Outshined_One

Can't wait for him to be horribly mishandled by a dumbass manager. "He's right-handed...why the heck can't he hit lefties?!?!?!?!?!"

VTech's O-Line finally got its act together.

B-A-yoo-tee-full.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh.

It'd be nice if we got a game out of this.

It'd be awesome if it were for the National Championship.

Fixed.

Virginia Tech's special teams has looked really bad so far.

Huh. Well, there you have it.

Getting a good feeling about this game. VTech starting with a trick play.

Story

you left out a couple of the guys who i thought would be on this year's team - parker and gaub. plus there's david cales and maybe dolis if he moves to the pen and throws enough strikes. the problem with the list above is that most of those guys just don't have a big league arm, and the ones who do don't know where the ball is going when they throw it. In fairness, I listed everyone else who had logged time this season in the bullpen. There are a number of other options available in the minors, including Cales, Dolis, Gaub, Parker, Sommer, Shafer, Rusin, Jay Jackson, etc. The problem is, none of those guys have proven themselves in the majors, while all of them have shown they can handle the minors. The only way the Cubs can see if those guys can succeed is by using them out of the bullpen in the majors. If the Cubs are rebuilding next year, they can stomach the hiccups and work with these guys through their growing pains. But, if Hendry's serious about not wanting to rebuild, the Cubs are screwed if they have to rely on a bunch of unproven guys out of the pen. Getting Guzman back would be fantastic, but I'm not counting on it happening.

I agree the bullpen needs to be improved...but how? Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol are the only two pitches in the pen who've been good over the course of the season. Andrew Cashner has struggled in the pen, but the potential for him to be a top-level relief pitcher is still out there. Granted, he might be better off at a SP, but he's still an option for improving the bullpen. After those three, this team has a glut of young relief pitchers who haven't stepped forward this season. Out of Mitch Atkins, James Russell, Esmailin Caridad, Justin Berg, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Jeff Stevens, Marcos Mateo, Jeff Gray, Scott Maine, Brian Schlitter, and Jeff Samardzija, there has to be someone who doesn't suck. The Cubs are going to have to figure out what the hell they're going to do with these guys. Making matters more complicated, if the Cubs decide to solve their bullpen woes through free agency, do we want them to overpay for someone like Rafael Soriano or Scott Downs? Or should they instead attempt to roll the dice with someone like Grant Balfour?

Box Scores Iowa lost its season finale 7-6 and will miss the PCL playoffs Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/3, 2 BB, CS (9), PO (1B) 3B M. Smith 0/5, K RF B. Snyder 0/4, K LF J. Dubois 2/3, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR (20) 1B B. LaHair 1/4, R, 2B (30) 2B B. Scales 1/4, 2 R, RBI, 2B (33), K C R. Chirinos 3/4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (4) SS M. Camp 0/3 PH J. Adduci 0/1 PH T. Wright 0/1 SP J. Jackson 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2/4 K/BB, HBP, 7-7 GO-FO RP J. Berg 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2-1 GO-FO RP HW Chen 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, HR, 0-4 GO-FO Tennessee won its season finale 3-2 Box Score 2B T. Thomas 0/5, K LF B. Jackson 2/5, R, 2B (12), K CF B. Guyer 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (39), HR (13) RF M. Spencer 0/4, K C S. Clevenger 1/2, BB, RBI PR/C M. Reed 0/1 3B N. Samson 1/4 SS M. Gonzalez 0/4, K SP C. Muschko 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3/0 K/BB, HR, 5-7 GO-FO RP A. Cabrera 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, WP, 3-3 GO-FO RP M. Carrillo 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO RP E. Caridad 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Peoria won its season finale 9-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, BB, 2 R, 2 K, E (34, fielding) DH L. Watkins 1/4, R, RBI, K 2B M. Cerda 1/3, 2 BB, R, 3 RBI, 2B (21) 1B J. Bour 1/5, RBI, 2 K RF JH Ha 1/5, 2 RBI, 3 K LF N. Perez 1/5, R, 2B (16), K CF A. Giansanti 2/3, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (10), K SP R. Lopez 3 scoreless, 0 H, 2/2 K/BB, 5-2 GO-FO RP L. Liria 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2/3 K/BB, WP, 0-4 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 2 perfect, 3/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP S. Grife 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4/1 K/BB, HR, 2-0 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-1

Box Scores Iowa lost 8-7 in the 15th Box Score CF J. Adduci 1/5, 3 BB, R, K, 2 SB (23), CS (9) 3B M. Smith 1/5, R, 2B (26), 3 K RF B. Snyder 2/7, R, RBI, 2B (37), 2 K, SB (19) LF J. Dubois 3/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (12), K PR/LF T. Wright 0/2 1B B. LaHair 1/6, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (25)2 K 2B B. Scales 0/4, 3 BB, R, K C C. Robinson 1/5, 2 BB, K SS M. Camp 1/7, 2 RBI, 2 K, 2B (16), E (16, throw) PH S. Fuld 0/1 3B J. Mota 0/2, BB, K, E (1, fielding) SP J. Samardzija 6 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 5/2 K/BB, HR, WP, 6-5 GO-FO RP L. Sommer .2 scoreless, 0 H, 0/2 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO RP J. Muyco .1 perfect, 0-1 GO-FO RP J. Berg 1 perfect, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3/0 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO RP D. Cales 3 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 5-3 GO-FO RP J. Gray 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 3-0 GO-FO Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, K, SB (48) RF B. Jackson 2/3, BB, 2 R, K, SB (18) LF B. Guyer 2/4, RBI, 2B (38), K, Assist (2B) 3B R. Canzler 1/4, K C M. Reed 1/4, K, E (1, throw) 2B T. Thomas 1/4, R, RBI, HR (11), K SS/3B N. Samson 2/4, CS (4) PH M. Spencer 0/1 SS M. Gonzalez 0/1 SP C. Archer 2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 3-0 GO-FO RP J. Papelbon 4 scoreless, 2 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-7 GO-FO RP J. Leverton 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 2-1 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 1.2 scoreless, 0 H, 1/0 K/BB, HBP, 3-1 GO-FO Daytona won their season finale 6-0 Box Score SS J. Lake 1/4, BB, 2 R, K 3B DJ LeMahieu 2/4, RBI DH R. Flaherty 2/3, 2 RBI, HBP, CS (3) 1B R. Ridling 0/4, BB, RBI RF K. Burke 0/5, 2 K C M. Brenly 1/4, K 2B J. Opitz 2/4, R LF G. Rohan 2/4, R, CS (1) CF J. Valdez 2/3, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (3), K SP R. Whitenack 7 scoreless, 2 H, 3/3 K/BB, 13-5 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 2 scoreless, 1 H, 3/1 K/BB, 0-3 GO-FO Peoria lost 1-0 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/3, BB, K 2B L. Watkins 0/3, BB, 3 K DH DJ Fitzgerald 0/2, 2 BB, K, CS (6), 2 PO (1B x 2) 1B J. Bour 2/4, 2B (31), K RF JH Ha 1/4, 2B (15), K 3B M. Cerda 0/4, K LF A. Giansanti 1/2, 2 BB, 2B (9) SP F. Batista 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6/2 K/BB, WP, 7-4 GO-FO RP D. Keefe 2.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 4-0 GO-FO Boise lost its season finale 9-2 Box Score SS A. Alcantara 2/5, R, K, E (22, throw) 2B PC Chen 1/3, BB, RBI LF P. LePage 1/3, RBI, K 1B R. Jones 0/4, 2 K RF C. Shields 1/4 C C. Noble 2/4, 2 K, PB (1) DH J. Vigurs 0/4, K 3B D. Harrington 1/3, R, HBP CF KM Na 0/3, BB, K SP JY Serrano 1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 1/3 K/BB, HR, 2 HBP, 2-2 GO-FO, E (2, pickoff) RP T. Mitchell 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 3 WP, 4-3 GO-FO RP C. Rojas 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, HBP, 1-4 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-3

Box Scores Iowa won 8-5 Box Score CF/LF J. Adduci 3/5, 2 R, K, 2 SB (21) 3B M. Smith 0/4, BB, R, K, E (11, fielding) RF B. Snyder 2/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (36), 2 K, SB (18) LF J. Dubois 2/4, R, 2 RBI CF S. Fuld 0/1 1B B. LaHair 0/2, 2 BB, R 2B B. Scales 2/3, BB, R, 4 RBI, HR (10) C C. Robinson 2/4 SS M. Camp 0/4, 3 K PH T. Wright 0/1 SP M. Atkins 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 6/0 K/BB, HR, 5-6 GO-FO RP J. Berg 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO RP J. Gray 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee won 10-5 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/5, RBI, CS (20), Assist (3B) RF B. Jackson 1/5, 2 R, RBI, K, SB (17) LF B. Guyer 3/3, 2 BB, 3 R, 2B (37), 2 SB (29), CS (3) 1B M. Spencer 2/4, BB, 2 R, RBI 3B R. Canzler 3/5, 5 RBI, 2 2B (28) C S. Clevenger 1/4, BB, R, RBI, HR (5), K, PB (3) SS M. Gonzalez 0/4 PH M. Reed 0/1 SP R. Buchter 3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1/2 K/BB, WP, 3-4 GO-FO RP C. Martin 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, HR, HBP, 2-2 GO-FO RP K. Smit 1 scoreless, 2 H, 0-2 GO-FO RP B. Parker 2 scoreless, 1 H, 4/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Daytona lost 3-1 Box Score SS J. Lake 0/3, BB 3B DJ LeMahieu 1/4 2B R. Flaherty 1/3, BB, RBI, 2B (34), SB (6) DH R. Ridling 0/4, K RF K. Burke 2/4 1B J. Opitz 1/3, HBP LF G. Rohan 0/3 CF J. Valdez 0/2, BB, R, SB (16) SP O. Martinez 3 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 3-3 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 8/1 K/BB, 2-2 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO Peoria won 8-2 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, BB, 2 R 2B M. Cerda 5/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 2B (20) LF DJ Fitzgerald 2/4, BB, R, RBI, 3B (7) 1B J. Bour 1/4, 3 RBI RF N. Perez 1/4, BB, R, RBI, HR (11), K DH A. Giansanti 0/5, R, 2 K SP R. Searle 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5/3 K/BB, WP, 6-2 GO-FO RP R. Morla 3 scoreless, 1 H, 5/0 K/BB, 1-3 GO-FO RP M. De Leon 1 scoreless, 3 H, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO Boise lost 3-2 Box Score CF C. Shields 1/4, 2B (3), 2 K 2B PC Chen 1/4, R LF P. LePage 1/4 DH R. Jones 1/3, RBI, K PH/DH A. Alcantara 0/1, K SS E. Soto 1/4, R, 2B (10), 2 E, (10, throw x 2) C C. Noble 1/3 1B J. Vigurs 0/2, RBI, E (4, throw) RF J. Morelli 0/2, BB, E (4, fielding) 3B D. Harrington 0/3, K, E (5, fielding) SP E. Jokisch 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 3-6 GO-FO RP D. Fitzgerald 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 6-2 GO-FO RP A. Sosa .1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, HBP RP E. Rice .2 perfect, 2/0 K/BB OVERALL: 3-2

See, I'd disagree on that assessment of Marshall. BA's Cubs Top 10 for 2005: It's also worth remembering that, while Hill had the best curveball in the organization by far (at the time), Marshall's was still held in high regard. Marshall was a substantially better prospect than Rusin is, imo, and had the kind of arsenal that profiled as a potential quality #3 or setup man. I don't get that vibe from Rusin.

*Sigh* The results of that poll are depressing...and is likely an annoying reflection of what the casual fan thinks.

Didn't do a good job of making a point there. Meant it more along the lines of organizational filler (Mathes) and back end of the rotation/middle relief (Rusin) as compared to Marshall.

Box Scores Iowa won 4-2 Box Score CF J. Adduci 1/5, R, K 3B M. Smith 1/4, 2 K RF B. Snyder 1/4, R, RBI, HR (25), 3 K LF J. Dubois 2/4, RBI, 2B (10), K 1B B. LaHair 0/3, BB, K 2B B. Scales 1/2, BB, 2 R, HBP C C. Robinson 1/4, K, PB (1) SS M. Camp 2/3, BB, RBI PH T. Wright 0/0, BB, RBI PH J. Mota 0/1, K SP C. Harman 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5/3 K/BB, 9-2 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 2 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/2 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Tennessee lost 5-4 in the 10th Box Score CF T. Campana 2/4, BB, R, K, SB (47) LF B. Jackson 2/4, BB, RBI, 3B (6), SB (16) RF M. Spencer 1/5, 2 K 3B R. Canzler 0/4, BB, 2 K C S. Clevenger 3/5, 2 R, 3 2B (24) 2B T. Thomas 2/4, R, 2 RBI, 2B (29), 3B (11), E (17, throw) SP T. McNutt 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4/1 K/BB, HR, 12-2 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO RP E. Caridad 1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0-2 GO-FO Daytona lost 3-2 in the 10th Box Score SS J. Lake 1/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (9) 2B DJ LeMahieu 1/4 3B R. Flaherty 0/4, K C M. Brenly 0/4, PB (11) RF K. Burke 0/4, K 1B R. Ridling 0/4 DH J. Opitz 1/3, K LF G. Rohan 1/3, R CF J. Valdez 0/3, 2 K SP B. Raley 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 7/1 K/BB, 5-6 GO-FO RP C. Lambert 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP D. Patton 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3/5 K/BB, 5-0 GO-FO Peoria lost 4-2 Box Score SS L. Watkins 1/3, BB, K, 2 CS (10) 2B M. Cerda 1/4, R, 2 K DH DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, R, K 1B J. Bour 0/4, K RF JH Ha 1/3, RBI, 2B (14) LF N. Perez 1/3, BB, E (7, fielding) CF A. Giansanti 1/3, BB, K, Assist (3B) SP B. Wallach 4 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 0/3 K/BB, HR, HBP, 5-6 GO-FO RP J. Lorick 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO Boise won 4-3 Box Score SS A. Alcantara 0/4, 3 K, E (21, throw) 2B PC Chen 0/3, BB LF P. LePage 1/4, R, SB (9), CS (6) 1B R. Jones 0/4, 4 K, E (6, fielding) DH M. Gibbs 2/3, BB, R, RBI, 2B (7) RF C. Shields 1/3, BB, R, RBI, K 3B D. Harrington 1/4, R, E (4, fielding) C C. Noble 1/3, 2 RBI, 2B (1) CF KM Na 1/3 SP E. Figueroa 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 9-5 GO-FO RP M. Loosen 3.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2/0 K/BB, HR, 8-1 GO-FO RP A. Kurcz .1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB OVERALL: 2-3

I'm waiting to hear reports on him and Greathouse. If they're comparable to guys like Rusin and Mathes, whatever. But, if they're more along the lines of Sean Marshall, they suddenly become much more intriguing.

Brent Ebinger is also good.

Box Scores Iowa lost 13-3 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/4, BB, K 3B M. Smith 1/4, RBI RF B. Snyder 1/4, R, RBI, HR (24), K LF J. Dubois 1/4, R, 3B (1) 1B B. LaHair 0/4, K 2B B. Scales 1/2, 2 BB, R, K C R. Chirinos 1/3, 2B (2), HBP SS M. Camp 1/3, HBP PH T. Wright 0/1, K SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 5 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1/3 K/BB, 2 HR, 8-6 GO-FO RP D. Cales 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Gray 1.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, HBP, 4-0 GO-FO RP L. Sommer .1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 6-2 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/3, BB, R, K, 2 SB (46), Assist (1B) RF B. Jackson 0/4, 3 K LF B. Guyer 0/3, BB, R, 2 SB (27) 3B R. Canzler 0/3, BB, 2 K C S. Clevenger 0/4 2B T. Thomas 1/3, RBI SS N. Samson 0/3, E (15, fielding) PH M. Gonzalez 0/1 SP R. Dolis 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4/2 K/BB, 2 WP, 7-6 GO-FO RP K. Smit .1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB RP M. Carrillo .2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0/2 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO RP J. Leverton 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 0/1 K/BB Daytona won 5-4 Box Score SS J. Lake 1/4, BB, R, K 2B DJ LeMahieu 3/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (2), SB (15) 3B R. Flaherty 1/4, BB, R, K C M. Brenly 1/5, 2 K RF K. Burke 2/5, R, 2 K, SB (6) DH R. Ridling 1/5, R, 3 RBI, HR (13), K 1B J. Opitz 0/4, BB, K LF G. Rohan 1/4 CF J. Valdez 3/4, SB (15), CS (6) SP N. Struck 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5/0 K/BB, HR, HBP, 5-6 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 2-1 GO-FO RP C. Siegfried .1 scoreless, 1 H, 1-0 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 1.2 scoreless, 2 H, 3/0 K/BB, WP, 0-2 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau .1 perfect, 1-0 GO-FO Peoria lost 5-3 Box Score (Completed Early: Rain) SS HJ Lee 0/3 2B L. Watkins 1/3, R, RBI, HR (1), K LF DJ Fitzgerald 1/3, K 1B J. Bour 0/3, 2 K RF JH Ha 1/2, BB, R, 2B (13) SP M. Hatley 2 scoreless, 3 H, 3/0 K/BB, WP, 3-0 GO-FO RP A. Kirk 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6/4 K/BB, WP, Balk, HBP, 2-1 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HR, 4-0 GO-FO Boise won 1-0 Box Score SS A. Alcantara 3/4, RBI, K, CS (3) 2B PC Chen 2/3, CS (1) DH P. LePage 0/3 1B R. Jones 1/3 C M. Gibbs 0/3, 2 K LF C. Shields 1/3, K, CS (1), PO (1B) RF J. Morelli 1/3, K 3B D. Harrington 0/3, K CF KM Na 1/3, R SP B. Ebinger 5 scoreless, 2 H, 8/0 K/BB, 6-1 GO-FO RP D. Beeler 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 4-0 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO RP A. Kurcz 1 scoreless, 0 H, 2/1 K/BB, HBP, 0-1 GO-FO OVERALL: 2-3

I like Cam Greathouse.

Thanks, everyone!