jersey cubs fan

I agree. I could almost see the Cubs and Blanco coming to a buyout decision with Henry moving into some sort of coaching position, possibly instructing minor league catchers or as a bullpen coach. I would definitely settle for that sort of $700,000 catching situation, if it means investing millions in a real bat elsewhere.

Actually, that ended well before he was replaced. Kendall had a great August, but as soon as Sep 1 rolled around, he disappeared again. Soto became the starter around the 15th, Kendall was hitting about .170 with an OPS near 500 in the first half of September.

Same thing they've needed for years, a real offense. No more of this 8th or worse in the league in scoring and bottom of the barrel in OBP/walks stuff (gee, think those two go hand it hand?). Get a freaking top 5 lineup, and along with a top 5 rotation your chances for making the postseason drastically increase, which in turn increases your chances to win postseason series.

Was it enough? That suggests what they needed was more heart. It's not heart that is beating them, it's baseball playing ability. no, i don't buy that...sorry...i just really don't i don't care if these cubs get swept out tomorrow because it wouldn't change my belief that out of every NL contender in the playoffs this year, the cubs would be the best team to represent the NL in the World Series and possibly bring home the title... they are stuck inside their heads...they are an extremely talented ballclub that is in their heads...nervous...whatever...but they are not lacking in talent... i haven't bought into that argument since day one of the season and a quick exit from the playoffs this year will not make me change my mind either Ignore it all you want, but they aren't good. There's a reason they only won 85 games, got their butts handed to them by every contender in the east and west and could barely handle the junk in their own division. They aren't that good.

Really it's all about the 5 hitter. 6 could very easily be handled by Murton and/or Soto.

Was it enough? That suggests what they needed was more heart. It's not heart that is beating them, it's baseball playing ability.

The Cubs should never pitch anybody on 3 days rest, unless they start the season, and probably more importantly, the pitchers' careers, pitching on 3 days rest. It's a stupid risky decision that rarely ever works out.

Just to clarify, they took two of three from the Cubs twice. The Cubs were swept by Florida twice and Houston twice, although one of those was in a 3 games series that was shortened to two and the Cubs won the makeup game. But your points still stand.

didn't he strike out the next batter?

Nice of Havlat get the injury over early before lifting hopes to high with a scoring binge.

they need to keep that idiot broadcasting nba nonsense. get out of the ballpark.

There's credence to the argument that, after flipping Riot and DeRo, you could swap Riot out for Cedeno and improve the lineup. There's credence, but not altogether great IMO. Theriot is 174 points better against left-handers than right handers in his career. Cedeno in his career is 131 points better against right-handers than left-handers. Theriot is 4/6 against Davis, and Cedeno is 0/6. I'm all for giving Cedeno some starts right now, but this is the type of matchup that is good for Theriot. A left-hander who is a nibbler, won't come inside much, and Theriot has had success against him. Cedeno meanwhile struggles against left-handers, loves the ball inside, loves fastballs, and struggles with patience with pitchers who throw just off the outside corner. He also has had no success with Davis in limited at-bats. I'd start Cedeno at least one of Saturday or Sunday, but not tonight. Does Davis really stay outside all the time? He described himself as somebody who comes inside a lot.

gotta love AL teams "trying to make something happen on the basepaths" and just running into outs.

What did he say? "he didn't have it, but X and I both had it fair, it was clear. No, it didn't hit the foul pole, it was just inside the pole."

on the other hand, I would say: Kendall may or may not be upset, but who cares?

This game is going to end around 11:45.

Lots of words don't mean it's right. If he was going to sit him down early, he should have pinch hit his sub 593 OPS pitcher for Ward and his 963 OPS with the bases loaded and the only big inning chance of the night. Plus, Marmol is most likely not the same Marmol from midseason. Lou ran him into the ground with an insane amount of work. He got rocked in Florida and Arizona for a reason. I think it's funny he gets praised for actually using the right catcher.

in fairness, it wasn't just a red light. he picked nevin out as one guy most likely to suffer a major injury and miss most or all of the season, and nevin was hurt a few days later. He separated his shoulder diving for a ball in the OF, unless Carroll had some sort of info leading him to think Nevin had a shoulder that couldn't handle diving on it, I'm not buying it. Nevermind the fact that he's crowing about something he predicted 4 years ago as evidence of don't you dare question the almighty Will I agree that Carroll is too pompous for his own (or anyone's) good, and that it's silly to still be bragging about this prediction. However, it was a pretty impressive call. Here's his quote -- And he did cite his shoulder as the body part to be feared. Link Alright that's admittedly pretty good. My whole deal is if BP will allow Carrol to gloat on their dime then they should demand Silver eat his crow. Alright -- perhaps not unless the Cubs lose another game in the series. I'll bet there won't be a word if we lose another game, though. Doesn't it look petty to anyone else that you allow gloating on one hand, but then ignore when you're wrong on the other?? Maybe I'm all alone on this, fine. It just rubs me the wrong way. It really does. I think these two things are apples and organges. No, strike that, apples, and cucumbers. Yeah, I don't get demanding an apology for being wrong about predicting a sweep just because a different writer wrote about how correct his predictions were.

Will Carroll humble?? The best part about Carroll's gloating is that he pretty much has nothing to do with PECOTA. And the "I predicted Phil Nevin too bitches!" at the end was ludicrous. Acting like a petulant child. I have no idea what people are talking about now.

Considering I thought it was a coin flip going in, and AZ already has the advantage, I'd have to lean to the DBacks. The fact that everybody and his mother were inexplicably calling the Cubs a favorite made it a great bet to pick the DBacks. I don't like the chances of winning with Zambrano at home on 3 days rest, which just makes winning the next two all the more important.

Why? They aren't that good. That may be true, but this is a no contest on paper. I still don't understand how people could have possibly thought things like this before last night.

I don't get why they started the main slate during MLB playoffs opening night. Why not make a big deal of starting Tuesday, when no other sports are one. Promote the crap out of it. Have every team play. Do something. Well, anyway, I'm glad to watch the Center Ice free preview, although I don't see myself buying it unless the Hawks are solid by midseason. I watched some hockey between the Boston and Cubs games. Heard Montreal in French. Saw a sloppy shootout. Normally I'd rather see a team bottom out than finish somewhere like 10th or 11th in the conference and draft 10th-12th overall. But with all the losing, I think I'd actually prefer just missing the playoffs than seeing them draft high again. At least flirt with 40 wins this year and give reason for hope in 2008-2009. Although I'd take a playoff appearance as well.

Francis looks like an actor in a movie with a bad special effects budget with that rotating ad sign behind him right now.

It's a risky idea, if it's true. It's the right gesture, but so much could go wrong if the team happens to lose.

I like our chances against the Rockies, but honestly I just like the team better...I'm a fan of Helton's and as long as it doesn't hurt the Cubs, I'd like to see him do well. I'm with you.