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End of Year Roundtable: Reader Edition
And to wind things up, today we bring you answers from a few of the many thoughtful and enthusiastic readers of TCR: AZ Phil, KJK, David Geiser and Manny Trillo. Thanks guys! Update And belatedly, Bleeding Blue.
Does Derrek Lee deserve the MVP? Will he get it?
Bleeding Blue:
Yes he deserves it, but since the MVP award has become the 'MVP for a playoff team' award, he won't. Pujols will probably get it.
AZ PHIL: He does not deserve it and he will not get it.
Arizona Fall League Begins
The AFL league began last night, and as you may know, 7 Cubs are down there right now. David Aardsma, Buck Coats, Angel Guzman, John Koronka, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and Brandon Sing. The Mesa Solar Sox lost last night and the only Cub to get into the game was David Aardsma, who came out guns ablazing: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1BB, 2 K, 0 HR, 20.25 ERA.
Aardsma came in with 2 outs in the bottom of the fifth and got D'Backs Jarred Bell to ground out. Then, in true Aardsma fashion, got the next two batters out in the bottom of the sixth before giving up three runs with 2 outs. This is something Aardsma has been very familiar with all year, starting innings strong, but unable to get that third out, at least not without some serious difficulties. Last night it started with a single by D'Back uber-prospect Stephen Drew, then a double by the Dodgers uber-prospect Andy LaRoche, a walk to the A's Andre Ethier and finally a triple to the Dodgers Matt Kemp before he struck out Braves catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (imagine Harry trying to pronounce that one).
End of Year Roundtable: Outside Influences Edition
Today, we have five writers from the Cubs world answering the same questions that the TCR writers answered yesterday.
The World’s Most Useless Playoff Predictor
I trotted out my playoff prediction process last year at my old site. Before we begin, let me point out that picking names out of a hat or some sort of other randomness would be just as successful. My record last year in the first round, well my original picks went 3-1, but I discovered the Yanks led the league in come from behind victories (See Rule #2), which would have changed my one pick and I would have went 4-0. Onto The Rules:
#1) Find the teams that have been playing well for longer than a week....a good 2 month stretch or longer is nice.
Records of the playoff teams since August 1st:
Yankees (39-20), Angels (35-22), White Sox (31-28), Red Sox (36-22) Astros (32-25), Cardinals (34-24), Padres (31-26), Braves (29-28)
Edge to the Yanks, Red Sox and Cardinals.
Only 182 Days Until Opening Day
With the off-season upon us, we thought we'd take a few days to look back at the '05 season and forward to 2006. Today, the four TCR writers take a stab at it, and our feelings range from pessimistic to, uh, really pessimistic. Someone want to talk John in off that ledge?
Tune in tomorrow for Q&A with other Cubs writers, and on Wednesday for the opinions of some of the TCR community.
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Letís start off with the biggest positive in an otherwise disappointing season: Does Derrek Lee deserve the MVP?
Dempster Signs Extension
The Cubs took their first dive into the free agent market by extending Ryan Dempster's contract for 3 years. It appears the deal is for $15.5 million total or about $5.17 per year.
Nice move, once again by Hendry, to pre-empt a bidding war and secure a solid if not spectacular player.
Operation Spoiler, Phase 3
GAME 161 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (79-81) @ HOUSTON ASTROS (87-73) @
THE JUICE BOX 3:05 pm CDT, TV: WCIU, Fox Sports Southwest
That sure was some exciting baseball yesterday, meaningless as it was for the Cubbies, at least they have something to play for this last series. The Cubs have now won the season series versus both the Astros and Cardinals, that sure is frustrating.
Be sure to come by Monday as we'll be posting our year end round-table discussion starting with the TCR writers.
For the rest of the week, I'll try and keep the other playoff race summaries up-to-date after the jump.
| Roger Clemens, RHP 12-8 1.89 ERA 180/59 K/BB, 11 HR in 204.1 IP |
Jerome Williams, RHP 6-9 4.28 ERA 67/47 K/BB, 13 HR in 115.2 IP |
| 2B #Jose Macias | 2B Craig Biggio |
| SS #Neifi Perez | CF Wily Taveras |
| 1B Derrek Lee | 3B Morgan Ensberg |
| 3B Nomar Garciaparra | LF #Lance Berkman |
| RF *Jeromy Burnitz | 1B Mike Lamb |
| C Michael Barrett | RF Jason Lane |
| LF Matt Murton | C Brad Ausmus |
| CF *Corey Patterson | SS Adam Everett |
| P Jerome Williams | P Roger Clemens |
Operation Spoiler, Phase 2
GAME 160 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (78-81) @ HOUSTON ASTROS (87-72) @
THE JUICE BOX 7:05 pm CDT, TV: WCIU, Fox Sports Southwest
I really had no idea that Andy Pettitte was having THAT good of a year. Z's quest for .300 will have to come from the right side. A hit in one or two at-bats will put him above .300, if he gets three or four at-bats and manages only a single hit, he'll stay below .300. 2 hits off Pettitte and he's a lock. Also, with 6 more K's, Z will top 200 K's for the first time in his career, plus help out my fantasy team.
Macias's earth-shattering walk and solid throw last night weren't enough to get him in the lineup tonight. What's a guy have to do? Joking aside, good to see Theriot has recovered from his bout of food poisoning. I wonder if the Astros clinch before Sunday if Geovany Soto will get a start sometime this weekend? I don't believe he's gotten into a game yet since being called up.
The Cubs can take the season series tonight as well, so far they're 8-5 against the 'Stros. They'll have to do it against their top 3, Pettitte tonight, Clemens tomorrow, and Oswalt on Sunday (assuming they haven't clinched by then). Puts the 'Stros in an awful spot if they end up tied with the Phils for the Wild Card as Brandon Backe will have to start a playoff death match. Of course having those guys pitching the next 3 games, where 2 wins clinch the playoffs is a good recipe for avoiding said death match.
And be sure to come by Monday as we'll being posted our year end round-table discussion starting with the TCR writers.
For the rest of the week, I'll try and keep the other playoff race summaries up-to-date after the jump.
| Andy Pettitte, LHP 17-9 2.42 ERA 165/41 K/BB, 17 HR in 215.1 IP |
Carlos Zambrano, RHP 14-6 3.33 ERA 194/83 K/BB, 20 HR in 216.1 IP |
| 2B Ryan Theriot | 2B Craig Biggio |
| SS #Neifi Perez | CF Wily Taveras |
| 1B Derrek Lee | 3B Morgan Ensberg |
| 3B Nomar Garciaparra | LF #Lance Berkman |
| LF Matt Murton | 1B Mike Lamb |
| RF *Jeromy Burnitz | LF Jason Lane |
| C Michael Barrett | SS Adam Everett |
| CF *Corey Patterson | C Brad Ausmus |
| P #Carlos Zambrano | P *Andy Pettitte |
4 and Counting
GAME 159 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (77-81) @ HOUSTON ASTROS (87-71) @
THE JUICE BOX 7:05 pm CDT, TV: CSN, Fox Sports Southwest
4 straight wins for the Cubs and they finish at .500. 4 straight wins and 3 wins by the Phils this weekend and the Astros are sent home for the winter. 3 out of 4 for the Cubs and a Phils sweep over the Nationals and we have ourselves a one game death match for the Wild Card.
The Cubs who may be the poster child for playing down or up to their competition (depending on your viewpoint, which matters a lot, just ask Obi-Wan Kenobi); Try and assume the role of arch-nemesis to this merry band of space travelers. At least I suppose that's what Astros are, maybe they're just big Jetsons fans down there in Houston.
As you can tell, they're isn't much to say about this game or the rest of the season. Not only was it over a long time ago, but we're subjected to a lineup half-full of guys I hope never wear a Cub uniform again. Wow, has it not been fun to be a Cub fan the last month or so. And no, I'm not blaming Baker for these lineups, there's no one left on the roster who's capable to play right now worth watching (assuming Theriot still has his head buried in a toilet somewhere).
For the rest of the week, I'll try and keep the other playoff race summaries up-to-date after the jump.
| Wandy Rodriguez, LHP 10-9 5.62 ERA 77/52 K/BB, 17 HR in 121.2 IP |
Glendon Rusch, LHP 8-8 4.62 ERA 106/52 K/BB, 13 HR in 138.1 IP |
| 2B #Jose Macias | 2B Craig Biggio |
| SS #Neifi Perez | CF Wily Taveras |
| 1B Derrek Lee | 3B Morgan Ensberg |
| 3B Nomar Garciaparra | 1B #Lance Berkman |
| LF Matt Murton | LF Jason Lane |
| RF *Jeromy Burnitz | RF Chris Burke |
| C Michael Barrett | SS Adam Everett |
| CF *Corey Patterson | C Raul Chavez |
| P *Glendon Rusch | P *Wandy Rodriguez |
Fall Instructional League
40 Cubs are playing in Arizona now in a 3 week instructional week stint in Arizona. Apparently there are games involved. I'm sure there's someone out there who knows more about this than me.
Recent comments
crunch (view)
suzuki says he injured his oblique running to 1st, not swinging. okay. it's gonna be that kind of 2024 cubs year, huh?
i would say that's good news compared to screwing it up swinging, but i'm not familiar with the recovery time of people screwing up their oblique by running.
right side is at least different from his left side oblique injury last year.
crunch (view)
5 IN A ROW!
hack wilson, ryne sandberg, sammy sosa, christopher morel, and michael busch.
Cubster (view)
A bit more Jewish take on one of my favorite Cubs, Kenny Holtzman. His 9-0 season while serving in the National Guard and being available to pitch on weekends was one of my coolest teen recollections.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388554
Cubster (view)
Suzuki out with oblique strain. Canario indeed is called up. No word on Morel so that might be a red herring (or a red digit).
AZ lineup is posted but Counsell is always late to post his lineup.
crunch (view)
You have to C it! (tm)
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Best hitter: IL with oblique strain
Second best hitter: hasn’t looked the same since jamming his right hand during a swing
Third best hitter: playing through a sore hammy
Best pitcher: IL after one start
Second best RP: IL after 1.5 weeks
Noice
crunch (view)
suzuki 10d IL.
right oblique strain. ow. that's generally more than a 10d thing.
Dolorous Jon Lester (view)
Seiya on IL with an oblique strain
crunch (view)
cooper and morel are on the field doing pre-game stuff so it's not them...
George Altman (view)
I'll always remember his 3-0 No-hitter against the Braves when Aaron's HR was blown back into the LF well and BIlly Williams made the catch with his back against the ivy.