Outshined_One

Bingo. They should have shipped Sisco back to the minors and let him work on being a starter, where he was most valuable. The Cubs were idiots not for letting him go, but instead for letting him go in exchange for nothing. Sisco was still a highly rated prospect when they let him go (despite weight/motivation/production issues) and could have gotten something in return in a trade.

It won't happen until late August when Dusty receives a phone call from Lee at 2 AM, begging Dusty to move himself down in the order.

I've been boycotting paying any money for this team since they picked up Jock Jones. I have not gone to any games at Wrigley, I have not bought any Cubs merchandise, and I've even gone so far as to not start any Game Threads this season! I still watch them on TV, but I no longer get really excited about the games except when Z pitches. The 11 run inning fiasco on Sunday was high comedy, not painfully crushing. It's so nice to be this cynical...

Three words for Dusty: BOO FREAKING HOO

Link It's a rather interesting article. I'm incredibly pleased that MLB is attempting to expand beyond the US, Canada, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim in finding talent. The Italian pitcher whom the Cubs picked up last year in question is Boise RP Alessandro Maestri, for those of you who are curious.

Any chance he sees Peoria? His bat could probably help in the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get promoted soon if he keeps hitting like this!

Is it me or have there been more fans of opposing teams in Wrigley this year than in the past few years? Despite the attendance numbers, it's clear there's a rather significant gap between paid attendance and the turnstile attendance. Ratings are in the toilet and people are no-showing the games or scalping their tickets.

Here's the bottom line, to me. This season is lost. This team isn't making a playoff run and it's been a really disappointing and agonizing year for most Cub fans. However, there is a shining light in the form of the young guys in this organization who could be good players for this team for years to come. Granted, the current coaching staff is absolutely abysmal when it comes to teaching these guys, but I'm guessing they'll all be out the door by August 15th. Who cares if Cedeno, Murton, and Theriot struggle? What's the point of playing guys like Nevin and Neifi when it's clear this season is lost? The only reason I can see for Baker playing those veterans is to make some feeble attempt at getting the team back to .500 at the end of the year, thereby saving his job and giving him a fat contract extension that goes straight to the IRS. Let them play through their struggles is what I'm suggesting. Throw them into the fire and evaluate them at the end of the season. If they struggle, boohoo, no big deal, let them work through it. If they don't fit into the Cubs' plans in 2007, then they can trade them for somebody who could help in 2007.

Somebody should email Stats Inc to see if that's ever happened before. I'm legitimately curious.

Box Scores Iowa lost 6-2 Box Score CF F. Pie 1/4, RBI, 2B (16), 2 K SS B. Coats 1/4 2B M. Fontenot 2/4, RBI, E (9, fielding) 3B C. McGehee 1/4, 2B (18), 2 K 1B M. Hoffpauir 1/4 LF L. Montanez 0/4, 2 K, Assist (Home) C G. Soto 0/3, BB, R, K DH J. Reyes 1/4, R, K SP R. O'Malley 4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3/0 K/BB, HR, 5-5 GO-FO RP C. Rapada 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, WP, Balk, 1-1 GO-FO RP D. Aardsma 1 hitless/scoreless, 0/2 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO West Tenn won 5-3 Box Score 2B E. Patterson 0/3, BB, 2 R, K, 2 SB (34) 3B R. Lewis 2/4, R 1B B. Dopirak 2/3, BB, R, RBI PR/RF M. Negron 0/0, PO (1B) CF N. Jackson 1/4, K RF/1B B. Sing 2/3, BB, RBI DH J. Fox 0/3, RBI, 2 K SP J. Mateo 6 IP, 6H, 3 R, 2 ER, 6/2 K/BB, 2 HBP, 5-7 GO-FO RP T. Atlee 1 hitless/scoreless, 0/2 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO Daytona lost Game 1 of the DH (continued from 7/19) 6-1 Box Score CF S. Fuld 2/4, R, 3B (6) 2B J. Simokaitis 1/3, RBI DH M. Craig 1/4, K RF R. Harvey 1/4 C J. Muyco 2/4, 2B (2), K SS J. Mota 0/3 SP R. Sotolongo 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/3 K/BB, HR, 0-5 GO-FO RP G. Johnson 3 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 6-2 GO-FO Daytona won Game 2 of the DH 3-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/4, R SS J. Simokaitis 2/4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (7) 1B M. Craig 1/3, RBI, 2B (23), K RF R. Harvey 0/3, K SP D. Veal 5 hitless/scoreless, 9/4 K/BB, WP, 2-4 GO-FO Peoria won 3-0 Box Score CF D. Gregg 2/5, RBI, K 2B R. Chirinos 1/4, R, SB (16), CS (8), HBP LF J. Valdez 1/5, K 1B R. Norwood 1/4, K, HBP, SB (3) 3B R. Malone 1/3, BB, R RF Y. Carter 2/3, BB SS K. Reynolds 1/4, R DH A. Garcia 1/4, 2B (14), K C M. Reed 1/4, RBI SP M. Atkins 7.1 scoreless, 7 H, 7/0 K/BB, 4-11 GO-FO RP M. Avery 1.2 scoreless, 2 H, 4/0 K/BB, WP, 1-0 GO-FO Boise won 13-7 Box Score CF M. Camp 1/5, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB (6) LF T. Colvin 3/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (6), HR (3), K, Assist (3B) 3B J. Lansford 1/5, RBI 1B R. Canzler 1/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (9), K RF A. Joseph 3/5, 3 R, RBI, 2B (6), 3B (1), SB (6) DH DJ Lewis 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, K 2B S. Clevenger 2/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (3) SP M. Billek 4.2 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 1/4 K/BB, 3 HR, HBP, 9-3 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 3.1 scoreless, 3 H, 4/1 K/BB, 2 WP, 5-1 GO-FO Mesa with an off day. OVERALL: 4-2

Feeling lonely in here, Fred? Maddux is pitching a beauty tonight.

Pagan has 1 BB in 47 ABs. 1. I don't care if you hate OBP with all your heart and soul because your wife cheated on you with it. That just shows putrid plate discipline.

Chippy would be all excited about that HR now.

He actually projects to have Gold Glove caliber defense in RF, as memory serves me. Problem is, his bat probably won't be. :x

Liriano was least highly rated of the three at the time of that trade, oddly enough.

Kind of amusing how the only guy to get pushed out the door during a season of horrifying pitching, hitting, and defense is the third base coach...for a DUI.

In other words, Dave Kingman. Or Rob Deer? Kingman at least made it to the All Star Game on three different occasions. I'm trying to be optimistic with Harvey here! :D

Box Scores Iowa lost 7-4 Box Score CF F. Pie 1/5, 2 K, PO (1B) SS/RF B. Coats 1/5, R, 2B (15) 2B M. Fontenot 1/4, RBI, 2B (21) RF M. Restovich 0/2, R, 2 HBP 3B/SS C. McGehee 2/4, R, 2 RBI DH M. Hoffpauir 0/3, BB, CS (2) LF L. Montanez 1/2, 2 BB C J. Reyes 0/3, BB, K SP R. Wells 6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 6-7 GO-FO RP M. Wuertz 1 scoreless, 1 H, 3/0 K/BB West Tenn lost 7-0 Box Score 2B E. Patterson 0/4, E (11, missed catch) CF M. Negron 0/3, BB, E (1, fielding) LF N. Jackson 0/3 DH B. Dopirak 0/3, K 3B S. Moore 0/3, K 1B B. Sing 0/3, 2 K C J. Fox 1/3, PB (6) RF R. Lewis 1/3, 2B (10) SP C. Shaver 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1/4 K/BB, HR, 7-6 GO-FO RP E. Campusano 1.1 perfect, 3/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO Daytona suspended (rain) 3-0 in the 3rd Box Score Peoria with an off day. Boise lost 14-10 Box Score CF M. Camp 2/6, R, E (2, fielding) PH/SS P. Lopez 1/2, BB, 2 R, K LF T. Colvin 3/6, R, 3 RBI, 2B (5), 3B (1) DH J. Lansford 5/6, 2 R, 2 RBI 1B R. Canzler 2/5, BB, RBI, 2B (8), K, E (7, fielding) RF A. Joseph 2/6, R, RBI, K 3B E. Puello 1/4, BB, R, K 2B S. Clevenger 2/5, R C M. Mercedes 1/5, R, RBI, E (2, throw) SP J. Pina 3 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 0/3 K/BB, 3 HR, 2 WP, 2 HBP, 4-4 GO-FO (Ejected in the 4th) Despite Getting No Hits, Walks, or HBPs, Mesa won 1-0 Box Score CF D. Rundle 0/3, 3 K 2B V. Heredia 0/3, R, K, 2 SB (10) C C. Perez 0/2, RBI, 2 K LF C. Gilbert 0/3, Assist (2B) 3B M. Gonzalez 0/3, 2 K 1B L. Murphy 0/2, K SS C. Valentin 0/2 SP B. Taylor (converted 3B) 2 scoreless, 1 H, 0/0 K/BB, 6-0 GO-FO RP R. Hernandez 4 scoreless, 1 H, 3/2 K/BB, 5-4 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-3

In other words, Dave Kingman.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8986/rcopoutqc6.jpg

Ah nuts, with three walks and a hit, Jeremy Papelbon loses his scoreless innings streak. :(

We'll have to see how it works out. I love Lee Evans and have nothing but respect for the guy. He loves the game, he's a really nice guy, and was the most talented guy I've ever seen in person on a football field. That said, Dick Jauron prefers a really conservative approach to his offense. He is absolute murder on fantasy WRs, imo.

I think they'd be really interested in one of our bullpen guys, especially Eyre, Howry, or Dempster. Granted, the NTCs are problematic, but with Dusty out the door soon, maybe they'll be willing to waive them. Their bullpen has been incredibly unreliable save for Papelbon last I heard. If we can pry away Buchholz, Bowden, or Ellsbury, I'd be quite interested!

Hey Vance, you realize that taking a WR in an offense with Dick Jauron as HC is like bringing a knife to a shootout, right?

Aw, crap.