Cubfanintheknow

A 4-1 loss. One baserunner after the fifth... and that was because of a Jason Isringhausen error. Lots of baserunners early on, but no one can come up with a big hit. No patience at the plate. I guess that's not unusual, though. They just looked flat today. Like they weren't ready to play. This had better not be a trend.

If Lee is on the 15 day, no changes are made to the 40-man roster. If he's on the 60-day, teams have the option of making changes to the 40-man. So the Cubs wouldn't lose anyone with Lee on the 15-day. I think you are mistaken. Restovich is not on the 40 man roster. If he is brought up and Lee isn't put on the 60, somebody needs to be taken off of the 40 man roster. Didn't know Restovich wasn't on the 40-man. My mistake.

I was at the Cubs-Reds gameon the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend of that year. Heck of a brawl between the two teams. Don Zimmer was carted away on a stretcher. And Cubs floppy hats littered the warning track. Edited to add the year: 1984

If Lee is on the 15 day, no changes are made to the 40-man roster. If he's on the 60-day, teams have the option of making changes to the 40-man. So the Cubs wouldn't lose anyone with Lee on the 15-day.

Lee to the 60 day DL would solve that problem. I've seen 6-8 weeks. With a rehab assignment that comes to 60 days. I'd be suprised if the 60 day DL'd him. Fractures can heal faster than projections. I broke my wrist once and instead of the 6-8 weeks, it took about 4 to heal. I'd be surprised too. If there's a chance Lee will be back in 59 days, the team doesn't want to screw themselves out of a chance to have him back even that one day.

Man I wish I drank the koolaid that you drink. It's not a question of the kool-aid. Keep in mind what UMFan83 posted. No one's going to run away with the NL Central. Playing .500 baseball while Lee is out is going to be difficult, but not impossible, to do while Lee is out. But I think that's all it will take to keep the Cubs within reach of the division lead by the ASB. Lee will return around that time and from there, anything can happen. The Cubs didn't have much wiggle room with Lee in the lineup. And they have even less now. But the team has played pretty well with a patchwork starting rotation. I think they're capable of stepping up and staying afloat while Lee is out.

I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but I'll echo the sentiments of those who believe not all is lost here. No one team is going to run and hide in the NL Central like the Cardinals did the last couple of seasons. IF (and I know it's a big IF) the Cubs can play .500 ball while Lee is out,they'll be in good shape. I think he'll be back after the ASB, giving the Cubs enough time to make a run at the division. All is not lost. At least not yet.

It's pretty rare to see a closer pitching the ninth inning of a tie game when they're on the road. Managers usually save their closer for when they have a lead to close the game in the bottom half of the inning. If Dempster had pitched the ninth and any other reliever blows the game in the tenth, some people would be wondering by Dusty used his closer so early.

With outfield injuries beginning to mount, the Cubs may be considering a call-up of Felix Pie. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060415cubsgamer,1,1915714.story?coll=cs-home-headlines A spot starter and back-up outfielder is not in his best interests. Playing every day is. IF Jaque Jones were to go on the disabled list and IF it were guaranteed Pie was guaranteed to start every game until Jones comes back and IF he were to go back down to Iowa immediately after Jones returns, then I wouldn't mind at all. I don't think it would hurt to give him a taste of the majors, let him see what it's like to play every day in the bigs. He can see for himself what he needs to work on. But he shouldn't be the Cubs fifth outfielder. Or even fourth outfielder, for that matter.

Kerry's 2nd rehab start last season was at Nashville. And his first start was in Jackson. I did say it was pretty rare. But that also means that making a road start is not out of the question. Wood has to go with what the team's schedule dictates. So if he's told to make a second rehab start and it's on the road, he'll have to do it. But again, major league teams will try their hardest to get a home start for one of their affiliates. It's their little way of throwing them a bone.

And a 6-3 record. Not too shabby. There is/was a WGN radio personality, John Williams, perhaps, who suggested breaking down the schedule in nine game increments (I'm sure it was proposed by someone before him, but Williams' reference was the most recent to suggest it). There are 18 nine-game blocks in the schedule. Go just 5-4 in every nine game sequence and you finish with a 90-72 record. Probably not a lock for a playoff spot, but certainly in the mix. Nice to be ahead of the schedule after the first nine games and the prospects look good for another winning nine game set with Pittsburgh, the Dodgers and the Cardinals--yes the Cardinals--coming up. It's very early, but it's hard keeping my optimism in check right now!

I think it's pretty rare for major league pitchers--especially high profile starters like Mark Prior and Kerry Wood--to make minor league rehab starts on the road. Making home starts give the affiliates a chance to fill the ballpark. There was a huge turnout last year in Peoria for a Prior rehab start.

This is not meant to be a defense of Neifi, but I'll bet there isn't a poster on this message board--especially myself--who wouldn't mind playing in the majors for 11 SEASONS, even if it meant racking up some pretty poor statistics.

I think this is a bit premature. After all, Rusch's era dropped from 9.00 to 8.00 after today's start. He's getting better!

Yeah! Why should the Cubs honor a former NFL coach?

As long as we're hoping for things... I hope the Cubs post the first 173-0 season in major league history. I want them to not just win, but steamroll over everyone and everything in their path. Total domination, total annhilation, take no prisoners. I want other teams wetting themselves out of fear for the Cubs. But really, I just hope they make the playoffs and take care of things from there.

I thought for sure that homer was going to turn the game around. And it did, at least for a little while. But the Marlins kept chipping away and the Cubs couldn't answer. Rats.

I'm with you. I think the Cubs and Wood agree to throw out that option year and re-negotiate a new deal. But this only happens if Wood stays healthy after his return. Anything less and he's gone.

Smithe brothers are now running commercials saying they are NOT buying the naming rights and are not going to be re-naming Wrigley Field. But they accomplished their mission. There sure was a lot of talk about their little scheme.

You had me right until "penultimate." I don't think the word's even in the AP stylebook.

There are several other entities the Tribune could sell before it it would sell the Cubs. Why sell one of the more profitable arms of your corporation? because the Cubs are not a part of their core business. I think they would sell off some of their peripheral businesses and concentrate on what it is they do best, which is media. So... "We're going to sell off the Cubs, even though they're a big money maker for us. And we're sticking with what got us here--our newspapers, even though we're running into heavy competition with the Internet, which is draining our circulation. We're also keeping our local television stations across the country. Yes, there are more viewing options than ever before, but we think the WB is going to turn it all around for us." Selling the Cubs may stop the bleeding at Tribune Co. But it would only be temporary. The Cubs are not keeping the Trib afloat.lol They are a very small stream of revenue for a multi billion dollar corporation. Yes, I think they should concentrate on what it is they do best which is media, find new ideas to generate revenue from their CORE business, which does not include the Cubs. If they don't turn around their core business it really doesn't matter what the Cubs bring in. Also, WB is a blip on their screen. Newspapers are their business that is what they need to focus on. Incorporate the digital media, internet into their businessplan. Believe me, I understand what you're saying. I'm just incredibly skeptical it will happen. I think the Cubs are too closely affiliated with WGN-TV, WGN radio and--even though they hate to admit it--the Chicago Tribune to be sold off. Other entities will find their way to the chopping block before the Cubs do. I don't know that it is going to happen anytime soon, I am just making the case as to why they should do it, and why it may happen. Again the only thing that is slowing this down is the 450+ million dollar capital gain they would have to pay taxes on. Ah, yes, that little Capital Gains Tax thingie. Forgot about that one.

There are several other entities the Tribune could sell before it it would sell the Cubs. Why sell one of the more profitable arms of your corporation? because the Cubs are not a part of their core business. I think they would sell off some of their peripheral businesses and concentrate on what it is they do best, which is media. So... "We're going to sell off the Cubs, even though they're a big money maker for us. And we're sticking with what got us here--our newspapers, even though we're running into heavy competition with the Internet, which is draining our circulation. We're also keeping our local television stations across the country. Yes, there are more viewing options than ever before, but we think the WB is going to turn it all around for us." Selling the Cubs may stop the bleeding at Tribune Co. But it would only be temporary. The Cubs are not keeping the Trib afloat.lol They are a very small stream of revenue for a multi billion dollar corporation. Yes, I think they should concentrate on what it is they do best which is media, find new ideas to generate revenue from their CORE business, which does not include the Cubs. If they don't turn around their core business it really doesn't matter what the Cubs bring in. Also, WB is a blip on their screen. Newspapers are their business that is what they need to focus on. Incorporate the digital media, internet into their businessplan. Believe me, I understand what you're saying. I'm just incredibly skeptical it will happen. I think the Cubs are too closely affiliated with WGN-TV, WGN radio and--even though they hate to admit it--the Chicago Tribune to be sold off. Other entities will find their way to the chopping block before the Cubs do.

There are several other entities the Tribune could sell before it it would sell the Cubs. Why sell one of the more profitable arms of your corporation? because the Cubs are not a part of their core business. I think they would sell off some of their peripheral businesses and concentrate on what it is they do best, which is media. So... "We're going to sell off the Cubs, even though they're a big money maker for us. And we're sticking with what got us here--our newspapers, even though we're running into heavy competition with the Internet, which is draining our circulation. We're also keeping our local television stations across the country. Yes, there are more viewing options than ever before, but we think the WB is going to turn it all around for us." Selling the Cubs may stop the bleeding at Tribune Co. But it would only be temporary.

There are several other entities the Tribune could sell before it it would sell the Cubs. Why sell one of the more profitable arms of your corporation?

Walter E. Smithe spends a lot of money with all the media in Chicago. And to keep the Smithe dollars coming in, they're willing to play along with the little ruse--at least for a little while.