CuseCubFan69

When I saw him at Mississippi his fastball didn't have the movement that it had in his two appearances at Wrigley. Thanks to all for the info. I always compared him to the relief pitcher (L something) the Cubs got from the Tigers a couple of years ago.

worst comparison ever lol, I had to read that twice...Eyre as good Fuentes? We really need a "Homer" emotion on this board. What are their numbers this year? Fuentes has much better #'s though you take Eyre's with a grain of salt based on sample size. That being said Fuentes is a much better commoditty given his age(as previous mentioned) I agree with being younger is a better sell though some teams may want a veteran presense but he did say, "can be just as good" and the way I read that is that he can be just as effective as a pitcher.

worst comparison ever lol, I had to read that twice...Eyre as good Fuentes? We really need a "Homer" emotion on this board. What are their numbers this year?

The one thing I'd worry about is if he loses what he has by trying to learn a new pitch. Sometimes when you do this (learn a new pitch), you lose your arm slot or mechanics in the things you have been using. Yeah, I know...what he has know isn't working but imo it's a hard thing for a guy this age to do and change (pun intended) is hard.

Unless the Cubs have a lefty in the pen in their system and don't want to just release Eyre and get nothing in return and can't just send him or Howry down.

For some guys they just can't find a comfortable grip. Some, just can't learn a new pitch because they're stubburn and have the "I've got by with the stuff I've had in the past and it works". For others it's a mental thing and they never have any confidence in it. I agree with you 100%, what he has isn't working right now and a change would be a very nice compliment to what he has plus less of a strain on the body. What I don't understand is that scouts love a good change, why in Gods green earth would you not try to learn one when you're younger? The fastball and curve are the sexy pitches and very impressionable on young guys while the change is like riding a bike with training wheels. True, it may be time to make that adjustment though...especially if he's lost a little off his fastball. He's never really needed to learn a change to this point. He's been a very consistent, very good reliever for most of his career - which means the stuff he had worked and he never needed a third pitch. May be, but how long will he take to learn it? I'm not sure learning a changeup is the best thing to do during the season and may be best held til the offseason. I'm not convinced he's completely done, the problem right now is nobody is chasing the close pitches from him - thus forcing him to eventually give them something out over the plate. Much like Greg Maddux, he needs to get the borderline calls to be successful and he's been getting squeezed a tad of late (or at least not getting the calls barely outside the zone). I don't think he's done and yeah, the Maddux rule of 5 inches outside would help. Learning a change is hard at this age imo but he has time to do it in the pen....it's not like he has a job at Wendys on the side and doesn't have any free time!

As always the list of HS'ers is southern/western dominate. I wonder what the percent of MLB All-Stars was last year regarding warm areas and cold ones?

For some guys they just can't find a comfortable grip. Some, just can't learn a new pitch because they're stubburn and have the "I've got by with the stuff I've had in the past and it works". For others it's a mental thing and they never have any confidence in it. I agree with you 100%, what he has isn't working right now and a change would be a very nice compliment to what he has plus less of a strain on the body. What I don't understand is that scouts love a good change, why in Gods green earth would you not try to learn one when you're younger? The fastball and curve are the sexy pitches and very impressionable on young guys while the change is like riding a bike with training wheels. True, it may be time to make that adjustment though...especially if he's lost a little off his fastball. He's never really needed to learn a change to this point. He's been a very consistent, very good reliever for most of his career - which means the stuff he had worked and he never needed a third pitch.

Yeah, it's a little strange that he made the Cubs use an Astro's coach to coach first for the Cubs while Quade serves his suspension.

I thought the book on him was his Fastball was flat but I've seen posts here regarding it having movement? Which is it?

are you just regurgitating things you heard Steve Phillips say? How can you go wrong doing that?

For some guys they just can't find a comfortable grip. Some, just can't learn a new pitch because they're stubburn and have the "I've got by with the stuff I've had in the past and it works". For others it's a mental thing and they never have any confidence in it. I agree with you 100%, what he has isn't working right now and a change would be a very nice compliment to what he has plus less of a strain on the body. What I don't understand is that scouts love a good change, why in Gods green earth would you not try to learn one when you're younger? The fastball and curve are the sexy pitches and very impressionable on young guys while the change is like riding a bike with training wheels.

It's definately comparable to the last time Sori came off the DL back in May. Back in May it took him about 17 at bats---or 3 full games---to get going again, and coming off the DL now, it took him about 18 atbats. So yeah, Sori coming off DL in July is very similar to him coming off DL in May. I liked seeing him on the Cub bench when he was on the DL.

Would the White Sox be a good fit for Manny? I just can't see an NL team going after him as hard as an AL team would.

I really hope Lou doesn't send him out for another inning. I know Demp has only given up one run but he clearly doesn't have his control today and it's a disaster waiting to happen. Me too but since his slot is up that might push things back.

:lol: 8-[ Everytime I hear the number now I think of Kevin from The Office in the episode where a few of the employees are changing the temperature of the air conditioning. Kevin's talking to the camera and says "I always set the temperature to 69" and then gets a hilarious smile on his face. Nobody has a better expression face than Kevin. Keep it going Demp!

Johnsons throwing very well. I hope the bottom of the order can get some more hits next inning.

Koske is just a tad bit overdue....lots of weak flies.

Thanks for the 69 guys.

I'll always take a pitcher that gives up 1 run in 4 innings and only gives up 2 hits. Dudes battling through his control problems today. ARams bat looks slow to me.

How many so far vance?

I haven't noticed it hc.

Didn't Dempster throw a lot of pitches his last time out? I hope the Cubs get him some runs and give him a chance to keep the PC down.

I'll take 1 run every 3 innings.

Does Ramirez always have to hit the ball so hard?