4/18 - Astros (Wandy) @ Cubs (Dempster) 1:20 PM WGN/720

[Ski]

I need to learn to give up.

[UMFan83]

I still don't think it's any time to panic, but that sucked.

 

As much as the Astros suck, whoever said they are at an advantage because of the conditions at Wrigley the last 2 days is right. This team is just not built to hit with the wind blowing in hard.

[UMFan83]

Finally got to watch a game from beginning to end this year, and it's this one? Bah.

 

This is the first game I've gotten to watch since the home opener. Boy baseball can be a horribly boring sport to watch on some days.

[Sammy Sofa]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

[Drew Doughty]

I'm pretty sure strike 3 to Theriot would have been a ball too low for a hobbit.

 

i think hobbits are probably taller than theriot.

 

regardless, that one really wasnt very close. not often you see a strike call blown on a straight fastball.

 

rough day for the bats, but we had that game won until lou put his fat fingers all over it.

[BigSlick]

I still don't think it's any time to panic, but that sucked.

 

As much as the Astros suck, whoever said they are at an advantage because of the conditions at Wrigley the last 2 days is right. This team is just not built to hit with the wind blowing in hard.

I don't know about the word 'panic' this team is just not very good

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm pretty sure strike 3 to Theriot would have been a ball too low for a hobbit.

 

i think hobbits are probably taller than theriot.

 

regardless, that one really wasnt very close. not often you see a strike call blown on a straight fastball.

 

rough day for the bats, but we had that game won until lou put his fat fingers all over it.

 

Pretty much.

[illiniguy]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

I seriously just think that it's time to break the core of this team up. I think a lot of damage was done to the team's psyche after getting swept in '08 and this group has done as much as it's going to.

[Sammy Sofa]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

I seriously just think that it's time to break the core of this team up. I think a lot of damage was done to the team's psyche after getting swept in '08 and this group has done as much as it's going to.

 

Wait, really? Their "team psyche was damaged?" Come on, man. They're not delicate little flowers. I've said myself I have no problem moving key players off of this team by the deadline if they're 5+ games out of it in July, but to think that it needs to happen because of a playoff sweep 2 years ago? If a Cubs team is "damaged" by big losses then you're probably going to be blowing up the team every season.

Edited April 18, 2010 by Sammy Sofa

[UMFan83]

I still don't think it's any time to panic, but that sucked.

 

As much as the Astros suck, whoever said they are at an advantage because of the conditions at Wrigley the last 2 days is right. This team is just not built to hit with the wind blowing in hard.

I don't know about the word 'panic' this team is just not very good

 

I just think it's way too early to tell either way. It's ok for you to think they are not very good due to preseason expectations and the first 12 games, I'm just saying don't be shocked if they end up being a lot better because despite a 5-7 record, there is a lot to like about this team so far (also a lot to hate). I won't pass any judgments on this team until we are at least 1/3 of the way through the season. So far we're 7.4% of the way through the season.

[Guest]

Probably going to be 3 back of the Cardinals after only 2 weeks. Yep, not looking forward to the rest of this season.

 

Wait, wait, wait...you clearly recognize that it's only 3 games back only 2 weeks into the season.

 

Yes. My point is that we are three games back and the season is only two weeks old and I don't have much faith in our team. I'm saying that I think there is a good chance that we will end up way out of first place.

 

So how about waiting until that actually happens?

 

Because he can't be down on his team? Here comes your I am better than you attitude again. No one is allowed to think the team is going to be bad because they have shown very little in two weeks of play. We must wait until August to proclaim the team won't be good.

 

Weren't you the one complaining about people predicting the Cubs getting swept not 2 weeks ago?

[illiniguy]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

I seriously just think that it's time to break the core of this team up. I think a lot of damage was done to the team's psyche after getting swept in '08 and this group has done as much as it's going to.

 

Wait, really? Their "team psyche was damaged?" Come on, man. They're not delicate little flowers. I've said myself I have no problem moving key players off of this team by the deadline if they're 5+ games out of it in July, but to think that it needs to happen because of a playoff sweep 2 years ago? If a Cubs team is "damaged" by big losses then you're probably going to be blowing up the team every season.

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect? Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

[98navigator]

In other news, Lou just said he's moving Byrd to leadoff and Theriot to 8th in the lineup against LHPs. He'll also bat Nady fourth and move Soto up to seventh.

[illiniguy]

In other news, Lou just said he's moving Byrd to leadoff and Theriot to 8th in the lineup against LHPs. He'll also bat Nady fourth and move Soto up to seventh.

Finally, Ryan Theriot is awful at baseball the fact that he gets the most at bats on our team is laughable.

[BigSlick]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

I seriously just think that it's time to break the core of this team up. I think a lot of damage was done to the team's psyche after getting swept in '08 and this group has done as much as it's going to.

 

Wait, really? Their "team psyche was damaged?" Come on, man. They're not delicate little flowers. I've said myself I have no problem moving key players off of this team by the deadline if they're 5+ games out of it in July, but to think that it needs to happen because of a playoff sweep 2 years ago? If a Cubs team is "damaged" by big losses then you're probably going to be blowing up the team every season.

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect? Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

Not to beat a dead horse here but we're 2 years removed from that 2008 team. All the major players on that team are either entering their mid-30's or gone. The sole exception is Soto, and while I cannot possibly guess whether he'll return to his ROY self or replicate his 2009 season, it may not even matter.

 

In many ways this team is just an older version of the 2009 season, with perhaps a marginal upgrade in Byrd and downgrade in our bullpen. That 2009 team wasn't over or underplaying their abilities, they just were what they were.

[Guest]

Theriot isn't a problem against LHP, he's got an OBP-heavy .800 OPS for his career. It's his sub-.700 OPS against RHP that hurts at the top of the order.

[Sammy Sofa]

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect?

 

No, not 2 seasons later.

 

Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

 

Some guys are definitely regressing, but that's due mostly to age and injuries. If you're arguing that their window is closing or is closed due to that, I'm with you. If you're saying it's basically due to being bummed over the playoffs in 2008, that's a stretch.

[illiniguy]

So the Cubs lose a series by one run to the Astros and it's the end of the season...yet the Cardinals win the series against the Astros by a single run and it's impossible to catch them after only 2 weeks? Guh?

I seriously just think that it's time to break the core of this team up. I think a lot of damage was done to the team's psyche after getting swept in '08 and this group has done as much as it's going to.

 

Wait, really? Their "team psyche was damaged?" Come on, man. They're not delicate little flowers. I've said myself I have no problem moving key players off of this team by the deadline if they're 5+ games out of it in July, but to think that it needs to happen because of a playoff sweep 2 years ago? If a Cubs team is "damaged" by big losses then you're probably going to be blowing up the team every season.

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect? Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

Not to beat a dead horse here but we're 2 years removed from that 2008 team. All the major players on that team are either entering their mid-30's or gone. The sole exception is Soto, and while I cannot possibly guess whether he'll return to his ROY self or replicate his 2009 season, it may not even matter.

 

In many ways this team is just an older version of the 2009 season, with perhaps a marginal upgrade in Byrd and downgrade in our bullpen. That 2009 team wasn't over or underplaying their abilities, they just were what they were.

I disagree. That team last year missed half a season from Aramis Ramirez, had Milton Bradley, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden have by far the worst year in their careers, and had Soto fall off of a cliff.

[illiniguy]

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect?

 

No, not 2 seasons later.

 

Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

 

Some guys are definitely regressing, but that's due mostly to age and injuries. If you're arguing that their window is closing or is closed due to that, I'm with you. If you're saying it's basically due to being bummed over the playoffs in 2008, that's a stretch.

Well I don't think that is the sole reason, but I do think it is some of it. The window is rapidly closing, being slammed shut since St. Louis never has to rebuild.

[chasinf5s]

I dont think Demp should have been in their in the 8th, he had over 100 pitches and its still early in the season, it was only asking for trouble and that is what happened

[Sammy Sofa]

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect?

 

No, not 2 seasons later.

 

Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

 

Some guys are definitely regressing, but that's due mostly to age and injuries. If you're arguing that their window is closing or is closed due to that, I'm with you. If you're saying it's basically due to being bummed over the playoffs in 2008, that's a stretch.

Well I don't think that is the sole reason, but I do think it is some of it. The window is rapidly closing, being slammed shut since St. Louis never has to rebuild.

 

Why would they be "hungover" still in 2010 but they weren't "hungover" in 2008 from 2007?

[BigSlick]

I disagree. That team last year missed half a season from Aramis Ramirez, had Milton Bradley, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden have by far the worst year in their careers, and had Soto fall off of a cliff.

The half season of Ramirez hurts, Byrd will play approximately as well as Bradley (less on base but more slugging, given his career numbers) but I'm not convinced we'll get anything better out of Zambrano or Harden's replacement(s) or even Soto this year

 

So whats the big difference between this year and last year? Less Bobby Scales? Ok, peg us for a few extra wins on top of the 83 mark then

 

Then go ahead and subtract a few more for a slightly worse bullpen and a month less of Lilly

[BigSlick]

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect?

 

No, not 2 seasons later.

 

Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

 

Some guys are definitely regressing, but that's due mostly to age and injuries. If you're arguing that their window is closing or is closed due to that, I'm with you. If you're saying it's basically due to being bummed over the playoffs in 2008, that's a stretch.

Well I don't think that is the sole reason, but I do think it is some of it. The window is rapidly closing, being slammed shut since St. Louis never has to rebuild.

 

Why would they be "hungover" still in 2010 but they weren't "hungover" in 2008 from 2007?

Stop picking at the low-hanging fruit, he has other legitimate points other than the throwaway 'hangover' comment

[illiniguy]

You really don't think that after steam rolling the national league like they did only to have it all come crashing down on them at once had any hangover effect?

 

No, not 2 seasons later.

 

Also I know your stance on trading guys off, I am just saying what I think, this group has reached its peak and it's now regressing.

 

Some guys are definitely regressing, but that's due mostly to age and injuries. If you're arguing that their window is closing or is closed due to that, I'm with you. If you're saying it's basically due to being bummed over the playoffs in 2008, that's a stretch.

Well I don't think that is the sole reason, but I do think it is some of it. The window is rapidly closing, being slammed shut since St. Louis never has to rebuild.

 

Why would they be "hungover" still in 2010 but they weren't "hungover" in 2008 from 2007?

 

Ok, I could be way off base on this, but my thoughts are they were suprised to even be there in '07. When they got swept they then used it to get better. Then the next year they did get quite a bit better adding Soto and Harden. They thought that they were the best team in baseball. Hell, so did I. Then when they get to the playoffs and again are swept, I think that they were done.

[SouthSideRyan]

Probably going to be 3 back of the Cardinals after only 2 weeks. Yep, not looking forward to the rest of this season.

 

Wait, wait, wait...you clearly recognize that it's only 3 games back only 2 weeks into the season.

 

Yes. My point is that we are three games back and the season is only two weeks old and I don't have much faith in our team. I'm saying that I think there is a good chance that we will end up way out of first place.

if you thought that there was any way we finished better than 3rd in the division, you were deluding yourself to begin with

 

Who else in the division is better than us?