Don't panic ...yet.

[RynoRules]

I don't think any team's fate is remotely clear until Memorial Day or thereabouts. We've been in every single game sans one, IIRC, which is a good sign. Lou is playing with the lineup and relievers in an attempt to find out what he has. We may have seen the last of Mr. Miller, blissfully. The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good, and Hill looks like a stud so far. The hitters have been inconsistent at best, but there is enough depth there to see a turn around, IMO.

 

Let's let things shake out a bit before we go all Chicken Little. If they are 10 under at the end of May then I think its time to face-up to what this team is (in)capable of.

 

Just my two cents.

[Pinktermite]

I have to agree. There's no reason to panic yet. Another month of this and I think we can write them off.

[Chocolate Milk]

Not panicking.

[JeffH]

Not panicking. Completely resigned to another lost season, brought to you by MLB's worst GM.

 

"Jim Hendry - worse than Ed Lynch"

[Pinktermite]

Hendry bashing again. I suppose he gets no credit for acquiring Lilly, Marquis, and Cotts...who have all performed well? And for getting Soriano, who will help this team? I think there's plenty of blame to go around here. Again, they suck for a multitude of reasons, Jim Hendry being one of them, but not the only one.

[tfarks]

I haven't jumped off the deep end yet. Thats why I usually skip a couple pages in the game thread so as to avoid the eternal burning of negativity propagated throughout the forum. I still see a team capable of winning that has not yet gotten off to a run. Lee, Soriano, Jones with 0 HR's, a pitcher for about the last 5 years keep a high 2-low 3 ERA currently at about 7. A bullpen that if pitched like this regularly, half would not even be in the league. Success in 1-2 run games that even the Royals could scoff at.

 

I am not trying to coax others into optimism, however I do firmly believe this is the lowest this club will be all season. The bullpen will regain its confidence, as will Lou with using them, and the power is gonna start to break out in this lineup. I also believe Satan himself Mr. Hendry will make positive moves to make sure his mega spree comes to fruition. As well as I look forward to Guzman becoming a solid starter at the end of the rotation, which will eliminate the automatic losses we have had there so far.

 

The NL Central won't run away from the Cubs, it WILL be for the taking.

[wade]

The Detroit Tigers have a reliever named Fernando Rodney who's blown 4 games already this year himself. Despite this, they are tied for the lead in their division.

 

I don't know what that means. Maybe it means the close games will even out eventually. Maybe it means Detroit can overcome bullpen blowups because they are way better than the Cubs. I don't know, but it's pretty frustrating when just an average performance in an inning here or there could put the Cubs at .500 right now.

[macuser2]

I was planning to make a trip to Chicago this summer, mainly to make a pilgrimage to Wrigley, a place I haven't been since Dailey I was the mayor.

 

With the airfare, hotel charges meals, tickets, etc. it would be kind of expensive. I don't know how vance does it; we both would have to travel the same distance. Anyway, I am spending the money on other things. I don't have that much, and I am not willing to risk wasting the money on that ball club.

 

I turned off the game and watched Monday Night Raw instead.

[C.C.]

The Detroit Tigers have a reliever named Fernando Rodney who's blown 4 games already this year himself. Despite this, they are tied for the lead in their division.

 

I don't know what that means. Maybe it means the close games will even out eventually. Maybe it means Detroit can overcome bullpen blowups because they are way better than the Cubs. I don't know, but it's pretty frustrating when just an average performance in an inning here or there could put the Cubs at .500 right now.

 

It means when things go bad the Cubs don't have the attitude or the confidence to over come it. Plain and simple this team lacks heart and the will (and know how) to win.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I was planning to make a trip to Chicago this summer, mainly to make a pilgrimage to Wrigley, a place I haven't been since Dailey I was the mayor.

 

With the airfare, hotel charges meals, tickets, etc. it would be kind of expensive. I don't know how vance does it; we both would have to travel the same distance.

 

I have in-laws just outside St. Louis, so I make a trip there with the entire family and then while the wife is visiting her parents, I make the drive from Edwardsville to Chicago.

 

I have to pay for hotel and tickets, but I escape the airfare.

 

BTW, if you want to see the Cubs in Arlington instead, I still have a few tickets to that remaining. :)

Edited April 24, 2007 by vance_the_cubs_fan

[Sammy Sofa]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

[Soul]

I'm starting to panic. I never expected to be five games under this early. We're digging a mighty big hole for ourselves.

[CubColtPacer]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

[Soul]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

 

What you've just described is a losing baseball team. Every team in the league that sucks will tell you "we just can't get both going at the same time." We've gone through this many other years, too. It's the same old story. If we don't rectify this by May, then we are finished. We're already in an ever-deepening hole that will be difficult to climb out of.

[JeffH]

The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible.

 

One of the marks of a very, very bad baseball team.

[CubColtPacer]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

 

What you've just described is a losing baseball team. Every team in the league that sucks will tell you "we just can't get both going at the same time." We've gone through this many other years, too. It's the same old story. If we don't rectify this by May, then we are finished. We're already in an ever-deepening hole that will be difficult to climb out of.

 

Yes, but most of the teams who would say that aren't in the top half of the league in both pitching and offense like the Cubs are.

[Sammy Sofa]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

 

A team that is 0-10 when the lead is 2 or 1 runs does not have an offense that's doing fine. That's pathetic.

[CubColtPacer]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

 

A team that is 0-10 when the lead is 2 or 1 runs does not have an offense that's doing fine. That's pathetic.

 

It's 0-8 actually, and that includes games like an 8-6 loss and a 6-5 loss, along with last night's loss 5-4, not to mention the extra inning loss the other day 12-9. The first 3 games had Z on the mound-the team's offense is not responsible for at least 3 of those games, and possibly all 4.

[Soul]

The starting pitching sans Miller has been very good,

 

Our ace is a basket case who still can't meltdown even when he's leading by 3 or more runs. That's not even close to being very good.

 

I know everyone loves heaping on the bullpen right now, but it's not like it's a disaster. The main weakness is our sleepy offense. Some guys are eventually going to break out because of their history (Soriano in a big way, Jacque in a less big way), but Lee's lack of power is worrisome given his injury last year. I know he's got a bunch of double so far, but he hasn't had anything slapped down by the wind moreso than a guy like DeRosa. Maybe this is just the current variation of his old slow starts...I hope so. Even if it is, Zambrano needs to be traded to pump up the offense ASAP before he flakes out even more.

 

Our offense has been just fine though lately-here are the scores from the last 8 games:

 

12, 3, 6, 3, 1, 6, 9, 4-avg-5.5 runs per game. The offense has been fine-not great, but just fine. The problem is that when the offense is good, the pitching fails-and when the pitching is good, the offense is terrible. It's just a matter of putting it together in the same games.

 

What you've just described is a losing baseball team. Every team in the league that sucks will tell you "we just can't get both going at the same time." We've gone through this many other years, too. It's the same old story. If we don't rectify this by May, then we are finished. We're already in an ever-deepening hole that will be difficult to climb out of.

 

Yes, but most of the teams who would say that aren't in the top half of the league in both pitching and offense like the Cubs are.

 

In pitching perhaps, but the offense looks better than it really is because we blow a team out one day, then lose by 1 run the next 3 days.

 

And our middle relief is horrid outside a couple guys.

[jersey cubs fan]

Again, they suck for a multitude of reasons, Jim Hendry being one of them, but not the only one.

 

Hendry is responsible for each and every reason why they suck. He's the GM. He puts together the team. You don't diregard the poor record because a couple of the guys he got are doing well.

[CubColtPacer]

Again, they suck for a multitude of reasons, Jim Hendry being one of them, but not the only one.

 

Hendry is responsible for each and every reason why they suck. He's the GM. He puts together the team. You don't diregard the poor record because a couple of the guys he got are doing well.

 

So I guess whichever team wins the world title, no credit should be given to the players or manager, but just to the GM for "putting the team together."

 

Hendry is not totally to blame. Yes, this is a flawed roster, and for that he incurs blame. Lou incurs blame for a few questionable decisions (none of them last night IMO) and the fact that he told Hendry repeatedly to not bring anyone else in. The players get blame for under performing what people like Hendry or everybody else would expect of them. There's too much blame here to put it on one person.

[jersey cubs fan]

Again, they suck for a multitude of reasons, Jim Hendry being one of them, but not the only one.

 

Hendry is responsible for each and every reason why they suck. He's the GM. He puts together the team. You don't diregard the poor record because a couple of the guys he got are doing well.

 

So I guess whichever team wins the world title, no credit should be given to the players or manager, but just to the GM for "putting the team together."

 

Hendry is not totally to blame. Yes, this is a flawed roster, and for that he incurs blame. Lou incurs blame for a few questionable decisions (none of them last night IMO) and the fact that he told Hendry repeatedly to not bring anyone else in. The players get blame for under performing what people like Hendry or everybody else would expect of them. There's too much blame here to put it on one person.

 

There's plenty of blame to go around. But Hendry is ultimately the main problem. The GM is the most important person in an organization. And the Cubs have a really bad one.

[Soul]

I'm still a little shocked we went into the season with such a mess in the OF, and nothing but total crap @ SS.

 

That's all on Jim. I appreciate how hard he worked, but he left Lou with some irreparable situations and you can see it's starting to frustrate him.

[YearofDaCubs]

Again, they suck for a multitude of reasons, Jim Hendry being one of them, but not the only one.

 

Hendry is responsible for each and every reason why they suck. He's the GM. He puts together the team. You don't diregard the poor record because a couple of the guys he got are doing well.

 

So I guess whichever team wins the world title, no credit should be given to the players or manager, but just to the GM for "putting the team together."

 

Hendry is not totally to blame. Yes, this is a flawed roster, and for that he incurs blame. Lou incurs blame for a few questionable decisions (none of them last night IMO) and the fact that he told Hendry repeatedly to not bring anyone else in. The players get blame for under performing what people like Hendry or everybody else would expect of them. There's too much blame here to put it on one person.

 

There's plenty of blame to go around. But Hendry is ultimately the main problem. The GM is the most important person in an organization. And the Cubs have a really bad one.

Soriano's contract is so bad I can see it crippling us in a couple of years.

[Soul]

What's really crippling this team is that it was put together like a 2 year old does a 1,000 piece puzzle.