gflore34

Sure it makes sense but, not with someone who has trouble consistently getting his bat on the ball, let alone bunt. Quite probably the dumbest move Lou has made this year.

While its good move for the Cardinals it's not the slam dunk the acquisition of Halladay would have been.

The good news is, Balester is a top 100 ranked prospect and this year is the #3 ranked prospect in the Nationals' system. He's at least a prospect with a lot of talent. And what about that whole never having faced a pitcher therefore, can't touch him thing? Or, does that only happen against the Cubs?

Just K Hill you'll do more damage by putting the ball in play.

Can't blame Z, when you've got your garbage SS giving the opposition 3+ outs.

I loathe Theriot' lack of range, noodle arm and just general lack of fundamental SS play.

Well, today the Cubs face a softball pitcher and even though it quite probably won't make a difference I'd still like to see Jake Fox in the lineup. Be at C or 3B, preferably C - if you're not going to score any runs then, what difference does defense make anyway?

Everyone keeps talking about Ibanez vs. Bradley, I eefing guarantee you, if Ibanez was signed he'd be in the midst of the worst season of his career and the Cubs would be exactly where they are. That's the way it works, it's the Cubs.

I believe there's little to no chance of that happening, I 'm shooting for the Cubs not being completely out the game by the third. Actually, there is a sizable chance of that happening. Harden's at his best this year in road night games. I think his ERA is 1.5 or something then. EDIT: it's 2.13 I like evening-road Hardens chances against Blanton, whose definded mediocrity throughout his career. If we cant touch Blanton up for some runs, than the Washington series truely was a fluke. Wasn't this the case last night? Heck, Lopez isn't even mediocre, I'm thinking the Washington series was a fluke, I hope not but, that's what I'm thinking.

I believe there's little to no chance of that happening, I 'm shooting for the Cubs not being completely out the game by the third.

I don't see Hester and co. giving Harris and Woodson problems at all this year. And to defend what you are saying, Mike and Mike did a segment I belive every tuesday called "Just Shut Up". I do remember that. You don't believe having a QB who can actually hit a receiver in stride isn't going to make a bit of difference?

He's hurt. I don't even know why they keep throwing him out there each week at this point. He's going on 5 days rest and thus far, on 5 days rest he's been less terrible than on 4 days rest, don't know if that offers any encouragement.

We're facing Walter Johnson? That's no good. Especially considering he'd probably pitch every game of the series. :D If it was Walter Johnson you're probably correct but, I don't think that'll be the case with Lannan.

I knew it! Along with finally finding the Zodiac Killer!!! Somehow I knew he and Jack the Ripper were the same person.

As long as we face him, it shouldn't really matter Well, yes, if the Cubs do face him it shouldn't matter.

And, of course, the Cubs face the Senators' ace right out of the shoot. I swear any other team in baseball, most especially the Cardinals, wouldn't have to face Lannan until the last game of the series, if at all. But, seriously, this should be the only game the Cubs may lose.

IS THERE ANYTHING HE WON'T DESTROY?!? The second image, Manson family?

2008: 4 days: 2.53 5 days: 1.24 6+ days: 2.47 career: 4: 3.77 5: 3.61 6+: 2.78 Wow, given this it would seem the smart move, beyond DLing him and surgery, would be to makle certain he's goes on 6+ days rest for the remainder of the season. But, then again, when have our Cubbies ever been sharp in their handling of players?

Correct if I'm wrong but, I heard (it may have been from Steve Stone some time ago) that a tell tale sign of a pitcher being injured is not so much velocity as it is lack of control and movement. If true, that certain applies to Harden.

Love the bolded Amen brother, at least he didn't shower them with false praise being diplomatic and all. Screw the Cardinals.

Wasn't Hart recently optioned out? If so, I believe Marshall may be in the rotation.

Hope: They'll play some consistently good baseball, has yet to happen, if it does, the Cardinals, Brewers, et al will be in the rear view mirror. Expectations: Well it's the Cubs so, I expect the worst and hope for the best that being said, I'd expect: 1. Soriano to continue slumping in fact, to go homer-less until the last week of season on his way to setting career lows in BA, HR, RBI and a career high in K's 2. Ramirez DL'ed for the remainder of the season within 10 or so games of the second half 3. Soto to never regain his ROY form 4. Fukudome to continue slumping, more Fuku-copters to come 5. Lee to hit the DL with neck spasms 6. Dempster because, he's a Cub, to take far longer than normal to return from a broken toe 7. Basically everything that's gone wrong to continue doing so and somehow get worse while of course, Albert Pujols and the Lilliputians win the WS

It's very frustrating watching him struggle against the likes of Thurston, Ryan i.e., average to poor hitters. I really wish the Cubs would wake up and DL him, put him under the knife, fix or try to fix what's broken and go from there. I'm thinking he'll a cheap sign on the mend and could pay off big time.

I've thought for a while that he just needs some time off. He's gone through slumps before but never anything like this. I guess it's possible that he's falling off a cliff with his hitting, but I don't think that's likely. If he had dropped 50 points off his OPS, I'd be more likely to believe that he's just getting older, but 170 points just seems too extreme. With how he's hitting, it's not like he's helping the team all that much so I don't see the big deal with sending him to the 15-day DL, giving him two weeks off and bringing him back to see what he can do then. As far as I'm concerned, a DL stint can't result in anything bad. If he continues to suck, well, it's the same production that he's giving now. But if it helps him, then he might actually start to help the team offensively. Why isn't it possible for a guy like Soriano to fall off a cliff? I mean, I would think somebody like him, with a horrible approach at the plate, no discipline at all, reliant on god given ability almost exclusively, would be a prime candidate for cliff diving once his body starts to give out on him. He's approaching his mid 30's and getting injured frequently, and somewhat flukishly. That's what happens to dudes after 30. I think the injuries are much more of a symptom than a cause for struggles. They are the injuries of a tightly muscled dude who is no longer 28 years old. You might want to read a little better. I didn't say that it wasn't possible for him to fall off a cliff, I just said it wasn't all that likely (i.e. still possible) for that his drop off would be as extreme as it has been this year. It doesn't help that he's been playing on a gimpy knee either, why not DL him and give him a chance to get healthy. And take Harden with him

I've thought for a while that he just needs some time off. He's gone through slumps before but never anything like this. I guess it's possible that he's falling off a cliff with his hitting, but I don't think that's likely. If he had dropped 50 points off his OPS, I'd be more likely to believe that he's just getting older, but 170 points just seems too extreme. With how he's hitting, it's not like he's helping the team all that much so I don't see the big deal with sending him to the 15-day DL, giving him two weeks off and bringing him back to see what he can do then. As far as I'm concerned, a DL stint can't result in anything bad. If he continues to suck, well, it's the same production that he's giving now. But if it helps him, then he might actually start to help the team offensively. Why isn't it possible for a guy like Soriano to fall off a cliff? I mean, I would think somebody like him, with a horrible approach at the plate, no discipline at all, reliant on god given ability almost exclusively, would be a prime candidate for cliff diving once his body starts to give out on him. He's approaching his mid 30's and getting injured frequently, and somewhat flukishly. That's what happens to dudes after 30. I think the injuries are much more of a symptom than a cause for struggles. They are the injuries of a tightly muscled dude who is no longer 28 years old. You might want to read a little better. I didn't say that it wasn't possible for him to fall off a cliff, I just said it wasn't all that likely (i.e. still possible) for that his drop off would be as extreme as it has been this year. It doesn't help that he's been playing on a gimpy knee either, why not DL him and give him a chance to get healthy.