Ivy.n.Denver

Who subscibes? I mean, for today's game wouldn't the best defensive alignment be Blanco at ss and Theriot at 2b?

I think you're right. There is no way someone is going to pay 900 million for a team to suck for 3-4 years in row. Unfortunately I think we're seeing what the worst case scenario can be for a team with big contracts. No relief in sight either.

I guess I'm wondering what you guys think about sucking for a few years to get to a point where the Rockies are (or the Rays) If you had the rockies roster and the cubs budget just think about how good that team could be.

I live in Denver and I get to watch the Rockies on a regular basis. I actuallly like them quite a bit. They have a really strong nucleus of players, many of them played in a WS in 2007. My jealousy stems from all the cheap talent they have, their outfield is ridiculous with good players. They're either very good players like Brad Hawpe, have a really high ceiling like Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez or are very serviceable players in Seth Smith and Ryan Spillbourgs. Not only that but they have Ian Steward, Clint Barmes, Troy Tulowitzski, and Chris Iannetta - all good young players. They have pieces in their pitching staff that could be very good very soon in Jiminez and De La Rosa. Aaron Cook is decent and we saw what Francis was capable of down the stretch in 07. When they finally shed Helton and Adkin's contracts they could become an exceptional team. Is it impossible for the cubs to look like this? I mean with the payroll and expectations young guys that don't produce just don't play. I won't go into how handcuffed the cubs are saddled with a handful of bad contracts.

Would they just finish it tomorrow? yes

If I was superstitious this post would make me nervous Nervous about this game or about the season? Just the game - seeing Kerry on the mound is really tearing my guts out

If I was superstitious this post would make me nervous

Which of the crappy contracts can be dumped? Here's who I'd like to see traded Lee Bradley Zambrano Soriano

It troubles me that this chick is catching so much flak for her horrible rendition of take me out to the ball game. Can someone enlighten me why anyone would care how well this song is sung?

I love this site, I really do but what's with the strict rules on expletives? I get it, we don't want this to turn into dodgerblue.com or whatever that site is called. But come-on, a large majority of us are men who (and whose friends) swear like sailors. I get the no personal attacks but if I want to say Theriot's arm [expletive] blows how many would that offend? Maybe I'm off-base here (and I'm sure someone will tell me if I am) but c'mon man, I'm here to talk bball like I'm at the game, and to be honest I usually sit in the bleachers.

I'd say he'd do better againt the second batter. Usually righties more effective against lefties are that way because of a certain pitch they throw. Most of the time it's a cutter that has exceptional movement (coming back to hit the inside corner) or a nasty change-up. Most guys don't have nasty change-ups or cutters that batters give up on so I'd guess the 2nd hitter who feasts on RH pitching isn't doing it on these types of pitches.

You're right, I calculated the total bases incorrectly, by my new (and improved ) calculations it was .721 and .804. Again I didn't use anyone with less than 100 at bats. By the way - Cotts sucked against lefties last year. Remeber Mike Remlinger? That guy couldn't retire a lefty if his life depended on it. How are either of these guys better than a LOOGY?

What is not the same about a RH pitcher getting a LH hitter out? All I'm saying is you have to look at both the pitcher's splits and the hitter's splits I did some quick back of the envelope math and this is what I found: LH hitter vs LH pitcher (all MLB w/minimum 100 ab) BA .256 OBP .320 SLG .482 OPS .802 LH hitter vs RH pitcher (all MLB w/minimum 100 ab) BA .276 OBP .352 SLG .552 OPS .905 So, if I understand your position correctly, you would rather have a LH pitcher face a LH hitter in every key situation late in the game? Then why have a RH closer? Other teams will surely send LH bats up there, right? I have to disagree with your premise that just because in general LH hitters have better splits vs RH pitchers, you would automatically prefer the reverse situation. Taking individuals numbers, more importantly than that, taking their recent success into consideration, and then I make the call. I've seen effective relievers removed too many times to see the matchup guy blow the inning or game. And I've seen situations where effective relievers blow the inning or game with an obvious match-up guy standing in the pen ready to go. Having said that I do agree with what you're saying for the most part, of course you have to look at each situation individually. To answer your first question yes I believe that most of the time later in the game you'd use a LOOGY to face a tough LH hitter in a close game. I'm not talking about bringing in a LH to face Michael Borne in a two run game with two outs in the 8th. I'm talking tight games with guys like Bruce, Fielder, McLouth, LaRoche, Ankiel, Kennedy, Either, Delgado, Loney, Howard, S. Drew, - guys with lopsided splits. Obviously if the reliever is a lights-out type of guy there's no reason to bring in a LOOGY. This is the answer to your 2nd question - no I generally wouldn't play match-ups in a 9th inning save situation with the closer in the game. The closer should be your 1st or 2nd best reliever and trustworthy enough to be given a longer leash. There is only one guy in the cubs bullpen (at the moment) that fits that bill. But if it's late in a close game (7-8th inning) and Prince Fielder is stepping up to the plate I'd elect to use Will Ohman (for example) over the Shark. I think if you're going to go with a 12 man bullpen there should be room for a specialist from both sides. I hope not to see Heilman facing too many LH this season and I hoped to the cubs landed someone like Brian Shouse.

What is not the same about a RH pitcher getting a LH hitter out? All I'm saying is you have to look at both the pitcher's splits and the hitter's splits I did some quick back of the envelope math and this is what I found: LH hitter vs LH pitcher (all MLB w/minimum 100 ab) BA .256 OBP .320 SLG .482 OPS .802 LH hitter vs RH pitcher (all MLB w/minimum 100 ab) BA .276 OBP .352 SLG .552 OPS .905

I agree, we should get Johan Santana or Cole Hamels to work out of our pen. Get it done Jim!

Are you saying there isn't much (if any) difference between a LOOGY and a LH reliever? I would respectfully disagree if you are. Remember Mike Remlinger, Kent Mercker, Glendon Rusch? All significantly better vs. RH hitters. Hell both Marshall and Cotts had OPS vs. LH's 100 points higher than vs. RH's. Brian Shouse would have been a great signing.

I take this statement to mean that you believe if a RH reliever and a LH reliever have comparable splits against left-handed hitters, you'd prefer to have the LH reliever. Am I wrong in saying this? Yes, that is exactly what I'd prefer. I'd even prefer a LH reliever over a RH reliever with a little better numbers vs. left-handed hitters. Reason being - hitters have splits too and most often a lefty isn't going to hit a LH reliever as well.

Excellent point

What are people's opinions about LOOGYs? I've always felt that having a lefty in the pen who just murders left handed hitting is a very valuble thing to have. The cubs don't seem to share my opinion and from previous discussions I know there are people on this board that disagree too. I realize that we have RH relievers that have decent splits vs. LH hitters but I don't think its the same. Cotts and Marshall are not LOOGYs. I was hoping the cubs would go after a guy like Brian Shouse but they don't seem to be inclined.

Well, he is murder on right-handed hitters - .601 OPS over the last 3 season. Of course with his sucky overall numbers you can guess how he fares against lefties.

I know its sad I'm quoting myself but I also just noticed that Bonds had 6 seasons higher than that including a 269

Sosa had a 203 OPS+ in 2001 I forgot how ridiculous some of his seasons were

They should try Hill as a loogy in ST - God knows we need one 'cause Marshall and Cotts don't fit that bill

I went over to OH to get their reaction but I guess you need an account now. It's kinda like a little kid getting pissed for not getting a toy then locking himself in his bedroom.

Marquis for Schoenweiss would be a good deal for the cubs. Schoenweiss would be a good loogy and if the cubs didn't have to send any money they'd free up about 6M