2012 Chicago Cubs

[pdga#7648]

glad I picked up LaHair on my fantasy team. 1st Cubbie in almost 8 years!   

[CEValkyrie]

Another fantastic outing by Cubs starting pitchers. The Cubs have 20 quality starts in 37 games.

I believe that is 11 games lost by the bullpen this year.

[Dan Michler]

Bullpen was obviously hilariously bad again (Camp, Maine, Bowden...wtf did these guys come from?), but it was a 2-2 game when Garza exited and we didn't score again, so you can't put it totally on the bullpen.  Have to score runs too.  Right now the Cubs are 4th from the bottom in the NL in runs scored, and 6th from the bottom in runs allowed.  Its been a total effort to be this bad.  Had to expect it coming into the season.  Just be pleasantly surprised that the starting rotation has been so effective 1-4 and our young guys (Castro, LaHair) are off to such good starts.  We aren't going to win many games when we are so short on talent.  Epstein hasn't gotten a chance to make his mark through the draft, so Cubs fans will have to be patient for a couple years before making any judgments on the new regime.

[Bruce Brakel]

None of you care how many motions I reviewed today or how many opinions I drafted this month.  Why should you care how these guys do their job?    

[CEValkyrie]

I'm excited at the change even though this team is still bad. There is a noticeable difference on the field. Just take a look at Soriano. He's no longer jumping in the air for the ball. He's tried a shorter and lighter bat. Across the board the defense is drastically better.  When mistakes are made they are being discussed in the dugout.

[Chainmeister]

None of you care how many motions I reviewed today or how many opinions I drafted this month.  Why should you care how these guys do their job?    

Bruce, nobody pays money to sit and watch you review motions.  You do not have a lawyer's trading card with your stats and a stick of gum.  Nobody has a pinstriped suit with hour judge's name on the front and Brakel written on the back that they give to their kid on Christmas.  Sports is just a reality TV show.  The "reality" is that a lot of people love to watch, discuss and bet on sports.  This differs from people who play sports. You and I both do that, we play disc golf. If anybody wants to watch (as as you say,  who would want to do that?)I suspect they would be much more interested in watching you play than me.  But, they would get to watch a disc fly and hear it hit the chains. If they watch us in our day jobs it would replace Ambien but that's about the benefit they would get from it.

My wife has tried and simply cannot understand why watching a ballgame is interesting to me. it bores her to tears.  I feel the same about the Real Housewives of [insert your burg here]. Neither one of us is right. 

Do we ever discuss on this board who will win USDGC, whether Schultz or Climo can still compete with the young guns, whether somebody ran a tournament well, whether its better to play Intermediate Men vis a vis  Pro Women? Sure, its because we all dig disc golf.  That being said, I just don't get Brett and Dan's fascination with the Cubs. Hey, to each his (or her) own.

[pdga#7648]

exactly David. they should just wait for 3-5 years, maybe then they will be worth watching?? I still doubt it!
as much as I love to laugh at this topic year in and year out, I would much rather listen to them whine about the Bears. at least they are competitive, somewhat! 

[airspuds]

Crosstown Classic  this weekend  ( I know , everyone is focused on NATO ) 

Favorite moments at Wrigley for me

1.  Jordan with GW rbi
2.  several  Sox losses in live games  (maybe one win,  uribe grand slam )  when they lost more fun unfortunately
3.  any Philly game with Mike Schmidt , Cash , Bowa , Mcbride , Carlton
4.   games with no lights
5.   night games
6.   Lee Elia
7.   Harry Carey  (  remember when the cubs were the only game on tv in the afternoon )
8    SIU-C alumni game vs Cards   ( everyone on their team once I swear was name Jose )
9.  Urinals
10  Old Ladys who know more about the game than God sitting behind you and debating the merits of the DH vs P 
11  Red line travel , always an adventure
12   ASOS   _ he and mark  mcquire captavated base ball nation with there HR battle ( roids or not ) 
13   Bartman Seat
14  Ivy
15  Beer

[Dan Michler]

That being said, I just don't get Brett and Dan's fascination with the Cubs. Hey, to each his (or her) own.

Yes, its so much different rooting for a winner like the White Sox, with your 1 title in 95 years, versus a team with 0 titles in 104 years.  What an incredible organization from top to bottom the White Sox have built.  A contender every year with a ballpark we are all jealous of.

[airspuds]

one is better than none

[Chainmeister]

That being said, I just don't get Brett and Dan's fascination with the Cubs. Hey, to each his (or her) own.

Yes, its so much different rooting for a winner like the White Sox, with your 1 title in 95 years, versus a team with 0 titles in 104 years.  What an incredible organization from top to bottom the White Sox have built.  A contender every year with a ballpark we are all jealous of.

Take a look at the context of that comment.  Some, like Mr. Brakel, have a hard time why there is so much baseball chatter.  I pointed out that essentially where there is passion, there is chatter.  Dan, no question tht you have the passion. I do as well, but probably not to the extent of you or my teammate, Mike.  When we snipe at each other over who is lousier he just might be snickering over there in Michigan.  As I write these two lousy teams are playing a pretty entertaining game wherer starting pitching, one of the few things that have been going well for both teams, has fared pretty well. now...back to the non-spectator sport at the office...

[pdga#7648]

I'll bet you they win 65 or more Doug. $20?

bump for Brett.

So far the Cubs are on pace to win 65 or more winning 9 of the last 16. This team could realistcally be .500 if Marmol doesn't pitch.

ok 40 games in, that's 1/4 of the season. 15 wins x4=60. they better get going Brett!

[Dan Michler]

I should have seen that sweep coming.  Wake me up when its 2013.

[CEValkyrie]

It's been up and down Doug. Those two 6 game losing streaks are hurting my chances.

[pdga#7648]

then that 12 game losing streak almost sealed the 100 loss season!   

[CEValkyrie]

then that 12 game losing streak almost sealed the 100 loss season!   

Doug,

    The season is long from over in terms of winning 65 games. You should know from last season.

[pdga#7648]

true, but that team is young and in rebuild mode. Like Dan, you should be anxious for football season, cause this Cubs team will lose over 100 games!

[pdga#7648]

or wish they played the Cardinals 80 more times. they are .500 vs the Champs!  4-4

[Chainmeister]

In order to avoid losing 100 games the cubs would need to play .412 ball for the rest of the season.  They have 114 games left and need to win 47. They currently have 16 victories.  I certainly think that is within reach.  I don't think its a very good bet no matter which side you are  taking on this one. It will be close.  The Cubs are currently at .333.  I think its a very good bet that they will finish higher than that. I think its likely that they hit their low point. I am not sure what Doug is up to.  Why isn't he paying attention to the Cardinals?  Why beat up  on the Cubs now. This is a year where management said they were blowing it up and setting the pieces for the future. They are doing exactly what they promised. This is not nearly as depressing (for a Cubs fan) as the many years where they were sort of competitive but had no plan to get them over the hump. Last year was a good year to pick on the Cubs. This year they are what they are. As long as they are younger, play fundamental baseball and have a plan for the future there is a reason to lose the 95 or so games they are going to lose.   The only thing Doug should worry about is why the cellar team  wins so many games against the redbirds. Us Sox fans are not really paying attention to this silliness (other than keeping an eye on how Epstein's regime fares with its fundamental change to the organization). We have better things on our minds.  Our only worry is that we are truely responsible for the White Sox fate this year.  If Sox fans continue to stay at home there will be no "tweaking" around the trade deadline and an opportunity to win a division willl really be the fans' fault. I'm the worst offender. I have not been to a game yet.

[CEValkyrie]

There is no doubt the Cubs are bad to awful. Everyone knew that coming into the season. They've already lost 11 one run games.

On a side note how do you like AP Doug? He's heating up. Before you know it Beltran will be on the DL while Pujols is raking.