Indefensible: Cubs Defense And Managing Shoddy In 5-0 Loss To White Sox

my TV thanks me for not seeing it.

Listened to a bit on the internet, poor Ronnie. He was in a bad state after the Sori boo boo.

…what a depressing game, Al. Every time a Cub swung at a first pitch (off a guy who walked six his last time out) I died a little inside.

Maybe firing Gerald Perry wasn’t the answer, huh Jim?

All of us need to remember that it’s just a game in the end.

Let’s just hope the road trip is better.

eamus catuli

it feel like we are running to stand still….at least that is how the whole season has felt to me.

And…at this point….if Soriano is hurt……..GET HIM READY FOR NEXT YEAR….the Cubs can’t do much worse (and…geee…..be unorthodox and think outtta the box…..they might even do better…..) playing someone else in that spot……..

JIM DONUT …this season’s on YOU….my friend….

game after game is the Cubs’ best option. His offense is nonexistent and with his bad kne his play in the field is giving the other team runs.

when Lou puts Miles in there to PH. Any starting pitcher on the team is a better option.

issues that have killed the Hendry offense since 2004 are really rearing their ugly heads this year…….

The RIOT…while a really good hitter….is a AAA SS….and a serviceable 2bagger….AND…PLEASE….if GAMEBOARD and Fuku should be the 1-2 guys…..LET THEM DO IT….

the clutch hitting problem has been aroundd since 04/…..it was just a lot harder to complain about last year…the PEN…well….FIX IT….the fact EYER can produce in Filly and not in Chicago says something bout the front office/coaching/scouting….

think back to the Braves and their run. There were years they stunk the first half due to poor play or injuries or both, but always got there in the end. I know even their own fans got bored with them, but the run they had seems much more impressive to me now.

Koyie Hill was great. He threw out two runners at second and nearly got another one, had Jeff Baker handled his throw correctly. I was pretty glad to see someone showing some hustle out there.

It’s pretty much the same team as last year, but for whatever reason, their approach at the plate is totally different. They’re not making the opposing starter work nearly as much as they did last year. Take a few freakin’ walks aleady!

A 10-game homestand against Wash, NYM, Hou, and the lowly Sox…and you finish 5-5. Even 7-3 would have kept them about 4 games back. Not possible.

I feel for the starting pitchers…they’ve been abandoned this year.

BUT……etc etc etc

Hey Alfonso….every time you add the word but, you ARE making an excuse. Instead of trying to deflect your horrible play by suggesting Bradley isn’t a team player, perhaps you can admit you don’t belong on a major league diamond the rest of the season.

Truthfully I don’t give a damn whether you’re injured or just incapable, I can’t stand to see you inability to add anything to the team. The season is over. I truly hope you’ll turn into a baseball player next year but right now spare us the pain of watching you embarrass yourself time after time.

Let’s start over again….without the Jim Hendry countinuity…

Would it be a fair idea to trade Jake Fox away to an AL team for a good prospect or serviceable vet?

I know many of us love seeing that kind of power at the plate, but his error at first base today made me think about his defense overall. He isn’t as bad as, say, Miles (shiver), and doesn’t commit as many errors, but we have some infield depth, and their defense is a tad better. When I think about it, sometimes it seems as if the Cubs aren’t a good fit for Jake.

Opinions?

I’m done with my tirade. Feel a little better lol

Honestly, the one thing I am upseat about is that we’ve been waiting all season for the Cubs to play well, consistently, even if they lose. They had a little run at the beginning of August and since then, it’s been hard to fathom this is the core team that kicked ass last year.

Good night all, got to start again tomorrow…

I sums up this team perfectly. Flashes of brilliance, but ultimately a giant fail. 5-5 against the Nationals, Mets, Astros, and one against the Sox is pathetic.

Part of me wants to go 0-6 on this trip so we can start getting some guys shut down and healthy for next season (Alfonso, Randy Wells, Theriot).

I’m sure Ted Lilly would have approved…

You left the part out about Sori saying “but I think the grass was too big”.

With Lee out buying cigars for the road trip and since a righty throwing for the White Sox, I was wondering why Platooniella didn’t start Hoffpauir at 1B?

Best I can figure, either Lou really meant what he said (“We’ve got to find a way to get Fox’s bat into the lineup more”) or he was definitely sending a message to Hoffpauir (“You… you’re not so good.”).

I went to work as usual today, with no intention of going to the game when I was given 2 bleachers tickets. So, a coworker and I bolted for the game at 11:30 from our west suburban workplace. We missed the first half inning one, stood for a couple innings and then found seats in the LF bleachers, 2nd row!

I expected the worst from Carlos Torres. I expected the Cubs to make Torres toss strikes. No, they were for some reason hacking away at first pitches. A miracle of sorts, Torres tossed a shutout in his time out there.

It was a beautiful day to have skipped work and enjoyed a game.

I was ripped in a previous discussion because I disagreed in a discussion here about Soriano being the best LF in MLB. Coy smile on my face to be sitting right there to see to see in person Soriano drop AJ’s flyball! Where are all those folks who were claiming that Soriano was the best LF in MLB now?

Couple notes on the folks around us:

There was a father (Cubs fan) and son (about 21 yrs old who had on a Sox shirt) and they were in the front row on the aisle. The Sox fan may have egged on the drunkie Cubbie fans sitting next to me before we arrived, but when we got there the drunkie Cubbie clowns were yelling threats at the Sox kid, “We’re going follow you out and kick your ass…” Interestingly, Cubbie security said nothing about the threats nor the dark homo-erotic taunts (chanting that the kid was a “homo-homo” and then the even darker stuff) but nearly tossed the kid when he and his family reacted to the threats. Then when the kid was leaving he started yelling at the drunkies. Not too smart as the drunkies got right up and followed them out. I don’t know what happened from there.

I escaped the taunts from either side as I was neutrally dressed, having come over from work. Of course when I cheered the Sox it was obvious where my heart was. The drunkies sitting by me tried to bait me, but I simply answered, “GO BEARS!”

There was this “lady” in the front row who spewed all kinds of bile towards any Sox fans around. One of her common taunts was, “I work and pay taxes. I pay for you southsiders…” Four Asian Sox fans were perplexed by this and the one guy said, “I work for a living.” It didn’t stop her as she railed on with her slur on fans of the Southside team.

I’ve heard from Dave Kaplan on the radio and from some Cubs fans here slurs about Sox fans missing teeth. The guy sitting directly behind me decked in Cubbie gear with his missing teeth must never have encountered Dave Kaplan and his ilk.

Other than that crap, I got along with the fans sitting directly around me. Heck even drunkie who was itching for a fight gave me knuckles when he left to try to beat up the kid.

Meaningless game for two teams going no where but home at the end of the regular season, but a beautiful day to enjoy a day at the park.

…the consensus here correct, the Deadbirds lost to Milwaukee. We could’ve picked up a damn game, but we continue to not win when they lose.

• The hubris and complacency caused by the last season,
• The panicky decisions after the play-offs,
• The injuries, especially to Aramis Ramirez,
• The loss of some crucial series in the middle of the season,
• The “fear factor” caused by the hot streak that never arrived,
• Some good old fashioned bad luck.

We might now be looking at a team with some weaknesses but full of confidence, scrappiness and truly in the race for the playoffs, instead of a team which appears to have never grown together and makes the impression of no longer believing in themselves.

I don’t think one can pin the blame on single individual players. IMHO, all of the Soriano, Bradley, etc. bashing has reached ridiculous levels. One can also not put the blame singularly on Lou, the coaching staff or the front office. It has been a poor season on all levels when compared with the last years. And the blame must be passed around more or less equally. Who knows, they might surprise us yet, but it does look bleak. I just hope, whatever happens during the rest of this season, that the new ownership will think on a long term basis, make good decisions and rebuild the team solidly, even if takes a couple of years. We’ve waited for a long time, and I for one would prefer to see a slower rebuilding process which is sustainable, instead of quickly buying a few hired guns, winning the big one and waiting another century or so.

Eamus Catuli, Let’s have a good road trip!

I figured yesterday, while trapped at work and unable to watch, that this would come down to who would suck more. Watching stuff pile on the scoreboard on BCB in the favor of the Sux was NOT a good feeling at all.

I just couldn’t stomach going into the TV lounge to watch it on break and I wouldn’t be able to tear myself away. I cooly and calmly drove home (10 minutes away) at 4:45 pm from my work place to tune in and hear Len telling us that the Cubs had lost again.

And we want to slip in to the Wild Card?

Uh .. sigh .. Go Cubs .. Maybe you’ll actually line some wins up for a change.

tired since losing to the Reds and Jim Lehr. The month this team had to step up, it failed. I believe Lou should go, sure revoling managers is not ideal, however Lou looks out of step, out of touch and disinterested. How can a team look so beat and tired for so long, maybe an extentsion from there manager? In my opinion a new fresh look is needed to start the spring. Do I think it will happen? No. If that is the case and Lou comes back, he and this team better have some energy an desire to play into October.

Really? Anyone who really does that should be banned from BCB on the spot, IMO. That’s just ridiculous

out of the strike zone? That’s not an injury, that’s not knowing how to play the game.

If you’re an optimist and you believe the wild-card is still in reach, Soriano is just hurting that cause. I personally believe he is too injured to contribute and it has nothing to do with desire, character, and all the other bullshit on the threads yesterday.

Fox can play LF and Fuld can come in later for defense. Is that anywhere as good as a healthy Soriano? Not at all. But it’s the best of the two options now.

If you’re a pessimist and you believe the season is over, then Soriano needs to get off that knee and start healing for 2010. If he’s healthy, he solves a lot of problems.

If by some miracle, he can go back to leadoff, that means Theriot can go back to 7th, where he thrives. Bradley (if he’s still here) can bat 2nd and Fukudome can bat 5th or 6th, depending on how Soto rebounds. Or, Bradley is shipped off, Fukudome goes to 2nd and the Cubs find someone else to protect Lee and Ramirez.

There is no case to be made to keep an obviously injured player on the field. Whatever percentage he’s got is NOT better than what Fox/Fuld can do.

but now it’s open again… Ouch.

They’ve been playing a commercial lately for a supplement to help with depression. I thought it was pretty funny to be advertising to Cubs fans in a sick, ironic sort of way. The description of struggling to relax, stay calm, feelings of fear, anxiety and worries that can cause your mind to race uncontrollably….hmmm….sounds like me during a game. Pretty smart advertising. LOL I got a better idea. Maybe I should just stop listening to the Cubs!

But then here I am the very next day. What the hec is wrong with me? Yesterday really hurt. Came close to crying with that one. And now I’m back thinking…well the Rockies lost too. Somebody should slap me.

There was one out when Quade sent Fox in the 7th inning. Sori struck out after Fox’s leadoff double.

If Soto isn’t producing this last month of the season, can’t get his act together in winter ball, I think we have to look to make a move. There are several catchers becoming free agents at the end of the season. Should we look to signing one? What are we thinking they’d cost?

Zaun, Varitek, Pudge, Martinez (probably staying with BOS)

About Soriano

Gives some insight into the contract, perhaps it will lead some to not being so anal about it now. I don’t agree with the don’t blame Soriano part bc his offense is killing the team, but the parts about him working hard and being a good teammate should be read by all.

Jim Leyland in Detroit is the first to make the moves required to help the team win, not the player. Veteran status or not. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Frankly Lou’s explanation of playing unproductive (or worse counterproductive) veterans out of a sense of loyalty insults the franchise (if that’s still possible), the team and the fans.

Play the most productive players. It’s all about the wins Lou!

It’s clear to me now that not putting Soriaon on the DL in April/May was the critical decision of the season. Basically, it ruined him for the rest of the season and he’s much too important of a piece to do that to. Game in and game out, the Cubs put a player out there who could not compete at an acceptable major league level, much less the superstar level that Soriano is supposed to play.

I don’t think it was a malicious decision. I’m sure that had Soriano, Piniella, and Hendry known how it would effect Soraino’s play for the rest of the year they would have just bitten the bullet, but they didn’t.

Here’s hoping that 5 months rest wil put this injury and this year totaly behind Soriano and everyone else.

Go Bears!

Yet he had an MRI and that showed there’s nothing wrong, just inflamation and he was given a cortisone shot. After that, Lou, the doctors, and Sori himself, all declared that his knee was just sore but he was ready to play. Was that all lies or is the knee just another excuse for the never-ending Chicago Cubs excuse rolodex?

He’s more stubborn than an ox, and won’t change his ways cause he said he’s done the same things all along. It’s time for Ricketts to cut bait on him after the season is over. As for Sori, he needs to “slip” (not calling for him to be injured) all the way to the doctor’s office for knee surgery.

There is some talk earlier up in the thread about how it would be great if the Cubs could duplicate the success that the Braves had when they went to the playoffs 15 years in a row. I thought it was curious, because it was posted and agreed to by BCB members whom I would not expect to be patient through so much playoff failure.

In a way it is Hendry’s own fault. Wasn’t he the one that said that the Cubs only goal was a world championship? This is a statement worthy of George Steinbrenner himself. It was ballsy, and well, stupid. He should have listed a whole series of goals, including instilling a winning tradition, building a world-class scouting organization, and mentioned the world championship at the end. The pyramids weren’t built in a day, and the Cubs have a lot of negative tradition to work out of their system. There is no curse, just a lot of memories of failure that need to be replaced by memories of success — like all those great games last season.

In 2007 and 2008, Lou impressed me by instilling a winning attitude (I think that you need several years of this attitude before it becomes a tradition) — 2007 was the most impressive, because he came in here cold and they spent most of the season playing catch up. This year, clearly, the wheels have fallen off. I think that Lou could have probably done some tinkering around the edges than he has done, but this team has broken down in more places than a 77 Pinto.

I think that Lou identified the few nuggets in our minor league system early in his tenure (Marmol, Theriot, Rich Hill (gah)), and he has mined it for what it is worth. You might have noticed that the guys that we have brought in to help from AAA this year are all middle-aged (by baseball standards) failure-to-launch types. They either have no position to play (Fox), or have very limited offensive upside (most of the rest). Our best prospects seem to be down at the single-A level. A system like this cannot tolerate many guys going on the DL or having seriously bad career years.

Cubs Acquire Thomas Diamond

with a player who has poor fielding fundamentals. I’m not surpised something like this happened with him, I hope he’ll be better but the cubs SHOULD shut him down.

As for shutting down, Rami too. Talk him into surgery ASAP. It’ll give him a 1 month head start on the end of the season and 6 weeks+ if the Cubs would have had made the playoffs.

‘’I think Milton Bradley is a much better offensive player than we’ve seen this year. I just think he’s allowed too many distractions to get between his ears. I think he incorrectly blames everybody else for making him the lightning rod. Well, if you don’t want to be the lightning rod, then don’t stand on the roof in a thunderstorm with a 1-iron in your hand.’’

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x2056226374/Cubs-claim-former-1st-rounder-Diamond-from-Rangers

BuT SOriAno HaS beEN AwFul aT THe PLatE tHIs YeaR.