4-7-06 Cubs/Hated Birds, Maddux/Suppan 1:20 WGN

[UMFan83]

I watched Comcast Sportsnight or whatever its called. Dusty said it was because with Maddux pitching, he wanted good defense behind him....not sure what that means considering the number of home runs Maddog has given up the last few years. Maybe Greg has developed a nasty sinkerball over the winter :)

[Blueheart05]

I just heard Dusty's interview on Comcast Sports Net. He said specifically that Neifi is starting at 2B because they need his defense up the middle with Greg starting. So, he didn't take into consideration Walker's higher BA against Suppan, the move is strictly defense-oriented. If he wants to start Neifi he should always bat him low in the order. Since that's not going to happen, I hope Neifi shocks us with a good defensive and offensive game.

 

Edit:UMFan you beat me to it.

[A New Era]

I will be watching the game. And if it looks like Neifi's defense helps the game more than his offense hurts it, I'll accept this move. If it doesn't, THEN I'll call for Dusty's head. But I will in NO WAY accept Neifi batting 2nd. There is absolutely NO reason to.

[CUBZ99]

I really don't blame Maddux for wanting better defense in the game and as long if Maddux starts off great this season with Neifi at 2B, I don't see any reason to complain.

 

Lets just hope that Maddux also insists on Blanco behind the plate.

[Fred Hornkohl]

I really don't blame Maddux for wanting better defense in the game and as long if Maddux starts off great this season with Neifi at 2B, I don't see any reason to complain.

 

Lets just hope that Maddux also insists on Blanco behind the plate.

 

I'd be real surprised if Blanco isn't catching tomorrow.

[minnesotacubsfan]

(Posted on the first page)

Noteworthy Match-ups (Chicago Cubs) Vs. Jeff Suppan (16-10 with a 3.57 ERA in 2005)

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9571/suppanvcubs4vj.jpg

 

Look at Walker's numbers against Suppan. Now look at Neifi's. I can understand Neifi starting over Hairston when facing Suppan... But Neifi starting over Walker when facing Suppan? Please.

 

holy shnikes Jones OWNS Suppan

[Jon]

holy shnikes Jones OWNS Suppan

The 3-6 spots in the order all have OPSs over .900 against Suppan. Hopefully that's a good sign.

[sethuel1]

holy shnikes Jones OWNS Suppan

The 3-6 spots in the order all have OPSs over .900 against Suppan. Hopefully that's a good sign.

 

Good thing they'll come up after Neifi.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Frankly, with Walker's .314 OBP and Neifi's .308, that makes the Expected Value for times on base in the game 0.03 times on base greater with Walker than with Neifi. That's about as negligible as it gets. Maybe it's not such a good idea to use small sample sizes, eh?

[Jon]

Maybe not most, but a lot of matchup stats certainly don't carry much weight. Or rather, they shouldn't.

 

Barrett implied that he's catching Maddux.

[Keener98]

The Score 670 was reporting today that Neifi IS batting 2nd. Yea our manager is a dumbass.

[Outshined_One]

The Score 670 was reporting today that Neifi IS batting 2nd. Yea our manager is a dumbass.

 

Lovely.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

http://www.politika.be/forum/images/smilies/extra/highfive.gif

[CaliforniaRaisin]

C'mon guys, we need Neifi's defense with Maddux pitching. Who else will catch all those gopher balls*?

 

Temps should be in the low 40s at game time with a 40% chance of showers. Winds will be blowing in at about 20 mph. I think this is when I mention it will be 60 tomorrow in LA. :)

 

http://image.weather.com/web/radar/us_ord_closeradar_medium_usen.jpg

 

 

*I know, the wind isn't going to be blowing out. Still.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

God Bless Dusty Baker! :cheers:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

God Bless Dusty Baker! :cheers:

 

Just wait until the reality show "Manager Swap."

 

(We'll somehow get Bobby Cox and you can have Dusty or Frank Robinson. :))

[frostwyrm]

(Posted on the first page)

Noteworthy Match-ups (Chicago Cubs) Vs. Jeff Suppan (16-10 with a 3.57 ERA in 2005)

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9571/suppanvcubs4vj.jpg

 

Look at Walker's numbers against Suppan. Now look at Neifi's. I can understand Neifi starting over Hairston when facing Suppan... But Neifi starting over Walker when facing Suppan? Please.

 

Mmm, Neifi with 12 at bats, Hairston with 19.

 

Two words: SAMPLE SIZE.

[Fred Hornkohl]

C'mon guys, we need Neifi's defense with Maddux pitching. Who else will catch all those gopher balls*?

 

Temps should be in the low 40s at game time with a 40% chance of showers. Winds will be blowing in at about 20 mph. I think this is when I mention it will be 60 tomorrow in LA. :)

 

 

*I know, the wind isn't going to be blowing out. Still.

 

CUBS are 5-4 when the temperature is less than 50 degrees.

 

Perspective is everything in life, no?

 

Go CUBS !!

[Outshined_One]

God Bless Dusty Baker! :cheers:

 

Don't make me remind you of that gaping hole of death and despair you have playing every day in RF.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

God Bless Dusty Baker! :cheers:

 

Don't make me remind you of that gaping hole of death and despair you have playing every day in RF.

 

Quit trolling. :?

 

 

 

 

:wink:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

God Bless Dusty Baker! :cheers:

 

Don't make me remind you of that gaping hole of death and despair you have playing every day in RF.

 

Quit trolling. :?

 

 

 

 

:wink:

 

You're supposed to remind him of our defensive whiz of a gaping hole of death and despair known as our every day RF.

[frostwyrm]

(Posted on the first page)

Noteworthy Match-ups (Chicago Cubs) Vs. Jeff Suppan (16-10 with a 3.57 ERA in 2005)

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9571/suppanvcubs4vj.jpg

 

Look at Walker's numbers against Suppan. Now look at Neifi's. I can understand Neifi starting over Hairston when facing Suppan... But Neifi starting over Walker when facing Suppan? Please.

 

holy shnikes Jones OWNS Suppan

 

Besides the small sample size, there's the fact that Suppan and Jones haven't played in the same league since 2003, and Suppan didn't even face the Twins that year, so we're looking at a small batch of numbers from 2002 or earlier. Simply put, these numbers are meaningless useless CRAP.

 

Edit: I should also add that 2002 was Suppan's worst year of this decade and also the best year of Jones' career.

[Outshined_One]

You're supposed to remind him of our defensive whiz of a gaping hole of death and despair known as our every day RF.

 

I like to think of him as an older Corey Patterson. Somehow, that makes it slightly more bearable.

[E.J.]

The Score 670 was reporting today that Neifi IS batting 2nd. Yea our manager is a dumbass.

 

You gotta love how Dusty works out his lineups.

 

"Let's see, I'm taking Walker out of the lineup and replacing him with Neifi today. Guess that means Neifi will also be taking Walk's place in the batting order as well."

 

Do you think we'll see Blanco hitting sixth as well?

 

Stupid Dusty.

[CubinNY]

The Score 670 was reporting today that Neifi IS batting 2nd. Yea our manager is a dumbass.

 

He has to bat second. Second basemen bat second. Duh?