In these dark times...

[CubsWin]

Here are 8 reasons for optimism:

 

1. Jason Kendall

 

Since joining the Cubs he has put up a line of .286/.385/.393/.778 with more walks (7) than Ks (6) in 56 ABs. This is consistent with his career line of .293/.375/.394/.769 with 576 walks against 529 strikeouts. For his career, Kendall's OPS is 40 points higher in the 2nd half. On a side note, since joining the Padres, Barrett has hit .230/.238/.290 with 16 strikeouts and 1 walk.

 

2. Jacque Jones

 

Since getting more regular playing time in July, he is hitting .333 in 90 ABs with 10 walks and only 8 strikeouts. He has driven in 16 runs in 21 starts since the all-star break. Jones's career OPS is 28 points higher in the 2nd half.

 

3. Bob Howry

 

Since the all-star break, Howry has allowed 2 runs in 14.1 innings, striking out 16 while walking only 2. That's an ERA of 1.26 and a WHIP of 0.84. For those of you rightfully worried about sample size, in his last 33 appearances (34 innings) dating back to May 27th, he has an ERA of 2.65 and a WHIP of 0.97.

 

4. Kerry Wood

 

Kerry is unscored upon in his first 3 outings and has displayed very good, Kerry Wood-like stuff. No one knows how long he can keep that up, but 3 2/3 scoreless innings can't be seen as a reason for pessimism, can it?

 

5. The emergence of Carlos Marmol

 

Those three righties can close out a lot of games for the Cubs down the stretch. That's not a bad back-end of the pen. And their presence gives Lou three more reasons to avoid Dempster and three more reasons for Dempster to get back on track or lose his job.

 

6. The Riot

 

Those of us who said the more he hits the worse he gets should look again. After slumping for 5 weeks (May 16-June 23), Ryan is back in a big way hitting .351 over his last 134 ABs. In that span he has walked 16 times while striking out only 8 times, stealing 8 bases while getting caught only twice and scoring 31 runs in his last 34 starts.

 

7. The return of Derrek Lee's power stroke

 

Despite slumping pretty badly, Lee has hit 6 HRs in the first 22 post-ASB games. That's a 40+ HR per year pace. That's what we expected of him from the start. The Cubs needed to add a power bat at the deadline. Maybe they got him at the all-star break and didn't even know it.

 

8. Lou Piniella is not Dusty Baker

 

Nuff said.

 

 

Hope that brightens the mood a little bit after a horrible series in Houston. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the Cubs are a half game out of first place with 48 left to play. There. There's nine. :P

[WrigleyinEngland]

Nice post cheered me up, until i thought about cliff floyd :(

[Bote McBoteface]

Nice post cheered me up, until i thought about cliff floyd :(

 

I wouldn't expect Floyd to get much playing time from here on out.

 

Lou has to be as aggravated by his little league caliber swings as we are, and they definitely don't want that option to stick.

[Peoriaman]

we are fighting for the play-offs. Dark times?

[Backtobanks]

For all of the criticism of Jones, he is an adequate hitter and it's not surprising that he has improved since his terrible 1st half by playing regularly. I think the same will happen with Murton if he is given the chance to play everyday. Unfortunately that probably won't happen. Most players, when given enough playing time, will end up near their norm.

[Cynosure]

I am just so happy that Theriot is dominating in the lead-off spot and Jones and Kendall are coming around like I told everyone when they were slumping. EVERYONE wanted to trade Jones and Kendall, well... they are a big reason for last night's win!

[RynoRules]

I am not sure what is "dark" about these times. 05' and 06' were truly dark times that seemed to last forever. We're a half-game back right now and just put up 10 runs last night.

[Cynosure]

I am not sure what is "dark" about these times. 05' and 06' were truly dark times that seemed to last forever. We're a half-game back right now and just put up 10 runs last night.

 

Yea 10 runs last night, but the last 3 games before that how many did we put up? I'll pass my judgment tonight to see if last night was just a fluke.

[Peoriaman]

I am not sure what is "dark" about these times. 05' and 06' were truly dark times that seemed to last forever. We're a half-game back right now and just put up 10 runs last night.

 

Yea 10 runs last night, but the last 3 games before that how many did we put up? I'll pass my judgment tonight to see if last night was just a fluke.

 

 

We lost 96 games last year. 96. Anybody who thinks these are "dark times" has lost their perspective.

[Cubzfan64]

I like optimism - I don't always have it, but I like it! Thanks for the pick-me-up!

[CUBZ99]

Nice post. :D If Kendall, Jones, Murton, and some others could stay on a hot streak for a couple of weeks, the Cubs can make up for the loss of Soriano.

[Cynosure]

Nice post. :D If Kendall, Jones, Murton, and some others could stay on a hot streak for a couple of weeks, the Cubs can make up for the loss of Soriano.

 

Theriot in the leadoff spot alone makes up for the loss of Soriano.

[Mizzou]

Yeah, definitely not dark times right now. But with that aside... great post, CubsWin. You don't see too many posts like that on NSBB.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I like optimism - I don't always have it, but I like it! Thanks for the pick-me-up!

 

Big Red is 9-25 with 3 extra-base hits since his recall.

His bat is needed at the level of his 2nd half performance last year.

[CubRock2]

Reason #11: We play in the NL Central! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Cynosure]

Reason #11: We play in the NL Central! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

This is a huge factor :-P

[Electron Blue]

Yeah, definitely not dark times right now. But with that aside... great post, CubsWin. You don't see too many posts like that on NSBB.

 

That's the point. Sure being a half game out of the division isn't a "dark time," but we lost a couple bad games in a row, you'd never know it around here.

[Derwood]

not to pee on the parade (but hey, I'm a cubs fan), Wood DID allow all his inherited runners to score in Houston

[Electron Blue]

not to pee on the parade (but hey, I'm a cubs fan), Wood DID allow all his inherited runners to score in Houston

 

Perhaps ERA isn't a good evaluator of relief pichers, is that what you're saying? :)

[Little Slide Rooter]

the fact of the matter is Jones, Floyd, and Ward were supposed to be power hitters, and they have 6 homers between them.

[CubmanPi]

I am just so happy that Theriot is dominating in the lead-off spot and Jones and Kendall are coming around like I told everyone when they were slumping. EVERYONE wanted to trade Jones and Kendall, well... they are a big reason for last night's win!

Cynosure

Role Player

Joined: 08 Aug 2007

What is your name on your other account?

[CubsWin]

Yeah, definitely not dark times right now. But with that aside... great post, CubsWin. You don't see too many posts like that on NSBB.

 

That's the point. Sure being a half game out of the division isn't a "dark time," but we lost a couple bad games in a row, you'd never know it around here.

Thanks, that was the point.

 

Of course, these aren't dark times, its a joke and a commentary on the mood of this board the last week.

[CubsWin]

the fact of the matter is Jones, Floyd, and Ward were supposed to be power hitters, and they have 6 homers between them.

the point of the thread is...ahh, nevermind. ](*,)

[jersey cubs fan]

the fact of the matter is Jones, Floyd, and Ward were supposed to be power hitters, and they have 6 homers between them.

the point of the thread is...ahh, nevermind. ](*,)

 

My problem with the thread is... dark times? What's so dark about 'em?

[RynoRules]

the fact of the matter is Jones, Floyd, and Ward were supposed to be power hitters, and they have 6 homers between them.

 

Ward's a power hitter?

 

Jones? I guess that depends on how you define it.