CubinNY

Holy snikes. They were and are not worse. They all had slumps/adjustment periods that they weren't allowed to work through. Cedeno is absolutely destroying AAA pitching. Pie and Murton cannot be worse than JJ and Ward/Floyd over the long haul. I don't think the Kendall trade was slammed throughout this board, not even close.

Based on her posting history, I haven't seen any reason to believe she is pretending to have inside information or sources. I'm giving her the benefit out the doubt. From other threads I've read, it sounds like there are lots of management people within the Cubs organization and its affiliations that check out NSBB routinely (mostly lurking), why chase them off? As much as I like to hear myself talk, if I had an important position within the ranks of the Cubs organization, I'd probably have a tough time staying off message boards while attempting to remain anonymous. If your employment (and working for the Cubs in any capacity would be an awesome job) depended on your anonymity and protecting insider knowledge, I don't think NSBB or any other message board exposure would be worth losing my job over. Did you read her comments about Teddy Greenstein? She practically slandered the guy in one inuendo dripping sentence. Or how about how the other MLB clubs are embarrased by Loria? Her follow up to those posts were to the extent of "trust me, I'm in the know". BFD. I'll tell you what. This isn't worth getting worked up over. I'll just put her on ignore.

The Cubs aren't on a winning streak. The Cubs are winning. Please, explain to us why now would be a good time to make Murton, Pie, and Cedeno starters. Because they are have the potential to be better than the people they will replace.

And your point would be? If we all had the same identical substantiated bits of drivel, there wouldn't be a whole lot to say here, would there? People have the right to remain anonymous (myself included) and they have the right to form their own opinions. As long as it's respectful, who cares? Neither you nor I pretend to be "in the know" and have "sources" we can't reveal. There is nothing wrong with being anonymous. However, if I had inside information that I couldn't or wouldn't substantiate I wouldn't post inuendo on freaking Cubs fan message board to make myself look important.

She has expressed in other threads that she prefers (and likely for employment's sake) to stay anonymous. And yet she throws out unsubstantiated bits of drivel with almost every post. Maybe she's Paul Sullivan's wife.

What? Please explain. Here in the nonfantasysabremetricswhatever world the Cubs are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Why exactly would you change what is working? Pie, Murton, and Cedeno have ALL shown that they can't handle a Major League job with the Cubs. Theriot, Pagan, and the other players who have been put in the lineup are part of the reason the Cubs are now considered contenders. They have been producing. The Cubs have been winning. That is all that matters. Point 1 Let me try this on you: David Ecstein was the SS for the Cardianls last year. Was he the reason why they won? Is his absence this year the reason why they suck? Point 2 (see bolded part) Not quite. I love the part about "nonfantasysabremetricswhatever world". Go with it.

That is one of the more uniformed posts I've read on here in a long, long time. How uniform is it? Is it a nice uniform, like the Marines? :wink: More like the 1970s Houston Astros or Chicago White Sox

cedeno should be starting. no doubt. if you're against this you're against winning. "If you're against this you're against winning?" You mean the same kind of winning that the Cubs have been doing with Ryan Theriot at SS? There is a hole in your logic large enough to drive an aircraft carrier through. At the same time Asmodai's argument is the sort of thing W would be proud of. That said, I'd like to see Cedeno playing every day. But I'd like to see Murton and Pie playing too. That won't be happening either.

That is one of the more uninformed posts I've read on here in a long, long time. stupid spelling

Was B Bob Feller?

No he's not. I'd definitely prefer to have my pinky toe cut off than my entire leg.

Since the Cubs got him for $10,000 I'd have to say you are correct. In fact, he sucks and always has sucked. If Hendry wasn't a "tools" guy he wouldn't even be on a major league roster. If the Cubs could get anything for him I'd be ecstatic.

I don't really hate anyone I've never met. However, Sullivan comes as close as it gets. I wish that the tribune would cut him loose already. He's made me stop reading the Cubs reports from the Trib. I long for the days when Teddy Greenstein covered the Cubs.

I don't understand the purpose of this trade. Why would a young team that is not that far out of contention want to make themselves worse. Why would the Sox want to give up Danks?

I think the reasons the Cubs are winning has a lot to do with playing inferior competition and luck. The bullpen has performed very well too.

This thread is real, real bad. Because it's already hoplessly out of control, I'll submit this for board criticism, maybe the Cubs are winning becuase Dempster isn't closing? Note: I don't really believe this, but it makes as much sense as Barrett and the pitcher's mental states.

RedIvyCub is a reliable poster. This guy/girl could be Gary Hughes or he/she could be some unemployed carpenter. I couldn't care less and I'm not inclined to believe some random poster on a fan message board. The behavior of MLB officals is very clear, as they've repeatedly stated that they want a baseball team in South Florida and they've done nothing to disuade Loria from making a mockery of the Marlins the same way he made a mockery of the Expos. I don't care what the person's "sources" say. It's sad because if they didn't get dismantled every time they won they'd probably win that division every year. Probably. Wouldn't you take the 2 trophies though? I would. A lot of their problems would be solved if "in the best interest of baseball" Selig would force Loria to sell. The city of Miami has twice offered to give Loria land by the Orange Bowl to build a new park, but Loria wants Dade County to pay for the park. It would *seem* that if Loria was that much of an embarassment to MLB they'd step in and do something. Instead they let him and his son in law do their damndest to destroy the fan base. Fortunately, they have some great baseball people in the GM and his staff.

Yeah, I mentioned a few times his BABIP was only like 243. He does have an 18.7 LD%, but his FB% has increased significantly this year. And since FBs fall for hits at a much lower rate that explains SOME of the BABIP losses. However, hes still getting quite unlucky. BUT, his walk rate is at an all time low of 3.9% (which is bad). In summation, some of Kendall's regression has been his fault, some has been luck. Just eyballing it, I would say its been 50% each. He for sure hasn't performed to the ability that hes showin the past. There is a possibility he could bounce back to his form of the last few seasons, and hitting in Wrigley vs the bottom feeders of the NL will definitely help, but I'd predict his second half performance to fall in the middle of his first half of this year and what hes done the last few years. I expect Kendall's numbers to get better. I hope they bat him in front of Lee though.

RedIvyCub is a reliable poster. This guy/girl could be Gary Hughes or he/she could be some unemployed carpenter. I couldn't care less and I'm not inclined to believe some random poster on a fan message board. The behavior of MLB officals is very clear, as they've repeatedly stated that they want a baseball team in South Florida and they've done nothing to disuade Loria from making a mockery of the Marlins the same way he made a mockery of the Expos. I don't care what the person's "sources" say.

Knock yourself out.

Where are you getting this information from? They let him buy the Expos to fold them and then gave him and John Henry a sweatheart deal to exchange the Red Sox for the Marlins, with MLB (the other 29 clubs) holding the bag for folding the Expos. Jeff Loria is like the Bud Selig's Grimm Reaper. I've said it before and I'll say it again, baseball survives because it is a great game. It survives in spite of the owners. The idiot in Tampa built is stadium in St. Petersburg and then aleinated his entire fan base. Selig got the City to foot the bill for the Brewers and then mismanaged them into serious trouble. I could go on and on. Loria fits in well with the crowd. Because as I told you...I have sources and very good ones and no I cannot provide you with that information because I like being employed. Having a paycheck is kind of a nice luxury to have. My sources tell me your sources are full of BS. I like being employed too.

I understand you are frustrated that they added Kendall - I did want him either and would have preferred to give Soto a shot. I agree that we need another bat, hopefully in RF or at SS. However, I think that your statement implies that they have been lucky rather than good. I think this is unfair and untrue. You don't win as many games as they have since June 1 without playing good baseball. Everyone knows there is a bit of chance involved in all sports, but usually you have to do something well in addition to getting breaks. The Cubs have done plenty of that, IMO. Also, this notion that giving up a minor league middle reliever for a guy one year removed from a solid major league season (at least in terms of OBP) and who will cost only $900k is just disengenious. I have seen many folks - you included, IIRC - rail against Hendry for overvaluing middle relievers and not treating them like the fungible commodities they are. Assuming that is true - and I think it is - its a bit hypocritical for you to now blast him for giving up a AA reliever with one-half of a good season to his credit for Kendall. Now, if you look at it in the larger context - trading Barrett for Kendall - I agree it appears to be a loss. That said, Barrett may have worn out his welcome with the Cubs and the players - we will never know. What we do know is that we have not had many problems without him. I'd also note that Kendall is a rental, and Soto may therefore get his shot next season, or could be used to get something we really need - someone who can play RF or SS and hit. Where is the hell did you get what you posted from my post? I'm not at all frustrated that the Cubs got Kendall for a minor league middle reliever and Bowen. I don't know where you would get that idea from my post. I don't think this trade was bad by any stretch. Since the middle of June the Cubs have gotten good to great pitching from their bullpen, almost no offense outside of Aramis and Soriano, have caught lightning in a bottle from Fontenot and Theriot, and have been fortunate to play teams that stink more than they do. I don't think that is somthing to get overly excited about. In my opinon, they are a slightly better team today than they were yesterday at this time. I hope this is the first move and not the last.

Where are you getting this information from? They let him buy the Expos to fold them and then gave him and John Henry a sweatheart deal to exchange the Red Sox for the Marlins, with MLB (the other 29 clubs) holding the bag for folding the Expos. Jeff Loria is like the Bud Selig's Grimm Reaper. I've said it before and I'll say it again, baseball survives because it is a great game. It survives in spite of the owners. The idiot in Tampa built is stadium in St. Petersburg and then aleinated his entire fan base. Selig got the City to foot the bill for the Brewers and then mismanaged them into serious trouble. I could go on and on. Loria fits in well with the crowd.

I was thinking the same thng.