CubinNY

It is not a good call if Marshall goes out and gives up a run. The Cubs don't need to eat two innings here, they need to get a win.

I don't like this. Hindsight nothwithstanding, but if Marshall gives up a run in the next inning it is a bad call IMO.

Not in a tie game, late. Dusty has to pinch hit for Marshall.

I don't think that call is protestale. It is worth gettng thrown out of the game for.

and the bite hurts.

what'd he say? To paraphase: Dusty needs to stay so he can put in his system. You can't judge the job he's done because of all the injuries. Thats...awful. THATS BEYOND AWFUL It's also the view of people who don't really follow baseball closely. I can see a few sportswriters echoing that opinion too.

That is one hell of a line for Big Smooth. The Cubs really need this after the last two games.

Big smooth is good

Cin up 3-1 on the Cards.

Mabry is done.

Luckily for us, Aramis, Ronny and the gang have made adjustments to prevent that. Or the fears were ridicilously unfounded. Aside from a corner outfield spot, first base is the easiest position in baseball defensively.

Jake, I feel for you man. I am glad you post here.

You've listed 4 pitchers out of probably about 40 guys that pitched in the WBC. I have no clue how they're doing, they may all be terrible too. But 4 pitchers' stat lines is proving nothing. One of the few good uses of "sample size" I've read in a long, long time. Very well done.

See the sticky about three threads above.

I couldn't agree more. Good teams find a way to overcome injuries. Or good teams overcome injuries becuase they are built to withstand injuries. Choose freely.

Giambi is a ballplayer. He has great plate discipline and a lightning quick bat. Steriods or not, he can hit.

I just putting this out there as I didn't see the game yesterday. If (and I'm not saying it is so) Z has not shown maturity and seems to be less effective and at the same time not progressing as a teammate, does anyone think the Cubs would contemplate a blockbutster trade?

To which I just shake my head.

Probably 2.11 years.

I'm getting tired of the Cubs pathetic display at the plate.

Transactions. I don't think so.

The Cubs had some really good rookie in the 60s or 70s who died in the off-season. I cannot remember his name though. I think it could have been between 68 and 69.

I would like to ammend this post and say any one of Guzman, Marshall, or Hill. I think giving up two of them would be too much. I would however, give them E. Patterson or Dope, or some other top position prospect.

Bingo! I think this is the real point. Barrett removed the idea that he was available at all which potentially changes how the Brewers will use their bullpen late in the game. This could be a valid argument, for one AB. However the first time Barrett DOESN'T come on to pinch hit in a likely situation the cover's blown anyway. I wouldn't think 1 "phantom" AB would make that much of a difference in the greater scheme of things, though strenger things have happened. I disagree. Teams decoy all the time with hitters they really don't intend to bat. I remember last year, Kenny Williams was upset with Frank Thomas because he didn't conceal his foot injury during the Cubs series. He wanted Thomas to stand on deck and help alter the manger's decision. Anyway, the Cubs have a short bench to start with so if teams know that Barrett is unavailable it will affect more than just one AB. Having the threat of power off the bench is big. Apparently, the Cubs aren't the only team in MLB to have this policy... Can we say, "mountain out of a molehill" with this thread? Teams do this all the time. Yost, like Baker and other managers, wants it kept in-house because he knows other teams will capitalize if they know one of his players is unavailable. This is completely ridicilous. This isn't football or some other sport where you have a game plan toward stopping some great running back or shooting guard. Hiding an injury baseball is just stupid. So Dusty puts Barrett on deck and the team puts in a RH reliever then he throws Marby in. Big whoop-te-do. The chances are overwhealming that it won't matter one iota. The entire righty/lefty matchup thing is way overblown in most cases. Why not just put him on deck anyway as a double bluff, that would be brilliant?!!! In addition, why not just put another right handed batter up there if the other manager is going to over-manage that much. This baseball.

The runs given up are bad, but the runs scored are worse. This is the exact reason why Hendry should have gotten a bat for outfield and the bench. The Cubs MO have been similar for going on three years now. When they go into losing streaks (not that two games is a streak) the reason why is b/c they don't score.