UMFan83

Barrett must have hurt himself on that slide stretching his hit into a double. He looked shaken up a bit after that.

I agree, but I'm a bit skeptical. It's been well known that over the last 40 years, we've only been about to produce a handful of position players in our system. All the sudden in one year, we produce two studs? Technically, Matt Murton has not been produced by us, as is obvious by his patience at the plate, but still. If they do both turn out to be studs, kudos for brining them up properly, and kudos for playing them both when they looked ready.

Does every thread on NSBB have to turn into conflicts? Having differing opinions and debating the laurels of your opinion is one thing, but just trashing on someone's opinion because its different from yours is another, and its making the board increasingly unreadable. Mind you 90% of the board is a blast to take part in, but I've noticed more and more threads that just turn into bickering. Yeah yeah I know, if you don't like it don't read it. I just hate to see the board deteriotate (which it hasn't yet but could continuing on this path). And this is despite great moderation. Anyways, good idea for this thread. I guess I'm just a natural pessimist for whatever reason. I do like the way this team approaches the game. Make no lie, about 80% of the reason this team is winning is because of their pitching. The pitching is only going to get better folks when Prior, Wood and possibly Miller (who knows if he gets a spot with the way Marshall is pitching), jumping into the rotation. But yeah, I dunno, 20 games is almost 1/8th of the season, and should be a moderate sample size, but its still too soon into the post-Derrek Lee era to really put an estimate on how well the Cubs will do without him. So far so good, but then again 2 of our wins have come against the Marlins. Regardless, I love the fact that we have hitters like Matt Murton and Todd Walker that can work the count and put a high percentage of balls into play. I am especially excited about Matt Murton. Maybe he will never be a HOFer (and maybe he will), but damn this kid has something. A true student of the game, sharp as a knife (listen to his postgame interview after last night's game). I do not worry about a drop off from the kid simply because I know he has the talent, and he definitely has the brains to make any adjustments to his game necessary. Sorry for the long rant, thats my best attempt at being optimistic.

The real reason why Neifi doesn't get the same treatment: HE SAVED US! No really, he did: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09270COL1998.htm http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/sports/bb/98/09/28/nl-rdp.2-1.html

Haha, how about "Red Bull". The TNT announcers have been trying to put that nickname on Andres Nocioni all playoffs, but he'll always be known as "El Chapu"

I don't think their team is all that bad. A lot of the trades they made were used to acquire players that were ready to hit the bigs. They still have an ace and a major developed power hitter, a ROY canidate (who is on the DL right now), a strong leadoff man in Ramirez (who is fast and has a high OBP), and Willingham looks like he will be a solid major leaguer. The problems are of course their bullpen, their 3-5 (who could turn out being not that bad), and the end of their lineup. I'll say they will finish 62-100, with some significant improvement by the end of the year. If they make the right moves, they have a decent core and could be contending for the upper NL East again in 2 years.

How dare you criticize Jones for his play. He's just trying to play a game, and here you are being negative towards him. The Cubs fans are obviously as unloyal as they come. Yeesh.

Neifi isn't signed for 3 years to play an important offensive position. Instead he is signed to be a defensive backup at a defense heavy position. Although it doesn't always work out this way. That's my best guess.

fixed

Those songs are so cheesy. What the heck are these lyrics: "Cub-Cubbie-Cubbies/ Everybody loves the Chicago Cubs" Thats so cheesy and makes us out to look cute and adorable.

Jock should have known a couple of things about the bleachers before signing with the Cubs: a) You will hear 90% of what is yelled onto the field b) Many fans go there just so that they can yell stuff onto the field c) Fans love players that acknowledge them d) Players that suck and do not do ANY interaction with the fans will get yelled at Now I'm not suggestion that Jock is obligated to smile and wave at the fans a la Sammy. In fact, I don't blame him for not doing so. But don't be ignorant Jock (yes I know its spelled Jacque). Realize that the fans in the bleachers are of a certain breed, and demand certain things. If you do not do what they want, you will get booed and jeered. Not saying its right, but its been going on for decades and is not going to change because you have a thin skull. Jock does not acknowledge the fans. If fact, he'd rather have Juan Pierre throw the balls after warming up each inning so that he does not have to turn around and face them. In fact, he pretends like the fans aren't there. Which again, I am not saying is the wrong thing to do. It's just how it is. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy your time with the Cubs, just suck it up and realize that there are fans that care and aren't necessarily ready to boo you at a moments notice. Heck, most of the fans in the bleachers don't really want to boo you, its the nature of the beast that is the bleachers. People are sheep, they will do what they can to fit in. Oh and to continue my above list. One thing you should have known about the bleachers: e) NEVER complain about the fans in the bleachers. Good luck tonight Jock, you'll need it.

Still no one warming up in the Marlins pen. How could you give him a pitch to hit with Neifi on deck! Marlins fear Neifi.

Time for Aardsma to go back to the cornfields for more seasoning. He's obviously not ready yet.

Almost guaranteed since 1908. I hope if by almost you mean that they still haven't been eliminated from the playoffs this year yet.

The Marlins for the most part are a bunch of top prospects who mostly were in the quasi-MLB/AAA state anyways. I wouldn't take any game against them lightly.

The Cubs suck, we aren't winning the world series this year.

I'm sorry, Neifi is the worst hitter in baseball, and its absolutely pathetic that he starts for us sometimes.

Really frustrated that Miami is beating Chicago 2-0 at the moment. I want to throw something.

Who woulda thunk that when we signed Maddux before 2004 that just 2 years later he would be our only reliable starter?

Just saw something on Sportscenter that said something about a rumor involving a star Mets player getting traded. Could they be referring to this trade?

Hope not. Bulls in the playoffs trumps early season Cubs games so if he did I'd miss most of it. Agreed from 6-7 its all Cubs, but when 7:00 hits, only halftime and other commercial breaks will dictate watching the Cubs. I doubt I'll even switch over for updates.

And it's going to be HDTV! Gotta love that! HD is nice, I just wish ESPN would broadcast their baseball games in 1080i. Every game on ESPNHD has been in 720p... nice, but not awesome. The difference between 720P and 1080I is really minimal at best. I just got a 50' Sony SXRD and the picture to me is stunning! I have the exact same TV. It is hooked up via HDMI and I freakin love every part of it. However, if possible watch a baseball game on ESPNHD then watch INHD ... they broadcast random games (sometime 3 per week) and push the signal out at 1080i, let me tell you it is night and day. Granted an SXRD and ESPNHD is AMAZING, once you see the SXRD and 1080i ... you will know what I am talking about! Agreed, I remember living in NE and watching regular season Red Sox games in INHD (broadcast by NESN). Then in the 2003 playoffs, I expected the same, but FOX showed the crappy 720p verson, which was nice but not the same. At least Tuesday and Wednesday's games are in HD right?

Whats the other one besides Prior? When Wood is shelfed, its usually a tear.

If that's the case, then why come up with the underarm discomfort? Just flat out say that Woody didn't feel like pitching after his buddy died. If anyone slams him for that, they have issues. Concocting an arm injury story only fans the flames. the cubs media relations are truly horrible if this rumor is true. Why? That's none of our business. And it's not like they said that he was delayed because of an arm-related issue. If this was a factor, I'm guessing it was a combination of the two. Yeah, but if that was the case and he was just too broken up to pitch, then tell us he had the stomach flu or something. Don't tell us he had a problem with his arm, no matter how small it may be. We've heard enough about arm/shoulder problems to last us a lifetime. Again, though, it wasn't an arm issue. It was under the arm. And they probably didn't just make it up if all of this is true, rather they just used it as the reason. It also may be the case that Wood used that as a reason himself when talking to Rothschild. It's all speculation, but it's not like the Cubs lied about a shoulder issue. Yeah I'm sure us Cub fans would have taken THAT at face value.

Weird start time for this one. I suppose its because its on ESPN, but I thought that their Monday night games they just pick randomly and had no say in the start times. Anyways, its good as I can watch the Cubs build up an early 5-0 lead and then settle in watching game 2 of Bulls/Heat.