Crash

It was the Kap and Waddle Show. David Kaplan was ranting about the Cubs. From the part I heard he had some good points and some bad ones. - He was calling for wholesale change from Team president to manager. - He was saying that the orginzational philosphy for pitchers has to be changed because so many young pitchers get hurt in the Cubs system and he says that doesn't seem to happen to other clubs. - He brought up Dusty's "clogging the bases" quotes about OBP. Rightfully slamming it as ridiculous. - He ranted about Jaque Jones not being able to hit the cut off man or throw decently. At this point Waddle did pipe up and start saying that Jones has put up some offensive numbers. But Kaplan seemed to discount this because Jones not hitting the cut off man isn't playing "winning baseball". - He asked why Ronny Cedeno isn't playing 2nd base every day. Kaplan said that when they traded for Isturis that everyone in the cubs management team told him that Cedeno was going to be their 2nd baseman next year. So when Isturis goes down, instead of keeping Ronny at 2nd to learn the position during meaningless games they move him back to short because "it wouldn't be fair to the pitchers". - He lamented Dusty continuely running out Neifi to play while he was hear instead of young guys like Theriot. In fact he went through each of Theriot's call ups and how many at bats he got during each. - He said the worst thing for the Cubs was not that Cub fans were picking up the phones and ranting angrily on their radio show every night. It was that most Cub fans had become apathetic about the team which was much worse. - The overall point he articulated was that the Cubs didn't seem to have any orginzation wide plan and that they had to get a management team in here with a plan or nothing will change. I agreed with many of his points but thought some of them were not that signficant. Like the Jaque Jones point. I hate when fielding and "hitting cut off men" is listed as a major reason teams don't win, when that team has much more glaring holes. Sure Jones' throwing is bad, but his .326 OBP and .588 OPS versus lefties is significantly more damaging to the Cubs than the handful of times he has missed a cut off man. Also I am not sure it is the Cubs orginizational philosphy that is causing young pitchers to get hurt. Sure Dusty has over used Prior, Wood and Zambrano horribly on the major league level. I could be wrong but I doubt the Cubs minor leaguers get any more injured than most major league farm systems.

I am not a fan of Brennamen. Mostly because I think he is too in love with his own voice. But he does have somewhat of a point about Brandon Webb. Webb has a better ERA by half a run, a better WHIP, walks fewer batters, and has a significantly better K/BB ratio even though he does strike out fewer people.

Why do some people assume Prior is just a big wuss and cant take pain? Did I miss the quote from any reliable source that said his injuries were overblown by him? Also sometimes a coach forces the issues and takes caution with a players pain. Prior sure was a wuss going back out there to pitch after colliding with Giles in 03. And he sure was a wuss for returning quicker than expected from the line drive on the elbow. If I recall correctly he missed his next start or was taken out of that game after the collision.. Acctually in an incredibly foolish move by Baker and the Cubs they let Prior go out and pitch several innings after the the collision with Giles and then only later in the game took him out.

That was some of the best fan reaction I have ever heard.

I agree that it is bad for fans to throw things on the field. But it might take embarrassing behavior by the fans for the Cubs management to actually make changes.

Now all that is left is for the crowd to start chanting "FIRE DUSTY" and the evening will be complete.

Isn't Huff hurt? What about Ross Gload from the White Sox? Or inquire about Choi from the Red Sox? I think Choi might be a decent idea. Hendry does have a working relationship with Boston and I can't imagine Choi will cost all that much.

I just hope the Cubs now don't try to rush Wood and Prior in some misguided attempt to "save the season".

A sprain is not nessarily better than a break.

Depends on if any ligaments or tendons were injuried.

No way to know, but given how much Lee plays with injuries you know it has to be fairly painful.

Looked like Lee was hovering over the entire bag to me I agree. Lee was standing on the bag.

Well if Lee is out for any extended lenght of time the season is realistically over. THe offense just doesn't have the depth to absorb that kind of hit. And Furcal didn't do a thing wrong. He was running hard to beat out the bunt and Lee was standing right on the bag. If anything Lee was in the wrong place.

He was right not to swing at that pitch. It was a horrible call.

It's criminal that Wuertz has twice come in for Marshall and allowed the inherited runners to score. Dusty is going to have to get over his leaving Marshall in phobia.