Series Preview: New York Mets (22-24) @ Chicago Cubs (20-25)

In Series Previews by dmick89330 Comments

Berselius refused to show up for work so that left the rest of us scrambling around to find a replacement. We couldn't find any qualified applicants though we thank you for your interest, so I'm going to go ahead and do his job for him. He has been punished and will not be having dinner anytime soon.

Despite playing tougher teams over the last 3 weeks, the Cubs played to the same winning percentage as they did vs much weaker teams early in the season. We've come to realize that this is not the roller coaster ride to .500, but it is in fact the roller coaster ride to .444. The Cubs return home to finish out the month of May with 3 against the Mets, Pirates and Astros (finale of the Astros series is June 1st). If the Cubs are going to crawl their way back to .500, it has to start with this homestand. After that, the real part of the schedule begins.

The average game the Cubs play in June is vs a .533 opponent. No matter how good you are, you can't expect to put up a great record when you play opponents that tough. If the Cubs can find a way to dominate these next few series at home and head on the road at .500, there is a slim chance they could finish the month of June at .500. That would be quite an accomplishment all things considered, but what else does this team have to look forward to?

Team Overview

Team stats with respective league rankings

  Mets Cubs
wRC+ 97 (5) 97 (4)
UBR 3.2 (4) -7.7 (16)
UZR -4.3 (10) -9.1 (13)
DRS -22 (13) -33 (16)
SP FIP 4.72 (16) 4.12 (11)
RP FIP 3.67 (9) 3.82 (11)

Berselius uses wOBA, but when comparing two teams I much prefer wRC+ since it's park-adjusted. The wOBA for the Mets is about .315 if I recall and .326 for the Cubs, but when you adjust for home ballpark, the two offenses are identical. I also included UBR, which is Fangraphs new baserunning statistic, Ultimate Base Running. I plan to compare UBR to Baseball Prospectus' EqBRR (Equivalent Baserunning Runs) in the near future. I know one major difference is that EqBRR includes stolen bases and caught stealing while those two are included in wOBA on fangraphs. To get an idea how the Cubs are doing in EqBRR, I wrote about that on Unobstructed Views this past week.

The Mets have actually performed better than I was expecting. They have a couple guys in their offense who are on fire right now, but they also have a few black holes.

Mets Batters

  wOBA ZiPS
Jose Reyes .364 .353
Daniel Murphy .306 .326
David Wright .345 .367
Carlos Beltran .393 .361
Jason Bay .297 .352
Ike Davis .396 .354
Josh Thole .233 .311
Jason Pridie .330 .303
Willie Harris .283 .310
Angel Pagan .250 .324

I used the lineups from ESPN and added the two players with the most plate appearances after those 8. Ronny Paulino and Josh Thole have been splitting time behind home plate this season. Fernando Martinez played the last three, two of them at DH. I'm sure the Mets are wishing they'd never signed Jason Bay about right now. Kinda like the Cubs are wishing they'd never signed Alfonso Soriano. Jose Reyes is healthy again this year and producing as he had typically done. He's a free agent after the season so look for the Mets to trade him around the deadline. I expect they'll trade Carlos Beltran as well.

Mets Pitchers

Pitcher ERA FIP xFIP ZiPS FIP
Jonathon Niese 4.39 4.15 3.84 3.83
Dillon Gee 3.44 3.98 4.5 4.29
R.A. Dickey 4.71 4.63 4.25 3.93
Francisco Rodriguez 0.76 2.44 3.31 2.88
Taylor Buchholz 1.99 4.01 3.13 3.51

Niese, Gee and Dickey are the three starters the Cubs will face this week. Rodriguez is a very good closer and Buckholz has fared quite well for them this season.

Pitching Matchups

ERA, FIP, xFIP, and ZiPS projected FIP in parantheses for the Cubs pitchers (Mets pitcher stats are above).

Tuesday: Jon Niese, LHP vs Ryan Dempster, RHP (6.91, 4.83, 3.38, 3.75), 7:05 PM CT, WGN

I look at what Niese has done in his career and I'm not really sure how ZiPS can project a 3.83 FIP out of him. It's not like he's gotten off to a great start. His walk rate is the same as his career rate, but his strikeout rate is down almost one per inning. He's been better in May than he was in April. The Cubs hit lefties well so I expect Niese to have a difficult time tonight.

After a ridiculously bad start, in large part due to some bad luck, Dempster put together three really good starts, but his last start wasn't so good. Aside from an ugly 20.4% home run per fly ball rate, Dempster's numbers are very similar to what he's done over the last few years in the rotation. Actually, his xFIP is less than it's been since his return to the rotation. I'm still convinced nothing is wrong with Dempster.

Wednesday: Dillon Gee, RHP vs Casey Coleman, RHP (6.03, 5.41, 4.54, 4.74), 7:05 PM CT, CSN

Gee's ERA looks nice, but his FIP is a bit below average. His xFIP is even worse as he's only given up 7.5% HR/FB rate. His BABIP is also just a bit higher than .240. He doesn't strike many out and walks more than the average pitcher, which obviously isn't a good formula for success. He's coming off the best start of his career. Last time out, against the Nationals, Gee pitched 7.2 innings and allowed only 2 base hits. He walked 3 and struckout 3.

All that needs to be said about Coleman is that his K rate is 6.55 per 9 and his BB rate is 6.55 per 9. That's not going to work at the big league level.

Thursday: RA Dickey, RHP vs Carlos Zambrano, RHP (4.88, 3.83, 4.33, 3.57), 1:20 PM CT, WGN

This matchup features two pitchers who made their Major League debut in 2001. The difference between the two is that RA Dickey will be 37 years old later this year while Carlos Zambrano turns 30 a week from tomorrow. Dickey's best season was last year when he posted a 3.65 FIP and 3.75 xFIP. His ERA was under 3, but that was because he stranded nearly 78% of the runners on base and batters only had a .276 BABIP against him. He struckout 5.37 per 9 last year and so far this year he's struckout 5.34 per 9. His BB rate was just 2.17 last year, which is a walk under his career average. This year it's back to his career average. Batters hit a lot of balls on the ground vs Dickey.

Dickey is another knuckleballer and perhaps the Cubs seeing Tim Wakefield this past Sunday will help them out on Thursday. I wonder how often these days a team faces a knuckleballer twice in a week. It can't happen that often.

Z's walk rate is down 1.6 per 9 from last year and a full walk per 9 less than his career average. Unfortunately, his strikeout rate has decreased much more than that. He had struckout 8.1 per 9 the last two seasons and this season it's only 5.89. Berselius has commented several times on the lack of strikeouts from Zambrano. He still hasn't allowed that many home runs (6% HR/FB rate) and he's been a bit unlucky when it comes to stranding runners. The bad news with the HR/FB rate is that this is the first year in his career he's allowed more fly balls than ground balls. More fly balls means more home runs of course. His 4.33 xFIP is pretty much right where it's been since 2006. Z's fastball is also under 90 mph these days. Since 2008 Z had been a bit under the league average in swinging strikes, but this year he's well under the league average. He's just not missing nearly as many bats this year as he has in the past. He's also getting many fewer swings at pitches out of the zone. He does lead the team in innings pitches and this was true even before Garza missed his last start. He's giving the team innings, but not necessarily quality innings.

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Comments

  1. Bubba Biscuit

    [quote name=Aisle424]I don’t think they will lower ticket prices. Not appreciably. It would be too hard to re-raise them after they get good again. The ticket prices we see today did not happen over night. It happened in 10% increments over the years. Taking a $70 ticket down to $63 to watch the minor league misfits isn’t going to cut it. They’d have to cut deeper than that and then, what will they do? Double the prices the moment the Cubs break .500 again? That’s hard to pass off as fan-friendly.

    So you do what they’ve been doing, keep the dopes in line for the Season Tickets on the hook for the full priced, Yankee-tier pricing, and then discount the shit out of the non-selling single game seats. From a business standpoint, they are doing exactly what they need to do with their ticket strategy. They didn’t need to lower the overall prices to keep Al and his ilk on the hook, so why leave that revenue on the table?[/quote]
    Ok, get cheap after you dupe the suckers out of that cash.

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  2. Suburban kid

    [quote name=Rice Cube]No prediction? Or a wait-and-see approach?[/quote]I’m not sure he can answer right now. He’s pretty busy at his other job.

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  3. mb21

    [quote name=GW]david wright also on the dl[/quote](dying laughing) I guess I’m going without dinner tonight too.

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  4. Aisle424

    [quote name=Suburban kid]So, has Al caved and decided discounts are good for the organization yet? I can’t see him actually confronting his buddy Tom over this.[/quote]
    He’ll just sit there and stew and delete comments of people who bring it up.

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  5. Berselius

    Fwiw the main drum I’ve been beating on with z is the huge drop in his gb rate. He’s especially lucky that so few balls are leaving the park

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  6. bubblesdachimp

    I thought he got banned over there for essentially calling al a moron in one of his articles.. I might be very very very well off

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  7. Berselius

    [quote name=Berselius]Fwiw the main drum I’ve been beating on with z is the huge drop in his gb rate. He’s especially lucky that so few balls are leaving the park[/quote]
    (dying laughing), you did mention it, I just read the preview too quickly before complaining. Basically I think Z’s peripherals are screaming alarm bells, though it may still be too early.

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  8. Suburban kid

    [quote name=bubblesdachimp]I thought he got banned over there for essentially calling al a moron in one of his articles.. I might be very very very well off[/quote]You are absolutely correct.

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  9. Suburban kid

    Would you say the Cubs have been unusually unlucky so far this year? J

    oin us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation’s Baseball Nation
    by Al Yellon on May 24, 2011 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

    .

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  10. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), you did mention it, I just read the preview too quickly before complaining. Basically I think Z’s peripherals are screaming alarm bells, though it may still be too early.[/quote]It’s really odd because his walk rate is down. Maybe that’s just because he’s so much easier to make contact against. My lying eyes tell me he’s been around the plate a lot more than in previous years, his velocity is still in decline, batters are elevating the ball and he has a shitty defense behind him.

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  11. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Anyone know when Yu Darvish becomes available?[/quote]I think after this season, but I’m not sure.

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  12. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Berselius will be happy to learn that Edward James Olmos has a recurring role on Dexter this year.[/quote]
    Indeed. I saw that earlier today and almost shit a brick (dying laughing)

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  13. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Berselius will be happy to learn that Edward James Olmos has a recurring role on Dexter this year.[/quote]
    How do I kill these keedz?

    (I don’t watch Dexter, but I couldn’t resist)

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  14. Mish

    Not that they necessarily have the pieces w/o sacrificing someone like Jackson, but is David Wright someone the Cubs should look at as a trade target?

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  15. Mish

    [quote name=Mish]Not that they necessarily have the pieces w/o sacrificing someone like Jackson, but is David Wright someone the Cubs should look at as a trade target?[/quote]
    Fucking dangling modifier.

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  16. Mish

    [quote name=mb21]Berselius will be happy to learn that Edward James Olmos has a recurring role on Dexter this year.[/quote]
    I don’t watch Dexter but I recognize this name as the detective in “Blade Runner” or something like that. “It’s a shame she won’t live…but then again, who does?”

    /cool story bro’d

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  17. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]I don’t watch Dexter but I recognize this name as the detective in “Blade Runner” or something like that. “It’s a shame she won’t live…but then again, who does?”

    /cool story bro’d[/quote]I was thinking Battlestar Gallactica and I know berselius is a huge fan of that show.

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  18. mb21

    So I’m looking into bone bruises in the elbow for pitchers and not having a lot of luck. I found Vicente Padilla who missed 2 months (73 days) in 2004 because of a bone bruise in his elbow. Broxton is going to be out at least 6 weeks, but he has spurs as well. Obviously not all bruises are the same, but anybody else know of other pitchers to miss time because of this and how much time they missed?

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  19. melissa

    In case nobody noticed, Koyie Hill actually threw out a base runner. Good luck to Geo at getting his job back. (dying laughing)

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  20. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]In case nobody noticed, Koyie Hill. Good luck to Geo at getting his job back. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Gamer’d

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  21. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]mb21 is going to be surprised if Garza only misses one more start.[/quote]
    MB21 is no bubblesdachimp

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  22. bubblesdachimp

    [quote name=melissa]MB21 is no bubblesdachimp[/quote]
    Took bubbles a second to get this and then he dyed laughing

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  23. mb21

    [quote name=bubblesdachimp]Took bubbles a second to get this and then he dyed laughing[/quote]mb21 mourns the loss of bubbles

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  24. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]mb21 is going to be surprised if Garza only misses one more start.[/quote]
    MB is just a funsucker (dying laughing)

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  25. Horny Goat

    oh fuck you Keith Hernandez: “I just cringe when I see Sammy Sosa’s name ahead of Ernie Banks on the HR list”.

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  26. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]oh fuck you Keith Hernandez: “I just cringe when I see Sammy Sosa’s name ahead of Ernie Banks on the HR list”.[/quote]
    I miss Sammy Sosa.

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  27. Horny Goat

    Keith said their should be an asterisk by his name, and Gary Cohen agreed, then added the top 4 of 6 have been “implicated” in some way and it’s a shame. sigh

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  28. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I miss Sammy Sosa.[/quote]
    me too, RC. I think he’ll be recognized in wrigley eventually but it’ll be many years.

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  29. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]me too, RC. I think he’ll be recognized in wrigley eventually but it’ll be many years.[/quote]
    I’d probably freak out if I ever met Sammy Sosa in person. He’s the reason I’m a Cubs fan.

    So yeah, it’s Sammy’s fault (dying laughing)

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  30. mb21

    I was a Cubs fan before Sammy, but there’s little doubt 1998 to 2001 was the longest stretch of actual fun watching this team in my life. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything.

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  31. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]I was a Cubs fan before Sammy, but there’s little doubt 1998 to 2001 was the longest stretch of actual fun watching this team in my life. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything.[/quote]
    2003-2004 was pretty good until 8th inning of game 6. Even game 7 was fun for a little while (dying laughing)

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  32. GW

    [quote name=mgl]I really don’t give a crap whether anyone likes any of these stats or not. Use them at your pleasure or displeasure.

    When you spend more than 1 minute on a piddling post as opposed to hundreds of hours coming up with these metrics, then you can talk. It’s not rocket science but it does take time…[/quote]
    [quote name=Chris Long] I’m going to call my system Awesome Base Running.[/quote]
    (dying laughing)

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  33. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Ugh. 2003 was a major stomach punch.[/quote]
    I believe that’s been covered (dying laughing)

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  34. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I believe that’s been covered (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Yeah. Something about a goat and Steve Bartman.

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  35. melissa

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Keith said their should be an asterisk by his name, and Gary Cohen agreed, then added the top 4 of 6 have been “implicated” in some way and it’s a shame. sigh[/quote]
    I wonder if there should be an asterisk next to all of Keith’s career stats to indicate that he was a coke-head a good deal of his career?

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  36. Horny Goat

    [quote name=melissa]I wonder if there should be an asterisk next to all of Keith’s career stats to indicate that he was a coke-head a good deal of his career?[/quote]
    coke + greenies after all night boozing. Baseball before nutrition and steroids.

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  37. melissa

    That 86 Mets team was notorious for it’s coke fueled partying. Keith Hernandez can spare me the sanctimony. Fuck him in the ear nose.

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  38. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]That 86 Mets team was notorious for it’s coke fueled partying. Keith Hernandez can spare me the sanctimony. Fuck him in the ear nose.[/quote]Not to mention that Hernandez has never been really repentant about his coke use in the way Raines has, despite the fact that Hernandez had to be compelled to testify at the hearings. Hernandez is a piece of shit.

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  39. Perkins

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Not to mention that Hernandez has never been really reptant about his coke use in the way Raines has, despite the fact that Hernandez had to be compelled to testify at the hearings. Hernandez is a piece of shit.[/quote]
    “Nice game, pretty boy.” (dying laughing)

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  40. Horny Goat

    I know steroids aren’t the best for your body, but at least Bonds was a health fanatic in other aspects. All those other guys smoked and drank, did coke & speed to excess, ate like shit, meanwhile Bonds was eating several small meals of the best food you can get, all the finest nutritional supplements. That’s what bugs me. He’s healthier than most of those other old farts.

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  41. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Perkins]”Nice game, pretty boy.” (dying laughing)[/quote]
    that reminds me, It was McDowell who spit on Kramer, not Keith, as Jerry found out by reconstructing the crime scene. McDowell of the homophobic slurs in SF a while back (dying laughing)

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  42. melissa

    [quote name=bubblesdachimp]How many more games till I can buy my montanez jersey? Is he wearing 3?[/quote]
    39

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  43. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]is Dempster done or 1 more inning?[/quote]How many innings does MIke Quade think his pitchers can go?

    1 more.

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  44. Rice Cube

    Huh. I guess Castro does really slow down at first base. I wonder why none of the coaches have called him out on that.

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  45. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Huh. I guess Castro does really slow down at first base. I wonder why none of the coaches have called him out on that.[/quote]They’re still trying to get their hit-and-run signs down. Then they can move on to coaching.

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  46. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]I wonder if there should be an asterisk next to all of Keith’s career stats to indicate that he was a coke-head a good deal of his career?[/quote]In my spreadsheets I use different types of asterisks. For example, for Hernandez, I use this

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  47. GW

    [quote name=mb21]In my spreadsheets I use different types of asterisks. For example, for Hernandez, I use this

    [/quote]
    wow, that must be a huge file

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  48. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Not to mention that Hernandez has never been really repentant about his coke use in the way Raines has, despite the fact that Hernandez had to be compelled to testify at the hearings. Hernandez is a piece of shit.[/quote]Piece of shit might be a bit much. I don’t need Hernandez to be repentant in public. I assume he quit using and has made apologies to those who were owed one. He shouldn’t be judging someone else though.

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  49. Horny Goat

    Keith brought out the “dog” comment when Aramis went to 3B on Soriano’s double.

    Z is out to pinch hit

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  50. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]How many innings does MIke Quade think his pitchers can go?

    1 more.[/quote](dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)

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  51. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Eat that shit and choke, Hernandez.[/quote]
    “I despise him”

    /Newman

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  52. Horny Goat

    Keith and Gary now have to babble on about 1908 and 1945 to make themselves feel better about tonight’s debacle.

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  53. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Keith and Gary now have to babble on about 1908 and 1945 to make themselves feel better about tonight’s debacle.[/quote]
    Weak.

    Castro has another hit. Or “hit” since that might have been an error. Well hit though.

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  54. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Keith and Gary now have to babble on about 1908 and 1945 to make themselves feel better about tonight’s debacle.[/quote]Assholes.

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  55. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Weak.

    Castro has another hit. Or “hit” since that might have been an error. Well hit though.[/quote]
    he broke his bat but still crushed if you can believe it.

    The “Bartman game” will never die I’m afraid, unless the cubs go on to be a dynasty.

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  56. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]he broke his bat but still crushed if you can believe it.

    The “Bartman game” will never die I’m afraid, unless the cubs go on to be a dynasty.[/quote]
    Be realistic.

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  57. jherky

    [quote name=mb21]Money back guarantee that my preview is better than Berselius’s.[/quote]
    I want my effing money back.

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  58. mb21

    [quote name=jherky]I want my effing money back.[/quote]Send me a postage paid envelope and I’ll send you your money.

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  59. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Can you blow a save when you lead by double digits? We’ll find out.[/quote]
    It is possible, but only after a pitching change and when the tying run is either on base, at bat or on deck (dying laughing)

    The point is, the “save” is stupid.

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  60. Horny Goat

    Alfonso Soriano, Darwin Barney and Lou Montanez each had two hits for Chicago, which kicked off a nine-game homestand with its 11th victory in its past 12 games against NL East teams.

    ;0

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  61. jherky

    [quote name=mb21]Send me a postage paid envelope and I’ll send you your money.[/quote]You’ll have to e-mail it to me. Or put it in my Pokerstars account.

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  62. Dr. Aneus Taint

    (Montanez) went 2-for-4 with a walk in his Cubs debut and if he keeps this up, he could have a decent career as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
    — Alvin

    Yeah, he could be a decent backup OF if he keeps up this .500/.600/.750 pace he’s on.

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  63. Mish

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Yeah, he could be a decent backup OF if he keeps up this .500/.600/1.500 pace he’s on.[/quote]
    Good thing we can just extrapolate 5 PAs to the rest of his career.

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  64. jtsunami

    Vitters has a .900+ OPS his last 10 games.

    The Cub Reporter had a pretty decent write-up of what a “bone contusion” is/can be. I’m too lazy to link it, but it says there’s a wide range of severity. Given Garza’s reaction to being put on the DL, I hope that says he’s fine, but at the end of the article he said a stress fracture in the elbow can take years to recover from. Obviously that’s pretty rare.

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  65. Suburban kid

    So I take it Russell (dying laughing) is still (dying laughing) part of the rotation (dying laughing)?

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  66. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=jtsunami]Vitters has a .900+ OPS his last 10 games.[/quote]
    If he keeps that up, he could have a decent career as a backup catcher.

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  67. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]If this thunderstorm keeps up, the ground might get decently damp.[/quote]I’m assuming there’s not much chance of tonight’s game getting in.

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  68. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Aisle424]If this thunderstorm keeps up, the ground might get decently damp.[/quote]
    After watching Hurricane Katrina ravage the Gulf of Mexico, this storm has a chance to follow that blueprint. But will it?

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  69. jtsunami

    After Corey Patterson and Felix Pie paved the path for minor leaguers to get to the bigs with no plate discipline, Josh Vitters has a chance to follow that blueprint. But will he?

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  70. Aisle424

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]After watching Hurricane Katrina ravage the Gulf of Mexico, this storm has a chance to follow that blueprint. But will it?[/quote]
    Memes are colliding!

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  71. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]I’m assuming there’s not much chance of tonight’s game getting in.[/quote]
    I can’t imagine. It would have to stop raining pretty soon to give the field a chance to drain and become playable, and I don’t think that is in the forecast.

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  72. Aisle424

    Hopefully this gives the Mets a chance to have another team meeting after the loss last night. Apparently, losing by 10 after a team meeting is the new black.

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  73. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Suburban kid]Did Quade reprimand Zambrano and Johnson for piling on to the lead late in the game?[/quote]
    Nobody stole any bases so I think that was still within the bounds of unwritten rules.

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  74. cdw

    http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/05/19/baseballs-rainy-season/

    An article about the number of rainout in MLB this season on Freakonomics blog. It looked so promising until,

    But as Al Yellon at Baseball Nation points out:

    Try as you might, you can’t blame Bud Selig for that. Further, you can’t blame the earlier start to the schedule, either; of the 25 postponements to date, only six of them were before April 15, a date that many claim should be the start of the baseball season. Ten rainouts happened between April 16-30 and there have been nine in the first half of May, when, presumably, weather should be improving in the northeastern quadrant of North America. The weather has given equal opportunity; 15 different teams have had games called off in their ballparks. PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Chicago’s Wrigley Field are the “leaders” in this dubious category, with three each.

    Thanks for discrediting such a great blog Matt.

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  75. mb21

    [quote name=Suburban kid]Did Quade reprimand Zambrano and Johnson for piling on to the lead late in the game?[/quote](dying laughing) If I was any team playing the Cubs that was blown out I’d complain about them running the score up. If the Cubs are going to act like bitches when it happens to them, I’m going to let them know how retarded they sound.

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  76. Mish

    KG

    Jae-Hoon Ha, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, RBI, K. First Double-A home run; .278/.297/.472 in eight games.

    Junior Lake, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 3-for-5, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB. 10-for-20 with two home runs in last four games; .315/.339/.486 is big step forward and tools have always been there

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  77. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=ACT]I just checked the unwritten rulebook, and it doesn’t say anything…[/quote]
    It’s braille.

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  78. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Mish].315/.339/.486 is big step forward[/quote]
    The second half of 2010 was a big step forward. This is a continuation of that.

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  79. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]KG

    Jae-Hoon Ha, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 8 walks in over 200 PA, 6 stolen bases, 8 caught stealing[/quote].

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  80. Aisle424

    The Onion:

    Latest – Los Angeles Cops Thank God They’re Done Questioning Thousands Of Asshole Dodger Fans

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  81. Aisle424

    Paul, my wife and two daughters came out to Chicago to catch a couple of games this year like we have for the past three. While at Wrigley I made the same mistake I made the last few trips: I had a soft pretzel. They must be the worst the baseball, period. How can a place like Wrigley have the horrible pretzels? Can you help me? Scott Palmatier, Randolph, NY

    The guy lives in Randolph, NY and his big complaint is about the quality of pretzel he gets after he buys it knowing full well it is going to suck?

    The Ricketts love this guy,

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  82. Aisle424

    Now well into my 48th year in CubDom, and having watched the Cubs in 23 major league ballparks (plus Fenway this weekend),I can say this is one of the worst Cubs team I have seen on fundamentals. Failure to cut off; throwing to the wrong base; failing to take extra bases; trying to take extra bases in the wrong situation. “Professional” ball players don’t make those mistakes. It is like the players have already given up. Winning is great but when the entertainment ceases …. My entertainment $$$ are better spent elsewhere. Eric Ludwig, Orlando

    Just a reminder here. The name of the column is “Ask Paul,” not “Tell Paul.” Feel free to start your own blog if you just need to vent about the Cubs’ failures.

    (dying laughing)

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  83. Aisle424

    Mr. Sullivan, why are you so sarcastic and disrespectful to longtime Cub fans who are upset that Ryno was not given a chance to manage? You do not offer any substantive comments to those readers, who have spent a lot of money and time watching the Cubs in their lifetime. You are very nonchalant in your answers. Please try to be a little more respectful to your readers, particularly those who have been around a lot longer than you growing up with the likes of Banks, Santo, Williams, etc. Rick Baker, Lynn Haven Fla

    You must be new here.

    Have we ever seen Al and Paul in the same place?

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  84. Aisle424

    Hello, Paul. I’ve been a Cubs fan since I can remember. I am 75. Are there any Cubs players that have a degree in history? The reason I ask is my great nephew is in college and flunked history. He is a fantastic pitcher. We need to try and get him interested in history. It might be hard. I don’t know. Jerry Fife, Harper, Texas

    Does Paul literally publish every letter he receives?

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  85. Dr. Aneus Taint

    Dear Paul, sometimes I watch the Cubs while I rape my kidnapping victims. When the Cubs do well, I begin to lose my erection and have to beat my victims more vigorously. When they do not do well, the intercourse becomes more “normal.” Any advice? mb21, Iowa.

    Crazies.

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  86. Xoomwaffle

    who have spent a lot of money and time watching the Cubs in their lifetime.

    So they’re old AND stupid?

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  87. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424](dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)[/quote]That has to be the funniest picture on the internet. I once had the link bookmarked (dying laughing) so I could post it whenever, but you can search google images for strange asians picture.

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  88. Mish

    Sorry if this was posted, I’ve been filming all day. Jim Caple (who I don’t really like) ranks team owners:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/110525_MLB_owners&sportCat=mlb

    23. Tom Ricketts, Cubs: He told a Chicago reporter last week that “I can’t stand it when I hear someone say they can’t afford to go to a game. It might be hard to get tickets for a Yankees or Sox game, but there’s no reason why they can’t afford to go to another game.” It must be nice to be so detached from the real world.

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  89. 8volumesthick

    [quote name=GW]http://praiseball.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/this-is-what-you-get-when-you-pay-by-the-post/

    http://twitter.com/#!/FG_As_Tweets

    (dying laughing)[/quote]
    so this is why, even though fangraphs is on my reader i only read the jonah keri articles once a week

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  90. Suburban kid

    What have Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Hollandsworth, Sammy Sosa, Joe Borowski, Aramis Ramirez, Todd Wellemeyer, Tom Goodwin, Kent Mercker, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Remlinger all got in common? (besides the obvious)

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  91. Mish

    [quote name=Suburban kid]What have Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Hollandsworth, Sammy Sosa, Joe Borowski, Aramis Ramirez, Todd Wellemeyer, Tom Goodwin, Kent Mercker, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Remlinger all got in common? (besides the obvious)[/quote]
    They all have Os in their name, except for Ramirez, Mercker, and Remlinger, who all have Es in their names.

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  92. WenningtonsGorillaCock

    [quote name=Suburban kid]What have Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Hollandsworth, Sammy Sosa, Joe Borowski, Aramis Ramirez, Todd Wellemeyer, Tom Goodwin, Kent Mercker, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Remlinger all got in common? (besides the obvious)[/quote]
    None of them have been in my kitchen

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  93. Suburban kid

    They were all on the DL for extended periods of time during the 2004 season.

    I forgot it was that many.

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  94. WenningtonsGorillaCock

    [quote name=mb21]At the same time. I have a big lawn.[/quote]
    That’ll replace the “Zambrano mows my lawn” t-shirts. “Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Hollandsworth, Sammy Sosa, Joe Borowski, Aramis Ramirez, Todd Wellemeyer, Tom Goodwin, Kent Mercker, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Remlinger mow my lawn”

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  95. mb21

    [quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]That’ll replace the “Zambrano mows my lawn” t-shirts. “Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Mark Grudzielanek, Todd Hollandsworth, Sammy Sosa, Joe Borowski, Aramis Ramirez, Todd Wellemeyer, Tom Goodwin, Kent Mercker, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Remlinger mow my lawn”[/quote]That just might make an appearance in the OV Shop before long. (dying laughing)

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  96. mb21

    [quote name=Suburban kid]Oh — and, because of that, Jim Hendry “feels good about this [2011] team.”[/quote]Did someone tell Hendry this team was never anywhere near as good as the 04 team?

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  97. Perkins

    [quote name=mb21]Did someone tell Hendry this team was never anywhere near as good as the 04 team?[/quote]The 2004 team was either the best or second best Cubs team going into the season I’ve seen in my lifetime (the other being the 2009 club). That team had an absurd amount of talent.

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  98. Suburban kid

    [quote name=mb21]Did someone tell Hendry this team was never anywhere near as good as the 04 team?[/quote]Look, Wells is back and Garza will be back next week. That’s good, right?

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  99. Suburban kid

    [quote name=Perkins]The 2004 team was either the best or second best Cubs team going into the season I’ve seen in my lifetime (the other being the 2009 club). That team had an absurd amount of talent.[/quote]A lot of people say that was an unlikeable team, but I liked that team a lot for about 24 weeks. Frustrating for sure, because of all the injuries, and then the meltdown with eight games left was a killer too. They did seem to start whining in September before they started losing …. that’s why fans don’t like that team, along with the Sammy bullshit. But it was a great season up until around September 20th, IIRC.

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  100. Perkins

    [quote name=Suburban kid]A lot of people say that was an unlikeable team, but I liked that team a lot for about 24 weeks. Frustrating for sure, because of all the injuries, and then the meltdown with eight games left was a killer too. They did seem to start whining in September before they started losing …. that’s why fans don’t like that team, along with the Sammy bullshit. But it was a great season up until around September 20th, IIRC.[/quote]Yeah, that was a pretty fun team to watch for most of the season. Zambrano was awesome, and the rotation was pretty good after Prior came back.

    But they had an epic bedshitting worthy of the franchise.

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  101. Perkins

    Prior’s last two starts of 2004 kind of sum up that season: the game against the Mets that Hawkins blew with two outs and two strikes in the 9th, and his last start against the Reds: a 16K, 9IP performance that the Cubs lost in 12 innings. As great as they were, it just wasn’t happening.

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  102. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mish]It’s not even worth laughing anymore.[/quote]
    False. I will laugh all the way to the $1 tickets.

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  103. ZappBrannigan

    [quote name=Rice Cube]False. I will laugh all the way to the $1 tickets.[/quote](dying laughing)
    Correct.

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  104. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]Nice tag line for the comments. (dying laughing)[/quote]My spreadsheet couldn’t figure out Soriano’s new OBP. It said: you’re full of shit, dumbass. Excel must have included the new error with my last update.

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  105. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]My spreadsheet couldn’t figure out Soriano’s new OBP. It said: you’re full of shit, dumbass. Excel must have included the new error with my last update.[/quote]
    MB, ESPN’s box score updates OBP automatically. So does Gameday. Hope that helps a bit.

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  106. melissa

    I feel kind of bad for Coleman. There were three plays behind him that while not errors probably should have been made. Reed and Kosuke both had balls drop in front of them that when hit you’d have thought it would be an out and Barney let one go under his glove. Coleman didn’t really pitch that poorly. Beltran was the only one that hit the ball hard.

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  107. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]I feel kind of bad for Coleman. There were three plays behind him that while not errors probably should have been made. Reed and Kosuke both had balls drop in front of them that when hit you’d have thought it would be an out and Barney let one go under his glove. Coleman didn’t really pitch that poorly. Beltran was the only one that hit the ball hard.[/quote]Berg, OTOH, is pitching poorly. (dying laughing)

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  108. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]MB, ESPN’s box score updates OBP automatically. So does Gameday. Hope that helps a bit.[/quote](dying laughing) I was joking. I just figured Soriano .300+ OBP was an error. (dying laughing)

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  109. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Mish]12 pitches, 12 balls. Wow.

    And MO – we need a pic of an implosion, not explosion.[/quote]

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  110. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Berg, OTOH, is pitching poorly. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Berg done blowed up real good.

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  111. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]The Cubs are going to be the first time to ever use 7 relievers in a game postponed after 3 innings.[/quote]
    Watch them get 5 full in.

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  112. Mish

    I missed this from Caple’s article ranking owners:

    2. Nolan Ryan, Rangers: Sure, this is way premature. Nolan’s group hasn’t owned the team for even a year yet. But when you’re rating owners, premature is a good thing because, given enough time, all owners eventually do something to alienate fans (some quicker than others — see Tom Ricketts).

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  113. melissa

    I say the Cubs now attempt to give up as many runs as possible in an effort to prolong innings and not get in 5 before more storms hit. It just might work.

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  114. Rice Cube

    Hmmm…Cubs are letting their half innings go quick in order to implement Melissa’s plan. Awesome.

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  115. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]A nice 7-pitch inning if you’re a Mets fan.[/quote]
    Or a Cubs fan silly enough to be sitting in Wrigley right now.

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  116. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]When will James Russell’s shoulder explode?[/quote]
    He’s the original Terry Mulholland.

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  117. mb21

    [quote name=dylanj]pretty good production for a minor league invite[/quote]No doubt. It’s also the 2nd time the Cubs have gotten really good production from him for dirt cheap. He was released by the Blue Jays and the Cubs picked up prior to 2008.

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  118. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]When will James Russell’s shoulder explode?[/quote]www.whenwilljamesrussellsshoulderexplode.com

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  119. mb21

    Russell threw 3 innings Friday, 4+ on Sunday and is back out there again. It’s pretty bad when you have to keep using him because he’s the only effective pitcher they have. (dying laughing)

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  120. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]Russell threw 3 innings Friday, 4+ on Sunday and is back out there again. It’s pretty bad when you have to keep using him because he’s the only effective pitcher they have. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Pitch Russell every other game…Let’s See What Happens

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  121. Rice Cube

    [quote name=melissa]Ok, I guess it’s up to the offense now. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Good luck with that.

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  122. melissa

    [quote name=GBTS]Okay, I’m at a bar with no sound. Please tell me Quade was arguing a rain delay.[/quote]
    Quade was arguing the rain delay. You can’t make this shit up.

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  123. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]He was seriously arguing the rain delay? That’s awesome.[/quote]
    He wasn’t just arguing, he was going ape-shit. I haven’t seen him argue anything that vociferously thus far in his ignominious career.

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  124. melissa

    Of course Quade doesn’t want the game called because he knows that unlike last year this team will make a late inning comeback. Done Deal. Sealed.

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  125. Rice Cube

    He’s arguing because the conditions during that Giants game was even worse than tonight. I don’t think there was thunder and lightning that night though.

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  126. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]He wasn’t just arguing, he was going ape-shit. I haven’t seen him argue anything that vociferously thus far in his ignominious career.[/quote]If were the ump, I’d tell Quade to go find Crane’s priest, because his problem is with God, not with me.,

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  127. melissa

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Mike Quade has no idea what he is doing.[/quote]
    But he’s going to do it with passion, by God.

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  128. melissa

    Quade didn’t just argue momentarily either, he was out there for quite a while. I’m surprised he didn’t go throw himself in front of the tarp to keep them from rolling it out.

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  129. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Perkins]Every time there’s a thunderstorm, I thinlk of that time Berkman ran for cover. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    I’ve never seen him move so fast (dying laughing)

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  130. melissa

    Bruce Miles said he doesn’t think he’s ever seen a manager argue a rain delay before. Well Bruce, you’ve never witnessed an entire season of the great Mike Quade.

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  131. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Reds are beating up on Philly bullpen.[/quote]
    Jay Bruce broke the tie in the 10th after Halladay blew a late lead, now Howard tied it again with a HR in the bottom half. good game.

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  132. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Jay Bruce broke the tie in the 10th after Halladay blew a late lead, now Howard tied it again with a HR in the bottom half. good game.[/quote]
    I wish I could watch that game. At least I can watch the Mavs and Thunder not play defense.

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  133. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius]Peasants! Arst thou conversing?[/quote]
    No. We were waiting for you to do a preview for tonight’s game.

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  134. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Peasants! Arst thou conversing?[/quote]Nay, m’lord! We are but disputating on yonder thunderclap hence.

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  135. Berselius

    [Why the hell is Baldy arguing a rain delay when the Cubs are losing and he’s burning his bullpen yet again?

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  136. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius][Why the hell is Baldy arguing a rain delay when the Cubs are losing and he’s burning his bullpen yet again?[/quote]
    Let’s See What Happens.

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  137. Berselius

    [quote name=melissa]No. We were waiting for you to do a preview for tonight’s game.[/quote]There are too many delicious Brazilian meats to be consumed to e bothered with such common concerns.

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  138. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius]There are too many delicious Brazilian meats to be consumed to e bothered with such common concerns.[/quote]
    You ate dinner? Don’t let MB find out, he’ll be as livid as Quade arguing a rain delay.

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  139. Berselius

    [quote name=melissa]You ate dinner? Don’t let MB find out, he’ll be as livid as Quade arguing a rain delay.[/quote]Just tell him that I ate at TGI Fridays

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  140. melissa

    I’ll admit that I think Quade is a moron but he surprised me with his rain delay hissy fit. That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen a Cubs manager do.

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  141. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]There are too many delicious Brazilian meats to be consumed to e bothered with such common concerns.[/quote]
    Was it all-you-can-eat like that one place in downtown Chicago?

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  142. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]Just tell him that I ate at TGI Fridays[/quote]Eating there is fine. If you had just sat there without eating, he’d have had your ass in a sling.

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  143. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=melissa]I’ll admit that I think Quade is a moron but he surprised me with his rain delay hissy fit. That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen a Cubs manager do.[/quote]And that’s saying something.

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  144. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Was it all-you-can-eat like that one place in downtown Chicago?[/quote]Aye indeed

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  145. melissa

    They just showed the replay of Quade arguing on the Comcast Postloss and he is a total loon. I’m surprised the umps didn’t toss him.

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  146. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Awesome that you can find that in Texas as well.[/quote](dying laughing), I’m actually in WI right now. There is an awesome Brazilian place very close to the UT campus but it’s a very different style. It’s probably our favorite place in Austin.

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  147. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), I’m actually in WI right now. There is an awesome Brazilian place very close to the UT campus but it’s a very different style. It’s probably our favorite place in Austin.[/quote]
    Ah! Cool. The one in downtown Chicago is pretty famous but I’m retarded and totally forgot the name of it. Expensive as hell though.

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  148. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Ah! Cool. The one in downtown Chicago is pretty famous but I’m retarded and totally forgot the name of it. Expensive as hell though.[/quote]Yeah this place was pricey too. It didn’t help that we got 2 bottles of wine for the table

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  149. mb21

    I’ve been watching baseball since the early 1980s and I can’t remember a manager arguing with an umpire over a rain delay. I’m sure it’s happened. Quade couldn’t have been the first to do it, but what the fuck? You’re down 3 runs, it’s late in the game, the conditions are starting the suck, the chance of injuries are greatly increasing, and you have little chance of winning. (dying laughing)

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  150. melissa

    Quade was hoping to burn the entire bullpen, James Russell can’t be the only guy he wants to pitch in 3 out of every 5 games.

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  151. Aisle424

    Per the Muskrat:

    #Cubs mgr Quade’s argument with umps was that weather was no worse than it had been earlier and he wanted to finish 7th

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  152. Aisle424

    There must not be an unwritten rule about lobbying to continue playing in degrading conditions that put all the players at risk for the off chance your team might get lucky.

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  153. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]I’ve never seen anyone argue a rain delay.[/quote]Guillen argued a rain delay once at Wrigley, but IIRC, the Sox were only down 1 and they had a RISP when the game was called.

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  154. Rice Cube

    Russell:

    May 20th: BoSox, 3 innings, no runs, 39 pitches
    May 22nd: BoSox (emergency start for Garza), 4 innings, 3 runs, 57 pitches
    Tonight: Mets (came in because Casey Coleman sucked), 3.2 innings, 1 run, 41 pitches

    Russell –> DL soon?

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  155. GW

    2. Nolan Ryan, Rangers: Sure, this is way premature. Nolan’s group hasn’t owned the team for even a year yet. But when you’re rating owners, premature is a good thing because, given enough time, all owners eventually do something to alienate fans

    I loathe Nolan Ryan. His “starters should finish every game” platonic ideal is hell on that club’s record (and my fantasy starters).

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  156. Aisle424

    [quote name=Urk]So…y’all are just gonna run this thread for the rest of the games this season?[/quote]
    Don’t tell us what to do.

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  157. Mish

    [quote name=Urk]So…y’all are just gonna run this thread for the rest of the games this season?[/quote]
    I’m pretty sure sports history will end (again) if the Heat win the championship so it really ought not matter.

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  158. Suburban kid

    [quote name=Mish]Nice tag line for the comments. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    I thought it was going to say

    This team is a joke!

    .

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  159. Suburban kid

    Your message consists only of a quote of another comment. May be you forgot to comment this quote?

    False

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  160. Rice Cube

    19 innings —> video game baseball defensive shuffle for Phillies. Wilson Valdez —> perfect inning + W

    Oh wait…HBP. Not an ace.

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  161. Dr. Aneus Taint

    And…

    … since the trading deadline is more than two months away, isn’t this a little premature?

    by Al Yellon on May 25, 2011 1:19 PM CDT upreply

    Alvin =

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  162. Dr. Aneus Taint

    Overall the Cubs have had the lead after the first inning nine times this year and have outscored opponents 60-51 in the first inning; they’re 3-6 in those games. There appears to be a complete inability to put opponents away
    — Alvin

    (dying laughing) Followed immediately by…

    the 4-1 lead after one last night should have been enough
    — Alvin

    It’s a little early to talk about THIS YEAR’S trade deadline, but three-run lead in first inningis a “should win” game and innings 2-8 are “putting a team away.”

    (dying laughing) Bit.

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  163. jtsunami

    Second Baseman Wilson Valdez throws a scoreless inning.
    Relief Pitcher Justin Berg throws 12 balls 0 strikes in 0+ innings.

    /Cub’d

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  164. Mish

    [quote name=jtsunami]Second Baseman Wilson Valdez throws a scoreless inning.
    Relief Pitcher Justin Berg throws 12 balls 0 strikes in 0+ innings.

    /Cub’d[/quote]
    Awesome. I tweeted this, iydm.

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  165. Rice Cube

    [quote name=WaLi]The Cubs should have tried for a wussout last night.[/quote]
    They could have but James Russell was their best pitcher (dying laughing)

    Then Quade got pissed once the passed the wussout point.

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  166. WaLi

    Maybe Quade forgot to tell Russell last month that it would be raining yesterday and that he would be going for a wussout in a hope the game would get called before 5? Quade must have just been taking out his anger on the umpire for forgetting.

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  167. Suburban kid

    I’ve seen managers argue rain delays, but nothing like that.

    I saw Lou argue the closing of the roof at the Rogers Centre. He wasn’t happy it was happening in the middle of an inning.

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