That Sinking Feeling

Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 10:20am
GAME 105 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (51-55) @ CHICAGO CUBS (53-51) WRIGLEY FIELD, 1:20pm CDT, TV: WGN, KTVK
Greg Maddux, RHP
8-7, 4.41 ERA
85/23 K/BB, 19 HR in 136.2 IP		 Brandon Webb, RHP
8-8, 4.11 ERA
101/41 K/BB, 15 HR in 142.1 IP
2B *Craig Counsell CF Jerry Hairston
RF *Chad Tracy 2B *Todd Walker
LF *Luis Gonzalez 1B Derrek Lee
1B *Tony Clark RF *Jeromy Burnitz
3B Troy Glaus 3B Aramis Ramirez
CF *Shawn Green LF *Jody Gerut
SS Royce Clayton SS #Neifi Perez
C Chris Snyder C Michael Barrett
P Brandon Webb P Greg Maddux
No, not just because of the way this season seems to be slipping away from us inch by inch as we lose games because we can't score runs off Mike Gosling, but because Brandon Webb has one of the best sinking fastballs in the game. With Jody Gerut's downward chop of a swing, I'm betting on a lot of him grounding into a double play or two today.
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Comments

Submitted by Erik Newton  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 10:39am  
Hairston and Lee groundout--Walker lines out. This is basically what you'd expect from Webb. Does anyone know what Berny's numbers are off Webb? I get a sense with his swing he may have some of the homerun success that Webb's given up this year.

Submitted by Tom C  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 10:46am  
Perez 7th and Barrett 8th? In Dusty we Rusty.

Submitted by mannytrillo  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 10:51am  
Hairston is in a bad slump right now. Since taking over for Cpat in CF on July 8, he is: 20-79, 9 runs, 5 BB/HBP (.253 avg and .301 OBP) God do we need a real everyday leadoff hitter...

Submitted by big john stud  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 10:57am  
"We" need a real everyday manager as well. Proposed trade: Dusty to the Dodgers for one of their grounds-keepers.

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:06am  
Hairston is in a BIG hitting slump right now...what IF Dusty trades him out and puts Murton in at the top of the line-up...? Who is more likely to get on base...? What do we have to lose ?

Submitted by Brian (Vegas)  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:16am  
I don't even know what to say about this game. I'm signing off, turning off the game, and going to enjoy the rest of the day.

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:21am  
Stark is reporting that Soriano is not getting traded.

Submitted by mannytrillo  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:27am  
Scott, no complaints by me about tring Murton at #1 and CF.

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:36am  
The Multi-Million Dollar Maddux is giving up MANY More hits than the Rookie Rich Hill did yesterday...This is not good...Lets hope we can turn things around...Our Bullpen is going to get quite a work out this afternoon.

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:39am  
Our bullpen will continue to get a workout until this team can put a good solid lead on the board. The offense is pathetic...really.

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:48am  
How about this trade Maddux to the Yanks for a 26 year old in AA.

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:53am  
Remlinger loads the bases with walks and then gives up a GRAND SLAM (just when we couldn't afford it)...What a game.

Submitted by BillT  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:56am  
"According to FSN Northwest, the Marlins have acquired Ron Villone from the Mariners for Yorman Bazardo and Mike Flannery. Jul. 31 - 3:52 pm et" Nothing goin' on.

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 11:58am  
Ron Villone is the biggest name to get traded? Maybe the should move the deadline back a week.

Submitted by vorare  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:02pm  
Gerut to the Pirates for Lawton.

Submitted by Bleeding Blue  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:05pm  
Anyone else watching Ryno? I'm really enjoying the reminder of why he's the best player I've ever seen wear a Cub uniform. Simply a class act who really knows what makes baseball such a great game.

Submitted by BillT  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:05pm  
So far itis just Ron "I've sucked every year of my career before this" Villone and... Buddy Groom has been traded from the Yankees to the Diamondbacks, ESPN reports. It can't be for John Patterson. Expect it to be for a PTBN. Jul. 31 - 3:58 pm et Mr. DFA. ...but wait... ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Matt Lawton could go from the Pirates to the Cubs in exchange for Jody Gerut. The Pirates hoped to do better than that for Lawton. Jul. 31 - 4:02 pm et Sounds good to me, if that's all.

Submitted by BillT  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:07pm  
oooh, Farns to Braves.

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:08pm  
Farnsy is a brave for Roman Colon and Zach Minor

Submitted by Green Lantern  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:11pm  
um, not gonna talk about this game, other than i thought maddux was overpaid from the second he was signed by the cubs... but RYNO: "and for what it's worth, Ron Santo just gained another vote from the Veteran's Committee" great quote, huge ovation from the cubs fans there....best part of my day. go ryno. i grew up with you as my cubs idol.

Submitted by BillT  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:12pm  
Steve Phillips needs to lay off the tanning...

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:12pm  
Lawton is a Cub.

Submitted by Mark  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:15pm  
Anyone know who we gave up. I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised as long as we didn't give-up the farm.

Submitted by Sags  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:17pm  
Ryno: I didn't go looking for the red light on the camera after hitting a home run (paraphrased.) Slight jab at Sammy, I'm guessing. Ryno had a lot to say, surprisingly.

Submitted by Ron Galt  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:19pm  
A fine rental, assuming Gerut is the extent of the price. Murton should get platoon starts: 2002-2004, Lawton vs... RHP: 273/366/438 LHP: 219/318/363 Also intriguing: Day (390 AB): 249/354/464 Night (990 AB): 260/352/395

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:19pm  
I don't know. They were just talking about ESPN. Olney said earlier it was for Gerut but he is still in the game.

Submitted by Bleeding Blue  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:23pm  
Ryno also made a couple other comments that I thought might have been slight jabs at Sammy, like "since when does hitting HRs make it ok to forget the rest of the game" and "in my day when a player came to spring training 20 pounds heavier they were considered out of shape"

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:24pm  
Holly is in the game now.

Submitted by tem  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:25pm  
Anyone know the details of lawton's contract?

Submitted by Mike  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:25pm  
ESPN just announced that we got Lawton.But no word on for who yet.

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:27pm  
Ryno is a class act...Maybe he should be considered as a candidate to replace Dusty as the Cubs Manager...;-)

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:28pm  
Gotta Love Ryno!

Submitted by Ron Galt  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:29pm  
Lawton's in the final year of a 4 year/27 million deal. I couldn't find exact details, but it isn't much. I don't have the game on, but the deal has yet to pop up in the ESPN wire or on Google News.

Submitted by vorare  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:29pm  
I think Lawton's contract is something like 1 year @ 7.5mm.

Submitted by tem  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:30pm  
Thanks Galt, wasn't sure if he was signed through next year. BBTN says that it is gerut that was traded.

Submitted by Michael Cross  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:30pm  
ESPN tv just showed the trade as Gerut straight up for Lawton. If that's all we're giving up for him, I suppose it's a pretty decent trade.

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:30pm  
just announced the trade on WGN

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:31pm  
WGN confirms Gerut for Lawton Lawton will be leading off due to decent OBP

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:32pm  
Ron Santo says Pittsburgh's Matt Lawton is pretty good lead-off hitter...He has an excellent OBP, runs well and is very good in the field.

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:33pm  
Lawton will be leading off due to decent OBP No he will be clogging up the bases leading off....you forget who his new manager is.

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:33pm  
I wonder if Hendry's feels better dealing with the Pirates than anyone else. Essentially this was DuBois for Lawton

Submitted by Scott  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:34pm  
I think this could be a good deal for the Cubs...and IF we can get Nomar, Wood and Williamson firing on all 8 cylinders then we might be able to start to build some real momentum.

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:35pm  
Pitt is one of 6-8 teams who would sell....as usual. Cinci had more costly players and others didn't have what Hendry needed.

Submitted by BillT  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:35pm  
"I wonder if Hendry's feels better dealing with the Pirates than anyone else." Really, who wouldn't?

Submitted by chifan3887  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:36pm  
How do you think the OF is going to work. RF: Lawton CF: Burny LF: Murton Lawton is not that a great defender, and Hairston is only in the line-up to leadoff. I could see C-pat brought up and Murton sent to AAA.

Submitted by cubfan  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:40pm  
Lawton may have been added to the team...and Nomar comes back Friday....and you know it's gonna be harder than hell for Dusty B to sit Hairston and Perez......maybe Nomar will get a plattoon with Neifi if he's lucky....and same thing with Hairston....aint' no way Dusty is sitting his boys everyday.

Submitted by tem  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:41pm  
I think this is a very good trade. Lawton gets on base, has a little pop, and there's no big contract issues. I don't think many would complain about trading Dubois for Lawton, which is essentially what happened. I imagine murton will get the starts against lefties. I know he's getting up there in age, but I would still like to see Hendry inquire about the availability of Lofton. His defense isn't great and his arm is even worse, but he gets on base and still has some speed. He was quite the sparkplug a few years back and think he'd excel in that role again. I don't think it would take that much to get him either, although it's assuming philly would give him up.

Submitted by tem  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:43pm  
My prediction on the OF: Lawton/Hairston/Burnitz, with murton (hopefully) getting starts against lefties.

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:44pm  
hard to get excited with this move...but given how soggy this offense is, this team needed an infusion of life weeks ago. If we see Lawton and Murton in the same outfield...we just might be door Matts

Submitted by Bleeding Blue  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:46pm  
I don't know, do you think Dusty can afford to "experiment" with Matt Lawton in the Cubs outfield? If anyone missed it on Comcast last night, they're showing "Ryno's Game" now on ESPN Classic.

Submitted by Bleeding Blue  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:49pm  
Cubfan, on what planet is Hairston one of dusty's boys? Hairston couldn't even get playing time when Walker was out for a month, he's only playing now because Hendry took away Baker's favorite free swinging Center Fielder.

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 12:52pm  
I agree with Blue... Lawton will probably play CF, otherwise Burnitz will This moves Hairston back to the doghouse and Hollandsworth back to LF Still looks dustbuster ugly to me.

Submitted by Andrew  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 1:04pm  
I don't mind the Lawton trade at all, but I really hope Hendry keeps his eyes on potential players. I still think the Phillies will tank and Wagner might become available. I would give up prospects and a few arms for him if needed 1) to keep him away from the Cards and 2) see if he can be locked up for the next couple of years. He would be an anchor for our bullpen.

Submitted by Anonymous Observer  on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 1:22pm  
I still think the Phillies will tank and Wagner might become available. I don't think the Cubs would have a chance to acquire him at this point. He would more than likely be claimed before it was the Cubs turn to pluck him off the waiver wire. I would give up prospects and a few arms for him if needed 1) to keep him away from the Cards You don't have to worry about that. The Cardinals have absolutely no interest in Wagner.

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  • Charlie 30 min 6 sec ago (view)

    Trading away some good prospects during the win-now phase is a confounding factor, since some of those guys *could* have gone on inside the organization to bolster the reputation. But one can hardly blame those trades for the lack of pitching development.

     
  • Arizona Phil 32 min 4 sec ago (view)

    K-DUB: Eury Ramos FB was 97-99. 

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 6 hours 25 min ago (view)

    20s sounds about right. Considering they have gotten pretty much nothing out of pitching development in the last decade and only number one picks and Bote on the hitter side in the same time frame, that's pretty telling. I guess Contreras falls into that too but he had been around quite a while before Theo and Jed

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 6 hours 27 min ago (view)

    I was thinking that too, Phil. EJM failing so badly was another spectacular miss. Guess they should have let sleeping dogs lie when his first deal fell through (Dodgers or Giants, I think?)

     
  • tim815 7 hours 20 min ago (view)

    MLB.com rated the Cubs 22 out of 30.

    This season figures to tell quite a bit. No teams are terrible at player development anymore, and no teams look at the draft as a hopeless puzzle.

     
  • KingKongvsGodzilla 10 hours 34 min ago (view)

    Are these guys out of the org now? 

     
  • K Dub 15 hours 11 min ago (view)

    PHIL: Any velo readings on Ramos? Earlier reports also had him sitting 98-99. Thanks!

     
  • George Altman 21 hours 11 min ago (view)

    Phil, serious question: How good is the Cubs Player Development Department? Scale of 1 to 30 with 1 being best.  I mean, I can think of 5 teams right now who don't have near the Cubs resources but do better year after.

    I mean there are organizations across sports who seem to coach the crap out of their draft picks and signees. They just got 4 teenagers for Darvish, but do they have the coaches to get any of them to the show? 

    My pessimistic grade would be about 24.

     
  • Arizona Phil 21 hours 26 min ago (view)

    DJL: How about Eddy Julio Martinez as a spectacular miss? A $3M signing bonus out of Cuba and he never made it out of AA. 

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 21 hours 32 min ago (view)

    Wow, that's a pretty spectacular miss. He was so highly thought of when he signed.

     
  • Arizona Phil 22 hours 5 min ago (view)

    TIM: Richard Gallardo doesn't seem to be progressing as a SP, so he has apparently been moved to the bullpen.  He has a tendency to labor through innings and nibble too much and throw a lot of pitches. 

     
  • tim815 22 hours 18 min ago (view)

    Anything on Gallardo, of interest, from today?

     
  • Arizona Phil 22 hours 20 min ago (view)

    The Cubs have released LHP Ryan Kellogg, RHP Alex Moore, 3B Fidel Mejia, OF Jose Gutierrez, OF Eddy Julio Martinez, and OF Zac Taylor from Minor League Camp. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 22 hours 26 min ago (view)

    And despite what you might read elsewhere, It was - NOT - a "hot" gun.  

     
  • Arizona Phil 22 hours 52 min ago (view)

    He certainly could have forced the Cubs to release him with full salary as termination pay, so he must like it with the Cubs.  

     
  • Charlie 1 day 43 min ago (view)

    Follow-up on last week's discussion of Baez's contact and plate discipline woes. Another Fangraphs article notes that he is among league leaders in combined positive change in zone swing rates (swinging at more pitches inside the strike zone) and reduction in chase rate (swinging at pitches outside the zone). See the last table: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-look-at-some-earl...

    This makes his 45% strikeout rate and 1.7% BB rate all the more strange.

     
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