Cubs @ Brewers

If you’re an NL team, and your RF is hitting 8th, you’re doing it wrong.

Re: Silva

the back end of that yanks rotation is a mess. unless it’s 2001, you don’t want freddy garcia and bartolo colon battling for a rotation spot, with kevin millwood and carlos silva as lurking contenders.

[quote name=GW]unless it’s 2001, you don’t want freddy garcia and bartolo colon battling for a rotation spot, with kevin millwood and carlos silva as lurking contenders.[/quote]Or unless you’re trying to win the hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s.

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]If you’re an NL team, and your RF is hitting 8th, you’re doing it wrong.[/quote]
It’s a way of [L]ife

[quote name=AndCounting]BB, I think the point is still worth noting that the negative impact of the perceived laziness, even over the course of several years, is minimal. Even if everyone’s perceptions of Aramis and Soriano were correct, the net effect would still be laughably insignificant.

So why get so upset? Because it feels good to blame someone. Not just for the Cubs’ failures, but for everything wrong with the world today. Ramirez is just a microcosm.[/quote]
I am not upset, I was taking the view of the common fan for that middle bit. I was happy ARam was on base when he shouldn’t have been.

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Year Number Two.[/quote]fixed

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Darwin Barney has a big bat and will hit a lot of home runs for this team.

/Brenly’d[/quote]
It just might work.

[quote name=GW][/quote]HEY HEY HEY

If they made a snuggie made out of that sham-wow stuff for him, they wouldn’t need a tarp and field crew.

If Colon doesn’t have a heart attack soon it will be a miracle.

Did the Yankees sponsor a tryout for America’s Biggest Loser and accidentally make the winner one of their pitchers?

If they were sponsoring tryouts for America’s Biggest Loser it would explain them bringing in the fail whale as well. I will say in his defense that Colon makes the fail whale look svelte.

[quote name=melissa]If they were sponsoring tryouts for America’s Biggest Loser it would explain them bringing in the fail whale as well. I will say in his defense that Colon makes the fail whale look svelte.[/quote]Colon makes planetoids look svelte.

From Adam in the last thread:

So why get so upset? Because it feels good to blame someone. Not just for the Cubs’ failures, but for everything wrong with the world today. Ramirez is just a microcosm.

Exactly! It’s all about blame. It’s all about belittling someone. It’s all about making people feel better about themselves.

(dying laughing)

There’s some hustle from Aramis

[quote name=Aisle424]He should have made it to second.[/quote]
There he goes striking out again and still only ending up on first base, is he even trying?

has fuld’s catch from earlier today come up yet?

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I just think if you’re splitting time in RF between Colvin and Fukudome, then there’s no need for Captain Ill-Advised Facial Hair to get a start this early in the year. I don’t mind Byrd there, per se, but his hacktastic approach shouldn’t be garnering him that spot.[/quote]
The 4th spot is the most important one in the lineup followed very closely by the number 2 hitter. Best two hitters should hit in those two spots. The 3rd best hitter goes in the leadoff spot while the 4th best goes in the 5th spot. That leaves the 5th best in the 3rd spot. This is based on The Book and not based on what managers are likely to do. http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by

Below is the top 5 vs lefties

Geovany Soto 0.382
Aramis Ramirez 0.37
Alfonso Soriano 0.353
Marlon Byrd 0.348
Starlin Castro 0.344

Vs righties:

Carlos Pena 0.374
Geovany Soto 0.355
Jason Dubois 0.35
Aramis Ramirez 0.347
Kosuke Fukudome 0.347
Bryan LaHair 0.342
Tyler Colvin 0.335
Alfonso Soriano 0.333
Marlon Byrd 0.33

Dubois and LaHair are out. Soriano and Byrd are even and only 2 points of wOBA behind Colvin for 5th best. Byrd’s projection is undoubtedly more reliable than Colvin’s.

Those are the average projections. Some projection systems have Byrd 4th or 5th best vs righties. Some have him 6th best.

Based on the research from The Book, Marlon Byrd should be hitting 3rd vs lefties and and it’s a toss up between Byrd, Soriano and Colvin for that spot vs righties. Right below them is Bobby Scales so he could actually be included in this toss up group too, but his projections are even less reliable than Colvin’s.

I figure arguments could be made that any one of Tyler Colvin, Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd or Bobby Scales should be hitting 3rd vs righties and I’m pretty sure none of us want Bobby Scales there. I think we also all agree that Tyler Colvin shouldn’t be there so it’s between Byrd and Soriano and each have a projected .333 wOBA vs righties. Byrd is more consistent so I’d go with Byrd in that spot. Soriano is one of those guys that when he’s going right he can easily be the 4th hitter and when things are going bad he’s a number 9 hitter. I wouldn’t want a guy like that in the 3rd spot or even in the top 5 to be honest. Not vs righties anyway.

I think it’s a good decision by Quade even if he reached the decision the wrong way.

[quote name=GW]http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_09_tbamlb_chamlb_1&mode=video[/quote]Wow. I hadn’t seen it. That’s unbelievable.

At least Garza is getting hard tonight. i was getting sick of all the hits squeaking through the infield.

[quote name=mb21]At least Garza is getting hard tonight.[/quote]
TMI

[quote name=Suburban Kid]Cool story, bro.[/quote].

[quote name=melissa]TMI[/quote](dying laughing) I don’t know how it came out like that.

[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) I don’t know how it came out like that.[/quote]
That’s What Garza Said

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Is Garza actually pitching, or is there a batting tee set up with “Matt Garza” written on it?[/quote]
Weeks smashed one off his foot. Braun and Fielder hit the ball hard but they weren’t able to elevate the ball. He’s not fooling people but the ball’s not flying out of the park yet either.

Reed sees a shoulder high fast ball in the opposite batter’s box? Swing like hell… it just might work.

Pena’s defense making Johnny Cakes hard too.

Ugh. The Cubs don’t see a lot of pitches.

Good thing Garza got out of the AL East.

Matt Garza is throwing BP tonight. He’s lucky so many balls have been hit right at the Cubs or this would be a 10-run game by now. Matt Garza is not good at baseball. The Rays knew what they were getting rid of and it wasn’t anything special.

Sounds like Soto killed a glove to get a squeaker hit.

Has the new pitcher smell worn off for Cubs fans yet? I’m betting it will happen soon if it hasn’t happened already.

Pena 5 LOB already tonight. How long before Cubs fans turn on him?

[quote name=ZappBrannigan]Pena 5 LOB already tonight. How long before Cubs fans turn on him?[/quote]I was wondering the same thing last night. That batting average is going to scream at the fans come midsummer.

Oh, so NOW Yuni plays defense…grumble.

Booooo.

[quote name=ZappBrannigan]Pena 5 LOB already tonight. How long before Cubs fans turn on him?[/quote]Next homestand.

Trade your best prospect for an overrated pitcher….

Lets see What Happens…

Brett jakcson is killing it in AA right now.. I think we will see him by mid to late may.

Also i really think we should start paying attention to Matthew Spencer jsut a hunch

[quote name=mb21]When does Trey McNutt pitch? Why hasn’t he pitched already? Injury?[/quote]
He was supposed to go tonight… Maybe tomorrow?

Garza is lucky he gets the bottom of the order as a break before he has to face the top five again.

Garza doesnt have a very good nasty factor tonight… But neither does their pitcher

The strike zone is pretty big tonight.

Nice rip, Baker.

[quote name=mb21]Starlin Castro is struggling a bit now. I’m rather disappointed in him he couldn’t maintain a .500 batting average. It’s not that hard to succeed one in every two tries.[/quote]Small sample size. He’ll be back up over .500 by next week.

[quote name=AndCounting]Small sample size. He’ll be back up over .500 by next week.[/quote]That’s good because I was going to get upset we traded Theriot. I mean, if he can’t maintain a .500 average, what the fuck?

I am calling knockout blow this inning…

I figure the scouting reports regarding Vitters defense range from poor to OK so I don’t mind what the Smokies are doing. The issues I have is when the scouting reports say one thing and the Cubs do the other (see Jackson, Brett).

[quote name=mb21]Schroeder was just talking about how big Castro is when you get down onto the field and see him take some swings in the cage. He said when you see him on TV he doesn’t look that big, but when you see him up close he’s quite big.

Interesting.[/quote]I can definitely see him growing into A-Rod type size. I’m not saying that kind of power, but I can see him becoming that big or close to it.

[quote name=AndCounting]I can definitely see him growing into A-Rod type size. I’m not saying that kind of power, but I can see him becoming that big or close to it.[/quote]I could see it too. If he gets close to that big, he’ll be moved to 3rd base.

[quote name=mb21]Didn’t he got a long time without one last year too?[/quote]
I think he had an abnormal number of HBP, which was the same as his walk total and thus made his OBP higher than it otherwise would’ve been.

[quote name=bubblesdachimp]if there is enough elverage in his swing.[/quote]
that and pixiant in his batting gloves

Remember when I said that I think Garza beats his projections? I take it back. I know it’s a small sample and blah blah blah, but he’s just not that good.

[quote name=GW]that and pixiant in his batting gloves[/quote]The combination of elverage and pixiant in his swing would lead to eleventy homers per annum.

Well Grimmace is going to get to eat dinner tonight… He is fucking killing it

[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Well Grimmace is going to get to eat dinner tonight… He is fucking killing it[/quote]Fielder?

There’s no way Fielder is worth more, but is he a better player to sign? I don’t know. I’d rather they sign Fielder, but I won’t be the least bit upset if they sign the best player in baseball either.

for those missing Bubbles’ joke:

[quote name=mb21]There’s no way Fielder is worth more, but is he a better player to sign? I don’t know. I’d rather they sign Fielder, but I won’t be the least bit upset if they sign the best player in baseball either.[/quote]I just have a feeling that Fielder would absolutely murder the baseball for 4/5 of the cost and 70% of the years. Having said that they are both awesome

[quote name=Rice Cube]He has a mini-bar hidden under first base.[/quote]I’d love to see Fielder eating a candy bar out there. I could see Manny Ramirez doing something like that. That would be hilarious.

[quote name=mb21]Sadly, that’s far better than Zambrano last night who had thrown 1786 pitches through 5 innings. (dying laughing)

Z and Garza are both going to collect very high pitch counts and force the bullpen to work. Add in whoever ends up being the 5th starter and a lot of pressure is on Dempster and Wells to go deep into games.[/quote]
*tear*

periphs are great for garza again tonight

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/extension-candidate-starlin-castro.html

Would you, could you?

Available for sale soon:

[quote name=mb21]Available for sale soon:

[/quote]
Nice. How about “Trade a bunch of prospects”?

[quote name=Rice Cube]http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/extension-candidate-starlin-castro.html

Would you, could you?[/quote]
i iam down.. i would wait till arb though

How about “I brought my own baloney sandwich and scorebook and I’m a big stupid moron with a big butt and I like to smell my own butt”?

[quote name=GW]8K and 3BB in what, 28 PA? pretty good.[/quote]
You aren’t going to walk many when the ball is getting smoked.

[quote name=Aisle424]How about “I brought my own baloney sandwich and scorebook and I’m a big stupid moron with a big butt and I like to smell my own butt”?[/quote]Can you put stuff on the back of shirts?

[quote name=melissa]You aren’t going to walk many when the ball is getting smoked.[/quote]
you can go ahead and have a twitter debate with colin about a pitcher’s ability to induce weak contact. i’ll just hang back and watch, (dying laughing)

[quote name=melissa]MB, that’s the companion cup to “I’m watching you.”[/quote]

[quote name=melissa]That’s super creepy on a clock. (dying laughing)[/quote]I plan to put one in my daughter’s room. (dying laughing)

[quote name=melissa]That’s a great idea, you really are a thoughtful and concerned parent. It just might work.[/quote]That’s what we were thinking. We sometimes put 6 or 8 brown recluses in the son’s room when he goes to bed. The first time he got bit he cried all night and now he’s learned to keep quiet about it. Be a man is what we always tell him. Builds character.

He’s lucky that didn’t hit him in his teeth and knock them all out.

Tough kid. That’s got to be more embarrassing than anything.

His ears are ringing

I’d assumed he passed whatever tests and probably comes out after this inning.

[quote name=mb21]I’d assumed he passed whatever tests and probably comes out after this inning.[/quote]
I didn’t see any tests being performed.

ouch. (I’m behind.)

I like the part where Jeff Samardzija is one of our 12 best pitchers.

still probably better than david patton

That was an exciting game full of all kinds of offensive excitement.

I’d love it if people showed up the left field bleachers wearing those.

milton bradley paused the game to bitch at the umpire about something (while playing left at home)

[quote name=mb21]Good idea, Tim

[/quote]

I know that “it Just might work” is the new “let’s see what happens” but I think that “let’s see what happens” is actually better there. Better rhythm and the echo of “it’s gonna happen” reaches a wider audience than the in-joke about Al.

[quote name=mb21](dying laughing) someone really needs to see how many times that word has been said on BCB. [/quote]Don’t tell me what to do.

Come on ladies…

As long as it’s made in the U.S.A…..

Ramon Ortiz ——–> Iowa Cubs (dying laughing)

Oh, that Ramon Ortiz. 78 ERA+ since 2005 and he’s 38 years old now. Oh well, it’s the Iowa Cubs.

[quote name=Aisle424]We have a wider audience?[/quote]

Potentially. Print up some merch…it just might work!