JakeSlater

If he gels with Pierre, of course. If it all stops, then back to the drawing board.....simple as that. I want what is working, and I won't complain about Tony hitting in the two hole if Juan's starting to play more like the .305 career average guy that we know he can be.

Neifi should be #8 in the order, but Pierre and Womack? NO WAY! Right now, we've averaged about 7 runs a game in the past 8 games, and 6 of those games were with Womack and Pierre at the top of the order. If Womack doesn't hit, he walks.....if he hits, it's a bonus. Plus he's the only #2 that Pierre has gelled with right now. While I will admit that Pierre has picked it up over the past 8 games (324/375 by my count), Womack has been steadily declining. He started 5/7, but has gone 238/304 in the last 6 games. He's also walking a bit, regardless. I knew his hitting wouldn't last long, but he does walk a bit, and he's good on the bases when he gets there. Not saying he's an awesome free agent pickup, but anyone that can gel with Pierre and help get him back in the fold works with me. In the two games with Neifi in the 2 spot, he went 1 for 8, and in that one hit, he didn't DARE steal because Neifi hacks away all the time. That either brings a foul ball or instant DP for a fair ball. I don't dislike Neifi. I think he's good for what he brings to the table, which is defense at 3 infield positions, but he should NOT be a 2 hitter at all, regardless of how he's hitting.

Neifi should be #8 in the order, but Pierre and Womack? NO WAY! Right now, we've averaged about 7 runs a game in the past 8 games, and 6 of those games were with Womack and Pierre at the top of the order. If Womack doesn't hit, he walks.....if he hits, it's a bonus. Plus he's the only #2 that Pierre has gelled with right now.

And having Womack in the second spot is lighting a fire under Pierre. Guy is getting hits, taking walks, and stealing bases with Womack up there. Doesn't seem to have any pressure anymore, unlike the past couple months. Why was he tanking when Walker was hitting 400+ and taking walks behind him? I can't say for sure, but it seems like there is some kind of understanding with speedy guys. Seems like they are more comfortable with each other when they know the other won't be caught off in a double play most of the time, or make a stupid mistake at the plate. Tony Womack compliments Pierre well, and we've needed that. If Tony's hitting, that's a bonus. If not, he takes walks. Best of both worlds. Do you actually believe any of that? For one thing, I said I couldn't be for sure, so it was an educated guess. But remember that Pierre had Castillo behind him for a couple years in Miami. It's always good to have a speedy guy behind you in the lineup. And I don't understand the hatred with Womack. Not at all. Been a solid ballplayer with us since he's been here. You hate him because Dusty likes him or something? We've won more with Womack in the lineup, and he's STILL hated. Yikes.

And having Womack in the second spot is lighting a fire under Pierre. Guy is getting hits, taking walks, and stealing bases with Womack up there. Doesn't seem to have any pressure anymore, unlike the past couple months. Why was he tanking when Walker was hitting 400+ and taking walks behind him? I can't say for sure, but it seems like there is some kind of understanding with speedy guys. Seems like they are more comfortable with each other when they know the other won't be caught off in a double play most of the time, or make a stupid mistake at the plate. Tony Womack compliments Pierre well, and we've needed that. If Tony's hitting, that's a bonus. If not, he takes walks. Best of both worlds.

Not yet we haven't. The time is now to come back. Can't blow it anymore.

And having Womack in the second spot is lighting a fire under Pierre. Guy is getting hits, taking walks, and stealing bases with Womack up there. Doesn't seem to have any pressure anymore, unlike the past couple months.

Maybe Carlos will celebrate by flying down to St. Louis, breaking into Edmonds' room, and giving him a nice 5 minute whoopin........ending it by putting more mascara on him.

Makes you wonder how good the pitching would be if Oscar Acosta stayed around.

Well, we gained a game and a half on the Dodgers this week and are 9 back. Gained a game on the Cards and are 12 1/2 back. Long ways off, and we need to keep winning, but right on the track you laid out

Where is everyone that said we'd lose 8-1 yesterday?! I think we're going to sweep this series now. I knew we'd win the series from game 1, regardless of yesterday.

Thinking that way is like buying lottery tickets because, you know, you can't win if you don't play. Not even a close second in comparison.

those numbers have declined every year since 2003. he is on pace for career lows in his hitting rate stats. he is also on pace for a career high in strikeouts. he is mediocre, and if he continues playing like this, he is awful. As I said, easy to complain now instead of seeing what happens. Pierre's starting to get his stroke back though.

Yeah, I know. We can't think that way because it lets the rest of this board be miserable. As I said, it's easy to cash in the chips right now. Everyone that's ever been a success in history has been down at one point or another. May happen, may not. I'll just take it one game at a time.

This is the atttitude the Cubs Front Office always has, and it bites them every time. They would always rather go for quantity over quality. He'll make $13 million for the rest of the year, or roughly equal to the salaries the Cubs are paying to: Hairston ((2.3) Perez (2.5) Rusch (2.75) Pierre (5.75) So would you rather pay $13 million for one great player, or $13.4 for four awful ones? Ok, I'll give you 3 of those players, although I think one of those players has a lot of upside on defense. But to call Pierre awful is a BIG stretch. Struggling in 1/4 of the year, even if he's starting to come back little by little, does not an awful player make. He's been quite good over the past few years. No, he hasn't. He was mediocre at best last year, brings only one element to the game-speed-and is a liability in the field. He has steadily declined over two consecutive years, and the Cubs gave up at least one solid prospect for him. He's been bad for a lot longer than 1/4 of one year. Talk about a "what have you done for me yesterday" attitude. He has a .305 career BA with a .355 career OBP. He has 267 career stolen bases and 211 career Ks. Doesn't sound like mediocre to me. He'll be just fine on this team.