NomarSammy

The Cubs are babies if true. Nut up, and start playing baseball. If there's a dumber phrase than "nut up" I have yet to hear it. Is there any report that the Cubs players are actually complaining b/c Lou's mean or too hard on them or is that just what some here are assuming? Maybe the players just think Lou's an incompetent manager and that's frustrating them. Being frustrated with incompetent leadership is human nature. Doesn't make you baby. If you think your leader is doing a bad job of leading, you're supposed to sit quietly and smile while he drives you off the cliff? If the players were actually frustrated with incompetent leadership, they wouldn't have all stood behind Dusty Baker as he led them off the cliff. Quite simply, Piniella has probably taken them out of their comfort zones and held them accountable for their own mistakes. And a lot of them don't like it because they're not used to it. If certain players don't like it, get rid of them; there are only 4 or 5 players who are truly important on the team anyways. I'm still trying to figure out how Piniella has thrown anyone under the bus. All I've heard is him commenting on the obvious mistakes his stupid, clueless team makes game after game and how they have to get better. Well said!!! =D>

Is anyone else surprised--like not at all--that Lee would be the only one sticking up for his "coach" and taking some responsibilty. He just appears to be the mature professional who gets all of this!! HE IS A STUD! I had a post after going to a game this spring that D LEE is worth the price of admission and this just cements the respect I have for him. I have not respected a cub like this since Ryno!

I honestly feel like the national media guys that are killing Lou for his critism of players have failed to pay close enough attention to this teams' play. If it was knit-picking that would be one thing, but these are unexcusable little league mistakes that his boys have been making. There is a big difference!

Barrett, Ohman, Cotts, Eyre, Murton, Jones... I think your definition of "throwing under the bus" must be closely related to speaking the truth. Barrett, Ohman, Eyre, Cotts, and Jones have been brutal. What did he do with Murton? Come on. That's a really simplistic view of management. I could "speak the truth" about some of the people I work with who I'm above, but it wouldn't help anyone in any way. You don't handle any professional by calling them out in public. You hold them accountable behind closed doors. You can call out the team, but calling out individuals is just stupid and childish, and it's indicative of someone who has no idea how to handle a diverse group of individuals. And again, either way you want to look at it, Lou's style isn't working. The team isn't responding. It's on the manager to find a way to motivate and put the team in the best position to succeed. If acting like an overreactionary freakout like he has been isn't working, he should try something else. Murton was called out for defensive lapses. How many times in your job do you have the media asking you questions about the people working under you? I think this is all a bunch of garbage. Quit acting like a bunch of babies and crying about being "picked on by your manager". This is the major leagues and you are getting a bunch of money to perform so go out and shut up and get a job down. Just out of curisoity are those of you who are saying Lou's "style" is hurting the team the same people who said Dusty needed to go because there was no individual accountablity under him?????

I have never really heard him rip on an individual either. What is amazing to me is that you cannot win as a coach/manager. If you rip (Piniella), then you are hurting their feelings, but if you dont (baker), then you are too soft. Again, i go back to--it is the players who have to get the job done, period!! Lou hasn't said anything in the media that I haven't to the tv, but he's their manager, not a fan. He owes them a certain amount of respect in the public arena. Rip them a new one in private. Make them ride the bench. You don't accomplish anything positive by tossing guys under the bus in press conferences. Quite the opposite. I completely agree with you on this one. It is one thing to hold a player accountable for his play and another thing to throw him under the bus in front of the media. And people are wondering why Barrett is having issues this season. ::sheesh:: If Lou Piniella were calling out just one player in front of the media, then yes, he shouldn't be throwing that player under the bus. But he's taking issues with the team as a whole, which is perfectly fine with me.

Lou hasn't said anything in the media that I haven't to the tv, but he's their manager, not a fan. He owes them a certain amount of respect in the public arena. Rip them a new one in private. Make them ride the bench. You don't accomplish anything positive by tossing guys under the bus in press conferences. Quite the opposite. See this is what I am talking about--SOFTY!!!!!!!! Toughen up, I dont care when he says it or who he has sad it to......stop being so incredibly sucky and then you all wouldnt have to worry about it. Your point is exactly the type of sissy pampered crap that I am tired of from all of these multi-millionaires!

I dont understand what you are saying RichHill???? You think Lou is too tough on them? Have you seen the way they have played the games. We can all sit and talk for hours on the net about manager, but players win/loss most games. And pretty much all of them have sucked this year so the fact that anyone, and I mean ANYONE from the cubs team would complain about being called out by Lou whether it be that he is holding them accountable or throwing them under the bus, I DONT CARE. You shoudl be held accountable and you should be thrown under the bus. You are being paid a great deal of money to play this game, now quitting whing about your manager saying you are sucking and grow and a pair and go play better!!!! AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-my frustration has hit a new limit!

Olney basically put a lot of the problems of today on the lap of Lou Piniella because there is not a good clucbhouse environment because Lou blames players in post game press conferences. He said that even players from other teams have told him that the players on the Cubs are not happy. I just cannot even begin to tell how irritating this is to me--I can understand a lot of things, but how any player on the Cubs could this year feel like they have not deserved every single piece of critism they have gotten is just beyond me. I was thinking about how soft the players of today have become and it just makes me sick. Even the other day, AROD gives a little scream running by a guy catching a pop-up and it is like he is public enemy number one--I mean here is an idea--instead of b*&^&ing about it, do something. Next time he comes up drill his butt or even better, just be a man and catch the stupid pop-up, but quit being a little sisssy and whining about him yelling as he ran by.---IT IS A JOKE I just really feel like everyone in the big leagues has gotten way too soft--even with todays events--really, who fricken cares--people fight, they have been doing it for years, they should be frustrated and pissed off, but now let it go and move forward like me. Sorry for the rant, but I am just tired of listening to this crap all the time.--TOUGHEN UP!!

Why is Izturis a terrible baseball player--other than you just don't like him. Is every major league GM incompetent then because there are sure several players just like Izturis scattered throughout the entire league. It is kind of like the way people blamed Neifi for all of the Cubs problems yet somehow he goes to one of the best teams in the majors and they still find someway to be good despote having him on their team. I am not trying to argue that these guys are great players, but I just feel like too many people around here feel they have easy quick fix answers to solve a complex problem.

See that is what is funny--you say the consistantly bad players--Jones had 27 HRs last year and Izturis has been just fine this year. Not great, but there are winning teams that have much worse. The problem is that the sum of the cubs parts are much greater than the collective sum of the team. I dont why but there is just no other way to explain it.

I guess I understand the frustration, but I still just dont see the logic behind some of you who think that firing Hendry is the only option. If you just want to fire him because they are losing and someone needs to go then I guess I understand that, but as far as what he has done--I just dont get the hatred for him. The only thing i really blame him for is not sending a message to some of these guys and eating contracts. Look at what that did for astros when they released P Wilson. I just think players like Eyre need to be DAed if nothing else then to send a message to the rest of the team that we will not tolerate this. I dont know--I just tend to blame the players more for this year

I dont know how to do the whole reply to what someone else said, so I have to do it the hard way WarrenB--you are right, I needed to clarify that those would be separate ABs. I feel that cubfan1955 said it best when he said that they swing at too many balls (or pitchers strikes) and leave too many hitters strikes go by. Call it what you will--patience, selective or whatever, but they are not being good hitters from an approach standpoint. I dont know if you can teach it or not, but this is obviously something that a majority of the players on this team just dont get. It is sad because really you would think the talent is there. I look at a guy like Barrett, he looks just lost this year at the plate--I am sure he is trying to do the right thing, but maybe he is just not good enough or smart enough to get it done --maybe we need a visit from Stewart Smalley like MJ!!

I keep hearing people saying that the Cubs need to be more patient at the plate and I think this is wrong. The Cubs need to be more SELECTIVE at the pitches they swing at. I see many hitters, take the first pitch no matter what, but then they get to a "hitters count" and they swing at whatever craps comes at them. The idea just seems so simple to me and I dont know why it is not stressed or talked about more. Since this whole patient approach has been brought up I have actually seen hitters take their hands off of the bat as a first pitch fastball right down the middle goes by. Yet, in the same AB they will swing at a 2-0 pitch on the outside corner. I am just stunned at what poor appraoches they seem to have when it comes to hitting. And you know what else, enough with the FIre Hendry,, Fire Lou, this guy is the problem, that guy is the problem--you know what, it is all a bunch of BS--just quit being a bunch of babies and go and start getting a job done--ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

I have a serious question. Could you ask him if umpires are now being taught to fight fire with fire when it comes to arguments with players and mananergs/coaches. I just see more and more how the umpire starts the argument with a "preemptive strike". Is this what they are being taught to do or is this them showing immaturity? Does the question makes sense?

Ummm, ladies and gentlemen--it was a little blurb in a non-chicago article. Does anyone think we might be overreacting just a bit--I dont want to trade Murton either, but to be fair for all we know neither does Jim Hendry. Let's at least wait until he is traded before we start to crucify him!

Just off the top of my head, Z has now lost games to like 4-5 "number 5 starters this season Masset Vargas Sampson I cannot remember them all--but he has lost games with several favorable match-ups Honestly, the season is really going to be decided on this west coast trip

Not a great strike zone??? It is a fricken joke. I love these old umps who jump act like they dont give a "darn" and then think they are always right---JOE WEST--you suck! Ya--this is pretty frusterating

ok, this is totally out of left field but what if it was Jeff Smjardja (sorry for spelling)??? I know it is crazy, but what if lou thinks because of the whole football thing he can handle the pressure. Before you tell me how dumb I am--I know this is a crazy idea, but thought it would be fun to throw it out there

Just to clarify....I thought Murton should have doubled up Newhan on the Castro line drive. I dont think he should have thrown out gotay at the plate. But honestly, Newhan was 2 steps from second when Murton caught the line drive for out number 1 and there is no reason a major league right foielder does not get a double play in that spot

that was a real slow hit ball--I still think Theriot should have got there regardless of where he was shading. Plus, if he is shading a pull hitter up the middle he should have at least been leaning towards that hole and made a better jump to get that ball. Just my opinion

IMO, Eyre got the DP ground ball, but Theriot for some season gets the worst "jumps" on groundballs of any middle IF I have ever seen. I actually thought Eyre did his job today

THat is not sound baseball with a left handed pull hitter that they normally put a huge shift on for. No way he should have been that far over just for DP positioning

Ok, I know, I know....everyone wants Hendry fired and Eyre released and that somehow will solve our problems, but after watching the Tivo of this game I have a couple of BIG questions about that 9th inning 1) How can Murton not get a double play on the line drive that Castro hit. There should have been 2 out and nobody on. He took his time and made a lazy throw. Anyonre who has the game go back and watch the replay--Newhan was 2 steps from second base when Murton caught the ball and Murton still could not get him--terrible missed play due to casual play. 2) Where is the heck was Theriot on the ground ball from Delgado. I mean how many times have we seen Theriot get just absolutely god-awful jumps on ground balls. That should have been game ending double play. Why were we not playing a pull hitter like Delgado towards the 1st/2nd baseman hole anyways??? I was shocked when I watched the replay because that should have been an easy DP. 3) You all want to kill eyre on this--he got the DP ball, but play was not made 4) Why does Eric Cooper have such a chip on his shoulder with the cubs. He is a Des Moines guy and always on the darn radio around here so I recognize when he is doing a game and he is always mouthing off to cub pitchers--what was that all about in the 9th. He has basically stated on DSM radio what a joke he thinks the cubs organization is--i actually called the radio and complained about him being on. he does his own off-season show with Tim McCelland and I have called commisioners office to ask if they like umps giving their views on players and organizations on the radio--no reply by the way. Ok, I have to sop because I am going to have a heart attack here--if you can answer any of my questions or want to tell me that I am crazy to have seen it this way--please let me know!! I am dying here

I agree.......fire Hendry--that will solve all of the problems I am just beginning to think it doesnt matter......nothing really matters with this team--they are just going to lose. Everyone always thinks they know the answers and I think you are all crazy--i just think it is their destiny to lose--and I am calling all of you crazy :? I dont know what to think--just another very frustrating day

I need some help from my stat junkie friends, but it seems to me that our best ball of this year was played when Felix Pie was getting regular PT. Am I correct here??---what was our record with him starting in CF? What about games he appreared in? I guess my point is maybe he is just pure energy. A "winner", so to speak. I have always felt there is something to the notion that some guys just have that winning charisma. I wonder if he is just that guy. Maybe I am crazy, but the team just seemed to have a different spark when he was around--not because of his stats, but just from him being him. this is based just on my own gut feeling. Any thoughts??