CubinNY

I love the beginning of baseball season! I've said Barrett is a very weak defensivve catcher for a long time by he didn't throw up then walks and taters today.

That is a good one but I don't know how to make the funny llooking c

Come back soon Mark, Kerry, and Wade!

Levine is not the most reliable source, but if true, I think that means unless the Cubs get to or win the World Series we will be seeing a new manager on the northside. Let the speculation begin.

Alfonseca sucked. He had one year where he racked up 45 saves, but didn't pitch great at all. He was a closer in name only. And Clement, was, remained and still is a walk machine who cannot be counted on. I used to follow the minors more then and was starting to like Dontrelle around that time. I didn't predict he'd be a Cy Young candidate by now, but I sure as heck had no interest trading away young talent to add those marginal veteran (expensive) upgrades to what was nothing more than a mediocre team still a couple years away from potential greatness. And I thought he had a very good chance to be a valuable major leaguer. Yes, I knew who he was, and no I didn't "know" he'd make it, but I liked his chances. While it's revisionism to say you knew Willis would be great, it's just as revisionist to suggest nobody knew who he was. I don't think its revisionist - its probably an overstatement though. Accordingly, I think you'd agree that few knew who Willis was prior to the trade. I'd also add that he jumped from AA; I don't think he ever played a game at AAA. Few fans might have known, but that doesn't excuse the baseball people working for the Cubs for not knowing. The Marlins asked specifically for Willis. Somebody knew something. I really ddiin't think much about it at the time as I read that his winde up was hard to repeat and he was prone to arm injuries. But the numbers were there, and he appeared to be a pretty decent prospect.

Barrett was traded to Oakland before the Cubs. The Cubs traded Damian Miller for Barrett.

I am not going to predict that Mitre will be great or even good, but in my opinion he never got a fair shot with the Cubs. He would pitch well and have a blow up inning and then get a start a month later. Some of that probably has to do with the talent of the Cubs pitching.

Don't change it. We must never forget the joy Sammy brought us.

Do you happen to have a link to that? If I recall, there were some pretty good ones in there for both Juan and Murton. No. I have no idea how to use the search properly but it was in transactions, I believe. I also had it in my signature for a while. There was a quote from Slap Nasty to the effect that what he does doesn't always show up in the box score, but it is important nonetheless.

At this time I would like to formally take all the credit or blame for nicknaming Juan. I remember it well and it was very controversial at the time. As some though I was disparaging his play. I coined both "Slappy" and "Slap Nasty". In the imortal words of Daffy Duck it is all mine. Mine, mine, mine. This may go down as my one and only claim to fame. What an unremarkable achievement on my part.

But thanks for trying. UBlink, you are making the assumption that the PECOTA values are accurate, in other words that is your objective anchor. That is not necessarily the case. In addition, the Reds and Pirates could still suck and have bad chemistry. If Dunn keeps playing in the OF like he did on Monday I could see a lot of Bad mojo in that clubhouse. On a different note. To me there is a difference between familarity and "chemistry". for example I have known a lot of girls for a long time and they have become good friends. We hang out share likes and dislikes but have never hooked up. That is familiarity. A SS and a 2nd baseman who have played together for a long time don't need to be friends off the field to be a good double play combo. I don't think Lou Whitiker and Alan Trammell swaped Thanksgivings at each others houses but they were one hell of keystone combination for a long time. That is familiarity. Now when I was single I might see a girl I don't know at a bar buy her a drink or five and hook up. That is chemistry. I really have no idea how this sort of thing would help a baseball player to be better. I am not suggesting a lot of homoerotic man love needs to go on in the clubhouse so get your head out of the pee trough. What I am suggesting is, I don't know how exchanging telephonne calls, going on offseason hunting trips, and buying birthday presents for kids could ever affect what goes on on a baseball diamond.

But why would a big league manager twice, not just once, preface a player in the lineup by saying "young"? I'm not trying to read into it, I'm just looking for an explanation I guess. I've never heard a manager do that before and I think it's kind of odd. Because they are young? I get the impression that Dusty is kind of fired up to have two young guys in the line-up. I don't know if this is true, but that is the impression I get. Everyone knows I am a harsh critic of Dusty, but I really think he likes M&C, and wants them to do well.

Big Z is a clubhouse cancer b/c he won't talk to reporters after a bad game (boo hoo Paul Sullivan). That is bad mojo, bad mojo. I predict the Cubs lose their remaining games and go 1-161.

I really agree with you on this. It is entertaining and that's what the broadcast is supposed to be to the majority of listeners. `In depth discussions of stats is very boring to the majority of the general public. The radio broadcasts are aimed at the general public and Santo's living and dying the game is appealling to many. I don't need an indepth discussion of stats. I need an announcer that can concentrate and talk about the game, without blowing smoke up undeserving butts and trailing off onto tangents that have nothing to do with the game. Keep Ron for occasional diversions, but they need to do a better job talking about the baseball games. He's the color man. Who would you like to see? Both broadcast teams are terrible. Santo is McDonough's boy and could care less what the Cub fans think. Santo has such an inferiority complex about himself, that it just drips during every game. How many times per game are we going to hear about his 'medical problems'? It was at least 5 times yesterday and I was only able to listen for part of the game. Brenly is no better. In reading the lineup at the bottom of the 1st, he had Jerry Hairston at second-not Walker. Not only had Walker batted in the top of the 1st, he was on the screen taking a practice throw. This is not acceptable in any way for the Cubs. Please, you guys should try and listen to the other team's radio guys. You thank Santo is bad, well try and listen to Hyrbosski Santo does just what he is supposed to do, provide color comentary. I think Pat and Ron are the best. They provide entertainment and make the game interesting.

Without 2nd guessing Dusty's every move, what would people do? We'd probably end off bitter old cub fans who try their best to antagonize young whipper-snappers who like numbers.

IMO the only question is: Does Baker want to be back? If he does, Hendry will give him an extension. Jim and Dusty are two peas in a pod.

I wouldn't put to much stock into what went on on the field yesterday. It was opening day and the Cubs, for the most part, were in control. IMO Dusty was trying to get most of the position players a chance to say they played on opening day. Everybody want to play on opening day.

I try to ignore Ron Santo.He is the worst analyst that I can recall.He contributes nothing of substance. Blashemer! Santo was unusally good today. He was on top of the analysis of the game, peppering things with his usual Cub blue blood. If you listen to Santo for cogent analysis you are listening to the wrong guy. However, IMO his is great. He is us in the booth and I love him.

Are you joking? Thirty-seven pitches for a middle releiver is like 100 pitchers for a starter. They have a completely different approach to pitching. However, the Cubs have an off day tomorrow so the point is moot.

If said entity has very little measureable effect, how important is it? Edit: Stupid Typos, I curse my fingers.

We (see the rants thread) :stone: are going to bust up corn row brades Wedensday.

2005 opening day 2006 opening day Wholy deja vu, batman. Let us all hope the rest of the season doesn't follow suit.

ability to get on base> fast speed> average speed> slow speed

Holly would have had it. I think not.

MattVP