Could Dusty's vote of confidence be the reason...

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

After sweeping the Cardinals, the Cubs have now won 4, or is it 5 in a row? For the most part the Cubs have been playing good sound baseball. Could the reason they are doing so well, have anything to Hendry's vote of confidence in Dusty? Maybe if Jimmy had woken up from his nap earlier, the Cubs would have had a better June and July, who knows? Many of you will shoot down this notion but it is possible. I think it's fair to say that with Jimbo's decision, the players are probably more relaxed now because for the most part I know, they enjoy playing for Baker.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think it's a big reason, but it is certainly possible. I remember at IU this past season during the basketball season that when Davis announced he was leaving at the end of the season regardless that the players no longer felt they were playing for his job, and started to play much better. It also is known that in the majors after a managerial change the team tends to play better at least for a few days. I think some of the pressure is off the team now, but I think the two main things were that 1)with the exception of Washington, the team has been playing better the last few weeks and 2)It was the Cardinals.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I really hope Hendry doesn't think that's the reason they're playing better.

[Fro]

I think that's a big part of it.

 

As the above poster said, the same thing happened at Indiana with Mike Davis, and he is a very similar type of coach to Dusty Baker (easygoing, players like playing for him, bad fundamentially, makes stupid decisions, says crazy things to the media, media loves him, etc)

[NCCubFan]

After sweeping the Cardinals, the Cubs have now won 4, or is it 5 in a row?

It's 4 in a row (first 4-game winning streak of the year) and 6 of the last 7. They lost the last game in the Mets series 1-0 in extra innings; otherwise they might have a 7-game winning streak.

[soccer10k]

6 out of 7 against the top 2 teams in the NL is amazing.

[Balsa]

6 out of 7 against the top 2 teams in the NL is amazing.

Yep. There's no other way to look at it. If we played like all season, we'd be buyers right now no doubt.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Good pitching, good hitting, good defense. Every club goes through stretches in the season where they look unbeatable and all 25 contribute to the winning.

 

If this manager and club need the pressure off to win, well, that's pathetic.

[wastra]

There's still no excuse for how they played the first half+ of the season.

 

If we can play like this now, when nothing's really changed with the whole Wood (still out)-Prior(winless)-Lee(out) situation, then the first half flop was inexcusable.

[Soul]

I think this Cub team has talent enough to put together a 4 game winning streak at home. There have been times this year when we have looked like a actual big league ballclub, despite our poor record.

 

Plus, I think we've all said it at one time or another this year: this Cardinals team is not on par with what they've had in past seasons, despite the fact that they lead the division.

 

 

The other example I can think of where the Cubs looked good for a few games was the Brewer series up at Miller Park in early July.

[Scott G. F.]

While most of you prattle on and on about how the Cubs whoulda, shoulda, coulda at the beginning part of the season. Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure. The fact that Hendry came out and stated Dusty will remain for the rest of the year is the biggest facter that turned this team around. Look at Am Ram he plays his best ball with zero pressure...looks like a world beater. One question, where was he when the Cubs needed him to step-up when D Lee went down? I know where he was, he was blaming the pitching staff for allowing runs (which they were but still it starts with the man in the mirror).

 

I wrote in a thread not to long ago that Steve Stone observed that for newly aquired players it takes about 1/2 a season to get used to playing during the day and Wrigley and for the Cubs in general. Look at D Lee's first half of the season with the Cubs.

 

The new Cubs first season list include:

Cedano

Murton

Peirre

J. Jones

Marshall

Marmol

Mabry

Eyre

Howry

Theroit

Pagan

Bynum

 

That is a lot of players that started off bad. Add injuries to the Cub "vets" like Prior, Wood, D Lee and now you have to rely on Am Ram, T Walker, Zambo, Maddux, Barrett, Blanco and Neifi. Of the remaining group Am Ram slumped T. Walker was Okay, Barrett was above avg. Blanco was Blanco, Neifi was Neifi. Zanbo started off okay then got great. Maddux started off great then went south.

 

But now JP is htting and stealing bases. JJ is hitting and going opposite field. Am Ram got out of his funk, (with no pressure). Murton and Cedano have had rookie up's and downs, but I like both, both are playing better.

Marshall and Marmol are giving the Cubs a chance to win, Barrett is contining his career year (offensively). Blanco is still Blanco and Neifi is still Neifi.

 

I see the Cubs continuing this winning trend for the rest of the year. will they catch anybody? Probably not, but it'll be nice watching Cubs baseball once again.

 

0.500 by Setp. 11th.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I sure hope "Am Ram" doesn't stick.

[UK1679666180]

Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure

 

Given how've they played w/pressure, that's more damning than anything else.

[halplm]

it amazes me how people can buy into things so quickly.

 

If anything, this team got pumped up to be playing the Cardinals. It had nothing to do with anything Hendry said. I'm sure he believes it did, and I'm sure Dusty does too, because it's something that's been said in baseball for a hundred years, and they're going to take this 4 game winning streak and build 2 more extremely underperforming years out of it...

 

this team is done... it'll be 2010 and we won't recognize a name on the roster before we get another chance at winning...

[Scott G. F.]

Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure

 

Given how've they played w/pressure, that's more damning than anything else.

 

Huh? What does this statement mean?

 

 

BTW "Pedro" feel free to BOO "AM Ram" when you see it. Okay.

[UK1679666180]

This is how I translate what you're trying to say.

 

You're saying that they play better w/out anything to strive for. That they're soft and incapable of winning when the chips are down.

 

If they play better with no pressure and there's nothing to play for, what does it tell you about how they play when there is actually something to play for?

 

That's a horrible statement, one that I hope isn't true about their staff and players.

[Chocolate Milk]

No.

[Scott G. F.]

This is how I translate what you're trying to say.

 

You're saying that they play better w/out anything to strive for. That they're soft and incapable of winning when the chips are down.

 

If they play better with no pressure and there's nothing to play for, what does it tell you about how they play when there is actually something to play for?

 

That's a horrible statement, one that I hope isn't true about their staff and players.

 

 

 

I'm actually saying both. Am Ram is not a go-to guy. He's your number 2 or 3 guy but not a team leader sample and plan. So he wilts under pressure when he's alone to carry a team.

 

The others mentioned are finally settling in and getting comfortable playing at Wrigley, and for the Cubs.

 

Playing with for a manager on the hot seat adds off-the-feild pressure not in-game playoff type pressure. So with Hendry saying Dusty is safe for the rest of the season. The off-the-field pressure was relieved. You can tell by the better defense and better concentration at the plate. The Cubs are actually taking pitches and working counts like that haven't been at all this season. So what changed? The obvious answer is the the managerial situation.

[Soul]

This is how I translate what you're trying to say.

 

You're saying that they play better w/out anything to strive for. That they're soft and incapable of winning when the chips are down.

 

If they play better with no pressure and there's nothing to play for, what does it tell you about how they play when there is actually something to play for?

 

That's a horrible statement, one that I hope isn't true about their staff and players.

 

 

 

I'm actually saying both. Am Ram is not a go-to guy. He's your number 2 or 3 guy but not a team leader sample and plan. So he wilts under pressure when he's alone to carry a team.

 

The others mentioned are finally settling in and getting comfortable playing at Wrigley, and for the Cubs.

 

Playing with for a manager on the hot seat adds off-the-feild pressure not in-game playoff type pressure. So with Hendry saying Dusty is safe for the rest of the season. The off-the-field pressure was relieved. You can tell by the better defense and better concentration at the plate. The Cubs are actually taking pitches and working counts like that haven't been at all this season. So what changed? The obvious answer is the the managerial situation.

 

Everyone's using this "ARam's not a go to guy" thing to try and damn him to hell. The thing is though, nobody ever said he was supposed to be that guy. He certainly wasn't brought here to fill that role. Sammy & Lee were always supposed to be the stud, not ARam. So why now, when we "find out" what we always knew in the first place, is this suddenly being used to try and "prove" something about ARam?

 

Teams need a #2 guy too. ARam is a fantastic complementary power hitter. There's no place for a guy like that on our club?

 

I'm not willing to go back to another 30 years of searching for a 3rd baseman just because ARam isn't Scott Rolen.

[cubfan1955]

While most of you prattle on and on about how the Cubs whoulda, shoulda, coulda at the beginning part of the season. Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure. The fact that Hendry came out and stated Dusty will remain for the rest of the year is the biggest facter that turned this team around. Look at Am Ram he plays his best ball with zero pressure...looks like a world beater. One question, where was he when the Cubs needed him to step-up when D Lee went down? I know where he was, he was blaming the pitching staff for allowing runs (which they were but still it starts with the man in the mirror).

 

I wrote in a thread not to long ago that Steve Stone observed that for newly aquired players it takes about 1/2 a season to get used to playing during the day and Wrigley and for the Cubs in general. Look at D Lee's first half of the season with the Cubs.

 

The new Cubs first season list include:

Cedano

Murton

Peirre

J. Jones

Marshall

Marmol

Mabry

Eyre

Howry

Theroit

Pagan

Bynum

 

That is a lot of players that started off bad. Add injuries to the Cub "vets" like Prior, Wood, D Lee and now you have to rely on Am Ram, T Walker, Zambo, Maddux, Barrett, Blanco and Neifi. Of the remaining group Am Ram slumped T. Walker was Okay, Barrett was above avg. Blanco was Blanco, Neifi was Neifi. Zanbo started off okay then got great. Maddux started off great then went south.

 

But now JP is htting and stealing bases. JJ is hitting and going opposite field. Am Ram got out of his funk, (with no pressure). Murton and Cedano have had rookie up's and downs, but I like both, both are playing better.

Marshall and Marmol are giving the Cubs a chance to win, Barrett is contining his career year (offensively). Blanco is still Blanco and Neifi is still Neifi.

 

I see the Cubs continuing this winning trend for the rest of the year. will they catch anybody? Probably not, but it'll be nice watching Cubs baseball once again.

 

0.500 by Setp. 11th.

That is just wrong. He said one thing about the pitchers giving up runs well after their 2 month run of suckiness and we still don't know under what context the question was asked. Aramis is NOT the reason the Cubs are where they are. It's the whole team. Manager, coaches, front office. Everyone!

[Sammy Sofa]

While seeing them do this well against teams this good is superficially good and even fun, it couldn't happen at a worse possible time...the deadline is here and NOTHING of importance will get done because these idiots will think everything is fixed because of only 6 wins, Dusty and none of the other coaches will be fired...truly, it is the best of times, it is the blurst of times.

[UK1679666180]

Playing with for a manager on the hot seat adds off-the-feild pressure not in-game playoff type pressure. So with Hendry saying Dusty is safe for the rest of the season. The off-the-field pressure was relieved. You can tell by the better defense and better concentration at the plate. The Cubs are actually taking pitches and working counts like that haven't been at all this season. So what changed? The obvious answer is the the managerial situation.

 

Doesn't the bolded part go hand in hand with '04, though? If you're going to blame losses in '06 on off the field and exclude playoff pressure, then history would mention Sept of '04.

 

This recent streak go with the ups and downs of a regular season that unfort. has had more downs than ups for reasons that don't pertain to pressure about their manager's fate.

 

Teams w/good winning records will have rare moments of rough stretches and teams w/poor winning records will have rare good stretches.

[Scott G. F.]

Playing with for a manager on the hot seat adds off-the-feild pressure not in-game playoff type pressure. So with Hendry saying Dusty is safe for the rest of the season. The off-the-field pressure was relieved. You can tell by the better defense and better concentration at the plate. The Cubs are actually taking pitches and working counts like that haven't been at all this season. So what changed? The obvious answer is the the managerial situation.

 

Doesn't the bolded part go hand in hand with '04, though? If you're going to blame losses in '06 on off the field and exclude playoff pressure, then history would mention Sept of '04.

 

This recent streak go with the ups and downs of a regular season that unfort. has had more downs than ups for reasons that don't pertain to pressure about their manager's fate.

 

Teams w/good winning records will have rare moments of rough stretches and teams w/poor winning records will have rare good stretches.

 

No doubt about it. The Cubs team has many more flaws and the pressure of playing for your managers job didn't help. This team needs to get healthy and get retooled for 2007.

[Scott G. F.]

While most of you prattle on and on about how the Cubs whoulda, shoulda, coulda at the beginning part of the season. Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure. The fact that Hendry came out and stated Dusty will remain for the rest of the year is the biggest facter that turned this team around. Look at Am Ram he plays his best ball with zero pressure...looks like a world beater. One question, where was he when the Cubs needed him to step-up when D Lee went down? I know where he was, he was blaming the pitching staff for allowing runs (which they were but still it starts with the man in the mirror).

 

I wrote in a thread not to long ago that Steve Stone observed that for newly aquired players it takes about 1/2 a season to get used to playing during the day and Wrigley and for the Cubs in general. Look at D Lee's first half of the season with the Cubs.

 

The new Cubs first season list include:

Cedano

Murton

Peirre

J. Jones

Marshall

Marmol

Mabry

Eyre

Howry

Theroit

Pagan

Bynum

 

That is a lot of players that started off bad. Add injuries to the Cub "vets" like Prior, Wood, D Lee and now you have to rely on Am Ram, T Walker, Zambo, Maddux, Barrett, Blanco and Neifi. Of the remaining group Am Ram slumped T. Walker was Okay, Barrett was above avg. Blanco was Blanco, Neifi was Neifi. Zanbo started off okay then got great. Maddux started off great then went south.

 

But now JP is htting and stealing bases. JJ is hitting and going opposite field. Am Ram got out of his funk, (with no pressure). Murton and Cedano have had rookie up's and downs, but I like both, both are playing better.

Marshall and Marmol are giving the Cubs a chance to win, Barrett is contining his career year (offensively). Blanco is still Blanco and Neifi is still Neifi.

 

I see the Cubs continuing this winning trend for the rest of the year. will they catch anybody? Probably not, but it'll be nice watching Cubs baseball once again.

 

0.500 by Setp. 11th.

That is just wrong. He said one thing about the pitchers giving up runs well after their 2 month run of suckiness and we still don't know under what context the question was asked. Aramis is NOT the reason the Cubs are where they are. It's the whole team. Manager, coaches, front office. Everyone!

 

You might want to read the entire post. I didn't single out Am ram as THE cause, just one of the reasons why the Cubs stunk in the first half and why they'll play better in the second is all. Yes everyone is to blame. I agree. Am Ram is a support role player and seems to be happy with that. He thrives when surrenound by and Sammy Sosa or D Lee. Alone he falls.

[cubfan1955]

You might want to read the entire post. I didn't single out Am ram as THE cause, just one of the reasons why the Cubs stunk in the first half and why they'll play better in the second is all. Yes everyone is to blame. I agree. Am Ram is a support role player and seems to be happy with that. He thrives when surrenound by and Sammy Sosa or D Lee. Alone he falls.

Or it could be opposing pitchers made the choice that they weren't going to let Aramis beat them and decided to take their chances with Jones...who also did nothing when they needed him most. I'd dare to say that Lee wouldn't have had the year he had in 2005 if Aramis wasn't around too.