2008 Chicago Cubs Season

[nightotter]

It's a sentimental thing to see the Cubs lose like the Cubs of old.

[nathanKent]

Yeah it was... but again Soto is a big boy himself. One of few catchers who can block the plate every time. Barrett would've stayed in. He likes the punishment... then he would've punch him afterwards.

Also, great throw by Fukudome. the bounce came a little high, but WAY ahead of Fielder for Soto to be prepared.

Barrett would have stayed in, but he would have dropped that ball and let in the run. Then punch him.

In all fairness to Michael though, who doesn't want to punch A.J. Pierzynski?

[The Splendid Splinter]

Pure guts on Soto's part to block the plate like that. Barrett probably would have stepped aside. Or punched him in the face.

Yeah it was... but again Soto is a big boy himself. One of few catchers who can block the plate every time. Barrett would've stayed in. He likes the punishment... then he would've punch him afterwards.

Also, great throw by Fukudome. the bounce came a little high, but WAY ahead of Fielder for Soto to be prepared.

[nathanKent]

Pure guts on Soto's part to block the plate like that. Barrett probably would have stepped aside. Or punched him in the face.

[nathanKent]

When Johnson is in the lineup:

Fukudome
Johnson
Lee
Ramirez
Soriano
DeRosa/Cedeno/Fontenot
Theriot/Cedeno
Soto
Pitcher


When Pie is in the lineup:

Fukudome
Theriot/Cedeno
Lee
Ramirez
Soriano
DeRosa/Cedeno/Fontenot
Soto
Pie
Pitcher


Our middle infielders all hit about the same (decent average, not much power) that I don't see the point in changing the lineup just because we've subbed one for another.

[The Splendid Splinter]

If you guys could put whatever lineup you want... what would it be? Here's mine...


Fukudome
DeRosa
Lee
Ramirez
Soriano
Soto
Cedeno
Pie
Pitcher

then lets say we got Roberts somehow and somewhat cheap...

Soriano
Roberts (since he's a switch hitter, he'll break up the rightys)
Lee
Ramirez
Fukudome
Soto
Cedeno
Pie
Pitcher

How about that HR by Zambrano? I guess he got mad that everyone is talking Owings and hitting skills that Z had to hit a HR.

[Scartissue]

Big Z with the tater! Maybe he read about Owings.

[nathanKent]

Why isn't Fukudome batting 2nd? Isn't the point to set the table for the power hitters? He's the OBP guy....

This club is too beholden to Alf right now.

[Lipsander]

Theriot singles....wow, that would have been nice as the freakin' leadoff hitter, but our leadoff hitter got out.

[nathanKent]

Well.... Soriano is back and in the leadoff spot today. Reed Johnson is also in CF instead of Pie.

here's the lineup today:

Soriano
Theriot
Lee
ARam
Fukudome
DeRosa
Soto
Johnson
Zambrano

That's the hitter's lineup there. Still don't like the order though.

[The Splendid Splinter]

Well.... Soriano is back and in the leadoff spot today. Reed Johnson is also in CF instead of Pie.

here's the lineup today:

Soriano
Theriot
Lee
ARam
Fukudome
DeRosa
Soto
Johnson
Zambrano

[nathanKent]

Not a whole lot to complain about that first month (particularly the way it ended), but is anyone else a bit worried about our pitching?

After Z, every starter has had signs of shakiness. Even supposed guaranteed guys like Lilly, Hill.

Marmol and Wood have pitched great. After them, the bullpen looks equally shaky. Wuertz seems to have digressed, Hart is probably not great to begin with, and something is seriously wrong with Howry. I noticed Ascanio and Cotts are off to great starts at Iowa, I wonder how long until they are up (especially Ascanio).

Only offensive concern is that we are bound to come back to earth from our CRAZY-good heights. Soto, Cedeno, Theriot, Johnson....they aren't going to hit like that all year, are they? Please tell me they might!

Yes, I'm worried about our starting pitching. Bob made the observation that there may be something wrong with Lilly, given his erratic delivery and slight loss in velocity (not to mention his injury history). Hill will pull through. He's still young. I wish they'd quit taking away his starts though.... he'll never make any progress as long as he's being denied the opportunity to do the job.

Demp has a higher WHIP because he's walking batters, but he's always done that. I don't worry about him too much because (1) he's a professional and he knows how to pull through, and (2) our real expectation of him is that he wins 12-15 and loses 12 or less, and especially given our offense I think that's a reasonable expectation. Marquis.... ummm.... to quote Denny Green, he is who we thought he is. Expect him to lose about as many as he wins, and never expect him to pitch past the 5th. Lower your expectations and you'll be a lot happier with him. Also, expect your favorite Marquis moments to be his ABs.

Let's also not forget that we have Marshall and Lieber waiting in the wings.

As for our 'pen, I don't worry about Wuertz and Howry because they're both prone to having bad weeks or even bad months. At the end of the season they both still come out looking electric. I wouldn't want either as a closer given their propensity for cardiac moments, but I don't worry about them either. The rest of the 'pen looks good already.

[Jeff Pico]

Not a whole lot to complain about that first month (particularly the way it ended), but is anyone else a bit worried about our pitching?

After Z, every starter has had signs of shakiness. Even supposed guaranteed guys like Lilly, Hill.

Marmol and Wood have pitched great. After them, the bullpen looks equally shaky. Wuertz seems to have digressed, Hart is probably not great to begin with, and something is seriously wrong with Howry. I noticed Ascanio and Cotts are off to great starts at Iowa, I wonder how long until they are up (especially Ascanio).

Only offensive concern is that we are bound to come back to earth from our CRAZY-good heights. Soto, Cedeno, Theriot, Johnson....they aren't going to hit like that all year, are they? Please tell me they might!

[Scartissue]

Too bad we didn't give Owings the money he wanted back in the 2004 draft when we took him in the 19th round while he was a top five round talent. So Owings went back for his junior year and switched from Georgia Tech to Tulane. The Dbacks took him in the 3rd round in 2005. In college, he was a great two way player, he was often the best pitcher and the best bat for the club. Not only did he make great contact with a good eye but he had exceptional power. But scouts loved his stuff on the mound too much and thought he could be a quick climber to the big leagues and he was.

Yeah that is too bad. You gotta look at a guy like Owings as a relatively safe bet, because if he can't pitch, you can convert him. It's the opposite of drafting a first basemen, where if he can't hit, your pretty much screwed.

[Hammerin Hank]

When I turned on the game, they already had six runs scored. I was afraid I had missed out on all the offense the Cubs would display in this game. But 13 more runs?! Are you kidding me? Great game. Most runs scored in a game by the Cubs since 2001.