CubinNY

CubsGM? And isn't it okay to be a little nervous? I don't think you are a Cubs fan, for one. I have no idea what sort of sense of humor it must take to post on a website for a team that you are not a fan of. Second, having said that, a little nervous? Dodgers in 5 isn't a little nervous. It is Howrying in your pants stupidity.

I don't see Samardzija waiving his NTC to move to NY It's a big stage for the big guy from ND. Stupid NTC.

Big friggen deal. They've got the second best staff in the NL and they have the best offense. The Dodgers have been playing the dregs of the NL for the better part of a month. The Cubs in a sweep.

I down with Tim's suggestions. If the Mets don't make the post season (and as of now they're down 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th), they are going to make some big changes in the off-season. I hope Hendry sees if they're willing to give Beltran up and at what cost. I'd give up PIe, plus Samardjzia (sp?) if they payed some of his salary.

Can I unofficially take Howry off the post-season roster?

As if dealing with Beltran, Delgado and Wright is any better? When you factor in pitching staffs, It's a lot better.

If the Brewers end up beating the Cubs in the NLCS I am going to really hate Howry. I mean really hate. More so than I already do. A lot more. A really lot more.

What in the F is that supposed to mean? Is he trying to say he can't pitch if they make it to the playoffs? I think that is exactly what he's saying.

The NL Central was by far the strongest division in NL this year. The Cardinals, Astros, or Brewers would have won the NL West this year. Only Houston is way off their Pythagorean W-L total (+9). The Cubs are exactly at 0. They didn't get lucky this year, they are just good. Only Cin. and Pitt. had a losing record against the West and only Mil and Pitt had a losing record against the East. Offense The NL Central had 3 of the top 8 offensive teams in the NL with the Cubs #1 in runs/game. Interestingly, the Cardinals scored more runs/game than did the Brewers. Pujols for MVP (is there really any doubt?) Pitching The NL Central had 4 of the top 8 pitching staffs the NL. Cubs were behind only the Dodger in ERA+. And they are going to again lead the league in strikeouts. Phun Phact: The Cubs will draw 3.30 million fans this year. That puts them behind: NY 3.9 mill LA 3.7 STL 3.34 PH 3.32 Cubs Mil 3.0 What's it all mean? Maybe nothing but the Cubs should win the NL this year. They're the best team in the strongest division in the NL and there is no question about that. (EDIT: This may need to go into general baseball discussions? who can keep it straight anyway?)

When the Cubs switched, it was because the fans just weren't supporting the team in Jackson (I think they were always at or near the bottom of the league in attendance). The Marlins switching from Carolina to Jacksonville was because theywanted the team to be located closer to the parent team (understandable, since callups from AA straight to the majors are fairly common these days). I don't know the reason for the other moves this time, but a lot of times it is because a minor league city opens up closer to the parent team's home. All the games I went to, including playoff games, were very sparsely attended. The ballpark is gorgeous though. http://www.ballparkreviews.com/wtenn/wtenn.htm I strongly disagree with the comments about the stadium on that page. The stadium is right in the middle of a cornfield. It's almost like the Field of Dreams. I don't think the ballpark is to blame for the lack of atmosphere, but the lack of fans is to blame. Fans still don't come out to see the Diamond Jaxx. The cornfield is long gone (if there ever was one) and has been replaced by I-40 to the left and parks to the right. What they need is some development around the park.

As long as he doesn't pitch.

Nice couple a first posts. Welcome.

Obscure stats? :D) ](*,) :D)

I agree wholeheartedly with the last sentence above. I'll never get the desire for people, Cubs fans no less, not to get behind him 100 percent. He doesn't get on in the 10th, we don't win. Period. Sure, obsess over his imperfections, but he's had a great season, and any notion to "bench" Theriot is absurd. I can take or leave Cedeno, but he sure strikes me as a dumb player most of the time. Theriot has worked his butt off to maximize his talent and had a fine year. I, too, don't understand why so many posters are against him. I'm not "aganst" him, but I want the Cubs to upgrade SS if possible. Cedeno isn't that upgrade, but Theriot's age, sub-Neifi/Pierre levels of power, terrible defense and horrible baserunning meas he should be the backup in 2009 for, ideally, whoever the Cubs find as their new starting SS. It is hyperbole like this that leads to these long argumentative threads. That's one the least hyperbolic things written in this thread in the last few pages. "terrible" and "horrible" and Neifi are all gross hyperbole. You can criticize his defense or baserunning or power, but, believe me, if he was "terrible" and "horrible" and Neifi-like, he would not be playing. My God, what would that make Cedeno? It is over the top stuff like this that makes what it is said not very credible. http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=620&playerid2=3811&playerid3=&position=SS&page=6&type=full Neili-like power His defense is probably not terrible but it's not good either. And his base running is terrible. His CS rate is right around 50% not to mention the base running boners. On a hyperbole scale of 0-10 I'd rate it a 1.5. Here is a little Ronny Cedeno thrown in the mix http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=620&playerid2=3811&playerid3=2179&position=SS&page=6&type=full

I agree wholeheartedly with the last sentence above. I'll never get the desire for people, Cubs fans no less, not to get behind him 100 percent. He doesn't get on in the 10th, we don't win. Period. Sure, obsess over his imperfections, but he's had a great season, and any notion to "bench" Theriot is absurd. I can take or leave Cedeno, but he sure strikes me as a dumb player most of the time. Theriot has worked his butt off to maximize his talent and had a fine year. I, too, don't understand why so many posters are against him. I'm not "aganst" him, but I want the Cubs to upgrade SS if possible. Cedeno isn't that upgrade, but Theriot's age, sub-Neifi/Pierre levels of power, terrible defense and horrible baserunning meas he should be the backup in 2009 for, ideally, whoever the Cubs find as their new starting SS. It is hyperbole like this that leads to these long argumentative threads. That's one the least hyperbolic things written in this thread in the last few pages.

Zambrano has been one of the best road pitchers in the league over the last few years...This rotation makes the most sense. I've seen some people who think the Cubs should go with a 3 man rotation, but in doing so, Dempster would have to come back on short rest for game 4 on the road. I have confidence in Lilly to do a good job, and if necessary, come back with a rested Dempster in game 5 at Wrigley. I predict a Cubs sweep unless they play the Phillies in round one. Then it will go 4. Cole Hamels generally treats the Cubs like play things. A three man rotation might do it in round one.

I don't want to derail this thread, but Aramis is the shiznet. I wish I could find Barry Rozner and the dude from the Trib and have a little Royal Rumble.

Stupid Cubs can't even lose when they're supposed to.

If he didn't pump 10 times he might have had him by the way, in looking at his minor league stats this Murphy will be probably be not as special as Sutt thinks. Suttcliffe is probably the worst announcer this side of Joe Morgan. He talks too much and says almost nothing at the same time. That's a rare combination. Everybody is his "good buddy" and he'll tell you what.

Is that a word? Howry'd It's a catchall.

Also because he's significantly significantly better defensively True, I saw him make a barehanded catch once and I climaxed. It was the greatest play of the century, well scratch that, it's only second behind Jeter's dive into the stands. I suppose if you want to ignore every defensive metric in existence you could persuasively argue that Ramirez is better than Wright defensively. Is he "significantly significantly" better? I mean, I can see how he is "significantly" better.... David Wright has been overrated defensively since he was in the minors.

I was just going to mention that. USSocer would be proud.

Nope.

Shark not ready for Primetime?

not being a complete tool on NSBB ...says the guy with 17,000 posts, 100 or less of which are actually about the Cubs. was that supposed to be an insult of some sort? Don't go a changin' either.