4/16 Cardinals (Wainright) Vs. Cubs (Marshall) 1:20 CSN

[UMFan83]

Well I left the game early because I have some stuff to do around the house that I wanted to get a jumpstart on mostly because the game was a bit depressing. I am not panicking at all yet,nor should I or anyone be yet after 9 games, but there are some things not to like:

 

-Anyone who was worried about regressions from Soto, Fontenot and/or Bradley has had nothing to squash those thoughts. Fontenot especially is worrysome. If pitchers have figured out a way to get him out, and he can't make the adjustment, we have a major hole in 2B. Fontenot is useless if he's not hitting because he's not a good defender. We'd have to go shopping for a 2B at the deadline, and Hendry would have to take a pie in his face for gambling on the DeRosa trade.

-The bullpen was my chief concern coming into the season, and again there is nothing that has been shown to calm my fears. Not one reliever has stepped up and shown that he deserves to be in this pen besides Marmol. It's hard to get to Marmol when the offense isn't producing runs, and the starters arent going deep, and the early part of the pen is blowing games. Until they improve, they shall only be known as the "blowpen"

-Lou is really pissing me off with his hit and runs. It has been especially glaring this season because almost, if not everytime he's done this, its failed miserably. We can't keep running into stupid outs. We have a team that is build to walk, and hit for power. Why are we trying to take that extra base? It doesn't make sense. If we were some smallball team that lacked power I would be ok with it.

-And the least of my concerns, but still an issue is the lack of situational hitting. I can remember 4 times this year where we had a runner on third and 0 outs and couldn't score. Every team has these issues, but its been quite a glaring problem so far.

 

On the other side of the field, the Cardinals are starting to worry me. They seem to have even more hitters coming out of nowhere to be good this year, and their offense looks really really good overall. Their starters are meh, but at least put together quality starts often, and don't get blown up very often. Their bullpen is their biggest issue, but right now I'm not sure if they are worse than the Cubs pen.

 

I will start to worry if we still look this lacksidasical after 30-40 games.

[cubsfan26]

Hendry is the best GM in all of baseball. Getting rid of Wuertz for a bag of balls and Wood for nothing was a great idea.

 

 

I don't see how Wuertz is really that much better then the guys we have. .

 

Okay, but he is.

 

 

Nope thats just because some fans think he's alot better then he actually is. There's a reason why he spent half the season in the minors in 06 and 08.

Edited April 16, 2009 by cubsfan26

[Keener98]

Lou couldnt tell from his vantage point on Bradleys strike? UGH

[chuckywang]

Oh well. Can't win them all. Go get 'em tomorrow!

[UMFan83]

Lou couldnt tell from his vantage point on Bradleys strike? UGH

 

I was in the LF bleachers and I could tell it was a ball.

[cubsfan26]

Heilman-he sucks

Patton-he sucks

Guzman-he sucks

Cotts-he really sucks

Marmol-theres only one of him

Vizcaino-he sucks

Gregg-he sucks

 

 

Heilman-Good

Patton- probably sucks

Guzman- can be good

Cotts- really sucks

Marmol- Awesome

Vizcaino-good against RH hitters, sucks against LH hitters

Gregg-Good

 

I think thats the less reacationary of putting things.

Are you from Bleed Cubbie Blue? Everything is sunshine and rainbows there.

 

Heilman-he sucks

Patton-he sucks

Guzman-he sucks

Cotts-he really sucks

Marmol- Great

Vizcaino-he sucks

Gregg-he sucks

 

 

I have visited that site in the past, but I'm not a regular poster on there anymore. But I'm sorry if I don't freak out and piss my pants after a few bad performances by the bullpen. Try going off talent and track records instead of a bad game or two. Were 9 freaking games in the season, and fans like yourself act like were doomed. Were 5-4, lets relax a little bit after 11 games last year we were 6-5 and still won 97 games. We're struggling because were not hitting consistently, but Soto, Bradley and even Lee bats will wake up.

[Soul]

This sucks, man.

 

The Cards just beat us, man.

 

I'm depressed now, man.

[anabiono]

Heilman-he sucks

Patton-he sucks

Guzman-he sucks

Cotts-he really sucks

Marmol-theres only one of him

Vizcaino-he sucks

Gregg-he sucks

 

 

Heilman-Good

Patton- probably sucks

Guzman- can be good

Cotts- really sucks

Marmol- Awesome

Vizcaino-good against RH hitters, sucks against LH hitters

Gregg-Good

 

I think thats the less reacationary of putting things.

Are you from Bleed Cubbie Blue? Everything is sunshine and rainbows there.

 

Heilman-he sucks

Patton-he sucks

Guzman-he sucks

Cotts-he really sucks

Marmol- Great

Vizcaino-he sucks

Gregg-he sucks

 

 

I have visited that site in the past, but I'm not a regular poster on there anymore. But I'm sorry if I don't freak out and piss my pants after a few bad performances by the bullpen. Try going off talent and track records instead of a bad game or two. Were 9 freaking games in the season, and fans like yourself act like were doomed. Were 5-4, lets relax a little bit after 11 games last year we were 6-5 and still won 97 games. We're struggling because were not hitting consistently, but Soto, Bradley and even Lee bats will wake up.

 

the voice of reason, but i dare you to say anything positive about Aaron Miles

 

:-$

[cubsfan26]

the voice of reason, but i dare you to say anything positive about Aaron Miles

 

 

Hmm... Well he can't play much worse can he?

[Electron Blue]

I actually thought my point was so clear that I'm having trouble answering your question... My point is what I showed: He has a roughly league average chance of getting on base each time he comes up. Sure, obviously, as it should go without saying, getting on 67% of the time means it's "unlikely," but come on . . . in a baseball sense, it's perfectly average.

 

But the point is he's very likely to make an out, and he did. Plus, his career OBP is partially propped up by a somewhat fluking 2008. His current OBP is something like 100 and he's looked like absolute crap. So, as the person noted, the Cubs practically started that inning with an out.

 

I agree with the general sentiment, in that Aaron Miles is the 2nd to last hitter (after maybe Gathright) that I want up in that -- or any -- situation. I just thought I'd pull up those numbers for some perspective.

 

But I really don't buy your arguments, to be honest. Throwing out his 2008 OBP (earned over 408 PAs) because it's .026 higher than his second best season, and then supporting the Miles-sucks campaign with his 10 PA numbers from this year?

[anabiono]

the voice of reason, but i dare you to say anything positive about Aaron Miles

 

 

Hmm... Well he can't play much worse can he?

 

damn you

[mjohnson71]

http://deadspin.com/5215350/well-that-didnt-take-long

[Andy]

On the other side of the field, the Cardinals are starting to worry me. They seem to have even more hitters coming out of nowhere to be good this year, and their offense looks really really good overall. Their starters are meh, but at least put together quality starts often, and don't get blown up very often. Their bullpen is their biggest issue, but right now I'm not sure if they are worse than the Cubs pen.

I haven't looked yet to see where they came from, but I've just reached the point where I assume any idiot they pick up is going to rake. I'm so sick and tired of seeing their horrid off-season moves pay off. Our horrid off-season moves have made us look hideous this season, the Cards' put them in 1st place through 11 games. Ridiculous.

[Guest]

New thread, please.

[gflore34]

Well I left the game early because I have some stuff to do around the house that I wanted to get a jumpstart on mostly because the game was a bit depressing. I am not panicking at all yet,nor should I or anyone be yet after 9 games, but there are some things not to like:

 

-Anyone who was worried about regressions from Soto, Fontenot and/or Bradley has had nothing to squash those thoughts. Fontenot especially is worrysome. If pitchers have figured out a way to get him out, and he can't make the adjustment, we have a major hole in 2B. Fontenot is useless if he's not hitting because he's not a good defender. We'd have to go shopping for a 2B at the deadline, and Hendry would have to take a pie in his face for gambling on the DeRosa trade.

-The bullpen was my chief concern coming into the season, and again there is nothing that has been shown to calm my fears. Not one reliever has stepped up and shown that he deserves to be in this pen besides Marmol. It's hard to get to Marmol when the offense isn't producing runs, and the starters arent going deep, and the early part of the pen is blowing games. Until they improve, they shall only be known as the "blowpen"

-Lou is really pissing me off with his hit and runs. It has been especially glaring this season because almost, if not everytime he's done this, its failed miserably. We can't keep running into stupid outs. We have a team that is build to walk, and hit for power. Why are we trying to take that extra base? It doesn't make sense. If we were some smallball team that lacked power I would be ok with it.

-And the least of my concerns, but still an issue is the lack of situational hitting. I can remember 4 times this year where we had a runner on third and 0 outs and couldn't score. Every team has these issues, but its been quite a glaring problem so far.

 

On the other side of the field, the Cardinals are starting to worry me. They seem to have even more hitters coming out of nowhere to be good this year, and their offense looks really really good overall. Their starters are meh, but at least put together quality starts often, and don't get blown up very often. Their bullpen is their biggest issue, but right now I'm not sure if they are worse than the Cubs pen.

 

I will start to worry if we still look this lacksidasical after 30-40 games.

 

That's the key point, if so, the Cardinals might hang in the race. However, once this Cubs team hits it stride its going to blow the Cardinals and the rest of NL Central away.

[Derwood]

who's on deck here? Are we falling down on the job already?

[Schwarber Fan]

It looks like it's Skyballer.

[Derwood]

It looks like it's Skyballer.

 

I foresee a pinch-hitter then, as that kid won't be out of school before first pitch