4/8 Cubs/Dead Birds 1:20 CSN, Z!/Carp

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hooray for living in Missouri.......today.

[Fro]

Meh, we're getting the Reds and Pirates from Fox Sports Ohio on FSM in Indiana

 

At least they're actually showing baseball instead of "Best Damn Sports Show". Last year they blacked out the Cards games and we got nothing, no Cubs, no Reds, no Cards on regional Sports TV.

Edited April 8, 2006 by Fro

[Fred Hornkohl]

I'm really not sure what you're asking here.

 

I didn't want to start a big thing here...but I'm assuming you were saying that the reason Neifi hit 2nd yesterday was because he didn't want to put that kind of pressure on Ronny or Murton.

 

Aside from the fact that he could've still hit Barrett 2nd yesterday if that was his intent, what would you say Dusty's reasoning was for hitting Neifi second so much last year, when he wouldn't have been worried about putting pressure on the young guns...

 

I can't really answer that any better than anybody else here. We don't for sure; we are all just guessing. My point is, that unlike a good percentage of the poseters here, I don't believe that Dusty believes that Neifi is the right guy for hitting at the top of the order. I believe, rather, that Dusty thinks of Neifi as the least of several bad options to bat at the top of the order.

 

In the case of Barrett, he didn't hit 1 or 2 at all last year, and only very sparingly the year before. I think that Dusty views him as not being a candidate for the top of the order. I certainly don't agree with that, but I think that is what Dusty thinks.

 

Dusty will use Hairston at the top of the order, and did last year, almost as oftern as he did with Neifi, but remember, it took injuries and/or a demotion to the minors (Patterson) to even get Hairston into the lineup at all.

[J.R.]

So I have to miss the first part of the game due to an audition - but even when I get back, I still won't be able to watch it, due to living in L.A. SO - to those of you who have MLB.tv, is it worth it? I'm thinking of getting it for the season, but I'd just like to know how well it works for you.

 

It's great for me.

[ltb]

On the other hand, since this suggests that Dusty isn't dead set on keeping the positions hitting in the same spot (i.e. 2B must hit 2nd, or the ridiculousness of batting Sammy's replacements 3rd in 2003), does it mean that Dusty thinks that Neifi is suited to the 2 hole?

 

I don't even know what to say about that.

 

well, blanco almost always hit 8th when he played last year. i don't think this suggests that dusty believes the 2 hole is suited for anyone but the second baseman.

[Fred Hornkohl]

On the other hand, since this suggests that Dusty isn't dead set on keeping the positions hitting in the same spot (i.e. 2B must hit 2nd, or the ridiculousness of batting Sammy's replacements 3rd in 2003), does it mean that Dusty thinks that Neifi is suited to the 2 hole?

 

I don't even know what to say about that.

 

well, blanco almost always hit 8th when he played last year. i don't think this suggests that dusty believes the 2 hole is suited for anyone but the second baseman.

 

2005 Starting #2 batters.........

 

player        # starts
Hollandsworth        3
Patterson           18
Walker              61
Cedeno               6
Hairston             6
Macias               2
Perez               64
Wilson               1
Lawton               1

[Jon]

Neifi had a .287 OBP in 390 ABs at the top of the order (1 and 2 spots). And Dusty's staff went out of their way to try to make Corey into a leadoff hitter and he kept in the top of the order for 206 ABs despite a .243 OBP there. Instead of putting the better options in front of Derrek Lee, who had one of the best seasons in the history of baseball, he let those two get over 600 PAs in front of them. Combine that with other situations like not even thinking of putting Bellhorn at leadoff in 2003 and I'm convinced that he has very little concept of the value of OBP.

 

In conclusion, it's best not to try to make any sense of Dusty's decisions. Dusty sees something in Neifi that seems to escape a lot of us and trying to find the reason behind it will only cause headaches.

Edited April 8, 2006 by Jon

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Is this game blacked out on MLB.TV? :(

[CubinNY]

 

2005 Starting #2 batters.........

 

player        # starts
Hollandsworth        3
Patterson           18
Walker              61
Cedeno               6
Hairston             6
Macias               2
[b]Perez               64[/b]
Wilson               1
Lawton               1

 

Wow, I knew it was bad, just not that bad. Although if Walker wasn't cheapshoted by Carlos Lee last year he probably would have edged out the Neifurry.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cubs Press Notes

 

Cardinals Press Notes

[David]

On the other hand, since this suggests that Dusty isn't dead set on keeping the positions hitting in the same spot (i.e. 2B must hit 2nd, or the ridiculousness of batting Sammy's replacements 3rd in 2003), does it mean that Dusty thinks that Neifi is suited to the 2 hole?

 

I don't even know what to say about that.

 

well, blanco almost always hit 8th when he played last year. i don't think this suggests that dusty believes the 2 hole is suited for anyone but the second baseman.

 

True, but so did Barrett, right?

[Andy]

So I have to miss the first part of the game due to an audition - but even when I get back, I still won't be able to watch it, due to living in L.A. SO - to those of you who have MLB.tv, is it worth it? I'm thinking of getting it for the season, but I'd just like to know how well it works for you.

 

It's great for me.

I've never had it but I've heard rave reviews from everyone who has. So long as you're not in the Chicagoland area for them to black the games out (which you clearly aren't) it appears to be a great service.

[Andy]

MLB.com Gameday for me today - no Comcast Sportsnet in Muncie :(

[Vinestal]

Z blamed his last bad outing on the cold and not being able to get a good grip on the ball, well its gonna be cold again today, needs to do a better job of keeping his hands warm or something.

[Rusch33]

Hopefully we can win today to set up the chance of a sweep tomorrow.

 

Go Cubs.

[CubinNY]

MLB.com Gameday for me today - no Comcast Sportsnet in Muncie :(

 

Pat and Ron on XM 186 for me.

 

I wish this were on TV. With Z against the Cards you never know what is going to happen. It should be very exciting, especially with the way Maddux made them look yesterday. I can't wait!

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I want to see Z make Edmonds cry. He was close yesterday. 5 minute showers. Boo hoo. :lol:

[David]

Was that Scott Skiles?

[baseball7897]

Lets go Cubs

[Fred Hornkohl]

On the other hand, since this suggests that Dusty isn't dead set on keeping the positions hitting in the same spot (i.e. 2B must hit 2nd, or the ridiculousness of batting Sammy's replacements 3rd in 2003), does it mean that Dusty thinks that Neifi is suited to the 2 hole?

 

I don't even know what to say about that.

 

well, blanco almost always hit 8th when he played last year. i don't think this suggests that dusty believes the 2 hole is suited for anyone but the second baseman.

 

True, but so did Barrett, right?

 

No, Barrett hit 8th a little less than half of the time.......

 

Barrett            AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
batting 4th        12    4    4    2    0    0    6    0    1    1  0.333  0.429  0.500  0.929
batting 5th        56   10   19    5    1    3   35   10    9    4  0.339  0.431  0.625  1.056
batting 6th        89    9   34    9    0    5   58   18    8   14  0.382  0.439  0.652  1.090
batting 7th        70    3   10    3    1    1   18    2    7   13  0.143  0.221  0.257  0.478
batting 8th       191   23   48   10    1    6   78   31   13   27  0.251  0.305  0.408  0.713
batting 9th         6    0    2    0    0    0    2    0    1    2  0.333  0.500  0.333  0.833

overall           424   49  117   29    3   15  197   61   39   61  0.276  0.343  0.465  0.808

[Flames24Rulz]

Gametime! Let's get a win.

[Rusch33]

MLB.com Gameday for me today - no Comcast Sportsnet in Muncie :(

 

Pat and Ron on XM 186 for me.

 

I wish this were on TV. With Z against the Cards you never know what is going to happen. It should be very exciting, especially with the way Maddux made them look yesterday. I can't wait!

 

 

Same here.

[Jazz]

anyone with dish network on the east coast can tell me wat channel CSN chicago is its available?

[Rusch33]

Eckstein grounds out to Zambrano, one down.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Eckstein grounded out to the pitcher, 1-3