TheDude

I think the Dusty Baker "veteran-only" attitude has started to infect Lou. "We are in a playoff race and we need veteran experience to get us over the hump." Alright, Dude!! If by 'Lou', you mean 95% of managers in all sports, than sure.

Lee and Ramirez will carry the team today. If memory serves correct, they both hammer Matt Morris.

OFFENSE!!!!

Score some damn runs Cubs!

Yeah, we know he is big. I dunno what the Brewers are thinking here. they must be desparate. Think they'd take Eyre off our hands? :wink: Not that desperate. Are you guys talking about the same Eyre that has the best ERA on the Cubs staff since the all-star break? He is still walking guys at an alarming rate, and isn't a good pitcher overall right now, but you don't dump him when he's finally producing.

I see several folks talking as if the '04 team wasn't the equal or better of the '03 team - when did this thinking emerge?

Signing Zambrano to an extension was clearly the correct move. I can't see how this would affect Hendry's job in the offseason.

Why do people keep saying this is a terrible match-up for the Cubs? Penny is a damn good pitcher, but numerous Cubs have hit him hard and have good numbers. I'm looking at the 6th inning and predicting the Cubs are down 4-3.

Cubs core bullpen has also been awesome, especially post all-star. While fringe or fill-in guys like Petrick, Gallagher, or Pignatiello have struggled in very small samples, the core of Marmol, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster have been great. Weurtz has been the 'worst' of the core with just league average numbers. The Cubs have a very solid pitching staff top-to-bottom, with the only real holes the 11th and 12th guys.

While it would save my bank account tremendously for them to miss the playoffs (flight, hotel, tickets), you're damn straight I'm rooting for them to make it.

Cubs should put up at least 5 against Williams, including two HRs.

Was that D Lee hit to right fair? It looked fair on the replay.

You're suggesting this call came from the bench? Why would Lou want to hit Weeks again?

No one should.

Cubs need an easy win tonight. The entire month of August there have really only been two games that weren't nerve destroying.

Suppan gets the sac down, Hill doesn't. That's the difference in the game.

Actually I think this does favor the Cubs. The Brewers can already hit the ball out of the park, without wind. So the ball travels 430 instead of 410. On the other hand, the wind can only help the mysterious power outage the Cubs have experienced, and push those warning track balls out.

The Cards also have to play out-of-division series against the Diamondbacks (away) and Phillies (home). Meanwhile, the Cubs toughest out-of-division series is at home against the Dodgers. So the Cards have a slightly tougher road. In the end, it's really the games between the Cards/Cubs/Brewers that will determine the division. Cards and Cubs each have 3 against Brewers, and they have 5 against each other.

There is very little a new GM can do next year other than fine-tuning. As I already pointed out, the same starting rotation could be returning for the next 2 years, as all are under Cubs control. Other than Catcher and one OF, the field is also all under contract, and if desired there is MLB ready talent from the farm to fill those holes (though it isn't the ideal). Exactly what 'mess' is there to clean-up? Move Eyre and Jones. That's it, and honestly, there is very little wiggle room any GM has with these two 'assets'. They're trade value is established and isn't much. Assuming best case scenario for fans around here and likely maximum moves a GM of the Cubs this offseason could make: -Trade Jones -Trade Eyre -Acquire all-star quality OF -Fill Catcher -Fill holes with farm system -Fill bench At minimum, it's: -Fill holes with farm system -Fill bench And given the timing of team sale and new hire for GM, and the known value of Jones and Eyre, I would bet on the minimum happening, rather than our notion of the ideal. So my question is this: if you assume the minimum, as I do, what is the point of acquiring a new GM? And even if you stretch out to say Jones and Eyre could be moved, and an all-star quality OF acquired, how much greater value would a new GM bring back over Hendry with these moves? It seems to me that a new GM at this stage brings diminishing returns.

Marmol was called up almost 2 months into the season though. He missed the first 6 weeks (42 games). I think he is alright provided Lou limits his back-to-back appearances the rest of the way. I'll be as concerned as everyone else by season's end if he's out there 5/7 days in September. He didn't miss 6 weeks. He was starting in Iowa, racking up innings. It's not like those don't count just because they were in AAA. At that time he was a starter and prepared to pitch starter innings, so from that perspective, his innings have decreased from projections. Since becoming a reliever his usage has been heavy, and you are right there is some concern with the number of back-to-back appearances. However, I don't think the concern is dire. If he is well managed the rest of the way, he should be fine.

Just because his fingerprints are on the team, doesn't mean he deserves to stay. Saying all a new GM would need to do is fill the bench also doesn't factor in. Besides, I think it's untrue. Seriously, that's a terrible reason to keep a GM around. Who cares if his fingerprints are on the team. That's the point. His fingerprints are all over the team and the team isn't good. That's exactly why you get rid of a GM. +1 So explain to what a new GM could do? Sit as a mostly lame duck?

I don't disagree with any of this but filling out the bench has been one of Hendry's biggest weaknesses. Under the Dusty era it was hit or miss, with the misses pissing people off so badly that they overshadow the decent guys. I thought the 2003 bench wasn't too bad, but it's the Perez and Macias type names that dwarf any positive guys from the Dusty days. But this year's bench is very solid, and I give Lou credit for influencing the decisions on certain guys. For example, Sunday the Cubs had Kendall, Ward, Murton, DeRosa, and Pie available in the 2nd half of the game off the bench. That's pretty good.

Marmol was called up almost 2 months into the season though. He missed the first 6 weeks (42 games). I think he is alright provided Lou limits his back-to-back appearances the rest of the way. I'll be as concerned as everyone else by season's end if he's out there 5/7 days in September.

Those that aren't impressed with Wood have to remember the guy is still basically in ST or early April pitching shape, but in pennant game situations. I want to see his September and decide then. But I'm leaning on bring him back for a base 1-year low salary deal that performance can improve. [edit]You also have to remember that likely alternatives are names like Rocky Cherry, Roberto Novoa, [insert AAA name here], etc. I don't see how a chance on Wood is worse than a chance on any alternative.[/edit]

There are 67 relievers in baseball with more IP than Marmol. There are 125 relievers with more appearances. I'm not saying that he should be tossed out there back-to-back anytime, but I can't see his usage as out of control compared to the league. Howry and Wuertz have been used more and Dempster about equal (more appearances, 3 less innings).