Three-Word Recaps

by Al Yellon on Mar 6, 2008 6:25 PM CST in Chicago Cubs Recaps

The Cubs lost again this afternoon, 2-1 to the A's, when Jose Ceda, who has a great arm but isn't likely to crack a major league roster anytime soon, had a bad eighth inning.

I stole this idea from Good Morning America Weekend, which I wind up seeing at work when I'm there early on weekend mornings. They have a segment where they ask people to sum up their week in three words. So, with many apologies to those involved, here's my three-word takes for various Cubs involved in today's game:

Jason Marquis: Better today. So?

Daryle Ward: Healed butt. Played.

Kerry Wood: Solid inning; hopeful.

Bob Howry: Looked fine today.

Jose Ceda: To AA ball.

Lou Piniella: Probably steaming tonight.

Geovany Soto: Two more hits.

Kosuke Fukudome: Walked, scored. Solid.

Shingo Takatsu: Fukufriend decent today.

Aramis Ramirez: Tomorrow, we swear.

Me: Heading there Wednesday!

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Comments

I'll add to that...

Carlos Marmol: My Turn Yet?

Micah Hoffpauir: Infield drills again?

Alfonso Soriano: Only a fleshwound.

Santoswoodenlegs: Hold leads please.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 6, 2008 6:26 PM CST reply actions

Marquis

Looked good today. Hope he can make the starting rotation and make Piniella eat his words!!

"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse

by ronsanto10 on Mar 6, 2008 6:34 PM CST reply actions

I'm so jealous, Al.

Wave at Camelback and the Superstitions for me! And try to kiss DeRo for me .... hehehe ....

GEAUX THERIOT!

by Littlerock Rynofan on Mar 6, 2008 6:41 PM CST reply actions

Waving...

... at Camelback and the Superstitions, check.

Um, the other thing, you'll have to do that yourself.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 6, 2008 8:32 PM CST up reply actions

Jason Marquis

I don't want him to make the rotation. I think they should trade him for a decent reliever.

by chicub127 on Mar 6, 2008 6:44 PM CST reply actions

Marquis...

We're paying $7 million for the guy. Who's going to pick up his salary? If he earns the spot, why not let him start?

"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse

by ronsanto10 on Mar 6, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

because he'll be worthless

down the stretch, as he has been his whole career. and itll likely take a few horrible outings before the cubs realize he's no good.

Bill James Felix Pie 2008 Projection: .283/.333/.456 16 HR 21 SB

by kylejo on Mar 7, 2008 7:59 AM CST up reply actions

Add:

Marquis: Increasing Trade Value.

D Lee: Wrist still hurting.

"Trapled moss on your souls; changes all you're a part; seen it all, not at all; can't defend a (Cubs fan)"- pearl jam

by section229beer on Mar 6, 2008 7:25 PM CST reply actions

This is a great idea...

...and I recommend it again. Now, for a thread hijack...

When is 2.0 of BCB coming?!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 6, 2008 7:47 PM CST reply actions

As soon as I know...

... you'll know.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 6, 2008 8:31 PM CST up reply actions

I think this new site thing is much

like the BCB T-Shirt crisis... Al, can we see a copy of the receipt for the site upgrade?

by LT on Mar 6, 2008 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

This site is raising the bar

on literary posting quality today. I expect tomorrow's update to be in iambic pentameter.

Soriano must leadoff... to provide adequate protection for Big Z!

by DGU on Mar 6, 2008 8:13 PM CST reply actions

I can do that.

You want sestinas or sonnets?

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2008 8:21 PM CST up reply actions

Heroic couplets

will do fine.

Soriano must leadoff... to provide adequate protection for Big Z!

by DGU on Mar 6, 2008 8:43 PM CST up reply actions

ok

we know this baseball team has gone too long
without a series vict'ry in it's song
so now we've come to trust in good sweet Lou
to lead the Cubs in baseball IQ true
he'll tell Fukudome to hit the ball
but not to run headlong into the wall
Sori and A-Ram, patience at the plate
So that the hated K is not their fate
And please, Sweet Lou, keep DeRo in the game
It's him, not Roberts, who'll have lasting Fame
With Soto helping Z and Hill and Eyre
Can we now foist Marquis upon the pyre?
Since nineteen eight we've waited for the rings
Please, soon of Cubbie winning may we sing?

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2008 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

Bravo

If the Cubs win the Series this year, I'll be expecting an epic poem - in the ancient language of your choice.

Soriano must leadoff... to provide adequate protection for Big Z!

by DGU on Mar 7, 2008 12:00 AM CST up reply actions

I vote for Middle English.

Give the Cubs a real Chaucerian feel...

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 7, 2008 8:07 AM CST up reply actions

Isn't that

Romeo and Juliet?

by teacher tom on Mar 7, 2008 8:04 AM CST up reply actions

Les Lancaster: tracking? pdf?? egads!!!

azweber: stop blaming me!

I'm the guy in the blue under armour shirt

by joeschmitt on Mar 6, 2008 8:13 PM CST reply actions

Carrie Muskat:

Oh! the Humanity!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 6, 2008 8:42 PM CST reply actions

DeRo

Can I play?

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

by DeRoMyHero on Mar 6, 2008 9:33 PM CST reply actions

Greetings from AZ

The weather is so much better here. Any BCBers around??

by 1060 W Addison on Mar 6, 2008 10:22 PM CST reply actions

re: Marquis

y'all should want the dude to pitch well, especially if that roberts trade happens, which would send gallagher and marshall to the o's

by wojo on Mar 6, 2008 11:09 PM CST reply actions

OT but worth noting

I'm sure someone will start I diary about this tomorrow but...http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3280426

For those who didn't read the link. Albert Pujols has a torn ligament, bone spurs, arthritis and inflammation in his elbow. Surgery, probably tommy john, will be needed eventually but he is putting it off for now. As they are saying over at VEB his elbow is now essentially a ticking time bomb.

by akcubfan on Mar 7, 2008 12:33 AM CST reply actions

If...

... Pujols misses any significant time this year, the Cardinals are a 100-loss team.

Even if he's healthy, the Cardinals are probably close to a 90-loss team.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2008 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

Somehow, with LaRussa

as their manager, I can't fathom them losing 90 games.

I hope it happens, but I cannot remember a LaRussa Cards team doing that poorly.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Mar 7, 2008 9:30 AM CST up reply actions

They came close twice.

After winning the NL Central in 1996 at 88-74, they went 73-89 in 1997.

They lost 86 games in 1999.

The last time a Cardinals team lost 90 games (92, to be exact) was 1990, when Whitey Herzog either quit or was fired mid-season, and Red Schoendienst came out of retirement to manage for a few weeks, and the season was finished by... Joe Torre.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2008 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

It happened in Oakland too...

In 1993, the Athletics lost 94 games with LaRussa at the helm. Bad years from Ruben Sierra, Dave Henderson, Ron Darling, and Bobby Welch, and losing Mark McGwire to injury for basically the whole year did them in.

LaRussa also had teams that lost 90 and 88 games with the White Sox in the early 80s.

by SouthernCub on Mar 7, 2008 9:46 AM CST up reply actions

Well - it kinda proves my point

compared to the majority of MLB managers - over a 10-15 year period, the instances of Tony's clubs finishing below .500 are very few.

Hate him, or hate him, he is one of the best.

To take a barely .500 club to the World Series Championship...I wish we could have ever done that.

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Mar 7, 2008 9:54 AM CST up reply actions

re: OT but worth noting

I agree this story is worth noting (and noting...and noting), but Pujols' elbow problem has actually been pretty widely known for some time now. Were I a betting man, I'd say he's out by the all-star break at the latest.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Mar 7, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

Nagging Injuries

Seems like we have a stockpile of these at this point...good thing we're still weeks away from games that matter.

Pie - remember this team's last crotch related injury? Not sure which one would hurt worse and I know I don't want to find out.

DeRosa, Lee, A-Ram, Ward, Soriano all can ride the pine for the next week to rest up. Let the kids have a chance to make an impression on Lou and company for future reference. These guys are established veterans that are gonna be just fine if they lose a few spring training at bats.

It could however be much worse...just ask the Mets and Cardinals

here's a humorous spin on the some of the injuries... http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/05/spring-dugz-chicago-cubs/

by Gleebo on Mar 7, 2008 12:48 AM CST reply actions

observations

beautiful day. Ceda is the next Novoa and needs to be packaged. Micah olayed a tweener to him and compounded it by throwing it wide of third.

Lemon20Pie's 2008 PECOTA for Rich Hill: 204 IP 30 HR 75 BB 180 SO 1.35 WHIP 4.25 ERA

by lemon20pie on Mar 7, 2008 1:47 AM CST reply actions

Ceda...

... is about two years behind where Novoa was when the Cubs acquired him. Novoa had already pitched at the major league level (16 games in 2004) when that deal was made.

Ceda has not pitched above Low-A. He's 21 years old. He'll pitch (probably) at Double-A this year. He's at least two years from making the majors. Don't give up on someone who has an arm like that.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2008 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

Re: Nagging Injuries

Long time reader, first time poster.

Gleebo, I agree, let the young kids play now, and let the Vets get there rest and completely healed so we can jump out to one hell of a start this year.

by 23Ryno on Mar 7, 2008 7:34 AM CST reply actions

What's with Ceda?

Ceda was lights out last year in (granted) high-A, then coughed up a bunch of runs in winter ball before being shut down, and now he's getting hammered? Has anyone seen him pitch lately? How's his velocity?

by John Q Freejazz on Mar 7, 2008 8:48 AM CST reply actions

Not a velocity problem,

more of location problem. Kid is wild as a March hare. When you fall behind, you gotta take a little off to try and get in the zone, and then you get hit. Seems like that's Ceda's problem, not an injury or arm stress related drop in velocity.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 7, 2008 8:55 AM CST up reply actions

You answered your own question...

Ceda was lights-out last year, but it was against A ball hitters. He had control problems then. Now, against better competition, his control problems are costing him. And the hitters are more prepared to handle his stuff. Until he gains some control, he's not likely to amount to much.

by SouthernCub on Mar 7, 2008 8:57 AM CST up reply actions