CubfaninCA

I know you qualified your statement by saying "hopefully", but that 8-game losing streak came at the hands of "slam dunk" wins for the Cubs. If these guys choke in the Colorado series, I hope Woody takes the bat to some players' lockers this time. The club can't afford the luxury, IMO, of dropping even one game in that series, with Atlanta and Florida coming up. With Prior going on Friday and Maddux on Sunday, anything less than 2 out of 3 would be a huge disappointment.

I'm holding out hope cause, Houston, Florida, Washington & Philly don't look too hot. Houston could really use Kent, Beltran and Bagwell. Just be blunt: Houston's lineup sucks. I'm ashamed - as a fan - that the Cubs got trounced 12-4 last night. Pathetic, when every game counts when playing the WC leader, and a divsional rival. Ensberg IS Houston's offense recently and their whole lineup tee'd off on Rusch and Wellemeyer last night. Yeah that lineup isn't very, but almost any teams can get 12 @ Minute Maid. It's nice to see some off days coming up. Dusty can skip Williams or Rusch. It was announced tonight during the game taht he will be skipping Williams. Heard that. Will they bring back Williams on Saturday?? I'd rather pitch him in the Atlanta series. Let Rusch pitch against Colorado, and hope the Cubs can win 20-19. :o Looks like Prior vs. Kim on Friday. Hopefully that's a slam dunk.

I'm holding out hope cause, Houston, Florida, Washington & Philly don't look too hot. Houston could really use Kent, Beltran and Bagwell. Just be blunt: Houston's lineup sucks. I'm ashamed - as a fan - that the Cubs got trounced 12-4 last night. Pathetic, when every game counts when playing the WC leader, and a divsional rival. Ensberg IS Houston's offense recently and their whole lineup tee'd off on Rusch and Wellemeyer last night. Yeah that lineup isn't very, but almost any teams can get 12 @ Minute Maid. It's nice to see some off days coming up. Dusty can skip Williams or Rusch.

I'm holding out hope cause, Houston, Florida, Washington & Philly don't look too hot. Houston could really use Kent, Beltran and Bagwell.

In fairness, I think Dusty was referring to the defense in reference to Hill's start. he may have been...but that doesn't change the fact that 24 hours later he was back w/ the i-cubs. i have a feeling that same fate doesn't await his old pal g-unit. it's also pretty much par for the course when it comes to dusty making excuses for his guys...neifi, hollandsworth and now rusch. Rusch has had success on the major league level this year and year's past. Hill needed to get back on his feet. He'll be back again.

Who's the 6th team ahead of us?? We're tied w/ Milwaukee and they're nothing to worry about. New York doesn't have the personnel either, and Florida may be too banged up. The teams the Cubs need to catch are Washington, PHilly and HOuston. Like other's have pointed out, there's still 8 games against Houston. As for Washington and Philly, there's nothing special about either team.

Since he threw only 9 pitches, sounds like he can come back tomorrow night for an inning. I'd rather save him and use him for Biggio, Berkman and Ensberg tomorrow night. Dempster should be able to nail this down.

How are you going to get Hudson? Toronto still thinks pretty highly of him I believe. Package Wellemeyer in a trade. ;)

Renterias been an absolute hack in the field this year. Leads the league in errors and is .003 away from being in the cellar in fielding percentage among qualified shortstops. Mueller is still one of the better thirdbasemen in the league. Millar is garbage. Walker is just as good as Horny. I wouldnt say that Theo went for D in his infield at all. Renteria wasn't considered really good in the field before he got there?? Why would Theo sign him for such money then?? Doubtful it was for his bat.

Maybe there's a reason why Walker's cheap and no one wanted him??

And on what basis do you make this claim? He's been hurt the past two season, and he'll be 33 next yr. I'd rather have some younger legs out there, and the Cub defense is pretty brutal. Walker didn't go on the DL last year, what did he injure? He missed some game's last year. Think he was banged up some. Lee, Walker, Nomar and ARam give the Cubs one of the best hitting infields in baseball, but they have to be near the bottom in fielding. Lee saves them from being the worse. Definitely not one of the best defensively, probably towards the bottom, but their offensive prowess way more than makes up for it. Well Theo went for d in his infield. Renteria's real good, and my guess is that Mueller still ranks quite high.

Just a hypothetical here.... IF the Cubs sign Giles, keep Lawton for leadoff, and bring back Nomar (all plausible), there's not a big need for Walker. They could put a 1-7 of Lawton, Nomar, Giles Lee, ARam, Patterson or Pie, and Barrett out there. IF they get Giles and keep Lawton and Nomar, I'd rather see them deal Walker and Murton for an arm, and get some d @ 2b. Hudson's career ops is around .750, I think, and that isn't a far cry from what Walker has done over his career, and Hudson has tons of range and a real strong arm. Also, Hudson's will be 28, whereas Walker will be 33. One on the probable decline, the other allegedly entering his prime. IF the Cubs don't bring back Nomar and go w/ Cedeno, I'd prefer to keep Walker.

And on what basis do you make this claim? He's been hurt the past two season, and he'll be 33 next yr. I'd rather have some younger legs out there, and the Cub defense is pretty brutal. Walker didn't go on the DL last year, what did he injure? He missed some game's last year. Think he was banged up some. Lee, Walker, Nomar and ARam give the Cubs one of the best hitting infields in baseball, but they have to be near the bottom in fielding. Lee saves them from being the worse.

I sincerely doubt that the difference between Soriano and Walker is worth 6.5 games. How about six weeks of Jerry Hairston and Jose Macias (and LOTS of Neifi) while Walker was hurt? Good point. Thank you. If Nomar's back, I'd rather go for a defensive 2b like Orlando Hudson. Walker's a good hitter, but he doesn't have much range and his durability isn't that great. Walker will never win a gold glove, but his defense has been right about average(97 rate, 2 runs below average) to go with his bat that is well above average. Add in the fact he's very cheap for next season and I'll definitely take him. Why do you say that Walker's durability isn't that great? This year marked his first year on the disabled list in memory. He hasn't been on the DL from 2001 on, and he played 143 games exactly the 3 years prior to that. Seems to me that he's been quite durable over his career. He has a team option and vesting option correct? Could he end up making more than 2.75 mil. next year?? With Nomar not looking good at all in the field, I want someone who's really good up the middle of the diamond. They can make up some of Walker's loss of production by getting Giles for right, which would be a HUGE upgrade over Burnitz.

And on what basis do you make this claim? He's been hurt the past two season, and he'll be 33 next yr. I'd rather have some younger legs out there, and the Cub defense is pretty brutal.

I sincerely doubt that the difference between Soriano and Walker is worth 6.5 games. How about six weeks of Jerry Hairston and Jose Macias (and LOTS of Neifi) while Walker was hurt? Good point. Thank you. If Nomar's back, I'd rather go for a defensive 2b like Orlando Hudson. Walker's a good hitter, but he doesn't have much range and his durability isn't that great.

i wouldn't be too upset if they sent him down. but at this point, you might as well see if he has what it takes to compete for a spot in the rotation next year. sending him down to insert rusch into the rotation is pretty pointless. If they were facing San Fran, I'd like to see Hill get another start so he could try to get on his feet. However, it's @ Houston. Yes the Cubs are pretty much done, but it's a big series anyway, and it's the leadoff game of the series. Also, Hill might be trying to break a 12 game losing streak. :cry: things worked out great for rusch tonight, didn't they? i wasn't going to give you crap about your pining for glendon over hill until i come to the game thread and see you're still ragging on hill....long after rusch has been rocked and removed. did you see hill's line tonight, by the way? Touche. :D Hopefully Hill can get on his feet against minor leaguers. He wasn't ready for prime time. I'm one to give Baker and Hendry the benefit of the doubt from time to time. Perhaps they know what they doing every once in a while??? i agree. the world series trophies speak for themselves. Gotta love the incessant negativity and lack of objectivity. Baker has sukked, but I'm not going to pound him for every single move he makes. Contrary to popular belief, he may know a thing or too. However, the game has become too scientific for him.

Hopefully, the plan is to give Lawton and Burnitz a night off each against lefties. However, I have a feeling that Baker will give his awesome vet, who's due to go on a big streak anyday now, the nod over Murton. The reasoning will be that Petitte's too good for Murton. I think Dusty does make some good moves from time to time, but I have a feeling his preference for vets will land Murton on the bench tomorrow. I can see the excuse being made for Murton v. Oswalt, but not Murton v. Petitte.

i wouldn't be too upset if they sent him down. but at this point, you might as well see if he has what it takes to compete for a spot in the rotation next year. sending him down to insert rusch into the rotation is pretty pointless. If they were facing San Fran, I'd like to see Hill get another start so he could try to get on his feet. However, it's @ Houston. Yes the Cubs are pretty much done, but it's a big series anyway, and it's the leadoff game of the series. Also, Hill might be trying to break a 12 game losing streak. :cry: things worked out great for rusch tonight, didn't they? i wasn't going to give you crap about your pining for glendon over hill until i come to the game thread and see you're still ragging on hill....long after rusch has been rocked and removed. did you see hill's line tonight, by the way? Touche. :D Hopefully Hill can get on his feet against minor leaguers. He wasn't ready for prime time. I'm one to give Baker and Hendry the benefit of the doubt from time to time. Perhaps they know what they doing every once in a while???

Release Wellemeyer. No loss @ all. Majorly disagree. raisin, what do you see in Welle? He has the pitches to be a bottom of the order starter - he posted an ERA of 3 at AAA in 11 starts this year. He could also be a good set-up man. The Cubs need to give him a proper role and not dust him off once every week in blow outs. I dont mean to pick a bone with you, but I dont see it. lower to mid 90's fastball, ok slider, changup...and limited success at AAA. it seems like every time he gets called up his head implodes and he cant find the strikezone. do you think he needs to start? He needs regular playing time to succeed. He doesn't get it in the big leagues (except for about two weeks in May) and that's why I think he struggles more with his control in the big leagues. He gets proper playing time in the minors and does well. If only Choi could play ever day...... And the song plays on.... It's Dusty fault. doo dooo. Dusty's fault. dooo dooo. It rained today and was Dusty's fault. doo doooo :D it'd be one thing if your boy glendon had pitched well tonight and you were over here taunting people about their preference for youngsters. it's just mind-boggling that you're still doing it after rusch got rocked. It's one poor game. The guy hasn't started for a few months. His ERA was 3.32 as a starter. He was the best option for tonight. But Welly doesn't get the same flack for his first relief appearance and big league appearance in months (AND he cleaned up one of Rusch's messes)? Welly got 1 frikken out tonight, and had to be pulled before he let 6 more men on. Rusch sukked, whereas there isn't a word in the dictionary to describe how bad Welly was. And you're going to judge a player by one bad outing, to the point of wanting to cut him? Especially when he could be used in a trade? No. I'm judging him over 54 major league appearances and his career 6.43 ERA. I don't want to see this guy get another appearance, and definitely not another 54. If they can get anything for him, that would be great. Maybe they can trade him for DuBois. :o

Release Wellemeyer. No loss @ all. Majorly disagree. raisin, what do you see in Welle? He has the pitches to be a bottom of the order starter - he posted an ERA of 3 at AAA in 11 starts this year. He could also be a good set-up man. The Cubs need to give him a proper role and not dust him off once every week in blow outs. I dont mean to pick a bone with you, but I dont see it. lower to mid 90's fastball, ok slider, changup...and limited success at AAA. it seems like every time he gets called up his head implodes and he cant find the strikezone. do you think he needs to start? He needs regular playing time to succeed. He doesn't get it in the big leagues (except for about two weeks in May) and that's why I think he struggles more with his control in the big leagues. He gets proper playing time in the minors and does well. If only Choi could play ever day...... And the song plays on.... It's Dusty fault. doo dooo. Dusty's fault. dooo dooo. It rained today and was Dusty's fault. doo doooo :D it'd be one thing if your boy glendon had pitched well tonight and you were over here taunting people about their preference for youngsters. it's just mind-boggling that you're still doing it after rusch got rocked. It's one poor game. The guy hasn't started for a few months. His ERA was 3.32 as a starter. He was the best option for tonight. But Welly doesn't get the same flack for his first relief appearance and big league appearance in months (AND he cleaned up one of Rusch's messes)? Welly got 1 frikken out tonight, and had to be pulled before he let 6 more men on. Rusch sukked, whereas there isn't a word in the dictionary to describe how bad Welly was.

If he can't make it here, then he's a commodity that can be sent to the teams that can use him. Why do you want Welly cut from the organization, yet clamor for Rueter to be signed? What can the Cubs get for him?? Seriously? Could catch lightning in a bottle w/ Reuter. At least he's had success in the majors, and can't be much worse than Hill, Mitre or Welly. Not by himself, using him as part of a package he's a valuable component. Besides, he's not taking anyone's space that's needed before the end of the season, no need to be wasteful by cutting him. Rueter has been terrible. We're better off seeing what we have in Rusch/Hill/Mitre/Welly/etc. than hoping to get 4 good starts out of a guy who never had good stuff whose age is catching up to him. I'll give Rusch a shot. The other 3 shouldn't be starting in a wildcard chase. Obviously Rusch did fantastic today. And the Cubs aren't in the wildcard chase. Yep, he let 6 men on in a third of an inning. ;) Dont' give up hope man.

Release Wellemeyer. No loss @ all. Majorly disagree. raisin, what do you see in Welle? He has the pitches to be a bottom of the order starter - he posted an ERA of 3 at AAA in 11 starts this year. He could also be a good set-up man. The Cubs need to give him a proper role and not dust him off once every week in blow outs. I dont mean to pick a bone with you, but I dont see it. lower to mid 90's fastball, ok slider, changup...and limited success at AAA. it seems like every time he gets called up his head implodes and he cant find the strikezone. do you think he needs to start? He needs regular playing time to succeed. He doesn't get it in the big leagues (except for about two weeks in May) and that's why I think he struggles more with his control in the big leagues. He gets proper playing time in the minors and does well. If only Choi could play ever day...... And the song plays on.... It's Dusty fault. doo dooo. Dusty's fault. dooo dooo. It rained today and was Dusty's fault. doo doooo :D I know you're kidding but I have to say it anyway. We have to stop blaming baker for everything. These guys are making Major league money and they have to earn their pay. Baker isn't walking 5 batters in an inning or making errors. These guys have to play well On a bright note, Ohman is a good pitcher who isn't getting much credit for the season he's had thus far. He can have control problems too but more often than not, he gets his man. Agree. I don't like Baker, but he isn't as awful as some say. The nitpickign of Baker in re: to playing youngsters gets carried away. Some of these guys just are not that good.

Release Wellemeyer. No loss @ all. Majorly disagree. raisin, what do you see in Welle? He has the pitches to be a bottom of the order starter - he posted an ERA of 3 at AAA in 11 starts this year. He could also be a good set-up man. The Cubs need to give him a proper role and not dust him off once every week in blow outs. I dont mean to pick a bone with you, but I dont see it. lower to mid 90's fastball, ok slider, changup...and limited success at AAA. it seems like every time he gets called up his head implodes and he cant find the strikezone. do you think he needs to start? He needs regular playing time to succeed. He doesn't get it in the big leagues (except for about two weeks in May) and that's why I think he struggles more with his control in the big leagues. He gets proper playing time in the minors and does well. If only Choi could play ever day...... And the song plays on.... It's Dusty fault. doo dooo. Dusty's fault. dooo dooo. It rained today and was Dusty's fault. doo doooo :D it'd be one thing if your boy glendon had pitched well tonight and you were over here taunting people about their preference for youngsters. it's just mind-boggling that you're still doing it after rusch got rocked. It's one poor game. The guy hasn't started for a few months. His ERA was 3.32 as a starter. He was the best option for tonight.

If he can't make it here, then he's a commodity that can be sent to the teams that can use him. Why do you want Welly cut from the organization, yet clamor for Rueter to be signed? What can the Cubs get for him?? Seriously? Could catch lightning in a bottle w/ Reuter. At least he's had success in the majors, and can't be much worse than Hill, Mitre or Welly. Not by himself, using him as part of a package he's a valuable component. Besides, he's not taking anyone's space that's needed before the end of the season, no need to be wasteful by cutting him. Rueter has been terrible. We're better off seeing what we have in Rusch/Hill/Mitre/Welly/etc. than hoping to get 4 good starts out of a guy who never had good stuff whose age is catching up to him. I'll give Rusch a shot. The other 3 shouldn't be starting in a wildcard chase.