Jump to content
North Side Baseball

CuseCubFan69

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    18,845

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Profiles

Joomla Posts 1

Chicago Cubs Videos

Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking

News

2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

Guides & Resources

2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks

The Chicago Cubs Players Project

2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker

Blogs

Events

Forums

Store

Gallery

Everything posted by CuseCubFan69

  1. CuseCubFan69
    Going down the bobsled run at Lake Placid really made me appreciate what these guys go through. Man, that was pretty cool.
  2. CuseCubFan69
    Here's the other thread about this ARam: http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/viewtopic.php?t=28911
  3. CuseCubFan69
    That's less points than your football team gives up. :wink:
  4. CuseCubFan69
    Hopefully Jones can cut his down. I think one of the most annoying things about this team is that they will hit the heck out of the ball against Roger Clemens or Josh Beckett or Roy Oswalt one day, then the very next day a Doug Davis or Chris Capuano will shut them down. It's extremely annoying. I'm curious on how Jones is going to handle hitting the ball on the nut and it dying in the wind at Wrigley. He's not that good of a hitter and when he does get one right it'll be interesting to see how he handles that failure.
  5. CuseCubFan69
    If he waits for Murton to stink up the joint he is going to have to pay a high premium in players.
  6. CuseCubFan69
    Summer All-Star/Travel teams really burn me at times. I had a kid that was a wonderful pitcher and he was the #1 starter on an All-Star team. In their push to make it to the reginals they threw him 7 innings and then started him the next day. He lasted 4 innings and was toast from there on for the rest of his career....never the same. I told his parents that they have to watch out for him when he was away from me but they didn't really realize the damage it could do and what things to look for. I just can not stand the "I have to live through my kid complex" too many parents have or coaches that have that win at all cost thing to boost their own ego. I try to get the kids to swim in the off-season, especially in the winter. It drives me crazy when some coaches from other sports push kids into one sport. The tough thing about Baseball is: A- We are at the end of the school year and kids get a little tired after playing 1 or 2 sports. B- Unlike football...grades have to be up and we don't have that luxury to not have grades posted until our season is over.
  7. CuseCubFan69
    I'd consider any AB with a positive outcome a quality AB... I'd rather a player double down the line on the first pitch he sees than ground out to short on the tenth. Anyway, here's a breakdown of of how often Cubs hitters worked the count to various pitch counts in 2005: #P Frequency -------------- 1 889 2 1144 3 1111 4 1140 5 895 6 571 7 243 8 100 9 41 10 14 11 8 12 2 13 3 The Cubs only had 27 PA last season that lasted 10 pitches or longer. (Which works out to be about 0.4% of the team's total PA.) Countig 9 pitch PA bumps that total to 68 (1.1%) while lowering the threshold to 8 increases the total to 168 (2.7%). Telling you the team's record in those games is a bit more difficult, but I doubt it would tell you a whole lot, anyway. Interesting numbers BK, thanks. Now I wonder how many times the Cubs had those long AB's and did the Cubs win the game? I too would rather have the double down the line and the first pitch fastball usually gives a hitter a higher average when they swing. But, I think it's intersting to see when they miss their opportunity how the do form there? I know you can find the stats on counts and how well hitters do from there and I have a feeling that the Cubs were near the bottom when they had a 0-2 and 1-2 counts. It's the battle between the hitter that isn't that talented to not give in and keep that pitch count going is what I would like to see the Cubs do. Perez, CPatt and Macias just swung at too many pitches to do this and when they battled it seemed to be in a 0-2 and 1-2 count and didn't get the count to 3-2 or work the walk. I remember a Cedeno AB that was absolutely wonderful to watch and he either singled or walked. Also, what happened after the 9 or more pitch AB is something I'd like to see. How much of an effect did it really have and did it actually help the Cubs go into the other teams pen a little deeper or sooner than the other team wanted?
  8. CuseCubFan69
    I agree it is my resposibility for that player and I have the big picture to look at....his health being number one and not burning him out at a young age for another. Another problem I have is when they pitch in other leagues during and after my season. If I have a kid that pitches for me and he throws for a Little League team too he is NOT allowed to pitch for the LL team and if he does without my permission he is kicked off my team. The thing that hurts these kids in many circumstances is the win at all costs in LL and after a kid pitches the whole 6 innings he's back at SS 2 days later. I remember pitching and playing SS or 3rd a couple of days later and my arm being in total pain. I also think the stretching and other workout habits a player does is a big determining factor. Yeah, genetics helps but the Cubs know what each player does and doesn't do with their time off. Unfortunately most pitchers don't really get serious about doing the right things until they get hurt first.
  9. CuseCubFan69
    Although, I'm not a HS coach. I would follow the ASMI as close as possible, although I think 106 is too high for a 17yo. and what part of the year it is, as well as weather conditions play a large factor. I don't think a Fresh. pitcher should throw more than 75 pitches a game and I would put a limit at around 100 for a 17/18, more likely around 95 pitches. Equally as important is not letting your pitcher throw more than 25 pitches an inning, if he has a bad inning or facing a superior team. As a coach, you know whether or not a pitcher can advance to the next level, even if a pitcher doesn't have much of a chance, it is your responsibility for him to decide that and not you by exposing his arm to extreme wear and team in HS. I can't tell you how many parents/fans I've annoyed the Hell out of by taking a pitcher out after X amount of pitches when we have the lead and the next kid comes in a struggles. As you mentioned there are many variables that go into the pitch count process like the beginning of the year and ages of the players which also is what Baker has to take into consideration. I tend to baby the heck out of my kids arms and always will and I've only went 100 (107) pitches with a kid once in my life and that was against an undefeated rival and my kid threw a 2 hitter. I DH'd him for 2 games after that but I felt I owed it to him to keep him in there.
  10. CuseCubFan69

    CuseCubFan69 replied to DivineBovine's topic in Other Sports

    who and who? (don't follow cbb nationally) Living in the Penn State area I could see why! :wink:
  11. CuseCubFan69
    Baker has got to learn to have more faith in his whole staff. I've coached with and against many coaches that did the exact same thing as Baker did in that circumstance. When you push that button a little too far and hope that it's the thing that can break a slide while hoping that you don't snap that particular pitcher for the season or the next X amount of starts. I usually gamble the other direction but have been guilty riding a 4 or 5 type pitcher a little more than I should have when my options have been exhausted.
  12. CuseCubFan69
    You do need 7 avail. starters w/2 of those able to be somewhat productive as injury replacement, one of those (Rusch) would be in the bullpen as a long reliever/swingman and the other would be in the Iowa rotation. I still feel at various points, that each starter should skip two starts during the year by Rusch during the dog days of Summer and to get them ready for the stretch run. While Rothschild (not Baker) should use his eyes to monitor the pitcher's fatigue, around 110-115, they should put serious thought into who'll be ready from the pen. I still wonder about this Rothchild/Baker relationship and how they communicate when a pitcher is fatigued. I'm also curious on how well Rothchild recoginizes a fatigued pitcher. Just remember watching Zambrano as he was getting closer to 140 pitches. He was out of gas, every pitch was up, his arm slot/elbow was down (elbow below the shoulder), rushing his pitches, and taking too much time between his pitches. He had to have seen it, not sure what happened after that as far as Rothschild/Pole telling Baker or what not and then maybe trying to squeeze as much as out of him as possible. Since Baker is an ex-OF I wonder if that lack of knowledge about breakdowns is why he rides pitchers so hard? He seems to be a stubburn type of man and I wonder how this also falls into his managing decisions?
  13. CuseCubFan69
    I'm still worried that the Cubs might see that Kearns is the answer to left and not Dunn as I would move Kearns way before Dunn if I were GM of the Reds.
  14. CuseCubFan69
    You do need 7 avail. starters w/2 of those able to be somewhat productive as injury replacement, one of those (Rusch) would be in the bullpen as a long reliever/swingman and the other would be in the Iowa rotation. I still feel at various points, that each starter should skip two starts during the year by Rusch during the dog days of Summer and to get them ready for the stretch run. While Rothschild (not Baker) should use his eyes to monitor the pitcher's fatigue, around 110-115, they should put serious thought into who'll be ready from the pen. I still wonder about this Rothchild/Baker relationship and how they communicate when a pitcher is fatigued. I'm also curious on how well Rothchild recoginizes a fatigued pitcher.
  15. CuseCubFan69
    Not exactly. Lee's average career numbers, .276 .363 .501, Ramrirez's average, .277 .329 .481, and Barrett's average, .263 .320 .420, would all be major disappointments. Jones would have to have a Bonds like career year to make up for those declines from 2005. I don't see a 280/365 for Lee as that much of a reach or a ARam 280/330. Again, being around the average would be fine with these guys as they enter their peek years they should add a little more to their numbers but I still think the Cubs will be fine if they stay around those numbers. I think what will important is when they are hot and when they are not. If both guys are hot at the same time and cool down at the same time Jones is going to have to pick it up when they are not but he doesn't have to have a Bonds like year. All these numbers are fine when you look at them after the season but didn't ARam struggle big time in the beginning last year while Lee was on fire? What I want is for someone...anyone to pick this team up when it's needed. I'm not talking about clutch hitting but having a guy that has his day when it's needed to pull a game out. Yeah, you need good hitters and that's the thing that wins games over the course of the season and the averages are with you with more quality hitters in your lineup. IMO, it's the different hero each day is what makes the extra difference to win 5 to 7 more games.
  16. CuseCubFan69
    Some of them shouldn't be too hard to do. Keeping track of first-thirds and pitch counts is something I already keep track of. Advancing on balls in the dirt shouln't be too hard, either, as most all of those are probably scored as wild pitches. Anything else you're interested in seeing? The guys that get a single when the rest of the team is struggling. Maybe I'm romanticizing Lofton but I liked the different type of hitter he was from the rest of the lineup. If you just have a bunch of dead reds that just sit on those fastballs and can't hit those junk guys I would like to see how the Pierre's or Cedeno's or anyone else that can spark a struggling lineup to tie the game when the Cubs have to pull one out. That key walk instead of some guy swinging at ball 4 in the dirt can just make that type of game go into the Cubs favor. Do you know how many 10 pitch AB's or more the Cubs had last year and how the Cubs did in those games? Or a couple of 9's as I really don't want to quantify a specific namber and eliminate a quality AB. Maybe that's something they can have is Quality AB's. My team had a nice season but we had 3 one run games and it was the guys that batted 6-9 that made the big difference in those games for us to win all 3. 10 pitch battles to tire a dominate pitcher or that key walk to get on so we could steal second off a bad catcher. There just seems to be so many games that can be won on little things like that that don't go into the box scores.
  17. CuseCubFan69
    So you're admitting that a goat is to blame for the injuries? I wonder which writer (Trib or Sun) will quote that last statement just the way I wrote it? :D IMO, you need 7 solid starters, one as a swing and a guy you can call up to give you some quaity innings as a 5th starter. If Rusch can give some quality innings and if a Guzman or another young guy could step up I think the Cubs will have a decent chance to compete. I still think Jones is the key in the lineup. If everyone else has their average career and Jones has a career year they have a very nice chance. That 5th slot really worries me unless Baker does rotate Murton and Jones.
  18. CuseCubFan69
    So could any year. I'm sure there were a bunch of people that thought '03 could be a long year. I'll bet you more people thought 2003 would be a year that Choi, Hill and Zambrano would develop into cornerstones, and we'd be building toward competitiveness in 2004-6. Add Prior and Cruz to that. I thought the Cubs were a dynasty in the making.
  19. CuseCubFan69
    Jacque-O Dundee can't be traded until June 15th unless Jones gives them permission.
  20. CuseCubFan69
    I was wondering if the Cubs have a decent mix of hitters to be able to handle different types of pitchers? This is one of the reasons I liked Lofton...IMO he hit against som pitchers a lot of the other Cub hitters struggles against. If Pierre can give this to the Cubs when the 3/4 guys are struggling I think he might be worth the money and prospects the Cubs gave up for him. I think too many times when the Cubs are losing 2-1 they too many times had the same types of hitters stuggling against the soft tosser or the guy that usually walks 4 guys a game we don't see that one basehit that could tie or help put the Cubs ahead. Maybe we could do a brakedown in the game threads to determine how each player changes the flow of a game. Looking at the stats and seeing the 1-4 or the 2-3's we don't really see those hits happened. We also don't see that extra base taken when the ball goes in the dirt to the catcher or the 1st to thirds. It's not just speed but basic common baseball intellegence to make that special play. We don't see the 10 pitch AB's that could help later in the game. Do the Cubs have players that can do this? Can we be able to statistically find a way to keep track of these types of things or should we just put a special asterisks that shows this type of thing? I don't deny that you need the Lee's and ARam's to make a lineup better but I would like to see some recognition go to those hitters that bring something out of the ordinary to the lineup that might help the Cubs win those 1-0 3-2 and 2-1 games.
  21. CuseCubFan69
    This is why if we get Dunn its more likely to happen during the season, when Jones no longer has a no-trade clause, Murton has had a chance to prove himself (or disprove himself, if you think Dusty will sit him past April), and Pie may be called up. The guy i'd like to pry from the Reds at this point is Ryan Freel. He can start at 2nd and backup 3rd and OF, and would look great in the 2 spot if we move Walker. Come to think of it, the two players match up fairly well salary-wise, and Walker would be a good fit in that ballpark. I think he may be available because he's currently not slated as a starter on the Reds depth chart. Then again, the depth chart on the Reds site could have been written by anyone and may not be reflective of the team's priorities. At any rate... Walker for Freel anyone? Is Freel to similar to Hairston? i would love to see what freel could do in our #2 spot. if we could get dunn AND freel, our OBP problems would be over--but i doubt we'd be so lucky. i'd with guzman, hill, and epatt. see where it goes from there. Getting a Freel would Dusty proof this lineup even more. Who do the Reds have for SS?
  22. CuseCubFan69
    I thought it was kind of cute when they had the Dr. Suess thing in the beginning. It's about time the NFL taught former Miami Hurricanes how to read.
  23. CuseCubFan69
    What a surprise....Mac goes 3-9 and gets hurt. I can't wait until he graduates.
  24. CuseCubFan69
    Syracuse vs UConn.....Mac is hurt and he struggles big time against them when he is healthy, this is going to be a very difficult game.
  25. CuseCubFan69
    It's hard to understand the mind of an idiot. I guess god has to create people like this...otherwise who would pick up my trash. I think you mean eat your trash.
×
×
  • Create New...