Dunn vs. Bradley (so far)

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=33708:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33706:date=Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just beginning to think Bradley was a mistake of colossal proportions. If we were an AL team, then it might have been a good deal. Maybe.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just curious, would you be as mad if he had hit .320 in his games so far instead of .043?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A little less mad.

My primary concern isn't whether he'll hit when he's actually on the field -- I'm sure he will. I just have serious concerns about how often he'll actually be on the field. 126 games last season, and that was his most in years...but I think at least 100 of those games were played as the DH.

So far, the only things he's shown are:

- He can take a walk
- He's insanely fragile
- He gets pissed kind of easily

Not really the first impression I hoped he would make.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=33709:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33708:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33706:date=Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just beginning to think Bradley was a mistake of colossal proportions. If we were an AL team, then it might have been a good deal. Maybe.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just curious, would you be as mad if he had hit .320 in his games so far instead of .043?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A little less mad.

My primary concern isn't whether he'll hit when he's actually on the field -- I'm sure he will. I just have serious concerns about how often he'll actually be on the field. 126 games last season, and that was his most in years...but I think at least 100 of those games were played as the DH.

So far, the only things he's shown are:

- He can take a walk
- He's insanely fragile
- He gets pissed kind of easily

Not really the first impression I hoped he would make.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But we knew all those things coming in, everybody did. That's what he is. However, he's also an insanely good hitter and he's going to outproduce Dunn for example in the games he plays. The dude's gonna hit, I'm so not worried about that at all. Play 90-110 games, mash in that time to help us get to the postseason, and be healthy for that where I think he'll thrive. I think at least the first two things will happen.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=33710:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:06 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33709:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33708:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33706:date=Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just beginning to think Bradley was a mistake of colossal proportions. If we were an AL team, then it might have been a good deal. Maybe.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just curious, would you be as mad if he had hit .320 in his games so far instead of .043?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A little less mad.

My primary concern isn't whether he'll hit when he's actually on the field -- I'm sure he will. I just have serious concerns about how often he'll actually be on the field. 126 games last season, and that was his most in years...but I think at least 100 of those games were played as the DH.

So far, the only things he's shown are:

- He can take a walk
- He's insanely fragile
- He gets pissed kind of easily

Not really the first impression I hoped he would make.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But we knew all those things coming in, everybody did. That's what he is. However, he's also an insanely good hitter and he's going to outproduce Dunn for example in the games he plays. The dude's gonna hit, I'm so not worried about that at all. Play 90-110 games, mash in that time to help us get to the postseason, and be healthy for that where I think he'll thrive. I think at least the first two things will happen.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah...we knew all those things, and completely ignored them (by "we," I mean Hendry).

I'd say 90-110 games is more than a little optimistic. The last time he played for an NL team and actually had to field, he played in 75 games -- and that was 4 years ago. Yeah, he played in 141 games the year before that, but that's his career best -- and it was 5 years ago.

His track record for staying healthy is pure shit -- and that's even when he can DH.

I don't know why Hendry stuck his head in the sand on this one. Abreu, Dunn, and Ibanez are all kicking ass so far, and they've all been really healthy over their careers, and they were all available. Why sign a guy who will play half the season, if we're lucky?

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=33712:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:16 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33710:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:06 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33709:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33708:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33706:date=Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm just beginning to think Bradley was a mistake of colossal proportions. If we were an AL team, then it might have been a good deal. Maybe.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just curious, would you be as mad if he had hit .320 in his games so far instead of .043?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A little less mad.

My primary concern isn't whether he'll hit when he's actually on the field -- I'm sure he will. I just have serious concerns about how often he'll actually be on the field. 126 games last season, and that was his most in years...but I think at least 100 of those games were played as the DH.

So far, the only things he's shown are:

- He can take a walk
- He's insanely fragile
- He gets pissed kind of easily

Not really the first impression I hoped he would make.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But we knew all those things coming in, everybody did. That's what he is. However, he's also an insanely good hitter and he's going to outproduce Dunn for example in the games he plays. The dude's gonna hit, I'm so not worried about that at all. Play 90-110 games, mash in that time to help us get to the postseason, and be healthy for that where I think he'll thrive. I think at least the first two things will happen.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah...we knew all those things, and completely ignored them (by "we," I mean Hendry).

I'd say 90-110 games is more than a little optimistic. The last time he played for an NL team and actually had to field, he played in 75 games -- and that was 4 years ago. Yeah, he played in 141 games the year before that, but that's his career best -- and it was 5 years ago.

His track record for staying healthy is pure shit -- and that's even when he can DH.

I don't know why Hendry stuck his head in the sand on this one. Abreu, Dunn, and Ibanez are all kicking ass so far, and they've all been really healthy over their careers, and they were all available. Why sign a guy who will play half the season, if we're lucky?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Milton was added more for the playoffs than the regular season. They think he has some fire that we could use, and will hit in the playoffs, which he's done.

I wanted Ibanez from the beginning. If we couldn't afford Manny, it was Ibanez or bust for me. The Milton idea grew on me though because of what I think he'll bring to the table in October if he can stay healthy, but I knew he was a psycho dude that gets hurt every other day. Then people started saying, "Oh that's overblown!" "He's had some bad luck with injuries, but he's not injury prone!" "His Wikipedia only lists 3 incidents he's had!" It's far from overblown. This is Milton Bradley for ya.

[Butcher]

Well...I sure hope the Cubs are playing in October, and if they are, Milton is actually healthy. Both of those scenarios seem less likely with each passing day.

[SandbergMVP1984]

I guess it was only a matter of time

[Runnys]

<!--quoteo(post=33716:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well...I sure hope the Cubs are playing in October, and if they are, Milton is actually healthy. Both of those scenarios seem less likely with each passing day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Wow, it only took 18 games to get one of the most ridiculous statements of the season.

Well played Butchie!

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=33716:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:28 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well...I sure hope the Cubs are playing in October, and if they are, Milton is actually healthy. Both of those scenarios seem less likely with each passing day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=33719:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:44 PM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Apr 28 2009, 03:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33716:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well...I sure hope the Cubs are playing in October, and if they are, Milton is actually healthy. Both of those scenarios seem less likely with each passing day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Wow, it only took 18 games to get one of the most ridiculous statements of the season.

Well played Butchie!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Allow me to address both issues and point out why they aren't ridiculous.

1. The Cubs playing in October? Seems less likely? Ridiculous?

The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season. The Brewers took a step back, but they're going to be tough. The Astros? Well...they'll probably suck. Although, Wandy Rodriguez seems to be coming into his own a little. If he can pitch on the road like he pitches at home, he'll contend for the Cy Young. And they have Oswalt, Berkman, Lee, Pence, and that spastic douchebag who closes games for them. Hell...the Astros could make some noise in the division as well.

As for the Cubs...our starting rotation is starting to show some cracks. Other than Marmol and Heilman, our bullpen is a mess. Lee blows. We don't have any depth. We don't have a real middle infielder. Soto is fat. On the flip side, Ramirez looks like he's going to have a great year, when he isn't on the DL. And Fukudome (crosses fingers) looks like he may have it figured out -- we'll see how long that lasts, though. Soriano has looked solid.

But I'm glad you think we're a lock for the division. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

2. Bradley staying healthy (or at least somehow finding a way to stay on the field for the playoffs, if we make them)?

I'm not sure why this one is ridiculous. You've seen the guy. He gets injured just thinking about taking the field. Are there some sort of magic beans that will ensure his health in September/October?


So...what exactly was ridiculous, again?

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No they're not.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=33721:date=Apr 28 2009, 02:56 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33719:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:44 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Apr 28 2009, 03:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33716:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well...I sure hope the Cubs are playing in October, and if they are, Milton is actually healthy. Both of those scenarios seem less likely with each passing day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Wow, it only took 18 games to get one of the most ridiculous statements of the season.

Well played Butchie!
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Allow me to address both issues and point out why they aren't ridiculous.

1. The Cubs playing in October? Seems less likely? Ridiculous?

The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season. The Brewers took a step back, but they're going to be tough. The Astros? Well...they'll probably suck. Although, Wandy Rodriguez seems to be coming into his own a little. If he can pitch on the road like he pitches at home, he'll contend for the Cy Young. And they have Oswalt, Berkman, Lee, Pence, and that spastic douchebag who closes games for them. Hell...the Astros could make some noise in the division as well.

As for the Cubs...our starting rotation is starting to show some cracks. Other than Marmol and Heilman, our bullpen is a mess. Lee blows. We don't have any depth. We don't have a real middle infielder. Soto is fat. On the flip side, Ramirez looks like he's going to have a great year, when he isn't on the DL. And Fukudome (crosses fingers) looks like he may have it figured out -- we'll see how long that lasts, though. Soriano has looked solid.

But I'm glad you think we're a lock for the division. I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

2. Bradley staying healthy (or at least somehow finding a way to stay on the field for the playoffs, if we make them)?

I'm not sure why this one is ridiculous. You've seen the guy. He gets injured just thinking about taking the field. Are there some sort of magic beans that will ensure his health in September/October?


So...what exactly was ridiculous, again?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Reactions baseball in Aprill crack me up.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=33722:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No they're not.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I'm not sure any of those teams are better than last year.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Reactions baseball in Aprill crack me up.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=33724:date=Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33722:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No they're not.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I'm not sure any of those teams are better than last year.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm pretty sure of it.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=33726:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:05 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33724:date=Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33722:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No they're not.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I'm not sure any of those teams are better than last year.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm pretty sure of it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Because 20 games into the season tell the whole story. Let's look at the battling Buccos for example:

Catcher(with Doumit out 2 months): Jason Jaramillo
First Base: Adam LaRoche
Second Base: Freddy Sanchez
Third Base: Andy LaRoche
Shortstop: Ramon Vazquez
Left Field: Nyjer Morgan
Center Field: Nate McLouth
Right Field: Brandon Moss

Rotation: Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens.

If that team finishes with over 70 wins it should be considered nothing short of a miracle.

The Cardinals are playing great ball right now, but at this time last year they were 13-7, just 1 game behind where they are right now. That bullpen is crap, the defense is atrocious, and the rotation isn't what it was last year. At least a couple of those things must be pretty good to have long term success.

The Reds have the potential for a breakout season, but I really don't see it happening. Cueto's starting out well, but he did this last year as well. Harang looks like his pre-2008 self, but Volquez has been complete ass, same with Arroyo. Their young mashers in Votto and Bruce are certainly impressing and that's not going to stop anytime soon, but Dusty continues to throw a couple shitty old vets into his lineups. If anybody else is managing that team, I might have some hope for them. Maybe they're a few games better than last year, but certainly not a threat to us so I really don't care.

It's also worth noting that's it's about impossible for us to play too much worse, and we're without our 3-4-5 hitters and the best setup man in the game on top of that. We also have an All-Star catcher who's been awful at the plate. Cotts sucks, but he's a shitload better than he's been so far, and ditto for a few of our bullpen arms. All of this and we're still 9-9.