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<!--quoteo(post=28345:date=Apr 7 2009, 09:18 PM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Apr 7 2009, 09:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->KB is right...he should not hit leadoff. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know if that was sarcastic, or genuinely questioning the idea.
I admit, I love to see Soriano blasting.
On the one hand, Alf has creamed 2 monster home runs in 2 games. Fuck yeah, Alf!
On the other hand, tonight's was yet another solo homer, and we lost by a sole run.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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Oh, and by the way, Clapp. I'm sincerely happy that you are relaxed about this season. That's a good thing.
I'm 100% fine with this. I'm just glad there's an actual plan in place that isn't, "Let's load up on retreads and hope we get lucky." I'm a little tired of that plan.
Butcher
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<!--quoteo(post=28512:date=Apr 7 2009, 09:44 PM:name=Lance)-->QUOTE (Lance @ Apr 7 2009, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=28506:date=Apr 7 2009, 11:38 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2009, 11:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=28503:date=Apr 7 2009, 09:34 PM:name=Lance)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lance @ Apr 7 2009, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=28502:date=Apr 7 2009, 11:31 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 7 2009, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=28498:date=Apr 7 2009, 09:30 PM:name=Lance)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lance @ Apr 7 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I hate those fuckers and their announcers. Fuck them. And fuck everyone who thinks that 162 games doesn't matter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Huh?
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Sorry Clapp--but you are at the head of that class. Talking about not pitching Harden until September or July, or whatever. The regular season is not a given. This game sucked.
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Of course it's not a "given" and the players know that, and that's why I know we'll be absolutely fine. We're in a beyond shitty division with a loaded team. We're 1 -1 on the road to start the year. I expected us to go 1-2 in this series and probably 2-4 on the week. I watch every single game and care, I'm just not going to let a regular season win or less make my day like I used to. I feel better right now than about any Cubs loss in my lifetime. It's a nice change.
And I don't want to pitch Harden til then because he hasn't been himself, I don't want an 85% Harden when we're good enough to win without him, and he's the best pitcher in baseball when he's himself. What have we won in the last 100 years? Jackshit. Harden's the type of pitcher than can carry you himself, but he's struggled to be able to stay out there for more than 10 or straight starts in a row.
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Rick Sutcliffe in 1984 was the best pitcher I've ever seen. He carried that team. They absoutely would not have won the division without him going 16-1. I'll grant you that it's much different now with 3 divisions, the playoff changes, etc. And I'll also grant that I'm bitching because of this game--but I don't see any sanity in letting Harden not pitch until mid season.
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2003: 13 starts- 74.2 IP
2004: 31 starts- 189.2 IP
2005: 19 starts- 128 IP
2006: 9 starts- 46.2 IP
2007: 4 starts- 25.2 IP
2008: 25 starts- 148 IP
So in 6 years, he's pitched 1 full season. Last year he made 25 starts, and his fastball velocity wasn't near where it was in July by September. Now this spring, he's getting absolutely shelled and his fastball is right where it was when he was struggling last September. Maybe it just means this is what he is as Butch has suggested and we're not going to see the incredible Harden again, but I'd rather give him some rest and try to kick ass for about 15 starts rather than hope he can throw a full season. I have significant doubts, and this team has plenty enough pitching to get by without him for a few months. I'd rather have him at his best in the later months than right now. Maybe more throwing will improve his arm strength and stamina as it should for most pitchers, but he's a different animal.
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He's a weird animal. Like Bradley, his injuries are not confined to the usual places...he gets them all over his body. He's like the anti-Ripken.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=28516:date=Apr 7 2009, 10:02 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 7 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->He's a weird animal. Like Bradley, his injuries are not confined to the usual places...he gets them all over his body. He's like the anti-Ripken.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah. I mean obviously we hope that it's just been some ridiculously bad luck, but I'd be careful with them. If we're in a more competitive division we probably can't afford to do that. Maybe somebody performs much better than expected, but I think 86+ wins or so will get it done.
@TheBlogfines
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i can handle this loss...we scrapped but just couldn't get it done.
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This game goes back to us not being able to hit Wandy. I'm not gonna lose it because of one game, but it's frustrating as shit that we can never light up that bag of poop.
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<!--quoteo(post=28520:date=Apr 7 2009, 10:09 PM:name=phan)-->QUOTE (phan @ Apr 7 2009, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->i can handle this loss...we scrapped but just couldn't get it done.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, some more great pitching and if you think this lineup will keep tossing up only 2 run games you're kidding yourself. To me the most important thing from this game is that Dempster looked like the guy we saw in 2008 and people have had serious doubts of that.
@TheBlogfines
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Wandy fucking Rodriguez. Seriously? Really? How much longer will this continue?
And I forgot just how much I hate Valverde until tonight. Someone needs to give him electro-shock therapy.
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I'll be fine with 1/2 on the road and 2/3 at home for the rest of the year.
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Wandy Rodriguez's career numbers vs. the Cubs at Minute Maid Park (6 games):
4-1, 41.2 IP, 10 R, 10 ER (2.16 ERA), 34 H, 13 BB (1.13 WHIP), 26 K
This is not some silly theory that's unsupported and deserves being mocked by photos of Xena.
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<!--quoteo(post=28513:date=Apr 7 2009, 10:49 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 7 2009, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=28345:date=Apr 7 2009, 09:18 PM:name=Runnys)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Runnys @ Apr 7 2009, 09:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->KB is right...he should not hit leadoff. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know if that was sarcastic, or genuinely questioning the idea.
I admit, I love to see Soriano blasting.
On the one hand, Alf has creamed 2 monster home runs in 2 games. Fuck yeah, Alf!
On the other hand, tonight's was yet another solo homer, and we lost by a sole run.
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Dude, Soriano hit his HR in the 8th inning, with one out, following Miles' K. Whether he was hitting 1st, 4th, or 12th, being a solo shot had nothing to do with him leading off.
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Oh, and Lou lost the game last night. There was no reason to put Cotts back out there for another inning. He came in, in a high pressure situation and put a the fire successfully; you don't let him sit for a half an inning and put him back out. As sson as I saw him come back out, I knew the game was over, Lou set him up to fail. Bad managing.
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<!--quoteo(post=28562:date=Apr 8 2009, 09:00 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 8 2009, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Oh, and Lou lost the game last night. There was no reason to put Cotts back out there for another inning. He came in, in a high pressure situation and put a the fire successfully; you don't let him sit for a half an inning and put him back out. As sson as I saw him come back out, I knew the game was over, Lou set him up to fail. Bad managing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I totally agree Rubes. I had the exact same feeling. It made no sense. Lou tried to steal a inning and still had to put in Gregg. And then we lose! It was very poor managing.
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<!--quoteo(post=28562:date=Apr 8 2009, 09:00 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 8 2009, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Oh, and Lou lost the game last night. There was no reason to put Cotts back out there for another inning. He came in, in a high pressure situation and put a the fire successfully; you don't let him sit for a half an inning and put him back out. As sson as I saw him come back out, I knew the game was over, Lou set him up to fail. Bad managing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bingo. Ruby nails it.
I'm 100% fine with this. I'm just glad there's an actual plan in place that isn't, "Let's load up on retreads and hope we get lucky." I'm a little tired of that plan.
Butcher
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