Clem Fandango

Gonzalez wasn't the greatest manager, but I wouldn't put the blame for this season solely on his shoulders. Was listening to MLB Network radio today and they kept saying it's a rebuilding process. This is not a rebuilding process, this is a tanking process. When the Cubs were rebuilding they got accused of tanking, but they still went out and got underrated serviceable major league talent to fill the holes in their roster rather than promote from within. It's why we got guys like Russell and Arrieta on this team now, because they filled holes with guys like Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel. The Braves are simply getting rid of all their talent and filling the holes from within with players who are nowhere near ready for the majors, or they're using MLB has beens to fill those spots out instead of getting affordable underrated talent to do so. They have been intentionally tanking without even putting up the slightest hint that they're trying to be strategic about it. Hell even the Astros went out and got guys like Fowler and Rasmus. The Braves went out and got Kelly Johnson, Erick Aybar, and Jeff Francouer. Players long since past their ability to deliver quality starting performances. They've got no veteran talent short of Freeman and Teheran (who they probably don't want to move) that they can trade for a quality return. They've used nearly all the bullets in their chamber, and now have to rely on #1 draft picks. I mean look at this roster: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2016.shtml It's just baseball cast offs and has beens. There's not a single guy on there who has potential upside that they can capitalize on and move at the trade deadline. They're tanking, and they're tanking hard.

That's basically how all of his home runs are. I think he figured out long ago that he's so strong he doesn't need to swing out of his cleats to hit it out the park. Each one looks like he's just trying to put contact on the ball which, unfortunately, is kinda difficult for him.

wasn't he traded for AJ like 8 million years ago? Him, Francisco Liriano, AND the immortal Boof Bonser.

you're right who was the other weirdo that used ellipses way too much I think that was... me?

As someone who does not follow the NBA, I was thoroughly disappointed they did not compare the Cubs to the Warriors of the 1979 classic film, which would make an interesting conversation in and of itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7eu4_V8s5w

Meanwhile Chris Carter hit maybe the longest HR in Miller Park since Prince smacked one off the middle of the scoreboard in center... http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/0/v699970883/sdmil-carter-launches-a-massive-home-run

I don't know which team's announcers they were, but the clip I saw had them using both the terms "donnybrook" and "fleshpile." It was glorious. Well it wasn't the Rangers, their announce team is on the highlight on mlb.com. And it doesn't really sound like the Blue Jays. Was probably one of the radio teams

The Rangers announcers after watching the replay of Odor clocking Bautista: "Odor is now 2 for 5 today"

Bryant hasn't played enough innings at 3B this year to qualify for fielding metrics on FanGraphs leaderboards, but of all 3B with a minimum of 100 innings played at the position, Bryant has the 3rd best UZR behind Nolan Arenado and Adrian Beltre. He also has the #1 UZR/150,

I know Machado came up as a SS, but he only started playing there 12 games ago for the 2nd time in his MLB career (7 games last season) because Hardy got injured. I don't doubt Machado's ability to be a great defensive shortstop, but up until 12 games ago, he was a 3B, and I think he goes back there when Hardy returns and stays there long term even after Hardy leaves. And I do take issue with these lists. A week and a half into the season, the dumb shits at MLB Network ranked the Top 5 greatest young shortstops in baseball. On that list: Xander Bogaerts Carlos Correa Francisco Lindor Corey Seager and.... Trevor Story No Addison Russell, but they included a guy who had a hot first week to kick off his career, despite only ranking on Top 100 lists for one of his minor league seasons 3 years ago in 2013 (who, P.S., has a -2.7 UZR and -12.5 UZR/150), and they lumped him in there with guys who consistently ranked in the Top 15 best prospects in baseball year in and year out while they were in the minors. It makes me irrationally angry that they ignore Russell, a 3-win player last year, who also ranked up there with those same players, because his slash line as a rookie wasn't up to their standards and he didn't get off to a hotter start than Story did. Even after that segment they showed clips from the Cubs game that day where Russell got a double and one of the analysts said "And here you got a guy who's probably saying 'What about me guys? Why didn't you put me on that list?'" and horsefeathering Harold Reynolds said horsefeathers like "He hasn't shown me enough in his time yet to convince me that he's the real deal right now" REALLY? He has a full season as a 3-win player at the age of 21 but he hasn't shown you enough to prove himself? Instead you think Trevor Story, a guy who joins the incredible ranks of such greats as Kevin Mench and Chris Shelton for having elite weeks hitting home runs, is easily one of the best young SS in baseball and will be for years to come? Ok. I haaaaaate that horsefeathers. It's like the opposite of that Chappelle bit about being accused of something you didn't do, except in this scenario someone is not being given credit for something they're clearly better at than someone else. Give credit where credit is due: Among all SS 23 or younger, Addison Russell is a Top 3 shortstop.

Luis Severino pulled grabbing his elbow. Right elbow soreness, getting an MRI. #youknowwhattheysayaboutpitchers

Sure, you seem like a good guy. http://indy100.independent.co.uk/image/25426-1xg9gq.gif

I caught a home run ball at Wrigley and threw it back several years ago. I think it was a Joey Votto home run. I thought about keeping it, but I was like "Well, all it's gonna do is remind me the Cubs got beat that day, and I really don't care about it" so I tossed it. Also I made that up because it's a stupid story and you already don't care about it, but if I told someone that story they'd have to believe me. Conversely, if I bought an official NL baseball and dirtied it up a bit and put it on my mantle and said "That was one of Sammy Sosa's home runs during his 1995 30-30 campaign" would you believe me? It's a baseball. It's practically worthless. Keep it or don't, no one cares.

The Rangers are calling up Matt Bush. He officially escapes the trivia question: Name all the #1 MLB draft picks who have never reached the majors.

wow

http://replygif.net/i/1267.gif

http://i.imgur.com/DVUdSZS.png Ha! Now can you break it up into two parts: a background ivy pic and then the lettering as a separate pic? That way I can use the ivy as a bg that gets repeated and then have the lettering only show up once. http://i.imgur.com/YepMCJy.png http://i.imgur.com/RBC0E6H.png

I'm just glad I don't have the lowest winning percentage anymore.

as bad as this place can sometimes be, it is easily the least terrible faction of cubs fans on the internet My new header http://i.imgur.com/DVUdSZS.png

I like sweeping playoff contenders. I don't like getting beat by cellar dwellers. Stop losing to last place teams kthxbye.

Can it be a grand slam from any player on any team? Yes.

Sontensei, first of his name, mother of phat beats, breaker of mega threads