soccer10k

I started this thread based on the following quote: Now, I know that a good bullpen isn't going to win a World Series for you just by itself. You have to have a good team anyway. But I firmly believe that having a good bullpen is a key to winning. I also thing that if we had our 2006 bullpen back in 2003, that we would have had a better chance to win than we did for a few reasons. 1. With a good bullpen, Baker could have taken out his starters earlier in games during the year and used the pen a little more often and could have spread out the appearances more. I don't like Farnsworth, but he had a decent (not as good as 2001 though) year in 2003, but he and Borowski were the only relievers I trusted. This year I have complete faith in Dempster, Eyre, Howry, and Williamson and if Ohman can return to his 2005 form, I'll have faith in him. That's a big difference. By taking out his starters earlier during the season in 2003 that would have led to... 2. Wood and Prior not being drained in the NLCS. It was obvious that they had run out of gas and if you take off an inning a week, that's about 30 less innings on the season. Then maybe Wood pitches better in Game 7 than he did. And even if Wood and Prior are tired... 3. Dusty has faith in his bullpen and has numerous choices in the eighth inning of 2006 if he wanted to do so. Under the circumstances, I think Dusty made the right move in Game 6 by sending Prior, our ace and Cy Young candidate, out for the eighth because he was better than anyone in our bullpen. But I wouldn't hesitate to put in Howry or Eyre in that situation. But would you put Alfonseca in the game there? How about Remlinger? Absolutely not. The bottom line is, I can't even count how many times our bullpen has choked away quality starts by our relievers in years past. Did Hendry make the best offensive moves in the offseason? No. But he deserves to be given his due for putting together one of the best bullpens in baseball this year and I guarantee that they will save the team numerous times this year. If we make the postseason, I don't think the bullpen will be the sole reason that happens, but I guarantee it will be a big part especially with Lee going down. Bottom line, a good pen is more valuable than one might think.

I'm starting a new thread talking about the importance of a bullpen.

Not to be nitpicky again Fred, but the first stat you have shows the Cubs having played 20 games and the second you have shows we have only played 17 games. The Cubs have played 18 games. Like last time, I may be misinterpreting your stats.

Betancourt singled with two outs in the bottom of the eleventh and the Mariners beat the White Sox.

So wait, you mean to tell me that a team was leading by a very convincing 3-0 margin in the 8th inning, only to have a complete collapse with 5 outs to go and blow the ballgame? Holy crap, sucks to be THAT team. Good thing it wasn't during a more important game like in the playoffs or something - i can only imagine how terrible that would be... I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

Hope so, there aren't many better sights than Jacque positively beaming as he rounds the bases after a big home run. Agreed. Both this home run and the one against the Cards were awesome.

Odds of Z walking a batter in the 3rd?

Apparently, they think the majority of their viewers are Marlins fans tonight. They should know that Marlins fans only show themselves until the second half of September? And that's only if the team is in the playoff hunt. They probably won't show up then either... Meanwhile, Z isn't fooling too many of these guys. I do remember their fans showed up in 2003 late in the year. But I can't tell you how many home games they played when they drew less than 20000 fans and sometimes they wouldn't even draw 10000.

I like when our pitchers give up hits to the opposing teams pitchers. It's always nice to see.

Apparently, they think the majority of their viewers are Marlins fans tonight. They should know that Marlins fans only show themselves until the second half of September? And that's only if the team is in the playoff hunt.

So lets go over what we've seen in the first 30 minutes of the telecast. 1. A 2003 reference 2. A Bartman reference 3. Getting reminded that Willis was drafted by the Cubs 4. Another replay of the Derrek Lee injury play I love ESPN.

That happened to me two years in a row. I picked Mark Bellhorn in 2003 over Mark Prior in the middle of the draft. Then I picked Prior as my #1 in 2004. Then I stopped doing fantasy baseball because of it. Poor Derrek Lee.

It's not the homer that's inexcusable. It's the walk to UGGLA that is. Make them hit their way onto base but don't give out free passes.

And now they show that Willis was drafted by the Cubs. I always love being reminded of that.

It's amazing what happens when you throw strikes.

Let's get Guzman warmed up ASAP. He can't do any worse than Z is.

When the telecast started I told my roommate that the over/under on a Bartman reference was 10 minutes. I took under and I won. It's disgusting. I don't think ESPN can have a Cubs game without mentioning it. I think it was during the Cardinals-Cubs Sunday Night Game a ball was fouled off near the seats and sure enough Morgan mentioned Bartman virtually immediately. BTW, I also called the Cabrera home run to my roommate. And I think I'm going to Vegas right now.

Another walk by Z. Wow, that's a surprise.

When the telecast started I told my roommate that the over/under on a Bartman reference was 10 minutes. I took under and I won.

"Come to Babe Ruth Day. The day when you can feel what it's like to beat the Cubs."

Wow, same here! Move aside, school work. Oh, and someone needs to control Karros' haircut. Agreed. I laughed when I saw him.

Thank you to ESPN for not having Joe Morgan announce this game. BTW we already had a World Series drought mention. I didn't see a Bartman mention though.

I got a chuckle out of that one Jon. Thanks. "He's in the lineup because he's the only one who's really hit well against Vargas." Neifi is 3-3 with a double. Hairston is 1-3 with a double and 3 RBIs. I like it.

Pierre Cedeno Lee Ramirez Walker Barrett Murton Jones You know, if everyone is producing as they can, that almost looks like a solid major league lineup. :D We'll have to wait 8-10 weeks to find out. You could bat Cedeno 2nd against lefties and Walker 2nd against righties. I don't care either way as long as Cedeno continues to produce. It's a problem I don't think anybody would mind having. Here's some interesting splits. Cedeno is 1 for 13 against lefties so far this year for a .077 batting average. Against righties this year Cedeno is 19 for 42 for a .452 average. Walker is 1 for 11 against lefties this year for a .091 batting average. He's 19 for 38 against righties for a .500 batting average. So both have ripped righties this year, and neither has hit lefties very well. So it may not matter who's on the mound for the other team. Wow, that is quite surprising. Thank you for that information.

But the CUBS do so much better when Neifi starts at second !! :wink: Team record by starting second baseman CUBS are 7-4 when Walker starts at 2b CUBS are 1-3 when Hairston starts at 2b CUBS are 2-0 when Perez starts at 2b Oh please don't show those stats to Dusty.