What Should We Have Expected?

[cubbieinexile]

How can a team compete when it:

 

-Has a key starter able to start just over ten games

-Has multiple projected starters on the DL at once

-Loses a key bat to the DL following an infield collision

-Loses an All-Star infielder to the DL for an extended period

-Forced to play several rookies, some straight from AA

-Has early season trouble closing games

-Has trouble with OBP at the leadoff position for 1/2 season

-Despite having an MVP candidate on the team?

 

 

 

Ask the Braves.

74-56, leading the NL East by 4.5 games.

 

 

And their answer would be to play in a division that had a bunch of other teams that are in the same mess as they are in.

[USSoccer]

The organization's philosiphy on just about everything seems to be in question right now.

 

One thing to me that seems odd is that we have had a lot of injuries to P prospects. Christiansen, Guzman, Brownlie, Ryu, and...there was one other one, the guy that got picked by FL in Rule 5 but got returned. That's a lot of your top minor league talent there that's gone down to injuries. Are Cub pitchers being used right in the minors?

 

Either way, I hope the first thing Hendry and Co. do this fall, the second the season ends, is hold a big club meeting where they try and figure out how to fix something that looked so promising 18 months ago. They need to get a fast start this winter and not pitter patter around like they did last winter until the only players left are the Burnitzes of the world. I jknow Hendry likes his patience, but there's a point where patience can work against you.

[JC]

The organization's philosiphy on just about everything seems to be in question right now.

 

One thing to me that seems odd is that we have had a lot of injuries to P prospects. Christiansen, Guzman, Brownlie, Ryu, and...there was one other one, the guy that got picked by FL in Rule 5 but got returned. That's a lot of your top minor league talent there that's gone down to injuries. Are Cub pitchers being used right in the minors?

 

At the same time, the Cubs seem to enjoy the risk of acquiring players who fall due to injuries or off-field problems. Christiansen, Brownlie and Grant Johnson are such players that have been taken fairly high despite questions of character or injury.

 

Note to Cubs: they haven't worked out so hot.

[JC]

How can a team compete when it:

 

-Has a key starter able to start just over ten games

-Has multiple projected starters on the DL at once

-Loses a key bat to the DL following an infield collision

-Loses an All-Star infielder to the DL for an extended period

-Forced to play several rookies, some straight from AA

-Has early season trouble closing games

-Has trouble with OBP at the leadoff position for 1/2 season

-Despite having an MVP candidate on the team?

 

 

 

Ask the Braves.

74-56, leading the NL East by 4.5 games.

 

 

And their answer would be to play in a division that had a bunch of other teams that are in the same mess as they are in.

 

I don't know what you are trying to say here. The entire division is over .500, with the last place team, Washington, 5 games over. Yet, the Braves still lead by 4.5 games. Its not like the NL West where the teams all suck, and suck badly at that. The fact that each of the teams is over .500 in the East demonstrates, at least, that they feast on other teams throughout the league when they aren't beating each other up.

[cubbieinexile]

On June 1st the Braves were 29-23, the Nationals 27-26, Mets the same, Phillies 26-27 and Florida 27-23.

 

Atlanta has its winning record because it is beating up Central Division teams, Philadelphia and Florida has its winning record because they are beating up West division teams, The Nationals because of Interleague and West, and the Mets because they are beating up the West and the Phillies. And the Braves have beat up the Mets.

 

The Braves have had injuries that have not allowed them to be as good as they can be. The Phillies have had injuries that have not allowed them to be as good as they can be. Th Marlins have had injuries that have prevented them being as good as they can be. The Mets have had injuries that have prevented them from being as good as they can be, and the Nationals are just a fluky team.

 

Atlanta was fortunate enough to be having problems while being in a division that is suffering similar problems which allowed no one to really pull away with the lead. They all basically treaded water against each other.

[YearofDaCubs]

All I know is if we dont make any significant moves we will be in the same situation tomorrow as we are today. We also cant count on anybody ebing healthy. Right now a lot of our players have a bad track record.