CuseCubFan69

Little Mikey from Camaroon! Abula abula abula hah! I thought he was hurt and his career is in possible jeopordy?

Only when it suits him USS...only when it suits him.

# 2 slot is reserved for Nefei. It's like a "date night" between these two. No matter how well someone is hitting Dusty will always stick to his date night with Neifi. Another thing, I always thought that Theriot was a decent defensive player, so what is the problem here by not playing him? Plus, if you use Dusty logic he doesn't have the book on him yet. The day we traded for Izturis was the day that it became a lock that Theriot would be lucky to start once a week. They want to use Ronny at 2B, they are addicted to Neifi, and Izturis is going to play most of the time at SS. That leaves Theriot the odd man out. If Ryan Theriot is in the organizations plans for next season, they needed to DFA Neifi or refrain from aquiring another middle IF so he can get more than 6 AB's a week. I agree. Can't Theriot play SS too? Yes, Len has mentioned that he can. Not that it matters to Dusty. Well Len would know more than Dusty about these things.

I think bullpen usage is a big key to the less innings pitched now. I remember the Closer...then the 8th inning setup guy and now the 7th inning setup setup guy. Is the 6th inning setup guy that far away?

Don't worry Dusty, Z will be finished soon enough. With Z, I'm not as worried about a catastrophic failure (thought that's certainly a possibility). I'm worried about a Javier Vasquez-type reduction in stuff. V was a force through his early career in Montreal, where he bore a heavy workload as ace of that staff. He never had to go under the knife, but after a while he was just never the same pitcher anymore. I remember arguing/debating with you about who was better Vasquez or Colon! I think the slow deteriation is one of the best case scenerios especially if Hendry is foolish enough to extend Baker.

# 2 slot is reserved for Nefei. It's like a "date night" between these two. No matter how well someone is hitting Dusty will always stick to his date night with Neifi. Another thing, I always thought that Theriot was a decent defensive player, so what is the problem here by not playing him? Plus, if you use Dusty logic he doesn't have the book on him yet. The day we traded for Izturis was the day that it became a lock that Theriot would be lucky to start once a week. They want to use Ronny at 2B, they are addicted to Neifi, and Izturis is going to play most of the time at SS. That leaves Theriot the odd man out. If Ryan Theriot is in the organizations plans for next season, they needed to DFA Neifi or refrain from aquiring another middle IF so he can get more than 6 AB's a week. I agree. Can't Theriot play SS too?

Rick had a belly that he could pull some reserve out of when he needed the extra power. I think it's a combination of things. The small strike zone, can't throw inside, batters are more patient now, and the fact that if something hurts now players see that their future money may go away so the slightest ache they are more careful than before. I'm curious on how many pitches Rick threw a game because if memory serves me he had pretty good control or the very least didn't have to throw as many pitches per game with that sinker of his. I would also submit that pitchers have to work much harder to get guys out now than they did in the 70's and points previous. Your average MLB hitter is stronger and quicker at the plate than your average 1975 era hitter. Agreed, as OBP has become more important in the mind of some organizations, the amount of pitches per plate appearance has probably risen over the years. Also with the advent of the 5 man rotation and the amount of money invested in these guys they don't throw as much as they used to. In the past, and with fewer teams in the league, most pitchers threw a lot more innings in the minors where they either persevered or flamed out, so their probably were a lot more guys with injuries, they were just out of baseball before they ever made it to the bigs. With expansion and the dilution of pitchers you are seeing guys in majors that probably would have never made it in years past. But add to the expansion the fact that there are so many more players to pick from (population wise) and now it's more world wide I don't think expansion has hurt as much as it seems.

Rick had a belly that he could pull some reserve out of when he needed the extra power. I think it's a combination of things. The small strike zone, can't throw inside, batters are more patient now, and the fact that if something hurts now players see that their future money may go away so the slightest ache they are more careful than before. I'm curious on how many pitches Rick threw a game because if memory serves me he had pretty good control or the very least didn't have to throw as many pitches per game with that sinker of his.

# 2 slot is reserved for Nefei. It's like a "date night" between these two. No matter how well someone is hitting Dusty will always stick to his date night with Neifi. Another thing, I always thought that Theriot was a decent defensive player, so what is the problem here by not playing him? Plus, if you use Dusty logic he doesn't have the book on him yet.

Don't worry Dusty, Z will be finished soon enough.

Because Hendry isn't going to fix the OF and Cantu will give the middle infield a decent bat. He is capable of hitting 3rd or 4th do you think that Theriot or Cedeno could do that?

He'll be pitching for the Yankees by then.

Here are his stats. He does bat left handed. Thanks NCCF! Those are pretty decent numbers and if you platoon Theriot and Fontenout at second what would it hurt other than Bakers misplaced pride and manlove for Neifi?

Cantu has no business in the world batting #2. That's why I said I want to see him first and added I might switch him and Barrett. How many pitches per plate apperance does he average?

That sounds more mental than physical to me. I wonder if he's having trouble mentally getting ready to face batters. I hesitate to say this, because I'm don't really believe this, but is this maybe the less wild version of Ankiel? Again maybe I'm reading too much into this, and he's talking about how his shoulder felt, but he never really says that... It could be he has no mental toughness. It's like somebody got some kryptinite(sp) and put it in his head.

It's time to wave Hendry and his backwards thinking bye bye.

That's the guy I would target. I don't see any impact bats that the Cubs can get for the OF and if the Cubs can get a solid hitter at second I think it would help with the power and OBP problem. If Hendry got Wells and Cantu while signing a quality starter I think this team could win. Granted, all bets are off if Baker is the manager. Murton LF Cantu 2B Lee 1B Wells CF Ramirez 3B Barrett C Jones RF Izturis SS I might switch Cantu and Barretts slots depending on what I see from Cantu. I also see Ramirez leaving though so this would screw this all up. If Ramirez did tell Hendry he isn't coming back I'll be quite angry at Hendry for not moving him before the deadline.

What are Fontenots numbers at Iowa? Doesn't he also bat left handed? I just don't understand this organization. Send Perez to a team for a bag of balls and call this kid up and let him, Theriot and Cedeno battle it out for a month and a half. Every Perez at bat just wastes another oppurtunity for Theriot and Fontenot, this is just plan crazy.

I see your point and since the rotation is now very thin of starting pitchers you may be right but I just think this guy would be a lights out closer. I think he needs to find his release and balance points and will when he gets experience and that will decrease his walks.

But not having a complete game will give Baker just another excuse on why the team failed. Also, it will prove (in Bakers mind) that he doesn't push his pitchers to the limit. I see no reason why Speir wasn't named manager at the All-Star break.

So instead of doing pushups in his driveway TO is now just riding a bike. Good luck Billy boy.

Brian Sabean replaces Dusty with Felipe Alou. He must have a fondness for pitcher abusers. Old School Dudes still reliving 1973.

I'm looking forward to Dusty's book "Judge Me From the Beginning".

As much as I touted him in the past, there comes a point when being away from the game too long has an impact. With his age and time from the game, I still think he can do well, just that he won't be given a chance. IMO, Hershiser is the best potential candidate out there for manager. I don't like Hershiser if what he says while doing broadcasts is any indiction of what kind of manager he would be.

He could have had a leadoff guy(Furcal) w/o giving up Nolasco and Pinto if he would have ponied up 3 mil more per season... yet he gives 6 mil/year in contracts to Rusch Perez Wade no arm Miller. It just doesn't make sense. Whoops...that's right you said he would get Furcal. To answer your question I think Hendry figured he had Cedeno and Perez and could get Pierre for a couple of Minors he wasn't going to use in 2006. Add to that Rusch as insurance and Miller as his insurance. Man...did that house of cards fall hard. I thought Rusch would have a decent year too and not nearly the disaster he has been this year andf I would have signed him to an high incentive deal. I had no faith in Miller as I have never been a big fan of his even when he was healthy. And Perez....that was just Hendry/Baker being themselves in once again another horrible signing. The thing is to me is how to fix this mess. This is in the past and hopefully Hendry will learn but I highly doubt it so I'm just bracing for more crappy free agent signings and trades in 2006/07 and hope for a major change in the GM and President moves for the Cubs. I'm shooting for 2009 for the next Cub push for the playoffs.