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Adding Lofton would be redundant, we don't need another old CF with declining skills in the field and at the plate.

You sure showed him

We have scored more runs than anyone else in the league this year. Instead of letting our young, high upside CF get the playing time he really needs while we're scoring (while upgrading defensively anyway), we're going to sign an aging guy everyone hates. I really hope all the media reports are pure speculation and Hendry decides its not worth it. I've learned to not trust Hendry to make the logical move. I can't even enjoy a game where we walk a ton and score a bunch of runs.

"Reds manager Dusty Baker said the batting order was correct on the dugout board and on his scorecard. "The guys hit out of order, and it's my job to catch that," Baker said. "So I take full responsibility." The problem was the double switch a few innings earlier, apparently Patterson and Ross weren't aware of it.

I feel like the Mets messed this up. They should've let Patterson hit, then if he gets a hit, you say he hit out of order. It was Ross who hit out of order, not Patterson. Had Patterson led off the ninth, it would have been the correct order. I think he meant they should have let Patterson hit after Ross had made that out. Patterson was standing on deck getting ready to bat when the Mets came out after Ross' lineout to complain, which forced the Reds to bat Ross again. If Patterson makes an out, no big deal. If he gets a hit, then you go say he batted out of order and you get an out. By complaining, they allowed Ross to get back up there and single, instead of two guaranteed outs no matter what with Patterson up.

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet. Though Corey Patterson was supposed to be at the plate, David Ross batted out of order in the ninth inning of an 8-3 loss to the Mets on Sunday. Per MLB rules, Ross has to complete his at-bat to be ruled out, and the outcome of his at-bat is then discarded with no runners allowed to advance. The Mets allowed him to do so, and since he lined out to right there was little harm done. Ross was the batter listed in the order after Patterson, so he was forced to come back to the plate for his 'real' at-bat and Patterson was charged the out. Ross singled after returning to the batter's box. Typical Dusty Baker.

You're not upset that our best reliever is on pace for over 100 IP? There was no reason to use him in a game where we were up by 5 runs, even if he hasn't pitched much lately, he's pitched too much so far this year. The idea that he pitched in that situation to send a message to the bullpen is crazy. Wuertz and Howry aren't suddenly going to go on a hot streak and pitch better because Lou decided to use our best, overworked reliever incorrectly. I seriously doubt any rational reliever would get that impression.

may i suggest a calculator my bad, typed that out real fast before I went to class. 75% is actually his body fat percentage.

It think the OP made that pretty clear. But your "best" PH is usually put into particularly important situations. His failing almost 95% of the time is hurting us. He hasn't failed "almost "95% of the time" this year. He's still taken 7 walks in 23 PA, his OBP is at .348. So he's failed us almost 75% of the time. I agree he has been bad, and I doubt he'll put up another .900+ OPS off the bench, but I'm not too worried about him.

By the end of Dusty's contract, quotes like that won't amaze you.

Well, there goes any credibility you ever had.

I'm sure he'll remember it while watching Theriot suck against major league pitching on the bench this year.

Another vote for Steve Stone. This season will have more wrong opinions from him making its way onto sports radio for its idiot listeners.

You know, don't take the word of Cubs fans, as we are naturally pessimistic. If you need more testimonial about Johnny B. Dusty Baker, go ask Giants fans what they think of the man. I mean, Bruce does need some time in the minors, but to believe he will get a shot once he starts hitting well in AAA, is comical. Dusty Baker loves his veterans, hence the reason why Paul Bako, Corey Patterson, and Jerry Hairston, Jr were brought in. Look, I'm hoping Bruce is a stud for you guys, BUT, Baker never had a young player developed for him. Dusty ALWAYS needed established vets to make him look good. By the end of the yr, Dusty is going to make Reds fans impatient, and frustrated. uhh, why? As a Cub fan, I wish the exact opposite.

Well if that's not an oxymoron. It's not.

The idea of Theriot possibly getting the most PA on the team makes me sick.

Why would he want to bat Soto 8th?

Same here. I'd rather have Gallagher or Marshall in the rotation than Dempster.

Fuld isn't really more ready than Pie. He's older, but Pie has a lot more experience (and success) above A ball than Fuld does.

Fuld "gamed" his way to a .760 OPS in 335 AB at AA last year at 24 years old. I don't want this guy on the 25 man roster.

I'd rather Wuertz be the 4th RH reliever than Dempster. If we can't unload Dempster before the season starts, let him be the long man or pitch in mopup time.

few pages back

I don't think he's been hitting 96 regularly, just that he's been able to touch it on occasion. If he can sit in the 92-94 range I'd be pretty happy with that.

did Bruce get a black nose piercing?

No. No it has not been the one glaring need. Leadoff hitter is not a position, it's just a spot in the order that any of the 8 position players can fill. This team's most glaring need for a very long time has been walks, and players who are both willing and capable of taking them. A little more generally, they've lacked OBP. And to the extent that a new hitter can significantly improve the OBP by replacing somebody who is already here, that player would have considerable value to the Cubs. You're right, a big need for this ball club is OBP, and you're dead wrong if you think one of the other 8 guys on the team can fill this role. I think you need to take a step back to a few years ago, year 2003..... We took off once we got Kenny Lofton, and all he did for us was get on base, steal bases and play solid defense. I believe Roberts is the same type of player, considering his OBP was .377 last year. He is what will spark this team, it also allows us to move Soriano down, where he needs to be. He is clearly not a leadoff hitter. I know now you're going to come back at me with DeRosa's OBP, which is also very good at .371. I guess, for the less of another argument here, we can say thats even. The one thing, which I dont understand why even is saying does not matter is stolen bases. The guy had freaking 50 last year, good lord! We havent had that many stolen bases since Pierre, and he didnt even get on base. Stolen bases are huge, that will lead to more runs, more runners in scoring position. Roberts would be a huge asset to this team. I am also very confident that DeRosa can still play SS, just as good, if not better than Theriot. DeRosa came up as a SS, and he still has a spectacular glove, his range worries me a little, but I believe lots of work in the offseason will make him a solid SS. This trade makes the Cubs an even more potent offensive team. I hate to say this, but ask them White Sox how they won their World Series. They won it with OBP, stolen bases, and timely hitting, and great pitching. Our pitching is strong and will only get stronger, Roberts is a player that will make us stronger offensively. With him, well score more runs, hell score a butt load of runs, and our 3-5 hitters will drive in significantly more runs. They won because of solid pitching and a crap load of home runs. Their team OBP was .322. That's not all that great. But, they always had a man in scoring position, meaning they always had someone on base, and then stole a base. The stolen base seems to be forgotten in this sport now. The stolen base is a key category that not every team can posses. This team would be a lot more successful with a player like Roberts getting on base, stealing, and the scoring on a hit. They didn't always have someone on base. See their OBP stat. The stolen base is largely "forgotten" because the game has evolved beyond it in many ways due to how much hitting power has increased. Guys that are fast enough to steal a bunch of bases are almost as likely to score from 1st as 2nd if they're getting on in front of mashers. How is your "steals = more gooder" argument not just a carbon copy of someone's argument for Pierre being on this team? Speed kills, and it also bothers opposing pitchers, and could cause them to make mistakes. I don't understand how anyone can justify that Roberts is not a good leadoff hitter and wont help this team. The fact that anyone says this is just insane. You probably don't understand it because no one has said that.