jersey cubs fan

Well, considering we should have made the WS in 2003 and should have made (at least) the playoffs in 2004, I would take that. Honestly, if we would have squirmed in in 2004, our starting pitchers may not have given up any runs in the playoffs. Prior, Wood, Z, and Maddux were on fire, even during that last week. Prior had a 16K game and LOST against the Reds for cripes sake. I would take a repeat of 2003 and 2004 (with different endings) this year and next year, even if it meant that we would look like the White Sox do now in 2009. Should have? They didn't. There's no should. They were a highly flawed team that had it's flaws exposed. They weren't some 100 win juggernaut that ran across a fluke opponent. It would be one thing if short-term gambles guaranteed success no matter how reckless they were for the future. But often times short-term gambles don't even achieve the expected result, which leaves you coming up short now and in the future. Example, letting a tired pitcher pitch longer than he should makes him more likely to be ineffective right now, and susceptible to problems later on.

What seems crazy to me is pretending it's been just 4 games. This is like Dusty insisting he has to see somebody play for him before coming to any conclusions when there is plenty of data on a player suggesting just how good or bad he is. Which until this year, and actually including one month of this year, has shown Kendall to be a Catcher who gets on base more often than almost any other catcher in baseball. Except for the first 2 months of this year, the data says Kendall should get on base better than any other option we currently have. Except the whole season says he won't. The problem with waiting until a washed up player finishes a year before declaring him washed up is that you've given a washed up player a full year to suck. Catchers age fast. Kendall is old. Why is it so hard to imagine this isn't a fluke? 3 of 4 months he has a sub 500 OPS.

Decided not to trade is typically code for waiting for the last minute offers to fly in just before the deadline. Cincy without any major moves is destined to maintain their level of mediocrity.

He's not elite, but the true elites are signing those $100+ million deals and Bulger is just a step below them. A lot of those 10/$110-115m deals were also signed 2-3 years ago, when the cap was smaller. Considering the inflation seen at other positions, this doesn't seem that far out of line for a guy who is good for a 90+ rating year in and year out.

Seconded. Anyone remember when Dusty admitted he didn't know the starter's pitch count after a ballgame? It was either Prior or Z that threw 120 or something like that. Pinielle recently said he loses the ticker when Z is pitching. It's nice that he's paying attention to this stuff. But that is his job.

It's one thing for fans to live and die with each win and loss, and quite another for the GM to make decisions based on short-term fluctuations in performance, including "how we hit in the next week".

What seems crazy to me is pretending it's been just 4 games. This is like Dusty insisting he has to see somebody play for him before coming to any conclusions when there is plenty of data on a player suggesting just how good or bad he is.

Burrell? I said valuable... Aaron Rowand is a free agent at the end of the season. Be nice to have him come our way. Send Fontenot, Jock/Pagan, and Petrick/Wuertz their way. I hope you are being sarcastic. Trading our 2B, CF, and a decent relief pitcher for a 2 month rental of Aaron Rowand doesn't make sense even though I'm a big Rowand fan. I'm not being sarcastic. How many chances do the Cubs have to win like we are now. This is a special season, like 2003. 2003 should have taught us that being foolish and reckless with the future for the sake of short-term success isn't a good idea.

The Cards are a well run organization that benefits from competing against some of the worst run teams in sports. But I see no reason to pretend they have a chance this year.

Depends on which definition you use. Some think of it as going after the biggest ugliest woman in the room. I've never come close to doing that (but a few friends in college had more than one fling with one we called the Big Nasty, and another named the bowling ball). Another definition is just somebody you'd normally stear clear of. And well, um, I'm not going to confirm nor deny.

For three days? This reminds me, is the deadline in the middle of the afternoon again this year? I wish they'd go back to the midnight deadline. Looks like 2pm central time. They didn't change it to the afternoon to accomodate Baseball TOnight, did they? I think they changed it because it's easier than dealing with a bunch of faxes and phone calls at midnight. It doesn't really matter when it is though, they could push it up a day or two or back a day or two and the results will be the same. It doesn't hurt to have hit midday for marketing purposes, having baseball topics discussed throughout the day.

We are in a pennant race, so playing through slumps is out the door this year. You either produce or you don't play. Unless you are a veteran or a catcher?

:? Knowing the Cubs, Murton probably has from now until Monday to perform, and if he doesn't, they will make a trade.

I'd hate to think he's so knee-jerky . . . but I do dislike our status quo, so I too hope he "fixes" what he saw last night (which, IMO, was nothing special -- the occasional, unfortunate blowout that just happens from time to time, even to the best of teams). He was quoted by multiple sources saying that whether or not they make a move probably depends on how they hit this week. I think it's pretty clear Jim makes moves based on short term observations (Izturis hit .288 for two months in 2004, Kendall looked good when Gary Hughes saw him, etc). It's a stupid idea. They should trade because over the course of the season their C, SS, CF and RF positions have all been seriously lacking productivity. But if it works in our favor, the results could still be good.

I guess its just him saying he will get his start in Philly. I guess I would expect an answer such as "Larry will work with him in between starts, and hopefully we can get Jason back to pitching how he was earlier in the season." By him saying he will get his start in Philly it seems pretty short sighted doesnt it? Or the fact that I just got off work and have been up for quite awile could be affecting my judgment lol I see why you'd think that. There's two ways of looking at it. Assuming somebody asked "what can you do with Marquis" Lou was either saying everything is status quo and he'll just go out there for his next start and hopefully perform well. Or he was sending a subtle hint that yeah, he's making his next start, but just the fact that I have to say that should tell you he's got a short leash. After a strong start Marquis has an ERA over 5 in both June and July. There has been a start or two where he was "lucky" that some runs he gave up were unearned. One game in particular he gave up 6 runs but only 2 were "earned" due to Marquis' own error. His ERA is already at 4.20 and probably could be around 4.50 or higher considering the other runs he's let in. People mistakenly criticize Hill and Marshall for being inconsistent, but it's Marquis who is most inconsistent. He followed that complete game shutout earlier in the year with 3 of 4 terrible starts. 3 of his past 4 have been just as awful. Ok good Im not crazy in my thinking then :D Lou was asked what they could do to get him back on track, and he replied with" He will start in Philly", to me that sounds like a subtle hint of "Well hes getting a chance in Philly to right the ship, and if not we will look at the options". If he really did say Marquis will start in Philly, perhaps he's being a lot less subtle than we think.

To continue the theme of positive feelings, perhaps last night's disaster will wake Jim up to the fact that all is not peachy keen and status quo isn't quite good enough.

I guess its just him saying he will get his start in Philly. I guess I would expect an answer such as "Larry will work with him in between starts, and hopefully we can get Jason back to pitching how he was earlier in the season." By him saying he will get his start in Philly it seems pretty short sighted doesnt it? Or the fact that I just got off work and have been up for quite awile could be affecting my judgment lol I see why you'd think that. There's two ways of looking at it. Assuming somebody asked "what can you do with Marquis" Lou was either saying everything is status quo and he'll just go out there for his next start and hopefully perform well. Or he was sending a subtle hint that yeah, he's making his next start, but just the fact that I have to say that should tell you he's got a short leash. After a strong start Marquis has an ERA over 5 in both June and July. There has been a start or two where he was "lucky" that some runs he gave up were unearned. One game in particular he gave up 6 runs but only 2 were "earned" due to Marquis' own error. His ERA is already at 4.20 and probably could be around 4.50 or higher considering the other runs he's let in. People mistakenly criticize Hill and Marshall for being inconsistent, but it's Marquis who is most inconsistent. He followed that complete game shutout earlier in the year with 3 of 4 terrible starts. 3 of his past 4 have been just as awful.

they said something wasn't funny, what's the big deal?

that was an ask paul from the trib fyi.

Brit has already begun. Long ago. Lohan is going through immature kid stage. I don't think its' a depression spiral of doom. Although it could easily end in doom. You don't think she's in the sprial of doom? Her father and mother hate each other. Her father has spent most of her life in jail. She wrote that scary angst song about him screaming for him. she's probably an alcoholic. she's probably a cokehead. she's been called out by costars and executives, been in and out of rehab several times, and she's only 21! She's got nothing to really fall back on. Studios are going to stay away from her for a long time. She's not Tara Reid, who's just a drunken ditz. She's got real issues. She's got talent to fall back on, which Spears does not. I really think it's more of a case of a young hollywood star going overboard. Drew Barrymore, Tara Reid, Robert Downey, Charlie Sheen and many others have all done it and pulled through. There's a long list who haven't, of course. But I think she's either going to die of an overdose in the next year or so, or be fine. I know quite a few people who could easily fall into the same category as her who are surviving. Britney is probably going to battle a lifetime of nutsiness.

Works for me, but then where does DeRo go, RF, SS? Maybe a trade? The Cubs could have an IF of Patterson, Fontenot, Theriot and Cedeno next year. That would be ugly. Do Ramirez and Lee die or something? I think he meant starting and backup middle infielders. Yeah, MI depth. Then maybe get a real RF to round out the lineup.

Brit has already begun. Long ago. Lohan is going through immature kid stage. I don't think its' a depression spiral of doom. Although it could easily end in doom.

he is a very good player. that would be a nice pickup That would be a nice pickup, but he's not a very good player.

Holy crap, optimism from goony. I've been pretty damn optimistic for a while now. Seeing the rest of the league come back to the pack helped. I've got a bet with a friend about the spread between Mets and Cubs wins, and I'm in the money, and heckling. Pretty much everybody I know either asks how they are doing or offer up a "the Cubs are looking good, huh" comment. I'm not used to that.