FergieJ31

Dear Mr Hendry: On Base Percentage Please!!!!

You have a point vis a vis the Cubs catcher, but that's the only position that requires stamina. The starting pitcher does as well, but at least he gets 4-5 days off in between. Baseball isn't soccer - it's a fast twitch sport that is probably more mentally taxing than physically taxing over the course of a 162-game schedule. I'm sorry, I'm don't mean to call out TWalk - I think the world of him and very sorry him go (one of the few Cubs with a clue at the plate) - but this line of thinking is pure bunk and a cheap excuse.

Exactly. This is a pathetic excuse that is trotted out from time to time on why the Cubs suck. The excuse sucks. The Cubs don't win because the organization collectively has a low baseball IQ, and it has for a long time. Besides, theoretically, the day game thing could work to the Cubs advantage. Why don't Cub players adjust to playing more day games, and hence perform better than visiting teams who aren't acclimated?

I am a hockey fan and you speak the truth my friend. Amazing as it seems, the Blackhawks do make the Cubs look good by comparison.

My impression of Barrett when he signed with the Cubs was that he spent a good chunk of 2000 and 2003 banged up, and it impacted his numbers pretty badly. The Cubs were effectively betting that the 'true' Michael Barrett was the .300/.350 guy he showed as a rookie, a converted 3B. He was maturing at the plate and it showed in his increased IsoD numbers his last two seasons with Mtl: the 0.070 IsoD mitigated his poor BA. I wasn't a fan of the MB signing then because I worried more about his defense. That's another topic altogether which has been debated ad nauseum on this board. But offensively he's worked better than almost everyone realistically hoped for back in 04 -- that much is certain. But Izzy's IsoD numbers (presumably the most predictive component of his OBP) are absolutely abysmal by comparison to MB: 0.034, under half of MB's 0.070. No pop in the bat, contrary to what we heard today from some joker on ESPN. So no, I don't think Barrett's situation is really comparable or cause for any hope. Izzy will almost certainly be an anemic bat -- shove him in the 7 or 8 hole and keep expectations rock bottom. In isolation, forgetting the rest of the Cubs' problems, I think there's been too much focus on Izzy's poor offense. My biggest worry about him is his health and how it rates to affect his defense. What is the nature of this 'degenerative arthritic condition'? Does anyone know how this thing plays out over time? If the Cubs miraculously are able to keep ARam AND get at least one more stud for the OF and/or 2B AND sign Jason Schmidt, then I can live with Izzy's poor offense -- IF he really has a good glove and good range.

Remember at this moment two years ago what this board was buzzing about, trading Agony + prospects not named Guzman or Pie (and not giving up Clement) for Nomah and some kid named Matt Murton. And right at the 4pm deadline. Ahhh good times.

My thought exactly. After getting up and zipping his pants, Hendry probably said to the Dodger brass: 'ok we're even now for that Hundley deal'

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/munch/munch.scream.small.jpg Deep down, I think we all knew this would happen. I'm now on the Dodgers bandwagon for the rest of this year, pulling for Nomar & Maddog to play deep into October.

The reason is quite simple - we are the worst organization in professional sports. COUGHSNEWYORKKNICKSCOUGHS.... Cubs, in a landslide. If we're going inter-sports here the Blackhawks are right up there with the Cubs .. and I mean 1a and 1b.

Phat Albert lifetime numbers vs the NL Central: Pit: 0.362 / 0.442 / 0.714 / 1.156 Cin: 0.379 / 0.444 / 0.702 / 1.147 Mil: 0.337 / 0.444 / 0.613 / 1.057 Hou: 0.317 / 0.405 / 0.578 / 0.983 COBS: 0.284 / 0.376 / 0.571 / 0.947 Amazing to think that the Cubs are holding him in check, relatively speaking (not that a 947 OPS is exactly shutting him down). Look at those Pit Cin and Mil numbers ... wow :shock:

Whoa, what happened there?! 1-2-3 ninth for Demp? Last out against the most dangerous hitter in MLB? Cubs didn't blow the game in some bizarre, excruciating way?

Serena I like your avatar .. but if that's how effeminate the '08 Tigers looked taking a relay throw, no wonder the Cubs won the WS that year :wink:

Ed Farmer show NO emotion when he calls a game. The guy makes it boring listening to him. But as a Cubs fan that's one of the things I like about Farmer. I sure don't wanna listen to a homer like Hawk if I'm watching the Sox. I like listening to Pat Hughes call a game. Yes, baseball7897, I do too. I wouldn't trade Hughes for Farmer. Pat gets especially amusing/punchy during blowouts ...

Best in the business? at what? name dropping? They ALL drop names. Tell me you wouldn't do the same to fill in a 3 hour broadcast if you had an 11-year career in MLB and 14 years in the booth to draw upon.

Ed Farmer show NO emotion when he calls a game. The guy makes it boring listening to him. But as a Cubs fan that's one of the things I like about Farmer. I sure don't wanna listen to a homer like Hawk if I'm watching the Sox.

Absolutely!! Well said goony. The leadoff hitter thing has been SO overblown since 2004.

When I watch the Sox I turn down the TV and listen to Ed Farmer. Honestly, he's one of the best in the business.

I agree with sulley - I think people got the wrong idea about Abreu after he mashed in the HR derby last year. He's never hit more than 31 HR's for a season (2001). And he hit only 20 HR's in both 2002 and 2003 -- despite playing in all but five games over those two seasons. But the guy hits doubles like there's no tomorrow. Please, Mr Hendry, figure out a way to trade for him before the Cardinals do. (I get a kick out of the fact that his middle name is Kelly: Bob Kelly Abreu.)

I couldn't agree more. That was the right time to pull him, nice move Dusty. And good to see NYM fans have a heart - the ovation was nice.

Two world series championships in seven years - wow, those fans have absolutely nothing to be bitter about. Not that I'm not disagreeing with you Northside; I don't even know any Marlins fans. Just pointing out the obvious incongruity ... Marlins fans being upset about personnel changes, give me a friggin break. The Cards fans I talked to were split on this rumor, but the more knowledgeable ones hated the trade.

another college star (to whom baylor once compared cpatt, but cpatt has much less plate discipline): oddibe mcdowell

I was waiting for that one, especially tonight :(

I remember Quevedo looked like a stud for a good stretch in '01 with the Brewers, ERA a shade over 3 for a while, and he came back to haunt us with a 10-K win in his first start against the Cubs. But he quickly faded to oblivion, thank goodness. He would be good for a lot of fat jokes on NSBB if he were still pitching - Ruben didn't miss too many meals.

Brant Brown (at least he netted us Jon Lieber)

Sheehan is right of course, and it's even worse than he described: Prior pitched the 7th too. I was at that game. When the Cubs went up 11-0 everyone around me, the whole section, was surprised to see Prior pitch the 6th. And we were absolutely STUNNED to see him take the mound in the top of the 7th with a 12-2 cushion. Dusty's excuse the next day? "I didn't see McKeon giving up and giving his [starters] a rest, so I wasn't about to. Those guys can put up a lot of runs in a hurry, we saw that in game 1."