brfahey

Is it illegal to criticize patterson on these boards now? So much time is spent criticizing Neifi (appropriately, to a degree) without a mention of Patterson. That is dumbfounding.

Burnitz has been a terrible disappointment. But by no means can you say Neifi has been better. Also, Hairston has been better. How does any discussion of Cub didappointments this year not begin with patterson. He has 28 RBIs (Blanco is sneaking up on him) and is in the .220s. This from a guy counted on to be a key member of the offense.

What is the problem with Piniella? Leaving Dusty's pluses and minuses to one side, what are the factors that make Piniella not desirable. he is very fiery, which this sleepwalking bunch could use. He has won before, including the World Series with a heavy underdog team (and beat laRussa for good measure). I am not saying go out and get this guy, but if we were in the market, he'd be near the top of the list. Just a final thought: playing vets over young players is not, in and of itself, a bad way to go. It's only a bad way to go if the vets aren't as good as the rookies. Case by case analysis is needed.

Yes, I also dated his sister. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6235153 The concept of a player who goes to multiple teams can be what they call being caught in a numbers game. There's one instance, everything I recall from Sanders is that he has been an ideal teammate throughout his career, despite playing on several teams. Not saying Sanders isn't a good teammate, but how do you have that info unless you were a teammate of his. You are speculating, and perhaps correctly. Just like I was speculating that Walker may have issues.

Wow, I'm glad to know that there is nothing wrong with Reggie Sanders because you say so. As to your opening question, do you really want to use as your argument the Cubs' prowess in judging a player's capabilities. Not too much success in that area these past 100 years. Yes, I want to judge Hendry's capacity to judge players on the past 100 years b/c of his impact with bringing in the DP trio of Evers to Tinkers to Chance, his role with Hack Wilson should not be forgotten as well. You didn't address the Reggie Sanders thing. What, did you go to high school with him or something?

Hope that's sarcasm.

Wow, I'm glad to know that there is nothing wrong with Reggie Sanders because you say so. As to your opening question, do you really want to use as your argument the Cubs' prowess in judging a player's capabilities. Not too much success in that area these past 100 years.

Can one of the Walker boosters tell me why this valuable commodity was let go by Boston, Minnesota, Colorado and the Reds? Why he, if I recall correctly, had offers from only Cleveland and the Cubs (to be a part time player) after having a career year for the Bosox in 2003? There appears to be more than meets the eye with Mr. Walker. Boston is not shy about spending money and I don't think the master plan in Boston was to get Bellhorn a regular job in 2004. I'm sure this will elicit a response based upon stats about how great Walker is, but I think the major league teams have thesame access to stats as posters here do. Maybe they knew something that isn't reflected in stats. I know that's a radical concept for some here, but not all can be divined from stats.

You are so in love with stats it's unbelievable. The situations have great "predictive value" as to how Barrett's going to react in a game situation. All bases loaded situations are not the same. In the examples set forth, Barrett never got a hit when his team was behind. His hits came when the team was well ahead. If you are satisfied with a guy with good looking stats who maintains those stats without really impacting the team in a positive way when they need him the most, so be it. Your stats will give you great solace during playoff time, because this group ain't making it any time soon with their bases-loadeditis. I wonder how all those great players and teams survived in the years before OPS and pitch counts became an end all and be all. You have to have a feel for the game and numbers on a page, while not without use, can't tell you much about intangibles which often make a team a winner.

I never said a hit was meaninless. I said some at-bats are more meaningful than others. If you want to actually watch the game and understand what you are watching instead of cheerleading for a guy you "like" for whatever reason, fine. I am not saying that Barrett can't get better either. But at this stage he does not do his best when the heat is on. More than just today. See Philadelphia, a mental, not, physical, error. In fact, I think he admitted himself in a newspaper article this year that he pressed too much when he came up with bases loaded. Barrett with the bases loaded this year: .364/.364/.636/1.000, 3 doubles in 11 at bats. Are you made of stone??? Listen to your feelings about Barrett! Watch the games! You know it's interesting how much people will just look blindly at stats and not behind numbers. Barett does indeed have a good average with the baes loaded, .333 (4-12). I have located 9 of those twelve at bats. Here were the hitting situations: April 10 v. Milwaukee, score tied in 10th, Barrett strikes out. June 4 v. San Diego, Cubs ahead 5-0 in 5th, Barrett doubles. July 24 v. St.L, tied in 10th, Barrett strikes out. July 25 v. San Fran, game tied in 8th, Barrett pops out to first. July 28 v. Az, trailing 1-0 in 6th, Barrett grounds into a force August 3 v. Phil, trailing 3-0 in 5th, Barrett strikes out August 23 v. Atl, ahead 2-0 in 3rd, Barrett strikes out August 23, ahead 8-1 in 8th, Barrett doubles August 26 v. Fla, trailing 4-0 in 4th, Barrett pops up on infield. In his other three at bats which I could not locate, he has one more double and a single. Would be happy if someone could find the game situation for those abs. In the 9 abs presented, Barrett's only hits were with the Cubs ahead by 5 or more runs. No hits with the Cubs tied or trailing. the point is not solely that Barrett tends to freeze up with the game on the line; it is also that mindless publication of stats (ie Barrett hitting .364 with bases loaded) do not tell the entire story. Macias, who is a favorite whipping boy on people atthis site, is hitting about .280. Does anyone believe he has really impacted with that average. Of course not, anymore than I believe Barrett is a good clutch hitter just because he has a good average with the bases loaded.

I never said a hit was meaninless. I said some at-bats are more meaningful than others. If you want to actually watch the game and understand what you are watching instead of cheerleading for a guy you "like" for whatever reason, fine. I am not saying that Barrett can't get better either. But at this stage he does not do his best when the heat is on. More than just today. See Philadelphia, a mental, not, physical, error. In fact, I think he admitted himself in a newspaper article this year that he pressed too much when he came up with bases loaded.

Dude, he just scored a run! What's with the hatred for Barrett? It's not hatred. I don't like or hate any of these guys as persons. It proves my point about Barrett and meaningful hits. Stats lie a lot of the time and batting average is the biggest liar of them all.

Wow, Barrett's got a .333 average today. And that at-bat was just as meaningful as his one in the third.

My money is on Barrett getting a hit this inning.

Enough with the stats and start watching him play. He is below average defensively and tight at the plate in pressure situations. And please don't quote me his average with men in scoring position. It's different hitting in a game when you're up by 7 or 8 than it it is when you're down a couple of runs.

Better stop that Barrett criticism. All those people who just spout his great stats and don't actually watch how he responds in game situations will get mad.

Alright? I think you at least have to admit that he's been a great offensive catcher this year. Again - not that he's untouchable, but he's been one of our most consistent producers this year. I didn't like trading Miller away either. But the offense would really be hurting if you subtracted Barrett's .857 OPS and replaced it with Miller's .710. I think we can admit that Barrett has good looking numbers. He does seem to tighten up at the plate when the pressure is on (eg, Tuesday night, struck with the bases loaded in 2-0 game and then doubles with the bases loaded in an 8-1 game; Wednesday, strikes out looking as the tying run at the plate on an 0-2 pitch). Also, he is not a good receiver, is very lazy at times about moving his body to block pitches. if another position is upgraded offensively, I would trade Barrett and replace him with a defensive-oriented catcher. This team seems to have no spark and has had none since '03. I think Barrett and Walker, despite their good-looking offensive numbers, are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Worthless managers as well. No doubt. This organization was so close to being a WS contender, what the heck happened? How did things go so wrong so fast? I'll tell you one reason is because Dusty couldn't control the clubhouse last year. 2004 was a circus act. Who knows maybe 2003 was an anomaly but if we are serious about getting to the World Series a lot of changes and acquisitions need to be made. Baker def has to go, and so does Corey among others. Hendry is at fault too. I'm telling you guys you better watch your mouths about Corey or the fan club will call you names and tell you how it's all Macias' fault (the utility man) and not the five tool starting center fielder.

Watch those anti-Crey posts: you might get called mean by one of the Corey drones. haha.. Oh well, come attack me Corey-fans. Your guy sucks. Amen brother.

Watch those anti-Crey posts: you might get called mean by one of the Corey drones.

Before anyone gets upset or aggravated or exasperated by what happens during the game, just remember what Uncle Corey says: "It's just a game."

Haven't seen you in a while Too Tall, welcome back. Words and emoticons can't express my disgust at that quote about Neifi. Don't be disgusted; listen to Corey: it's just a game.

If this is the case, why don't we cut ties with Patterson? Does anyone really think he has changed his approach for good? See what the Yankees would give up for him and be done with it.

There seem to be some folks on this board with amazing access to stats, so here goes. Can we find out how many times Walker and Patterson (or what percentage of their outs) have grounded out to the first or second basemen? It seems every time Walker makes an out that is what he does and ditto for Patterson, minus the mountain of strikeouts. For that matter, can anyone remember the last time that Walker didn't pull a ball? That guy is no number 2 hitter with that dead pull stroke. I know I am piling on a little but he strikes me as a "soft" near .300 hitter (like Macias).

I hope the goal is not just not to be Piazza. As for his leadership, where has it lead the Cubs in the time he's been here?