2009 Chicago Cubs

[ThreeKing]

Quote: Originally Posted by fugazi

just for some perspective. In roughly 100 ABs (not counting BBs), Hoffpauir has 15 xbhs. (10 2b, 5hr)...that doesn't sound like much... But... if you look at Pujols's numbers from last year, the ratio of xbhs to ABs (again not counting Pujols's 100bbs) is in favor of Hoffpauir. I am not suggesting that Micah is Albert, or even close. Just wanted to put it out there. He either needs platoon play or regular play, OR needs to be shipped at the end of the year to the AL to be a DH. His Defense is clearly a huge liability, and I don't know if he will work as a 1B. This may mean that the Cubs really can't count on him long term, as he is too good to be a pinch-hitter, but too poor in defense for the NL. ....wait...can he pitch?

Great point, but what do we do? Do they actually sit Lee? We can't trade him. That would be foolish.

[fugazi]

i would say the Cubs should get their coach on...but I don't really remember the organization making any player better at anything.

It just seems like they don't coach well at all. Is Soto watching film? Is the hitting coach talking with him to try to determine what is different? Has anyone said, "you know, Lee, you are just not as quick through the zone, and you are not swinging down as much as we would like...why don't we try opening your stance a bit?" Or "Let's back you off the plate and work on going the other way."

OR, "hey, Cotts, let's just cut off your arm."

I would make Hoffpauir's first task of the day 100 ground balls and picking 20-40 throws from SS and 3b.

the question for me is how long will Lou keep Hoff out of the starting lineup with ARam, Lee, and Bradley each banged up. One would think that couldn't happen at this point, but who knows.

[fugazi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

Unfortunately, everything hinges on Peavy. If we are able to get him then it is a successful offseason, if not this team is far worse than last year.

ahem

Quote: Originally Posted by ZM Punk

How are we that much worse than last season? I like DeRosa as much as the next guy, but I would much rather have Milton Bradley. DeRosa was terrible defensively and was right handed. Bradley is a much better hitter not that much of downgrade defensively and is LH, which is something this team was very much in need of. Marmol needed to be the closer of this team and we also picked up Gregg. So that cancels out Wood. No we didn't improve, but to say that we are going to be worse than last season makes no sense. Its basically the same team plus Rich Harden for a full season.

NOt at shot at you, ZM, at all.......just...i dunno....i dunno. (shakes head)

Anyone that was excited about Bradley never looked at his career numbers.

What it looked like to me was that the team went out and pretty much blew up the best squad they had had since....uh...1908?

[ThreeKing]

Can someone tell me why the Cubs didn't pursue Ibanez and instead took Captain Headcase??

[fugazi]

Bravo on a nice offensive performance and for Zambrano having a very Z-eque game. Love that guy at the plate, though his swing is awkward as all get out.

It is a shame he isn't the dominant pitcher he was a couple of years ago; he seems to have lost about 3mph on his fastball, but his slider is still nasty and jerks to the left hard and late.

Hopefully Fontenot is turning things around, and Kosuke is even pulling the ball, which has to be a good sign.

Lee is supposed to return tonight. Whether or not that is a good thing is something I wish I didn't have to worry about.

Though Hoffpauir only went 1 for 5, he never K'd which is good. In 3 starts in place of Lee he is 3 for 11 with 1HR, 3rbi, and 2k. This guys seems comfortable at the plate, and I was impressed with the ABs I saw last night. Really owned Rauch, who simply had to give up. Seems to put the bat on the ball consistently. I wouldn't mind a platoon and have him start at least every other game against righties.

Bradley's 2 for 4 night brought him to .107. Miles is still only hitting .187 and looks like some kind of little-leaguer at the plate...can someone get this guy a smaller bat? He has had loads of playing time, and the .187 simply won't cut it. that being said there is absolutely jack squat in the AAA/AA to even consider, so he is here, like it or not.

I won't mention Soriano's great start to the season just in case i jinx it.

Samardzija is back with the big club, which I was unaware of.

Even when Lee comes back the team seems really thin in the IF...last night Theriot was giving the homeplate ump a piece of his mind, and I thought..."****, don't get ejected, I don't think we have another IFer on the roster!" Theriot and the ump had a rather long conversation. Good to see him so spirited, though, even with a big lead. But seriously, what would have happened if he got tossed? ARam play hurt, I guess. This is where having no Cedeno or DeRosa really cuts it close.

[bluengold34_OS]

I still think Lee as starter and Micah as a very nice bench player is the best scenario right now. It was also nice to see Koy have a little offensive production at the plate last night....he has been a nice suprise this year.

I still have faith in Bradley and his two hits last night made me happy. He went down and drove the first one into right and the second in the right field gap looked solid also. He seemed more comfortable last night and a little more selctive at the plate.

Hopefully we get Aram, Dlee, and Marmol all back in the next couple of days. As hard as we have been on the guy at times, Soriano has been the MVP so far(Kosuke not far behind), that guy is just on fire at the plate right now. I mean the guy is hitting around .315/7hr's/14 rbi and around .400 for an on base % right now.(sorry Fug, had to mention it)

As much as this season has been a struggle so far, we are 10-9 with the 3 guys mentioned before missing time and Bradley and Soto hitting less than my weight combined. Those 2 guys start hitting and we get all three guys back healthy and little consistency out of the pen, we should be fine.

On a side note, they mentioned that Wood hit 99mph on the gun the other night......to bad it was a 3 run bomb to Bay to lose the game.

[fugazi]

don't worry, bng, i did a voodoo dance to get rid of your jinx.

[fugazi]

wha.....

gasp....

but.....