soapy

Remember when the Cubs were on their hot streak and nobody cared about homeruns? "Who cares? We're winning!!" Oops...

ummmmmmmm......loss?

wait, so because a few people made some lame jokes we don't get to see what he said? okay.

Hooray mediocrity!! I'm surprised by the reaction to my comments. Why are we even Cubs fans, guys? Why even follow a team if you can't get caught up in the (positive) excitement of a pennant chase? I'm frustrated because I think they can and should be better. It doesn't mean I'm not caught up in the race. I don't think that makes me any less of a fan, as you are insinuating. I am not satisfied with being in a "pennet chase" when I think they could/should be doing better. You seem to be suggesting we should only be a fan of the team if we just accept that they're "in it" and just be satisfied.

Hooray mediocrity!!

The foolishly optimistic part of me hopes it means goodbye to Jones, Floyd or Pagan. The dark pessimistic side of me fears it's Ramirez to the DL.

this team isn't going to score 2 runs and strike out 13 times every game from now thru September, so yes, you should expect more they may not strike out 13 times, but getting shut down by the likes of Woody Williams doesn't inspire one to expect more runs.

I don't know where to post this, so this seems like a good spot. I was really annoyed last night when Bob said something along the lines of (talking about the next game): "Offensively, you have to expect more than you've seen tonight." Why? Why should I expect more? At what point do you just face the reality that this offense just isn't what we thought it would be? I think that time has come and gone. And now, it's likely too late to make any meaningful upgrade and we are stuck hoping that some of these guys will re-discover their strokes (namely Lee (power wise), Ramirez (power wise), Jones, Floyd, Murton and Kendall). I can see holding out hope for Lee, Ramirez and Murton but not the others.

=D>

I can always tell we're in desperation mode when I start seeing lineups posted with players who aren't even on the team. It's like Hitler in the last days of WWII, moving armies that don't exist on the battlefield board. true. but even with out pena, i'd likely go with the lineup above, with Murton hitting 5th against lefties.

There is, of course, a flaw in my system that there are 14 position players, leaving room for only 11 pitchers. I'd probably send out Fontenot or Cedeno. But that only leaves one backup for SS/2B.

I'm not typically big on these kinds of threads, but the discussion (argument) in the E. Patterson thread got me thinking about this. How would you set the lineup with Soriano out for the next month or so? You can call up people or whatever, but be realistic. I'll even stretch it a bit further and say you can make some sort of "nominal" acquisition (for example, I'd acquire Pena if cheap in my scenario). I guess I'd probably call up Pie now and send Patterson back down. See what the Sox want for Pena, probably not much. Call up Soto and DFA Hill (out of options, IIRC). I wouldn't normally be a big advocate for multiple platoons, but I think the Cubs are a little desperate for some more production, so I'd go like this: Theriot SS DeRosa 2B Lee 1B Ramirez 3B Jones/Pena RF Murton/Floyd LF (Murton getting majority of the time. Not a strict platoon) Kendall C Pie CF (everyday) Pitcher Bench: Pagan, Soto (getting a lot of starts), Cedeno, Fontenot, Floyd/Murton, Jones/Pena When Soriano comes back, Pagan or Pie is the odd man out. Hopefully Pie is playing well and it's easier to dismiss Pagan. Explination: RF:Jones/Pena in RF could actually be productive if Jones is turning it on a little and Pena is used primarily against LHP. LF: I'd be up for playing Murton everyday, but I'm trying to remain somewhat realistic and at least just hope for a platoon. Hopefully he gets hot with some regular playing time. C: Kendall would get the bulk of the playing time if his OBP continues to rebound. If he reverts back, Soto is there. Soto > Hill. CF: Throw Pie in there. With (hopefully) increased production from LF and RF under this scenario, you can live with Pie in CF while he adjusts. Play him everyday until Soriano gets back, and then make a decision on who you want in CF.

might as well see what they want for him. if he's cheap, i'd probably do it. they're not going to give murton a shot anyway. I hate to get multiple platoons going, but if desperate, platoon Pena/Jones in RF; Murton/Floyd in LF with Pie in CF. Not happening, I realize, just throwing it out there as something I'd consider.

The reaction you've gotten in this thread alone should show you that this isn't true.

Except that nobody here has or would suggest such a lineup. But please, continue with you obscene rantings and ignore the real discussion happening here. Are you kidding me? I'm dead serious: you're questioning the fact that many folks here are openly and loudly lobbying for Soto, Murton, Cedeno, Pie, etc. etc. to be starters on the Cubs? Where the heck have you been if you've missed this development? If everyone in the "just play the kids" crowd had their wish, we'd trot out a lineup very much like the one I showed above. The only difference is that DLee and ARam would be in the middle of it, surrounded by 5 rookies and Murton. Here's how it would look: Patterson LF Theriot SS Lee 1B Ramirez 3B Murton RF Soto C Pie CF Cedeno 2B We'd get smoked with that team, in all likelihood. You are seriously mis-informed if you think people here want Lee and Ramirez surrounded by five rookies and Murton. First of all, I have seen almost nobody "clamor" for Patterson. I've seen a few here say, if he's here, he might as well play. That's the extent of it. My feelings are, Murton should be in LF. Most people think Theriot is "acceptable" as a SS if he's surrounded by offensive production elsewhere. He's nothing special. Probably average at best. Very little "clamoring". People have been asking for Soto because the Cubs are getting absolutely nothing from C until Kendall's recent "surge". If he can keep it up, fine. But Soto should be up in place of Hill, and be used if/when Kendall starts struggling again. I've seen maybe (maybe) one person suggest that Cedeno start at 2B. I certainly don't agree with that. He should probably Theriot's backup and get some time there if Theriot starts to struggle again. Most importantly, I don't think anyone is clamoring for all of these things to happen at once, which is how you are generalizing it. If you would actually pay attention at all, you'd see that most (not all) think a few young guys should be worked in because a) they are likely to be as productive offensively as the person currently in front of them; b) they play better defense; c) they provide more flexibility financially; or d) all of the above.

I haven't seen anyone say they think this. You're just making stuff up. Except that nobody here has or would suggest such a lineup. But please, continue with you obscene rantings and ignore the real discussion happening here.

Len stating that Patterson is likely to play LF tomorrow night. This whole thing is just odd. Is Floyd going to continue to play in RF (platooning with DeRosa) while Patterson platoons with Murton in LF?

Congrats to Eric. Stupid decision though.

I would be flat out shocked if Murton doesn't get major playing time. Really? It wouldn't shock me at all. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Floyd in LF, Pagan in CF, DeRosa in RF and Fontenot at 2B tonight. Basically last night's lineup after Soriano went out.

That was extremely disapointing to me as well. I think that told me all I need to know about Lou's feelings on Murton at this point. It was essentially the perfect storm for Murton to play. LHP on the mound (no excuse that he can't his RHP); LF open (no excuse that he can't play RF). Still, Lou essentially chose Fontenot over Murton. Not a good omen.

what he said. i suspect pie will be called up, but probably won't play much. of course, murton must continue to be punished for towel snapping Lou in the groin (or whatever he did). hooray mediocrity!!!

Since this has become a sort of official Murton rants thread, I'll go ahead and bump this with a preemptive rant about Murton not playing, even with Soriano out. I fully expect to see some combo of Floyd/Jones/DeRosa/Pagan/Pie? in the OF while is Soriano out. Boooo...

That's about as good as it will get. I agree, but I don't think there is any chance of this happening. Remember, we need Floyd's power... :^o

I think people are fooling themselves if they think this is anything less than devastating. I know Soriano has been cold, but he can catch fire and carry the team at any time. Also, I don't foresee Lou playing this smart and replacing Soriano with Murton. I fully expect to see DeRosa and Pagan in RF, Fontenot at 2B, and Jones in CF while Soriano is out. Essentially, Lou will choose Fontenot's bat over Murton's, which is a shame (especially against LHP). I think what you saw last night when Soriano went out was how Lou is going to play things. He didn't even bring in Murton with Soriano out and a LHP on the mound. I think that says quite a bit about what he thinks of Murton at this point.

I'm assuming that: RHP = Floyd.