Josh Vitters lives! Determined to post a totally average OPS at every level of the minors Vitters hit his 6th HR yesterday and now sits with a pedestrian .767 OPS. Much like his .770 OPS of 2011 or his .770 OPS of 2009. Its weird to see a prospect who doesn't improve or get noticeably worse as he rises through the system. Brett Jackson chimed in with a pair of hits and a SB.
Junior Lake has ended his TRANSFORMATION! Everyone else continues to suck as well.
Daytona
No game but tonight marks the return of Rob Whitenack who has torn up AZL so far.
Javier Baez made his debut and went 2-4. His first single turned into an out due to AGGRESSIVE BASERUNNING! as he tried to make it a double and was thrown out. Jose Rosario can get the strikeouts as he is averaging almost a K per IP but is giving up his fair share of hits and walks to go with it. Maybe a bullpen test is in order.
Comments
It is technically improvement when your numbers stay the same while the quality of competition increases
BerseliusQuote Reply
thats a good point.
dylanjQuote Reply
SK had the last comment before “new shit” again. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Good News: ESPN is showing Verlander’s game tonight.
Bad News: The way things are going for ace pitchers lately, he’ll likely be taken out of the game for an injury.
ACTQuote Reply
Oh, and Ted Lilly’s on the DL, too (shoulder).
ACTQuote Reply
Dillon Maples is saying on his twitter he will be back in game action in late July
dylanjQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Did he have the last comment after “new shit” too?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/24937/the-comeback-of-carlos-zambrano
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I have no proof but I think the new front office wanted to keep Z around and was vetoed by just about everyone else in the organization.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I don’t think they had any intention of keeping Zambrano and that’s fine. Zambrano got away with a lot in Chicago and by the time his numbers slipped he simply wasn’t worth allowing that to happen. He’s one of my all-time favorite players, but he’s much better off where he is now.
mb21Quote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, well, between Carlos pissing off teammates and the media hounding the fuck out of Carlos, the situation had become untenable, IMO. It was probably a good thing for Carlos that he left, but man, does that trade look fucking awful right now.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
@ mb21:
I agree that it was best for Zambrano. The new front office was put in a sort of no-win scenario there in my opinion and it amuses me that the fans and Paul Sullivan were blasting the club for doing it now when everyone basically wanted him out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Sullivan doesn’t have a shred of integrity left. Expecting him to have the courage of his convictions is like expecting a bird to fly backwards.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Since Paul Sullivan is not a hummingbird I doubt that he could do so anyway.
/nerd
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
One is as bad as the other.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
It looks bad but the Z situation was a total shit sandwich before they even traded him. He couldn’t post numbers like that in Chi while pitching with a knife on his back. At least the trade did right by Z
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel about it, too. It just sucks that Volstad has been so bad. It won’t take long, should Z’s success continue, for Sullivan and his ilk to start insinuating Z was tanking it here to get out of town.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The trade looks bad, but we have to remember that it was Zambrano who lowered his trade value to Chris Volstad.
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
This is unfortunately true, plus he wasn’t doing as well as he could’ve in the winter leagues although I figured pitching in Venezuela was basically like pitching in Denver with the altitude (not sure exactly where in Venezuela though, just that they have big mountains).
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
They’ll be too busy playing up the Ozzie angle, because he can do no wrong and play up the Crazy Brown People are all alike card
BerseliusQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
If Paul was a bird he certainly wouldn’t resemble a hummingbird. On that point you are most correct. I see him more as a short, stumpy, flightless bird. Like a penguin. Or a dodo.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
True. I’m not bagging on the Cub for doing it. It was something they needed to do, and it seems like it’s been good for Carlos.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
In his first start after coming off the DL, the White Sox let Sale throw 115 pitches.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
Well, Sully is sort of living in his own lost world, so…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Maybe a dinosaur is more appropriate
BerseliusQuote Reply
If the Vitters Rule holds up we should just call him up now. His guaranteed OPS of .770 will beat Stewart anyday
dylanjQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I can’t seem to find any dinosaurs that look like aging lesbians.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Mudslingosaurus?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I believe that species went extinct from a yellow journalism epidemic.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ dylanj:
You’d have to wait fr next year. Vitters pattern has been to look like shit after being promoted, then put up his consistently avg numbers the next season
BerseliusQuote Reply
Steve Clevenger ——-> Back from DL
Blake Lalli ———> Iowa
A goat ———-> at Wrigley
Face ———> Palm
Aisle424Quote Reply
Hill is still in the lineup today.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Aisle424 wrote:
For real?
mb21Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
re: No Finger Hill and the goat…WHY?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Not nice, Aisley. Clevenger wouldn’t call you a goat.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
Because hasenpfeffer .
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
There’s a goat run to raise funds for cancer research for something and a bunch of Cubs fans are using a goat as their mascot…I think that’s what he’s referring to anyway.
I also think Clevenger has been starting almost every game in Iowa during his rehab and just barely got into town (yesterday’s I-Cubs win was an afternoon contest) so it makes sense to let him rest a bit before he starts every day.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I’m guessing Crane Kenney is involved somehow
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/05/29/theo-and-jed-speak-trades-the-losing-streak-the-draft-anthony-rizzo-and-more/
BerseliusQuote Reply
It’s disappointing that Hill is not only still there, but also is starting.
NateQuote Reply
Here ya go:
http://www.crackthecurse.com/
They’re doing this for cancer research and awareness, but since they’re Cubs fans, there’s a goat involved.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Nate:
THIS. No reason to send Lalli down and keep Koyie fucking Hill here. I knew Sveum was going to fall in love with that bum.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
So then DFA Koyie, who is just plainly no longer even a borderline-ML-worthy player at this point, and give Lalli a couple starts. Koyie Hill is awful.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
That would’ve made more sense.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Is Hill really worse than Lalli? The man’s a 29-year-old rookie for chrissake.
ACTQuote Reply
I guess Lalli’s advantage is that he can play first base.
ACTQuote Reply
@ ACT:
Lalli gives you positional flexibility, and flashed some on-base skills in the minors. Hill is a black hole in the lineup, can only play one position, and that one not as well as he used to.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I should be clear: I have no high hopes for Lalli. But Koyie Hill is probably the worst player on any roster right now, and fucking Sveum is handing him starts. Hill + SP is basically two auto-outs in a lineup that struggles to score runs on most nights with the regulars in there. Keeping that hack up here and handing him starts is asinine.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
What if the goat dies on the walk to Wrigley? Do they just call the whole thing off, or do they get a new goat? When they get to Wrigley, will the Cubs actually let the goat in, or will they say no? I hope they say no. It’s a fucking goat. They were right to keep the goat out the first time. Livestock have no place at a ballgame. I live in Wisconsin. Can I bring a Cow into Miller park?
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin is ACB Hero of the Day.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I think Thoyer is worried that Hill wouldn’t clear waivers on his way to
IowaPeoria. (dying laughing)mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
It’s a stupid reason but I think Sveum just wants to try the righty-loaded lineup again even though Koyie Hill sucks from both sides of the plate.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
MO is OVB kumquat of the thread.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Yeah, because the way to breath life into the horrid RH-only lineup is to put in Koyie Hill. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Let it happen to you.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Len Kasper just said on the radio that Marmol is not the closer and his next appearance will not be in a save situation. Casey Coleman or James Russell will be getting the call in save situations. I shit you not.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Any bets on how long it takes this team to get themselves into a save situation?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
I’ll set the O/U at 5 games.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
It really is a tough call. With this team, you’re lucky to get 2 runs most games, so you’re relying on the SP and pen to give up 1 or less…. I’m taking the over.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
I’ll take the over.
This is the perfect time to get rid of the closer role on this team. Everyone sucks and you can use the excuse that Marmol was hurt so he shouldn’t close instead of saying he sucks and shouldn’t close. Sveum can just come out and say “We’ll use our best reliever in the toughest situations” and leave it at that.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Yeah, that’s the smart thing to do, but I still can’t imagine a single scenario where Casey Coleman is ever the best reliever. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
BerseliusQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
Given the Cubs current pen, there’s not much of a difference.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
A 4-run lead in the ninth is very low leverage, even with the wind blowing out.
ACTQuote Reply
WaLi wrote:
Colin Wyers tweeted something to that effect not too long ago. I don’t feel like looking it up, though.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I fucking dare you
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Catfight!
Aisle424Quote Reply
Game feed if anyone is interested.
http://www.sportwebz.com/live/128046-mlb-san-diego-padres-vs-chicago-cubs/watch/live/stream/online/free/feed/p2p/vivo/gratis/tv/
pinetarQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
MB and I caught Sullivan plagiarizing twice at ACB. No big surprise here.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ pinetar:
Excellent. Thanks!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Wind howling straight out again.
pinetarQuote Reply
The splitter is just death to RHB when F7 can get that thing in on their hands.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
It’s a sad day when I’m rooting for Rick Morrissey in a fight.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Samardzjia likes to live upstairs with the 4-seamer. He’s going to have to be careful with this wind and that pitch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
No kidding, but when you look at the catalogue of Sullivan’s violations of basic journalistic ethics, you really have to wonder why he’s still around to steal from others. And when the other from which one is stealing is Rick Morrissey, then one should really take stock of one’s own life. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Did the Cubs lose yet? Just got back from lab meeting.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Joooooooooooooooooooe Mather…
/Hope
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mather was looking for that pitch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Mather to pitch:
“I’m watching you.”
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ugly, ugly AB from Soriano.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
At least it took six pitches to strike him out.
/silver lining
Rice CubeQuote Reply
OH shit, did the game start already?
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Even I know that.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ josh:
http://isthereacubsgametoday.com/
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Just spotted some shitnugget in the stands with a Theriot jersey on.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ josh:
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That was a filthy pitch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Looks like Samardzija brought that nasty shit again.
NateQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Did the jersey have dirt all over it?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Nice fucking work from Baker.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
OOOOH lucky…nice play defense.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Nice play by Baker there
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Nate:
He’s got a good splitter and a good change today, but he’s playing with fire with his fastball right now. Couple really hard-hit balls that inning.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
What’s Brenly doing roaming the stands?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Searching for his lost love.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
The guy in the Theriot Jersey?
WaLiQuote Reply
The wind is just nuts right now.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The fact that Baker sucks at batting this year has really been hidden by the amount of suck from many of the players around him.
NateQuote Reply
WAG
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The Cubs are not getting cheated at the plate today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The RH-only lineup is a shit sandwich with a side of shit-fried shit.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
BerseliusQuote Reply
F7 was dealing that inning.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Only 30 pitches through 3 IP for Shark so far
BerseliusQuote Reply
24 strikes
/BizarroWorld
BerseliusQuote Reply
I like that the backup to the backup to the backup catcher is playing with the backup catcher off the DL.
mb21Quote Reply
F7 might be the 2nd or 3rd-best hitter in today’s lineup. Only mostly kidding.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
Dirzzled with sauteed toenail fungus.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
Fixed, but not really
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Not to mention that until 2010, Clevenger had a decent platoon split vs. LHP.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
F7 is mowing these guys down now.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
It’s exciting when you know it’s going to be a 1-0 result but it could easily go either way.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
At some point, we might have to consider the fact that Samardzija actually is kind of good afterall. Considering his good starts are out-numbering his poor starts 7-2 (not including today), he has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in a start since his 3rd start of the season, he’s only had one start where he’s walked more than 2 guys, and has over a 3:1 K:BB ratio. He’s definitely earned his spot in this rotation and right now he’s the starter I have the most confidence in.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
He’s pitching very well. He always had the stuff, he just never had control. Things are certainly pointing in the right direction.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I doubt it would ever happen, but what are the odds that some team in need of a SP comes knocking and asks about him instead of Dempster or Garza?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I’ve already crossed that bridge, but I still feel a sense of bafflement at the situation. It’s like winning the lottery and still not feeling like it’s happened weeks later even though the piles of cash are sitting right in front of you.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
It’s nice that they finally taught him some control before he killed somebody.
/Lou Brown
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I couldn’t believe it when I picked a Samardzija start over a Garza one when the Cubs were in Houston last week, but still knew it was the right decision
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I know. I’m scared, too.
joshQuote Reply
There are multiple Cubs on base.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
False.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Castro should have stopped running on the DP ball.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
We stinks.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
He lazily didn’t want to look lazy
BerseliusQuote Reply
Cubs lose
BerseliusQuote Reply
POW
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Got that fastball up. Quentin is wearing F7 out.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
(dying laughing)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
For those not watching, that was not a wind-aided shot.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Damn, that pitch had “kill me now” written all over it according to the replay and Gameday.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So I guess my 1-0 prediction was stupid because of the wind, but it could still happen.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Reed Johnson looks like The Fly with that those shades and that stupid beard.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I certainly hope F7 isn’t worn out after 45 pitches
BerseliusQuote Reply
Jeff Baker ——–> Not good at sports
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
He benefits from Garza’s even more awful chin pubes
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
It was a meatball. He’s throws that 4-seamer high in the zone and today is not the day to do that kind of shit.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Why are LenBob yakking on and on about Dave Winfield?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
So, Chubes > Chunt
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Did you guys see this?
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/10490/cubs-confirm-that-draft-focus-is-pitching
Specifically, this:
This instantly gave me the image of this guy showing up at college games with a radar gun instead of a banana:
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Joooooooooooe Mather!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Barney should’ve thrown the guy off of second base. Because that’s allowed, right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
And F7’s floppy clown hair.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
(dying laughing). It’s very inconspicuous
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Because who wants to talk about this shitpile of a team? (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Theo better watch out if Luke Scott is at one of those games on a minor league assignment though, he might mistake him for one of his teammates
BerseliusQuote Reply
Fucking F7 is fucking asleep at the wheel.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ nobody realizing guy was stealing 3B
Highway robbery.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
He’s just accessorizing with all the clown shoes his splitter has been hanging on batters this year
BerseliusQuote Reply
I think that one is on Koyie, partly. He never made any motion.
joshQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
It was the MertzlePac Trivia Question.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Both of them. Just fucking not even paying attention. That’s 10 times worse than whatever Castro did on ESPN last year, and I bet not one fucking beat guy asks either of them about it.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Goat not allowed in:
http://www.wgntv.com/sports/breaking/chi-goats-long-journey-to-wrigley-field-ends-today-20120529,0,918340.story
Curse of no runs continues.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Seriously, I have nothing against long hair, but it usually looks shitty with a baseball hat, c.f. Wayne Campbell, truckers, rednecks, etc.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Whatever he–
WHATEVER HE!—
SUNFLOWER SEEDS!!!
joshQuote Reply
Johnson’s chunt is gross in close-up.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
But seriously, that was ridiculous. I actually saw Mark Grundzelanik do something similar against the White Sox (he was on the Royals at the time) a couple of years ago.
joshQuote Reply
Small ball on a windy day. That’s Cubs Baseball.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
That was a frozen rope. I bet Barney doesn’t hit another ball that hard all year long.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
(dying laughing), they just need to introduce some mlb-licensed trucker hats. Travis Wood would approve
BerseliusQuote Reply
Way to make a productive out, Koyie.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Perfect time for a bunt then! (dying laughing)
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ josh:
Pierzynski never pays attention to baserunners.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
No suicide squeeze here? I am disappoint.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
F7 is doing it all today!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Shut me right up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
That’s a real nice swing by Samardzija. He was out in front, but kept his hands back and dropped his hips to adjust to the pitch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
He just wants to win, unlike stat gatherer Ryan Dempster
BerseliusQuote Reply
It makes me feel uncomfortable that Keith keeps calling F7’s hit a humpback line drive. Not really sure why…
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That guy’s just looking out for himself. Selfish bastard.
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Remember, Koyie is the one who walked away from homeplate (last year?) while the ball was live, allowing a runner to score from third.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I just realized today was F7 bobblehead day, yet he forgot to bobble his head to check the runner.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Samardzija really needs to learn to keep the fastball down.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Captain Fundamentals. Playing the game the right way.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
ESPNChicago suggests Koyie will stay as the backup when Beef Castle comes back with Clevenger starting, then he’ll be tossed whenever Soto gets back as per Sveum.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
(dying laughing) I think that was like five years ago. OK, maybe it was 2009. or 2010.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
That’s so fucking dumb. Fucking Koyie Hill is like a bleeding ulcerous growth on this fucking franchise.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
What a catch by Adolfo!
BerseliusQuote Reply
Adolpho!!!!!!!!!!!
Suburban kidQuote Reply
WHAT A GRAB! FUCK YOU, BOB!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Nice catch for Fonzie.
joshQuote Reply
Worry not, Koyie fans, Clevenger is going to get the bulk of starts behind the plate until some other catcher comes off the DL
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/10523/cubs-to-go-with-clevenger-behind-the-plate?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
BerseliusQuote Reply
That was a great play by Soriano. No one can say he doesn’t try.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
FWIW, Bob’s been very complimentary of Soriano’s defense this year
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I’ve noticed that, too.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
So they’re going to have 3 backup catchers on the roster at one time?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I guess a link in my last post would’ve been much more helpful and may have partially ameliorated MO’s Hulk-out (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Dammit. Internet feed down. Eat shit and die, copyright gestapo.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
See, it’s that “easing” shit that belies the notion Clevenger is the starter. Don’t be surprised if the number of starts is at least even until Soto gets back.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning, MO?
BerseliusQuote Reply
Ha! Got it back. Suck it, copyright gestapo.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I’m under the weight of deadlines. Extra irritable, plus the guilt of not doing anything while watching abseball.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Adoilfo!
BerseliusQuote Reply
ADOLFO!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Good inning for Fonzie, all around.
joshQuote Reply
TRADE HIM NOW
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
No, no, no. You give him a 10 year extension! (dying laughing)
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Soriano looked like 1971-era Ernie Banks hobbling around the bases after that blast.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Yeah, he’s hurting pretty good.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I’m only listening to the radio, but I had visions of Kirk Gibson
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Splitter —> EVIL
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ye gods, that was a nasty pitch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
That makes his defensive play in the top of the inning that much more impressive
BerseliusQuote Reply
Triple short of the cycle! (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I have been less than impressed with Mather’s defense at 3B.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
I saw Jason McLeod a couple of weeks ago in Oklahoma City getting off a plane from Chicago that I was about to take back there. He had a Cubs polo shirt on. I thought it might be a bit stalker-like to admit I knew who he was, so I let him pass in anonymity. Had I been wearing a purple shirt, I may have behaved differently.
/Cool story bro’d
Russ MillardQuote Reply
So much for the area play at 2b
BerseliusQuote Reply
Looked like a bad call at 1B. Our pitchers suck at throwing to bases.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Len gave a good explanation, says Castro was never going to get the call because the throw pulled him off the bag.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
If he didn’t have to jump, neighborhood play would apply, but he landed off the bag and that was an actual good call. Bad call at 1B though.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Sounds like it’s time for a pitchers throwing to bases tournament
BerseliusQuote Reply
Slider was nasty.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I meant that to be more of a criticism of the bullshit “neighborhood play”, it was the right call. Wish umpires would just call the fucking rulebook.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Garza won’t make it past the first round.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Yes, but Castro should have stepped on second. Ironically, the out at second would have been easier than the out at first.
ACTQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Was that in reference to a pitch, or the play in the field?
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
They could seed it like the NCAA tournament and make Garza enter through a play-in round (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
(dying laughing) (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
The pitch. It zipped from one side of the plate to the other in a jiffy and made the batter look foolish.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The radio guys played Ron Santo footage while actual baseball plays were going on. Yet again.
ACTQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Having guests who know noting about baseball is weird and uncomfortable.
joshQuote Reply
A double switch to take out the pitcher against Koyie Hill?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ josh:
Yeah, the Guest Conductor thing seems to reach a new low every year.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I’m happy that there’s yet another opportunity to use the KOOGY. But not really because that means Koyie is still in MLB (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Few teams have the roster space to carry an 8 year old child in the role of KOOGY
BerseliusQuote Reply
Koyie psyched out the KOOGY (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Variance is loving the Cubs today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Halladay ———–> out 6-8 weeks
BerseliusQuote Reply
F7 CG or does the FAILpen get a shot? I’m really anxious to check out Casey Coleman for signs of Closer Mentality®
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
If F7 keeps it under 100 pitches by the end of next inning I think he goes CG but without the shutout it’s hard to see him going all the way even though it’s his bobblehead day.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Can someone explain that? It makes less sense than “Cubs win.”
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
I think this is his last inning. I thought he started looking a little shaky in the 7th
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Castro hit a soft liner about 4 feet shy of the warning track in right-center.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
On a BUNT?!
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
So much for that lead
BerseliusQuote Reply
He’s got to be done here.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Oof, burned by the shift there.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Despite its distance, that bunt would’ve been worth 0 points.
Shawn Camp again? His arm’s got to fall off soon.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
(dying laughing), it wasn’t a bunt. No idea why Gameday ID’d it that way. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Cubs lose now?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Wow, the Padres could Cubs this runner on third situation
BerseliusQuote Reply
Jeebus, what a fucking snag. Two great plays by Baker today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ mikeakaleroy:
Next inning. Camp’s gonna weasel out of this.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Why are they pitching to Quentin?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Ricestradamus
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Wow, that was pretty much picture-perfect from Camp (with a great play by Baker). F7 better buy him a steak tonight.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Still makes me laugh that Camp is the shut down man. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
So using Sveum’s definition of a closer (best pitcher in the pen), shouldn’t ol rubber arm Camp be the closer at this point?
mikeakaleroyQuote Reply
Cashner time
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Makes more sense. That would have been a truly horrendous bunt.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Nice swing from Mather on the heat from $ner
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mather > Cashner
Rice CubeQuote Reply
102?!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Cashner throwing 102 mph
Suburban kidQuote Reply
When you throw 100+ mph, you basically don’t know where in the strike zone you are going to throw it, right?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
Dear Joe Mather,
Your dirty batting helmet makes you look like a fucking moron.
Signed,
Baseball
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Insurance TOOTBLAN!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
/Correction
jtsunamiQuote Reply
The rare RBI TOOTBLAN, BTW
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I think Marmol is the best reliever in the bullpen and I don’t think it’s really that close.
mb21Quote Reply
Brenley makes a good point, that Fonsie should not be in the game right now.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Double switch spot here.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
D’oh
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Joe West is an awful umpire. Terrible call.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I’ll be damned and a half.
joshQuote Reply
Was that not the very definition of a check swing?
Umps seemed to like Cubs today.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Two in a row! Break up the Cubs!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Cubs win a series! Against the worst pitchers on the worst team in the league, but still…
ACTQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Joe West doesn’t care about your fancy rulebook and book-learnin’.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Second interview with Darwinning in as many days. The hell?
joshQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
They rarely show the replay for a final out, but when they do almost all those check swings could be called swings. Also, I don’t think a check swing is clearly defined, it just has to be “intention.”
In other words, Joe West wanted to go home, probably.
joshQuote Reply
Importantly…Soriano OBP > .300
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Yeah, it’s about whether the batter “offers at” the pitch. That guy didn’t.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
It actually went down today.
ACTQuote Reply
@ ACT:
Funsucker
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Exactly.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Oswalt ———-> Rangers, 1×5+1 mil in incentives.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
They should have added another bat in their lineup instead.
ACTQuote Reply
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21861055&c_id=mlb
(dying laughing) @ Sosa-hop
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Where am I? You people have been talking about the Cubs all day?
mb21Quote Reply
I loved this: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21861429&c_id=mlb
ACTQuote Reply
@ ACT:
WPA on that dive = .146
ACTQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
The Rangers are going to win 200 games this year
BerseliusQuote Reply
Overall, Camp is credited with .384 WPA.
ACTQuote Reply
They still haven’t put the derp-steal that the Cubs gave up on MLB.com.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Eh, I’ve seen that exact same move get called either way. Oftentimes in slowmo the bat crosses the plate. That may not be the official rule, but that’s generally what they go with.
joshQuote Reply
http://www.howmanyaltuves.com/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Just imagine dude walks, then runs from 2nd to 3rd while everyone in the stadium yells “THREE” and Samardzija and Koyie just stand/squat stone still, staring at each other.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
It must have been my lying eyes lying to me then, because I thought the guy barely lifted the bat off his shoulder, let alone crossed the plate with it. That motion was to swing as walnut is to glockenspiel.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
They have the replay up. It was a half swing. Seriously, those get called all the time.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Don’t need to imagine it…I LIVED it (dying laughing)
Think this is real?
http://www.businessinsider.com/mlb-expand-replay-2012-5?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=msnbc&utm_term=sports
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Just watched the replay. You’re right. Those get called swings sometimes.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
New recap up: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/cubs-post-game-recap-by-frank-the-tank-were-going-streaking.html
Aisle424Quote Reply