katway

It's a good trade. If anything, I hope he provides a much needed spark to the offense or change in attitude. While I liked Gerut's pedigree, he looked lost with the Cubs. Plus, Lawton can play center. I expect that Hairston will be moved back to the bench.

1/2 hour left to trade deadline. We are about to lose 3 of 4 to Arizona @ home. We are 4 games in back of wildcard with several teams ahead of us. A lot of teams would love to have Burnitz for a playoff run, do we sell? I'm not entirely serious but does make you think if we even have a shot at it this year with the Cubs performances lately and we may want to prepare for next year....

Good thing there's a day off tomorrow. If we lose today, the Cubs need to sit around and let this series sink in -- losing 3 out of 4 at home against Arizona is exceptionally poor.

Mitre (bad in the relief role) and Cedeno (3 shortstops is 1 too many, he will get called back up in September for baserunning, etc.).

I think one thing that factors into better breaking pitches from lefties is that there are fewer lefties out there and they are given a greater opportunity to develop within an organization than righthanders. Since there are more righties, the righties that stick around often through heat or have good location. Lefties can stick around with mediocre stuff and focus on developing breaking pitches. In any event, I think the best curve ball of anyone was thrown by a right hander -- Bert Blyleven.

No dissappointment at all. I think it's clear that Jim recognizes the need for a reliver, etc. So, I know he is trying to acquire such players but the asking price may simply be to high. If Jim does not make a trade because the price is too high, that makes complete sense for the future of the franchise. In addition, given our teams recent performance, we haven't played like a playoff team and I wouldn't take risks mortgaging the future for this year.

Right now Hill is like a young Estes with the potential to be a Zito. His curve is precisely like Zito's, but he needs just one more pitch to make it all happen. His fastball could use slightly more movement, but has enough zip. A real nice changeup, splitfinger, slider... just about any other above average mastery of a pitch to keep hitters honest would make him an ace because his curve is that good. I bet the team works with him on developing another pitch this winter. I also think that once he has some time in the bigs and the umpires get used to him, they are going to call a lot more strikes on that curve. currently, I think the umps miss some strikes because his curve fools them.

This would be an awful trade for SD. They are in need of offense. Giles is an all around quality player, they have no one to replace him (Robert Fick and Dave Roberts?), and aside from that he is a native San Diegan /town favorite.

I dislike LaRussa as much as anyone, but can't argue with his results too much. The Cubs use injury as an excuse, his team succeeds in spite of injury and always plays hard.

Pathetic game. Our bats are dead and we keep making fundamental mistakes. The fact that we are barely above .500 at home is killing us. This team needs someone to provide a spark. I hope the return of a few players can do it next week, but i fear it may be too late.

Here we go again. If we keep giving the game away pretty soon the opposing team is going to take it.

Troy Glaus "likes fastballs up over the plate." Doesn't every hitter? Time to stop throwing fastballs down the middle to their power hitter.

Nice strike em out throw em out.

Lee was still running to first so it's just one error.

It's your opportunity to be a full-time starter... give it your all Rich Hill! Go Cubs!!

Dempster was constently mentioned by Hendry as a potential closer in the off season. His name often came up when we decided not to go after some of the aging closers out there. Dempster even prepared to close all off season. Dusty, as always, simply went with his own thought process and decided to put Dempster in the starting rotation. What Hendry wants and what Dusty does are 2 different things. Case in point: Cedeno gets called up from AAA and Dusty only plays him once a week. My gut tells me that wasn't Hendry's intention in calling up Cedeno.

I said he was good. When did I call him Pujols? When did anyone call him Pujols? At some point he has to get playing time. Why can't that time be now since we have no better alternative? Because we're 2.5 games out of the Wild Card. Now is not the time to experiment. Now, if he keeps hitting like he is, I'm all for it. Just don't get to high on this kid too fast. We did that with one outfielder one time. I think his name is Corey Paterson. I know nobody called him Pujols, I was parraphrasing. Murton and Patterson are different players with a different approach to the game. Patterson was/is a high schooler with a long swing, poor command of the strike zone, and bad approach at the plate. Murton is a college grad with a short swing, great command of the strike zone, and a veteran's approach at the plate. You can't lump all players together, there is no cookie cutter approach that works for everyone. Murton is not Corey, Murton deserves to play because Murton can play. Don't sit Murton just because Corey can't play. Aside from the whole Murton issue, everyone knows there are a laundry list of Baker's miscues this year. Perhaps the two most glaring have been putting Corey and Neifi in the 1 and 2 slots in front of Lee and using LaTroy as a closer when Hendry clearly wanted Dempster in that role from the get go....

Cubs would never do it. Took us nearly 30 years to replace Santo at third. Outfielders are easier to find than third basemen.

The odd thing about Manny is that in spite of whatever else may be going on, he is one of the most focused hitters I have ever seen at the plate. The minute that pitcher releases the ball, Manny focuses like few other hitters. It really is uncanny how he is so consistent at blocking everything else out when he is playing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Manny will be Manny wherever he plays and will always produce with the bat. however, I do think that the Mets weaker lineup will result in less production than what he has in Boston if he indeed is traded to the Mets.

Wow. We've got the 9th firgured out. Now, we gotta play 1 through 8 with the same energy.

I always wonder how tiring it is to play baseball when you are at home and the other team has been traveling. The team has no excuse for its lackluster efforts as of late. Err...this 18 game stretch included a road trip to Pittsburgh & St. Louis and then they travelled home ALL without a day off. You work your job 18 straight days with 3 travel days included and see if you are tired at the end of it. Sheesh So, the one day off Arizona has had makes all the difference? Please. How tiring is it to play baseball. I don't remember ever being winded except when I pitched. Most of them also had the All Star break off. Maybe the Astros just have better beds than we do. Ok, no matter the profession, if anyone works 18 straight days (not to mention travels 3 times as well) it would get to you. Not sure what your profession is but I don't want to go to work 18 straight days. And I love my job. Again, why is this a valid excuse for the Cubs and not the Diamondbacks, Astros, or Braves? In my profession, I work at times 70 days strait with 8 hour plus days and travel about once per week during that time frame. Is it tiring? Yes. But if I represent my client on day 68 and the adverse party kicks my but, my client will not accept I'm tired as an excuse. I work my but off and so do those that I deal with and against. Excuses, such as I'm tired, don't go over to well with me when everyone else faces the same conditions. The only difference is we can't tell if you're sluggish or not. YOu might be. But these guys are on stage and we can see it. If i'm sluggish, I get my rear end handed to me. regardless, my point is they are all on the same stage. All the teams are tired... so why is it an excuse for the Cubs and not say the Astros. Can anyone explain that to me?

I always wonder how tiring it is to play baseball when you are at home and the other team has been traveling. The team has no excuse for its lackluster efforts as of late. Err...this 18 game stretch included a road trip to Pittsburgh & St. Louis and then they travelled home ALL without a day off. You work your job 18 straight days with 3 travel days included and see if you are tired at the end of it. Sheesh So, the one day off Arizona has had makes all the difference? Please. How tiring is it to play baseball. I don't remember ever being winded except when I pitched. Most of them also had the All Star break off. Maybe the Astros just have better beds than we do. Ok, no matter the profession, if anyone works 18 straight days (not to mention travels 3 times as well) it would get to you. Not sure what your profession is but I don't want to go to work 18 straight days. And I love my job. Again, why is this a valid excuse for the Cubs and not the Diamondbacks, Astros, or Braves? In my profession, I work at times 70 days strait with 8 hour plus days and travel about once per week during that time frame. Is it tiring? Yes. But if I represent my client on day 68 and the adverse party kicks my but, my client will not accept I'm tired as an excuse. I work my but off and so do those that I deal with and against. Excuses, such as I'm tired, don't go over to well with me when everyone else faces the same conditions.

I always wonder how tiring it is to play baseball when you are at home and the other team has been traveling. The team has no excuse for its lackluster efforts as of late. Err...this 18 game stretch included a road trip to Pittsburgh & St. Louis and then they travelled home ALL without a day off. You work your job 18 straight days with 3 travel days included and see if you are tired at the end of it. Sheesh So, the one day off Arizona has had makes all the difference? Please. How tiring is it to play baseball. I don't remember ever being winded except when I pitched. Most of them also had the All Star break off. Maybe the Astros just have better beds than we do.

I don't disagree with you, but I don't fault Dusty for that. Seriously, who in the pen (besides Dempster) do you REALLY trust late in a 1-run game right now? I can't think of one. I get the feeling Baker is just accentuating this teams faults to force a trade situation. there is not other explanation I can think of and I'm not saying that's a good one.

I always wonder how tiring it is to play baseball when you are at home and the other team has been traveling. The team has no excuse for its lackluster efforts as of late.