Ballgame64

Why? Because you said so. At what point does the organization give these guys a legitimate chance? Ricketts isn't going to approve $150+ payroll so at some point the team is going to have to count on their young players to produce. It is funny that most people ridicule Hendry for his free agent signings, but yet trust he will do the right thing in their mind and only sign Cameron to a one year deal similar to Bobby Abreu last winter. Didn't the re-signing of Grabow illustrate the opposite.

I would assume this mean Hendry can't find a taker for Burrell. Or maybe the third team that has been mentioned is a better trade partner. I can dream right?

Who do you suggest our young player be? Because if we are running Fuld/Colvin out to CF every game for the first 1/2 of the season we won't be anywhere near contention by the time the trade deadline comes around it won't matter who we trade for because we will be so far back. Well, how do you really know if you never give them a chance? If the Cardinals lose Holliday and Pineiro, I have a hard time believing they will be so far out in front in June that there is no chance of catching them. The Brewers still have pitching problems and the rest of the division is the Reds, Pirates and Astros. Acting like Mike Cameron ensures contention but Sam Fuld doesn't is silly. Another thing, if Soriano performs anywhere near his traditional numbers and Soto is more productive, they may not need as much as you think. The Cubs won 83 games last year with Ramirez missing significant time, without getting much from Soriano or Soto, withou getting much from 2nd base and had 4 starting pitchers spend time on the disabled list. Lets not act like they were a 65 win team. The whole point is simply this, why spend your entire budget before a game is played. If Cameron costs $5-8 million, maybe that money is better to be saved for a mid-season acquisition. Because the Cubs biggest problem last year was offense. Ramirez will put up good numbers assuming he's healthy, but to count on it happening all year is a bad idea. Soriano may very well rebound, but he may not. Same for Soto. Then you throw in the lack of offense at SS and 2B. Why give yourself ANOTHER position that's not productive. Will all of those happen. Probably not. But some will, so you don't paint yourself into a corner in one position if there is a very acceptable solution available. A Fuld or Colvin, or any of the other minor league possibilities, would put up bad offensive numbers. The Cubs don't need that. No one is saying to sign the guy for a 3-4 year deal. But for a short term fix, until some of those young guys are ready, Cameron is a VERY good option. I know its a small sample size, but Fuld hit .299 with an OBP of .409, and OPS of .821. Again, I am not against signing Cameron, but for people to act like there is no way Fuld could be product enough at the major league minimum is ridiculous. I'd rather see if there is a way to upgrade 2nd or SS before signing Cameron. Unforunately, 2008 was an aberration. The Cubs offense in 2009 was the same type of offense it has been for as long as anyone can remember - team wide slumps, mediocre obp, few walks and a lot of strikeouts. Adding Cameron doesn't change that. It is not a horrible move by any means, it is just a typical move by the Cubs. Add a veteran because that is what your manager wants.

Who do you suggest our young player be? Because if we are running Fuld/Colvin out to CF every game for the first 1/2 of the season we won't be anywhere near contention by the time the trade deadline comes around it won't matter who we trade for because we will be so far back. Well, how do you really know if you never give them a chance? If the Cardinals lose Holliday and Pineiro, I have a hard time believing they will be so far out in front in June that there is no chance of catching them. The Brewers still have pitching problems and the rest of the division is the Reds, Pirates and Astros. Acting like Mike Cameron ensures contention but Sam Fuld doesn't is silly. Another thing, if Soriano performs anywhere near his traditional numbers and Soto is more productive, they may not need as much as you think. The Cubs won 83 games last year with Ramirez missing significant time, without getting much from Soriano or Soto, withou getting much from 2nd base and had 4 starting pitchers spend time on the disabled list. Lets not act like they were a 65 win team. The whole point is simply this, why spend your entire budget before a game is played. If Cameron costs $5-8 million, maybe that money is better to be saved for a mid-season acquisition.

If this is true, I don't mind the move. However, I'd rather take an approach like the Cardinals did last year. Go with a young player or two until late June into July to see if better options become available. I do like the thought of the improved outfield defense with Cameron in CF and Fukudome in RF.

1 - I thought we were discussing Bradley and his production. 2 - I never said I wanted a team full of Ecksteins or Theriots or Reed Johnsons. Trust me, I don't root off of pure emotion. What I don't do is fall in love with numbers and think that is the only way to judge a player. Do you think Bradley's teammates worry about his OPS when he is a complete jerk to them and is not helping them win? There is a reason Mr. Bradley doesn't stay on a team for very long. That fact cannot be discounted and made to go away by statistical evaluation. 3 - While I understand OBP and OPS are important stats in judging a player, to discount RBIs seems disingenous to me. Yes, guys have to get on base and get themselves into scoring position but someone also has to drive them in. An infield hit with two outs and a guy on second improves individual stats, but if the next hitter makes an out and the team doesn't score, the infield hit really wasnt any different than an out. Don't get me wrong, I'll still take the hit but the point is that type of hit in that situation doesn't necessarily mean the hitter is productive. 4 - Yes, I remember those comments about Ramirez and don't agree with them. I would like to see everyone hustle but pulling a hammy or straining a quad on a routine grounder to 2nd for a guy like Ramirez isn't worth it. I watch a lot of Cardinal games and Pujols coasts as much as any player in the game on a ground ball to an infielder. I don't blame him. Look, all I want is for the Cubs to win the World Series. If Bradley is the starting right fielder in the clinching game, that is fine with me.

This kind of quote makes me laugh. When games are won or lost based on which team has a better ops, let me know. Do you think fans care about OPS when Bradley throws the ball into the stands with one out? Do they care about OPS when he turns and throws the ball over the cut off man's head allowing a runner to take an extra base? Does anyone care about OPS when Bradley fails to come through time and time again? There is nothing wrong with looking at stats, but to act like they are the only thing that matters is silly. Bill James himself has said the player's personality and ability to get along with teammates is a very important part of the evaluation process. Sometimes you just have to watch the game and realize the guy is not as good as his numbers might be. Say whatever you want, but in the month of June when Ramirez was out, Bradley had 77 plate appearances and drove in 3 runs. To say he is productive is generous.

Does anyone have a link to watch this game since I don't get WCIU?

Baker has been very good the past few weeks. Big Z off the hook.

Fox hits a grand slam against this joker last weekend, yet Lou turns to Mike Fontenot. Reason 7,821 to fire everyone.

Why isn't it obvious to Lou that Theriot shouldn't be playing? He is swinging at everything as his average and obp plummet late in the season again. I don't know if he is tired or hurt or just reverting to who he really is as a player but someone in the organization better point out a little grinder can't strike out twice as much as he walks. His goal next year should be to lead the team in pitches per plate appearance and to draw at least 80 walks.

what happened? Game day is not working.

Didn't Gregg give up a 2 run homer to Francouer in Atlanta to blow the save for what should have been Randy Wells first win?

Nice to see Baker come plummeting back to earth. 4 pitches in 3 at bats. Simply pathetic.

Soriano came in on a fly ball and just bricked it. Easy catch and he dropped it. And now Lilly has had to throw a bunch of extra pitches. Nice. Memo to Lou - there has to be accountability.

Theriot is such a joke at leadoff. He owes Bradley big time, because if Milton would keep his mouth shut and just play, maybe the media would start asking Lou why he has his most impatient hitter bat first.

Baker draws a leadoff walk and Theriot fouls out on the first pitch he sees. The prosecution rests.

"But jumping on a hitter simply for swinging early is misplaced. While I did not see the pitches (radio), getting a good pitch to lead off the game is a common occurance. While certainly not the only two options, I would rather have a hitter get a good cut on a pitch he was looking for on pitch 1 rather than a defensive swing in an 0-2 count." When your pitcher just gave up 3 runs and threw over 30 pitches, I think the leadoff hitter needs to show a little patience. I guess Theriot didn't watch the first batter of the game for the Nationals. The fact is Ryan Theriot should see a lot more pitches than he sees. His approach is questionable at best.

Theriot has been like that all year. His pitches per plate apperance are among the lowest on the team. All the more reason to move him out of the leadoff position. Theriot is the poster boy for "grinders". While they seem to overachieve, they make some of the most glaring mistakes but some fans think the team needs more of them.

I hope today's game ends Lou's thought of Theriot being the leadoff hitter. Your pitcher gives up 3 in the top of the first and Theriot swings at the first two pitches. Granted he got on base getting hit, but that was a ridiculous approach. Then his second time up, again leading off an inning with the team now down 5 runs, he swings at a 2-0 pitch on the outside corner. Again, what is he thinking? Make the damn pitcher throw at least one strike in those situations Ryan. His third time up was extra special. Lou wastes an out having the pitcher bunt and Theriot ends the inning on the first pitch he sees. I know the season is toast, but come on. On cue...Ludwick singles in 2 runs and the Cardinals take the lead with Carpenter in line for another win.

The Cubs might come back to Wrigley under .500. What a pathetic bunch of losers. There is no other way to put it. The lack of leadership is sad. Dempster proved again he is not capable of winning a game when the team needs it the most. I told myself last night that I wasn't going to watch this game. Instead I watch it and get more frustrated. Lou, here are a couple of free suggestions. First, always have 2 relievers warming up. The next time a guy walks the first batter he faces, remove him from the game. Second, give a take sign once in awhile. This team was way to aggressive against a guy who struggles with his control.

"Crazier things have happened. I'm sure Cardinals fans thought the team was going nowhere during each of their three 8 game losing streaks during the 06 season, including the one during the last 2 weeks of the season." True, but the Cubs don't have anyone as good as Pujols on their team and don't have a closer who comes out of no where like Wainwright in 2006 and Franklin this year. This team has totally sucked since Miles was reactivated. Can one bad player really make the rest of the roster so bad? I know it doesn't make any sense, but something strange has happened since Miles came back.

You get by Adrian Gonzalez for the 2nd out and can't close the deal. Nice job Gregg. Please Lou, he sucks on the road, do not use him anymore. This team is filled with underachieving veterans who don't deserve the fan support they get. They should be so f'in embarassed by their play, yet NO ONE has the balls to do anything about it. Fire them all and start fresh next season.

The Dodgers made the Cardinals throw 4 whole pitches in the 9th inning. Miller got the first guy and Franklin got Manny on the first pitch and Casey Blake on 2 pitches. The Dodgers looked like the Cubs tonight. Bases loaded in the first and only get one run. Then they had a run in and a guy on 2nd with no outs and couldn't score anymore. I bet they are a lot more patient against the Cubs bullpen.

Nice job John Grabow. He has been really good since the Cubs traded for him. Now Mr. Marmol, this is a big ballpark. Please throw strikes and allow your defense to make the play.