2008 Chicago Cubs Season

[nathanKent]

This game is ending exactly how I don't want games to end--a 9th inning 2 out AB for Ronny Cedeno.

[Scartissue]

Do you bat Howry here? Wood's already been ruled out for today. Marmol went yesterday. I think you bat Howry.

[wrigleybum]

And Lilly was looking good until that half inning...

Pie could learn a thing or two about plate discipline from Johnson. Two walks today so far.

[Jojo1691]

Ronny Cedeno giveth and Ronny Cedeno takeith away. Time for the bullpen to be strong and not let this one slip away.

[rockin500]

a little defense perhaps? how bout not giving up walks when up 7-0? sheesh. no excuse for that half inning

[wrigleybum]

And Reed Johnson gets another start...but not surprising though seeing that we facing a lefty.

[rockin500]

kerry wood wont pitch today at all. not surprising really that lou wants to be careful with his closer this early in the year

[Scartissue]

Cedeno gets his first start today.

[Lipsander]

Playing CF is easy as Pie.

[wrigleybum]

I remember being at a Cubs-Cards game in St. Louis where Kim held up someone when they easily could have scored, leaving the bases loaded with one out, only for us to hit into a DP, and then the inning later sending Sammy home to get thrown out for a mile.

I was near the Cubs dugout, and some Cards fans started clapping when Kim returned to the dugout. Thank god he is gone.

[Scartissue]

except when wavin wendell was there!

Kim was definitely overagreesive, although I find most third base coaches too conservative.

[rockin500]

(most runners home aren't thrown out by much).

except when wavin wendell was there!

[Scartissue]

Is there a defense in the NL that has better arms than the Cubs? Soriano/Pie/Fukudome?

Off the top of my head, I think the second best set of arms in the MLBs is found in the AL for the Angels, with Anderson, Hunter and Guerrero.

Gunning down a man at home is my favorite play in baseball. It's got everything--a run or an out is made, catcher standing in the way of a guy that can put a hurt on, and finally the closeness of the play (most runners home aren't thrown out by much).

[Bob Sacamento]

I found myself yelling at the TV when Backe was going to tag up to score in the 3rd (When Fukudome caught a shallow flyout.) I was BEGGING for him to try and score against Fukudome. Is there a defense in the NL that has better arms than the Cubs? Soriano/Pie/Fukudome?

I don't think there is an overall OF in baseball that can cover more ground or has more accurate arms than the Cubs. Anyone of our Alf/Pie/Fuk could play a strong RF with their arms.

My only hope is that Crazy Lou doesn't pull the trigger on Pie too soon, Felix needs to start and the defense gets a huge boost when he does. Pie will struggle, no doubt about it, he'll get steadier with age. Still he has the abilities to hit at least .270/.330/.430/.760 for the year and that's a great line for a 23 year old rookie with spectacular D who's only getting better with the stick.

Johnson is probably the better short-term offensive solution but Pie is out of options next year, and the more the Cubs sit on him and do nothing, the more he loses value in the trading world.

[RBi]

Soriano's assist turned out huge. His throws to the plate are worth more than 1 run--the run it saves, and the out it creates. 22 assists in 2006 and 19 in 2007. I'm still surprised that he gets challenged so much. After awhile, runners usually wise up and stop running (which is why Ichiro has low assists relative to his plus arm). I'm glad people keep running on him though.

I found myself yelling at the TV when Backe was going to tag up to score in the 3rd (When Fukudome caught a shallow flyout.) I was BEGGING for him to try and score against Fukudome. Is there a defense in the NL that has better arms than the Cubs? Soriano/Pie/Fukudome?