Bruno7481

Since when did 150 innings become enough to blow out a pitcher's arm? Watching pitch counts is one thing, but this is a little absurd. You don't think there's any reason to be careful with a pitcher who is on his way to completely destroying his previous career high in innings pitched in a year? It's not a matter of shutting him down, but how about taking some preemptive measures with a pitcher's health instead of just assuming that health is completely up to chance? You'll have to point the area in my post where I stated there is no reason to be careful with a young pitcher...I can't find it either. I'm asking how 150 IP is the new arm blowout total, especially given 200 IP the gold standard for a durable pitcher. Marshall has only eclipsed 100 pitches twice this year, and those games were 102 PC. Seems to me Dusty's staff has been pretty careful with Marshall thus far. The kid needs to build up big league arm strength and putting him in long relief right now or removing him from the rotation only hurts his development. When you called it absurd that people were voicing concern of Marshall's IP numbers you pretty much insinuated there's no reason to be careful with his IP numbers. Nobody said 150 IP is the new arm blowup level. But 150 is beyond his career high, and he has had injuries in just about every year, so it's not absurd at all to say you would hate to see him cruise past his previous highs and blow his arm out. I think the staff has been very protective of Marshall so far this year, I don't have any complaints in that regard. I understand that 150 IP would exceed his career high. But when is it "OK" to let him exceed his career high? He is going to have to do it sometime. Would next year be ok? The year after? As long as he is handled properly, which he has been this year, you would think he' be fine. I wouldn't like to see him approach 200IP, but I wouldn't want to completely shut him down either.

Bill Hall is also a free agent after the season. Why we would want him considering that is beyond me though. Well, could always sign him and play him at SS or 2b

I don't believe that. Do you know what the league average is for the past few years? I tried finding it, but came up empty. I would think it would be way above league average. Just from personal expereince, from someone who played 4 years in college, I know how good you have to be to make it. Hitting .282 throughout your minor league career is nothing to sneeze at.

Hmmmm... I think there is a bigger chance of me becoming a White Sox fan than this happening.

Can't hit? He's a .282 career hitter and can't hit? Can't hit for power would be more appropriate, but it's flat out false to say that he can't hit. .282 for a career average in the minors is pretty bad. Especially with those peripheral numbers. His numbers stink, the Cubs purchased him for $10,000 from the Mets. I'm sorry, but I think it is a total disrespect to all minor leaguers to say that a .282 career average is bad. Do you realize how difficult baseball is, even at the rookie league level? Are his numbers outstanding, not at all. This game is very hard, just to make it to the Major Leagues is a huge accomplishment. A .282 career average is hardly terrible, it takes a whole lot of talent to make a professional organization.

Classy. Are you typing this from the Bleachers?

99% of the time I would agree with you. In this case it is justified. Those people payed good money to see this? Freaking AWESOME!!! :x No they didn't, they paid money to watch a ballgame, not throw trash onto the field. If you want to make a statement, don't show up. Throwing trash on the field just make them look like immature idiots.

messed up my earier post. Throwing trash on the field is classless, grow up people. I hate seeing that crap. I don't care what just happened in the game, that isn't necessary.

Mostly, he helps organize practices and stretching routines pre-game. He'll also occasionally give advice to the manager for how to handle certain game situations. Not really... Bench coaches do no handle pre-game stretching, that is the trainer's job, and its iffy if they even do it much past Spring Training. Same goes for practices, there isn't time for practices during a 162 game season. Pole's background is in pitching so I'm sure he works some with the pitchers.

I have to agree with Roast here. This season pains me in several ways...first, I hate to see the Cubs lose, second... I bought MLB EI for the first time...great investment there...Third...We're still 2-3 weeks away from the ASB and our season has been over for MONTHS...I LOVE baseball and more than anything, I'm mad at Dusty for taking away any enjoyment for an entire year of watching this game (and this team) that I so dearly love. The problem lies deeper than Dusty. I hope, when they day comes that he either is fired or resigns, that everyone doesn't assume the problem is solved.

All we've had is bad. How you can accuse anybody of being a fairweather fan, no matter how you couch those accusations, is beyond me. I am one that spoke about not watching much and not caring, so you are claiming that I am a fairweather fan. I'm just sick of the ineptness. I don't have to watch every game and cheer loudly to prove my fandom. I'm not calling you, or anyone else a fairweather fan. I even said I understand the sentiment most are expressing. Read my 2nd post in the thread where I covered this already. A fairweather fan is one that only "cares" about the team when they are winning. Obviously if some are rooting for the team to lose they couldn't qualify as a fairweather fan because, in their mind, they are hoping it brings about a change for the good. To the casual observer the two could be confused, that is all.

All i'm saying is that it can come off that way. The "i'm not watching until theyre good" attitude is what I'm talking about. I'm NOT calling anyone that, how could I? I don't know anyone on here. Please don't take it that way. I'm just there through the good and bad, maybe I just like a trainwreck.

No 2nd team here. It is the Cubs or nothing. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy watching other games, I really do and love it thanks to Directv. But I just watch, don't really care who wins or not.

Hmm, I root for them at all times as well. I can kind of see what some of you are saying, but honestly it kind of comes off a bit like a fairweather fan. Saying that you aren't watching the games and just don't care comes off that way, not singling anyone out. I understand the frustration, being a Cubs fan can do those kinds of things to you. But getting through the rough times like this will make winning (whenever it freakin happens) all the more sweeter. I still watch the games when I can and will continue to do so. But I can't bring myself to actively root against them. Count me in the foolishly optimistic category.

The Bucs are letting us down :wink: Just kidding ... no matter how bad things get I will never, ever root against the Cubs or hope they finish in last. I think I'm in the minority on this board in that respect... :oops: I said that once myself. However, if losing would mean changes, I'm all for it. If 81-81 means more status quo, no thanks. Losing has never meant changes for this franchise, why should it now? I'm not in the "I hope they lose camp" just because of that. Where were you in 2002? Losing definitely meant change. Baylor was sent packing. Hendry was brought in as GM and an interim manager finished up one of the most pathetic seasons in Chicago Cub history, one only comparable to the current 2006 season. Hendry made some bold moves in 2003 to right the ship. Unfortunately, it's been a downhill slide ever since. He had the right idea in 2004, but injuries were part of the undoing. But, not the entire undoing. Since the end of 2004, it's been nothing but a debacle. Hendry has attempted to shift the team philosophy to emulate other teams that showed a short stint of success rather than use his team strengths and resources to further strengthen the team. And I'm not attempting to sway your opinion. Just stating mine. I'm not a hater. I just want change. The threat of a Dusty extension hits too close to home with me. I'll try to clarify my side of this. I believer firing Baker at this point is the best option. Some things are his fault, some aren't, but all in all it would be better for both Dusty and the Cubs to make a move. That being said, I don't think just changing managers will be the miracle drug, others will have to be made as well. I'm willing to give Hendry another year to see if he can figure things out. My point about losing never meaning changes should have been clarified to say "losing has never equaled winning chages." Sure changes have been made, but more often or not they have just continued the status quo. Maybe they should clean hose of both Baker and Hendry, who knows. I'm more inclined to give Hendry another chance though because he has proven to be a pretty good farm system builder and good eye for talen through trades (obviously he has made some questionable ones as well).

Wow, if that play doesnt sum up the season I donn't know what does. Pathetic. Brenly sounds particularly disgusted.

That ball shouldn't have been dropped to begin with. ya think? he still didn't need to cut it. don't know if it would have got him or not, but there was no need to cut it. He tried to throw out the runner going to second base but his throw was offline. I'm not going to get more upset with Perez when a routine play was botched to start the trouble. I don't fault Perez on this play...Murton is a Major League LF'er making a routine play. My dog could've played that clean. That is Ramirez's call on the cut. He has to tell Neifi "cut or not cut" since Neifi has his backed turned on the play. Blame Ramirez if Neifi cuts the ball.

Nice play Matt... Going to AAA wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Doesn't surprise me actually. Had to approach Myers a few years back when I was doing some work for Baseball America. They were doing a story on him and needed some photos. He wanted to know if I would get paid for taking his photograph. I responded with something like, "Well yeah, it is my job." He said he didn't want anyone making any money off of him and refused to the pictures. It would have taken a max of 2-3 minutes. I told him fine and walked away, after I kind of chuckled right in front of him. Whatever dude, if thats what you want.

The Bucs are letting us down :wink: Just kidding ... no matter how bad things get I will never, ever root against the Cubs or hope they finish in last. I think I'm in the minority on this board in that respect... :oops: I said that once myself. However, if losing would mean changes, I'm all for it. If 81-81 means more status quo, no thanks. Losing has never meant changes for this franchise, why should it now? I'm not in the "I hope they lose camp" just because of that.

Exactly, Prior as had some injuries that have nothing to do with Dusty Baker, yet most want to blame Baker for Prior's injuries. I'm not defending Dusty at all, I think a change would be a step in the right direction. But I think it is unfair to put all the blame on Dusty with no evidence to support that.

I'll blame Dusty for some things, but I don't know if I can go as far and say he and/or Rothschild hurt Prior. Starting in 2003, when Dusty took over here are Prior's Innings pitched and pitchers per game. 2003: 211 113 2004: 119 98 2005 167 104 Those number aren't that crazy. If Prior can't throw 100 pitchers per game without getting hurt it isn't going to matter who is managing the club. Wood's numbers look like this 2003: 211 110 2004: 140 101 2005: 66 88 My point is I don't think it is ALL Dusty/Rothschild's fault. These two guys seem to be extremely brittle. Wood has more of an injury history than Prior so he is a little easier to figure out. Not sure what the deal is with Prior, sure he threw 200+ innings in 2003, but most elite pitchers will throw 200+ innings in a year.

I'll say it, its embarassing.

June #'s for Hammerin Hank: 12/20, 3 HR, 10 RBI .600 AVG .591 OBP 1.150 SLG 1.741 OPS Who needs Barrett?