Mark Priors Calves

Does anybody else see this thread balloon to 35 pages by 6 am?

I'm very puzzled by this move. I have to think this is a precursor to something bigger with this organization. We'll have to look back on this night in two weeks to make a proper judgement based upon what happens in the next two weeks.

Ramirez finished barely hitting 100 pitches on the afternoon. Unbelievable.

If any player is going to start both games why would it be Neifi Perez as it appears to be right now? I can't see Cedeno starting both games at SS and I'd imagine Perez will move back to SS for game 2. Walker/Hairston or even Macias will play 2B in the second game.

I'm guessing this post is directed at me. Thanks, tbird, I went ahead and checked the stats for both Dubois and Macias as pinch hitters. Dubois-OPS in 12 AB's is .667 Macias-OPS in 30 AB's is .591 Neither of them are any good but your argument that Dusty made the right decision is completely off base. not to mention that one has power and one doesn't, or that one hits flyballs (which would score a runner) while the other is a groundball machine. Or that one stikes out 3 times as much as the other. Give it up on Dubois already. He is not a better option than Macias as a PH in that situation. The guy hits .167 as a PH and has a huge problem making contact. Power is no good if you can't hit the ball. Dubois has never proven himself as a pinch hitter because he's never been a pinch hitter before this season. Macias is a career utility player and he still can't pitch hit well. I'll take Dubois .667 OPS pinch hitting over Macias .591 anyday. And I'll take Dubois .783 season OPS over Macias .613. I'll take my chances with Dubois in that situation last night even with his high strikeout rates and lowing pinch hitting batting average. There's no excuse to use Macias as the first pinch hitter off the bench. The Cubs needed contact in that situation. So Dusty could take player D who strikes out 1 out of every 3 times AB and was hitting .220 over the last 2 months or player M who stikes out 1 out of 10 times and was hitting .270+? Most people with common sense would take player M. For some reason Macias has drawn the ire of alot of posters on this board because they expect more out of a 25th man. I agree with you that Dubois has been striking out at an amazing rate this season but I'd still go with him in that spot, at least I'd take him over Macias. I have been very critical of Macias and will continue to be as long as he fails to perform. As you mentioned, I expect a lot more of out him because he is no longer/never was the 25th man according to Dusty Baker. To be the first guy off the bench in a huge spot to get back in the game, you no longer are considered the 25th man. A pinch hitter should be used in that spot that should be your best bat off your bench. Jose Macias is not the best bat off this horrible bench.

I'm guessing this post is directed at me. Thanks, tbird, I went ahead and checked the stats for both Dubois and Macias as pinch hitters. Dubois-OPS in 12 AB's is .667 Macias-OPS in 30 AB's is .591 Neither of them are any good but your argument that Dusty made the right decision is completely off base. not to mention that one has power and one doesn't, or that one hits flyballs (which would score a runner) while the other is a groundball machine. Or that one stikes out 3 times as much as the other. Give it up on Dubois already. He is not a better option than Macias as a PH in that situation. The guy hits .167 as a PH and has a huge problem making contact. Power is no good if you can't hit the ball. Dubois has never proven himself as a pinch hitter because he's never been a pinch hitter before this season. Macias is a career utility player and he still can't pitch hit well. I'll take Dubois .667 OPS pinch hitting over Macias .591 anyday. And I'll take Dubois .783 season OPS over Macias .613. I'll take my chances with Dubois in that situation last night even with his high strikeout rates and lowing pinch hitting batting average. There's no excuse to use Macias as the first pinch hitter off the bench.

I'm guessing this post is directed at me. Thanks, tbird, I went ahead and checked the stats for both Dubois and Macias as pinch hitters. Dubois-OPS in 12 AB's is .667 Macias-OPS in 30 AB's is .591 Neither of them are any good but your argument that Dusty made the right decision is completely off base.

And I thought it couldn't get any worse. This is the lineup is that trotted out there to end a six game losing streak? Against one of the best pitchers in the National League? With one of your best on-base guys on the bench? The two worst hitters at the top of the order? Two very promising rookies rotting on the bench? With the ace of the staff going for the Cubs? Fire him now.

This is freakin' unbelievable.

I love Bobby Abreu but I really don't like that he's 31 years old.

During Tuesday night's broadcast, Santo was really ripping the team for its lack of hitting. He was clearly referring to the bases loaded situation. It's odd to hear him finally something critical of this team, but you can tell it hurts him to do it. He just wants this team to win so bad.

Tuesday, July 5th 2005 Top of the 7th Inning Braves 5 Cubs 1 Cubs are batting with the bases loaded and 1 out. The pitcher spot is up in the lineup and the first pinch hitter off the bench for the night...Jose Macias. Result of the AB: Strike Out Not to fear, that is only the 2nd out of the inning. Bases still loaded. Back to the top of the order...and batting leadoff,again,for the Cubs...Neifi Perez. Result of the AB: Out Result of the Game: Cubs Lose Result of Season: Dusty Sucks

Not necessarily. What if I told you that the Cubs were eyeing Carl Everett? http://home.comcast.net/~jmoon83/uh-oh.wav

Has anyone seen Ronny Cedeno lately?

I've noticed he's being doing that all year and its been discussed here before too. I'm really surprised other teams don't take aggressive action against him. But I'm really suprised by the fact that he's cheating and yet he still sucks. If you're gonna cheat, at least be effective and use it to make you better.

With how bad Sosa is playing right now, its really a blessing for him that he's no longer in Chicago. He would be booed unmercifully at Wrigley and it would be an absolute circus.

Good old Chet Coppock is the one reporting this story originally and the Score picked up it with the disclaimer saying Chet Coppock is the one reporting this.

An interesting second inning of work for Dempster here. Let's hope he can maintain his stuff.

I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett hitting 7th instead of 8th, but I think this is a step in the right direction. I sure hope the two headed LF monster of Hollandsworth and Dubois sure pick up the slack otherwise Ramirez isn't going to see anything close to a get pitch. Then again, if Dusty would put Lee and Ramirez back to back in the 3/4 spots, Burnitz would provide that valuable protection.

Walker is batting 2nd today behind Hairston in the order today against the Nats.

The Score is reporting on their updates that Patterson is sitting today, Hairston is leading off and playing CF, Todd Walker will bat 2nd. Perez is hitting 7th. 'bout damn time, Dusty.

Did Jeter fist pump A-Rod in the face after the fight was winding down?

Do you really want to come back with Prior on three days rest for his third outing coming back from an injury?

Good. Someone within the Cubs organization needs to step up and say it. Patterson has been horrible this year but in no way is Todd Hollandsworth getting anywhere near the production that is needed out of a corner outfield spot. I don't really care what position they play as far as their production is concerned. All I care about is winning games, and it's pretty clear that Todd is helping us to win games more than Corey is. Now, if we can upgrade in left, I'd love to do it, don't get me wrong. But at this point, I don't think the Cubs will contend with Patterson playing everyday. The only reason I mention the importance of the positions is that teams typically look for the corner infield and outfield positions for the huge offensive production. Up the middle being typically defensive stengths.

Good. Someone within the Cubs organization needs to step up and say it. Patterson has been horrible this year but in no way is Todd Hollandsworth getting anywhere near the production that is needed out of a corner outfield spot. which one of our outfielders should be starting on a team that is serious about making the playoffs? Hendry did an absolutely, horrible job this off season. I don't know how this team can be considered a legitmate post season contender with the overall outfield production, Burnitz included too. I know this has been mentioned repeatedly, but without Lee's ungodly season, this team would be dead in the water right now. As Lee has slightly cooled off the past week or so, LF and RF need to pick up the slack for this team to remain a contender.