7/26 Cubs (Harden) vs. Marlins (Volstad) 12:05 cm CT WGN

[Guest]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

How many months has it been since he hit an extra base hit?

 

July 20 he had 2 doubles against Houston.

Last homer?

 

He's not a home run hitter so I don't see what the point is in asking this.

[Guest]

Kosuke has been appallingly bad at the plate for quite a long time now. There's no reason to continue defending him.

 

He'll turn it around a bit, eventually. But if he can't square up on a fastball and hammer them instead of fouling them off or whiffing he's not of much use at the plate. No one's afraid to challenge him right now and unless he turns it around his OBP is going to continue to plummet.

 

He's in a slump and I don't see why that means Kosuke can't be defended.

[illiniguy]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

How many months has it been since he hit an extra base hit?

 

July 20 he had 2 doubles against Houston.

Last homer?

 

He's not a home run hitter so I don't see what the point is in asking this.

Fine, then he needs to man up and play centerfield.

[Guest]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

I have more confidence in Zambrano at that plate than I do him. Although I could say that about most of our lineup at this point.

 

That would be, well, irrational. But that's not really surprising.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm going to eat an entire pizza to celebrate the awesomeness.

[SpongeWorthy]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

 

What does Hideki Matsui have to do with anything?

 

I agree that Kosuke is in a slump. But there's really no reason for any pitcher to do anything but challenge him in the strike zone with fastballs. He hasn't done anything with them in quite a while. There's slumping and then there's a total of 4 XBH's from your $12m corner outfielder in the month of July.

[illiniguy]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

I have more confidence in Zambrano at that plate than I do him. Although I could say that about most of our lineup at this point.

 

That would be, well, irrational. But that's not really surprising.

Says the guy who LOLs after Cubs losses yet called out Cubsgm for doing the samething.

[Sammy Sofa]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

I have more confidence in Zambrano at that plate than I do him. Although I could say that about most of our lineup at this point.

 

That would be, well, irrational. But that's not really surprising.

 

While Fukudome isn't lighting the world on fire, it's odd people are jumping on him for today like he lost the ballgame all by himself. His last AB was just one of many worthless AB's contributed by the team.

Edited July 26, 2008 by Sammy Sofa

[Little Slide Rooter]

Lou should have gotten more out of his ejection, so maybe he could have pumped some life into his walking dead of an offense.

[illiniguy]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

 

What does Hideki Matsui have to do with anything?

 

I agree that Kosuke is in a slump. But there's really no reason for any pitcher to do anything but challenge him in the strike zone with fastballs. He hasn't done anything with them in quite a while. There's slumping and then there's a total of 4 XBH's from your $12m corner outfielder in the month of July.

You know there both Japanese.

[BCVM22]

Rick VandenHurk has a 6.10 ERA in 3 starts this year. Odds that we get shut out?

[Guest]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

 

What does Hideki Matsui have to do with anything?

 

I agree that Kosuke is in a slump. But there's really no reason for any pitcher to do anything but challenge him in the strike zone with fastballs. He hasn't done anything with them in quite a while. There's slumping and then there's a total of 4 XBH's from your $12m corner outfielder in the month of July.

 

Because Matsui was a guy that Kosuke was compared to before coming over here.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

I have more confidence in Zambrano at that plate than I do him. Although I could say that about most of our lineup at this point.

 

That would be, well, irrational. But that's not really surprising.

 

While Fukudome isn't lighting the world on fire, it's odd people are jumping on him for today like he lost the ballgame all by himself. His last AB was just one of many worthless AB's contribvuted by the team.

 

Kosuke is one of the few Cubs hitters that are starting to come back to life. You really cant place too much blame on your 8 hitter when your team has forgotten how to hit. Maybe Gerald Perry needs to get to work.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

 

His numbers have declined every month since April. I'm not saying he'll be this bad in the future, but I don't care about the future. He's terrible now. If he was in a slump and still walking I'd be less concerned, but his OBP has gone from .436 at the end of April to .412 at the end of May to .404 at the end of June to .381 right now. He has a .690 OPS since June 1st. I think it's more than a slump at this point.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Rick VandenHurk has a 6.10 ERA in 3 starts this year. Odds that we get shut out?

 

The offense will explode for 6 or 7 but the staff will give up 8 or 9.

[chuckywang]

Lou should have gotten more out of his ejection, so maybe he could have pumped some life into his walking dead of an offense.

 

That's ridiculous. What does Lou's ejection have to do with the offense?

[Guest]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

I have more confidence in Zambrano at that plate than I do him. Although I could say that about most of our lineup at this point.

 

That would be, well, irrational. But that's not really surprising.

Says the guy who LOLs after Cubs losses yet called out Cubsgm for doing the samething.

 

I don't call CubsGM out for anything. I know he's not here anymore but I didn't respond to any of his posts for the past few weeks when he was here because there was no point.

 

And so I LOL'd when the Marlins guy got the double. Big deal.

[SpongeWorthy]

Worth every penny.

 

Yeah, screw him. He only went 2-for-5 today. What a bum.

 

No, you're right, he's definitely a $12M outfielder.

 

Way to judge him based on four months in his first year in the majors.

 

Hideki Matusi had a .788 OPS in his first year with the Yankees. He hasn't had one under .850 since.

 

Not to mention that he's in the midst of a slump, which every single player in the majors goes through at some point during the season.

 

What does Hideki Matsui have to do with anything?

 

I agree that Kosuke is in a slump. But there's really no reason for any pitcher to do anything but challenge him in the strike zone with fastballs. He hasn't done anything with them in quite a while. There's slumping and then there's a total of 4 XBH's from your $12m corner outfielder in the month of July.

 

Because Matsui was a guy that Kosuke was compared to before coming over here.

 

And that should mean what exactly in terms of evaluating Kosuke's contributions--or lack thereof? He's been really, really, really bad.

 

I think pitchers were expecting Fukudome to be more of a power hitter when he arrived. I understand he's not a home run hitter but you have to be AT LEAST a threat or a doubles machine to get much respect at the plate. He's been neither this year. Pitchers don't nibble or try to fool him out of the zone. His value as an OBP guy is directly related to his ability to punish hitter's pitches. He hasn't really done that.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Lou should have gotten more out of his ejection, so maybe he could have pumped some life into his walking dead of an offense.

 

That's ridiculous. What does Lou's ejection have to do with the offense?

 

Obviously, they wouldnt magicly stop being bad, but it could get them fired up if Lou were to do one of his classic snaps. Kick up some dirt. Make the most out of it.

[Guest]

His numbers have declined every month since April. I'm not saying he'll be this bad in the future, but I don't care about the future. He's terrible now. If he was in a slump and still walking I'd be less concerned, but his OBP has gone from .436 at the end of April to .412 at the end of May to .404 at the end of June to .381 right now. He has a .690 OPS since June 1st. I think it's more than a slump at this point.

 

Might want to give that one another shot - the not walking part, I mean.

 

  BA    OBP   IsoD
.327   .436   .109    end of April
.310   .412   .102    end of May
.296   .404   .108    end of June
.275   .381   .106    before today

 

He's not walking any less now than he was earlier in the year.

Edited July 26, 2008 by soccer10k

[cubbyvirus00]

This entire offense is really bad.....we're in trouble....sadly.

[Guest]

And that should mean what exactly in terms of evaluating Kosuke's contributions--or lack thereof? He's been really, really, really bad.

 

I think pitchers were expecting Fukudome to be more of a power hitter when he arrived. I understand he's not a home run hitter but you have to be AT LEAST a threat or a doubles machine to get much respect at the plate. He's been neither this year. Pitchers don't nibble or try to fool him out of the zone. His value as an OBP guy is directly related to his ability to punish hitter's pitches. He hasn't really done that.

 

Except, you know, he hasn't. He had an OPS+ of 104 coming into today which will only go up a bit. Has he been great? No. But he hasn't been what you claim.

 

And it's not the best idea to evaluate a guy in the midst of a horrible slump.

[SpongeWorthy]

And that should mean what exactly in terms of evaluating Kosuke's contributions--or lack thereof? He's been really, really, really bad.

 

I think pitchers were expecting Fukudome to be more of a power hitter when he arrived. I understand he's not a home run hitter but you have to be AT LEAST a threat or a doubles machine to get much respect at the plate. He's been neither this year. Pitchers don't nibble or try to fool him out of the zone. His value as an OBP guy is directly related to his ability to punish hitter's pitches. He hasn't really done that.

 

Except, you know, he hasn't. He had an OPS+ of 104 coming into today which will only go up a bit. Has he been great? No. But he hasn't been what you claim.

 

And it's not the best idea to evaluate a guy in the midst of a horrible slump.

 

I don't mean in the totality of his season. I just think this is more than a slump and a lot of it has to do with his inability to really deal with big league pitching. You reference Matsui but I sure as hell don't see a consistent .850 OPS guy in Fukudome. The guy has no power at this level.

[erik316wttn]

I just got back...

 

Was DeRo safe at 1st in the 9th?

[Guest]

I just got back...

 

Was DeRo safe at 1st in the 9th?

 

It was really, really close but after seeing the replays, it looked like the ump made the right call.