Diamondbacks 15, Cubs 8: Cactus League Season Ends With Barrage Of Runs
by Al Yellon on Mar 30, 2011 7:00 AM CDT
in Recap/Game Thread
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PrintYesterday's 15-8 Cubs loss to the Diamondbacks lasted so long that by the time it got into the middle innings I was actually able to pick up WGN radio, driving through central Illinois, on my car radio and listen to the end of it that way instead of the MLB AtBat app. (I can also report that the app is exactly one minute behind real time, based on when I heard the WGN hourly tone via the app.)
There's not a whole lot to say about this game, except that the first four innings took more than two hours to play. Home runs were hit by people who may never see a major league regular season game, including a pair by David Winfree (no relation to Oprah, we presume), who finished his Cactus League season hitting .500/.481/.808 (that's right, an OBP lower than his BA due to no walks and a sac fly). Pretty much everyone who pitched in the game for the Cubs got pounded, especially Scott Maine, who gave up three Arizona homers. Only Kerry Wood and Sean Marshall were untouched.
There is one point made by Matt Garza yesterday that's worth mentioning -- something I alluded to a couple of weeks ago. Garza's entire career has been spent with domes as his home parks, and he's never had a spring training in Arizona before. Here's what he said about pitching in the desert:
"First year in Arizona and it [stinks]," Garza said. "I don't care about the travel, it [stinks] here because it's so dry. I can't wait to get to Chicago where there's more moisture in the air.
"You grab a ball and you feel like you're throwing slime, because it's so slippery and you can't get anything on your fingers -- not enough spit or rosin or nothing, it dries out right away. That's not the reason I threw why I did. ... I feel great and the ball is coming out of my hand the way I like. Hopefully, my luck turns."
Well. He says it's not an excuse ("That's not the reason I threw why I did"), and other Cubs starters (Randy Wells in particular) have had few problems this spring. Nevertheless, if this is true for Garza, we should see improvement beginning in his first start Sunday.
Today's charity exhibition game (proceeds to Cubs Charities) does not count in the Cactus League standings (where the Cubs finished a bad 14-19) nor in the attendance numbers; the Cubs finished with a total of 160,527 after drawing 11,309 showed up yesterday. The total is a little more than last year, but the average of 9,443 is down. The Diamondbacks and Rockies set records at their new park; the Giants drew very well being defending champions, but most other Cactus League teams were down -- I don't have the total league figure yet, but it was either flat or up slightly, in quite a few more total dates.
The charity game will pit the major league Cubs (most of whom will depart after a few innings) against some of the best from the the Cubs' minor league camp. The game has an unusual starting time -- 11:05 a.m. MST, or 1:05 p.m. CDT. There's no radio or TV coverage; if the usual MLB.com Gameday format is correct, this link should take you to a Gameday page where you can follow along. I'm not posting a separate thread for this game, nor an overflow, unless it appears we need one later this afternoon -- use this thread throughout the day on Wednesday.
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"the app is exactly one minute behind real time"
That sounds about right. At times, it is very irritating to read comments on BCB about plays you won’t hear for another 30 or more seconds.
But the important thing is: Baseball is back!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
The weirdest thing about the delay is this.
I also have Yahoo’s Sportacular app on my phone. I have it set to send me an alert whenever the Cubs score. Yesterday, those alerts came virtually instantly after I heard them via the app, although they obviously came almost a minute after the scoring actually occurred.
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Maybe you could add a 60 second delay to BCB.
only joking
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Yahoo!'s app is garbage
Try ScoreMobile. Much faster in refreshing scores and also covers a lot more sports and provides more info regarding stats, standings, etc. Good widget. U won’t be disappointed.
by mr_einstein on Mar 30, 2011 5:06 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Yep
Sportacular app was great. Then Yahoo bought it. Now it’s horrible.
Thanks for the new app endorsement.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Dear Mr. Garza
Noe that the outcome of the games you will be pitching will have slightly more consequence than in March in Arizona, could you please consider giving up less than five runs per nine innings? Thanks for your consideration.
Tim
Kudos for your impeccable manners.
You Mom will be proud!
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 30, 2011 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Arizona v. Florida
I’ve heard mention that Florida tends to turn out more World Series winners, in part (theoretically, at least) because of the more humid air allowing pitchers/hitters to perform and be assessed at levels closer to their actual levels. Maybe there’s something to what Garza is saying?
Now, last year (San Fran over Texas) was clearly contrary to this rule (although keep in mind how close San Fran was to almost missing out on the playoffs), but check the list — any thoughts/comments on whether this plays a factor folks?:
2010 – Giants over Rangers (both AZ)
2009 – Yankees over Phillies (both FL)
2008 – Phillies over Rays (both FL)
2007 – Boston over Colorado (Boston FL, Colorado AZ)
2006 – Cardinals over Tigers (both FL)
2005 – White Sox over Astros (White Sox AZ, Astros FL)
2004 – Boston over Cardinals (both FL)
2003 – Marlins over Yankees (both FL)
2002 – Angels over Giants (both AZ)
2001 – Diamondbacks over Yankees (Diamondbacks AZ, Yankees FL)
2000 – Yankees over Mets (both FL)
1999 – Yankees over Braves (both FL)
1998 – Yankees over Padres (Yankees FL, Padres AZ)
1997 – Marlins over Indians (both FL at the time, I think – Indians later went to AZ)
1996 – Yankees over Braves (both FL)
1995 – Braves over Indians (both FL at the time, I think)
So in 16 World Series dating back to the first post-strike season, we have 24 Florida spring training participants (12 champions) vs. 8 Arizona spring training teams (4 champions).
Not necessarily proof of anything, but an interesting pattern….
(And yes, for entirely and admittedly selfish purposes — my parents live there, flights tend to be cheaper, and I prefer the beach to the desert — I wanted the Cubs to move spring training to Florida….)
I've refuted this before.
Before 2003, there were only eight teams training in Arizona out of 30 (28 total teams before 1998). So you’d expect fewer champions from AZ spring training camps because… there were fewer teams training there.
Since 2003, it’s been quite a bit more equal, more so if you go back to 2001.
If you do this again 15 years from now — since there are now an equal number of teams training in both states — I predict you will find roughly an equal number of WS teams from spring training in each state.
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I doubt it
Unless Boston and the Yankees move west.
Just because they've won three of the last 10 WS...
… doesn’t mean that will continue.
Also, that kind of proves my point. Other than those two teams, the participants in the postseason have been closer to equal over the 15-year period.
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only if your point is you're cherry-picking
You can’t just throw out two teams and say your point has been proved. Unless you also let the other side throw out two teams, say Giants and the White Sox.
And to your previous comment… If you use “Before 2003, there were only eight teams training in Arizona out of 30” as an argument, you can’t follow up with “more so if you go back to 2001”. 2001 has nothing to do with 2003 except that it helps pad your numbers. You should have just stayed with “Since 2003, it’s been quite a bit more equal,”. I’d still argue with your conclusion, but at least you’d be arguing from a consistent position.
Otherwise, if you want to go back to 2001, I’d counter with why not go back to 1999 (two more years of all FL). Just as meaningless.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
You're screwing with the facts.
Until 2003, there were only eight teams training in Arizona. The fact that only two of the 20 teams training in Florida won the bulk of the Florida-trained teams’ WS wins does, in fact, prove my point.
If the training camp site made a difference, why didn’t the Pirates or Nationals or Orioles or Blue Jays win any World Series in that period?
The training site makes no difference.
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ok, let's hit the reset button - what is your point again?
That training camp site makes no difference to making it to the WS?
That training camp site makes no difference to making it to the WS since 2003?
That training camp site makes no difference to making it to the WS since 2003, excluding Boston & NYY?
That training camp site makes no difference to winning the WS?
That training camp site makes no difference to winning the WS since 2003?
That training camp site makes no difference to winning the WS since 2003, excluding Boston & NYY?
And if it’s the last one, then pardon me for my denseness, but you’ll have to explain to me again how excluding the two most successful teams from the opposing side of the argument is not considered cherry-picking.
Or if it’s another point, please lay it out and then we can look at the numbers and see where things stand.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 30, 2011 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The training camp site makes no difference in making it to the WS, period.
The point I was trying to make, badly apparently, is that anyone trying to show that “most” teams in the WS come from Florida is ignoring the point that 2/3 of the teams trained there until 2003.
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Not only that...
…but anyone trying to show that most WS teams come from Florida is ignoring the fact that 2/2 of the highest spending, best-run AL teams (NYY & BOS) and 2 of the best-run NL teams (STL and PHI) have trained there and continue to train there.
It’s not “cherry-picking” to consider the reality that the Yanks, Red Sox, Phils and Cards all training in one location is going to boost that location’s stats over a decade.
Of the factors that contribute to those franchises’ success, “location of camp” is way, way down the list, after “competence of front office”, “employment of elite players”, and “payroll”. In fact, it’s probably not much of a factor at all.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I was gonna post this as a reply to Al
but as I was typing you butted in and this seems to fit better down here…
It definately helps the Grapefruit League that they have teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, Cards, Phillies whom appear to be well run and having success in the last decade.
Now are they having success because of where they have ST at or because of their front office? Are they having success because their front office sees that FL is a better place to train at?
Everything else seems to be similar – there are a similar number of teams that suck in both – the Royals and Pirates are in separate leagues, there are an even number of big market teams in each, there is decent representation of traditional powers – but since 2003 the GL has outpaced the CL by 12-4 in WS appearances.
by hansman1982 on Mar 30, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Of the factors that contribute to those franchises’ success, "location of camp" is way, way down the list, after "competence of front office", "employment of elite players", and "payroll". In fact, it’s probably not much of a factor at all.
That’s my point in a nutshell.
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Not only a good point, it should be a brutally obvious point
I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!
I almost had a heart attack this morning…after reading this from Heyman @ SI.com:
Prince Fielder will play out the year with Milwaukee and leave for the rival Cubs, who will need to make a splash and give him close to what he wants, maybe $180 million over eight years.
$22,500,000 a year for eight years? The guy’s been worth more than $22M exactly once in his career. Seems like a lot of money for a guy that’s grossly overweight and plays a non-premium position.
Dan
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
frankly
I dont want Fielder – he would be best suited to the AL where he can become a DH once his body breaks down due to the weight
I wouldn't give Fielder eight years.
That body type will break down by the time he’s in his early 30s, as you noted. Same thing happened to his father, who had a similar body type.
Pay the money to Pujols. He’s worth it.
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That will be more money
Someone in the Ricketts family will have to use personal funds to help pay loans if they shell out the $$$$ for Albert this offseason.
Why?
There’s at least $30 million coming off the books after this year.
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and you figure
that you will have to pay $15 million (at least) to a 1b on the FA market if you want to seriously contend – using this you then have to figure out if Pujols is worth the extra $15 million in terms of Wins, jersey sales, ticket sales, snubbing it to the Cardinals, etc…
The first 5 years I think he will be, no problem, the last 5, well you better hope that you have won at least 1 WS by then…
True.
For Pujols, you’d front-load the deal.
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by Al Yellon on Mar 30, 2011 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pujols is a generational player and will be considered a top ten player
He is the best player in the NL this generation and is better than ARod or Griffey, and rivals the likes of Gehrig, Williams, Aaron, Musial, DiMaggio, or Hornsby, Wagner or Foxx.
He will be like Reggie White of Green Bay, considered very expensive but will pay dividends that will go beyond his generation.
Actually I would compare his FA signing to what Atlanta got with Maddux.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Pujols ....
… is likely going to retire as the greatest RH hitter in baseball history.
For that, you pay whatever it takes, particularly since you’d be taking him from your biggest rival.
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+1
then you campaign like hell for the DH to come to the NL in 2014
by hansman1982 on Mar 30, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Call me old-fashioned but I don't like the DH and don't want it in the NL.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
by dtpollitt on Mar 30, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
I'm with you, Dan.
Unfortunately, I think it’s coming.
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I understand
the arguments for both sides and quite frankly I dont care, its just the Cubs will need it if they sign Pujols.
by hansman1982 on Mar 30, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
You're old-fashioned
Just kidding. I understand the anti-DH sentiment, but I’m all for it. Pitchers pitch, let them spend their time, energy and focus on that. I don’t want Peyton Manning on kickoff coverage and I don’t want Ryan Dempster at the plate.
Just Being A Doomsayer
It’s only one step away from designated throwers and designated runners. It will slowly turn the game inside out.
by Not Kevin Costner on Mar 30, 2011 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey Dad, wanna have a catch?
It may be one step closer to ‘designated throwers and runners’, but definitely not one step away. Wouldn’t you rather have Adam Dunn at the plate than Matt Garza?
True Words
I just feel like the DH was designed to keep around the big fat guys like Prince, who can only contribute at the plate. It seems like a waste of a roster spot.
by Not Kevin Costner on Mar 30, 2011 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think you're old-fashioned at all.
I completely agree with you about it. Rec’d.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm down with bringing on the DH.
Creates a greater divide between the haves and have-nots, and if the Cubs are committed to being a “have,” then it will benefit them.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
That'd be the worst thing ever
The Cubs need this unfair salary balance to be competitive, because they certainly aren’t outsmarting anyone.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
I see...
iActually I would compare his FA signing to what Atlanta got with Maddux.
So he will resign with the Cards are the end of his career, get traded to a contender and then go work for the Cards?
All kidding aside, I agree with you, if they structure the contract right.
by hansman1982 on Mar 30, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
And also...
….maybe a drop in revenue of 10-15 mil if the club is out of it by the deadline.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Cue the psychedelic dream sequence music...
Let’s win it all this year. Then we won’t need either of them….dream over. Back to work.
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
I hope we learned our lesson on long contracts
I can’t think of any current major leaguers i would give 8 years to. The Yanks are already hoping Sabathia opts out at the end of this year. Very, very few contracts of that length aren’t gruesome for the last couple of years.
You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. - Al Capone
I'd take Fielder for five
and I’d give him that money. But I completely agree on the eight years thing.
But I’ve always assumed that the Cubs were interested in Prince Fielder. But Pujols clearly changes things.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 30, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I’ve always assumed that the Cubs were interested in Prince Fielder. But Pujols clearly changes things.
Agree 100% with this.
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by Al Yellon on Mar 30, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pujols seems to have a lot of nagging injuries
and there is the never ending mystery of whether his elbow is destined for TJ surgery. He’s going to be somewhere in his early 30s next season. I hope the Cubs go for it. Fielder isn’t durable enough. When there is advanced analysis of body type, there is no question.
Every year he needs TJ surgery.
Then every year, he puts surgery off a year, goes out and has one of the 20 or so best years in history.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
+1
if he is putting up these kind of numbers imagine what he could do at 100%…
by hansman1982 on Mar 30, 2011 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
This can't be stressed enough
Pujols never lets his injuries get in the way of being Stan Musial 2.0.
And even if he does end up having Tommy John surgery, it’s not that big a deal for a first baseman. After the 2008 season, Tyler Colvin had Tommy John surgery and he was the DH on opening day in 2009. By May, he was back in the outfield.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 30, 2011 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you for spelling out the type of surgery.
I shudder to think what would happen to a pro athlete who ended up with a couple of exclamation points stapled in near his elbow instead of ligaments… ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 30, 2011 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
LOL
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions
But Rick Reuschel had that body type...
and he was great.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions
I assume you're being snarky again
but Reuschel was a pitcher. Different demands.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 30, 2011 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Fat people can excel at almost anything.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe if you cut the snark and just discussed topics normally.
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nooooooo
I was just pointing out that you were, God Al, quit with the namecalling before you have to ban yourself…
What?
What are you talking about? Seriously, I have no idea.
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there you go again
with you shifting of blame…seriously, just ban yourself now while you are still ahead of yourself…this isnt meant to make any sense
this isnt meant to make any sense
Good. Because it isn’t.
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Reminds me of last night's ST-TNG
at the end, present-day Picard had to kill six-hours-into-the-future Picard and I got to wondering…
..was it murder or suicide or neither?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
this was tv series so it was a kirk-free zone.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
+136781356109843197804612790563189057981204619
That’s Soriano-esque, and how do we know he’s going to stay in playing shape that long?
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
End of spring training
I have a few comments pertaining to a few starting pitchers on the Cubs commenting about how the AZ weather messes them up. I would expect a comment like that from Z when he has a shakey outing here but not Garza. Matt seems to have learned this from the “master” as thoses 2 guys must have a slime organ in their hand that activates only when the bad outings occur and only in certain innings. I watched games for the whole month of March down here (not just the Cubs) and saw some really good, consistant performances by many good pitchers and some real clunkers. I only heard the “slime theory” from Z and G. Come on guys, act like the pros you are. Maybe they should talk to Dempster and some of the minor league rookies who seemed to be able to get it done pretty well and find out what their secret was.
Al, I have it on good authority that the reason a few minor league pitchers were used the last 2 games was because of pitch count problems vs. innings pitched. If Z and G go their usual number of innings with the count allowed, then those minor leaguers don’t see the mound. They were “on call” for just the reason stated, although those last few minor leaguers that pitched the past 2 games (and the one who still should be a minor leaguer) will most likely get a call up this year anyway.
I agree with the rest of you, let the regular season begin and leave the excuses in Arizona. The Cubs are still undefeated as of today.
Fair enough on the pitch counts...
… but then what do you start doing during the season, which starts Friday? At some point these guys have to be ready to go at least seven innings.
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Spring Training team records
are by all accounts immaterial in directly translating to regular season, as regular season records don’t directly transfer to post season results—-Cubs examples confirm.
That said there are genuine indicators: Castro appears to be much more than last year and his ceiling could be extraordinary. Barney is a competitor that is a better defender with more extra base hits than Theriot—-if he has the situational baseball brains that people had said where he is not the bone head base running out he is a real improvement.
Fukudome will not last as the regular RF’er or lead off hitter.
Soriano appears to be 39 years old….am I exaggerating or is 35 years old seemingly an exaggeration. What would be best is develop a righty-lefty platoon with Colvin but what does that mean for RF?
But that is all sideshow, Cubs will win or lose with the rotation being at or close to the best in the NL with a correspondingly strong bullpen.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Al...
I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with you here, just stating a fact that I was told by someone who knows. I’m sure each starter this ST was on a count for the whole of March. I doubt very seriously that if Garza was in in a regular game yesterday, given the same results, he would have been out there much longer anyway. I don’t know the pitch counts that were in effect but I would guess 80-85 for both guys. If they want to go 7 in an early regular season game in the north country, they better get more economical in pitches per inning. Maybe the slime glands will settle down in the cooler weather. I agree “at some point” they need to be ready to go 7, although I don’t think I saw 1 pitcher in any spring training game for any team go 7 innings.
I believe you.
80-85 seems low, considering they should be ready to go 100 soon after Opening Day.
I think I saw at least one Cub starter go into the 7th inning, if not finish it.
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If this is the time for reflecting back on this year's Spring Training, here's my biggest story (or non-story)
I’m just going off of memory here – and selective memory it can be – but it seems to me that in games where most of the regulars have started (which probably means the home games), IIRC Quade has had Soriano batting 7th most of the time.
Assuming my memory is right, not sure what surprises/pleases me more – that Quade is actually doing this or that Soriano hasn’t complained about it (yet). Curious to see if it continues into the regular season. Hope so. Maybe moving down another spot in the order will lessen any pressure Sori may be feeling, let him get a good start, get his head right, and go off on a tear. Gotta believe somebody hitting above him will be in a slump at some point, so Quade could move up Sori then.
What may be even more surprising is that the media hasn’t made an issue about this. But I guess they’ve had their fill with SilvaGate, HillGate, and TicketGate – oh wait, that’s BCB, not the media…. ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I think you're right on this one.
Soriano is, for all the bitching we do about him watching his HR balls, actually a hard worker and a good teammate.
I’d like to see Soto hit ahead of Soriano. For that matter, Pena should be hitting third, not Byrd.
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Agree that Sori is a good teammate
but I still feel he underperforms for his position and for his contract (both defensively and offensively).
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Mar 30, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
And I agree with that.
I have a feeling he still has one or two big years left in him, though, presuming he’s healthy.
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Am I the only one who would like to see Soto batting third when he's starting?
He’s got a combination of OBP and SLG that would be ideal in that spot IMO, and he was our best hitter last year.
Byrd batting there ahead of Soto or Pena seems like a problem to me. I know he had a great start to the year last year but he really tailed off and became a guy you’d like to stick towards the bottom of the order.
Nope, I'm with ya.
Sabermagically speaking, he’d be best off hitting second. But third would be fine, too.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
He's too slow for the 2nd spot...I'd say 4-6...but that's just me.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
I think Mike Quade agrees with you.
But I’d just rather have his OBP higher in the order.
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Yes... long drive.
About 26 1/2 hours of car time. Would rather do it in two days, get up early and get in late, than spend an extra day on the road.
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"First year in Arizona and it [stinks]," Garza said.
Can we not say the word “sucks” in polite society? We have TV shows about pregnant 16 year olds and people from New Jersey that catch chlamydia for sport and we can’t say “sucks”?
that's a fair point to make.
What I question is the reporter’s perogative to just go ahead and replace the offending word with something else. I’m not up on my editorial style codes, but is there a little reference chart somewhere with the proper substitutions to use? I’m guessing not because who’s to say what’s proper in this case?
Either use the quote in its entirety or just – - – - – - it out. Don’t go interjecting your choice of ‘safe’ words into someone else’s quote. At least that’s my perspective as an amateur editor and thorough reader. I’m guessing we have some professional editor types here – I’d be curious as to what/how the industry thinks on matters like this.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Who knows whether the reporter did this...
… or an editor did it, or that’s simply the style that the site uses. Don’t blame the reporter.
In any case, when a word is in brackets like that, it’s pretty clear — to me at least — that it’s a substitute for a word the person quoted said. I don’t have a problem with that.
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So it's likely the policy of the site.
And done by an editor.
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Still don't get why the editor has to put in another word.
I understand there are brackets and yeah, I suppose it’s to the point where most folks know what those brackets mean but still… he didn’t say “stinks” and yet “stinks” is displayed.
If this type of editorial license were ever to be a part to some libel/slandor situation, I wonder if the person involved could claim he/she was misquoted?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I don't know.
It’s a style thing, I think, and is generally accepted. Well, by everyone except you, apparently.
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Well...
… after being snarked at and mocked pretty much all spring training here, you can understand if I’m not real happy.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
feel free to throw some snark my way when it's deserved a la the cherry-picking sub-thread.
but there was never any snark here by me towards anything or anybody.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 30, 2011 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
+1
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions
no biggie
you should know by now that stuff like this pretty much rolls off my back like balls dropping out of Sori’s glove… ;-)
Seriously though – I get where you’re coming from regarding stuff here on BCB and if I could offer up three words of advice, I’d say…. “consider the source.”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yeah, I think you're probably right about that.
Thanks.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Perhaps they should use
‘word redacted’ instead.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
Likely a fellow wearing plad pants held up with suspenders.
A few strains of wispy, chalk-white hair crosses his otherwise bare liver-spotted cranium. His eyes have only a dull light in them, muted even further by the smudged spectacles pressed against his worn, creased face. When he speaks, a scent reminiscent of week-old coffee and Menthol cigarettes permeates the air; the yellow stained teeth complement his sallow skin, though the dried crust around his mouth reminds one of dessicated milk products. As he slowly strikes a line through the offending word, he mumbles a story that’s only half heard, one told ten thousand times before. Perhaps about the Double Eagle his father found during the Depression, perhaps about how he ate a whole stack of radar ranged Johnnycakes for his eighteenth birthday. Whatever the case may be, soon it joins the offending word on the cutting room floor: forgotten, and destined to be swept away by the night’s janitor.
I hope that's a passage from some book/movie/play that I'm just not familiar with...
…but if you came up with that on your own – what the heck are you doing wasting your time here???
Get thee to Hollywood. Or at least Pendant Publishing… ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
To save everybody else the trouble...
… no, that’s not a direct quote or paraphrase from anything I’ve ever experienced. I just tend to write when the mood strikes, is all.
That being said, perhaps I should write something more… commercial.
Well, all I got to say is... "That's [coitus] golden!!!"
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 30, 2011 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Just checked the forecast again for opening day.
weather.com says showers, chance of rain 60%, high of 46, low 35
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 30, 2011 10:26 AM CDT reply actions
According to whoever was on 720 this mornnig, most of the rain should be in the morning.
They don’t anticipate a delay, let alone a rainout.
National Weather Service forecast for Friday:
Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 10am, then rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Brrrrr.
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If it was, I would have said so.
In my world, it’s either Skilling or “whoever.” Even so, I would hope that being this close to Opening Day would make the forecast relatively secure.
Lots of tickets still available!
Maybe the idea of making a Friday afternoon game, April 1 vs. Pittsburgh a “marquee” game and charging the highest prices in Wrigley history wasn’t all that well thought through.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Well, it is Opening Day.
But yeah, those pricing levels are too high.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
It wasn't "marquee" last year, because that price tier didn't exist.
This is also the most expensive opening day in Cubs history. And it may be the first non-sellout on Opening Day in quite a while.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Winter weather watch,
4-8 inches of snow expected, possibly more, starting Thursday night and continuing through Friday night.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh my goodness.
You’ve been hit hard.
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
by katie casey on Mar 30, 2011 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
That starts tomorrow evening.
Kill me.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions
It's getting worse.
Now 6-12 inches.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Lineups for intrasquad game as tweeted by Carrie Muskat
Cubs major league team:
RF Fukudome
SS Castro
LF Colvin
DH Pena or Soriano
1B Baker
2B Barney
3B DeWitt
CF Johnson
C Hill
Cubs minor league team:
CF Jackson
LF Campana
2B LeMahieu
1B Ridling
3B Vitters
C Clevenger
SS Gonzalez
RF Ha
DH Na
Pitchers: Randy Wells vs. J.R. Mathes
Game time: 1:05 CDT
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Place your bets...
who has more hits this game
Jackson vs Fukudome
Clevenger Vs Hill
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Hits?
I got Jackson and Clevenger. That’s somewhat sad.
Jackson vs. Fukudome could be a wash.
Clevenger will be past Hill by the second inning.
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Mathes v. Hill
Seems like a fair match considering the DH being used today.
I'll take the over.
Wells gets Clevenger the first time… but Steve gets a hit in his second AB. Since one will always be more than zero, let’s call it the 5th inning.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
Wonder who's managing the minor leaguers.
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 30, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Some days you win,
Some days you lose,
and some days there’s no humidity in the air to allow a pitcher to properly grip a baseball.
It’s also worth noting that higher humidity results in farther ballflight as the air is less dense. A lesson Mr. Garza will probably learn in Chicago.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
True...
… unless the wind is also blowing in.
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Well, I didn't read Garza complaining about wind
but he probably will when scheduled to pitch on a day it’s howling out.
but your point is taken.
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by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry if a double post somewhere....but
I didn’t read Garza making excuses about the wind.
But I’m sure he will once he’s slated to throw on a day the wind is howling out.
but your point is taken.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions
It's also nice to know Cubs traded for somone who will take responsibilty when he pitches poorly
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah...that's a tough one...
I don’t honestly don’t know what to make of that.
Dude had a tough spring and spouted off about nothing a bunch of other pitchers better and worse than him had to deal with. Whatever.
Hush up and get the job done, Garza.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
The quote did say...
… that he didn’t blame the conditions for his performance.
Let’s see what happens starting Sunday (his first start).
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Ehh
It was pretty clearly an excuse. Reminded me of NBA guys saying “we should’ve played better, but they got every call from the refs. I’m not saying that’s why we lost, but it is what it is, you know?”
The more troubling part for me is Garza’s failure to adjust. I imagine the air was pretty dry all six weeks he was there… so I wouldn’t think air quality would be worth mentioning after you get rocked in your last spring training start.
And, frankly, if we asked him to throw a jellyfish, he ought to be able to keep his WHIP under 2 for all of ST… which he didn’t.
At this point, I’d say it is very fair to be worried about Garza… and any improvement in his first start might be more likely attributed to facing the Pirates than the amount of water in the air.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
Oh please...
He blamed the conditions. C’mon.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
No, he did not.
Directly from the quote I put in the post:
That’s not the reason I threw why I did.
Sounds like he’s blaming himself.
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Then I presume you took Milton Bradley at his word when he said:
We’re going to get him any time we can. As soon as he gets two strikes, we’re going to call whatever and see what he does. Let’s try to ruin Milton Bradley.’ ’
Because based on previous comments and performance neither your quote nor man hold up to the smell test.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
May 23, 2009
Milton Bradley explaining why the Umpires explaining why he had stunk it up.
I mean, if we’re taking athletes comments at face value and completely ignoring the performance and the comments previous, then you have to accept Milton’s explanation even if it’s focused outwardly rather than not.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Also of interest
Garza said, “Hopefully, my luck turns.” Yesterday’s BABIP was over .800 iirc. That’s about as bad as you will see. And from the radio broadcast, it sounded like a lot of the hits simply found holes.
That type of luck can wear on a pitcher, and it sounds like it did yesterday.
I'm to lazy to look it up
but what was his BABIP last year.
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm sorry Al
‘I don’t give a damn. I don’t care about the travel. It sucks here. It’s so dry, but whatever. Now it’s time to go to Chicago, where there’s a little more moisture in the air.’’
Now he say But Garza said the arid desert climate wasn’t an excuse for his spring results.
But that comment still sounds like he is partially blaming the hot dry air. He might have to pitch in hot dry air during the season.
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Garza said it was tough for him to pitch in the hot desert air.
Unless he makes a start in the series in Arizona in July, he won’t be doing that during the season.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
They play the Dbacks end of April for a 4 games series.
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, right.
Well — often, they close the roof there. We’ll see what happens.
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Al
I get you want to keep an open mind to someone the Cubs traded for….. but if he is already complaining and you are just justifing it by saying they do close the a lot. So he might be ok if he has to pitch one of those 4 games.
But to me that sends up red flags.
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Any pitcher
who blames his poor performance in ST on the hot, dry air is just making excuses.
There are enough pitchers who threw well in the Cactus League this year to totally disprove this.
Yovani Gallardo, Ubalda Jimenez, Clayton Kershaw, Daniel Hudson, Ervin Santana, Jonathan Sanchez, Neftali Feliz, Jared Weaver, Ryan Dempster, Fausto Camona, Barry Zito (hmmm, breaking ball pitcher), Gio Gonzalez, John Danks, Randy Wells
How about that. Stacks up pretty much like a list of the better pitchers in the Cactus League. Imagine that.
its not so much about humidity
As ut is about altitude. Higher you go, less atmosphere, less air to cause friction and slow the ball. That’s the reason the rockies put their baseballs in a humidor to counteract the altitude. Garza has been pitching at sea level most of his career and even in phoenix your sitting at 3000 feet so there is a big difference. Seing as this is his first experience with altitude and constant 20mph wind, he probably didn’t realize the ball would carry so much and he’d have a harder time gripping it
by nmcubsfan on Mar 30, 2011 1:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, Phoenix is about 1500 feet, not 3000.
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Oops
Just saying there is a difference between pitching in arizona and at sea level….not that it’s much of an excuse, but if your not used to it, then it would suprise you when the ball carries differently then what your used to.
Phoenix is 1100 feet above sea level. Chicago is 600 feet...
This altitude issue is a hill of beans
Garza’s problem was the melba-toasty 12% humidity not the altitude.
There is no question
the ball carries better in Arizona than what you will see at other major league parks, other than Denver.
But, the theory that breaking balls don’t break here is one I have never bought into. I have seen too many pitchers throw knee buckling breaking balls here. If the air density is a problem, why does it only seem to be so for certain pitchers?
In fact, with the lighter air density, you could make the argument that breaking balls would actually break more here. Less drag.
I suppose you could make the case that you have to adjust and maybe it is harder to control breaking balls here, but I still think that is a reach. Zambrano, Wells and Dempster seem to have managed to make the adjustment, if they even needed to.
But, in any event, I think the difference is minimal.
It has been -gulp- nearly twenty years since high school AP physics...
but I’m pretty sure more drag would increase the break of a pitch.
Based on the formula shown here describing the physics of a curve ball, increasing the drag coefficient should have a direct relationship in increasing the Magnus Force.
Increasing this force above the ball should cause it to break more, though the change should be slight in ultimate breaking/curving distance.
But anyone with more physics expertise can certainly feel free to step in and overrule.
All that said… Garza doesn’t throw that many breaking balls… and he sure should have learned to adjust at least somewhat, instead of regressing, over the course of six weeks in Arizona.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
It is debatable to be sure
But since the spin of the ball is what causes it to break, then the ball would spin faster with less drag. Since all pitchers are capable of throwing both sharp breaking and flat (whirly-bird) breaking pitches at any elevation, and most poor breaking pitches are due to the spin not being as tight, I think that would trump “magnus force”.
To date, the only pitchers I have heard bitch about how their breaking balls didn’t break in Arizona are ones that were struggling anyway (meaning regular season as well as ST).
Randy Johnson, by way of contrast, always said his nasty slider (Mr. Snappy) was enhanced when he came to Arizona.
Higher humidity results in farther ball flight?
Where did you come up with this? It is exactly the opposite. Higher humidity equals higher air density which results in more resistance, and balls do not carry as well. See Dodger Stadium at night for evidence.
I also do not follow the grip comment. If you are sweaty from high humidity, the ball will be more slippery in your hand.
Hey Al...
Enjoyed reading your Q & A on the Pirates page – The Bucs Dugout. Pretty dormant over there. Gotta be rough being a Pirates fan…and that’s coming from a Cubs fan….sheesh.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
I'll have a Q&A with Charlie from Bucs Dugout on Friday.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I'm goin' out on a limb here and say...
this is the year Zambrano figures it out. 18-22 wins…Cy Young considerations. (I need to read that cough syrup label again.)
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
I think Demp
posts the best stats, Z in a very close second and Garza will have Cubs fans begging for Archer until the end of May when he kicks it in the ass and finishes as a good #3, Wells will have a career year as well and Cashner will be shut down come August 15th
Wells
If Wells has a career year and is still the #4, it will be a good year for the staff.
I want odds
If Z wins 18 or more games, you win $25,000 BCB.
If Z doesn’t win 18 or more, I win $50,000 BCB.
deal?
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't really care how many INDIVIDUAL wins any starting pitcher gets...
… as long as the CUBS win the games they start.
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Z can't get a win if the club loses that game
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
True.
But the team can win a game Z starts without him getting the “win”.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
If the Cubs are to contend...
Demp, Z and Garza are gonna need to combine for about 600 innings and 50 – 55 wins. Bullpen ain’t gonna carry this team.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
Yep...
Hopefully they feed off each other…Wells, too. This division ain’t all that and it’s there for the taking. Consistency will win this division. No long losing streaks.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
aha! that would be the one game Hill doesn't play, right? ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Actual news!
Via tweet from Carrie, Max Ramirez has cleared waivers and been sent to minor league camp.
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Hmm.... I guess we can file this under "Much Ado About Nothing".
still, nothing like a good weeping and gnashing of the teeth to get us ready for the regular season… :-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Well...
… it does give the Cubs another option at catcher in the system. Nothing more, nothing less.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
They're waiting
for Hill to reach the waiver wire.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
"I'll bet you a thousand dollars you miss this putt."
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Color me pleasantly surprised
Some other posters were speculating that this would be a really awkward time for another team to pick up a player to put on their roster, given that they’re just breaking camp. Perhaps they were right.
If Hill plays like I’m afraid he might, I’m glad to know we have another option in the system that won’t take away Castillo’s chance at everyday starts.
Was Jessica or someone else speculating that he has to accept an assignment to the minors? Do we know if that’s happened? Or which team he’d land on if he did?
Since he's been outrighted to minor league camp...
…. I assume he accepted the assignment.
Most likely, he’ll be at Iowa, backing up Beef and probably playing some 1B and DH’ing.
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I'm betting he'll play
a lot of first base, since Micah Hoffpauir was Iowa’s first baseman last season.
Russ Canzler was Tennessee’s first baseman last season, and he signed with Tampa Bay. Iowa needs a first baseman.
The Cubs have a lot of catchers who should be in AAA. Some of them are going to have to play in Tennessee and one of them is going to be backing up Soto, at least for the start of the seasn.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 30, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Silva wasn't waived.
He was given his unconditional release.
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Gotcha, thanks for the info
So he could have been picked up by another team by now, if there was interest?
Possibly interest in an Indy League
Or maybe not.
Can't help but wonder if his comments afterward played into it
IMO if you took his attitude out of the picture he was borderline worthy of being the #5 on a team like the Cubs with a decent bit of starting pitching. Seems like one of the teams around the league would be short enough on pitching (someone like Cleveland comes to mind) to plus him in and see if there’s any chance of a bounceback.
If I had to guess, most teams would probably not want to give him a guaranteed major league roster spot, and he’s too proud to accept a demotion to AAA after he told the Cubs he wouldn’t.
I'm sure the comments have a lot to do with it.
If he had just said nothing, or said what Oliver Perez did (“I just didn’t get the job done”), someone might have taken a chance on him. Perez got himself a minor league deal with the Nats, which isn’t great but if he performs, he’ll be back in the major leagues.
If you were a MLB GM, after hearing what Silva said, would YOU hire him? I sure wouldn’t.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Funny
Bruce M has just blogged that Silva has just cleared waivers.
“Word is that Carlos Silva has cleared waivers. We’ll see if the rush is on by other clubs to sign him”
Not a big deal but which is it?
Is it April yet?
according to ESPN
he was granted his full release…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
So Garza pitched woefully because he couldn't grip the baseball in the dry air,
but Silva’s performance means he just plain isn’t good enough.
That’s fine if you don’t want the guy on your team, but don’t say it’s strictly due to his ST performance because there isn’t a whole lot of evidence that he pitched any worse than Hendry’s shiny new toy.
by Jerry Mumphrey on Mar 30, 2011 12:56 PM CDT reply actions
If you think ST performance had much to do with who made the team...
you haven’t been following things very closely at all.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Darwin Barney would like to have a word with you.
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Sorry, can't talk right now...
I’m busy photoshopping.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Of what
You beating a dead horse??
Whining and crying because Al sent you to your room??
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Mar 30, 2011 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Of course Hammer.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Note.
Although the link above calls up a Gameday page, there is nothing being fed into it, so there’s no PBP available today.
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I prefer 3eanuts
In case you are unaware, it’s a tumblr that takes out the 4th panel of Peanuts cartoons. Goodness gracious is it depressing. Makes being a Cubs fan all sunshine and rainbows.
For example:
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Jake Fox
I didn’t see a fanshot, but I have been off the site for about a week. I see our boy Jake Fox has been lighting it up this spring. I wish him the best.
I think I read the other day...
…that he’s made the O’s 25-man roster as their backup catcher.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
and we think hill cant throw out baserunners
He's my Hossa
HO-HO-HO-HO-HOSSA
by jesus christos on Mar 30, 2011 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't understand
there have been many posts on here discounting the importance of the stolen base as an offensive weapon (something I vehemently disagree with) and the significance of team speed…so why would it matter whether your catcher can throw out baserunners?
You can’t have it both ways…
SBs are valuable when you can do it successfully over ~75% of the time
It’s when your catcher is able to throw out less than ~25% that you can really worry about his arm being a liability IMO.
Since it's a slow say...I'm gonna go OT for just a second...
Didn’t that beat down of LeBron by the Cavaliers last night, give you a warm feeling inside. I thought it was great. Ok…back to baseball…
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
by Easy Ed on Mar 30, 2011 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Phillies just released Luis Castillo...
didn’t take them long to figure THAT out.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
If you love something...
set it free.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions
So the Cubs must not love Koyie Hill, then, by your logic.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
You had to start it, didn't ya?
lol
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
Lust is much different than love.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually,
If you love something, you put a leash on it and keep it as close to your side as possible.
re: Dog
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
or husbands
ZING!!!
;)
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Twitter News
Barney homered earlier in the intrasquad game. Randy Wells threw 3 innings allowing 2 hits and a run.
Unfortunately, no.
The Gameday link calls up a page, but it’s blank.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
45 ESPN writers gave their predictions for '11...
3 have the Cubs winning the Central.
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
ESPN has 45 writers?
what the [heck]?
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
ISWYDT
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
Every year someone does that
Then if they win they can say I knew this was the year they’d win it all.
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
They have local websites sites all over the country now.
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 30, 2011 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions
2 people also had VCU in the Final Four.
A broken clock is correct twice a day.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I read that they interviewed one of the 2
He said he finished his bracket in 10 minutes. That the only reason he filled it out was b/c his high school and there buddies were doing it
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Ignorance is profitable?
Who knew?
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Mar 30, 2011 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions
33 have the Red Sox winning it all...ugh!!
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
Thats crazy too
The Giants pitching is awesome.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
ya
easily #2 and could be a neck and neck race…I think that next year or the year after the Giants staff can easily be better than the Phillies this year
As long as that kid
from Dazed and Confused is still pitching for them – you may be right.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
And one of them has the [poopy] White Sox winning it all...
"The trouble is not that players have sex the night before a game. It's that they stay out all night looking for it." - Casey Stengal
MLB should negotiate this
If a player earning a contract, say Carlos Silva, and is sent to AAA and refuses well then he should be considered someone who quit – therefore tearing up his contract and he earns zero.
Then again – athletes are put on this BS pedestal.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
ehhh
too easy to do that to too many players to get out of contracts such as Soriano’s – it would be better to allow performance based incentives and then cap guarranteed salaries
Yeah I know it wouldnt happen
Maybe that is why it is so frustrating.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Players with Silva's years in the majors
Can refuse to go to the minors.
But even if they couldn’t, the last thing I’d want is Carlos Silva hanging around our prospects.
by Josh Timmers on Mar 30, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
BP onlt has 4 teams scoring more runs than the Cubs.
Colorado, Boston, Yankees and the Brewers. I hope they are right.
Is there going to be some terrible rash of injuries to all the other ML teams position players?
How is that even remotely possible?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Unfortunately, they only have 5 other teams giving up more runs than us.
Shows what I know. I don’t think our pitching is that bad. Although our defense is pretty bad. And based off last year, I thought we would struggle to score. Well, I hope BP is right about our offense and wrong about our pitching and defense.
Twitter is down
Oh no! How am I going to find out which club some celebrity I’ve never heard of visited last night?
But seriously, I am trying to find out news on whether Brandon Belt made the Giants.
This says he's won the starting job...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions
meh...after actually reading the article...
just the headline says he’s won it…
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Which is why you should never read Bleacher Report.
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It was the most recent link in the googlenews feed regarding brandon belt...
chill, I know all about your “bleacher report hate”.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, and you know why it was the most recent link in that feed?
Because Bleacher Report games Google’s system to get their posts ranking high, even if, as you discovered, they’re not worth reading.
They really are beneath contempt.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
The Cactus League
set an all time attendance record of 1.59M fans this year, topping the old record of 1.58M in 2009.
Indeed
Another interesting trend this year…there were many more night games than I can remember, and almost all of them were better attended than equivalent day games.
that could easily account for more tickets
locals coming out to see the games after work
''"I always thought I was the most competitive person out there. I never thought I'd find anybody more competitive until I met him.'' Ryan Dempster talking about Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes
there was a story about this a couple of weeks ago.
I think the Cactus League is discovering this previously untapped market…the local fan who cannot skip out of work during a weekday.
The article quoted several fans who said they were delighted that they could finally attend some ST games this year, due to there being so many night games.
One thing I don't like about Cactus League night games...
… it gets pretty chilly at night. I can see why locals would like it, though, especially since the local team is involved.
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We locals love the chilly nights
especially when ‘chilly’ is defined by a clear night in the mid to upper 60’s.
Which did happen early in spring training this year.
After that one rainy day, the nights got a little cool — more like upper 50’s.
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That's why 90%
of the night games are scheduled in the 2nd half of the Cactus League season.
When game time temps are almost always right around 70 degrees.
Slightly higher than 2009
but essentially the same. Both are 6400 plus/minus.
Down slightly from 2010 (6700), but there were more games in 2009 and 2011 than there were in 2010.
interesting
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions
So they set an attendance record...
… in a year with more games, and a brand-new stadium, and a World Series champion in town.
Let’s see if that can be sustained next year.
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Uh-oh
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Let it go Al...
you’re approaching my Koyie Hill psychosis on this attendance thing.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
All I'm saying is...
… that just because three teams drew really well in AZ this year, doesn’t mean that the other 12 teams didn’t have attendance issues. They did — all 12 of them.
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Al, let it go.
The fact is, azjazzman is going to continue to try to convince us the Cactus League did better this year in terms of attendance while you’re going to say 12 teams did badly.
Now let me say, as someone who hasn’t chimed in much on this subject, you’re both right. Yes, Al, 12 teams did poorly in terms of attendance this year, but the other teams made up for it and caused a league-wide attendance rise in the Cactus League in 2011.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Shocking
Good teams and new stadiums draw fans.
Bad teams and old stadiums don’t.
That would explain the 50% off Cubs tix.
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
More fans attended Spring Training games in AZ
this year than ever before.
The fact that some of them chose to go to a beautiful new ball park in Scottsdale as opposed to Mesa, Glendale or Goodyear is not particularly surprising, nor is it indicative of a decline in interest in Spring Training.
I don’t necessarily agree, but if, as you claim, the “new ballpark” bump isn’t there next year, there is every reason to believe those fans will return to other venues.
But, the real story here…and one you for some odd reason seem disinclined to accept, is that Cactus League attendance, for the past several years, has been remarkably consistent. The economy has not had any significant impact, and SB1070 did not have an impact.
The games were played, the weather cooperated and the fans showed up. That is the story.
Likely it will be better next year
due to the fact that the economy is definitely improving,
Your repeated posts about Cactus League attendance being “way off” this year proved to be just so much hot air, so I would suggest your crystal ball may need a tune up.
Uh-oh.
This will end well….
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
HA!
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions
I started to say
that Al’s crystal ball is cloudy and needs to be wiped down, but decided that was too wordy.
The other comment I thought about making but decided against is that Al’s credibility when it comes to Cactus League attendance is pretty much shot.
I wish
someone would wipe my crystal balls
"Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball." - Harry Caray
So Al's observations from being at the games mean nothing?
I guess that means I can’t go to Vermont Lake Monsters games and give accurate reports on the crowds at Centennial Field to Athletics Nation.
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions
I was at games too
the difference being, I attended games that did not involve the Cubs, so my observations were not so narrowly focused.
It was not Al’s observations about Cubs attendance that I had issues with, it was his observations about the league as a whole, and his ignorance of the fact the 70% of ST attendance is after spring break starts.
You don't disagree, do you..
… that many teams’ attendance was down this year?
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You don't disagree, do you
that more fans attended Cactus League games this year than ever before?
I really don’t get the hang up over the distribution. Most of the teams that were down were not major draws to begin with. Only the Cubs, Angels, Dodgers and Mariners are teams that average over 7,000 and were down more than 10%,
Since every one of those teams had disappointing seasons last year, I think that has a lot to do with it.
The fact that the Indians, Reds, Brewers, A’s, Padres, Royals, etc all of whom barely draw 5,000 fans in a good year, were down this year doesn’t mean a whole lot in the bigger picture.
Also it is worth noting that they are down vs LAST year. If you run their 2011 attendance vs a 4 year average, most of them are right about where you would expect them to be.
With all the changes in the Cactus League over the past few years, you have to take a bigger view if you are going to identify trends. One year snapshots really don’t tell the whole story.
I'll wait & see what happens a year from now.
Great, they set a record. I’m glad you’ve spent all this time proving me wrong. Happy now?
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I didn't spend 10% of the time
proving you wrong as the combined time you spent making posts about attendance that were not based on facts plus the time you spent defending those posts when they were shown to be incorrect.
Am I happy? No, my happiness is not tied to something so trivial. I do feel vindicated, however. And I am always glad to see the truth win out when it is being distorted.
by azjazzman on Mar 30, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
Questions:
If the attendance record set this year was due to more games, a brand new stadium and World Series Champions in town, then explain:
1) There were actually fewer games played this year than in 2009 when the previous record was set
2) How come the White Sox only experienced a 5% increase in 2009 when they moved from Tucson to a brand new ballpark, just like the Rockies and D’Backs did this year?
3) How come the WS Champion Giants were actually slightly down this year vs last?
Potential answers
1) How many fewer games?
2) White Sox fans don’t travel as well as Cubs fans. That’s not a slam, it’s just a fact.
3) What was the Giants’ per-game average this year compared to last? Different number of home games?
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Answers
1) There were 239 games scheduled this year, but 6 were lost to rain out, so the total was 233. The previous record year was 2009, when there were 246 games played, so there were 13 fewer games this year.
2) We are not comparing the White Sox to the Cubs. We are comparing the huge increase the Rockies and D’Backs had this year (which you attribute solely to the new ballpark) to the White Sox in 2009, when they also moved from Tucson to a new ball park in Phoenix, yet only had a 5% increase in attendance.
3) Giants – game average in 2011: 10,036 (down 3.4 percent from 10,338 in 2010).
It's more than the new ballpark.
It’s the fact that one of the teams is local, the other one has fans that travel well.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Yes, bingo
and both of those factors will be in play next year, so the chances are the D’Backs and Rockies will be #1 and #2 in attendance next year, too.
And interesting point about the Rockies: I read in the Denver Post that a lot of Rockies fans in previous years would stay in Phoenix rather than Tucson and would not travel to Tucson to see games. Instead they would wait until the Rockies played games in Phoenix. The reason they would stay in Phoenix is because there are more non-baseball things to do, more golf courses, restaurants, etc.
Needless to say, these fans were delighted to see the Rockies move to Scottsdale…they could go to more games.
Right.
As noted, Rockies fans have always traveled well, and Denver’s not that far from Phoenix.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Get a room
Big enough for both of your heads.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Do you work for a club??
If so who??
The world or the internet tells me you could be a random intern at a ballpark.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Well, at least we can be sure the Cubs won today.
Oh wait…
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
State high point count: 3/50
If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 30, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually, it appears the Cubs were unable to WIN
even when playing with themselves.
;)
WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station
by Gibbon Jockey on Mar 30, 2011 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Anything's possible with this club.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
The only things I've seen...
…. via tweets, is that Darwin Barney hit a home run, and Randy Wells threw three innings.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
And, just as I posted that,
Tweet from Carrie:
#Cubs Minor League squad beats big leaguers, 8-6, at HoHoKam in intrasquad game. It was a beautiful day for baseball
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I'm sure the big leaguers took it easy on them...
you know…to keep the kids from getting down on themselves.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 30, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions
That's always nice.
When the team that starts real baseball in two days loses to minor leaguers.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Well, except for the fact that...
… after two AB, the major league players left to make their flight. So really, two teams of minor league players were playing most of the game against each other.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Per Muskat
Vitters had an RBI triple. Baker and DeWitt were both 2 for 2, in addition to Barney’s 2-run bomb.. That’s the extent of anything I can find
Anybody know what happened to Augie?
The D’Backs are in a bind…looks like SS Drew won’t be able to go on Opening Day, and they already put backup Tony Abreu on waivers.
Augie come back!
Augie got hurt during camp.
Back problems, IIRC. He was reassigned to Cubs minor league camp, but I doubt he’s in condition to play right now.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
So tomorrow is Opening Day - six games on the schedule...
Kinda weird – I originally thought there was only one game tomorrow and the big splash is Friday for all of MLB.
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
well
then you would be assuming that Bud can do something right…basically Opening Day is screwed this year – a year that you have the best opportunity in a LONG time to take some significant fan #’s from NFL and you go with a weak Opening Day? DUMB
Rumor has it that Giants fans...
…are planning on hiring an airplane to tow a W.S. Champions sign over Dodger Stadium tomorrow night. Man I hope they do it! It could get awfully ugly in LA tomorrow night. I can’t wait!
"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie" -- Tony Montana
I like
the mix of vets and youth on this team and am excited about our pitching staff this year. No heavy expectations going in from the outside world. I think it will be a fun season. PLAY BALL!
Chicago Cubs - Arizona Cardinals 167 combined years and no rings
I guess I'm a masochist
garza
shoud be ok though there might be an adjustment period. butt matt save us the silvaisims and skip the blame game.just go out there and do your best.and this team still scares me with its on again off again offense. rudy start doing your job.
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