Kurkjian's artcile on ESPN

[TheDude]

All about the return of Wood and Nomar. He speculates it is not enough. None-the-less, it is a well-written article.

 

My favorite part...(emphasis mine):

 

With ordinary pitching, the Cubs might have to hit their way to the wild card, which seems unlikely given that they are not a great offensive club, mostly because of a maddening lack of discipline.

 

Link

[E.J.]

I could see this article making it's way into the Cubs locker-room bulletin board as a motivational tool. They need motivation coming from somewhere.

[rawaction]

I don't think you can be motivated to be selective at the plate. Either you have it or you don't....the Cubs don't.

[KatJ]

I don't think you can be motivated to be selective at the plate. Either you have it or you don't....the Cubs don't.

 

I agree. And what is really maddening is that the organization has the bucks to outbid just about anyone for good OBP players... but iirc Jim Hendry has gone on record in not believing in that stat.

 

Check it out, Jimbo - today the Oakland A's head the Wild Card race in the AL (and one game out in the West)... even with all THEIR injuries and a horrific first half.

 

I'm about ready to cash in my chips with respect to our current GM.

[Sarcastic]

I don't think you can be motivated to be selective at the plate. Either you have it or you don't....the Cubs don't.

 

I agree. And what is really maddening is that the organization has the bucks to outbid just about anyone for good OBP players... but iirc Jim Hendry has gone on record in not believing in that stat.

 

Check it out, Jimbo - today the Oakland A's head the Wild Card race in the AL (and one game out in the West)... even with all THEIR injuries and a horrific first half.

 

I'm about ready to cash in my chips with respect to our current GM.

 

The A's have a better record than the Cubs do because they don't have the same problem with fundamentals and their pitching has been very good, not because their OBP is .006 higher than the Cubs'.

 

I'd like you to try to find a quote where Hendry has specifically said he doesn't care at all about OBP. If you do that, I'll believe you. Otherwise, I doubt it. True, he assembled a team that is comprised largely of free swingers, but if he really despised OBP, why would he trade for patient hitters like Lee or Lawton? I think he did the best he personally could (there were mistakes) with the hand he was dealt.

[ToupeeOnFire]

All about the return of Wood and Nomar. He speculates it is not enough. None-the-less, it is a well-written article.

 

My favorite part...(emphasis mine):

 

With ordinary pitching, the Cubs might have to hit their way to the wild card, which seems unlikely given that they are not a great offensive club, mostly because of a maddening lack of discipline.

 

Link

 

People talk about the lack of plate discipline on offense (which, indeed, is a problem), but few talk about the walks the pitchers give up, which may be an even bigger problem. Despite leading the league in strike-outs and being second in the league in lowest BAA, the pitching staff has given up the most walks in the league other than Colorado.

 

Now it might be because of the pitchers we have, but it is just as maddening...especially to see the young pitchers come up (Novoa, Wuertz, Wellemyer, Leicester, etc.) and struggle to throw strikes. Something has to change, not just at the major league level, but in the system as a whole. Because it seems that not only do we fail to realize the value of a walk on offense, but we fail to see the consequences of them on the defensive side of the ledger as well.

[sethuel1]

All about the return of Wood and Nomar. He speculates it is not enough. None-the-less, it is a well-written article.

 

My favorite part...(emphasis mine):

 

With ordinary pitching, the Cubs might have to hit their way to the wild card, which seems unlikely given that they are not a great offensive club, mostly because of a maddening lack of discipline.

 

Link

 

People talk about the lack of plate discipline on offense (which, indeed, is a problem), but few talk about the walks the pitchers give up, which may be an even bigger problem. Despite leading the league in strike-outs and being second in the league in lowest BAA, the pitching staff has given up the most walks in the league other than Colorado.

 

Now it might be because of the pitchers we have, but it is just as maddening...especially to see the young pitchers come up (Novoa, Wuertz, Wellemyer, Leicester, etc.) and struggle to throw strikes. Something has to change, not just at the major league level, but in the system as a whole. Because it seems that not only do we fail to realize the value of a walk on offense, but we fail to see the consequences of them on the defensive side of the ledger as well.

 

Great post. The BB/IP ratios of our bullpen arms are staggering.

 

Edit: 2000! Yeah, carpal tunnel syndrome!

[beersoakedivy]

People talk about the lack of plate discipline on offense (which, indeed, is a problem), but few talk about the walks the pitchers give up, which may be an even bigger problem. Despite leading the league in strike-outs and being second in the league in lowest BAA, the pitching staff has given up the most walks in the league other than Colorado.

 

Now it might be because of the pitchers we have, but it is just as maddening...especially to see the young pitchers come up (Novoa, Wuertz, Wellemyer, Leicester, etc.) and struggle to throw strikes. Something has to change, not just at the major league level, but in the system as a whole. Because it seems that not only do we fail to realize the value of a walk on offense, but we fail to see the consequences of them on the defensive side of the ledger as well.

 

 

Bringing pitchers in the game and then having them intentionally walk the first batter they face is'nt helping either. Thats just dumb!!!!

[CubsWin]

I don't think you can be motivated to be selective at the plate. Either you have it or you don't....the Cubs don't.

 

I agree. And what is really maddening is that the organization has the bucks to outbid just about anyone for good OBP players... but iirc Jim Hendry has gone on record in not believing in that stat.

 

Check it out, Jimbo - today the Oakland A's head the Wild Card race in the AL (and one game out in the West)... even with all THEIR injuries and a horrific first half.

 

I'm about ready to cash in my chips with respect to our current GM.

 

The A's have a better record than the Cubs do because they don't have the same problem with fundamentals and their pitching has been very good, not because their OBP is .006 higher than the Cubs'.

 

I'd like you to try to find a quote where Hendry has specifically said he doesn't care at all about OBP. If you do that, I'll believe you. Otherwise, I doubt it. True, he assembled a team that is comprised largely of free swingers, but if he really despised OBP, why would he trade for patient hitters like Lee or Lawton? I think he did the best he personally could (there were mistakes) with the hand he was dealt.

I'm right there with you, Sarcastic. Even if there is a quote somewhere that makes it look like Hendry doesn't like OBP guys, quotes can be taken out of context to make someone look like they are saying something when they really aren't.

 

What matters more than some quote, however, is the man's actions. This is where the evidence really piles up to show that Hendry does value OBP. He traded Sosa, who's OBP was in a steep decline and this year currently stands at .319, for Hairston, who had OBPs the last two seasons of .353 and .378. He then signed Jeromy Burnitz to replace Sosa in RF. Burnitz has a career OBP of .350. Then, Hendry acquires the highest OBP player moved in any of the deadline deals in Matt Lawton. And that's just what he did this year. Hendry dumped the OBP-challenged Alex Gonzalez and acquired a former OBP stud in Nomar. The year before that he acquired Aramis Ramirez who has been one of the most consistent OBP guys since joining the team with OBPs of .373 last year and .367 so far this season.

 

What more evidence do you need to finally start believing that Hendry does value OBP and is doing what he can to acquire players that get on base?