C.C.

Why? Marshall and Hill will be fine. Don't worry about it. But Marquis wont, so there is reason to have concern about our rotation. Show me a team in the NL that doesn't have at least 1 or 2 question marks in their rotation? There are better options than Marquis starting is my point. With where the Cubs are at right now in the race, they cant afford to be giving a game away every 5 days. Who?

This isn't entirely true. Lou has given Cedeno a second chance and he's allowing Eyre and Jones the opportunity to play; one could argue that he was forced to do so by the contracts of the last two but that didn't stop him from burying JJ (and Cesar) for long stretches a few months ago. On the subject of Pie, this team can't afford to allow him to hit .200. There are 52 games left in this season and Lou isn't a AAA manager. Overall, Lou has done a fine job this season and while I like Murton, I'm not going to lobby for him over any other player. I don't care who plays just as long as they are productive. It's not like Murton was hitting the cover off the ball at any point this season for the Cubs (and his defense was a problem--and it had very little to do with playing RF for the first time because he failed to make routine plays on balls that should have been in the glove). Hell, we're talking about the same manager who thought Theriot wasn't a ML SS earlier in the year. Yet, he allowed Theriot to play enough to win the job fulltime. When? The only players under Lou who have been given 2nd chances are proven veterans like Jones and Eyre. Also, its not loke FLoyd is hitting the cover off the ball, or Pagan but yet we continue to see these guys in RF over a guy like Murton. Theriot definitely got a second chance after his awful month. Pie got a second chance (but not a third yet). Theriot got a 2nd chance because there was nobody other than Cesar Izturis to play over him. Pie was given sporadic AB"s and Lou is surprised he didnt play well? Right, but the fact remains he did play Theriot over Izturis. That goes against what you're saying. No?

Why? Marshall and Hill will be fine. Don't worry about it. But Marquis wont, so there is reason to have concern about our rotation. Gallagher has been pretty good at AAA. He could take Marquis' spot in the rotation. LOL yea that will happen when pigs fly. Ive been on the Gallgher replaceing Marquis for awhile, but realistically its not happening. Marquis still has 2 years 14 mil left we are stuck with him. Oh and Gallagher has been VERY good at AAA. 3-1 2.16 ERA. Yea thats decent, but to bad we give out long term contracts to below average starting pitchers. It could happen. This is Lou, not Dusty. Lou doesn't care what the contract is...

Why? Marshall and Hill will be fine. Don't worry about it. But Marquis wont, so there is reason to have concern about our rotation. Show me a team in the NL that doesn't have at least 1 or 2 question marks in their rotation?

I concur.

Ironic because there are certain players who get quite a bit of PT that make mistakes consistently and still get run out there. But those said players have had past success in the ML. You're kdding, right? I'm just speaking for Cubs management. This is what their going to say..

Why? Marshall and Hill will be fine. Don't worry about it.

Ironic because there are certain players who get quite a bit of PT that make mistakes consistently and still get run out there. But those said players have had past success in the ML.

That's really overstating the situation. Pie had a line of .224/.240/.388 the first time he was up, and a .211/.290/.322 line the second time he was up. I don't know what you'd call that, but I'd call it pretty terrible. The Cubs cannot afford a player right now with an OBP under .300 playing everyday. Pretty much. They need immediate impact and hopefully Epatt will supply that.

Why? Why take a leadoff hitter and bat him second, and take the second place hitter and bat him leadoff?

Unless Epatt plays there. He just got called up. Oh he did? How was he doing in AAA? Not that I hate Epatt but man if they keep avoid giving Murton a chance I am going to explode. As a leadoff guy, he did really well...

I was thinking the same thing. Plus, I was surprised to see that EPatt had played some CF in Iowa. I thought that was Felix's domain. Maybe it was only on his days off... Anyway, I think it's smart that they moved EPatt to the OF because there's a logjam at 2B and he isn't the best defensive second baseman anyway. Anyone know how he looks in the OF?

Unless Epatt plays there. He just got called up.

I'm assuming he does...Unless he looks clueless up there.

Thanks! Maybe he will leadoff? If he doesn't leadoff, what's the point?

The Cubs see it as he's a leadoff guy. The others are not.

It's on Cubs.com also... http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070806&content_id=2133254&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Puke!

Cubs now have a story of Patterson being called up: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070806&content_id=2133254&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

I'd like Dunn.

Well, we need a leadoff hitter...At least that's their thinking. We have one. He's that little guy who's been playing SS for us. How bats second?

Well, we need a leadoff hitter...At least that's their thinking.

There's a blurb on cubs.com that said that also.

I don't understand it at all. Look, I like Wood, he's a nice guy. He has pitched some great games, he was so compelling in 1998, and he almost single handedly got us our only postseason series win since 1908. But I don't understand the attachment to a guy who has 71 career wins and has made only 30 starts twice in his career. I know people are latching on to what he was, a dominating rookie with an unhittable slurve, a fireballer with a 96 MPH tailing fastball, etc. But to call any part of Kerry's career the "Wood era" would be selling short the disappointment that is/was his career. What don't you understand? When he's healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's the type of pitcher you pay to watch. When he takes the mound, you can feel the energy. Some players have that charisma, some don't. As for having 71 career wins? What does this have anything to do with what he's meant to this org?

Who cares and this belongs in the social thread.