BigbadB

Who needs Rickie Weeks? Dan Uggla today= 2-5, 2 HR's, 5 RBI, 2 runs, 8 TB, 1 KO and 14.75 points Can you say All Star Game? :D

I like that the top power hitter hits #3. However, I also like when guys who hit 1st and 2nd get on base better than just a .300 rate.

I'm not big on Wang (there's just no good way to say that). That looks like two waiver wire guys for one of the better keepers in the game to me. QS for me so far this week with Wang. 7 IP, 1 run against the Red Sox. He has as many points as Weeks by himself. Craig Monroe also has nearly as many points as Weeks. My 2nd baseman has 30 more points than Weeks (Uggla). What exactly are you expecting for your reserve 2b? I guess I don't view him as a reserve 2B as much as a star in waiting. Would you up your offer for Lopez, who doesn't have the pedigree but has more points? I don't really think I can. Weeks might be good eventually (if he learns how to catch the ball :D ). After looking at Uggla's numbers, neither is an upgrade over what I already have. And I really don't have much in regards to upgrades in the OF. I'm not giving up Griffey for what may end up being a reserve 2b. And Wang and Madson are the only two starting pitchers I would consider trading right now. We probably just aren't a good match at this point.

I'm not big on Wang (there's just no good way to say that). That looks like two waiver wire guys for one of the better keepers in the game to me. QS for me so far this week with Wang. 7 IP, 1 run against the Red Sox. He has as many points as Weeks by himself. Craig Monroe also has nearly as many points as Weeks. My 2nd baseman has 30 more points than Weeks (Uggla). What exactly are you expecting for your reserve 2b?

Well, you could obviously use an OF and a P. How about Wang and Monroe for Weeks?

But, you're also taking what is being said out of context. It would have been fine with most if Jones sat last night against a lefty and then played today against the righty. To do it backwards is just plain stupid (assuming that he's just getting a day off and isn't actually hurt).

Wow. Just wow!

At his age, my guess is napping. That's just wrong.

I like that lineup. It makes sense. Which is why it will never happen with Dusty managing. :cry: True. More annoying fun facts...... Cubs lead off hitters have drawn a total of 13 walks. Cubs #2 hitters have drawn a total of 8 walks. That's a total of 21 walks from the guys who are supposed to set up the most productive run producers on the team. No, not for June and not for May. For the entire season. How easily accessible is this information? I had no trouble. How important is this information? I think it's extremely significant. Why doesn't the management team of the Chicago Cubs know or care about this stuff? I have no idea. The one stat I can't seem to find is how many GIDP's the #2 spot in the order has hit into. I'd be real interested to know this. Where's Fred when you need him?

Heh, don't forget Juan Cruz and his ailing shoulder is headed for the DL.

New fun stat: The Cubs are an 0-4 out of the 2 hole in the 6/7/06 game from having an OBP below .300 in both of the top 2 spots in the line up. As of yesterday's game, the Cubs have played more than 1/3 of the 2006 season. OBP's in the top spots in the order: Lead off= .289 #2 spot= .300 Derrek Lee sure has a lot to look forward to when he gets back. Why this organization is so stubborn to recognize this pattern as a huge reason their average run production is near dead last in the league is absolutely beyond me. Being a lead off hitter is not a right. It's something you earn. Pierre has done nothing to earn that spot. Put Murton at the top of the order and stick Walker 2nd. Let Jones, Barrett and Ramirez make up the 3/4/5 spots. Murton Walker Ramirez Jones Barrett Nevin Cedeno Pierre Just do it! At least with this line up, opposing pitchers will be forced to stop pitching underhand to the top of the order hitters, since they couldn't do any damage if it was set up on a T.

Nicely done! :D

And do you believe all these runs that have scored lately is due to the lead off hitters? The top 2 spots in the order make up less than 1/5 of all the runs scored since the start of the Atlanta series. Pierre has been 14-46 with 2 walks in that span. He's scored 5 runs in that span. 5 runs out of 62 is less than 1/12th of the runs. There's only 9 spots in the order, and the top of the order sees the most at bats. I see a problem. The #2 hitters are 11-44 in that span. They've scored 6 times of the 62 runs scored. Less than 1/10th of all the runs scored. So, in that 10 game span, the top two hitters in the line up have gone 25-90 with 4 walks. What's that come to? A .308 OBP. .308 isn't good enough to bat 8th, IMO. Yet, the Cubs proudly display their combined .308 right at the top of the order for everyone to see. We'll have to agree to disagree about Womack and Pierre.

Not that it matters much, but that was Neifi's OBP coming into the season. It's actually .299 now. Yeah, I was referencing baseball-reference, which doesn't have this year's stuff on there. But, at least I was showing Neifi's OBP favorably. :?

The issue with Womack is no different than the issue that the Cubs management crew seems to ignore as if the issue doesn't exist. That issue is the lack of OBP at the top of the order. Womack has been wonderful in his brief stint with the Cubs this year. Neifi has been wonderful at times as well. The problem becomes that these brief wonderful stints gives management a false sense of security. I've graphed how freakishly low Derrek Lee's RBI output in 2005 had EVERYTHING to do with the poor OBP at the top of the order. At this juncture, the Cubs have 25 RBI from the #3 spot in the order so far this season, which includes Derrek Lee's at bat totals from the beginning of the year. Tony Womack has a lifetime OBP of .316. Neifi Perez has a lifetime OBP of .301. Pierre is off to the worst start of his career in terms of OBP. This explains why the Cubs have produced a measily 25 runs from the #3 spot. I'd venture to guess that 25 runs is good for dead last in the entire MLB. The answer, according to Hendry and Dusty, was that they needed speed at the top of the order. They completely ignored that getting on base is the real problem. Right now, Pierre, Neifi and Womack should all be batting 8th in the order. The top of the order should be reserved for good OBP guys. If you don't have any good OBP guys, go get some. David Ortiz has twice as many RBI as our #3 hitters. Kevin Youkilis runs about as fast as Prince Fielder, yet scored at will in his brief stint in the lead off spot this year because he got on base. Mark Loretta isn't a stolen base threat in the slightest. The more often you get guys on base, the increased opportunities arise to drive runs in from your most productive hitters.

What's it going to take for you to quit attacking posters? If you can't debate an argument without getting personal, don't get into the debate. Period! And this is not a suggestion. IT'S A WARNING!

That's not good enough. YOU are the one calling people idiots. Instead of generalizing that we are all idiots, please feel free to call us out by name. If you can't, then quit generalizing. It doesn't become you AT ALL.

Also, this post is unacceptable as it is written. PLEASE RESPECT THE NSBB MEMBER GUIDELINES!

Let me get this straight. You have no issues with calling people on this message board idiots, but you still feel comfortable making the "please don't insult anyones intelligence" speech? I don't get it. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?

Wow! One pick in the first umpteen rounds, and they pick a guy they could probably land with their next pick? Unbelievable. The strength with this scouting team has always seemed to be on the pitching side. Why screw that up now too?

Agreed. When you sign on the dotted line to earn millions of dollars to play a game, you are expected to have your head in the game. Baserunning blunders like the ones that Jones displayed made it clearly obvious his head was not in the game. And, yes, he totally deserves to be booed when his head isn't in the game.

Eh. This thread sucks. In before the lock! :D

It's a little-known fact that Todd Walker actually shaves every 3 innings. How often would he have to shave if he played for the Yankees?

I've been pretty consistent. I blame MacPhail, Hendry and Baker. And the standings don't exactly disagree with me. The Pittsburgh Pirates (yes, THE pittsburgh pirates) have won 1 less game than the Cubs. If Jacque Jones hit 52 homers and drove in 400 RBI this week, it wouldn't change the fact that past performance did not dictate giving a mediocre OFer a 3 year deal to play in what should be one of the most offensively productive spots in the field. Period! Do I have a personal grudge against Jacque Jones? Absolutely not. Do others on this site have a personal grudge against Jacque Jones? Who cares? I hope Jacque Jones becomes the greatest baseball player that ever lived. It's NOT Jacque Jones that people have an issue with (unless he continues running bases like Moises Alou and goes back to hitting like Neifi Perez). It's the guy who gave him a 3 year deal that people have issues with. And the Cubs establishment of their 95m payroll in 5th place in the standings really doesn't make people want to get excited about Jacque Jones. Though I do wish him continued success.

Jacque is playing so well, I'm sure the Yankees would consider moving A-Rod straight up for Mr. Jones. But, the Cubs should hold out for more. :D