Guess We Need A New Thread

The previous thread was getting a little long and I'll be with limited Internet access in about 25 minutes and I'm typing this on my iPhone. Let's see if this ends up on "damn you autocorrect".

The Cubs have strung two wins together for the first tine since 1989, or so it feels like. The second win on the heroics of Geovany Soto and Tyler Colvin (twice). He hit what looked like the game winner in the 9th after Soto tied it up, but it was called back on fan interference. He then later reached and scored the winning run. Hopefully it's the start of his season turning around.

I thought the most fun part of the game was when Q-ball had to make the decision with 2 outs and runners on the corners to walk D. Brown. Charlie Manuel somehow blew through his bullpen with the rain delay and all, and was now forced to either stick with the pitcher or go all out for the win there and pinch-hit. With 2 outs and the odds not that great for a winning play, he stuck with his pitcher who made the last out and then got the lost in the next inning thanks to an error by Polanco.

Cubs get to face the holy trinity the rest of the weekend. Hope all of your weekends fare better.

Tags: 
Passing time
Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:15am
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Comments

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:28am

Ken Rosenthal: Cubs, Astros may be looking for a GM. Billy Beane may be the leading candidate.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/How-long-w...

I would love to see what Billy Beane could do with a real payroll. And I would to see it on the Cubs.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:10pm

I think MAY is the key word. While I would applaud the move, it appears to be nothing more than speculation at this point.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:11pm

Obviously... I didn't imply that it was anything more.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:15pm

Sorry didn't mean to imply that you had, just wanted to underline the obvious.

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:40pm

What are you implying???

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:47pm

I like that you didn't mean to imply that he implied. :)

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:56pm

A lot of reckless implication going on around here!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:59pm

Easy, fella. If you post a link to an article, people may discuss the article. Don't take it personally if this happens.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 1:05pm

It's June.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:45pm

IS it still "Early yet"?

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:18pm

Current adminastration is good at drafting pitchers and not offensive players already.

"I would love to see what Billy Beane could do with a real payroll"

I would be worried if you saw Ricketts walking around with a copy of "Moneyball" under his arm as he was looking for loose change under the seats at Wrigley.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:23pm

One of the first things Ricketts did was to hire a stat guy. Wouldn't surprise me if he has a dog eared copy of Moneyball laying around somewhere.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 3:58pm

beane is part owner (minority) of the A's...that'd be cute.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:36pm

That is pretty easy to get around. I'm sure he'd just sell his share of the club.

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:50pm

He should buy a share of the Cubs, help out the poor Ricketeseses.

Submitted by 10man
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:03pm

This is totally hilarious. Just read how this guy describes this season's Cubbies:

http://www.coverthenumber.com/halladay-zambra...

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:43pm

This reminds me of how Lou Holtz used to talk up his opposition when he was coaching...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 1:05pm

"...A Cubs team that has the potential to be devastating offensively"

Oh, the Cubs are devastating offensively, all right. I am devastated every time I watch them try to score runs with RISP.

Clearly, this guy has not watched a single Cubs game this season.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:22pm

"The difference for the Cubs this season has been that they aren’t relying on the long ball nearly as much, and that they have the ability to manufacture runs via the stole base and timely hitting."

Not only has he not watched them them this year, he hasn't even looked at the relevant stats. They have the ability to steal bases? Really? Where's the evidence?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:35pm

And they're not relying on the long ball because they're not hitting long balls. Or any other balls. Are we certain Phil Rogers isn't moonlighting on another website under a phony name?

Submitted by Eric S
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 1:08pm

Goes to yesterday's thread re international prospect signings/$. From the Prospect Hot Sheet posted today in BA.

Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs. July 2 is right around the corner, which means Baseball America's reports on the top international prospects will start next week. Meanwhile the summer leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are underway, with the majority of last year's international signings making their debuts in those leagues. One of the early standouts has been Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario, a $500,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic last summer (although he was born in New York) who has come better than advertised. Candelario, 17, earned praise from scouts for his potential to hit for average and power from both sides of the plate. Even better, his approach at the plate is quite mature for his age, as he's already drawn 12 walks in 34 plate appearances. Sure, it's early, but he's off to a .364/.588/.455 start and leading the DSL in OBP.

Submitted by T-Dubs
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 1:13pm

Rob, I think your iPhone autocorrected whatever you typed to read "The Cubs have strung two wins together"!! LOL!!!

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 1:48pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?c...

"no one should count on Wood waiving his no-trade clause to leave the Cubs and go to a contender at the trading deadline."

Submitted by Mike Vail
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 2:13pm

Anyone see the Peter Gammons comment about how hamstrung the Ricketts will be with all of Wrigley Field's needed improvements and upgrades? Ouch.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 2:19pm

one source who spoke with the Cubs reports they're "not ready to say they're done."

%#&@!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 2:38pm

Haha... That's what they are supposed to say. I don't know why, though... no one believes it.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 2:50pm

On the other hand... they are currently in a the midst of a winning streak.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 3:19pm

there's little to be gained by trading a bargain-priced middle reliever, especially the one in question who does have some residual sentimental value [to some of us]...if we can dump any of the overpaid under-performers, so be it; if not, grin & bear the rest of the season & start lopping off the lard @ season's end

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 3:45pm

Jayson Stark of ESPN has a Bryce Harper update:

"On one hand, Bryce Harper is 18 and would still be a senior in high school if he'd lived a normal life. On the other hand, scouts who cover the South Atlantic League have been raising eyebrows for weeks about his sense of entitlement. Tales of Harper showing up late for team stretching, and occasionally exiting those stretching drills before they were over, have been circulating in the scout community. And as talented as Harper may be, and as fun as he may be to watch on the field, he has often offended outsiders with his what-am-I-doing-in-THIS-league body language. That has to stop."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?c...

He also writes about Kerry Wood.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:01pm

this is nothing new for harper. it's how he behaved in highschool and college.

it must be nice to have a red flag on you that 30 out of 30 teams would gladly ignore.

Submitted by navigator
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:45pm

More than one scout has said he needs to be moved up from A ball to a level where he'll actually be challenged.

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:58pm

I think he ought to rot there until he drops the attitude... Not that it makes any difference what I think...

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:06pm

an 18 year old is gonna be an 18 year old...especially one that's been big man on campus every single step of his career, even when playing over his head.

but...

for a guy who's "whos-who of whom i respect" includes scrapers and gamers...he needs to learn how to respect the game he's playing.

i'd rather see him get pissed at an ump or throw a tantrum over a play rather than showing up without purpose everyone on the field that's not him with dismissive attitude.

this is a guy who's own personal selfishness and need to make a message got him suspended in the college playoffs with his demonstration to the ump of what the strike zone is.

respect the game at least. go be an 18 year old jerk off the field.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:08pm

They should demote him. Hopefully they have a rookie ball team in the middle of nowhere in Idaho or somewhere that would almost force him to focus on baseball. Just send him a message that his B.S. isn't going to be tolerated.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:17pm

imo, he needs to be humbled. he's just never had someone slap the "metaphorical shit" out of him.

if you move him down he'd probably hit .400 and be just as bored/dismissive.

the counter is...if you move him up he may still hit damn well, get what he wants in return, and not learn a damn thing. he's just that good.

WAS may have to live with it the same way teams learned how to deal with jerky guys like randy johnson, roger clemens, barry bonds, paul oneil, dave kingman etc.

speaking of jerks...one of his top-of-the-list heroes is pete rose...and he was a jerk for waaaaaaaay more than just that whole betting scandal thing.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 5:35pm

I hated Pete Rose long before the gambling crap. You're right, the more he succeeds the bigger head he gets. He needs to struggle for the first time in his baseball life and see how he responds. But I would still like to see a veteran manager rip him for his crap. I'm shocked the other team didn't beat the crap out of him the game he blew a kiss at the pitcher.

Submitted by MikeC
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 9:55pm

The night before Harper was drilled in the leg and the opposing team was taunting him and harassing him, every time they went by the dugout.

Harper simply stepped into the batters box the next day and let his talent do the speaking.

If the other team wants to talk shit about injuring a player then Harper can blow as many kisses as he wants.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:40pm

wuh?

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 9:57pm

I saw one ex ballplayer out here in a local paper say that if that had been MLB, the benches would have been cleared and he would have had a welt on his eye.

Submitted by George Altman
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:14pm

I agree on Rose. I've hated the SOB ever since he spiked Ernie Banks at first base in 1967. I laughed my ass off when he got suspended from baseball.

That being said, there's lots of SOB's in the HOF and I have no problem with Rose being inducted someday as long as Shoeless Joe Jackson is inducted posthumously with him the same year.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:15pm

i got a good feeling about the cubs tonight.

halladay is good, but he's not a feared soft tossing lefty.

go scrubs.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:34pm

3-0 already.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:38pm

but cubs batters have only K'd 4 times in the first 2ip.

this is gonna end up really good.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 8:12pm

Grand Slam, Polanco, 7-0.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 8:14pm

it's gonna end up really good...seriously.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:40pm

No soup for you!

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:04pm

i'm still counting on the cubs protesting the game knocking 3+ runs off the total.

this is gonna end up good.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 8:17pm

Ugh.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 9:12pm

- S. Castro struck out swinging, D. Barney out at second

way to start a top of the 9th, down by 2, 0 out rally before it starts.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:12pm

Maybe Barney heard about the Cubs newfound ability to "manufacture runs via the stole base and timely hitting".

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:11am

+1

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 7:10pm

...and then got the lost
---
Stoopid autocorrect or giant fingers on small iphone keypad:

...and then got the "L"

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 7:20pm

The Cubs have released 20-year old Taiwanese RHP Tzu-An Wang.

The 6'6 Wang received a $350K bonus in July 2009 (the highest bonus the Cubs have given to a player from Taiwan), but never developed.

INF (now CF) Pin-Chieh Chen and RHP Yao-Lin Wang were signed about the same time as TA Wang--but for less money. But both Chen and YL Wang had been members of the Taiwanese Junior National Team prior to signing with the Cubs and already were "baseball players," while TA Wang was more a of a projectable "blank slate."

PC Chen and YL Wang (though six inches shorter than TA Wang) definitely have some upside, with Chen really showing improvement both offensively and defensively since getting moved to CF at Extended Spring Training, and now that Matt Loosen has been moved up to Daytona (where he is pitching very well, BTW), YL Wang will proBably be battling Luis Liria for the Opening Night starter's gig at Boise.

But Tzu-An Wang just never got going. He looked like a basketball player trying to be a baseball pitcher. He shuffled around Fitch Park like somebody woke him up out of a sound sleep, and he registered very poor numbers at both Extended Spring Training and with the AZL Cubs last season:

2010 EXST:
10.80 ERA - 2.06 WHIP - .352 Opp BA
11.2 IP - 19 H - 17 R (14 ER)- 5 BB - 11 K - 1 HR - 3 HBP - 2 WP

2010 AZL CUBS:
7.32 ERA - 1.68 WHIP - .292 Opp BA
19.2 IP - 23 H - 16 R (16 ER) - 10 BB - 19 K - 3 HBP - 3 WP

He hadn't pitched at all this year prior to getting released.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 1:50am

AZ Phil:

If TA Wang was a big project but looked as bad as you say, why on earth did the Cubs give him a $350k signing bonus? I can understand signing project players, but giving them that kind of money sounds like a really bad decision.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 9:09am

He played football in Asia.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 10:17am

Pocket change. Have you looked at how much they blow per game on Soriano and Fukudome? $111K, and $83.3K.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:42pm

What are the signing bonuses like for non-drafted players, and for players taken late in the draft? Since signing football players clearly doesn't work (TA Wang, Shark Face), why not try signing jockeys?

Submitted by Jumbo
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:04pm

They've already done that with Theriot, Fontenot, Reed Johnson, Campana, and then Johnson again

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 6:55pm

Submitted by Paul Noce on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 11:42am.
What are the signing bonuses like for non-drafted players, and for players taken late in the draft? Since signing football players clearly doesn't work (TA Wang, Shark Face), why not try signing jockeys?

=======================================

PAUL N: Low round guys and NDFA without leverage (college seniors) could get as little as an $800 or $1,000 bonus.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:50pm

Brett Jackson sat for the third straight game tonight. I guess we'll get the injury (or re-injury) scoop any day now.

Vitters up over .280!

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 9:43am

Angel Guzman 2 scoreless IP for Peoria, sun times says (without a setback) he might be ready in a month for mlb callup.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 11:30am

If he comes back and has a full, successful season, does he get the Comeback Player of the Decade Award?

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 11:33am

It would be the greatest comeback since the first Easter

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:01pm

Per Rosenthal...
B(r)ad Snyder to Iowa, coleman back up

Per muskie...

Va lefty lee, castro, barney, montanez, aram, dewitt, soto, pena, colvin, garza

Per wittenmeyer...
Snyder DFA

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:43pm

Sullivan also says Snyder was DFA'd.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:45pm

what the fuck is that a list of?

whatever
re: Brad "former Cleveland #1 pick" Snyder's MLB career. .167 .189 .194 .384 with 18 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:59pm

does this help?

Vs Cliff Lee:
castro, barney, montanez, aram, dewitt, soto, pena, colvin, garza

It's always a good sign when the number 3 hitter vs. Cliff Lee is Lou Montanez. :)

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 2:14pm

You're saying that's a Cubs batting order??

oh, The HORROR

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:59pm

Quade's retardation really shows in his lineups.

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 4:36pm

lou f'ing montanez!!

Submitted by QuietMan
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:44pm

Last 28 days for Barney .238/.275/.277 (111 PA)

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 1:24pm

If he played in Tampa he'd have two bobblehead days already.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:51pm

LOL.

OK, how many runs does Philly score in the 1st inning?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:52pm

WTF Barney?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:57pm

2-0, no outs, game over.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:56pm

Tim McCarver.

"The Phillies will steal 3rd base at any time. They are 7 for 7 on the season, and usually when they steal, they make it."

Really? That 7 for 7 stat confused me.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:08pm

Time for DeWitt or LeMaihieiu to play at second. Barney can finally fulfill the backup infielder role that he was born for.

PS I know that's no spelled correctly

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 3:16pm

Yes there is a "t" in not

Submitted by Jumbo
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 4:26pm

I loves typing

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 6:17pm

We stinks

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 4:42pm

E-4, infield single and a 2- run double for Phillies

Pretty much sums up Garza's 2011 season

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 4:45pm

gotta throw in a marmol blown save into the mix to really nail it.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:02pm

turn that 2-run double into a 2-run single and it's even more typical garza.

it hasn't been as bad lately, but it's been a long time since ive seen a guy give up so many singles base incidents that turned to runs.

also, this team has double-play-turning issues, still.

castro's fielding has gotten a little bit more stable, but he is marginally slow to mechanically set and throw once he gets the ball. it doesn't look clumsy, but it's not fluid-fast.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:31pm

2nd double play of the day not turned...beat out by ibanez...

barney was a little slow on that one, but not horrible.

...it's screwed.

it looks good when they do it, especially in slo-mo...but there's wasted/slow mechanics piling up on some of these plays when you see it real-time.

the guys up the middle don't look clunky doing it, but they (esp. castro) seems to be giving up speed of turning the play in order to get it mechanically right.

meh...sigh...

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:32pm

would have been nice to turn 2 on the Ibanez ground out ... Castro's relay looked pretty clean there, just missed it by a whisker.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:33pm

more cubbery by Garza. yeesh.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:35pm

out 3 is now bases loaded, 1 out.

no double play turned + error allowing runners on 2nd/3rd on what should have been an out + intentional walk to load the bases for force outs and the pitcher coming to bat.

neat.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:37pm

and 3 are stranded via a K + groundout to 2nd. woo.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:45pm

The Latest 1B 2011 FA Value Watch:

Pena: $10MM, .215 9hr

Overbay: $5MM .247 5hr

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:48pm

pena has 40 walks, too...and no one to drive him in.

oakland/billy beane would be proud.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 5:51pm

True 'dat.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 6:00pm

blake dewitt needs to move back to 2nd...barney...it's been fun...you're neat...great bench...great occasional starter...great injury replacement...

but yeah...dewitt in LF isn't looking good.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 6:22pm

1-7, bottom 8.

this game/team/season sucks.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 7:25pm

L

and with that we just took over the major league lead in fielding errors... MLB worst in defensive efficiency, fielding percentage, double plays...

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 7:20pm

Buster Olney says the players union is open to moving one team from the NL to the AL making two 15 team leagues.

I'm all for the Cubs going. The National League just isn't working out for us.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6...

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 7:46pm

1/3rd of mlb going to playoffs...very lame.

8 is wearing it thin enough, imo...though it works. i liked the expansion(s) and the 8-team format, but i drew a personal line there.

Submitted by springs
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 9:17pm

Terrible idea, IMO, because it lessens rivalries and also expands interleague play, both of which I think are detrimental to fans interest in the game. Cubs fans, I think, are more excited to play the Cards 18 times rather than adding the Mariners, Angels, Rays...(other than CWS, Yanks and Red Sox, the entire AL).

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 06/12/2011 - 12:26pm

I don't like the idea of two 15 team leagues because how fun would it be to finish in 11th place? or 13th, or 15th? Heck, you could finish in 8th place and have a winning record and casual fans would think you had a crappy season.

It's stupid. Not to mention two teams would be playing interleague games every day of the season, including the crucial playoff race games at the end of the year.

Submitted by Jace
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 10:56pm

I still can't believe that Selig was able to pull off moving the Brewers into the NL Central. What a colossal dicking-over of the entire rest of the division... It is absolutely ridiculous that NL teams have to be better than two more teams that AL teams in order to make the playoffs...
Not that I think it would make any difference to this Shit version of the Cubs...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sun, 06/12/2011 - 12:24pm

Soriano could DH.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 10:40pm

I'm all for the Cubs going...
---
the Cubs should move to the Cuban league.

Both uniforms on the same field would be like watching Mick and Bianca.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 10:41pm

2011 Cubs = Bianca

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 10:54pm

Reed Johnson hit in the head tonight
hospital

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/2011...

...some good news in there about Thomas Diamond though

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