DiamondMind

I haven't read the whole thread, but for my part, the point is that we DON'T have that on the Cubs, so expecting some grand result just because we switch to Brenly is highly unrealistic. Give me the equivalent of Schill/Johnson in the rotation, and Gonzo OPSing in the stratosphere? Take your pick of managers, we're going to win, unless the rest of the roster is completely laughable. So why didn't we win in 2003 with Sosa and Prior/Wood? Sorry, but that's just a really easy question to ask given your logic here.

Again, the argument that a manger didnt "earn" a championship because he had schilling and unit or whatever is the stupidest argument ever. I mean just think about the logic of it. OF COURSE winning teams have all-stars, jeez.

but you would think that a manager would understand the strengths and weaknesses of his ballclub...if he doesn't have a bunch of fleas on his roster, he probably isn't going to want them to run wild on the base paths Right. It's not like Brenly would be completely rigid and oblivious to his teams strengths or weaknesses. I think it's just really easy (and makes the person who says it appear to look smart) to make the comment that someones "old school" and then totally dismiss them as archaic.

I really don't get Fukudome. It's not that pitchers have figured him out, otherwise he'd have struggled starting the season. He looked really dominant at the plate in april: he mashed pretty much every pitch in the strike zone. Now, it's back to the fukucopter. I'd really like to know how the hell that sudden drop-off happened. I don't get it either. The cliche response would be to say that pitchers are adjusting to him, and he's not adjusting back. But I mean, how accurate is that? It's not like pitchers and hitters don't make adjustments in Japan. I don't get it, I really don't. But I'm not sure if I want to understand anymore, I find myself caring less and less each time he corkscrews himself into the dirt. Is he that much better defensively than Fuld or Freel? Defensive stats are debatable as far as their accuracy goes, but I'd still have to check I guess.

I don't agree with this either. There's nothing at all from a personnel standpoint stopping this team from running better on the basepaths, being more patient at the plate, doing things like hitting to the right side with a runner on 2nd and <2 outs. I could go on and on. We simply don't do these things. We didn't do them last year either, we just hit for a hell of a lot more power.

Regardless of if our offense returns to form or not, I still have major issues with the offensive philosophy of this team. It starts with Soriano, continues with the total lack of speed/aggression/intelligence on the basepaths, and ends with moronic plays like Soto getting thrown out by a mile at 3B the other day. This year's philosophy is no different than last year's. And last year's scored 5 runs a game and was the best offense in the league. When guys aren't performing at all any offensive philosophy is going to look bad. Over the course of a 162 game season, most players are going to do dumb things. It happens. These same exactly players (Soto, Soriano, etc) were not called dumb players or stupid or lazy last year when they were producing, but I'm sure they made some mistakes last year as well. I know it's no different than last year. I had problems with it last year too, we just had a lot of amazing single seasons from players (Soto, Edmonds, etc). It's no surprise to me that when that offensive prowess regressed, it would do so in a major way. But I don't agree with the statement that "when guys aren't performing, any philosophy looks bad". That's simply not true. You can see promise, intelligence, signs that the offense "gets it" but for one reason or another isn't executing at the given time. No..this team is just completely lost offensively. There's no plans for single AB's, once we actually manage to get people on base, there's no advancement of the runners, no stolen bases, no pressure on the defense. Too many K's. Not enough walks. Too many attempted 3R blasts, not enough opposite field singles.

Why? because he is talented and most likely needs a change of scenery I think any given member of the Pirates could use a change of scenery, so I don't know how purposeful that statement is.

I've really about had it with Kosuke. At this point I'd support benching him even for someone like Fuld or Freel. He's just brutal right now.

Regardless of if our offense returns to form or not, I still have major issues with the offensive philosophy of this team. It starts with Soriano, continues with the total lack of speed/aggression/intelligence on the basepaths, and ends with moronic plays like Soto getting thrown out by a mile at 3B the other day. Eh. What's the point. The title of this thread is there's no excuse for this, and well, there isn't. Offensively, this team is embarrassing right now, and we all agree on that.

What is the cut off for correct usage, to blatant excess? How is a such a thing measurable?

"They have their place". Right, that's what I'm saying. Everything has it's correct context in this game. It's shortsighted and borderline flat out wrong to totally dismiss it as "old" baseball that's no longer viable. Arguing if Brenly takes it to an extreme is a valid debate though, but my point was more about the total dismissal of small ball to sabr/stats.

I'm not going to assume Bob's opinions on Len, but simply based on what Bob talks about in the booth it doesn't sound like he's budged much, if at all, from his old philosophies. So?

Oh, you mean a manager who is aggressive and plays smart baseball? That's a problem? :scratch: Lots of sac bunts, steals, and hits and runs is not smart baseball. It's usually dumb baseball. I just caught this comment. What a stupid viewpoint. No offense, but seriously, that's stupid. I'm sick and tired of people deferring ONLY to sabr and totally discounting things like bunts, steals, the small things in the game. The 2009 Cubs are one of the laziest, stupidest, most fundamentally [expletive] teams I've ever witnessed. How in the blue hell could things get any worse by steering the offense away from the K or 3R HR mentality? Seriously, I get so pissed off reading comments like this. I don't understand it. Help me understand. You guys realize we play in the NL right? There is huge value to all those "dumb baseball" strategies like steals, bunting, etc. Have you watched the Dodgers this year? Did you watch the Rays this year or last? Have you watched the Cubs this year? Yea. A SMART baseball mind would combine both sabremetrics with old school philosophies. Taking one side completely and dismissing the other as "stupid" IS stupid. Can't you rationalize anything?

I dont see how replacing Fukudome's 531 June OPS with ANYONE is "stupid". I've really had it with Kosuke. He's a freaking bust.

What's the point? Does Heath Bell play the outfield and post a +500% SLG?

This really isn't that bad of an idea.

Why not? Because Brenly was a pretty bad manager who rode an amazing starting rotation to a WS. I'm not saying this as a fan of Lou because I was not a big fan of hiring him in the first place, but I definitely do not want Brenly. Bob seems like good people and I really like him as the color guy but I do not want him managing the Cubs. I'm very curious if people wanting Brenly managing now wanted him for the job back after 2006. Wanting Brenly just screams of change for the sake of change. Plus, let's be clear: if Lou quits or is fired before the end of the season Trammel will finish the job. I don't think I'd have much of an issue with Brenly managing. I don't disagree with much of anything I hear him say on the air. And any manager that wins championships usually has a star player or two (or three, or four), so I think its pretty shortsighted and at worse unfair to hold that against him. With that said though, if I had a choice, I'd rather give a shot to Trammell. edit - to the other subtopic in this thread, I thought fontenot would be half decent as a starter too. I didnt expect that 900 ops from his utility role last year, but I did expect like a 775-825 ops coupled with way better defense and consistency.

Why not?

Obvious thread is obvious.

wait...what?

531 ops for june >.

len IS pissed, lol

Can he take Soriano with him? Prolly, Soriano knows the language. Fontenot can fit in one of their suitcases. Sounds like a plan in the making to me. I'm on board.

terrible. you can tell even len is getting pissed.

we suck