"All we can do is come get them tomorrow."

by cubs2234 on Aug 29, 2007 9:37 PM CDT

I don't know if there have been other diaries like this, but the comments in the open threads are getting ridiculous. I understand that you're ticked, but making uneducated statements such as "soriano cannot hit," is just dumb (although right now, he's on Pluto, which doesn't even officially exist anymore). These guys have trained harder to do their jobs probably more than anything you have ever done in your life. They're human beings; they make mistakes. It's baseball; we'd love for the cubbies to go 162-0, but it doesn't happen. So what the offense is in a slump. IT HAPPENS. All you can do is go out and get them tomorrow. It sounds cliche but for this point in time is is completely appropriate. Although you might be oblivious to this, other teams are aloud to win games. In fact, they're going to win games.

Stay positive, go cubs, and thank you.

-Jason

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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Nice post

You're a lot more cool-headed than I am on this issue sometimes, but it really just sticks in my craw.

If this team is good enough, we'll find out in due time. I think it is.

by Not Bruce Froemming on Aug 29, 2007 9:49 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

Not only that, but neither the Brewers nor the Cardinals has exactly been setting the world on fire lately.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2007 3:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Since the big off day on Monday

All three teams at the top of the division are 1-1, or .500. Typical!

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Aug 30, 2007 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions

boy oh boy!

to say the cubs are in a slump would be an understatement!when oh when will the offense come to life?when we do get men on we can't get em in.big z is also in a slump!sheets hadn't pitched in how long?and gets a win.hard to fathom isn't it!time to get hot or wait til next year!

by cubz409 on Aug 29, 2007 10:21 PM CDT reply actions

Huge slump...

7-4 since August 16th (I'm sure there are quite a few teams that would LOVE to be 7-4 in their last 11 - Brewers anyone?), with 4 of those wins comming against teams that are currently within 2 games of their division's lead (St. Lou, Ariz and Mil). Yes, the offense isn't performing as consistantly as most of us would like, but, you know, I did post a diary a few days ago about the Cubs tough schedule that was upcomming...

Don't forget that after the Dodgers series, the Cubs only have those 5 with the Cards, and every other game remaining is vs. teams quite a bit under .500

Moose

Hubbs!

by moose97 on Aug 30, 2007 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

There is no defending..............

..........that Soriano AB in the 5th.

Two of the three pitches he saw - nice patience - DIDN'T EVEN REACH THE PLATE!!!

Ben Sheets is good, but he ain't that good.......

That is inexcusable for a MLB player, and I honestly cannot recall witnessing a worse plate appearance by another player, let alone Soriano himself.

by tville on Aug 29, 2007 11:25 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

You must not watch many games then. I'm not here to defend Soriano. He has had enough success at the major league level to do that for himself. And while an AB like that is certainly not good, there are worse AB's in the major leagues every day. Some occur with runners on base, some occur ahead in the count, some occur by superstars. In my mind, Theriot's inability to get a bunt down or Kendall's inability to get in a runner from 3rd with less than 2 out are far worse than Soriano's wild-swinging AB in the fifth.

But that's just me.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Aug 30, 2007 7:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Theriot and Kendall............

.........were called upon to perform very specific tasks.

Meanwhile, Soriano was the leadoff guy in an inning with no purpose other than to get on base and help the team. Instead he looked like shit, and in a fashion that was as horrible as I've ever seen. Two of the pitches he swung at didn't even reach home plate. I've never seen that before.

Please don't compare players who are tasked with a very specific assignment to those who step up with no pressure whatsoever and simply blow goats, looking miserable as they do it.

And by the by, unless your count of games watched, whether in person or otherwise, exceeds several thousand, then you don't have me covered.

by tville on Aug 31, 2007 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions

It is what it is...

Some people just rant to vent a little bit, and some are so fickle and pessimistic that they swear off the Cubs whenever it suits them. The threads these days don't even compare to when the Cubs were under .500 and everybody and their mother swore off their fanship.

MARQUIS! YES, MARQUIS!

by thekansasian on Aug 30, 2007 12:18 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, it's pretty absurd

Here the Cubs sit 1 1/2 ahead of the Brewers with our stopper Lilly going against a rookie pitcher who has made one other start in his career and people are ready to jump off a cliff. We actually got into first place while Soriano was gone. Rich Hill has gotten out of his funk. Jacque Jones and Jason Kendall have stepped up big time... and they are our 7th and 8th batters right now. Does anyone remember the Colorado series where I believe Matt Murton was batting cleanup? Lee, Soriano, Ramirez are all healthy and Theriot, Kendall, Jones, DeRosa are all solid. Floyd/Ward are a little hit or miss, but they each had their own series where they helped us win two games a piece(Ward=Cards, Floyd=Giants).

If you are made about one loss and we will be in first place on September 1 regardless of what happens tomorrow, you just love to be miserable.

by IllinoisCubs on Aug 30, 2007 1:03 AM CDT reply actions

On the other hand...

... the Cubs are not at all playing like a team worthy of a divison title. Sorry but there is simply no way around that. This isn't one game that they've played poorly...for the last four weeks this team has been playing, well, like crap. Tonight they left far too many runs on base (Ryan Theriot, you need to learn how to bunt) and were swinging for the fences with the wind blowing in. Same thing last night when the offense was dormant for most of the game and again made mistakes that cost the team runs.

Carlos Zambrano has pitched like garbage for several weeks. Ted Lilly can't buy a win. D. Lee has no business batting in the #3 spot and Aramis Ramirez is proving again to be a player who cannot put up the big numbers when it matters. Ace pitchers and star players put up numbers down the stretch of penant runs and the Cubs star position players and pitchers, bullpen aside, have gone AWOL.

The team lost 2 of 3 to Arizona when facing their 3,4 and 5 pitchers, (and they're a team that has a truely bad offense). They got outplayed and outhustled by a bad Reds team... Need I say any more? I have no problem with the Cubs losing games to teams like the Phillies and Mets, they're good teams. But the Cubs are playing poorly against bad teams (even when they win), playing sub .500 ball, and are allowing the Cards and Reds back into the race and letting the Brewers stick around.

I look forward to being called negative and what not but if you watch this team right now and are not seeing some really worrisome trends then you're not being honest.

DmL:will now return to infrequent poster status

by dmlichte on Aug 30, 2007 1:29 AM CDT reply actions

Guess we should pack it in ...

I'm seeing a team that played poorly in April and May, very well in June and July and below average in August. Still, they're in first place.

I'm really not that worried about it. Baseball is a long season.

If they return to midsummer form in September, all will be more than well. (And don't give me that "but I don't forsee that" business, because you would have said the same thing in May.)

by Not Bruce Froemming on Aug 30, 2007 1:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Also ...

The Cubs didn't "allow" the Cards and the Reds to stick around, nor the Brewers. None of these teams apparently wants it badly enough, because they've all been pretty rude (even the Cardinals, who make some of the mere mortals around here quake in their boots).

I think you're worrying a bit too much. That's all.

by Not Bruce Froemming on Aug 30, 2007 1:38 AM CDT up reply actions

re: Also

repeated disappointments, do get people to complain when things start going wrong. B/c we cant control it, no matter how much we want Z to pitch well if he doesnt there isnt anything we can do to change that.

That being said, I love listening to Pat and Ron. This summer I've made a point to just try and enjoy the pennent race. I passionitly want the Cubs to make the play offs, but if this is the year I would also like to remember just how much I enjoyed the season overall.

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 30, 2007 3:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's see.

Theriot missed the bunt once. He's been successful doing it before.

Ramírez is playing hurt but he's driving some of the few runs that are in.

D. Lee is one of the top ten hitters in the league and therefore, he bats 3rd in the lineup.

No, those are not problems.

Zambrano's and Marshall's pitching in August have been problems. So has the absence of Soriano and Ramírez, due to injuries. Also, the fact that the power hitter doesn't drive enough runs becasue he hits first (Soriano), and he is a bad lead-off hitter, anyway. The hottest bats are hitting 7 and 8 (Jones and Kendall). That's another waste because the pitcher leaves them stranded.

And yet, we're in first place. Why? Good pitching that keeps the game within reach, solid defense, a very good bullpen, bad teams in the NL Central, depth (there's a different hero in every win).

I see worrisome trends but I also see encouraging ones. This month will tell us which one will prevail.

by Fraggin Judge on Aug 30, 2007 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions

I find,

as others have mentioned previously, that staying away from the game thread while the game is in progress is imperative. Every moment of the game is scrutinized and fretted over in the most irrational way. As a fan, I sit in front of my TV or radio and worry my little heart away, but making inane statements and swearing off the team with every poor start by Z or every poor swing by Sori is just absurd. It's baseball. Yeah, it's frustrating, just about the most frustrating sport you can follow. Get used to it. How do you think our fathers and grandfathers have felt all these years, watching the Cubs' pathetic play season in and out? It sucks, but getting irrational and losing perspective is just missing the point.

Go Cubs. And I'll continue staying away from BCB while the game is in progress. Works for me.

"Mine, mine, says the squirrel to the transformer, unclear on the capacities of electricity." -Dean Young

by Kegler on Aug 30, 2007 7:44 AM CDT reply actions

And for me, too.

Sometimes we forget that baseball is a frustrating game. You miss 7 out of ten times and you're considered a good hitter; six out of ten and you're phenomenal. The best athlete of his time (Michael Jordan) couldn't make it in baseball. That's how difficult this game is.

So I keep my frustrations and little curses to myself while the game is on and try to be rational afterwards. That's why I stay away from the threads while the game is in progress. I'd rather concentrate on watching the game than typing.

by Fraggin Judge on Aug 30, 2007 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Aram

is pushing a little. I know we just had an off day but his RBI's are crucial to the team. Let DeRosa play 3rd and rest him in the next few weeks. I think he needs it.

Lou said today he can't get conservative. What has been successful for this team is those 90 some different lineups. If it works, let's keep changing up. Pie an occasional start, Fontenot, Ward, Blanco. We just can't run out the same lineup in September and expect them to win every day. Sometimes you lose one game to win two or three. I'll take 2 of 3 the rest of the season.

This is Harry Carray, goodbye from Wrigley Field and So Long Everybody.

by mrcubsfan on Aug 30, 2007 8:45 AM CDT reply actions

As would I.

There are 31 games left. Going 20-11 (just under 2 out of 3) would mean 87 wins -- that would probably be enough.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2007 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Al,

Would it be ok with you if it gets too negative in the game threads during the game if we could start a new diary for those of us who just want to discuss the game and not call the players names or complain about every little thing?

I love this team!!!!!

by sue369 on Aug 30, 2007 12:45 PM CDT reply actions

Absolutely no objection...

... if you or anyone else wants to do that.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2007 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks so much.

I love this team!!!!!

by sue369 on Aug 30, 2007 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Sue: that is censorship

I too get bothered by the negative comments, but all I do is ignore it or write a joke like "is that the tequila talking" which probably goes over their heads but makes me feel better.

I feel like it is good karma to let the negative ones vent.

Prince Fielder...he is neither.

by LAcarl519 on Aug 30, 2007 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry

but it makes me uncomfortable.

I love this team!!!!!

by sue369 on Aug 30, 2007 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Not censorship

How is that censorship? She didn't ask Al to close down the game thread or take away anyone's right to post. She just asked if it would be off-limits to start an alternative, "shiny happy" game thread in the diaries.

by SuperContext on Aug 30, 2007 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Correct!

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2007 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Sue, that's a good idea

Although I wouldn't call it "shiny happy." I'd call it "non-reactionary."

by Not Bruce Froemming on Aug 30, 2007 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Good Post

Jason,

Great post, and I agree with you.

Whenever we get exasperated with a bad play or a loss, we need to remember that last year the Cubs were eliminated by Father's Day.

Let's just enjoy the ride.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Aug 30, 2007 2:12 PM CDT reply actions

Nice post

I find it helpful to think of this season this way: all of the NL Central teams suck ass, so it's just a matter of which team sucks least ass at the end. That way you won't get as upset with every loss.

by park on Aug 30, 2007 2:39 PM CDT reply actions

As long as

we remember that the Cards "sucked ass" to the tune of 83 wins last year, and turned that ass sucking into a World Series trophy, I'm fine with it, as long as the Cubs come out on top in the end...

Moose

Hubbs!

by moose97 on Aug 30, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Frustrating

I am in a market where I do not have the luxury of watching every game on tv. When I have to struggle through watching a game on gamecast it is very nice to simply read the game log. So many of the subtleties of the game cannot be transmitted through the gameday and the great people of this site explain/comment on these nuances. The problem with these logs recently is every time someone makes an out there are numerous people completely ridiculing everything about them. Then usually a side comment about Lou or Hendry. This gets especially bad when the team is losing and makes the threads unbearable. If there were only a way to suspend all of those who wrote "this season is over" back in June or earlier I think a lot of the problem would be diminished. I understand that these comments come from frustration, but if you dont think the players are mad you are wrong. These guys are pressing, maybe too much at times. But, as for now, we should all enjoy the stretch and try to support our team to the finish. Cheers to the rest of the season.

by okiecubbie on Aug 30, 2007 3:48 PM CDT reply actions

i'm gonna get flamed for this but...

in a way i'm kinda glad we are where we are. i hope it dont take us but 83 or 84 ganmes to win the division. why??? because do we really wanna be the team that is unbeatable and a lock for the world series going into the playoffs. do we want our superstars clicking on all cylinders right now?? do we wanna be 10-15 games ahead in first?? i dont. i wanna be the underdog. i wanna be the team that there is no way that can get passed the 1st rd. the goliath almost never wins. i wanna coast along like we are right now and then play out of our heads going into the playoffs. piniella has done a fine job and i gotta believe the "it's time" speech will come at the right time. at the "right time" the radio w/ the fight song will be turned on. this is wanna the big differences between us and the brewers. we have one thing that cant be taught and thats playoff experience. piniella,d.lee,derosa,soriano, hell bob brenly all have it. i'm no phsychic and you can call me crazy but i have always said the cubs would win it when things in my life starting coming together. they have in a b$g kinda way. i have a feeling like ive never had before. lets start right here on this blog "coming together". lets get prepared and live this magical year as one. next year is here!! go cubbies

Here comes the nasty leftie to shut it down in the 9th......Clay Rapada!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Aug 30, 2007 4:22 PM CDT reply actions