Starlin

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=86557:date=Apr 6 2010, 02:56 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->4-6 games over .500 isn't gonna cut it with the Cards in our division, but that's just my opinion.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You expect a 29-23 record at the end of May will put the Cubs out of competition with the Cardinals? Come on, the Cardinals <i>should </i> be better than the Cubs, but they shouldn't be <i>that</i> good.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=86574:date=Apr 6 2010, 03:32 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Apr 6 2010, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86557:date=Apr 6 2010, 02:56 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->4-6 games over .500 isn't gonna cut it with the Cards in our division, but that's just my opinion.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You expect a 29-23 record at the end of May will put the Cubs out of competition with the Cardinals? Come on, the Cardinals <i>should </i> be better than the Cubs, but they shouldn't be <i>that</i> good.
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Let me rephrase. I don't think we will be 29-23 by the end of May, but even if we are, our record at the end of May won't dictate whether we will add/subtract to the team by late July.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=86544:date=Apr 6 2010, 02:29 PM:name=VanSlawAndCottoCheese)-->QUOTE (VanSlawAndCottoCheese @ Apr 6 2010, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=81962:date=Mar 8 2010, 01:04 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Mar 8 2010, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=81958:date=Mar 8 2010, 11:41 AM:name=Qalex1)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Qalex1 @ Mar 8 2010, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->FYI about not ending a sentence with a preposition, Winston Churchill once said "This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put." It's not actually a rule. Sorry Ace.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->"Rules" are only as applicable as the governing body that espouses them. When it comes to grammar and style, there are no "rules," because there are a number of bodies. But for every one that you could find that would not designate the no-preposition-to-end-a-sentence thing as a "rule," I imagine I could find one that would.
That all said, the prevailing view is that you only honor that "rule" where it wouldn't make the meaning of the sentence more confusing. So I agree.
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Ah, the "don't end a sentence with a preposition" rule: one of the biggest scams perpetrated on English grammar by a few tweedy Latin lovers (perhaps originally just one grammarian at first). Latin has case endings on nouns that signal that the nouns are objects of nearby prepositions. English does not. <b>The whole "rule" forbidding prepositions and their objects from straying can probably be traced to some curmudgeonly transcriber with his knickers in a wad, probably a Cardinals fan centuries before his time.</b>
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Slaw, you are truly a great addition to the site.
That was a classic post, from beginning to end.

[VanSlawAndCottoCheese]

<!--quoteo(post=86583:date=Apr 6 2010, 05:13 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 6 2010, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Slaw, you are truly a great addition to the site.
That was a classic post, from beginning to end.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Kabes (if I may)--

<mush>I'm "switching off" VanSlaw for a brief moment of discussion board humility and sincerity. I appreciate the compliment, and--based on some of the mighty fine and quite poetic stuff of yours that I've read on <i>SOI</i>--I hold that compliment in high esteem. I know the board doesn't have the same zazz for you guys as in the old days, but even on days when I lurk and don't post, you all have become a part of my daily life, often to my wife's chagrin, and I really look forward to everyone's contribution. I have "Mother Hen" instincts that are similar to Butcher's and Ace's, in that I'm thrilled when more people are posting and threads go long. I'm looking forward to meeting you all this August, Flying Spaghetti Monster willing. I realize that this brief moment of sincerity will become the target for many a fag joke. I will sit back with full intent to receive them in the spirit in which they will be offered</mush>--that is, in the form of Rube's foreboding, mangled cock.

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=86620:date=Apr 7 2010, 01:33 AM:name=VanSlawAndCottoCheese)-->QUOTE (VanSlawAndCottoCheese @ Apr 7 2010, 01:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86583:date=Apr 6 2010, 05:13 PM:name=KBwsb)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 6 2010, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Slaw, you are truly a great addition to the site.
That was a classic post, from beginning to end.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Kabes (if I may)--

<mush>I'm "switching off" VanSlaw for a brief moment of discussion board humility and sincerity. I appreciate the compliment, and--based on some of the mighty fine and quite poetic stuff of yours that I've read on <i>SOI</i>--I hold that compliment in high esteem. I know the board doesn't have the same zazz for you guys as in the old days, but even on days when I lurk and don't post, you all have become a part of my daily life, often to my wife's chagrin, and I really look forward to everyone's contribution. I have "Mother Hen" instincts that are similar to Butcher's and Ace's, in that I'm thrilled when more people are posting and threads go long. I'm looking forward to meeting you all this August, Flying Spaghetti Monster willing. I realize that this brief moment of sincerity will become the target for many a fag joke. I will sit back with full intent to receive them in the spirit in which they will be offered</mush>--that is, in the form of Rube's foreboding, mangled cock.
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I bet you had a dick in your mouth when you posted that. Homo.

[Jody]

So does your maxi pad have wings?

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=86635:date=Apr 7 2010, 08:28 AM:name=Jody)-->QUOTE (Jody @ Apr 7 2010, 08:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So does your maxi pad have wings?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I believe I can fly...I believe I can touch the sky...

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=86641:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We should have kept Blanco and started him at SS until Castro was ready or a trade could be made. Theriot then slides to 2B, one of Fontenot, Baker, or Tracy doesn't make the squad and gets traded/released. That's what I would have done and I would have had basically the same plan for the last 3 years. If Theriot was the 2B, I wouldn't hate him. At SS though, he's the biggest liability on the team (and that's saying something with our current OF).

[bz]

<!--quoteo(post=86643:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86641:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We should have kept Blanco and started him at SS until Castro was ready or a trade could be made. Theriot then slides to 2B, one of Fontenot, Baker, or Tracy doesn't make the squad and gets traded/released. That's what I would have done and I would have had basically the same plan for the last 3 years. If Theriot was the 2B, I wouldn't hate him. At SS though, he's the biggest liability on the team (and that's saying something with our current OF).
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

this

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=86644:date=Apr 7 2010, 12:14 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Apr 7 2010, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86643:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86641:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We should have kept Blanco and started him at SS until Castro was ready or a trade could be made. Theriot then slides to 2B, one of Fontenot, Baker, or Tracy doesn't make the squad and gets traded/released. That's what I would have done and I would have had basically the same plan for the last 3 years. If Theriot was the 2B, I wouldn't hate him. At SS though, he's the biggest liability on the team (and that's saying something with our current OF).
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

this
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Yeah, agreed for the most part. Defensively, Soriano and Theriot are neck and neck as far as the worst on the team, but SS is by far the more important position. Lou and Hendry had better finally take notice.

[Coach]

<!--quoteo(post=86644:date=Apr 7 2010, 01:14 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Apr 7 2010, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86643:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86641:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We should have kept Blanco and started him at SS until Castro was ready or a trade could be made. Theriot then slides to 2B, one of Fontenot, Baker, or Tracy doesn't make the squad and gets traded/released. That's what I would have done and I would have had basically the same plan for the last 3 years. If Theriot was the 2B, I wouldn't hate him. At SS though, he's the biggest liability on the team (and that's saying something with our current OF).
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

this
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Word

[Clapp]

The problem is it's not like these guys can really improve much defensively at this point, outside of Soto really. They're old and are what they are, and what they are is "not very good". I'm all for trying Starlin soon there, because I can't see us winning a championship with what's currently out there.

The bullpen appears to be crap as well, but at least it's <i>possible</i> all these young guys perform way, way above expectations. That's not going to happen with the defense.

[kbwsb]

I don't think there's any doubt that Castro is RIGHT NOW a superior defensive player to Theriot (and Hak Ju-Lee (sp) is supposed to be better than either of them with the glove).
I think the reason Castro remains in the minors is because he has a chance to be a serious bat, and the Cubs don't want to rush him, C-Patt style. Or maybe they don't want to start his arbitration clock. Either way, there are decent reasons for letting him soak up some more experience in the minors.

By contrast, Elvis Andrus of Texas was thrown into the fire at a very young age last year, and did well...he nearly won the GG. But he doesn't project to be half the hitter that Castro does, and he is probably defensively superior, so the Rangers rolled the dice.

IMO, if Starlin is raking in a month, screw it, bring him up.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=86651:date=Apr 7 2010, 12:41 PM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ Apr 7 2010, 12:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86644:date=Apr 7 2010, 01:14 PM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Apr 7 2010, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86643:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 7 2010, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86641:date=Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2010, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=86550:date=Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 6 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Regardless of what may have been, it should be pretty clear to even the biggest Theriot fans out there, that he isn't even close to being an acceptable SS on a serious playoff contender. If we are out of it by the summer, big changes need to happen up the middle.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fella and I were talking about him last night.... He has good hands and rarely boots a groundball, it's a matter of getting to a groundball with his blah range, his throws, and fielding pop ups. He's absolutely horrible running into the outfield on pop ups, no matter what direction they are behind him. He looks like a drunk infant trying to fly a kite.

But like Fella was saying, put him at 2nd base and all of these things don't becoming nearly as big of an issue. On a pop up to shallow right field he has Fukudome and Lee(our 2 best defensive players) there to help bail him out, his arm is perfectly fine for the position, etc. If Castro can consistently make routine plays and keeps the errors under 20 or so, I think just his range and allowing Theriot to move to 2nd would greatly improve our defense.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We should have kept Blanco and started him at SS until Castro was ready or a trade could be made. Theriot then slides to 2B, one of Fontenot, Baker, or Tracy doesn't make the squad and gets traded/released. That's what I would have done and I would have had basically the same plan for the last 3 years. If Theriot was the 2B, I wouldn't hate him. At SS though, he's the biggest liability on the team (and that's saying something with our current OF).
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

this
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Word
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Yeah, if there's a position where I'd sacrifice offense for defense, it's SS.