Baker, Nomar, Wood and Patterson

[CubfaninCA]

That pretty much summarizes why this team isn't 10-15 over .500. Some still want to complain about the Sosa deal/fiasco, which put the organization in a financial bind this year. However, those same people would have probably really griped if the Cubs just let Sosa walk 4 years ago.

 

Baker has finally given in and is putting people who actually get on base in front of the potential Triple Crown Winner. However, the Neifi/Patterson experiment killed this team. Also, there's a plethora of other errors. But at least the guy's changing some. Maybe his job isn't so safe now.

 

Nomar he can't even play for a month. If he asks for more than $2 million next year, he should be chased out of Chicago. You have to be kidding me.

 

With Wood it's just the same ol, same ol. The Cubs essentially threw $18 million or so down the toilet this year w/ Nomar and Wood.

 

Patterson I can emphasize w/ some. I think Baker hasn't helped him along much. However, he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

[OldHappyCubFan]

exactly. Thanks for a good post.

 

Baker, Wood, and Nomar have killed this team.

 

 

 

 

This franchise will continue to lose, if they can't find a solid manager.

[CubfaninCA]

exactly. Thanks for a good post.

 

Baker, Wood, and Nomar have killed this team.

 

 

 

 

This franchise will continue to lose, if they can't find a solid manager.

 

I nearly threw Maddux in there, but at least he shows up every 5 days and has produced some. Also, his $6 million isn't a budget killer given his performance. He could kill this team next year though, if he's uppped to $9 million.

[Warpticon]

exactly. Thanks for a good post.

 

Baker, Wood, and Nomar have killed this team.

 

 

 

 

This franchise will continue to lose, if they can't find a solid manager.

 

I nearly threw Maddux in there, but at least he shows up every 5 days and has produced some. Also, his $6 million isn't a budget killer given his performance. He could kill this team next year though, if he's uppped to $9 million.

 

He's making $9 mil this year.

[Warpticon]

exactly. Thanks for a good post.

 

Baker, Wood, and Nomar have killed this team.

 

 

 

 

This franchise will continue to lose, if they can't find a solid manager.

 

I nearly threw Maddux in there, but at least he shows up every 5 days and has produced some. Also, his $6 million isn't a budget killer given his performance. He could kill this team next year though, if he's uppped to $9 million.

 

He's making $9 mil this year.

[dalgreen]

That pretty much summarizes why this team isn't 10-15 over .500. Some still want to complain about the Sosa deal/fiasco, which put the organization in a financial bind this year. However, those same people would have probably really griped if the Cubs just let Sosa walk 4 years ago.

 

Baker has finally given in and is putting people who actually get on base in front of the potential Triple Crown Winner. However, the Neifi/Patterson experiment killed this team. Also, there's a plethora of other errors. But at least the guy's changing some. Maybe his job isn't so safe now.

 

Nomar he can't even play for a month. If he asks for more than $2 million next year, he should be chased out of Chicago. You have to be kidding me.

 

With Wood it's just the same ol, same ol. The Cubs essentially threw $18 million or so down the toilet this year w/ Nomar and Wood.

 

Patterson I can emphasize w/ some. I think Baker hasn't helped him along much. However, he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

 

Are you kidding us? You list those names and not one name from the bullpen? What Cub team have you been watching?

[10man]

Our bullpen is like a water tank made of cardboard.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Our bullpen is like a water tank made of cardboard.

 

That might be the quote of the year, and it's about to make my sig.

[CubfaninCA]

That pretty much summarizes why this team isn't 10-15 over .500. Some still want to complain about the Sosa deal/fiasco, which put the organization in a financial bind this year. However, those same people would have probably really griped if the Cubs just let Sosa walk 4 years ago.

 

Baker has finally given in and is putting people who actually get on base in front of the potential Triple Crown Winner. However, the Neifi/Patterson experiment killed this team. Also, there's a plethora of other errors. But at least the guy's changing some. Maybe his job isn't so safe now.

 

Nomar he can't even play for a month. If he asks for more than $2 million next year, he should be chased out of Chicago. You have to be kidding me.

 

With Wood it's just the same ol, same ol. The Cubs essentially threw $18 million or so down the toilet this year w/ Nomar and Wood.

 

Patterson I can emphasize w/ some. I think Baker hasn't helped him along much. However, he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

 

Are you kidding us? You list those names and not one name from the bullpen? What Cub team have you been watching?

 

There was little expectations for the bullpen as usual. The only one w/ expectations, Hawkins, was dealt. Some, if not most, figured JoBo was done w/out the juice. Remlinger was on his last leg last year. I'm not going to blame a bunch of no-name kids for this team's failure. It falls on the injury prone "stars", the "manager" and Mr. Great Expectations, Patterson.

[Beer Kaese]

I'm not about to rip Patterson (see sig).

 

He was leading off at the end of last year and told to think about leading off this year.

 

??

 

Our #2 hitter goes down so Patterson is moved to #2.

 

Our #3 hitter goes down so Patterson is moved to #3.

 

??

 

I'd fire Dustbag for jerking the kid around.

 

I'm not going to say he was great leading off early but why did he move back when Walker was hurt?

 

Dustbag gave Holly more time to blow chunks in left before Dubois ever got a chance.!

 

We have no chance unless Dustbag is fired!

[CubfaninCA]

I'm not about to rip Patterson (see sig).

 

He was leading off at the end of last year and told to think about leading off this year.

 

??

 

Our #2 hitter goes down so Patterson is moved to #2.

 

Our #3 hitter goes down so Patterson is moved to #3.

 

??

 

I'd fire Dusty for jerking the kid around.

 

I'm not going to say he was great leading off early but why did he move back when Walker was hurt?

 

Dusty gave Holly more time to blow chunks in left before Dubois ever got a chance.!

 

We have no chance unless Dusty is fired!

 

Patterson has to take some blame. He was totally out it, but I see you're point about Baker. Patterson's a phenomenal talent, who may never break through.

[treebird]

stupid nomar, he didnt even TRY to avoid injury

 

he just wanted to go back to his mansion

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm all about blaming players who get hurt. :roll:

[rickrolled]

stupid nomar, he didnt even TRY to avoid injury

 

he just wanted to go back to his mansion

 

and he sacrificed his groin...that's more than most could say

[ronsanto10]

JOBO.....Juice...did i miss something here....????

 

There was little expectations for the bullpen as usual. The only one w/ expectations, Hawkins, was dealt. Some, if not most, figured JoBo was done w/out the juice. Remlinger was on his last leg last year. I'm not going to blame a bunch of no-name kids for this team's failure. It falls on the injury prone "stars", the "manager" and Mr. Great Expectations, Patterson.

[GaryWoods]

JOBO.....Juice...did i miss something here....????

 

There was little expectations for the bullpen as usual. The only one w/ expectations, Hawkins, was dealt. Some, if not most, figured JoBo was done w/out the juice. Remlinger was on his last leg last year. I'm not going to blame a bunch of no-name kids for this team's failure. It falls on the injury prone "stars", the "manager" and Mr. Great Expectations, Patterson.

 

I don't know that JoBo was a "user" before, but steroids are commonly used in the medical world to help injuries like his heal faster and more completely. Unfortunately, he's unable to use them as a treatment due to MLB's new policy.

 

Don't know if that's what the original poster was getting at, or if there have been rumors that Borowski's jump in performance a couple of years ago was the result of 'roids; that's just something that crossed my mind when it became obvious that he's no longer the pitcher he was.

[biittner77]

stupid nomar, he didnt even TRY to avoid injury

 

he just wanted to go back to his mansion

 

He was too stubborn to not get hurt. The Cubs have been trying to turn him into a guy that doesn't get hurt but he refused to listen.

 

Same thing with Wood.

[Flames24Rulz]

yeah sure, let's blame guys that get hurt on freak accidents :roll:

 

IMO, the biggest problem with the team is the Tripl..i mean major league bullpen. The pen is filled with kids and Dempster. Hendry should've made at least an attempt to upgrade the pen during the offseason.

[CubfaninCA]

Ah. Out come the apologists. You fellas should apply for jobs w/ WGN. :wink:

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Ah. Out come the apologists. You fellas should apply for jobs w/ WGN. :wink:

Or you should have posted this in rants or the National Enquirer. :D

[Fro]

Between Baker, Nomar, Wood, C-Pat, JoBlo, and paying Sosa's fat contract off, that explains why we have a big-league budget and get small-market results.

 

A .500 record with the highest payroll in the league is simply unacceptable.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ah. Out come the apologists. You fellas should apply for jobs w/ WGN. :wink:

 

Who says I haven't?

[AAApittsburgh]

Between Baker, Nomar, Wood, C-Pat, JoBlo, and paying Sosa's fat contract off, that explains why we have a big-league budget and get small-market results.

 

A .500 record with the highest payroll in the league is simply unacceptable.

I agree. What were the Mets thinking? :wink:

[hardcorecubfan]

Cut Nomar a break he never had a chance to get6 out of a slump before injury. How about Wood? What a waste of money, what about Hendry getting Williams. I agree it is baker that plays him but to be specific with a team sport is pretty tough thing to do.

 

How about Walker hitting into two consecutive Dbl plays

[Bench Coach]

That pretty much summarizes why this team isn't 10-15 over .500. Some still want to complain about the Sosa deal/fiasco, which put the organization in a financial bind this year. However, those same people would have probably really griped if the Cubs just let Sosa walk 4 years ago.

 

Baker has finally given in and is putting people who actually get on base in front of the potential Triple Crown Winner. However, the Neifi/Patterson experiment killed this team. Also, there's a plethora of other errors. But at least the guy's changing some. Maybe his job isn't so safe now.

 

Nomar he can't even play for a month. If he asks for more than $2 million next year, he should be chased out of Chicago. You have to be kidding me.

 

With Wood it's just the same ol, same ol. The Cubs essentially threw $18 million or so down the toilet this year w/ Nomar and Wood.

 

Patterson I can emphasize w/ some. I think Baker hasn't helped him along much. However, he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

 

I'm not eactly sure where to start piakcing apart this post, so I'll just start at the top.

 

Baker, Nomar, Wood, and Patterson aren't the sole, or even biggest, reasons the Cubs aren't 10-15 games over five hundred. The reasons are:

1. The lack of a true leadoff hitter, before Hairston was placed there (yes, Patterson does tie into this).

2. An extremely inconsistent young bullpen.

 

Those are by far our two biggest problems. Blaming Dusty, Wood, Nomar, and Patterson in some sort of blind rage is easy, but it's also wrong.

 

You're scapegoating, when, in reality, the Cub's problems run much deeper than a top caliber pitcher who has been abused prior to joining the big leagues, a center fielder that was taught to be a power hitter all through the minor leagues and only now has been told to be a leadoff hitter, a perenial all-star shortstop who has won abatting title who tore amuscle from his groin andn (rather than sitting on his money) is now rehabbing in an attempt to rejoin the Cubs and contribute down the stretch, and a manager who you personally don't like even though he has carried to the NLCS, and back to back winning seasons for the first time in a long time.

 

As far as the Sosa deal, would you rather pay him $20 mil (or whatever it would be) to bat .230 for us, or $15 mil (or whatever it is) to bat .230 for the Orioles. We've been through this already on this sight, there was NO better deal out there, especially after the video of him leaving the clubhouse early surfaced.

 

Early in the season, Baker was batting Neifi and Patterson at the top of the order. Last year, Patterson had initial success in the lead off spot, and was told to prepare to be a leadoff man this year. That expiriment, at least for the moment, has failed. That's on Patterson not Dusty. Neifi was on fire for several months, and putting him at the top was logical. He has cooled off significantly since then. Yes Dusty like to play veterans, like Perez, over rookie's like Cedeno. This is a GOOD philospophy. Dusty is having to choose between experience and raw talent. Nobody knows how Cedeno would handle being a starter in the Big leagues, and the middle of a race for the wild card isn't the time to find out. I like young players too, but they have to prove themselves before I put blind faith in them like you do.

 

Nomar Garcipara is a superstar, and deservedly so. He got injured, and has a recent history of injury. HE"S A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE! He's going to be injured. Hopefully his groin muscle is fully healed, because when health he is one of the best hitters EVER.

 

Kerry Wood was overused by his High School coach, laying the foundation for the shoulder structural problems he has tody. His mechanics are much smoother now, taknig strain off that shoulder. Still, he went down again with shoulder tightness recently. After the season he may have a procedure like Matt Morriss did last year to repair some of the damage. This may be a good idea, because when healthy this guy is one of the best. His arm problems, at best, are only partially his fault, with others like his highschool Coach carrying much more of the blame.

 

You blame Baker for Corey Patterson's struggles. Obviously you don't know much about how FARM SYSTEMS work. In the minor leagues he was trained to be a run producer, power hitter. He was told all along he would be a run producer, power hitter. He wants to be a run producer power hitter. Now, suddenly, he's ordered to be a leadoff man, a very differnt style of hitting. Patterson has neither the skills or desire to be a power hitter, and Dusty Baker is too busy being the MANAGER of a big league team to snap the kid into shape. If he will ever be a leadoff hitter, he will learn it in the minors for a minor league hitting coach, not a big league MANAGER.

 

I'm sorry, but I'm really getting tired of people lashing out about problems with the Cubs, and blaming anyone and everyone in sight. One man cannot solve all the woes of the Cubs. Firing Dusty would signify the end for our bid to reach the post season this year. Do you really want to do that?

 

We need bullpen help, and for Hairston and Walker to continue to produce at the top of the order. Nomar may provide a seruious spark should he return (I hope! I hope!). Kerry Wood is still a top level starter. He needs to watch himself the rest of the season, and, if necessary, get surgery to clean up some of the scar tissue in his shoulder. In the mean time he should be on a pitch count the rest of the season.