Tryptamine

Only one of them was a top 20 prospect going into this year. After looking at their numbers I'm seeing a whole lot of mediocrity. I also just noticed the Cubs are sending money. It would have been nice if they could have gotten one good prospect if they were going to fork over cash too.

1 run over the last 15 innings. That's almost as impressive as losing to a team that had an entire 3 hits yesterday.

He's old, he's had a down year, the Cubs aren't competing this year or next, he's a free agent next year, it saves the club 3 million dollars. would you like me to continue?

Hey! Now some respect for the all time leading home-run hitter from Canada I respected the curly mullet he adorned for about a decade.

A diving catch by 80 year old Matt Stairs to rob a run. If that doesn't say everything about this season......

Yup, keep nibbling. Enjoy your one and only start Coleman.

This one could get pretty ugly.

no the difference here is micro vs macro. If you choose to look at cumulative stats to tell you how clutch a player is then you are fooling yourself. A "clutch" situation vs. cardinals and the same situation vs the nationals is, inevitably not the same. Arguably there is nothing clutch about even a grandslam vs the nationals of the past 5 years. Nor is a clutch situation in the playoffs the same as in the regular season. if a player is a decent hitter than over a season or tenure with a team the law of averages weighs out in his favor but it hides the fact that there are possibly smaller trends that have occurred or are recurring. maybe against a team or a particular type of pitcher or key situation. I'm not trying to look at the bigger picture of what he has been as a player. for the most part he has been pretty good. I'm looking at the high pressure situations he has had as a cub. when the pressure was greatest for the team and for him as a run producer. The 07,08 playoffs are obvious, the 04 collapse too, this year he is no where to be found early now he starts hitting after the pressure is off, etc. I could drag this out for a long time but I'll just focus on the bolded. So there is nothing clutch about playing well against a team like the Nationals? Do those wins not count towards the playoff race? Beating the Cardinals is fantastic especially when they're fighting the Cubs for a playoff spot, but the games against the other teams are just as significant. Also, I have never in my life seen someone ever get mad at a player for batting .545 in a series. That's like being given a Lamborghini and crying that it's yellow and not red.

In what spot in the batting order does a player have that many sacrifices? Well if Sandberg is the manager I would imagine spots 1-9.

Because a couple didn't sign? Isn't that to be expected? DeJesus is a bummer because of what round he was picked, but other than him I'd say it's about par for the course. I think it's more a disappointment because of the promises of building from within. Unless there is a major investment into the international prospects, that statement feels like it was lip service.

Which is why I no longer get mad at Lou leaving the starters in for 115 pitches almost every night. He doesn't have much of a choice at this point.

Don't care what people say, Blake Dewitt was a good pick up.

I know it's only preseason, but this team looks absolutely awful. I'm starting to be very concerned about the Lion's game.

There is not one person on this team who can block. 6 sacks and two called back on penalities. Cutler is going to be dead by week 6.

ugh, not one of his better at bats.

A one run game in the 9th and all I can think about is " I really want to see Castro bat one more time".

The Cubs want Anthony Rendon really really bad.

Well that should take care of that.

Seeing as the Cubs will have a void at 1B next year, is Huff on a 2/10 deal a bad idea? It gives the Cubs time to either find a legitimate 1B prospect or sign a big time FA. Huff is currently on a 1/3 deal with the Giants and he's performed well over expectations.

I hate it too, but there are only 2 people on the bench. One is the back up catcher and it's a tight game. It's one of the few times I think Z pinch hitting was warranted. I assume Ramirez is unavailable, but that still leaves Hoff, Kosuke, and 3 Fingers Yes, but if one of Hoff/Kosuke is used that means you only have 1 bench bat in a game that is tied going into the late innings.

I hate it too, but there are only 2 people on the bench. One is the back up catcher and it's a tight game. It's one of the few times I think Z pinch hitting was warranted.

This is the saddest game thread I have ever seen.

At least I'm not alone.....

Is it unrealistic to expect Archer to finish in BA's top 50 this year? He was good in Daytona and has followed it by being even better in Tennessee. The ERA is obviously unsustainable but he's got great peripherals.

Anthony Rendon even though he had a pretty bad injury. If the Cubs finish the year in the spot they are now I'd be thrilled to get Sonny Gray.