BigbadB

Once the Cubs win, I will disappear into the night, forever. For I am only a bandwagon jumper.

Hopefully the Cubs have a 4 game lead going into the last series and they can rest Lilly and Z. But, Marquis should be alright for that game. Who will Milwaukee be starting in that one?

Nah, Zimmerman probably deserves it, though Aramis deserves way more consideration than he'll actually get. Zimmerman has nearly twice as many errors.

Speaking of Aramis, who will beat him out for the gold glove this year? He deserves it.

I thought they were just rolling over on purpose for the Brewers. Weird. Between Pence slamming the wall hard and staying in the game to get the game winning hit and Brandon Backe busting a hump rounding 2nd and sliding head first into 3rd, Houston was most certainly not just laying down in this game. Backe pinch ran for Orlando Palmeiro after OP walked, and it led to the game winning run.

Aramis wasn't exactly a stud defensive 3b when he first came up. In 2003, he was having a horrible season defensively until he got to Chicago. Sure glad he wasn't pulled for defensive purposes in 2003.

I believe the Brewers were winning. They took Braun out for defensive purposes. But, you need to ask Ender these questions. I was watching the Cub game first and foremost, and switching to the Brewers game during commercials and once the Cub game was over.

I thought they were just rolling over on purpose for the Brewers. Weird. I've heard people say that, but Houston actually called the Cubs before those games and told them what was happening. And that Gutierrez kid pitched better than Woody Williams would have. Fact.

Braun didn't jam his wrist. They double switched to avoid pulling a reliever for a PH. Hunter Pence slammed the wall last night harder than anyone I've ever seen, and he didn't come out of the game. And Houston isn't playing for anything. There is no excuse for what Yost did last night, but I'm not complaining.

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

Both divisions have been tight for at least the last month. While it's possible that someone will run away with their division within these last 10 days, it's just as possible it will all come down to the last games.

Why would the Padres games possibly not matter? They are a game out of first and ahead in the wild card race. Their games will matter the rest of the way. And you will be seeing Chris Young and Jake Peavy in that series.

Never happen. One of the more poverty stricken nations in the world would never be able to support a major league baseball team. And if you think it's hot in Florida, try Mexico. Yikes.

That makes 3. You, Scott and his mom.

Just about every poster on this message board has been guilty of being condescending at one point or another, except for me. :D It generally comes from passion within. Each person has their own values they place on what constitutes a good ballplayer, and sometimes those values come off in a negative light towards others. Rather than spending 5 pages worth of posts arguing what is condescending and what isn't, why don't we just move on and talk about Theriot's value to the team, as this thread was meant. Jaxx has apologized for his condescending remarks. What more do you all want? Cubs World Series tickets? Okay, wrong question. :D

The quote above is the answer to the original question. The Cubs are in a pennant race. The only options at SS during this season have been: Ryan Theriot Ronny Cedeno Cesar Izturis Who do you want in there? And don't say A-Rod or Tejada. These are the options Cubs management has given Cub fans for 2007. Should we boo Theriot for not posting a 900 OPS? Or should we just cheer for anything more he gives us than Cedeno or Izturis? Theriot makes for a great utility middle infielder. He makes for an average to below average starting shortstop. Does it bother me if someone gushes all over Theriot at SS? Not one bit. This is what we have for the rest of the year. I'll be cheering loudly each time this team wins another game, rather than looking for reasons to blast Ryan Theriot. And it's really not Ryan Theriot's fault he doesn't post A-Rod type numbers. He's just going out there and playing his best everyday, which is really all you can expect from him. I most certainly can't recall any hot prospect lists that had Ryan Theriot at or near the top in any given year. I doubt if even he thought he would be anything more than a utility infielder at the major league level. It's a sad state of affairs of the organization itself when the best you have to put at an everyday position in the field is a utility middle infielder. But, I think Ryan Theriot has done an acceptional job being thrown into the fire.

I should have expressed that I won't be available to discuss any trades until sometime this time next week. I'm leaving for Vegas in half an hour.

Lidge was already over 40 pitches and looking very fatigued. If all he had left was a get me over fastball, he could have waited until the 4th or 5th pitch to swing. If the count goes 3-1, that get me over fastball might have been a lot meatier than the 2-0 fastball he got. I see zero reason to swing when a guy is clearly having trouble throwing strikes.

Shouldn't you reemphasize this 2000 point limit somewhere other than the game thread? I only happened by this thread. Oh, and I'll be shopping for players this offseason. I believe I'll have some nice cap space. Maybe I can finally get the 1b I haven't had since I started in this damn league. :D

I'm going to bet that this is the first time in the history of baseball that a team got the lead off hitter on base in 3 straight innings and then loading the bases in the next inning with a 2-0 count and failed to ever score a single run. And I'm sorry, but what the heck was Jacque doing swinging at a pitch with a 2-0 count and the bases juiced? Yes, the pitch was pretty meaty. But, the one after that might not have been. The opportunity to walk in the lead run was there, and ultimately taken away. Ironically, the Astros got a runner on with 1 out and scored without having to sacrifice anyone. I hope Lou was watching closely.

Not when you consider the fact they find value in guys like Erstad and Podsednik.

And Rolen hasn't exactly been a power hitter this year.

I have to give props to Zambrano. He kept his cool out there when even I don't think I could have. That first bad call was right down the middle of the plate. The second one was debateable, but you would expect an umpire who completely blew the previous call to give Zambrano a make up call on that one. Here's a guy throwing a shut out, and he gets ripped off by the umpire late in a game? Carlos really wanted to ream the umpire, but he kept his cool. Then he wanted to let loose in the dug out, but he composed himself and went down into either the hallway or the clubhouse and regained full composure. Maybe the booing the other day has helped him control his emotions a little bit? I had no problem with Lou using the bullpen the way he did. The Cubs got out of two different bases loaded situations giving up only 1 run.

Not only does it sometimes take time to find the right one, but sometimes people marry too young. In my case, it was a combination of both.

Wow. That's horrible. My first marriage we did not live together first. Obviously, we divorced. My second marriage, we did live together first. That ended in divorce. My third marriage we lived together for 6 years first and have now been married for 4 years. Why 6 years? I wasn't sure I ever wanted to marry again considering how the first two worked out. But, 6 years proved that I finally met the right girl. The first two relationships never lasted 6 years, living together and/or married.