brfahey

He certainly is part of the problem with this lineup. OBP is OBP. It's needed everywhere. Michael has a terrible approach at the plate. He's talented enough that if he adjusts, he should be fine, but he hasn't shown any indications that he will. The "he's settling into the position" excuse is growing thin with MB. He's 28 years old. He played C exclusively in 2001, 2003 and 2004. He played C virtually exclusively in 2002, with just 6 appearances at 1B. Until he shows that he can be more than a first pitch hack who routinely grounds into double plays because of his tendency to swing at pitcher's pitches designed to ground into double plays, then he will remain part of the problem. Thank you for seeing things dispassionately. The amount of rose-colored glasses wearing in these fora is staggering. It's nice to know that people believe in the Cubs unconditionally, but enough is enough.

There's more to defense than throwing guys out stealing. Prior, Z and maddux don't seem to lik pitching to the guy. Why is that?

I am sure this is the frustration talking, but is anyone else sick of this current incarnation of the Cubs. They keep repeating the same losing patterns, game after game, week after week. If trailing in a game, hitters (especially Patterson, Barrett and Walker) refuse to take pitches. Patterson's inability to produce is obvious and pretty well documented (and please no complaints that he isn't a leadoff hitter: he wasn't doing squat hitting down in the order). The emerging poster boys for no concept of an approach at the plate are Barrett and Walker, who can't seem to take a pitch when they should. Come to think about it, what have these two brought to the team in their two years here? Barrett struggles defensively and it seems very few of the starters want him to catch them. Walker's strongest attribute seems to be the go-to-guy for the media (so at last Mark Grace's role is filled). I am hard pressed to remember significant and timely offensive contributions from Walker. Another ongoing problem, the inability of this pitching staff to finish off innings. The newspapers have just picked up on it in the past few days but it's been going on all year: giving up runs with two outs. The Brewers rally on Thursday which finished the Cubs off started with Miller hitting a home run with two out, nobody on and an 0-2 count. 2 or 3 more runs followed. Washington scored almost all their runs with two outs. It's just not one pitcher; it runs through the whole staff. Can't be a coincidence. Another one: Wood's lack of control precedes a home run. He has to be the most overrated pitcher in the game. He had a spectaclular run in late 2003 until Game 7. Before and since, pretty mediocre. His "I feel good" act after getting beat is a tired refrain. When you get right down to it, this team has not hit much, particularly in the clutch in two years. Wood has been far short of a dominating pitcher. The bullpen has been wild and weak at times. The defense less than average. In short, this team plays neither winning nor smart baseball. This inability is the only consistent thing about this team. Time to play the youngsters: Pie, Cedeno and Merton. Say goodbye to Corey and his "potential" and "five tools". Send Walker on to yet another team and media market for him to charm. See if anyone else still thinks Wood is going to be Nolan Ryan and are willing to take on his bloated salary. See if anyone will take Barrett and his less than stellar glove. If we are going to lose let's do it with new guys rather than the bums (some of the team) which have been trotted out in the past two years.

Disappointing by Walker. Predictable from Patterson, along with the result.