Transmogrified Tiger

Hill blocks = 4 = Arkansas Points

A couple of those finishes Calloway had yesterday were obscene.

I agree with you, but my overall point was that you can't dismiss Rusch as being a horrible starter when his stats show that in the NL central he is an above avg. 5th starter. And it is possible that the other options the Cubs have could actually be worse than Rusch (like last year). Sometimes I think it is too easy to make over uninformed over-generalized statements about role players like Rusch. How do the statistics show he is an above average 5th starter? I haven't looked at them compared to the league, but I find it hard to believe that Rusch's 90ish ERA+, 1.4 - 1.5 WHIP, and lack of noteworthy peripherals would rank that well. Believe it or not if you look at the NL Central the Cardinals are the only team that had a better 5th starter based on ERA. Houston #4 - Backe 4.76 ERA WHIP 1.46 #5 - Rodriquez 5.53 ERA WHIP 1.46 #5 - Astacio 5.67 ERA WHIP 1.54 Reds #2 - Milton 6.47 ERA WHIP 1.55 #3 - Ortiz 5.36 ERA WHIP 1.50 #4 - Clausen 4.21 ERA WHIP 1.41 #5 - Hudson 6.38 ERA WHIP 1.57 Pirates #1(?) - Wells 5.29 ERA WHIP 1.57 #2 - Redman 4.90 ERA WHIP 1.37 #3 - Perez 5.85 ERA WHIP 1.67 #4 - Williams 4.41 ERA WHIP 1.41 #5 - Fogg 5.05 ERA WHIP 1.47 Brewers Santos 4.57 ERA WHIP 1.50 Ohka 4.35 ERA WHIP 1.37 Glover 5.57 ERA WHIP 1.45 Obermueller 5.26 ERA WHIP 1.69 Sorry, I didn't notice you said Central and not just central. Rusch's career numbers or numbers from last year put him either barely in the top 80(5 starters) or at the bottom of the NL among starters.

I agree with you, but my overall point was that you can't dismiss Rusch as being a horrible starter when his stats show that in the NL central he is an above avg. 5th starter. And it is possible that the other options the Cubs have could actually be worse than Rusch (like last year). Sometimes I think it is too easy to make over uninformed over-generalized statements about role players like Rusch. How do the statistics show he is an above average 5th starter? I haven't looked at them compared to the league, but I find it hard to believe that Rusch's 90ish ERA+, 1.4 - 1.5 WHIP, and lack of noteworthy peripherals would rank that well.

If Washington holds on I'll be second to UMFan in the facebook pool after day one. I have no idea what's going on with the Yahoo group, they're slow to update. I've got 13 after the first day.

None of that is true. What sense would it make to put the US in one of those pools with Canada and Mexico bordering us, and South Africa having to go somewhere? Umpires that screw American opponents at every opportunity? That's ridiculous.

You had them beating Duke? I like UNCW, too, but that seems a little outrageous. Meh, not particularly. I also figured that even if they lost GW had a pretty good shot at Duke too. Plus I really don't like Duke/Redick/Coach K/etc so that topped if off for me.

What are Pierre's numbers? irrelevant. he's a LEGITIMATE leadoff hitter. He must be one of the ones that spring training doesn't count for. Nolasco...*sniff*

At their current pace, the final score of the UW-Utah State game will be 16-0.

Because we have someone not good enough to manage anywhere else running the team. Wells shatters his bat for a DP.

I'd bet good money Wells doesn't walk.

You're pinch running for A-ROD? What is wrong with you Martinez? Are you that paranoid of the order coming back around to the pitcher's spot in the 11th inning?

WHY IS CHIPPER STILL AT FIRST BASE?

PINCH RUN

I think Air Force has to run line drills after the game for every two point shot they take.

I'm really disappointed Wilmington lost. First sweet 16 team I've lost.

Did you ever hear me say we need a 3rd shortstop or a 3rd catcher? I never said we did. Bullpen guys are trained to be effective for an inning or two at the most. With only 4 starters, why make all of your bullpen arms guys who only have the capability to pitch an inning or two when a guy might be needed to pitch 4 or 5? I'll make a wager with you right now that the Cubs WILL NOT handicap the team going into this season with only 4 starters and nothing but short relievers. It's not going to happen. And why won't it happen? And if you think it will happen, what shall the wager be? How can you possibly bet on that? What's this talk of only short relievers? My point is about the total in the pen. I can't even tell what you're arguing anymore.

When was the last time the Cubs DIDN'T have a long man in the bullpen for security? I don't know. Either way, you don't save a spot specifically for a longman. Especially not when you have 7 relievers. If things get off to a rough start, go ahead and make some moves. But you don't purposefully handicap your roster because of hypotheticals. It's not purposefully handicapping your roster because of hypotheticals. It's being prepared. What if Neifi and Cedeno both get hurt in the same game? Who's going to play SS? You can't possibly cover every hypothetical situation, and a 6 men pen does plenty to cover all except the most extreme hypotheticals, especially with the ability to recall extra arms between games.

I would agree with all of this. He's made some good trades. His signings have been questionable. You shouldn't have been surprised And I would add that we still have to look at the overall picture, and not just rate certain trades, signings or other moves. And I find it hard to say the overall job has been anything but disappointing. And I would agree with all of that except to say that the overall job has been disappointing with extenuating circumstances. A GM cannot be held accountable for everything that happens on a baseball team. The game itself is fraught with freak happenings, inches here or there, balls landing on a chalk line, umpires making bad calls. It happens, and sometimes it happens in streaks. Was Patterson supposed to pull an el foldo like he did last season? Was Hendry supposed to see that coming? Was Hendry supposed to see Prior getting hit by a line drive? Was Hendry supposed to see Baker using Dempster in the rotation to start the season? Was he supposed to see Dubois tanking like he did? What about the injuries to and the poor performances from the bullpen? Should/Could Hendry have signed better players in RF and LF last season? Absolutely. Did he blow it by leaving the Cubs hoping that Burnitz and Dubois would get the job done? Yes. But thats not what had the Cubs finish under .500, is it? Have the overall results been disappointing the past two seasons? Of course, but you'd have to admit that there have been a lot of things that have happened that were not easily foreseen. By the same token, the unforseen circumstances would be much easier to manage if the appropriate improvements had been made, across the board. Personnel(corner outfield), management(Baker), and philosophical(international scouting, emphasis on OBP/patience) mistakes/failures have been prevalent for a while now, and Hendry hasn't done much to improve any of those situations in some time.

Sure, you can call someone up, but what good does that do you when you are out of bullpen arms and the game is going to extra innings? This is like the situation with Macias last year. He was lauded as the 3rd catcher, but it was a worthless title. Macias was ALWAYS used before Blanco, so his use as a 3rd catcher was absolutely pointless. The hypotheticals you bring up are pretty far-fetched to be making roster decisions off of.

hahahaha, Harbaugh is INTO this game.

5 quick points and an offensive foul drawn, attaway Marquette Novak again!

I'm looking at 5-2 if Montana and Bama hold on(picked Marquette). No second weekend teams lost yet.

that was a shot.

This analyst's exclamations are the comedic highlight of my day.