UMFan83

Except I think Chase broke a bone in his throwing hand

You should chant back "NEVER NEVER!"

Why would it be a good thing for it to be between the 3B and pitcher? It's not going to get past them, and it makes a shorter throw for the 3B with more momentum to the base. Also, like has been mentioned, barehanding a slow roller and throwing to first from 3B is pretty easy, especially for a professional baseball player. It looks cool(and it's tons of fun to do), but it's not very difficult. Apparently it is pretty difficult because he made a horrible throw. There were lots of places he could have messed up that play. He could have missed the barehand, he could have launched an awful throw, the first baseman could have bobbled the ball (very likely considering the long hop and the direction that ball took after hitting the ground). I would take my chances with that bunt over his .292 OBP against righties any day.

I thought it was a good bunt. It was hit a little hard, but it was placed between the 3B and pitcher. Longoria had to make a great barehanded grab and throw to get him. I think that play had a 50% chance of being a hit...which is better than the odds of him getting on by hitting normally.

So assuming no major speed bumps, we're looking at a conservative ETA of sometime in 2010? Conservative would be 2012(2009 A+, 2010 AA, 2011 AAA). If he advances well it might be sometime in 2011. Wow, I always thought pitchers could move up the system much quicker than hitters. I realize he is a foreign prospect that is probably extremely raw, and I understand keeping him in Peoria this year, but I figure if he dominates in Peoria, why not bring him up to Tennessee to start next year. And if he does well in Tennessee, why not Iowa to start 2010. And if he's still pitching well in Iowa, and we need a spark in Chicago bring him up during the year. But this is why you guys know the system better than I

So assuming no major speed bumps, we're looking at a conservative ETA of sometime in 2010?

I think he's starting for the Schaumburg Flyers this week.

Since I don't follow the minor league forum as much as you guys obviously do. How is Dae-Eun Rhee been doing? I know he's been injured for awhile and his MiLB game log says that he has been pitching well his last few starts, but only for 3-4 inning stints. I know he is only 19 and its his first season in American pro ball, but is he a pitcher we should be getting excited about? Assuming he stays injury free, is it a possibility we see him at Tennessee or even Iowa this year or are the Cubs going to take it really slow with him? Since we have no talent about to reach the big league level, and no sure thing in the lower minors, guys with a lot of upside are all I have right now. Tell me I can be excited about him.

Oh no how will I go throughout life without Colvin and Patterson and Veal and company?

Some of the postgame comments indicated that the Rays manager sensed this was coming and warned Longoria right as the play was about to happen.

The only person that this would help is Ronny Cedeno. And all it would do is give him a hit and an RBI. What's the point?

I would hope Jim Hendry knows that at this point Rich Hill is more valuable to us than he is in a trade. If you were going to trade him, you should have last offseason.

If there is one city out there that I think deserves a major professional sports championship, Boston immediately comes to mind. If it wasn't for the Patriots choking, they'd own 3 of the 4 current American sports championships.

I feel bad too ... for you being a Michigan fan Your mom

I feel bad...Soto really doesn't deserve to make the team.

can't use up your whole bench when it looks like it could go extras Why not? You dont have to worry about the pitcher hitting, and you essentially have all your best guys out there. move Edmonds to center, Kosuke to right, DeRosa to 2nd Soto to catch. You do have to worry about the pitcher hitting. Soto would have had to come in to catch, so the Cubs would have lost the privilege of using the DH for the rest of the game. The pitcher would be slotted into the 8th slot. From what it sounds like, Johnson's bunt had a 30% or better chance of succeeding. Normally, that's not very good odds. But when you need 1 to tie like that and a runner on 3rd (making a single a much better outcome than it normally is), it's better to try it than to continue batting against a tough closer. Actually I would say its close to 50-60%. The bunt was really well timed, but hit a little too hard. Longoria had to make a pretty great barehanded grab/throw, and Aybar had to catch it on a long bounce and hold on with Reed about to run into him in order to make the play.

Are you sure it didn't come down to Floyd hitting a HR, and Reed Johnson getting thrown out at 3B?

Agreed. I believe the Cubs will leave TB with 2 wins. I'll settle for 1 and a .500 road trip. Hmm, you've certainly turned over a new leaf the past couple of weeks. I agree with you 100%. I'm only expecting to win 1 of 3, but I'll take a .500 road trip against the likes of Toronto and Tampa. I wasn't expecting to win this game, so I'm not too upset about it. The Cardinals' loss definitely took the sting out of this one. It always stings a little bit when you accept a loss, only to see a fake rally and see how close your team was to tieing it. But then I realize that we are 19 games over .500 and in first place :)

That 9th inning had so many chances -Soto's hit is a double most games -The second passed ball hit the backstop perfectly -Took an absolutely perfect play to get Reed out

Me too. I don't think I like him too much. Our minor leaguers haven't helped us the way they did last year.

I HATE fake rallys

That was exciting. I'm not even mad he did that.

What the hell would Lou do if they tied?

And he didn't. Hoff should goto AAA. Sorry.

please put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in playplease put the ball in play