I must admit...

[UMFan83]

The Cubs actually played halfway decent this series. I guess now that my expectations have been dwindled down to nothing, I can look at series in a different light.

 

Positives:

-Took 2/3 from Oswalt, Clemens, Pettite

-Beat a lefty

-Dempster had 2 saves, no ERs

-Pitching was great all around

-We saw some power

-THREE WALKS IN ONE INNING DIRECTLY LEADS TO A RUN AND PUTS FOOT IN DUSTYS MOUTH

 

Negatives:

-Pettite sucks, big whoop that we beat him

-Clemens is 2-3 with his 2 wins against the Cubs

-Offense was far from great, just timely

-Z threw 5604 pitches, Dusty didn't care

 

Oh well, you have to start somewhere right? Let's keep this thread positive despite me pointing out the negatives in the series.

 

I think we can start moving up from here. I think I've dealt all the pain of this season and can accept the fact that we are among the bottom 5 teams in baseball. Let's just play not so frustrating baseball, and enjoy the sport for what it is....awesome.

[CubColtPacer]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

[BigbadB]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

 

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?"

 

Or has management decided to quietly take a completely different approach than they have for the last 3 1/2 years?

[minnesotacubsfan]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

 

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?"

 

Or has management decided to quietly take a completely different approach than they have for the last 3 1/2 years?

 

 

 

:shock:

 

say it aint so

[otis89]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

 

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?"

 

Or has management decided to quietly take a completely different approach than they have for the last 3 1/2 years?

 

 

 

:shock:

 

say it aint so

 

Remember Dusty's quote when asked what he hoped to do in the second half? One thing he did say was "increase our on-base percentage."

[NewUserName]

Not to throw water on the attention to more walks campaign that Dusty is throwing. The same inning that Barrett, Nevin and Murton walked to produce a run both Neifi and Aram swang at ball 4 on 3-1 counts. We really should have blown the game wide open that inning but poor plate discipline by those guys left it closer than it should have been.

 

If Dusty does improve the OBP during the second half, I think this would just add to the reasons he should be fired. It would than become clear that he and the coaching staff stressed aggressive hitting earlier in the season when we were colapsing.

[jjgman21]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

 

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?"

 

 

I suggested the exact same thing in a game thread during the Brewers series. I erased your other part cuz I don't even want it suggested as an option.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

What I have found lately that I have really liked is our increased patience. I think that since the series right before the break, we seem to be working the counts much better than before on average, and that continued in this series. Even though we have struggled offensively, at least we look like a major league ballclub these past couple of weeks.

 

I've noticed it a bit, myself. The question to be asked then is "have the players decided to take it upon themselves to be more patient, going against the wishes of a management team that is on it's way out anyway?"

 

 

I suggested the exact same thing in a game thread during the Brewers series. I erased your other part cuz I don't even want it suggested as an option.

 

It almost seems as if the players would be taking it upon themselves. When it is reported that Hendry has had talks with the Astros about Willy Tavaras then that demonstrates he is not interested in plate patience. Of course this is assuming that report is true.

[UMFan83]

Not to throw water on the attention to more walks campaign that Dusty is throwing. The same inning that Barrett, Nevin and Murton walked to produce a run both Neifi and Aram swang at ball 4 on 3-1 counts. We really should have blown the game wide open that inning but poor plate discipline by those guys left it closer than it should have been.

 

If Dusty does improve the OBP during the second half, I think this would just add to the reasons he should be fired. It would than become clear that he and the coaching staff stressed aggressive hitting earlier in the season when we were colapsing.

 

There is only so much preaching you can do. Neifi is never going to be the kind of player that takes walks. The key is not in coaching, its in personal. The ability to select a pitch, take close pitches and draw walks seems more of a skill then something that is taught (to an extent). Look at a hitter like Frank Thomas, whose BA has fluctuated his entire career. In that time period, his ISO OBP has remained relatively consistant. He doesn't have a year where he randomly hits .260 with a .306 OBP. He consistantly has a OBP thats over 100 points or more higher then his BA.

[soccer10k]

-Clemens is 2-3 with his 2 wins against the Cubs

 

Clemens has only given up 9 ER in 6 starts and has a 2.43 ERA so it's not like he pitches way better against the Cubs than against other teams.

[hardcorecubfan]

according to Fox-SW in TX we upset the all so dominant Astro's. They claim that it could happen esp. when their offense was lagging.

[Scott G. F.]

The Cubs actually played halfway decent this series. I guess now that my expectations have been dwindled down to nothing, I can look at series in a different light.

 

Positives:

-Took 2/3 from Oswalt, Clemens, Pettite

-Beat a lefty

-Dempster had 2 saves, no ERs

-Pitching was great all around

-We saw some power

-THREE WALKS IN ONE INNING DIRECTLY LEADS TO A RUN AND PUTS FOOT IN DUSTYS MOUTH

 

Negatives:

-Pettite sucks, big whoop that we beat him

-Clemens is 2-3 with his 2 wins against the Cubs

-Offense was far from great, just timely

-Z threw 5604 pitches, Dusty didn't care

 

Oh well, you have to start somewhere right? Let's keep this thread positive despite me pointing out the negatives in the series.

 

I think we can start moving up from here. I think I've dealt all the pain of this season and can accept the fact that we are among the bottom 5 teams in baseball. Let's just play not so frustrating baseball, and enjoy the sport for what it is....awesome.

 

I like what the Cubs seem to be doing in working the counts more. It seemed to me that the begining of the year. Guys hacked at ever first pitch they saw. Now it looks like the Cubs are playing a better brand of baseball aganist some decent teams.

 

I see the nationals not to much better then the Cubs. I hope the Cubs put together a nice winning streak. We haven't seen any of those this year.

[Soul]

Hate to be a wet sock, but I wouldn't read too much into how a team plays when the games no longer matter.

 

 

This is like extended spring training now. Not quite----but the games have no real meaning, so the pressure's off...