Ryan Dempster And Cubs Stink Out Start Of Trip Against Diamondbacks
by Al Yellon on Apr 29, 2011 7:45 AM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Recaps
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The Cubs lost to the Diamondbacks 11-2 Thursday night in Phoenix.
Much more entertaining than the game was the Twitter spat I got into with ESPN's Buster Olney. Paul Sullivan thought it was, too.
Here's what happened. Ryan Dempster had absolutely nothing in the first inning; in the shortest outing of his career (one-third of an inning) he gave up four walks, four hits including a grand slam to Stephen Drew, and he hit Justin Upton with a pitch. Upton slammed his helmet down after he was hit.
No big deal, right? Well, Justin Berg, who relieved Dempster, also hit Upton when he came to bat again in the third inning.
Olney was convinced that this was intentional and that Barry Enright (or another D'backs pitcher) would retaliate. By this time the score was 10-1. What manager would risk waking up a somnolent team like the Cubs by possibly starting a beanball war? I said "no way", and it turned out I was right -- no Cubs were hit, and they went down mostly meekly the rest of the game.
In case you didn't see this via Twitter last night and you want to check out the Twitter war (complete with typos from me, as I was tweeting from my phone), here's my Twitter feed and here's Buster Olney's. (Man, is Olney's hard to read with that background.) Olney tweeted at one point regarding a Mark Grace comment on the air: "Grace speculated on D-Backs' broadcast that inside fastball to Pena might've been attempted retaliation". Well, you all know my opinion of Grace as a broadcaster. There was really no call for any retaliation, and an inside pitch to Carlos Pena was "attempted retaliation"? Nonsense, in my opinion. Dempster just had nothing. And the idea that Justin Berg hit Upton intentionally assumes two things:
- that he was actually ordered to do it, and
- that he has the control to hit a batter when he's trying to
Considering we're talking about a pitcher who had a 1.625 WHIP in 2010 and who has already issued three walks in 6.2 innings this year, that just doesn't seem possible.
In any case, the more important issue to deal with this morning is:
What's wrong with Ryan Dempster?
Dempster had a solid year in 2010, although his ERA and WHIP were their highest since he joined the Cubs rotation in 2008. He had an excellent spring training. And then Opening Day hit and he hasn't been good at all. It doesn't appear that he's injured -- his velocity is good -- he just has no command of his pitches, and when they do get in the zone, they get hit a very long way.
In 2009, after the birth of his daughter Riley and the subsequent complications with her health we're all familiar with, Dempster got off to a rough start. After Riley's condition stabilized, so did Dempster's pitching -- he had an excellent second half (2.82 ERA from Aug. 1 through season's end in '09) and was fine last year. Could something off the field be affecting him again? It's easy to say that players shouldn't let personal issues affect their play on the field, not necessarily so easy to do in reality. I hope this isn't the case, and I have no specific knowledge of anything that might be going on in Dempster's life, but if there is something wrong, they (meaning both he and the team) need to get it fixed.
And just to move this game from the category of "absurd" to the category of "more absurd", Koyie Hill provided half of the Cubs' scoring with his first home run since August 31, 2010 (and only the seventh of a 789-plate appearance career).
Finally, speaking of Twitter, check out Mike Quade's reaction to Ozzie Guillen's Twitter rant (following Ozzie's ejection) the other night:
"I will never get in trouble tweeting, twittering, tweetering — I can't even say it — because I will never do it," Quade said. "I don't have the time, energy or know-how, and I'm real happy about that."
Quade has a BlackBerry but said he has no interest in setting up a Twitter account. He wasn't even sure whether one had to pay to start one.
"You just push the right button, and all of a sudden, you're a tweeterer?" he said.
A "tweeterer". Well, at least that's some comic relief after last night's mess. The Cubs will try again tonight with Carlos Zambrano going. He's almost certain to last longer than Dempster did. (We hope.)
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Justin Berg walked the pitcher to load the bases at one point
It’s pretty ridiculous to think he had enough control to intentionally hit upton
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Like I said
Much more entertaining than the game.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
wilf - LOL
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
OK, so it's hard to type late at night on a smartphone keyboard.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
You can tweet from big computers too, y'know.
"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
Difficult to carry around, however.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
It is almost like calling Kate a pilf and future qilf...
Smartphones and typing don’t mix well at all.
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 29, 2011 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I'm like Quade.
I couldn’t make heads or tails out of it.
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
I didn't see the game...
…but unless the guy showed up the Cubs (like Soriano does admiring his homeruns), I don’t see why they would have gone after him later.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Meh.
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
I think the wheels are coming off.
If Dempster doesn’t get better fast, we’re pretty cooked.
Didn’t watch the game last night, and I won’t likely watch much the next couple days — friends in from out of town. But I think we’re in some serious trouble, folks.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
We're pretty cooked anyway
Had Dempster given up 3 runs, we still would have lost.
This team is bad from top to bottom. Much like last year’s team.
Sadly, also like last year’s team, as bad as the team’s talent level is, the manager is compounding the problems with poor decisions like continuing to put Pena in the middle of the order and benching Barney (despite getting a day off the day before) in favor of Baker (batting 3rd against a righty)
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Not necessarily
Your psyche is different when you’re down 10-1 vs 3-1.
down 10-1
you dont swing at the first pitch, you grind it out, you slow things down and make them keep their foot on your neck, you dont swing at the first pitch and keep your own foot on your own neck.
"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
What does that have to do with this team still losing if Demps gives up 3?
Just because we lack a solid approach when down big early doesn’t mean we use the same approach when down 2 runs early.
i think everyone is saying the same thing here
Basically the team has so many deficiencies the point is that even if the starting pitching is rolling one night, the offense doesn’t come through or the defense falls apart…It is an alarming fall from the best team (in the regular season) in 2008 to among the league doormats today. I don’t really see how Hendry can have a job next year after the Pena debacle.
by BeltwayCubsFan on Apr 29, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Peña isnt a debacle
it was a 1 year gamble that he could come back after an injury to his plant foot…if it was a 2 year deal then it would be a debacle
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
agreed
It seemed like a decent gamble, but this was not going to be a big year anyway.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
like I said in the pre-season
they were making an attempt to compete in a season that I think they knew was going to be tough to compete in without throwing away a chance at Fielder and Pujols
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
How would Lacnce Berkman look batting 3rd for the Cubbies right now?
Dude hit 2 more dingers last night. He signed with the Cardinals for $8M after having a better 2010 season than Pena. Hendry apparently offered Berkman an $8M one year deal to play 1B and Berkman decided to take the $8M from the Cardinals to play OF. And we go sign Pena for $10M.
Would Berkman have signed with the Cubs if they had offered him Pena’s contract? I’m leaning towards yes for the answer to that question.
amen
hes full of them, but i think its an institutional problem. how can a major leaguer come to chicago and see soriano bumbling around in left and striking out and making 3 times what other guys make and not be offended, just have a good year in the final year of your contract and make a jillion,there is no emphasis on being a team player
by Roman the greek on Apr 29, 2011 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Honestly, if that's true, if we wouldn't go $2 million higher for Berkman
but would for freaking Pena……well that alone should underline why Jim Hendry is a bad general manager.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
If Berkman said no, how is that a shitty move by Hendry?
Hendry is rip-worthy on a lot of moves (like offering Pena $10M), but I don’t see this as being one of them.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Well, if Berkman said no, but I'll do it for $9 Million
and Hendry replied with “eff you, we’ll go get Pena” then it would be a bad move
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll agree with the "eff you" part... ;-)
Remember, we have to go back in time to the offseason to keep things in proper context. I doubt anyone could honestly say back then that Pena would suck this bad and Berkman would be a stud.
IMO, offering $8-10M to any of the 1-year-rental first-basemen that were available was a bad move. Pena, Berkman, Nady – can’t remember who else was available but as a group, they were less than stellar. To me, this was more of a $4-5M hole to fill. Anything more, we’d be better off going with Colvin/Baker or whoever we could get off scrap heap as ST winds down.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Well, that's all well and good, except that clearly the team was willing to spend
$10 million. Because of that, it looks like once again, the Cubs evaluation process compared to other teams’ is sub par. The Cardinals looked at Pena and Berkman and decided on Berkman. The Cubs looked at Pena and Berkman and decided on Pena. Its fairly obvious who made the better decision.
I think an argument could be made that other than youth, there was no reason to choose Pena over Berkman.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
are we getting leftovers? are we getting guys no one else wants
and is JH overpaying them just to get them here? I’m starting to think if its this frustrating to be a Cubs fan how hard is it to be part of the team? Do they think this organization is going nowhere like some of us do?
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
They get paid a lot of money, so there's that.
But I’m sure many of them hope to get traded.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
Honestly, I think in the Berkman situation
he looked at the two teams and decided the Cards were in better position to win this year.
If I were a veteran player who could pick between a franchise that has been well run over the last couple of decades and has a competent manager and general manager in place versus a team that has new ownership, a GM who can’t find his ass with both hands and a team that seems in complete disarray, I know where I’d go.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Im saying
from what i watched, and it was only until the 5th inning, we were down big, instead of taking the grind out approach, our batters were swinging at the first pitch, swinging at ball 3 and 4, hitting right into a shift, not letting a known homerun pitcher give us a chance to hit a home run ( koyie hill excluded), or hit period. either our batters are idiots or Quade is…or both.
"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
This offense has been bad for almost an entire week
We aren’t scoring runs. It has nothing to do with their psyche
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Good
Then nobody will compain when Russell starts on Monday…
Adding idiocy on top of idiocy doesn't make it ok.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm pretty disappointed in Quade.
I had very high hopes. But I don’t disagree with your analysis.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Anyway
I’m not so sure the “wheels were ever on” in the first place. This team isn’t constructed to do anything but hover around .500. It doesn’t have nearly enough offense and its pitching staff is mediocre or worse. Throw in poor defense, no team speed and a manager that hasn’t been very good and you’ve got the perfect recipe for 20 games under .500.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid the only semi-interesting thing that this team has left is to see how Brett Jackson, Jay Jackson, Ryan Flaherty and others may fare given a call-up at some point this season. Otherwise, this team is dead in the water.
"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 concerned
when you said something to this effect the other day, but now I think you are right.
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
The trouble is ...
we’re about to start playing the Reds and the Cardinals, so we need to be on our game.
We’re not. So I think we all better hold on.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I'm still sticking with mine.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I'm glad.
I’d be really nervous if you got on the ledge. That would push me right over.
Fasten those seat belts...
Yes. I just looked at their May schedule.
Without Wells and Cashner, we could be looking towards football by the end of May. And then they get to play the AL. Hendry will be selling off parts in June. I hoped everything would go right. It has not. Hopefully we will have a good, young, developing team to feel good about next year.
if hes not
the ricketts will replace the wrigleys as worst owners
by Roman the greek on Apr 29, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Personal problems? Playing through an injury? Dempster just isn't Dempster right now.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Personal problems
I am very sympathetic to the personal challenges in the lives of ball players, who among us hasn’t had a crappy day at work when things are rough in our personal lives.
That said, comparing his performance this season to the start of 2009, this seems different. In 2009, he just didn’t seem sharp, which made sense. Now, he just seems bad. Count me in the injury speculator group.
Eamus Ursuli!
If he got hurt, it's been since spring training
… because he was outstanding in spring training.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Good point
but this just seems weird.
LIke I said, in 2009 with Riley’s complications he seemed a bit off, much like I feel when things are rough at home. You know the “life in a fog” feeling. But 2011, yikes, he just looks really bad.
Eamus Ursuli!
Yes, but with two down already, he might be trying (rather unsuccessfully) to tough it out.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I thought this might be the case too.....toughing it out with two hurt.
Could he have a “dead arm” that pitchers get early in the season? If so, it’s been dead for a couple of starts.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
Isn't it usually midseason before "dead arm" time?
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Didn't Lilly ...
have a really bad start to 2008, before he righted his ship? I seem to remember him getting crushed at PNC …
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Actually, yes.
He had a 7.30 ERA after his first five starts.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
And Lilly ended up winning 17 games that year.
Of course, Lilly was four (I think) years younger than Dempster is now — and I haven’t heard the same “dead-arm” talk that we heard about Lilly back then.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Have we really heard any talk, one way or the other, about Dempster's arm?
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I haven't.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Strange, isn't it.
conspiracy theory time? ;-)
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
if i were dempster
i’d be screaming from the mountain tops that my arm was killing me and it’s in real danger of falling off because of gangrene….because if he was pitching that way healthy he’s got problems.
"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
He has problems right now, healthy or not.
The question is, are these problems which can be solved and within what kind of a time frame. It would be nice if we knew what the problems actually are.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
My guess?
Dempster has a slight injury that he’s trying to pitch through because he knows that he’d be replaced in the rotation by Thomas Diamond or some guy who sells peanuts outside Wrigley. Dempster probably got hurt Opening Day.
The Cubs would likely say something about dead arm — they did with Lilly. But they might not want to let it out that Dempster has an injury for the sake of gamesmanship.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
when's his contract up?
IIRC he’s got an option this year, team or player i cant remember?
"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
$14 million player option in 2012
Yet another one of Jim Hendry’s If It Could Go Wrong, It Will decisions.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I am far from getting to the conclusion
that this is a bad contract. Quality, veteran starting pitching is not cheap. The first two years of the deal worked out well from the perspective of both the Cubs and Dempster. Two years out of four isn’t good enough, but this season still has a lot to work out.
I do think you are right that it may be a slight injury. I doubt it’s in his arm as there doesn’t seem to be any velocity issues. Maybe an injury on the landing leg?
by jerry morales rules on Apr 29, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Grabow style?
Yeah. That would make sense.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
if i recall
he was a VERY questionable singing to begin with that worked wonderfully for three or four years. i love dempster i’m just not enamored enough to not think that maybe his career has jumped the shark…
"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
Honestly, I don't know what you are referring to
Years ago, the Cubs took a flier on him after he was injured with the Reds. Of course, it was a low money risk to take.
The deal he signed after the ‘08 season, IMHO, was a fine contract. I’m not trying to be facetious about it, but any contract could be questionable. In reality, though, I thought it was right in line with a guy who’s a #2/3 starter.
by jerry morales rules on Apr 29, 2011 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
This is what I kept thinking last night, too.
Either that or he’s forgotten how to throw a slider. I like Demp a lot, but I’m starting to get a little tired of his “I just didn’t execute pitches” excuse. His home run rate is just ridiculous at this point.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
how is that an excuse
I guess that line to me says, “There isnt any other explanation than, I screwed up”
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
The guy's had six starts.
I guess I’d at least like a little more info or at least some more creative language. Again, I’m not a Dempsta Hate-ah, it’s just really frustrating to watch him give him up bomb after bomb almost every time out.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Especially when he's not explaining his struggles.
He hasn’t talked about a mechanical flaw, there’s no indication that he’s tipping his pitches, he hasn’t mentioned having a dead arm and there’s no concrete evidence that he’s hurt.
He’s just bad. Gulp.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I think
Dempster was left in a little long over his first few starts and he probably has dead arm. Doesn’t it typically happen after a pitcher gets stretched out and throws a few games of around 115-120 pitches and then he may have a 90-100 pitch outing 1 or 2 times or maybe take an extra day of rest and then stretches back out. Just asking…..
by Cubsfan Waveland on Apr 29, 2011 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions
I heard a report on another team's pitcher
who was experiencing dead arm, can’t remember who. I thought dead arm came in the spring before they had totally gotten into game shape. Kind of the last step before a full conditioning sets in.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
It was Phil Hughes, Yankees. He has dead arm right now.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
Dead arm defined
Subtle signs of joint instability and laxity become evident, including pain with abduction and external rotation (called a Positive Apprehension Test), tenderness to palpation throughout the shoulder joint, and the subjective feeling of weakness in the arm (Dead Arm Syndrome).
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
Hurt since opening day
Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be unheard of for a Cub pitcher to get hurt so early in the season.
Eamus Ursuli!
You can't really...
…judge a pitcher by ST performance, or even hitters for that matter.
I haven’t seen a lot of games, but his command is clearly the biggest issue, but he also appears to have lost just a little movement on his fastball as well.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Dempster has had
declining stats since 2008 – I dont think this start is simply him declining but I think it may be a part of the equation…he may be pressing to do good and then he did bad making things worse the next time out…the bad part is at this rate he is going to give up 10 runs in warmups
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
It's not lack of effort...
…because Dempster leaves it all on the field when he competes.
I agree with you that he has slowly been declining and his recent woes with command are magnifying a slow but steady decline in his “stuff”.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I strive to be that way.
However, if I bring my personal problems into my job, I’d get fired on the spot.
In any case, I don’t feel Dempster is injured or having marital problems. Just my gut feeling. I think that Mark Riggins may have something to do with it.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
Even if Riggins sucks...
…he hasn’t been around long enough to screw guys up, especially a veteran like Dempster, that should be able to work through most of his own issues.
I just think he is on the downside of his career stuff wise and when you combine that with no command, you get lots of runs.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I respectfully disagree on your Riggins comment.
Even though Dempster is a veteran, he’s bound to listen to a thing or two his pitching coach tells him.
But who knows, right? I’m just going on my gut feeling.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
People should try to keep personal stuff out of work.
But it’s not easy. And I doubt you’d be “fired on the spot”.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
then you need a new employer...
also, you arent under a multi-million dollar contract and a cornerstone to the success of your company like Dempster is…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
I work at the University of Mexico in Chicago.
And I hate it.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
...and did you see Inception?
maybe Riggins said something to Dempster thus imbedding an ill-advised suggestion in his mind…
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
must see movie
DiCaprio is a better actor than I used to give him credit for
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Di Caprio is awesome.
The Beach is a kickass movie and he makes it work.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
well if Demp
is messing something up in his delivery a good pitching coach will notice it and correct it better than a bad pitching coach
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
well we had a good pitching coach
then he resigned with us, then we hired Q, then said good pitching coach ran.
"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
Q had nothing to do with it
Rothschile had personal issues and needed to be on the East Coast
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
meh, whatever the reason
we had a good pitching coach, we now have a crappy pitching coach.
"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
hes got 4 days
to iron out his problems between starts, otherwise he should give back his paycheck for the week
by Roman the greek on Apr 29, 2011 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Once I offered to give back an end-of-year bonus
when I was late on delivering an important project the previous summer. I’ve also privately told supervisors that I’d subtract a couple hours off my invoices when I’ve taken too long submitting designs and web pages. In both cases my requests were refused.
To be honest, one of the reasons I did this is “putting my money where my mouth is”, expecting athletes who are having bad years to do the same.
Ive offered
similar things before knowing full well they would say, no its fine…two big differences: we dont have a contract that spells out how much we will make and for how long and we dont work for unions – if Demp were to tell the Cubs to take back his last month’s worth of pay because he sucked, the union wouldnt be too happy about that
Not a good analogy...try this....
If you show up for work for a month and don’t actually do your job do you give your paycheck back?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions
me too...shhhhhhh
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I had one of those once
Of course, the company folded a month later because of idiot ownership. I would still be “working” there today if that hadn’t happened.
"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
My secret was to be an indispensable geek
There was no concrete reason why I was indispensable, that’s just the way upper management saw me. I kicked ass for a year and nothing broke. I then had no more ass to kick and I sat around for a month. Then the place closed. C’est la vie…
"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 have already spent the paycheck I got today for the last two weeks of doing next to nothing so NOPE! Then again, they could fire me for being on this website right now so bleh
It's one of three things
1) A mechanical flaw costing him some velocity and leading him to throw meatballs. Working on that is the pitching coach’s job. Paging a pitching coach!!!!
2) He is hurt. “Toughing it out” is admirable, but a guy giving up 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning is hurting the bullpen – better off bringing up a kid. The solution to this problem the is the DL.
3) He is done. This seems least likely, given he was OK last year and in ST. Picther declines are normally a lot more gradual than Dempster is experiencing.
well he has
been declining since 2008…granted the wheels dont normally fall off like this but that does happen on occasion
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
'08 was an unbelievable year for him
I think that was an abnormal year. It is hard to really gauge what “normal” is because of his early injury and then because he was a closer for 3 years. However, his ERA for the past 2 years has been lower than his career ERA.
I just don’t think it’s fair to take ‘08 as a baseline and say he’s declining.
by jerry morales rules on Apr 29, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I remember hearing something about Dempster in 2008.
Teams had the lowest BA against him with the bases loaded, and he also had the most situations among NL starters with the bases loaded.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
That caught up with him...
…in the 2008 playoffs.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
It could also be his release point
Not finding it consistently.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
I always have to watch when Z pitches. He's like Marmol.
You never know what’s going to happen.
Demp's velocity
I missed the game last night. Check that, I saw the score in the 2nd and opted not to subject myself.
Anyway, there was talk in the game thread, which I read this morning sort of like being a tourist at a crime scene, about Demp’s velocity. On the game thread it talks of his velocity maxing out in the upper 80’s, Quade made some mention of it as well. But Al says his velocity was fine. Any one know for sure?
Eamus Ursuli!
Quade said, "His velocity's OK."
I just checked his Fangraphs PitchFx page and don’t see anything unusual there. But I haven’t checked Gameday for yesterday’s results yet.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
‘‘I just think his slider’s his bread and butter, and he hasn’t had the quality slider he’s accustomed to. Whether that’s mechanical … ’’
Shouldn’t they KNOW if its mechanics? Isn’t that what a pitching coach is for?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
We can only hope they're working on it.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Look at the Twitter feeds I linked in the post.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
someone didn't read your pearls of wisdom, Al ;-)
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
Don't bother.
It’s really not that interesting.
i thought it was...
I just want to win...
Poster formerly known as Wrigster.
by bilbosbuttons on Apr 29, 2011 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions
It's something with the opening day starters
It seems the last few years whoever starts on opening day has had a rough year (or at least rough first half). Maybe the opening day slot is cursed?
Dang...
… Goats, Ryno, now an opening day starter curse… We sure are piling up the Curses.
Eamus Ursuli!
Hmmm.
Maybe the “College of Pitchers” idea is a good one — for Opening Day only.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Don't know
Wouldn’t that curse the entire staff?
Maybe Silva should have started opening day and then been released.
Eamus Ursuli!
Wikileaks exposes Selig's secret plan...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Did Mrs. Zeke
stop making those voodoo dolls?
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
Wait a minute...if we are going to be superstitious about this...
it may be MY fault. I put my “Opening Day, beginning of the baseball season” decorations away and replaced them with spring/Easter stuff. Of course at the time I thought my ivy and baseball decor was causing bad luck (because they were only hovering at 500). But it seems like they haven’t won a game since. That’s it. It’s time to put the bunnies away.
Fasten those seat belts...
come to think about it...Clutch did use bunny pictures in the game threads for the jump
I blame Clutch!
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
THEY WERE CUTE!
Something about that game needed to be…
"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
they were in arizona
they couldnt find any of the State coeds to show on TV?
"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
Actually, the Fan Cam was pretty good
I was at the bar during it, so I didn’t give an official Grade in the thread, but reflecting on it, that was a solid A-.
"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
...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
speechless
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
......
.png)
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you are to blame Al
from what I have read – you’re foray into blogging started around the time Hendry became GM…also we havent won a WS since you started blogging and handing out your pre-season predictions…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Hmmm.
OTOH, the Cubs have three playoff appearances since I started blogging, which is equal to the number of playoff appearances they had in the 57 years before I started blogging.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
so clearly you need to stop
and then start again…recapture that magic
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Böse Bunnies!!!
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 29, 2011 12:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I just don't know anymore....
This team looks pretty bad. If this team continues to look as bad, I wonder if Pujols or Fielder would even want to come here.
"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"
re:
in the end the greenbacks will $ing the siren call and bring one in.
That said, if the rotation needs to be fixed along with bringing in some corner infield/ middle of the order bats, the money might get pretty lean to make a big payday to Fielder or Pujols.
Eamus Ursuli!
For Pujols
I think it will be more about the $ since he has a WS ring (2nd on his list may be a hitters park) but I think Fielder might care more about winning the Ring
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
you have it mixed up
Vote Koyie Hill for 2011 NL All-Star Team Starting First Basemen!
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2011 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
no, I think
that if the Cubs offered Pujols the most money he would take it, Pujols seems to be a guy who wants his next paycheck in line with his status as the best in baseball – he already has the ring so now its all about getting paid
if the Cubs offered Fielder the most money, I dont think he would take it (unless it was by a lot) if someone that has a team that is setup to win and they are fairly close.
you do know who fielder's agent is, right?
Vote Koyie Hill for 2011 NL All-Star Team Starting First Basemen!
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2011 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Boras gets players a lot of money
I don’t think he actually performs mind control
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions
pena and nady agree!
Vote Koyie Hill for 2011 NL All-Star Team Starting First Basemen!
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2011 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know what that means
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
absolutely
but at the end of the day the decision is up to Fielder…he could very well just goto Scott and say “get me top dollar, I dont care where”
or
he might say, “I want as much as I can but I want a legitimate shot at a ring so unless, KC, Pitt, Seattle, Florida, TB throw an ass ton more at me than everyone else, I want to go where I can get the ring in the next 2-3 years.”
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions
that's what I was thinking....
maybe that’s why JH has made some of these god-awful deals in the past, as a way to convince players to come to Chicago. I’m certainly not a fan of Hendry but it would explain alot. There really hasn’t been anything that would tell anyone from another team that things are going to change here now.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions
24 comments up to now...
… and not a single mention of Hill’s HR.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I think it was covered in SWL's fanpost.
♪♫ It’s a beautiful day for the ladies, so throw all your dishes away. ♫♪
Here's one.
Hill now has more home runs than Pena and Byrd, and the same amount as Ramirez and Soto.
We are in deep trouble, Al.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
OMG. That's something to ponder about.
Jim Hendry is a genius!!!!!
"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.
TJ11?
How did you get into zevkalman’s account?
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Amazing hack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
Hill sure handled the staff well last night, eh?
Demp sure did well pitching to him…
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Sadly, I just LOL'd.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
A sign of how shocked we all are by Dempster's third of an inning...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I predict
he will retire sometime today…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Dave Duncan
Wouldn’t that be something?
Hack Wilson IX
by KO Stradivarius on Apr 29, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Well great
because then we can have the highest paid hitting coach and the highest paid pitching coach
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Apr 29, 2011 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
then we wouldn't have to have the highest paid first baseman!
:)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I think that
1) this could be the start of a very painful month for the Cubs, it seems they are starting to careen and hard to see them not being 8-10 games sub .500 by the time the calendar turns to June
2) of all the players to put on base, I highly doubt any pitcher would try and hit Carlos Pena, because it appears that Carlos Pena has no interest in hitting any pitchers. Sadly, Hendry’s moves have been so bad over the years that the Pena signing doesn’t seem to be drawing the ire it should right now.
3) Dempster’s location was so off last night it boggled the mind. If he isn’t injured it is a real mystery as to what is going on with him
4) Our manager and pitching coach seem a little overwhelmed by the deficiencies right now. It reminds me of the Dusty Baker era, the guy could not figure out the right buttons to press to get the Cubs out of a losing streak. I hope that isn’t the case here.
the Pena signing isnt drawing the ire
because its not that bad…basically they went out and found someone that they hioped would provide some pop for 1 year so we could at least compete for the big 2
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
It drew MY ire.
Nobody in the history of baseball has ever gotten ten million dollars for hitting .196 on the tail end of a three-year slide.
This guy should have been begging for a minor league contract. Hendry should be ashamed of himself. I wonder what it takes to get a GM fired around here.
And Riggins…. Just check out his body language – he’s so unsure of himself.
Hack Wilson IX
by KO Stradivarius on Apr 29, 2011 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed on the Riggins comment.
He looks like he got the promotion because he’s buds with the higher ups.
"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo
It worked for Quade.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Seriously?
He had been doing an excellent job in the organization and he knew a lot of the pitchers that would be coming up. He may or may not be a bust but he did not get the job because he hangs out in bar with Hendry/ Bush etc.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
BA is such a minor factor of success in MLB...
He’s posted an OPS of over 100 7 of the last 8 years (last year included) and he plays gold glove defense at first.
Those kinds of players don’t grow on trees, and you pay a premium for 1 year deals. I applaud Hendry for actually trying to buy low on someone for once, but this obviously hasn’t worked out so far.
Put it in perspective
Do you remember last year when DLee was hitting .230 and Ramirez was hitting .200 for half the season? Do you remember how excruciating that was?
Despite the HR and RBI’s, .200 hitters just absolutely kill an offense. We should never be dependent on such poor hitting in the middle of our lineup. Add a player like that to what we already have, and you are just heaping more turds onto the pile.
Now if we didn’t have Soriano and Colvin striking out, or Byrd failing to drive in runners, you could bury Pena at 6th or 7th. But the fact is, this offense is full of holes top to bottom.
Like WhatsHisFace (Bowden?) said from the Nationals. “They Cubs sure do have a lot of #6 hitters in that lineup.” When he said that, I thought, “Oh, my God, he’s right!” Add Soto and Fukudome to the above players, and we have SIX players who should all be batting sixth.
That’s Hendry’s fault. It didn’t happen overnight.
Hack Wilson IX
by KO Stradivarius on Apr 29, 2011 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
You're still wrong about BA...
If you get on base at a .350 clip, it’s a minor difference between batting .200 or .280.
If you have a good ISO, you can completely negate the BA as long as you are able to make contact in RBI situations.
Well... who's getting on base at a .350 clip?
Pena had a .325 obp last year. So far this year it’s .289. All of his numbers are continuing to slide south. Hard to believe he could get even worse than last year.
And I call bullshit on the thumb injury. This guy is full of excuses.
Hack Wilson IX
by KO Stradivarius on Apr 29, 2011 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Carlos Pena is for his career...
He’s also been above .350 for 4 of the last 6 years. I care where he is in April, but I bet he reaches somewhere NEAR career norms by September.
wow
you are showing your baseball intelligence by caring about batting average…
he only hit 3 fewer homers in 25 fewer at bats and was only off by 6 doubles – add in a plus glove, he hits LH, he is a clubhouse leader and he has been on playoff teams recently
and if his offensive woes were due to his foot injury then you hope for a bounceback year, if he has it but you are out of it he would be easily tradeable, if he doesnt and you are out of it, well it was only a one year deal…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Another case ...
where everything looks good (or at least defensible) from where WE stand — but you gotta believe Hendry should have had enough information to not let this (and so many other moves) go the wrong way.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
with Pena you have to look
at the whole picture…my guess is that he was the only bigger time 1b this year that would agree to a 1 year deal…no way was Hendry going to tie himeself up and not be able to go after Pujols or Fielder…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
I get that.
And I think Pena won’t be this bad for the entire season. That said, we could have signed Lyle Overbay or (hell) gone with Colvin-Baker at first and probably had the same output, saved a lot of money and been available to go for Pujols in the offseason.
Berkman, FWIW, took a 1-year deal.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
ya and this is where
not being in the GM’s office hurts our ability to dig deep into this deal…its possible Berkman didnt want to come to Chicago or demanded far more than he was worth…I would have been 100% ok with giving Colvin the starting nod a 1b but I dont have to sell tickets…
Would have been nice to let Colvin play full time and see if we could get .270 with 30 homers out of him which, considering we would save $20-30 million a year, I would take over Pujols and Fielder at the contracts they will probably get…
I contend they were doing everything they could to contend with a poor team and wanted to appeal to the casual fan to get them to buy tickets…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
That's exactly what they were trying to do.
However, there were other 1-year first base options. I don’t think Colvin was the right guy for the job in a vacuum. But Colvin/Baker and $10 million versus Pena? Well, that’s pretty obvious.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
ya
and we have the luxury of not actually having to put the pen to the paper and make the decisions…instead, we can sit here and bash
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
its not brain surgery
hes trading baseball cards
by Roman the greek on Apr 29, 2011 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
I didnt understand it
so I just ignored it…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions
IIRC, didn't Hendry offer Berkman a 1 year / $8M deal?
Here’s the 1st link I could find about the Cubs being interested in Berkman.
http://www.bleachernation.com/2010/11/24/chicago-cubs-talking-to-lance-berkman/
Ah, the genius that is Buster Olney
Mentality like this is what makes fans “ooh and ahh” when a pitch gets inside with the bases loaded in a tie game. It seems like 80% of fans that attend baseball games think that every HBP is intentional, regardless of the situation.
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 29, 2011 8:27 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Stop the bleeding
Somehow, this team needs to stop the bleeding.
I don’t really care if the Cubs are a 100 loss team, if, those 100 losses are in a season that feels like it is building towards something, not part of a precipitous decline.
One real risk that Hendry and the Cubs took in bringing in Garza and Pena was fostering the perception that this team should compete. That sounded great in the winter and perhaps sold a few more seats. But, that is going to be dangerous in terms of both fan and player morale.
I will be very interested to see how Quade handles a team that is out of contention my Memorial Day (if the ship isn’t righted soon of course).
Eamus Ursuli!
by WGNstatic on Apr 29, 2011 8:31 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
This reminds me, in a way, of 2006.
I know 2006 was derailed by Lee’s injury. But if you’ll recall, the Cubs actually played OK for the first week or so after Lee got hurt. Then, things really went to hell in May and June.
We don’t have an injury to our best player … but I think the pluck/heart/fight that some of us some for the first couple weeks was REALLY a team without a lot of talent — or a lot of still-developing talent mixed with past-its-prime talent — winning despite being worse than the other teams. Considering how bad/injured our starting pitching has been and considering how bad Pena/Byrd/Soto have been, it’s astonishing that we were 10-10.
So, in this comparison, the first 20 games were analogous to the first week-plus after the Lee injury. We’ve gotten by on “Klingon guile” — that’s for you, TNG fans — for three weeks. Now, we’re in trouble.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Let's see what happens the rest of this road trip.
If this continues, then I’d agree with you.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
No, you're right.
It’s an early assessment. But I’m terrified by the upcoming series against Cincy and St. Louis.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I'm still in "wait and see" mode.
But maybe not for too much longer.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
This is the point in the season ...
where I’m more willing to take solace in the truisms — e.g. it’s a marathon, not a sprint and nobody won a pennant in April, etc.
That said, the only reasons for optimism right now are the impending returns of Wells and Cashner and the fact that Garza looks better.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
You know what no one ever tells you about marathons?
It’s still important to get off to a good start. You may not have to be in the front of the pack, but its important to get off to a good start. The Cubs didn’t. We had a weak April schedule and couldn’t take advantage of it.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
ehhh
this team REALLY needed to be 5 games above .500 right now so when the Brewers and Reds got healthy they could coast at .500 until a mid-season pickup
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I keep coming back to this, too.
This doesn’t appear to be a team that’s capable of digging itself out of a really deep sub-.500 hole.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Terrified?
Do you need someone to hold you?
"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
Thanks, Clutch.
Been meaning to look into some nightmare fuel. Saved me a trip.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
My eyes...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
ewwwww
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Why?
Why just those two teams? This team is getting beat by everyone lately and a realist would look at this roster and admit that no end is in sight. They are offensively challenged…again…and even with Wells and Cashner, the offense would still fit that profile.
"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
Castro.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Castro v Lee
I love Castro, and I truly believe that he will be a Cub like none we have seen since perhaps Sandberg, with a decent chance of greatly eclipsing him.
That said, considering where Castro is now and the 2005 that Lee was coming off of, there is really no comparison. And, sadly, A-Ram is probably our 2nd best player now as he was in 2006, and he is a shadow of who he was.
Eamus Ursuli!
Worf helped the Cubs win?
We’ve gotten by on "Klingon guile"
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 29, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
How can you watch a Twitter "war" when there's no way to see both sides at the same time?
Twitter is a great way to quickly “push” information to a wide audience. But it sucks massive amounts of dry heaves if you’re trying to follow along some exchange. It’s like sitting next to a loud-talker on their cellphone on the train – you’re only getting one side of the conversation.
Sure, Al knows what he’s talking to Buster about and Buster knows what he’s talking to Al about. But trying to follow along as a 3rd party is a waste of time. And I don’t know about Al, but meanwhile Buster’s carrying on a half-dozen other ‘conversations’ with other people and it’s all getting splattered on the screen. How do you make sense of all that?
Dan, ‘splain it to me, I’m begging you…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Thank you.
I thought I was the only one that had a hard time following it.
Fasten those seat belts...
It would be a waste of time, but you could do it
You could watch someone Twitter account from a PC and then with two browsers/browser tabs, you can see both twitter feeds. I don’t know how close to real time the twitter web pages are.
But yes, that would be a waste of time.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Twitter clients like Tweetdeck
allow you to view the conversation.
Baseball is back!!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 29, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah, I've used Tweetdeck. Pretty good all-around.
that’s usually how it works – a great concept gets launched but has fails here and there and/or is just missing some key features. Pretty soon a third party app comes along and fills the need.
Cubs need a third party app…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
you're dead wrong
The Cubs need a 4th party app to right this ship
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
time for another Jimmy Buffett concert at Wrigley... :-)
“…some people say that there’s a GM to blame…”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
you mean a Jimmy Buffett
cover band with Hendry on lead vocals…
“…some people say theres a curse to blame…but I know…its my own damn fault…”
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
That might be a good thing these days!
There is some saying that my momma taught me that applies to comments about the Cubs…
Eamus Ursuli!
Why make frequent
mention of teams that aren’t really relevant?
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
I have said this before:
Fail #1
Watching ESPN
Fail #2
Commenting on something that you saw on ESPN
Fail #3
Being a Cubs fan
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
ehhh
I think watching ESPN is that big of a fail…maybe move it to 2…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
You know a game is bad when
you flip back to the Cubs and Len/Bob are debating the Royal Wedding vs. watching a catcher warm up before the start of a game. And they were talking about it the last time I flipped on the game.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
Quade just does not look like big league manager
with the pathetic Jim Essian handclap down 10-1. Are you kidding me?
What about the disaster that has been Mark Riggins too?
This whole things looks like a total disaster with the upcoming schedule….you’re looking at a 2-5 road trip here and then home games with the Reds, Cards and Giants. This team will be lucky to win three of those home games. Now you’re sitting at about 15-25 with roadies at Cinc, Florida and Boston. Wow, this thing will be officially over in about three weeks.
Can’t see how Kenney and Hendry survive this season.
So is Quade supposed to sulk and look dispondent?
Because I’m pretty sure that we tried that last year and it didn’t really do anything different either.
You know, some people are simply positive by nature even when things are taking a crap around them. It’s not a negative nor is it necessarily a positive, it’s who they are.
He looks like a double A manager
sorry, but that’s what he looks like in the dugout with his encouraging handclaps as his pitcher couldn’t get you or I out. This is the big leagues.
LWDYWMTD??
"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
Well, maybe start with not conceding ML ballgames
Repeatedly starting Russell, who has never been a good starter anywhere, rather than trying some of the other options, is seriously stupid. The “stupid” from the dugout is probably factor in team loserness.
Different reasons than with Lou — dolt coach(es) vs coach doesn’t care — but same effect.
wearing that practice top doesn't help any. He was issued a number, wasn't he?
Lou looked less than competent at times when he wore that pajama top. What’s wrong with wearing the jersey?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
They talk funny in New Jerseys.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
He's not the first and won't be the last
Ozzie got thrown out in a hoodie.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I guess you could twitter that at him
I’m sure he’ll respond.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Everyone outside the player level
ought to be updating their resumes. If this continues and multiple people aren’t fired, we don’t deserve Pujols.
didn't you hear??...we HAVE a 1Bman...
our backup catcher
GETITDONEJIM!!
"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
So of course you know what's going to happen...
Cubs sweep Giants at home, beating Lincecum, Cain and Sanchez in the process. Crowning moment is bottom of the 9th of game 3, tie game, Barney on third. Castro rips a wicked one-hopper right back at the pitcher, ball gets lost in Brian Wilson’s beard, Barney scores, Cubs sweep! Cubs sweep!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Everytime I see Brian Wilson
I can’t help but wonder if he’s a man dressed as a woman, dressed as a man, on his way to a stoning.
Fasten those seat belts...
by katie casey on Apr 29, 2011 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
That's a star
I wouldn’t go to one of his halloween parties.
Hack Wilson IX
by KO Stradivarius on Apr 29, 2011 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
If the gods really hate the Cubs ...
Zambrano will have a classic Z meltdown tonight (thunderclap).
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
this is why
you don’t give aging pitchers with a history of control problems a hefty four year contract based on one really good season. hendry is a moron. the amount of money that has been wasted over the last four or five years………….. the things a good GM could do with that money.
Well...
… except the last two years, Dempster was quite good. No one could have predicted this.
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This is another instance ...
of a deal that looked like it could go either way from an outside perspective. There were other teams who reportedly were willing to give Demspter more money after 2008. Hendry got a discount, but it still was a lot of money for a pitcher who was very good in 2008, who was a decent closer the previous few seasons (good in 2005, bad 2006, OK in 2007) and who would be in his mid 30s by the end of the contract.
Even the Byrd contract, which looked like a good deal last season, is starting to look bad. That means you have to go back to the 2006-07 offseason to look at a FA contract handed out by Hendry that either a) doesn’t look like a disaster or b) doesn’t look like Hendry made an arguable-but-logical decision that blew up in his face.
It’s the second category that really concerns me. If all of your questionable moves end up being mistakes, you’re clearly not doing a good enough job evaluating talent.
It’s time for a change, Al. Everything Hendry is touching is turning to sh*t.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_-XSGcjIhM
"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
It's weird, isn't it?
As you have said, and I agree, even moves that appeared logical and reasonable are blowing up in Hendry’s face.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
I think the key is ...
that they look good from an outside perspective. We don’t have access to the same information that Hendry and other baseball officials have.
Many of Hendry’s moves seem logical, but they don’t work out, and in some cases (Dempster, Kosuke) other GMs were willing to pay more. But, en masse, Hendry’s decisions seem to go the wrong way — which has to have something to do with incorrectly assessing talent.
That’s really why I’m ready for a change. Hendry hasn’t rolled the dice successfully in YEARS. Arguably the best thing he’s done since 2008 ended was trade Bradley for Silva, and that’s the most damning praise I can imagine.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Sorry, the deals don't always look 'good.'
I should have said that they look defensible.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
precisely...
…the GM should be in the position (with his staff) to make much better decisions than what would appear to be logical to a typical fan. Otherwise, why not pick a fan out to run the team?
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I've always looked at Dempster as a serviceable, back of the rotation type...
No more, no less.
He has a tendency to fall apart in high pressure situations (as Game one of the 2008 playoffs will forever remind us).
Now the Cubs, in their infinite wisdom, have thrust him into a position, #1 starter (by default), that I just don’t believe he has the mental toughness to handle.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
He was better than a back-of-the-rotation type.
Dempster, from 2008-10, was a good No. 3/decent No. 2 starter.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
by elgato on Apr 29, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Number three, possibly
I tend to think that his big contract and the team’s struggles have put added pressure on him.
The worst thing that happened to him, imo, was the perception that he was expected to be a #1 starter.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Meh.
I think the worst thing that happened to him was he lost the ability to throw strikes. I don’t really think it’s mental.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
No way of knowing definitively one way or another...
…but there’s a definite mental aspect to being able to throw strikes. Google “Steve Blass” or even “Rich Hill” for evidence of this.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh, absolutely.
It’s just my feeling that Demspter isn’t having Rich Hillitis. It’s more that his stuff isn’t as good as it used to be.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Or it could even be a little bit of both
I don’t mean to kick a guy when he’s down and if, so perchance, he IS going through a personal problem, then, obviously, he needs to be cut some slack.
But this is also a guy who, if memory serves, once cried after blowing a save and getting booed. Not exactly the mindset I want in a 14 million dollar “ace”.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2011 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't remember him crying.
But that on its own doesn’t really bother me.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Completely agree...
…No one knows better than a pitcher, when his stuff is starting to decline. I think Dempster knows this and he has become more tentative and thus has put himself in too many “hitter’s counts”.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
And as somebody (was it you, MPH?) pointed out earlier ...
even when Demp was good, he wasn’t a shutdown guy. He walked a lot of dudes and flirted with danger, often getting timely strikeouts or groundballs.
Now? He’s not good enough to get out of trouble.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I just think...
…he has lost a little bit on all his pitches; a little zip on his heater and bite on his slider. A pitcher can sense this quickly and they can be leary of hitting the middle of the plate (because they know they don’t have the stuff to get away with it) and they end up in a lot of 2-0, 2-1 and 3-1 counts (hitters love this). When he had better stuff, he got away with some of those counts, but he can’t as often anymore.
Demp will likely right the ship to some degree, but the good stretches will likely be fewer and farther between.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
right
so we got ONE good year out of that big contract. no one could have predicted him being this bad, true, but again, when you give a guy four years and tons of money based off of one good year, especially when he has a history of control problems, you’re asking for trouble.
I was never happy with that contract...
…it seemed like a classic case of an average pitcher catching lightning in a bottle and parlaying it toward a big payday.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 29, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Can they afford to take that risk though?
They were really backed into a corner.
Honestly...
…I think so. but only because I think Ponder, Mallet, and Dalton all have similar upside.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
True, but Ponder is probably ready to step in tomorrow and start.
I’m not sure on any other QBs that were available.
this is the homer in me
but I think whoever gets Stanzi in the 4th round is getting one helluva steal…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
this!
"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 "This!" I assume you mean you agree it's the homer in him?
I kid, I kid… kind of.
Holy crap are you kidding me?
Stanzi is a TERRIBLE quarterback.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions
wasnt the same said of Brady
out of Michigan? I am not projecting Stanzi to be Brady but I think he will be good.
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
And I think you couldn't be more wrong
but I guess we’ll see.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Ponder was barely ready to step in and start at Talahassee.
Doesn’t he already have elbow problems? And a penchant for losing 4 games a year and winning some 3rd tier bowl game?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Mallet's upside is considerably higher than these guys
Ponder/Dalton could both possibly manage a Chad Pennington-esque career. Mallet could be a slightly lesser version of Dan Marino, if everything panned out right.
Not true at all
Strongest arm in the draft. Good deep ball. Quick release. Good accuracy.
His only question mark pertains his off the field issues, which, admittedly are quite large. I’m guessing the “lesser version of Dan Marino” is what threw you off. Fair enough. But you can’t debate that the tools aren’t there for him to have that type of success, which is what you look at when determining ceiling.
Okay, saying he has some of the better skills in the draft is fine and dandy...
Saying Dan Marino lite is WAY bullish, and there’s nothing you can say to disprove that. It’s honestly laughable.
Also, D98, I think every team but the Vikings would take Mallet over Ponder. But Ponder does have a VERY hot girlfriend, so that helps a little bit.
Carolina fans...
in about 5 years when we are comparing Newton to Leaf…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
HA
it is interesting how he went from a late 1st rounder after the championship game to #1 overall, and if I remember correctly, didnt he get outplayed in that game by the other QB?
I dont know when the NFL execs will figure out that a QB needs to be a pocket passer first and a scrambler 2nd…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Pocket passers don't sell shoes man.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
As a Panthers fan...
The team just needed a quarterback. They were hoping for Luck, but he returned to school. The team badly needed a quarterback, so they went for the best QB available.
Maybe Hendry will sign Jimmy Claussen to pitch, since he loves them Notre Dame boys.
How about the Bears
who made a trade with the Ravens but then forgot to call it in to the league. Sure, the Bears still got the player they wanted, but really a jerk move to the Ravens and will mean other teams won’t want to deal with them.
by Josh Timmers on Apr 29, 2011 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I think a draft pick will get sent over as compensation
Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens management carry more weight with the league than the Bears’ dingbats do
"It's all in the game, yo"
It shouldn't
The Bears got no benefit from the trade not going through. The bears could have lost out on the pick they wanted, by the trade not going through. So this would be a punishment to the Bears.
For goodwill, I’d say the Bears should offer to trade their 5th round pick (29th) to the Ravens for their 5th round pick (33rd).
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
The benefit they got was they kept the 4th round pick...
They got the player they wanted, and will pay him less picking him 29th instead of 26th.
The benefit they didn't get was the 26th pick and the certainty that came with it.
Getting Carimi and what they pay him are immaterial to the proposed trade.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions
The point is, they were trading up to get Greg Carimi...
Just because they got him doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be responsible for what they agreed upon.
The Bears got lucky, if the Ravens didn’t get the guy they wanted, and the Bears didn’t get who they wanted, this would’ve been a massive issue.
No, you trade for the draft pick
What happens after pick 26 is inconsequential to the deal that was struck – 26th pick for the 29th pick and the 4th round pick.
From the Vikings/Baltimore trade debacle in 2003
And now for Baltimore’s version: “The deal wasn’t consummated,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “The deal is not a deal until I talk to Joel Bussert and I never talked to Joel Bussert. … The key thing is, up until I talk to Joel Bussert, it’s not a trade.”
No different in 2011.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 30, 2011 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Jerk is if you intend to do it
Mistakes happen in life.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Not necessarily
If you can’t be bothered to make sure it got done, that’s a pretty bush league move.
Mistakes do happen and that may have been what happened in this case. That they admitted it immediately is a sign that they’re not complete bastards.
However, when I make a mistake, I try to admit it and see what I can do to make it right. I don’t say “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that but since I did, you’re SOL.”
by Josh Timmers on Apr 29, 2011 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions
If you want to see the worst in this, I'm sure you'll find it.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Apr 29, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
all the signs
Say that this is going to be a long, painful season. I am still hoping for mediocrity (.500), but with the starting pitchers exploding like skeet, I am not sure that it is possible.
I usually try to find something to be optimistic about, but I don’t see any straws to grasp right now. Wells, Cashner – get well soon.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
ehhh
considering this is basically a dead season I am hoping for some major suckitude so we can sell off as many players as possible and clean out the front office
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
And here's the REALLY sad part.
It’s only April 29.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
ya
I think you and I were two of the bigger cautious optimists going into the season and we have both thrown in the towel to some extent
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
You know that's not the way it works...
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
*see past two seasons.
"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
At least this time ...
we have more guys coming off the books after the season. We pretty much lost Lee, Lilly and Theriot and replaced them with Pena, Garza and Barney.
Two of those changes don’t represent upgrades (though Garza will be better longer than Lilly will). Barney is clearly better than Theriot.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I have to be optimistic about something
I have lost faith in the team, need to shift that faith to the ownership now…
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Sucktitude
has been the word of this season. I am thinking 71 wins now.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
4 straight losses
Quade must have had a reason for starting Dempster yesterday instead of Coleman. Otherwise what’s the difference between Coleman pitching the first game of this 4-game series as opposed to the last one. When things don’t go right all that is left is second guessing.
The offense has been better than it was last night, but Dempster’s first inning pretty much makes that a mute point.
a moo point
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
Moot.
actually
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I like "moo" better
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
by Al Yellon on Apr 29, 2011 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
yes, it's from Friends
And, I thought that it would be funny to correct “mute” with “moo”, even though it’s supposed to be “moot”. Ahhhh, the moment came and went.
"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk
I think I get it
Answer: When the cows come home.
Question: When will the Cubs win their next World Series?
by AboutTheCubs on Apr 29, 2011 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
He was supposed to b our "stopper" against a losing streak
At least that’s what aces are supposed to do.
What time is todays game...
I’m ready…
You're not deep, You're not an intellectual, You're not an artist, You're not a critic, You're not a poet... You just have internet access.
=========
I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to eat lettuce...
Facebook tells me this
Bud light bleachers introduces – for the bleachers
Free t-shirt Monday
$3 Budweiser’s on Tuesdays
$1 hot dogs on Wednesday
The ship is sinking and fast. Do not worry folks Ricketts will call a press conference and put on those stupid huge Harry glasses and all will be right in Cubdom.
I love this team and will follow every minute of it this season. All though from the ship across the bay – I am not going down with it. Do not yell at me and tell me it is only 24 games or whatever. This is a complete rudderless ship with no direction.
I will simply enjoy the game threads and do my best to laugh because this is awful.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Is that stuff true?
$3.00 beer would be a TERRIBLE idea, especially the bleachers
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080812161034AADNhbX
From the hardest to get seats, the ones the Cubs are DESPERATE to sell in two short years.
Thanks Crane.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, it's true.
I got a press release.
The T-shirt and hot dog ideas are fine. $3 beer in the bleachers is a really, really, REALLY bad idea.
I may post more about this in tonight’s game preview, to get it on the front page.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
And BTW...
… like a lot of Yahoo Answers posts, that one is wrong. It wasn’t “nickel beer” night in Cleveland, it was 10-Cent-Beer Night:
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
While that night was certainly a blight on Cleveland's image, it did produce this little gem
Excerpt from the Wikipedia entry describing that night
NBC newscaster Tim Russert, then a student at the Cleveland–Marshall College of Law, attended the game. “I went with $2 in my pocket,” recalled the Meet the Press host. “You do the math.”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Right.
So someone with $20 in their pocket at one of these games — who could normally buy three beers — can now buy seven.
Disaster waiting to happen.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
Tom is just trying different things to see what works and what doesn't.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I can tell him right now...
… that discounting beer by 50% or more is going to lead to big, big problems.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
He is hoping the drunken riots in the bleachers
will take the focus off the field. Al do you think you can put up some fencing on your row?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Is this going to continue into the summer??
I cannot imagine all those college kids coming home for this in the summer. When I lived on Kenmore (do not get me wrong I loved it) but I saw some crazy shit all involving alcohol.
The best is on opening day a few years back I got home from work from the drunkest guy trying over and over to get into his car right in front of my house. I sat there 20 feet watching and not saying anything and would have only done something if he actually got into the car – which he never could. Reason!! A girl walks by after 20 minutes of this and says to me “What is that guy doing??” I respond that he is trying to get into his car. She responds “but that is my car??”
Anyways – there is a group of Cubs ushers and Cubs security that does a brief walk around the neighborhood after every game for this very reason. One of the big security guys eventually got him to agree to a cab.
$3 beer nights. REALLY!!!!!
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Beer is overpriced we get it
It is overpriced because it can be but it also prevents people from buying too much. This is an absolute terrible idea.
When a team is discounting its most likely biggest earner one must think more silly things are coming.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
LIke lettting Russell start again on Monday?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, I don't know.
Hundreds of drunk, angry, bored people. What could go wrong?
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Wow!
And I thought their rain policy was stupid. Let me get this straight. They can afford doing this, but not give people an exchange when they cancel a game?
Feel bad for those that already bought tickets for the bleachers that don’t want to deal with the kind of behavior this could lead to (especially those that were planning to bring their children). Also, not that I want it because it is a distaster waiting to happen… but it’s not really fair to those that have tickets in other parts of the park that they don’t get a free t-shirt, etc.
This makes the whole “college of pitchers” seem smart.
Fasten those seat belts...
by katie casey on Apr 29, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
between the rain policy, this and the team on the field, I have no more faith in the Ricketts.
I had my doubts….but really, this is idiotic. I have off on Tuesdays and is when I usually go….I dont even want to be anywhere near Wrigley let alone the bleachers.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm usually one of the more optimistic people around here.
I like to give them the benefit of the doubt….but this…this is just…well I’m too much of a lady to say. Actually, I’m not. But out of respect for Al and everyone else, I will refrain.
Fasten those seat belts...
well I will say it for you
they are idiots when it comes to running this business…seriously, it doesnt seem like they have made a reasonable decision in the last 6 months…I firmly believe that I, with only 4 years business experience and very little nuts and bolts (of running a business) could do a vastly superior job to what I have seen.
How in the world TD Ameritrade does as good as it does is a tribute to the employees that work there. Everything they have done has either been, just flat out stupid, lazy, ignorant, or more worried about being flashy than good. I used to give Ricketts and Crew the benefit of the doubt but the way the Cubs have been ran in the last 6 months proves to me that they bought this team just so they could say they owned the Cubs.
You are putting it way nicer than me.
Did you see “The King’s Speech?” There were a couple of good lines in it that I’d like to use right now.
Fasten those seat belts...
I left out A LOT
of choice words and didnt change my title…I havent seen it…being broke does wonders for your ability to stay in
by hansman1982 on Apr 29, 2011 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't want to offend the high class ladies around here.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
Nice
I dont drink beer but I like cheap booze. Seagrams 7 is my drink. 7 and 7. Now thats class.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
I usually stick to gin and tonic.
Most other mixed drinks are just too sweet for me.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
Hey...
maybe a trade to the Braves…Demp for Lowe? Lowe would probably appreciate the $3 Bud night.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ah92OHaBYYf9UfKK6.Q87qERvLYF?slug=ap-lowearrest
I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
Agree - its my biggest pet peeve
Living near LA is kind of scary because of no public transit people make poor choices. The wife and I for Valentines Day – I agreed to be sober driver so she could have some wine. It appeared as if 1 in 5 people driving on I-10 were buzzed a bit
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Consider the Nick Adenhart tragedy.
I don’t think any baseball fan should make fun of DUI. Or anyone should, for that matter.
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What if a clown does it?
"All right, you ragtag bunch of misfits! You hate me, and I hate you even more. But without my beloved ringers, you're all I've got. So I want you to remember some inspiring words that someone else might have told you over the course of your lives, and go out there and win!"
by Lord Palmerston on Apr 29, 2011 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions
how odd that out of the 100 clowns that are in a clown car
that none of them would be sober
Vote Koyie Hill for 2011 NL All-Star Team Starting First Basemen!
by jesus christos on Apr 29, 2011 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Welp, that does it for me
Have no interest in following a team that doesn’t even have a chance.
"It's all in the game, yo"
Join the game threads when it is ugly
Its like sitting around a fire and having a cocktail – seriously though it is as good as a punching bag.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
I don't have time
It was fun when the games were competiive.
But I have no interest when the highlight is a twitter battle.
And as far as I’m concerned, the pitcher who hits the batter in that situation shouldn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
And further, I think the DIamondbacks could have slapped the Cubs’ mommas in the mouth and not woken them up. They suck that hard.
"It's all in the game, yo"
It all depends
I follow a number of minor leaguers and amateurs. I find out right quick about a Cubs minor leaguer having oblique issues instead of arm problems.
I follow a bit on my phone
but people like Cowley ruin in. Get a life seriously.
I follow Bryce Harper just because I really like that kid – I appreciate guys like him who need to be a little wiser then their age and are. Like that McCelroy kid who blew the Masters. He handled it with class. Got off subject there.
Anyways -
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
We will miss you
Live Long and Prosper.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 29, 2011 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll still pop in for interesting threads
that have more to do with larger baseball issues like that Bonds thread a week or so ago.
But the day-to-day nonsense…nah, not interested.
I reserve the right to jump back on if they figure it out. But I’ve never believed that you have to give 24/7 to any team. They have to earn my love. I’m not a whore like Badger.
"It's all in the game, yo"
I hear ya, Worf...this summer is gonna blow...
got a baseball team I enjoy watching, who is one of the bottom 6 of bad teams in ALL of baseball (if not THE bottom one itself)…and a boat I want to put in the water, but with gas at $4 a gallon, makes it hard to enjoy. I gave up golf years ago and gardening sucks. Minor league baseball looks like the “fill-in” until I figure something else out.
I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981
The NBA playoffs will tide me over until mid-June
After that, I’ll probably just lounge in the pool or catch up on Netflix.
"It's all in the game, yo"
I am back in town twice this month to see my new nephew
Do not tell the kid – but I am most excited to do some musky fishing with my Dad. Cannot wait – I love the slow things in life. Baseball and fishing. You can call me Ted Williams.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Seriously
Take in a high school baseball game. I always say seeing the flaws of that level and not the polish of a major league team is fun to watch.
That is why when umpiring I mostly enjoy 14-15 year old kids. Its when they start to get it.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Take up cooking?
Worked for me.
"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
...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
How could something called a "honey badger" be so mean?!
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
That honey badger is one bad mutha...
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
$3 beers= Disco Demolition Night
I often think what would get me to give up my tickets. If i were a bleecher season ticket holder $3 beers would probalby do it. Dont get me wrong I enjoy having a few beers and I’m not particularly happy about paying $7 each and would enjoy a discount but I know what that discount would mean to the game experience especially in the bleachers. Season tickets holders are the best customers paying full price and i guarantee almost none of them drink at the game everyday.$3 BEERS= Disco Demolition Night. In the grandstand you would see some drunks but the experience would be tolerable. For people wanting to just watch baseball and relax, the bleachers good luck, not going to happen.
Yep.
I’ll have more to say about this in tonight’s game preview post.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
and the opposing team better be warned
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Shane Victorino is NOT going to like this one bit.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Im sure it will be an epic rant
If this doesnt tell you the ownership doesnt have a clue, I’m not sure what does. Its actually shocking how out of touch they are. It sounds weird for me to be on the side of "please dont discount my beer ", but thats how bad of an idea it is.
They can't be out of touch...
they have people with clipboards asking quesitons in Wrigley…Tom walks around and chats up the fans. They know EXACTLY what they are doing.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
We'll see whether Tom does any walking around the Bud Lite bleachers on Tuesdays.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Note to self
Dont bring child to tuesday night games.
Am I the only one
who think’s that the “biggest” reason Quade got this job was the good record the Cubs had after Pinella left? I do! Unfortunately when the pressure was off the wins started coming. Hendry got Quade cheaper than Sandberg.
I think this is the one and only reason the Ricketts had JH hire Quade.....
Hendry got Quade cheaper than Sandberg
I really think TR thinks he can still make tons of money even with a losing team.
He is of a mind that thinks Wrigley Field will always sell out
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Not giving him a job isn't "screwing" him.
I’m no fan of Ricketts, Hendry or Quade but the people who seem to think that Sandberg would OF COURSE be doing a better job than Quade are being silly. Did anyone think Quade was this dumb last September? I didn’t. I wasn’t sold on the guy, but I wasn’t convinced the man was an idiot. I’m getting pretty close to being convinced now.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm actually glad Sandberg isn't exposed to this bad of a team
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I doubt that
There’s been no indications that Sandberg was asking for more than Quade, or even that they entered negotiations with him.
The Cubs have been expanding their overseas free agent signings since Ricketts took over, which flies in the face of the idea that they’re cutting budget everywhere.
by Josh Timmers on Apr 29, 2011 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I will keep this in mind and maybe it will keep that ever-shrinking spark of hope alive a little longer....
The Cubs have been expanding their overseas free agent signings since Ricketts took over, which flies in the face of the idea that they’re cutting budget everywhere.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Apr 29, 2011 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I just saw a Cub's air freshener at the store.
Couldn’t help but wonder who would buy that when they stink so much. No…I’m not getting bitter.
Fasten those seat belts...
Wrigley Field?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 29, 2011 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
It feels like we have reached that point where we won't recover again and it's all down hill.
The game where Castro made 3 errors and we gave up 4 unearned runs, i suspect was that point of no return.
To me last year’s game was when Marmol blew the save against the Phillies and Soto missed that catch home.
Dempster and Pena are this years players of crap. Last year it was Ramirez and Lee. Without out those parts we can’t compete.
We have a lot of players playing crappy other than Pena and Dempster
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Apr 29, 2011 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions
what
is wrong with demp?as he walked off the field he looked like a man with no confidence.a rough month he will come around im sure.demp has done a lot for this team so im not ready to give up yet.
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