DivineBovine

Why not at least squeeze with Maddux AB? If the guy is out at home, at least you have a RISP and can score on a hit. I don't understand sacrificing a guy from 1st to 2nd with 1 out and a man on 3rd.

WHEN IS NEIFI GOING TO REALIZE THAT UMPIRES WILL NOT CALL A BALL ON A CLOSE PITCH WHEN HE STEPS AWAY BEFORE THE PITCH GETS THERE??!! At least PRETEND you are thinking about swinging!

It's crap. I live in NY, have extra innings, and I get the Yankees every damn Saturday. It sucks. And today, I would get the Mets/Cubs game anyways, but its on Fox.

His goal was to shorten his swing. I think he'll be great once he is in the majors.. since he actaully KNOWS the pitcher he is facing. You're kidding, right?

MITCH WILLIAMS!!! A MITCH WILLIAMS SAVE!!!!

DB odds on Lee to win the triple crown- 10:1 against The average is no gimme. If Pujols and Lee hit at their career averages the rest of the season, Pujols catches him easily. 17 points in average can be made up in a week or two. Pujols has made up 14 points in the past 10 games. And Cabrera has a shot too. DB odds on Lee winning batting title- 3:4 in favor. And with homers or average, Lee is a clear underdog in both categories. He'd be lucky to win 1. Again- Pujols is a big threat in both categories, but the add Dunn, Jones, even Aram to the home run mix and even more to the RBI mix, Lee's chances are slim. DB odds on Lee winning homers: 2:1 against DB odds on Lee winning RBI: 3:1 against *odds are for entertainment purposes only.

I did answer your question. Objectively speaking, the trick is getting to the playoffs. How could you say they wouldn't have a chance if they got there? The Marlins and Angels are 2 examples of teams that "had no chance". And I do think they have a shot at the playoffs. I don't want to get into comparing Zambrano or Prior with Carpenter/Clemens/etc... and who's would make the most damage in the playoffs. I don't see the point. They are all solid pitchers who can all beat each other on any given day. By the way, I didn't really feel instigated. I know the Cubs suck. The Cardinals were really strong on paper last year. I personally thought there was no way that offense could be stopped, which is why I brought them up. Oh, sorry to bring it up again. How in the WS, the Cardinals looked more like the other Missouri team that they used to pad the win total last year. Because I thought that offense was absolutely unreal.

This is the worst job of calling strikes I've seen in a while. Ridiculously inconsistent. Wow.

I hate to blame the ump for a really bad day for the offense, but that ball on TWalk with men on 1 and 2 with 0 out a few innings bad changed the game. TWalk gets the count to 3-1, likely walks because Padilla couldn't get anything over the plate, and even the Cubs probably score after that. That friggin pitch was 1 foot outside and was a ridiculous call.

wow, NOW he calls a ball?

I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to instigate something here, but what actually makes you think the Cubs would have what it takes to make it out of the first round? Your team really doesn't scare anybody. Last year I understood that statement when Cubs fans would drop the the standby "If we get in, we'll be tough to beat" because your pitching staff was healthier (IE - Wood) and you hat a scary clutch hitter Alou. Not to mention Nomah healthy and Sammy still counted for something. I realize Nomar will be back by playoff time, but I don't see him being anywhere near to his normal self. Too much rust and trepidation. Prior is a scary prospect, but not as much if he's going up against a Clemens/Carpenter/Willis/Smoltz/Peavy #1 guy. I'd take the Astros, Braves, and Cardinals rotation in a playoff series over the Cubs any day of the week. The only team the Cubs would scare IMO is whoever comes out of the west. Again, I'm not trying to be a homer or instigate anything, that's just how I see it. Two hitters and two pitchers that inspire any kind of fear. I seem to remember a mighty team with the mighty Cy Carpenter get their a$$es handed to them in the World Series last year. And that team was better than the current one on paper. Which bring me to my point- why are you mentioning "getting out of the first round"?? Does it make any sense? A division winner has not won the WS since 2001. I'm sure you picked the Marlins or Angels to get out of the first round. I know who you picked last year in the WS, and I know that didn't work out well. The trick is getter there, and once you're in, ANYBODY can win. All it takes is getting hot at the right time. And I think the Cubs have a good shot at making the playoffs. I won't be a homer and say that they will, but they have a shot, which is all I care about. I really like the Cubs lineup a lot better now. If Nomar comes back to anywhere near is old self, the weakest hitter in the lineup is Hairston, and the second weakest is Barrett. That's pretty good. And the Cubs have 2 potentially scary pitchers in Prior and Zambrano. Wood could be totally money out the pen and actually be better for the Cubs as a reliever in terms of adding to wins. The pen is the weakness of the pitching staff, not the starters.

I'll never forget how Hendry said that Corey was a true 5 tool player and how many teams had inquired about trading for him while he was in the minors, but alas, he was untouchable. Another swing and miss by the Cubs regarding a star position player in the minors. Hopefully Pie will pan out, I would like to see at least 1 stud position player come through the system and contribute in the next five years. Corey and Kid DL, two sure fire studs that it seems have lost their trade value. Let's hope not. That seems a little harsh on the Cubs Front Office. Did you really think at the time, that they should have traded Corey before he even hit the majors? If you can't say yes to that, then you can't blame the Cubs for not doing it either. What about the 2003? He was having a great year, even getting mentioned for the All-Star Game. Don't get me wrong. As of right now, I want him gone. Whether or not he ever puts it together and becomes the star he could have been, I will always admit to loving him in '03 and hating him in '05 - regardless of how it turns out, I can't blame the Cubs. They kept him as long as they should have, and if they get minimum value for him, then so be it. Just Bad Luck. I don't think it's harsh because Corey is the biggest example of the problem. Hendry hung his hat on him for quite a while. I'm just puzzled how the Cubs have failed to have one good starting position player come to the big club in recent memory. When not one of your starting 8 didn't come through your system, I would say it's a little more than bad luck. The Cubs are guilt free in my mind regarding CPatt. The Cubs have a bad recent history in playing youngsters, but CPatt got all the opportunity to play. The fact is, he was just plain overrrated since the day he was drafted. It was poor judgement of talent if anything. He just didn't pan out. He had ONE GOOD YEAR in the minors. He may be a MLB role player, but its doubtful he'll ever be more than that. What has it taught me? Never ever put any stake in a player that doesn't walk at all and strikes out a ton. Then almost never change. I don't care how many "tools" they have, don't ever think that they'll be a franchise player. Sosa changed and was good for a a while, but he had 60 home run power and might have been taking some performance enhancing substances.

I wish we had 10 TWalks on this team. He won't ever hit 30 homers, but he has some of the best plate discipline on a team which is DEAD LAST in the NL in walks. I honestly feel better with TWalk batting than anyone of the team with the exception of Lee and Aram, maybe Burnitz. I'm dumbfounded that someone would actually complain about him. Let's get back to complaining about Hollandsworth and Neifi.

His teammates liked the guy. I don't know if its just Murton that its hurting here.

Latroy's actions against the fans weren't cool either. I get the rage. The guy wasn't great and blew a ton of big games, but it's too much.

Really not cool what the fans are doing to LaTroy.

The dude on the Giants telecast just said that Omar Visquel is a Hall of Famer! What? Am I missing something?

This Murton kid sucks. Let's see him do it against a righty.

Yup, that ball was well outside. He reached.across the plate. Barrett is one of those guys who can't lay off a pitch when he has 2 strikes.

Stubbornly falling in love with players even though better options are available is Dusty's trademark. And its not just a veteran thing. The Grudz/Walker thing was terrible. It's maddening. Why not take a chance on an unknown rather than continue with the known uselessness of Hollandsworth. I just don't get it.

I don't buy the argument that KW needs time to settle down. I'm not sure if the numbers bear it out, but it seems as if he is pretty good in the first inning. However, I don't think its an indication of how he'll pitch as a reliever. Plenty of guys with plenty more faults than KW as starters have become great relievers. KW has lights out closer stuff. He can dominate hitters, blow them away. If he were able to do it in short burst rather than have to do it the whole game, it would only help him. He'd save a ton of innings and wear on his arm this year. That said, I hate the idea of putting him in as a reliever permanently. He's too expensive, and is too good a starter. Just get him surgery in the offseason, let him sit out part of the next season if needed, and let him start again.

CEDENO!!!! WHAT WHEELS!

CEDENO!!!! WHAT WHEELS!

Well, WGN radio is messed up now because of the thunderstorm I'm getting, and I don't have the game on TV, so I'll have to rely on you guys to keep me updated. Go to the can quick. Another Alou pitching change.

Schmidt was low-mid 90's. But the strikezone got smaller with LaTroy than it was for Schmidt for some reason. Hmmm..