XZero771679666304

I bought a copy of MVP 2004 last year, and I have played it maybe 4 or 5 times, because everytime I do, I can't help but think of the Cubs. :x

I wasn't sure the Cubs would make the playoffs, but I was pretty sure they'd win 85+ games. Either way, the Cards fans should stick around, and hopefully help celebrate Baker's firing.

If the Cubs get swept, Baker will need to wear riot gear in the dugout.

Trust me, we're all used to this type of season by now. We couldn't call ourselves Cub fans if we said we didn't expect this to happen. The fact that NO ONE on this board has ever seen a Cubs championship will do that to you. Stick around, Cards fans make this board interesting. It's fun to argue about Carlos Zambrano's childish antics and Jim Edmonds new shade of eyeliner. :lol: Three years ago, I would have expected this. I did not expect this, and I am not the least bit okay with it. I fully expect to contend next year, provided Dusty is gone. In the last 20 years, this is by far the most talent the Cubs have had.

I know Hendry has sold the team short, but seeing the Cards mop up with scrubs really puts the notion that Dusty has done the best he could out to pasture, IMO.

Eckstien vs. Zambrano would be highly amusing, very short, and would likely result in a prolonged hospital (or morgue) stay. As for the series, (I never thought I'd say this) I just want the Cards to completely destroy the Cubs. Finish us off so we can get Dusty and his entourage out of here and get to the business of competing for a division title in 2006. It's sad and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope the Cards absolutely kill us this weekend. I'm talking 20-0 every game. Maybe then the Cubs will shut down Wood for the year, play the young kids to see what they've got, and maybe, just maybe fire Baker. In related news, I just read a Baker quote in the Sun-Times in which he said that he has three more weeks before he thinks about whether the team is out of it or not. I wonder what the weather is like in Dustyland.

Eckstien vs. Zambrano would be highly amusing, very short, and would likely result in a prolonged hospital (or morgue) stay. As for the series, (I never thought I'd say this) I just want the Cards to completely destroy the Cubs. Finish us off so we can get Dusty and his entourage out of here and get to the business of competing for a division title in 2006.

Jerome got really out of shape last year, and it has affected his performance and stamina. On of the things the Giants were working on and the Cubs need to keep up on is getting him back in good shape. If his conditioning improves, so will his performance, IMO.

Get him out so the kids can play for the rest of the season.

Jesus Christ, IMB. You have absoloutley no idea of my skill level, whatsoever. And untill you do, just stop spewing out trash like that. You have no clue in the world what kind of fighter I am. It is increadably insulting to me that I have been taking martial arts for ten years and you come out with this crap saying that if I ever got into a real fight I'd have no idea what to do. Maybe, just maybe, he is just trying to get your roasted goat. Your point is exactly right, he doesn't know your skill level. Thus, the likely conclusion is that he is teasing you. Don't get worked up over it. *sigh* I'm a bit jumpy right now. Long day at work. If you were of age, I'd suggest a stiff drink. Always helps me after a long day of work or a long day of Cubs losing as has been the case for every day the past week. Shoot, the best time for a stiff drink is when you are Roast's age. It just stops being fun after you turn 21.

I'm outta here. See you guys for tomorrows debacle.

Even if Beltran was available, the team didn't have the budget to sign him following the Sosa trade. Beltran is being way overpaid by the Mets because they wanted to make themselves appear serious to other free agents. We are still eating the majority of Sosa's contract on that one and would not have matched the Mets offer. Not that we should have even if we could have. Beltran isn't producing near enough to justify his contract.

actually after being "this close" to the series, he made a ton of additions (2003->2004). AFter the complete failure of that team down the stretch, he didn't add, but subtracted (2004->2005). they added maddux. they did not add a clsoer. they did not add a lead off man..they added an injury riddle shortstop at break(after needing it all year) from a team that didn't want him anymore. they added perez and macias and grieve...so on...what i mean is what of substance did he add. what hole did he fill...heck the freakin' devil rays add players every year that doesn't mean they are fixin' the team. After 2004 Hendry suggested Dempster as the closer. Hendry suggested Ryan again in ST, and it looked like they were going to go with him, but Dusty decided at the last minute to start Ryan and go with Hawkins. Many lost games later, Ryan was the closer, and guess what? He's been pretty damn good. How was that Hendry's fault again? I thought you said both guys are at fault. But to answer your question, I blame managers and GM for decisions or lack of decisions made. What were some of the alternatives considering the reason why Dempster had to start was because we were without Prior and Wood to start the season? I did say both guys were at fault, but not for every individual thing. :roll: How many starts did Prior miss in April? 2? Why was Hawkins the closer into May? We didn't need to leave Hawk in to see he couldn't do it. Rusch didn't start a single game in April, so there's no reason Ryan had to be in the rotation. None.

If Hendry really believes what he has been saying about Baker, they'll both be gone, unless someone forces Jim's hand.

I agree to a degree. Either way, house cleaning is in order. This team is tainted.

actually after being "this close" to the series, he made a ton of additions (2003->2004). AFter the complete failure of that team down the stretch, he didn't add, but subtracted (2004->2005). they added maddux. they did not add a clsoer. they did not add a lead off man..they added an injury riddle shortstop at break(after needing it all year) from a team that didn't want him anymore. they added perez and macias and grieve...so on...what i mean is what of substance did he add. what hole did he fill...heck the freakin' devil rays add players every year that doesn't mean they are fixin' the team. After 2004 Hendry suggested Dempster as the closer. Hendry suggested Ryan again in ST, and it looked like they were going to go with him, but Dusty decided at the last minute to start Ryan and go with Hawkins. Many lost games later, Ryan was the closer, and guess what? He's been pretty damn good. How was that Hendry's fault again?

I suppose you think Dusty did the best he could? :roll: Who is more responsible, the guy who builds the half-assed ship, or the guy who pilots it into the rocks? Both are responsible. I pointed out quite a few example of how Dusty alone cost us games, and I challenge you to refute them. I am not trying to absolve Hendry, but saying this is all his fault is ridiculous. There is no one scapegoat for this mess.

Well, Williamson only threw 12 pitches yesterday. Hopefully Dusty yanks him if he gets into trouble. Williamson shouldn't have been in there yesterday, and you could tell by how he threw. This is 4 times in 6 days. No excuse. None. I wouldn't put Williamson out there either, but somebody has to pitch, and there's still the 8th and 9th. Out of the inning with 15 pitches. Hopefully he gets at least a day off, hopefully 2. Novoa hasn't pitched in 2 days, Wood 1, Rusch 1. Between those three and Dempster, I'm sure we could have gotten 3 innings.

As would I. But Baker has to know Williamson and Wood's situations, as well as Fox's. You shouldn't be in a position where you have to protect your players from your manager.

8-1

Well, Williamson only threw 12 pitches yesterday. Hopefully Dusty yanks him if he gets into trouble. Williamson shouldn't have been in there yesterday, and you could tell by how he threw. This is 4 times in 6 days. No excuse. None.

Dusty Baker wants another Chad Fox episode? Williamson could be huge for us next year. I am nearing meltdown point now.

WTF is Williamson doing in the game?! WTF. Dusty is going to Fox him for sure. Screw Dusty. Screw him stright to hell.

We may not have been champs, but this team would have won a lot more games with a good manager, there is little doubt of that. Both are accountable. I don't know how you can say little doubt of that. Have you seen the bullpen's ERA all season? Have you noticed how many games they've lost in the 8th inning this year. It's okay for you to hate Baker, but no manager would have turned Burnitz into a .310/370 hitter, no manager would've prevented Barrett from throwing to third too early. The OBP of the team wouldn't have been better and Maddux would've still had the same kind of season under a different manager. This team is bad because of the players, manager, and bad decisions by the GM equally. I don't know how you can think Dusty hasn't cost us games. For example, how about if Dempster started the season as closer (as Hendry suggested before ST), Rusch had started from the beginning (when he was awesome), and Hawkins and Fox (had Dusty not ruined him) set up Ryan. There's 6-7 games, at least. Dusty decided at the last minute to throw LaTroy back into a role everyone knew he couldn't handle. Dusty ran Fox out there three days in a row when he shouldn't even have pitched back to back early in the season, and watched Fox throw 30 pitches in a blowout on a night when he had nothing until his elbow failed (watch him do the same thing to Williamson, who shouldn't even have pitched yesterday....wait..."I'm not a doctor, dude"). Or how about if Walker had been leading off after he came off the DL instead of the pitiful duo of Patterson/Perez, while Lee was still hot? Or batted Ramirez behind Lee for protection? Or Benched Neifi for Cedeno after a month of Neifi with a sub-.600 OPS? Or played Dubois while he was hot instead of watching Holla nearly go 0-for April? Or had clue one about how to manage a pitching staff? GAH. How can anyone sit there and even suggest the Cubs would have the same record with a good manager? It's inconcieveable. Hendry sold the team short, for sure. But there is no mistaking that Bakers total imcompetance has cost us as much.

This year is lost. I have been as optimistic as anyone, but there is a point when reality sets in. Baker going will not save this season, you are right. At this point, nothing could.And you couldn't be more right saying he must not be brought back next season.