The 15% Forum

4-2. Oh the dizzying heights....

2006-06-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

So that's what a good week looks like. Let's not pretend it means anything, but it's refreshing to see the cubs actually playing decently. I suppose its the same relief you get when a prison rape is over. (You can simulate this by taking a really big dump, but I didn't tell you this, and no, I don't know from experience. Just guessing.) Actually some hitting and pitching, until the wheels fell off maddux today. oh that's right, he's 42!!!! Keep that in mind. I think this what you'll get all season. One or two good starts followed by something that resembles Dresden. And let's face it, beathing the Cardinals in St. Louis is always fucking sweet.

For those who need hope, here's what you could believe. A ball rolling through Scott Rolen's legs to tie a game in the 9th has to be indicative of something. That's the best 3rd baseman we'll ever see doing that. And some balls are actually starting to drop. And the central sucks, every team is moving backwards. And all our games are against them the next little while. And the cards without pujols are a stationary target. And lee's back soon, as is Prior. So there, go with that. I won't, but you can.

Back up the truck

2006-05-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

So I can't remember the last time I left the Cubs for dead by Memorial Day, maybe 2002? 2000? Somewhere in there. It used to be a regluar occurence when I was younger. Well, like Pearl Jam, I'm returning to my roots. This doesn't have much to do with last night's loss, except for one aspect of it. They found a way to lose a game, instead of finding a way to win. For the past three seasons now, they have done just enough to lose more than they should. Frankly, this team doesn't play correct enough to reel off 15 of 17 or 20 of 25, which it would take at some point to get back into things. They don't walk, they walk hitters too much, they make far too many mental mistakes, they're fragile mentally anyway, there will be errors, and missed cutoff men, and runners not moved over, and plenty of poorly times K's and double plays. Sure, they may get one, even two great turns through the rotation. But instead of winning 9 or all 10 of those games, they'll win 6 or 7 and biff the rest.

What's more disturbing than that is that there doesn't seem to be anyone in charge who's going to change that. If it's the hitting and/or pitching coach, Dusty won't touch his guys. If it's Dusty himself, he has Hendry in his pocket. So he can't get fired or have any of his staff dismissed. You're stuck with this. Hendry just got an extension, and though I used to love him, for two straight seasons he has left this team with crippling holes. Crippling. Last year it was the pen, who blew far too many games. This year he fixed the pen, and left gaping holes in the rotation. We all knew Wood wouldn't be back until May, and frankly you're kidding yourselves if you thought they didn't know Prior was hurt. And Hendry greatly miscalculated Guzman or Hill being ready to fill the breach. He's taken far too many fliers on players to feel gaping needs. this season it was Rusch and Jerome Williams, who we all knew were inconsistent at best. Last season it was the guy coming off arm surgery who blew his arm out on the mound again, and now I can't remember his name. there's enough blame for everyone here.

If you need something positive about this, well, it shouldn't be hard to turn things around next season around Murton, Cedeno, Pie, Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Z, eyre, howry, and Dempster. A healthy pitching staff, be it Wood and Prior or someone capable of filling in for them consistently would probably be a pretty good team. This isn't a huge reclemation project, but until the right decision makers are in place, this organization will be spinning it's wheels.

Grown ups

2006-05-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Shockingly, good things happen when you play baseball like a grown-up. If only we had a manager who would enforce that policy all the time. But seriously, big kudos to Michael Barrett, who after acting like a child stood up after the game yesterday and admitted as much. Then today, in the 8th inning, team down, 0-2, 35,000 baying for him to strikeout, comes up with one of the biggest hits of the season. That's being adult, that's being a tough ball player. Opposite field as well. That's a leader you can follow, which is saying something after his pathetic display yesterday. Good thing we'll lose him for at least 5 games then.

Of course, the last thing I probably needed was a Cub win that you could view as a springboard. Nuts.

20 pitches

2006-05-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

That's what it took Jose Contreras to get through 3 innings. But I'm sure Gene Clines is working hard too, dude...

also point out

2006-05-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

It's been said a lot recently that we should follow the example of the 2003 Marlins and the 2004 Astros who fired a manager mid season and went on to the playoffs. It should also be pointed out the past two world Series champions also pulled a this-isn't-working-let's-change-this-now manuever. The Red Sox in 2004 punted icon Nomar Garciaparra, to us, and decided they needed to overhaul their defense. Though they did it in the off-season, the White Sox traded Carlos Lee for Podsednik to make it clear they were no longer going to be a bash and crash team. Time here too....

Rock Bottom

2006-05-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's bad enough that we are playing horribly and for the first time being OUTCLASSED by the White Sox, but now this. I'm sure there are some who will say that Barrett is just trying to fire the team up or show that he cares, but the actions today can only be described as bush league. If for no other reason than he's probably our best pure hitter at the moment, and we simply cannot lose him for the 10 days we are going to now. That being said, I suppose if I had a free shot at A.J., I probably would have taken it too. But at least lose with some dignity. Oh, and we've plummetted Rich Hill's trade value into the toilet. 4A pitcher. He doesn't throw nearly hard enough to keep throwing the ball as high as he does. And he doesn't throw strikes. Which is strange, because he was in Triple A. he gets here and all of the sudden he's afraid of contact? And he's 26. Good vision guys.

Clearly something's not working here. A firing, a trade, SOMETHING has to happen this week, or we'll know the cubs have given up on the season. 10.5 back is about as far as you can afford to be.

Go Oilers....

flacid

2006-05-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Another limp dick performance. Let's forget the fact that it was against the white sox. And let's even forget it was against Mark Beurhle, who's real good. Why don't we as cub fans aim for something that seems reasonable instead of something that's not, i.e. Dusty being fired. Face it, it won't happen. But why does Gene Clines keep his job? Or rosthchild? I'm sitting here seeing every guy try and pull everything that comes within a zip code of the plate, why can't Clines? Fair enough, maybe you can't make an aggressive hitter a patient one. But why can't they be aggressive while hitting the ball the opposite way? And why can none of our pitchers throw a strike?

Maybe it's time to see if Abreu-for Tampon Prior can be revisited.

Two more days of this....

Unique Torture

2006-05-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

So I haven't read what Jake will say about this series, but I have never, ever, enjoyed a cubs-white sox game. Ever. i've been to many, some of which the Cubs have won, but I don't enjoy them. They are torture. And I don't even really hate the White Sox. I leave that for them. I'm more indifferent. I even understand the inferiority complex they have, or used to have. If I rooted for a team that got absolutely no attention in my own city I'd probably be pretty pissed. But I hate, hate being surrounded by Sox fans. Or even amongst a few of them. It's like going into a frat bar. you can taste the redneck testosterone. Let's not forget that is members amongst this group that attacked an opposing first base coach ON THE FIELD. Don't forget that. So I hate losing to them. And we'll probably do plenty of that this weekend. Just what they need, added arrogance. Even when the cubs win, the feeling is more relief than joy. Maybe, maybe if we take all 6 I might actually enjoy it, but clearly that won't happen.

Though it is interesting to think that this used to be the only 6 games the Sox took seriously. Something fed down from their fan base that these were the must win games, not the ones against the Twins, and then they'd get pollaxed by the Twins when it counted. Now that that's changed, let's see what happens.

back again

2006-05-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

So I've been absent, but I thought I'd sit out the whole sky-is-falling-let's-commit-sepuku thing that's been going around here the past couple weeks. It's May 18th, let's try and remember that. Yes, a 2 game winning streak over a Nationals team that is Baddy McBadd doesn't not signal a turn around. But let's keep in mind that with Wood back today we now have 4 solid starters, and not everyone can keep hitting this badly. Murton's finally in the 2-hole!

Speaking of Wood, it's that time again. That time where we all hope that this, finally, is where he puts it all together and becomes the pitcher we hope, only to be shatteringly dissapointed. But look, if Reece Witherspoon can finally put it all together, so can Kerry. My father has a theory that no pitcher who's any good before 30 will be so after, and any pitcher who's good after he's 30 probably wasn't before. the only two i can think of who disprove this are Maddux and Clemens, and they're Hall of Famers. But Unit and Schilling didn't figure it out until now. Not that Kerry will ever be them, but if he doesn't become the camera chaser that Schilling is I'll accept that. Pedro started getting hurt right after he turned 30. Mussina wasn't any good until around then. So maybe, as he approaches 29, we will get what we deserve. But that salary's gonna have to come down a bit...

Spiraling....

2006-05-06T22:27:00.000-07:00

Note to Hendry: (or whoever might be the GM next year if this continues. Don't think your contract extention can't get you fired.)

When you discover a player who had an off year, DO NOT be under the impression Dusty and Gene Clines can turn him around. It's clear they simply don't have a clue. Juan Pierre sucks right now. Like real bad.

You don't bunt with your 3 hitter if your 4 hitter is Jacque Jones who has already struck out 3 times, and is dying to do it for a fourth.

This is sad. That's all you can say. Sad....

I was wrong, self-destruction got me again

2006-05-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

Jerry Hairston can't play baseball. I don't know why I fooled myself into thinking he could, but he can't. Unfortunately, this means seeing more Neifi. Until Kevin Millar comes, if he comes. Tonight, can't get down a bunt, can't get a hit, and tries to tag out a base stealer from the pitcher's mound, costing us the game. I'm sorry for suggesting he should play. I'm a moron. Freddy Bynum too. He doesn't have a clue.

With peavy up next, this slide isn't going to stop. What does Gene Clines do for a living?

Now it's starting...

2006-05-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

I write this as i'm watching a depressing performance. I heard an astonishing stat. Since Lee got hurt, the cubs ERA is 2 runs higher. Lee didn't stop that many errors, and those would be unearned runs anyway. that sounds suspiciously like a team feeling sorry for itself. I'm not sure where the blame lies for that one, but I know there's one guy who's in charge of making sure that doesn't happen. You can spot him when he gets an extension later this summer....

I didn't know

2006-05-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

That Jacque Jones was channeling the ghost of Moises Alou. What kind of bonus does he get?

While all around lose thiers....

2006-05-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

So I've watched my fellow cub fans implode the past few days. And i'll admit, it hasn't been an encouraging week. Getting blasted by the Brewers is annoying, mostly because I think i find them the most annoying opponent we play. I loathe the cardinals, but am just annoyed by the Brewer players and fans. Bill Hall, that yutz Turnbow, Brady Clark, Capuano, Lee, Jenkins, just all annoying players. you can't build up too much bile to any one of them, but they just stick in your craw, wherever that may be. And losing one to the Pirates ain't good either, though we never, ever, beat Zach Duke, and people might want to notice the dude can pitch.

This is what the cubs are for right now. They are going to struggle to score runs. And no no no no no, tony Clark is not an answer to any question I'm asking. You can just see the Cubs getting bilked for some pitcher who in 3 years goes 28-2 or something as we try to figure out just what it was we got for him. Yes, it would be nice if Aramis and Zambrano would kindly join us this season. But check out last april, and you'll see they both pulled this act then too. They'll come around. But yes, let's stop pretending Jacque Jones can hit lefties, because well, he can't. and won't.

Chill out, games against the NL West are usually pretty theraputic, and the cubs have like 12 in a row.

What it COULD mean

2006-04-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

Again, I have a habit of rushing to conclusions in April. Mostly because we all want to believe it won't be a lost summer. But cub fans will understand this. There were usually 5-6 games a year that they would be completely shut down by some soft tossing lefty. (though vargas probably will be pretty good one day, not now.) They would flail and whiff, and when they did make contact it would result in some great play against them. This usually would happen against the cubs ace, and meakly they would succumb to a 3-0, 4-1 loss. And we all would sit at home screaming "give me a bat! I can hit this guy. It's 87 mph!!!!" Last night looked like one of those. But one got the sense that the cubs were not giving up, that they knew this was a team that could string an inning together. Sure there were some breaks. Cabrera should've just taken an out, but maybe he knew what was coming. But this teams seems to scrap more than any other we've seen. Did you know they lead the league in BA with RISP? (lots of terms there, take a moment.) Or most comeback wins? All I know is i've watched the cubs lose dozens of those games the past few seasons, and this one never looked in doubt.

Jacque, blasting the fans won't help. You have a valid point, but they won't know that. But i'm still with you. Best bat flip in the league.

Sam

We CAN survive

2006-04-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you read that right. I'm certainly under self-delusion, but anyone who tells you that isn't part of being a Cubs fan just isn't a cubs fan. Notice it doesn't say we WILL survive. This seems like such a ready made Dusty excuse for things going poorly. Don't know if you've noticed, but he's not the best at holding together a ragged ship. When things go bad, they tend to stay that way.

But here's the case. On last year's team this would have been crippling. No doubt. But this team is different. There are enough good hitters with speed in the lineup to scratch 3-4 runs a game. They don't give away at bats. It would be nice if Aramis Ramirez would kindly join us this season now. Jacque, here's your chance to win over everyone. And no, Phil Rogers, he shouldn't play first base. You idiot. Kerry Wood needs to come back healthy, Maddux needs to keep doing this, and Zambrano either needs to insert plate glass in his stomach so he can see where he's going when his head is up his ass or get it out of there completely. DO NOT get Soriano, DO NOT play John Mabry regularly. We've got an actual bullpen to hold the slender leads we might have. It CAN work.

I know it's asking a lot, but we're about due for some luck.

Sam

at what cost?

2006-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Our entire season is having an MRI today. Last night's win should have been the most exciting of the season. Our rookie SS with a game winning single off a more than competent closer. (I say that partially because Baez is on my fantasy team and any dope could have figured out Gagne was not going to be healthy.) A comeback that we had never been capable of the past two seasons. But only the cubs could manage to injure two players within half a second of each other. For the love of God I hope nothing is broken in Derrek Lee's wrist. a week without we could stem, even two. But a month or longer, and we'd be screwed without any of the usual fun.

I'm sure most people will find a way to blame Dusty for this....

What is this?

2006-04-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm famous for leaping off the edge, in a good and bad way, far too early in a season, so I'll try not to do it here. But no one told me were getting Greg Maddux circa '96 this season. That was utter dominance. Probably his best start in his second stint as a cub. The Dodgers aren't exactly a juggernaut, bitch, I know. But damn, they didn't even have a chance. Did Dusty really call a hit and run with his 8 hitter? And have it work? What? I stopped doing acid ages ago, what's going on?

IF there's one reason to get excited, the past two years, wood and prior have been coming back to SAVE our season. This one it looks like they're coming to BOOST it. That's better.

Sam

Welcome back, Jacque

2006-04-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

Jacque Jones will be back in the lineup tonight, and I bet I'm the only one who's happy about it. Though I liked Angel Pagan, because, let's face it, it's fun to watch someone with Pagan on their back's run around a baseball field on Easter weekend. But the more backlash I hear against Jones the more I'm in his corner. Seems people are upset about the contract he signed, and yes, it's pretty ridiculous. But is that his fault? "No Mr. Hendry, I think I'm only worth a one year deal at 4 million, so a pox on your more money and security!" But more to the point, let's be honest. Jones is Jeromy Burnitz with more speed and more glove. But more importantly, he brings something to the cubs that I can only call "shwerve." Maybe that's just a word white people use to describe something we can't possibly understand, but there's an enthusiasm, a style, a boisterousness to Jones that I bet the entire team finds infectious. And when your first hit as a cub is a 3-run homer against the cards, you've bought yourself some time. Just watch, Jones's attitude will be a big part of this team should it stay in contention throughout the year.

Ugh

2006-04-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

We're barely halfway through April, and I'm already very tired of the Reds. This is the problem with the unbalanced schedule, is that the offseason just isn't long enough to have the boredom and distaste you feel for your division rivals wear off. What is Adam Dunn? Why does this okie exist? He is a triangle hitter. Walk, K, HR. That's all he can do. I'm tired of this slob, I really am....

How sweet it is

2006-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

I know it's only April, and if it had been May or June maybe the Cubs wouldn't have gotten so many looks at what looks to be an abstract (eg. mediocre) Cardinals pen, but whatever. Nothing is as sweet as sweeping the Cardinals. It just doesn't get any better, especially when watching La Russa's moves blow up in his face. He thought he'd be cute and insult us by pulling Carpenter, and we quickly ate up his replacement. He showed his desperation to not get swept, by bringing in Isringhausen in the 8th, and Barrett's ball still hasn't landed. La Russa's a genius, don't ya know?
Here's the big thing I like so far. It is apparent that Barrett and Lee have clearly become the leaders on this team. Lee obviously wont' accept any of the crap that went on before in his time here, and Barrett is becoming the soul. We've needed this for years, and though people have tried to pin this responsibility on Wood and Prior, it's hard to lead from the DL.
Some are worried that all of our runs are being scored via the home run the past two days, but we'll take what we can get for the moment. At least their not solo shots, or the Sammy special.

Thank you Jacque, it was getting hard defending you when you were hitless.

It will never get old...

2006-04-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

Will it ever get old watching Alex Rodriguez grounding out in clutch situations? Somehow, I doubt it. Though you see it a lot.

Thank you SI

2006-03-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

SI says the cubs will finish fourth. Never have I seen such a love for anything from Milwaukee, but that's fine. I guess like everyone else I'll pretend Ben Sheets isn't on the DL already too. But what really excites me about this is that SI was so close with their prediction on the Bears this past season. I believe they were 30 out of 31, when anyone could plainly see that that defense was going to win the division. So I guess we need Lance Briggs to play left....

For years I've listened to cub fans complain that they never saw any evidence of are vaunted system producing players. Now that Murton and Cedeno will play every day, and Sean Marshall and Angel Guzman have stormed the gates of our rotation, all you hear is how weak our lineup is and how our staff can't survive. I guess I understand Red Sox fans now. At least they get to drink Sam Adams....

2nd BASE, how low can you go?

2006-03-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

I am actually attempting to watch my first spring training game this afternoon. (God bless having the work ethic of a three-toed sloth.) I've always though people who watch a lot of these were best left alone, as I find the noise of wind passing through their ears a bit distracting. It's nice to see baseball on again, to be sure, but past the 5th inning it's a bit pointless, and if you add up all the numbers of the players on the field, it would equal well past 2,000. Baseball rule: If you're a position player and your number is over 50, chances are you aren't very good.

Anyway, the great debate in cubs camp these days, or at least one of the six, is what to do about second base. Since Jose Vidro isn't coming, and probably shouldn't anyway. From reading the Trib everyday, I am to believe that Todd Walker is the fans favorite. This should immediately rule him out of the running, as generally most cub fans are too busy remembering their last frat party wistfully to actually know what goes on with the team. Yes, he hits from the left side. Yes, his OBP usually floats above .370. And his defense isn't as bad as some would have you believe, though it isn't all that good either. But i ask my fellow cubs fans this: Of all his hits last year, how many do you remember? And how many DP's did we suffer through? Or pop ups in big situations? And those balls his range wouldn't quite let him get to? Those add up. That being said, he's not Neifi. (Though some will recall that after his first month replacing Nomar, he was being called Neifichiro, as he was quite hot at the time. Cub fan brains= bongwater.) Perez obviously should never be seen before the 7th inning, and only then if you're winning. This leaves Jerry Hairston Jr., who I'm convinced will be the first to test positive for amphetamines, and that could easily have been in December. Watch this guy, and tell me he doesn't do everything in the most manic way possible. But he's serviceable, and it would seem the best solution is for him and Walker to split time until one outshines the other. Hairston also gives the cubs more speed, which you simply can't have enough of. Granted, his SB totals last season aren't exactly impressive (he runs the bases like he's being chased by the cops) but if his claims of being injured are true, that should improve. With Hairston, the cubs would have a lineup where 5 or 6 of the 8 position players can steal a base. Have they ever had that?

So this is christmas...

2006-03-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Jake Berlin asked me to be your Cubs blogger, meaning basically to document my misery on a daily basis, and well, why not? I'd like to start these out by addressing the cubs offseason. With the team on the other side of town bringing home the city's first World Series in 314 years, logic on this side of Madison St. seemingly has gone out the window. Most winters when a team shores up it's two glaring needs, in our case pen and leadoff hitter, by finding the best solutions out there, (Howry and Eyre, then Juan Pierre) it would be considered a success. Not here. Most seem to believe that we should have given Rafael Furcal whatever he asked, and GM Jim Hendry's first born and kidneys as well. (Furcal might actually need the kidneys one day, with the DUI's on his record.) Also, we were supposed to pay all of Baltimore's taxes for a year to acquire Miggy Tejada. Unbelievable. While Tejada might have looked good, giving up a Mark Prior, a pitcher most believe comes along once a generation, is simply a bad idea. Cub fans have never learned a the lesson that power doesn't really win you anything. How many playoff games did Sammy Sosa win? The answer is 6, all in 2003. Somehow Hendry, the man who actually found a taker for Todd Hundley, the man who brought Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton here for Alex Gonzalez, the man who traded Hee Seop Choi for DEREK LEE!!!!!, is now a boob. But hey, logic has never flowed as freely as the Old Style on clark and addison, so why should I be surprised?

The bullpen has gone from a glaring, in fact worse than that, a burn-your-retinas glaring weakness to anywhere from solid to spectacular. The Cubs have a real chance to make every game a six inning game, and seeing as how they were never very good at the nine inning one, this can only be considered a step forward. There are some ifs, but even if Novoa doesn't develop, (though he surely fills out the ugly-beyond-belief reliever role a good team needs.) and Williamson doesn't come back even stronger, it still should be a satisfactory corps. As far as Pierre goes, the cubs in my lifetime have never, ever, had a player like him. A career .300 hitter who never strikes out, and makes pitchers absolutely wet the themselves when he's on base. Personally, I like the idea of Lee and Ramirez hitting with a slightly distracted pitcher on the mound, but that could all be in my head.

To me, without any breaks or unexpected turns, on paper this is a 85-89 win team. A few career years, a few bounces, you're looking at 90-95. I'll take my chances.

$1 Taco