Rodrigo Lopez is the starting pitcher tonight and it is the 33rd game started by one of the following pitchers: Doug Davis (9), Casey Coleman (9), Rodrigo Lopez (8), James Russell (5) and Ramon Ortiz (2). It’s the 117th game of the season. 28.2% of all Cubs games have been started by one of those pitchers above who have combined to throw just over 150 innings and an ERA of 6.74 and a RA of 7.44. It’s not like the other 5 starters have been that good, but those 32 starts (probably 33 after tonight) have been horrible.
Over the course of a season I seem to recall that the average team uses a 6th starter for about 25 starts. Well, the Cubs have used a 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 50th starter this season for 33 of them. And they’ve allowed more runs per 9 innings than anyone could have anticipated.
No, this team likely wasn’t headed to the playoffs and the performance from the main 5 starters only makes it more difficult, but these guys haven’t helped. It’s kind of sad when you think about how many starts the Cubs have given to thse guys.
Comments
Jonny Gomes must have been a Mr. T fan as a kid.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
i jsut dont get why we wouldnt see Brett in september
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
ERROR.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]ERROR.[/quote]Horrible throw by Castro but I thought Barney could have done a better job getting off the bag to try to block it.
cwolfQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN. But nice try to avoid the tag, them’s the breaks.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=cwolf]Horrible throw by Castro but I thought Barney could have done a better job getting off the bag to try to block it.[/quote]
Yeah, that was 99% Castro and 1% Barney in my opinion (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It’s still April in Cleveland. Two doubles for Kosuke.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Soto is still a good-hitting catcher.
ACTQuote Reply
Soto with a lazy flyball home run.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Soto with a lazy flyball home run.[/quote]
If Tony Campana had hit that, he could’ve circled the bases by the time the ball landed in the bleachers. Of course, if Tony Campana had hit that, it’d be a popout to third.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Soto is still a good hitting catcher but he K;s a lot
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Good throw by Castro, but I don’t think Detweiler even tried.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Soto is still a good hitting catcher but he K;s a lot[/quote]True. It’s frustrating when he watches strike 3 go by with a runner on third and less than 2 outs.
ACTQuote Reply
Gritty scrappy single!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Lazy double for Soriano.
ACTQuote Reply
Wow, what a day for Lopez.
ACTQuote Reply
Rough day for Starlin.
ACTQuote Reply
That was the most bizarre hit I’ve ever seen.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]i jsut dont get why we wouldnt see Brett in september[/quote]
I don’t know what the fuck Cuey is talking about there. It’s not like AA or AAA baseball is going on in Sep unless they go deep in the playoffs.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]That was the most bizarre hit I’ve ever seen.[/quote]
(dying laughing). You couldn’t make the ball do that if you tried. If Geo had made contact with the runner in pursuit of the ball would he have been out? I would guess “no” if it had happened there but he did get blocked by the runner.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa](dying laughing). You couldn’t make the ball do that if you tried. If Geo had made contact with the runner in pursuit of the ball would he have been out? I would guess “no” if it had happened there but he did get blocked by the runner.[/quote]
I think that would’ve been obstruction as the runner has precedence in the basepaths when the fielder does not have possession of the ball. It was also quite a tough error to charge Soto with considering the billiards-esque English that ball had.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]I don’t know what the fuck Cuey is talking about there. It’s not like AA or AAA baseball is going on in Sep unless they go deep in the playoffs.[/quote]
I think that’s just Cuey being Cuey talking about things he has no say over. No way is he deciding who gets called up or when. He should have said it’s not his job and he will play whoever Hendry gives him.
melissaQuote Reply
Scrappy gritty home run.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think that would’ve been obstruction as the runner has precedence in the basepaths when the fielder does not have possession of the ball. It was also quite a tough error to charge Soto with considering the billiards-esque English that ball had.[/quote]
I think you are correct and I don’t agree with Soto being given an error either. He couldn’t get to ball in time to make play and it was in no way routine.
melissaQuote Reply
34-year-old + career year = PLEASE, GOD, LET THERE BE A WAIVER DEAL FOR THIS GUY.
uncle daveQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I think you are correct and I don’t agree with Soto being given an error either. He couldn’t get to ball in time to make play and it was in no way routine.[/quote]
That was a routine 10 foot foul ball that spins into the infield (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=uncle dave]34-year-old + career year = PLEASE, GOD, LET THERE BE A WAIVER DEAL FOR THIS GUY.[/quote]
Sorry but we’re trying to win games here.
melissaQuote Reply
The Cubs were teeing off Detwiler that inning.
BerseliusQuote Reply
These old Santo clips after commercial are nice.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Soto gets the error rescinded, rightfully so.
melissaQuote Reply
Geico caveman strikes.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
For the sake of accuracy I petition management here at OVB to change the comment message to “Obstructed view is a way of [L]ife.” (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Geico caveman strikes.[/quote]
He may be covered in fur but he’s too pretty to be a caveman. That’s Damon with the protruding forehead.
melissaQuote Reply
These Pepsi commercials lampooning the Coke mascots make me want to hurt somebody.
Coke > Pepsi
/biased
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Long ball > small ball
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]These Pepsi commercials lampooning the Coke mascots make me want to hurt somebody.
Coke > Pepsi[/quote]
Those commercials are dumb, but Pepsi > Coke. Of course, root beer > coke or Pepsi and beer > root beer
BerseliusQuote Reply
I like root beer. I can tolerate Pepsi but I prefer Coke.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Darwin Barney has warning track power.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Damn, Barney needed one more biscuit for breakfast.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I like root beer. I can tolerate Pepsi but I prefer Coke.[/quote]I rarely drink sodas or any heavily carbonated beverages any more. Ever since college I have about a 50% chance of getting multiple hour hiccups whenever I drank a soda. But when I did I preferred Pepsi (dying laughing).
BerseliusQuote Reply
Also, diet drinks are anathema.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]I rarely drink sodas or any heavily carbonated beverages any more. Ever since college I have about a 50% chance of getting multiple hour hiccups whenever I drank a soda. But when I did I preferred Pepsi (dying laughing).[/quote]
We should make a Dos Equis gif just for you.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]We should make a Dos Equis gif just for you.[/quote](dying laughing) I don’t often drink soda but when I do I prefer Pepsi.
If root beer isn’t available.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius](dying laughing) I don’t often drink soda but when I do I prefer Pepsi.
If root beer isn’t available.[/quote]
Sarsaparilla is a recent beverage I’ve enjoyed.
melissaQuote Reply
Quade leaves Samardzija in to bat with a runner in scoring position so that he can pitch to two batters?
ACTQuote Reply
I’m officially in the “Fire Quade” camp now.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Quade leaves Samardzija in to bat with a runner in scoring position so that he can pitch to two batters?[/quote]
Let’s see what happens.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]I’m officially in the “Fire Quade” camp now.[/quote]
They have a 2 run cushion, what could possibly go wrong?
melissaQuote Reply
Marshall’s breaking pitches are awesome.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Let’s see what happens.[/quote]He strikes out and looks silly in the process.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Quade leaves Samardzija in to bat with a runner in scoring position so that he can pitch to two batters?[/quote]
Guess it saves the bench for when he actually needs them.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]He strikes out and looks silly in the process.[/quote]
Well, that’s one way to look at it. (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
Shitty variance for Ramirez.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]i jsut dont get why we wouldnt see Brett in september[/quote]Did Cuey imply that B Jax was going to be blocked by Lou Montenez, or is it just me?
binkyQuote Reply
RE: The original post: What’s with this ERA bullshit?
binkyQuote Reply
Since it’s Ron Santo day, I’m looking over his numbers on fangraphs. How the fuck is Ron not in the HOF?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Since it’s Ron Santo day, I’m looking over his numbers on fangraphs. How the fuck is Ron not in the HOF?[/quote]
Because life’s not fair.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Now THAT was a nice bunt.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Because life’s not fair.[/quote]But literally, what is the justification? Not enough stolen bases? He had high average, buckets of hits and a ton of home runs. He even had a lot of the Journalists best friends, the RBI. And he had amazing defense for virtually his whole career. What is the counter argument?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]But literally, what is the justification? Not enough stolen bases? He had high average, buckets of hits and a ton of home runs. He even had a lot of the Journalists best friends, the RBI. And he had amazing defense for virtually his whole career. What is the counter argument?[/quote]
HOF hates 3B, I guess. Plus the whole “not that many players on a team that never made the playoffs” thing.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]HOF hates 3B, I guess.[/quote]It doesn’t hate Pie Traynor!
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]It doesn’t hate Pie Traynor![/quote]
His name is Pie, that’s HOF-worthy.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]HOF hates 3B, I guess. Plus the whole “not that many players on a team that never made the playoffs” thing.[/quote]Ron’s lifetime numbers are more consistent than Ernie Banks, and his lifetime WAR is a bit higher, at least on fangraphs.
Mind boggling. Seriously. I never even knew Ron was that good, because I never sat down and looked at his numbers before. But he was awesome.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]But literally, what is the justification? Not enough stolen bases? He had high average, buckets of hits and a ton of home runs. He even had a lot of the Journalists best friends, the RBI. And he had amazing defense for virtually his whole career. What is the counter argument?[/quote]
3rd base is a hard position to get into the Hall. I believe 3rd basemen are fewest at their position in HOF. The excuse I’ve heard from hack media is that there were already 3 HOF’ers from a team that never won, how could there be 4? He was not well liked by opponents or media when he played, was a red-ass and considered a bit of a hot dog. I’ve even heard Cubs fans from that era say he never came through in the clutch. I think he’s a slam dunk as one of the 5 best 3rd basemen ever.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Ron’s lifetime numbers are more consistent than Ernie Banks, and his lifetime WAR is a bit higher, at least on fangraphs.
Mind boggling. Seriously. I never even knew Ron was that good, because I never sat down and looked at his numbers before. But he was awesome.[/quote]
Oh yeah. Which is why it’s so ridiculous that he didn’t make it in years ago.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I’ve even heard Cubs fans from that era say he never came through in the clutch.[/quote] I don’t doubt it. Like with Bartman. 125 other things went wrong that series that the Cubs had complete control over, but it’s all Bartman’s fault.
binkyQuote Reply
Cubs fans enjoy cherry-picking stats, but only they do it to prove their bullshit “curse.”
binkyQuote Reply
Cubs fans also said Sammy never hit homers when it mattered. Cubs fans have a long and rich history of hating on their best players. (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
Two straight pitchouts. Do they go for three?
Oh well, stolen base.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
He should just steal home.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]He should just steal home.[/quote]If there’s anyone who could do it, it’s Campana. But it takes a good read and usually you have to do it against a left-hander. Coco Crisp stole home for the A’s this year. He got halfway down the line before the pitcher delivered b/c he never saw him.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Cubs fans also said Sammy never hit homers when it mattered. Cubs fans have a long and rich history of hating on their best players. (dying laughing)[/quote]But there was that one game that he didn’t. That proves it.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]If there’s anyone who could do it, it’s Campana. But it takes a good read and usually you have to do it against a left-hander. Coco Crisp stole home for the A’s this year. He got halfway down the line before the pitcher delivered b/c he never saw him.[/quote]
This pitcher had a ridiculously slow delivery. Campana should’ve tried to go on the 2-2 pitch. I would’ve been thrilled even if he had been thrown out (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I clearly remember the Cubs lost games when Sammy played. Ergo, it was Sammy’s fault. QED.
binkyQuote Reply
Good Marmol showed up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I think it’s hard for third basemen to get into the hall because it’s somewhere between an offensive position like first and a defensive position like shortstop. Ron was really good at both offense and defense, but doesn’t especially stand out in either area (compared to other HOFers).
ACTQuote Reply
I’d be surprised if Castro doesn’t get a day off tomorrow. Quade has been looking to rest him, but he’s been too hot. Castro’s rough day probably earn him a bench spot tomorrow.
ACTQuote Reply
10 hits for Ronnie’s day.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Cubs fans also said Sammy never hit homers when it mattered. Cubs fans have a long and rich history of hating on their best players. (dying laughing)[/quote]There’s some truth to that:
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/best_clutch_hitters_since_1974/
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/article/best_and_worst_clutch_hitters_of_the_retrosheet_era
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]10 hits for Ronnie’s day.[/quote]It would have been funny if only 10 people were in attendance.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]There’s some truth to that:
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/best_clutch_hitters_since_1974/
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/article/best_and_worst_clutch_hitters_of_the_retrosheet_era%5B/quote%5DSo that was actually done on a situation by situation basis?
It also seems to confirm a debate earlier about Mark Grace being clutch.
binkyQuote Reply
One problem that Ronnie had was that George Brett and Mike Schmdt were tearing up MLB when he was on the ballot. There was an offensive explosion and he had his prime years in the pitching dominated 60s
BerseliusQuote Reply
I always got the feeling the Grace was better at coming through in clutch situations than Sammy was. Of course, the fact that Sammy didn’t hit a grand slam until 1998 didn’t help. As far a Santo goes, b-ref has his clutch rating as -3.5. So he was slightly worse in the clutch, but not in Sammy territory.
ACTQuote Reply
They should do the HOF that way. Evaluate the times a player came up in moments where a hit could drastically change the win probability and his percentage of getting those hits, or something like that. Not that it matters.
Speaking of Ron, though, what’s amazing to me in looking at his career, was the consistency. He had a peak year, but never really had a dropoff until maybe the year he played with the White Sox. Almost all of his defensive years were good and his offense was good. He accumulated close to 80 wins.
On the other hand, maybe the HOF is not selective enough, right? Like it’s not so special if you walk through and you’ve never heard of half the guys in there and it’s like “he had a good year! And lookit that mustache!” Ron’s career is maybe most notable because he was extremely consistent throughout. That’s not easy.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]
“he had a good year! And lookit that mustache!” [/quote]I went to the Football hall of fame when I was a kid and it was all mustaches and Jim Thorpe.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]One problem that Ronnie had was that George Brett and Mike Schmdt were tearing up MLB when he was on the ballot. There was an offensive explosion and he had his prime years in the pitching dominated 60s[/quote]It didn’t help that his body started failing him when it did, either. He didn’t have the longevity of Schmidt or Brett.
ACTQuote Reply
I don’t care how they do the HOF, just so long as they’re consistent about it. None of this Hall Of Most Feared garbage.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]
On the other hand, maybe the HOF is not selective enough, right? Like it’s not so special if you walk through and you’ve never heard of half the guys in there and it’s like “he had a good year! And lookit that mustache!” Ron’s career is maybe most notable because he was extremely consistent throughout. That’s not easy.[/quote]There are way too many players from the 20’s and 30’s thanks to the Veteran’s Committee giving favoritism to their former teammates. That said, there are several players who I think belong but haven’t been inducted.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]It didn’t help that his body started failing him when it did, either. He didn’t have the longevity of Schmidt or Brett.[/quote]
Indeed. And FWIW I think that while none of them would admit it the diabetes angle didn’t play well with the Veterans committee.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Hong-Chih Kuo has an ERA over 12 and more walks than IP. That makes me sad. He was so awesome last year.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]His name is Pie, that’s HOF-worthy.[/quote]Are we going to elect this guy, too? http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piefe01.shtml
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Are we going to elect this guy, too? http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/piefe01.shtml[/quote]
There’s a difference between “Pie” and “Pee-ay” (guffaw)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]They should do the HOF that way. Evaluate the times a player came up in moments where a hit could drastically change the win probability and his percentage of getting those hits, or something like that. Not that it matters.
Speaking of Ron, though, what’s amazing to me in looking at his career, was the consistency. He had a peak year, but never really had a dropoff until maybe the year he played with the White Sox. Almost all of his defensive years were good and his offense was good. He accumulated close to 80 wins.
On the other hand, maybe the HOF is not selective enough, right? Like it’s not so special if you walk through and you’ve never heard of half the guys in there and it’s like “he had a good year! And lookit that mustache!” Ron’s career is maybe most notable because he was extremely consistent throughout. That’s not easy.[/quote]
Yes. They should absolutely base the HOF on the smallest possible sample. This will guarantee the best players get in, and not the schlubs who set records and did things.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Nice catch, dad.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17895821
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Soriano ———> 10 straight seasons w/ 20 HR
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17876655
Wow, that was not good baserunning there.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Soriano ———> 10 straight seasons w/ 20 HR[/quote]
None of which were clutch.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]None of which were clutch.[/quote]He only turns it on when it doesn’t matter.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
It is true that low contact power hitters underperform in the clutch, but high-contact hitters perform better. I don’t know why it is, but it’s true.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]It is true that low contact power hitters underperform in the clutch, but high-contact hitters perform better. I don’t know why it is, but it’s true.[/quote]
Might be all the strikeouts. High-contact hitters in high leverage situations (meaning runners on base for the most part) are more likely to put the ball in play and make things happen. That’s how I would think about it.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cubs —-> #4 pick
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Cubs —->168thpick[/quote]/fixed for what will happen
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]/fixed for what will happen[/quote]
Overslot!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Amazingly, the D-Backs have first place all to themselves.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Amazingly, the D-Backs have first place all to themselves.[/quote]stats —–> wrong
/BBWAA Member
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
New Pic of the Day: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/ov-pic-of-the-day-remembering-10.html
Aisle424Quote Reply