Baker on Marmol in Minnesota

[MembersOnlyJacket]

“The walks always hurt,” Baker said.

 

“He (Marmol) was throwing the ball well. Sometimes he was throwing real well. Sometimes he couldn’t find the plate. All those rallies were preceded somewhere in there by a walk."

 

Statements like this just pile on the evidence against this staff. I certainly don't expect the Cubs to draw walks against Santana, but look at how the Twins won their last two games. They worked Clemens for 100 pitches over 5 innings. Last night, they worked Marmol for 106 pitches over 5.2 innings. It's no accident that the Cubs have seen the fewest pitches in the National League.

[RockTheIvy]

“The walks always hurt,” Baker said.

 

“He (Marmol) was throwing the ball well. Sometimes he was throwing real well. Sometimes he couldn’t find the plate. All those rallies were preceded somewhere in there by a walk."

 

Statements like this just pile on the evidence against this staff. I certainly don't expect the Cubs to draw walks against Santana, but look at how the Twins won their last two games. They worked Clemens for 100 pitches over 5 innings. Last night, they worked Marmol for 106 pitches over 5.2 innings. It's no accident that the Cubs have seen the fewest pitches in the National League.

 

I still think it is one of the strangest facts in the world. Not only do the Cubs hitters never walk, but the Cubs pitchers will seemingly walk everbody. If that were only reversed...

[ToupeeOnFire]

“The walks always hurt,” Baker said.

 

“He (Marmol) was throwing the ball well. Sometimes he was throwing real well. Sometimes he couldn’t find the plate. All those rallies were preceded somewhere in there by a walk."

 

Statements like this just pile on the evidence against this staff. I certainly don't expect the Cubs to draw walks against Santana, but look at how the Twins won their last two games. They worked Clemens for 100 pitches over 5 innings. Last night, they worked Marmol for 106 pitches over 5.2 innings. It's no accident that the Cubs have seen the fewest pitches in the National League.

 

I still think it is one of the strangest facts in the world. Not only do the Cubs hitters never walk, but the Cubs pitchers will seemingly walk everbody. If that were only reversed...

Yet Dusty and company constantly bemoan the walks given up by the pitchers, but seemingly ignore (or just don't care about) the lack of walks from the offense.

 

My guess is that Dusty sees walks as simply a function of the pitcher. Hitters don't "draw" walks, pitchers allow them. This is true to an extent, but ignores the fact that plate discipline is cleary an identifiable skill. Some hitters walk a lot, some hardly ever. Unfortunately, the Cubs seem to make a habit of acquiring players that fall in the latter category.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Bobby Abreu has walked 72 times this year including two different stretches in which he walked in 14 straight games. The Cubs as a team have not walked in 14 straight games. On a similar note, the Phillies are last in batting average, but they are 6th in OBP, which allows them to be 7th in runs scored.

 

It's simple math that doesn't make any sense to the Cubs.

[Jon]

It's a lot easier for them to be stubborn and say that pitchers are to blame for the walks instead of considering the idea that hitters should also get credit.

[soccer10k]

Bobby Abreu has walked 72 times this year including two different stretches in which he walked in 14 straight games. The Cubs as a team have not walked in 14 straight games. On a similar note, the Phillies are last in batting average, but they are 6th in OBP, which allows them to be 7th in runs scored.

 

It's simple math that doesn't make any sense to the Cubs.

 

Those are some telling stats right there.

[CubsBullsBears]

I think the qoute in my sig says it all about why we are a wild swinging team and why we walk so many batters

[3finger]

Cubs NL ranks, 2006:

 

BA 10th

OBP 16th

SLG 16th

BB 16th

SB 6th

SH 5th

Runs 16th

 

It's not small ball, it's old ball. The Cubs are trying to fight tanks with cavalry. Party like it's 1939.

[Sarcastic]

Cubs NL ranks, 2006:

 

BA 10th

OBP 16th

SLG 16th

BB 16th

SB 6th

SH 5th

Runs 16th

 

It's not small ball, it's old ball. The Cubs are trying to fight tanks with cavalry. Party like it's 1939.

So the Cubs are going to run by communists who will brutally murder the current incompetent management?