Chocolate Milk

The Brewers have scored 4 or fewer in 9 of their 19 games and they're on top of the division. They're also 7-3 in games decided by 2 runs or less. And their pitching has been worse. 4.17 to the Cubs 3.84.

Pyth is worthless at this stage. It looks good thanks to a couple high scoring games. I've never liked its inability to account for feast or famine offenses like the Cubs, and that is just exasperated this early in the season. Take out the Cubs 2 highest and 2 lowest scoring games, and their average runs scored drops from about 4.6 to 4.3. The Cubs aren't having bad luck. They are a flawed team having all its weaknesses exposed. People keep talking about the 1 and 2 run losses, but the Cubs have lost by 3, 4 and 5 runs as well. When you are a bad team with a bad record, your record is going to be bad in just about every split. The Cubs need to drastically improve their play, not hope for luck to start going there way. So you think their 0-9 mark in close games is indicative of their true ability? They've lost close games with no scoring, with lots of scoring, and in between. CCP has shown that they aren't losing a ton of games by other deficits. Unless you can point to a specific reason why they'll continue to be mind bendingly bad in close games, then there's no reason to assume they won't correct that, and that's the difference right now between last place and first place, never mind what's in between. Perhaps things will even out. But last night's loss was not bad luck. D-Lee tried to steal 3rd and got called out just before Aramis hit a HR. Even if Lee was safe (which appearently most people think he was), it's still dumb. Cubs win 5-4. Against the Cards stupid Henry Blanco can't get a bunt down then a couple of innings later Cedeno overslides second base on a freaking ball 4. That is not bad luck. In many of those close games the Cubs have done something stupid that contributed to the loss. Not to mention Marquis has 2 pinch hit ABs. I agree with the second paragraph but the first paragraph is a prime example of being unlucky. A player who is clearly safe, on replay, was called out and a homer what hit the next play. The run would have been the difference in winning and losing. I understand that it may not have been the best idea to run, but Lee was safe. It was misfortune that he was called out, not lack of execution. These types of things will even out over time and the Cubs record will rebound, imo. How much it will rebound, I'm not sure. I agree with Bill James that a team's record in one run games is more closely correlated with luck than anything else.

That #4 pick could be very, very interesting. Trouble is, Angelo has already alluded to the idea that getting a high 1st rounder might cost more in salary than the team is planning on, given they still will need to sign a few high-profile guys soon. I'm not sure the #6 pick is worth the money but the #4 pick, Joe Thomas, would be worth the money.

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it. You honestly don't think he has? Well, if he has, I would think that the two of them would have corrected the arm angle problem by now. By looking at yesterday's game, it doesn't look like anyone is trying to correct the situation. Again, I hope it's poor mechanics and not a hidden injury. I'm not really a defer to the Coach type of guy, but I think it's not as easy to change things around as we might think. I don't understand how you could infer the bolded by yeserday's game.

You do wonder why broadcasters, fans, and East-coast media can see it, but Rothschild has yet to make note of it. You honestly don't think he has?

If Soriano is really an adequate CF then by all means Pie should be traded while his value is high. LF is an easy position to fill and Soriano's offense is far more valuable coming from CF. People who say positions are unimportant don't understand the economics involved. How valuable would Pujols be if he played CF? Certainly more valuable than at 1B or LF. So trading away a cheap internal solution for CF is the best way to manage payroll? Soriano is already on the team. We're going to have to pay him. Trading away Pie, puting Soriano at CF, and finding an outside option for the coner outfield isn't going to save the Cubs any money.

Unless Pie is traded, this move was inevitable. I don't see why people are surprised about it.

Tampa Bay has inquired about Briggs.

Cubs 8 Brewers 1

100? I say 200!!!!!

How long did you think he was going to stay there? I always figured it was a temporary move until Pie was brought up.

Not panicking.

Your later statement could prove to be correct. Your former statement indicates that you are no more than 15 yrs old. The Cubs had some bad teams in the mid to late 1970s and the early 1980s. This team is worse. Much, much worse. This team may be playing horribly, but you can't possibly say that this collection of players is worse than the teams that featured Scott Servais, Jose Reyes, Scott Bullett, Tuffy Rhodes, Frank Castillo, Jim Bullinger, Mark Clark, Mel Rojas, Kevin Orie or Rey Sanchez It's not even worse than last year's team.

Take a deep breath.

I like that it's the same as getting blown out in 10 games but it's just that much more painful for the fans. God bless the Cubs.

Cubs fan angst is reaching a fever pitch. They better win soon before their fanbase spontaneously combusts.

lol

me either. wonder what we have in common... You're both posting on a board where the google ads have been removed?

Oh my god. wtf wow

Why does it always have to be like this, this year? Why!?!?

Wow.

He almost came within a foot of that pitch!

Jones is clutch. Here comes the game winning homer!

Wow, is Turnbow ugly.

To be or not to be That one doesn't work.