USSoccer

So it is all Lou's fault that they have sucked? Your a reliever, when you get put in a game your job is to get people out regardless of the situation. Quit putting the blame on Lou for their ineffectiveness. Maybe the first couple times, but after it was apparent that Eyre and Howry couldn't be counted on in close/late situations, he ran them out there anyway, over and over. That's on him. He's the one putting the ineffective players in critical spots.

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.

There's a difference between being held accountable and being called out and thrown under the bus. You can do one without the other. And regardless, this is the team Lou has to manage. He's not going to magically get a new roster. If his team isn't responding to his current methods, it's all on him to try and find a different way to get the team to succeed. Who has he thrown under the bus? Barrett, Ohman, Cotts, Eyre, Murton, Jones...

How much blame does Lou get for the team's struggles? 30%? 50%? The team has sucked all around, not just Lou. I would blame him for most of the bullpen's issues. He's put terrible relievers in the worst possible positions, and the team has suffered because of it.

There's a difference between being held accountable and being called out and thrown under the bus. You can do one without the other. And regardless, this is the team Lou has to manage. He's not going to magically get a new roster. If his team isn't responding to his current methods, it's all on him to try and find a different way to get the team to succeed.

If they are frustrated they need to play better and not just blame it all on old mean Lou. Last thing they need is more excuses, but that has been the standard around this team since 03. Lou has his share of the blame for the team's start. He's not done a very good job of managing the team.

Good. 5 fewer games of incompetent bullpen management.

I trust Hendry to trade the expendable parts. I'm not thrilled he would be the guy picking who we would trade Z, Barrett and Murton for, but I'd live with it. I don't want him anywhere near this organization after this November. That is where we disagree. I think this team is better than what they've shown themselves to be this season. Given the crapfest that is the NL Central, I see no reason that they can't contend while Lee and Aramis are still formidable.

Just watched the game on my DVR. My impressions: The Chinese National Diving Team was pretty poor. They didn't adjust at all. Next time they should bring their men's soccer team, instead of their Olympic divers. I loved the 4-3-3. LOVED it. The formation, the players, and the field dimensions forced the US to break down the defense rather than play their usual crappy kick and run, chip up to a target forward style. Dempsey and Beasley I thought played the wings very well, and if we could ever develop a real striker, I can see that being a really effective formation. Dempsey in particular needs to be in more of an attacking role than the left mid role he was in under Arena. Those two were the best players on the field. Good to see DaMarcus in good form. Carlos Bocanegra is a mess in the back. Every time he gets a touch on the ball I have a heart attack. The defense in general, I thought, didn't play well. The Chinese goal was just bad clearance. Onyewu played pretty well. Howard made one really nice save. Crappy service into the 18 from Spector and Bornstein. We still need better play from the left back spot. Michael Bradley played a pretty poor game. I don't think playing 1 touch soccer is his thing. Feilhaber was pretty good, and took his goal really well. Kleitsjan was ok, saw the field pretty well. Razov sucks. I liked what I saw from Charlie Davies. He's fast and seems pretty good technically with the ball at his feet. I was stoked to see Nguyen get on the field, but he didn't do much with his time. Still, it's good to see him getting capped and hopefully he'll have a strong Copa America run. Other than the finishing (Razov and Dempsey should have had 4 goals between them), I though they actually made improvements to their technical play. Here's hoping it carries over into Thursday. My preferred lineup against Guatemala: ------------------Johnson------------------- Beasley----------Donovan---------Dempsey ------------Bradley-------Feilhaber--------- Bornstein---------------------------Spector ------------Bocangra---Onyewu------------ -------------------Howard------------------- It's a 4-5-1, but I'd play it like they did Saturday and push Beasley and Dempsey up front into more of a 4-3-3. Guatemala is going to try and bunker in again like they did in March, so the US is going to have to take the lessons learned from playing in Spartan Stadium and apply them to the Home Depot center.

anyone watching this one? I'm hitting up the globe pub. I'm having to TiVo it. Although, I did order FSC pretty much so I could watch all the Gold Cup games. Looking forward to seeing Lee Nguyen.

The Cubs would have to play .564 ball the rest of the way to get to 84 wins? Do you really believe that's going to happen? I don't. That would be 91 win pace - a pace the Cubs haven't managed for a full season since 1989. Even the pythagenport standings people have loved to cling to so far have the Cubs at .519. Then you have to assume the Brewers are sub .500 the rest of the way and no one else puts it together. Do you guys get the picture? This is not a team thats going to win this year. Its not going to happen. Its not a team poised to get better next year either. In fact, the prospect cupboard is virtually bare. How do you propose the Cubs build a winner? Not an 84 game winner - an actual contender? Should we continue to look for "classy" players and lose or should we break up a roster that doesn't work and try and build a winner? I don't have faith in Jim Hendry to execute a firesale, and I think that this team will be able to contend with Lee and Ramirez in 1-2 seasons. Neither guy's salary is prohibitive. Both guys are in their prime. You're never going to be able to "blow it all up" anyway, and a team with the resources like the Cubs have shouldn't ever do it either. You can retool on the fly, though, with players that are expendable. My ideas are as follows: Trade: Murton Barrett Zambrano Howry Jones Floyd Izturis Barrett, Murton, Zambrano and Jones should bring us a pretty good haul. All contenders look for starting pitching and bullpen help. Z should command one pre-arb everyday player and two higher end prospects. Barrett should be able to get us one decent prospect. Howry should be able to get us one as well. Use Murton along with someone to bring in a better haul, if necessary. Jones, Floyd and Izturis I'd move for whatever. By making all the corner OF guys available, you should be able to move one of them. Hypothetical moves/destinations: Zambrano to LAA for Wood and Santana Barrett to Tampa for Baldelli Barrett to Anaheim Howry to Boston/Anaheim/White Sox Release/DFA: Eyre If he's going to suck, and you can't find a taker, release him. Bring up: Soto Pie Rapada You'd go into 2008 with Lee, Ramirez and Soriano anchoring your lineup. Pie playing CF, and Soto catching for the league minimum, offsetting Soriano's bloated salary. If Theriot and Patterson are you middle IF, they aren't going to be expensive either. Depending on who you trade those guys for, you could have a Brandon Wood playing SS. You could have Rocco Baldelli in RF. You could have ARod at SS and Theriot at 2B. DeRosa would be the utility guy he is. Hopefully you'd target a real corner OF with some of your trades. Lastings Milledge? The Mets would part with him in a Zambrano deal for sure. Your pitching staff is what it is at the moment. I don't think you could move Lilly. Marquis you might be able to sell high on. Hill you would keep. Hopefully in your Z deal you are able to get a really good P prospect back. Anaheim could send you someone. NY has Pelfry. Z for Milledge and Pelfry? The point is, Lee and Ramirez should be your cornerstones, not players you deal away. There are other options besides just saying "screw it" and trading everyone and becoming the 2006 Marlins.

I'm still stunned that the Cubs thought a fine would be the most appropriate punishment.

Wow, a fine? Really?

Trading Lee smacks of stupid frustration. As terrible as this team is, this division is just as terrible. One decent winning streak puts us right behind Milwaukee, and we're not even halfway done with the season. And if you sneak into the postseason, all it takes is a little bit of luck. I'd take a lucky WS after 84 wins. If you want to trade/release/DFA guys, do it to the guys that are worthless, not to guys like Lee and Ramirez who are the only offensive players actually playing.

Why do the Yankees need a catcher? Posada has been the best catcher in the league so far. How old is he? He's got to be mid 30's, right?

Catcher is about the only position where that should be a priority, no?

Z and Jones for Tex Z, Floyd and Barrett for ARod and Farnsworth. Z for Santana and Wood Barrett for Baldelli Z for

So, Teixiera? Either way, I'd rather get 25 cents today than have nothing in 6 months. should have drafted him in the first place. In retrospect, yes. Not winning but coming oh-so-close in 2003 screwed up this organization in so many ways. I felt that way in preretrospect, but I let the prior crowd talk me into Prior after the draft. Wait, so you weren't sold on the Kelton/Montanez/Hill/Choi IF?

When you consider any deal for prospects, consider who the clown is that's picking the minor leaguers. Teixiera, please.

So, Teixiera? Either way, I'd rather get 25 cents today than have nothing in 6 months. should have drafted him in the first place. In retrospect, yes. Not winning but coming oh-so-close in 2003 screwed up this organization in so many ways.

Oh, don't worry. This game will die with the tying run at the plate.

Please tell me you're kidding. Oh, sorry. I guess I wasn't being sarcastic enough. My sarcasm detector could be broken, too, though. You never know. Well just to be safe, I'll throw in extra "!!!" after each sentence next time. Include one of these: @#$ OMG!!! WHAT A GREAT @#$ IDEA!!! Perfect. @#$

So, Teixiera? Either way, I'd rather get 25 cents today than have nothing in 6 months.

Please tell me you're kidding. Oh, sorry. I guess I wasn't being sarcastic enough. My sarcasm detector could be broken, too, though. You never know. Well just to be safe, I'll throw in extra "!!!" after each sentence next time. Include one of these: @#$

Please tell me you're kidding. Oh, sorry. I guess I wasn't being sarcastic enough. My sarcasm detector could be broken, too, though. You never know.