Soriano has been the #1 whipping boy, but as we now know, he was injured. It was known going in that Fonty was an experiment. Soto has received plenty of criticism too, but he is a 2nd year guy making league minimum.
When a player is brought in for 3/$30M to provide a certain level of performance and he fails to do so, and in addition provides a lot of unnecessary distractions, including blaming fans, media, etc for his failures, then yeah, he is going to take some heat.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
If you look at the season as a whole,
I’d say Milton has got way more blame than Sori on this board and out at the ballpark. Even though as a player, he has been the largest disappointment. I don’t remember the 5 straight posts about Sori and his lack of production and attitude problems, but I do remember the ones about Milton.
I’ll give you this, I am a honest type of guy, Milton was brought in to do something he was never suited to do or has never done. (5th hitter RBI guy). But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want him, great batting eye, takes many walks, good hitter and plays good in the field. He is exactly the kind of player want for the cubs.
You can dislike him for whatever reason you choose, but just because we disagree doesn’t mean either of us isn’t being substantial.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Meanwhile...
… I’ll give Soriano some slack because he was injured. When he’s healthy, he can go on hot streaks that can carry the team.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 18, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or course you would
because Sori didn’t prevent you from getting your precious Dunn.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Cubs would have had a better record with Dunn this year.
But I guess in your world a player who ranked:
6th in the NL in home runs
1st in walks
7th in RBI
6th in OBP
5th in OPS
5th in OPS+
oh, and has played in all but one of his team’s games, wouldn’t be of any help.
Yes, I know his defense is bad. The bat would have made up for it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 18, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did I say that?
I was pointing out to you that you have prejudged Bradley all season long. My guess is that you didn’t get the free agent that you wanted, so blame the guy that they brought in. (and you do seam a little like Ahab too)
I actually don’t think if all the players had had the same year, that Dunn wouldn’t have been that big of a difference. Both of our opinions are just that opinions. This whole exercise is just unprovable.
But I am resigned to the fact that you and the rest of the pitchfork mob will run him out of town. So we will see next year if Milton was the only reason why we didn’t win a world series.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 18, 2009 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was willing to give Bradley a chance, actually...
… but every time it seemed things were turning around, he’d either stop hitting, or have some more off-field commotion, or both.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 18, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
in august i was getting prepared to call him
YELDRAB, but it didnt pan out…
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 18, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
giving MB a chance?
with the “Bradley Must Go” thread?
I will say the only time you approved was when he was crushing in ST.
by socalbob on Sep 18, 2009 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In refusing to ADMIT he was injured
Soriano caused MORE damage. If all he needed was as simple procedure which he got he could have had it in late May when he started to fall apart and been back in a month If it was something more serious then he would have been out for the season perhaps but he played 75% of the season as an injured and BAD player. A guy who tries to play injured but can’t is causing a lot more harm than Milton to the on field performance.
Frankly I am surprised at the free ride being given Soriano for not admitting he was injured. It is too bad if he had a phobia about surgery and just really , really wanted to help the team, what he did caused incalculable damage. Look Sori is clearly a much more “stand up” guy than Milton but get past the personality and attitude issues and see what they actually did.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Sep 18, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
A quite valid point.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 18, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just exactly
how do you know he didn’t admit he was injured? From what I have read, he reported hearing something pop in his knee back in the first month or so of the season.
As late as August we were being told he was suffering from tendinitis.
It’s not Soriano’s fault he was misdiagnosed and advised that some days off should take care of the problem.
I don’t know if you have ever had a torn cartilage, but I have – twice. It is very tricky. You will go along and your leg will feel fine, and then you step in hole or land awkwardly and it is like someone stuck a knife in you. 15 minutes later, it feels fine again.
I played almost an entire football season, which obviously is more physically demanding, with a torn meniscus. At times I could run fine, and then BAM! I was in serious pain. The tear was not diagnosed until I took another hit and tore it good and could no longer put weight on the leg. Before that, they kept telling me that if I rested it, it would be fine.
I can easily see where Soriano and the medical people would think he could play through it. It turns out they were wrong, but you can only judge that after the fact.
I think you are making a lot of assumptions that are not based on anything factual.
by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am making them based on watching him all year.
He was clearly in far more than a slump after mid may and he also clearly had issues with his leg. Now I grant you the medical personal and management share the blame but it goes to Soriano for not be willing to admit he could not play 100% or heck even 75%. It is important that he was bad at every part of his play so it was not like as many people thought he was just off in his swing etc. He was WAY off in fielding and running a