What do you actually like about the Cubs right now?

[RegulusBlue]

I was sitting with a friend the other day and I began to wonder aloud why I am even a fan of this team anymore. I'm not really that mad that we're horrible, nor is that the subject of this post.

 

My question is, who do you root for on this team? There are so many players on this team that I dislike and so few that I like, its a wonder I still watch/listen every day.

 

Here's what I want: A list of things/players/management you love about the Cubs, and a list of the things you dislike/hate. Here we go.

 

Love:

 

Matt Murton. Absolute player with OBP, awesome hair, and high potential.

Theriot. One of few bright flashes in the grayscape of our season.

Zambrano. One of the most entertaining players in the MLB. Great ace.

Barrett. Punched AJ Pierzykddaskfieski and is holding down SS honors right now.

Wuertz. Solid reliever FINALLY getting his chance again and doing well.

Kasper. Love the stat guy in the booth.

 

Hate:

 

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

Jones. I still dislike this signing and always will. Having good year, but I hate his splits and he never got benched.

Pierre. Terrible start killed the season and never sat. Not a great baserunner at all. No power, and no arm to speak of.

Cedeno. Neifi 2.0. Enough said.

Mabry/Nevin/Bynum. All bad players who robbed Murton/Pagan of valuable playing time in a lost season.

Baker. Worst manager in baseball history. One of few men capable of overseeing a WS caliber team missing the playoffs altogether.

Hendry. Great moves cancelled by terrible ones. Sum zero as GM. Worthless overall.

Dempster. Its funny watching him kill us, but I hate that he may be a starter next year.

Glendon. The worst pitcher I have ever seen in a Cub uniform. Period.

Walrond. The man looks like someone who asked me for a dollar before I walked into Wrigley on friday, and then he played that way.

The ghost of Neifi.

 

As you can see, I don't like much anymore about this team. Really, I only listen/watch because of Murton, and the others are just icing on the dog crap cake.

 

EDIT: Forgot to add Wrigley to the love list. My bad.

Edited September 6, 2006 by RegulusBlue

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'd add Aramis and all the young starters(Marshall/Marmol/Hill/Guzman/Mateo) to your list to make mine.

 

EDIT: Lee too.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Transmogrified Tiger

[rynefan]

I agree with most of your list.

 

--Murton is da man

--The Riot is da man II

--Gotta love Lee

 

BUT... most of all what I love most about the Cubs is Wrigley Field. Period.

[sethuel1]

That they're only playing a handful more games this season.

[third eye]

I totally agree about Murton - both his ability and the hair. I was at Wrigley last September with my girlfriend and she commented on how she liked his hair too. Though that takes nothing away from her knowledge as a baseball fan. She knows her stuff. Also loved the fact that she yelled an some obnoxious dude a couple of rows in front of us for his abusive/over-the-top heckling of Nomar. He shut up after that. But I digress.

 

Zambrano is an absolute stud. I have a number of friends who are fans of other teams, yet they still say he is their favorite pitcher in baseball.

 

I'm definitely enjoying watching Hill pitch these days. At this point in the year, watching young pitchers is both intriguing and frustrating. But Hill has been remarkably consistent since the most recent call up.

 

DLee is an obvious choice as is Barrett. I'm a fan of Aramis as well. His defense is much improved. And for a power hitter, even when he struggles, he strikes out very infrequently.

 

I'm wondering if the Theriot - Freel comparisons may have some merit. I know it's way too early to tell, but I like the plate discipline. A rarity from a product of this organization.

[Sammy Sofa]

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

 

Right. How is he being "ruined?" Isn't he the best defensive 3rd baseman in the NL at this point? Who gives a crap if he doesn't leg it out every so often? He's not getting injured, he's got 3rd locked down and he's hitting like a beast. Again, how is he "ruined?"

 

And Murton needs a haircut. Looking like Carrot Top with hat-hair isn't doing it.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[Brian]

56 days left on Dusty Baker's contract

[Soriano12]

I like watching fans throw trash on the field.

[Abe Frohman]

There is not much to love about this team. They play crappy baseball, and I actually did not watch the game the other day so I could run some errands. It sucks.

 

I do like:

 

*Juan Pierre's 2nd half. The way he is playing now is why he was signed.

 

*Ryan Theriot. Big LSU fan. Hung out with this guy in the past and love seeing him doing well. Never really thought he would be higher than a AA player, but glad he proved me wrong.

 

*Matt Murton. I love how one of the few guys hitting around .300 with a high OB% is shafted as much as him. With this lineup, Murton should be hitting 3rd.

 

Personally, that is about it. I like to tune in to the beginning of each game just so I can see the lineup and laugh at the way Dusty Baker uses this team. I honestly think the man has been trying to get fired all year. Seriously.

 

Baker gets the "Nut Hair Award" for 2006. Hands down.

[JeffH]

I like the home jerseys. That's about it.

[RegulusBlue]

Who gives a crap if he doesn't leg it out every so often?

 

I do. I really care that this guy loses his focus on occasion. It makes him a much less likeable player in my book. I'm not alone on this one, I don't think.

 

Its my conviction that if Aramis would give 100% in all facets of his game, a player capable of historic feats would emerge. There is potential exploding out of him, and yet his lack of hustle every tenth time prevents the full utilization of his talent.

 

That said, please give me your lists. This post is not about Aramis.

[Brian]

likes

 

Murton

dlee

zambrano

aramis

wuertz

 

the riot, hill, gooz, marhsall, marmol, mateo, buck coats, geo soto, jose reyes, jk ryu

 

dislikes

 

pierre (i don't care how hot he is), lack of offensive skills as a team, poor lineup construction, that dempster is sucking, hendry's philosophies (I think he's great at setting up deals but he needs someone to tell him who to deal for), the entire coaching staff, felix isn't playing everyday or at least a couple of days a week ETC.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Brian

[Sammy Sofa]

Who gives a crap if he doesn't leg it out every so often?

 

I do. I really care that this guy loses his focus on occasion. It makes him a much less likeable player in my book. I'm not alone on this one, I don't think.

 

Its my conviction that if Aramis would give 100% in all facets of his game, a player capable of historic feats would emerge. There is potential exploding out of him, and yet his lack of hustle every tenth time prevents the full utilization of his talent.

 

That said, please give me your lists. This post is not about Aramis.

 

I apologize, but I must continue to veer. Nothing you said there explains anything about what he is not doing or could be doing that is missing due to this vague "not hustling." I'm genuinely not trying to be insulting, but none of that appeared to actually mean anything tangible.

 

Now, here are my lists:

 

Likes -Seeing any of the kids play besides Cedeno. Nothing personal, Ronny, but your play this year combined with most of your minor league history shows little to nothing along the lines of having a quality MLB career.

-Seeing Lee come back and play like a pro.

-Seeing Aramis play D like the best 3rd baseman in the NL and mash at the plate.

-Seeing Hill find himself and prove my opinions and theories about him completely wrong.

 

Dislikes -Bynum

-Jacque Jones not being platooned

-Bynum

-Novoa

-Dempster either losing whatever mental "stuff" he had before and/or being given a ridicuously sporadic and stupid use schedule.

-Cedeno either screwing up basic plays or acting as an offensive black hole.

-The Cubs forgetting how to hit home runs and replacing them with attempts at meaningless stolen bases.

-Bynum

-Z worked into the ground.

-Pitcher after pitcher on the DL.

-No Wood and Prior.

-Bynum

Edited September 6, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[JeffH]

hendry's philosophies

 

Melted cheese - it's not just for pizza anymore.

 

Mayonnaise - the staff of life.

 

Donuts - the breakfast of champions.

 

Pork fat rules!

[RichHillIsABeast]

likes:

 

Hill

Marshall

Barrett

Aramis's 2nd half

Len and Bob

Pierre's defense (much better than I had thought)

 

dislikes:

 

Jones's defense and horribly inaccurate arm (this is the majors right?)

Cedeno's overhyped D and inability to handle the lumber

Baker's lack of personal accountability and professionalism

Murton's lack of pop

lack of MI defense

Pierre's noodle arm and lack of on base skills

The amount of PT scrubs like Bynum, Mabry, and Ne!f! got

Hendry's fascination with BA with RISP and 2 outs over more predictable and repeatable indicators of performance

the inability to grasp simple concepts from statistical analysis in a business environment

 

*loads more

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

 

Right. How is he being "ruined?" Isn't he the best defensive 3rd baseman in the NL at this point?

 

Are you serious?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

 

Right. How is he being "ruined?" Isn't he the best defensive 3rd baseman in the NL at this point?

 

Are you serious?

 

Maybe it's one of those Hendryisms.

 

"Ramirez is the best defensive third baseman in the NL of guys who have less than 8 vowels in their full name and were born on a Sunday in an even numbered month."

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

 

Right. How is he being "ruined?" Isn't he the best defensive 3rd baseman in the NL at this point?

 

Are you serious?

 

Well, he is #1 in fielding percentage. I'm not sure that makes him the best, but he's got that going for him.

[WrigleyField 22]

Absolute Likes:

Lee

Zambrano

Murton

 

Likes:

Young Pitchers

Barrett

Ramirez

Eyre

Howry

Wrigley

 

Nuetral:

Theriot- looks like he could be solid bench guy

Pagan- looks like he could be solid 5th OF

Pierre- bring him back for ONE year or collect the draft picks

Jones- Don't like length of contract, but it is movable if better option comes along(possibly could play CF), solid candidate for platoon

 

Dislike:

Bynum

Dempster- he has sucked, but I'm willing to see if he can be a solid closer again next year knowing Wood or Wuertz could potentially fill the role if and likely when he sucks

Cedeno- I'm not ready to give up completely. Maybe with better coaching he could develop some patience and be a viable bench option. Still good defensive potential.

 

Absolutely Dislike:

Baker

Hendry

Pitching Injuries

Izturis

[MPrior]

Likes:

 

Rich Hill

Matt Murton

Zambrano

Barrett

Other young pitchers

Ramirez

Wuertz

The potential that Dusty Baker will not be back.

 

Dislikes:

 

Hendry's moronic philosophies and player acquisitions.

Baker's moronic distribution of playing time, lineup constructions, overuse of starting pitchers, completely abysmal misuse of the bullpen, and excuse making. To name a few.

Dempster sucking it up (for which I ascribe some responsibility to Baker)

Cedeno sucking it up miserably.

How Nolasco alone is a far more valuable player than Pierre - to say nothing of Pinto, Mitre, and the difference in salaries - and the fact that this was completely predictable and avoidable.

The potential that Dusty Baker WILL be back.

The potential that Hendry will hire someone equally stupid to replace Baker.

The fact that this team is probably so far out of contention that sufficiently retooling it this offseason may be impossible - and just how ridiculous a notion that is, considering our payroll and core of talent.

[A New Era]

Honestly, It's easy for me to say I hate everything about this peice of carp team out there.

 

But I'll take the hard route and try and be nice. .

 

I absolutely love Hill and Murton and their possible future with the Cubs. I also like Lee, Ramirez, Barret, and Pierre.

 

Don't like and wish they were gone.

 

Cedeno

Jones

Rusch

Bynum

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Aramis. Laziness and loafing are ruining what could be a great player.

 

Right. How is he being "ruined?" Isn't he the best defensive 3rd baseman in the NL at this point?

 

Are you serious?

You beat me to the comment, I did a double take when I saw that. Apparently all of the teams in the national league other than the Cubs stopped using third basemen?

[soccer10k]

I like that I don't have to worry about (tuning in to the Cubs game/looking at the box score and the recap) and seeing that Neifi (was going to be in the starting lineup/was in the starting lineup). It's a wonderful feeling.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Like: The Cubs season ends in early October

 

Dislike: Baker won't be "re-signed" till after the World Series.

 

 

Other then that, nothing strikes me much about this team.