Soul

Boston gets the snub, #5. Good, they were deliberately tanking games anyway. Serves them right.

Haha, I like the colorful language. Seriously though, I am afraid of Benson getting hurt or developing an attitude problem or something. I think there's very close to 0% chance that Harris will be ineffective. He says he's 100% now -- probably not true, but he will be by the season for sure. He's not going to lose much off his pop, he's still very young and remember, there's still potential for him to get bette. Don't worry about Mike Brown. It's 100% he will get hurt, so there's no sense getting upset about it. If Gould can't kick, then we pick up another guy off the scrap heap, just like Gould in the first place. Kickers are like cicadas 8-) 8-)

Quite. So I guess the Aardsma trade was a net win for the Sox? He's at least still around, and I don't hear a lot of negativity over him coming from the South Side.

Of course he has. When you're dealing with this organization expect anything possible..anything. Yes. Closer though -- this is no middle relief role. As closer, Guzman's talents could benefit us as much or more than as a 5th starter who only makes it on the field 2, 3 times a month. The big problem is, I don't think we've got a good 5th starter option right now. I guess the plan is to hope Marshall will be good enough for a couple starts, then Dempster will be ready. That sounds pretty flaky to me, but then again my job's not on the line Lou's is.

Damn Pistons took the lead again. Now you know our pain, Cavs fans.

I'm guessing you are exaggerating a bit. I read about him a couple times. It seems the writers are making a conscious decision to not talk about the so-called QB controversy though, realizing what a waste of time it is to ask for the millionth time whether or not Lovie is thinking about bringing in Griese. Could be. I wasn't reading things very closely, but it seemed that everything was Hester-related. Well it's definitely been limited. I wonder how he's handled the Super Bowl. I'd bet he's just been working his ass off with the new coaches to get better and gain the consistency that's keeping him from being a very good QB. I'm pretty sure any and all notions of Rex being 'emotionally scarred' from the Super Bowl are figments of the media & fans' imagination. He's a tough kid, and ultimately here's how he's going to think about it: I finally got a chance to start an entire season, and look I made it to the Super Bowl. And really, why shouldn't he think that way? When he was on, he was good. We've had that defense for longer than Rex was the starter. Rex's good performances were much appreciated, and if he had 8 of them then that's exactly 8 more than we ever got with any of those other bozos we've had. Without Rex I'll guarantee we play the NFC Championship game in New Orleans, at the very least.

it's not It's such a safe copout to just say "Z is great, he's going to be rich and continue to be great." Then if Z bombs out or needs arm surgery you can just act all shocked and say "it's such a shame, but I think he'll return to form and be great!" I mean come on. The guy is struggling mightily out there. Thanks for the lack of insight, Steve, but most Cub fans are trying to debate what the reasons might be that Zambrano is not great at the moment, not kiss his butt and avoid the debate by saying he's going to be great again someday. His comments about arm angle are old, and not likely to explain everything given he's had months to fix it now with no success. That's just ridiculous non-substantial time-filler. Phillips does this alot. I've noticed Kennedy does, too, for Fox.

Not. Even. Close. Do more periods constitute more emphasis? I don't understand this style. Yes. It. Does.

That was my point. Eyre has been a lot worse. I agree, but given the contractual situations, and the fact that Cotts really hasn't done anything to make this move seem completely unfair, then I'd say it's justified. Eyre can't be sent down. He's got a much better track record and has been more effective overall, and against lefties in recent years. This is all part of the problem with signing veteran relievers to the deals Jim handed them, it leaves you with little flexibility to deal with the inevitable inconsistent ups and downs of a middle relievers. This still sucks. Eyre better start doing some roids or somethin'

Well think of it this way. He's already contributed more than Airese Currie 8-)

Yes, I think we're rapidly approaching the point of inevitability with Z leaving the Cubs. Maybe we're all wrong, I don't know.

Masset's been highly touted true. Some of these other bums though man. There's got to be an advance scouting deficiency in play, at least a little bit.

Hmmm... Not that I agree with it, but I would consider being moved to starter a promotion, not 'losing my job.'

And you call yourself a Cub fan? Hang 'em first!!! Ask questions later!!! My way or the highway!!! Get with the program, buddy!!! I'm not sure you're allowed to post here unless you know everything. Haha. Sometimes I feel "getting with the program" around here would involve spending hours burying my nose in stat sheets and stat guru books. Just not something that I find an enjoyable use of my time. :wink:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/394457,CST-SPT-cub21.article Dempster as a starter is a terrible move. I wonder if he'll at least be better than Miller. My sense is yes, marginally, but still not good. I also wonder if he'll burn out his arm since he hasn't started in a long time. The problem is, Guzman to closer doesn't address or help our middle relief situation, does it? That's where the real wrench in the works lies. I must admit, I'm basically thoroughly confused at this point. I guess I'll just have to wait to how it all shakes out.

what's his line drive percentage? Even with a league average BABIP, would his numbers be any good? BABIP is not a hitters stat. His LD% is about 20. It's similar to last year, and if he had last year's BABIP he'd be hitting about .275/.340/.360 plus XBH's from the additional hits he got from his BABIP leveling out. Just for the record, I don't want it to seem like I hate CPatt. I don't and wouldn't mind seeing him succeed. But it still looks like he's not making any improvements to me. I'm more or less just reacting on the disappointment I still feel over him. I mean this guy was supposed to be our star CF for the next 10 years. He was a big-time organizational disappointment, not just another guy who didn't cut it out of AAA.

His fastball seems a bit slower. I always thought it was around 96. Today it was usually in the 93'ish range. Not a huge drop, but I'm struggling here to find a reason for Z's suckage. I'm not totally on the injury wagon, but I'm getting close to climbing on board. Something's wrong beyond just forgetting how to throw a baseball. He's been doing that forever.

I'm with CT. It's fun. Yeah, its the baseball version of Puddy and Eileen from Seinfield. On again, off again in a moments time. The fun's only just begun if he moves Dempster into the rotation and he gets slaughtered. The fans in this town, man they can be great but something like this? It will be noted and held against Lou pretty much forever.

I'm with CT. It's fun.

Maybe the reporters just kept asking question after question, and then Dempster said something he shouldn't have. I don't remember the exact contents of the interview, but it could have just been Lou asking him if he would be willing to be a starter, not a confirmation that he was going to be.

What the hell? CSN now says he's back in the pen...but Dempster was just on CSN saying he was starting. Now hes getting close to being the best manager maybe ever. :lol: :lol: Honestly! I never realized how boring Dusty was until recently. Its like Z is running things now. The entertainment value alone at this point is just unimaginable. Guzman back to the rotation, Lilly to the BP to replace Eyre (DFA), then bring up Marshall 'cuz we can, change Dempster to middle relief and make Wuertz the closer. Takers? 8-)

What the hell? CSN now says he's back in the pen...but Dempster was just on CSN saying he was starting. Now hes getting close to being the best manager maybe ever. :lol: :lol:

Guzman still going to pen. Dempster confirmed in a Comcast interview that he has been asked by Lou to become the 5th starter. Most think it's crazy, I think it's risky.........and that's about it. edit: **whoops** I missed the whole Dempster retraction thing. I really can't be expected to keep up with all this, can I? Sheesh. :shock:

I'm no mind reader, and neither is anyone else. If you want to talk about 'normal' kicks, not short ones, then fine -- say so. You asked if I recall Hester not getting to kicks, I did and pointed out where, and you agreed but then said I was wrong. That didn't seem logical to me, so I simply asked how it was wrong. I would like to end this. So I am done with it. Have a good evening.

So will Eyre be getting his pink slip, even though none of this affects a lefty pitcher? 'Cuz just getting him off this team might actually offset this other crap. He's that bad.