kente777

What the heck is it with Walker and double plays? This guy is driving me crazy with the inability to advance runners. You want to know why the Cubs stink...just look at their average with RISP. Frustrating!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRrr.....

It's not really the same thing. You can have poise but the team can still not have heart. Poise is being able to stick together and accept responsability. Heart is being able to play through tough times and still desire to win. You can have poise without heart, and you can have heart without poise... but this team has neither. im pretty sure the cubs lose because of poor hitting and pitching, not poor heart and poise I think it starts with confidence. If you really believe each any every game you go out on the field, you have a chance to win, then you will perform up to the level of that confidence. True, execution is very important, but confidence (poise, heart) is just as important....probably more important. If you feel like a winner, you play like a winner. Why do you think the Braves win year after year? Sure, they have talent. But more than that, they believe they can win because they have a manager who believes they can win. It doesn't matter who they play, veteran or rookie, they have the confidence that they can win every ball game, and because of that confidence, they play to a high level. The Cubs are absolutely pathetic in this department. Baker has got to go because a manager sets the tone for the team, and he has set a tone of complaining and not taking responsibility!!

Please watch the language. If you need a break from the game threads or from the Cubs, then -- by all means -- take one. Let them vent!

Why is this important to you? Just curious. Ken

I just finished reading Ryno's Hall of Fame speech for the first time, and I have to say, I had tears in my eyes when I finished. That was the best sports speech I have ever read. It was heartfelt. It was to the fans. It was to those who love baseball for its purity, and simplicity, and glory. And most of all, it was a cry to get back to the glory days, the days when men played the game for the love of baseball and not for the dollar or the fame. Ryno, you are one of a kind! We love you! Ken P.S. Anyone who thinks that his speech was any less because he made some veiled reference to Sammy Sosa, he said it about as eloquent and professional as anyone could have done. There was nothing wrong with his speech--nothing![/u]

Assuming Nomar comes back and contributes like we know he can, and Hendry pulls the strings and gets us another big bat and/or some middle relief help, I think we (along with Houston) would be battling for the Wild Card. If neither of those pan out, I do not believe we have the make up to win more than 85-89 games. That having been said, firing Dusty Baker could possible be the key to getting the most most out of the personnel we have right now. Unfortunately, Hendry won't fire Dusty during the season, so we better hope that we get some outside help before the trade deadline. Ken

But the Cubs are winning!!! Barely.

Maybe if enough fans at Wrigley hold up "Fire Dusty" signs, Hendry will get a clue that this man is hurting the Cubs chances to make the playoffs.

He's right.

If the Cubs are gonna have a chance this year, Dusty has absolutely got to go. I'm amazed at his arrogance, let alone his lack of game managing skills. Ken

i'd be fine with dusty being a puppet manager with someone in the front office calling the shots a la francona, but that's not the case. Dusty would never go for that. I don't think there's much humility in that man.

Here's the line on both: AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG Patterson 306 36 72 9 2 11 24 118 16 81 12 3 .273 .386 .235 Hariston 188 28 52 13 1 3 10 76 19 24 6 8 .367 .404 .277 Note the difference in OBP. Hairston should be our permanent lead-off man....PERIOD!!! Hey, Dusty...get a clue man. Ken

That's not a bad idea. Anyone have it? I believe its "IhiredDustyandImstickingwithDustycomehellorhighwater@97andcounting.com". Here's the person we should really be emailing this thread to. He's probably the only chance at getting Dusty out of that Cub's uniform. :twisted: Forget. I am convinced that God is not a Cubs fan.

That's not a bad idea. Anyone have it?

If Dusty makes it to the end of the year, this is going to be one huge mama of a thread!

Dusty Baker has got to go. The manager is supposed to help a club win. This is plain embarassing.