Colby Rasmus

[Soul]

Someone should have reminded Wells that Ludwick was a fluke last year.

[Ricky Vaughn]

Maybe, just maybe Ankiel and Ludwick were flukes last year? I know it's going to be hard to believe that a guy who didn't become a regular until he was 30 and a former pitcher aren't the most reliable to put up huge years.

 

I'm not denying that. Simply saying that they have dealt with injuries. You seem to be completely ignoring that fact.

 

Also boo hoo on DeRosa. When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break.

 

I'm not saying the Cardinals deserve sympathy for their injuries. Again, simply stating that they've had quite a few, which makes your "the Cubs have only been healthy for two days" argument a moot point.

 

When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break

 

The fact that a "star" player has sucked is a completely different point. In fact, that's what I was saying when I said that this payroll should produce more depth.

 

Also our big trade from last year, Rich Harden, sucks.

 

Funny, your argument was that the Cubs were ravaged by injuries. Now you're changing your tune to "well we've had players who have sucked." Interesting that you'd be using that argument, since it's EXACTLY what I said in my previous post.

 

While Kyle Lohse and Piniero have been good.

 

Lohse was out for over a month. He also got skipped a few times earlier in the season due to soreness. In his place, the Cardinals started Brad Thompson. When Lohse went to the DL, the Cubs were 3 games behind the Cardinals. As of now, they're 3.5 games. I don't think we can pin the Cardinals's success on Kyle Lohse performing better than you expected him to.

 

I imagine that will keep up

 

Again, what happens in the 2nd half isn't really the issue, since we're discussing why the teams are where they are at this moment. You made the simplistic argument that it came down to one team being injured. I simply pointed out that that argument has no merit, as the other team has also suffered greatly from injuries

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Going back to Rasmus, he's a very valuable player. Elite defense at an important position and acquitting himself well offensively at his age is very good. It's worth noting that he gets shielded from LHP at this point though(.900 OPS against RHP, .500 against LHP), and if his at bats were in proportion with someone that plays everyday like Pujols, he'd be about a .785 OPS right now. Still more than fine with his age, position, and defense, but a more tempered look at his first half performance.

[wolf stansson]

Going back to Rasmus, he's a very valuable player. Elite defense at an important position and acquitting himself well offensively at his age is very good. It's worth noting that he gets shielded from LHP at this point though(.900 OPS against RHP, .500 against LHP), and if his at bats were in proportion with someone that plays everyday like Pujols, he'd be about a .785 OPS right now. Still more than fine with his age, position, and defense, but a more tempered look at his first half performance.

And his splits have always been bad. It's something he's going to have to get better at if he is ever going to be a star level player.

[NonProfitCow]

Going back to Rasmus, he's a very valuable player. Elite defense at an important position and acquitting himself well offensively at his age is very good. It's worth noting that he gets shielded from LHP at this point though(.900 OPS against RHP, .500 against LHP), and if his at bats were in proportion with someone that plays everyday like Pujols, he'd be about a .785 OPS right now. Still more than fine with his age, position, and defense, but a more tempered look at his first half performance.

And his splits have always been bad. It's something he's going to have to get better at if he is ever going to be a star level player.

OPS of .826 vs LHP in his minor league career. Not great by any means, but good enough to suggest that he'll figure it out.

[illiniguy]

Maybe, just maybe Ankiel and Ludwick were flukes last year? I know it's going to be hard to believe that a guy who didn't become a regular until he was 30 and a former pitcher aren't the most reliable to put up huge years.

 

I'm not denying that. Simply saying that they have dealt with injuries. You seem to be completely ignoring that fact.

 

Also boo hoo on DeRosa. When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break.

 

I'm not saying the Cardinals deserve sympathy for their injuries. Again, simply stating that they've had quite a few, which makes your "the Cubs have only been healthy for two days" argument a moot point.

 

When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break

 

The fact that a "star" player has sucked is a completely different point. In fact, that's what I was saying when I said that this payroll should produce more depth.

 

Also our big trade from last year, Rich Harden, sucks.

 

Funny, your argument was that the Cubs were ravaged by injuries. Now you're changing your tune to "well we've had players who have sucked." Interesting that you'd be using that argument, since it's EXACTLY what I said in my previous post.

 

While Kyle Lohse and Piniero have been good.

 

Lohse was out for over a month. He also got skipped a few times earlier in the season due to soreness. In his place, the Cardinals started Brad Thompson. When Lohse went to the DL, the Cubs were 3 games behind the Cardinals. As of now, they're 3.5 games. I don't think we can pin the Cardinals's success on Kyle Lohse performing better than you expected him to.

 

I imagine that will keep up

 

Again, what happens in the 2nd half isn't really the issue, since we're discussing why the teams are where they are at this moment. You made the simplistic argument that it came down to one team being injured. I simply pointed out that that argument has no merit, as the other team has also suffered greatly from injuries

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

[wolf stansson]

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Losing Pujols vs losing Ramirez isn't close to comprable.

 

We lost Carpenter who's VORP would probably be similar to Ramirez's. We've also lost Ludwick for significant time and Kyle Lohse for significant time.

 

Saying we are ahead in the standings because of your injuries is disingenuous and inaccurate.

[javy knows my name]

Maybe, just maybe Ankiel and Ludwick were flukes last year? I know it's going to be hard to believe that a guy who didn't become a regular until he was 30 and a former pitcher aren't the most reliable to put up huge years.

 

I'm not denying that. Simply saying that they have dealt with injuries. You seem to be completely ignoring that fact.

 

Also boo hoo on DeRosa. When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break.

 

I'm not saying the Cardinals deserve sympathy for their injuries. Again, simply stating that they've had quite a few, which makes your "the Cubs have only been healthy for two days" argument a moot point.

 

When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break

 

The fact that a "star" player has sucked is a completely different point. In fact, that's what I was saying when I said that this payroll should produce more depth.

 

Also our big trade from last year, Rich Harden, sucks.

 

Funny, your argument was that the Cubs were ravaged by injuries. Now you're changing your tune to "well we've had players who have sucked." Interesting that you'd be using that argument, since it's EXACTLY what I said in my previous post.

 

While Kyle Lohse and Piniero have been good.

 

Lohse was out for over a month. He also got skipped a few times earlier in the season due to soreness. In his place, the Cardinals started Brad Thompson. When Lohse went to the DL, the Cubs were 3 games behind the Cardinals. As of now, they're 3.5 games. I don't think we can pin the Cardinals's success on Kyle Lohse performing better than you expected him to.

 

I imagine that will keep up

 

Again, what happens in the 2nd half isn't really the issue, since we're discussing why the teams are where they are at this moment. You made the simplistic argument that it came down to one team being injured. I simply pointed out that that argument has no merit, as the other team has also suffered greatly from injuries

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Wow that's kind of a White Sox move, wishing harm to a player

[Little Slide Rooter]

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Wow that's kind of a White Sox move, wishing harm to a player

 

That really is a dick thing to say. Why do we have to wait until 2011?

[Keener98]

Maybe, just maybe Ankiel and Ludwick were flukes last year? I know it's going to be hard to believe that a guy who didn't become a regular until he was 30 and a former pitcher aren't the most reliable to put up huge years.

 

I'm not denying that. Simply saying that they have dealt with injuries. You seem to be completely ignoring that fact.

 

Also boo hoo on DeRosa. When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break.

 

I'm not saying the Cardinals deserve sympathy for their injuries. Again, simply stating that they've had quite a few, which makes your "the Cubs have only been healthy for two days" argument a moot point.

 

When we signed Bradley we totally expected a .230 average and 6 homers at the break

 

The fact that a "star" player has sucked is a completely different point. In fact, that's what I was saying when I said that this payroll should produce more depth.

 

Also our big trade from last year, Rich Harden, sucks.

 

Funny, your argument was that the Cubs were ravaged by injuries. Now you're changing your tune to "well we've had players who have sucked." Interesting that you'd be using that argument, since it's EXACTLY what I said in my previous post.

 

While Kyle Lohse and Piniero have been good.

 

Lohse was out for over a month. He also got skipped a few times earlier in the season due to soreness. In his place, the Cardinals started Brad Thompson. When Lohse went to the DL, the Cubs were 3 games behind the Cardinals. As of now, they're 3.5 games. I don't think we can pin the Cardinals's success on Kyle Lohse performing better than you expected him to.

 

I imagine that will keep up

 

Again, what happens in the 2nd half isn't really the issue, since we're discussing why the teams are where they are at this moment. You made the simplistic argument that it came down to one team being injured. I simply pointed out that that argument has no merit, as the other team has also suffered greatly from injuries

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Wow that's kind of a White Sox move, wishing harm to a player

 

Hes not wishing harm to a player, 2011 is when Pujols's contract is up.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think he was wishing death.

[Tracer Bullet]

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Losing Pujols vs losing Ramirez isn't close to comprable.

 

We lost Carpenter who's VORP would probably be similar to Ramirez's. We've also lost Ludwick for significant time and Kyle Lohse for significant time.

 

Saying we are ahead in the standings because of your injuries is disingenuous and inaccurate.

 

Certainly not the only reason, the slumps of some of the Cubs key players are also to blame. But losing Ramirez isn't like losing Carpenter or Ludwick. It's much easier to replace a corner OF than a 3B, especially given the replacements available to each team. Besides, Bradley has played about the same number of games as Ludwick (and many of those have been PH for Bradley). Harden's made about the same # of starts as Carpenter.

 

The difference in the standings is probably not totally explained by injuries to the Cubs, but the injury to Ramirez is a significant factor.

[wolf stansson]

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Losing Pujols vs losing Ramirez isn't close to comprable.

 

We lost Carpenter who's VORP would probably be similar to Ramirez's. We've also lost Ludwick for significant time and Kyle Lohse for significant time.

 

Saying we are ahead in the standings because of your injuries is disingenuous and inaccurate.

 

Certainly not the only reason, the slumps of some of the Cubs key players are also to blame. But losing Ramirez isn't like losing Carpenter or Ludwick. It's much easier to replace a corner OF than a 3B, especially given the replacements available to each team. Besides, Bradley has played about the same number of games as Ludwick (and many of those have been PH for Bradley). Harden's made about the same # of starts as Carpenter.

 

The difference in the standings is probably not totally explained by injuries to the Cubs, but the injury to Ramirez is a significant factor.

We lost our 3b as well. He of the 124 ops+ to Aramis' 125 ops+ last season, who by the way has yet to play a game this season unlike Aramis. The injury thing is disingenuous. The Cubs had a lot of over performing players last season and a lot of underperforming players this year. Injuries are certainly a factor but it's not like the team you're chasing doesn't have equal claim to that excuse.

[TruffleShuffle]

You have to at least admit that us losing our best player for almost two months is a pretty big deal. I wonder what your year would look like without Pujols for a couple of months? Hopefully we find out in 2011.

Losing Pujols vs losing Ramirez isn't close to comprable.

 

We lost Carpenter who's VORP would probably be similar to Ramirez's. We've also lost Ludwick for significant time and Kyle Lohse for significant time.

 

Saying we are ahead in the standings because of your injuries is disingenuous and inaccurate.

 

Certainly not the only reason, the slumps of some of the Cubs key players are also to blame. But losing Ramirez isn't like losing Carpenter or Ludwick. It's much easier to replace a corner OF than a 3B, especially given the replacements available to each team. Besides, Bradley has played about the same number of games as Ludwick (and many of those have been PH for Bradley). Harden's made about the same # of starts as Carpenter.

 

The difference in the standings is probably not totally explained by injuries to the Cubs, but the injury to Ramirez is a significant factor.

We lost our 3b as well. He of the 124 ops+ to Aramis' 125 ops+ last season, who by the way has yet to play a game this season unlike Aramis. The injury thing is disingenuous. The Cubs had a lot of over performing players last season and a lot of underperforming players this year. Injuries are certainly a factor but it's not like the team you're chasing doesn't have equal claim to that excuse.

 

well yeah but the cards have a handful of guys who usually get hurt. carpenter is a walking disaster so it can't be a surprise that he's spent a lot of the year on the DL - frankly i'd say the cards should be quite surprised that they've gotten 13 starts and 84 very effective innings out of him. glaus has had a lot of injury problems the last 6 years and is a former steroid user (probably former, anyway) who's getting older. that he's been injured can be no surprise either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

well yeah but the cards have a handful of guys who usually get hurt. carpenter is a walking disaster so it can't be a surprise that he's spent a lot of the year on the DL - frankly i'd say the cards should be quite surprised that they've gotten 13 starts and 84 very effective innings out of him. glaus has had a lot of injury problems the last 6 years and is a former steroid user (probably former, anyway) who's getting older. that he's been injured can be no surprise either.

 

Ramirez's injury history is pretty spotty, too.

[wolf stansson]

well yeah but the cards have a handful of guys who usually get hurt. carpenter is a walking disaster so it can't be a surprise that he's spent a lot of the year on the DL - frankly i'd say the cards should be quite surprised that they've gotten 13 starts and 84 very effective innings out of him. glaus has had a lot of injury problems the last 6 years and is a former steroid user (probably former, anyway) who's getting older. that he's been injured can be no surprise either.

 

Ramirez's injury history is pretty spotty, too.

Yeah but what does injury history/likelihood or a reoccurence have to do with the "oh we're injured that's why the Cardinals have been better" excuse? The injuries have been on par. Almost exactly in terms of games lost and value lost. The reason the Cubs are behind is they've had some regression and made some poor offseason signings (Miles, Bradley).

[TruffleShuffle]

well yeah but the cards have a handful of guys who usually get hurt. carpenter is a walking disaster so it can't be a surprise that he's spent a lot of the year on the DL - frankly i'd say the cards should be quite surprised that they've gotten 13 starts and 84 very effective innings out of him. glaus has had a lot of injury problems the last 6 years and is a former steroid user (probably former, anyway) who's getting older. that he's been injured can be no surprise either.

 

Ramirez's injury history is pretty spotty, too.

 

he's usually good for missing about 20 games but this will be the first time in 10 years that he's played less than 123 games. plus his shoulder still isn't right... it's very possible that the cubs will only get 20 games of the real, productive aramis ramirez this season, which is at least 100 less than they'd gotten every other year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

In terms of predictive value, though, I don't think a lot of small injuries predict more small injuries. They might even make large injuries more likely. I need a Will Carroll ruling here.

[TruffleShuffle]

In terms of predictive value, though, I don't think a lot of small injuries predict more small injuries. They might even make large injuries more likely. I need a Will Carroll ruling here.

 

well will carroll gave aramis ramirez a green light before this season so i think he'd be forced to disagree with you.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Guess that settles it, then. I'm really surprised by that, but I respect Carroll's work and will defer to him.

[str8carter]

With the exeption of Lee...there is not ONE position player that I would trade Rasmus for on the Cubs.

 

Who on your team do U think could be traded strait up for Ras? (taking ARam out of the equasion due to the injury factor)

[SouthSideRyan]

Assuming you're talking about including contracts, I wouldn't give up Soto for Rasmus. If you're not including contracts and we're talking for this year, I'd include a lot of guys.

[Vanilla Ice]

Why would you want Lee with Pujols but not Ramirez or Soto or Bradley

[illiniguy]

I think he was wishing death.

I have serious doubts if Pujols could even die.

[Keener98]

Best defensive CF in baseball just helped blow the game for Stl against the Stros. What a horrible route he took on that ball in the 9th