gflore34

Soft tossing lefty = every pitch on the outside 1/3 of the plate, you think one of the Cubs would notice this and look to go the opposite field.

Read a little blurb about Nic Collison in Sam Smith's Trib article, I don't find any utility in getting Collison. They need a legitimate low post threat, someone who will draw a double team every time he gets the ball in the paint.

If they scored 5 off Hill imagine how much they are going to score off of Marshall, who doesn't have the stuff Hill has? I'm more apprehensive about whether the Cubs can get to Wells, they sure as heck should. Hill made a few mistakes that the Padres happened to hit, looking at their lineup though, its average to poor. If Marshall can hit his spots and keep ahead in the count there's no reason he shouldn't be able to shut them down.

Hey, you make 57 starts over a three-season period, you don't get your photo taken with Aniston. It's in the rules. :) yeah, he looks pretty depressed back there. Actually, I think he looks like he is trying to not look at her ass. I believe you're correct, actually I commend his constraint, I, quite probably, would have been unable to show such constraint.

this is not going to end well. i can see it now; miller starting and marshall in the pen. :pukel: Marshall is going to fifth start until Demps takes over according to this mornings trib. From bad to worst. Dumb on every level. I agree, if I properly recall, Marshall had problems with pitch location along with pitching behind in the count. Which is, as we know, Dempster' career MO, just don't get how this move is going to help. Why not let Guzman remain the 5th starter, send down Cotts and call up Pignatiello?

That's the part that makes me chuckle. 8 freaking RBI's? That's terrible! His defense hasn't been all that bad. How many assist's does he have 5-6 already? His arm has been fine. His glove and his routes are terrible. I'm willing to bet that his defensive play has negated the OF assists as far as runs scored go. And 8 RBI on May 22 is pretty lousy. True. His routes are terrible. I still can't get over the 8 RBI's...Unreal! Who would've thought that Sammy Sosa would be more productive at this point in the season. Oh man... I'm not surprised, typical Cub, if something bad can happen, it will, if a player who has put big numbers is going to struggle, he will.

Given DeRosa was on deck why not make the Sox execute by sending "speedster" Pagan? Are we certain that it's not Baker in a Piniella costume in the Cub dugout?

It's a shame but, I believe Wood and Prior, for that matter, are done with Baseball as active players.

Problem is, he's been so bad that you just cannot pitch him in close games. How can you have a guy on the team who can't play except in games that become a joke? With a competitive team, that's wasting a roster spot that could be used to win close games. With a bad team (i.e., this one), it's wasting a spot that could be used to test minor leaguers for next year. That's fine and all, but a release just forces the Cubs to pay him to play for somebody else, and will probably cause them to go out and spend on another inconsistent reliever. The key word here is inconsistent. It's not like Eyre is Neifi Perez where you can count on him to suck day in and day out. They shouldn't have signed him to that deal, but unless you can trade him away, you are probably better off trying to get him to work through the struggles. Nobody in the minors is an obvious candidate to do better. The Cubs are stuck. Hendry made the mess and they really can only try and right the ship, or cut bait at the deadline. Releasing Eyre solves nothing right now aside from appeasing an angry fan base. It would be a move based on emotion rather than one where there's an obvious improvement to the team. if used properly i think that either pignatello or rapada would do a much better job than eyre. Add Cherry to the to the above list, he and Pignatiello have, at the very least, shown the ability to throw strikes - Cherry yet to issue a BB in 9 and a third IP, Pignatiello only 3 BB's in a combined 15 and a third IP(West Tenneesee and Iowa). Marmol, despite being used primarily as a starter, may be an option as well.

In the long run this Series will improve the Bulls, I believe the Bulls are definitely on their way up. Now, if they could find a way to get a legitimate low post threat or score Kevin Garnett this offseason - bye, bye Pistons (who are nearing end of their run anyway).

I was hoping, at the very least, this morning, to read about Eyre mysteriously coming up lame and Marmol or Cherry called up.

Bingo! Despite, the missed DP opportunities, if Dempster doesn't issue two BB's the Cubs quite probably win the game. In fact, if anyone in the Bullpen could throw strikes, there's a good chance the Cubs would have taken 3 of 4 from the Mets.

That is one impressive Avatar...

I don't know if that'll be helpful, doesn't Marmol have trouble throwing strikes as well?

Nor can he throw strikes, never has, never will, the unfortunate fact is, save for a few rare instances, the bullpen as whole pitches behind in count. Every single one of them...

Once again BB's, BB's f***ing BB's lead to a Cubs loss, honestly, I don't care who it is or what's stuff he's got, I want someone coming out of the bullpen throwing strikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohman effective? What the heck is going on today?!

Seriously, is it permissible to fine a player for not taking at least two pitches when facing someone like Vargas? Surely, Perry must have told them - look this guy got nothing to fool you with nor, can he throw the ball past you, take some pitches. He'll fall behind in the count and then set it on a tee for you.

They can, from time to time, they just have a bad approach at the plate that causes them to look completely impotent. I thought this Perry dude was supposed to change that somewhat. I don't see that much of a change. We hit the good pitchers but still get owned by lefties and make no namers look like Cy Young. I still can't belive that Sosa kid 1 hit us yesterday. Its disgusting. Not only lefties but, complete garbage lefties like Vargas.

Let's see, Vargas BP tossing lefty - check, issues a BB every other inning - check -- Cubs see 17 pitches in two innings - check

Why is that every Joe Schmoe reliever some pitching desperate team decides to convert to starter and throw against the Cubs ends up completely dominating them? It's works every BLOODY time!!!!!!! I'm convinced Ohman, Erye and Howry could shut the Cubs down, Hendry ought to trade them to the Reds so we could confrim this...

I've got a novel idea how about Z directing all that "fire" and "intensity" towards pitching ahead in count? This would be a refreshing change from the usual falling behind every hitter including the bat boy, getting ripped and PO'ed.

I'd really like to believe a Zambrano miracle will occur such as scoreless first inning let alone, keeping the Cubs in game. However, the realist in me says Zambrano puts the Cubs in a 3 run hole (along with issuing 3 BB's) after the first.

Hill - first pitch strikes to 7 of the first 8 batters faced - are you watching "Ace"?

Despite the one-sidedness of the series I believe the Bulls are close, adding a serious low post threat in the off season should be priority 1 for Paxson. If he's able to successfully do so while retaining one of Deng or Gordon, they'll have a real good chance to advance further in the playoffs.