RynoRules

I fully agree, but it won't be for any legitimate reason. He's being railroaded by the coaching staff; Lou is determined to destroy this kid's confidence. This is an incredible overreaction. It should be bronzed and placed in the Overreaction Hall of Fame.

Lilly's struggles concern me as much as Hill's, if not more. Lilly was up in the zone most of the night. He's not walking people so much as he's throwing weak stuff.

How exactly has he handled Pie "brutally"? The guy has been hurt for 3 of the dozen games, and has started the majority of the others.

I hadn't heard about the Baldelli diagnosis. What was it? Per Rotoworld on March 12: Rocco Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely due to metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities that leave him feeling extremely fatigued after even brief workouts. Baldelli was on the verge of tears several times while discussing the details of what he called a life-threatening condition. "As far as my baseball career I'm not here to stand in front of you telling you I'm retiring,'' Baldelli said. "We're still going pursue any avenue that we can to try to figure out what is going on and have a better understanding of what is going on. But at this time throughout all of the extensive testing that we've done, we don't have a concrete answer." He'll be placed on the disabled list to start the season, and his career seems in jeopardy if Doctors can't diagnose the problem. Wow. I hope doctors can find out what it is and at least treat it. That has to be the worst feeling a pro athlete can possibly have.

I've posted some of the same complaints when it comes to Lou over Dusty. I'm not a supporter of Dusty, but when push comes to shove, Lou usually goes for the veteran just like Dusty. Also, for all of the complaining about Hendry, a lot of these decisions were made in the dugout or at the request of the manager. I like Lou, but it seems like he has a teflon coating when it comes to criticism. Yeah, Lou isn't the guy who benches players who don't deserve PT like people have said. I haven't been that impressed. He benched Izturis last season. Not that this was genuis work, just sayin'.

I've posted some of the same complaints when it comes to Lou over Dusty. I'm not a supporter of Dusty, but when push comes to shove, Lou usually goes for the veteran just like Dusty. Also, for all of the complaining about Hendry, a lot of these decisions were made in the dugout or at the request of the manager. I like Lou, but it seems like he has a teflon coating when it comes to criticism. Not sure that I agree with that. Dusty had it easy after the first year too because he nearly had them in the WS the year before. if this year's club does something similar, I think the media's gloves will come off. For now, most of the criticism I have heard and read has been directed at Jim.

Marquis was thisclose from being moved to the pen before the season started. He pitched his way back into the starting rotation in spring. If he starts to stink up the joint, he's not starting. Exactly. Plus I still think they want to trade him (hopefully for another bat) which will be harder to do if he is not beinh "showcased" in the rotation. As long as he pitches well he can stay there all season for all I care. I'd prefer it were Marshall or Gallagher, but under the circumstances I "get it".

Oy vey. I don't like reading that he is "aiming". I hope this really is just a blip on the screen and he is back in the rotation very soon.

so because people here wanted brad wilkerson, ryan theriot is good. a bit of a stretch perhaps, but i'm on board. Still trolling my posts, eh? the problem isn't me, it's you. if you want me to stop replying to your posts, stop posting stuff that doesn't make sense. Oh, I see - you are the arbitor of what "makes sense". Ok, I'll play along: Truffle's point was nearly (if not exactly) the same as mine - how come you did not respond to him?

Agreed - I'd pull Lilly before Hill, but something tells me this has to do with finances more than anything.

so because people here wanted brad wilkerson, ryan theriot is good. a bit of a stretch perhaps, but i'm on board. Still trolling my posts, eh? Point of my post was that just b/c some or all of us love a guy doesn't mean the decision not to acquire him was a bad one. As I said, I loved Schmidt and wanted him badly, but in hindsight am glad we did not get him.

Sizemore. The rare superstar talent complimented by matinee idol good looks. Plus he's gritty.

I think Ronny will force Lou's hand. That's the difference with Lou - he will pull you if you stink and he has another option.

I don't usually do this, but: :roll: 1) I never said he should be benched; 2) Comparing him to Aramis and Fukudome is stupid. Roll your eyes all you want. I didn't directly compare him to either player...simply pointing out that "something might need to be done" (and what that possibly means besides playing him less, I have no idea) about a productive and generally reliable player having a couple of unfortunately costly errors this early in the season is pretty much an exercise in futility. Then it looks like you missed the point of my post. If he becomes a butcher at 2B what do we do? I dunno, I am just asking. i guess you bench him. which is what everyone said at first, but you didn't like that. i don't know what you want. All that I "want" is to have a discourse on baseball without dumb, ad hominem commentary. Like I said above, you can't simply bench a productive hitter when you have a lineup like this one. I think its worth keeping an eye on.

I don't usually do this, but: :roll: 1) I never said he should be benched; 2) Comparing him to Aramis and Fukudome is stupid. Roll your eyes all you want. I didn't directly compare him to either player...simply pointing out that "something might need to be done" (and what that possibly means besides playing him less, I have no idea) about a productive and generally reliable player having a couple of unfortunately costly errors this early in the season is pretty much an exercise in futility. Then it looks like you missed the point of my post. If he becomes a butcher at 2B what do we do? I dunno, I am just asking. And do me a favor, if you don't agree with something I post or have a contrary opinion, just respond as such. Save your sacrcasm for someone else. Why can't I be sarcastic? It's not like it's a complex question. If he becomes a defensive wreck, the Cubs have to replace him. If it's just straight answers, the thread was over before it started. Oh I get it, sarcasm is necessary for every thread that you deem unworthy. Forgive me for trying to start a conversation - there are plenty of threads that get started and go nowhere. If you feel this should be one of them, then simply ignore it. I think his defensive struggles thus far this year are interesting insomuch as they were not expected. Moreover, if he does become a wreck, it puts us in a very strange spot since he is a productive hitter.

I don't usually do this, but: :roll: 1) I never said he should be benched; 2) Comparing him to Aramis and Fukudome is stupid. Roll your eyes all you want. I didn't directly compare him to either player...simply pointing out that "something might need to be done" (and what that possibly means besides playing him less, I have no idea) about a productive and generally reliable player having a couple of unfortunately costly errors this early in the season is pretty much an exercise in futility. Then it looks like you missed the point of my post. If he becomes a butcher at 2B what do we do? I dunno, I am just asking. And do me a favor, if you don't agree with something I post or have a contrary opinion, just respond as such. Save your sacrcasm for someone else.

I don't usually do this, but: :roll: 1) I never said he should be benched; 2) Comparing him to Aramis and Fukudome is stupid.

...is looking ugh-lee. (see what I did there?) IIRC, he's already cost us a couple of runs via a couple of gaffes in the field. If this continues, what to do?

Last year, Jason Kendall, Ryan Therito, Cliff Floyd/Jacque Jones were everyday starters for a contending team. If Soriano, Aram, DLee, Fukudome, Soto and DeRo hit like they are capable of then you can live with a starting CF learning the ropes playing great defense. Theriot on the other hand doesnt bring defense or offense to the table, but the Cubs could still be contenders with both of them in the lineup. However, an upgrade at SS would make things much much easier, while letting the organizations top prospect play defense and provide what offense he can. Pie has shown an uncanny ability to make adjustments at every level hes been on when hes been given a chance to fight thru his struggles, and Im praying the Cubs are patient enough to let him see if he can make the adjustments at this level. OK, so you agree with me. Thanks. No, it looks like he disagrees, since he said they can be contenders with both in the lineup. All he said is that an upgrade of SS would make it easier. Oh, ok, so we can be contenders with both in the NL Central, which, to quote a phrase that is real popular around here, "is like being the tallest midget". The NL Central may be better than many of us previously thought. I agree, but Keener's argument was based in part on the fact that we contended in last year's NL Central, which really wasn"t much to write home about. If it is true that the NL Central is better this year (and it seems clear that it will be), then we need to be that much better to win it.

Last year, Jason Kendall, Ryan Therito, Cliff Floyd/Jacque Jones were everyday starters for a contending team. If Soriano, Aram, DLee, Fukudome, Soto and DeRo hit like they are capable of then you can live with a starting CF learning the ropes playing great defense. Theriot on the other hand doesnt bring defense or offense to the table, but the Cubs could still be contenders with both of them in the lineup. However, an upgrade at SS would make things much much easier, while letting the organizations top prospect play defense and provide what offense he can. Pie has shown an uncanny ability to make adjustments at every level hes been on when hes been given a chance to fight thru his struggles, and Im praying the Cubs are patient enough to let him see if he can make the adjustments at this level. OK, so you agree with me. Thanks. No, it looks like he disagrees, since he said they can be contenders with both in the lineup. All he said is that an upgrade of SS would make it easier. Oh, ok, so we can be contenders with both in the NL Central, which, to quote a phrase that is real popular around here, "is like being the tallest midget".

Last year, Jason Kendall, Ryan Therito, Cliff Floyd/Jacque Jones were everyday starters for a contending team. If Soriano, Aram, DLee, Fukudome, Soto and DeRo hit like they are capable of then you can live with a starting CF learning the ropes playing great defense. Theriot on the other hand doesnt bring defense or offense to the table, but the Cubs could still be contenders with both of them in the lineup. However, an upgrade at SS would make things much much easier, while letting the organizations top prospect play defense and provide what offense he can. Pie has shown an uncanny ability to make adjustments at every level hes been on when hes been given a chance to fight thru his struggles, and Im praying the Cubs are patient enough to let him see if he can make the adjustments at this level. OK, so you agree with me. Thanks.

Here's the thing, and I know this is NOT Felix's fault: You can't have two position players stinking it up all year and expect to be a contender. Felix's likely year-long struggle will be tolerable if Hendry does something about the SS situation. I suspect he know's this.

Umm, hes played since being beaned. Yes, I know. I didn't say it was broken -- just sore enough that they're holding him out. It would be the absolute wrong move to have him gut it out through pain in his hand, putting additional pressure on him if he doesn't perform. I'm surprised they let him play the day after that. Im not saying you are wrong Tim, but Im yet to see this anywhere else but from you. What can I say? Sometimes I hear things through email. Nothing I would put a tremendous amount of faith in except for the fact that it seems really logical. It does seem logical but what seems more logical from the Cubs is he didnt produce for 4 games so we are playing the veteran And what seems even more logical is that - based on your comments - you are hell-bent on making a logical leap and concluding that the Cubs have given up on him, in spite of the fact that: - He was beaned and is hurt - The Cubs did not and have not pursued another everyday CFer - He has been the starter in CF since Day 1 this season - The Cubs outright refused to trade him this past offseason, even though evidence suggests that including him in a package with other players would have greased the skids in the Roberts talks.

we'd be looking great with ray durham at 2b, jd drew in rf and jason schmidt in the starting rotation I wanted Schmidt, so I have to eat crow on that one.

Yeah, I forgot about the Ray Durham and JD Drew love. But there's also the immortal Brad Wilkerson. Glad we don't have him either.