98navigator

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-03/28379342.jpg Z http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-03/28379341.jpg Barroid looking like he's gonna swallow Jacque http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-03/28379340.jpg Zambrano connects http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-03/28379338.jpg Samardzija upclose

Not necessarily true. See: Perez, Neifi. Even Neifi isn't all bad. It's how he's used. Its kind of like when you go fishing. Sometime the bait goes all the way in the fish's mouth, and other time it just hangs on just enough to capture the fish. Neifi just (barely) crosses the first down marker with a booth review. LOL

Not necessarily true. See: Perez, Neifi. Even Neifi isn't all bad. It's how he's used. Some people pay more attention to reputation than results. Perez would be a decent 25th man but he shouldn't be in any team's everyday lineup. He is a decent defender as well. Again, the problem isn't so much him but how he is used.

Not necessarily true. See: Perez, Neifi. Even Neifi isn't all bad. It's how he's used.

He has had consistently one of the best defenses in baseball behind him and yet has been incredibly bad. The thing about Jason Marquis is that he just doesn't have the ability to consistently command his stuff. He has the great sinker, but game-to-game he can't keep it together. His control isn't great either, but specifically his command of his stuff is pathetic game-to-game. He'll rattle off 3 good games in a row then 4-5 horrendous games. Inconsistency is key to mediocrity... If he were always bad he'd be out of the League. If he were good we wouldn't be having this discussion. It's up to the manager to limit the damage in his horrendous games while maximizing the success of his good games.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070313/i/r2957510159.jpg Shark http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070313/i/r3608995623.jpg Rammy http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070313/i/r396418854.jpg Hank's boo-boo http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070313/i/r966753859.jpg DLee http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc11203122354.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc112.jpg Shark again http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070312/i/r2980733917.jpg Jacque stealing third while Pedro Feliz catches the ball http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070312/i/r3422605209.jpg Aramis scoring before Bengie Molina gets the ball http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc11103122353.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc111.jpg Cliff http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10903122349.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc109.jpg Bochy and Piniella

That's exactly the point. Despite post after post, analysis after analysis, you've consistently held an optimistic viewpoint of his potential, his likely performance, and his value to the Cubs. You say it yourself, despite the evidence, you are hoping... Saying that you are offering/building sandcastles in the sky is neither insulting nor unfair. It essentially means that you are being unreasonably optimistic. Alternatively, I could say that you are hoping beyond hope, and despite all non-Spring Training evidence to the contrary, that he will perform better than he has in the past. It's certainly possible. But it's also quite highly unlikely. Nothing wrong with optimism. I have plenty of it, as do you. Alas, it's been tempered by experience. For example, I hope the Cubs win the World Series. I just don't expect them to actually do so. There's nothing unreasonable about expecting a guy, who claims to be a sinker ball pitcher, to keep the ball on the ground. 2 out of the last 3 years he's been able to do it. Edit: I use the word "hoping" because nothing is set in stone. But he has shown an ability to pitch, on average, 32 starts/ 200 innings (in the last 3 years). I'm "hoping" that continues... I don't care if he's a sinkerballer or a spitballer. He's just not that good. And you're right, there's nothing unreasonable about expecting him to keep it on the ground since that's apparently his forte. Except when he gives up more ER than any other pitcher in the NL. And except that even when he does get a lot of ground balls, he gives up a lot of baserunners -- check out his WHIP. It's not impressive. We could easily find someone (well, except for a lefty BP pitcher) to pitch 200 innings and start 32 times. Maybe even from our own system. We didn't need to pay $21M over three years for this guy. This is worse than Estes. At least that was a year. Cripes, keeping Pinto, Nolasco and Mitre instead of renting the terrible Pierre for a season would have been preferable to signing Marquis. (Don't let me get started, here, about Hendry's horrid deals.) This isn't about whomever else we could have gotten for the money. I didn't want him. You are looking at his last year (with reference to giving up the most ER in the NL). Whereas, I am looking at the past 3 seasons. Like I said before, there are two different ways to view 2006; a downward trend or an aberration.

Let me just say, I don't think anyone helped Marquis. He may have talked to Rothschild, and others, but if he is improved it will be because of his own tweaking... On a separate note, Leo Mazzone is overrated. He looked great when he had a few future HOF'ers on the staff but not so brilliant in Baltimore. Duncan has a good track record but he too has had failures... On balance, he gets too much credit as well. In the TLR/Duncan era, the Cardinals typically sign ground ball pitchers and play stellar defense (which is a big contributing factor to the success of their pitching staff). Conversely, I think Larry Rothschild takes a beating for things that have been outside of his realm of control. Coaches can only do so much; it's the athletes that have to perform.

That's exactly the point. Despite post after post, analysis after analysis, you've consistently held an optimistic viewpoint of his potential, his likely performance, and his value to the Cubs. You say it yourself, despite the evidence, you are hoping... Saying that you are offering/building sandcastles in the sky is neither insulting nor unfair. It essentially means that you are being unreasonably optimistic. Alternatively, I could say that you are hoping beyond hope, and despite all non-Spring Training evidence to the contrary, that he will perform better than he has in the past. It's certainly possible. But it's also quite highly unlikely. Nothing wrong with optimism. I have plenty of it, as do you. Alas, it's been tempered by experience. For example, I hope the Cubs win the World Series. I just don't expect them to actually do so. There's nothing unreasonable about expecting a guy, who claims to be a sinker ball pitcher, to keep the ball on the ground. 2 out of the last 3 years he's been able to do it. Edit: I use the word "hoping" because nothing is set in stone. But he has shown an ability to pitch, on average, 32 starts/ 200 innings (in the last 3 years). I'm "hoping" that continues...

As would I. Seriously, where is the evidence that Marquis will somehow veer from his norm and suddenly become good? Is it the friend-of-a-friend account of Rothschild finding some miracle cure for his mechanics? Meph, devilish as he may be, has provided enough evidence to the contrary. I think people are merely hoping that he is serviceable. There are two ways to view his 2006 numbers: trending downward or aberration. He is mediocre but 2006 was his worst in the last 3 seasons and his inability to throw consistent ground balls was a major reason for the struggles. It's no wonder that people like me are happy to see that he, appears to have, rediscovered his sinker.

One of your posts claimed Marquis to be "trash" if that isn't hyperbole I don't know what is... His response is as mature as you saying "sand castles in the sky" because you didn't agree with an opposing argument. You can have all the stats in the word and still not prove Marquis is the worst pitcher in MLB. Most importantly, it can not be proven that the Cubs are incapable of winning with Marquis on the staff. It's one thing to provide statistical evidence to support a claim, it's quite another to present it in a condescending "god some of you just don't get it" manner. Statistics can only help to predict actions based on the past, they are not absolute so please stop talking down to people as if you can see the future. Save one point, I'm going to respond to this post. I said that my argument was based on stats and predictions of the past, and that you were offering sand castles in the sky with your well nigh unreasonable optimism. Meph merely commented that he'd like sand castles in the sky. In either case, I feel it's unfair and insulting. "Sand castles in the sky" implies that one's reasoning is not based in reality. However, my posts weren't centered around any unreasonable expectations or optimism. I haven't been hoping for anything more than Marquis making his starts, pitching upwards of 200 innings, and that he keep the ball on the ground so that the Cubs' defense can help limit the offensive damage. I didn't like the signing but he is a Cub for 3 years baring a trade. Wishing that he isn't a member of the staff is a moot point. He is here to stay... I think it is unnecessary pessimism to point out all of the reasons for failure. This thread started out in one direction (talking about his Spring success) and it got derailed into a sermon, of sorts, for why the Cubs are doomed for signing him. As I pointed out earlier, and you are well aware, the Cubs have been repeatedly burned by pitchers who can not pitch every fifth day. For all of his faults, Marquis can eat innings (I digress...) Now it is up to Piniella to maximize the things Marquis can do well.

One of your posts claimed Marquis to be "trash" if that isn't hyperbole I don't know what is... His response is as mature as you saying "sand castles in the sky" because you didn't agree with an opposing argument. You can have all the stats in the word and still not prove Marquis is the worst pitcher in MLB. Most importantly, it can not be proven that the Cubs are incapable of winning with Marquis on the staff. It's one thing to provide statistical evidence to support a claim, it's quite another to present it in a condescending "god some of you just don't get it" manner. Statistics can only help to predict actions based on the past, they are not absolute so please stop talking down to people as if you can see the future.

Uh oh, I don't think this game is going to have any live media coverage. :cry: :cry: :cry: There's nothing scheduled on the MLB.com multimedia guide.

The Score kills me :oops: :oops:..It's actually High A for Shark

Actually, single-A Daytona. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070312&content_id=1840050&vkey=pr_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc Really, Zach Zaidman said AA? :oops:

Just heard on The Score that Clay Rapada was sent to AAA and Samardzija was sent to AA.

If he'd resigned with the Cardinals, I would have thought last year to be an aberration (and his 2007 to be more like the first two years he pitched for them).

I just heard on The Score that Rapada was optioned to AAA (Shark to AA camp).

Rapada optioned to AAA Shark to AA

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10803122326.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc108.jpg Sori http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10503122314.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc105.jpg Z http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10403122314.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc104.jpg Cliff Floyd http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10603122315.aptopix_cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc106.jpg Nasty collison that led to a Soto double http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10103122308.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc101.jpg Bonds trying to hide from the ball. :lol:

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10203122309.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc102.jpg Z wiping out on a triple http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070312/capt.azjc10303122311.cubs_giants_spring_baseball_azjc103.jpg Bonds striking out against Z

He was hit in the knee with a foul ball. He doubled over in pain immediately after it happened but stayed to complete the inning. He left the game afterwards.

:shock: :shock: Link

Maddux skipped his start today, against the white sox, with an abdominal strain. :shock:

Nah, I doubt it.