dalgreen

I don't think Patterson has become the poster boy for this team's failures. He may in some people's eyes, but that's just being lazy and not looking at the entire team's failures. As a former defender of Patterson's, I can no longer do so. I love the talent, but I can no longer use the "But he's only 25" excuse. I disagree with Baker on a lot, but Patterson does need an overhaul to his game. I think at this point you forget about him being on the 25 man roster, at this point, for the beginning of 2006, and treat him as you would a third or fourth year pro (minor leaguer) player. I place a big part of the blame on the Cubs. I've got a feeling they never taught him the game and thought his talent would just carry him through. I see no baseball smarts with him, and that's an organizational responsibility and partly his too.

I agree to a degree. Either way, house cleaning is in order. This team is tainted. But we only have what three players left from that fateful night? I still think we just got screwed last year with the hurricane and the re-scheduling of games.

actually after being "this close" to the series, he made a ton of additions (2003->2004). AFter the complete failure of that team down the stretch, he didn't add, but subtracted (2004->2005). they added maddux. they did not add a clsoer. they did not add a lead off man..they added an injury riddle shortstop at break(after needing it all year) from a team that didn't want him anymore. they added perez and macias and grieve...so on...what i mean is what of substance did he add. what hole did he fill...heck the freakin' devil rays add players every year that doesn't mean they are fixin' the team. After 2004 Hendry suggested Dempster as the closer. Hendry suggested Ryan again in ST, and it looked like they were going to go with him, but Dusty decided at the last minute to start Ryan and go with Hawkins. Many lost games later, Ryan was the closer, and guess what? He's been pretty damn good. How was that Hendry's fault again? I thought you said both guys are at fault. But to answer your question, I blame managers and GM for decisions or lack of decisions made. What were some of the alternatives considering the reason why Dempster had to start was because we were without Prior and Wood to start the season?

He got Ramirez because he DID HIS HOMEWORK. Name another team that was hot after Ramirez at that time? If other teams knew ARam would be a legit MVP candidate, don't you think other teams would have made an offer for Ramirez. Him getting ARam wasn't lucky, he bought low, like a good businessman. Plus don't forget Hendry was a head coach (Creighton University) at one point in his career, so maybe he coaching part of his personality felt he could help Ramirez. I'm sorry, YES Hendry has made mistakes, but contrary to popular belief Hendry isn't a GOD. Would he like to upgrade the bullpen.....who wouldn't? Would he like to get a leadoff man....again who wouldn't? Bullpen help is such a yr-to-yr basis, you don't if a reliever is going to be good from yr to yr. Finding quality bullpen help is not easiest to do, considering there is ah.............29 other teams DOING THE SAME THING. On the leadoff guy...name a leadoff guy who is available, that a team isn't asking for the moon for? You can't blame Hendry, entirely, for something he can't control. But I do agree, if Baker is fire---which I believe he will but it will mutally agreed upon---then the pressure will be on Hendry to build a championship caliber team for 06. If you want to hate on Hendry....go for it, I can't tell you not to (same to you dalgreen), but you would be misplacing you haterade. I'm not following. It's okay to be angry at Baker, but not Hendry? :-k

4 times in 6 days isn't the best usage plan for a guy coming off of 2 reconstructive elbow ops... I actually do agree with your final statement, though. No need to take chances with either guy right now.. I think we're saying the same thing. I just saw no purpose when you need bullpen help of having two guys, neither of whom can go two days in a row (until today), being brought up. Let Williamson get more work in the minors until he's able to go two straight days. Without Wood starting, you really could only look at Z and Prior consistently getting into the seventh or eighth. Meaning you would likely have to burn some of your worst bullpen guys.

Okay, I guess I look at it differently. Why do we have guys in the pen who can't throw two days in a row? How is that helping us? I would've been fine waiting until September to see Williamson and not seeing Wood until next year.

Regarding the construction of lineups, the Cards are in position to beat the Brewers and Sheets. Eckstein and Edmonds are the only everyday starters starting. Rodriguez, Nunez, Luna, Taguchi and Diaz started and they managed to get three runs off of Sheets. Unbelieveable.

Murton's OBP is taking a hit today. See, this is why I think people take lineups too seriously. This was, perhaps, the best lineup possible and it still is crap. If the pitching takes you out of the game early, the lineup may not matter. Did anybody see the Royal/Indians game last night. The Indians went into the top of the ninth trailing either 7-1 or 7-2. They score 11 runs in the ninth and win it. I'm not sayin'.... but I'm just sayin'.

And what is it that he's done? Yeah, he's improved the minor league system, but where are all the supposed studs? Over the last five years, what position player, right now, is the top prospect? Murton? Well he's not even a product of the Cubs system. If you're fond of Hendry then you should really be fond of Walt Jocketty, who seems to turn everything he touches to gold in St. Louis, with less of a payroll. How about Hendry turning guys like Choi, Bobby Hill and Matt Bruback for Aramis Ramirez, and Derrick Lee. Or how about finding guys like Brendan Harris (he will still be a very good player in the majors, he needs the right team) Kyle Farnsworth, Sergio Mitre outside of the Top 5 Rds of the MLB Draft. Look Hendry is no innocent victim here, but he doesn't get AS MUCH blame as Baker and the players. Look at this way, he won't have to deal with Sosa and ego this offseason, meaning he can go to work earlier this offseason, legitmating improving this team. Yeah, we have Ramirez and Lee, but that doesn't overshadow the fact that in the offseason everyone, I mean everyone, said we needed a LF, lead-off man, bullpen and OBP for 2005. He addressed none of the areas. I think people take criticism too personal. I don't hate Baker and Hendry and several of the players on a personal level; I know none of them. I love the Cubs and want at the very least a NL Pennant. And I won't hold my tongue for those who I feel are the most responsible for this team's failure this year. The good news is I can't honestly see this team losing 12 straight, so we may win one against the Cards. Or will Houston lose again tonight and keep our hopes up?

We may not have been champs, but this team would have won a lot more games with a good manager, there is little doubt of that. Both are accountable. I don't know how you can say little doubt of that. Have you seen the bullpen's ERA all season? Have you noticed how many games they've lost in the 8th inning this year. It's okay for you to hate Baker, but no manager would have turned Burnitz into a .310/370 hitter, no manager would've prevented Barrett from throwing to third too early. The OBP of the team wouldn't have been better and Maddux would've still had the same kind of season under a different manager. This team is bad because of the players, manager, and bad decisions by the GM equally.

And what is it that he's done? Yeah, he's improved the minor league system, but where are all the supposed studs? Over the last five years, what position player, right now, is the top prospect? Murton? Well he's not even a product of the Cubs system. If you're fond of Hendry then you should really be fond of Walt Jocketty, who seems to turn everything he touches to gold in St. Louis, with less of a payroll.

The 2000 season was brutal, absolutely brutal.

yep. he's done...i can tell all i need to know about a guy after four starts. this whole season is the fault of hill and patterson. Who talked about CPatt there? Does anyone actually read anymore? Anyway, I'm not saying Hill is a failure or to blame for the season. What I'm pointing out is that a lot of people thought Hill was a sticking point in a trade for Dunn or any Reds outfielder. Since this poor performance is against Reds, chances are they will no longer want him as much in a trade. In other words, this performance decreases his value to the Reds if there ever was a trade to discuss with the Reds. Man, I know frustration causes people to say things, but you have to remember, Hill wasn't supposed to have been brought up this year. Had it not been for injuries and suckiness in the bullpen he wouldn't have been brought up this year. Or, if he had been brought up, he would've stayed in the pen if our starters had been healthy. There is nothing to suggest that he won't be a star in the future. It was not designed for him to have been brought up to start in 2005. What we are looking at is the worst case scenario that is actually happening.

It helps if the bonehead manager calls to the pen early enough to get people warmed up. It also helps if they are used properly by the manager - the right pitcher(s) for the right situation(s). Having said that, though, I do think Rothschild keeps his butt on the bench far too often when his pitchers are struggling - most glaring example being the infamous Game 6. When you have no one who knows how to throw strikes, there is no proper way to use them.

It's the old adage in baseball. When your pen gets worked over everyday somebody has to take one for the team. I'm predicting the Cards score 40 runs against us in at least one of the games this weekend.

Yeah, we've talked about firing Baker, Hendry, players, but Rothschild hasn't done a great job the last two years. How can you have virtually the whole bullpen unable to throw strikes? Then when you bring people up they can't throw strikes, either?

"Lee making a lot of routine outs over the last ten days or so." - Pat Hughes

Would you rather have Hollandsworthless or Sosa in right this year? I think not. Boy, that's a choice between bad and worse.... Exactly. Hollandsworthless, Sosa, or Burnitz? I think that's a no-brainer. I wish people would get off Burnitz's case and realize who we could have had in right this year. One thing you have to realize is I didn't like Burnitz when he was in Milwaukee. There's nothing I'm saying now that I didn't say about him four or five years ago. Heck, I don't rip on him that much, I do think he's crappy, but as I said, I said the same thing way back when he was in Milwaukee.

Would you rather have Hollandsworthless or Sosa in right this year? I think not. None of the three. It's not saying very much to say your better than worthless and more worthless.

Barrett ties the game with a homer.

Oh, that's why crappy Burnitz is playing. He's 6-9 against Milton with two homers. I can't believe Hendry has been after Burnitz since 2003.

He's getting under everything. He's has to be hurting and/or very tired. I still say his shoulder is bothering him. Should've given him a day off today before the Houston-Cards series start. First, Lee should've had the Thursday game after the All-Star game off; second, he should've had the day off immediately after the off-day in Philly.

I think we'll get to Milton. Yesterday our 2-6 hitters went 3-19; today, they already have two hits.

I'm kinda torn. I love the Cubs, but I want Baker to get fired. If we're not gonna win the WC, then I gotta cheer against the Cubs, so we get a nice draft pick, and a new manager. And we all know how great all the high draft choices we got in the'90's have turned out. And Lee is still coming back to earth.

I thought you were enjoying the losing, OHCF. Oh, let's not start that again. I got an earful for not understanding how you can root for the Cubs to lose.