So what's going to change this season?

[Andy]

A quick summary of the season:

Starting Pitching - Very solid. All 5-6 pitchers have been pretty good. Very little to complain about.
Bullpen - Started horribly for the first month and a half, have been decent recently.
Position players - Nearly everyone is batting horribly, but playing adequate defense. Even those who were hot are coming down to earth. 14th in the NL in ba. We were living off taking a walk for a while, but have apparently abandoned that philosophy.
Coaching - Plenty of questionable decisions regarding bullpen use and substitutions. Knee-jerk reactions. Not getting the most out of the group.

So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.

Make some moves. Get some guys that can hit the ball in there.

[Coach]

<!--quoteo(post=39381:date=May 22 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can agree with the first suggestion.
The second one is a bit more of a stretch.
However, the third one is comical.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=39383:date=May 22 2009, 07:46 AM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39381:date=May 22 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can agree with the first suggestion.
The second one is a bit more of a stretch.
However, the third one is comical.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I realize that Dubois isn't going to be brought up (because we really don't need another OF on top of us having no one to get rid of to make room for him). But what's the point of having Dubios in IA hitting over .350 if we never intend to use him. Trade him then.

[Coldneck]

Koyie Hill is not our problem. He's batting .306 and doing an adequate job behind the plate. Hill is also a switch hitter where Robinson is RH. Hill fits better with Soto.

[Coach]

<!--quoteo(post=39385:date=May 22 2009, 08:54 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39383:date=May 22 2009, 07:46 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39381:date=May 22 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can agree with the first suggestion.
The second one is a bit more of a stretch.
However, the third one is comical.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I realize that Dubois isn't going to be brought up (because we really don't need another OF on top of us having no one to get rid of to make room for him). But what's the point of having Dubios in IA hitting over .350 if we never intend to use him. Trade him then.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The reason we have Dubois at AAA is because we need to fill out the roster.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=39388:date=May 22 2009, 08:08 AM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39385:date=May 22 2009, 08:54 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39383:date=May 22 2009, 07:46 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39381:date=May 22 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can agree with the first suggestion.
The second one is a bit more of a stretch.
However, the third one is comical.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I realize that Dubois isn't going to be brought up (because we really don't need another OF on top of us having no one to get rid of to make room for him). But what's the point of having Dubios in IA hitting over .350 if we never intend to use him. Trade him then.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The reason we have Dubois at AAA is because we need to fill out the roster.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Maybe I'm off base, but if you have no intentions of using a player, they have no place in the farm system. I guarantee we could find another OF for a lower level of the system and promote a AA player.

[rok]

I'm on board with sending Fontenot down to work out his problems, but is he out of options?

I don't agree with releasing Freel though. He just hasn't gotten much PT yet, and he barely did with the O's either.

Fox, on the other hand, I'd be fine with bringing up. I know his defense is awful, but we need a bat right now.

Too bad we can't send Bradley down too.

[veryzer]

sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=39408:date=May 22 2009, 09:29 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa...

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=39410:date=May 22 2009, 09:33 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39408:date=May 22 2009, 09:29 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


i'm down. we should try to get wood back too. they need to come back home, for them and for us.

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=39390:date=May 22 2009, 07:18 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 07:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39388:date=May 22 2009, 08:08 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 08:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39385:date=May 22 2009, 08:54 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39383:date=May 22 2009, 07:46 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ May 22 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39381:date=May 22 2009, 08:31 AM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->So what is going to turn this group around?

We have 6 regulars at Iowa that are hitting over .300. Jake Fox at .425 HAS to be on the 25-man roster. Send Fontenot down to AAA to get his swing back.
Chris Robinson is hitting .389. Give Hill his walking papers and bring him up.
Release Freel (won't happen) and bring up Dubois and give him his final chance.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can agree with the first suggestion.
The second one is a bit more of a stretch.
However, the third one is comical.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I realize that Dubois isn't going to be brought up (because we really don't need another OF on top of us having no one to get rid of to make room for him). But what's the point of having Dubios in IA hitting over .350 if we never intend to use him. Trade him then.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The reason we have Dubois at AAA is because we need to fill out the roster.

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Maybe I'm off base, but if you have no intentions of using a player, they have no place in the farm system. I guarantee we could find another OF for a lower level of the system and promote a AA player.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Who the hell are you talking about Jason Dubois or Jake Fox?

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=39413:date=May 22 2009, 09:38 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39410:date=May 22 2009, 09:33 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39408:date=May 22 2009, 09:29 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


i'm down. we should try to get wood back too. they need to come back home, for them and for us.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The more and more I watch this team, especially without Z around, it's like they have no heart. I'm not advocating bringing DeRosa and Wood back, because it just isn't happening, but it just seems to me that we lost a helluva lot more than we or the front office thought when they were let go.

[ColoradoCub]

I don't know if anyone has noticed Ace's article, but apparently Lou is considering playing Soriano at 2b so that he can get Hoffpauir in the lineup.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=39417:date=May 22 2009, 09:42 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39413:date=May 22 2009, 09:38 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39410:date=May 22 2009, 09:33 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39408:date=May 22 2009, 09:29 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


i'm down. we should try to get wood back too. they need to come back home, for them and for us.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The more and more I watch this team, especially without Z around, it's like they have no heart. I'm not advocating bringing DeRosa and Wood back, because it just isn't happening, but it just seems to me that we lost a helluva lot more than we or the front office thought when they were let go.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Alf mentioned something along those lines earlier this season. That players were just going through the motions and not really caring.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=39419:date=May 22 2009, 09:43 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ May 22 2009, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39417:date=May 22 2009, 09:42 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39413:date=May 22 2009, 09:38 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39410:date=May 22 2009, 09:33 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ May 22 2009, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=39408:date=May 22 2009, 09:29 AM:name=veryzer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (veryzer @ May 22 2009, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->sadly, i don't think there is anything we can do. our outfield is locked up. our corners are locked up. are there good hitting middle infielders available?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DeRosa...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


i'm down. we should try to get wood back too. they need to come back home, for them and for us.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The more and more I watch this team, especially without Z around, it's like they have no heart. I'm not advocating bringing DeRosa and Wood back, because it just isn't happening, but it just seems to me that we lost a helluva lot more than we or the front office thought when they were let go.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Alf mentioned something along those lines earlier this season. That players were just going through the motions and not really caring.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, very similar to our 2004 squad, except that one probably had more talent.