Author Topic: Cubs in '11  (Read 57314 times)

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1035 on: June 01, 2011, 10:01:28 am »
The only teams to receive fewer intentional walks than the Cubs (5) are the Twins (4) and the White Sox (3).

The Cubs are dead last in both leagues in number of pitches.

AZSteve

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1036 on: June 01, 2011, 10:01:32 am »
I'd like hearing anything from the Ricketts family. All that I've seen of the Ricketts family is #1 Ricketts walking through the stands handing out baseballs,caps, autographing stuff,shaking hands and holding prayer vigils with a dwindling number fans actually coming to the park.

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1037 on: June 01, 2011, 10:03:18 am »
Well, the good news is that the Cubs' minor league teams are having some success (the ones with actual prospects anyway).  Tennessee is 33-19, in first place by 3 games with the best record in the league.  Daytona is 39-13, in first place by 6 games, with the best record in the league.  Peoria is bringing up the rear 28-24, in second place, with the fourth best record in its league.   

This is the first year in a very, very long time that I have begun to pay much attention to the minor leagues.  I've been, in the parlance of BBF, a Nowacrat since at least 2003, probably earlier.  No more.  For the first time since I don't know when, I find myself wishing that the Cubs would start calling up promising youngsters as soon as they seem possibly ready. 

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1038 on: June 01, 2011, 10:07:14 am »
I'd like hearing anything from the Ricketts family. All that I've seen of the Ricketts family is #1 Ricketts walking through the stands handing out baseballs,caps, autographing stuff,shaking hands and holding prayer vigils with a dwindling number fans actually coming to the park.
Tom Ricketts was out in the bleachers with Len and Bob on Memorial Day.  He talked a lot and said nothing.

craig

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1039 on: June 01, 2011, 10:17:19 am »
Well, the good news is that the Cubs' minor league teams are having some success (the ones with actual prospects anyway).  Tennessee is 33-19, in first place by 3 games with the best record in the league.  Daytona is 39-13, in first place by 6 games, with the best record in the league.  Peoria is bringing up the rear 28-24, in second place, with the fourth best record in its league.   

This is the first year in a very, very long time that I have begun to pay much attention to the minor leagues.  I've been, in the parlance of BBF, a Nowacrat since at least 2003, probably earlier.  No more.  For the first time since I don't know when, I find myself wishing that the Cubs would start calling up promising youngsters as soon as they seem possibly ready. 

Yes.  Well, I'm always interested in the minors, but I share that feeling. 

To some degree I think it's potentially somewhat harmful.  I think optimal development takes a lot of repetitions and riding out some of the highs and the lows.  (How to extend the hot streaks and lock those in; how to shorten the cold spells and figure out how to get back to doing well.)  So to some degree, I emotionally want guys moved up because I want to see them and want to have somebody new and interesting and promising to watch, as opposed to Soriano and Doug Davis and Lopez.

But I'm not sure that's actually good for the system or the prospects.  I'd have preferred to have the promising AA guys stick together, keep winning, keep getting locked into hitting and winning.  Not sure the aggressive promotions will really benefit Lemahieu, or Junior Lake, or Colvin.   

Ron

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1040 on: June 01, 2011, 10:36:28 am »
Agree, Craig.  I'm just being a selfish, short-term oriented fan in wanting to see the kids called up sooner rather than later. 

Reb

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1041 on: June 01, 2011, 11:20:34 am »
Before the season, most of us thought that the strength of the club would probably be starting pitching.  As it turns out so far, the major weakness of the club is starting pitching. 

Also surprising is that Cubs currently lead the NL in batting average (.275), that this is a whopping 21 points better than NL average (.254), and has propelled Cubs to #3 in the NL in OBP.

What has been entirely predictable is that Cubs have very bad overall team defense and poor team speed.  Indeed, it is almost stunning to watch a guy with blazing speed (Campana) come up and play for the Cubs.  Too bad he's not a very good player.

I guess what I'm saying is that, to those who were pessimistic about the season going in, Cubs are predictably bad but not for all the reasons one would expect.  It's like getting the right answer but with a strong bit of faulty reasoning. 

To those who thought the primary vice of the club was that too many key players collectively are just plain old, it seems that is correct two months into the season.   And, the Quade hiring seems to be turning out poorly too.  Still, I would like to see a turnaround in the 2nd half so that 2012 will require less of a dramatic turnaround.  Hopefully, the players don't go into the tank in terms of trying to win.

Clarkaddison

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1042 on: June 01, 2011, 11:26:10 am »
Mike Quade = Jim Essian

Clarkaddison

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1043 on: June 01, 2011, 11:30:52 am »
I've run out of blue Kool-Aid.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1044 on: June 01, 2011, 11:43:49 am »
Before the season, most of us thought that the strength of the club would probably be starting pitching.  As it turns out so far, the major weakness of the club is starting pitching. 

Also surprising is that Cubs currently lead the NL in batting average (.275), that this is a whopping 21 points better than NL average (.254), and has propelled Cubs to #3 in the NL in OBP.

What has been entirely predictable is that Cubs have very bad overall team defense and poor team speed.  Indeed, it is almost stunning to watch a guy with blazing speed (Campana) come up and play for the Cubs.  Too bad he's not a very good player.

I guess what I'm saying is that, to those who were pessimistic about the season going in, Cubs are predictably bad but not for all the reasons one would expect.  It's like getting the right answer but with a strong bit of faulty reasoning. 

To those who thought the primary vice of the club was that too many key players collectively are just plain old, it seems that is correct two months into the season.   And, the Quade hiring seems to be turning out poorly too.  Still, I would like to see a turnaround in the 2nd half so that 2012 will require less of a dramatic turnaround.  Hopefully, the players don't go into the tank in terms of trying to win.

Let's see, I thought their pitching would suck.  Got that one.  I thought players being counted on heavily were too old.  You give me that one.  I thought their defense would suck.  Check.  I thought they would have no meaningful speed.  Yup.  I also thought they would not score well.  Missed that one, but that does not quite qualify as getting the right answer based on faulty reasoning.  I remember in the off-season when some were discussing the projections PECOTA(?) and others were producing for the Cubs and how so many here scoffed at them, convinced the individual players would do better.  I was not so convinced as to join the crowd.

If the team does well the rest of the season all it will do is result in a lower draft pick and less pressure to finally do things differently.

I would much rather they end up at 62-100 than 81-81.

Everyone is tired of hearing it, and I am tired of pointing it out, but this team needs a full rebuild, dedicated to collecting and developing prospects and allowing them to percolate up until the roster is simply stocked with talent and the team has a strong shot of being dominant for several years.

You will always have teams like the 2011 Giants who defy everyone's expectations and convince people that their team can similarly get lucky and win it all.  But that is a foolish course to pursue.

Build a strong team, then supplement the talent as needs develop and opportunities appear.

Do NOT make foolish moves like signing Soriano and a host of others in order to make a crappy team into a winner over night.  It is like a sugar high.  Feels good for a few minutes, but the after-effect is prolonged and negative.  The only FA I would like to see the team sign for the next couple of years are scrap heap players who are unable to find anyone offering real money and who might inexpensively fill a roster spot as a placeholder where the team has no 4A player like Bobby Scales to fill in for a year or two.  Do NOT sign a Pujols and hope he rebounds.  And do NOT worry about the W/L record for at least a couple of years.

Deeg

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1045 on: June 01, 2011, 11:45:14 am »
One thing that bothered me about the Marmol non-move tonight is that it was unfair to Marmol to leave him out there to pile up six runs when he had nothing.  My hunch is that it won't sit well with the guys in the bullpen and is not going to help Quade's credibility with the players.

This organization is broken from the top down.  How long have we been terrible at drawing walks?  How long has it been since we've had a real organizational philosophy?  Hendry defenders really would be hilarious if the situation weren't so depressing.  And none of it will change - Ricketts will go status quo after this season.  Hell, he'll probably pick up Ramirez' option.

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1046 on: June 01, 2011, 11:59:29 am »
Asked what's wrong, Tom Ricketts told the Sun-Times: "We've got a lot of injuries. We'll be fine."

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1047 on: June 01, 2011, 12:06:04 pm »
Dugout tunnel


Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1048 on: June 01, 2011, 12:23:46 pm »

StrikeZone

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #1049 on: June 01, 2011, 12:42:35 pm »
Well, if Byrd comes back and plays well, maybe some contender will pony up a half-way decent prospect for him by the deadline.

Asked what's wrong, Tom Ricketts told the Sun-Times: "We've got a lot of injuries. We'll be fine."

Hendry said something similar to this last week and it seems Ricketts is buying it.

As to the Cubs stinking at taking walks, there are three players on the team that take walks -- Fukudome, Pena and Soto -- and two of them are not going to be Cubs next year.  Think about that and how terrible the 2012 Cubs could be in that category if they don't do something to replace those walks.