erik316wttn

Two words. Contract. Year. 2002 was a contract year for him as well, and he was suprisingly less idiotic then, too, and took the Giants to the World Series. I don't buy that for a second. He has the tools to manage more effectively this year and is doing a fine job thus far! He had the tools in 2004 and 2005 as well. What happened then? Dusty is a below-average manager who pulled his head out of his butt long enough to try to get an extention (or a big contract somewhere else). Once he has it, you'll see the Dusty of old. Let's look at it this way. Dusty is good in his first year on the job, and in contract years. 1993: Won 103 games 2002: Got to the World Series 2003: Led Cubs to NLCS 2006: Looking pretty good so far. I think you should always be leery of someone who only performs at his absolute best once money is on the line. Dusty has given us very little to complain about this year, but where were these managerial smarts a few years ago?

Two words. Contract. Year. 2002 was a contract year for him as well, and he was suprisingly less idiotic then, too, and took the Giants to the World Series.

isn't it weird how as Cubs fans, the ump gets a call right, and we feel fortunate. the pitch to Barrett before the GS was a ball. I'm not sure which call you're referring to. bottom line is, pitches that Morgan describes as "acceptable" strikes went like this today: one corner call for Marshall against Pujols one corner call for Barrett against Izzy all others went the Cards way. The obvious bad call at 1st base that went the Cubs way is the one I was referring to. But, Murton was safe at 1st earlier in the game, but they called him out. I felt like it was a make up call. The Barrett pitch was definitely borderline, but there were a bunch of them that Marshall threw that I felt were strikes also. I thought Marshall was just getting the "rookie" treatment. Izzy and Rincon on the otherhand, weren't anywhere near the strike zone when they missed, so the ump apparently didn't feel like being generous to them. the beauty of TIVO. I watched all the close calls on the bases tonight in super slow mo, and the first base ump got them all right. I was peeved too at the Lee and Murton calls, but he got them right. on Cedeno's, the throw did beat him, but Pujols came off the bag for just one quick blink. enough time for Ronny to get his foot on the bag. Yeah, but I am still a bit peeved about that strike 3 call on Slappy, where he should had asked for 3rd baseman umpire's help. And I honestly believe that Pierre didn't go around. He didn't. Replay showd it.

Just once I'd like to see a 1-2-3 inning after a big scoring output like that. Just once.

Do you bring in Dempster or save him?

Murton slumping since the homer on Opening Day. Hope Dusty still stays with him.

Oh, what a day. Gonna sweep the Cards, got Barrett on my fantasy team, going to see Monday Night Raw tomorrow... Life is good.

Got lucky there. Looked like strike 3 to me.

Come on, Barrett! Please don't suck!

Izzy has Rick Ankiel disease right now.

Do you still pitch to Lee now? Looks like maybe the "unintentional-intentional walk" to set up the DP.

Good eye, Todd. Now they gotta pitch to Lee.

And the ESPN announcers are STILL talking about the check swing, even though Rolen got picked off.

But if the fans boo then it might hurt someone's feelings. :roll:

That happened at least one other time this series, right?

Such a BS call.

Mabry with the PH single.

Just got home. 3-run homer for Jones, huh? Nice way to get his first Cubs hit. Come on, guys.

I think it's just overall frustration with the franchise vented toward one player. When I watched Cub games as a kid, I NEVER, not a single time heard the fans boo an individual player. A few times if the team really stunk up the place, there would be a general boo directed at the team. Even that was rare. Now, since about 2001 or so, since the current generation of fans got a taste of winning, they expect it. They're sick of seeing losers, and I can't say I blame them. They see a team with a $100 million payroll going 79-83 and expect better. They're sick of seeing mediocre players get bloated contracts to be terrible. If enough fans would vote with their wallet, then you'd see payroll cut, and it would give the Tribune an opportunity to be cheap again. If you boo, you voice your displeasure.

No, Ponson isn't a soft-tossing rookie. Gotta work the count today. That being said, Ponson goes 8 and throws 80 pitches.

Quoted for truth.

It's his contract year, is it not? As Charley Finley once said "Give me 25 players in their contract year, and I'll win you the World Series."

The Brewers are on the cusp. They'll be serious division contenders next year, or at the latest the year after.

Isn't that the way it usually works? The superstar player goes 0-fer, and some benchwarming scrub has the best 3 games of his life.

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