Game 24 Thread - Samardzija vs. Arroyo

Same lineups that were suppose to play yesteday.

Reds Cubs
Cozart, SS *DeJesus, RF
Stubbs, CF
 *Campana, CF
*Votto, 1B
 Castro, SS
Phillips, 2B
 *LaHair, 1B
*Bruce, RF
 Soriano, LF
Rolen, 3B
 *Stewart, 3B
Heisey, LF
 *DeWitt, 2B
Hanigan, C
 Soto, C
Arroyo, P
 Samardzija, P

Castro picked off second base after a two-out double in the first, so good to know that some things in life are consistent.

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Cubs game thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:17pm
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Comments

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:25pm

...another lahero homer...solo, top 2nd

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:48pm

Am I wrong for thinking that he might be good trade bait? If he is still performing ridiculously well by the trade deadline and somebody offers some top prospect, should we take it? Or should we gamble that this isn't just an outlier?

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:54pm

Dude's been simply crushing the ball for 18 mos. and he looks like a ballplayer to me. Super tough call ....

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:59pm

if he's going to play a position most of the time, be it 1st/RF/LF, someone has to go or he's got to start facing lefties.

he could end up being a 300-400ab a year DH/spot-starter if rizzo forces the issue and no one gets injured/traded/cut.

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:00pm

You absolutely trade LaHair for a legit top prospect, especially at any position of scarcity in the system (starting pitching would be great). Let's say he's just hitting his prime. How much of his prime does he probably have left, especially as much as he K's and as slow as he is. He has legit old man skills and he's bordering on actually being an old man. He's awesome and I love what he's doing, but he'd be much more valuable to a team that needs a super cheap slugger for the next 2-3 years than he is to a big market team that needs long term solutions and/or legit stars, especially at positions like 1B and LF.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:04pm

how much is he worth without the 150-200ab's a year sitting vs lefties, though?

that's the tough part to handicap...especially given how cheap he should be in 2013 vs expected production (even if he just shades what he's doing now). there's so many +'s and a few glaring -'s.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:01pm

ian stewart line drive homer to RF...about time he got one.

2-0, top 4th. woos.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:13pm

Might'a been a mental error by LaHair there . . .

Submitted by MikeC
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:25pm

When the Cubs want to make a decision on bring up Rizzo then it really comes down to DeJesus or Soriano.....Soriano isn't going any where so DeJesus is either traded or released when that decision is made.

I really like Campana and his speed in CF, LaHair in RF and Rizzo at 1b.

LaHair has more value to us as a cheap hitter than he does as a trade chip. You trade him your not gonna get anyone remotely close to what his production value is to the current team. And if we play him everyday and he flames out, ohhhh well, no big deal no one can say he was rushed or wasn't given his shot. We can just as easily hand him an everyday gig as we can release him, with 0 consequences for the long term future of the franchise.

But before any decisions are made about Rizzo being called up, i want to know what LaHair can do against lefties. For a shitty team, i see no reason why we can't find out now, stop protecting him.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:29pm

given his age, suck, and years of no one being interested in him...soriano might actually get released.

worse has been done by lesser teams, but if soriano doesn't "wake up" before the season ends (or before) he could finally get cut loose even with the sick money owed.

right now the only thing he's got going for him is being healthy and capable of hitting 20-30 HRs...if he can't even push 20 HRs he's looking like an anchor.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:12pm

LaHair has more value to us as a cheap hitter than he does as a trade chip.

This coming from the guy that lashed out on how much he would suck.

Funny how you never admit your shit.

I will agree the guy is not going to be invited to Cooperstown, but the fucking AAAA diatribe you spewed was just bullshit.

He will have value to another MLB team, if not the Cubs.

Submitted by MikeC
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 5:28pm

Dude how many times do i have to beat a dead horse? If you can't follow a fucking conversation don't get mad at me.

I will just present Tyler Colvin, Felix Pie, Neifi, Macias and on down the line who Cubs fans got infatuated over because of very brief periods of success for very different reasons.

Colvin and Pie were both extremly flawed and i took alot of shit for doubting their early success. One thing i have always said is i have endless amounts of time wait out the bandwagon fans who flee like rats when Colvin and Pie fail. But i speak in probabilities, because i wan't to see them be good its just i don't see it happening.

I will give Lahair this he has more talent than Colvin and Pie but without the pedigree. But he still has some glaring flaws that the league will expose. The only question is can he adjust and we have not gotten to that point yet in his career.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 5:48pm

You forgot Matt Murton in that list.

Submitted by MikeC
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:08pm

I was a huge Murton, Choi, and Dubois fan....i think Dubois made me realize no strike zone judgement and awesome power isn't enough to make it.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 9:25am

"Dubois made me realize," etc.

227 ML PAs don't tell you anything about a hitter--except perhaps that righty-hitting 1B/LF/DH types have a very tiny window for success.

It's probably a good idea not to pay too much attention to them in the first place.

Submitted by MikeC
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 8:53pm

Dubois had glaring faults in the minors i refused to acknowledge. I wanted him to be good for the sake of being good.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:38pm

Brooks Keschnick

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 10:35am

There were people who were infatuated with Neifi and Macias? Seems to me they were whipping boys, Macias in particular.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 11:16am

What success did Pie have? I mean, he did get 250 at bats...over 2 seasons..and jerked around by the Cubs...

Submitted by MikeC
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 9:04pm

You would be surprised at how many commentators were gushing about Neifi and how a change of scenery did him wonder, blah blah blah.

I argued back and forth about not trusting 1 month vs his entire career. Cubs fans are predictable in one area......its doesn't matter how crappy a player is, or how at the end of a career a player is, if he flashes 1 good month Cubs fans are falling all over themselves to get a longer look at said player. It it never ends happily.

But when your signed to a 3 year deal it only took a few months into that deal and costing DLee an MVP did people start to land on the hate bus for him. Many were just shocked into silence about a sub .300 OBP player returning to be a sub .300 OBP player.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 11:39pm

there was no one infatuated with Neifi in a good way, it was just fun when he was going nuts in April that one year.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:29pm

DeWitt did something good with the glove, yeah I'm shocked too.

amazing 4-6-3 he started....

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:40pm

Keith just dropped an F-bomb on WGN that only got partially bleeped.

In reference to Arroyo's sidearm action on the 3-1 to DeWitt: "That's what makes him a fuc" ... dead air where they dropped the bleep.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:21pm

haha

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:43pm

Soto not sucking today...

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:02pm

Man. Days like today make me think they could compete next year . . . What's weird is Shark's blossoming culod actually change the whole damn game plan.

If he becomes a freakishly dazzling number two, that makes Garza a keeper to me (I know I know), and Maholm is coming around, with Dempster, Volstad, Wells, T. Wood etc.

That means that next year they would have to acquire 2 monster bats and a closer. Aaa ah to dream . . .

And I don't think they trade LaHair. No way the more I think about it...dude is a crusher, and he looks for real. Even when he comes back t earth, even with a few silly left handed pitcher at bats, and even with his K's. He really looks at home and like aN MLB regular. He's our Josh Hamilton . . . (prays)

I mean since we didn't keep the real josh hamilton

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:28pm

But without the talent, alcohol and outfield chops.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:48pm

marmol effective and drama-free for the save.

cubs record: 9-15

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:58pm

Was Samardzija more brilliant or lucky? Looks like he got a lot of fly outs early on, then reversed that and got mostly groundouts, and he was cruising on pretty few pitches. Impressions anyone?

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:02pm

decent job locating everything and results followed. he may have given up another run a time or 2 with bad luck, but he was never looking bad or under pressure.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:02pm

I watched the game. He seemed to have total command. Ahead of the count til the late innings. Cubs played great D. Soriano made a very key play on Votto opposite field liner in the 7th.

Both teams had their fair share of hard hit balls right at'em but Shark was in control, not lucky.

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:45pm

Thanks, folks! Didn't get to see this game, but Ninja's is among the few really interesting story lines I'd like to follow this year (Ninja, LaHair, Volstad, Dolis, Stewart probably being some of the most interesting to pay attention to in terms of their future values being big question marks).

Submitted by Jumbo
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:59am

Was hitting 96 in the 8th, too

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:07pm

Plus for the record, I believe LaHair could have gone to second for a 3-6-3 double play if he'd thought it through ahead of time and been prepared, then a shutout would have been possible. I don't remember who was batting but I don't believe it was a speedster. If it was I would understand, but it was a one hopper right to LaHair and could have been a 3-6-3 instead of a no-force 3-6-3-6-3-6-3-6-3-3-3-3-3-6-6-3-6 or whatever the fuck it was that let the run in . . .

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:04pm

Things that make me say hmmmmm...

from some Brewer sites:
The Brewers learned that first baseman Mat Gamel would need surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee. Then, left fielder Ryan Braun left the game in the sixth inning after limping off the field.

Ron Roeneke On Ryan Braun:
No, he's got a tight Achilles tendon that he felt a little yesterday on his stolen base.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:24pm

I think that's how it started for Mark Prior when HE got off steroids as well ... Achilles right? ;)

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 5:58am

I-Cubs being three hit through the top of the 8th, Memphis ahead 2-1.

Valbuena with a solo HR in the 8th. Earlier, Cardenas with a single and Rizzo with a double. Nobody has a walk. That's it so far for offense.

Casey Coleman only pitched 3.1 innings, 49 pitches, 2 runs. Not sure why he left.

Submitted by Sonicwind75
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:14pm

I am not only the president of the lahair (fan)club for men, I'm also a member.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:23pm

applause

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:02pm

Big Z vs Zito, kinda expected Sesame Street to be sponsoring the game, with the fish off to an early 2-0 lead.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:47pm

Jered Weaver no-hitter happened.

-edit- whoops, not meant to be a reply.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:48pm

7 shutout innings for Z, up 2-0.

2.53 ERA on the season.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:12am

...and here comes heath bell

...and now it's 2-1, man on 1st, 0 outs

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:14am

H. Bell trying to blow it though

2b, 1B scores a run

0 outs and Posey up to pinch-hit

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:15am

corners, still 0 out...and h.bell is yanked.

yow.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:16am

and Posey singles, runners on corners and Ozzie pulls Bell for Cishek.

Damn.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:16am

RECAPS IN STEREO!

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:22am

SAFETY SQUEEZE TIE!

the no hitter aside, yet including it, it's been a nice night of baseball. 3 walkoff homer games, too.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:21am

and Z remains winless

Cishek gets a K, but Giants tie it up on a safety squeeze.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:24am

FC, infield single and now Theriot up with bases loaded

-edit- guess what? Theriot failed. extra innings.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:49am

and there goes geraldo sauve stanton ruining my late night baseball with a solo homer in the top 10th.

i could go for a 15-20 inning game.

..denied...MIA wins.

Submitted by artskoe
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:17am

Gotta wonder if Dolis is being groomed as closer. Marmol was good tonight and might be worth something in the morning...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:18am

swap his K/BB and i'd be more interested.

he is the default setup man right now, though.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:30am

who's wondering that?

8 BB/3 K on the year, not really a formula for success.

might as well pegged Justin Berg as a closer after 2009.

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:31am

Dolis would be a pretty sweet two-inning reliever with that sinker. I keep wondering why they put him in after Samardzija, since they have such a similar repertoire, but I guess it's because Samardzija often exits his game with small leads and they don't have a lot of pitchers they can trust. Plus, maybe Sveum figures that a power sinker's been getting the guys out, why not throw another power sinker at them.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:56am

At the beginning of the season my hopes for 80 wins or so were based on a few things. One, Samardzija actually looking like he did in spring, with a nice -- whatever that is, a split finger or something that drops off the table a bit, and some kind of handle on his control issues. Two, LaHair keeping up the hitting. Three, Castro getting his errors under control and hitting for some power. Two out of three so far, but it's early, and it's hard to know what things will look like as the season progresses. As for the rest of the pitching staff, ehhh, even Volstad looks okay to me as a fifth starter. Garza, Dempster, and a good Samardzija could get us to 80, especially if Campana somehow keeps hitting.

The trade debate on LaHair is interesting. I don't trade him unless I get something rock solid back, like a prime prospect. I can see teams knocking on the door at about half time, and I would hope the Cubs will hold out for something really, really good.

The whole question about whether LaHair is an outlier to me has been answered pretty much for me by his approach to the plate and the way he can hit some stuff that pitchers are clearly trying to fool him with. I've seen him reach down and swat low inside curve balls and fastballs and sliders and reach out and swat low outside stuff, and lay off stuff that the Sorianos of the world swing at every time. When I've seen him strike out, and I have to say I haven't watched anywhere near as many games as a lot of you have, I'm not seeing what I consider "bad" strikeouts. He'll sometimes take a called third strike. I'm okay with that with a power hitter with his capacity. He also often just swings at a tempting pitch, and just misses it. That's pretty normal for a good hitter.

I love this guy's approach at the plate. I don't think he's an outlier at all. He's got tremendous batting skills. If he's traded, he should command a good return, or it shouldn't be done.

Campana, on the other hand, I don't even get, but he is, without a doubt, the only meek hitting player I've ever seen that I go out of my way to watch. He is actually getting some solid contact, too, which is weird because he really looked awful up there last year, and even when I saw him play against Round Rock this year. But now he's talking about stealing 100 bases (which means he needs to get on at least 101 times, assuming he'll get caught stealing once), and if he's that much of a believer, fuck it, so am I.

Maybe I haven't quite given up on this season yet after all. I'm not expecting a playoff appearance, but it would be nice to at least challenge for a .480-.500 record.

Submitted by tem99
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:27am

I'm the optimistic bastard who put $50 on the over for Cubs wins this year for some of those same reasons. And because i'm a rube. So at this point I just want them to get to 74 wins so I'm not laughed at when I head back to Vegas in the fall.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:23am

I'm still ignoring popular opinion and even hard facts... I believe the Cubs are better than everyone thinks they are. They have a solid chance at 3rd in the division.

Sigh.

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:47am

Agreed. I think they make the playoffs next year.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:02pm

I assume this is sarcasm, but you just never know these days.

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:10pm

Nope. Unless they totally flame out in FA I expect them to be one of the 6 NL playoff teams in 2013.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:21pm

Actually, that's the standard I am holding the TheoCorp to. I'm not going to just mindlessly assume these guys are gonna be saviors, not after watching McFail bring his Twins reputation to the Cubs and killing us with Ed Lynch.

Theo and Co sound great, I have a lot of hope, but from a commenting perspective, not that they give a damn, I'm gonna hold their feet to the fire. NEXT year is not a rebuilding year, not for a top market team. I'm giving them a pass this year, but only because of extenuating circumstances.

Submitted by Stevens
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:31pm

6?

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:04pm

5!

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:48am

"I'm a rube" -- laugh out loud

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:20am

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/2...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:56am

Nice to see a story like that with the Cubs for a change. Now if we could only talk Sveum out of the platoon thing, and see what happens there.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:35am

Heisey CF, Harris 3B, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Ludwick LF, Mesoraco C, Valdez SS, Bailey P

vs.

DeJesus RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, Johnson CF, Soto C, Dempster P

awaiting roster move for Dempster

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:36am

Dempster and Wood activated, Maine and Wells optioned

Submitted by tem99
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:11am

Tough break for Maine. He's pitched well.

Submitted by Jace
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:23am

Yeah, I don't know what more he could've done to stick... I guess he'll just have to wait until they decide Wood is done (next week?)...

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:48am

Wood activated. That made me giggle.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:25pm

Priceless

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:26pm

Where do people think the Cub's top three starters (Garza, Dempster, Samardziga) rank?

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:33pm

Garza's a 1b type, I think--a #1 starter, but not an elite #1 starter. Dempster's a solid #2 until age takes him down. Samardzija looks (so far) like a good #3 who could dominate on some days and faceplant on others, which is way better than he looked in previous years. I feel much better about the Cubs rotation now that Samardzija has more had more than one successful outing. I mean, Sergio Mitre even had a good game once.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:28pm

LaBomb.

Bob: "He's got Easy Power"

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:28pm

LaBomb!

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:34pm

When should we start calling LaHair the savior?

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:53pm

Ought to make our first baseman and right fielder trade last names.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 1:03pm

True, but I have heard that you don't mess with DeJesus.

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/20...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:50pm

Kung Fu Panda broken hamate bone....

Jeff Baker for Lincecum sounds perfectly fair.

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:07pm

I would be fucking ecstatic with Baker for nothing but salary relief.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:51pm

and Soto goes deep...

3-0 Cubs.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 1:17pm

gets fucked over on strike 3 call in 6th with bases loaded. shame.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 1:43pm

LaHair vs. Chapman was fun. Chapman ultimately won on a 9-pitch AB with a K of course.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 1:47pm

Stewart vs. Chapman not nearly as epic, K's on 4 pitches.

Submitted by garsky
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 1:47pm

Nine hits so far, but only three runs -- all on solo HRs. Only one walk. The new Cubs Way looks awfully familiar.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:20pm

Seriously? That's insane. It's their first such game of the year . . .

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:07pm

Marmol, 1st batter, walk on 5 pitches.

Ruh, roh.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:09pm

back to back walks.

{bangs head against door}

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:11pm

i'm meltinggggg....

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:13pm

(puddle of goo is all that remains)

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:14pm

Marmol is a puddle of poo.

Submitted by tem99
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:19pm

Awful. Not sure why Sveum brings in another reliever with control problems that also has trouble striking guys out.

*edit* well I guess bringing in the sinker baller for a double play might have been a good idea

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:14pm

Ok....so Marmol is awful. What happened with Stewart's error?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:21pm

5-3 double play but Stewart forgot to get the ball first

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:17pm

well that escalated quickly

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:17pm

Lol....it really jumped up a notch.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:19pm

Dolis gets the groundball DP. Still a chance for extra innings.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:23pm

God I fucking hate Marmol and Marmol. Stewart is close behind.

Feel for Demp top. This has happened to him three x already.

Submitted by billybucks
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:28pm

Marmol comes in with a 3 run lead and walks the first two batters.

Raise your hand if you are at all surprised.

Theo, put your damn hand down!

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:24pm

Dempster 0-1 with a 0.95 ERA. If he stays in Chicago, I will be amazed and assume that his daughter cannot receive anywhere near as good health care anywhere else.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:36pm

opens up dictionary to "Cubbery"

finds recap of this game.

Submitted by billybucks
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:39pm

What is the point of keepig marmol as closer?

He's going to suddenly learn how to throw strikes? Teams will go up and start swinging at bad pitches? Some MLB team will lose their collective mind and trade for him?

Other, younger relievers cannot possibly be worse than Marmol. Cut him loose, pay him the money and let some kid earning next to nothing try to close.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:26pm

Looks like they will now. I just think they knew he sucked and were trying to get him a little success and maybe be a trade chip. But I think he just Latroy Hawkins'd his way into shitsville.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:41pm

can Sveum honestly trot Marmol out again in the 9th inning?

Just say no.

or tell the woodsman to put snow white's heart in a box and bring it back to the queen

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:06pm

to be fair to Marmol and he certainly deserves plenty of the blame, but Stewart whiffed on a sure-thing double play.

whole different scenario with man on 2nd and 2 outs and 0 runs.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:13pm

I'm glad the Cubs are realizing Marmol is too wild to be a legit closer during a rebuilding year. It would be maddening to see games that matter frittered away while Marmol threw ball after ball putting guys on base for free.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:22pm

ask and ye shall receive

Sveum considering Dolis or Russell for closing duties, not Kerry.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:26pm

and this is supposed to help how? =p

there's a guy in AAA with 5.2ip 1h 2bb 10k...oh, that's his majors stats but he's in the minors now. sigh.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:26pm

@dschoenfield
@jonahkeri I know you're not completely unbiased here, but how many wins do you think Maddon is worth per season?

@jonahkeri
@dschoenfield Impossible Q to answer since Maddon gets data from the smart behind the scenes guys. Of course he's willing (eager!) to use it

@dschoenfield If the question is, how many wins do the Rays get from doing "Rays things"...at least 3-4 IMO, and that might be conservative.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:29pm

wtf is a "rays things"?

...aside from the extreme shifts they employ on defense.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 3:27pm

When does Marmol come off the books?

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:21pm

Give Marmol credit. He was doing his best to make it easier for the FO to make a roster move. He was just one day too late for Maine.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 5:49pm

Marmol, the albatross. :)

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:20pm

Who's having a worse day Marmol or Tim Welke?

YIkes!

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/05/03/ti...

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:27pm

What makes me sad about this kind of missed call is that Helton didn't correct the umpire, or more to the point that people will think that it is crazy to even expect that he would.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:31pm

last thing he's going to do is show up an ump on a play that wouldn't benefit his team.

it's the right thing to do, but i'd be far more shocked to see it happen for reasons other than and before moral reasons.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:33pm

I know, but it still makes me sad.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:09pm

Honestly he was in the absolute perfect spot to have no depth perception as to Helton's foot etc.

Perhaps he was out of position, but you have to blame the system and the rest of that umpire crew for not having the guts, or precedent, to be able to overturn it. The whole damn crew should be shamed, not just Welke.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 4:37pm

lulz...g.blanco (SF) tripping over his own legs (still made to 3rd with no throw).

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:15pm

uh oh.

m.rivera removed from the field via cart with an injured left leg after crashing into the OF wall shagging flies during BP.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:37pm

oh man...dat knee. he went down hard and in lots of pain.

that could be 2012 for him.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:57pm

"twisted right (not left, oops) knee" ...MRI scheduled later tonight.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:44pm

and a marmol trading opportunity opens up :)

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:28pm

You know - I actually think as impossible as this seems, that it is possible. I mean we would pay his salary and get a non prospect. But you never know . . . Maybe Garza & Marmol for those two AAA starters nobody here wants. /ducks/ sadly, I am serious.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:31pm

david robertson says "naw."

they have a somewhat useful soriano, too...he may end up getting saves though robertson deserves it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:33pm

they're paying Rafael Soriano a lot of money for just this scenario and they have Robertson of course.

maybe in July if they're looking for another set-up man and Marmol gets better.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:35pm

video of Mariano getting hurt

http://espn.go.com/new-york/video/clip?id=788...

and before the "why is he shagging fly balls" questions arise, he's been doing it his entire career and hasn't been on the D.L. in 9 years.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 9:38pm

mark fiderich says hello

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:14pm

WTF?! My fantasy team keeps getting better...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:08pm

at what point does bryce harper having calls he's involved with going "not his way" become the umps letting a kid with a history of authority/seniority issues know who runs the game out there?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 7:13pm

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article....

Peavy's surgeon declares surgery a success!!!! Obviously not Mark Prior's surgeon.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 8:18pm

H. Simpson with 4 shutout innings in relief for Daytona, 4 K, 0 BB, 1 H after M. Loosen gave up 3 ER in 3 IP. T. Zych in for the save.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:51pm

Espn quoting Girardi, that Mo has torn ACL.

damn

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