Transmogrified Tiger

if the tradeoff was that we could have fontenot instead of macias, but if the situation came up where we had to forfeit a game due to need of a third catcher due to injury, id still get rid of macias. when's the last time we needed a third catcher? do we have a fourth catcher? anytime we'd need a third catcher, it'd probably be in extra innings, and macias undoubtedly would've already botched an important pinch hitting opportunity earlier in the game. if macias is so valuable as a third catcher, does that mean we should never use him, just in case we should need him in the bottom of the 14th? This is a very good point. Macias is ALWAYS used before the 2nd catcher, so the only time where he would be used is if the starter got hurt real early, and the backup got hurt again. It's not worth it to keep him on the roster, especially since Macias isn't exactly a catching whiz himself. CUBZ99, I've said on more than one occasion that I think that Fontenot's ceiling is as a utility player and spot starter. Therefore, I don't think it's "hurting his development" to try him out in the role that he will likely play if he makes the big league club. This is not the case for other players(Cedeno for example) who have the potential/ability to play everyday for a big league ball club.

For all the talk about his batting average, he's still got a 660 OPS. Going by RC/G, I took a look at NL players with at least 100 PAs(Macias has 106) that are worse than Macias. They are as follows: Chris Snyder C Raul Mondesi(released just under 2 months ago) OF Dustan Mohr OF Danny Ardoin C Jason Grabowski OF Chad Moeller C Yorvit Torrealba C Marquis Grissom(DFA'd after the deadline) OF Cristian Guzman SS So, you have 4 backup catchers, 2 outfielders, and the worthless Guzman as the NL players worse than Macias. I think we could do better, Mike Fontenot is only a phone call away.

someone mentioned elsewhere here that guzman could be put on the 60 day. if he's been shut down for the year though, why didnt they already do this? I'm pretty sure he's going to start pitching soon, although I don't know to what effect. CUBZ99, you're probably right that Hairston will go to the 60-man.

Even with Hairston getting hurt, someone still has to be dropped from the 40-man with Williamson and Nomar coming off the 60-day DL.

i cant see murton ever hitting for enough power to be compared to giles at all I think everyone underestimates Murton's power potential. From reports, he puts on a show at times in batting practice. I fully expect Murton to develop into a decent power hitter. While not 40 dingers, 25-30 isn't out of the question. I'd say that 25-30 HR is quite a stretch. If he can maintain his power from AA, then he may become an above average corner OF. The thing is, Murton is a good guy for a good team to plug into the lineup to see if he'll pan out. the problem is, the Cubs offense has too many holes for my liking to take that gamble. He may be the best option for a corner OF spot, but if that's the case, it probably isn't good for the Cubs.

The problem with that is if you take away a day of rest from Prior and Z, they are less likely to go late in the game.

You just can't expect this to happen season after season. We waited for the Cardinals to "come back down to earth" last year, it didn't happen until the World Series. Houston is playing good baseball, they're getting great pitching, some timely hitting and executing fundamental baseball. Why would anyone expect that to stop? Plus they have the experience of last season when they went on a run to come within a game of the World Series. The Cubs, as presently constructed, are not capable of stringing together a long winning streak or two to make a serious run at the WC. I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak. The Cardinal pitchers were seemingly "pitching above their talent level" last season. We waited and waited for their staff to come back to earth, then we would pass them...never happened. So why would the Astro's talent level cause them to start losing all of a sudden? They may not be as talented as this Cub team but they are supplementing it with hard work, fundamental baseball and yes, a little bit of luck. It happens in sports, the most talented teams don't always win, history is littered with teams that made the extra effort to overcome their deficiencies and beat the odds. Houston has been playing well for about a month and a half, I hardly call that a hot streak. As for examples, find your own. It most certainly is a hot streak. You're the one who made the claim that they were playing fundamental baseball, with hard work. Where's the proof of that? I ask, because it seems like people just assume a cliche like fundamentals every time a team does well. It's certainly possible the Astros are playing great fundamental baseball, which I'm not exactly sure what it is to begin with. However, to simply assume something like that because they are winning isn't right IMO.

According to this http://highboskage.com/daily-stats/special-data/team-defense.shtml We are behind St. Louis, Mil. and Houston in team defense... I recall the stat of the day the other day at BP being NL fielding efficiency, and I'm pretty sure the Cubs were second. Just showing you where I got that from.

That's an incredibly unfair statment to make. You can't just say a team has no heart because their close wins are because the other team screwed up. That's how the majority of close wins happen.

The Cubs are 2nd in the NL in fielding efficiency IIRC(maybe 3rd). They can field. Let's not let a week or two of close games cloud or memory of what has gone on all year.

The decision to steal third is plenty different than neglecting to cover first base as a pitcher.

You just can't expect this to happen season after season. We waited for the Cardinals to "come back down to earth" last year, it didn't happen until the World Series. Houston is playing good baseball, they're getting great pitching, some timely hitting and executing fundamental baseball. Why would anyone expect that to stop? Plus they have the experience of last season when they went on a run to come within a game of the World Series. The Cubs, as presently constructed, are not capable of stringing together a long winning streak or two to make a serious run at the WC. I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak.

(Insert reference to Morris throwing at Lee's head last year here) Seriously though, I don't care about that^.

I see what you're saying, but this isn't basketball where he needs to get his stamina up. If he's feeling good enough to play 5-7 innings, he's good enough to play 9.

Heh, I didn't see the play, but the Michael Barrett trashing is a little extreme. He's one of the top offensive catchers in the game, and I think that catchers take too much credit/blame for pitch calling because the coaches do a good deal of it. Barrett is one of the least of our problems, despite whatever fundamental mistake he made tonight.

Everyone say thank you to Pat.

actually, Dusty's walking them loaded to get to Burrell... I don't like throwing 8 consecutive balls on purpose to get to a situation where you can't walk someone. Utley's not very good against LHP, pitch to him, then walk Abreu. Setting up this little margin for error is not smart.

Walking Utley to get to Abreu? That's dumb, I don't care if the double play gets set up.

I haven't seen any of this game, and have only been following the last inning + on Gameday, but I have this question. Was it really necessary to double switch the crap out of the pitchers spot like it has been tonight?

cedeno is widely regarded to have excellent to gold glove caliber defense at shorstop. it is, after all, the first time he's ever played in the big leagues. i would cut him some slack. Especially since he has a total of one error in the major leagues.

Welcome to the Forum! Great first post.

Neifi probably isn't a good enough baseball player to warrant being on most Major League Baseball teams. It's criminally stupid to put him on a Dusty Baker managed team.

He has time to turn into Wade Boggs. Didn't he spend something like 7 years in the minors before getting his shot? Not Burroughs, he was in the majors at 21. I'd say that he projects to be a Bill Mueller.

That's one way to look at it(also the way I look at it). However, the casual fan could say "Hey, he's still able to pitch at a decent level(insert comment about wins here). He's stabbing us in the back by not honoring his contract."

Not going to happen. Even with the injuries that St. Louis has there is no way that Houston catches them. Welcome to the Forum! I agree.