A History Lesson: Cubs vs. Pirates Preview, Sunday 5/16, 1:20 CT
by Al Yellon on May 16, 2010 11:00 AM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
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Optimist that I am, I was scouring the interwebs this morning for some shred of evidence that I can remain this way. It took a while, but I found this Sun-Times article about a team with which we are all too familiar:
Derrek Lee played for a team that started 16-22 and won a World Series, so he's not about to write off the 15-22 Cubs in the middle of May.
"There was no magic moment," Lee said of the Florida Marlins' turnaround in 2003. "We just kept believing in ourselves and kept playing hard. We started getting some wins, and we rolled with it.
"That team had talent, and so does this team. We just have to believe it."
He's right. The 2010 Cubs do have talent -- they have better starting pitching than that Marlins team did, and that team also had a mediocre bullpen (at least until they picked up Ugueth Urbina). The 2003 Marlins finished about league-average in both runs scored and allowed, yet won 91 games and the wild card.
There's one thing D-Lee left out of his comments. Know what the Marlins did at the precise time they were 16-22? They replaced their manager, the competent but faceless Jeff Torborg, with Jack McKeon, a crusty 72-year-old who was working in their front office and had managed his first major league game before about two-thirds of his team was born (in 1973). And there was no magic right away, either -- the Marlins went 3-7 in their first 10 games under McKeon to drop to 19-29.
And then they went 72-42 and won the wild card. They had no chance at their division title -- the Braves won 101 games. There were two 100-win teams in the NL in 2003 (the Giants were the other), but both got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The rest of those playoffs, I don't think we need to discuss here.
So it can happen. Those Marlins aren't the only recent team that's done this. But the critical thing, I believe, is that they replaced the manager. That isn't always the answer to everything, but there are many examples of teams that did exactly that and went on to the postseason. Ask the 2009 Rockies how that worked out.
It's time for Lou to go. I don't know if there's a McKeon type around, but something must be done to change the atmosphere around this team. It's still early enough to make a turnaround. Do it now.
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Ross Ohlendorf started the year in the Pirates rotation, made one start, then spent a month on the DL. After returning May 10, he went only four innings (allowing one run) in his only start since coming back. His only career appearance vs. the Cubs was June 30, 2009 in Pittsburgh, when he threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight.
Coincidentally, his opponent that night was Ted Lilly, who threw a pretty good game in a losing effort. Sound familiar? Ted doesn't have a great career mark vs. the Bucs -- 4.44 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 13 appearances (11 starts) -- and was the losing pitcher May 5 at PNC, where he (all together now) "threw a pretty good game in a losing effort".
Enough of that. Time for a win.
Today's game is on WGN and FSN Pittsburgh. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
Tonight's first pitch thread will be up at 1:15 pm CDT, and the overflows will post at 2:15, 3:15 and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ Dum spiro spero... | Twitter: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on May 16, 2010 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
lets get a W today
"God watches over drunks and third baseman."- Leo Durocher
by BelieveinBlue2314 on May 16, 2010 11:04 AM CDT reply actions
If they get swept by the Pirates again
I don’t think there’s any choice but to fire Lou… it’s not like he’s even trying anymore.
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
Soooooooooooo...
do we WANT the Cubs to get blown out today? Just askin’…
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
Good question. Let's take things as we get them....there'll be a silver lining somewhere...
"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.
you know, it really depends
I know people like NBF go balistic whenever someone mentions WANTING the team to lose, but it all sort of depends on what the situation will become. If getting swept by the Pirates yet again, means Lou is gone, and we try something else then HELL YES I root for a loss.
If it’s just going to be more of the same, and Lou will be here all season no matter what, then you’ve got to hope for a win, and the beginning of a hot streak.
I can’t quite ever root for a loss. I can however get less sad about every loss, and hope that it’s the last one we’ll have to endure under that senile old toad
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
well said
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
You know the Law of Averages says:
Anything that will happen can.
WOXY.com - The Future of Rock and Roll
I recall a song with that line
It doesn’t say much for the Cubs .. but it is an AWESOME tune
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on May 16, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions
But the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan.
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 May 16, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
There's a hell of a lot more teams
That started 15-22 and finished 75-87
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
The '09 Rockies and '03 Marlins were young teams that needed a kick in the ass.
The Cubs are a group of veterans who have (by and large) played together for years. That’s why a new manager won’t really change things.
I’m not defending Lou, understand. I just don’t think replacing him will do any good with this bunch. It is time to rebuild.
Yes but
considering how close many games we have lost, and how the moves Lou does or doesnt make are questioned ALOT, maybe a different perspective from the dugout could be the difference.
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
exactly
It’s not only about spurring on a young team. Veterans, especially might be looking at the way Lou is using this admittedly flawed roster, and thinking “what the hell is this old man doing?”
A new manager might simply make better decisions, and that alone would get the team going.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
do you have even one example where this has worked?
I can’t think of any. And I’m guessing that we’d be more likely to see a 2002 Cubs redux (shutter) than anything else.
No, but
do you see anything positive coming out of this with Lou staying? Look at last year, we kept lingering around just enough to tease us that we might actually do something. It has alot of that same feeling. I keep reading that this team is not that good. Maybe. IMO, they are way underachieving. there is a difference.
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
I agree the team is overachieving.
But I don’t think a new manager would make it achieve enough to make the playoffs. I’m not defending Lou, and if firing him is best for the LONG-TERM success of the team, then I’m all for it. But a new manager will not make this team THAT much better.
Maybe if someone better were available I’d feel differently.
I think we agree
But are just a little off on the disagreement. If that makes sense. I just dont see any fire left in lou. and when he speaks after games its almost as if he just wants to get it over with. I think a new Mgr could make a difference, if it doesnt, are we any worse that we are now? Its not like we (fans) have any expectations or hope left as of now. I wont stop rooting for us to win,and yes anything is possible, but deep down, im not seeing post season for us.
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
well, no
because we don’t really know exactly WHY the teams that have turned it around, turned it around. It’s all a matter of what’s going on in the player’s heads. It’s why i say MIGHT, as opposed to WILL
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
the difference between what and what?
Let’s say Lou has cost us three games. If we’d won those games, we’d still be under .500 after facing the alleged weakest part of our schedule.
I keep asking this, but what about this current group’s play — not generalities about a weak division or comments about how other teams have rallied in the past — makes anyone think that even with a new manager, there’s a chance for postseason success? If we don’t make the postseason, I could care less whether we win 70 games or 83.
We have a brutally bad bullpen. We have an aging lineup that has “just been one hit away” since April 2009 (with some new blood here and there) and we have a bunch of veteran players who are aging rapidly and all have serious drawbacks.
ok
actual “game play” decisions. maybe 3-4 games. Like yesterday, if we had done a squeeze. No telling of it works, or if we score again after that.
But what about the fact that Rami is struggling the way he was and he keeps him in the heart of the order. Last year, how long before he moved Sori down. Even the yanks moved Tex down and Arod in the past when they struggled. Its about wins, not players egos. This has cost us some games IMO.
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
Well, a couple points.
1) You really think Lou (based on all his decisions — lineups, in-game, etc.) has cost us more than 4 games this season? I’d like to know how you came to that conclusion.
2) Let’s say Lou has blown 33 percent of the decisions he’s had to make this year. Do you really think another manager would have gotten every decision right?
3) I’m not defending Lou. But I think we’re really just arguing about who could best put lipstick on a pig at this point.
Honestly, yes, I think he's cost more than four games
If I had the time and inclination to go through every box score, I could find AT LEAST half a dozen games in which his decisions have had a direct negative impact on the outcome.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Losing Lou won't change anything
But the direction of “adrift” that the Cubs are charting in a truly bizarre year in which the division is up for grabs is NOT encouraging. If there’s a clubhouse spark somewhere lacking within the team itself, it looks like it’s in the players.
This is sizing up worse then the tease of last year and tastes like 2006 all over agan.
Maybe Hendry can trade Lou Pinella for Bobby Cox. See what happens ..
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on May 16, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I hate to admit
But im torn. Part of me says lose so maybe they will take action, but I dont want to see us lose. I dont know even if we do lose that action will be taken. Who knows.
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
I just dunno, replacing Lou and expecting manna to fall from the heavens
strikes me as too simplistic.
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
by eths on May 16, 2010 11:17 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
the other option is keep Lou and expect manna to fall from the heavens ;)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Manna, is that like rain, or something?
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
hehehe I really dont know
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
it sounds magical
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
I think its related tot he Magic CCG game
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
this is probably a stupid question but....CCG?
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Collectible Card game, its a geek thing, he he
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
That's spelled mana.
"Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball."
Harry Caray 1920-1998
"How could Jorge Orta lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico."
HE'S IN!!!!!!
do you know what it is?
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah, you're right
mana is like a power source used to power your cards
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
Sad to say I know plenty about that
Also, manna is bread from the heavens from the Old Testament. It is also spelled mana sometimes.
coolio, maybe you and I need to twirl a lot more
last time we did, the Cubs won .. .sigh …
After last Saturday night, I couldn’t take it anymore. I was hoping the Cubs could be a decent outlet this season .. there’s a lot of pretty awful stuff going on in my life that I hoped a decent Cubs team could help me forget .. (cue bitter LOL)
I haven’t watched or listened to a Cubs game since last Saturday but peeked into BCB once or twice. Looks like I haven’t missed much, sadly.
When I log back in and see Al calling for Lou’s head, then something is seriously wrong.
This team can still turn around .. but it’s beginning to smell an awful lot like 2006 ..
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on May 16, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
sounds like you need a twirl as much as the Cubs,
Hang in there….lets twirl and win this game!
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
hon, you have no idea ..
boy did that connect! the Cubs won!
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
Thank god someone else said that eths.
I agree replacing the manager could help, I’m just so sick of hearing this loss is on Lou from Al and everyone else. Let’s put the blame where it belongs, on the players for once this year. A suicide squeeze or batting order is not keeping this team from playing over .500. I think it would help Lou and the team both to have him replaced…but please, please, please people…every game is not lost because Lou didn’t replace a pitcher when he has a horrible pen and he isn’t stopping the players from hitting. It’s so tired daily hearing Lou be the problem.
"Everything has an end, except a sausage, which has two."
by Sandberg's evil twin on May 16, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I think that little blurb about Lee shows how piss poor the Sports media is today
Because when Lee said “there was no magic” someone should have said “yeah except for firing the manager”
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
yeah, right
Reporters are in the locker room to ask questions, not make statements. If someone had asked Lee whether a new manager would fix things, Lee wouldn’t have said anything. If he says that Lou should go but Lou ends up staying, nothing good can happen.
Now, if you’re saying that a columnist or radio dude should say it, that’s something else.
True
but the reporter could have asked if Lee thought, in that situation, bringing in McKeon helped.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on May 16, 2010 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
what's McKeon doing these days? just askin ;)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
exactly
There are ways to ask a question, without ACTUALLY painting a player into the corner
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
It’s time for Lou to go. I don’t know if there’s a McKeon type around, but something must be done to change the atmosphere around this team. It’s still early enough to make a turnaround. Do it now.
Then who? Who’s available? Brenly? Trammel? Sandberg? I mean, cmon. There’s not a lot of successful, yet unemployed MLB managers floating arround.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
Agreed, Lou is not going anywhere
Unless you are all happy with "And now managing your Chicago cubs, Alan Trammell.’ Ryno is not ready yet.
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
...or unless we continue to suck...
…and management really doesn’t have much choice. It’s going to reach a certain point of the season where the change isn’t about turning things around anymore. And that would certainly bode well for naming Trammell as an interim.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on May 16, 2010 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions
Why not Sandberg?
Honestly at first I thought it was a bad idea, now I don’t. First whoever takes over actually does not have a lot to lose. Far less pressure taking over a crappy underperforming team than starting the season with a team. Clearly the Cubs are grooming Ryno, finishing the year in Iowa won’t really give him any experience he does not have. He is the kind of kick ass guy who stresses fundementals that I would like. I understand that he has never coached at the major league level, but I think this is a situation that calls for a radical move. I could live with Trammell but he would be a caretaker. A top notch coach like Cora is another option, but I think this is the perfect time to try out something outside the box.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on May 16, 2010 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
But did anyone
think Kimm was a potential “manager of the future”? Not that I remember.
I would be fine with promoting Sandberg to see how he responds.
How about
Jack McKeon
Jim Riggleman (circa Washington Nationals)
Jim Tracy
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Here's a idea out of left field.
Sparky “My Way or the Highway” Anderson
Yeah, I know it’s crazy. But it was fun for a few seconds to contemplate old “Captain Hook” as the new Cubs manager wasn’t it?
"Until we solve our bullpen problems and figure out how to score runs consistently, it's going to be a struggle. I'm just being honest. What are we going to do? Some of these kids are just going to have to get better. We thought (the bullpen) would be better than this. Boy, it gets out of hand in a hurry."
- Lou Pinella, May 8, 2010
all young teams ...
and all guys who weren’t part of the organization and all guys who had past experience.
This discussion reminds me of Groundhog Day
Deja vu all over again
I agree with Drew on this one.
Bringing Sandberg in now could make Ryno the next Bruce Kimm! Trammel didn’t exactly light things up in Detroit. Brenly is an interesting idea, but would he want to take on this task now?
Lou needs to go (at the end of the season, probably). But a new manager isn’t going to save 2010. Nothing really will.
Trammell was handed the worst and youngest roster in the Majors
over those seasons. I don’t think it’s remotely fair to judge Trammel on those teams.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
One name that I haven't seen mentioned...
What about Bobby V?
While I think the chance that ANY manager can turn this bunch around, I would think Valentine has the personality that might be able to “light a fire”. Granted… it is the same personality that might light the gas can… but it might be worth a shot.
The thought has crossed my mind
as well, but I really don’t see the Cubs firing Piniella. Should they? Maybe, but I just don’t see it happening.
by Damen Jackson on May 16, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
As long as we're just throwing names around
I mentioned Tom Kelly the other day and Al said no way, he’s been retired a long time. But the man’s only 60, maybe he could be lured to Chicago with enough money and the prospect of one more challenge before he retires for good.
Just hire somebody
“Then who?” That’s just an excuse to continue with the current course of action, which has proven isn’t working at all. When something isn’t working, you attempt to repair it. You don’t just let it continue to fall apart just because you’re not sure if the fix will work. It’s better to make an effort to repair the damage than to make the damage worse by doing nothing.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Why not Brenly
Bring him down for couple of yrs till Ryno’s ready, He did good job with Dbacks
by Feenix Cubfan on May 16, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
The problem is
Who is willing to step in and not sign a 2 or 3 yr deal.
The only ones I could think of is Ryno and Trammel.
Brenley has been mentioned alot and I think he has the right fire, but will he do it without a deal in place for a few years?
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
i agree that it might be time for lou to go
But unless the new manager can hit what’s the point really. Unless lou has lost the team. With each loss I’m starting to think this team is a rebuilding team.
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42
by fischisgod on May 16, 2010 11:44 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I do agree it's some sort of rebuilding/transitional year
Bring up some of the kids and see what you have for 2011. Then they can better identify what they need in free agency.
by Northside Matt on May 16, 2010 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions
The Lou era is playing out much like the Dusty era did.
Two seasons of success that ended badly. One mediocre season after big changes. One really bad season where management gives up on the nucleus of the past few years, replaces the manager and regroups in a major way.
Some of the details are different, of course. But I see history repeating.
yep..only Hendry remains the same..
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
keep Lou
He’s a World Series winning manager. He managed the 2008 season. Firing him won’t get Lee and Ramirez out of their slump.
I'll be 30 next week.
Lou won his WS when I was 10. And Lou also managed the 2009 season.
he managed a 97 win team, right into a first round knockout.
that to me screams that even when he nets some success, there are inconsistencies
And as Elgato pointed out, his World Series as a long, LONG time ago.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
ya..
Pulling his ace after 70 some pitches to save him for a game 5 that would never come is the thing that still kills me..
Favre-enfreude
The thrill of seeing an epic Brett Favre fail. Derived from schadenfreude - satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Back in 1990
You’re right. He did manage the 2008 season. The Cubs had the best record in the NL, but had nothing to show for it. He shut the team down after they clinched, treating the rest of the season like Spring Training. I know people worry about injuries sometimes, but Mark DeRosa ended up getting hurt the last week of the season anyway. The Cubs really stunk it up going into the postseason and a lot of that had to do with how Lou managed the team. Then the Cubs went three and out in the playoffs. All of these reasons are why I thought it was a good idea to just cut ties with Piniella then, but Hendry exercised the 2010 option before the playoffs even began.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Isn't Len and Bob doing the broadcast in the bleachers today?
by braziliancubsfan on May 16, 2010 11:46 AM CDT reply actions
did they call out the Illinois National Guard for deployment there?
this don’t sound very promising
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on May 16, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Hut-hut, hut-hut, hut, hut, hut...
"Until we solve our bullpen problems and figure out how to score runs consistently, it's going to be a struggle. I'm just being honest. What are we going to do? Some of these kids are just going to have to get better. We thought (the bullpen) would be better than this. Boy, it gets out of hand in a hurry."
- Lou Pinella, May 8, 2010
Rickett won't do it in Year 1
If he’d owned the team a few years might be different dynamic. Won’t want to be perceived as a Steinbrenner-type. I don’t think the money is a factor. They sincerely hope, as do many of us here, for a turnaround to get back to .500 and contender status in a very winnable division.
Perceived as a Steinbrenner type
You mean the type who is willing to do whatever it takes to win? I know the guy is a cartoonish character, and I HATE the Yankees, but he managed to rebuild an empire in New York…. a couple of times.
I’ll take a Steinbrenner like Tom Ricketts in a heartbeat.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Al, you're stealing my material!
I’ve been saying that Lou should go since he screwed up the pitching staff in the 2007 playoffs. Now you are finally agreeing with me (and Jessica)?
Copyright infringement!!!! :-)
BTW, it looks like DeRo might be done for the season, so trying to trade for him won’t help.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
that was an awful mess
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
by cubnational on May 16, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
and me. I was actually pretty sold on him being a mediocre manager during the last week of that season
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
FIRST!
Damn, so close…
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on May 16, 2010 12:44 PM CDT reply actions
It's not too late to save the season, and have fun, too!
1. Fire Lou.
2. Every game, randomly pull a Cubs fan out of the crowd to be Manager for a Day. Let’s see how your lineup stacks up against Lou’s, or Doggie Stalker’s, or Bob from Des Moines. Make those exciting in-game calls that make the difference between victory and defeat! Be sure to show some passion, or the boo-birds will be on you! With so many expensive pieces at your disposal, plus the special knowledge that you have as a Die-hard Cubs fun, how can you lose? Look, you know what you want to do!
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
this is quite possibly the most moving bit of fan comment of all time
+ 1000000000 BCB points.
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we shall go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
Whoops, sorry. ESPN.com story I just saw...
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5192807
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
Awesome, Colvin sits out again
it’s now been an entire week since he last started. Go fuck yourself Lou. You’re attempting to ruin yet another good young ball player.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Who do you want him playing for??
"How's your mother?"
"She's on her way out."
"We all are. Act accordingly."
by louslovechild on May 16, 2010 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
well, for one.....Nady
and as has stated MANY, MANY times, it really wouldn’t bee that hard to rotate him into the lineup 2 to 3 times a week. He can play all three positions in the outfield. It takes almost no imagination to get him in a couple of games a week
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I think lovechild was mirroring what Lou said in his press conference about Colvin.
Could be wrong. And I do agree with you about Nady. Colvin would be a better choice at this point…which makes me wonder if there’s pressure to play players like Rammy and Nady with big contracts.
"Everything has an end, except a sausage, which has two."
by Sandberg's evil twin on May 16, 2010 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
wouldn't work
outfielder should at least be able to hit a cutoff man from the warning track – Nady’s got no arm
by Feenix Cubfan on May 16, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Alternate proposal for saving the season
1. Fire Lou.
2. Call Ryno up to be manager. If he can’t save this season, at least he will be exposed as a fraud and fired by the end of the season. As a matter of fact, why wait the whole season? If he doesn’t turn it around in two months, he can be fired and out of here, and we can try out another manager this season, too. There is no use in wasting a whole season eliminating one manager from the pool, when we can potentially eliminate more candidates.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
by vonde6 on May 16, 2010 1:00 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
fail at funny
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
sorry if I hurt your feelings
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
hmm your sarcasm has a ring of truth to it
Fire Lou now! people should think of who would replace him. Bringing up Sandberg in a bad situation sure does have a big potential to turn out badly if its not clearly expressed he isn’t to blame…and would that really matter to the fans even so?
"Everything has an end, except a sausage, which has two."
by Sandberg's evil twin on May 16, 2010 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm sure if Lou was the manager, they would
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 16, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Blackhawks thread?
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
Yeah, I was about to ask the same thing
by braziliancubsfan on May 16, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
The Hawks 7, The Cubs 5
So the Hawks
by braziliancubsfan on May 16, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I guess I'll start a thread then.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
easy answer:
Hawks +1 over San Jose,
Cubs +1 over Pittsburgh.
That would make for a good Sunday.
Of course Sandberg as Manager and Maddux as pitching coach for Monday night’s game would be the best finish to the day that I could hope for. If the Cubs are throwing this season away, why not let a new team “get their feet wet.” Could they do any worse?
Carlos Silva lemoade: made from freshly squeezed Milton Bradley lemons. -- the Jim Hendry kook book.
You are freakishly gifted
"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
OMG you are the holy one
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on May 16, 2010 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions
If Lou goes
I’d prefer to see Trammel elevated to manager and Ryno brought up as the new bench coach.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
Go Cubbies!! The curse has been lifted for the day!
you could feel the momentum going the Cubs way as it went into the 8th!
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