wastra

Honestly, if we're fielding a team with pitchers too old and immobile to at least ATTEMPT to field their position, we have MUCH bigger problems than that play last night.

ESCPECIALLY for the guy who is supposed to be the veteran LEADER of the bullpen. if it were Ohman or Wuertz, or a really young guy, I'd get *ed and expect them to not do it again. But Remilinger knows better. He's got to be setting the right example out there, not acting like a rookie himself.

kudos to you for somehow finding a way to bash patterson when discussing a game that he wasn't in the state for. i've been trying to think of a way to do that because i too blame him for last night's loss. the negative energy he left when he was sent down to AAA is still having an ill effect on the cubs. damn him! I'm not just ranting about last nights loss. I'm talking about an organizational philosophy. I only mention Corey as the poster boy of the fact that potential does not make someone a good baseball player and this team needs to focus on baseball players that know how to play the game. I buy that, but can you give me an example of a Cub who is a malcontent, since that's what you called them? I see some guys on that team that aren't fundamentally sound, aren't well-rounded players, or are even somewhat baseball-dumb, but can't really think of any malcontents. Malcontent meaning one who rebels against an established system. Some of the players clearly don't understand the very fundamentals of the game such as moving runners over, taking pitches, sacrafice flies, etc. They rebel against the established system of the game of baseball and winning by thinking they will do it their own way. That's not really what a malcontent is. A malcontent is someone who tries to disrupt the status quo due to discontent; a trouble maker. Your definition, and applying that to the Cubs is a huge stretch of linguistic license :wink:

I haven't seen a whole lot of "malcontents" on this team at all. I do see a team of people who aren't good at executing fundamentals. Personally, I think this hearkens back to the Cubs' organizational philosophy of drafting and signing "toolsy" players rather than players who "accomplished" a whole lot. But "malcontent?" The only two people I can think of who've even mildly sounded discontented all year were Hairston and Walker- and their statements were so mild, it's hard to imagine them as malcontents. I think there are a couple problems with the team: 1. They're poorly assembled. Too many guys who have bad approaches bu can hit the ball really hard, and not enough quality guys with control in the bullpen. Again, lots of 'tools' across the board, but not a lot of refinement anywhere. Lots of streakiness, lots of one-dimensional guys, too. 2. They don't seem to have the focuse of a pennant-winning team. Maybe it's the players' themselves beign too laid back. If anything, they seem TOO content to me. Maybe it's the manager who is seemingly willing to "throw away" games all year so as not to let one of his regulars get winded by playing 3 games in a row, or his penchant of "forgiving" everything to the press. That doesn't exactly help a team focus on winning each and every game, does it? 3. I don't know if it's scouting, management, players, or what, but we NEVER seem to have the right plate approach against a pitcher with a solid changeup that he throws for strikes. NEVER. It seems like every time we face one, we're so far out in front of his off-speed stuff that it's just impossible to believe that we go up to the plate expecting that changeup. We sseem to be sitting dead-red on fastballs. meanwhile, the pitcher throws 2 off speed pitches for strikes (or we're way out in front of them and foul them off) and we're down 0-2 in the count.

It was not about defense last night. It was about not doing the fundamental things correctly. Covering first and knowing how to conudct a run-down are not defensive problems, they're mental errors on basic, fundamental plays. A defensive problem on that play would have been Barrett air-mailing the throw into left, or Ramirez catching it and throwing it over the plate. the problem was errors, it was someone making a stupid mental mistake. Barrett was no rookie, and he's been in tight situations before. Remlinger is no different. the mental errors the Cubs made last night were inexcusable. That's why, imo, this team is not a playoff team. We don't have that winners' perfectionist mentality. We don't bring out our best when our backs are to the wall. We don't fail because we're not good enough, we fail because we're not as focused as we need to be. We look like, half the time, we don't care on a particular night. Half our players (and our manager) have that "it's a long season" look in their eyes from the first game of the year forward.

Based upon other people who are in the Hall, Ozzie should be in. And also based upon one of the factors I personally feel is most important- was he the dominant player at his position in his league for a decade? The answer is easily "yes." then you go to stats. The answer there is clearly "no." Good/great Defense and Average defense are not that far apart in actual benefit to a team. So when we say defense is overrated, we're not sayign it's unimportant, because a BAD defenseive player is definitely a liability. But compared to the value a great offensive player gives you over an average one, defense just isn't that important. So if you have a choice of taking a great defensive, average offensive player or a great offensive, average defensive player, you don't go with the glove. So when compared in that light, Ozzie isn't even a solid shortstop compared to otehrs of his generation and after. I am saying that right now, I'd have taken Allan Trammell over Ozzie Smith if I were building a team. I'd take Larkin, Vizquel (whose defense is SO CLOSE to ozzie's that the defense argument should be set aside for the two of them), and a handful of others over the past 20 years as well. In ozzie's case, he's one of the rare guys who were defensive wizzes who wasn't canned due to his bat. There are TONS of those guys. they're called backups and utility players, and they usually become Cubs just before they're out of the league. Ozzie was one of those glove specialists who was never dropped in favor of a better hitter. It was rare, but IMO, there could have been a ton more Ozzie Smiths (defensively) if their teams ignored their largely unimpressive offensive abilities as well. Is Keith Hernandez a HoFer? The best defensive 1B of all time? Hardly. If it's just about "fame," then where's Roger Maris? Don't get me wrong- Ozzie WAS the best defensive SS of all time. I do not dispute that. But I can't call him one of the top 100-150 players ever, or even mention his name in the same breath as them because of his bat. So, frankly, I don't think he shoudl be a HoFer. But keep in mind, I think 65% of the guys elected in the past decade are borderline at best. Kirby Puckett?!? Gimme a break. I don't personally beleive that there SHOULD be an inductee every year. Interestingly- Ozzie had a pretty weak arm for a SS, he even says so himself. But he had phenominal range, and his hands were so quick he got rid of the ball almost the instant it hit his mitt. He also perfected that skip-throw off the turf that helped him make up for slightly weaker arm strength on long throws. He also rarely missed his target. defensively, he was astounding.

IMO, the difference between the best defensive player in the league and an average one is FAR FAR FAR less pronounced and important to a team's overall ability to win ballgames than the difference between the best offensive player and an average one. Hence, defense is overrated in Ozzie Smith's case. IMO, defense alone should not get one into the Hall. Ozzie was a sub-par HoFer (significantly) at the plate. If he's in, then a case can easily be made for Omar Vizquel who was only a miniscule shade lesser in the field, and demonstrably better at the plate- and Omar Vizquel is NOT a HoFer, IMO. Ozzie Smith is in because he was a great (the best) defensive shortstop and did back flips on the field.

I would prefer (until Nomar returns): vs. Righties: Lawton LF Walker 2B Lee 1B Ramirez 3B Burnitz RF Barret C Hairston CF Perez SS Vs Lefties, just swap in Murton for Lawton and switch his spot with Hairston's. Having Hairston 8th actually helps this lineup a tad with Lawton at teh top. Lawton has some pop- lots of doubles to go with his decent homerun power, and Hairston could provide him some solid RBI opps. With Nomar: Lawton Walker Lee Ramirez Burnitz Nomar Barret Hairston

I ahve zero clue what Dusty will do. All I know is that I have zero cofnidence that the lineup will be A.) consistant or B.) logical. That's a sad statement, IMO.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/01/steroids.suspension/index.html In a prepared statement, Palmeiro said he could not explain how the steroids got into his body. "I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period," he said. "Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program." :roll: Riiiiiight, Raffy. Riiiiiiight. :roll:

I gotta think his HoF chances just died. there were already many sportswriters who didn't think he was HoF worthy. This is just gasoline on the fire.

He didn't deserve it, according to Pat and Ron. LOL! The scorekeeper just naturally assumed...makes sense, given the source! :P

Macias with an error, I see. Sure am glad he so versatile. :roll:

Not unless you wish you were on his back as he chugged to third. Baaaaddd mental picture. Okay- now I'm just a fan again. thanks, Cuse!

I can't believe I know what that stands for. Wow, I watch too much tv. LOL!

I am developing a man-crush on Matt Murton. Should I be worried? (NTTAWWT)

I think there's room in a lineup for a guy who hits for a .300+ average, gets on base, and runs well. Namely, at the top of the order. I freely admit that his ceiling is likely not one that should preclude us from picking up a real top-quality hitter for left field if one becomes available. But I think his eventual offensive production could be similar to that of maybe a Mark Grace- .295-.310 AVG, good contact, good OBP, 10-15 homers, lots of doubles, but more footspeed. Really, a prototypical leadoff or #2 hitter.

I like neifi's swing...especially the part where he locks both knees completely straight as he's making (or trying to make, usually) contact and lunges with his arms out over the plate and his ass up in the air. Because THAT'S the best way to use your lower body to generate some power. :roll:

I'm jsut not convinced this team can consistantly win with a makeshift #4 and #5 starter. I'm great with someone like Williams as the #5, but having two guys out of five be replacement starters hurts. I'm hoping Rusch can re-discover that command and stuff as a starter...of course, I'm also hoping Remmy and Ohmann can take up his slack in the pen from the left side. But getting Nomar back (productive and healthy) would be a nice gain. So would an effective Williamson.

I think the reasons that this team isn't 10 games over are many. The GM did NOT put a $100 million team on the field depsite a $100 million payroll. We entered the season with holes in Left Field, the bench, the 5th starter and all across the bullpen, relying on oft-or-recently injured guys who had not shown themselves to be healthy or effective. The manager, despite his good aspects (motivation, for example...many teams would have folded after going 8 games under), routinely makes the worst statistical decisions and continues repeating them to the exasperation of anyone with baseball common sense. Admitting a guy should hit leadoff, them batting him leadoff for another 2 weeks is asinine. Admitted a guy can't get lefties out and bringing him in first THAT SAME DAY to face 2 lefties is asinine. Admitting a guy can't close and them using him as closer for 2 months is asinine. Admitting that a guy would be a better closer option than #5 starter and then naming him #5 starter is asinine. Admitting that our backup second baseman is probably our best leadoff candidate, and batting him 8th for 3 weeks is asinine. That kind of crap is NOT helping the team win. We HAVE been beset by injuries. We were counting on offense from Nomar. Didn't get it. We were counting on strong seasons from Wood/Prior, haven't got them. No- you don't "blame them" because they're certainly not TRYING to get hurt. They are just guys with injury problems. But you do RECOGNIZE that their absense hurts this team. We also did not get what we hoped from certain players. Patterson comes to mind. Dubois didn't shine consistantly. None of the youngsters in the pen have really stepped forward from their performances of last year, and some stepped significantly back. Remlinger has been inconsistant as well. Half the team seemed to be so allergic to taking a pitch for most the season you could easily make a casethat there was a general consensus amongst most hitters than walks were bad. even if that's the manager's philosophy, the players sure as hell bought into it 100%, and deserve blame as well. So if you want to lay blame on who is the reason this team is only 2 games over- just point to the roster and exclude Ramirez and Lee, but don't forget to add management- both on-field and front office. There are 25 men on this team, plus a number of guys who've bounced up & down from AAA, the DL, or are elsewhere now, plus management. All of them are responsible in varying degrees

The bottom line is that Neifi makes an out nearly 71% of the itmes he comes to the plate. That, my friends, is beyond bad. it's gawd-awful. In baseball, offense is about not making outs. If you send ten hitters to the plate and make fewer outs per ten hitters than the other team (assuming your hitters are of at least average major league quality), you should, over the course of a season, score more runs than your opposition. When a guy is hitting 1st or second for a third of a season for you and makes an out 71% of the times he bats, you're automatically behind the 8-ball. Oh yeah- I think he's a solid fielder. No complaints about his defense. It's not highlight-reel good, but it's definitely not a weakness.

It is blatantly obvious that Dusty Baker just doesn't like Hairston. The guy rarely played before Walker's injury. Then, when Walker got injured, who started at second? Neifi. It took a couple days of absolute BASHING by the fans and press and then an injury to Nomar (forcing Neifi to SS full time) to get Hairston into the everyday slot at second. Then, they trade for Gerut- who IS NOT a good leadoff hitter anyway, and the first full day he's on the team, he's in (leading off), and Hairston is out. Not Hollandsworth (who plays the corner spot- Gerut's position) or Burnitz (who has played EVERY game this year), but Hairston. Dusty's explanation? "He's tired. He's a 2B and isn't used to running in the outfield." ??? When Dusty, known for publicly praising nearly everyone on the team despite horrid performance at times, is asked about Hairston, he routinely subtley (or not so subtley) makes underhanded knocks or criticisms on his performance. The bottom line is that dusty doesn't want Hairston in the lineup. I don't claim to know why- so I'm not throwing any accusations of hatred or personality conflicts or anything. Dusty doesn't have confidence or trust in JHJ for whatever reason, it's just that simple.

MY personal opinion is that he can do anything he likes to his swing, but until he stops swinging at pitches over his head or in the dirt, none of it will matter anyway. Even mildly decent major league pitchers can exploit lack of patience. And I am not really sure you can "teach" a batter's eye.

[sort of sarcasm] Maybe Nomar becomes our new left fielder/backup centerfielder [/sort of sarcasm]

I gotta agree on the defensive questions around nomar. Perez can't hit for Sh-T, or atl east can't hitm uch other than meaningless singles, but he's a plus fielder. Nomar likely won't have much range, likely won' be able to run, and I have my doubts that give nhis injury, he'll be able to really drive the ball seeing as how hips and leg drives really help batters generate power. he MIGHT be okay- maybe even solid at the plate, but can he play SS? No clue.