'The best-laid plans'
We ran the gamut of topics with Lou today, from how his team is positioned for September to his own future to instant replay. A sampling:
--Lou mentioned that last year, the Cubs had to put pedal to the metal most of the year just to make the playoffs. I asked him if having the lead this year theoretically should make things easier. "It should keep us fresher in September," Lou said. "We've been resting this team since Soriano's come back. You look at us, and we're pretty fresh just about everywhere...It should keep us fresher, but you never know about this business. All your best-laid plans can go awry. I hope they don't. But you never know in this business. Put it this way: I'd rather be in this position, knowing that we're as rested as we possibly can be, than having to have gone full throttle the whole way."
--On the past having some bearing on this year, Lou said it shouldn't. "It doesn't mean anything to me," he said. "I dont' know what's happened here in the past. I read about it the least I can. I told these kids that before the season started in spring training. My first message was, 'You're going to be asked a lot of questions about what's transpired here.' I said, 'Look, this team stands on its own merit.' The talk is about this year and this year only. And I think we've adhered to that all year."
--Lou reiterated that this is his last managing job and that he didn't want to talk about a contract extension. "I'm signed through next year, so there's plenty of time," he said. "But this will be my last job, I can tell you, my last managing job. I can stay (in baseball) as a consultant."
--On instant replay, which can begin for the first time Thursday at Wrigley Field, Lou was hoping for a red hanky to throw on call challenges. "I'd love to be able to throw a red hanky or a green hanky or something," he said. "Imagine being able to throw something on the field, and (you) can't be ejected?" But seriously, Lou said he foresees some problems. "This could turn into a little bit of a fiasco initially," he said with a laugh. "If it takes too long, this is not like football. You've got a pitcher that's standing there. I tell you what, it'll probably be used a ploy by some managers just to freeze the pitcher for five or six minutes and cool him off if he's going really well. Baseball's got to look at this thing carefully. But I want my red hanky."
Lineup
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Edmonds, CF
DeRosa, 2B
Fukudome, RF
Soto, C
Zambrano, P
on waivers.... Do the Cubs have any interest?
..at least a little?
If you believe in the PYTHAG, the Cubs are in trouble....Losing to a team they shouldve killed.. So instead of thinking the Cubs will win..Think I hope they win
OK, Batman, why can not the Cubs just smoke bad teams ? I mean really the Pirates are a bad team..This game shouldve been forgone by the 2nd...
with Zambrano on the mound you should win. This game is on him as he caused the following:
1. Gave the Pirates life when they should have been dead after blowing a 3-0 lead and having their ace taken out. No shutdown inning.
2. Caused Piniella to go to Smardzja (spelled wrong, I know) to try to keep the lead and get the K in the 5th.
3. Made Piniella pull a double switch and take out your hottest hitter in DeRosa.
4. Tax your bullpen as you now have to PRAY and I mean PRAY that somehow Marquis can go 6-7 innings, or do you just say regardless he's staying in there?
5. Blow your whole bench as you have to outscore a pitiful Pirates team.
6. Possibly force a call up with no off day in the near future and a dead bullpen, and a offensive team rolling in over the weekend.
This could be a game that causes another loss, as the offense has to shake their head after scoring 7 and possibly losing. We need a huge, huge start tomorrow from Marquis, and that's asking a lot from a guy who usually can only go 5.
That's a pretty good smoking, tonight's ugly affair notwithstanding.
Well, in the big scheme of things, they just need to win the series (assuming they lose tonight). But yes, tonight is a poor showing.
I'll run my theory out there (again) as I think it holds water: Bad teams seem to "get up" more to play the Cubs. Maybe it's all the attention the Cubs garner and the loyal fan base that follows them all over. I mean, if I were on a sh-tty team and a national, popular team came into town with their zealous fan base, I'd play harder. You see this more in Houston. Cubs come to town...sell out..Cubs leave town, attendance back to about 30K (I live in Houston so I can vouch for this fact).
As I think he is going to get the verbal raping in the papers for his idiotic bunt play in the 7th. Even though Zambrano and Soriano should be ripped just as well.
You have to beat crap teams. I don't care if they pack the Juice Box, you should win series against bad teams. Especially with top pitchers going.
Time for me to stock up on liquor as this is going to be a very interesting last 31 games.
Whatever the outcome, it's just one of those night when they're not very sharp. But I am concerned about Z like the rest of you. Just have to battle - like Len said, it's going to be last man standing tonight.
Why not have Dempster bunt, and save yourself from using a bench guy?
Isn't Dempster tied for the league lead in sacrifices?
Hell, the way Ronny can swing it, I was just hoping they'd let him swing away instead of bunt.
Had a late day at work to only see Zambrano being baby Huey again..There is something wrong, chalk it up to a bad start , he didnt have it from pitch one..This is 3 starts in a row. I have said before he needs a lobotomy..Tonight he looked hurt...When velocity drops that much it is a red flag...Zambrano is hurt.
But the Cubs should smoke this team, they suck..
Is there a qualifier for the PYTHAG with bad teams ?...Steve, I think Dempster is one, Harden two and Lilly three...Can you count on Zambrano, I cant...
Why cant the Cubs play well agaisnt very bad teams ?
This is just ridiculous. I'm about to pop a blood vessel.
You know, when you strain your calf hoping like an idiot, and say you won't do it anymore, and then drop a lazy fly ball that a one arm man could catch, because YOUR A HOPING, that is just plain stupid. It really is.
Now your offense has to score 9, probably 10 runs, to win a game because your ace is a mindless jerk, who can't control himself, and your stars are making idiotic mistakes.
Throw in that Neil Cotts has now gotten shelled in 2 straight outings, and hopefully Jim Hendry is getting on that waiver wire and finding a lefty who can get out guys.
because I'm beyond mad.....
Ugh.
My buddy who is a HUGE Zambrano fan, and would probably join Bears-Cubs in a padded room, if he got hurt mentioned that Zambrano always gets lit up in August, but comes back in September.
..then hopefully it is just a dead arm period. Still though, would like to see a couple of days added between his starts in Sep.
Wow...I really like that kid. Makes a case for team MVP too.
2 things for you, that I'm very interested in hearing about:
1. It's getting concerning that when you listen to the lead off man or read the papers all this guy is focusing on his g-damn hitting. He asks Piniella to bat him 8th, wants to pinch hit, etc. It seems to me he's more concerned about his hitting stats, then doing his job.
2. Shoulder....I hate to be pessimistic, but with a "cranky" shoulder it seems pitchers lose their ability to harness their control. This is now 3 out of his past 4 starts that he has had nothing, and even going back to the Pittsburgh game where he pitched 5 innings that questions have to be asked.
Yeah, he mowed down Cincinnati but that lineup is truly nothing. Wait til Philly makes him pay for hanging slow curves, etc.
Very concerned.
...is probably more a concern than Point 1. I don't think the hitting thing is all that big a deal. Zambrano talks about it only when a reporter brings it up (I plead not guilty on this count; I couldn't care less). But it looks like he's pushing the ball to the plate. It's worth watching and asking about.
I'm sure you'll get the silent treatment or he'll say he's fine, but I'm really beginning to think that his shoulder is acting up. Hopefully, it's a dead arm phase, but his control has left him, and he seems to be throwing that slider slower as to relieve stress on his arm.
Not a pitching coach, but it may be worth skipping a start and using Marshall.
OR
His mechanics are way off, which could be possible. Good luck.........
..they can squeeze in an extra day of rest for Z between starts? I figure with the September call ups that may be a possibility.
I sure hope Lou gets an extension, assuming he wants to stay and keep managing. He ranks pretty high on my favorite Cub managers, probably right behind Popeye. But "Favorite Cub managers" is a pretty short list....at least since I started following this team in 1975. Speaking of which, you know how certain people always remember where they were and what they were doing when a historic event happened? I can still remember where I was when the "famous" Lee Elia tirade happened..
Logic dictates the past has nothing to do with this season, or players. Heck, Z was what, four years old when that ball went through Durham's legs? Hopefully the players keep playing as if there is no weight of 100 years on them, but I think if they get deep into the playoffs, it's going to be hard to keep those two paths from crossing. Or as George Costanza would say, "Worlds are colliding! George is gettin' upset!"
I have mixed feelings on instant replay. I kind of like the use for disputed home runs, but I just hope it doesn't slow the game down.
Alright, nice job battling back, now just need Carlos to bear down and try to go 6 or 7.
Seriously, if it's me this guy pitches in the 3rd game at best. It's getting really old watching him get tagged non stop, and with the old Z coming back, you don't want this guying taking the mound in a big time setting, because as soon as one thing doesn't go his way, it takes multiple hitters for him to calm down, and that's unacceptable. Why doesn't Rothschild get out there as soon as something bad happens and calm him down? I know it may be micro-managing but this has to be done. The guy can't handle it.
Harden is your ace, Dempster is your 2, and Zambrano is your 3, but if he keeps this up, you put Lilly in front of him.
Aces don't get lit up against a team full of minor leaguers, or give up 4 homers at home, or walk 6+ guys and implode against Florida.
Oh and way to punch a water cooler, kick dirt, and punch the bullpen phone because YOU just gave up 3 runs in one inning to a team full of minor leaguers. Nice message to your teammates. Once again, Z is off the reservation.
I wonder if the Cubs' inability to do anything in the top of the first after getting the first two on distracted him. I know pitchers are supposed to worry about just pitching, but this IS big Z we're talking about.
Well when your an ace you SHOULD be the calming force knowing that if you don't score your pitcher will hold the opposition down. NOt the other way around.
This guy needs/better step up, and step up soon. Tired of seeing him destroy the water coolers, because he's getting shelled.