2008 Chicago Cubs Season

[nathanKent]

It doesn't weaken our defense considerably. Fukudome earned a gold glove playing CF in Japan. Murton is a downgrade at RF, but he's not Manny Ramirez. We'd do fine with that OF, and it's certainly better than Soriano/Reed/Fukudome.

[Windy City Fan]

The thing that makes me dislike Pie as a hitter isn't his low production through 20 AB. You're right in that anybody can have a 20 AB slump. But I don't even see quality at bats. I see him chasing pitches way out of zone. Pitches that make him look foolish and really bad. And every scouting report I've read on him talks about his lack of discipline and selectivity at the plate.

You're right when you say Reed is as good as he's gonna get, while Pie has (or at least may have) some potential to be better. Still, my preference is for Murton to come up and Pie to go down or get traded and let Fukudome shift to center. I would weaken our OF defense considerably, but I think the improved offensive production would more than compensate. Especially given that Murton is the kind of player we NEED near the top of the lineup - some one who hits for a decent average, works the count, and draws walks giving him an above average on base percentage.

[Jeff Pico]

In Pie's defense, a couple points. First, 20 AB is way to early to make a judgement; what was Aramis hitting after 20 AB? Not even .200. But we didn't sit him.

Second, Pie had most of those AB's against GOOD enemy pitching. Sheets, Suppan, et al pretty much shut down everyone, with the exception of Fuku.

Johnson has benefited from a parade of mediocre to flat out terrible pitching by the other team. That the whole offense lifted in that span isn't because of Johnson, he is merely feasting on bad pitching like everyone else is.

Niefi Perez could have hit that Pirates pitching, and if he had happened to be playing those days, we might be pushing HIM into the lineup. And we all know that, over the LONG term, that is a huge mistake.

Pie needs to play! I like Johnson, but Reed is at his ceiling, and sitting doesn't hurt him. It kills Pie.

[MIKELIMA]

Looking at the interview about tonights game on cubs.com, neither is Lou. Side note; i'm not either.

[Windy City Fan]

I'm still not a Pie fan, but I gotta say, "Thank you, Felix" after that game.

[The Splendid Splinter]

thank you pie!

now lets close this puppy out

Man... that's a confidence booster if I ever see one. I hope Pie will things around a bit here.

[nathanKent]

thank you aramis! talk about crushing one.

now lets close this puppy out.

Maybe this'll be how Aramis got his groove back.

Wuertz is doing the same thing he was doing last year: keeping up that sub-1.00 ERA in April (still at 0.00 right now). If he could keep that up he could develop into the 7th inning go-to guy.

[Jeff Pico]

Dear Ryan Dempster;

So far you are making me eat my words. You don't completely suck as a starter. Actually you have been quite good. My words taste extremely good though when you are sporting a .069 ERA. Please, I would like more helpings.

Sincerely,

Jeff Pico

[wrigleybum]

thank you pie!

now lets close this puppy out

[rockin500]

thank you aramis! talk about crushing one.

now lets close this puppy out.

[rockin500]

cubs had their chances tonight. If they end up losing, it wont be the bullpen causing the loss, it'll be all the missed oppurtunities.

[G-String Blues]

I'm watching the gameday pitch-by-pitch tracker. From the stats it looks like Demp is electric again, and is on pace to pitch a full 7 innings. Too bad he's not getting much run support--1 run on 8 hits with 4 left in scoring position, and only 1 BB.

Dempster had 2 successful bunts as well, that's odd for a Cubs pitcher.

[rockin500]

I'm watching the gameday pitch-by-pitch tracker. From the stats it looks like Demp is electric again, and is on pace to pitch a full 7 innings. Too bad he's not getting much run support--1 run on 8 hits with 4 left in scoring position, and only 1 BB.

he most certainly was. too bad they were punchless against Duke again (nothing new there)

[RBi]

Ugh, Zambrano PH'n..

HAHA please please please DONT GET HURT!

WHEW!

Getting the Job done..

Without injuries!

[RBi]

Ugh, Zambrano PH'n..

HAHA please please please DONT GET HURT!