OldHappyCubFan

Dunn is batting .209 with runners in scoring position. No thanks. Our team has enough guys that strand runners. We stranded 9 runners today in Cincinatti.

Dempster does seem to walk alot of betters. He invites blown saves. While he ends up getting the outs, its going to come back and bite his ass sooner or later.

For the price of Dunn, it is NOT worth the price. I'd rather have the answer in center field for 2-3 seasons until Pie's ready. That answer is Juan Pierre. He'll solidfy the starting lineup everyday at the top of the order. Why don't people realize that Home Runs are NOT the answer? We need line drive hitters who have a good BA when runners are in scoring position. We need solid batters who execute and are clutch. Batters who KNOW how to hit a single, when a single is needed. That answer is Matt Murton in LF for now. Adam Dunn is NOT a clutch baseball player, and is a total newbie when it comes to the playoffs. Juan Pierre brings speed and talent to the team, like an injected shot in the arm. He'll bring intangibles, and the knowledge of winning baseball to the Chicago Cubs.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bingo. Kerry Wood, is NOT that good. Hes an average 3rd starter in any rotation in the majors. His career numbers are BAD for pitching for 6 seasons.

While I like him as our GM, I feel he has made many errors this season. 1) No closer- While Dempster has done well, hes been inconsistent. You never know which Dempster you're going to get on any given day. 2) Bullpen- Hendry has done NOTHING to help the Bullpen. That equates to losing one run games and two run games. 3) Leadoff man- While we have Jerry Hairston Jr, hes NOT an everyday caliber kind of player. He plays hard, but hes just not an everyday starter. There has to be consistentcy to our lineup, and Hairston over a full year, won't put up the numbers consistently. 4) Starting Pitching- The Cubs continue to entrust the entire team to Wood and Prior, which is a giant mistake. These guys have had 2 injury filled seasons, when will Hendry realize these guys can't anchor a team, if they can barely pitch 3 games without a cramp, injury, or some other excuse. The Cubs can use one more quality starter in my opinion. These changes are needed if they are to be a playoff/World Series caliber team. This whole season you've seen a Cardinal and White Sox team, with all the solid qualitys that I have listed above. They have leadoff men, solid bullpens, and a closer that has performed pretty well. While I don't like Dusty Baker, I feel alot of the garbage hes had to use this season in Bullpen roles, and leadoff roles, is a direct result of Hendry's planning. Baker can't rely on any given guy in the bullpen including Dempster. He also has too many options for the starting lineup. Hendry's given him these garbage part timing players to mess around with.

exactly. Thanks for a good post. Baker, Wood, and Nomar have killed this team. This franchise will continue to lose, if they can't find a solid manager.

I really wish I grew up a Yankee fan. I woulda had a couple of championships already. You guys do realize I can't even wear my Cubs hat with pride anymore, especially after dumb games like this.

Great, they scored some more runs. I'm so freaking sick of this team. If they're gonna lose, please lose 10 straight so Baker gets tossed. I'm sorry, but the turning point of this game is bringing in Novoa for the second straight inning.

Hear that? Thats the sound of the Cubs going back to being a .500 team. This team is far away from being a contender.

Sorry guys, but I almost want the Cubs to lose every game from here on out. Thats what it will take to get this clown to stop managing the team. Dusty Baker is the WORST manager I've seen in a long time. Why would you bring out this kid who did his job, a second time with the bases almost loaded AGAIN??

Amazing job by Hairston and Novoa, the least likely of heros. Amazing.

Gerut is leading off, because Dusty Baker sincerly hates Jerry Hairston Jr. When Baker gets fired, I will drink from noon to midnight.

Gerut has been unimpressive in his Cubs debut. *cough* Matt Murton's better *cough*

Can you imagine the Cubs tied up 3-3 in the playoffs, in the ninth inning, runners on third, and Macias up to PH? Worst scenario ever. Please DFA Macias.

Annnnnnd Macias hits a million foul balls and grounds out. Dangit! :x

lol Illni, I'm happy at times, but I'm not happy unless we win 8 in a row 8) 8) Hollandsworth, is so horrible I cant explain why Baker would insert him into the lineup.

Why are Cub fans so obsessive over "power." This team has plenty of power hitters, and not enough OBP or slap happy hitters. Pierre brings exactly to the table what this team needs. Hes having an off-year, which is very unlike a Juan Pierre kind of year. The guy is simply one of the BEST leadoff hitters in all of baseball. If you take away the slow start hes had this season, he'd be imo the best leadoff hitter in baseball the past 3 years. Granted hes been playing well the past 10 games or so, and I forget the stat, but I believe hes been batting .300 in that time frame. The guy is WAY better then an unknown unproven guy like Hairston. Home runs don't win championships. Solid batting, and moving the runners over increase the chances of scoring. This team had 3 runners on third base last night, with one out, and coulden't even drive them home on a sac. Thats what I call losing baseball.

Gerut has proven not to have any offense in the past year or so. Hes just solid defensively. I knew Dusty would jump at the chance to dropping Hairston. What a slimeball.

Dusty Baker has butchered the lineup yet again tonight, and has put in Hollandsworthless, and Gerut, both guys not proving to have any offense. I woulden't mind so much if he used Gerut in LF, but please don't sub in for Hairston Jr. This is why the Cubs need a trade for Pierre. Pierre solidifys the top of the lineup. What happens after Aram and Burnitz I really don't care about.

How am I being "proved wrong"? I don't think anybody is denying what I've posted. I don't consider myself a "professor" or "scholor" of baseball. From a diehard fan's perspective, this guy is getting paid way more then hes worth, and has been given way too much attention, just like AJ Burnett. But Badger, Kerry Wood refuses to acknowledge he needs to change his mechanics. Hes just as stubborn as anybody else. He thinks theres nothing wrong with his pitching mechanics. Anyways, back to baseball.

He isn't chopped liver, I'm just saying hes an average pitcher. He has a career ERA of 3.7, which isn't impressive either. Theres hundreds of pitchers that have recieved poor run support in the history of baseball, theres also hundreds of pitchers who have won a couple of games in the playoffs. Kerry Wood bursted on the scene with amazing power and pitching prowess, but has been a bust ever since. Hes a bigger version of AJ Burnett.

Sorry, he really isn't impressive. 14 wins was his best season as a starter in 2004. Hes been in the league for 6 seasons, and only has 70 wins.

Big deal, he won a couple of playoff games. Thats in the past. In the present, hes just DL fodder. Cubs need another bonafied pitcher on their rotation, Wood isn't cutting it.

I'm so incredibly sick of Kerry Wood, this is a guy whose done really nothing impressive over his career BUT, his 20 strikeouts. Hes incredibly overrated. If anything, I'd be happy to have Rusch, Hill, or anybody else on the pitching staff but him.

Recently? I haven't cared for Holly period. Hes a career pinch hitter. Get him outta there Jim.