Cubbie Swagger [Archive] - SpursTalk.com Forums

K-State Spur

07-17-2007, 03:01 AM

Actually, Hill & Lilly are both better than anybody the Brewers can trot out not named Sheets.

there's a lot to like about all aspects of the Cub team right now (even if their fans are still douchebags).

Anyone would have to be crazy (or just a really blinded Cardinal fan) to think Milwaukee is hardcore in the driver's seat.

Especially when you take into account:

a) Sheets is lost for a while. On any stat other than W/L (which is the absolute worst way to judge a starting pitcher), he's been their only above average starter. The Brewers do have the best bullpen in the division - but with 5 guys already having 37+ appearances, that may not bode well down the stretch.

and

b) Milwaukee is clinging to a 4 game lead despite the majority of their line-up putting up career years. If just a couple of those young guys come back down to earth in the dog days of August (it's been known to happen) - the Brewers are in serious trouble, as Bush/Suppan/Capuano have not been pitching well enough to win without getting serious run support.

Cubs aren't as good as they are playing right now, but they aren't anywhere near as bad as they were earlier in the season. I still think there is a good chance that 86 wins gets somebody the central.

Thunder Dan

07-17-2007, 08:59 AM

I like how they consider a .500 good with their payroll

SrA Husker

07-17-2007, 11:41 AM

5 games over .500, if you want to get technical.

And all of you are blasting the Cubs, but remember - It's July, and the Cubs are still in it. Typically we're out of contention by mid-may...

Thunder Dan

07-17-2007, 02:37 PM

5 games over .500, if you want to get technical.

And all of you are blasting the Cubs, but remember - It's July, and the Cubs are still in it. Typically we're out of contention by mid-may...

I'm just saying that normally teams with such a high payroll don't get too excited at 5 games over .500. Especially in the National League where all you do is have to play somewhat decent to win half your games. You don't even need to be that good to go .500 in that league. You basically just have to make sure you show up for each of your games.

K-State Spur

07-17-2007, 03:55 PM

Well, to be fair, it's the 16 out of 20 that has them excited more than the overall record.

If they had started 16-4, then went 22-29 over their last 51, you wouldn't be hearing much hype or crowing despite an identical record.

SrA Husker

07-19-2007, 12:07 PM

Pittsburgh acquires Cesar Izturis (SS) from Chicago Cubs for cash and player-to-be-named-later.

THANK YOU, PIRATES!!!!

Trading season 101:
Buying players + Freeing up dead space = Team in contention :toast

Marklar MM

07-19-2007, 12:18 PM

SrA Husker

07-20-2007, 11:22 PM

Heh. Heh heh. 2.5 back. :D

leemajors

07-20-2007, 11:34 PM

Heh. Heh heh. 2.5 back. :D

After letting that sink in, realize that Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat.

SrA Husker

07-24-2007, 11:49 PM

The only thing better than beating the deadbirds in their nest? Doing so with Poo-holes going 0-5 including a ruined chance of walk-off heroics.

SrA Husker

07-25-2007, 09:37 PM

BREWERS LOSE!!! Padres Lose!!!

THE CUBS ARE WINNING 7-1 in the 9th...

Assuming the CUBS win tonight, it's only 2 games back from the division and 1 game back from the Wild Card!!! And to top it all off, POO HOLES is still hitless, and the AAA Iowa Cubs are up 15-0 in the fourth inning - gotta love having a quality farm!!!!!!

Flight3107

07-25-2007, 09:54 PM

SrA Husker

07-25-2007, 10:01 PM

Did you not listen to the porker?

Milwaukee is "hardcore in the drivers seat."

Gotcha. Hardcore.

Central Division Standings:

W L PCT GB
Milwaukee 56 45 .554 ---
CHICAGO 53 46 .535 2.0
St Louis 45 52 .464 9.0
Houston 44 57 .436 12.0
Cincinnati 43 59 .422 13.5
Pittsburgh 41 58 .414 14.0

Wild Card Standings:

W L PCT GB
San Diego 54 46 .540 ---
CHICAGO 53 46 .535 0.5
Atlanta 54 47 .535 0.5
Arizona 54 48 .529 1.0
Philadelphia 51 48 .515 2.5

Gotcha.

SrA Husker

07-25-2007, 10:09 PM

Their pitching stud outside of Zambrono is Ted Lilly.

After letting that sink in, realize that Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat.

And how about Lilly's performance against your deadbirds??? :smokin

Flight3107

07-26-2007, 03:05 PM

Brewers lose

1.5 games up

At least they are still "Hardcore in the drivers seat."

Flight3107

07-29-2007, 04:53 PM

Milwaukee 57-49
Chicago 55-48

Milwaukee still "hardcore in the drivers seat"

T Park

07-29-2007, 05:41 PM

and guess who just climbed back from the grave of death.

4 losses back of the Brewers.

5 losses back of the Cubs, and 4 games more to play than both teams.

The Cubs and Brewers both play the Mets and Phillies this week while the Cardinals have the Pirates and the Nationals.

And how about Lilly's performance against your deadbirds???

How about winning a world series this century before running smack small bears boy.

T Park

07-29-2007, 05:44 PM

Thats what I always love about Cubs fans.

They always think they are gonna actually do something worth a shit.

Their pitching staff outside of Zambrono is mediocre at best.

They havent won jack shit in like 500 years, and they still run shit talk at the Cardinals who have the second most WS wins in baseball history, and have on of the worst pitching rotations in years, and they STILL, STILL are in this goddamn division race.

:lol

unreal

IceColdBrewski

07-29-2007, 06:18 PM

Thats what I always love about Cubs fans.

They always think they are gonna actually do something worth a shit.

unreal

You obviously have no clue about Cubs fans. Cubbie fans are some of the most pessimistic, self defeating fans in all of sports.

T Park

07-29-2007, 06:45 PM

dallaskd

07-29-2007, 08:47 PM

Cubs will never do shit.

IceColdBrewski

07-29-2007, 09:19 PM

Oh please, I know plenty about them.

Every single year its "their year"

and if they are still contending in july, its just balls to the wall ' ITS OUR YEAR!!!!

Thats why its hilarious that they are confident.

That's called rooting for your team. Not everyone likes to quit on their team the way you did.

K-State Spur

07-29-2007, 10:07 PM

interesting that the same poster who has major questions about the cubs pitching staff is trying to build up the cardinals as being back into it (now, that's a mediocre starting staff at best - without exception).

SrA Husker

07-29-2007, 10:40 PM

After letting that sink in, realize that Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat.

Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat, all right. If Chicago wins tomorrow, they become tied for first place. Plus, Milwaukee has more losses than Chicago - meaning CHICAGO is officially currently in the drivers seat.

I'm not going to let T Park live this down :toast

T Park

07-30-2007, 12:45 AM

Not everyone likes to quit on their team the way you did.

still hanging onto that?

I notice you don't post much ragging on Tony parker also there bigshot.

T Park

07-30-2007, 12:45 AM

interesting that the same poster who has major questions about the cubs pitching staff is trying to build up the cardinals as being back into

4 back in the loss column of first place.

How is that not back into it?

T Park

07-30-2007, 12:46 AM

Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat, all right. If Chicago wins tomorrow, they become tied for first place. Plus, Milwaukee has more losses than Chicago - meaning CHICAGO is officially currently in the drivers seat.

I'm not going to let T Park live this down

go ahead and not let me live it down, i couldn't give a shit.

Fuck, Milwaukee has been more successfull in the playoffs than the fucking Cubs.

Live that down.

SrA Husker

07-30-2007, 08:05 AM

go ahead and not let me live it down, i couldn't give a shit.

Fuck, Milwaukee has been more successfull in the playoffs than the fucking Cubs.

Live that down.

:nope

MILWAUKEE
World Championships - 0
League Pennants - 1
Division Titles - 1
Wild Cards - 0

CHICAGO CUBS
World Championships - 2
League Pennants - 16
Division Titles - 3
Wild Cards - 1

This stuff is so easy to find nowadays - look it up before you post stupid shit.

IceColdBrewski

07-30-2007, 10:42 AM

Fuck, Milwaukee has been more successfull in the playoffs than the fucking Cubs.

Well, there goes your credibility on baseball knowledge.

SrA Husker

07-30-2007, 11:27 AM

To further piss on the Cardinals and T-Park, here's the latest odds of making the playoffs from Baseball Prospectus, who have simulated the rest of the season 1,000,000 times.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/Brewerspsodds.php

BREWERS 57.7093%
CHI CUBS 61.2619%
ST LOUIS 3.0335%
HOUSTON .0655%
CINCINNATI .0669%
PITTSBURGH .0027%

SrA Husker

08-01-2007, 11:18 PM

Brewers Lose!!! Cubs Win!!!

THE CHICAGO CUBS ARE IN FIRST PLACE - AND THE CALENDAR SAYS AUGUST!!!

Central Division Standings:

W L PCT GB
CHICAGO 57 49 .538 ---
Milwaukee 58 50 .537 ---
St Louis 50 54 .481 6.0
Houston 46 61 .430 11.5
Cincinnati 45 63 .417 13.0
Pittsburgh 43 62 .410 13.5

Who is HARDCORE in the drivers seat, T-Park???

T Park

08-02-2007, 01:22 AM

Well, there goes your credibility on baseball knowledge.

coming from beno Udrih's biggest fan thats a compliment.

Once again Cubs fan. Get excited now.

You bozos usually do.

T Park

08-02-2007, 01:23 AM

To further piss on the Cardinals and T-Park, here's the latest odds of making the playoffs from Baseball Prospectus, who have simulated the rest of the season 1,000,000 times.

Huh?

I can't hear you

I've got 10 world championship rings in my ear.

Slinkyman

08-02-2007, 04:14 AM

Their pitching stud outside of Zambrono is Ted Lilly.

After letting that sink in, realize that Milwaukee is hardcore in the drivers seat.

:rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes :rolleyes

dmac

08-02-2007, 09:36 AM

16-4 in the last 20. Three games out of first. Even closer to the Wild Card.

Cubbie Swagger has returned to the Friendly Confines. Sweet Lou, we love you!

This is the best baseball the North Side has seen since 2001...
What was wrong with 2003?

IceColdBrewski

08-02-2007, 09:41 AM

coming from beno Udrih's biggest fan thats a compliment.

So now I'm Beno Udrih's biggest fan?

Wow. You just like to make this shit up as you go along huh?

dmac

08-02-2007, 09:48 AM

:nope

MILWAUKEE
World Championships - 0
League Pennants - 1
Division Titles - 1
Wild Cards - 0

CHICAGO CUBS
World Championships - 2
League Pennants - 16
Division Titles - 3
Wild Cards - 1

This stuff is so easy to find nowadays - look it up before you post stupid shit.like you said:

MILWAUKEE
World Championships - 1
League Pennants - 3
Division Titles - 1
Wild Cards - 0

SrA Husker

08-02-2007, 10:37 AM

What was wrong with 2003?

Never in 2003 did the Cubs put together a 16-4 run.

T Park

08-02-2007, 12:15 PM

So now I'm Beno Udrih's biggest fan?

Wow. You just like to make this shit up as you go along huh?

You made the thread....

T Park

08-02-2007, 12:16 PM

Never in 2003 did the Cubs put together a 16-4 run.

They did though have one hilarious choke job though :lol

K-State Spur

08-03-2007, 11:50 AM

4 back in the loss column of first place.

How is that not back into it?

st. louis is a team that has been outscored by almost 100 runs this season. that tells me that - even at the mediocrity they have displayed this year - they are very lucky to have the record that they do, and it's taken smoke and mirrors to do it. without major additions, they are more likely to collapse and finish with 70-75 wins than they are to be a legit contender in mid-september.

ATRAIN

08-03-2007, 02:37 PM

Damn you guys made a climb, thats awesome. Good job man!!

K-State Spur

08-03-2007, 08:00 PM

Their pitching staff outside of Zambrono is mediocre at best.

a) The stats don't back you there. Actually, all 5 of the Cubs starters are pitching above the league average. And - with the possible exception of Marshall - it wouldn't surprise most people if they are able to maintain that course to the finish line. Lilly has always had great stuff, he just has walked too many people - which he's not doing now. Those of us who follow the minor leagues have known about Hill for a long time now. This guy should have been in the middle of the rotation 2+ years ago. And Marquis has been this good before, just not last year.

It may not be a staff lined up well for October, but it's the best starting rotation in the division right now - and it's not close.

b) And the Cardinals staff outside of Wainwright is flat out awful.

I don't have a dog in this fight (I'm a depressed O's fan), but your takes on the state of the NL central are interesting to say the least. I would wonder how far someone would have to get their head up Pujols' ass for the view to like this...

T Park

08-04-2007, 02:37 AM

I would wonder how far someone would have to get their head up Pujols' ass for the view to like this...

What can I say, I like world champions...

The rotation is mediocre, BUT, they have not had alot of run support all year, and that has been about 90% of the problem.

Watching their games you would've seen that.

If Mark Mulder can come back and be decent, give 5 6 innings and give up 2 3 runs, you replace a guy like Maroth, then the worst starter is Braden Looper, who is almost a 10 game winner.

Once again, stats don't tell the whole story.

K-State Spur

08-04-2007, 11:55 AM

mediocre = average, middle, normal, par.

I like Wainwright, but past him, the Cards' staff is just plain bad.

Sorry, but when 4 out of every 5 days you are trotting out a guy with an ERA of 5+, you can't say that run support has been the problem.

As for Looper (who I root for as a former WSU Shocker), his peripheral stats point to a guy who should be 4-10, not 8-9. Run support has actually saved him from a much worse record. W/L are one of the absolute worst stats to use to judge the effectiveness a starting pitcher.

leemajors

08-08-2007, 10:14 PM

cubbie stagger recently. good thing for them milwaukee isn't doing anything about it.

T Park

08-09-2007, 12:13 AM

Milwaukee 60 55 .522
Chicago 58 55 .513
St. Louis 52 59 .468
Houston 51 63 .447
Cincinnati 49 64 .434
Pittsburgh 45 64 .413

well looky whos only 4 back in the loss column with two games more to play than chicago and 4 more to play than milwaukee.

the cardinals are mediocre, but they are scrappers :)

DOMINATOR

08-09-2007, 12:34 AM

HAHAHAHA astros sweep the scrubbies.

K-State Spur

08-09-2007, 12:42 AM

i'll reiterate what i said before in this thread - i still think 86 wins could take the central.

slayermin

08-09-2007, 12:58 AM

The Brewers fate will be in the hands of Chris Capuano and Dave Bush. These two have had less than stellar years but if they can finish strong, the Brewers have a shot. Bush and Capuano are capable of stepping it up. But Losing Ben Sheets really hurts their chances.

Offensively, they are stacked.

T Park

08-15-2007, 11:48 PM

What was that Cubbie fan? :)

K-State Spur

08-16-2007, 12:19 AM

just rename the Cards the "Smoke and Mirrors". 83 wins in 2006 = Title. Outscored by 100 runs this season = .500. One thing is for sure, the NL Central is pathetic...again.

T Park

08-16-2007, 02:52 AM

Yeah that pathetic Central division

the Nation league rep for the last 3 world series, and last year's world champs.

Just horrible....

BTW, its not smoke and mirrors, its called, key hitters, FINALLY starting to get healthy and get in their groove.

Rolen 4-5
Edmonds 2-5 with a homer.

oooooo yeah :smokin

TxJudsonRocketTx

08-16-2007, 04:12 AM

Yeah that pathetic Central division
BTW, its not smoke and mirrors, its called, key hitters, FINALLY starting to get healthy and get in their groove.
Rolen 4-5
Edmonds 2-5 with a homer.
oooooo yeah :smokin

What are you talking about? Before last night Rolen had only 6 hits in his last 33 ab's.

Edmonds has been on fire though

MajorMike

08-16-2007, 08:17 AM

That was Jimmy's 1st homer since 6 June.

Bats are warming up; scrubbies and Brewers are cooling off; Pineiro looks like we might have finally found the latest Duncan pitching project; Mulder is starting Class A rehab; we are getting healthy; Kip Wells has been throwing great.

Aside from last year, if you look back historically the Cards have been the best team in baseball after the All Star break dating back to 2000. I am exited about baseball for the 1st time since April.

K-State Spur

08-16-2007, 12:18 PM

.

the Nation league rep for the last 3 world series, and last year's world champs.

Just horrible....

nice...but completely irrelevant to the quality of play in the division THIS (2007!!!!!) year.

That said...anything can happen in the playoffs. When Jeff Weaver can become a lights out postseason pitcher - ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs.

But there's not one team in the entire NL that could even make the playoffs out of the AL East over a 162 game schedule.

MajorMike

08-16-2007, 03:28 PM

nice...but completely irrelevant to the quality of play in the division THIS (2007!!!!!) year.

That said...anything can happen in the playoffs. When Jeff Weaver can become a lights out postseason pitcher - ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs.

But there's not one team in the entire NL that could even make the playoffs out of the AL East over a 162 game schedule.

Actually, when you make the statement:

One thing is for sure, the NL Central is pathetic...again.
it means YOU are looking at other years, therefore his statement is completely relevant.

T Park

08-16-2007, 04:12 PM

haha thanks capt.

Cardinals Sweep the Brewers

7 shutout innings from Adam Wainwright, 8 strikeouts.

Your watching the maturation of a superstar in Wainy.

Molina gets 2 homers today.

2 and a half out. 1 loss back in the loss column to both Chicago and Milwaukee.

The Cardiac Cardinals strike again :smokin

T Park

08-16-2007, 04:15 PM

But there's not one team in the entire NL that could even make the playoffs out of the AL East over a 162 game schedule.

Big deal.

What are you talking about? Before last night Rolen had only 6 hits in his last 33 ab's

Rolen has been hitting very well for the month of July and now August.

Edmonds in his past 10 games prior to today was hitting 425.

Guys like Ludwick, Ankiel, Ryan, from AAA have been a HUGE boost.

The starting pitching also from Piniero, Wainwright, Wells, Reyes, and Looper is solid to great.

Mulder is on his way back and says hes felt the best he has in 3 years.

3 years ago he had the lowest ERA of any pitcher at the all star break :smokin

K-State Spur

08-16-2007, 04:37 PM

Actually, when you make the statement:

it means YOU are looking at other years, therefore his statement is completely relevant.

When 83 wins gets a team a division, that division is pathetic. Yes, I know the Cards got hot and won the series, but that doesn't dismiss that the division was pathetic over the long haul last year.

In both 2004 & 2005, I thought the Cards were the best team in baseball, they just ran into a team playing better in the playoffs. But the division has been pathetic in a year before this.

MajorMike

08-16-2007, 06:12 PM

Yaddi! Yaddi! Yaddi!

T Park

08-17-2007, 03:28 PM

When 83 wins gets a team a division, that division is pathetic. Yes, I know the Cards got hot and won the series, but that doesn't dismiss that the division was pathetic over the long haul last year.

Of course.

Divisions World Champions come out of are always horrible.

That southwest division in the NBA must be pathetic.

K-State Spur

08-17-2007, 04:12 PM

Of course.

Divisions World Champions come out of are always horrible.

That southwest division in the NBA must be pathetic.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, that's why teams strive just to get there.

But 83 wins, despite playing an unbalanced schedule against a division that had 4 of its 6 teams below .500 and 3 teams losing at least 87 games, isn't exactly setting the world on fire.

And before you try to say that they beat up on each other - the 2006 NL Central was 65 (65!!!) games BELOW .500 against the rest of MLB. The next worst was the AL East, at just 8 games below .500 in 2006.

SrA Husker

08-17-2007, 04:42 PM

The Cardinals came falling back to earth today at the Friendly Confines.

And to all of you guys out there with the division smack, who cares? No matter how strong the division, the top guy is guaranteed to make it to the postseason. And as has been shown, once you're in the playoffs, anything can and will happen.

So why does it matter that you came from a "weak division"? Boise State last year came from a weak conference. Same with Kansas and basketball...

T Park

08-17-2007, 06:17 PM

crashing back to earth?

They lost one game 2-1.......

Leave it to Cub fan to blow their chode early.

K-State Spur

08-17-2007, 06:18 PM

.No matter how strong the division, the top guy is guaranteed to make it to the postseason. And as has been shown, once you're in the playoffs, anything can and will happen.

So why does it matter that you came from a "weak division"?.

It doesn't, never said it did. Just said that the division hasn't been very good the past couple years - not overly disputable.

SrA Husker

08-17-2007, 09:35 PM

crashing back to earth?

They lost one game 2-1.......

Leave it to Cub fan to blow their chode early.

When you win your previous 5 by 5 runs or more and the entire blogging and sports media online talks about the great comeback Cards... yeah... it's crashing back to earth when you only get 1 run and 4 hits.

MajorMike

08-18-2007, 08:14 AM

The Cardinals came falling back to earth today at the Friendly Confines.

You mean the crumbling dump held together by gum?

SrA Husker

08-18-2007, 06:26 PM

You mean the crumbling dump held together by gum?

Yup, the crumbling dump held together by gum that has supported an average game attendance of over 40,000 this year.

T Park

08-21-2007, 02:29 AM

?

Nothing?

Not suprising...

MajorMike

08-21-2007, 08:43 AM

Wow, did you see that throw by Ankiel to nail Theriot? Amazing. La-zer.

Was so good it even amazed a 6-time Gold Glover: "It was a great play and unbelievable throw. I just saw something that maybe I hadn't seen before," Rolen said.

MajorMike

08-21-2007, 08:53 AM

Yup, the crumbling dump held together by gum that has supported an average game attendance of over 40,000 this year.

Well, Mr. Man, good for you. Nice to see another Central team has finally in the past couple years joined the Cards in the perennial 3 million a year club. Even as bad as the Cards have been, our lowest attended game has been 42,127, while the scrubs have only in the past week crawled over the 40k mark as the fair weather fans decide they might actually be in the race again. Of course you know at least 1/3 of the fans that show up for our series at crumbly field are Cards fans anyway.

Hopefully the new nets they have installed there to catch the concrete as it falls hold for the whole year. I'd hate for the mayor to have to threaten to condemn the thing aagin.

SrA Husker

08-21-2007, 03:21 PM

Funny, a 40,000+ average attendance at a stadium that seats 42-43 is different than a 42,000+ average attendance at one that seats 47,000. We actually crawled above 40,000 about a month ago, and are also year in and out one of the top 5 teams in all-baseball attendance despite a small stadium and crappy teams. For a defending champion and a city with a stadium only two years old, high attendance would come to be expected. Especially when you give the seats away.

That concrete joke is getting kind of old, too, as it's well known that it was concrete surrounding a light fixture, and no way a sign that the building has been condemned or is unsafe.

And I love how you come on the board after a single victory in 4 nights and laugh how I haven't commented yet. Last I checked, we still lead the season series, and are above you in the standings.

BeerIsGood!

08-21-2007, 03:39 PM

I've taken in games in Wrigly and at Busch (old and new) and prefer the atmosphere in Chicago. The new Busch is nice though.

MajorMike

08-21-2007, 04:22 PM

Wow, someone needs to know the facts before they open their yapper.

Funny, a 40,000+ average attendance at a stadium that seats 42-43 is different than a 42,000+ average attendance at one that seats 47,000.

Busch Stadium 43,975
Wrigley Field 41118

We actually crawled above 40,000 about a month ago,

Game 58 41,599 / 2,319,405 / 39,990
Game 59 40,750 2,360,155 40,003
(The last Cards game was game 64)

and are also year in and out one of the top 5 teams in all-baseball attendance despite a small stadium and crappy teams.

scrubbies are currently 7th in overall attendance. They actually finished 6th last year, and to date is only 11, 213 ahead of last year. They actually did not go in front of last year's total until game 56 (again, way to go bandwagon scrubbie fans). scrubs have been 6th every year dating back to 2002 when they were 8th and 10th in 2001. Cards have been 3rd/4th and 4th last 3 years, and are an under .500 4th in attendance team.

That concrete joke is getting kind of old, too, as it's well known that it was concrete surrounding a light fixture, and no way a sign that the building has been condemned or is unsafe.

I didn't know the entire upper deck was a light fixture.

Wrigley protective netting is in place
Associated Press

Updated: July 30, 2004, 3:04 PM ET
Email
Print
CHICAGO -- City building inspectors gave the go-ahead for the Chicago Cubs to play at Wrigley Field on Friday after protective netting was installed to keep chunks of concrete from falling from the upper deck onto fans.
Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek announced early Friday that inspectors accepted an interim safety inspection report the Cubs submitted to the city, clearing the way for an afternoon game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
"The netting is a prudent precaution intended to make the ballpark's seating areas safe for the general public," Kaderbek said, adding that a final safety report will be required after the Cubs complete its inspection of the entire park.
The nets will remain up all season as a safety measure, Cubs president and CEO Andy MacPhail said Friday. Inspections indicated no structural problems with the upper deck, he said.
The city could have prevented the game at the 90-year-old ballpark if the netting wasn't fully installed or if inspectors concluded it didn't adequately protect fans. The netted area covers seating beneath the upper deck.
Kaderbek said more than 50 percent of the upper deck had not been inspected, adding that no deadline has been set for when the inspection should be completed. The netting should be able to protect the fans beneath it, he said, noting that it is designed to withstand the fall of a 350-pound chunk of concrete falling 50 feet. Kaderbek said there are no indications that would happen.
The Cubs have committed to performing a visual inspection of the underside of all non-netted areas before all games at Wrigley Field, Kaderbek said. The city also has directed the Cubs to give annual, hands-on inspections and to notify the city of any dangerous conditions.
There have been three reports of falling concrete at the stadium since June. No injuries have been reported.
On June 9, a fan told the city a piece of concrete fell along the first-base side of the park. The fan said the debris was the size of a small brick.
The second piece of falling concrete was reported by a man who said the chunk, measuring about 6 inches long and 3 inches thick, nearly struck his 5-year-old son at a game on July 16.
A Wrigley Field employee found a third piece of concrete July 21, Cubs officials said. That piece was about the size of the palm of a hand.
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley had threatened to close Wrigley Field due to safety concerns on July 20.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press

And I love how you come on the board after a single victory in 4 nights and laugh how I haven't commented yet. Last I checked, we still lead the season series, and are above you in the standings.

Great. Scoreboard, after all IS the final word, and ya'll are higher right now. 3 games higher to be exact. I'd say not too shabby for a team that was as far as 9 games under .500 and was 8 games under in August (50-58). On that same day (4 Aug) the scrubbies were a season high 7 over .500 (58-51). In two weeks. Yeah, I'll take that.

K-State Spur

08-21-2007, 04:52 PM

cardinals draw more (slightly). cubs draw a higher capacity (slightly).

you'd have to be a diehard cards fan/cubs hater not to love wrigley. you'd have to be a diehard cubs fan/cards hater not to respect the NEW busch.

SrA Husker

08-21-2007, 07:26 PM

Busch - with Standing room only - 46,861

Wrigley Field -
First, netting was removed, no loose pieces remain. And it was primarily around joints, etc., not anything relating to the structure itself. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/cubs/2005-03-12-wrigley-repairs_x.htm

Finally,
I've never been to New Busch but would like to go as it looks like a great park. I love they opened up the skyline.

I've been to many Cubs/Cards games at Wrigley (none in StL though) and think it's one of the best rivalries in baseball.

T Park

08-21-2007, 11:00 PM

And I love how you come on the board after a single victory in 4 nights and laugh how I haven't commented yet. Last I checked, we still lead the season series, and are above you in the standings.

I love how you come in here talking shit to

1. the defending world champions

2. to a team that has about 9 more world championships than you as well.

Recognize kiddo.

T Park

08-21-2007, 11:01 PM

I sadly have never gotten a chance to witness a cubs cards game in person.

Shame, they always seem to be the most fun.

MajorMike

08-22-2007, 09:47 AM

i'll reiterate what i said before in this thread - i still think 86 wins could take the central.

You know, it is easy to dog the Central right now, but if you look at it... the Cards are 2 games under and only 5 games out of the Wild Card and the 2nd place team in the Central (Brew Crew) are only 2 games out of the Wild Card. With the way teams like the Dodgers and Padres have been playing as of late, it is not totally out of the realm that the Central will have 2 teams in the Wild Card. There are only 2 teams in the whole NL that are 10 games over.

K-State Spur

08-22-2007, 11:55 AM

it's easy to dog the whole NL right now.

SrA Husker

08-25-2007, 02:22 PM

Central Division Standings:

W L PCT GB
CHICAGO 66 61 .520 ---
Milwaukee 65 63 .508 1.5
St Louis 61 64 .488 4.0
Cincinnati 58 70 .453 8.5
Houston 55 72 .442 10.0
Pittsburgh 56 71 .441 10.0

sharpshooter

08-25-2007, 07:43 PM

this is the year that the northsider will end this curse since 1908, this years cubs are doing what the cardinals are doing last year. They will probably have to worst record of all the playoff teams just like the cardinals last year, there is something about this years cubs that makes me believe.

K-State Spur

08-25-2007, 08:24 PM

One thing that made the Cards' championship so hard to predict last year was that they really limped to the finish (They still had the 2nd best record in the NL at the end of August. This dropped to the 5th best record in the NL at the end of the season after going 12-17 in the final month.)

The Cubs - for all their faults - have been playing some of the best baseball in the NL since the end of May.

Strike

08-30-2007, 12:53 PM

Here's to the Cubs in '07 :toast

K-State Spur

08-31-2007, 07:10 PM

WOW. Cubbies traded a league average reliever (rocky cherry) and fairly decent IF prospect (scott moore) for STEVE F'ING TRACHSEL!

So, despite that the Orioles are about to lose their 9th in a row - my boys get a victory over the Cubs for the second time in a row. (Birds win out in the CPat deal. Not that CPat is setting the world on fire, but he is clearly more valuable than the nobodies that Baltimore gave up.)

Doesn't make any sense for the Cubbies, Trachsel is an obvious downgrade over any of the 5 starters they are currently trotting out.

Cubs fans should be well aware how awful Trachsel is, but evidently Hendry is not...

T Park

08-31-2007, 09:39 PM

Trading to make trades.

It never makes sense.

T Park

09-01-2007, 03:27 AM

BTW I just noticed its September.

What does CUBS stand for again? :smokin

Whisky Dog

09-01-2007, 04:45 AM

Cubs will win the division.

Hell, if the Rangers were in this division they'd be winning it. The NL is so f'n pathetic in the regular season it's comical. If baseball was a sport of momentum none of these teams would win a PO game. Luckily for the Cardinals last season baseball is a game where a few pitchers turning it on can lead an average team to a title.

leemajors

09-01-2007, 07:37 AM

Mister Sinister

09-01-2007, 10:29 AM

BTW I just noticed its September.

What does CUBS stand for again? :smokin
Completely
Useless
By
Spring.

T Park

09-01-2007, 12:07 PM

September, but close.

Hell, if the Rangers were in this division they'd be winning it. The NL is so f'n pathetic in the regular season it's comical. If baseball was a sport of momentum none of these teams would win a PO game. Luckily for the Cardinals last season baseball is a game where a few pitchers turning it on can lead an average team to a title.

spoken like a true numbskull.

leemajors

09-01-2007, 12:34 PM

momentum is fickle, and subject to change with one swing of the bat. the regular season is meaningless once it's over.

Whisky Dog

09-01-2007, 02:26 PM

I just like to rag on baseball because I think it's a stupid sport. It's all good.

T Park

09-01-2007, 03:29 PM

Then how about don't post in here.

I think whiskey is a stupid drink. Its one of the worst tasting liquids i've ever put to my lips, yet i don't create threads blasting it.

God, get a hobby.

Whisky Dog

09-01-2007, 06:08 PM

I post when and where I want, if you don't like it don't read it.

Don't ever tell me what to do again. Ever.

sa_kid20

09-02-2007, 04:51 PM

D.Lee Baby. Cubs just won a thriller

T Park

09-02-2007, 05:47 PM

Don't ever tell me what to do again. Ever

look boy.

I've been here alot longer than you, so mind your elders and STFU SON!

No don't come in here again if your gonna bombast some stupid ass full of shit remark about sport you don't care about.

Hit the fuckin road.

Whisky Dog

09-02-2007, 06:38 PM

look boy.

I've been here alot longer than you, so mind your elders and STFU SON!

No don't come in here again if your gonna bombast some stupid ass full of shit remark about sport you don't care about.

Hit the fuckin road.

:lol Elders? Son? Mofo, you don't know me. How do you know how old I am? You're getting your smack from Horryfor3! now? Pathetic

The funny thing is that you've been here a long time yet haven't learned a damn thing about sports. You're on a Spurs site and everything sports related that you type is beyond stupid. You're one of the worst informed, most knee jerk assholes in this place.

Once again I'll reiterate for you. The Cardinals were lucky to win last year. Shitty teams with shitty records don't often win a title. I'll post that and whatever else in here when I like, and if it doesn't mesh with your dumb ass homer beliefs then you can go fuck yourself, SON!! :lol

T Park

09-02-2007, 06:56 PM

Elders? Son? Mofo, you don't know me. How do you know how old I am? You're getting your smack from Horryfor3! now? Pathetic

The funny thing is that you've been here a long time yet haven't learned a damn thing about sports. You're on a Spurs site and everything sports related that you type is beyond stupid. You're one of the worst informed, most knee jerk assholes in this place.

Once again I'll reiterate for you. The Cardinals were lucky to win last year. Shitty teams with shitty records don't often win a title. I'll post that and whatever else in here when I like, and if it doesn't mesh with your dumb ass homer beliefs then you can go fuck yourself, SON

Go ahead and post lies and bullshit whatever you pull out of your ass.

You're on a Spurs site and everything sports related that you type is beyond stupid

Coming from someone whos response was

"Derrr I dunno I dont like dis sport so i dont care hyuk"

thats a compliment.

Whisky Dog

09-02-2007, 08:17 PM

Coming from someone whos response was

"Derrr I dunno I dont like dis sport so i dont care hyuk"

thats a compliment.

Funny, I'm positive I never said anything like that. I just said I rag on baseball because I think it's a weak sport. Reading comprehension could serve you well in learning about sports if you ever get tired of talking out of your ass.

DOMINATOR

09-02-2007, 08:32 PM

Funny, I'm positive I never said anything like that. I just said I rag on baseball because I think it's a weak sport. Reading comprehension could serve you well in learning about sports if you ever get tired of talking out of your ass.
not trying to change your opinion about the sport but i just want to point out that you have to be very skilled and talented to be good at baseball. maybe not real athletic but have good hand eye coordination etc... no other sport does 1 inch matter so much every single second.

Whisky Dog

09-02-2007, 09:01 PM

not trying to change your opinion about the sport but i just want to point out that you have to be very skilled and talented to be good at baseball. maybe not real athletic but have good hand eye coordination etc... no other sport does 1 inch matter so much every single second.

I agree that you have to be very skilled and talented to be among the best in the world at baseball, but it's just a sport that has several things about it that I hate. First of all is that the defense controls the ball and the rate of play. Secondly is that there is no time limit between pitches so you get some pitchers that take forever to throw the damn ball. It just goes far too slow and deliberate for me, it's almost as bad as watching golf. Just FYI, I played baseball in HS and enjoyed playing the game, but it's a weak as hell sport to watch. There's too much down time and not enough motion for my tastes as a spectator.

DOMINATOR

09-03-2007, 03:29 PM

yeah the game can get slow. thats why i tend to only watch the good pitchers in the NL. the AL just adds to the length of the game... stupid DH.

what position you play in high school?

sharpshooter

09-03-2007, 04:41 PM

what is wrong with zambrano lately? winless in august with a 7 era. If zambrano doesn't start pitching like he is capable of, the cubs will not win the NL central.

DOMINATOR

09-03-2007, 05:03 PM

what is wrong with zambrano lately? winless in august with a 7 era. If zambrano doesn't start pitching like he is capable of, the cubs will not win the NL central.
maybe jason kendall should start wearing his mask in the dugout... just in case.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 11:04 AM

Whats up with your fans booing Carlos Z. he is your ace and shouldnt be treated like that. Are you guys yanks all of a sudden?

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 11:21 AM

Whats up with your fans booing Carlos Z. he is your ace and shouldnt be treated like that. Are you guys yanks all of a sudden?

Fact: Carlos Zambrano went winless in August.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano blatantly ran through a stop sign last night and was easily called out at home, ending a rally.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano sucked last night, again.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano hasn't been pitching like an ace.

Jay Mariotti got it right:

What, they should sit there like quiet sheep when the $91.5 million pitcher stinks? Like Zambrano, they are driven by emotion. When he's striking out batters, putting up zeros and pointing at the sky, they stand and roar. When he's running through stop signs and performing like a bust, they boo.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/540841,CST-SPT-jay04.article

So did Mike Downey:

The pitcher's attitude during a 11-3 dismantling by the Dodgers and his subsequent conduct and comments were disrespectful to the customers who pay to see him play as well as to the employers who pay his way.

To say of Wrigley's fans that "they just care about them" is to drive a wedge between them and yourself, which is the last thing Zambrano or anyone at Wrigley should risk doing with the Cubs in hot pursuit of a rare pennant.

Particularly when your team also has a "For Sale" sign posted out front and the new owner is going to be stuck with your five-year, $91.5 million tab.

Zambrano is going to need to do a little fancy pitching and perhaps a lot of fast backpedaling to win back the hearts of some of these fans.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070903downey,1,4103727.column?coll=cs-home-headlines

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 11:36 AM

scrubbie fans are so fair weather. They boo'd sneezy the corker the year after he won the MVP. I always thought it was the ultimate disgrace of a fanbase to boo your own team. I think it shows lack of faith, lack of tact, and lack of knowledge. The funniest thing of it all is, they ARE acting like they are the yanks, yet have absolutely zero pedigree upon which to do so.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 11:43 AM

Fact: Carlos Zambrano went winless in August.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano blatantly ran through a stop sign last night and was easily called out at home, ending a rally.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano sucked last night, again.

Fact: Carlos Zambrano hasn't been pitching like an ace.

Jay Mariotti got it right:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/540841,CST-SPT-jay04.article

So did Mike Downey:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070903downey,1,4103727.column?coll=cs-home-headlines

With all that said......do you think booing your ACE (because thats what he is regardless of what he has done this month), will solve anything? You guys wouldnt be were you are right now if it wasnt for him contributing. I expect that from Yanks and I mention it again cause they are the stupidest fanbase there is in sports(pee weaks love child proves that). Hey if you dont want him, cut him and let the astros sign him. I promise you we won't boo him there. Even after Lidge sucking the way he has we never booed him.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 12:00 PM

Even after Lidge sucking the way he has we never booed him.

You know, I hate the strobes almost as much as I do the scrubs, but the statement is, in fact true. No matter how many times Lidge has blown up, they still love him there. Houston fans deserve some props, as much as I can't stand them. They have so little to show for so many years of following a team, and they show in good numbers. The Cards fanbase will always be one of the best in all of sport, but Houston has some pretty decent baseball fans. Plus, they have one of the cooler throwback unis in all of sport. I don't know why, I just LOVE the unis.

http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/throwback/astros75.jpg

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 12:06 PM

You know, I hate the strobes almost as much as I do the scrubs, but the statement is, in fact true. No matter how many times Lidge has blown up, they still love him there. Houston fans deserve some props, as much as I can't stand them. They have so little to show for so many years of following a team, and they show in good numbers. The Cards fanbase will always be one of the best in all of sport, but Houston has some pretty decent baseball fans. Plus, they have one of the cooler throwback unis in all of sport. I don't know why, I just LOVE the unis.

http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/throwback/astros75.jpg

those throw backs are in fact sweet, I want to get a Ryan one but they are damn expensive.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 12:08 PM

Who was the shaggy-headed blonde pitcher ya'll had WAY back when you wore these jerseys?

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 12:14 PM

Who was the shaggy-headed blonde pitcher ya'll had WAY back when you wore these jerseys?

Lee wanna help me out on this one, I was a young kid so I have to think about that one.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 12:45 PM

With all that said......do you think booing your ACE (because thats what he is regardless of what he has done this month), will solve anything? You guys wouldnt be were you are right now if it wasnt for him contributing. I expect that from Yanks and I mention it again cause they are the stupidest fanbase there is in sports(pee weaks love child proves that). Hey if you dont want him, cut him and let the astros sign him. I promise you we won't boo him there. Even after Lidge sucking the way he has we never booed him.

Don't you have to put fans in the seats for occassions other than Roger Clemens, Biggio going for 3,000, or the Cubs or Cardinals being in town, before you can boo?

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 12:48 PM

Don't you have to put fans in the seats for occassions other than Roger Clemens, Biggio going for 3,000, or the Cubs or Cardinals being in town, before you can boo?

Okay dont act ignorant now...do me a favor watch the next home game on tv and see how many fans there are even though our season is lost.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 12:56 PM

Okay dont act ignorant now...do me a favor watch the next home game on tv and see how many fans there are even though our season is lost.

Actually, I do watch the games on FSN occassionally. And I don't judge the dugout/field boxes as true attendance... but when I see only a couple dozen people in the lower level right field seats (and even less in the outfield upper deck) and the upper level having a good 8-9 empty sections and fans otherwise sporadic, that's where I talk about fans coming.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:01 PM

Actually, I do watch the games on FSN occassionally. And I don't judge the dugout/field boxes as true attendance... but when I see only a couple dozen people in the lower level right field seats (and even less in the outfield upper deck) and the upper level having a good 8-9 empty sections and fans otherwise sporadic, that's where I talk about fans coming.

ok now are you watching weekday games or day games cause how do you expect a sellout on those occasions. Even 15,000 in attendence, we still won't boo.....Dont stray away from the subject.

leemajors

09-04-2007, 01:01 PM

mike scott?

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:05 PM

I was thinking scott but couldnt remember him being shaggy.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:06 PM

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA01/Lisle/memory/images/astros86.jpg

I guess that is a little shaggy.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 01:13 PM

ok now are you watching weekday games or day games cause how do you expect a sellout on those occasions. Even 15,000 in attendence, we still won't boo.....Dont stray away from the subject.

Funny, The Cubs (even last season), Cards, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, etc. have no problem attracting more than 15,000 on weekdays. That's a piss-poor argument.

Not straying from the subject, I'm not a fan of booing your home team, but Zambrano can't be surprised it's been happening to him. He's been playing like shit, and he knows it himself. The big problem here isn't the booing, it's that Zambrano hasn't grown up and plays WAY OVERBOARD with emotion. Emotion can be good, but not when every little thing affects what is supposed to be your star pitcher, who isn't supposed to unravel at anything.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:26 PM

Funny, The Cubs (even last season), Cards, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, etc. have no problem attracting more than 15,000 on weekdays. That's a piss-poor argument.

Not straying from the subject, I'm not a fan of booing your home team, but Zambrano can't be surprised it's been happening to him. He's been playing like shit, and he knows it himself. The big problem here isn't the booing, it's that Zambrano hasn't grown up and plays WAY OVERBOARD with emotion. Emotion can be good, but not when every little thing affects what is supposed to be your star pitcher, who isn't supposed to unravel at anything.

ok if you want official attendance counts I can get them for you.

Looks pretty good to me

http://sportstwo.com/MLB/TeamAttendance/NL/HOUSTON

As far as Zambrano, the fans should respect anything he does and if is having a bad month booing isnt the answer. Emotion is good no matter anyway you look at it, he wants to win and your fans should respect that.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 01:35 PM

ok if you want official attendance counts I can get them for you.

Looks pretty good to me

http://sportstwo.com/MLB/TeamAttendance/NL/HOUSTON

As far as Zambrano, the fans should respect anything he does and if is having a bad month booing isnt the answer. Emotion is good no matter anyway you look at it, he wants to win and your fans should respect that.

Attendance counts, I don't really put much faith in. Tickets sold isn't the same as people in seats, watching the game, all 9 innings.

And NO TEAM should put up with ANY PLAYER doing anything he wants. Sure, Zambrano is having a bad month, but that's not why the fans booed. The fans booed because he purposely put himself above the team (by blatantly running the stop sign, and by letting emotion get to his job performance (he doesn't pitch well when he is worked up, and over the past couple months he's gone from being a good hitter to three straight ugly swinging strikes, after which he breaks his bat on his knee). The fans are booing because day after day after day, Zambrano acts casual after he puts up a bad performance and does nothing about it, blaming it on anyone but himself (take a look at some of the post-game interviews he's done). Last night was a perfect example, saying how he's mad because he got booed instead of admitting he was shitty.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 01:37 PM

I was thinking scott but couldnt remember him being shaggy.

Hmm... the guy I remembered had a stache I think too. Lemme look into it.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:41 PM

Attendance counts, I don't really put much faith in. Tickets sold isn't the same as people in seats, watching the game, all 9 innings.

And NO TEAM should put up with ANY PLAYER doing anything he wants. Sure, Zambrano is having a bad month, but that's not why the fans booed. The fans booed because he purposely put himself above the team (by blatantly running the stop sign, and by letting emotion get to his job performance (he doesn't pitch well when he is worked up, and over the past couple months he's gone from being a good hitter to three straight ugly swinging strikes, after which he breaks his bat on his knee). The fans are booing because day after day after day, Zambrano acts casual after he puts up a bad performance and does nothing about it, blaming it on anyone but himself (take a look at some of the post-game interviews he's done). Last night was a perfect example, saying how he's mad because he got booed instead of admitting he was shitty.

NO fan should boo thier own player no matter what happens. You know I like the cubs, I used to watch them growing up along with the Braves since they showed them on WGN and Braves on TBS, but when fans are out of control thats wrong. Just ask poor Steve Bartman, any other fan in his seat would have done the same thing he did. Fact of the matter was that the Cubs had EVERY chance to win that game but this poor guy can't show his face around there anymore and he was a loyal fan.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 01:42 PM

NO fan should boo thier own player no matter what happens. You know I like the cubs, I used to watch them growing up along with the Braves since they showed them on WGN and Braves on TBS, but when fans are out of control thats wrong. Just ask poor Steve Bartman, any other fan in his seat would have done the same thing he did. Fact of the matter was that the Cubs had EVERY chance to win that game but this poor guy can't show his face around there anymore and he was a loyal fan.

So the fans are supposed to put up with piss poor performance and lack of basic fundamentals, like, you know, LISTENING TO YOUR COACH!?

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 01:46 PM

So the fans are supposed to put up with piss poor performance and lack of basic fundamentals, like, you know, LISTENING TO YOUR COACH!?

Man its baseball, it happens. Not every call goes the coach's way and your acting like this is the first time its happened. The fans shouldnt BOO thier home team period. What does that really accomplish. If I got booed in my hometown I would say screw you all, lets see how much you will boo me when im playing for another team beating the team I called home. Come on man, what good does it really do? It just pissed him off, yeah im sure he knew he sucked it up but what did he do when getting booed off the field? He pointed to his head gesturing ok I see how it is, I wont forget this.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 01:47 PM

Aw, while looking I found a great story for one of my fave all time players.

RIP DK.

Kile Tosses No-Hitter (http://www.astrosdaily.com/history/19930908/)
http://www.astrosdaily.com/files/gallery/Kile_Darryl_04.jpg

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 01:52 PM

Man its baseball, it happens. Not every call goes the coach's way and your acting like this is the first time its happened. The fans shouldnt BOO thier home team period. What does that really accomplish. If I got booed in my hometown I would say screw you all, lets see how much you will boo me when im playing for another team beating the team I called home. Come on man, what good does it really do? It just pissed him off, yeah im sure he knew he sucked it up but what did he do when getting booed off the field? He pointed to his head gesturing ok I see how it is, I wont forget this.

When fans cheer, they let players know they like what they see. If fans boo, it means hey, get your act together. It doesn't mean the fans don't believe in you anymore. It doesn't mean the fans think you're a bad player. It does mean the fans care, though, and don't want to see you suck anymore.

This wasn't about a single bad performance, or simply a bad month, but about a pattern of behavior. The Cubs and Yankees aren't the only teams that have ever done this, either. I can't really blame Wrigley for being this way, too, because Wrigley Field hasn't hosted a World Series since WWII. Cubs fans are tired of losing, and tired of the same old shit every september, and are starting to show it.

I do respect your opinion though, and as said before, I don't myself boo the home team. I also see where many are coming from, though. And for the record, NO LEVEL OF PLAY deserves trash being thrown on the field as has unfortunately been done before at Wrigley.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 01:59 PM

Cards fans don't boo. Former players get rousing ovations, even if they left for the money. Matt Morris and Woody Williams both get big ovations still, even tho left left for the money (and Williams is a strobe).

Cards fans are so good that I have seen standing ovations for playings on the opposing teams after making amazing catches. I have witnessed it twice personally, once was for a Griffey Jr catch in center and the other was for a 3rd baseman diving in the dugout, but I forget who that was.

ATRAIN

09-04-2007, 02:02 PM

When fans cheer, they let players know they like what they see. If fans boo, it means hey, get your act together. It doesn't mean the fans don't believe in you anymore. It doesn't mean the fans think you're a bad player. It does mean the fans care, though, and don't want to see you suck anymore.

This wasn't about a single bad performance, or simply a bad month, but about a pattern of behavior. The Cubs and Yankees aren't the only teams that have ever done this, either. I can't really blame Wrigley for being this way, too, because Wrigley Field hasn't hosted a World Series since WWII. Cubs fans are tired of losing, and tired of the same old shit every september, and are starting to show it.

I do respect your opinion though, and as said before, I don't myself boo the home team. I also see where many are coming from, though. And for the record, NO LEVEL OF PLAY deserves trash being thrown on the field as has unfortunately been done before at Wrigley.

I too see your logic and do understand. As much as I hated Lidge when he was sucking and blowing saves left and right, I never boo'ed him and put my faith behind him all the time. Well at least your not the Yanks.....they boo and are ruthless and have won a series somewhat recently. Tired of losing but at least you guys are in a place to make playoffs :(.

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 04:47 PM

From the CHICAGO TRIBUNE....

The Carlos Zambrano apology tour returns to Wrigley Field on Tuesday when the Cubs right-hander holds a pre-game press conference to apologize for his actions on Monday.

In the original show, back on June 2 at Wrigley, Zambrano apologized for punching Michael Barrett in the face.

"It's all my fault, that's all I can say," he said of punching Barrett. "I feel bad because I have to be in control of myself."

This time Zambrano is expected to apologize for ripping Cubs fans and acting in an inappropriate manner while being removed from the game.

Zambrano is currently meeting with Cubs brass, and an announcement will soon be made regarding a briefing.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2007/09/zambrano-meets-.html

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 06:54 PM

Fans boo Zambrano in Cubs’ loss to Dodgers
Ace loses fifth straight, can't ‘understand why the fans were booing at me’

CHICAGO - Carlos Zambrano heard the boos from the Wrigley Field faithful and pointed to his head. Esteban Loaiza had just gotten the Los Angeles Dodgers off to a win in his first try, while Zambrano remained winless for more than a month.

Loaiza allowed three runs in seven innings and hit a two-run single, leading the Dodgers over the Chicago Cubs 11-3 Monday.

“I will remember that,” Zambrano said of the fan reaction. “I don’t want to stink and (have) bad outings. I know the great moment of my career will come.”

Zambrano (14-12) lost his fifth straight start, giving up eight runs for the first time since June 22, 2005, at Milwaukee.

“I don’t understand why the fans were booing at me. I can’t understand that,” Zambrano said. “They showed me today they just care about them. That’s no fair. Because when you are struggling, that’s when you want to feel, the support of the fans.”

He lasted 4 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since he went four innings against Cincinnati on April 13. He gave up seven hits and five walks.

Zambrano has a 9.56 ERA in three starts since the Cubs gave him a $91.5 million, five-year contract extension through 2012, and he is 0-5 with an 8.29 ERA in six starts since beating Cincinnati on July 29.

“We need Carlos to straighten out,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “His stuff is plenty good. I liked his stuff today. I was expecting a really, really, banged up effort after seeing him come off the mound, and then all of a sudden he gives up a run. Loaiza gets a big base hit. That’s not Zambrano like.”

Loaiza (1-0) was claimed off waivers from Oakland on Wednesday, with the Dodgers assuming more than $8 million in guaranteed salary this year and next. He did not pitch this season until Aug. 22 due to a bulging disk in his neck, and the two-time All-Star was 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA in two starts with the Athletics.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 06:58 PM

This Cubs team should be boo-proof

August 5, 2007

The subhead, from the front page of the Saturday sports section of the biggest newspaper in the Midwest, was subaccurate:

"New York torches Dempster again; players rip booing fans"

"Rip" is Lee Elia dismissing bleacher dwellers as unemployed performers of deviant acts. What a few Cubs did was express a completely understandable opinion about a fan reaction that, from this seat, was less so.

"We didn't rip anybody," Cliff Floyd said. "We were asked a question about the booing that we heard, and we pretty much answered that we were disappointed they were booing somebody of Demp's stature."

The disappointment, I get. The booing, not so much.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 06:59 PM

Who Shall We Boo Now?
2005-05-28 13:02by Derek Smart
Rumors of the Cubs shopping LaTroy Hawkins have been going around for a while now, and they finally came to fruition today as he was dealt to the Giants in exchange for Jerome Williams and David Aardsma.

I've been asked already if I think this is a salary dump or a sign of the team punting the season, and while it's a legitimate question, I believe the answer is an emphatic, "No."

The Cubs are getting generally solid work from the young guns in the pen, and with the fan base completely turning on Hawkins, making his life a living hell every time he came to the mound at Wrigley - even in the meaningless situations he was used in at the end - the team was left with little choice than to try to get what they could for him.

Jim Hendry did well getting what he did, especially in light of recent events. Assuming that Williams isn't injured (his extremely rough start in AAA has folks like John Sickels speculating about injury, but he also got a late start to the year due to family illness, so pick one that makes you feel good and go with that for now), and he can get himself throwing well again, he could help the Cubs get through some of their current issues in the starting rotation. If not, he's nice to have around to compete for a fifth starter's job down the line, or act as the sixth starter waiting his turn in Iowa.

Aardsma not only has the distinction of displacing Hank Aaron at the top of the alphabetical list of Major League players, he's also a legitimate closing prospect, having spent a good deal of his time at Rice finishing ballgames. He has control issues, but he strikes guys out and doesn't give up the long ball, so with a little more minor league time, he could turn into a very useful part of a future Cub pen.

I'm both happy and sad for LaTroy, sad that he was treated with such disdain by Cub fans (booing is for slackers and jagoffs, not for players who work hard but struggle), but happy that the team could find a way to get him to a place where he had a chance to succeed, and do so while getting a decent return.

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 07:01 PM

Saturday August 4
BOOOOO!!!

I have a right to boo...and I'm booing the fans at Wrigley who boo our Cub players for the wrong reasons. Everyone has the right to boo, but I believe you should only boo for lack of effort or bad mental mistakes.

Booing doesn't help poor performances. It adds to the pressure and erodes the confidence of the player even more. As a fan of the Cubs I do not want to hurt the chances of them winning. Some try to rationalize that booing helps. That it wakes up their team. There is no better booing town than Philadelphia--"The Home of Champions"...NOT!!!

Please Boo like crazy for lack of hustle, but lay off the guys that are giving it all they have and are struggling.

D. Lee and Cliff Floyd were disappointed at the booing of Ryan Dempster yesterday. Think about it...the Cubs have the best record in baseball since the beginning of June and this is the kind of encouragement they get when they lose a couple of games?

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 07:03 PM

MIKE KILEY ON THE CUBS Boo birds rattled Sosa's cage, too
Chicago Sun-Times, Jul 29, 2005 by Mike Kiley
Manager Dusty Baker says one of Sammy Sosa's conflicting issues with him last year was that Baker couldn't get Cubs fans to stop booing the right fielder.

That was one of the things that really upset Sammy at the end when he was here," Baker said Thursday. One of the things he was upset about was that I didn't stop them from booing. I didn't know how I was going to do that."

Sosa wasn't the lone ranger in drawing the fans' ire. Corey Patterson, LaTroy Hawkins and Baker himself have been subjected to their share.

You saw it with Corey, with Hawk, with me," Baker said. It's something that seemed like it was growing."

SrA Husker

09-04-2007, 08:48 PM

Congratulations, Mike. You've shown your internet skills are greater than anyones (though, you don't provide any links, very bad internet etiquette.

However, you have yet to prove a damn thing. Does booing make Cubs fans suck, is that what you're implying? Does the beer atmosphere make Cubs fans suck? Does Wrigley Field falling down make the Cubs fans suck?

Or, is it the fact that you're pissed off that a team that was the worst in the NL last year and has a crappy condemned stadium full of rude drunks is in first place, over your team crappily managed by a drunk driver, a brand new stadium, and so full of themselves they pronounce themselves the best fans in baseball?

MajorMike

09-04-2007, 09:25 PM

Nice try at throwing a smoke screen. Hey, I have an idea. Since everyone is dogging your team right now why don't you try to make someone else look worse so it doesn't make you look so bad? Typical scrubbie fan. Do you boo your mom, too?

Yeah, they drink. Nice try. No other ballparks serve beer, and no other fans get drunk. That MUST be true, because they only other fans in the MLB that have the reputation for booing their own besides the scrubs are the yanks. The beer atmosphere... what kind of stupid comment is that? I really hope you are tired and that is not the best you could come up with. By the way, I know you already know but I'll say it anyway, the Busch in Busch Stadium comes from Anheuser-Busch. They make Bud, among other things. But no one at the stadium actually DRINKS it. Only at scrubbie games. See, A-B purposefully sends all their beer to chitown so the idiot fair wether scrubbie fans will get drunk and boo their own players on a regular basis. But they don't want it to happen anywhere else. Good lord you are dumb.

I have nothing to be pissed about. We don't have a single starting pitcher that would be in anyone else's top 3, have lost our 3b and 2b to injuries as well, have a stadium that isn't raining concrete on its fans, have the best most knowledgable fanbase in all of sport, have a payroll about 10 mil less than the scrubbies, have fans that don't boo their own with regularity and a record right around .500 after having been as many as 8 under within the last month. All this, and we are about a game out of 1st place. Ooooh, I'm livid.

Oh, and last time I checked we got a ring too (not to mention around 9 and another dozen or so pennants since your last ring. Were you alive then? Boy it sure is nice when your team wins 1 in your lifetime, and even better when they win a 2nd).

If you want a flame war, you better stick to the college board because your baseball shtick is lame. Hell, the strobe fans on here put you to shame.

DOMINATOR

09-04-2007, 10:01 PM

yeah i have to tip my hat to the cards this year. how they are even .500 without carpenter and mulder is amazing.
i was also kind of surprised earlier this year Pence hit his first home run... it was a grandslam and i heard a lot of cards fans cheering for him. granted the astros were already up by like 5 runs.

as for the booing zambrano thing. it's a two way street but ive never seen any astros fan boo Oswalt. Jennings however is a different story.

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 09:59 AM

Its not just Mulder (who is supposed to pitch tmrw) and Carpenter. I defy you to find any team in baseball with as many All Stars and key players out as the Cards have who are still anywhere near being in the race.

Chris Carpenter SP Elbow Out for the season
Scott Rolen 3B Shoulder Out for the season
Adam Kennedy 2B Knee Out for the season
Preston Wilson RF Knee Out for the season
Juan Encarnacion RF Head Out for the season
Josh Kinney RP Elbow Out for the season
Mark Mulder SP Shoulder DL 15-day DL. Expected to return for first time Sept. 5 start vs. Pittsburgh
Scott Spiezio 3B Placed on Restricted List
Josh Hancock P Deceased

Additionally, Edmonds and Eckstein have both spent considerable time on the DL and Pujols has been playing over a month with a hamstring injury. If the Cards were truely out of it, Pujols would be on the DL. If the Cards take a nosedive, Tony will put him on the DL immediately.

leemajors

09-05-2007, 10:01 AM

i miss the stros/cards postseason matchup, always made for a great series. the threads were better, too.

K-State Spur

09-05-2007, 10:07 AM

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 10:07 AM

Agreed. Memories of Big Al blowing up Lidge.... good times.

ATRAIN

09-05-2007, 10:20 AM

Agreed. Memories of Big Al blowing up Lidge.... good times.

shit has that ball even landed yet?

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 10:26 AM

But Miles is actually an upgrade over Kennedy.

Uh... yeah. That's why Kennedy has All Star and ALCS MVP on his resume and gets 2.5 mil and Miles is a career platoon guy that makes 1 mil a year.

Encarnacion has been our 2nd best hitter since the All Star break.

Wilson is a below average MLB player? He won the batting title a few years ago and was instrumental in the Cards' post season last year.

No team in baseball plays the platoon more than the Cards and LaRussa. His whole game is built upon situational lineups and fill-ins.

Take any team in the MLB and take away their Cy Young winner and starting 3b/2nd best offensive player/best defensive player and see how they fair.

Not your best post, wildcat.

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 10:28 AM

shit has that ball even landed yet?

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2005/10/18/nmFsUnO3.jpg

ATRAIN

09-05-2007, 10:32 AM

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2005/10/18/nmFsUnO3.jpg

and here began the demise of brad lidge

leemajors

09-05-2007, 10:34 AM

we still won that series!

K-State Spur

09-05-2007, 10:50 AM

Uh... yeah. That's why Kennedy has All Star and ALCS MVP on his resume and gets 2.5 mil and Miles is a career platoon guy that makes 1 mil a year.

Encarnacion has been our 2nd best hitter since the All Star break.

Wilson is a below average MLB player? He won the batting title a few years ago and was instrumental in the Cards' post season last year.

No team in baseball plays the platoon more than the Cards and LaRussa. His whole game is built upon situational lineups and fill-ins.

Take any team in the MLB and take away their Cy Young winner and starting 3b/2nd best offensive player/best defensive player and see how they fair.

Not your best post, wildcat.

When was Kennedy an all-star? I can point out many seasons in which he has been one of the worst offensive players in the game - offsetting his solid defense. He was so bad this year that yes - "a career platoon guy" has been a fairly large upgrade.

When did Wilson win a batting title? better yet, when has he ever hit .285? Wilson has actually been one of the worst OFs in baseball this year. He hasn't been above average since 2005 in Colorado. But if you take into account park effects, he hasn't been above average since 2003.

Encarnacion has a .778 post-all star OPS. That's not awful, but still below the league average for an OF.

And I gave you that Carpenter/Rolen are big losses, but you are reaching when you try to turn it into a laundry list of bad luck.

But c'mon, MAKING STUFF UP is not a good way to prove your point. It's been a long time since I have seen a post in which somebody posted so many factually wrong (and easily disprovable) points in the same post.

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 12:26 PM

When was Kennedy an all-star? I can point out many seasons in which he has been one of the worst offensive players in the game - offsetting his solid defense. He was so bad this year that yes - "a career platoon guy" has been a fairly large upgrade.

When did Wilson win a batting title? better yet, when has he ever hit .285? Wilson has actually been one of the worst OFs in baseball this year. He hasn't been above average since 2005 in Colorado. But if you take into account park effects, he hasn't been above average since 2003.

Encarnacion has a .778 post-all star OPS. That's not awful, but still below the league average for an OF.

And I gave you that Carpenter/Rolen are big losses, but you are reaching when you try to turn it into a laundry list of bad luck.

But c'mon, MAKING STUFF UP is not a good way to prove your point. It's been a long time since I have seen a post in which somebody posted so many factually wrong (and easily disprovable) points in the same post.

Kennedy was 7th in the AL in 2002 with a .312 ave, and won the ALCS MVP by being the worst offensive player in history (hit .357 (5-for-14) with three home runs and five RBI in series...went 4-for-4 with three HRs in Game 5, totaling 13 total bases, an ALCS record...became 3rd player in history to hit three HRs in an LCS game, 6th time in post-season history)
You are right, Wilson didn't win a batting title, he was #1 in RBIs in 2003. He was an All Star that year.
Encarnacion has more HR, TB and RBI per at bat than anyone on the Cards roster the since the break except Ankiel. He is also the only Card to have more RBI than strikeouts during that time.

K-State Spur

09-05-2007, 01:22 PM

Encarnacion has more HR, TB and RBI per at bat than anyone on the Cards roster the since the break except Ankiel. He is also the only Card to have more RBI than strikeouts during that time.

Another falsehood...

First, having more RBIs than K's is nice, but it's a bit of an anomaly - not an overly important stat compared to about 50 others.

But...

Rolen also has more RBIs (20) than Ks (18) since the break. So does Pujols (32 vs. 17). So does Molina (20 vs. 19)

As for HR/AB - Rolen, Pujols, Duncan, Molina, and even Kennedy are averaging more. Then again, Encarnacion's 1 HR per about 40 ABs since the break - not extremely difficult to pass.

TB per AB - we have a stat for that, it's called slugging. And without doing a whole lot of research, I'm going to guess that Encarnacion's .420 post break slugging percentage - while not completely horrible - probably doesn't rank in the top 3 on the team.

I know that making up stats can be fun when you are sitting around the room with your friends trying to sound significantly smarter than you really are. But on an internet message board, they are pretty easy to check up on.

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 01:58 PM

*Sigh*

I can't believe you are being such a girl. Here I am trying to show and justify stats for people, altho not spaztic yearly MVP candidates, are very important to the team. I'm not going to get in a little tizzy contest with you, because you are now entering the husker realm of presenting stupid arguements on the baseball board.

So go run around and tell everyone how correct you are that the Cards are missing no more than a decent pitcher and fielder and everyone else wouldn't even start for Pittsburgh or Tampa. Then take huskers lead and go back to the college forum where you might actually know something.

K-State Spur

09-05-2007, 03:30 PM

.Here I am trying to show and justify stats for people.

And every one of those stats has been wrong. Don't get pissed at me because I called your BS.

If you can't find any real stats to back up your point, have you considered the possibility that your point may be wrong?

MajorMike

09-05-2007, 03:58 PM

... not true. Point valid. Done with topic. Moving on.

DOMINATOR

09-05-2007, 07:31 PM

T Park

09-06-2007, 11:26 PM

a few weeks here and there is one thing.

Months, and seasons is another.

Tony laRussa better win manager of the year.

John Rocker

09-07-2007, 11:17 AM

cubs suck, they will blow it

K-State Spur

09-14-2007, 10:35 PM

if the cubs get 1 of the next 3, that should finish the Cards from the race (and i use the word 'race' very loosely) for the central.

Slinkyman

09-14-2007, 11:35 PM

a few weeks here and there is one thing.

Months, and seasons is another.

Tony laRussa better win manager of the year.

still think he should get manager of the year??? :lol :lol

ya got swept by the reds? :dizzy

SrA Husker

09-14-2007, 11:56 PM

I didn't know Managers of the Year had L8 streaks in September in a playoff race.

OldDirtMcGirt

09-15-2007, 02:18 AM

a few weeks here and there is one thing.

Months, and seasons is another.

Tony laRussa better win manager of the year.

Bob Melvin is going to win manager of the year in a runaway.

K-State Spur

09-15-2007, 03:38 PM

that should do it for the cardinals, even if they take the last 2 in the series, too much ground to be made up.

Fabbs

09-15-2007, 04:47 PM

I didn't know Managers of the Year had L8 streaks in September in a playoff race.
This is where Michael Finley is going to come in and pitch for the Cardinals, saving the day for them and their disappearing head prognosticator.

Slinkyman

09-15-2007, 06:32 PM

I didn't know Managers of the Year had L8 streaks in September in a playoff race.

make it 9 in a row after the cubs smashed em up, can we make it 10 in a row tonight???

T Park

09-17-2007, 03:50 AM

Congrats to the Cubs.

Lets see how the choke in the playoffs this year, and see what mythological bullshit they come up with to blame it on this time.

One time its a goat, another a guy getting a ball in foul territory...

SrA Husker

09-17-2007, 11:13 PM

A walk-off victory. Something special is happening on the North Side, folks.

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/0ff17746-eac8-4cf6-b681-922e5fa8d13b.jpg

MajorMike

09-19-2007, 08:01 AM

Go Brew Crew!

Thunder Dan

09-19-2007, 09:15 AM

God I hope the Cubs don't choke. I'm not a big Cubs fan but my sister lives 2 blocks from Wrigley and I want it to be a Indians/Cubs World Series so I can party in Wrigleyville

DOMINATOR

09-19-2007, 02:14 PM

SrA Husker

09-19-2007, 07:07 PM

cliff floyd is an idiot with this astros "conspiracy"
he sure wasn't complaining when he faced Patton and Albers earlier.
like the cubs never called up prospects at the end of one of their many losing seasons.

While I'm not taking sides here, there is an unwritten rule in baseball that non-contenders pitch their veterans against contenders.

A favorite Cubs blogger of mine put it best, I think...

OK, I buy the Oswalt thing -- but not the Woody Williams shift. Against contenders you shouldn't be "using prospects in the rotation". Houston's got ten games against non-contenders starting Thursday. Use the rookies then, Cecil Cooper, not now. And why didn't Hunter Pence start yesterday? (Tinfoil hat note: Cooper was one of the stars of Milwaukee's only World Series team. Does he want to help them get back there?)

Anyway, those are excuses. Go out and win games. If the Cubs and Brewers should happen to wind up tied, the Cubs will host the tiebreaker game. They were 5-4 vs. the Brewers during the regular season at home, 9-6 overall.

DOMINATOR

09-19-2007, 07:16 PM

While I'm not taking sides here, there is an unwritten rule in baseball that non-contenders pitch their veterans against contenders.

A favorite Cubs blogger of mine put it best, I think...
i know but cubs didnt mind when Troy Patton made his second start against them. nice double standard... they also faced matt albers just like the brewers.
cubs are bitching because they lost.

GO REDS!

SrA Husker

09-19-2007, 07:32 PM

i know but cubs didnt mind when Troy Patton made his second start against them. nice double standard... they also faced matt albers just like the brewers.
cubs are bitching because they lost.

GO REDS!

The difference was Patton was the scheduled starter for that game to begin with - with the Brewers, Williams was scheduled and penciled, and decided to not start.

Even the Brewers knew this wasn't right, so called the Cubs beforehand to give them the excuse why...

leemajors

09-19-2007, 07:39 PM

wasn't oswalt's child born within the last day or two?

SrA Husker

09-19-2007, 07:42 PM

wasn't oswalt's child born within the last day or two?

Yup. And noone is really blaming him for not playing, but moreso Woody Williams who has no excuse other than not wanting to play.

leemajors

09-19-2007, 07:48 PM

well woody sucks. he should have removed himself from the rotation 4 months ago.

DOMINATOR

09-19-2007, 07:51 PM

The difference was Patton was the scheduled starter for that game to begin with - with the Brewers, Williams was scheduled and penciled, and decided to not start.

Even the Brewers knew this wasn't right, so called the Cubs beforehand to give them the excuse why...
there is a difference between Williams pitching and a Rookie pitching? go look up the stats lol. williams said he didnt want to start before the series started. and i thought they called bud selig not the cubs? dunno

MajorMike

09-20-2007, 08:23 AM

Well, there is also an unwritten rule that this is the time of the year when non-contenders heal injuries and try out young future players.

In fact, I have always thought this is the worst time, if you are a contender, to play a non-contender, because the non's are chuck full of fresh young kids trying desperately to show they belong in the bigs.

K-State Spur

09-20-2007, 12:11 PM

While I'm not taking sides here, there is an unwritten rule in baseball that non-contenders pitch their veterans against contenders.

A favorite Cubs blogger of mine put it best, I think...

Unwritten rules are stupid. The Cubs shouldn't be worried about what anybody is doing but themselves. If they hadn't been god awful until May, they wouldn't be in this mess as is.

Tradition

09-21-2007, 04:13 AM

The St. Louis Cardinals had their fluke season last year as this year goes further to showing that. Stick a fork in them, they are fucking done. :elephant :donkey :elephant :elephant

Slinkyman

09-23-2007, 05:09 PM

3.5 game lead now for cubbies with 6 games left. Chicago is hardcore in the drivers seat.

Cry Havoc

09-24-2007, 01:40 PM

GO CUBS GO!

Chicago's northside (and much of the southside, even) is going absolutely nuts. This team really does have potential. If Soriano had been hitting like this all year they'd likely be a 95+ win ball club. Now that he's on, is it just chance that the Cubs have had two huge surges after the all-star break? If our starting pitching shows any semblance of consistency, the Cubs are the most well-rounded team in the NL from top to bottom.

D-backs or Mets.... hmm... who would I rather face....

K-State Spur

09-24-2007, 01:57 PM

If Soriano had been hitting like this all year they'd likely be a 95+ win ball club.

That's going a bit overboard, but if he had been healthy it probably would be worth a couple more wins and a clinched central by now.

I'm not overly high on their pitching as postseason staff - but that could be said for any NL playoff team (possibly sans Padres, but their line-up doesn't put the fear of god into anybody either).

MajorMike

09-24-2007, 01:59 PM

GO CUBS GO!
Chicago's northside (and much of the southside, even) is going absolutely nuts.....

Of course they are. Most scrubbie fans are known to be bandwagoneers.

K-State Spur

09-24-2007, 02:14 PM

That's pretty much the case everywhere. Having been in St. Louis this month vs. visiting St. Louis last fall - there was definitely a dramatic difference.

SrA Husker

09-24-2007, 04:32 PM

Of course they are. Most scrubbie fans are known to be bandwagoneers.

Thats funny, how come the attendance is consistently near the top of the list for MLB, even with some of the highest ticket prices? Oh wait, Wrigley Field is nothing but a beer-fest where people will gladly pay anywhere from $30-250 for the pleasure of buying $6 Old Styles.

Also funny how Chicago fans also has a visible presence in just about every park they visit on the road.

Cry Havoc

09-24-2007, 09:06 PM

Of course they are. Most scrubbie fans are known to be bandwagoneers.

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess baseball fans where you are go ballistic in April? Yeah. That makes sense.

And furthermore, WOW, a fanbase getting excited about a post-season run? Shocking, I tell you. They must be bandwaggoners. :rolleyes

Cry Havoc

09-24-2007, 09:08 PM

That's going a bit overboard, but if he had been healthy it probably would be worth a couple more wins and a clinched central by now.

I'm not overly high on their pitching as postseason staff - but that could be said for any NL playoff team (possibly sans Padres, but their line-up doesn't put the fear of god into anybody either).

Are you kidding? The Cubs have a realistic shot at winning out, or at least finishing with 87-88 wins. So 7-8 wins would be unrealistic if your leadoff hitter is hitting .350 (or better as he has been lately) rather than the low .200s?

DOMINATOR

09-25-2007, 12:14 AM

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess baseball fans where you are go ballistic in April? Yeah. That makes sense.
actually it does make sense for all teams because it's the start of the season and everyone has a shot at the post-season...

K-State Spur

09-25-2007, 01:29 AM

Are you kidding? The Cubs have a realistic shot at winning out, or at least finishing with 87-88 wins. So 7-8 wins would be unrealistic if your leadoff hitter is hitting .350 (or better as he has been lately) rather than the low .200s?

Realistic? It's not impossible, but the odds are heavily against the Cubs winning out, even with an easy schedule and September rosters.

And Soriano has not been hitting in the low .200s, even before this hot streak. Even if you extrapolated his past 3 weeks over the entire season, it still would not be worth 8 wins over what he normally gives you (probably closer to 3 - his WARP3 over this streak over an entire season is probably equal to about 12, and normally he is in the 8-10 range). I'll be interested to see what the final WARP3 numbers released are.

MajorMike

09-25-2007, 08:02 AM

So, if the scrubbies get 84/85 wins, then win the WS, they can become the 2nd worst team to ever win a WS. Second fiddle to the Cards, again.

Cry Havoc

09-25-2007, 11:46 AM

Realistic? It's not impossible, but the odds are heavily against the Cubs winning out, even with an easy schedule and September rosters.

And Soriano has not been hitting in the low .200s, even before this hot streak. Even if you extrapolated his past 3 weeks over the entire season, it still would not be worth 8 wins over what he normally gives you (probably closer to 3 - his WARP3 over this streak over an entire season is probably equal to about 12, and normally he is in the 8-10 range). I'll be interested to see what the final WARP3 numbers released are.

Well, he did start the season hitting very poorly, ~.220 through mid-April, but I admit that I thought he had a much worse two months start to the year. I remember his April being a lot worse than .270, so I was incorrect in that statement.

Still, I think we will probably sweep the Marlins, and maybe lose 1 more game the rest of the way. 5-1 isn't that difficult against the upcoming opponents if our bats stay hot.

And we had Lee hurt/suspended for a portion of this year. No excuses, it's just that this team did have the potential to win quite a few more games. It's sad that we're the worst division leader at this point of the season, record-wise, but I'll take a playoff birth and a hot-hitting team any day! :spin

SrA Husker

09-25-2007, 11:51 AM

Well, he did start the season hitting very poorly, ~.220 through mid-April, but I admit that I thought he had a much worse two months start to the year. I remember his April being a lot worse than .270, so I was incorrect in that statement.

Still, I think we will probably sweep the Marlins, and maybe lose 1 more game the rest of the way. 5-1 isn't that difficult against the upcoming opponents if our bats stay hot.

And we had Lee hurt/suspended for a portion of this year. No excuses, it's just that this team did have the potential to win quite a few more games. It's sad that we're the worst division leader at this point of the season, record-wise, but I'll take a playoff birth and a hot-hitting team any day! :spin

Would you rather be the worst division-leader record wise or the first to clinch a NL division championship? For me, that's an easy one. Cubs have the lowest Magic Number in the NL at 4. (tied with Arizona currently)

K-State Spur

09-27-2007, 07:19 PM

The Cubs have a realistic shot at winning out

winning out or losing out?

of all people, cubs fans should know about counting their chickens before they were hatched.

SrA Husker

09-27-2007, 08:00 PM

Thank goodness that Florida series is over. I felt bad about that from the very beginning. I'll take the few good spots out of it (Craig Monroe's HR the other day, Kerry Wood's great relief pitching today) and get the hell out.

Despite the Cubs getting swept, the Magic Number is 3 with the Brewers loss yesterday (it HURT rooting for St Louis, but it had to be done...) and the Brew Crew is currently down 4-0 to San Diego. Padres close it out, and the magic number is at 2... and this could all be finished as soon as tomorrow.

Cry Havoc

09-27-2007, 10:22 PM

Padres win, 9-5!!!! The Brewers made as many errors as runs to very likely end their season. All the Cubbies need now is to take two games in the final series and it's over!

Cry Havoc

09-27-2007, 10:26 PM

winning out or losing out?

of all people, cubs fans should know about counting their chickens before they were hatched.

That could have been a very different series, had it been in Wrigley. The Marlins' stadium is notoriously difficult for right-handed hitters. We were banging line drives off the power alley to left all series long, but only getting doubles instead of homers.

Add -several- horrendous officiating calls, and it's easy to see why the Cubs struggle against Florida. Humorous though, that the Marlins can only find their mojo against one team in all of baseball. If they played like that all season, they'd be in the playoffs again, but no, they only play well against one team.

Just a bad series for the Cubs. Every team has them.

K-State Spur

09-27-2007, 10:39 PM

DOMINATOR

09-27-2007, 11:19 PM

cubs fans are so funny...

Cry Havoc

09-27-2007, 11:22 PM

T Park

09-28-2007, 12:11 AM

God.

If only Carpenter had pitched all year.....

SrA Husker

09-28-2007, 06:29 AM

yeah, i'm gonna pass on buying excuses against the worst team in the NL with an expanded minor league roster.

but yes, it was just a bad series for the cubs - which is why they are going to finish as an 85 win team in a bad division.

I could care less if the Cubs are an 85 win team in a bad division - because that still spells playoffs. One could beg the question also - is the central bad, or just really balanced? The postseason success speaks for itself.

K-State Spur

09-28-2007, 06:35 AM

SrA Husker

09-28-2007, 07:56 AM

bad. their regular season record against other divisions over the past 2 years speaks for itself. a hot streak by St. Louis over the last month of last season does not change the quality of play in the division overall.

The NL Central is 59 games under .500 against the rest of baseball this year. 65 games under .500 against the rest of baseball in 2006. No other division in baseball is remotely close to either of those numbers.

And yet, all those numbers still mean nothing, the Cubs will still be playing baseball next month, and will have as good a chance as anyone else in baseball to make a run (possibly with the most rest, if the 5-way tie horror scenarios play out). Congratulations to the NL West, arguably the toughest division. You know how much that means on Monday (or whenever the tiebreakers are over)? Absolutely jack shit.