Soul

There could be a 3-way in that WC race. I think they do a 2-game playoff with someone getting a "bye" for the first game. I wouldn't mind seeing it, that would be fun as long as it isn't us.

I must say, over lunch I was just listening to Murph. Yes I know sometimes he's not the brightest guy, but... He was saying, "and I don't buy that Lou's going to play Kendall all these games. He's just pumping up Kendall, saying 'you're my guy' but in reality he'll play Soto more than he's saying." ...and presto, Soto's in the lineup. That's not a bad call. It was in the midst of Steve Stone ranting for about 10 minutes about Kendall's inability to throw out runners, too.

My fear? They've decided Murton is the odd man out for the playoff roster so they're using their playoff lineup v. LHP. If Murton is left off the playoff roster in favor of Monroe, Jim Hendry should be beaten. Monroe's got the definite edge in grit.

I'm starting to lose my mind over this crap. For my own sanity's sake, can you guys, you know, WIN a game or two here? Or are you really going to actually drop 10 in a row to the Marlins? COME THE HELL ON.

And they have to the best shot to win their division by a wide margin. We should therefore be able to GRIT our way into the playoffs.

You know, if we could just beat the damn fish I'll bet we wouldn't be ripping each other apart like this.

LOL 8-)

Is Gallardo going on short rest? Christ it seems like he's always pitching, and always pitching well. Just win, SD. You, unlike the Cards, really really need to.

And this one made me laugh out loud. Thanks, I needed that :lol: (yep, they're really gonna start Trax)

Barrett: offense without D Kendall: offense without D Bowen: D with no O Hill: D with no O Soto: some of both. Soto should receive some consideration to play a couple games just based on that, if the matchup doesn't favor Kendall's bat. Hey -- maybe we play Kendall, I actually don't hate the guy I think he's done well for us. I'm happy he's here. I'm just a little irked that Lou seems to be throwing some of his managerial options out the window, that's all. I'll still root like hell for Kendall, don't get me wrong. I'll be pulling for him every bit of the way. As for Barrett, for my part that's still a very painful memory. I really wanted him to succeed as well, and was pretty upset when things turned out the way they did.

For the millionth time, it's a matter of degrees. Barrett was below average in most defensive aspects and occasionally made some dumb decisions. He was also one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. Kendall is physically incapable of throwing anyone, anyone, out on the basepaths, and at his best he provides plus OBP with zero XBH. They are different situations. I actually think Kendall is a better "receiver" than Barrett. I also trust his leadership more, which is crucial in a catcher. He'd better have leadership coming out of his ears for it to be worth turning every walk and base hit into a double for our pitchers. Don't be ridiculous. That may be the worst exaggeration on this board all week. I will apologize if someone can produce the stat which backs this up. You don't make your case very well when you make silly statements like this. His CS% as a Cub is pretty easily the worst of any catcher who's gotten regular time(save Josh Bard, and he's catching several of the most notoriously "slow to the plate" SP in baseball). He's given up 50 steals in 47 starts. More than once a game teams are taking a free base off of him, and he throws out a pathetic < 10% of them. It's not an exaggeration to say that Kendall's presence compared to Soto is going to cost the team multiple bases, considering in his short stint Soto has been 3 times more effective throwing people out. And what were Barretts numbers throwing out runners this year? To be honest I'm not getting the focus on comparisons with Barrett. Who cares? We weren't 3 wins/losses away from clinching back then, it's not the same situation. With Barrett, no matter how you felt about the guy there were many, many games left to be played where he could possibly play better, or worse. Now it's all about who will give us a better chance to win over the course of 4 games. That's just completely and totally different, so digging into someone for a not treating this situation the same as the Barrett situation rings hollow to me. Does Kendall really give us a better chance in the short term, regardless of matchups, just because he is more experienced than Soto? That's the question. And to me the answer is clearly no.

i don't care how many games they lost last year, and i refuse to use that as a measuring stick. that sounds like something jim hendry would do. being happy with an improvement from one of most pathetic cub seasons ever isn't enough for me...and 85 wins for a team with a $100 mil payroll is not good. I would expect nothing less from you. Holding his team to high standards? I'd expect nothing less either. Yeah I think Cardinal fans were ready to give back their trophy last year after only winning 83 games during the season. Just find a way in. I agree with this sentiment I do too, but we've gotta make the playoffs to win the World Series. If we we hadn't been the Marlins punching bag this year we might have already clinched. Damn fish. :evil: I want Pittsburgh again.

i don't care how many games they lost last year, and i refuse to use that as a measuring stick. that sounds like something jim hendry would do. being happy with an improvement from one of most pathetic cub seasons ever isn't enough for me...and 85 wins for a team with a $100 mil payroll is not good. I would expect nothing less from you. Holding his team to high standards? I'd expect nothing less either. Yeah I think Cardinal fans were ready to give back their trophy last year after only winning 83 games during the season. Just find a way in. Yeah but Cards fans don't seem to suffer like we do. They're good fans, support the team well.....but they always have the feeling even if they don't make it they'll be back next year. For us every September we're in it is like staring out across a chasm. You either make that jump to the other side, or you fall to your death for all time.

I would have needed to predict that Yost would drill Pujols before I could predict that the Cards would drill MILW :wink:

Bah just cave in and admit it's stupid. :lol:

Can we just win one and they lose one on the same day so my head doesn't explode? Thanks.

Yeah all those years in Tampa add up.....

Even if the experience tells you definitively that you are playing one of the weakest defensive catchers in the league? I'm not with you [-( This year Barrett did worse than Kendall and I didn't see too many people yell about that and Barrett may be worse defensively than Kendall too. Really? I saw tons of criticism over Barrett's play. Anyhow, if Barrett was playing like he did earlier and Soto was being left on the bench for reasons of grit, I feel certain I would feel the same way as I do now. Especially in late September.

Being a Cub fan in September brings out the woman in you. I think they might be the most mature posters on this site so this would be a good thing. Probably right. The female sports fans I know are not obsessed, constantly angry and know it alls. :) I'd have to agree on that one.

I actually agree Lou has been good. I just think he's making a terrible mistake here, going against what he normally would do. And I pray it doesn't come back to bite us in a big way.

could you imagine being in his position? if it were a meaningful game and I had a chance to win, of course I am going to go all out. but in a situation like this, how can he just let a lifetime of loyalty to this team go? I know I would not be able to, and might just ask to be seated so as to not cross the integrity of the game. I can't imagine asking to sit rather then bomb to the Cubs going over well in his clubhouse Especially when the team already has a negative opinion of you over a few things you've done. I think if my best friend was pitching for the Marlins today I'd call him up and in no uncertain terms tell him I'm rooting 100% against him. I expect he'd understand. It's just sports after all.

Being a Cub fan in September brings out the woman in you.

Even if the experience tells you definitively that you are playing one of the weakest defensive catchers in the league? I'm not with you [-(

We need a begging emote. You know, like a cute puppy with big, droopy eyes. Please dear LORD Cubs start frakin winning.

LOL, not that it's a suprise. Oh yea, there's a 3-run Miggyjack waiting for Trax today, for absolute certain. We simply can't beat this team. 9 losses in a row, dating back to last season. It's surreal. What if we sabotage the Marlins team bus so they can't get to the stadium? Do you think they might forfeit? I think I can make a flight down there in time if I leave right now 8-) I'll do a couple nights in jail to get this team a win against these clowns.