dew1679666265

Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back, there. After reading some of the comments about Fuld after I suggested he play, you bet. Nice to hear a respected, ex big leaguer back it up as well. Fuld had a .358 OBP in AAA this year. That's more likely than not to go down as he faces better pitchers. I liked the good game today, but I want to see more before I favor putting him at the top of the lineup.

not positive but is he the rule 5 guy that the Cubs abused early last year when Cubs/Pirates had all those extra innings games and he wasn't ready for the bigs.. or was that somebody else? Yep, that was Meek. Holy crap just looked it up April 7 - 1.0IP, 0H, 2ER, 5BB April 10 - 2 scoreless April 19 - 1.0IP, 1H, 2ER, 1BB not as bad as I remember, but that first game was brutal. I thought he struggled more too.

Another perfect ninth for Gregg!

not positive but is he the rule 5 guy that the Cubs abused early last year when Cubs/Pirates had all those extra innings games and he wasn't ready for the bigs.. or was that somebody else? Yep, that was Meek.

I really like that idea. If Kosuke can get it going again then Bradley/Fuku/Lee/Aramis/Soto would be a very good top 5.

Should be leading off for good.. I know no one is used to seeing out leadoff man get on base, but that's how it's done. Weren't you just complaining about people saying good things about kosuke after one good game? You know Fuld was OPSing in the .700's in AAA, right? For a leadoff hitter, avg. and obp should be more important than a middle of the order guy where youd expect a higher OPS. And his avg and OBP in AAA this season are .286/.358. Decent considering he doesn't slug, but those numbers are likely to be worse in the majors with better pitchers.

He's heading that way. Soto the last 28 days: .271/.350/.600/.950 6HR Lou got tossed - and he was right, Wells was safe. my fault, that line was meant for kosuke...but...i would be spectacular for soto to get his big ole behind around those numbers as well Ah, sorry. Soto had just tripled and I was thinking of him. Kosuke's hitting coach from Japan will be here in mid July to work with Kosuke. Hopefully that will help him.

Yeah, no base throwing or anything.

He's heading that way. Soto the last 28 days: .271/.350/.600/.950 6HR Lou got tossed - and he was right, Wells was safe.

I don't think they would have run on Soriano there. Shhhhhh, don't disturb him with reality. I'll try to be more quiet. :)

KOSUKE!!!!

Because Soriano wouldn't have made that throw, amirite?! I don't think they would have run on Soriano there.

Yup, fair enough, there's some truth in that statement for sure. The baserunning errors are just a consistent annoyance to me, I guess. They've been going on for so long it seems like. All outs are an annoyance. And they're happening too often this year in all aspects. :) Great throw Fuld!

Take this stat for what you will: Outs recorded on the basepaths 2009 (doesn't count caught stealing or pickoffs): Brewers: 20 Cards: 22 Cubs: 22 Astros: 24 Reds: 33 Pirates: 33 By that stat, the Cubs aren't the worst baserunning team in their division this year, much less the worst in the majors. The Reds are the only team that get on base less than the Cubs on that list. That amuses me. If the Cubs were terrible baserunners up until 2006, I think the Reds may be showing us why.

Take this stat for what you will: Outs recorded on the basepaths 2009 (doesn't count caught stealing or pickoffs): Brewers: 20 Cards: 22 Cubs: 22 Astros: 24 Reds: 33 Pirates: 33 By that stat, the Cubs aren't the worst baserunning team in their division this year, much less the worst in the majors. I think we both know those numbers don't tell the entire story, but it's still interesting. I thought we'd be worse than that, honestly. I know it doesn't tell the whole story - that's why I said take it for what you will. But, I do think we tend to magnify the blunders our team makes and not consider that over 162 games all teams make mistakes.

Take this stat for what you will: Outs recorded on the basepaths 2009 (doesn't count caught stealing or pickoffs): Brewers: 20 Cards: 22 Cubs: 22 Astros: 24 Reds: 33 Pirates: 33 By that stat, the Cubs aren't the worst baserunning team in their division this year, much less the worst in the majors.

On that note, where did all this Brenly nonsense start? Was there a rumor, was somebody just calling for a change at manager? Someone asked who Hendry (or whoever) might look at if Lou were fired/retired after the year. Brenly's name was brought and it went from there. People have been talking about Brenly for manager ever since he joined the booth. He's the easiest name to come up with when the Cubs start dropping games and people get angry. Yeah, I think Stone got more mentions for managerial duty when he was broadcasting Cub games too.

Folks, you can't find this sort of quality, quality analysis just anywhere. Mind expanding on your thoughts? If Wells' current level of production continues, he'll be considered one of the very greatest pitchers of all-time. If his ERA goes up a run, it would be Hendry-level stupid to trade him for Heath Bell. If his ERA goes up a run and a half, it would be merely dumb to do so. Nobody in this thread is basing his objection to a Wells-Bell trade on Wells continuing his current level of production. We're talking about a guy who, even during this season, was viewed much the same way that Kevin Hart and Mitch Atkins are viewed. Besides a great start in a small amount of games, what is it about Wells that makes you think he'll be even a good starter the rest of the season? He won't walk many guys most likely, but even when he's pitching well he's given up 48 hits in 56 IP (and that's with a .275 BABIP). His stuff isn't all that good and he doesn't strike a lot of guys out. That's not a recipe for long term success.

On that note, where did all this Brenly nonsense start? Was there a rumor, was somebody just calling for a change at manager? Someone asked who Hendry (or whoever) might look at if Lou were fired/retired after the year. Brenly's name was brought and it went from there.

Folks, you can't find this sort of quality, quality analysis just anywhere. Mind expanding on your thoughts?

I'm not prepared to say he's choking or can't handle pressure. He's just having a bad season.

I have no idea. Maybe that's the time that he'll be in the US? I think he still lives in Japan and will visit then or something. Make Fukudome spring for the flight change fee and be done with it. I'd be all for that.

Going the other way is not a bad philosophy, but you have to take what the pitcher gives you. You shouldn't slap a pitch weakly somewhere just to go the other way. Hitting a pitch with authority will generally get you better results, if the pitch is in a spot where you can go the other way - all the better. right, and i feel like many of players don't take what the pitchers give them...hence sometimes going the other way...it is just good fundamentals that seem to be lacking I don't think that's the fault of Lou though. The players went the other way plenty of times last year. When players get into big time slumps (like many are in now) fundamentals sometimes go out the window. That's not good, but it doesn't mean they can't play fundamental baseball.

I have no idea. Maybe that's the time that he'll be in the US? I think he still lives in Japan and will visit then or something.

Hamilton's perceived value was in the toilet when we drafted and traded him to Cincinnati. He wasn't on Tampa's 40 man roster when he was taken in the rule 5 draft. Whatever elite prospect status he had when he was originally drafted was gone when he got back from his narcotic binge. Once again, not every player that makes it to the bigs was labeled an elite prospect. What you are basically saying is that because Randy Wells was never given this label, we should dump him while we have the chance. I happen to disagree with that notion. I'm not saying he can't be traded. I'm just saying that he's currently more valuable than a bullpen arm and if that's all that anyone is offering for him, you might as well keep him. Sometimes it's okay to keep a guy when his value is at an all time high. You just never know who might be the next Sammy Sosa or Greg Maddux. I'm not saying Randy Wells cannot be a good major league starter. I'm saying the likelihood is very low that he will be one because his stuff is only average. He may be great, but the chances aren't particularly high. Before this season, the general consensus, it seemed, was that he'd barely make a starting staff. Maybe everybody was wrong and this current success will continue, but it's unlikely. If he pitches at this level the remainder of the season, then sure he's more valuable than a bullpen arm. But I'm arguing that going by his average stuff he's unlikely to keep up this success as teams see him more. The likelihood is that his effectiveness will begin to go down, perhaps to the point that he's much less valuable than a bullpen arm. If all it took to have great trade value was a few good outings, Jake Fox would have incredible trade value right now. But he doesn't because teams consider both current production level and the likelihood that the current production level will continue. For Wells the current level of production isn't likely to continue.