LoneStarCubFan

I'm definitely not a Dusty supporter and I completely agree that he has absolutely no clue how to manage a pitching staff but I have to disagree with the abuse he takes over the way Prior and Wood were used in 2003. As the season unfolded, the Cubs had a legitimate shot at winning the division and playing deep into October in '03. The only way they were going to do that was by riding Wood and Prior as far as they would take them. The MLB playoffs are the toughest to qualify for in professional sports, you have to suriving the longest grind of a regular season just to get there and you aren't guaranteed sucess from year to year. When you have a shot you have to do everything possible to get there because you don't know when that chance will come again. If Baker had put those two on pitch counts and pulled them from games that the Cubs wound up losing and it kept them out of the playoffs, Baker would have been crucified for it in Chicago. "95 years without a World Series and he wants to play it safe?" would have been the cry. Other than keeping Prior in the game against the Braves when he ran into Giles, I can't get worked up over their usage that year. There's plenty of other stuff to hammer Dusty about. Like moving Wood to the bullpen this year instead of shutting him down immediately, which was completely ridiculous.

Dude you really gotta come up with some new baseless, juvenile, insults. You're lack of creativity reflects poorly on your intelligence. Dude, you really gotta lighten up. The guy incapable of handling pressure situations. If you don't agree with me, that's fine by me. But I stand by my characterization of the gutless choking dog in question.

From a previous post: Eddings acknowledged he did not say that it was not caught. When asked why not, he said something to the extent that he wanted to see what the players did. Why is Doug Eddings letting the players call the game for him? Why does MLB continue to reward staggering incompetence? Eddings is the guy who bated Johnny Estrada into an ejection in the first inning of a Braves game earlier this year and threw Bobby Cox and Mike Hampton out in the ensuing argument.

Except, of course, when you absolutely positively need him to slam the door in a pressure situation. Then he's a gutless choking dog. I'm sure those numbers are of great comfort to Braves fans everywhere.

Every pitcher is going to give up runs. Also, he shouldn't have been in there in the ninth. Last time I checked he was their closer, if he shouldn't be in there in the ninth, when should he be in there? Answer: When the game is no longer in doubt. Like when you have a five-run lead. oh wait...

Given that the average Sox fan has to return to his/her Halfway House by sundown or risk violating parole its understandable that the park wouldn't be sold out.

You sure like name calling. You've done it all year. Do you even know what the word gutless means? Yes. It means Kyle Farnsworth.

Ummm... stay healthy for a full season?

Rich Aurilia "backing up" Ronnie Cedeno. ...after all the good free agents are signed, because once again Hendry sits back and "waits for the dust to settle" before making any mobes and "backing up" = "getting most of the starts" because Dusty wants to "pick his spots" when he uses Cedeno.

They have big units and wangs in the Yankee pen. Impressive! Maybelline spokesman Jim Edmonds could not be reached for comment.

Rich Aurilia "backing up" Ronnie Cedeno.

I guess then the question is... Why? Head case. See yesterday and Mitch Williams for more. Judging a pitcher on one outing and not the overall numbers is a very ridiculous thing to do. However, one look at his career postseason numbers will show that is he a gutless choking dog when you need him most. Sample.Size. I could do that with Greg Maddux; He isn't all that great in October, does that diminish the pitcher he was? Greg Maddux is going into the Hall of Fame. Kyle Farnsworth is going into the Hall of Fame only if he buys a ticket. Advantage: Maddux. You can run out all the stats you want. I've watched baseball for 30 years, I know a gutless choking dog when I see one. And Farnsworth is a gutless choking dog. He's Calvin Schraldi in tight pants.

I'd root for the Taliban before I'd root for the Cardinals OR the White Sox. Go Astros.

I was absolutely certain that there was no way Rothschild would be back for two reasons: 1. He's not one of Dusty's boys. 2. Dusty needs a scapegoat. There were times this year when I expressed anger at Rothschild's handling of the pitching staff and my desire to see him replaced. But after thinking about it I'm not sure that would have solved anything. More than likely Dick Pole would have been elevated to pitching coach over Rick Kranitz for the simple reason that he's one of Dusty's boys. How much would have really changed? As someone else has pointed out, keeping Rothschild isn't necessarily a mistake. But keeping Sarge and Clines is beyond insane. With that said, the fundamental problem is the manager, the coaching staff is just a symptom.

I guess then the question is... Why? Head case. See yesterday and Mitch Williams for more. Judging a pitcher on one outing and not the overall numbers is a very ridiculous thing to do. However, one look at his career postseason numbers will show that is he a gutless choking dog when you need him most.

I can't see any way in the world Philly's new GM would deal Abreau.

Heard that this morning. If Giles signs in St. Louis he'll probably play at an all-star level for five more years. If he signs here he'll probably blow out his knee in Mesa.

He's too young. I doubt Dusty would use him...

Kyle Farnsworth was, is, and always will be, a gutless choking dog. He'll pitch lights out up until you absolutely, positively need him to slam the door then he'll crap down his leg just like he did yesterday. If the Braves had Ryan Dempster in that situation they'd be playing Game 5.

i have no problems rooting for the yankees in that scenario I'd root for the Taliban if they were playing the Cards, White Sox or Astros.

To the best of my knowledge there was no World Series in 2003. See, I keep telling everybody that but they insist there was one.

If the Sox do manage to win the whole thing Reinsdorf will get the new stadium he wants. Sox fans being Sox fans they will more than likely burn down the Cell in celebration along with most of the South Side.

Or manager the players wouldn't quit on.

Soriano would fit right in with this bunch. He strikes out a lot and you have to hit him to walk him. Dusty would love Soriano.

It's going to be more fun to watch them throw away this 2-0 lead.