RynoRules

All in all, I don't think that this group is a bad bench. Of course, if injuries cause you to play some of these players as regulars, then you have a problem. True, but it would be nice to have somone who could get an extra base hit from the right side. Mark Sweeney was available.

Let me guess...either brother-in-law or sister-in-law..? "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." What does that make us?

What's this about?? It means watch your language. People have been using clever contractions and characters to represent words that are clearly stated in the NSBB Guidelines as inappropriate. Warnings, suspensions and bannings will follow if the behavior doesn't stop. Can we impose any such penalties on our beloved Cubbies? O:) We can most certainly impose them on you for using "cubbies" unless you are a hot (slutty) sorority girl. Well, for one I was being sarcastic, and second, this is a family site (though lately its been less than familial).

What's this about?? It means watch your language. People have been using clever contractions and characters to represent words that are clearly stated in the NSBB Guidelines as inappropriate. Warnings, suspensions and bannings will follow if the behavior doesn't stop. Can we impose any such penalties on our beloved Cubbies? O:)

How is she clearly guilty? Doesn't aggravated assault actually require some sort of actual assault? Two bad things come out of this situation. A) The stupid fan makes other fans look bad. B) Now the Jones apologists are trying to shift the discussion off of his horrendous play (mediocre hitting, brutal base running and poor defense add up to horrendous play) and onto fan treatment. There was next to no mention of his indefensible baserunning gaffe when Mike & Mike talked about this situation this morning. And the vast majority of the Jones talk in the papers this morning was about the idiot fan, and not his repeated pick-offs. I have yet to read or hear what Baker had to say about the pick-off, if he had anything to say at all. In short, I hate that fan for giving a bad name to drinking and having fun at the ballpark, for making Cubs fans look like idiots and for taking away from the conversation that should be going on, which is Jones costing his team with his pathetic baserunning. No offense, but with regard to what is an "assualt" and what is a "battery" under the law in IL, you don't know what you are talking about. Assault is the act of putting another person in imminent fear of being on the receiving end of a battery. A battery is any unwanted and harmful touching. "Aggravating factors" include the use of a weapon (like a stick or gun) or projectile (like a baseball). Thus, the bleacher lady appears to have been guilty of aggravated assault and attempted battery. It is also likely that she was guilty of drunk and disorderly conduct. Now that my legal treatise is at an end, let me be clear on my opinion. I am not a Jones apologist. If it had happened to Murton, my opinion would have been the same. The fans have the absolute right to boo Jones all they want, and given his penchant for mental gaffes, they should. But she crossed the line, and should be held responsible for her actions. In sum, I agree with your last paragraph.

My understanding is that he was hurt last year, which led to the nos. he put up. I am not surprised to see him playing better. He'll never be a 40 HR guy, but I wouldn't mind seeing his .400 OBP and 25 ding-dongs in our OF in place of Pierre's sub-.300 OBP.

If your entire team is going through a "bad stretch" its probably b/c they stink, not b/c they have bad luck.

She probably had a better arm than Jacque. Somebody had to say it. I know you are being sarcastic, but this is not funny and reflects badly on all of us. What's worse, she's clearly guilty of aggravated assualt and attempted battery, yet she will not be charged. Thus, this is likely to happen again.

Well done, Mr. Miles. Those quotes by Baker make me nuts. More freakin' excuses - its just bad luck. Accountability I say!

You don't get the game in Bloomington?

Wow...you're watching the standings? I stopped looking at those things after the 8 game losing streak. Its a disease, my friend. I can't give up on a miracle turn around. You know of what I speak.

Could we actually pikc up a game in the standings tonight? Where are the Hated Birds?

I wonder if Hendry threatened them with a post game spread catered by Hogie Hut.

I really didn't think he'd reach that point all season.

Robinson ought to demand that the Cubs' bats be x-rayed.

Yeah I am as depressed as anyone by this thread, but I can't see Koranka keeping this up.

I'll be the first to admit that I expected him to have at least a .340 OBP. While its not too late, I can't imagine him climbing beyond .325 at any point this year.

Now that my earlier prediction - if the Cubs were swept by SD Baker would be fired - has been proven wrong, I think I'll get on bd. with the ASB scenario. This of course is like a two year-old sucking his thumb, carrying his security blanket, and hoping for the best.

I really don't understand JR's point at all. I loath the Cards. Does this make me worthy?

This reminds me of an Anthony Hopkins' line in "Proof": "Crazy people don't sit around wondering if they're crazy."

He said the same thing in this morning's Trib, and no one called him out on it. Rogers even endorsed Baker.

To be fair, he is on record that he thinks Bonds is being attacked due to race.

Are we actually excited about Pie and Eric Patterson, two more Cub farm products that have shown absolutely no command of the strike zone and whose value is tied almost entirely to batting average? This organization -- and its worship of toolsy guys with no plate discipline -- disgusts me. I tend to agree, which is why I wouldn't blink if JH used those guys to get a an established hitter like a Dunn or Cabrera. Too late for Dunn now that they are contenders, but perhaps Cabrera could be had.

Poor management? Bad decision making? It's not like the Cubs have the market cornered on those two things. I am not saying that's not a possibility, but I think its less likely than my theory. I don't want to hijack this thread, but your argument implies that the majority of the trained pros making personnel decisions are "poor managers" and "bad decision makers". While I agree they exist, I have a hard time believing that this is true of 50% or more of them. My argument doesn't imply that at all. I said there are some teams that he could be starting for. A lot of teams already had players in place that were as good, if not better. Other teams have rookies that deserved a shot. There are plenty of reasons. But there are teams that he could be starting for. He also would have been a good insurance policy for some teams that were opening the season with rookies starting at 1B or DH. Florida, Tampa Bay, and Kansas City could use him. He certainly couldn't do any worse than Johnson has so far at first base for Oakland, although I think Johnson should be able to turn it around. LaRoche in Atlanta isn't exactly an All-Star. I honestly think he'd be good in a platoon at first base with Niekro in San Francisco. OK. I think he makes the most sense for a team like KC or TB, and San Fran is interesting idea as well. Actually he makes a lot of sense in San Fran.

Saw him lurking earlier.