May looks like a total disaster for the Cubs
by MikeJW on May 1, 2011 7:22 AM CDT
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PrintStarting Monday night at Dodger Stadium with the Cubs going up against Clayton Kershaw, as we'll send out Mr. four inning, James Russell.
We come out of April at 12-14 against a pretty weak schedule...Pitt, Houston, Arizona--seven times, Padres. That's sixteen games alone. Look at the May schedule....Dodgers, Reds, Cards, Giants at Reds, at Marlins, at Boston, home to Mets and the pirates who own the Cubs. You could realistically say we finish this month at 8-16 or 9-15.
This team is just not good, they have no speed,other than Soriano, they hit for no power at all, the starting pitching will continue to be a disaster this month if Wells/Cashner continue to be out. The only positive I can think of is Barney and Castro along with the back of the bullpen
. If the Cubs didn't trade for Garza--another positive-- this could have turned out to be a historically bad season at the end of the year. I'm thinking almost 95 losses bad instead of about 87 or 88 which is we we are headed.
This is shaping up like May of '06 to me.
One positive, Bruce Levin on his radio show seemed resigned to Hendry being gone at the end of the year if this continues. The media seems to love Hendry so that was good to hear.
.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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ST Louis, and the reds don't seem that good this year
So you never know!!
Wrong on the Cards
they have been the best team in baseball the last three weeks….14-5 and have the second best run/scoring difference in the majors. If they had any type of closer they would have 20 wins in April.
Here's a type.
Ladies and gentlemen, Frankenstudios is proud to present…Carlos Marmot.
Nomadic baseball fan, with no agenda other than observation/conversation/mass confusion/mass consumption.
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Prosecutor: "GAH!"
by victor frankenstein on May 1, 2011 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions
What the hell is Putz doin in there??
Slider envy??
by daily2b on May 1, 2011 9:25 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
do not get
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
no speed other than soriano?
have you seen soriano run lately? he’s not fast. not even above average. castro’s fast. speed is overrated anyway. it’s very possible to win without speed. this team has much bigger problems than speed.
Think he meant no power other than Sori.
Formerly known as BleedsbluinMi.
"You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright. And that's alright with me" - The Boss
Debatable
Next sentence says they also have no power… Just sayin…
by daily2b on May 1, 2011 9:23 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I think it was supposed to read...
This team has no speed. Other than soriano, this team has no power…
Of course, this is just a guess…decipher the babble however you like, lol
They both (stats & bikinis) show a lot, but not everything. - Infielder Toby Harrah
Poster formerly known as Wrigster.
by bilbosbuttons on May 1, 2011 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Icebergs Everywhere! Give up and go home!
Forfeit all of them!
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 1, 2011 9:00 AM CDT reply actions
Seriously....... ledge jumpers...
…… Yet another Cubs suck post and just for good measure, a little gratuitous swipe at Hendry at the end of the post.
The tone of the OP is one that I’m getting really tired of, FWIW. Oh no, look at the schedule, gloom and doom!
I’d like to ask a question- We all know one day we’re all going to die. It’s inevitable. Matter of fact, all of our eventual demises are absolutely certain to happen, whereas it is not absolutely certain the Cubs are going to have a horrible month of May. On that, NO ONE truly knows what’s going to occur. So, my question is, why do any of you ledge jumpers even bother with life? What does it all matter? If you’re consistent with your beliefs, that’s what you’ll do. Just curl up in a ball, never leave home, and wait for the day until you’re all just farting dust. But do you know why most of you don’t? (Most, some of you are hopeless.) Because you have responsibilities, a curiosity, and the hope that maybe something really good will happen today. Why can’t some of you allow the Chicago Cubs the same courtesy? I mean, really, if there was ever an eternally optimistic franchise, the Cubs are it.
So give it a rest already. They lost two starting pitchers right away, yet ended April 12-14, just 3-1/2 back. It’s a resilient bunch. Enjoy baseball, for crying out loud.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on May 1, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 17 recs
and yet the reality is that Cubs should take the opportunity to do what Quade said yesterday on WGN radio
Find more ways to get players into the game who will help the Cubs in the future while still trying to win now and put the best team on the field every day.
OF is Thirty-Something, can the Cubs move Byrd or Fukudome in May and make room for Jackson?
1B, why play a a Thirty-Something rent-a-year player who is batting .159 and no HR’s when a younger player who is also batting horribly .137 but with 2 HR’s can platoon with with another who is batting .364
Then why is Hill taking up a spot when Castillo could be catching two games a week.
As for the delay tactic with Russell…well that is ridiculous, Cubs gambled that two starters would not be on the DL but then again why not Jackson…
The thing is with the NL Central so weak it is perfect to make moves
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
If Quade really said this
Find more ways to get players into the game who will help the Cubs in the future while still trying to win now and put the best team on the field every day.
Why is James Russell starting again?
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Because the next guy in line is Thomas Diamond.
Thomas Diamond, somehow, sucks more than Russell. Not only that, but he’s older and has nothing to do with any significant future.
Diamond, at least, is stretched out to go six innings.
Starting Russell puts tremendous pressure on the bullpen.
No one’s suggesting Diamond start because he has any future. We’re suggesting making do for a couple more starts.
Further, putting Russell in this role ruins his development as a LOOGY.
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Diamond would be lucky to make it 6 innings in the big leagues.
And if you can find me the guy who’s clearly being overworked in the pen then sure, I’ll take that overworking argument as a valid one.
And WHAT development as a LOOGY? How does one DEVELOP as a LOOGY? He naturally gets lefties out. The Cubs want to see what his stuff can do because the only thing about him that screams LOOGY are his stats. Otherwise he’s a big lefty who throws 3 pitches from a 3/4 arm slot…long run they know he can get lefties out…its what ELSE is the 24 year old capable of doing.
I’m really stunned at how this isn’t common sense. Thomas Diamond? SEriously? The guy sporting an ERA around NINE in AAA right now? And you guys want to win and save the bullpen? Please…It’s just groupthink bs…you guys have simply moved on to the next guy to complain about and blame for everything….in a couple weeks it’ll be another guy.
by SenorGato on May 1, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
FYI
Thomas Diamond is averaging around 4 IP a start too…in AAA…which he’s repeating.
The Russell thing is a joke at this point. The guy was like the 10th SP on the depth chart going into the season. He’s only starting because there’s nobody else…there’s nobody else because 5 guys who COULD be in the rotation are out or incapacitated in some way.
If he keeps tanking Davis could/should take his spot soon, and after that there’s Jay Jackson…better find out what they have in Russell now than when there’s a fully stocked pitching staff.
It's clear to me that Russell cannot get RHP out.
Diamond may have a bad ERA in AAA. But he did make a couple of decent MLB starts last August/September.
Or maybe you’d rather have Russell’s 11.17 ERA, 2.379 WHIP, and six home runs allowed in 9.2 innings as a starter — in the major leagues?
Awful.
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It is awful.
And still I’d take Russell over the 27 year old retread sporting a 8.86 ERA at a level he repeated.
More FYIs:
- Diamond walked 18 guys in his 29 ML innings last year. Russell? 11 in 49.
- Diamond’s ERA last year was close to 7 last year.
- Both gave up the long ball. Russell gave up 11 in 49. Diamond gave up 5 in 29. Not too far apart…2/9 vs. 1.6/9…
- Even though I’m not really with WHIP…Diamond’s was 1.759 while Russell’s was 1.347.
I know you don’t care about these facts because Russell’s got your blood boiling, but they matter. Diamond sucks. That’s why he’s not on a big league club, even this mediocre one.
by SenorGato on May 1, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Home runs tell the story.
11 HR in 49 relief innings? That’s awful.
Six HR in 9.2 innings as a starter? That’s horrific.
Maybe Diamond isn’t the answer. But neither is Russell.
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Home rules only tell the story in this case because
you choose to make them tell the story.
NONE of these guys are the answer…We’re talking about filling in for the 5th starter spot in a losing season…the FACT of the situation is that Russel has way more potential to last here than Diamond does, and therefore he should be getting the big league innings in whatever fashion they choose to give.
Thomas Diamond would get rocked just as hard as Russell would, and we’d be giving a guy who has nothing to do with anything next year innings. At least Russell is a legit bullpen option down the road…and he’s got the potential to make Marshall a major trading chip, which Diamond has no shot in hell of pulling off.
thats what mediocre bullpen pitchers are there for!
wait…
Vote Koyie Hill for 2011 NL All-Star Team Starting First Basemen!
by jesus christos on May 1, 2011 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Because having two lefties...
who can get strikeouts but are iffy starting pitchers doesn’t make sense for the long term. This is especially true since Marshall can be FA after next year and just had his best season last year.
Russell, like Marshall, is getting looks in the rotation right now because he’s young, left handed, capable of picking up the K, and they have nothing else they want to see from the likes of Diamond and ABD. Russell, like Marshall, might not be able to cut it as a SP. Russell, like Marshall, might be a better bullpen than starting pitching option. Russell, like Marshall, would then be occupying the role of lefty reliever who can cover innings or maybe grab a key K.
It really, really sucks that this fanbase couldn’t understand a proactive, future oriented, and data collecting move if it ran up and smacked them in the face.
Russell, like Marshall, might be a better bullpen than starting pitching option.
We already know this. Russell was an effective LOOGY last year. He was a terrible starter in the minor leagues and has been a terrible starter in the major leagues.
You are literally the only person here promoting this as a good idea.
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We also know that Russell outperformed Thomas Diamond
in 2010, and you don’t care about that.
We also know that Diamond isn’t offering 5 IP a start in AAA, which he’s repeating. You ignore that.
We also know that Austin Bibens-Dirkx isn’t even a real prospect or option, yet you chose to ignore that.
So why’s it so hard to “know” that Russell is GUARANTEED for life to be a LOOGY and blatantly ignore it?
Being the only person here promoting this does not bother me in the least. It doesn’t improve Thomas Diamond or Austin Bibens-Dirkx as a pitcher, and it certainly doesn’t make it more likely that the Cubs will suddenly start starting them in the majors. Plus, I happened to see 2 posters in this or another Russell thread that understands the situation just fine…so I hold out hope that there are some fans using their brains for this situation and not just reacting with the rest of the crowd for the sake of reacting.
Russell compared to Diamond in 2010 is irrelevant
because one was a starter, the other a reliever.
Those two are NOT the only options. Take ANYONE out of the system; maybe you can find someone that major league teams haven’t scouted before. The Cubs have faced pitchers like that before and done poorly.
We are not talking about a long-term situation. Two or three starts, that’s all. James Russell is NOT the answer, and the Cubs are tossing another game away tonight. That’ll make four so far.
It’s the wrong thing to do and has been wrong since it was first done.
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How is 2010 irrelevant?
It literally just happened, and it was the first time either saw ML competition. On TOP of that, Diamond sucked harder AND is 3 years older, AND is a retread, AND he’s got a surgery under his belt.
And if 2010 isn’t relevant, how is 2011 not? Diamond is 27 putting up a ERA around 9 in AAA averaging 4 IP a start. What improvement are we making by starting this guy? How does he flip tonight’s automatic, no no chance to win loss into an automatic, no chance to lose win? How does he guarantee 6 major league innings?
Starting Russell was the ONLY thing to do and made sense from the first it was done. I can insist too. I’ll continue to do so.
Your argument has fallen so far that you can’t even offer a name, you just dramatically proclaim that ANYONE should get the start. Yeah…I’m dying to see Ramon Ortiz if I can’t get my fix of Diamond or ABD…yuch.
Yes, that's right.
ANYONE who can go more than four innings.
I don’t understand why you can’t see how that stresses the bullpen.
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And I don't understand how you blatantly ignore
that there’s no one but crap like TD, ABD, and Ramon Ortiz after Russell right now. None of those guys are worth bringing up and giving innings to.
How hard is it to wait until Jackson is ready? Or Wells/Cashner to get healthy? Or Davis is ready? The season is not ruined because Rusell is in the rotation, and they don’t plan to keep him there all year long. I’d rather he get the 5-6 starts he’ll probably get than any single one of the guys who could sub in RIGHT NOW.
The season is not ruined because Rusell is in the rotation,
Three games already lost, another one likely lost tonight. You can’t give away games like this.
You and I are never going to agree here. So let’s agree to disagree and move on.
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There goes the pennant
and the WS then.
Oh wait….
You know what's really interesting?
How often you move the goalposts
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on May 2, 2011 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
I find how often facts are just ignored
and everyone is fine with it to be far more interesting.
I’m only moving the goal posts because there’s a gazillion reasons to give these innings to Russell over crap like Diamond and ABD…from handedness to upside to performance to age to stuff to future worth to development purposes….Not my fault your kickers aren’t keeping up.
Honestly, there aren't any good reasons.
But you & I are going to have to agree to disagree about this.
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Doing that would mean that I find your arguments...
valid, competent, and rational. I don’t. You’ve stuck to your agenda, and that is commendable and manly. Unfortunately, it came at the cost of logic, rational thought, and a blatant disregard of the facts of the situation. That’s quite the payoff…
OTOH, I kinda have to accept the copout so there goes that.
Nonsense.
I made perfectly logical, factual and rational arguments. To say otherwise is — well, it’s not very nice, for one thing, and flies in the face of actual facts.
You believe one thing. I think you’re wrong. You think I’m wrong. We should be done, since neither is going to change the other’s mind.
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They can send Russell down tonight
Since the #5 starter isn’t needed until May 14, they can send Russell down tonight and bring Stevens back up.
I’m not sure how Diamond stresses the bullpen less, given that he’s having trouble going 5 in Iowa.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
Good news.
Get him starts and innings in the minors and build up the arm strength.
by SenorGato on May 2, 2011 7:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
You're serious, aren't you.
He’s not a starting pitcher. Go look at his minor league numbers as a starter. Awful.
He’s a LOOGY. Put him back in the major league bullpen where he belongs.
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If he belongs in a major league bullpen...
and has any potential whatsoever to stick there, then he should have NEVER been subjected to being crammed into the rotation for 4 starts.
Here here!
If you’re going to have to lose, which is the 85% probability starting Russell, Diamond, ABD, Ramon Ortiz, Russ Ortiz, Kevin Milwood, or Kevin Tapani… they may as well learn something from it. Specifically, Russell gets valuable experience pitching against RHP so that down the road the team can evaluate whether he’s a LHP that can pitch a full inning like Marshall can, or a guy that can only face LH batters unless the game is out of hand.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
by Invalid User on May 2, 2011 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Too much logic.
Not enough whine.
by SenorGato on May 3, 2011 2:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Russell can't get righties out, his cieling is a good LOOGY.
He’ll never be on Marshall’s level, who is a very good set-up guy who happens to throw with his left hand.
You have no idea what his ceiling is.
Pretending and insisting you do doesn’t make a single thing you say correct.
Clearly the Cubs see more upside in Russell than the garbage you guys have already stopped insisting could outperform him. So…enjoy watching him start, cause you’re not going to get his way until someone who might actually do well (Davis or Jackson) is ready to go.
Shouldn't Russell
be stretched out now?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 1, 2011 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
If he is, he's not showing it.
Can’t get past four innings.
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He's thrown 74 and 82 pitches in his last two starts...
so I expect he’ll be around 90 in his next start.
And still won't get out of the fourth inning.
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You don't know that
… because he hasn’t been tried yet.
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You can't be serious
He was here last year. He sucked. There’s literally 0 reason to expect any better from him.
You have missed the point completely.
Russell can’t get out of the fourth inning. Thus, he overtaxes the bullpen both in the game he starts and in the next game.
At least Diamond could go six.
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I'm not missing the point.
Your point isn’t valid. You’re whining about a guy who can’t make it to the 4th inning, and then promoting a guy who’s averaging 4 innings a start in AAA…where he’s sporting a 9 ERA.
Stop perpetuating bs.
I've been trying to have a reasonable conversation with you.
But you’re starting to cross the line.
It’s not “bs”. Further, as I posted above, you are literally the only person on this site promoting Russell as a starter as a good idea.
It’s not a good idea. I’d grab someone out of A ball before I did this again. It’s a terrible idea, and it will be every fifth day until someone in the organization comes to his senses.
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I'm promoting Russell as a starter
over the likes of Thomas Diamond and Austin Bibens-Dirkx.
What lines am I crossing? I’ve mentioned that Diamond isn’t even averaging 5 innings a start in AAA and you just blatantly ignore it because it doesn’t help your agenda.
It’s an idea you’re going to have to deal with until someone with actual talent is healthy and ready to throw big league innings. This does not include 27 year old right handers with poor performance and no real prospect status. This is guys like Doug Davis, Bradon Looper (maybe), and most importantly, Jay Jackson.
The organization will come to their senses when someone worth showing is ready to be shown.
Nobody has an "agenda".
The line you’re crossing is that you’re claiming future events as “fact”, when they are only “likely results”.
Al, and everyone else, are pointing to Russell’s actual, very VERY poor results as a starter as the “facts” in play.
Where is the harm in trotting some 27-year-old non-prospect out for a spot start the next time the #5 spot comes up?
He may fail, sure!
But Russell has failed every time, too! Worst case = status quo!
And there’s a minor chance the rag-arm non-prospect may not fail! And in the meantime, Russell gets to go back to what he’s supposed to be doing, and gets to try to put the pieces back together in what’s shaping up to be a terrible season for his career!
I think you’re seeing a lot of agendas and conspiracies where they don’t exist. People just want to see James Russell doing what he’s supposed to be doing, and out of a role in which he’s demonstrated a 100% fail rate and left the bullpen to clean up his mess every 5th day.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 3, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
You cannot ignore WHY Russell got the starts.
This isn’t rocket science, and the fact that you choose to ignore the facts doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
I have never said Russell is doing fine as a starter. It’s the payoff from Russell vs. the payoff from guys like Diamond, ABD, and Ortiz. All of them suck, and Russell’s the only one with even a hope of seeing the club in 2012. It’s common sense, epsecially since FIVE guys had to go down for this guy to get the starts…which is a FACT…which you ignore.
Collect your recs though. People actually buy this stuff you’re selilng.
BTW:
The minor chance that one of the guys throwing up an ERA between 6-9 in AAA doing any better than Russell has done is veeeeeeeerrrry minor.
But you keep pretending that the Cubs could send ANYONE out there and would automatically do better because it’s not Russell.That’s a legitimate argument, and since this is home turf for both of you all you have to say is that I’m causing trouble, crossing lines, and CLEARLY a relation to Russell.
Anyway, here’s hoping he remains a starter and eventually shuts up the whiners on this board. Here’s to the likes of Thomas Diamond, ABD, and Ortiz NEVER seeing the field for this team this year. Here’s to the Cubs remaining proactive and giving all their young players looks this year, no matter what role their fans have designated said young player to based on crap sample sizes, context-less performance evaluation, and half (some full) truths.
Oh and last but not least...
Every 5th starter taxes the bullpen. You guys keep bringing this up, but when I ask which reliever is overworked the crickets start chirping.
Basically, this whole conversation has been a whole lot of “you’re wrong, we’re right, you’re the only one saying what you say (which isn’t even true).” You guys have clearly handed yourself “victory” in this little debate anyway, so I guess I’ll just duck out and wait patiently as Russell and the Cubs continue working on the future.
Bleh...really last...
The harm in trotting the trash you guys have been supporting to get these starts is that we’d probably still have a 5th starter with an ERA over 10. The difference being that different guy would be older, right handed, and generally all around more useless. I know how important these April/May 2011 wins SHOULD be to the Cubs this year. I know that because of these 4 starts we have no shot at the WS we were promised. I know that Diamond, ABD, and Ortiz are so well trained at throwing 100 pitches that they could probably get there in super speed (with minimal outs recorded of course). I know that we’ll be hoping and praying all year that the Cubs bullpen recovers from being so darn overtaxed in April/May. Yet, I still can’t sit here and pretend that I’d prefer to see any of those guys over Russell getting those starts.
Or to quote Dan Bernstein
“You’re entitled to your opinion, even though it’s wrong.”
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
I don't get the obsession with Diomond
Who is having an AWFUL season in Iowa.
I would put this order of guys we should try
Ortiz
Millwood ( actually first but not here yet)
Jackson
Mathes
Oliver Perez
Silva
Russell
Diamond
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on May 2, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Um Diamond
He is still awful
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on May 2, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
not Diamond
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on May 2, 2011 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Exactly.
He and the similarly awful dirks are next in line until June since everything wrong that could happen did happen to the back of the rotation. Theyd be just as awful without the tag of being a useful big league arm later in the season.
Maybe Ortiz, but if that’s the case I’d rather just wait for Davis or Jackson. Russell may suck, but it’s worth more to find out what he can do than watch retreads and old guys get rocked.
by SenorGato on May 2, 2011 3:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
CHAD FOX CHAD FOX CHAD FOX
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
Ditka's mustache can kill two stones with one bird
You forgot a few ahead of Diamond
Rick Reuschel
Paul Reuschel
Greg Maddux (but that would delay his HOF induction class)
Micah Bowie
Mike Harkey
Doug Dascenzo
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
And then proceeded to throw up an ERA around 8
the rest of the way.
Why am I still doing this debate? Theres’ two people arguing what I’m saying and neither one cares about the facts of the situation. I’ll leave you to your whining.
Well, guess what.
Russell has a starting ERA over 11. I hope you’re happy with tonight’s loss.
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Tonight's game hasn't been played Al.
And having an 11 ERA in your first three major league starts>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an 8.86 ERA while repeating AAA at 27 after bombing in the majors last year.
Not that you'll let a fact like
tonight’s game not being played yet get in the way of this little agenda of yours. Who cares that it hasn’t been played? Who cares that Thomas Diamond hasn’t gone 6 innings in a start since his big league debut? Who cares that Thomas Diamond is throwing up an ERA around 9 in AAA? Who cares that ABD is throwing up an ERA around 7 in AAA after he sucked there last year too? Who cares that they’re older? Who cares that it took injuries to Cashner/Wells/Looper/Wellemeyer PLUS Coleman being used PLUS Jackson having problems for Russell to even get a start this early? Who cares about these facts, right?
They don’t matter. ANYONE could come in and give us 6 innings and wins….the Cubs are just too blind to see it…Yuch…who could actually sit here, read that, and believe it?
by SenorGato on May 2, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
No recs for this post?
It was ownage. Pats self on back
I was in the middle of writing a long post in response.
Then I realized you’re just a troll or a relative of Mr. Russell. So sure, I’ll recommend it. Anyone who agrees with me feel free to do so as well.
GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
by shoemile on May 3, 2011 2:37 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Another member of the welcoming committee?
What do I have to do to get in? Pick a member of the team and start campaigning that player as The Reason in 2011? Or maybe I can just go after the backup catcher because that game changing position is occupied by a bad bad man?
by SenorGato on May 3, 2011 7:55 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
The problem is, you think that we're pushing anyone else because we think they'll be more likely to win.
We realize it’s likely a lost game no matter what, so you may as well trot out ANYONE who can give you more innings and try and save the bullpen for games that we CAN win. Why on earth would we want to have the bullpen guaranteed to throw at least 4+ innings every 5th night when we can call up arms that don’t matter at all to the system and waste innings on them.
by bdlugz on May 3, 2011 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
This is exactly the point.
I don’t know why SenorGato doesn’t see it, but at this point I’m suspecting that he knows (or is) James Russell.
It’s almost exactly like that guy who wanted Aaron Heilman to start so badly.
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by D98 on May 3, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't see it because
I see the reason we got to Russell in the first place. I’m not blinding locking that out of my head because it would destroy what I’m saying…is what I’m saying.
I've addressed this like a billion times.
1. There was no one else. It took Wells/Cashner/Looper/Coleman/Jackson/Wellemeyer ALL going down in some capacity to get Russell into the rotation in the first place. The guy wasn’t plan A, B, C, D, or E for the 5th spot.
2. Thomas Diamond hasn’t thrown 6 innings in a start since his major league debut. He’s currently sporting an 8.86 ERA in AAA averaging less than 5 IP a start. This, like my first point, has consistently been driven around simply because it’s a fact and facts are hard to take on head on.
3. Austin Bibens-Dirkx is even more of a non-prospect than Diamond. He, like Diamond, is repeating AAA. He’s throwing up an ERA around 7. His ERA in AAA last year was over 5.
4. It gets worse after that. ANYONE is not an actual person, and is therefore not a real, actual solution you people are offering. What ANYONE is is a cry…or a whine…which…well it fits.
5. Why is there this ridiculously stupid assumption that this ANYONE who gets called up will automatically come up and save the bullpen? Why is the bullpen in such desperate need of saving in April/May anyway?
I’ll rec your post too though. Totally deserves to be green.
In order.
1. Maybe not for his first start. By his 3rd or 4th, there definitely was.
2. Yes he has – granted, it was in AAA. He only got 3 MLB starts, and went 6 innings in one of them.
3. I don’t care. I also don’t care about “repeating” AAA – it’s not a prospect league, and they aren’t prospects. It’s a “replacement player storage” league.
4. Strawman. Ramon Ortiz could have gone last night.
5. Because people see James Russell as a potential asset in the bullpen, who is getting his ass kicked as a starter and leaving the now-James-Russell-less pen to throw 5 innings every 5th day in a season where the other 4 starters are ALSO having trouble going deep into games.
No one is saying “Thomas Diamond is better than James Russell”. They’re saying “This is not working, in fact, it’s not working on TWO fronts – and it’s time to change the plan.”
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 3, 2011 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
In order too.
1. Who were these options?
2. Was that at the end of last year or something? It hasn’t happened this year or since that 6 inning major league debut.
3. You not caring doesn’t actually matter though. No one wants to see a 27 year old with mediocre stuff and a checkered medical history get ML innings after/while throwing up an ERA around 9 in AAA. No one wants to see a 26 year old non-prospect RH without power stuff who is also sucking in AAA. No one wants to see a guy who’s tagline is “I won a WS game 9 years ago.” They don’t improve the situation at all. It’s a lateral move (with far less long term upside), whether repeating AAA is important to YOU personally or not.
4. Except that no one wants to see Ortiz at all. Not sure what’s so devastating about a 5-2 loss against a damn good Dodger team anyway…it’s not like Ortiz would improve that.
5. Um again…James Russell got his starts because Wells/Cashner/Looper/Coleman/Jackson/Welly ALL went down. No one doubts Russell’s ability to pitch out of the pen. They’ve been talking about making him a starter since last year, and when FIVE guys went down they saw a chance to give him those innings. The bullpen, somehow, has survived pitching 4 innings every 5 days despite those incredible demands.
I’m not saying Russell is a good starter. I’m saying he had plenty of reason to get those 4 starts. One of the biggest reasons is that every option after him absolutely sucks.
1. The other option have been Ramon Ortiz and Thomas Diamond
2. It HAS happened this year. Diamond went 6 innings on 4/18/11, allowing 2 ER.
I hate to play the “if you leave X stat out” game, but Diamond’s 9 ER, 3.1 IP game on 4.12 is rather severely impacting his 8.83 ERA. In his other starts, he’s allowed 2, 2, 5, and 3 ER.
Russell has failed as a starter rather spectacularly – a lot MORE spectacularly than Thomas Diamond did in 2010.
As for Diamond – we’re talking about a former BA Top 100 prospect who had TJ surgery. That’s not uncommon. It’s somewhat uncommon to see those guys make their way to being a AAA All-Star – and the MVP of that game – without ever gaining back his pre-injury velocity.
I know you’d rather see James Russell continue to fail at a somewhat unprecedented rate. I’d mix it up and see if someone else can get a hot hand.
You seem to be very willing to discount Russell’s actual, terrible results as an MLB starter – think maybe you can discount Diamond’s 1 terrible start in AAA in 2011? Just a bit?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 3, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions
You can't be serious.
Thomas Diamond sucks. Please stop trying to tell people otherwise. He not only had elbow issues, he also had shoulder issues. Not only that, but he’s never really developed a breaking ball, he doesn’t pound the strike zone, his fastball is low velocity AND flat, and he’s a flyball pitcher.
Also, discounting a reliever turned starter who was rushed into the big league rotation before he got stretched out because of injuries is INFINITELY more logical than discounting some reject’s poor start at a level he’s repeating. You gotta be kidding me…And there’s people here who buy what you’re saying? Lol the guy was a top prospect like 5-6 years ago…who gives a damn…he lost it and never made it to the bigs because of injuries and the lack of ability to polish up his game.
BP’s 2011 book quote on Thomas Diamond:
“Diamond will have to settle for utility pitcher work; since injuring his elbow and shoulder his fastball sits around 90, and he has never come up with a reliable breaking pitch. His extreme flyball generating tendencies eliminate any deception and might make him suitable for pitching only in the biggest ballparks.”
Thomas Diamond sucks. He’ll be lucky to see the big leagues again, and even luckier to make a career in it. I admit that he tries, especially as someone who’s gone through the bs of arm injuries, but he’s not a good pitcher and he does not have a major league future. Russell does, and that is why they are giving him innings. No one cares about what Thomas Diamond can do, because Thomas Diamond is going to have to do nothing with anything resembling winning baseball when it comes to Chicago.
And who the hell eliminates one start?
Does Russell get to remove his Houston start? It would only put his ERA around 9, but hey, it’s better right!
Just an FYI: Diamond without that 6 inning start isn’t even averaging FOUR innings a start. He sucks. He’s not an option for anything but the most desperate times. It really sucks that there’s people here who are completely blind to where this franchise is at and what it’s trying to do this year.
Sorry for the hell.
Even I feel the need to keep it PG now.
OK, Diamond lacks a futurein the majors
But if the team isn’t brining up Jackson to start because they don’t want to start his FA clock, how is that not running up the white flag for 2011? Sending out Russell is one guaranteed loss every 5 games; when a team does that they have to play .625 ball in the rest of their games to be .500 overall.
The team is losing because players are being misused (Russell) or are apparently in serious decline (Byrd, Pena). If management doesn’t fix those problems, they are commiting both sins – giving up on 2011 and not developing players for the future.
Jackson just started pitching in season a couple weeks ago.
He’s not ready.
Sending out a random NEW arm does not guarantee anything better. If anything, it just guarantees that the name of the person this board is whining about this week changes.
And the team is losing because they’re not that good. Russell is getting innings because the only other guys to give innings to are organizational garbage like ABD and Diamond right now. In a month or so that’ll change by a pitcher coming back from injury, finally getting stretched out, or maybe even an improvement in performance by Russell. Either way, I’d rather stick with him than give it to guys with nothing to offer now or in the future. Screw that, 2011 is a developmental year.
Also, they’re not ignoring young players and not developing them. If that was true, Russell wouldn’t be getting innings but some no name 27 year old RHP crapping the bed in AAA would be getting the starts.
Of course they're waving the white flag
Right now, this is a 76-86 team. If Dempster can’t find himself and Wells is hurt worse than described, this is a 72-90 team.
Just because we want them to be an 86 win team doesn’t mean that the ownership should start Jackson’s arb clock. Plus, he just got back from EXST, and only has two starts so far. He’ll be in the rotation if Cashner can’t come back anytime soon.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
by Invalid User on May 2, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Another rec for common sense.
I see that rec’ing is the thing to do.
Al he said it
Russell is simply mental illness from the top
but there are more moves that can be done….starting with Colvin and Castillo. Moving Byrd or Fukudome would be huge…
Let us hope Soriano hits 50 or more and a team who needs a DH wants him for 3 years
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
I don't appreciate the use of "mental illness" in this post.
Mental illness is not something to be made fun of.
Thank you.
Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago
And when reality sets in
1. OF – Moving Byrd or Fukudome in May would probably result in a less than optimal trade. It’s early, and nobody is making playoff run trades yet. Brett Jackson is 22 with less than 1000 PAs in the minors. Development wise, some people would say that he needs more PAs in the minors to ensure he weathers the storm in MLB.
2. 1B – Reality is you don’t sit a $10M 1B veteran for long. Players get in slumps and then get out of slumps.
3. C – Beef is better served getting more playing time at AAA than watching in MLB.
4. Russell – This is more about a lack of better, ready-now options. The Cubs obviously want jay Jackson to develop more before being called up.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on May 1, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Plus Jackson was hurt at the beginning of the season
Jackson is the #7 starter in the grand scheme. But he was hurt even before Wells and Cashner. And he had a 4.63 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP at Iowa last year, so it’s not like he’s going to show up and be Greg Maddux.
Let Jackson get 3-4 more good starts in Iowa (he’s had two good ones so far) and then bring him up on June 1.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
Oh...I'm happy to see 2 posts in a row that seem to understand the situation.
I was getting worried a little…surely not everyone is blind to this.
No, we're not blind
We just realize that rational long-range analysis isn’t always a priority here over easy scapegoats.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
Personally
I plan to live forever.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on May 1, 2011 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Nice reply Beer Cub.
I did not want Pena here and I still think he will struggle for the rest of the year. Quade has been so so for the first month. However to say May the Cubs are doomed, please. Let the schedule play out and see how this team performs.
I just hope Wells comes back soon, Colvin or Pena starts to hit just a little.
And I agree, this team has a certain grit to it.
+1
I’ve been stunned by how whiny things are…the backup C…the 1B…this guy…that guy…they haven’t even played 30 games in a 162 game season…baseball’s not that kind of sport where you’re living on the edge every single minute and every minute thing is either a sign of eternal glory or eternal doom.
I expect this team won't be so embarassing in the end...
especially once the summer hits and the Jacksons see the majors.
Agree.
Why even be here? The Yankees are calling. Jump onboard.
I have to deflect such comments from non-Cubs fans:
“It seems like Cubs fans keep complaining. Why do they keep going to games? They keep breaking your hearts. Just forget about it, already. It’s like you people love to bitch when you don’t win. You wouldn’t want to actually win, what would you do then?”
That’s this post in the proverbial nutshell.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 1, 2011 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions
This cannot be greened enough
Nicely done, BC.
by Not Bruce Froemming on May 5, 2011 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, thanks, one and all
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
...
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
by Emelie on May 1, 2011 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Ohh, I am going to have fun with this one!
Nomadic baseball fan, with no agenda other than observation/conversation/mass confusion/mass consumption.
Prosecutor: "Jesus Christ, did ANYBODY tell the truth to the grand jury?"
Barry Bonds: "I did."
Prosecutor: "GAH!"
by victor frankenstein on May 1, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
well, at least YOU will
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
Indeed.
Nomadic baseball fan, with no agenda other than observation/conversation/mass confusion/mass consumption. And annoying 09.
Prosecutor: "Jesus Christ, did ANYBODY tell the truth to the grand jury?"
Barry Bonds: "I did."
Prosecutor: "GAH!"
by victor frankenstein on May 1, 2011 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
It's easy when you're a lowbrow to entertain yourself.
Nomadic baseball fan, with no agenda other than observation/conversation/mass confusion/mass consumption. And annoying 09.
Prosecutor: "Jesus Christ, did ANYBODY tell the truth to the grand jury?"
Barry Bonds: "I did."
Prosecutor: "GAH!"
by victor frankenstein on May 1, 2011 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
The overall record of April opponents is 115-122.
The overall record of May opponents is is 134-132. This is by counting records twice for the teams we play multiple times. If you add in one game against Arizona on May 1 and one against Houston on May 31 our May opponents are 155-164. I agree this is a big month and they need to stay in the race, but right now it does not look as imposing as it did on April 1. I see another month like April, flirting with .500 and staying in the race UNLESS someone gets hot and runs away with it, which I don’t see happening. This year is going to be a tease, good enough to stay in the hunt, not good enough to win it.
Not only that
but Britney Spears is going to be in concert in May! I mean, if that’s not a sign of the pending apocalypse, I don’t know what is!!!!!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
One of Britney's best songs
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on May 1, 2011 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions
The only positives are Castro/barney
Then he lists two more things that are positives…..
This post doesn’t seem too well thought out…just anger flowing as he types.
They both (stats & bikinis) show a lot, but not everything. - Infielder Toby Harrah
Poster formerly known as Wrigster.
...
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
We're so pretty, oh so pretty, we're pree-tty...
VACANT! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist)
But back to the topic, I refuse to get on the ledge on May 1st. It’s only been a month, the season has barely begun.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
Oh ffs.
I don't always block shots, but when I do....I block yours.
Kyle Korver is open as soon as he gets out of his car at the UC. -
Stacey King
This post is a disaster
"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker
sice you are pegging the Cubs to win 8 or 9 if lucky
which ones does your expert opinion state we should win?
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
Ditka's mustache can kill two stones with one bird
I'm not worried about May.
It’s the rest of the century that has me concerned.
"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman
by BucknerKongCardenal on May 1, 2011 9:51 PM CDT reply actions
Its starting great this May 2011
Byrd back in the 3 hole tonight and Pena playing against a lefty.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
It's over, it's done
The end has begun. If you listen to fools, the mob rules. You’ve got nothing to say. Oh, they’re breaking away. If you listen to fools…
RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) and Ron Santo (February 25, 1940-December 2, 2010).
If you disagree with me in any way, you are wrong.
Lyric fail
Disregard post.
RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) and Ron Santo (February 25, 1940-December 2, 2010).
If you disagree with me in any way, you are wrong.
This could be the worst disaster the Cubs ever faced
With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.
by californiachicagoan on May 4, 2011 2:00 PM CDT reply actions
and
i thought i was a pessimist.at least i hang in there till the all star break. yes it will be a tuff month but if you cant beat the good teams then you will be going home in oct anyways.
Aw man.. I thought this was an attendance post..
Isn’t it ironic that Dome, Samardzija, Zambrano, and Soriano are some of the brighter spots on the team?
The combined record of remaining teams in may is under .500. Do the math and prove me wrong. This includes the 19-11 marlins, who we only play 2 games against, vs. 5 against already played against the 18-10 Rockies.
At $300 million, I don't want Albert Pujols anywhere near the Cubs.
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