CubColtPacer

Yeah-I'm pretty sure from slowing it down a couple of times that Floyd was safe. Still a great inning though!

I picked up Sheets yesterday, and now he's hurt.

Soriano is still this team's leadoff hitter (when he plays). He's getting the day off because of the wet outfield. Lou said that when Soriano returns to the lineup, Theriot will bat second. Also, reportedly, Murton isn't playing because he has a stiff back. First I've heard of Murton's stiff back. Who's reporting it (I'm not questioning you, I just want to know more about it)? Navigator said in the game thread- that the Score reported that Lou said the reason that Murton is not playing today because of the back.

1) What about Floyd? 2) What did he do this time? 1) Excuse me, I must have seen only a partial list-Theriot has been a little higher than Floyd 2) basehit by Floyd, Theriot goes to second. ball gets a little bit away from third base, Theriot tries to run to third, gets thrown out easily.

Theriot for starting SS! :rolleyes: You actually think Izturis is a better option? I do want to make it clear that I think Theriot should play SS a decent amount of the time even with those problems-but he does have to work on those two things, because they both have been pretty glaring.

Theriot shows the two things he's been really bad at this year. 1, he has to see more pitches-he is the worst player on the entire team in P/PA this year. 2) he makes horrible baserunning mistakes

Bruce said quite a few things. He said that the team needed to hit for more power and get on base. He also said that Floyd was playing reasonably well. He talked about how Lou saw Theriot as a right side of the IF player, but how because of the struggles of the offense Theriot is probably needed at SS to provide a spark. He talked quite a bit about the "swagger" the team needed. He said the OF defense has been quite a good surprise, and that Pie is quite energetic and fun and makes plays that you are very surprised by. The only players he mentioned: Lee, Jones, Floyd, Pie, Soriano, Theriot-didn't hear anybody else.

How convinent LOL, maybe it's true. Lou doesn't need to offer any excuse for why someone isn't in the lineup... Yeah, there's no real reason to lie in that situation. You have very little benefit, and a lot to lose if the media asked Murton about his back and he said that he didn't have back problems. I see no reason to not believe them here, although I don't believe them about Miller (there though, they had incentive, and the player had incentive to agree to go along with the lie).

Probably just precautionary-just come back from the injury, day game after night game, wet outside..sit him today, he gets 2 days more off, and he should be ready to go for the St. Louis series. I haven't heard that this is the reason for sure though.

I think I want the guy with the 457 OBP to be batting as well please :D

You've been saying that for weeks. I'm sorry to call you out because I know you're not advocating it, but I'm just sick of reading people's excuses. There is no rational explination for keeping Murton on the bench at this point. None. It's all just lame excuses. First it was Murton is stuggling. Then it was riding the hot hand. Then it was Murton is the emergency catcher. Then it was playing the matchup. Now it's Murton can't play against RHP, but don't worry........Floyd isn't going to play anymore. This is just an anomoly. I would agree-although I would argue the situation changed. I didn't expect that Pie would come up this quick, plant himself in center, Sori move to left, Jones not traded, and now Jones/Floyd/Murton playing one position basically. Murton was getting some starts against RHP with just Floyd (and I still think would have had more starts over the course of the season), but now with Jones he's not going to be able to prove himself there. Until Jones is traded, I doubt we really ever see Murton against RHP-because on the days that Jones moves positions, Floyd will get his occasional start. So at this point-I'd really like to see Jones traded. Not because he is terrible or doesn't have value or anything like that, but because there are 3 OF's who are trying to play one position, and at least one of them needs more playing time then they are getting. Something needs to be done to fix that jam in RF.

When are you going to run out of excuses for this? It's always going to be something, just like with Dusty. It's not an excuse-it is what's happening. I don't like it-I think Floyd is playing too much. That's the reason though he's playing-it's a right-handed pitcher, and against a right-hander it's Jones who gets to start first, then Floyd, then Murton. I'm simply saying that Floyd's not usually going to get to start anymore because Jones is blocking him against RHP, while Murton is the one who gets to play against LHP. I bet $5 that the next time the Cubs face a leftie, Murton doesn't start and Lou busts out his, "you have to have a leftie in there to make the pitcher throw both sides of the plate" routine. The only way Lou doesn't suck as much as Dusty right now is that he hasn't abused the starters. If he does do that-believe me, you'll see me ranting about him pretty bad. So far he hasn't shown any evidence of that-in fact, he's taken great pains to make sure that both Jones and Floyd are not playing against left-handers even if he has to give Theriot or DeRosa out there. So if Floyd or Jones play against a left-hander over Murton, I'll be very, very upset.

CubColtPacer, you got some 'splainin to do. right-handed pitcher. From what has been said, normally Soriano and Pie would be in there and Jones would get the start and not Floyd. Today, they get a chance to both be together. When Jones/Murton/Floyd share one OF spot, it will likely be Jones against right-handers and Murton against left-handers, with the only chance for Floyd to start is days like this where Soriano or Pie sit. That's what I was saying before-and btw, I'm not in complete agreement with it-I want Floyd to get some starts, but I want Murton to play more than he has. When are you going to run out of excuses for this? It's always going to be something, just like with Dusty. It's not an excuse-it is what's happening. I don't like it-I think Floyd is playing too much. That's the reason though he's playing-it's a right-handed pitcher, and against a right-hander it's Jones who gets to start first, then Floyd, then Murton. I'm simply saying that Floyd's not usually going to get to start anymore because Jones is blocking him against RHP, while Murton is the one who gets to play against LHP.

CubColtPacer, you got some 'splainin to do. right-handed pitcher. From what has been said, normally Soriano and Pie would be in there and Jones would get the start and not Floyd. Today, they get a chance to both be together. When Jones/Murton/Floyd share one OF spot, it will likely be Jones against right-handers and Murton against left-handers, with the only chance for Floyd to start is days like this where Soriano or Pie sit. That's what I was saying before-and btw, I'm not in complete agreement with it-I want Floyd to get some starts, but I want Murton to play more than he has.

Dang you....I saw this and thought it was the actual line-up. For about 3 seconds I thought Lou finally did something good. hey....if the post above is true and Theriot is playing at SS I think we're moving in the right direction... How did this take a life of its own? The above lineup is NOT the official lineup. Is it? No, it's a guess. Soriano is not starting today. Theriot is leading off and playing SS. Piniella hinted today that Theriot may play SS more often... He also said in the pregame that outside of today, Theriot will be second in the lineup from now on (when he plays that is). LOL-you added that little edit right before I got in asking what position Theriot would be playing batting second all these days. I already assumed he'd bat 2nd whenever him and Soriano played together anyway. It's nice to hear that he is considering Theriot at SS more often-even 30 or 40 games there would help.

Dang you....I saw this and thought it was the actual line-up. For about 3 seconds I thought Lou finally did something good. hey....if the post above is true and Theriot is playing at SS I think we're moving in the right direction... How did this take a life of its own? The above lineup is NOT the official lineup. Is it? Theriot at SS and leading off was reported to have been heard on the radio a little while ago. The rest of the lineup is not known. I wouldn't take this as a permanent thing yet (today it's just because Soriano is likely not playing), but if they are willing to try Theriot there they may be willing to play him there more often.

I'm guessing the reason now is that Pie is up for his defensive prowess in CF, so that only leaves 1 spot for JJ, Floyd, and Murton (in that order, I think). But I'd like to know why Murton is 3rd in the pecking order there. I don't think he's 3rd in the pecking order. My guess is that while this situation continues that Murton will get the 2nd most starts there. If he's not 3rd in the pecking order then why is he getting significantly less starts than the other two? A conundrum. He's not third in the pecking order now. Jones is the primary RF. Murton will get the starts against LH's. Floyd will have quite a bit of trouble getting many starts at all until Jones is traded. Floyd has started 50% of the games since Soriano has been back. Murton has started 0%. Its only 2 games, but I don't understand where your argument is coming from. Lou announced yesterday that in most games for a while, he has come to a set lineup. It includes Jones but not Floyd. Considering that Murton will still start against LH, that makes the only chance for a Floyd start something like possibly today when Soriano is likely sitting. Does it not include Theriot either? No, it doesn't include Theriot-but my guess is that Theriot will find a way to get a few starts anyway for resting people (like today) and of course Theriot will get plenty of playing time off of the bench even if he isn't starting.

I'm guessing the reason now is that Pie is up for his defensive prowess in CF, so that only leaves 1 spot for JJ, Floyd, and Murton (in that order, I think). But I'd like to know why Murton is 3rd in the pecking order there. I don't think he's 3rd in the pecking order. My guess is that while this situation continues that Murton will get the 2nd most starts there. If he's not 3rd in the pecking order then why is he getting significantly less starts than the other two? A conundrum. He's not third in the pecking order now. Jones is the primary RF. Murton will get the starts against LH's. Floyd will have quite a bit of trouble getting many starts at all until Jones is traded. Floyd has started 50% of the games since Soriano has been back. Murton has started 0%. Its only 2 games, but I don't understand where your argument is coming from. Lou announced yesterday that in most games for a while, he has come to a set lineup. It includes Jones but not Floyd. Considering that Murton will still start against LH, that makes the only chance for a Floyd start something like possibly today when Soriano is likely sitting.

There you go everybody. Even if Lou does not plan this as a regular move, this was a great day to try it. Day game after a night game, and one pitcher that is one of the worst in the league for Izturis to hit. So you sit him and try Theriot and see how he does there. Before last night's lineups were announced when everyone was clamoring for Theriot I was already thinking that with Izturis's numbers against Sheets that this would be the day to do it.

I'm guessing the reason now is that Pie is up for his defensive prowess in CF, so that only leaves 1 spot for JJ, Floyd, and Murton (in that order, I think). But I'd like to know why Murton is 3rd in the pecking order there. I don't think he's 3rd in the pecking order. My guess is that while this situation continues that Murton will get the 2nd most starts there. If he's not 3rd in the pecking order then why is he getting significantly less starts than the other two? A conundrum. He's not third in the pecking order now. Jones is the primary RF. Murton will get the starts against LH's. Floyd will have quite a bit of trouble getting many starts at all until Jones is traded.

Nah, but it is quite interesting to see how many teams who make the playoffs get off to bad starts. I actually felt better as well when looking at all those teams who had losing records in April-it's not an aberration, but a regular occurrence for that to happen to at least 2-3 teams.

Lou said that yesterday's lineup would be the one he would stick with for a few days-I think you'll be disappointed.

This is slightly OT, but I thought I'd post it here-it does have a fact about the Bears that I found interesting. This is an article about the Ravens drafts-I'll give you a few tidbits: Hmm-let's see. Chicago, Indy, NE, and Baltimore are typically 4 of the best drafting teams. Washington doesn't need a scouting service if they are going to trade all their picks anyway, and Oakland has the Al Davis factor that messes things up. It certainly tells you that these scouting services the other teams pay is really out of laziness more than anything else if the best drafting teams don't use them. You have Ray Lewis Baltimore. We already knew that fact must be true :D http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402416_2.html

Hendry said previously that Guzman being recalled for the May 1 start was contingent on pitching well in his next MiL start. So, now we know it will be Guzman against PIT. Good to hear. They should give him the courtesy of giving him at least 3 starts like they did Miller, and he probably then has a better than average chance of staying if they do that.

There is no way in hell that is going to happen. Why is that? They are 19th out of 30 in the majors, and 10th out of 16 in the NL. Are you saying they can't rise 4 spots in the majors and 2 spots in the NL? Like I said, if you look at the OBP the only one going to come down significantly is Lee. There are 5-6 players that should go up a decent amount, some significantly. So their OBP should rise as the season goes along.