XZero771679666304

How do you know that all the times Hawkins came into the game it wasn't also directed at Dusty Baker? Did you poll the Wrigley fans booing to get an accurate assessment on this? I'm guessing no. I booed Hawkins, but my venom also lied with Baker for bringing in a guy who was likely to lose us the game. Well, there seems to be quite a bit of support for Baker from the casual fan. It seems to me that if fans use up all that energy to chant "Hawkins" and "Hawkins sucks" after he's on another team, and not specifially boo Baker in the same fashoin, their vitriol is quite misplaced. How can you make that assessment on Baker being supported by the casual fan? Based on what? Guess what? Hawkins is no longer a member of this team. He plays for the Giants. He's fair game now completely. I'd love it if the fans would chant the pitchers' names all the time to get into their heads. In that regard, it would be a huge boost in home field advantage. The very fact that Hawkins is on another team should be a reason to boo him less, not more. I have a novel idea, whit not cheer for the Cubs during a rally and not boo and heckle the opposing pitcher? I don't think booing Hawkins got into his head any more than a roaring crowd would have. And at a game, I would estimate that at least 7 out of 10 fans I have talked to don't know who may be better options on the bench, or what a player's statistical trends are, or the finer points of why or why not a player like LaTroy Hawkins should or should not be closer. What they do seem to know is that the Cubs have had back to back winning seasons, and that has coincided with Baker's arrival. To the casual fan, especially the perpetually drunk 20-somethings in the crowd, all that is important is who is winning, who is doing well at that moment, who is/is not popular, and where the beer vendor is. From what I have seen these comprise the vast majority of the booers and hecklers. They seem to view the game in the most general of terms. Now I haven't been to Wrigley since late last year, but I doubt things have changed that much.

How do you know that all the times Hawkins came into the game it wasn't also directed at Dusty Baker? Did you poll the Wrigley fans booing to get an accurate assessment on this? I'm guessing no. I booed Hawkins, but my venom also lied with Baker for bringing in a guy who was likely to lose us the game. Well, there seems to be quite a bit of support for Baker from the casual fan. It seems to me that if fans use up all that energy to chant "Hawkins" and "Hawkins sucks" after he's on another team, and not specifially boo Baker in the same fashoin, their vitriol is quite misplaced.

Those stats are pretty. The emotional scars I incurred while watching his garbage pitching are ugly. The man ruined 2004, plain and simple. If you had a brain tumor and when you went in for the operation the hospital administrations ordered a pediotrist to perform the operation instead of a neurosurgeon and it killed you, who would be to blame, the podiatrist or the hospital admin? Hawkins was never meant to be a closer, and for good reason. Baker and injuries ruined 2004, and Baker is doing his best to ruin 2005. Hawkins sucked, but he sucked at a job he should never have been doing, and that is not his fault. Blaming him is easy, but the real problem is bigger than he is. I'm a Dustybuster all the way. But Hawkins was the one throwing meatballs in crucial situations. I think the surgery comparison is a stretch. Because Hawkins is mentally impaired in pressure situations, and everyone knew that prior to last year. I would bet the ranch that if Hawkins had remained a setup guy and never set foot in the closer's role, we would all love the guy and he'd still be a fixture in the bullpen. LaTroy was a filthy and dominant setup man, but a piss poor closer. I don't know why Dusty had to ruin the guy and our playoff chances just to learn what everyone else already knew. If I had to assign blame for the Hawkins-as-closer fiasco, I'd assign it this way: Hawkins 5% Hendry 15% Baker 80%

I don't agree with booing, but if people are going to do it they should excercise some brain power when they do it. Booing the players is stupid and pointless, especially with this team. It will not improve anyone's performance, and makes no difference whatsoever. Now if the people who were out there booing and heckling had brain one in their heads, they'd boo Dusty Baker. Boo him mercileesly. Show Hendry that everyone knows that Dusty's managing is hurting the team. LaTroy, Corey...both poor performances can be directly or indirectly attruibuted to Baker's mismanagement. People are so eager to boo, but they are booing the wrong people. Lambasting Baker may make some kind of difference. Booing the players will never have any positive effect.

Those stats are pretty. The emotional scars I incurred while watching his garbage pitching are ugly. The man ruined 2004, plain and simple. If you had a brain tumor and when you went in for the operation the hospital administrations ordered a pediotrist to perform the operation instead of a neurosurgeon and it killed you, who would be to blame, the podiatrist or the hospital admin? Hawkins was never meant to be a closer, and for good reason. Baker and injuries ruined 2004, and Baker is doing his best to ruin 2005. Hawkins sucked, but he sucked at a job he should never have been doing, and that is not his fault. Blaming him is easy, but the real problem is bigger than he is.

I've been on board with this idea since we aquired him.

We need a bullpen transplant. (Dempster excluded) This is just awful , and has been.

if he'd get a chance to play regularly then maybe he'd do better The problem is that Dusty will use his performance today to justify (in his mind) cutting his PT even more.

Ari 27 LOB, ChC 12 LOB But Miguel left 11 all by himself.

I think we need to upgrade to 8th inning sorcery.

All these LOB today reminds me that Miguel Tejada left 11 men on base last night. That's right, 11 LOB. :shock:

Saw a lot of that from Gerut in Cleveland.

Murton was pulled an inning ago.

I think Neifi was bunting for a hit, and he nearly got it.

Hollandsworth has been nothing short of abysmal lately. Just awful.

Watch Holla K.

It certainly does. But when Williamson comes back and if Hendry can get a guy like Affeldt at the deadline, the complexion of the pen could really change.

Isn't it just awesome?

&*&*&*^^*&$%^&^&*^&*^*&^*% :x :x :evil: :evil:

No, but when Dusty is filling out the lineup cards any mistake Ronnie makes is really magnified. Neifi can do no wrong. :roll:

Cedeno has not helped his cause at all today. :x

Okay, if we can't score Gerut here I am going to flip out.

Gerut takes some pitches and ropes a double to left. Nice to see.

Williams didn't have much control out there today, and he maximized what he did have pretty well.

Sliding into first is the stupidist thing ever.