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Dirt Dog Sparly

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  1. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Its a thought but is Z ready to be pushed back a day? I am guessing but Z probably flew back to Chicago sometime today and is expecting to start. You could throw Lilly on his 3rd day but then you are looking at another lefty after Hill. Lilly and Hill pitch too much alike for me to be comfortable going back to back with them. I would be wiling to use Lilly in long relief tomorrow or Tuesday for three innings or so, but I would watch his pitch count and stress closely.
  2. Dirt Dog Sparly
    I am a Cubs fan. I have no doubt that they will hack me off. Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss.
  3. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Both bad rules trying to do the right things. The season rules mean that Michigan and Florida State start at the same time. Instead of saying you have 13 weeks to play your season from start to finish, you now have to play from this date to this date. I see it as an effort to address the complaints of the northern schools that the southern schools have unfair advantages in starting earlier and stretching their games out. (Not having to play so many in such a short time.) The rules dealing with the money is awful to say the least. The NCAA says that if you give a kid a penny it has to be at least 33% of the cost of tuition for the year. This is going to hurt the kids in the end. There are alot of freshmen and sophmores who are getting one or two thousand in baseball money that wont get that money now. Its bad enough that baseball is compared to softball for Title 9, and even worse that football screws over the other mens sports in scholarships. This is just an additional load of bovine fertilizer that the NCAA has dumped on college baseball. Note the two sports that have the worst records in reguard to graduation rates are the biggest money makers and not one thing is being done to them to reign in transfers.
  4. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Please :roll: They talked about it and all the ramifications that would come with it. They, "Lou and company", are looking for something to make this team click. They are looking. Repeat that word, slowly. Looking. In this useage it means to think and ask opinions of trusted individuals. If they werent looking at different options and what the outcomes of those options were then they should be run out of town. Its called thinking. Which some of the posts in this thread apparently have a lack of. Sometimes this board just reminds me of a three ring circus.
  5. Dirt Dog Sparly
    On XM there is a fill in guy from New York doing the main channel show during the rain delay. After talking nothing but Yankees for the last 20 min he then says, "Cubs fans are white collar, bleacher sitting, beer guzzelers, while White Sox fans are real salt of the earth blue collar hard working people who scrape together nickles and dimes to go to Cellular one." I didnt realize ESPN had bought XM.
  6. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Odds are we will see Murton tomorrow though.
  7. Dirt Dog Sparly
    The lineups havent changed from what Bruce posted. Start time 10:17 EDT
  8. Dirt Dog Sparly
    You sir have never met my wife. Seriously. If that were true, what the hell are you doing posting with us fools! Because I am a Cubs fan and she tolerates that about me. :wink:
  9. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Wow...ask and you shall be answered. Hahaha, so they are actually playing this at 10:15 P.m.? :lol: :lol: :lol: The Mets crew said the Cubs didnt want to play a double header tomorrow and then have to play Friday afternoon in Chicago.
  10. Dirt Dog Sparly
    You sir have never met my wife. Seriously.
  11. Dirt Dog Sparly
    XM is broadcasting again and the game is getting ready to start.
  12. Dirt Dog Sparly
    pitchers have to warm up, gotta fix up the field too Hopefully the tarp is pulled clean and little or no water hits the infield. The big question is do the pull to LF or RF?
  13. Dirt Dog Sparly
    On XM they just said the tarp is coming off and they will play.
  14. Dirt Dog Sparly
    To the 40 man and the 25 unless the Cards can turn around and get him through waivers themselves.
  15. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Dont sweat it Wekse. Its easier to be called a sexist, biggoted, homophobe, by someone than having them sit down with you and actually hold a conversation. That dosent make headlines, which is all you need to know about this.
  16. Dirt Dog Sparly
    When the arm is down the hand tends to get under the baseball. It makes Z's breaking pitches spin more than break. It also tends to to flatten his fastball out and up in the zone. By making the mental adjustment he is keeping his arm up, and more importantly, the hand on top of the baseball. A quick experiment you can do at home. Throw sidearm against a wall or to a friend. Throw the ball with the hand underneath the ball. You should notice a slingshot type of action. You should see a natural frisbie type of spin on the ball. (Make sure you finish the arm action. Dont short arm!!! The elbow will take alot of energy if you do.) Now throw from the same arm slot but get your hand on top of the ball. You most likely will experience "turning the ball over", which will give you some natural movement, as you release and see natural downward movement. You should also see a more expected "baseball" rotation. Once again make sure you follow through with your arm and let the body decelerate it naturally.
  17. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Before the rule change this year, if they called the game, it would revert to the last full inning played. That means the Cubs lose if the Pirates could talk the crew into banging the game. With the rule change the game becomes a suspended game and will have to be completed at a later time from the point it is suspended.
  18. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Personally I love the wild man approach to the game Theriot brings. That being said while he goes to the left very well I am not sure about going right. Also his first step is slow which makes him good for second but puts you at a disadvantage at SS. It also hurts him at 3rd which is so much of a reaction position where first step quickness is needed. But heck when the bullpen is giving up homeruns I guess who you have on the infield isnt that important.
  19. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Right now? The past 99 years... Because I believe it can change. It wont happen over night, but I dont see Lou putting up with losing if he can do anything about it.
  20. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Fantastic news. There are composite wood bats that will last all year and are cheaper than aluminum. I have two that are all bamboo and have the three oz. drop to length just like aluminum. Kids will learn to pitch inside again, and will have to learn to hit with woods. :D
  21. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Not quite a fire and intensity post. This team is suffering from Dusty hangover. They dont know how to win the close ones, as evidenced by lack of execution, and this has been a trend for a few years. I believe that Dusty and staff had a, "if you are in the majors you know how to play" philosophy. Dusty's preference for vets and the many comments about "shouldnt have to teach" is part of it. Yesterday I saw Lou grab a player and teach right after an AB. (Theriot I think) I dont ever remember Dusty doing that. Lou also has a "refuse to lose" personality. This team dosent yet give me that feeling. I get the feeling that they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Losing as well as winning is a mindset. Right now I believe the Cubs as a team have a losing mindset.
  22. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Get well, and get back in that booth Ron!
  23. Dirt Dog Sparly
    I have been kicking around an idea and a gut feeling the last week or so. With the news that Pie is staying in Chicago I want to run this up the flagpole and see what you guys and gals think. I feel that this team isnt as good as most think, but isnt as bad as they have been playing. The thing that has been missing is a spark and someone saying get on my back I will carry you. In 84 Dallas Greene traded Joe Carter and Mel Hall to Cleveland for Sutt, and one magical Saturday a young player picked up the year before as a throw in in a trade blossomed on a national stage. Sutt only lost one game that year after coming over. My question is who is going to be this years Rick S and Ryne Sandberg? Is there a player out there we can add, and can Murton become the blossoming youngster?
  24. Dirt Dog Sparly
    I have said it before and I will say it again. This is a team that expects to lose right now. Last years hangover is what we are watching. When they learn to win as a team, then things will click. Ever wonder why players go to StL and turn career years while they are there? Its because the Cardinals expect to win. TLR will not expect less so players play up to that. Baker, from appearances, never held the vets accountable and it filters down to the kids. I have no doubt that Ronnie feels worse about yesterday than any of us do. The difference is that Lou is going to teach and get his message across. I liken the situation right now to your neighbor giving you a dog because its going to the bathroom all over the neighbors house. Then you find out that your neighbor never house trained the dog. Welcome to Chicago Lou.
  25. Dirt Dog Sparly
    Well, they have played 13 games so I'm not entirely sure... I think the offense will be fine and the "questionable" pitching has been solid, overall, thus far. To answer your question, I believe the Cubs longest winning streak last year was 4 games so it was at least 2 seasons ago... I keep hearing the Offense will be fine. It will come around. This is exactly what was said in 2004 and 2005. Are we sure that it will be any better than a middle of the league offense that it is now. the team hit the ball really hard over and over again yesterday, but right at people or into the teeth of the wind. The BABIP for yesterday's game was crazy low Derwood is right on. The hitters didnt strike out until the shadows split the plate. Let me repeat; our first K wasnt until the 10th inning. Our hitters put the screws on the baseball several times and they either were into the wind, and were knocked down, or right at a defender. This team isnt hitting on all cylinders yet. Pardon the pun. We arent the 27 Yankees waiting to break out, but we definately arent the team that lost yesterday on an every day basis.
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