CubsFanNJ

What did it say? REAL CUBS FAN (I know the words) Nice! I love it!

What did it say?

You don't have to convince me that Dusty blows. I haven't liked the hire from day one. I just think at some point the talent we have here that Dusty WILL play (Prior, Z, ARam, Lee, Nomar, etc) will finally play to its potential, something they havent done all year. I think there's too many holes. We have some talent, but not enough to squander spots in the line-up to players like Macias on a regular basis. After Prior and Zambrano, our pitching is inconsistent and mediocre. Our line-up lacks consistency and the bottom the order scares no one. One of our best hitters hasn't started in a week and he should be starting everyday now that Hairston is hurt. Actually, after today - bottom of the order is the only damn part of the team that did a damn thing. I hate living out here (east coast).... I miss Chicago....but the only thing that makes it worse is the sweep at Yankee Stadium (yes, I was there for all three)....and the sweep at Shea that's about to happen. Step number one - Dusty, gone. Big Jim can figure out the rest. I'm so done right now.

This team is completely incapable of winning 8-9 in a row or running off a ridiculously long hot streak like Houston has for one simple reason. This team has no heart. None whatsoever. When they are put in an adverse situation they will do something incredibly stupid to cost themselves the game the majority of the time. Generally their late inning wins have been the result of the opposing team finding a way to screw up to the point that there's no way the Cubs can fail. But when the other team doesn't help them out, they're cooked. Their continued horrible approach against no-name slapdick pitchers they're seeing for the first time, their lack of any grasp of fundamental baseball, a manager who would rather use "his guys" in crucial situations in order to build their confidence instead of worrying about winning the damn game all assure this team will wallow in mediocrity while teams like the Cardinals and the Astros play with heart and professionalism run away with playoff spots that should belong to the Cubs. I couldn't even get angry with the way the game ended last night because I knew it was over when Rollins doubled to start the inning. Good teams find a way to get that guy home. Mediocre teams find a way to help them. The Cubs are a mediocre team. I'm glad I'm going to be out of the country for a couple of weeks so I won't have to watch this disgrace of a ballclub. I agree with everything you say, except for your statement that they can't win 8 or 9 in a row. They can....and have. BUT....they can also lose 8 or 9 in a row. Both have happened. Where does that get you? Right where we are. A .500 team. No matter how you do it, .500 can be accomplished. Win one, lose one. Win 7 in a row, lose 7 in a row. I may be over-simplifying things, but - no matter how you look at it, we are at best, mediocre. Reasons why? Well, DUSTY, no small ball (i.e. fundamentals suck, i.e. obp, in-game management, lack of fundamentals, lack of speed, defense sucks, pitching is way over-rated, management made the decision to go with offense behind the plate vs. defense (i.e. "calling a good game and knowing what the hell you're doing is WAY more important than the occassional single, double, or even dinger you hit). Contrary to the tone of my post, I am a HUGE Cub fan....have been since the day I knew about baseball. But I am tired of it. I really feel like Dusty needs to go. I think he wants to go (not based on media, just a hunch). Gimme a hard-nosed, great "in-game" manager, and I give you the NLCentral Champs, or, at the least the wild card.

A win is a win - and Dempster needs to get experience in every possible situation as a closer. He's now had his Mitch Williams experience. Let's hope it doesn't happen again. But.....Oy!.....it will, we know it will.

Up till 4am the last night....no way I miss this. (or at least until ths 5th, if they are sucky sucks.........I'm goin' to bed!)

It was in the same vain considering the circumstances. Of course, Sammy was always diving around the field so I'm not sure how much of that was necessary in his case but JHJ was digging to reach the ball then lunged and caught it before it hit the ground. Beautiful! I absolutely loved how he popped up immediately and showed a ton of emotion. It was awesome to see!