jersey cubs fan

His career year was 2008, and he didn't play last year. They said from the beginning he wouldn't be 100% until June. And he still had a decided OPS advantage against LHP going into today. I don't see what the problem is. So, you value a .611 OPS vs LHPs from a guy who is not 100% healthy and missed a year over a guy who has a career .667 OPS vs. LHPs and has hit everything in sight from the RHPs he has faced all year? When you consider the defensive advantage Fukudome has, there's no reason to keep running Nady out there without even a thought of putting Kosuke in there. It's not like they just pinch hit for him there. Fukudome actually did play. Fukudome is on pace to play in 161 games this year. I just don't see the reason for angst about Nady/Fukudome.

His career year was 2008, and he didn't play last year. They said from the beginning he wouldn't be 100% until June. And he still had a decided OPS advantage against LHP going into today. I don't see what the problem is.

Marshall has pitched or gotten warmed up in 4 straight games I believe. Ah, I didn't know they had him up last night. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic. Bruce's game notes said he got warm while Marmol was pitching.

Marshall has pitched or gotten warmed up in 4 straight games I believe.

Yes, it's a stupid idea on so many levels. First, having all RH hitters in a lineup allows the pitcher to get into a rhythm of seeing a guy step into the same batters box every time. Secondly, Fukudome is a better hitter than Nady, who doesn't have splits good enough to warrant starting him over a better player. He had a 450 OPS against lefties before that HR, and a 655 career OPS against them. Fukudome has shown for quite a while that he sucks vs lefties. Nady has a 200 point OPS advantage for his career against LHP.

I hope not, he's terrible.

no How was it not? It was made when he was hitting like .200.

I disagree with several points here. Since when does a hitter not being familiar with a pitcher bode well for the hitter?

Because he didn't suck last year Didn't he actually just get a little lucky with an abnormally low HR/FB rate?

Part of it is because these Sayers comments came out of left field. Not to mention Sayers, while he was a great player, never played in the postseason much less win a postseason game, criticizing a team that is 4 years removed from reaching the super bowl. So how would Sayers know what it takes to win? Adding in the fact that it was a member of the Bears family who made these comments, is really stood out. As Urlacher said, the Bears are getting shot at by the media everywhere they go, they don't need to take shot from inside the Bears family. 1. Sayers was asked a question. Is he supposed to lie? Whether he's part of the Bears family or not he was asked to give his opinion. If the Bears improve their on field play then I'm sure Sayers will change his tune quickly. 2. Great the Bears made the Super Bowl four years ago, and haven't done anything since. Four years is an eternity in NFL. 3. The Bears have only made the playoffs three times since Urlacher was drafted. That's really not that impressive. It's more impressive than the Sayers era. Gale easily could have been more diplomatic. Just say something about how they've struggled and need guys like Cutler and Urlacher to step up. Instead he's talking about Lovie losing his job and overstating the Cutler struggles. There's nothing wrong with what he said, but as a Bear who still presents himself as a Bear, he has to expect to be called out, especially since he has no authority to speak of winning.

They must have a first pitch swinging game plan going, right?

both men seem like total nutsacks, though. Urlacher definitely has been, but I get the sense that he's a bit less of a douche than he used to be.

Are you a budding terrible sportswriter?

But he just had one, and he's probably going to have one this weekend (there's a day/night in Texas), and then another on Monday.

Good for Brian. Probably had to be said. The vast majority of legendary Chicago sports figures that talk about current guys not knowing what it takes to win, never won a damn thing themselves.

If Hill replaced Soto last night, why does he get to play the day game after the night game, but not Geo?

Cycling is quite exciting, actually, and has an almost religious following around here. Not many annual events can turn out between half a million and a million people on the streets like the Ronde van Vlaanderen. i'll never understand those third world countries the belgish language has over 100 words for bicycle but none for hate.

Wells was never considered a top prospect, but his performance was solid and he's remained solid in the majors. Gorzelanny being demoted by Pittsburgh doesn't change the fact that he was a very successful minor league pitcher and has been a solid major leaguer. He's also just 27, the fact that he had to spend some time in AAA at 26 doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. And while Zambrano may not be the same guy he was at his peak, he's still remained a quality pitcher. I think it's quite possible that they get worse, but the presence of legit replacements and the stability of some guys who have been solid for a while, should prevent them from falling off the cliff. As others have pointed out, they don't have to stick with any one of these guys if they start crapping the bed.

I'm not a big fan, but I agree with your sentiment.

If that happened, then hopefully you'd see him moved back to the AAA rotation.

Which is why I'm worried that he'll be the one sent to the pen instead of Silva. What is Gorzelanny's contract situation? I know he was arb-eligible this year and signed for $800,000 or something. When does he reach free agency? It would be great to get some (relatively) cheap production in the rotation (in addition to Wells). Cots lists his service time at 2.16 years, which would leave him a couple years shy of free agency after this season, if accurate. He spent all of 2007 in the majors, half of 2008 and half of 2009. He had a cup of coffee in 2005, and a full pot in 2006. So I'm not sure if that's all that accurate, but I think they might have control over him this coming offseason.

Well done.

This series has not been modified in any way. They're playing 'em just the way the schedulers laid 'em out. I was wondering what the line was implying.

who are the Cubs getting?

Headline was he apologized to team then went out an played well. I think the Marlins probably handled this appropriately.