JC

Clemens did stop himself the other day in mid sentence about not being able to take some kind of medicine for his back in an ESPN article. I thought that was kind of strange.

Ugh, please no sleeveless. I think those are extremely ugly. I agree. Plus, sleeveless jerseys seem stupid from a marketing standpoint. Few people, other than a very select population, would wear sleeveless jerseys to games and such as they require you to wear another shirt underneath. That sounds pretty freaking uncomfortable to me sitting in the stands on a 95 degree day with two shirts on. Sleeveless jerseys are a bad idea.

Its about time for Brownlie to crush most of my remaining hopes again.

If the Horn is cut, I think there is a good chance that Billy Beane may bring him back into the fold.

As near as I can tell (and I easily could be wrong), the best the Cubs have faired under Dusty in a 42 game period was last year, Aug. 8 thru Sept. 24, when the Cubs went 26-16, 61-50 to 87-66. Of course, we are still looking for the bottom as it fell out shortly thereafter... EDIT: I used 42 games based on SSR's post, but I should have used 41 games as that is how many the Cubs have remaining. As such, you can take off one loss from the above totals as that streak started with 2 losses. Thus, the Cubs went 26-15 in that 41 game span.

You should be. But, despite its suckage, you are safe admitting it on a Cub message board because, if memory serves, it was one of Harry's favorites as well. Although, I always suspected he just had a thing for Sarah Michelle Geller.

Guzman 4 - Wood 2 or 3 - every fifth day, we can even give the duo a cute nickname :) How 'bout "The Bandage Brothers" or "The Disabled Duo"? Winner

I was a freshman in college. My buddy and I watched the entire series. It was cold, drab and kind of rainy during every game. I remember us both being stunned following the series. I think the Cubs were, too.

I doubt it. Maddux will be in the HOF as a Brave; I'd be surprised if I saw his flag on the Wrigley foul pole. He's not the franchise player that Ryne and even Billy Williams were. Maddux is more like Fergie Jenkins- he's respected and even beloved by many Cub fans, but that's not his identity, if that makes any sense. Its a strange debate with many facets. I probably see Maddux more as a Brave, but I still see Clemens as a member of the Red Sox.

The Cubs are responsible for one of those other times, I believe. I think it was 1991, Andre Dawson hit a grand slam in the 10th inning at Pittsburgh and our crappy relief pitching came in the bottom half of the 10th and gave up 5 runs and lost. They showed the game on ESPN a while ago. Can anyone verify this? Didn't Dawson have another GS during that series as well?

I would send Wellemeyer out. I expect the Cubs to return Murton to the minors. This will be justified by the fact that Macias is hitting near .300 and, along with Hairston, can serve just as well as the right-handed platoon members in LF.

While I haven't checked recently, it seems like EPatt cooled down after his chat session. Now with Sean losing the ERA lead following his chat answering session, could there be a NSBB Chat Jinx? Because, we all know that jinxes and curses exist. :wink:

Wow again. Sorry, Officer. Wasn't meant to be rude or degrading to RynoRules, and is he (she?) took it that way, my apologies. But there's not a GM in any league, major leagues to fantasy leagues, who would make that trade. Just you, indeed. I thought your response was abrupt and belittling, but since I try not to reply to personal attacks (as I believe to do so only encourages more of them), I chose not to flame back at you. Abrupt and belittling? Well, for what its worth, I didn't read it as any kind of personal attack on you, as insulting to you or disparaging to Hendry. Any time "pantsing" is suggested between GMs in a post, I don't generally take it very seriously. Oh, sorry. I thought the rule around here was to attack thepost and not the poster. Thus, say the Yanks wouldn't do the deal, instead of "Just you...", which is a clear reference to and insult directed at the poster (yours truly). In any case, I put the A Rod thing out there as an idea. Folks don't agree? Hey - that's just life in the Big City, and may be you guys are correct, and I am not. I thought when you referenced "I thought your response", that you were talking about the original comment with respect to Hendry pantsing Cashman and that nobody would deal with him again. I think this whole thing is silly because it started from something that didn't seem remotely insulting to me. I was just trying to convey that someone at arm's length didn't read it as insulting.

So the reason Murton doesn't play against righties is that he doesn't make enough money. Got it. Makes perfect sense now. :roll: I can't believe that Dusty is still playing Murton against Lefties. That is a huge step for him. With the playoffs on the line and after the Lawton trade Dusty could have easily created many excuses to bench Murton everyday and stay with Burnitz and Lawton. He also smacked Murton's throwing arm after complementing him. Way to build confidence in the kid. "Hey, you've been playing well dude, but your arm kinda sucks." Yeah, it seems like it is impossible for Dusty to give a glowing report of Murton.

As far as the '06 rotation, we know it will include: Zambrano Prior Wood I suspect it will also include: Maddux I would be comfortable with Hill being given the fifth spot. Marshall and Pinto will be available if Hill faulters with additional experience under their respective belts. (Of course, Guzman will always be in the mix until his index finger gets inflamed, or his humeral head gets gangrene, or his elbow gets displaced from a bizarre can opening incident.) I really have little interest in the Williams experiment, but he, too, is an option. If Maddux does retire, however, Hendry had better immediately make his $9M available to sign Burnett.

Someone please explain the fascination with Rueter. SEASON TEAM G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO W L SV HLD BLSV ERA 1993 Mon 14 14 1 0 86.2 85 33 26 5 18 31 8 0 0 0 -- 2.73 1994 Mon 20 20 0 0 92.1 106 60 53 11 23 50 7 3 0 0 -- 5.17 1995 Mon 9 9 1 1 47.1 38 17 17 3 9 28 5 3 0 0 -- 3.23 1996 Mon 16 16 0 0 79.2 91 44 40 12 22 30 5 6 0 0 -- 4.58 1996 SF 4 3 0 0 23.1 18 6 5 0 5 16 1 2 0 0 -- 1.93 1996 -- 20 19 0 0 102.0 109 50 45 12 27 46 6 8 0 0 -- 3.97 1997 SF 32 32 0 0 191.2 194 83 73 17 51 115 13 6 0 0 -- 3.45 1998 SF 33 33 1 0 188.2 193 100 91 27 57 102 16 9 0 0 -- 4.36 1999 SF 33 33 1 0 185.2 219 118 111 28 55 94 15 10 0 0 -- 5.41 2000 SF 32 31 0 0 184.0 205 92 81 23 62 71 11 9 0 0 -- 3.96 2001 SF 34 34 0 0 195.1 213 105 96 25 66 83 14 12 0 0 -- 4.42 2002 SF 33 33 0 0 204.2 204 83 73 22 54 76 14 8 0 0 -- 3.23 2003 SF 27 27 0 0 147.0 170 77 74 14 47 41 10 5 0 0 -- 4.53 2004 SF 33 33 0 0 190.1 225 108 100 21 66 56 9 12 0 0 -- 4.73 2005 SF 20 18 0 0 107.1 131 78 71 12 47 25 2 7 0 0 -- 5.95 Total -- 340 336 4 1 1918.0 2092 1004 911 220 582 818 130 92 0 0 -- 4.28 Aside from 2002, he hasn't had a good year in the last 5 years. The only other time his ERA was under 4.00 was 2000, and that was only 3.96. Further, they guy doesn't particularly eat up innings, and for now, we have to assume Dusty will still be in control of a bullpen that really hasn't shown much life. Say "no" to Rueter. Emphatically.

After visiting the Iowa site, I couldn't remember what he was touted as prior to the season, so I dug up this old thread. UK's words are prophetic in that he would be nothing spectacular. However, I wish he would at least return to decent: Raul Valdes 5 6 6.09 20 14 0 0 1 81.1 119 60 55 4 32 59

Honestly, just bring Guzman up now. Throw him in the starting rotation for 3-4 innings, and follow him with Rusch or Williams. At this point, the guy is just a DL stint in waiting. You might as well use his talents, for however short the time will be, at the ML level instead of toiling in the minors. I know it sounds crazy, but the guy can't stay healthy. So, I say maximize his value to the organization by using his arm in the majors before the next injury.

Wow again. Sorry, Officer. Wasn't meant to be rude or degrading to RynoRules, and is he (she?) took it that way, my apologies. But there's not a GM in any league, major leagues to fantasy leagues, who would make that trade. Just you, indeed. I thought your response was abrupt and belittling, but since I try not to reply to personal attacks (as I believe to do so only encourages more of them), I chose not to flame back at you. Abrupt and belittling? Well, for what its worth, I didn't read it as any kind of personal attack on you, as insulting to you or disparaging to Hendry. Any time "pantsing" is suggested between GMs in a post, I don't generally take it very seriously.

Wow. If Hendry ever pants'd another GM that bad, they'd immediately start work on his plaque in the GM wing of the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he'd have to retire, since no other team would ever make a trade with him again. Way. Off. Base. and not amusing. :scratch: Am I missing something here?

Brian, Thanks for stopping by. Your progress has been eagerly followed by the fans in this community. I've got to think that when you look around the Cubs' system, at the very least, you must take stock of the players that may technically be ahead of you in progression at your position. And, of course, Derrek Lee is currently manning first base at the major league level. Understanding that you have no control over those circumstances, do you still keep track of how others are doing at levels around you? Also, who has been the toughest pitcher you have faced so far in your career? Likewise, is there a particular pitcher that you just see the ball really well from? Have you ever talked trash at first when you are holding a runner on? Finally, have you ever played against a big name major leaguer on a rehab assignment? If so, did it feel any different battling against a guy you've seen on TV?

How does an ERA approaching six from an aging pitcher beat other options the Cubs have? Despite the fact that Hill's ERA is higher, I'd still rather see him in there getting the experience he needs. Further, at least for me, his last two bad outings don't dismiss the talent he has shown while with the Cubs overall. And, yes, Rusch struggled last night. But, he isn't a lost cause. I give him credit for not making excuses, but I don't think its any great shock that he may need one start to get comfortable again in a starting role. Maybe its a good opportunity to give Pinto a look? Granted, these options aren't sure fire paths to 8 guaranteed wins out of that rotation spot for the rest of the year, but Rueter is hardly a better answer.

I saw that ealier and couldn't bring myself to post it. If nothing else, I just don't want Rueter so we can avoid the stupid story of Kirk's likeness to the Woody character from Toy Story. I think it was McCarver who wouldn't let that go during the World Series.

keeping him instead of that "bum" Sisco.... Careful. The low-blow bashing due to the Sisco fiasco is my schtick.

:twisted: