The injury excuse, over and under.

[A New Era]

Over and under on how many years Hendry will beable to (and will not hesitate) to use the injury excuse (as opposed to not putting together a good enough team to cope with an injury). .

 

They used it in 2004

They really used it in 2005

And we are already seeing it this year with Derreck Lee

 

How many more years will key players keep getting injured, Hendry fail to build a team to cope with it, and continue to use it as an excuse for not winning?

[CubfaninCA]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

[soccer10k]

Anytime there is an injury to a key player, management will continue to use it as an excuse. They are completely unable to place blame on anybody. It's either injuries, or bad luck, or a good idea that wasn't executed correctly. Nobody accepts blame for this and it's infuriating. It's like they just pretend nothing bad happened and just went about their business.

[GlassCow]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

 

I'm not sure if you're being serious or not. "Bad luck" is a term used by losers to justify their incompetence. Winners aren't lucky, they simply put themselves in positions to win. This organization's insisting on using ever imaginable excuse they can for their ineptitude makes them very difficult to remain loyal to. I remain a fan anyway, mostly because I'm an idiot.

[CubfaninCA]

I'd like to see how St. Louis would do without Pujols, Carpenter and Mulder or Boston do without Ortiz, Schilling and Beckett. The only team that can absorb a number of injuries to difference makers is the Yankees.

 

What needs to be done is to put Wood and ARam's money into more reliable players, and possibly trade off Prior while he still has some value.

[CubfaninCA]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

 

I'm not sure if you're being serious or not. "Bad luck" is a term used by losers to justify their incompetence. Winners aren't lucky, they simply put themselves in positions to win. This organization's insisting on using ever imaginable excuse they can for their ineptitude makes them very difficult to remain loyal to. I remain a fan anyway, mostly because I'm an idiot.

 

typically teams that win it all have almost everything go right. that involves luck. you can't tell me the white sox had a great team last year or the marlins were great in 04. or that anaheim was great the year they won the world series.

 

the cubs messed up by hanging onto wood too long and not dealing off prior for tejada. the cub messed up by not wanting to spend on guys like beltran, vlad, colon and pedro. the nefster & rusch signings sucked too.

[A New Era]

I'd like to see how St. Louis would do without Pujols, Carpenter and Mulder or Boston do without Ortiz, Schilling and Beckett. The only team that can absorb a number of injuries to difference makers is the Yankees.

 

What needs to be done is to put Wood and ARam's money into more reliable players, and possibly trade off Prior while he still has some value.

 

EXACTLY. But more than that. We need higher ups that understand the importance of OBP and plate patience. But as for your first part. I didn't want to admit this last year but St. Louis lost Rolen almost all of 2004 and they still won what, 100 games? I beleived the excuses of this orginazation.

 

Now this year we loose a critical player in Lee for more than 2 months. And look what happens. I honestly think if the Cardinals lost Pujols for 2 months, they would loose some ground. But honestly beleive they would still be a few games over .500. They just have a stronger orginazation. They have a better GM and Manager basically.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'd like to see how St. Louis would do without Pujols, Carpenter and Mulder or Boston do without Ortiz, Schilling and Beckett. The only team that can absorb a number of injuries to difference makers is the Yankees.

 

What needs to be done is to put Wood and ARam's money into more reliable players, and possibly trade off Prior while he still has some value.

Well then maybe the Cubs should stop relying on injury prone (Prior, Wood) players to stay healthy then.

[mlbfan]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

 

Every team in sports has injuries. Good teams can over come them, especially with a good front office who prepares for them. Let's look at the other side of town. Last year, Thomas hurt and Orlando Hernandez sore, resign Everett and bring up McCarthy. This year, Contreras gets hurt, oh, there were 6 capable starters on the team anyways.

 

At some point you also have to look at the coaching staff. There's an issue when the same guys keep getting hurt. Do you look at the specific coaches, trainer, GM for putting so much stock in these guys, or GM for not getting backups in the offseason (the pitching didn't knock your socks off with everyone healthy anyways, unless you like 4 man rotations, plenty of starters were out there). It makes it worse with a guy like Wood who has never really proven anything (remember when someone found his scouting report in the clubhouse and it was one of an average pitcher. He's making a living off of one game) and when guys not affiliated with the team or city are pointing out mechanics problems

 

Derek Lee was a freak accident, but this Cubs bench is horrible, you need some suitable backups!

[Sosa21MVP]

The first thing that this organization needs to figure out is whether to fish or cut bait with Wood/Prior. I almost feel like the Cubs have been held hostage to their ongoing healthy issues the past 3 seasons. You can't go into every season with your supposed #1 and #2 starters either on the DL or likely to be there soon.

 

Wood I believe just cannot physically endure being a starter anymore. Either try him as a closer or let him go.

 

Prior I still have some faith in b/c frankly most of his injuries seem a bit flukish in nature. But don't rush him back. Give him all the time and medical attention he needs to be 100% again. This season is lost, don't cut more years off his career by rushing him back.

 

In the meantime, gotta pick up a couple quality starters. Zambrano & Maddux we can trust I think. Although Maddux might not have much left in the tank despite his hot start which has kind of fallen to the side recently. Marshall looks good so far. Guzman and Hill? Meh, not sure.

 

In 2003, we had healthy Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Clement to carry us. Those guys were supposed to be our future for a while but only one has remained healthy and reliable.

 

Outfield is a wreck outside of Murton.

 

Yes, we need a new coaching staff. I know I've argued Hendry is just as much to blame, perhaps moreso but also I'm sick of Dusty. Bring in a coaching staff that will teach hitting the right way and won't burn out pitchers.

 

This team is a such a wreck. I try to get excited. Today I went out and got a 6 pack of beer to settle in for the Cubs-Sox game. Tried to believe but it did not take long to see the SOS again.

 

Oh well. 2003 was great, I got to see the Cubs win a playoff series for the first time since 1908 and getting within a game of the World Series was exciting as hell. I won't take back that experience no matter how much the final two games stunk. But as has happened far too often in Cubs history, my worst fear was again realized. The Cubs after having a successful season failed to build upon it. Just another mirage in the desert, a brief oasis.

 

But hey, the Bears are looking good. 8)

[RynoRules]

I thought we had bad luck in 03', maybe in 04'. Now I think we stink on the field and off.

[CuseCubFan69]

Yeah that was a really good idea to put Wood in the pen when he was hurt last year. Yeah the injury bug is once again upon the Cubs but they also do a lot of these things to themselves such as the Wood manuver. It's time for a sweeping change.

[Salazar89]

Management need to go out on a limb and take a few risks. Its like their creedo is "play not to lose" instead of "playing to win"

 

Kenny Williams of the Sox as made a number of risky moves, and albeit some have blown up in his face. However, a few have worked out wonderfully.

 

The whole Nomar debacle to me is a classic example. Why we wouldn't take a risk and pay him, but instead lock up Neifi and Rusch is one I can't figure out.

[BigbadB]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

 

Every team in sports has injuries. Good teams can over come them, especially with a good front office who prepares for them. Let's look at the other side of town. Last year, Thomas hurt and Orlando Hernandez sore, resign Everett and bring up McCarthy. This year, Contreras gets hurt, oh, there were 6 capable starters on the team anyways.

 

At some point you also have to look at the coaching staff. There's an issue when the same guys keep getting hurt. Do you look at the specific coaches, trainer, GM for putting so much stock in these guys, or GM for not getting backups in the offseason (the pitching didn't knock your socks off with everyone healthy anyways, unless you like 4 man rotations, plenty of starters were out there). It makes it worse with a guy like Wood who has never really proven anything (remember when someone found his scouting report in the clubhouse and it was one of an average pitcher. He's making a living off of one game) and when guys not affiliated with the team or city are pointing out mechanics problems

 

Derek Lee was a freak accident, but this Cubs bench is horrible, you need some suitable backups!

 

Welcome to NSBB!

[beer man]

After listening to Hendry the last few days glorifying the stink that is Dusty, I have lost all hope for this team until a thorough housecleaning happens starting with MacPhail, and ending with every mgr/coach fired down to the Dominican Level.

 

No one has a plan, they are totally blind to their ineptness both off and on the field, but they fill up the park every day, so everything is just fine.

 

What a bunch of retards. I am waiting for Neifi to get hot (two hits in a week) so we can extend his contract another couple years. We can't too many never-was veterans around, which is why we had to sign Womack as well.

 

I am sick of this team, their management, the utter cluelessness of Dusty, and the lack of effort and fundamentals on the field, all of which seem to be applauded by the three blind mice. Can't wait to win two in a row, so we can reup him for a couple more years as well.

 

What a disgrace. I am actually embarrassed to be a fan of this train wreck.

[BigbadB]

After listening to Hendry the last few days glorifying the stink that is Dusty, I have lost all hope for this team until a thorough housecleaning happens starting with MacPhail, and ending with every mgr/coach fired down to the Dominican Level.

 

No one has a plan, they are totally blind to their ineptness both off and on the field, but they fill up the park every day, so everything is just fine.

 

What a bunch of retards. I am waiting for Neifi to get hot (two hits in a week) so we can extend his contract another couple years. We can't too many never-was veterans around, which is why we had to sign Womack as well.

 

I am sick of this team, their management, the utter cluelessness of Dusty, and the lack of effort and fundamentals on the field, all of which seem to be applauded by the three blind mice. Can't wait to win two in a row, so we can reup him for a couple more years as well.

 

What a disgrace. I am actually embarrassed to be a fan of this train wreck.

 

So, other than that, how's your day going? :D

[Pinktermite]

Poor Beer Man. Maybe he hasn't endured enough Cubs sillyness over the years yet. I think I'm going to become a psychiatrist and specialize in Cubs related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This team is so bad they make the Marlins and the Rays look like world series contenders. The excuses for losing and the pooh pooh attitude on the part of the great Clown Baker and his pathetic lack of fundamental play makes me want to barf. This team is a train wreck and why the hell they don't just start getting rid of all the badness is something I can't understand. Neifi, Freddy, that pathetic hitting catcher Blanco (great defensively I know...but who cares?)...and anyone else who can't take a walk or have an OBP above his weight ought to go. At least Eric Patterson at AA and Brandon Sing at AAA would play hard and for a day or two at least think it's cool to play MLB. Uggh. I can't stand it anymore!!!!

[CubinNY]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse luck than the cubs.

 

cubs lead in bad luck by several miles.

 

Every team in sports has injuries. Good teams can over come them, especially with a good front office who prepares for them. Let's look at the other side of town. Last year, Thomas hurt and Orlando Hernandez sore, resign Everett and bring up McCarthy. This year, Contreras gets hurt, oh, there were 6 capable starters on the team anyways.

 

At some point you also have to look at the coaching staff. There's an issue when the same guys keep getting hurt. Do you look at the specific coaches, trainer, GM for putting so much stock in these guys, or GM for not getting backups in the offseason (the pitching didn't knock your socks off with everyone healthy anyways, unless you like 4 man rotations, plenty of starters were out there). It makes it worse with a guy like Wood who has never really proven anything (remember when someone found his scouting report in the clubhouse and it was one of an average pitcher. He's making a living off of one game) and when guys not affiliated with the team or city are pointing out mechanics problems

 

Derek Lee was a freak accident, but this Cubs bench is horrible, you need some suitable backups!

 

Welcome to the forum and great first post.

[BigSlick]

i'm sure they will.

 

name an organization w/ worse excuses.

 

cubs lead in stupidity by several miles.

 

fixed.