Little Slide Rooter

I was listening to the Sox game on the radio for a few, why, I'm not sure. I only bring it up because their radio commentators sound like a pair of robots discussing a baseball game. I guess Pat, Ron, and even the oft intolerable Keith deserve more appreciation.

By the time the justifications are over, the Cubs heading into the offseason would have been a 30-win team. While I do trust the front office, an elite front office of a big market team should be able to put a winning team on the field and build a strong farm system. I suppose we could have signed Fielder and Darvish or Wilson and re-upped Ramirez to a deal like the Brewers gave him and still have had money for Beltran. All the while, the farm system would look pretty much like it does now assuming that we'd made the trades we did. Unless the money simply wasn't there, with the new IFA and overslot rules, I'm not quite sure what it was saved up for. We wouldn't have traded for Rizzo if we signed Fielder. No, but we'd have Fielder. and maybe we could have traded Cashner for something else.

lol Honestly, all trolling aside, I would tend to agree with him. The pitching hasn't been good and the offense has been terrible. Yes, it's still early but this team lacks punch and everyone knows it is rebuilding. 65 wins sounds about right to me. This is step 1. So far, the low risk guys haven't yielded high rewards. If we're looking at a 70 win team in 2013, I highly doubt that they'll let the bleeding continue.

By the time the justifications are over, the Cubs heading into the offseason would have been a 30-win team. While I do trust the front office, an elite front office of a big market team should be able to put a winning team on the field and build a strong farm system. I suppose we could have signed Fielder and Darvish or Wilson and re-upped Ramirez to a deal like the Brewers gave him and still have had money for Beltran. All the while, the farm system would look pretty much like it does now assuming that we'd made the trades we did. Unless the money simply wasn't there, with the new IFA and overslot rules, I'm not quite sure what it was saved up for.

Didn't Jason Marquis used to cruise through 4-5 innings and then get demolished?

Maybe he didn't want to sign a 1 year deal with a team that probably wasn't going to the playoffs? Or maybe a team that wasn't going to make the playoffs didn't want to sign him to a 1 year deal.

I was pretty surprised that Jenks and K Rod were that much younger than Cordero, Farnsworth, and Lidge.

Mariano River (43), hinting at retirement Jose Valverde (35) Mike Adams (34) K Rod (31) Farns (37) Broxton (28) Francisco Cordero (38) Brandon League (30) Brad Lidge (36) Peter Moylan (34) Fernando Rodney (36) Bobby Jenks (32) Jason Frasor (35) Octavio Dotel (39) Juan Cruz (34) LaTroy Hawkins (38) Various others with options. The big names will cost more than we should be paying for a closer. If some of the lesser names are interested in signing for cheap, we can take fliers.

I don't think his career is over, I just don't think that he'll ever get back to what he was. I remember being in awe at his stuff, but now his stuff and velo is just not what it was. He relied on the swing and miss, and hitters have caught on the the fact that if they just keep the bat in their shoulder long enough they'll either get a free pass or something to hit hard.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS it's gonna be a thing. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the most amazing gif ever.

Prince who? Albert who? Anthony who?

Bruce Miles tweeted earlier that LaHair averages 4.2 pitcher per AB since coming up last year which ranks him 5th among all batters witl 100 PA or more.

Wild Thing is Marmol? Soto is Jake Taylor Sean Camp is the grey haired pitcher who steals JoBus rum.

The days when Marmol Time was a joyous occasion seem like a distant memory. Marmol just doesnt seem to have it anymore. The guy withmthe electric stuff just seems like a guy these days. It's by no means that first time that a once dominant closer ran out of gas. This isnt to say that he can't be a reliable 7th or 8th innning guy for now. Trouble is, we don't have many other options, certainly not at the big league level. Maybe Dolis in time, but the last thing we need is another guy who's going to walk every other batter. Could we go back to Kerry Wood? Michael Bowden did remind me of Ryan Dempsters days as a closer in his inning tonight, but i remember what those used to do to the blood pressure One option that comes to my mind is McNutt once he returns from that blister. Coukd be a good spot for a guy who has difficulty keeping his pitch count down to omly have to pitch one inning at a time. And if we want to stretch him back out down the line, it worked for Wainright. nobody else jumps out at me, but a few more options to think about: Blake Parker: it seems like he's been closing at Iowa since the Spin Doctors were cool. He has the stuff, but also control issues. So far this year, his walks are down but so are his Ks. May as well give him a look sooner than later unless anyone actually likes watching Sean Camp. Jeff Beliveau: the top relief arm in the upper levels 2011 A+/AA 74.1 IP 1.57 ERA 19/89 BB/K 0.928 WHIP 2012 AAA 9.2 IP 3.72 ERA 5/8 BB/K 1.345 WHIP. Numbers hit by 1 disasterous outing. Frank Batista 2011 A+ 61 IP 20/46 Bb/K 2.36 ERA 1.164 WHIP 26 SV 2012 AA/AAA 8.2 IP 2/11 BB/K 0.00 ERA .923 WHIP Alberto Cabrera: He's certainly had his issues in the past, but is off to a great start in AA 10.1 IP 1.74 ERA 4/12 BB/K .871 WHIP Kevin Rhoderick: young, and had some control issues last year 2011 A+/AA 71.1 IP 3.03 ERA 43/77 BB/K 1.234 WHIP 2012 AA 9.0 IP 2.00 ERA 3/12 K/BB 1.00 WHIP Kyler Burke: 24 years old, and just stRted pitching mis least season but has been great at it in the low levels 2011 A- 44 IP 2.86 ERA 18/47 1.227 WHIP 2012 A 11 IP 1.59 ERA 1/9 BB/K .971 WHIP Jay Jackson: more of a [expletive] or get off the pot move than anything. Maybe he could re-invent himself. You really dom't want to take some of these younger guys and throw them right into the fire like that, but we really dont't have many options. If Dolis can get his control worked out, he could be a nice option, but other than that I'm stumped.

Sure would have been nice for Shark to get that W, but I'll take it.

How are you just learning this? It's like just learning that Reed Johnson sucks.

It's gonna happen Kyle. Ian Stewart will get a hit in a relevant situation.

Admit it Tiger, he's growing on you.

Is it me or did that inning feel like an old school Dempster save?

oh, so because he may not INTEND to piss people off by only posting when things are going badly for the cubs, it's not trolling. got it. The term troll is traditionally reserved for those who intend to piss people off. Again, I'm not denying that it still is going to agitate people.

People who only harp on the negative, especially in a smug "I knew it" fashion, irritate a lot of people whether they are trying to or not. I'm not denying that it pisses people off, just commenting on the misuse of the term troll.

except you don't post when things are going well, you just turn up like 3 seconds after the ball clears the fence to give the cardinals the lead. congratulations, you're trolling the message board of a team you root for. because there has been an abundance of things going well over the past 3+ seasons so what? if the only time you're going to show up is to bitch about the cubs losing, then leave. nobody likes a miserable turd who trolls the team he supposedly likes. Trolling is with the intent to stir up controversy or piss people off. AF just seems to be venting.

Hopefully something crashes on Marmol.

Any chance that Bowden can be a closer and we can just stick Marmol in a box to Abu Dhabi with no return address?

Only 1 run was earned. And Beliveau followed up with 2 scoreless, 2 H 0 BB 1 K.