Scott G. F.

I'm actually saying both. Am Ram is not a go-to guy. He's your number 2 or 3 guy but not a team leader sample and plan. So he wilts under pressure when he's alone to carry a team. The others mentioned are finally settling in and getting comfortable playing at Wrigley, and for the Cubs. Playing with for a manager on the hot seat adds off-the-feild pressure not in-game playoff type pressure. So with Hendry saying Dusty is safe for the rest of the season. The off-the-field pressure was relieved. You can tell by the better defense and better concentration at the plate. The Cubs are actually taking pitches and working counts like that haven't been at all this season. So what changed? The obvious answer is the the managerial situation.

Given how've they played w/pressure, that's more damning than anything else. Huh? What does this statement mean? BTW "Pedro" feel free to BOO "AM Ram" when you see it. Okay.

While most of you prattle on and on about how the Cubs whoulda, shoulda, coulda at the beginning part of the season. Looking at the facts of the Cubs the last 8 games it's evident that they are playing with no pressure. The fact that Hendry came out and stated Dusty will remain for the rest of the year is the biggest facter that turned this team around. Look at Am Ram he plays his best ball with zero pressure...looks like a world beater. One question, where was he when the Cubs needed him to step-up when D Lee went down? I know where he was, he was blaming the pitching staff for allowing runs (which they were but still it starts with the man in the mirror). I wrote in a thread not to long ago that Steve Stone observed that for newly aquired players it takes about 1/2 a season to get used to playing during the day and Wrigley and for the Cubs in general. Look at D Lee's first half of the season with the Cubs. The new Cubs first season list include: Cedano Murton Peirre J. Jones Marshall Marmol Mabry Eyre Howry Theroit Pagan Bynum That is a lot of players that started off bad. Add injuries to the Cub "vets" like Prior, Wood, D Lee and now you have to rely on Am Ram, T Walker, Zambo, Maddux, Barrett, Blanco and Neifi. Of the remaining group Am Ram slumped T. Walker was Okay, Barrett was above avg. Blanco was Blanco, Neifi was Neifi. Zanbo started off okay then got great. Maddux started off great then went south. But now JP is htting and stealing bases. JJ is hitting and going opposite field. Am Ram got out of his funk, (with no pressure). Murton and Cedano have had rookie up's and downs, but I like both, both are playing better. Marshall and Marmol are giving the Cubs a chance to win, Barrett is contining his career year (offensively). Blanco is still Blanco and Neifi is still Neifi. I see the Cubs continuing this winning trend for the rest of the year. will they catch anybody? Probably not, but it'll be nice watching Cubs baseball once again. 0.500 by Setp. 11th.

Great series from the Cubs. Not heart break or heart burn. Is this the best weekend for the Cubs this summer? Might be. Could this be the beginning of a good roll for the Cubs to make some noise before the season's end? I hope so. Last weekend it was fun to watch. Usually with 2 men on base you wondered what batter was going to break your heart but over the weekend I though, what batter was next after the current batter got on or moved the runners. The offense has been great. Finally getting hits to bring in runs. The pitching has been great. Quality starts except Hill (mulligan?). Enjoy the 4 game win streak. I ask why not 5,6,7-11? If they play like they did this weekend or even in the last 2 series then why not?

Get the DP!!!

That would make it the Am Ram Series wouldn't it?

Great day for Prior. His arm was still attached to his body and he seemed to leave under his own power. This is good news

da bears: Thanks for the updates Gameday is to slow. I can only hit reload so many times.

Announcers said around 92 mph which is about average for Prior.

Sitting Cedano should be a good thing. It worked for Murton and he has done well since his 'sitting'. Hopefully Cedano uses the time off and gets it back together. Playing the younger guys like Murton and Cedano takes some time for them to adjust. Not many players are like Abert P. from the Cards, were he just fits in easily. Both players still look like keepers over the long term.

Scott, again, are you trying to make my wife a widow? Do you want my head to explode? There is ADDED MOTIVATION right now for other teams to make a run at it, and thus, they are more willing to give up a little more in terms of prospects in exchange for help NOW. The Cubs NEED to take advantage of this and use the opportunity to leverage the trades. Scott, it honestly just seems like you are defending whatever Cubs organization does regardless of logic. Then you top that off with steaming promises of .500-style turnarounds one after the other. The scary part for me is, I think you are not trolling, you are being genuine. Somebody call the looney-bin! I completely agree with the ADDED MOTIVATION the Cubs should have to deal. I agree the Cubs should use the leverage they have now. Many teams really feel that this might be their year and will give a little of their future up to win one this year (I would for the Cubs). Only marginal deals can be made after the deadline. Well take a long look at the Cubs roster. Marginal is all that we have. I'd put Nevin on wavers for a couple of prospects any day of the week. I'd start cashing them in IF Hendry doesn't get the offers that benefit the Cubs before the deadline. The panic thoughts of "Trade everyone" is foolish and GM's that do that usually end up working for ESPN. Hendry has some playing chips this year and it'll be interesting to see what he does with them. He's a seller, no doubt for the first time since the Dusty era. I believe Hendry can turn in some good trades that'll begin building the team for 2007. As for the 0.500 thing. Why not shoot for the golden ring? What do I have to lose in posting it? I'm not trying to piss people off or get into arguements on how they can't blah blah blah. I'm simply stating they it COULD still happen, but time is running out. I don't want this team to be the worst Cubs team ever. I don't want this team to lose 100 games. Big difference from previous years of shooting for the playoff and World Series HUH?

No, it's the date, after which the Cubs won't be making any meaningful trades. You don't trade perceived low end pieces after the deadline, you trade actual low end pieces for crap minor leaguers that don't do anything, just like he did last year. If you want the Cubs to make a significant trade, you better hope it's before July 31. The jist of the thread Gooney is this. Posters thoughout Blogland think Hendry is going to build a World Series Champion by trading Nevin, and Niefi among others, which is completely unrealistic. I believe what Hendry needs to do is to try and fill his most pressing need now. Even one trade, the rest of the season could achieve this. By doing so he can fill in the blanks through FA siging on the off season. He could trade for prospects and try to rebuild the farm system too. No he's not going to make a blockbuster trade. BUT, during the season is the best time to nab someones good prospect for your older vet because teams are trying to make the post season and load up on talent for the WS. So it can improve the team for next year in a way trading in the off-season can't. Think about guys we likely won't resign. Maddux, Nevin, ect. . If you can just get a couple decent prospects for them, you are actually getting something for nothing, because you won't have those players to trade in the off-season. Yeah! Someone get's it. Embrace the nothing!!!!! Obviously you don't get it. If you want to trade for meaningful prospects you better do it before the deadline. Gooney, take a step back and breath a minute. Yes a trade before the deadline would be a great thing. Hip hip hurry, but don't count on it and don't get bent over the fact if Hendry does nothing. I'm not hoping he does nothing. I'm just not going to cry in my beer because he did nothing. Good deal's have been worked out past the deadline. Which appearently you don't agree with. Fine.

Your jist is wrong. I don't know anybody who thinks Hendry is going to build a WSC by trading Nevin and Neifi. He needs to fill his most pressing need, but he doesn't need to trade before the deadline. One trade can fill that most pressing need, but it could be done at any time in the season. What is this most pressing need? How is he going to get it after the deadline? Since when has Hendry ever shown the ability to fill in the blanks with FA signings? That's why people want him to trade before the deadline, because that is when teams desperate to contend this season trade prospects for veterans. So you don't vibe on my gist. Okay.

No, it's the date, after which the Cubs won't be making any meaningful trades. You don't trade perceived low end pieces after the deadline, you trade actual low end pieces for crap minor leaguers that don't do anything, just like he did last year. If you want the Cubs to make a significant trade, you better hope it's before July 31. The jist of the thread Gooney is this. Posters thoughout Blogland think Hendry is going to build a World Series Champion by trading Nevin, and Niefi among others, which is completely unrealistic. I believe what Hendry needs to do is to try and fill his most pressing need now. Even one trade, the rest of the season could achieve this. By doing so he can fill in the blanks through FA siging on the off season. He could trade for prospects and try to rebuild the farm system too. No he's not going to make a blockbuster trade. BUT, during the season is the best time to nab someones good prospect for your older vet because teams are trying to make the post season and load up on talent for the WS. So it can improve the team for next year in a way trading in the off-season can't. Think about guys we likely won't resign. Maddux, Nevin, ect. . If you can just get a couple decent prospects for them, you are actually getting something for nothing, because you won't have those players to trade in the off-season. Yeah! Someone get's it. Embrace the nothing!!!!!

Ha ha http://www.neverendingstory.com/pics1_files/Image047_thb.jpg DOn't fear the nothing

No, it's the date, after which the Cubs won't be making any meaningful trades. You don't trade perceived low end pieces after the deadline, you trade actual low end pieces for crap minor leaguers that don't do anything, just like he did last year. If you want the Cubs to make a significant trade, you better hope it's before July 31. The gist of the thread Gooney is this. Posters thoughout Blogland think Hendry is going to build a World Series Champion by trading Nevin, and Niefi among others, which is completely unrealistic. I believe what Hendry needs to do is to try and fill his most pressing need now. Even one trade, the rest of the season could achieve this. By doing so he can fill in the blanks through FA siging on the off season. He could trade for prospects and try to rebuild the farm system too.

If the Cubs win each series and sweep the 2 Pirate series then Sept 11th. 72-72 Gooney, that's not necessarily true and that depends on your defintion of a good trade is too. If you're thinking a AROD blockbuster then your right. If you're thinking seling off perceievd low end pieces for a greater value to rebild the farm system then July 31st is just a date. I'll be darned. I had the 2nd marked on my calendar for some reason. LOL it's hard holding on to this season. It was the 9th and that feel off the map with the Nationals series. But stranger things have happened.

If the Cubs win each series and sweep the 2 Pirate series then Sept 11th. 72-72 Gooney, that's not necessarily true and that depends on your defintion of a good trade is too. If you're thinking a AROD blockbuster then your right. If you're thinking seling off perceievd low end pieces for a greater value to rebild the farm system then July 31st is just a date.

By "nothing" I mean Hendry did nothing before the trade deadline July 31st. It seems to me that most posters here at NSBB and the bloggosphere, GROTA and BCB et al.. all fear that Hendry will not make any type of trades. I say. So what! Other teams are in need right now the Cubs are not, for this season. Other teams need the bench depth, hitters, runners and glove men for late game defense, which is what the Cubs have. Do they not? I mean that's what goes out to the field everyday. Bench players!!! Other teams need mid relief. The Cubs are rich in that area and should get more then spring time value for them. Other teams should be calling Jim Hendry not the other way around. Granted Jim need to inquire what the other teams needs are. Believe it or not the current Cubs team does have valuable pieces for teams fighting for the playoffs this year. These teams will overpay for them as they should. Farm system gouging happens all the time for the "win now attitiude". Hendry will make some good deals for this team that'll workout. I have faith. After the Soriano thing comes to a head then Nevin and Todd Walker will have an increase in value. Deperation will set in, thus the overpaying. I like Jim Hendry's approach to things. He's playing it cool. Letting the other GM's think about what Hendry counter offered, pissed knowing that when they go back to Hendry in a panic that the deal was just increased because of increased value. This is horse trading people. It's like bikkering with a rug merchant. The cool heads will prevail. I like Hendry in this game. He'll get some good deal done. It just might be after July 31st. Fear not.

That's because you're mainly watching Cubs games. Watch more baseball, and you will see bad teams everywhere experiencing the same problems. Pedro, since the D-Rays are right down the street I have watched them. It seems the Cubs rank very high in the "what just happened there?" catagory. The D-Ray IMO have asuch an upside and are fun to watch even in losing. The Cubs are a tragic Opera over and over. Like listening to "Might Casey" over and over and over again hoping he's going to hit the damn ball or watching and waiting for Charlie Brown to finally kick the ball. Whether chalked up to bad luck or whatever some strange stuff has happened to the Cubs since 2003. Mostly stupid management granted but other things as well.

What's gone right since Bartman? Really not much. Ron Santo lost another leg. Steve Stone was run out of town, Chip smartly left. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have pitched more simulated games then real ones. Mark Prior after coming back gets hit on the "pitching elbow" in a game. Kerry Wood discovers a tare in his throwing should after several MRI's and Authorgrams. So much for the experts!!! D Lee runs in to Raphal Furcal (The one FA "get" Hendry needed in the off season and failed to). Breaks is wrist and is basically out the rest of 2006. LaTroy Hawkins is continually put into the closers role and continues to fail. I liked LaTroy and blame Dusty for his demise. He's a set-up man!!!! Marcis'a made the 2004 and 2005 teams. Neifi is still on the team?!!!! Glendon Rusch climbs out of the grave to reclaim a career then falls back into the grave after siging for big money. Choi, Hill, Jason Dubois, Matt Lawton, Hairston Jr. , Andy Pratt (who's arm nearly came off), Sweaty Joe Boroski, Mike Remlinger, Jeromy Burnitz....All played below levels expected through ineptness, injury or misuse. Cubs don't resign Nomar. Cubs trash Sammy Sosa in the press after gaining permission to leave from Dusty. Ron Santo get's bypassed again for the Hall. This time by his fellow baseball era players. Jim Hendry is extended for 2 years. Cubs sign a lead off hitter 2 years after they needed him the most. Now the Cubs have a lead off hitter with no one to drive him in. Shall I continue? I think we all could.....

Oh please. I'm sure the producers of the "Screamin'" Stephen A. Show are basking in all of the attention that they've received from all the controversy generated by a couple of podunk blogs (no offense to the bloggers, but in the grand scheme of things, your blogs - Deadspin included - qualify as podunk) and a Ted Greenstein article in the Tribune. Consider his ratings, even if only a dozen people who read that article or the blogs watch the show in the future, that could double or triple his audience. Which is why I don't understand why somebody is trying to take on the hero role of saving Dusty from an "ambush". You protect Dusty from critics (even when the likelihood of critics being around was extremely low) and sympathize with Stephan A. Smith at the same time and I just can't much support for your cause. Then why didn't they go to Chicago to do the show, where they would actually have a chance to get people to boo Dusty? why would they have to if they could get them to go to the show in NY? The point is they couldn't. The boo line wasn't going to attract Cubs fans to the show in NY. They didn't try to get people to boo, they said they could if they wanted to. That's like saying that the Tribune is inviting fans to boo at Wrigley simply by allowing them to show up and boo. Somebody is trying to make it look like the producers had this secret plan of flying in 100 Cubs fans to perform a punk'd episode on Dusty, when that isn't even close to the truth. Gooney, Sometimes it's not the crime itself but the cover-up. ESPN sent out e-mails to Cubs blog writers inviting them to the show and to feel free to boo. Most blogger thought that was a stupid thing to do even if it was Dusty Baker. So some blogger call ESPN in it and ESPN and Steven A. Smith lied about it. Flat out lied about the e-mail and said it was a doctored e-mail. It's a publicity grab for a crap show. They were co-oping the Cubs fans dislike for Dusty Baker and trying to convert that in to contraversy, which brings ratings. Kurt from "GROTA" and Len Kasper stopped it from happening. Now you might not agree that Dusty sould be spared this humliation. That's your opinion. But IMO even Dusty Baker, the current Cubs managers, shouldn't have been subjected to that. I, "quite frankly" wouldn't watch either way.

I like what the Cubs seem to be doing in working the counts more. It seemed to me that the begining of the year. Guys hacked at ever first pitch they saw. Now it looks like the Cubs are playing a better brand of baseball aganist some decent teams. I see the nationals not to much better then the Cubs. I hope the Cubs put together a nice winning streak. We haven't seen any of those this year.

Sammy Sosa should have made the top 5 period end of sentence!! No excuse for him not to be there, I'm embarred he isn't.

Thread still relavent as is the September 9th date. Considering the date I posted it. The Cubs have played okay, not great but okay. I'd say their a couple of "game innings" from a winning streak.