Chris

Jaxx win! A sweep for the Minor League system!

The Florida Mudcats, er, Marlins, are 5 wins behind the Cubs, with a payroll what, $75 million less than ours?

To the 9th, Jaxx up 3-1

Cedeno=tied for the team lead in hits in May

Ron was gracious enough to answer my question about Sing during the broadcast tonight. Brandon was told that he has "dry eyes" and has been given some drops to help it.

I've seen it all

The Jaxx had no trouble with Carolina

Yay, lost another to Carolina

wow

:lol: & :(

Q & A With Andy Shipman Do you think the "Closer's Mentality" is real or a myth? Meaning, do you believe you have to possess a certain level of intestinal fortitude to be a successful closer? You gotta have a different makeup in your head, you gotta have a different mindset. It definitely takes a lot to go out there day after day. You can go out there one time and get the job done but to be successful everytime you go out is tough. It’s a different game, it’s the end of the game and you have to have a different mentality. You definitely have to have that intestinal fortitude to go out there and get it done. At one point in 2005 you had not given up a long ball in 50 innings. Could you tell us what pitches you throw and how often you rely on them? I throw a 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The situation dictates the pitch selection. I throw the 2 seam and changeup more to lefties and my curveball and slider to right handers. My 4-seam is pretty much my get ahead pitch and sometimes my put away pitch elevated or out of the zone. Usually the fastball to get ahead and the offspeed to get guys out. Having pitched in the Red Sox organization, can you outline the differences between them and the Cubs philosophically (i.e throwing programs, off day routines, etc.)? The Cubs are more I guess you could say throws. The Red Sox are more time. You go out and throw a 15 minute long toss or a 15 minute side session. I like the Cubs a little bit better. When did you move to the bullpen, and what (or who) made that decision for you? My first professional outing was a start and it didn’t go so well. That was when I went to the bullpen and after that it kinda stuck. What's life like in a bullpen during the first few innings of a game, and does it change as the innings pass and the possibility of pitching moves into the pitchers' minds? You talk about the game, talk about the hitters. You talk about all kinds of stuff and there’s all kinds of stories going on out there. How difficult was it being in a military family and having had to move to various locations as far as being able to play baseball and new teammates/friends every couple of years? I liked it actually; it wasn’t very hard at all. I liked that I got to go and play on new teams and get to see new leagues and new types of baseball from the east coast to the west coast and the Midwest. I got to meet new people and liked it. Simple question: Are you a closer at the major league level? I don’t think so. Relief man? Long relief? Short relief? Set-Up Man? Some kind of relief. Actually, I think I could close at the Major Leagues. Will someone let me close? I don’t know. Tough Question: Better organization: Cubs or Red Sox? I have to say the Cubs. If you were to compare yourself to a pitcher in the major leagues, who would it be and why? Matt Clement. I like the way he throws. I’ve watched him a lot and I’ve got some pitch selections from him and the way he goes about things. I’m not saying I throw like him but I throw similar to him. If you could choose a killer closer song, what would it be? Thunderstruck, AC/DC Expanding upon the "closer's mentality" question, do you feel any difference while pitching in a blowout vs. a 1-run save situation? I don’t. How often do you have to "energize" yourself when you enter a game that is already lopsided? Never. When you're on the road, does the music played as each opposing batter steps into the box ever annoy a pitcher or do most block that out? I never usually hear their songs because I’m not paying attention. After pitching 4 games in the SAL, what was your first offseason as a professional baseball player like? Focused. It wasn’t very good so therefore I thought I had a lot of work to do to get to where I wanted to be. First offseason job? My first offseason job was at a grocery store names Gerb’s. I was a cashier at Gerb’s and also did lessons. I still do lessons in the offseason. I always had an odd job in the offseason. Are you guys aware of the devotion of cub fans to the minor league system? Definitely, they’re everywhere. I think the interest among cub fans in the farm system has increased over the last couple years, and I was wondering if you guys noticed it. I notice it, except for in Jackson, Tennessee. They weren’t very devout. What led you down the path to becoming a pitcher? Ever since I was a little kid. I got in to little league late and my dad was my coach in all sports when I was a little kid. I threw hard when I was a little kid and therefore they put me on the mound and that got me going as a pitcher. What do you think you need to work on the most in order to become a successful major leaguer? Consistency. In what area? Not just throwing strikes, but throwing quality strikes and getting the ball where I want it everytime. I read a great interview with you on the Minor League Baseball website. In the article it said that you were upset for the first time after not getting drafted in the 2003 draft, despite the fact that you were projected to be selected in the early middle rounds. How did you use that as motivation and does not getting selected still motivate you today? It does. It was kind of a setback. I wasn’t expecting to go high in the draft, I just expected to go in the draft at that time. To not go in the draft whatsoever kind of lit a fire under me when I went to the Alaskan League and pitched well up there and got a chance to sign with the Red Sox. I’ve always had a little bit of a chip. I got setback. I didn’t get any money to sign. I mean, I got more than I should have as a free agent to sign but no money to put in the bank, therefore I’m working odd jobs in the offseason doing odd-end jobs. I’m trying to make it, trying to prove that I should be there. Did any of the organizations give an explanation when they didn’t draft you? The Dodgers. The Scout with the Dodgers had said that they were trying to sign me but they couldn’t. They were trying to draft me but the health board had crossed my name entirely out of the draft because of my eye. If you could have the stuff of any the Cubs pitchers that have been at Iowa this year, who would it be? What if you could have a pitch from one pitcher, and a different pitch from another pitcher? Rich Hill’s curveball, J.K’s changeup, Guzman’s fastball, Watson’s split and I think I’d be doing just fine. Biggest goal as the season progresses? Our biggest goal is to reach the playoff and start winning consistently. We know that we can win and that we can play well. We just need to go out and do it.

More competence in the Minor Leagues

Totally agree.

Randy Wells is worth adding to the discussion. Randy is sporting a 1.57 ERA in 34.1 IP with a .90 WHIP. Steven Jackson who is third in SL ERA only has 3 more IP that Randy at this time. I'm not ready to label Brandon Sing as a disappointment. He's been at a disadvantage all season with his vision troubles. If Brandon is putting up those numbers at 100% I'd be concerned. Hopefully they'll be able to figure out the problem tomorrow when he gets evaluated.

Too bad the Jaxx are on the road next week :(

Randy Wells with another good outing. If my numbers are right, he's given up 6 ER in 34.1 IP with a 27/6 K/BB ratio.

We have an interview with Pie from Nashville earlier this month that we're in the process of completing. He does address plate disciple in one of his responses. Hopefully we can get that interview posted this week.

He was put on the DL before the game (Thanks, Ron) with a strained pec muscle. He'll be out at least a week.

Greenberg Patterson Lewis Moore Sing Negron (CF) Richie Rojas Wells

Negron starting for the Jaxx today

Welcome to the forum!

Barrett took care of that.

Welcome!

We win

I mentioned this in another thread, but I was able to visit with Brandon after the game tonight. Brandon is still having trouble with his vision and will be getting looked at next week. Brandon is a great guy, I hate that he's going through this.