Stop Making Sense

Cubs have been pretty lucky the past few days with the how everything has played out.

We all knew something like this was going to happen eventually before the end of the year.  lets be thankful it was not the same time as the 2004 collapse.

This team worked hard for 2 months getting to where they are, they are a little drained, if we can split with the Colorado i am confident that the off day on the 13th will help the Cubs and we will be backt o playing better baseball.

The real news is Aramis Ramírez's wrist injury. Man, when it rains it pours in Cubs Land. Despite Lou's optimism for the masses, the team is taking this injury seriously because they sent Ramírez to Chicago to be checked by the team doctors. This team cannot absorb the absence of another big bat from the lineup for a prolonged period of time. I hope Ramírez can come back healthy on Friday.

So nothing to worry about, folks!

Just sit back and hope for the best - take comfort in miracle stories of teams of prior years; and instead of recognizing them as the miracles they were, tout them as a winning philosophy.  Hope to be good enough to barely get in, then expect a series of miracles.  That's how you do it!

And if doing nothing costs the Cubs a VERY rare playoff opportunity - hey!  It was still the right thing to do.  

Remember, we have once again been told that all of the solutions for 2007 are already in the organization.  A World Series championship is just around the corner.  And no help is needed to do it in 2007 - remember.

Why do so many here think those same players can't get it together and go on another solid run without external help? It's not like a bunch of guys were playing well over their heads during the good stretch, excepting maybe Fontenot? TheRiot was slumping, Sori, Lee, ARam, Z - they were all playing as expected. Our pitching was ok but not great during that stretch. Seriously, they've hit a dip in the road. It may prove to fatally throw them into a ditch, but we won't really know that for another 2-3 weeks, maybe longer. Just take the fact that the Brewers can't seem to win either as a good sign.

First guy says "Oh no, it sounds like a bear.  We're goners for sure."  

Second guy pokes his head out of the tent for a quick look and ducks back in.  "Yep, it's a bear alright.  Big one, too" and then he calmly starts to put on his shoes.

"What are you doing?"  first guy wails.  "You can't outrun a bear!"

Second guy says "Don't have to.  Just have to outrun you..."

I'm all for transparency, and would love it as a fan, but I don't expect it. Of all things that occur to a major league team, we probably hear about or are let in on maybe 5% of it. Take ARam's wrist, for example, or the fiasco with The Employee over the years, or Wood, or [Name Player Here].

Love Hill's defense... but lord oh mighty. .155. Jeez. Kendall's not hitting either, and he doesn't throw ANYONE out. But, Kendall's not going anywhere for the remainder of the year.

We can dump Hill... and if an injury hits us st Catcher later, Blanco might be ready to join the team.

Any word on Ward?  Man we miss his bat right now.  

Pagan was so bad this month, maybe he was playing thru injury.

Pitch hitting is a really hard thing to adjust to.  Mostly it is vets that do it well.  I think Pie and Patterson might not have much success in that role.  At the same time, we are in the thick of a playoff race, and now is not the time to be hurting out offensive output by starting these guys while they learn how to hit in the majors.  They should be D and baserunning subs as much as possible until we can get Ward, Pagan, Soriano back.  Of course, we need to actually be winning or at least in games late for them to be used that way, which hasn't happened lately.

So hopefully, we will be seeing a lot more of them soon.

And to whoever said they prefer Theriot in the 2 hole.  Why?!?!  He does everything you want a leadoff guy to do.  He takes pitches, gets on, steals bags, goes 1st to 3rd etc.  I mean if you have Jose Reyes on your team, then Ryan is a fine #2, but he is a good leadoff guy.

My idea of a #2 puts the ball in play, doesnt strike out, moves the runner, sacrifices in close games, needs the protection of a big #3 behind him.  That ain't the best use for Ryan to me.

I hate to beat on this drum, because I have been a fan/hater of SS, but that sounds like SS to me.  Actually, Kendall of the past few years (and since the ASB) fits that too.

Cabrera?  Yeah right.
Garrett Atkins?  Never pass thru waivers, and then we would have to trade the farm for him.
Melvin Mora?  No trade clause, loves Baltimore, old with 2 more years on contract.
Troy Glaus?  Pretty much just a DH at this point, right?
Ty Wigginton - UGH!  Hindsight is 20/02, but he woulda been the guy.
Ryan Zimmerman - Too young/cheap to get thru waivers.

Looking at guys who havent played a lot of 3rd this year.

Jeff Keppinger? - Who?  CIN.  Young/cheap, no waivy.
Hank Blalock - Nice option here, but hasnt come off the 60 day DL for his illness yet.
Iwamura - Cheap, no waivey, not a slugger either.

Not looking too pretty.  I think you gotta just play DeRosa.

Add Soto and Gallagher (with Murton in RF, which isn't great but bear with me) and you basically are running the AAA squad out there against major league teams. It might be a long month at this rate. Ramirez and Soriano better come back, with a vengeance.