dalgreen

I think what you see out of Barrett is what you're going to get. Outside of last year, his career numbers don't suggest that he's a good hitter. Yeah, he's a better option at the plate than Neifi right now, but is that really an endorsement?

Much too small of a sample size to draw any conclusions. About the only conclusion that can be drawn is that just as the Cubs bats got hot in the beginning of June, they have gotten cold at the beginning of July. I still would like to see this line-up with the exception of swapping out Perez for Cedeno and getting Dubois in there as much as possible even though Holla has been doing pretty well as of late. I believe if Dusty sticks with this line-up for a week or so, we will see the Cubs break out of this slump and start winning some games again. Hollandsworth is getting on base and hitting. This offense is in a slump. Why would you want to take out Holla and see Dubois in there as much as possible? I'm asking because if Dubois were hitting as well as Holla has been, I'd wonder why anyone would want to sit Dubois to play Holla. By the way, while a lot of people have been critical of Perez and Patterson (and rightfully so) our $3 million dollar catcher once again seems to fly underneath people's radar. I'm trying to figure out one thing he excels at for the money we're spending on him.

I know it's the "in" thing to only care about OBP for the 1-2 guys in the order. But we'd score a heck of a lot more runs if Burnitz, Barrett and Holla/Dubois could get on base, too. If you look at the Cardinals, Eckstein and Edmonds aren't the only two with high OBP. OBP should be up and down the lineup. I hate Patterson and Perez hitting 1-2, too, but I also hate that we only have three guys in the lineup with good OBP.

I know what you're saying, but I just wish more people would start saying how important OBP is up and down the entire lineup vs. just placing focus on the 1-2 hitters.

Did Walker say anything that we already didn't know or think he wouldn't say? His batting 2nd wouldn't be an issue if we had a productive everyday LF. Not guys who are hot for one month then cold the next.

Al Hrabosky is one of the worst color analysts ever. Why a great organization like the Cardinals would continue to have this guy doing games is beyond me. He had the audacity to say that it was a shame that Pujols fell behind Lee, but chose to pretty much not make a comment on Rolen's selection by the fans. I really don't care if Lee or Pujols starts, because they're both deserving, but for a paid analyst to show disappointment (even though Pujols will DH) and not show how ridiculous fans are for voting for Rolen, Garciaparra, Piazza, etc. is irresponsible. This guy's contract was up after last season and they chose to bring him back. Unbelievable.

I've seen highlights a couple of times but no explanation as to why Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers went after a couple of camera people before the game with the Angels. What's the matter with him?

It doesn't bother me at this point. Having Cedeno on the roster makes the team better from a PH standpoint alone. Wilson was garbage, despite his innate ability to help beat the Yankees. If Neifi keeps tumbling toward oblivion, pressure will mount for Baker to use Cedeno. At least now he won't be in a position where he gets a question from the media after a poor Neifi outing in which he defends Neifi, but the next day Cedeno is brought up and starting at short. I'm not worried about Cedeno's growth being [expletive]. The way he was pounding AAA, he can learn just as much in the majors at this point as continuing to beat up AAA pitching. I'd love to see a line up of: Cedeno Walker Lee Burnitz ARam Patterson Dubois Barrett I like the lineup, but ARAM would have an OBP of .900 from all the intentional and intentional unintentional walks he'd get. That's why I think it's important to get a solid bat to play left field.

Washington seems to be a totally different team on the road than at home, too.

I don't understand that reasoning. Wilson's offensive abilities may be a bit better than Perez's, but his glove isn't good enough to justify playing Wilson over Perez. Also, Cedeno's career progress shouldn't be hurt at this point. Heck, three years ago he sucked offensively. I don't know why people think throwing kids immediately in the fire is the answer for everything. He and Dubois will be productive starters next year. I would think after seeing how Patterson had been handled since he was drafted would make people become a little more patient.

I don't mean to overstate the obvious, but at 39-36, every game and every series is important. But, yes, the ten games you mentioned are significant. I like Dontrelle Willis, but I hope his start last night is the beginning of what has become a typical slide in the second half. At least, I hope he has a bad start against the Cubs. As for predictions, "Prediction? Pain!" Clubber Lang 1983.

He's gotten 12 at bats in the last 9 games. Even a veteran would lose his stroke playing that infrequently. That is not a fair platoon. He's only had 128 AB's on the season and he really only got regular starts over a 3 week stretch, and now he's on the brink of being dumped from the team. If every rookie on every team was discarded this quickly MLB would be overrun with 50 year old players. 4/21 in his last 6 starts - that's not very good no matter how you slice it. He's geting his share of starts and he's not performing, end of story. He's on the brink of being dumped from the team like I'm on the brink of being added to the team. He's started 4 of the last 12 games. That's a lame way to use a rookie. Even veterans will get rusty playing that infrequently. And yes, I absolutely believe he can't survive with the Cubs unless something changes in his usage. If nothing changes he'll be 27 next spring and will have had very little exposure to MLB right-handers. Sending him back to AAA will accomplish nothing either. At this point a trade is probably the best way to go. I think Hendry knows that there aren't enough lefty starting pitchers in baseball to justify the opportunity cost of not trading Dubois while he still has good value. If Dubois is traded, it will likely be in a Nomar type of deal. He won't be traded for a bunch of minor league talent. Having said that, I don't think he'll be moved considering we'll need to fill two outfield positions next year. Dubois is being used just as I would hope, in a platoon situation. I'm sick of the Cubs rushing guys too soon. If we had a legitimate everyday leftfielder, his usage wouldn't even be in question. He should start in 2006.

The difference is that Hollandsworth has proven in his career he is not capable of being a starting OF. His stint at the beginning of the year did nothing to change that. I don't care for either one starting. Hollandsworth is a fourth outfielder, and at this point, so is Dubois. Dubois should be a future starter, but I don't understand any argument that supports one over the other right now.

I like Dubois and wanted him to platoon this year and play every day in 2006. I see a double standard placed in the Holla/Dubois debate. I hated Hollandsworth starting every day in April and May. He wasn't getting the job done. Now some people keep saying Dubois hasn't been given a fair chance with his 130+ at-bats. Wait a minute, we were dissing Holla after his first 130+ at-bats, so why is it not fair to say that maybe Dubois should be playing sparingly like Hollandsworth? Honestly, in my opinion, neither one should be starting every day right now, but right now (over the last ten games) Holla has been getting on base at a better click than Dubois. I don't understand any argument stating that one should be playing more than the other.

Is Brenly being that lesser of a color analyst really that much? Honestly, who is comparable to Stone as a color analyst? To me, Stone raised the bar and Brenly nor anyone else will come close. I think Brenly does a fine job. I do think he was better his first go around with the Cubs, though.

Congrats Len and Bob! I think Len and Bob do an outstanding job. Red Sox games were better when Sean McDonough was doing them. Kuiper and Krukow are very solid.

Care to elaborate on this ? I think any manager in their right mind would walk ARam every time there was someone on base if you knew Holla or Barrett was behind him. I'd take my chances with facing Holla or Barrett rather than pitching to ARam. In fact, I'd probably walk ARam even if the bases are empty. Even though Barrett has been the second-most productive hitter on the Cubs with runners on or in scoring position ? I can't think of a better player (other than Lee) to protect Ramirez at this point. Okay. I prefer Walker to protect ARam over Barrett. Now, maybe ARam is more healthy now than before, but his resurgence seems to also have coincided with Walker's return to the lineup.

Care to elaborate on this ? I think any manager in their right mind would walk ARam every time there was someone on base if you knew Holla or Barrett was behind him. I'd take my chances with facing Holla or Barrett rather than pitching to ARam. In fact, I'd probably walk ARam even if the bases are empty.

Is it really obvious or did you just happen to skip over the Dusty is knowledgeable quote? So, which is it? Look, Walker won't hit at the top of the order until Hendry makes a move for a true everyday leftfielder or until Baker switches Ramirez and Burnitz in the order. If you move Walker up, Ramirez will never have an official at-bat the rest of the year. Barrett is no protection for Ramirez. And people must have already forgotten Barrett was pretty bad in the #2 hole last year. I just don't get why some think Barrett can be a successful #2 hitter. He drives me nuts with some of his at-bats. Yeah, I read the quote. Walker didn't say this stuff just so he could get his name in the papers. He said it in response to Corey sucking ass in the leadoff spot. Sure, he said Baker is knowledgable, but did he really mean it? I doubt it. Just speculating, but I'd imagine that in Todd's mind, Baker is clueless or he'd have guys that can get on base hitting in the top of the lineup. I'm sure Walker would be happy to know you are his interpreter.

Is it really obvious or did you just happen to skip over the Dusty is knowledgeable quote? So, which is it? Look, Walker won't hit at the top of the order until Hendry makes a move for a true everyday leftfielder or until Baker switches Ramirez and Burnitz in the order. If you move Walker up, Ramirez will never have an official at-bat the rest of the year. Barrett is no protection for Ramirez. And people must have already forgotten Barrett was pretty bad in the #2 hole last year. I just don't get why some think Barrett can be a successful #2 hitter. He drives me nuts with some of his at-bats. Barrett was not very good in the 2 hole last year, but he only got 76 at bats there. Does that mean he should be relegated to the bottom of the order for the rest of his career? That thinking is very overcautious IMO. Neifi in the 2 hole, right in front of Lee, is a nightmare scenario and anything would be less risky than that. Also, while I don't think much of Hollandsworth, I believe the risk of moving Walker to leadoff and hoping Holla can adequately protect Ramirez until Hendry makes a trade is far less scary than sticking with Patterson/Perez at the top of the order. I hate Neifi in the 2 spot, but I will be glad when we can get an order together where we no longer have to use the least sucky guy as justification for switching spots. I'll be glad when we can get a guy that is just flat out better. Actually, I would have no problem with Holla hitting second. I still wonder what Perez and Patterson thought when seeing Podsednik on base virtually all the time except for yesterday.

Is it really obvious or did you just happen to skip over the Dusty is knowledgeable quote? So, which is it? Look, Walker won't hit at the top of the order until Hendry makes a move for a true everyday leftfielder or until Baker switches Ramirez and Burnitz in the order. If you move Walker up, Ramirez will never have an official at-bat the rest of the year. Barrett is no protection for Ramirez. And people must have already forgotten Barrett was pretty bad in the #2 hole last year. I just don't get why some think Barrett can be a successful #2 hitter. He drives me nuts with some of his at-bats.

He's gotten 12 at bats in the last 9 games. Even a veteran would lose his stroke playing that infrequently. That is not a fair platoon. He's only had 128 AB's on the season and he really only got regular starts over a 3 week stretch, and now he's on the brink of being dumped from the team. If every rookie on every team was discarded this quickly MLB would be overrun with 50 year old players. I don't get it. He's on the brink of being dumped from the team? Isn't that a little paranoid? Dubois was hitting something like .346 earlier in the year when he was coming off the bench and sadly, it looks like if he is going to remain on the team he is going to be sitting on the bench. What do you guys think happened to him? Are pitchers just figuring him out? I think it was too high of expectations, plus the book was finally written on him. Usually, the cycle for first year players is you see a steady diet of fastballs, then when you can prove you can hit fastballs, they start throwing you breaking pitches. And that's when the struggles will or will not begin. I only wanted him plattooning this year, anyway. Of course, I thought we'd have a true everyday leftfielder once the season started (stupid me). I'm sick of rushing guys through. I really saw Dubois starting in 2006. Speaking of rushing guys, I feel obligated to say I do not want to see Felix Pie in a Chicago Cub uniform until September 2006.

He's gotten 12 at bats in the last 9 games. Even a veteran would lose his stroke playing that infrequently. That is not a fair platoon. He's only had 128 AB's on the season and he really only got regular starts over a 3 week stretch, and now he's on the brink of being dumped from the team. If every rookie on every team was discarded this quickly MLB would be overrun with 50 year old players. I don't get it. He's on the brink of being dumped from the team? Isn't that a little paranoid?

I'm as frustrated as almost everyone else, however, weren't we having this same kind of conversation this time last year? Had we not choked, we would've been in the playoffs last year, and honestly, it's not that big of a difference between winning the division and being a wild card. Whoop-tie-do we won't have game 5 at home in the NLDS. This team is playing like crap. Despite the ridiculous decision by Baker not to put better OBP guys in front of our 3-4-5 hitters, we are still scoring runs. Our bullpen now has a total of 15 losses on the season, that's not acceptable. Yet we knew going into the season the bullpen was going to be mediocre at best and terrible at worst. Our starting pitching this year has been below expectations, as well. The good news I see is that we might have more resources to make moves than the other teams come trading deadline.

Yeah, I'm being silly but I'm going to follow the Brewers/Twins series this weekend and I guarantee you they don't play the Twins as competitive as they did the Cubs. I hate the Brewers. Not quite as much as I hate the Cardinals, though.