cubfan1126

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From the Cubs official site: Braves starter tonight: Bennett replaces Jair Jurrjens, who sprained ankle while leaving Wrigley Field after Tuesday's game. They're so bad on the road, they can't even walk. About last night's game; Isn't it amazing that Tom Glavine has turned into an average pitcher now that he no longer gets the strike call on the pitch that's 6 inches outside?

I don't think you can pinch hit twice in the same at-bat. What JB and I were talking about was bringing Branyan in to bat for Hall against a righty. You can't pinch hit Branyan, have the other team bring in a lefty, then pinch hit Cameron. Oh, but you can do just that. It is a horrible to waste a PH but it can be done. It's the pitcher that must face at least 1 batter (or have 1 play made like a successful pickoff.)

You're kidding, right? With the announced attendance at 16,003, (I'm sure it was really more like they added the 1) 20,000 will claim they were there by the end of the week! By the end of this season it'll be 76,003 etc, etc, etc.

John, it's not hard to believe at all. And it was entirely the fault of the Wrigley family. All of those bleacher seats and all of those seats which are now called terrace used to go on sale the day of the game because William and then PK both said, "I want people to be able to wake up and decide to come to a game and be able to do so." Dallas Greene (GM at the time) implemented the pre-sale of those seats in the early 80's and THAT is when the sellouts started.

TLB I wasn't talking to you. I'm talking to the people on your site that don't use logic.

I know the players are different, but before you guys start counting too heavily on "those games left to be played", check the record. (especially for those of you that like to use the phrase, They're still the Cubs.) The Cubs record at Miller Park is 31-26.

Disgusting is exactly right. Tiffee had no clue how to hit a Wood pitch and Pierre could have been blown away with straight fast balls. For some reason Wood fell in love with his slider last night and that WAS disgusting - from my perspective. BTW I have read this thread bemusedly. I believe there is an HOFer that said, "It ain't over til it's over." He's right.

Let me pipe in here on the first ballot issue. What happens if Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, and Randy Johnson all call it quits in the same year? There are sports writers that won't vote for more than 1 or 2. Some writers will not vote for anybody in first eligible year - that has to be the reason that nobody has ever been a 100% vote. Some writers send in blank ballots. None of the reasons put forward are rational but they do exist. A few years ago Tony Gwynn, George Brett, and Robin Yount were all elected in the same year and Carlton Fisk had to wait a year. As stated earlier Fisk didn't get any better in that year he had to wait. Again not rational.

A few points: Pirates: For the record the Cubs record in non Pittsburgh Pirates games is 20-17 Also for the record the Pirates record in non Chicago Cubs games is 20-16 so maybe they're not as bad as everybody thinks. Schedule: We actually have 2 3 city road trips albeit 1 of them the team gets to sleep in their own beds because it includes the Southside of Chicago but I'll guarantee that is no picnic of a road series. We also have a set of game in June that includes a San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Tampa trip. Sure 3 games in the middle are at Wrigley, but in essense that is a 5 city trip. Players: Theriot - has only 1 FULL season under his belt in which he collapsed in September so to say he is over his head MAY be a stretch at this point in the season. Lee - at least twenty points below his expected average right now had a monster April Soriano - Had a monster week - other than that WAY below expected norm Ramirez - A little below average every thing else normal DeRosa - A little over his norm Johnson/Edmunds/Pie - All below expectations offensively Soto - No track record Fukudome - No MLB track record Ward - no pinch hits until the D'backs series Cedeno - way over his head but a part time player The biggest offensive contribution has been patience at the plate and that is why this formerly free swinging team has such a high on base percentage. (Keep clogging those bases guys.)

I knew somebody would bring this up. Back in 2005 when we were also thought to have a contending team (turned out we didn't) we had the Red Sox and Yankees while the contending Astros had neither. In 2004 when the NLC played the ALW two teams from the NLC played each other as the NL series during Interleague play. Our two series that year were against the Astros and Cardinals while each of them got to play one of the lesser teams in the division for their second series. Also we haven't had a series against the Royals at all since 2001 while the Cards get to play them twice every year. Yeah, this year we have it a little softer (maybe not with TB playing well) but in the long run it balances out. And Yes, I like it. The only thing I don't like about it is that each year 12 NL teams have to play against each other during the interleague series (2 for each of the 6 sets of dates) We have been 1 of the 4 to play all 6 dates only once. A rotational system should be used.

Smith, That's easy. Not enough publicity. Outside of Houston, nobody knows anything about him. I never knew he was funny. Funny how?

Personally I feel like I did when the Bulls signed Dennis Rodman. I hope this has the same result. (a solid player the helped get 3 titles.)

sorry, but it looks ok to me

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080512&content_id=2687277&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnered=rss_mlb http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif No this is not an article from 2006 or 2007 or 2004 or 2005 - I'm so glad he's no longer our problem Prior takes step back in rehab Shoulder discomfort during throwing session prompts MRI By Jon Greenberg / Special to MLB.com CHICAGO -- After suffering a previously reported setback in his rehab program this weekend, pitcher Mark Prior was scheduled for an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Padres manager Bud Black said. "Mark was throwing on the side, getting ready for batting practice, a couple days ago and felt quite a bit of discomfort in his shoulder, and he shut down his throwing session and came back to San Diego," Black said. After meeting with Padres doctors Monday, there's a chance Prior will take that familiar trip to Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday, to see Dr. James Andrews, who performed arthoscopic surgery on his nettlesome shoulder on April 24, 2007. Prior was shut down for eight days in April because of soreness. "Mark had been on a nice path," Black said. "He had to take a step back a couple weeks ago, but I think you can probably deem this a setback for sure." The Padres signed the oft-injured 27-year-old to a one-year deal a day after Christmas knowing he would take some time to recover from the surgery. He threw off a mound for the first time in late March, and there hadn't been a firm timetable for his return.

Not sure who its gonna be then. Probably Cordero, but they don't look to be a factor (and the reason I forgot about him until just now). Valverde certainly seems like a better option than Gagne or Wood - maybe not Matrmol though, as I'm not sure Wood will even have that job down the line. A comment about Wood: Yeah you guys were witness to 2 terrible performances (1 non-save and 1 save) and he is 7/10 in save opportunities and you keep thinking he won't be the closer by the end of the year. Maybe he won't but think about 10 opportunities in 23 wins. I can immediately think of the 2 games against the Mets where he was in line for a save when we exploded for 4 runs in the 8th to wipe out a save opportunity. He hasn't gotten enough work in save sits. He also discovered a slight change in his slider was necessary and has barely been touched since that May 1st BS (that's blown save). I'm not worried. With Hill demoted, their starting pitching consists of the hugely overproducing Zambrano and Dempster. Every one of their batters is overproducing or reaching their potential, except Soriano. Zambrano overproducing? Did you ever think that maybe he finally got IT? His strikeouts are way down as well as his walks and his ERA. He's completing 7 innings in around 100 pitches instead of 115 or so. He's become a pitcher! Lilly has just started to get it together. Ramirez over producing? He's at 5 year lows in HR's and BA. Daryle Ward got his first pinch hit this past weekend. DeRosa over producing? He is 15 point below his last 2 yrs BA and only .001 above his career BA. Johnson over producing? How about 25 points below his career BA. Derrek Lee is doing the same thing he did in 2005 the year he became the Cubs #1 guy and the year before he broke his arm. Theriot's numbers took a nosedive in September last year in his first full season so he really may not be over producing. Soto (rookie), and Fukudome (MLB rookie) haven't enough established data to determine one way or the other. I'll give you that Cedeno is over producing. Dempster might be over producing but since he hasn't started regularly since 2003 nobody really knows. Maybe his time in the closer role made him a better pitcher. Endurance might turn out to be an issue. The Cubs have played 14 of those 25 games against the worst teams in the league: San Diego, Cincy, Nats, Pirates, Rockies, who combined have a winning pct of .411. They've gone 9-5 against them. In this same span they lost 2 of 3 to both the Cardinals and Brewers, but swept the Mets in a 2 game series, and took 3 from the DBacks over this past weekend. 13 of the 25 games were in Wrigley where they went 10-3. I'm not apologizing for the schedule. No point. In the long run we all play basically the same schedule. But, ya know what? That's 1 of the thing I was holding on to last year. We were done with San Diego and Atlanta early and you guys had to play them in the last 2 weeks. I believed those 2 weekends would be the turning point for us and I was right. You guys should continue to believe that the last week this year when we have to go to New York and Milwaukee will be the turning point in your favor, while I will continue to hope we have it wrapped before the last week. And yes Houston's bats scare me but not their pitching staff. 4½ months to go!

Trade we didn't hear about - No it's Haren - throwing very well into the 5th allowing only an infield single by DeRosa to prevent a perfecto Then on his second trip DeRosa double and inexplicably they walk Johnson to get to Lilly who singles followed by a Soriano double and the Cubs lead 2-1. Thank you. Now after 7 remains 2-1 after a D Lee homer final 3-1

In past years the Blackhawks have typically been number 1 on this list. The recent death of the very short-and-narrow-sighted owner as well as an infusion of young talent probably played into them moving out of the bottom 10.

Quite frankly, I don't give a crap about Ryan Theriot's OPS. And I don't give a crap about the Brewers collective OPS. You shouldn't either. I care that my team has lost too many games lately. You should too.

Oh I don't know, maybe statements like:

Hey I think it's a great idea. Here's my idea. You can keep the parking money but we get the stadium concessions, which means Brewer products are not allowed at the stands and we get to sell Old Style and Budweiser. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/laugh.gif I'm just wondering why you guys all think that your season ticket holders would get to fill the seats especially during Cubs-Brewers games.

This sucks for you guys and I really hate to see young talent injured like this. And Kasper, sliding into first is acceptable when trying to avoid a tag. I still fear you batting order though.

From my perspective, that sucked. Congrats on the series win. And I hope the guy that threw the beer got tossed.

I've never heard of that happening at Wrigley but I have had it happen at Soldier Field. One year a friend never got his season tickets and reported them missing. They were replaced and the originals were voided. Every game somebody else showed up in those seats and got booted because they were voided (and probably resold) tickets. 3 years ago, I received my playoff tickets and the sorting machine screwed up the mailing and I had 1 correct ticket and 2 tickets that belonged to somebody else. (I was supposed to have 4). I called the ticket office immediately and they were replaced. Now nobody tried to come and sit in those seats but in today's world of barcoded tickets they may have been stopped at the gate as having invalid tickets.

Hey I didn't hear that - He stole that from me. I've been using that line for 30 years - we had a switch-hitter that was hitting .300 - .150 left-handed and .150 right-handed