Thank You, I'll Be Here All Week
by Al on May 14, 2006 4:56 PM CDT
in Recaps
129 comments
I haven't thrown in the towel yet, but I've started doing towel drills.
[RIMSHOT!]
Or, maybe you'd like this quote from the legendary New York writer Jimmy Breslin, writing about the horrendous 1962 Mets:
Seriously. The 2006 Cubs aren't that bad, but they do come up with new and imaginative ways to lose every day. Today: ten walks, two runs scored on wild pitches, another on a tough error given to Aramis Ramirez that could have been a DP ball, and yet more on a three-run homer into the teeth of a northeast wind.
You know the facts. The Cubs lost 9-0 to the Padres today. That's the first sweep by San Diego in Wrigley Field in 14 years. They got swept out of the season series with the Padres. It's 12 losses in 13 games, 14 of 16.
They lost to a pitcher who threw his first major league complete game and shutout. A pitcher who had issued seventeen walks in his last 27.1 innings -- and today, he walked one. And it was Neifi Perez. And he had to do that intentionally.
Meanwhile, Cub pitchers were issuing ten walks to go along with the nine Padre hits, the guy who reached on Aramis' error, and one hit batsman by Jae-Kuk Ryu, making his ML debut. I told Mike, after Ryu struck out two in his inning of work, that I hoped he'd strike out the side.
That'd make him ... the new Todd Wellemeyer.
Thank you! I'll be here all week!
And after that, he didn't wind up doing it, anyway.
Brian Giles tied a major league record by walking five times in a nine-inning game. Meanwhile, Hensley struck out all five times he batted. We are investigating whether or not that's ever happened in the same game, much less by players on the same team, before.
Watching Rich Hill closely, you can see why he has trouble at this level, and why I will continue to call him a Quadruple-A player. He nibbles around the plate with that curveball. Triple-A hitters will get fooled by that and swing and whiff at it many times; this accounts for Hill's huge K numbers at Iowa this year. Major league hitters -- excellent example, Giles, a patient hitter -- will lay off that sort of thing, and thus, Hill walks too many people, thus leading to far too many runs.
Hill actually kept the Cubs in the game till he was lifted for Scott Williamson with the score still a manageable 2-0. Williamson promptly walked the first hitter he faced, then wild-pitched in one of Hill's runners as well as one of his own, after Josh Barfield singled.
Had enough of this? Yeah, I have too. The sun came out today -- we thought that might be a good omen, but all it did was make it comfortable in the 52-degree weather, until the 8th inning when clouds and fog began to roll in off the lake.
So, with Mark in tow today, Jeff & Krista decided to amuse me by telling me he didn't need a haircut, even though he's now sporting bangs that cover his eyes and some Star Trek-looking sideburns.
Take a look at the photo below:
And then vote in the poll I've posted on this topic, on the right sidebar.
At this point, we need just about anything to distract us from this disaster of a team. I didn't want to believe it till today, but they really do look like they've quit. Cub pitchers threw 174 pitches today; Hensley threw 92. You'd think that after a while, especially with a pitcher with the history of wildness that Hensley has, that the Cubs would be more patient and try to get on base.
Nope. It looks like Juan Pierre's been well-scouted by most teams -- yesterday, he had three flyouts to left, today, two groundouts to first. His stats in the leadoff spot are approaching 2005 Patterson territory. No one else hit at all today; the only two hits (doubles by Todd Walker and Michael Barrett) were ground balls that were both just fair, one inside each foul line.
What to do? Look, we all love this team and love the game, or we wouldn't be here. It's terrible to think that after thirty-seven games, the season may be lost. Wholesale firings at this point aren't going to change a thing. Jim Hendry must be held accountable, yes, but it is the roster for which he is accountable, and he hasn't given the proper tools for winning -- and that's even taking into consideration that the best hitter on the ballclub is injured and out for an extended period (and the Cubs are now 6-17 without Derrek Lee).
If there is anything to salvage from this season -- even just playing competitive baseball -- Hendry has to make some moves and NOW, and having a day off tomorrow, with no game till Tuesday night, might be just the time to do so. And someone has to step up. Getting a "disciplinarian" manager isn't the answer -- this is the time when one of the players has to call a closed-door meeting, and hash out exactly what's wrong.
Got to see something else that's rarely seen -- a runner called out for leaving too early on an apparent sacrifice fly, nullifying a San Diego run in the fourth inning and instead, resulting in an inning-ending double play.
Yes, that's what we're reduced to. Someone sitting in the section to my left, during Ryu's horrid inning, yelled out, "Bring in Assenmacher." Well, heck, Paul Assenmacher, ex-Cub reliever from the late 80's and early 90's, is only 45 years old. And lefthanded. Why not?
Enough. Everyone needs the day off tomorrow -- players, fans, everyone. Jim Hendry, DO SOMETHING TOMORROW. Please.
Oh, and
THE PA SPEAKERS ARE STILL TOO LOUD! PLEASE, PLEASE TURN THEM DOWN!
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Off Day
What to do? To me, it's easy. I would fire Dusty. He has been at the helm since 2003 and over we've seen this team get collectively worse over that time. I cannot see this happening, however here is what else I'd do, TOMORROW!
- Fire Gene Clines and Gary Matthews. These two have been in charge of a miserable offense over the past four years. The team's approach to hitting has been horrid. Why Matthews as well? Because Clines should not be the lone fall guy when Matthews also has been a hitting coach and simply got refolded into the Cubs staff. Replace them with whoever. I'd love to see Sandberg the new first base coach for this team.
- Fire Larry Rothschild. I've long been a supporter of him, however lets look at the record. Pitchers who have fared well under his watch: Dempster, Marshall (perhaps), Zambrano. Pitchers who have failed/seen their career head south/gone on to success elsewhere: Farnsworth, Cruz, Koronka, Mitre, Wellemeyer, Hawkins, Clement, Remlinger, Estes, Alfonseca. Its time to cut him loose and make a change. That change is NOT Dick Pole.
- Move Hairston, Bynum, Novoa and Rusch. Bynum and Rusch are useless. Novoa needs to go to AAA. Hairston is not getting it done playing twice a week.
by dmlichte on May 14, 2006 5:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm in total agreement with you...
by Al on May 14, 2006 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well said...
by Ross on May 14, 2006 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rothschild
Not that Rothschild is not culpable in part for the mess, but let's be fair.
by WGNstatic on May 14, 2006 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Management is to Blame--The TOP GUYS!!!
The team's managment believes in dominant pitching, and then turns the young talent over to a boob who doesn't understand pitching except that he thinks the pitchers should tell him when they need to come out of the game...urggghhh!!!
The Team Management, i.e., McPhail, Hendry and Baker have decided to hang their hats on the Wood and Prior saga. Guess what guys? Just like the odds favor the house in Vegas, the odds are stacked heavily against those 2 returning to 2003 dominance. So I blame these three Cubs boobs for living in the past!
It's no one's fault that lee is injured and out, but it sure is hendry and Baker's fault for building a team that has consistently ignored the improtance of getting on base and how it helps one score runs consistently. The offense will be better with a healthy Lee, but seriously it's a mediocre offense at best when Lee is healthy. Barrett, Walker, and Cedeno played fantastic in April but they seriously played over their heads, too. Now they are returning to their levels (regressing to their means) and we still haven't seen jack from Pierre and Aaramis. These 2 players deserve a whole lot of criticism, they have performed woefully and it has nothing to do with Lee being out. Jones sucks in my opinion, but I give him credit for totally smoking righties and really turning it on during the road trip to the west coast. Had Aaramis and Pierre hit as well as Jones di d on that road trip then we'd be seeing much better offesne but still horrific starting pitching every 4th and 5th day.
In two more years it will be 100 years of fricking losing! IU hate it! I say fire the entire organization and blow up the fricking shrine to losers and start over completely.
The Cubs have no plan, they deserve to be obliterated!
by DudeVf1 on May 14, 2006 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
why preserve dusty?
or have we just succumbed to the intoxication of celebrity here?
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
because
by brianp88 on May 15, 2006 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i hadn't considered
but remember that, in order to become spreadable, he'll have to be properly canned. :)
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
"We're terribly disappointed in our season. It was unexpected. We have to hire the right manager and make improvements personnel-wise." - Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry.
Is the preceding Jim Hendry quote in today's paper? Nope. It's from 2002. Here's our starters on Opening Day, 2002:
Roosevelt Brown
Delino DeShields
Alex Gonzalez
Todd Hundley
Jon Lieber
Fred McGriff
Corey Patterson
Sammy Sosa
Chris Stynes
A year later, the Cubs were five outs from going to the World Series. That tells you that this thing can be turned around in a years time.
What can be done to fix this? I know you're calling for Dusty's head, but if Hendry fires Baker, he's all but admitting he made a mistake and that puts his head on the chopping block too. Is Hendry ready to do that? I doubt it. It might be the right thing to do, but is it really going to happen? I don't know. I don't think it will. Even IF Hendry decides he has to fire Baker, is he realistically going to hire Piniella or someone of his stature? Would he Piniella even come here? If the Cubs can't get/don't want him, who else is out there? Bruce Kimm?
It's easy to say fire Baker, but that isn't going to solve all of our problems. Dusty isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, the problem is he's in a gun fight with a knife. He's got rookie pitchers, an under performing centerfielder, an under performing third baseman a horrible signing for a right fielder. His best pitchers and his best overall player is on the DL. Casey Stengel couldn't win with this lot. We'll have to trade Pierre for prospects, find a way to get rid of Jones (easier said than done) and get some bench depth for next year. Baker isn't the world's greatest manager, but I'm not blaming him for this dismal season. Firing Baker isn't he first order of business. Improving the roster is.
by brianp88 on May 15, 2006 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't
I will say this, however. I do not blame this season's failings on Baker. Hendry put a lousy team together. Baker, of course, has gotten the bare minimum out of them, but while in seasons past I could honestly say that I felt Baker was costing games w/ strategic moves as well as with the way he handled the clubhouse, I think he's been okay this year...not great, but okay. I'd fire him because I still think hes a bad manager and not the guy I want leading this club. His errors of he past are reason enough to me.
DmL
by dmlichte on May 15, 2006 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lifeless
by mrcubsfan on May 14, 2006 5:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lifeless
FIRE Hendry, Dusty, Larry, Dick, and Gene. You can keep Speier and Sarge (as long as he stays coaching 1st!)
DFA Novoa, Bynum and Rusch.
release Williamson and recall Aardsma and Wuertz, he was sent down very quickly, while Novoa continues too stink up the joint.
Keep Mabry till Lee gets back, after that keep him only if he performs, he's a Card, probably a mole too. :)
by CubFaninNY on May 14, 2006 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Release WIlliamson!?!
by WGNstatic on May 14, 2006 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
what has he done?
by CubFaninNY on May 15, 2006 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last year, the Astros were
Yes, I know we aren't the Astros. But I like dreaming about it.
by sanantonecub on May 14, 2006 5:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Whatever gets you through the night
by cubbiejulie on May 14, 2006 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
keep on dreaming
by CubFaninNY on May 14, 2006 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't ever change, dude...
Wood's line the other night in the minoirs was not that good. In fact, he sort of struggled against AAA players. But hey, he should fit right in because we have players on our bench, Bynum and Perez, etc...who would struggle in AAA...
Can the Cubs turn around like the Astors last year? I was choking on my own rage so much that I find this question to be very interesting, a Heimlich maneuver to my emotions right now....
Hmmmm....The Cubs have a bullpen, an excellent bullpen...If we can get the game to that pen tied or with a 1 run lead, then we can start winning lots of games. But every 4th and 5th day we have Bozo and Bronco the Clowns pitching for us...The Cubs are tied to the fortunes of Wood and Prior, unfortunately...If they had a better ofense I could see the possibility of turning it around...If they did turn it around like the Stros did then Aramis and Pierre have to start hitting huge and now...
by DudeVf1 on May 14, 2006 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Define quit
2.Putting Perez in the starting lineup.
3.Talking about bad breaks as if that were the reason for losing.
4.Blaming the lack of veteran leadership for the lack of focus and execution.
5.Calling fans quitters for failing to accept the poor performance.
6.Expecting a GM to magically reenergize a pathetic team by bringing in a washed up veteran.
I'm sure there are many other examples but I quit looking for them. But I ask one question. What one act would send a signal that things better change or else? It has to be the firing of Baker. Anything else is lip service. Yet we still hear that Hendry is waiting for the opportunity to extend his contract. That would be the ultimate slap in the face to all Cub fans who have supported the team year after year. Anything less negates the PR spin control that rules the organization's response to ineptitude.
by tharr on May 14, 2006 5:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Don't these guys watch film? How hard is it to say to yourself "I'm not swinging at the first pitch, no matter what? I'm not swinging at the second pitch unless I absolutely, positively, can't lay off."
Worked for Wade Boggs.
by cubbiejulie on May 14, 2006 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately
most of the players would take pitches if they were commanded to under threat of benching. but who's gonna do that on this club?
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Take Pitches or be benched?
by Frustrated Fan on May 15, 2006 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude
But it's pretty obvious now, this is Dusty's last season.
by CliffX on May 14, 2006 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't count on Dusty leaving...
Or maybe he is waiting for the game when guys get all the signs right, don't get doubled off on easy fly balls, don't call the announcer booth to complain during the games, don't complain that fans boo them too much, take a few walks during a game and don't issue any...
If the Cubs get slaughtered by the Sox and play like .350 ball in May, then I'd say Dusty still has a 50/50 chance of reasonable contract extension. To me this is the underlying problem with Hendry and why the Cubs should have cleaned house totally, axed McPhail, Hendry and Baker, is that he puts these ridiculous loyalties over winning. A huge conflict of interest from a fan's perspective as everyone gets rich, the team makes gobs of cash and nowhere do we have any kind of plan for playing winning baseball.
The old school scout types are a very prejudice bunch and they'll cut off their nose to just prove that no one can tel them how to do anything, especially people who have never played the game...The Cubs have embraced this closed minded approach for building a team and it leaves them with zero flexibility when the wheels start falling off....
Anyway, the only way I see Dusty not coming back is if he is contacted by another club and has a lock on another job in media market with far less scrutiny...It will be Dusty's choice as I think Hendry is already committed to making him an offer.
by DudeVf1 on May 15, 2006 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pray the Mariners continue
by Santos Sorrow on May 15, 2006 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was unfortunately at the game...
Cubs fans, it's not looking good. I give it another week of this kind of play and Dusty will be gone. It's not going to help the team, and I'm actually advocating firing him just because it's actually doing something. One more week of this and the season is lost....then it can actually be fun to watch the Cubs just implode....we can actually see how bad they can really be.
by Imtrejo on May 14, 2006 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mark needs a haircut.
I have to agree with everyone else that says it looks like this team has cashed it in. I mean, I knew we had a few impatient hitters in our lineup, but nothing like I've seen the last two weeks, and especially today. Anyone who's taken Intro to Hitting should know not to flail at anything that looks like it could end up in the strike zone, and that's what these guys are doing.
I know they can't possibly "enjoy" losing, but that doesn't mean they're all giving 110% all the time.
But on that note, I've gotta give credit to A-Ram for that diving stop he made in the 7th. Nice work, Aramis.
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 5:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Who's good with Photoshop ?
by slide on May 14, 2006 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll get right on that.
by Tom on May 14, 2006 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mark Murton
I e-mailed it to you - don't know any other way to get it posted.
by Tom on May 14, 2006 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You
I don't think "morph" is the right word, but whatever. Alliteration station.
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not photoshop
My favourite is Rick Reuschel holding a beer ...
This is from the wonderful (although not updated nearly enough -- hope you're reading Diana) Chicago Cubs Photos blog.
by kjk on May 14, 2006 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe a trim on those sideburns
I stopped watching the game after Williamson's display of control.
by Whitebacon on May 14, 2006 5:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree...
by sparkles721 on May 14, 2006 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
About Rich Hill...
Can Rothschild - clearly he doesn't understand the value of a walk to the other team.
by shawndgoldman on May 14, 2006 5:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and even Z...
by shawndgoldman on May 14, 2006 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with...
But seriously -- why is it that Hill can throw strikeouts at AAA, and then come to the majors with presumably the same repertoire, and walk five in five innings?
That can't be Rothschild. It has to be the way hitters approach him at the different levels.
by Al on May 14, 2006 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or
he's fine when he challenges hitters. he just can't bring himself to do it. same with guzman. they may not be roger clemens, but they're servicable pitchers if they throw strikes.
i don't know if rothschild tells them to nibble. but he pretty clearly isn't telling them not to, and hasn't been for years. and dusty hasn't been holding him accountable for it for years.
toss the whole shooting match into the river. none of them has done anything to merit saving them.
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guzman
by CubFaninNY on May 14, 2006 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Relief pitcher
by CliffX on May 14, 2006 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The reason why Rich Hill
I've seen enough of Hill to agree with Al that he never will be any good in this league. He just doesn't seem to get it. I'm sure somewhere along the way, a Pitching Coach has worked with him to get the ball down, cuz you just can't be successful in this league consistently working up in the zone, with every pitch.
by escapegoat on May 15, 2006 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about this lineup?
LF - Murton
SS - Cedeno
2B - Walker
3B - Ramirez
C - Barrett
RF - Jones
2B - Theriot
CF - Pierre
then if Pierre continues to suck, bring up Pie, bat him 7th, Theriot drop to 8th.
by John916 on May 14, 2006 5:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
"I don't imagine management"
You got that right. Dusty's excuse would be that Pierre is faster than Opie.
But if Pierre can't get on base, his speed means NOTHING...
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
EXACTLY!
I don't understand why Baker doesn't get this. The weirdest part of the "aggressive" stuff that he and Matthews and Clines put out is this:
Look at the playing records of those three. Clines wasn't, really, but both Matthews and Baker were patient hitters, drawing a fair number of walks -- in fact, Matthews drew 103 walks for the 1984 Cubs, the first Cub to draw over 100 in a very long time.
Why they were like this as players but not as coaches/managers is a mystery.
by Al on May 14, 2006 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if he does...
I am still pissed about that...
by WGNstatic on May 14, 2006 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In regard to that...
Look at this play-by-play from that game:
bunt (pitcher to first) [Patterson to third]; Sosa lined to shortstop; McGriff walked; Alou struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Reds 0, Cubs 0.
Think about that again. Your leadoff hitter doubles, and you bunt? With nobody out in the first inning of a scoreless game? (The Cubs eventually lost, FWIW.)
It was as if Baylor was daring MacPhail (then the GM) to fire him. He obliged.
by Al on May 15, 2006 4:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually.....
LaRussa has done this for years. It seems like it has worked out well for him.
by timeforachange on May 15, 2006 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not in the first
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree....
I will never criticize the manager for making a move like this. LaRussa has done this his whole career. I'll take his record...
by timeforachange on May 15, 2006 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget the Giants game
by jc60625 on May 15, 2006 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully they would
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta tell ya,
That said, I have got to put my two-cents worth into this abysmal season.
A big shakeup is necessary. Even if it is just the fates that are causing things to be out of whack, the only way to change things is to, by God, change things.
Baker and the entire coaching staff must be let go. They'll all land on their feet somewhere else and maybe even go on to great successes.
Our heretofore untouchables, Ramirez, Wood, Prior, and yes, even Lee have got to be put on the block. It is, I'm afraid, time to start over.
Does Jim Hendry need to go. Perhaps, but having just been given a contract extention I'm afraid he'll be around for a while longer.
Al, it's time to cash-in. This team will need a miracle of parting of the Red Sea magnitude in order to make something respectable out of this season. It's time to watch the kids develop (or not develop--whatever the case may be) and try to enjoy the team for the love of baseball.
I'll be with them to the bitter end, but I've got to accept the reality that our boys have presented to us. Even though hope springs eternal, sometimes ya just gotta get over it!
by Luigi on May 14, 2006 5:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Pessimists proven right
The man is, if nothing else, a realist - and he wasn't the only one who saw the handwriting on the wall before the regular season ever got under way I might add.
The upside to this miserable season is that Baker and his lackey coaching staff can and probably will be fired before the season is through - too bad Hendry already received his extension, because a complete shake-up of management is warranted.
by peorianorthsidereport on May 14, 2006 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re Gaius...
you know the rest
by jazzman56 on May 14, 2006 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Give me break
by cubbiejulie on May 14, 2006 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Give *me* a break
I never said anything about luck. If you are out there spouting off your opinions all day every day, you are bound to be right once in awhile.
by jazzman56 on May 14, 2006 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, then, Jazzman ...
Look, BCB is derided as a "Pollyanna" site by more hard-nosed Cubs blogs where the Gaiuses of Cubs Nation are the norm and not the exception. I've always thought that that was unfair, because the opinions here really do run the spectrum from bright-eyed optimism to gloom-and-doom. But Gaius has always been one contributor who backs up his statements with well-reasoned and informed arguments -- and yet for all that he still gets bashed a lot by the BCB optimists, unfairly in my opinion.
No, he isn't right all of the time. But that "blind squirrel" crack of yours was off-base.
by Gregory on May 15, 2006 4:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no
Keep the hair Mark, chicks dig long hair. For a while.
by mike bornemann on May 14, 2006 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haircut
by jimhickman on May 14, 2006 5:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So THAT'S why the Cubs are losing!
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At least
by Johnny Callison was a Cub on May 14, 2006 6:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Send Hill back?
by CubFaninNY on May 14, 2006 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jae Kuk Ryu
by CliffX on May 14, 2006 6:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
what does it mean?
by CubFaninNY on May 14, 2006 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ryu
by false cognate on May 14, 2006 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugly
Argh, Al's right, we all need a day off. I'm gonna play Scarlett O'Hara and just not think about this anymore. (Or at least try to.)
Get that boy a haircut, sir.
by helen on May 14, 2006 6:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Better Now Than Later
To show you how bad things are, I listened to today's game via XM while at the Royals-Orioles game. That's right -- the Royals seemed to provide better promise of an entertaining game than the Cubs. Awful American League game -- it started nearly an hour before the Cubs game, but Eddie Vedder was singing the Seventh Inning stretch at Wrigley first.
(As an aside, Korey was 0-5, and struck out in the midst of a four run comeback in the bottom of the ninth. He also winged a foul ball over the screen and right over my head, obviously knowing I was thinking evil thoughts about him).
We are indeed in desperate times, my friends. Fortunately, the Nationals (next opponent) are only in slightly better shape -- I'll post more on that matchup tomorrow.
Stay positive - Ernie is!
by 08Cubs on May 14, 2006 7:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Now not better actually
by NorthernLights1972 on May 14, 2006 8:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oh..
by NorthernLights1972 on May 14, 2006 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gaius et all
Gaius was wrong in about 50% of the things he has said..
Cedeno has been solid.. Not great but solid.. .280/.330 is fine.. ITS NOT GREAT but its well enough.. Cedeno has not been the Cubs problems this season.
Anyhow.. I could write an essay on how to fix the Cubs but I do not feel obligated nor arsed to do so .
I would hope that the Cubs could sell find a taker for Pierre that could net something.. and I still BELIEVE that the Cubs SHOULD deal Aramis Ramirez.. hate me for it.. but I feel that he could pull something that hte Cubs desperately need and maybe he could return to the Cubs via FA.. at the end of the year.. haha that would be good.. but unlikely. Anyhow.. I am not going to call the team dead in Mid-May but it is definitely in the I.C. Unit and on life support. Better analogy would be on a feeding tube ..
by cubsfan2883 on May 14, 2006 8:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree totally....
Aramis is a very productive player when he is healthy and wants to play. He can hit, I don't know why he isn't hitting now, but he is killing us..He had nagging injuries even before Lee went down so he's probably not 100%, and he's a very high injury risk. Could pull his hammy the next time he does his dash down the line...The Cubs are on the verge of being so bad now that I favor moving him as well...He does not take care of himself...Realistically, Aramis is staying put and even Pierre might stay put unless the Cubs trade him before tyhe deadline and call up Pie...
by DudeVf1 on May 15, 2006 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
.280/.330?
by Gregory on May 15, 2006 5:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cedeno..
by Will23 on May 15, 2006 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank you
keep playing him, by all means -- what's to lose now? -- but i expect that many of you will be so revulsed by him before year's end that you'll prefer neifi at short (inconceivable as that may seem).
i think you're exactly right, gregory -- the word is getting around on cedeno and his output may even decrease from these paltry levels.
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you know what's harder than being either?
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being realistic
by ccd on May 15, 2006 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree there
by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 14, 2006 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Very true
Not to mention that I'm fairly impressed with some of Cedeno's defense, and Murton's got a better arm than Jock The Pie Thrower out in right.
by elscorcho0682 on May 14, 2006 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WAVE OF THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!!111111111ONEONE
by CliffX on May 15, 2006 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you who I think you are?
by Whitebacon on May 15, 2006 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
murton yes, cedeno no
cedeno, on the other hand, is in total freefall. his last 30 days have been as bad as anyone on the club. disturbingly, he's now starting to strike out regularly -- the one thing that you could say in his defense is going by the wayside.
keep playing him, but chances are very goood now that he's on his way to gary-scott-dom.
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough.
OK, so maybe don't keep him in the top part of the lineup. Where do you move him?
by elscorcho0682 on May 15, 2006 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
8th
hitting down the ladder at least takes the pressure off a bit. he's never been an obp guy at any level. hide him and see what happens for another couple months. if it lapses into a complete horror show, there's iowa.
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's already
by ccd on May 15, 2006 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Outside of that, how did you like
by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 14, 2006 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
.......and try the veal.
by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 14, 2006 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
....be sure to tip your waiter.
by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 14, 2006 8:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How depressing...
Somebody do something! Please!
by sparkles721 on May 14, 2006 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
neifi
by dcoonce on May 14, 2006 11:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Why is Todd Walker Smiling?
Am Ram is not a leader. He's a punk, selfcentered ass. He can barely take responsibility for himself. He Scottie Pippien without MJ.
I hate to say it but Dusty is going to get an extention. The coaches around him will be extended to because there Dusty's boys. This team will continue to be horrendous.
On the bright side you can get tickets easly now if in Chicago.
Is it me or are the Cubs playing a simulated season?
Al, a manager that's more strict isn't needed? I so don't agree with you I can't even begin to find the words.
What player should call the closed door meeting? Matt Murton? Neifi? Maddux? Barrett? To me this team has no leader. Dusty still looks like he's sleeping in the dugout. It's almost like he's bidding his time before the eventual firing.
Chris Spiers see what you can do.
by Scott G F on May 15, 2006 7:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Same Problems New Year
by mgfabc on May 15, 2006 7:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Please Fire somebody....ANYBODY!!!!!!
If I were a Tribune suit, a would go for a trifecta and sack MAcPhail, Hendry and Baker, but I will settle for one of the three at this point. Is Trader Jack up for one more half season of managing before we bring in Sweet Lou to toss some bases and kick some dirt??
by perseman on May 15, 2006 7:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sweet Lou will never be brought in
by Scott G F on May 15, 2006 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pink slips going to...
- Baker...this team is so uninspired and I don't think he cares.
- Rothschild...How has Larry lasted this long? Does he have some compromising photos of Hendry? You can't blame the injuries on him but you can blame him for lack of preparation.
- Hendry...what has he done since the trades of 2003 (Lofton, ARam, etc) and 2004 (Lee)? He can prove his worth this week if he makes some solid moves, but he must act now!
- Bob Brenly...agonizing to listen to him on TV.
- Jones...NYY need some outfield help and they have a 1B at AAA (Pena) they could give us.
- Rusch and Guzman...I don't know who (maybe to NYY again) but they need to leave now.
- Perez...I don't know if I can take having Neifi on the team anymore. I will go bald pulling my hair out if I watch him bat again.
Don't Cut It...the shaggy look will be awesome. It is in the awkward in between stage right now where its almost a Vulcan-Star Trek-kinda doo.
by grover on May 15, 2006 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don't understand
in the last thread, you were telling me that trading away our good players is all but impossible now.
and yet, you seem to think hendry can save this club by acquiring good players now.
if it's too early to give up and move good players from the cubs, why is it not too early for other teams to ship to the cubs?
i think you're (perhaps unconsciously) applying a double standard. if this season is over for these other clubs, it's over for the cubs.
i happen to think that better deals will be available in june, but that groundwork needs to be laid now -- and that making a trade to try to win in 2006 is just ludicrous.
there aren't some holes in the dike you can stick a finger in here; this is a complete dam failure, total collapse, wall of water rushing down the valley into the sea and sweeping everything before it.
by gaius marius on May 15, 2006 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He sure will do something
The only moves made in the next 30 days will be cosmetic(moves to make you fans happy for a day or two). After that the Cubs can work on restocking the farm system. A few of these vets will be very helpful to contending teams.
by ccd on May 15, 2006 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He can not do that
by Santos Sorrow on May 15, 2006 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too, don't understand
by mgfabc on May 15, 2006 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Here's what'd I do now
Next, I'd pay a portion of GRusch salary and swap him for a minor leaguer, ditto for Neifi if there were any takers. I'd immediately DFA Bynum. These player would be replaced by Wood, Restovich and ?
Next I'd tell Dusty that Theriot wasn't brought up to watch games from the Bench. I'd have him starting everyday for a week or two to see what he's got. I'd also tell Dusty that Murton has no business hitting so low in the order while Pierre and Cedano hit so high. Figure it out. Perhaps a remedial sabermetrics course is in order for Dusty? If Dusty resists making these changes either due to not understanding them or out of spite or ego his position with the team would be terminated.
Next I'd find a descent, lower priced right hand hitting corner outfielder to platoon with Jones who could also back up DLee/Murton. I'm not talking about Mabry. Someone who hits lefties and plays acceptable defense.
If none of these changes have a positive effect within the next month or so I'd start the selling process. The only untouchables would be DLee, Z, Marshall, Murton and perhaps some of the other kids. It'd be tough trading Maddux (Chicago Jesus) but if he'd bring back something of real value then I'd consider it.
I could go on and on and on.........
by pageian on May 15, 2006 10:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone...
by jolietconvict on May 15, 2006 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do
Yes Dusty and Hendry are at fault too, Hendry for signing the wrong type players and Dusty for not changing his hitting instructor(s) or philosophy after what we've witnessed the last few years. Sure he replaced Sarge with Clines after '04, but they're both still on the team probably doing pretty much the same things they've always been doing. That's really no change at all, it's cronyism (sp?).
You can't keep doing the same thing you've been doing and expect different results. How long is it going to take for the club to figure out that free swinging doesn't work? Heads should roll, with the intent to make the team better now. If it doesn't get better almost immediately then it's time to start thinking long term.
by pageian on May 15, 2006 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gene Clines...
I could be all wet, but it is something I wonder about.
I'm sure the kids all like Gene, but you have to wonder if, after walking away from an session in the batting cage, they aren't saying to themselves: "sure, that might be how they did it in the 60s, but this is 2006".
by jazzman56 on May 15, 2006 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uhh...
by jolietconvict on May 15, 2006 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think...
But, I do think Baker is someone who relates well to younger players. He may be 57, but he has a young son, and he seems more youthful himself.
Sometimes when I see shots of Clines he is sitting off by himself, and I swear, he looks like the Old Man Of The Mountain.
by jazzman56 on May 15, 2006 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree here...
The Cubs should never have let Jeff Pentland go.
by Al on May 15, 2006 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I agree...
He seems to be doing a pretty good job with the Mariners this year and I thought he got a lot out of an offensive challenged Royals ballclub.
By the way, Al, wasn't it you who asked "Why is Willie Bloomquist on a major league roster?"
Well, I see where Willie is hitting .327 for the Mariners. He is also an Arizona Stare product, like Pentland.
by jazzman56 on May 15, 2006 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is absolutely no way...
Bloomquist is Neifi Perez with no power.
by Al on May 15, 2006 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who's fault is it?
It may not be Dusty's fault, but it's somebody's fault! You must pitch better so the other team doesn't hit the ball into the basket, which if I'm not mistaken is a HOME RUN!! If you go around just thinking it's LUCK that's causing you to lose continuously you'll just keep losing. I think maybe better players and better management might help, maybe?
by northofwrigley on May 15, 2006 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
in person
- Rich Hill is not a major league starter. He is a loogy at best. He kept the Cubs in them game yesterday, but had more of his pitches ended up in the strike zone he would have been shelled. He floated some serious meatballs across the plate, and doesn't have enough variety between the curve and the fastball to keep hitters off balance; especially not for a second or third time through the order.
- Ramirez and Jones are VERY slow out of the box. Ramirez had more hustle moving to first than I've seen from him previously this season, but there's really no point to it if he's going to eyeball his grounder into someone's glove before beginning to run.
- The infield is scary defensively. Ramirez does not read balls very well off of the bat. Walker should by no means be an everyday first baseman. Ronny looked okay, but occasionally looks lost at short.
- It's over a month into the season. I don't think our outfield has worked out how to communicate. They look Bush League. Pierre reminds me more of Delino DeShields than of Pierre circa '03. Murton could be quite could, and put up numbers similar to Brian Giles if Clines doesn't ruin him. He needs a much better coach, and looks like his digging himself into a slump that good coaching could get him through. He looks a little lost at the plate, and "hack away" won't help that any.
- Speaking of "Hack Away," just about everyone is swing at real bad pitches. There wasn't much in the way of hitters counts, and the few really hittable pitches I saw went for called strikes or were fouled out of play. Everyone was chasing a lot of crap which there's not much you can do with. A lot of weak grounds and easy pop flies.
- Neifi's making 2.5m a year? Wow....
by bobby h on May 15, 2006 12:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
you guys should relax...
So we lost a few games. Cedeno and Murton will probably end up in the Hall of Fame if we give them some time. Atleast we are not the White Sox in that sucky park and with that weak lucky team. We're gonna kill them when we play them.
Watch Maddux will win 20 for sure this year and Lee will come back in time to win MVP again. In the mean time I'm just going to go to as many games as I can and drink a smuch beer there as I can and talk to all the ladies there. The Cubs are number one and I bleed cubbie blue ! Kick White Sox ass !
by 1969cubs on May 15, 2006 1:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hilarious or Sad
by Santos Sorrow on May 15, 2006 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Prior still breathing?
by froghat on May 15, 2006 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
prior
by Clark Addison on May 15, 2006 1:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Rehabbing from what?!
by CubFaninNY on May 15, 2006 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it just me...
http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0921/5003038_240X180.jpg
(My apologies for not knowing how to create a link...many thanks for anyone who cleans up my mess)
by Shawon O Meter on May 15, 2006 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So *THAT'S* how you make a link...
by Shawon O Meter on May 15, 2006 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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