09/28 CUBS (Dempster) @ San Diego (LeBlanc) 7:35 CDT,WCIU TV

[Fred Hornkohl]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/3845.png&w=350&h=254 Ryan Dempster (10-13) ERA = 4.53, WHIP = 1.43

 

 

vs.

 

 

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/29238.png&w=350&h=254 Wade LeBlanc (4-6) ERA = 4.86, WHIP = 1.44

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercifully, the pain stops.

 

 

 

Go CUBS !!!

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not one to go crazy about what channel the Cubs are playing on, but the final game of the season is on WCIU?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Since this is the last game, lets rock out the game thread. 10 pages or bust. OK, how about 5. is 3 too much to ask for?

[UMFan83]

http://therealmeangirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/the-end.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

[UMFan83]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

 

Maybe they should let him throw in the pen for the majority of the game in case that opportunity arises.

[dfnowak]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

 

I wouldn't put it past Quade to do such a thing...got to get that last win to save his job! And why not give the Cubs a worse draft position for next year's draft, right? Will Quade play mostly veterans in the last game? Or will he mix in some rookies not named LaHair? In the words of Dusty Baker, "I can't turn my back on Holly."

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

 

Why do that when they can start him? He's probably warmed up after last night.

[CubColtPacer]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

 

I wouldn't put it past Quade to do such a thing...got to get that last win to save his job! And why not give the Cubs a worse draft position for next year's draft, right? Will Quade play mostly veterans in the last game? Or will he mix in some rookies not named LaHair? In the words of Dusty Baker, "I can't turn my back on Holly."

 

I think Monday was the play the kids for the last time night. It will probably be mostly the veterans tonight.

[dfnowak]

I think that if the situation arises, like a tie game in the 6th or 7th, Quade should put Garza in to give him a chance for 11 wins.

 

I wouldn't put it past Quade to do such a thing...got to get that last win to save his job! And why not give the Cubs a worse draft position for next year's draft, right? Will Quade play mostly veterans in the last game? Or will he mix in some rookies not named LaHair? In the words of Dusty Baker, "I can't turn my back on Holly."

 

I think Monday was the play the kids for the last time night. It will probably be mostly the veterans tonight.

If so, Im sure Quade is relieved that its over with. Certainly can't turn your back on the veterans in a meaningless game. He needs this last win to save his job and drop the Cubs' draft position next year.

[SouthSideRyan]

Sad face.

[Little Slide Rooter]

He needs this last win to save his job .

 

Really?

[bcl412]

Last game in which Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder are not Cubs?

[dfnowak]

He needs this last win to save his job .

 

Really?

I was being sarcastic. But, I wonder if Quade really thinks this.

[javy knows my name]

He needs this last win to save his job .

 

Really?

 

Really?!

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I was being sarcastic. But, I wonder if Quade really thinks this.

 

He probably doesn't, but since he's the manager of a losing team the large assumption will lean towards the scenario that makes him look least intelligent.

[dfnowak]

I was being sarcastic. But, I wonder if Quade really thinks this.

 

He probably doesn't, but since he's the manager of a losing team the large assumption will lean towards the scenario that makes him look least intelligent.

 

But, what part of his short tenure makes anyone think he is an intelligent manager?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I was being sarcastic. But, I wonder if Quade really thinks this.

 

He probably doesn't, but since he's the manager of a losing team the large assumption will lean towards the scenario that makes him look least intelligent.

 

But, what part of his short tenure makes anyone think he is an intelligent manager?

 

Not his W-L record this year, as any other answer would just be falling for the trap that question sets to open the can of worms I'd rather leave miles away from me.

[javy knows my name]

I was being sarcastic. But, I wonder if Quade really thinks this.

 

He probably doesn't, but since he's the manager of a losing team the large assumption will lean towards the scenario that makes him look least intelligent.

 

But, what part of his short tenure makes anyone think he is an intelligent manager?

 

Not his W-L record this year, as any other answer would just be falling for the trap that question sets to open the can of worms I'd rather leave miles away from me.

 

It must be his excellent management of the bullpen.

 

Maybe it's his flawless lineup construction.

 

His ability to keep peace in the clubhouse?

[bukie]

Last game in which Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder are not Cubs?

Well, no, because at least Fielder is playing more games this weekend.

[bcl412]

Last game in which Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder are not Cubs?

Well, no, because at least Fielder is playing more games this weekend.

 

I meant last Cubs game in which one of those two were not Cubs.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It must be his excellent management of the bullpen.

 

Maybe it's his flawless lineup construction.

 

His ability to keep peace in the clubhouse?

 

There's that can of worms I was talking about.

 

Bullpen - The closer blew 9 (+?) saves this year. Unless the team is actually good or something, there's not much that a manager can do there. Overall, I think the roles in the bullpen are known and defined pretty well, which is key #1 to bullpen management. Marmol's suckage this year just kind of threw that off.

 

Lineup - While it should be expected of any manager to come up with a flawless lineup everyday where the best hitter is a 21 year old SS who doesn't walk or have alot of present power, I think it can be argued that Quade wasn't working with the cream of the hitting talent crop this year. After Castro, Ramirez, and Pena the lineup featured a bunch of down year vets (Soriano, Byrd, and Soto), up and down young guys (Colvin, Barney, DeWitt), mediocrity (Jeff Baker, Fukudome), and future nobodies (Campana, Montanez, Hill).

 

Peace = Winning. Trap 25+ guys together for 7 months, have them lose alot at what they're doing, and tell me how peaceful they are. Half of the guys (literally 1/2) who caused any kind of publicly known disturbance in the clubhouse are gone from the team forever.

 

Why did I just do that...

[Guest]

It must be his excellent management of the bullpen.

 

Maybe it's his flawless lineup construction.

 

His ability to keep peace in the clubhouse?

 

There's that can of worms I was talking about.

 

Bullpen - The closer blew 9 (+?) saves this year. Unless the team is actually good or something, there's not much that a manager can do there. Overall, I think the roles in the bullpen are known and defined pretty well, which is key #1 to bullpen management. Marmol's suckage this year just kind of threw that off.

 

Lineup - While it should be expected of any manager to come up with a flawless lineup everyday where the best hitter is a 21 year old SS who doesn't walk or have alot of present power, I think it can be argued that Quade wasn't working with the cream of the hitting talent crop this year. After Castro, Ramirez, and Pena the lineup featured a bunch of down year vets (Soriano, Byrd, and Soto), up and down young guys (Colvin, Barney, DeWitt), mediocrity (Jeff Baker, Fukudome), and future nobodies (Campana, Montanez, Hill).

 

Peace = Winning. Trap 25+ guys together for 7 months, have them lose alot at what they're doing, and tell me how peaceful they are. Half of the guys (literally 1/2) who caused any kind of publicly known disturbance in the clubhouse are gone from the team forever.

 

Why did I just do that...

I think his handling of the entire pitching staff was real, real, bad; enough so that he shouldn't be back. I don't know why you feel the need to defend some pretty bad decision making.

 

He showed a real lack of understanding of how to handle a bullpen and a milquetoast interaction with the starters not named Zambrano. If he takes Z out of the game after the 3rd HR in Atlanta the Cubs aren't looking to find a taker for Z while paying the majority of his contract. The childish temper tantrum is on Z, but he shouldn't have been given the opportunity in the first place. I will give him somewhat of a pass on having two injured starters at the beginning of the season though. Not being able to replace them is on Hendry.

 

Given his comments before the season started I thought he was going to be a new school manager, but he fell into the same old timey baseball garbage that hurts the team.

 

Anyway, today is a sad day.

[javy knows my name]

It must be his excellent management of the bullpen.

 

Maybe it's his flawless lineup construction.

 

His ability to keep peace in the clubhouse?

 

There's that can of worms I was talking about.

 

Bullpen - The closer blew 9 (+?) saves this year. Unless the team is actually good or something, there's not much that a manager can do there. Overall, I think the roles in the bullpen are known and defined pretty well, which is key #1 to bullpen management. Marmol's suckage this year just kind of threw that off.

 

Lineup - While it should be expected of any manager to come up with a flawless lineup everyday where the best hitter is a 21 year old SS who doesn't walk or have alot of present power, I think it can be argued that Quade wasn't working with the cream of the hitting talent crop this year. After Castro, Ramirez, and Pena the lineup featured a bunch of down year vets (Soriano, Byrd, and Soto), up and down young guys (Colvin, Barney, DeWitt), mediocrity (Jeff Baker, Fukudome), and future nobodies (Campana, Montanez, Hill).

 

Peace = Winning. Trap 25+ guys together for 7 months, have them lose alot at what they're doing, and tell me how peaceful they are. Half of the guys (literally 1/2) who caused any kind of publicly known disturbance in the clubhouse are gone from the team forever.

 

Why did I just do that...

 

What can of worms? I was just interested to see if you'd actually make an argument that he wasn't bad, using real things rather than W/L.

 

Turns out, you didn't.

[UMFan83]

Don't forget his Baker-esque 'gotta play my vets' attitude during August and September.