cubs find left handed bp pitcher

[frostwyrm]

Maybe it's just me, but was it REALLY that hard to find a guy who can lob meatballs lefthanded? How many ex-high school and college players are there in the greater Chicago area? And how many of them would love to throw to Aramis Ramirez, Todd Walker, etc?

 

Was this REALLY that difficult?

 

It's obviously a lot harder than you think. When this story came out in the Chicago media 3 weeks or so ago I believe it was Ozzie who said the White Sox are happy with their guy but wouldn't want to go through it again. I think it was Kenny Williams who added, if we opened this up to an open invite to all of Chicago, I'd guarantee we'd have 1,000 try out for the job and I guarantee we'd have 1,000 fail.

 

Think about it, if you're a guy who pitched in high school or college and you haven't stepped foot on a field and really threw in 10+ years it's not easy to consistently throw a couple hundred belt-high fastballs at 75-80 MPH. If they could, they'd probably still be playing somewhere.

 

I played the game for a while and can't imagine how nervous I'd be pitching to Walker, Lee, Ramirez, etc. It's not that easy....

That's absurd. Any college lefty good enough to be scouted would be acceptable, certainly more acceptable than having no left-handed BP pitcher, and not all these guys are still playing somewhere.

[bring stone back]

Maybe it's just me, but was it REALLY that hard to find a guy who can lob meatballs lefthanded? How many ex-high school and college players are there in the greater Chicago area? And how many of them would love to throw to Aramis Ramirez, Todd Walker, etc?

 

Was this REALLY that difficult?

 

It's obviously a lot harder than you think. When this story came out in the Chicago media 3 weeks or so ago I believe it was Ozzie who said the White Sox are happy with their guy but wouldn't want to go through it again. I think it was Kenny Williams who added, if we opened this up to an open invite to all of Chicago, I'd guarantee we'd have 1,000 try out for the job and I guarantee we'd have 1,000 fail.

 

Think about it, if you're a guy who pitched in high school or college and you haven't stepped foot on a field and really threw in 10+ years it's not easy to consistently throw a couple hundred belt-high fastballs at 75-80 MPH. If they could, they'd probably still be playing somewhere.

 

I played the game for a while and can't imagine how nervous I'd be pitching to Walker, Lee, Ramirez, etc. It's not that easy....

That's absurd. Any college lefty good enough to be scouted would be acceptable, certainly more acceptable than having no left-handed BP pitcher, and not all these guys are still playing somewhere.

 

Any college lefty worth being scouted has hopes of PLAYING...not throwing BP. As far as your contention that any college lefty worth being scouted can do this, I'll take that bet.

[bring stone back]

I only pointed out that from your postings on this message board, you seem to be very cynical and look for every reason to complain.

 

I am actually looking for reasons to be satisfied with what the Cubs are doing, and can't find any. You don't have to look for reasons to complain, unless you're happy with 16-22 and no World Series titles in your lifetime.

 

I'm not happy they're 16-22, but I honestly feel this is the low-point of the season and they will perform much better throughout the year once Lee, Prior, Wood and Miller return. Considering how pathetic they've been the last 15 games or so, for them to be only 6 under .500 at this point is a blessing.

 

The NL Central is very mediocre so I don't think it's crazy to think the Cubs can't make this interesting later in the year.

 

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

[cjbucks]

I almost didn't read this thread because I just assumed it was about fat Glendon :lol:

[goonys evil twin]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

[bring stone back]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

 

Why bother with what? I have followed the Cubs since I can remember, but them winning or not winning the world series wouldn't change my life or give me a sense of satisfaction. I'd be happy and hope to see it one day, but it does nothing for personal satisfaction. It would be different if I played or worked for the Cubs, but I'm just a fan.

 

See the Red Sox fans for example. They won a couple years ago for the first time forever and they're even more rabid than ever. If they were truly satisfied, the fans would just show up and cheer for anything the Sox do on the field. They don't so obviously the Red Sox title two years didn't satisfy their fans.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

 

Why bother with what? I have followed the Cubs since I can remember, but them winning or not winning the world series wouldn't change my life or give me a sense of satisfaction. I'd be happy and hope to see it one day, but it does nothing for personal satisfaction. It would be different if I played or worked for the Cubs, but I'm just a fan.

 

See the Red Sox fans for example. They won a couple years ago for the first time forever and they're even more rabid than ever. If they were truly satisfied, the fans would just show up and cheer for anything the Sox do on the field. They don't so obviously the Red Sox title two years didn't satisfy their fans.

 

Enjoying, or getting any satisfaction out of a team's success is completely different from "being satisfied". Enjoyment and satisfaction are temporary feelings. Being satisfied suggests permanence. The players themselves typically don't remain satisfied with winning one. So, you're suggestion that you can't take any satisfaction from a win because you aren't part of the team doesn't jive with the rest of your statement.

 

Hey, if you can passively observe this team without any emotional ties getting involved, more power to you. But then I'd refrain from admonishing those who have taken an emotional stake in the team from expressing disappointment in how they are run. You don't care. Fine. Others do.

[Shavo]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

 

Why bother with what? I have followed the Cubs since I can remember, but them winning or not winning the world series wouldn't change my life or give me a sense of satisfaction. I'd be happy and hope to see it one day, but it does nothing for personal satisfaction. It would be different if I played or worked for the Cubs, but I'm just a fan.

 

See the Red Sox fans for example. They won a couple years ago for the first time forever and they're even more rabid than ever. If they were truly satisfied, the fans would just show up and cheer for anything the Sox do on the field. They don't so obviously the Red Sox title two years didn't satisfy their fans.

 

Enjoying, or getting any satisfaction out of a team's success is completely different from "being satisfied". Enjoyment and satisfaction are temporary feelings. Being satisfied suggests permanence. The players themselves typically don't remain satisfied with winning one. So, you're suggestion that you can't take any satisfaction from a win because you aren't part of the team doesn't jive with the rest of your statement.

 

Hey, if you can passively observe this team without any emotional ties getting involved, more power to you. But then I'd refrain from admonishing those who have taken an emotional stake in the team from expressing disappointment in how they are run. You don't care. Fine. Others do.

 

MANY others do.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

 

Why bother with what? I have followed the Cubs since I can remember, but them winning or not winning the world series wouldn't change my life or give me a sense of satisfaction. I'd be happy and hope to see it one day, but it does nothing for personal satisfaction. It would be different if I played or worked for the Cubs, but I'm just a fan.

 

See the Red Sox fans for example. They won a couple years ago for the first time forever and they're even more rabid than ever. If they were truly satisfied, the fans would just show up and cheer for anything the Sox do on the field. They don't so obviously the Red Sox title two years didn't satisfy their fans.

 

Enjoying, or getting any satisfaction out of a team's success is completely different from "being satisfied". Enjoyment and satisfaction are temporary feelings. Being satisfied suggests permanence. The players themselves typically don't remain satisfied with winning one. So, you're suggestion that you can't take any satisfaction from a win because you aren't part of the team doesn't jive with the rest of your statement.

 

Hey, if you can passively observe this team without any emotional ties getting involved, more power to you. But then I'd refrain from admonishing those who have taken an emotional stake in the team from expressing disappointment in how they are run. You don't care. Fine. Others do.

 

MANY others do.

 

Guilty :(

[bring stone back]

I don't take any personal satisfaction if the Cubs win or don't win the World Series. I hope they do, but it's not like I put real work or energy into them winning and won't take any satisfaction from it. I look at it more as entertainment until college football rolls around....

 

Well, then why bother?

 

Why bother with what? I have followed the Cubs since I can remember, but them winning or not winning the world series wouldn't change my life or give me a sense of satisfaction. I'd be happy and hope to see it one day, but it does nothing for personal satisfaction. It would be different if I played or worked for the Cubs, but I'm just a fan.

 

See the Red Sox fans for example. They won a couple years ago for the first time forever and they're even more rabid than ever. If they were truly satisfied, the fans would just show up and cheer for anything the Sox do on the field. They don't so obviously the Red Sox title two years didn't satisfy their fans.

 

Enjoying, or getting any satisfaction out of a team's success is completely different from "being satisfied". Enjoyment and satisfaction are temporary feelings. Being satisfied suggests permanence. The players themselves typically don't remain satisfied with winning one. So, you're suggestion that you can't take any satisfaction from a win because you aren't part of the team doesn't jive with the rest of your statement.

 

Hey, if you can passively observe this team without any emotional ties getting involved, more power to you. But then I'd refrain from admonishing those who have taken an emotional stake in the team from expressing disappointment in how they are run. You don't care. Fine. Others do.

 

The original question you asked me is if I was satisfied without seeing a world series title in my lifetime. There's a big difference between satisfaction after one victory and satisfaction after a world series title.

 

I don't feel like getting into this debate with you. You have obviously been posting here for some time so I would imagine you've been a Cubs fan for some time. I respect your passion for the Cubs but I won't let a baseball game alter my life. (I must say games 6 & 7 against the Marlins in the NLCS was a little tough to swallow, however).

[goonys evil twin]

The original question you asked me is if I was satisfied without seeing a world series title in my lifetime. There's a big difference between satisfaction after one victory and satisfaction after a world series title.

 

I don't feel like getting into this debate with you. You have obviously been posting here for some time so I would imagine you've been a Cubs fan for some time. I respect your passion for the Cubs but I won't let a baseball game alter my life. (I must say games 6 & 7 against the Marlins in the NLCS was a little tough to swallow, however).

 

What do you mean alter your life? If games 6 and 7 were tough to swallow, then you had some sort of emotional investment in the game. Which means you would have derived some pleasure in seeing them win and going to the World Series. And I don't think I asked you if you were satisfied without seeing a world series.

 

You actually asked me if I've ever gotten any happiness out of the Cubs (which would insinuate that you have). You also accused me of searching for things to complain about, to which I replied you don't have to search to find reasons to complain about their current situation, unless, for some reason, you enjoy the current situation.

[bring stone back]

The original question you asked me is if I was satisfied without seeing a world series title in my lifetime. There's a big difference between satisfaction after one victory and satisfaction after a world series title.

 

I don't feel like getting into this debate with you. You have obviously been posting here for some time so I would imagine you've been a Cubs fan for some time. I respect your passion for the Cubs but I won't let a baseball game alter my life. (I must say games 6 & 7 against the Marlins in the NLCS was a little tough to swallow, however).

 

What do you mean alter your life? If games 6 and 7 were tough to swallow, then you had some sort of emotional investment in the game. Which means you would have derived some pleasure in seeing them win and going to the World Series. And I don't think I asked you if you were satisfied without seeing a world series.

 

You actually asked me if I've ever gotten any happiness out of the Cubs (which would insinuate that you have). You also accused me of searching for things to complain about, to which I replied you don't have to search to find reasons to complain about their current situation, unless, for some reason, you enjoy the current situation.

 

I like the Cubs. You seem to like the Cubs. I don't even know where this conversation is going.

[cubfan1955]

The original question you asked me is if I was satisfied without seeing a world series title in my lifetime. There's a big difference between satisfaction after one victory and satisfaction after a world series title.

 

I don't feel like getting into this debate with you. You have obviously been posting here for some time so I would imagine you've been a Cubs fan for some time. I respect your passion for the Cubs but I won't let a baseball game alter my life. (I must say games 6 & 7 against the Marlins in the NLCS was a little tough to swallow, however).

 

What do you mean alter your life? If games 6 and 7 were tough to swallow, then you had some sort of emotional investment in the game. Which means you would have derived some pleasure in seeing them win and going to the World Series. And I don't think I asked you if you were satisfied without seeing a world series.

 

You actually asked me if I've ever gotten any happiness out of the Cubs (which would insinuate that you have). You also accused me of searching for things to complain about, to which I replied you don't have to search to find reasons to complain about their current situation, unless, for some reason, you enjoy the current situation.

 

I like the Cubs. You seem to like the Cubs. I don't even know where this conversation is going.

 

I think the conversation is going the direction you steered it when you called goony's evil twin out by saying:

 

On a sidenote, is there anything the Cubs organization does that brings you happiness? Has Hendry/MacPhail ever done anything you agree with? You seem to be quite the upset cynic searching for reasons to complain.