Patience. It all boils down to patience. I checked the box scores Friday after the Astros beat us 4 to 3 and found out that of 14 games played that day -- the winner in 12 of those games was the team who saw the most pitches. Those 12 also received the most walks. 12 of 14. That day, the Cubs saw fewer pitches than any other team in baseball and walked "not." Coincidence? Saturday it was not quite as pronounced. It was 11 of 15. Still pretty high. So, "making the pitcher work" should be high on the priority list going into a game. There are still only a couple of Cubs willing to take a walk. Fukudome, Ward, Ramirez...
Good game yesterday on most counts. Nice to see DLee back in the clutch. Good jobs by Z, Marmol and Wood. Throw to the plate in the first inning was a game saving play. Good effort. We have to win the games that our starter pitches that well. Period.
We walked no one yesterday. Taking, but not giving, those free passes, changes the game. News flash. Dusty was wrong. Walks don't "clog up the bases" -- they will ballgames.
Have a good week. Let's sweep the Pirates...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
A little better
Okay. At least we aren't going to go 0 and 162.
Dempster was good enough. We did take six walks (2 for Fukudome and one for Ward) and that helps. (See Boston Red Sox.) Like Doc Mike always says. Patients are a virtue. Or something like that.
Nice at bat by Pie in the 4th. Bases loaded. No one out. Can't make contact. Still can't believe that Soriano took a four pitch walk. That pitcher should be caned.
Four stolen bases by the Cubs. That I like.
Time to roll over the Astros. Is it too early to start printing playoff tickets? Mojo -- get the cooker ready and tell the big dog to make room on the couch!
JS
Dempster was good enough. We did take six walks (2 for Fukudome and one for Ward) and that helps. (See Boston Red Sox.) Like Doc Mike always says. Patients are a virtue. Or something like that.
Nice at bat by Pie in the 4th. Bases loaded. No one out. Can't make contact. Still can't believe that Soriano took a four pitch walk. That pitcher should be caned.
Four stolen bases by the Cubs. That I like.
Time to roll over the Astros. Is it too early to start printing playoff tickets? Mojo -- get the cooker ready and tell the big dog to make room on the couch!
JS
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Coco Crisp
I just read that the Cubs still like Coco Crisp. I cannot imagine why.
Although, Jim Hendry was quoted as saying "I like Coco Crisp, but I like Cap'n Crunch better." or something like that.
Seriously, if the Cubs and seriousness can co-exist anymore -- why Crisp? Two centerfielders isn't enough?
Little known fact. The expression "what the fuck?" was invented by a Cub fan.
Although, Jim Hendry was quoted as saying "I like Coco Crisp, but I like Cap'n Crunch better." or something like that.
Seriously, if the Cubs and seriousness can co-exist anymore -- why Crisp? Two centerfielders isn't enough?
Little known fact. The expression "what the fuck?" was invented by a Cub fan.
0 and 2
Nice start.
We are moving Soriano back to leadoff. That should take care of all our shortcomings. Thank goodness that at least once a game he won't have to bat with people on base. Phew! I know how hard that is for him.
Nice start.
Funny thing. Unless you are Fukudome or Daryl Ward, apparently it is mandatory that you swing on a 3 - 1 count. It's the law. Kind of like "no gum chewing" in Singapore.
Nice start.
Here's an interesting fact. Ted Lilly isn't that good. He's decent. He's no number 2. And that's been the problem all off season. We have a number one in Zambrano. We have a slew of guys who are number 4 or 5 starters. Nothing in between. Period. Stockpiling 4's does not win championships. Thank goodness we didn't get Santana or Bedard. That would have clogged up the rotation. But we kept Ronny Cedeno and Jose Veda -- phew again! I know it's water under the bridge -- but wouldn't it have been sweet to sign Torii Hunter (who wanted to play in Chicago - his home town) and trade away Pie and prospects to get a real pitcher? I know, I know. I'm dreaming, but we are 0 and 2, and I'm pissed about everything.
Nice start.
Time to get desperate, JH. Give the Orioles the world for Roberts now. Watch us overpay badly for him now. You'll see. The pressure is on. Dempster goes next. I hope he can keep the ball in the park.
Nice start.
I'm going to start watching American Idol instead of baseball.
JS
We are moving Soriano back to leadoff. That should take care of all our shortcomings. Thank goodness that at least once a game he won't have to bat with people on base. Phew! I know how hard that is for him.
Nice start.
Funny thing. Unless you are Fukudome or Daryl Ward, apparently it is mandatory that you swing on a 3 - 1 count. It's the law. Kind of like "no gum chewing" in Singapore.
Nice start.
Here's an interesting fact. Ted Lilly isn't that good. He's decent. He's no number 2. And that's been the problem all off season. We have a number one in Zambrano. We have a slew of guys who are number 4 or 5 starters. Nothing in between. Period. Stockpiling 4's does not win championships. Thank goodness we didn't get Santana or Bedard. That would have clogged up the rotation. But we kept Ronny Cedeno and Jose Veda -- phew again! I know it's water under the bridge -- but wouldn't it have been sweet to sign Torii Hunter (who wanted to play in Chicago - his home town) and trade away Pie and prospects to get a real pitcher? I know, I know. I'm dreaming, but we are 0 and 2, and I'm pissed about everything.
Nice start.
Time to get desperate, JH. Give the Orioles the world for Roberts now. Watch us overpay badly for him now. You'll see. The pressure is on. Dempster goes next. I hope he can keep the ball in the park.
Nice start.
I'm going to start watching American Idol instead of baseball.
JS
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fire Gerald Perry
Let's hire Fukudome's batting coach from Japan. Whatever he learned? It's working.
Opening Day
Okay. So nothing ever really changes, does it?
Missed opportunities. Still can't hit a curve ball. Swinging at awful pitches. Poor situational at bats.
Theri- 0 for March
Sorian- 0 for March
Sot- 0 for March
Fonten- 0 for March
Big Z was Zuper. Nize game. Too bad we had zero offenze. I thought the most offensive thing was Kerry Wood's beard. If this closer thing doesn't work out he can always go to work doing Geico commercials. Note to Captain Caveman. Closers can't hit leadoff people. It's bad form. And they usually end up scoring.
Marmol was nasty. Unhittable.
Fukudome doesn't realize he's a Cub yet. He'll come around.
Theriot was monsterously disappointing yesterday. Swinging at garbage and taking strikes. Come on. Soriano was equally bad. 0 for ten from the 1 - 2. Yikes.
So. One game in the books and it's a giveaway. As I said, very disappointing. We have to change our attitude before we can change our game. We have to become a better situational hitting team. Did any one of these guys watch the Red Sox win the World Series last year? Did they read what that team said about their approach? About making pitchers work? Fukudome did it to Gagne. No one else did. Fire Gerald Perry today. Hire someone who gets it.
I know. I know. It's only one game. How many "one games" will I feel this way after this year?
Sherm
ps: Ernie was great. He deserved all the attention.
pss: anyone find Shike, yet? Anyone other than Mojo looking? Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody out there? (Random Pink Floyd reference)
Missed opportunities. Still can't hit a curve ball. Swinging at awful pitches. Poor situational at bats.
Theri- 0 for March
Sorian- 0 for March
Sot- 0 for March
Fonten- 0 for March
Big Z was Zuper. Nize game. Too bad we had zero offenze. I thought the most offensive thing was Kerry Wood's beard. If this closer thing doesn't work out he can always go to work doing Geico commercials. Note to Captain Caveman. Closers can't hit leadoff people. It's bad form. And they usually end up scoring.
Marmol was nasty. Unhittable.
Fukudome doesn't realize he's a Cub yet. He'll come around.
Theriot was monsterously disappointing yesterday. Swinging at garbage and taking strikes. Come on. Soriano was equally bad. 0 for ten from the 1 - 2. Yikes.
So. One game in the books and it's a giveaway. As I said, very disappointing. We have to change our attitude before we can change our game. We have to become a better situational hitting team. Did any one of these guys watch the Red Sox win the World Series last year? Did they read what that team said about their approach? About making pitchers work? Fukudome did it to Gagne. No one else did. Fire Gerald Perry today. Hire someone who gets it.
I know. I know. It's only one game. How many "one games" will I feel this way after this year?
Sherm
ps: Ernie was great. He deserved all the attention.
pss: anyone find Shike, yet? Anyone other than Mojo looking? Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody out there? (Random Pink Floyd reference)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
