2008 Chicago Cubs

[duke776]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Ramirez comes up big in the 8th, Wood makes the 9th an adventure, but we get the win.

Harden starts tomorrow.

I actually heard someone say this was a weak year in the NLC...what a *******. Seriously. ESPN is ********. The NLC and the ALE each have all their teams with .450+ winning percentages. Only on NLC team has a losing record against the NLW, and no NLC team has a losing record against the NLE (two are at .500). Only one NLC team, however, has a winning record on the road....damned cardinals.

I heard that too, I heard it a couple days ago and forgot to post anything about it. I don't get how they can say they just because half are good and half suck, they should take a look at the west.

[remix]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

I think the most important thing about today's game was Marquis' outing. He pitched an absolute gem, hopefully he keeps that up...now we just gotta get Lilly back on track.

Except his last two outings have been against the Giants. Sorry for giving you guys false hope. Our offense can be worse than the minors, specially when our "big" hitters in Rowand and Molina have seen their averages drop over 50pts in the past month.

[fugazi]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

FWIW, Marquis really has been very good of late, considering what one would expect. I can say that I am satisfied with him...would I prefer Gallagher? it's 50/50. Marquis is good at the plate.

As for Lily, I think this is what he is. He will either mystify hitters (and fans) and strikeout 11 on his way to dominating for 7 innings, or he will give up 5-6 earned. It's crazy.

The thing is, he is a strike-throwing, mid-range velocity lefty. He will get hit a bunch, and on days where he is deceptive, he will be successful. I said before the season started that he would likely not win 15 games. He has 9 wins already, so I might be wrong. If he gets to 15, however, I think it will be because of the offense. Cincinnati just has one of those lineups...lots of power potential. But what's new? their still under 500.

Right now though, the Cubs are on pace to easily have 3 15+ game winners...surely one will get to 20.

PS--other than Chipper and ARam...name a better NL 3rd baseman than DeRosa....

[pfunk880]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

PS--other than Chipper and ARam...name a better NL 3rd baseman than DeRosa....

David Wright?

[fugazi]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

David Wright?

yeah...i forgot about him when I thought about this yesterday, and forgot to include him today even after I remembered.

but i am partial to DeRosa. Wright is certainly a run-producer, and in truth is a fine hitter. I should have included him, but it slipped my mind when i was posting. Nonetheless, DeRosa is awesome...and at this point more likely to play in the postseason. Though the question was about third basemen, DeRosa's versatility is a big factor in my preference...not fair, though, given the question.

DeRosa...374/.827/11/49
Wright....386/.897/17/70

[poster]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Man, Ram absolutely ripped the hell out of that ball. One of the most violently connected swings I have ever seen. Unreal!

Good to see the K-Man dig deep to get out of that. To blow a three run lead to that offense would have been beyond sad. No offense to Giants fans, but Remix's point about the O was spot on.

[duke776]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

I'm not sure if this has ever been brought up before, but I never knew Carlos Marmol was a OF/C in the minors(rookie/A ball). It's just something I came across the other day, I saw his batting stats in MLB power pros and they were decent and I looked up his minor league stats and found out he played those other positions. I know this happens with other people, I just could never see Marmol playing the outfiled or catching. This is really nothing important but just something I thought was pretty cool.

[bkrich83]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Went to Wrigley this weekend. PNC park is my favorite park no doubt, but Wrigley is my favorite place to watch a game. The atmosphere whether you are walking around the park of waiting in line to get in to the bleachers before the game is unmatched. And it only gets better once you get in to the park.

On Sunday sat in the RF bleachers in the first row almost got a couple of BP HR's. Heard Jack Taschner make a couple of guys heckling him during BP look like fools. (Hecking ballplayers is like heckling professional comedians, they always have great comebacks). Saw a girl there on her 21st birthday pass out and piss herself in the 3rd inning. Went to the Cubby Bear afterwards saw some guy in a Mark Prior jersey busting some sweet moves. (Jazz hands baby).

I love visiting Chicago, and there is no better place to watch a game than Wrigley, imo.

[Happy29]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Okay I started this thread at the start of the year so I'm going to start the second half chat as well. It all gets started tonite, against the Astros. We had a great first half finishing with the best record, and we should have Fonzi back next week so that will be a big pick up. Harden and Gaudin were great pick ups and Hendry could be looking for another bat for off the bench and one more bullpen pitcher. So lets keep it up and finish this season off with a World Series championship.

[ThreeKing]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Give me a good reason not to panic right now.

This is bulls***. This team better wake the **** up, otherwise before they know it, they will be looking up instead of down in the division.

[fugazi]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

I agree...surprisingly, though, perhaps with less vehemence.

I think the lineup needs to be retooled again. Perhaps Fukudome is best at 5th...ARam and Soto back to back has a high upside, but each are a little too swing-happy (and in Soto's case, lacking a bit in discipline) and my suspicion is that they could leave quite a few on base. DeRosa would be good to break these guys up, though Soto-DeRosa was a great combo early on.

I have always wondered whether it really was best to have Lee-Ramirez 3-4. Lee-Fukudome-Ramirez would (i think) scare the curlies off lots of teams. I really think Ramirez would have more chances this way. Fukudome surely gets fewer rbi chances behind ARam than vice versa. DeRosa and Soto could follow, perhaps behind Edmonds...

BTW....
The Cubs leading OBP....Jim Edmonds...938 since joining the club. I don't really understand how, but there it is and I will shut up about him, unless necessary to re-change my mind. Actually, he is 2nd behind Hoffpauir, but the latter has only 35 abs. That being said is OBP his 1.004. But with Soriano due back, and Edmonds playing well, where could he go? This guy has to get some more ABs before the pressure of the postseason; I cannot imagine him being absent from the big club much longer. Somehow, being a lefty works against him here...I would like to see Soriano brought back a bit slowly (unless he lights it up again) given his injury and seemingly increasing likelihood for them. Sitting him every 3rd-4th righty would allow Hoffpauir to get some reps.

I don't know what to think, really. Our top Slugger is 130ish points behind the NL leader, and sits behind three (3!) Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching really seems to be doing very well...our losses are coming in lots of 3-1 type games.
Everyone has come down to earth...the test of a champion seems to be how to return to the high standard set early on. I watched the Dallas Cowboys become the first team to win the SuperBowl after starting 0-2...It is a much greater test of mental will than it is when everyone is playing well at the same time.

They dont ask me, but I would certainly throw my support behind this:
Soriano
Theriot
Lee
Fukudome
Ramirez
Edmonds
Soto
DeRosa
Zambrano

Soto has the highest SLG on the team, so putting him at 7 might seem a bit low. I think given certain players' expectations, however, and Soto's itchy trigger finger, that it is best.

I think this lineup provides the best 1-4 and 5-8 that could be arranged. Srsly, that 5-8 is awesome, and who would really want to face those first 4 hitters consecutively?

I have to aggree, threekings, this lineup has no excuse for failure. There is hardly a bad way of arranging the order, even if expectations/entitlements are not considered.

[Jodaddy]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

I like your lineup, fugazi. I'd have Fukudome batting 5th, though, like he was earlier this year. For some reason, he's really struggled at the 2 and the 1 spot. So my lineup would look like this:

Soriano (Johnson, if Soriano has a day off)
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Fukudome
Soto
Edmonds
Derosa
Pitcher

If Fukudome continues to struggle, Hoffpauir could replace him, at least until he figures things out.

Edit: Just as I finish typing, Fukudome hits a double.

[fugazi]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Ryan Dempster....hats off to ya, sir.

Who the hell is Fontenot kidding? He is like a much cooler David Eckstein...cooler because he likes to hit the ball to and beyond the warning track.

Aramis Ramirez is skinny...I wonder if he is on Wood's organic diet?

Marmol looked comfortable, which was good, and his pitches were moving in that inside out way they do, and sharply so.

Have they stopped walking? Backe deserves lots of credit for making good pitches, but the Cub batters seem to love breaking balls low out of the zone. Hitting is hard, though, and we shredded their pen.

Here's to a road-series win in Arizona. Kick them while they're down. LoL, I think we miss Webb; he went today. Haren as well, he pitched Saturday...

[ThreeKing]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Big win today. Actually HUGE win.

We need to take 2 out of 3 in Arizona. The rest of the ride until October is going to be ugly. Their last 16 out of 22 games are on the road and the Cards and Brewers are balling.

[duke776]

Re: 2008 Chicago Cubs

Who the hell is Fontenot kidding? He is like a much cooler David Eckstein...cooler because he likes to hit the ball to and beyond the warning track.

Who said this about Fontenot a week or so ago? Me

Fontenot picked us up tonight with the homerun, I think he could be a pretty good everyday player if he got the chance, but 2nd is filled up right now, and I don't think DeRosa is going to lose his job.

He definitely has some pop, I do hope he gets a chance as a starter sometime down the road, maybe not this season ut if anywhere he can play ever opens up I'd love to see him get a shot at it. Maybe I think a little to highly of him, but hey, I'm allowed to.