Lou Piniella RANT

Yeah, we're all pretty sick of the 2010 Cubs. But just for a moment, imagine being Lou Piniella.

Close your eyes and just... imagine having to walk into the little "how come" room and explain this team to the media.

It has to be the absolute worst kind of hell.

Seriously, if you made a movie and had to depict hell, what better place than that little room? Day after day after day...

Now, I don't know exactly what he's thinking, but I would imagine it would be something close to this.

I'd give a million bucks to have a beer with the man, hear it for real...

 

You can view Tim Souers work on a daily basis at Cubby Blue.

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Submitted by CubbyBlue on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 12:46pm
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Comments

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 1:08pm

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st.

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 2:04pm

Exactly.

Over the weekend I heard Len&Bob remark more than once, actually about ten million times, that Cubs hitting has been a problem all season and tailed off as the season progressed -- which is totally untrue. In fact, the Cubs started the season off at the bottom of the league in team batting and now are league average (Cubs-.257 .322 .408 .731 NL- .257 .326 .403 .729). And they rank 6th in home runs with 112.

But somehow, the Cubs have managed* to take an average offense and utilize it to rank 12th/16 in runs scored. I'm guessing that a lot of that falls on Lou-- the manager* and the black hole in the middle of the lineup he keeps penciling in game after game. Not to mention hitting Tyler Colvin first even though he's shown no ability to hit at all at the top of the order and Geo Soto 8th even though he's been around .400 OBP all season.

Yeah, the Cubs are lousy with RISP. It should be no mystery why. That'll happen when your 3 and 4 hitters suck as bad as Lee and Ramirez have.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 2:26pm

given the cubs "i give up" record colvin/castro are probably batting 1/2 for no other reason that getting them maximum ABs to prep for 2011.

that said, meh...

who's ready for castro leading off with dewitt hitting 2nd in 2011? woo.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 2:29pm

We've seen worse. Not sure why we don't do that now. If we're benching Colvin to get his head straight, why are we trying to maximize his at bats simultaneously?

Castro
DeWitt
Soto
Ramirez
Colvin
Soriano
Byrd
Hoffpauir
Pitcher

Seems alright to me.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 2:48pm

i wish mr. i can't run to 1st while i'm daydreaming about my winter vacation would have accepted a trade.

if he's going to be like this i hope he's willing to re-up with the cubs for 1yr 5m-ish or something risk reasonable...and shows up ready to have his head checked in a bit more.

i dont expect hoff or snyder to be suitable replacements, but dlee is a bit of a distraction, imo.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 4:14pm

I think Byrd should hit higher. He's not a real number 3 in most other lineups but we don't have that type of hitter right now, unless you consider ARam to be a number 3 hitter when healthy. I always thought ARam to be better suited as a 3 hitter than DLee even when they were both in their prime. ARam makes more contact.

Castro
DeWitt
Byrd
Ramirez
Soto
Colvin
Soriano
1b retread
Pitcher

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 2:50pm

lou raised his voice a few times and they got scared.

if you listen to post game, the media sound like a 7 year old asking to cross the street.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 3:49pm

Yeah I agree with this. I wonder if there will be "ding dong the witch is dead" tweets after his final game of the year from our fine press corp.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 4:18pm

Is AZ Phil on vacation or something?

I miss his reports and insight.

Submitted by chuck
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 5:53pm

Me too!

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 6:52pm

very lengthy article on Tom Ricketts from the Univ of Chicago Alumni magazine

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1008/features/he...

Submitted by carlosrubi
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:15pm

tl;dr

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 8:53pm

Lou: Not the Cub's biggest problem. A legit team has players that know and do their job. A manager basically manages personalities at this level.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 9:24pm

Not the Cubs biggest problem, but his awful lineups this season has surely cost them several games. It's not like they'd be .500 though.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:07pm

No lou is not.

But if i'm soto, i ' m wondering why i' m batting 8th.
If i'm z i'm wondering why i got shipped to the bullpen.
If i'm colvin i'm wondering why i was on bench behind nada for a month.
If i'm sori and byrd i'm wondering why don't get one game batting 3/4.

Lot more questions tham answers from lou.

But hey whatta you gonna do?

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:24pm

I see we have the first baseman sub for Lee batting third again tonight.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 9:35pm

Wow, 4 first inning runs vs. Lincecum. If the Cubs hold true to form, they're done scoring for the evening. Demp better be able to make the 4 runs hold up.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 9:43pm

and the cubs are trying hard to blow it...4-1, 2 on, 1 out

someone out there needs to pull castro's choke collar, too.

he's given LA hits in the past 2 games trying to play the OF from SS and blocking the OF'rs from making plays...and his stupid throws keep coming. hardcore superman syndrome even if he's not some egomaniac.

-edit- woo, double play

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 9:53pm

You do know that OFers are allowed to call an infielder off, right?

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:28pm

i dunno if mlb.com has the replays, but if they do they'll show 1-2 guys standing or jogging while a youngblood coming full force and top speed missiles himself into the play regardless of who's calling what.

it'd be like stepping in front of a truck...well, a car...well, a motorcycle...a honda.

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:28pm

Did you watch the game last night? Soriano seems to think his job is to run around not catching anything.

He did a nice job making off line throws though.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:31pm

im talking about specific plays where castro decided he covers the entire field and kept OF'rs from making plays.

it's just youthful over-aggression and not knowing how certain fields (even his current home field) plays with great familiarity.

i'm not calling the kid trash...i'm just saying he needs to recognize his limits as well as the talents of those he plays with.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:48am

The last thing I'm gonna worry about is a flashy 20 year old shortstop prone to overhustling.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:38am

Amen brutha. Who really gives a shit if he makes a couple stupid plays as a 20 year old because he's TRYING TOO HARD.

Submitted by Tito
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:54am

Damn that Castro for trying too hard.

If an outfielder is "kept from making plays," that's their fault.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:52am

Well, if the outfielders are calling him off and he ignores them then it's Castro's fault.

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:49pm

You all are ignoring the obvious: it's Michael Barrett's fault.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:36pm

Reds and Cardinals finally got into a fight tonight after the stuff Phillips said. For a baseball fight it was actually somewhat entertaining. And Larussa and Baker were ejected. Video at the link.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:47pm

FONTAIN! He's awake!

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:04pm

Ooh look... another passed ball by Koyie "defensive wizard" Hill. And then an error on by the Micah "slick first baseman" Hoffpauir.

Please tell me that those two won't be anywhere close to the Cubs big league team next year...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:50am

Sample size, anyone?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:05am

I never said that it was a meaningful sample.

They both suck, and last night was just more evidence. I don't want them to have anything to do with the Cubs next year.

Also... I wasn't using statistics, so "samples" are not very relevant.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:52am

An error is a statistic. You were using one error to dismiss the possibility that Hoffpauir is a slick fielding first basemen.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:00am

No... I was being sarcastic, and was hardly trying to prove a point based on one game.

And I still think that both K. Hill and Hoffpauir suck.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:38pm

"where the hell was i going with this?" - bob brenley after a rambling story

hahahaha. highlight of the game...besides the 1st inning.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:39pm

"i feel a little bit like ron santo right now." - bob brenley

"this might come as a shock to some of our viewers, but you're human." - len kasper

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:03pm

...and 20 minutes later + unrelated...

"wait, that didn't come out right. i don't dream about being in prison." - len

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:30pm

Damn you Colvin! Ugh.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:31pm

Len must have been dreaming about having to watch Koyie Hill start the next two weeks.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:10am

"i feel a little bit like ron santo right now." - bob brenley

That is awesome... did he really say that?

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:00am

"where the hell was i going with this?" - bob brenley after a rambling story

hahaha....

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 11:31pm

buster posey just got a double for no f'n reason what-so-ever besides official scoring off what should have been an error.

at least it doesnt put us closer to WAS with the most errors in mlb...

holy crap that was a clunker...horrible scoring not to call it an error, too.

hey awesome...passed ball k.hill...never seen that before...scored a wild pitch on cashner, not arguing that one.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 12:26am

9th inning and we're falling apart again.

Update: Nice to see Marmol settle down and shut them down.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 1:08am

Yeah, they weren't really getting good contact off of Marmol (a lot of stuff off the end of bats, falling out of gloves, dribbling up the middle) but Marmol wasn't making anybody look sick like he usually does. Suddenly, the Giants got two runs and have the winning run at the plate and Marmol gets royally pissed off -- he blows three straight fastballs past Uribe (swinging), then gets two feeble swings from Ishikawa before making him dribble the ball to 1st.

You could really see the difference that the extra adrenaline made on the quality of his pitches. One minute they were fighting him off and getting wood on the ball, to a greater or lesser degree, and the next minute they suddenly looked over-matched and pitiful.

Damn entertaining!

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:07am

little late, but...

nice work on the animated .gif

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:12am

Probably old news: Cards & Reds brawl over those comments made by Brandon Phillips (w video):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/card...

In other news... Brennaman is kind of a douche, even when I agree with him. He's a very hateable person.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:16am

...and Molina. Just do what a respectable team would do and give Phillips a fastball to the spleen.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:56am

haha

Submitted by MikeC
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:42am

Maybe if the reporters asked him day after day why he batted the two worst RBI guys in the lineup 3 and 4 he would have gotten a clue by, say June 1st.

Brilliant after the fact insight. Lee and Ramirez are the teams best hitters, period. People wanted Soriano released to start this season, or at the very least buried at the bottom of the lineup. People got most of their wish and i think he has been wasted hitting 6th for our team.

You pay Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano to drive in runs and score them. Your team lives and dies by what they do. Switching them out of the #3 and #4 spot to be replaced by who? Fukudome? Byrd? Ohhhh wait Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin? We wouldn't of won more games by doing any of that, because our team needed Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano's combined production to win the division. It sucks 2 out of the 3 decided to have a bad year and the 3rd got buried in the lineup because of knee jerk reactions.

Come on dude arm chair managing is easy when you already know the outcome. Which is exactly where you comment comes from.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:05am

People wanted Soriano released to start this season

Name one.

And the reply button is your friend.

Submitted by MikeC
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 12:31pm

Sorry don't remember the names, but i do chime in time to time wondering why Soriano is still on the Cubs if he was so finished and washed up that he needed to be released ASAP according to some. Tyler Colvin is his successor afterall and the man deemed to take over his position.

I have had far more confidence in Castro's ability to hit than Colvin's. I have had less confidence in Castro's defense being a massive upgrade over Theriot, that little myth hasn't become reality yet despite everyone saying it is so. I have no doubt he has the skills to be better, but right now? No way in hell.

I want Colvin to play every single day so he can get exposed as a fluke and we don't go into next year hoping on his production. Because your going to get a massive Neifi Perez let down when that happens. Where did his power go? Why are his strikeouts up and walks down? Why isn't he hitting? Where is the 2010 Tyler Colvin "Awesome" show? Just get it over with now and don't go depending on something that won't happen with this kid as he goes on the Jerome Walton career path.

Producing talent doesn't mean 1 year wonders, it means producing a talent that contributes heavily to the parent club for many seasons. We still haven't achieved that since Mark Grace in positional talent. And our best hitting prospect in that time? Its more than likely Casey McGehee and he plays for the Brewers.

Just for perspective, the league seemed to have quickly figured out how to get Castro out, but he adjusted and is doing fine. Colvin the league might have had a harder time to figure out, but he hasn't adjusted anything in his game. And probably will not adjust anything, he has always been an aggressive hitter who ignores walks and thats gonna bite him in the ass. You see Castro making the fine tune adjustments needed to be a major league hitter, you don't see that in Colvin.

Like with everything i have time to watch this play out. I remember being the sad lonely Dusty hater even when he was first hired. I knew eventually people would recognize what a shit hole of a manager he was. I can wait on the Tyler Colvin bubble bursting as well.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 1:08pm

I am fairly certain that I didn't start complaining about Lee and Ramirez batting 3-4 yesterday. I know I've been complaining about Soto batting 8th since April, but don't let the facts intetrude on your rants, they're much more entertaining this way.

I love the "You're making these conclusions in hindsight, but I can see Castro is better than Colvin" bit too, that's classic.

As to the other things you said about Colvin - he's hitting for about the same isolated power as he has been all season. During July and August he's struck out less often (once per 4 PA's) and walked more often (oncer per 12) than he did in June and May (3.3 and 21) - so really you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

If you don't see the difference between Theriot and Castro's fielding, I don't know what to say. I can only assume you're not watching games. Going by UZR which you can find at Fangraphs - (which I am not a big fan of), it puts Castro at saving about 23 runs more than Theriot over the course of a season - and that's including his errors (but probably not the bad tags on SB's attempts).

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:12am

Lol..Soriano is only having a good year, when compared to Lee and Ramirez....Soriano has stunk too for a good part of the season..
June: .234/.310/.468
July: .225/.271/.450
August: .188/.229/.375

Poor Alfonso..getting "buried" hitting 6th....and sucking it up too.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:45am

"...Tyler "one year wonder" Colvin?"

So, are you going to come back next year and give us the, "The Cubs haven't had any farm-team talent in thirty years..." rant MikeC?

Or will Colvin and Castro then become "TWO year wonders" in your view of things?

We are waiting with bated breath.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:51am

I'm far from sold on Colvin at this point. 313 OBP, and his stats have really went south since May. Sub 800 OPS in his Minor league career.

Ultimately I still think he ends up a 4th Outfielder.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 12:24pm

Still too early to determine anything, imo.

Personally, IF he can get better command of the strike zone, I think he could start no problem.

Even as a 4th Ofer and I think, as AZ PHIL does that he will be playing more at 1B next year, he will be a productive MLB player for the Cubs or another team.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 1:13pm

I don't know what's going to happen with Colvin - most of his recent issues have been from bad luck (read post above - ack no numbers anymore). To me the jury is still out, but he still looks like he's going to have more power than anyone expceted. If he can hit 25 HR's, play really good defense and walk and steal a little more, I can live with 170 strikeout seasons as a pre-arb player.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 1:15pm

Because he is capable of playing 1st doesn't mean he should.

Although I do agree he will have MLB value. Even if its just as a 4th outfielder who can defend all 3 positions. That is really the value of Fukudome on an MLB roster today.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:51pm

"We wouldn't of won more games by doing any of that..."

Dude, don't write "wouldn't of". Seriously.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:52am

http://flipflopflyball.tumblr.com/post/935735...

Submitted by Bud
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 7:40pm

cool

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 4:15pm

I liked Trammell's lineup card last night with five left-handed hitters starting. I liked it so much I actually watched the game from about the fifth inning on. I haven't been able to stomach half of very many games this year.

And then another lefty pinch hit and knocked in the deciding runs.

Maybe it's just me, but I've gotten worn down watching right-handed hitters lunge at balls breaking outside. (Well, Soriano doesn't lunge, he just stands up straight and misses.)

There's an easier way to deal with sliders thrown by right-handed pitchers. Just put a balanced lineup out there. Old-fashioned, I know.

The Giants have a nice bullpen but they seem to be mostly righties. I'm glad Trammell noticed. I think he managed a little better than his boss yesterday.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:49pm

Wellington Castillo makes his big league debut tonight. 1b third, C eighth.

Colvin RF
Castro SS
Nady 1B
Ramirez 3B
Byrd CF
Soriano LF
DeWitt 2B
Castillo C
Gorzelanny P

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 6:56pm

Woohoo! Fontenot traded to the Giants.

"The Giants acquired Mike Fontenot from the Cubs, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter). The Cubs will obtain minor league infielder Evan Crawford in return (Twitter link). The Cubs are in San Francisco to play the Giants, so Fontenot simply walks over to the Giants clubhouse."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/giants-...

We'll probably be shorthanded tonight unless they called up Barney earlier in the day just in case.

Crawford is an OF, not an INF. He's 21 and in A ball, hitting .255 with little power (although he does have 12 triples) and 108 k's in 442 ab's. 6'2" 167 lbs.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 7:53pm

It's been fun, Little Mike!

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:01pm

Fontenot told the Chicago Tribune he's happy with his performance this year:

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/08/...

"Fontenot lost playing time in May when Starlin Castro was called up and Ryan Theriot moved over to short. (2nd base) He said he was happy with his performance this year.

"Yeah, there've been times when I wanted to get out there and play more," he said. "But I've always been a team guy. And things haven't gone the way we wanted them to... in the end, I feel pretty good so far this year."

He's happy with his performance? This is one of the reasons this team sucks, everyone is complacent with mediocrity. 0 hr, 12 rbi in 40 starts this season. .287/.331/.382 as a starter. The avg is the only acceptable thing. His defense was crap, as usual. .969 fielding percentage at 2b. .909 at 3b.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 12:19pm

----- 6'2" 167 lbs ---------

you could fit two Fontenots into that. Sounds like a good trade.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:42pm

Ramirez is now out, with a sore rib cage, and Baker is in. I think the order has been altered a bit too, with Baker in the 6th slot.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:05pm

Man, with ARam probably not available or preferred to not have to PH, and being down a spot from the Fontenot trade, I would expect Crunch will see his favorite Z pinch hit tonight with runners in scoring position.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:19pm

well they dont have baker/fontenot to leave on the bench so Z can flail around up there. im not sure if that makes it more likely or not.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:41pm

John Grabow has been diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament and will miss the rest of the 2010 season. Grabow was all set to begin a rehab assignment when he felt a "pop" in his knee on Monday.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 8:49pm

yow...and damn.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 8:53am

I think we could say he "missed the 2010 season" entirely even when pitching. He was atrocious.

Submitted by rokfish
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:21pm

So every time Lou misses a series Hendry makes a trade.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:27pm

he walked out of the cubs clubhouse and into the hallway where a CSN bay-area camera followed him on his walk from one clubhouse to his new one.

panda was waiting there to greet him.

it looked like the most awkward thing he's had to do in a long time, but he was smiling.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:38pm

Panda was actually asking him if he had any food in his pockets.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:43pm

Did he ask or just pick him up, turn him upside down and start shaking him?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:43pm

lol

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 9:51pm

mike fontenot traded away...and blake dewitt busts up his lip so badly they have a delay of game to stop the bleeding coming back into the inning.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:04pm

File this under money well spent (if you're an orthopedic surgeon)

Per Wittenmeyer tweet...

John Grabow out for rest of season, felt a pop in his knee pitching monday, wed MRI consistent with medial collateral ligament tear.
---
Mcl tear if isolated (meaning no associated meniscus tear) recovers with rehab only in about 6 weeks

Love that song...pop goes the weasel.

Submitted by carlosrubi
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:12pm

Fuckers, I'm all alone in Parachat. Join me. JOIN ME NOW.

Submitted by carlosrubi
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:13pm

Marlon Byrd -- 11 homeruns, 50 RBIs. Not bad.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 9:56am

He's had 281 runners on base ahead of him and driven in 39, which comes out to 13.9%, worse than Lee, but at least better than Bradley last year (9.7%).

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 10:22pm

SF team color is black and fontenot had to take a black marker to his "cubbie blue" cleats. he did a real piss-poor hack job of it, too.

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