Evaluation of the Marlins series

[kente777]

Why we have been beaten by the Marlins 10 games in a row is beyond me.

 

But here are a few things I saw in this series:

 

1) First pitch swinging. The Cubs continue to be a team that is inpatient at the plate. It seems that there was more of that in this series. Why should any pitcher facing the Cubs throw a first pitch near the strike zone when this team can't hold off of those.

 

2) The Marlins got a lot of lucky hits, particularly in game 2. On the flip side, I felt like the Cubs hit the ball relatively hard, but always at somebody.

 

3) I do not feel this was Lou's best series. Playing Monroe at this point is inexcusable. He has proven nothing. Some of his pinch hit moves were questionable. Leaving Marquis in too long and starting Traschel (why oh why) were terrible blunders.

 

4) I think Wood's performance solidified him as a go to guy in a tough situation. He was very, very impressive. That bodes well for us in that we've got another guy we should be able to depend on in the bullpen.

 

5) I watched every inning of all 3 games and it just seemed like the Cubs were in slow motion. Hard to describe, but they just didn't look up for this series. Something I think we can shake off.

 

All in all, I feel about 90% sure we will take the division. Really, all it should take is 1 out of 3 in Cincinnati as I don't see the Brewers all three of their remaining games.

 

Go Cubs.

[mopapa]

I've been a Cubs fan for over 20 years, and in that time the Cubs have always had the same problem - they play up or down to the level of their competition. 1986 - the Mets pretty much had the division locked by the All-Star Break. Cubs would play them hit for hit, run for run, out for out. On the other hand, we couldn't beat the Pirates, 100 game losers, with a stick. I would so much rather the Cubs be playing the Padres or the Mets this weekend than the Reds.

[CubinNY]

It was bad, very bad.

[C.C.]

Coming from a high of Wrigley, to a morgue-like Marlins stadium with the weather gloomy, and the Cubs playing like crap was about as depressing as it gets. I hate that stadium and good lord do I hate that team. Good riddance!!!

[RynoRules]

That team just has our number for some reason. The Reds play well against us, but not that well. Hopefully they'll forget about it and move on. They ought to send the Cards and Pads a love letter in the meantime.

 

I'd also point out that they hit the ball hard all series long but the Marlins either made some fine plays in the OF or were positioned very well. That bodes well as we switch from that cavernous, ugly park to the Big Red Hitting Park in Cinci.

 

Go Cubs! Let's clinch tonight!

[soapy]

let me preface this by saying i'm a big fan of Len and Bob......

 

...but one of the things i really got sick of during that series was listening to them try to explain away everything and play the "all is well" stuff up as much as they did. it was ugly. the pitching, the hitting, some of the baserunning. it just plain sucked. acting like it doesn't matter because the Brewers might blow it too doesn't make it okay, IMO. sometimes you just have to say, they are playing terrible and need to make some corrections. i hate to hear excuses about how the cubs didn't get to warm up on the field, or these lower rung teams are tough because they "having nothing to lose", or that it's okay because it's happening to the Mets too. len was acting shocked and surprised that he was getting emails or comments from fans that were getting panicky. it's the cubs. we expect them to blow it. at the first sign of trouble we're going to get antsy. they know this by now.

 

unfortunately they are in a position where they interact with the players regularly and, I assume, are hesitant to really call out bad play sometimes because of it. i don't envy that particular part of their job. nobody wants to be the next Steve Stone. i guess it's just the nature of the beast.

 

anyway, pointless rant over.

[Sammy Sofa]

let me preface this by saying i'm a big fan of Len and Bob......

 

...but one of the things i really got sick of during that series was listening to them try to explain away everything and play the "all is well" stuff up as much as they did. it was ugly. the pitching, the hitting, some of the baserunning. it just plain sucked. acting like it doesn't matter because the Brewers might blow it too doesn't make it okay, IMO. sometimes you just have to say, they are playing terrible and need to make some corrections. i hate to hear excuses about how the cubs didn't get to warm up on the field, or these lower rung teams are tough because they "having nothing to lose", or that it's okay because it's happening to the Mets too. len was acting shocked and surprised that he was getting emails or comments from fans that were getting panicky. it's the cubs. we expect them to blow it. at the first sign of trouble we're going to get antsy. they know this by now.

 

unfortunately they are in a position where they interact with the players regularly and, I assume, are hesitant to really call out bad play sometimes because of it. i don't envy that particular part of their job. nobody wants to be the next Steve Stone. i guess it's just the nature of the beast.

 

anyway, pointless rant over.

 

I don't get that impression at all, especially from BB. Bob has no trouble calling out stuff on the field he sees as poorly done or just plain dumb.

[CubinNY]

let me preface this by saying i'm a big fan of Len and Bob......

 

...but one of the things i really got sick of during that series was listening to them try to explain away everything and play the "all is well" stuff up as much as they did.

 

I totally agree although I'm not a big fan of Bob. I am also getting tired of the constant rock n' roll stuff. They have really slipped this year, especially Len. It's almost like they are afraid to criticize anything. A lot of games I've turned the sound down and listened to XM even though it has about a 30 delay.

Edited September 28, 2007 by CubinNY

[UK1679666180]

The Cubs had their two worst starters going in the series and got shut down by mediocre pitching, everyone is trying to hit the game winning HR in the 1st inning. Trachsel has no stuff to begin with, Marquis was flying open leaving his sinker up, having to try and throw a flat 93 4 seamer, and Lilly had one bad inning when he couldn't find the release point on his curve.

 

It was a bad time for the Cubs hitters to make their starters look good for a series.

 

Plus, Fredi had a better series managing than Lou.

Edited September 28, 2007 by UK

[Backtobanks]

Why we have been beaten by the Marlins 10 games in a row is beyond me.

 

But here are a few things I saw in this series:

 

1) First pitch swinging. The Cubs continue to be a team that is inpatient at the plate. It seems that there was more of that in this series. Why should any pitcher facing the Cubs throw a first pitch near the strike zone when this team can't hold off of those.

 

2) The Marlins got a lot of lucky hits, particularly in game 2. On the flip side, I felt like the Cubs hit the ball relatively hard, but always at somebody.

 

3) I do not feel this was Lou's best series. Playing Monroe at this point is inexcusable. He has proven nothing. Some of his pinch hit moves were questionable. Leaving Marquis in too long and starting Traschel (why oh why) were terrible blunders.

 

4) I think Wood's performance solidified him as a go to guy in a tough situation. He was very, very impressive. That bodes well for us in that we've got another guy we should be able to depend on in the bullpen.

 

5) I watched every inning of all 3 games and it just seemed like the Cubs were in slow motion. Hard to describe, but they just didn't look up for this series. Something I think we can shake off.

 

All in all, I feel about 90% sure we will take the division. Really, all it should take is 1 out of 3 in Cincinnati as I don't see the Brewers all three of their remaining games.

 

Go Cubs.

 

I was ready to post the same comment about Lou's decisions in this series. Murton has really produced in the second half and Lou starts Monroe makes absolutely no sense. All of us have discussed Trachsel ad nauseum. Also, I don't understand any discussion of Kendall starting over Soto for the rest of the season and into the playoffs. I don't think I've seen Kendall throw to 2nd without bouncing it yet. Kendall should be used as a pinch hitter the rest of the way. The umpires certainly didn't have a great series in Florida either.

[soapy]

let me preface this by saying i'm a big fan of Len and Bob......

 

...but one of the things i really got sick of during that series was listening to them try to explain away everything and play the "all is well" stuff up as much as they did. it was ugly. the pitching, the hitting, some of the baserunning. it just plain sucked. acting like it doesn't matter because the Brewers might blow it too doesn't make it okay, IMO. sometimes you just have to say, they are playing terrible and need to make some corrections. i hate to hear excuses about how the cubs didn't get to warm up on the field, or these lower rung teams are tough because they "having nothing to lose", or that it's okay because it's happening to the Mets too. len was acting shocked and surprised that he was getting emails or comments from fans that were getting panicky. it's the cubs. we expect them to blow it. at the first sign of trouble we're going to get antsy. they know this by now.

 

unfortunately they are in a position where they interact with the players regularly and, I assume, are hesitant to really call out bad play sometimes because of it. i don't envy that particular part of their job. nobody wants to be the next Steve Stone. i guess it's just the nature of the beast.

 

anyway, pointless rant over.

 

I don't get that impression at all, especially from BB. Bob has no trouble calling out stuff on the field he sees as poorly done or just plain dumb.

 

i get the impression (perhaps incorrect), that BB doesn't mind calling out certain players (primarily younger guys), but hesitates to call out others.

 

i have heard him question Lou's decisions a few times this season, but not this week. that was primarily what I was talking about.

[CubinNY]

The Cubs had their two worst starters going in the series and got shut down by mediocre pitching, everyone is trying to hit the game winning HR in the 1st inning. Trachsel has no stuff to begin with, Marquis was flying open leaving his sinker up, having to try and throw a flat 93 4 seamer, and Lilly had one bad inning when he couldn't find the release point on his curve.

 

It was a bad time for the Cubs hitters to make their starters look good for a series.

 

Plus, Fredi had a better series managing than Lou.

Brought back the horny wagon for good luck?

[Soul]

Well thanks to the Brewers we aren't all having heart transplant surgery right now.

 

But the Marlins series showed me one thing about this club: don't ever assume they can do anything when it counts, not even win a single game. Not even against a bad team, as the Reds are especially without Dunn & Griff.

 

If this club makes the playoffs, great. I will believe they are going to the moment they clinch, and not one moment before.

 

I'm rooting for them, but I can't justify showing even the slightest confidence in their ability to get it done on their own.

[jjgman21]

so much of being a fan is our own perceptions. I'm sure it would surprise most to find out that the Cubs had a grand total of three first pitch swings in the first game of the series, one of those Lilly's lame attempt to bunt. yesterday the Cubs swung at the first pitch 14 times...but so did the Marlins. in fact, the Marlins swung at the first pitch far more often than the Cubs did this series.

 

that being said, I realize that Baker was a jackass, but this entire 'excuse making' rant that occurs year after year is more lame than if the commentators actually were excuse making. it's more in the way people take what is said than the intent behind the comments that are labeled 'excuse making.'

 

they are trying to explain some rather inexplicable phenomena in a sport where the outcome of individual games often comes down to luck. any commentary that is not just outright bashing of the players, manager, and organization as a whole is going to sound like 'excuse making' to some regardless of whether it is or is not 'excuse making.' why some would rather the commentators sound like the mindless rants from the game thread, I have no idea.

[CubinNY]

so much of being a fan is our own perceptions. I'm sure it would surprise most to find out that the Cubs had a grand total of three first pitch swings in the first game of the series, one of those Lilly's lame attempt to bunt. yesterday the Cubs swung at the first pitch 14 times...but so did the Marlins. in fact, the Marlins swung at the first pitch far more often than the Cubs did this series.

 

that being said, I realize that Baker was a jackass, but this entire 'excuse making' rant that occurs year after year is more lame than if the commentators actually were excuse making. it's more in the way people take what is said than the intent behind the comments that are labeled 'excuse making.'

 

they are trying to explain some rather inexplicable phenomena in a sport where the outcome of individual games comes down to luck. any commentary that is not just outright bashing of the players, manager, and organization as a whole is going to sound like 'excuse making' to some regardless of whether it is or is not 'excuse making.' why some would rather the commentators sound like the mindless rants from the game thread, I have no idea.

 

Mindless rants from the game thread? Where do you come up with this stuff. I excuse Len somewhat b/c he is the pbp man, but Bob gives almost no analysis of the game. They are talking about making chords ont the guitar, or his son, or the latest concert, or anything else besides giving insight to the game. Bob use to be a catcher, you'd think he'd have more to say about the pitching than "the batter can see the catcher's shadow so he better not set up too early".

[jjgman21]

let me preface this by saying i'm a big fan of Len and Bob......

 

...but one of the things i really got sick of during that series was listening to them try to explain away everything and play the "all is well" stuff up as much as they did. it was ugly. the pitching, the hitting, some of the baserunning. it just plain sucked. acting like it doesn't matter because the Brewers might blow it too doesn't make it okay, IMO. sometimes you just have to say, they are playing terrible and need to make some corrections. i hate to hear excuses about how the cubs didn't get to warm up on the field, or these lower rung teams are tough because they "having nothing to lose", or that it's okay because it's happening to the Mets too. len was acting shocked and surprised that he was getting emails or comments from fans that were getting panicky. it's the cubs. we expect them to blow it. at the first sign of trouble we're going to get antsy. they know this by now.

 

unfortunately they are in a position where they interact with the players regularly and, I assume, are hesitant to really call out bad play sometimes because of it. i don't envy that particular part of their job. nobody wants to be the next Steve Stone. i guess it's just the nature of the beast.

 

anyway, pointless rant over.

 

I don't get that impression at all, especially from BB. Bob has no trouble calling out stuff on the field he sees as poorly done or just plain dumb.

 

i get the impression (perhaps incorrect), that BB doesn't mind calling out certain players (primarily younger guys), but hesitates to call out others.

 

i have heard him question Lou's decisions a few times this season, but not this week. that was primarily what I was talking about.

 

I think the generalized 'excuse making' and calling out players are two different things. I agree that Bob has no problem calling out certain players, but he definitely has double standards. his particular targets do seem to be younger players, but not entirely. there seems to be a set of players that he absolutely nitpicks, ie. Murton, Cedeno, Aram, while other players seem to get a pass, ie. DLee, Theriot, Soriano.

 

as a for instance, I guaranty that Bob wouldn't have said "Aram thought he got it all" and little more had it been Aram who admired that fly down the right field line yesterday. between first pitch bitchin and swinging at ball four, DLee was a joke for much of the series, but nothing is said. had it been Murton taking those same ABs, something definitely would have been said.

[Pushfrog98]

Why we have been beaten by the Marlins 10 games in a row is beyond me.

 

But here are a few things I saw in this series:

 

1) First pitch swinging. The Cubs continue to be a team that is inpatient at the plate. It seems that there was more of that in this series. Why should any pitcher facing the Cubs throw a first pitch near the strike zone when this team can't hold off of those.

 

2) The Marlins got a lot of lucky hits, particularly in game 2. On the flip side, I felt like the Cubs hit the ball relatively hard, but always at somebody.

 

3) I do not feel this was Lou's best series. Playing Monroe at this point is inexcusable. He has proven nothing. Some of his pinch hit moves were questionable. Leaving Marquis in too long and starting Traschel (why oh why) were terrible blunders.

 

4) I think Wood's performance solidified him as a go to guy in a tough situation. He was very, very impressive. That bodes well for us in that we've got another guy we should be able to depend on in the bullpen.

 

5) I watched every inning of all 3 games and it just seemed like the Cubs were in slow motion. Hard to describe, but they just didn't look up for this series. Something I think we can shake off.

 

All in all, I feel about 90% sure we will take the division. Really, all it should take is 1 out of 3 in Cincinnati as I don't see the Brewers all three of their remaining games.

 

Go Cubs.

 

I was ready to post the same comment about Lou's decisions in this series. Murton has really produced in the second half and Lou starts Monroe makes absolutely no sense. All of us have discussed Trachsel ad nauseum. Also, I don't understand any discussion of Kendall starting over Soto for the rest of the season and into the playoffs. I don't think I've seen Kendall throw to 2nd without bouncing it yet. Kendall should be used as a pinch hitter the rest of the way. The umpires certainly didn't have a great series in Florida either.

Murton not starting yesterday ticked me off to no end. Monroe is our "specialist" hitting LHP, but since he's come over to the Cubs, he's hitting under .200! (sample size be darned), but Murton has twice as many AB's against LHP than Monroe and is hitting somewhere near .320. So someone please tell me why Monroe was playing?!

[hardcorecubfan]

I noticed that the late inning punch in the 7-9th was not there, but we scored early. It looked like we did in April early May.

 

Was it Lous's poor substitutions? or failure for the top of the order to get on so Lee and A Ram could drive them in?

[jjgman21]

I noticed that the late inning punch in the 7-9th was not there, but we scored early. It looked like we did in April early May.

 

Was it Lous's poor substitutions? or failure for the top of the order to get on so Lee and A Ram could drive them in?

 

 

 

I didn't have a huge problem with Monroe getting the start because I convinced myself it was for defensive purposes, which made sense with Trax and his inability to strike anyone out, and for pinch hitting purposes, because he trusts Murton to hit righties more than Monroe if Gonzalez switched out the lefty once the PH was announced, which is exactly what happened. just a couple days ago one problem with the all-right lineup vs. lefties was exposed, the lack of a right handed PH'er (where the hell is Chad Fox, anyway?).

 

the problem I have is that ANY right handed hitter would have gotten Olsen out of the game. if Lou put Cedeno or Kendall up there, the result would have been the same, Olsen pulled, nasty righty in. then you could send Ward or Floyd up there with a better chance at that hard throwing righty, still have the one not used on the bench, along with Murton, who would have come in handy later in the game, ie when Jones was taking feeble swings vs. a lefty he stood no chance against.

[brinoch]

yesterday the Cubs swung at the first pitch 14 times...but so did the Marlins. in fact, the Marlins swung at the first pitch far more often than the Cubs did this series.

 

You'd swing at a patented 85 mph Trachsel-meatball grooved down the middle, too.

[Soul]

yesterday the Cubs swung at the first pitch 14 times...but so did the Marlins. in fact, the Marlins swung at the first pitch far more often than the Cubs did this series.

 

You'd swing at a patented 85 mph Trachsel-meatball grooved down the middle, too.

 

LOL, yeah I imagine I would too.

 

There's a tad bit of difference between swinging at the first pitch because you have no clue how to put a good AB together (many Cub hitters) and doing so because the opposing pitcher is giving you a meatball to blast to the deepest nether regions of the ballpark (Marlins hitters).

[jjgman21]

yesterday the Cubs swung at the first pitch 14 times...but so did the Marlins. in fact, the Marlins swung at the first pitch far more often than the Cubs did this series.

 

You'd swing at a patented 85 mph Trachsel-meatball grooved down the middle, too.

 

that's lame. you'd swing at a 91 mph, flat, straight, Scott Olsen grooved fastball as well. same can be said of a pitch from Whatever Barone. not a single first pitch swing by the Marlins against Trachsel resulted in a man getting on base.

 

the constant attempts to compartmentalize every bad inning and every loss into a function of whatever one thinks is the Cubs major weakness is far more annoying than the imaginary 'excuse making' the Cubs and their broadcasters allegedly engage in.

 

if Marquis and Trachsel are blamed for their losses, why isn't Lilly and Marmol equally to blame? if first pitch swinging is the problem, why did the Marlins have three straight victories? if patience is the problem, why did the Cubs lose all three games when they saw far more pitches in each game of the series? if Kendall is to blame when he hits two rockets for outs with men on base, why isn't Soto to blame for a couple horrible ABs this series with men on base?

 

for the most part this series was equally played. the Marlins have a strong offense and a strong bullpen. the key to the series was the Marlins got virtually all the breaks, ie bloop hits or the lack thereof, line drives right at em, long flies that are HRs in any other park, bounces off the rubberized track, borderline/bad calls all going against the Cubs, etc etc. it all comes out looking like the Cubs played horribly, and while they didn't play as well as they are capable of, it certainly wasn't only a couple of players or a lack of whatever philosophical approach we may wish the Cubs had.

[gflore34]

What proved to be costly was their inability to get the non-quality hitters in Marlin lineup out i.e., everyone save for Ramirez, Hermidia and Cabrera. I don't qualify Uggla as good hitter, sure he's got a lot of power for a 2B but, there nothing else he does well.

[rynefan]

The swinging at pitches way outside and low has got to stop.

[rynefan]

Another point I agree with is the Monroe thing. COME ON. He's not shown a whole lot.