Cubs Fail In All Areas In 11-2 Loss To Astros
by Al Yellon on Apr 13, 2011 8:01 AM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Recaps
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Marcos Mateo threw 15 pitches (10 strikes) in his inning of work and struck out the side.
Tyler Colvin hit his second home run of the season.
There. That sums up all the good things that happened in last night's brutal 11-2 Cubs loss to the Astros, not only their worst effort of the season so far, but one of the worst games I've seen the Cubs play over the last several seasons.
It got so bad that at one point Jeff Samardzija launched a pitch over the catcher, batter and umpire; it hit the screen just next to where former president George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara (big Astros fans, I'm led to understand) were sitting; despite the presence of the screen, they both were seen ducking out of the way. In about the seventh inning, they were shown on camera beginning to leave; even as the big baseball fans they are supposed to be, they'd apparently had enough of the Cubs horror show they were watching.
Clearly, "Cubs bullpen day" wasn't a great idea from the start and when James Russell gave up a couple of bunt hits and had errors and misplays in the field behind him in a poorly played first inning where Houston scored three runs, the game was essentially over. Mike Quade was effusive in his praise of Samardzija eating up three innings -- the longest relief stint for any Cubs reliever since last July 19, when Mitch Atkins threw four innings in relief of Carlos Silva against... the Astros, who scored 11 runs in that game, too, and won 11-5. In fact, only 17 times since the beginning of 2009 has a Cub reliever thrown more than two innings in a game -- recent Cubs managers don't seem to understand the concept of "long reliever".
Beyond the three fielding errors the Cubs made, there was again an abject failure to hit with RISP. The Cubs actually had a fair number of baserunners last night -- 11 hits and a walk -- but went 1-for-15 with RISP, scoring only on Colvin's homer and a consolation run driven in by Starlin Castro in the ninth inning when it seemed as if there were maybe 2,000 people left in Minute Maid Park. I think CSN's cameras showed individual shots of almost every single one of them.
So, it's got to be back to the proverbial drawing board regarding who's going to take the fifth starter's spot. With the off day, the spot doesn't come up again until next Monday. Will Samardzija get a start? It doesn't seem likely that the just-signed Doug Davis will be stretched out and ready by then, and there really isn't anyone else at Iowa capable of taking that start, unless the Cubs really want to give it to Ramon Ortiz (hint: don't. The results would likely be just as bad as last night's).
The only real positive I can take out of last night's mess is that it was going to be a tough game to win anyway, with Brett Myers, noted Cub-killer, going for Houston. Even if the Cubs had held the Astros down last night with better pitching, Myers is pretty good. The Cubs can still win this series with Carlos Zambrano facing Wandy Rodriguez tonight.
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embarrasing game
Its games like tonight that make you realize this team has the potential to be worse than the 2010 version. That 8th inning was awful, Grabow wasn’t missing any bats and the defense was awful. Mateo has been the only pleasant surprise from the bullpen so far.
by jeff_pico on Apr 13, 2011 8:05 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I was hoping Ryno would get
the manager gig, but now I’m happy he doesn’t have to start his MLB manager career with this group. Quade isn’t doing a good job managing, but I’m not sure it matters.
DEJESUS!!!
by tomas21 on Apr 13, 2011 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
for me, this is the truest comment I've read
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions
I think the James Russell experiment as a starter
is officially OVER!
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Apr 13, 2011 8:07 AM CDT reply actions
If it's not
you have to wonder what the hell is going through their minds.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Mike Quade has been trying to make him a starter
since before Spring Training. Meanwhile, I think we’ve all been pretty sure that Russell is hardly a Major League reliever.
Quade has just about lost all my support.
What are you talking about???
Russell is fine as a LOOGY, and Quade has been trying to make him a starter since last year??
Where are you pulling that out of?
I'm not sure about before spring training...
…but Quade did mention Russell as a potential starter during spring training.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
yup
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
And then never gave him a single start, not even in a split squad game.
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Which is bizarre in itself if you're then going to make him the first one you go to
when we’re in this pinch
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Correct.
Amazing. You & I have probably agreed more in the last two days than in the last two years combined.
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I am pretty sure
that is a sign of the Cubbie apocalypse
by thebluecrew1908 on Apr 13, 2011 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Cubageddon?
I call dibs on the T-shirt rights.
"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
Should have hired Sandberg imho
RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) and Ron Santo (February 25, 1940-December 2, 2010).
If you disagree with me in any way, you are wrong.
Why does this feel like one of the early scenes in Bull Durham?
Are there any mascots Shark could hit?
a former President counts for far more than a mascot
That is NOT political & is only tongue in cheek. You have to admit not many pitchers could claim that feat. It would be something Shark could tell his grandkids.
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Apr 13, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
"I met President Bush once!"
“Funny story…”
"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
The Astros really lucked out with the Brett Myers pick-up.
He was all hype with the Phillies, but never performed the way he’s pitching in Houston.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
They didn't luck out..
He’s always been a descent pitcher but no one wanted his wife beating tail.
by cubsluver22 on Apr 13, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
He put together a career year in 2010 for the Astros
And is by far, pitching better and more consistently in Houston than he ever had in Philly.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
I couldn't wait for the game to end.
Jeff Stevens pitched OK I would add.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
Shark actually looked good for two innings.
I know that you can’t completely dismiss part of the outing. But I liked what I saw of Shark for a while.
He still didn't have very good command even while he was getting outs.
The pitch launched over everyone was only one of several bad pitches.
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When it comes to Shark ...
I’ll take “effectively wild” as opposed to his usual “ineffectively wild.”
Which one was he last night?
Because I couldn’t tell the difference.
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For two innings, he was effective.
And the SLIGHT positive to be taken is that maybe Shark can be effectively wild if he’s not asked to pitch three innings.
Maybe.
That’s a pretty big maybe. My guess is, that if they don’t think Diamond can start next time, Shark might get the start on Sunday.
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Well, exactly.
There really aren’t many good choices here.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
My slight optimism about Shark ...
actually goes away if he pitches for more than a couple innings.
The wife thing helped Meyers
Meyers finally split with his wife who he beat when moving from Philly to Houston, right? He got out of the spotlight in Philly
Shark can be effectively wild if there is literally no pressure
and he’s used in small doses.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't know...
…about the Shark.
How often do you see a guy that has the ability to throw a ball 10 feet over the catchers head and still be able to bounce a half dozen other pitches 2 feet in front of the plate. Bottom line, he has no clue where the ball is going half the time and is still raw after several years of experience.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
his problem is he's not breathing from his eyes
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
I'll guarantee...
…Soto rolls his eyes everytime Shark is called in to pitch. There is nothing a catcher hates worse than the guy who throws a bunch of 58 footers. The next day, his arms look like someone was beating him with a hammer.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I was actually pretty impressed
With Jeff Stevens. I would rather he stay than the other Jeff S.
by Mulhollandmania on Apr 13, 2011 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
One good outing for Stevens.
Make it 7 or 8 in a row and I might have some confidence in him.
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True enough
He also had a solid spring. That doesn’t mean a whole lot though.
by Mulhollandmania on Apr 13, 2011 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions
You're only going to have confidence in him if he has
7 or 8 good appearances IN A ROW?
Exactly how many VETERAN middle relievers accomplish that?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Point taken.
OK, at least be solid for a month or so.
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You know Al, I'm not a huge fan of Thomas Diamond either
but I distinctly remember you claiming Marcus Mateo wasn’t a major league pitcher, and he’s now gone four straight outings without allowing a run. Diamond can’t do worse than Russell did last night and there is certainly a chance he’d do better than either Doug Davis or Ramon Ortiz.
Which is of course why one of the three will get the start over Diamond. Because if it makes even a LITTLE sense, Jim Hendry will block it.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
At this point, Diamond makes more sense than Russell.
That much is clear.
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Diamond got absolutely pounded last night for the I-Cubs.
I vote a big NO on him.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
I don't think Davis is an option for the next time through the rotation. He won't be stretched out.
And I doubt Ortiz is. I think we’ll see Diamond next week.
Is there anyone in Double-A worth calling up?
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I sure can't think of anyone.
Where’s Wellemyer these days?
Looper's local.
Honestly, I’m starting to think about Marshall as a starter again.
he isnt stretched out at all though
its been almost 2 years since his last start…we would have to see another bullpen night like last night…
You're right.
Maybe it’s time for Trey McNutt.
He's also hurt,
had a blister in his 1st start, expected to miss at least 1 start.
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 13, 2011 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Looper.
Well, he couldn’t do worse than Russell.
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Actually why not Looper
He can’t possibly be worse than either Russell or Diamond. I trust him more than Shark.
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Apr 13, 2011 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
He retired when he didn't make the 25-man.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Haven't heard anything about that.
I wonder whether the Cubs called him.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Even if he unretired
he couldn’t possibly be ready to pitch in 4 days.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
Why?
1. You’re probably looking for someone who’s not on the 40-man.
2. Why use a guy who may not be ready for the big show, and damage his confidence?
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
I agree on point one.
But I don’t think point two is all that important. If a prospect comes up and gets beat up for a couple starts, you send him back down. It happened with Rich Hill, who came back after the Maddux trade and pitched well down the stretch in 2006 and for all of 2007.
Now, he flaked out in 2008. But I don’t think that’s because he was called up too early.
I think that is the reason the Cubs signed the scrap heap pitchers
They don’t want to ruin the development of the AA pitchers & don’t have confidence in anyone at Iowa.
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Apr 13, 2011 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions
According to Phil Rogers Ortiz actually is
He says the Cubs actually signed him weeks ago so he has been working.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
I thought they
reported roster moves ASAP!
by hansman1982 on Apr 13, 2011 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
They reported Davis is already up to 70 pitches...
So that’s already 15 more than Russell was capable of.
Sux to be
The coach or scout that has to tally his number of pitches. I bet 70 pitches took him 7 hours 49 minutes and 37 seconds. Wait we will be sitting through those pitches in a week or 2.
by cubsluver22 on Apr 13, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
70 Davis pitches is equal to about...
3 1/2 hours. I bet concession sales raise 20% on days he pitches. I can’t believe it’s come to this…Doug f’n Davis???
I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
Secret service agents alertly wrestled the ball to the ground to protect the former Prez.
Jeff Samardzija was later seen being escorted from the ballpark in leg irons…
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
It actually activates the team option
which is a five year extension at $10 million per.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I think what happened is Shark asked to be taken away
so he didn’t have to participate in the travesty known as the 2011 Cubs
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Isn't the headline supposed to read "Bad News Bears Fail In All Areas..."?
That’s who I thought I was watching last night. Take two out of three in the series and MAYBE I’ll forget about this one…
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
I think you should
just forget about this one…clearly the entire team had thrown in the towel before the first pitch
I really thought we were done with "giveup games"
when Lou left.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions
I hope so too
I wouldnt mind seeing someone who has some promise the next time around…we dont have a team that can afford to give away losses…
i can stretch out four innings...
they dont have a scouting report on my 65mph fast ball or my 12 to 1 curveball…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
by epsilon on Apr 13, 2011 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Put epsilon in for starter!!!!
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
i'm ready...
i can negotiate one heckuva contract as well…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
make sure it's backloaded and you are untradeable
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
I think TJ is claiming we have a team that can afford to give away losses
BECAUSE JIM HENDRY IS AWESOME!
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think we can have a give away day every week!!!
Let the fans pick the lineup day!!!!
Though it get to be too successful!!!
I didn't watch the game that closely.
But it seemed like the defense failed Russell in the first. Can somebody explain to me what happened during the rundown? I was at a bar, and I only had a partial view and no sound.
I agree with you Al (and made a similar point in last night’s preview thread). Pitching Russell against Myers was probably the smart play. Quade figured Dempster could beat Figueroa and that Z can beat Wandy.
I will say one thing sort of positive about last night’s game. I don’t take too much from it. I don’t think we can make predictions (pitching wise) based on a night where Russell, Shark, Stevens, Grabow, etc. pitched.
Defense definitely failed Russell on at least 3 occasions last night.
As for the run down, Barney was running at Hall, who jumped backwards and then took another step back out of the basepath before continuing on to 2nd base.
Barney’s tag swiped Hall’s jersey AND Hall was at least 6 feet out of the basepath.
Terrible calls by the umpire, who was in position to make both calls and failed to.
good teams move on from that kind of mistake or overcome them
I don’t think this team can do that.
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I think Quade
should have gone postal on the run-down play and gotten himself tossed…I think this would have taken some of the attention off the guys who didnt perform well in a gimme game.
If the Cubs lose tonight, and they have had problems with Wandy....They will have lost series to the Astros, D-backs, and the Pirates!!!!
I guess the good news will be that we have already played games vs vs these good teams and will have more games vs the bad teams later!!!!
We beat the D-backs
in the series 2-1.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Apr 13, 2011 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions
the rockies first baseman?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
You know, he once made the perfect doughnut
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions
BILL BRASKY!
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
I missed most of the game
and I think I’m ok with that. Win today, we get the series, and maybe get back on track.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
The trouble with that thinking ...
is that every fifth day, we’ve got a real good way to get off track.
If nothing else, we need somebody who can start and get through a few innings.
Well
I certainly hope that we’re not doing the college of pitchers by the next fifth day.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Apr 13, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
You know, TJ.
No one’s actually trying to paint yesterday as anything good for the Cubs. You’re lampooning … well, no one.
I know your act has taken on a life of its own. But this is like SNL doing parodies of Michael Dukakis in 1990.
I am excited by the Colvin shot!! Hopefully it will get him going!!!
In spite of the low avg. I think he is leading the team in RBI!!!!!
OK, do what you gotta do.
Just seems pointless this morning.
Starlin is a bright spot.
He’s not going to make this team good on his own, but I still do enjoy watching him.
**Calls the men in the white coats for TJ**
TJ,
These nice men have a jacket for you with “special” wrap around sleeves…
j/k man… you do what you have to do to get through watching this trainwreck
R.I.P. Ronnie Santo... you will be missed...
Byrd went 3-3, no?
And then got pulled for ReJo, who got his first hit of the season.
"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
I hear this guy can help
"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
No doubt you can find a string of my
Russell-bashing posts since spring training when it was clear he was continuing his terrible 2nd half of 2010. I don’t know what Cubs decision makers are looking at other than crossing fingers and hoping he was going to magically channel his early 2010 performance.
My hope is the Cubs will learn from this terrible decision. As Al alluded to, Russell’s performance masked the utter failure of the Cubs offense again to get hits when they count. The starting pitching will eventually right itself when guys get healthy, the offense I’m far less optimistic about.
When I first saw the photo above, I thought I was seeing Don Zimmer in a Mike Quade jersey!
Back to the Future!
One of Lee Elia's 15%
A bunch of young energetic kids who busted their ass!!!!
That was much more fun than a bunch of lazy old players who cant handle basic fundamentals.
They also MASSIVELY over achieved
I’m not sure how Zimmer caught lightning in a bottle that season, but if you look at the numbers those guys put up and compared it to almost any other season before or after, there were about seven or eight players who had INSANE career years.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes they did! Agree completely!!!
But he saw what people like Doug Desenczo brought to the team and kept playing them. Doug reminds me of Fuld by the way. Fuld is better but the same skill set.
Doug was GOD AWFUL in 1989
So that may not be the best example TJ.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Samardzija is horrible
Gigantic mistake signing him. But where does it rank in horrible Hendry signings? That’s the question.
I ranked Shark fourth among Hendry's worst moves.
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/3/8/2037931/the-cubs-cant-waive-shark-after-all#60945780
Full list here. Note that I no longer will debate the merits of the Soriano deal.
do you recall what three prospects we gave up
for juan pierre?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
The issue wasn't trading those guys...
… as only one of them (Nolasco) has become a good major league player.
The issue was, at the time of the deal (after the 2005 season) their perceived value was much higher than “Juan Pierre”.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
FWIW
I love the quotation marks around Juan Pierre…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
A similar argument ...
is made by those who strongly dislike the Garza trade. The prospects might not pan out, but they have a higher perceived value than Matt Garza.
Mitre is still around. Hell, we could use him right now. And no, I’m not saying that Hendry should have known the Pierre trade was a bad idea because, six years later, we could use Mitre as a backup starter. :)
He should have known it was a bad idea six years ago because it was a bad idea
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions
and yet I agree with him
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
GOOD NEWS
1.Cards got pounded. They started their ace, Carpenter and he got POUNDED ( 8 runs in 4 innings)
2.Rockies got rained out and will have to play a DH on Thursday before the start of the Cubs series. Should tire their bullpen since they will need spot starter for game 2
3.Sam Fuld had a hit and a stolen base.
4. I hear Quade’s line up cards are very neatly written out.
Best I can do today.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
At this rate, Fuld is going to be AL player of the week.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I totally cracked up reading some fantasy run down on Fuld
It said he had long ago been snatched up by AL only leagues. When I had him Yahoo said
1% of teams started him. Weird. He has turned out to be a great pick up for Fantasy teams, the hitting of course is nice but stolen bases are REALLY hard to get in Fantasy and I am happier having Fuld than Bourne. I had to dump Rajai Davis when he went on the DL yesterday.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I have him on a fantasy team, too.
He’s about the only one doing well.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
at least you arent
dead last…and I mean dead in every sense of the term…my AI picked team is beating both of my other teams…
by hansman1982 on Apr 13, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
L
Cool story. Why are you so obsessed with Sam Fuld? It’s a little odd.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:01 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Right now, it's become a self-perpetuating issue
Someone will mention Fuld, then someone mention DS, and then she appears, and there’s yet another “Fuld sucks-Cubs didn’t know what to do with him” thread.
"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
that is every discussion on here for the last month
(to steal from SWL)
10 someone proposes we have optimism about X,Y,Z
20 the Naysayers come in and tell that person why they are dumb for thinking this team has any chance
25 TJ jumps in with his stale act
30 Discuss former Cubs
40 Discuss why this offseason sucked
50 BOOB Jump into the game threads
60 magnify every flaw as if this is the first time its being pointed out such as the fact that, I guess, we are the only team in the majors with only 3 reliable relievers
70 Hendry gets made fun of
80 Ricketts gets called cheap
90 someone says “in over his head”
100 Return to 10
If I did the programming wrong, get over it…
by hansman1982 on Apr 13, 2011 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
The only thing I would have done differently...
is a nested if/then loop for Koyie Hill and bating Byrd third.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
The lineup debate should be its own subroutine
Called at random from any line in the program. Toss a GOSUB or two in there.
"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
Maybe throw a "TWSS" in there for good measure.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Stale act!!!!!
Hilarious!!!!
The Cubs are much better than last year!!!!! Very excited about it!!!!!
So much difference!!!
I disagree
She brings him up without prompting every chance she gets.
And when someone does bring him up, she goes on and on about how he is saving her fantasy team and the whales at the same time. While simultaneously talking about how he is the future GM of the Rays and President of the United States.
Sam Fuld can save the whales?
What are we waiting for?
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Are the Whales still in danger?
I thought that was a 1980’s thing
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
star trek IV to be re-made.
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Nope
Find me any instance other than his 3 stolen bases on Thursday where I brought him up first. I do respond but I do not start the discussion.
My posts in the Monday game where a direct response to Dan who thought it would be fun to mock his at bats but suddenly stopped as soon he got hits.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Can I get some more salt for this wound?
Maybe Nolasco can throw a perfect game, and Theriot can hit a game-winning HR for the Cardinals?
The only one of those (includig Fuld)
that should really upset you is Nolasco. Epically bad trade.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I understand what you're saying.
I was just throwing out former Cubs who could have good weeks. And I didn’t want to mention that fellow in Wisconsin.
Well close to zero chance we will regret Theriot
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions
If he does
Jessica will certainly let us know. OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and Over and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Regarding point #1...
… we need to get used to the fact that the Cards performance really doesn’t matter. They don’t have the depth to win the division. The issue is the Reds who absolutely do have the pitching and depth to run away with the division and hide.
It matters because I HATE THEM
and want them to lose. I have to find happyness where I can this season.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
The Cards don’t matter this year. The Brewers and Reds are the front-runners.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
I'm not so sure the Brewers have the pitching to win.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Depends on how long Greinke is out
They will have a nice 1-2-3 punch when he returns and with their offense that could be enough to win the NL Central if the Reds stumble
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions
he'll be out awhile and when he comes back he'll be ineffective... how do i know?
I picked him for Fantasy Baseball…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Sam Fuld = Irrelevant news
Reminds me of the Office (British) skit where David Brent asks his employees if they want to hear the good news (he got a raise) or the bad news (they were all fired) first?
I am now actively rooting against Sam Fuld. Very tired of hearing about his modest success so far.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
5. It only counts as one loss
Hard as that is to believe
"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
We can do better
I appeal to Quade to type out the lineups. And don’t forget to use Spellcheck……not the player but the software……not that the player is soft.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
I recognize that Castro's young, but he's got to start controlling his temper
not that I blame him, given last night’s laughable game, but the last thing we need is another Z
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
i have no idea what you're talking about...
what happened?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
So he's latin. And apparently that means we need to worry.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, technically, claiming any latin player who shows any emotion
is someone we need to “worry” about makes me a little mad too.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I dont worry about the temper....
I worry about any play who cant bust his butt for millions of dollars! They come in all colors!
Do you really think hustle is why the Cubs suck?
Because you are basically obsessed with it. You are like a caricature of a middle aged fan who is pissed that ballplayers get paid more than you think they should. If that pisses you off, I suggest you quit following sports.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:06 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
You and Husker should get together!!!!!
Their is NO excuse for not running 90 feet for millions of dollars.
And why year after year can the Cubs not handle basic fundamentals?
You didn't answer my question
Sure. Guys should hustle. But your obsession with it is odd.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:55 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
c'mon now, that wasn't what I was saying at all
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
Then why exactly did you compare him to Z?
There have been plenty of other players who have had blowups in the dugout.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I dunno... gatorade coolers come to mind
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
You mean like how Dempster bashed them?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
I wasn't aware of Dempster bashing to be honest
I think you are reading far more into this than was intended.
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
I'm okay with him showing emotions as long as its not out of control
Just because he’s latin and went off a bit last night doesn’t mean he’s Zambrano.
I was BEGGING Quade to get angry about the performance on the field last night and (at least publicly) he didn’t. I’m fine with someone on this team caring.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Seeing how well Z has pitched for the cubs over the last 10 years....
I’d say the Cubs should look for more guys like Z.
SOMEBODY on the team should get mad about performing badly....
by ClarkFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
+.500
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Of course, I'd like it to be someone who is actually performing badly...........
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions
I haven't watched any games this year
just reading the recaps and some of the GDT’s. I realize it might get worse before it gets better, but wow. This team hasn’t changed one iota in over, what, 250 games now? Al’s recaps are for the most part, same old same old. Shit middle bullpen, #4 and 5 starters suck, leaving so many runners on base day after day. Poor Manager’s decisions pretty much every game, lolly-gagging by a few of the players we have been ragging on for about 4 years now, can’t get a man in from third base., and if the bases are loaded, forget it.
The sad part is that, yet again, there are only a couple of contenders in the NL Central, and the Cubs will not have enough to make a run-again. If the Cubs are under .500 on June 1, they’re done. I see no hope in this team this year. I predicted a 3rd place finish, but that may be generous. Yes, they have only played 2 weeks of baseball, but other than Castro and Colvin, there’s nothing else going on.
"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse
Agree with most of what you said,
but re: 4th and 5th starters, RIGHT NOW, yes, they suck. But I wouldn’t say that the actual 4th and 5th starters (Wells and Cash) suck since they are on the DL. Wells threw well in his first outing and Cash was a lot better than that crap we saw last night.
Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.
injuries are a part of BB
and cash and wells were bitten early
we’re scoring 3.9 runs a game against the (perceived) NL cellar-dwellers…
i can’t remember even in 2010 the last time we put up 11 on ANYONE…heck, even a crooked number up in an inning would be a moral victory at this point!
one of our best efforts was against the supposed brewers “ace”…
maybe this trip to colorado will wake up the bats, but our pitching staff MUST feel as though the have to be just about perfect every night…
i think with the injuries and sluggish start, and cincy’s hot start, we’re fortunate to be hovering around .500 and only 3 games back…
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
I think that Greinke is the Brewers ace, not Gallardo.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
FWIW..
Bob and Len were talking about Grienke being the bigger name, but Gallardo is the “true Ace”….
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
I think Bob and Len were talking up Gallardo, because we were facing him
IMO, Greinke is a better pitcher than Gallardo and it’s not really close.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions
I beg to differ.
Greinke has had ONE huge year. The rest of his career is mediocre. He has yet to prove he can pitch for a contending team in big-game situations.
Gallardo, apart from the one injury, has been solid in all of his full major league seasons and is off to a good start this year. He’s the Brewers’ ace.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
We're gonna have to agree to disagree
Because Greinke has been just as “solid” as Gallardo, (except for one horrific season) on a team that has been much worse. Gallardo has yet to impress me.
Even this year, he has more walks than K’s
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
After having good overall numbers with good peripherals the last two years.
Greinke quit on his team last year — admitted he did so. That’s no ace in my book.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
What doesn't make sense?
Greinke quit on his team last year. He admitted he did that.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Are you reading between the lines?
His comments seem to indicate his time horizon did not match up with the organizations, but I don’t see him explicitly admitting “I gave up on teh 2010 royals”.
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
I cannot find the link right now.
However, I specifically remember reading something that said that Greinke had stopped trying hard late in the season, knowing the Royals were out of it and he’d likely be traded after the season was over.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
A google search returns little beyond his frustrated remarks
Which frankly, shows me he wants to pitch for a contender, which would be the appropriate makeup for an “ace”, no?
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
You can't have an ace without the playoffs.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions
what?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions
If you have the playoffs after the ace, it'll definitely be too late.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
You can repeat things but it doesn't make it true
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
So that makes him less of an amazing pitcher?
So if Pujols wins MVP but admits he didnt enjoy playing for a crappy Cards team, he’s not a true MVP?
No wonder Zambrano could never live up to the "ace" title.
If Greinke isn’t and ace then I don’t think one exists.
Those guys are aces.
Definitely aces.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I didn't say Zambrano was an ace.
I was saying it’s an impossible thing to achieve if Greinke hasn’t gotten there yet.
Greinke is not close to them either...
Sorry i know it pains you to realize it but Z never lived up to his potential.
What the hell are you talking about.
I didn’t say Z was an ace. Where are you getting this dumb shit?
Uhhh
Greinke is totally in that group – he’s been the 4th best pitcher over the last 4 years, and that’s including an averagish 2007 where he only pitched 122 IP.
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
Greinke falls right in with them if you ask me.
But Al say’s Greinke is not an ace. So Lincecum and Halladay are also non-aces.
Halladay never got close to whiffing a postseason
or really any meaningful games prior to last year. So is he not an ace?
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
You can't have an ace without the playoffs.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I've got to admit, I'm quite impressed with the fact that you signed up and waited a day
Just to troll this board with some tired “Rain Man” act.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Are you taking any prescription medication?
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
(im agreeing with you, disagreeing with the not an ace logic)
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
Thankfully no one reads your book on who is an Ace
Rays/Cubs - AnotherCubsBlog.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
by Mish on Apr 13, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You said read the Book of Aces last night.
Greinke, Zack. Not an ace.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreeing with a troll
Amusing
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
Not an ace.
Definitely not an ace.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
He's had two 4.9+ WAR seasons on top of his
9 WAR season, which is the best pitching season since Pedro Martinez. He did it without facing the Royals offense in a much tougher league. Also, “yet to prove he can pitch for a contending team” means that you wouldn’t be a fan of Josh Johnson, or Felix Hernandez?
Rays/Cubs - AnotherCubsBlog.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
by Mish on Apr 13, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Greinke, Zack.
Not an ace.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
To add, Gallardo's best season (4.6 fWAR)
Doesn’t even meet Greinke’s worst over the last three years, 4.9 WAR.
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
Greinkee has pitched 200+ IP the last three seasons
Gallardo has never passed 185. There a few metrics where Gallardo is better (k/9), but almost everything is in Greinke’s favor.
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
Of course, you can't have an ace without the playoffs.
I'm an excellent poster.
by Raymond Babbitt on Apr 13, 2011 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
These assertions...
are not founded in reality. Gallardo has had three non-injured years in the majors. One was very good and the other two were above average. Greinke has had six: One absolutely stellar, two very good, and three above average.
This makes no sense.
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
This was not meant for you Xoom
Rays/Cubs - ObstructedView.net - @Manu_P_Mishra on Twitter
that's why i put "ace" in quotes
wouldn’t gallardo be OUR #1 on staff??
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
Let's just hope Z can get the series win
and get back to the .500 mark, a place the Cubs will probably be hovering around for the entire 2011 season
Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.
I think we'll be lucky to be hovering around .500
Keep in mind we’re barely managing it against the league’s worst teams.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I'll take 2 out of 3 away against ANY team.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 9:28 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
And so far we've only done that once.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions
win one. lose two. win two. lose three. rinse and repeat
we’re playing for 2012 and it’s my feeling that the entire club knows this
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
That's something that has been killing any chance of contending in the division
"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse
Did some quick checking
If my math is correct, last year the Cubs won 19 series’ and lost 30 series’ and split 1. Almost half of the series wins were after Lou left.
"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse
I don't think they're much better
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
More upside.
Fewer aging veterans still trying to recapture the 2008 “glory”.
Fewer aging veterans by how many?
We replaced Theriot with Barney (younger) and Lee with Pena (slightly younger and DEFINITELY trying to recapture 2008 glory) otherwise the starting 9 is incredibly similar to last year.
This is hardly a youth movement, or that big a change over last season.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Depends on WHEN last season.
Castro wasn’t called up until May. Also, we can’t really dismiss Cashner (even though he’s hurt).
So....the second month of the season?
He was basically up all year.
This team is a far cry from a youth movement, and top to bottom, the replacements aren’t head and shoulders better than the guys they’re replacing.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
Soriano, Ramirez, Dempster, Zambrano, and Pena for good measure
Plenty of “aging” guys trying to recapture past glory….
Just what I was thinking
Good question, LFTG. Had the same question myself this morning. Been watching the Cubs since the middle 1950s. I remember how pathetic those teams of the late1950s were. But, even then, there were guys whom I would stop to watch. Like Ernie. Right now there is no one on this team, except Castro, that I will stop reading, cleaning up the kitchen, or feeding the dogs to watch. They don’t hit, they don’t field, they don’t pitch. They just do not perform even to a standard of mediocrity. Just awful.
i was born in '81
how the Heck do i know?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Think 1997
But worse
"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
i was still on my "they striked (struck?) for more money I hate baseball" phase then...
plus i was 16 and more interested in girls, now that i’ve been married for 8 years, i’m no longer more interested in girl(s).
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
to what? Pitch?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
And he sucks.
What tha?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
He it 308 last year, with a 550 OBP
The dude can play, and he’s a clubhouse leader.
by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
.308 where?
and in what clubhouse is an old AAAA player a “leader”
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Perhaps in a clubhouse
where there is no “leader”.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
Terrible Fundimentals
I posted this during the game thread, but one of the things that has really stood out early in this season is the team’s poor fundamentals, especially in light of the adulation that Quade was given regarding his focus on this area. The team has not played good fundamental baseball. Last night was further evidence with errors in the first inning, the botched rundown, and on at least one occasion (if not more) outfielders taking bad routes to fly balls. The left side of the infield makes you hold your breath when they unleash a throw to first… this team just does not play good, smart baseball and they are giving away far too many outs.
I said it during the spring
Every time we bring in a new manager there is lip service paid to “focusing on the fundamentals”
It was fairly obvious early on in the spring that wasn’t actually the case.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Honestly it's ALL on the personal, regarding errors. Managers can't fix that.
I’m not sure there’s a bunch of control managers have on that.
by LoveForTheGame on Apr 13, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't disagree
I think its an indication of the team and whats been put together. Its evidence of the types of players that Hendry goes after… fantasy league stat guys with little attention paid to how to really assemble a team.
Hendry has been absolutely abysmal at assembling a team the last few years.
How the hell do you end up with a “platoon” of two lefthanded rightfielders?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
At this point I don't even blame Hendry
He’s like a gambler who got down big at the table and is trying to get back to even by gambling recklessly.
Ricketts needed to fire Hendry and overhaul the entire organization. I’ll give him a pass for last year. I can see why he wanted to take a shot with roster he inherited for his first year. But this year is definitely on him. The Cubs needed to admit they weren’t contenders this year and start over. Instead they didn’t sell off a single marketable asset for prospects, but instead made a series of patchwork moves cuminating in raiding the farm system for a patchwork attempt at contention.
So frustrating. This team is nowhere close to having the depth, financial flexibility or high-end talent necessary to contend.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:47 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
This makes zero sense
“He’s like a gambler who got down big at the table and is trying to get back to even by gambling recklessly.”
When “recklessly” is anywhere in a sentence, you don’t get to claim you don’t blame the person who behaved that way.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions
You can't blame Hendry for trying to save his job
Unless Ricketts gave Hendry a 4-year window to turn this around (not arguing that he should have) I don’t see how you can blame Hendry for moves that were intended to improve the team for the short-term. The moves Hendry made this off-season given his financial constraints were ok (not great, but ok) if the Cubs existing roster was an 85-90 win team.
The decisons to overhaul and start over needed to start from the top. That’s where
Ricketts is to blame for this mess.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:01 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I can certainly blame him for getting into the mess in the first place.
This is like not blaming a guy who commits a murder and then kills the only witness.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Youbmust have missed "anymore"
At this point my anger has moved from Hendry to Ricketts for the reasons I’ve just outlined.
That doesnt mean Hendry isn’t responsible for his job performance. Obviously I think Hendry needs to be canned.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:17 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually "at this point"
Right now the biggest problem with this organization is Tommy Boy’s failure to admit this team sucks and start over. Until that happens, nothing else matters.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:19 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
On that we actually agree.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I just don't agree with not blaming Hendry
Who’s to say Hendry couldn’t have said. "Tom, I’ve done some things that didn’t work (and blamed the previous regime for being painted into a corner) but give me a couple of years to get this thing turned around and I’ll show you what I can really do.
Trying to somehow make this collection of stiffs a contender was a mistake and another black mark on Hendry’s resume
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, that depends on closed-door conversations which we have no way of knowing
I am assuming that Hendry was given the ultimatum that this team had to contend this year or he was gone.
If Ricketts didn’t give him that ultimatum, he is still a dumb-ass but Hendry is more to blame for the strategic direction of the franchise.
However, given that Hendry’s contract expires next year and there has been no discussion of an extension, I tend to believe that he has been told he is on a short leash. To my mind either Ricketts had to either publicly commit to Hendry or can him immediately. To stick Hendry in limbo makes absolutely no sense.
Hendry should get blame...
…but in my world, once Ricketts signed on the dotted line and took over the club, the onus was on him to recognize what needed attention. He had plenty of time to do a thorough analysis and to also realize he wasn’t qualified to do it himself.
I have been a Hendry critic for many years before Ricketts took over the reins and my opinion of his short comings have been pretty clear. With that said, Hendry is what he is and even a non-baseball person like Ricketts had the same information (even more) than everybody else did to review. He choose to keep the status quo and even worse, is relying on himself to determine if Hendry is taking the baseball organization in the right direction – big, big, big mistake that Ricketts will pay for in the years to come.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
In any other business, Hendry's performance would have gotten him canned.
But not in the Cubs’ organization. I hope that’s not the way Ricketts handles his other business ventures.
by Fraggin Judge on Apr 13, 2011 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't say...
…what the logic was in not hiring someone to be Rickett’s own hire and to asses Hendry in short order (if Ricketts didn’t want to eat his contract).
This isn’t rocket science we are dealing with here, and I believe Ricketts will pay for his poor judgment with a poorer product on the field and more empty seats – lost revenue for a few years to come.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Is hendry's contract up after this season or next season?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Next season
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions
and did rickets re-sign him or is he a hold over from the TRIB/Zell era?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
It seems obvious to me
that Hendry has failed when faced with two different circumstances. He was given a huge budget by the Trib, yet the team was built with no long term potential. Then, after that failure, he has shown no ability to rearrange the roster long term. My biggest indictment of Hendry is that he lacks a long term vision for the Cubs. He has attacked problems by applying bandages when surgery was called for.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
I agree about the high-end talent part.
But isn’t the team going to gain a ton of financial flexibility after this season? And doesn’t the farm system have a lot of depth — just not enough any high-impact talent?
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Less than you would like
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html
According to Cott’s, there are $72.6M in 2012 commitments for a grand total of 6 roster players. Plus there is the $5MM deferred payment to Pena. And Soto, Wells and Garza are arb-eligible. So are DeWitt, Baker and Hill, but…….
The good news is that 6 current roster players are fully controlled, but there will be bodies to bring in to fill the roster. So 2012 will be a massive youth movement, or the team will have to approach signings cautiously.
Farm system is below average
Cubs still have several bad contracts on the books (Z and Soriano). Do you see them contending in the next 2 years?
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:02 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
That really depends on what happens...
…after this season. I guess the best I can do is a “maybe.”
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
My concern...
… is that the financial flexibility is being given to the guy who got the Cubs into the mess in the first place. I get it that there were pressures from TribCo management and Crane Kenney, but that doesn’t change the fact that Hendry was the man at the helm of the ship and even with lesser players (Latroy Hawkins, Mike Remlinger, Jason Marquis, Jacque Jones), you have a guy who has blinders on, can only see one goal, and will do whatever he has to do to get there. Far too often its resulted in too much money spent for too many years and with a no-trade clause.
Brutal, Ugly
I still can’t figure out why this Major League team does not have anyone who can fill in to start a couple of ball games. I understand Gorzo gets traded, Looper is done, and Silva is sipping Rum and Cokes somewhere. But this franchise cannot get anyone to start a game besides Russell? Amazing.
Last night that team looked like the 2010 team on Lou’s last week. Here we are game 10 and to me the team looked beat after the first inning when they failed to score.
Hitting with RISP has hampered this team forever.
Was it really that bad?
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
by eths on Apr 13, 2011 9:24 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
It was the worst game I've seen in at least 4 years.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say that.
There were some pretty awful games last year.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
So did Baseball Tonight
Did you hear Bobby Valentine’s justification of the call? I guess the rule is 3 feet from the baseline at the time of the tag, and Bill Hall was 6 feet out AFTER Barney tried to tag him, so it was a good call.
*Did* tag him
According to folks here who watched the replay. Apparently, it got his jersey.
And seriously? A guy can run halfway to the LF wall so long as no one is trying to tag him? We should try that sometime – it would be entertaining, if nothing else.
"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
Yes, there were
I still stand by my statement. I was AMAZED at the number of plays where minimum effort was given.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
The did bring incredible energy last night, like they were saying, "The manager isnt trying, why should we?"
It was billed as a “Husker Special!”
We are 5-6. Not 2-9.
We really have to stop with the negativity. Granted, we did lose 11-2 to what I think is the worst team in baseball, but it is just ONE game. We are all huge Cubs fans. I know it hurts to watch these games and get flashbacks of last year, but this isn’t Last year. Sure, we may have the same group of guys, but there are so many possible outcomes for each player. Baseball is inconsistent. That is a fact. You go 5-5 in one game and then remain Hitless for a week. Same thing goes for the collective season. Look at the rays and the redsox. Be thankful we didn’t get off to such an awful start. Our team, right now, could win anywhere from 70-90 games. That is all I can say for sure. Let’s hope we end up on the high end.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 9:25 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Yes... 5-6...
… against one team that is expected to compete this year. The Dbacks and the Astros are terrible. The Pirates are improved, but they’re a .500 team at best. The team needed to get off to a good start against a very week part of their schedule… they failed at that.
The D'Backs have not been terrible
They are the only team that has beaten the Reds in a series. The Pirates and Brewers are not that terrible either. The Astros ARE terrible
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Sigh
Get back to me at the end of the year. The D-backs, Pirates, and Astros will all be 20-30 games under .500
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
That is simply absurd
You apparently can judge every team on the first 10 days of the season. This presumably is based largely on past performance, roster etc. So tell me Red Sox still winning the World series?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
What?
You’re the one claiming the D-backs aren’t a bad team because they won a series against the Reds. Who’s making generalizations based on 10 games? It’s not me.
The Redsox certainly have the talent to win the World Series.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions
You have determined that D'Backs Pirates & Astros
will finish 20-30 games behind and I am making generalizations?
The Red Sox have the worst record in baseball, just dropped 2 to the 2nd worst team in baseball, their pitching is a mess and their highly paid hitters are not hitting. Any team has the “talent” to win a World Series but this is why games are played on a field and not paper.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions
No, not every team has the "talent" to win the World Series. That is an absurd fallacy bad teams tell their fanbase in an attempt to get them to come to the park.
And if you think they do, there’s no point in attempting to discuss anything further with you.
You honestly believe the Pirates, Astros, Royals, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Athletics, Mariners, and on and on have the talent to win the World Series? REALLY?
The Redsox have the worst record in baseball AFTER 11 GAMES. Do you really think they’ll end up there? OR ANYWHERE CLOSE?
I have determined those three teams will be very bad…because they’re BAD TEAMS. Of course, I am arguing with the same person who thinks Pujols is due for a bad year because he didn’t hit well the first week of the season so I’m not sure what the point of attempting to talk sense into you is.
Again……get back to me at the end of the season.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Indeed let's "talk" at the end of the season
because for you 11 games determines who is good and who is bad but it has nothing to do with either the current records or current stats because after all we know what teams will do based on their rosters and record last year.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Honest to god, do you read you're own posts?
YOU ARE THE ONE who is claiming the Redsox won’t win the World Series because they have a bad record after 11 games
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Well I think they are in deep shit
but you are the one saying the current records and stats are basically meaningless and everything is based on what the players on a particular team are suppossed to do.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
They are better than their record
but their starting pitching is a HUGE problem.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions
I would agree with that.....
Difference is they will try to fix it with more than Ortiz or a Davis….Do you see the Red Sox starting James Russell ever?
How much worse would the Red Sox be
If they lost two starters?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Um Dice-K
was worse than Russell though I doubt he will get another start.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions
I've got to tell you, continually thinking
it is somehow better to judge a player on two games, rather than an entire career is………….admirable.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
DS does have that bad habit.....
But in the case of Dice-K he has been bad for a while. If he was on the Cubs, we’d be talking about how he was reason to can Hendry.
The BoSox might be in some trouble. They have 3 highly paid starters (Lackey, Dice-K and Beckett, excepting his last start) who appear to be different degrees of washed up.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:14 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hasn't he been hurt?
He went 18-4 a couple of years ago, I think we can let him pitch more than two games before we say he’s worse than Russell
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
He's not worse than Russell
that’s just a silly statement. I was more riffing on the idea that the Red Sox aren’t in trouble.
Dice-K wasn’t good last year in 153 IP. And he was terrible in 2009 in 53 IP. Hell, even in that 18 win season his FIP was a full run above his ERA.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:24 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
He is worse than Russell
but Russell is not a starter and Dice K IS. When you are comparing a starter costing over 10 million a year to league minimum reliever pressed into a start on a few days notice, then hell yes Dice-K is worse. The Sox counted on him to START.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
Lord almighty
His contract has nothing to do with whether or not he’s worse than someone.
He might be incredibly overvalued, but he isn’t a worse pitcher than James Russell.
Stop. Just stop.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
No doubt that Russell
is not as good as Dice K. However the ineffectiveness of Russell is infinitesimal in terms of impact for the team.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
So if we are basing this on past
performance and nothing to do with either salary type of pitcher, Silva is a better pitcher than Russell.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Let's wait until they have injuries to 2 starting pitchers + an injured prospect
The Cubs aren’t the first team to throw a woeful starter out there. Hell, the Yanks might start Silva pretty soon.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:12 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
They've certainly dealt with that.
I seem to remember them competing despite Dice K and Beckett going down with various maladies, and Lester getting CANCER.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Some pitchers that have started for the Red Sox the last few years
Felix Doubrout (3 starts in 2010)
Scott Achison (1 start in 2010)
Junichi Tazawa (4 starts in 2009)
Paul Byrd (6 horrendous starts at age 38 in 2009)
David Pauley (2 starts in 2008)
Charlie Zink (1 start in 2008)
Last year the Sox got 118 starts from their top 4 starters. Look, I’m not arguing that the Cubs as an organization are on par with the Red Sox, but when teams suffer 2 injuries to the starting rotation at once, they tend to start guys that really have no business doing so.
I'm just saying, the Red Sox tend to get by.
they typically plug Tim Wakefield into the rotation, bring up some youngster like Lester or Bucholz, and don’t miss a beat.
Or, they use Bart Colon for 8 starts or something. Or Julian Tavarez. Point is, they keep winning.
The Cubs seem to have been caught flat-footed.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
My original point still stands
The Cubs aren’t the first team to start someone like James Russell for a game when dealing with a rash of injuries.
Clearly the Red Sox have a team better equipped to deal with starting such a crappy pitcher. That to me is the bigger indictment.
In the past
the Cubs have usually had a long reliever available for spot starts. At the least, they’ve had a competent minor league pitcher that could be placed on the roster.
Unfortunately Coleman got only 9 innings this spring and Russell only 8. With the trade of Gorz, our lack of planning was exposed.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
from what I understand their fans aren't holding out much hope for this year
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. -J.R.R. Tolkien
The Red Sox may have been vastly overrated
But, I would bet no small amount of money that they finish over .500. On the other hand, I would be very surprised if the Pirates or Royals stayed over .500. D-Backs have some talent, so who knows. They could be the 2010 Padres. But that would surprise me to a lesser degree.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 9:59 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I won't be that surprised if Pirates & Royals stay over .500
they play in weak divisions and have some good young talent. SP a big issue for Pirates in particular.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you're nuts
Both of those pitching staffs are among the worst in baseball. They will get exposed eventually. It’s as if you’ve never witnessed a hot April start.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:10 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
On this we agree 100%
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
I see it more with the Pirates....
A real possibility is that they are better than the Cardinals, Cubs, and Astros.
Pirates pitching is awful
It will get exposed eventually. Might still be better than the Astros though.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:13 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
If the pirates played the cubs all season
then they would be above .500
The Astros are terrible...
But taking two out of three away against any team is good. It doesn’t matter how bad you lose.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 9:55 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
5-6 but we had a golden chance to start this season off re-hot with the opponents we opened with
Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.
please don't compare the 2011 CUBS to the 2011 RED SOX
i agree that it’s early, but your glass must be “half-full” of some liquid goodness if you think that boston will finish 7 games under .500 this season…
you ARE spot on if you think the CUBS will hover just under .500, which of course isn’t exactly anything to be looking forward to!
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
That's the point...
Everyone knows the redsox arent going to finish under .500. It’s too early to predict the fate of the 2011 cubs, even if we are the same team as last year. If you play the same team 5 years straight, your going to get different results.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 9:59 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
So, basically
stop going on reason and logic……………and just be happy based on pure unadulterated fantasy?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
It's better to be happy than not...
Seriously. I know you are a huge cubs fan, but why do you constantly rip on them? It hurts me too, but what is the point?
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 10:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Because I'm not impressed by losing
And I refuse to look for a silver lining ANY silver lining just so I can claim I’m happy with crappy play.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions
you can't say that just b/c the red sox have started poorly, that the cubs too will turn it around
if we had the roster boston has, then i’d agree that it’s early…i don’t care if it’s still april 1st, this is a BAD baseball team and there’s no need to sugar coat it by saying, “well, we’re ALMOST a .500 club”…
i applaud your optimism, but i’m a realist…this team is full of holes even when completely healthy and w/ 40% of the starting rotation down, it’s REALLY abysmal
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
I didn't say that
It was an extreme example. But something to a lesser degree could happen.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 10:11 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
you DIDN'T say, "hey, at least we're 5-6 and not 2-9"?
i’m not bashing and maybe i just read it incorrectly; however, it appeared to me that you were suggesting that since we’re not in the red sox’s boat, we can still come out of this and compete in the division as long as we don’t go 2-9…
i’m not panicking if i’m a sox fan…with the (perceived) early schedule the cubs were handed, we should be WELL above .500 at this point…
wouldn’t you agree w/ this?
if you DO agree w/ this, then you shouldn’t be too “glass half-full” on the CUBS performance thus far, right?
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
Don't worry, I'm not offended
I’m pretty pissed with how we have been playing, too. We are all big cubs fans, and this really hurts. I am saying that there is no point in negativity. Tell me if there is any good that can come out of ripping this team, because I don’t see anything. It’s not the end of the world. Road trips are hard, and all we have to do is win this series. Heck, I’ll take 2 out of 3 on the road against ANY team. Even if they beat us bad in the one game they one.
All I’m saying is that things can happen. If we swept the astros, all of is would still have hopes for the playoffs. We would feel good about ourselves. That ONE game should not make us change our thougts about this team, right?
I know this because I play baseball, as in right now. When things look bad, all you need to do is play it one series at a time. Play .500 on the road, and win series at home.
What do you think?
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 10:30 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Yearof, I echo your sentiment
but to go out and look as listless and play as embarrassing as last night. ESPN showed the Red Sox AGAIN, and even getting beat by the Rays, the Sox appeared interested in what was happening on the field. I don’t see it with the Cubs.
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
ESPN showed the Red Sox?
Big surprise. I hate watching ESPN, it’s all Yankees-Red Sox. Even when they aren’t the best teams, they still get all the coverage.
I would have to say about
85% have played baseball and to some extent beyond High School, so we get it.
Fangraphs or no Fangraphs this team way it is constructed 80 wins is a pipe dream.
It is not negativity, it is reality.
Fangraphs or no fangraphs? That is completely defying reality.
Fangraphs is all about statistics. Statistics are reality.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 1:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Fangraphs or no fangraphs? That is completely defying reality.
Fangraphs is all about statistics. Statistics are reality.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 1:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Fangraphs or no fangraphs? That is completely defying reality.
Fangraphs is all about statistics. Statistics are reality.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 1:30 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Sorry for the multiple posts.
I was commenting from my iPhone and it was being wierd.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Your phone is stuck in a loop
"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
I think the fallacy in your logic is that you think the one game changed anyone's mind
I came INTO the season expecting a bad team. Doesn’t mean atrocious baseball doesn’t annoy me.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually, most of us came into the season with expectations that we would compete for the division.
That is why so many people are saying “This season is the same as last year” now, not at the beginning of the season.
I believe that YOU came into the season expecting a bad team. However, to say “anyone”, you are mistaken.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I said "I" right there in the post you replied to.
Have you seen ANYONE claim that yesterday changed their opinion?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
It really seemed like it.
Man, your good at arguing.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions
So no, not directly. But you can infer it.
No one is just going to say that word for word.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
No. YOU can infer it.
I know that there are plenty on here who either believe that we’re still going to compete despite yesterday.
I also know there are plenty who never really believed we were going to compete at all.
I don’t know of a single person on this board (Doggie Stalker maybe, I guess) who allow their opinion of the team be swayed by one game.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Ok. Whatever. There's no point in arguing.
You may be right. Actually, you are probably right. I’m just going to hope that we actually do something this year.
Sorry.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 3:43 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
most?
i think maybe 7 people thought we’d compete for the division,…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Keep trying to convince yourself.
Baseball may be inconsistent but it isn’t random. Do you really expect Soriano to find a fountain of youth? For Pena to recover past glory? For Ramirez to suddenly become younger? This team is basically the same as last year and the results will be similar.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
I'm not exactly saying that, but...
Yes. Some players do “regain their youth”. Some older players do surprise us.
Not the best examples at all, but look at Last year’s Carlos silva and Jason Marquis. I know they are terrible examples, but I am busy and I don’t have the time to find others.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 10:06 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Then you shouldn't use them
Again, be optimistic all you want, don’t purport to be perplexed when others don’t follow you down the rabbit hole of absurd optimism
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't need others.
Whether or not the cubs play good this year, I know I will enjoy baseball much more than you will. According to espn and fangraphs predictions, the cubs are going to win 82-84 games, coming within 2-4 games of the division title. I trust them more than what you say.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 10:39 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Dude, I could care less whether you trust what I say on where the team finishes
I’ll just post this again:
“be optimistic all you want, don’t purport to be perplexed when others don’t follow you down the rabbit hole of absurd optimism”
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
How about this example?
Jamie Moyer.
2007 – Age 44 – 5.01 ERA
2008 – Age 45 – 3.71 ERA
A 1.30 drop in ERA is HUGE. In my opinion, that is like a hitter jumping from below average, .240 to above average, .290
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes and do you know WHY that's so impressive?
It doesn’t happen much at all.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions
the bigger question is
how has jamie moyer pitched 24 years and doesnt have 300 wins?
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
Pessimists
Always blame the pessimists
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
wasnt
Silva and Marquis’ start of the season just an anomaly and they returned to form and ended up with career averages? ( well maybe not silva as his heart tried to quit on him).
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
They were bad examples.
I was in school, and I couldn’t really think of anyone.
by YEAROFCHC2011 on Apr 13, 2011 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions
September too early
I only needed an inning and a half last night to determine that it was September and not April with the exhibition-style approach. But that has been the case a couple of other games this year as well.
Reality and small sample size both show that this team isn’t very talented. It isn’t noticably better, or worse, than the version thrown out there the past couple of seasons. The lineup remains bereft of difference-making hitters with Castro and Ramirez the best of the bunch. The rotation is decent enough when healthy but not good enough to have long stretches of success. The bullpen can be good on some days and middling on others which is the exact blueprint of an average pen.
The defense is still suspect and on many days pretty bad. Team speed doesn’t exist and aggressive base running still remains only a trait of some of the youth on this club.
The manager is a baseball lifer with a solid outlook but obviously is still learning how to push the correct buttons of the guys in his dugout. He’s not there yet even if he’s not killing the club with his decisions as some might suggest.
All in all, what you’re seeing is an average major league team playing average major league baseball. Some nights its going to look worse than that. Other nights it may look better than that. But as a whole, there is nothing in the clubhouse as its currently constructed to suggest that this Cubs team has the level of talent necessary to contend even in the NL Central. The cupboard just isn’t that full at the major league level right now.
"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder
Lasorda did it
Maybe Quade can be like Tommy and coach 3rd base too. We all know what a fine 3rd base coach he was.
by DavidArthurKingman on Apr 13, 2011 9:27 AM CDT reply actions
Lord...................................
Cubs manager Mike Quade hasn’t decided yet if Russell will get another chance to start.
“We’ve got a week before we need a pitcher, so we got some time,” he said. “To me one disappointing outing doesn’t mean we are going to scrap this thing.”
Tyler Andrew Davis - Born 4.5.11
A Cub fan forever more... just like his dad.
MAKE IT STOP!
Can’t Quade…..for the love of god, stop making absolutely boneheaded comments and decisions?
PLEASE?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow.
I was in Quade’s corner after he was hired, but some of the things he’s been saying are mindboggling.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I don't know about that.
I have no idea whether Sandberg would be better or worse. But man I would love to have been in the room during Quade’s interview to see what they actually talked about.
More and more it appears Jim went solely off the team’s W-L record while Quade was the interim manager.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Then how in the hell can you support Hendry at this point?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Because we are 11 games into the season.
Ask me again in July.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I'm sorry Al
but this isn’t about where we are in the schedule. If you truly agree that the main reason Quade was hired was because of his friendship with Hendry………..and pair that with the number of bizarre moves Jim has made in the last three years, I don’t know how you can still defend the man.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
It wasn't the MAIN reason.
It was A factor. Quade didn’t make these kinds of bizarre on-field moves in his 37-game tryout last year. Had he done so, even that friendship wouldn’t have gotten him this job.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Are you sure he didn't?
He was still playing Koyie Hill when there was no earthly reason to. He was benching Starlin for lack of hustle while not touching Aramis or Soriano………
Regardless, TJ said he was here “because” of the friendship and you said he was onto something.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Being "on to" something doesn't mean I think that was the main reason.
You’re inferring something I didn’t say.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
It generally means you agree with what the person was saying
especially when they are making a definitive statement.
But that’s fine, I was surprised to see you say that while still defending Hendry and now I understand.
I STILL don’t know how you defend him, but at least I won’t perceive you as contradicting yourself.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Thanks.
I admit, it is getting harder to defend him, and I’m not necessarily doing so here.
I still think it’s too early to make a judgment on the 2011 team.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
The problem is maybe it is early enough to make judgements
we have virtually the same players we’ve had over the last two years, and they weren’t that good. I can’t really see the defense and fundamentals changing on this team. I will always have some hope though, as I’m a cubs fan
With, what, the 2nd highest payroll in the NL, and most of the guys on the team who are worth a damn are pre-arb?
Massive, multi-year roster failure….
Well, sure.....
but I was hoping that wasn’t ACTUALLY the driving factor
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I have never really been in his corner
But I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But man, his comments and decisions seem to defy common sense right now.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
To play the Devil's Advocate
Why paint yourself into a corner when you have no sweet clue what you’re going to do next time. No point in burning bridges, no matter how rickety they are.
To answer that, why doesn't he have a sweet clue what they're going to do?
Why do they need to wait until the day before to come up with a backup plan?
At any rate, it’s more the fact that Quade actually says stuff out loud that just comes off as incredibly stupid.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
backup plan??
What team are we talking about here?
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Each day goes by
Quade appears to be the wrong choice. How in the world can you say stuff like this.
At least Colvin seems to be coming out of the slump
I think Fukudome being shelved has allowed him some consistent ABs and he can get going. We need his pop in the lineup. Other than that Castro has been excellent in the leadoff spot. Last night is just chalked up to a bad idea, that went pretty much how it was supposed to go. I’ll leave it in the rear view mirror as long as Quade doesn’t use this idiotic idea again in terms of pitching.
I wouldn't be so quick to say he's "coming out of his slump." just yet.
On his homer, he was way ahead of the pitch but was basically able to poke it into the short porch. We’ll see how he looks at the plate today.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree. He hit one over the wall and one off the wall in a band box. They're both outs most other places.
Hope Colvin snaps out soon. Was batting .107 at one point last night. I don’t care what point in the season it is, that’s brutal.
I think he's been pressing in an attempt to demonstrate he belongs in the lineup
hopefully he’ll relax soon.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Colvin's BAbip
is only .136 this year. While that’s not necessarily proof of bad luck, i can’t imagine it won’t trend much higher as the season progresses.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
sadly, it appears Quade isn't sold on the fact that is WAS a bad idea.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Anyone got his cell number?
We could all text him at once
"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
Or we could all...
…camp out at the Addison red line stop the next time the Cubs play a home game and let him know in person.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Pull a Trebelhorn?
I’m too far away to participate, but y’all should definitely do this.
"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
FYI I was really pissed at using Grabow down by 8
Guy had a few very good outings and was basicaly #4 in the BP chain. Just leave Mateo , Stevens etc IN for more time. It was really stupid to use Grabow who of course in unavailable today.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I know McNutt had a rough spring but
if he is our top pitching prospect, why not let him start a couple of times?
He's hurt.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
He's got blister issues.
Might miss one start. Not an elbow or shoulder problem.
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Still most likely won't be used
unless Cashner is out for a LOT longer than they’re hinting at now.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
True
but still has only started two games, leaving early in the 2nd.
So he’s not really “stretched out” to start, particularly in a major league debut kind of situation, even when the blister issue is gone.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
He shouldn't be rushed
Even if he was healthy. This team isn’t going anywhere and the difference between a raw McNutt and anyone else the Cubs throw up there isn’t worth risking his development. It’s really a shame that we traded Archer, and that Jackson got hurt.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 9:55 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I pity anyone that wasted their time watching that game
The Cubs have really had some bad luck regarding the 5th starter spot. Then again if they hadn’t done the Garza/Gorz swap, we’d still have Chris Archer.
This is the earliest probably in my entire life (I’m just shy of 30) that I’ve completely lost interest in a Cubs team. This current team is going nowhere, and with no apparent plan in place for future succes, I don’t even see the point in following this team anymore.
Congrats to Hendry and Ricketts. You’ve killed the golden goose.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 9:53 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
They did not swap Garza for Gorzo
They could easily have had both.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions
They could have
But once they made the Garza trade it made sense to get sell high and get value for Gorzelanny.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Well as you know I disagree
You should ALWAYS stash more starting pitching and the return was not high enough to warrant the risk of what in fact happened and the Cubs scrambling for anyone to start. I was
dead clear on this at the time of the trade.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Cubs had 8-9 decent starting options at the time of the trade
Top 4 + Gorz, Silva, Cash, Coleman, Jay Jackson. Pretty bad luck to have 3 of those 8 get hurt and another one turn out to be such an a-hole that he had to be released.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:18 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Wait.......
Silva, Coleman and Jackson were not “decent” starting options.
They were “worst case scenario” starting options. Silva was BAD and an A-hole, but his release certainly shouldn’t have caught people by surprise, he’s been a pretty bad pitcher for quite some time.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
We are talking about our 6th starter here
And the difference between Gorz and those guys isn’t a ton. Especially if Gorz regressed to his pre-2010 level of performance.
I hated Silva, and wanted him gone too. But it’s definitely surprising that ALL of those options went bust in the first week of the season. And Jay Jackson was a pretty legit prospect last year.
I also forgot Chris Carpenter too.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:25 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
It was pretty clear that neither Carpenter or Jackson
were actually being considered for the rotation in Spring Training. Coleman isn’t very good and Silva is Silva. Knowing that, there was no inherent need to get rid of our best backup plan.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
If Burgess turns out to be good, I'll be happy
If you think the difference between Gorz and Coleman or Silva was going to save the season, fine. I don’t. Just like the difference between Garza and Gorz wasn’t worth the prospects we gave up, I think the difference between Gorz and Coleman was worth Burgess.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Interesting, I'm fairly certain I made no such claim about "saving the season"
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Gorzo would at least keep you
from disasters like last night. OK maybe the difference between losing
11-2 and losing 5 or 6 to 2 may not seem like much but I think it does mean you are actually TRYING to win a game and has some serious impact on team psyche. It also saves running through the bullpen.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 13, 2011 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
Depends on your view of 2011 vs. future years
I think this year was set up to be a lost cause in 2007-2009. Any attempt to save it in preference to rebuilding would be a waste.
At the time of the trade, I was against the return not the idea
I thought the Cubs didn’t get enough for Gorz, but I understood why they traded him. Now it looks like Burgess might have been a decent return for him.
The difference between Gorz and any of the other 4 fifth starter options was pretty minimal. Made sense to pick up some prospects for him while his value was still relatively high.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:20 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
At the time of the trade, I was against the return not the idea
I thought the Cubs didn’t get enough for Gorz, but I understood why they traded him. Now it looks like Burgess might have been a decent return for him.
The difference between Gorz and any of the other 4 fifth starter options was pretty minimal. Made sense to pick up some prospects for him while his value was still relatively high.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:22 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I've watched 1 game in full and have bought 0 tickets
I’m still following the team from a distance. But from the perspective of the Cubs pocketbook I’ve lost interest.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:15 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I stopped watching on TV. Too painful.
Canceled plans to watch them in person, too. This team isn’t worth my money.
by Fraggin Judge on Apr 13, 2011 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
It is amazing how
this team has fallen since the 2008 club. It appears this team has no direction, just bad contracts and bad baseball. At least we have Soriano to watch until 2014.
At least
Milton Bradley made interesting headlines
by DavidArthurKingman on Apr 13, 2011 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
bud is going to add the DH in the NL at the next collective bargaining
so at least he wont be HOPPING in LF
:/
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
Obviously this is just an overreaction to a very terrible game
but how can you say that the team isn’t going in the right direction? Cashner was given the 5th starter spot over Carlos Silva, and assuming he gets healthy, is a huge part of this team’s future. Barney not only won a spot on the 25 man roster (over the likes of Augie Ojeda), but won the lion’s share of playing time at 2B (over Blake DeWitt and Jeff Baker). Mateo won the last bullpen spot over Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer. The team chose to take the younger guys, even though there were “viable” options with veterans. That is a HUGE step in the right direction for this ballclub. Further, Hendry didn’t give out any multi-year deals to aging FAs this past offseason. The minor league system is starting to produce quality players and it currently has one of the deepest systems I’ve seen in my 25+ years as a Cubs fan. While the prospects for contention in 2011 appear to be pretty bleak, 2012 and after are looking pretty promising.
Hendry had no money
to give out to free agents with multi year deals. The minor league system is in the middle of pack thanks to the deal with Tampa.
Looper and Wellmeyer I could of beaten out.
There is a major "IF" in there...
I don’t disagree with much of what you said but this team needs two things in order for things to begin to be “promising” again. First, they need a bona fide presence in the middle of the order. Nobody on this current roster is capable of being that guy nor is there one of those guys lurking in their organization. If you look ahead and it’s No. 5 in St. Louis or No. 28 in Milwaukee, perhaps we’ve got something but until then, a ton of work on the offense must be done.
Secondly, and similarly, a legitimate No. 1 starter must somehow appear. Is that Cashner? Probably not. Is it someone like McNutt? Also, probably not. Those guys may one day turn out to be good, I just don’t see a stopper or a guy that can dominate other teams on a semi-regular basis. Again, until one of those guys arrives from somewhere, much more work needs to be done.
"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder
Agree Entirely
I was thinking exactly the same thing myself. I’ve been critical of better Cubs teams in the past, sometimes overly critical, but I just can’t find it to make it even matter with this group. I’ve already become apathetic towards them and its only 11 games into the season. I guess that could get me a spot next to Reed Johnson (whose real spot belongson the retired list).
They’ve got a lot of work ahead of them before this gets better I’m afraid.
"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder
I was at the game yesterday
with an Astro fan group. I made a small bet and got 6 runs yet still lost the game. Fortunately we were very close to the bar and they didn’t run out.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
Aye, indeed
Rec’d.
"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
Positive from last night games
Koyie “pond” Hill did not make an out
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
Honestly, I think he should
Soto looks god awful at the plate right now. He needs a day off
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
two days off might do him some good.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Good point.
I retract my statements
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree Soto looked terrible last night.
He doesn’t know how to shorten his swing with 2 strikes.
cut his bat in half?
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
except for one game (after which he was sat)
he’s looked horrible all season.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
That is what scares me.
Pena looks like he is done, I mean toast. If we get .200 out of him I will be shocked.
I could see
Ernie Banks 1971 stats for Pena
by DavidArthurKingman on Apr 13, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed. He pops alot of balls up.
He still might hit 25 – 30 HR but will have a very low average.
Think you're being overly optimistic there
by DavidArthurKingman on Apr 13, 2011 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
It's too early to truly tell
but he has weakly popped up quite a few meatballs.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Pena's not really a DL rehab project.
He had almost 600 plate appearances last season.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
And still hit 28 home runs...
…18 of those in the worst-hitting park in baseball. I’d still urge fans to have some patience with the guy. He certainly wouldn’t be the first free-agent signee to get off to a slow start.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
But the big claim was that his awful 2010 performance was due to a foot injury
So signing him was a bet on recovery. Maybe not officially a DL project, but close enough.
That's true.
I’m not guaranteeing the guy’s going to have a great year. In fact, I’m getting a little concerned myself. But his eye at the plate seems intact, so I think there’s still some basis to be hopeful.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Believe it or not...
…Carlos Pena was an above-average major league hitter last season — per OPS+ and wRC+. Again, I’m not making any grand proclamations here. Just urging patience.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
But not an above-average 1B
An OPS of .732 may be fine for SS, CF or C, but it really doesn’t cut it at 1B. Shoot, Lee put up an OPS of .751 for the woeful 2010 sCrubs…..
Koyie Hill has a .400 on-base percentage!
Strange but true. Five PA, two walks.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Reminds me of the John McKay(Tampa Bay) quote.
When asked about his teams execution, he said “I’m all for it”.
Love that quote.
Has to be on the top ten sports quotes list.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
me too, never heard it before, but it sure made me smile mischievously :)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
He pitched 4 innings in 1 game. They just started so they are not stretched out either.
Better than watching Russell again.
Interesting.
I know Dolis has a power arm — I’d like to at least see him in the bullpen at some point soon.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Mateo has a power arm, too.
Frankly, I’m getting tired of power arms that can’t throw strikes.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Eh, power arms who can't throw strikes...
…soft-tossers who can’t get outs. What’s the difference? At least guys who throw in the mid-90s can intimidate hitters. And I hope you’re not giving up on Dolis already.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
No, not giving up on Dolis.
Intimidate hitters? Yeah, Mateo intimidates them with all those walks.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
He may still walk himself off the team...
…or start giving up the long balls. But so far he’s struck out six batters in 4.1 innings. So let’s see where the season takes him. I still think he’s worth a shot as a middle reliever.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Agreed
Mateo had a terrible start to the season, but has been pretty impressive since then. Not sure if Riggins talked to him and made some adjustments or what, but he’s throwing strikes and getting some great results. He is easily the 4th best reliever on the team right now.
The incompetence of this organization continues to boggle the mind
Every time I see Quade clapping his hands in the dugout like a little league manager, I feel sick to my stomach. You have to go back to Jim Essian to find a Cubs manager who is so clueless in all aspects of the game.
I’d like to think that the one positive to all of this ineptitude is that you’d think that wholesale changes will HAVE to come in the off season but, given Ricketts’ stubbornly status quo approach so far, I’m not confident that that’s going to happen.
I haven’t been this pessimistic about the Cubs since the end of the Wrigley years.
We are seeing why he was in the minors for 19 years.
But he also is working with three starters, 1/2 a bullpen and an aging group of veterens.
The problem is
Not necessarily that he isn’t working miracles. It’s downright bizarre decision making and statements to the press.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Exactly Nunya
He’s scarily reminiscent of guys like Essian and Terry Bevington who, it was imediately evident, were in WAY over their heads.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 13, 2011 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
And
Please add the adjective “apathetic” before the phrase “aging group of veterans” and you’ve got it.
"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder
All you can hope is
when the money comes off the books, Tom will spend and spend wisely. However if Hendry is still making moves after this year, all bets are off for “wisely”
That is why I will increase my following of the minor leagues this year.
That is the big question....is hendry the one we need to spend the next batch of money?
Will there be money to spend? We keep assuming there will be, but they are kind of cheep so we do not really know!!
That's still a question?
If so, the answer is, “Hell, no!”
by ClarkFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well
How would Ricketts know? They haven’t exactly been at the forefront of anything resembling a good decision during their tenure, particularly on the baseball side of things.
"When the day comes with that last winning run and I'm crying and covered in beer. I'll look to the sky and know I was right to think someday we'll go all the way." - Vedder
That's the truly depressing part
There is no reason to believe that Hendry won’t be back next year which also means that Quade will, most likely, be back also, etc., etc.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 13, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Bruce Kimm? Tom Trebelhorn?
I was pretty agnostic on the Quade hire. I thought the team sucked, so I didn’t care who they hired.
That being said, it is ridiculous that people are already scapegoating him for this season. He hasn’t impressed me as a manager, but his team is flawed in so many ways. Hell, I believe Joe Maddon had 2 losing seasons before turning around the Rays. I don’t care who the manager is, this team isn’t going anywhere.
Weren’t just last year people whining about how Lou wasn’t into the game? Now we are whining because Quade acts like a little league manager? Jesus. It’s not the manager. It’s the damn players.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:29 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 2 recs
Quade's role is probably "sacrificial victim"
That wasn’t Hendry’s intent, but given the 2011 roster that is what will happen.
When is Girardi’s contract up?
Who cares?
The Cubs don’t need a superstar manager, they need an organizational overhaul starting from the top down.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:41 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Are you really worried about that?
The loss of Ryne Sandberg (who might even be a terrible manager) wasn’t a huge setback for this organization.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
He did well in the minors
He won on the farm, so I don’t think you can say he’d be bad. But who else would you want if Quade got the axe? After Quade I think Ryno deserves a chance, and with the bridge Hendry burned there it wouldn’t happen until Hendry was gone.
Quade did well in the minors too over a longer period of time
I have no idea who I would want. But, I’m not at all worried that Sandberg won’t come back until we fire our inept GM.
You nailed it...
…teams don’t win over time with great managers, they win with great organizations, who tend to make a managers career (see Joe Torre)
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
If the Cubs based their off-season around the finish to 2010
Then Ricketts and co are totally hopeless. Hiring Quade based on that stretch, isn’t great. But who gives a crap about the manager. Hiring Sandberg or Quade was six of one, half-dozen of the other. Both unproven gambles.
But, if they thought they were contenders based on that stretch and made moves (Pena, Garza etc) based on that, then they are more hopeless than I thought.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 11:09 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Sure looks like that is what happened......
So if they start 13-24, that means Quade is a .500 manager?
Huh? What?
Someone say Girardi?
I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
Sigh.
No one is scapegoating Quade for the season. People are just blown away by how bizarre his managing has been so far. Quade could be the best manager in the world and he wasn’t taking this team to the World Series.
That doesn’t mean we can’t be uneasy with just how bad a manager he has appeared to be in the early going. Mainly because it’s not a given that he won’t be around in 2012.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
You are a know-it-all who thinks every managerial move you don't agree with is "bizarre"
The only 2 extremely questionable decisions I’ve seen are his decisions to go with Dempster too long. Maybe batting RJ instead of Fukudome too.
Managerial decisions are so unimportant in the grand scheme of things. They just don’t have nearly as big an effect on the season as compared to the amount of ink that is spilled debating them.
I haven’t been impressed with Quade either. But the over-the-top things I’ve read (not just, or even mainly from you) are way too premature.
by JSB on Apr 13, 2011 10:39 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 4 recs
What is shocking exactly?
That I think a manager doesn’t have all that much impact? That’s pretty obvious. You should probably start thinking that too.
What’s really shocking is you’re weird obsession with me and my comments.
Managers make a huge difference....
I know you would prefer that everybody could just do what they want, run if they want. But the manager does make decisions and ours makes bad ones….
I don't think managers account for more that 1 or 2 wins a year.
Not enough to get as worked up about, but whatever. You seem to like getting worked up over nothing.
...
You seem to like getting worked up over nothing.
We’re Cub Fans….think about it.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd say the number varies by the
type of manager himself. Traditional managers with quality rosters have little impact. However, the Cubs have a less than average roster and that requires a manager who thinks outside the box. Let’s see how Quade does if the team continues to flounder.
If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.
And you are a know-it-all who thinks managerial decisions have no outcome on the game
So we’ll just have to agree to disagree
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions
I hope Tony LaRussa reads this
Saying managerial decisions are unimportant would cause the guy to have a stroke.
The difference is that Bruce Kimm was an interim guy...
Everybody pretty much knew that Hendry was just biding his time until he could bring in Dusty. I had no problem holding my breath through the “Kimm era” because I was firmly convinced that good times were ahead.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with you on that.
By all that's holy, I am going to attend the 2012 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp.
by VegasCubFan on Apr 13, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
would it be better if he wasn't?
That’s the real question
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions
honestly I'm glad
we got Quade, get these crap contracts off the books, get something happening in the farm, get some free agent’s in a couple of years and let sandberg wear his 23 again…
"There had to be a place where the game could be fun again….that place is called Wrigley Field"---Andre Dawson
One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth. Joe Garagiola
I think I have BCB fatigue.
No disrespect to anybody in particular. I’m gonna take a break for a few days I think.
Hope we win tonight!
by elgato on Apr 13, 2011 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Eh, you'll be back if the Cubs win tonight.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
I agree
win or lose its the same shit being said on a different day…
by hansman1982 on Apr 13, 2011 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions
Losing 11-2 is way better than wining 5-4
I knew this game was going to be an ass beating when I saw the recap of the game on 4/11.
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Apr 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT reply actions
wait.....what?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
You know when people complained because the win wasn't easy enough
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Apr 13, 2011 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
"Way better?"
Really? So, hypothetically, if you were given the choice between 0-162 in beatdowns or 162-0 in close games, you would take 0-162?
by Mulhollandmania on Apr 13, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Sarcasm
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Apr 13, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Sometimes baseball surprises you.
This was not one of those times. Last night’s game was doomed from the outset and, aside from Colvin’s hitting and a couple of good defensive plays (and Marcus Mateo — is he a major league pitcher yet?), it was just comedically bad. I see Thomas Diamond was awful for Iowa last night, too, so I’m officially out of ideas for the fifth starter. Damn the torpedos, let the chips fall where they may and may the force be with you.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Most of us thought this team would hang around .500.
They have lost two starters. So they will probably do worse until (and if) they come back. They can still win the series and go to Colorado with a .500 record. I haven’t changed my opinion on this team. If Wells comes back soon, they can still be a third place team.
IMHO, it's not so much about losing,
it made me sick to watch how they played last night…it was literally a “comedy of errors”
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Ever since Carnac was hired and the new bench coach things havn't been the same
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Apr 13, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
its funny you put that picture up, cuz it made me think...
is a successful GM someone that can look into the future of an organization and make as many right moves as possible?
and does a manager make all his decisions, concerning his current team, based on how he thinks the game at hand and then the season is going to be played out?
is the talent of a GM and manager evaluated on how well they can predict the future?
:)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
No...
it should be evaluated on how well they’re able to evaluate, pay for and utilize talent.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
...you mean in the present, right?
I guess that’s why I could never make an educated opinion concerning our top dogs. I read both sides of the argument, good guys-bad guys, and I want to keep jumping back and forth. I’ve spent more time on the “not really impressed yet” side tho.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
they KNEW they were going to lose
google dwight howard’s dunk over jrue holiday if you want a visual of what the CUBS felt like last night…
it might be the best posterizin’ i’ve seen in a looooong time
"I’m not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you (hanley) might wind up on the floor on your rear end," Dawson said with Tony Perez standing by his side in a coach’s office at Sun Life Stadium
my impression was the team that was on the field last night won't even be a third place team.
that said, I haven’t given up hope, springs eternal and all that. I don’t care who’s driving this bus, Hendry, Ricketts or Quade, but we’re not going anywhere if that’s the kind of baseball we play.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 13, 2011 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
The 2006 Cubs were 9-5 after 14 games
Look how that turned out
Question
Watching Michael Bourn fly around the bases last night I started wondering why the Cubs have never really produced a real base stealing threat really ever. Even the fast guys (Castro, Barney etc…) are not guys pitchers really feel they have to guard against stealing when they get on base. I know Wrigley is a homer-happy place and the Cubs used to rely on the three-run home run to generate most of their offense, but it seems like the fast guys they do acquire usually only get to show off their speed by beating out the occasional ground ball here and there. Do the Cubs have anyone to teach young, impressionable talents how to pick up pick off signals from the pitcher or how to get a good lead off base? I mean, c’mon, ONE SB so far this year? Ridiculous.
Johnny Knox is so fast he lives in the future
The Cubs, as an organization simply don't value the SB
and I know there are some on here that will argue the value gained by the SB isn’t that much.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
More basic - they haven't place much premium on speed
And I think that has hurt them more on defense than in losing stolen bases.
They're just plain DUMB when it comes to speed...
they go get the Gaithrights and Perezs of the baseball world.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I do make that argument.
I agree with you, the Cubs as an organization have not put much value on team speed — that is something that DOES have value. While IMO it’s not necessary to have “a speed guy” on the team, it’s also not good to have a team where the team leader in SB might have less than ten.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Though I will say, some of it has been some bad luck or poor planning
But there was an ATTEMPT to have speed on the team. Lee was a 20+ SB guy early in his career, and they thought Soriano was going to be MUCH more of a SB threat than he has turned out to be.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
You guys are flat out wrong!
It says so in the song!
“They got the power, they got the speed… to be the best in the National League.”
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
More power and fewer Ks
But I don’t recall hearing about his speed.
"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
Well, I think he was considered to have decent speed
but I don’t think he was ever considered a “base stealer”
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he was supposed to be smart on the base paths
But not really more than a 10-20 stolen bases a year guy.
The baseball organization...
…hasn’t valued a lot of important things over the years such as; long term planning, building balanced rosters, having and sticking with a solid baseball philosophy throughout the entire organization. All these things are what you see in teams that compete, year in and year out.
The Cubs have been a “fly by the seat of your pants” type of outfit that simply doesn’t posess the brain power to do the things I mentioned above.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
A very insightful post
If you only have two planning horizons…the All-Star break and the Winter Meetings…you’re doomed to fail.
You have described a few teams, but the Twins come immediately to mind.
Isn't that Bobby Dernier's job?
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
That could be changing
Tim Wilken is a “tools” drafter. A lot of the younger players coming up through the system that were drafted or signed by Wilken now have at least good speed -Brett Jackson, Castro – and some have great speed – Szczur, Lee (gone, but you get the point) .
I expect the Cubs of the future to be a more speed and defense oriented team assuming Wilken continues the drafting.
While last night was "only one game"
It truly embodied everything that is wrong with the current state of the Cubs… from “planning” to player execution.
Most of the planning issues have been hashed, rehashed, and even turned into hash. Still there are a couple of elements about last night’s “plan” that bear further repeating.
No matter how you feel about James Russell as a major leaguer (effective LOOGY, intriguing arm, cannon fodder), starting ANY pitcher in a major league baseball game where they probably can’t throw more than 60 pitches is a recipe for failure. There isn’t even a “best-case scenario” outside of the ridiculous (“well, if Russell channels Sandy Koufax and the Astros all swing wrong-handed at the first pitch, he might go five innings!”).
To not have an organization where you can call up a player who at least has the chance to make it into the 4th inning is an executive failure from top to bottom. Would the Cubs have won last night by calling up Thomas Diamond, who got shelled in AAA? Very, very unlikely. But he may have pitched into the 4th inning… which has value when looking at the subsequent days.
Yes, few teams would have a “good solution” when 40% of their rotation goes on the DL. But fewer still would be the teams who would come up with a LH reliever who can’t get out righties, can’t throw more than 60 pitches, throwing against a dominantly RH line-up in a bandbox, with a shoddy defense behind him, as the “solution” to this problem. There was simply no chance this ended well.
So the pitching plan was doomed from the start… and still the Cubs couldn’t salvage the one possible silver lining. Since the plan was basically to forfeit the game, they should’ve gone all the way… by rolling out the spring training line-up. Your regulars need rest… why not do it en mass last night?
Send these guys out there, clap your hands and say “go get ’em!”: SS Barney, 2B Baker, RF Colvin, LF Soriano, 1B Pena, CF Johnson, 3B DeWitt, C Hill, P Russell. I mean, if you’re committed to losing, which the Cubs were, then get some benefit out of it (the days off that have to be taken anyway).
So the planning was epically terrible. The awful effort on the field (defense and hitting with RISP) bordered on laughable.
Most importantly, last night’s game basically embodied the death of hope for this season… and as a person who cares waaaaaay more than he should about the fate of the Cubs, that hurts.
“Anything can happen blah blah blah one game blah blah blah.” Granted, it can hardly get worse, but ask yourself this: what logical reason is there to think any of the following can/will be fixed this season??
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
by fsuapollo on Apr 13, 2011 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 13 recs
"Logical reasons" and Jim Hendry/Mike Quade are turning out to be incompatable.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions
This simply has to be green
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Just curious what your solution would have been
I get the complaint, we all do… but who would you have put in there?
I've noted in other posts that I would've gone with Diamond.
I don’t think he’s much, if at all, better than Russell… but he has a couple things going for him:
Being right-handed against a predominantly right-handed line-up.
Able to throw 100 pitches.
So instead of 1+ innings and no chance of winning with Russell, you get three or four innings and a nominal chance of winning.
Even Diamond for three, Shark for three, and Stevens for two (no real need to even plan on pitching the ninth… but if it is in play, you have your good relievers) would’ve been a better job of handling the pitching staff.
And I honest to goodness would’ve rolled out the line-up I posted.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
by fsuapollo on Apr 13, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear you...
and it kills me too, but the pitching plan (regardless of which one was chosen) was doomed. The ‘reliable’ bullpen guys were spent, the defense sucked, and we can’t hit Brett Myers. I don’t see how Diamond for 3, Shark for 3, Russell for 2 does us any better. The complaint is legit, but there isn’t a solution other than have everyone healthy… this team has no room for error.
The "advantage"
in “my” plan is giving yourself a better chance to win tonight. Last night was a punt… basically no doubt about it.
But, if they had pitched Diamond, Shark, Russell/Mateo (see FWIW addition), then you’d have Grabow and Russell/Mateo more readily available for tonight’s game in the event of an extra-inning affair and/or “Z” meltdown.
The goal of “my” plan wasn’t to win the game last night… that was unlikely no matter the strategy… but to lose/compete more intelligently.
There are two other residual factors. I believe Russell will lose some confidence. He didn’t do that bad, but it clearly didn’t go well. And maybe the bigger issue is that it seems the Cubs line-up mailed it in last night, knowing they would be down early (and probably big). That second point may not change that much with Diamond in place of Russell, but at least Diamond is sort of a starting pitcher.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
FWIW
need to add a small edit here. Swap Stevens for Russell or Mateo… since Stevens would have likely been shipped out to promote Diamond to the big club.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
They may ask for volunteers from the crowd
Sort of like the Who after Keith Moon passed out at the Cow Palace…..
wow, LOL, that isn't the answer I was expecting. That's funny. My family and I are attending that game and my wife is wondering who she is going to see.
by Roxman4ever on Apr 13, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
At the moment it appears it's going to be Casey Coleman
so……………………..she’ll get to see the Rockies record a victory
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
you all have no faith in your pitching? Its looking like that jason Hammel is going for the Rox.
I am no way speaking bad of the Cubs when I say this….But, the last 2 times that Hammel has faced the Cubs. In 2009, Tulowitzki hit for the cycle, in 2010, Gonzalez hit for it also. But, here is where the mojo changes. Tom Gorzalanny (sp) started both those games for you guys and now he is gone. I find it kind of interesting that Hammel started both those games and that happened.
by Roxman4ever on Apr 13, 2011 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
We speak bad about the Cubs all the time here....
there’s much more material to discuss that way.
We tired the “speaking well about the Cubs” thing, but after 10 minutes the long drawn out silence felt really awkward.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
There are only 5 teams that I dispise
In this order, 1. GIANTS 2. DODGERS 3. PHILLIES and 4. YANKEES and 5. RED SOX. Otherwise, I will not talk bad about any team.
by Roxman4ever on Apr 13, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
She's a big Cubs fan. As you can tell who I like by my name, however, I am a Cubs fan also, always have been
Just not as much as my Rockies. Its all in fun and we like to have a good time with the littel rivalry we have.
by Roxman4ever on Apr 13, 2011 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for stopping by.
Always like to have good discussions with fans of other teams.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Thanks
We need a series win against Houston, or this blog is gonna get nasty. I wish the rockies luck in 156 of there games, but Lose the other six
For the people complaining about the Gorzo trade.
1. While Gorzo was a nice pitcher to have, and certainly would be of use right now, he was not going to make or break this mediocre Cubs season, nor was he a part of the long term picture of this franchise.
2. You won’t be complaining about this trade, when Michael Burgess is hitting 30+ bombs a year in a Cub uniform.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
The last time an outfielder hit 30 or more HR for the Cubs...
was 2007. Heh.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Agree
Except, change that “when” to if.
Burgess just as easily could flame out. After-all he is on his third try in A+ ball. He needs to be moved up to AA.
Yes, he needs to be moved up
He’s hit 4 HR’s in 20 plate appearance so far this year. It doesn’t look like he’s got too much left to learn there.
by jerry morales rules on Apr 13, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I certainly think we got good value for Gorzo.
I also think that the primary motivation was financial – and, to a lesser extent, to try to restock the system. Burgess is at least interesting, but let’s not start writing him into the MLB lineup and counting on 30 bombs just yet.
Bottom line – this team wasn’t going anywhere with Tom Gorzellany. Or without him. He was absolutely never going to be a major contributor to a good Cubs team.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Apropos of nothing
The White Sox just blew their third save in their last six games.
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The Twitterverse provides
CarrieMuskat
#Cubs lineup @ #Astros (4/13): Castro SS, Barney 2B, Byrd CF, Ramirez 3B, Baker 1B, Soto C, Soriano LF, Colvin RF, Zambrano P
"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
Excellent way of giving Pena a day off
He blows against lefites and Baker rakes.
His status is: Sub Par
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I try not to hate on other teams but
I’m really enjoying Hawk Harrelson’s meltdowns during these blown saves. Mercy!
Hawk Harrelson makes hating on the White Sox pretty damn easy
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 13, 2011 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions
There's nothing better than a Hawk Harrelson whine session...
…they’re classic. Throw in that blubbering sidekick of his and it’s TV at it’s best. Somewhere Bobby Jenks is snickering.
I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
Harrelson is at the top of my hate list. What a d bag.
THIS IS THE YEAR!
by CubsPanthersTarHeels on Apr 13, 2011 6:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Where's the pre-game thread? Must be hard for Al to talk about this team anymore.
"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.
LOL
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 13, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions
LOL
Two hours to gametime is standard for pregame threads. 18 more minutes.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
james russell
a bad idea to begin with. the man is a reliever. who could have seen cashner and wells both going onthe dl after one game? bring a starter up. and signing all these 36-38 vyear old pitchers??? i was expecting big things from wells,and cashner?maybe he should stay in the pen rather than have him end up as another kerry wood.
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Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
