Cubfanintheknow

No real statistics to back this up, but I think the vast majority of teams who come close but don't make the playoffs do so because of weak bullpens. All players run through hot and cold streaks. It's just more obvious with relievers.

Pat and Ron are talking about Walt Jocketty being named the new Red's GM. Anyone else hear that?

As a team, the Cubs' batting average is currently at .280. Only the Red Sox, Angels and Braves have a better average (D-backs are at .280 also). Another positive effect coming from the plate patience is that teams are figuring out they're going to have to throw strikes to get the Cubs out. Just getting the ball near the plate and watching the Cubs hack at it for outs isn't going to cut it anymore. They're seeing better pitches to hit and they're hitting the ball well. As I watched today's game, I couldn't help but think, "These are my Cubs?" Feels good!

This is a quote from White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker in Tuesday's Tribune. He's talking about trying to teach players how to be patient at the plate and promote on-base percentage: "I've talked to a lot of Oakland people, and they said they didn't have much luck changing guys [to their style]," Sox hitting coach Greg Walker said. "They draft them, and they trade for them." I imagine it's tough being a hitting coach and telling a player like Soriano, who has had success in the majors, to change his approach. Even if it could make him a better player.

He'll try to take the high road, but the Chicago media will press the issue and he'll throw that excuse in. When he gets booed--loudly--the first time he leaves the dugout, it'll be because of racist CUb fans.

It's not bad... if the player put in that position uses it to his advantage. Obviously, if Piggy doesn't walk both left-handed batters he faces, we're not talking about it. But it's a good way to break a younger guy in and give him a little confidence getting guys out. Of course, if you're not even throwing strikes.... Andy Pratt, anyone?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record? Is it 16? 17? 18? 19? How about 20?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record? Is it 16? 17? 18? 19?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record? Is it 16? 17? 18?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record? Is it 16? 17?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record? Is it 16?

oh yea, oops it's not like it had a chance anyway that's true I know good point thanks your welcome dangit! There's nothing to add here! i win the battle congrats thanks no your welcome necessary no problem loophole :scratch: 15th time initial post has been quoted. What's the record?

Is that something like taking one for the team ? I'll help clog the bases any way I can!

Just wanted to bump this thread seeing as how it was in jeopardy of falling into sixth place in the transactions page. Can't let that happen. C'mon, people!

Yes, you keep thinking that.

Interesting quote by Lou Piniella in the Sporting News. But that's not all he said on the subject. I couldn't find the link to the article in the Tribune, so I'll type in what was in this morning's sports section as Piniella further elaborates on Cub hitters: "We're giving away very easy at-bats... A lot of first and second-pitch outs. We can talk about, 'Well, we have time.' And we can be talking a week from now, 'We still have time,' Let me see it here a little sooner, and then we can put that to rest." Piniella never once mentions batting average. He is, in fact, talking about working the count bit and seeing a few more pitches. Somthing that I believe, oh, everybody on this board is in favor of. So I think the hitters should get in a little extra work in spring training. There's that old adage, "you play how you practice." They ought to be practicing patience and pitch selection now. Hopefully a deep bench will offset any concerns about the players getting gassed later in the season because they played too much in spring training.

Um, did he seriously write that? Your link to the entire article: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/833560,CST-SPT-cub09.article But I can see where you wouldn't believe me.

FWIW, the writer who predicts Marmol will close, Gordon Wittenmyer, also believes the Cubs will acquire another centerfielder because Felix Pie is not getting it. You see, Pie's hit two home runs this spring. And according to Wittenmyer, "after having it pounded into his head for years to play the little-man's game, it's not the kind of skill he needs to show to be of any use to the team." Hmmmm.....

Monday's newspapers will have stories quoting Marquis as saying he was "misunderstood" (or maybe he "misremembers") in his comments and has since "spoken to Lou" and that they've "come to an understanding" and will make nice. But the damage is done. Thankfully, he'll be in another team's uniform soon. If Hendry can unload his contract for a bag of baseballs, he'll be considered a genius in my book.

Well, after 233 pages, 5801 posts and 159916 views, it's time I chimed in on this thread. If we get Roberts without giving up too much, great. If we don't get Roberts, I still think the Cubs are going to be all right. That's all. Great insight, huh? P.S. As I was typing this, I refreshed the Transactions page in another window. The number of views went up by ten. And I'm a fairly accomplished typer.

I'm probably getting a little ahead of things here, but I think it would be wise for the Cubs to have a good staff of physicians on hand to be there for DeRosa when the Cubs win the World Series. It just makes sense.

Third homer went into the well in left. The pain in your shin may have affected that recollection! :D Interesting to watch big Lee Smith pick up the save by throwing TWO scoreless innings.

I've got it on right now!!! Pretty cool to watch. Even Paul Noce's pop out to short.

In light of the recent arrest of the packers fan on child abuse charges (in case you missed it, a father and packer fan is alleged to have taped his son to a chair and then taped a packers jersey to him during last Sunday's packer/seahawk playoff game), I felt compelled to post a link to Rick Morrisey's most recent column in the Chicago Tribune. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080117rickmorriseypackersarrest,0,7120878.column Especially relevant to my argument is this part of the column: But the Packers part of the equation cannot be dismissed here. It's hard to picture a Jacksonville Jaguars fan getting this irate about his son's lack of commitment. In these parts, at least, it reinforces the idea that a certain amount of brainwashing is going on in Wisconsin. It might involve coercion. It might involve tape. But we're pretty sure these people have their ways. Now we don't want to paint with too broad a brush, especially with Green Bay preparing to face the New York Giants in the NFC championship game Sunday, but if one Packers fan is willing to force his child to wear a team jersey, what might another be willing to do? Call his home "The First Reformed Covenant Church of Brett" and file for tax-exempt status? Go ahead and laugh. But the general manager of the Fox affiliate in Green Bay has pulled "Seinfeld" reruns from the schedule Saturday because Giants quarterback Eli Manning is a big fan of the show. He doesn't want Manning to feel comfortable the night before the big game. A special about the late Vince Lombardi likely will take its place. So don't get mad at Kowald for being extremist when, in fact, he could be middle of the (county) road. Just reinforces what I've thought all along about packer fans. They're lunatics.

to be fair, he was found not guilty. Don't let that silly little fact get in the way of rationality. Noticed I said Chmura was charged--not found guilty. So don't let that "silly little fact" get in the way. Even though he admitted to drinking with a bunch of teenage girls (including his own child's babysitter, who accused him of raping her) in a hot tub. Those must be silly little facts, too. I think you'll find this blog on the rationality of packer fans an interesting read: Link Sweet, so just because some Packers fans support Chmura, that means all of them support him. I love assumptions. As a former member of the Fourth Estate in Milwaukee, I could tell you stories. Lots of stories. Edited to add: To be "fair" about this, the media feeds into this frenzy like no other market I've ever seen. Back in 2002, Favre sprained his knee and had to come out of the game. The following day, three of the four television stations stumbled over themselves at a press conference the following day. There was live "team coverage" telling us that Brett Favre was actually going to be OK. Especially since the packers had a bye the following week. So I got into a pretty lively discussion at the station where I worked at about how I thought this wasn't a "top story" for the 5:00 newscast. There were other stories going on in Milwaukee that merited greater attention. Although I was more than willing to concede that it would make a great story for the end of the "A" block, or the first block of stories in the newscast. I was overruled because, I was told, "Packer fans want to hear this." So not only was it the top story, we were also treated to the reaction from players, coaches, trainers and fans on favre's injury. Even though, again, doctors said he was going to be OK. And of course, there was a two minute package--complete with medical analysis--on how the knee works, where the injury occurred and what kind of treatment favre would have to endure to get back on the field. All this took up the entire "A" block and spilled over to the "B" block as well. And it was not just my station. The other three covered the event with the same insane intensity. Maybe that's why I dislike packer fans so much. Thankfully, I now work in Chicago. Wow, that was therapeutic!