Kiley drops the hammer......

[Larry Horse]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-cub09.html

 

Attaboy, Mike!

 

It took you a few years, but welcome.

[Scott G. F.]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-cub09.html

 

Attaboy, Mike!

 

It took you a few years, but welcome.

 

 

Kind of like the Velvet Hammer if you ask me.

[goonys evil twin]

Did he say anything at all in that column? He started out with a bang, seemingly ready to lay into the team. Then he followed up with a couple quotes from guys making it sound better than it is, and nothing else.

[Soul]

Walker, who is hitting .306 and has been a solid replacement for injured Derrek Lee at first base, was asked whether the season is reaching an unsalvageable point.

 

"I don't have the option of looking at it that way,'' Walker said. "The way I have to look at it each and every day is we have a shot. I prepare myself every day in the hopes we will get on a little winning streak and turn this thing around. And as far as predictions, I don't have any predictions.''

 

In other words, yes.

[YearofDaCubs]

Haha, read Baker's comments.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cubnt09.html

 

"I know a little about hitting and batting leadoff,'' Baker said. "I batted leadoff all through the minor leagues.''

 

Baker was asked if the entire Cubs offense is too Jekyll-and-Hyde, considering it has been shut out seven times, the most in the National League.

 

"It depends on who's pitching against you,'' Baker said. "Offense is always Jekyll-and-Hyde, I don't care what team it is. The thing you don't want to be Jekyll-and-Hyde is your starting pitching. You want it to be consistent.

 

"When you are missing the long ball, a lot of time you are going to have shutouts. The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

[BigbadB]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

[Big Fergie J]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/cst-spt-cub09.html

 

Attaboy, Mike!

 

It took you a few years, but welcome.

 

 

Kind of like the Velvet Hammer if you ask me.

 

You aren't suggesting Bonnie Bernstein are you ??

[rocket]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

 

it amazes me that dusty sees how damaging walks are for his pitchers, but can't grasp that his batters drawing walks would help immensely.

[Guest]

It's unpossible to be shutout when you've got a legit leadoff hitter, though. It's only when you rely on the longball that you are susceptible to superior pitching.

[Banedon]

It's unpossible to be shutout when you've got a legit leadoff hitter, though. It's only when you rely on the longball that you are susceptible to superior pitching.

 

“He and I had a long chat today, just about things,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “I’m still sold in Juan Pierre. Juan Pierre’s going to hit. He’s going to do his thing. I am convinced of that.”

[RynoRules]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

 

it amazes me that dusty sees how damaging walks are for his pitchers, but can't grasp that his batters drawing walks would help immensely.

 

That's an amazingly freakin' good point, man.

[CuseCubFan69]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

 

it amazes me that dusty sees how damaging walks are for his pitchers, but can't grasp that his batters drawing walks would help immensely.

 

Yeah, Dusty's smart like that. Hendry may even agree with Dusty on this and that scares me even more.

[scs_paradise]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

 

it amazes me that dusty sees how damaging walks are for his pitchers, but can't grasp that his batters drawing walks would help immensely.

 

That's an amazingly freakin' good point, man.

 

I initially thought he was talking about his OWN guys walking....maybe that makes more sense! :D

[sherwood921]

Haha, read Baker's comments.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cubnt09.html

 

"When you are missing the long ball, a lot of time you are going to have shutouts. The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

I don't get it...didn't we get rid of the long ball approach because that made us inconsistent? This organization makes no sense.

[CubinNY]

Haha, read Baker's comments.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cubnt09.html

 

"When you are missing the long ball, a lot of time you are going to have shutouts. The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

I don't get it...didn't we get rid of the long ball approach because that made us inconsistent? This organization makes no sense.

 

That's just it. The long ball approach is not what made the Cubs inconsistent. It has always been the lack of plate discipline that leads to walks and hitting in good hitter's counts.

 

Someone should have told Hendry & Co. about the other side of the equation. Instead they pick up Slappy McGroundout and JJ, two free swingers.

[Pinktermite]

Oh goody, another Jones basher on here. Now that he's hitting .306, this isn't good enough? His .343 obp isn't good enough? Come on, Jacque is doing great, and at the least it looks like he'll be good trade bait if they are out of it in July.

 

Hello, the team is losing because the starting pitching sucks the last month and a half. There's no other team in baseball, or it's management, that would do much (maybe a little?) better given the same circumstances.

 

The cards have lost most of their games without pujols the last week, and with poor starting pitching. We are not the only ones in this boat.

 

I like Jacque personally, and think he's doing fine.

[nilodnayr]

Oh goody, another Jones basher on here. Now that he's hitting .306, this isn't good enough? His .343 obp isn't good enough? Come on, Jacque is doing great, and at the least it looks like he'll be good trade bait if they are out of it in July.

 

Hello, the team is losing because the starting pitching sucks the last month and a half. There's no other team in baseball, or it's management, that would do much (maybe a little?) better given the same circumstances.

 

The cards have lost most of their games without pujols the last week, and with poor starting pitching. We are not the only ones in this boat.

 

I like Jacque personally, and think he's doing fine.

 

Regarding the bolded, just to let you know, its impossible to win if you don't score any runs and very very hard to win if you only score one run. Sure, the pitching has been bad at times, but the ability to score runs has been non-existant.

[nilodnayr]

The three things I probably hate worst in baseball are shutouts, walks and errors.''

 

And the truth should set you free!

 

it amazes me that dusty sees how damaging walks are for his pitchers, but can't grasp that his batters drawing walks would help immensely.

 

I actually know the answer to that. Dusty believes the hitter has no influence as to whether or not he walks. He believes that it is completely up to a pitcher. I know, completely ridiculous, but thats his philosophy.

[NorthsideAvenger]

It's unpossible to be shutout when you've got a legit leadoff hitter, though. It's only when you rely on the longball that you are susceptible to superior pitching.

 

UNPOSSIBLE? Is that even a word, Tim? :wink:

 

If we were playing Scrabble, I would definately call for a "challenge."

 

UNPOSSIBLE. :lol: Sounds like word Johnny B. would use.

[Sammy Sofa]

"Me fail english? That's unpossible!"