lumafia

Did he use Websites for Dummies to make his site or what? Regardless, this is a step in the right direction, but I don't like the fact that this guy has so many balls in the air. Or, maybe I don't care and just think that saying "balls in the air" sounds funny. Not sure which.

before last season's flukey shoulder injury, ramirez had accumulated 500 or more ABs in 7 of the last 8 seasons. except for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Actually, his career OPS in May is .747, which is quite a bit less than is .859 career OPS in his 2nd worth month, August. I think it's fair to say that he starts out slow. the season starts in may? Wow. If we are going to start discussing what each of us considers the "start"of the season is, I guess we are going to be in for a long day. Technically, the "start" of the season is day 1, and Lee has been very good on opening day. I believe he's hitting over .400 on the season opener. However, I don't think you can define how productive a player is through the beginning of the season based on the 1st game. That's just me. I believe there is a beginning, a middle, and an end. The regular season is 6 months long, so I consider the first 2 months the "beginning", the middle two months the "middle", and the last 2 months the "end". Based on what Lee has done over his career during (what I define as) the beginning of the season, I would say that he is a slow starter. Or, for those of you more inclined to take things to the extreme context, he is a slow beginninger....or....something like that. Anybody else care to share their definition of the "beginning" of the season?

I agree that teams aren't paying as much for a guy like him anymore, but there will be takers. 2 teams that immediately come to mind that would embrace Kosuke's are the Red Sox and the A's. The A's have been known to make a move or two that cost money when they know they have a legitimate shot. Their .641 OPS and .297 OBP out of the lead off spot could be a temptation given the fact that they are only 4 games out of 1st right now. It might be a month or so, but they could be looking for someone just like FUKU. Another team is the Red Sox. They have the financial flexibility to take on additional payroll and they have a need to fill out their lineup. They have been decent out of the leadoff spot, but they want someone to get on more frequently than their leadoff hitters are now. Also, they are thin on production (combined .690 OPS out of CF & LF in 2010) and health in the corner outfield spots. The Sox would embrace his approach, protect him mightily in the lineup, and he would be a marketing tool for them in the northeast. The Cubs have worked well with both teams in the past, and if the Cubs continue their slide, I would expect both of those teams to be legitimate candidates for Fuku's services.

before last season's flukey shoulder injury, ramirez had accumulated 500 or more ABs in 7 of the last 8 seasons. except for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Actually, his career OPS in May is .747, which is quite a bit less than is .859 career OPS in his 2nd worth month, August. I think it's fair to say that he starts out slow. Considering his March/April OPS is 6 points off of his career total, I'd say it's pretty strange to say he starts slow. Considering his March/April and May career OPS is .804 compared to a career OPS of .902 for every other month, I'd say it's pretty strange to say that he doesn't start slow.

before last season's flukey shoulder injury, ramirez had accumulated 500 or more ABs in 7 of the last 8 seasons. except for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Actually, his career OPS in May is .747, which is quite a bit less than is .859 career OPS in his 2nd worth month, August. I think it's fair to say that he starts out slow.

They should start Patterson, Pie and Dubois in the OF, with Kelton, Montanez, Bobby Hill and Choi on the IF. Since Jake Fox was just DFA'd, you could have him behind the plate with Brownlie starting and Ben Christensen coming in to close it down.

I'll take Steve's side because I'm certain that he doesn't have dimentia.

I thought the Cubs were getting a guy who kept a tight clubhouse in Lou Piniella. He really has softened in the last couple years. I don't think he has the energy or will to keep a tight ship anymore. I just can't believe he let Ramirez bring a gun to the clubhouse. That has to be illegal. Zambrano killed a guy with a trident. I've been meaning to talk to him about that. He should probably find himself a safehouse or a relative close by. Lay low for a while, because he's probably wanted for murder.

We needed this IMO. On to Houston. Agreed. Thank you Crash Davis. :cool:

I'm guessing that was either Neifi Perez (as a Cub) or Lenny Harris (as a Cub). In all seriousness, Aramis and Lou have an outside shot of approaching those records.

I'm trying to reconcile the first sentence of each of your first two paragraphs. I'll do it for you then. It's a difficult debate that is very complex based on many factors. However, my OPINION is that a consistent hitter would be better. But my OPINION is not based on any statistical reference, only my experience. Better? not really. we're talking in preferences. that implies subjectivity. So your first sentence doesn't really make sense. You don't need to tell me its your opinion (and certainly not in all caps), you've said as much by saying it's your preference. But then again, so has everyone else, whose opinion is based on their experience (whether as a player, coach, fan, whatever). You're right. A typo. My fault.

You're right. But therein lies the problem. How and when do you determine if a player is on a cold streak? How is that defined, and more importantly, how do you define when he is no longer on a cold streak? Then you have the issue of consistent playing time effecting a player's abiltity to be consistent. How can you expect a player to get hot when he isn't getting consistent plate appearances? But, does consistency automatically guarantee hotness? Obviously not, just ask Lee and Aramis.

I'm trying to reconcile the first sentence of each of your first two paragraphs. I'll do it for you then. It's a difficult debate that is very complex based on many factors. However, my OPINION is that a consistent hitter would be better. But my OPINION is not based on any statistical reference, only my experience. Better?

You can't answer definitively whether you would prefer the streaky hitter versus the consistent hitter. There are too many variables for which to account. Are the other players in the lineup streaky? Are the other players OBP heavy or SLG heavy? What park do they play in? Is the hitter in question heavy in either SLG or OBP? When he is on a hot streak, does his SLG or OBP improve, or both? When he is on a hot streak, how consistent is his hot streak? Blah blah blah. Having played competitive baseball at many levels, I can tell you that I would prefer to play with more consistent players. It seems like a manager would prefer to manage consistent players also. It's one less thing you have to worry and/or think about. When a player is consistent, it exponentially reduces the number of decisions a manager has to make, which in baseball, is always a good thing. It also reduces the stress and/or pressure on the surrounding players on the team when one of their teammates can be counted on consistently. There would be fewer easy opportunities to assign blame. Which in the game of baseball (and society as a whole), generally outweighs the desire to offer praise. Just my opinion.

Has Shawn Estes been staying in shape?

:blink:

That is a normal human reaction that takes place in many more places than just sports. Work, marriage and friendships have an element of that as well. The difference is that it is frustrating in sports when a guy is making a gazillion dollars to do it, and he sucks. That being said, I like Aram and I hope he turns it around. I still believe he came into the season unprepared because of some unkown personal reason. I could be wrong, but nothing other than an injury could really explain it.

Lou should be fired for his performance in this game alone. He's completely lost it.

I'm pretty sure Lou confused himself when making the switch earlier. I'm pretty sure Lou intended for Bench to hit in Soto's spot, and Mike Schmidt to hit in Aram's spot.

Not if Lou has anything to do about it. Since Contreras throws with his right hand, he must have someone available who hits from the left side....OH YES....Zambrano.

The manager that trots him out there for the purpose of a lefty/righty matchup when the lefty at the plate is better against lefties? That's gotta be way up there.

Nick Nolte

I don't mind letting our power hitters swing away. It's called hitting not walking, dude. I think he's going for the record for the least amount of points between batting average and OPS in the history of baseball.

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. Amen. Of all statistical resources, this is the one that the Cubs have embraced the most, but means the least.

Every time he does something great I think about what Harry would say. Can you imagine Harry trying to explain a guy named Fukudome just hitting a game tying home run against a guy named Bastardo? :shock: Poetry.