reds44

Exactly. If Alou doesnt throw a fit and start screaming it doesnt get blown out of proportion nearly as much. Or maybe he was trying to see it to get fan interfearance... Then dont say it is not the fans fault What? Just because he was trying to see fan interfearance doesn't mean the fan did anything wrong. He was trying to get a call, even know he knew had no chance at getting it.

Exactly. If Alou doesnt throw a fit and start screaming it doesnt get blown out of proportion nearly as much. Or maybe he was trying to see it to get fan interfearance...

I guess the Cubs are the only team to live by that theory. So you think Joe Borowski is a better pitcher than Rafael Betancourt? Yeah, I didn't think so. What seperates a closer from other relievers are save situations. Was today a save situation? No. What if Wood pitches a scoreless 9th and they go to the 10th or 11th still scoreless? Then another reliever is pitching in the exact same situation. Are they ore likely to fail in those situations because they aren't a closer. Wood came in because he was thebest pitcher available at that time, at least in LOu's mind. Also, why do you assume that since Wood blew a tie game that he's more likely to blow a save? Those are completely different situations. For example, have you seen Dempster's situations in save on non-save situations from last season? Probably not, because you're a Reds fan. Why don't you stick to the Reds? Of course there are cases where the closer isn't the best bullpen pitcher. I also don't think Todd Jones is better than Joel Zumaya, but I would say more often that not the best reliever is the closer. Besides, Borowski and Jones, while maybe not the "best" relief pitche,r have established track records as closers. Wood, does not. I know all about Dempster's struggles when not in save situations last year. I think that has to do with him not being a very good pitcher than it does anythng else. I watch the Cubs plenty.

They both suck, lol. And my signature is pure sarcasm. want to fill in a brother with sigs off? I have a Corey Patterson picture in my sig and it says "Come On, Dude."

They both suck, lol. And my signature is pure sarcasm.

I guess the Cubs are the only team to live by that theory.

i hope that was sarcasm. Well...he hasn't... Neither has Tom Gordon. And why exactly are people against Marmol closing? Marmol and Wood were used in the exact same situation today. Ok? So why are you talking about Marmol being a closer based on what happened today? Wood still has to pitch somewhere. Wood pitched in the 9th today because he is the closer. Umm, that makes no sense. Wood pitched in the 9th because he is a reliever. Anyways, what difference would it have made if he gave up those 3 runs in the 8th instead of the 9th? Umm, it makes perfect sense. First game off the year, and an off day tomorrow, once that game went to the 9th 0-0 the Cubs were never going to have a save opprotunity therefor your closer pitches then 9th. The Cubs did it with Wood, the Tigers did it with Jones, and the Reds did it with Cordero. So no, he didn't pitch the 9th "because he is a reliever." It turned out not to matter today, but the difference is you have 6 outs to make up those 3 runs instead of 3. Still nobody has answered why people don't want Marmol closing over Wood. It's certainly not because Wood is better than Marmol, because we all know that is false.

i hope that was sarcasm. Well...he hasn't... Neither has Tom Gordon. And why exactly are people against Marmol closing? Marmol and Wood were used in the exact same situation today. Ok? So why are you talking about Marmol being a closer based on what happened today? Wood still has to pitch somewhere. Wood pitched in the 9th today because he is the closer.

i hope that was sarcasm. Well...he hasn't... Neither has Tom Gordon. And why exactly are people against Marmol closing? Marmol and Wood were used in the exact same situation today. Ok?

i hope that was sarcasm. Well...he hasn't... Neither has Tom Gordon. And why exactly are people against Marmol closing?

i hope that was sarcasm.

The Cubs still wouldn't have a leadoff hitter.

Not any better. DeRosa Fukudome Lee Ramirez Soriano Soto Pie Theriot Problem is neither Pie nor Theriot can hit.

Great fielder, can't hit.

Dusty pulled Harang after 99 pitches. I call abuse.

Is this to point out that he's Dusty's kind of guy or that you would want him on the Cubs? Hoppers a prototypical leadoff hitter+ a great CF. Im just saying, if things dont work out with Felix, it might be worth persuing. We all know that Griffeys season will be over by May, and Dunn patrols the outfield with the grace of a cement truck, but maybe Dusty doesnt. lol, especially the last part.

Patterson and Hopper are platooning in CF and will be leading off. We'll see about Hatteberg. The Reds have their 25 man roster set in stone and Votto is on it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hatteberg start the first three games because we are facing Webb, Haren, and a lefty and then see Votto start this weekend. Votto wouldn't be on the roster if he's not going to see a lot of playing time. He has also always been a slow starter (hit under .200 in spring this year and April last year), so I wouldn't be surprised to see them spilt playing time until Votto shakes out of his early funk. I have virtually zero problem with Patterson starting in CF until Bruce is healthy. The problem is he has to business hitting leadoff. He should be batting 7th and Votto/Hatteberg should bat leadoff. Patterson, Mercker, and Bako (granted it's only because Ross is on the DL) all made the team. At least Mercker spelled the end of Stanton. Cueto will be the Reds #3 starter and Volquez the #5.

that's often what happens with new stadiums. extort the city into paying for it, then fall into mediocrity (see: Pittsburgh, Cincy, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston....) St. Louis, San Francisco, and Houston all have hosted World Series games.

I have never understood the forceout rule. Obviously if a guy carries some dude out of bounds from halfway across the field then it should be a catch, but other than that all it does it prevents a DB from doing his job.

Fox Sports: What Were They Thinking? http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7955898/Questions-pick-up-as-spring-winds-down Volquez's updated spring line: 20 IP 26 K 4 BB 2.70 ERA

Cedeno and Fotnenot over Murton is beyond stupid.

Eric Karabell on today's ESPN Fantasy Baseball Preview "Ready, Corey Patterson 30-30 this year. Way back in 2004, for Dusty Baker, he had 24 HR's and 32 steals. Remember, a bold prediction, it's not easy and Felipe Lopez, one year for the Reds, had 23 HR's in that Great Ballpark for a lefthanded hitter. Corey Patterson's going to be motivated, he wants a long-term contract, I'm not saying it's going to definitely happen but the steals will happen. I think he could close in on 30 HR's as well." AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA. What the hell is he smoking?

Don't ever believe Bowden.

A- Adam Dunn B- Matt Holiday, Lance Berkman C- Hanley Ramirez, Magglio Ordonez, Travis Hafner D- Ryan Zimmerman, Curtis Granderson, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, Austin Kearns WC: Josh Hamilton

Yes he is.