2008 MLB Season

[Dan Michler]

Pearso66, where have you been?  I miss your ridiculous comments about the Cubs.

They CAN'T win it all in the playoffs??   Thats just dumb.  If you can win in the regular season, you can win in the playoffs.  Actually, its significantly easier to be successful in the MLB playoffs than it is in the regular season.  How far back to you have to look for proof of that (Cardinals '06)  Did they have dominant 1 and 2 starter?  Anybody can get hot at the right time and win a 7 game series in baseball.  Being good for 162 games...much harder.  Besides, who in the National League has a rotation that is so much better suited for the playoffs?  Arizona has Webb/Haren/Owings and Philly has Hamels/Myers/Moyer/Eaton/Kendrick (whichever 2 you want to go with Hamels).

Ever since Arizona won in 2001 over the Yankees with Johnson and Schilling, people think you have to have 2 guys like that to be successful.  I really don't think thats the case.  If it were, the A's would have won a playoff series with Mulder/Hudson/Zito in their prime...but they didn't.

Please keep talking about how bad our starting rotation is Sox fans.  Our staff ERA.......4th best in the majors.

[pearso66]

Sox have the 2nd best ERA in baseball, so I dont know if you were trying to rip on that or what, but anyway.

I didn't say they couldn't win because of lack of a top 2, I said that I don't see Dempster and possibly now Zambrano being healthy.  You have to admit that if those 2 are down, the Cubs are shot.

Yes it is possible to get hot at the right time, but pitching wins championships.  You saw what the Sox pitching did in 05, and yes, they were a good staff.  Just like St. Louis, and Boston had good rotations also.

It's my opinion that I don't think they can win it all with what they have.  I'm sure you were one of the millions of people saying the Sox had no chance in 05, nobody wanted to admit that team was good, but they were very good.  The Cubs right now are the best team in the league, but if Dempster and Zambrano can't stay healthy, and if Wood's arm falls back off, it's going to be "Wait till next year" again.  I also don't think Howry is that good of a reliever, and if Wood goes down, he's going to be relied on a lot more.

[Dan Michler]

I was not trying to rip on the Sox ever.  I don't have to rip their team, we just spanked them 3 str8.  Several Sox fans (including yourself) have been saying to me that the Cubs rotation sucks and thats why we're going down.  My reply to how much our pitching sucks is just that we have the 4th best staff in the league.

Yeah I think you can pretty safely say that if all the best players on the Cubs get injured then we will probably suck.  Is there a team that doesn't apply to??  I love how we're assuming a Dempster injury when he is totally healthy right now.  Z had an MRI and there was no damage.  He'll be fine as long as Lou doesn't push him like he was last month.

[pearso66]

Well, I am assuming Dempster will get hurt because 1, he hasn't pitched over 100 innings the past 2-3 years, and prior to that he got hurt a couple of times.  If he stays healthy, great, but even if he doesn't get hurt, it's possible that he will be worn down, and not be as affective.  As for Zambrano, yes, his MRI showed no damage, but remember 2-3 years ago when Prior was completely healthy, nothing showed up on the MRI, and then he went to pitch like 5 innings all year?  Not saying that is the case with Zambrano, but it wouldn't be the first time the Cubs lied about a pitchers injury.  It all started as he was just going to miss 1 start, and then all of a sudden he was on the DL.    As for your other pitchers, Marquis isn't that good, you know that.  Lilly while good, had a horrible post season last year.   Do the Cubs have a 5th starter written in?  Gallagher is probably your best bet.  I don't know what happened to Hill, all I heard last year was he was going to be the best lefthanded pitcher in baseball, and he couldn't find the strike zone this year.  I'm not saying you said that about Hill, I heard that from many many Cub fans, on why he shouldn't be traded for Bedard last year.

Once again, the Cubs top 2 pitchers are very good, also their bullpen is one of the best in baseball, but the bottom 3 are questionable, and if you lose Wood, I don't know how the rest of the bullpen will hold up.  Can Marmol close?  Can Howry or Eyre handle the late inning pressure?  Can they handle the pressure of the playoffs?

[Sr.]

Well, I am assuming Dempster will get hurt because 1, he hasn't pitched over 100 innings the past 2-3 years, and prior to that he got hurt a couple of times.  If he stays healthy, great, but even if he doesn't get hurt, it's possible that he will be worn down, and not be as affective.  As for Zambrano, yes, his MRI showed no damage, but remember 2-3 years ago when Prior was completely healthy, nothing showed up on the MRI, and then he went to pitch like 5 innings all year?  Not saying that is the case with Zambrano, but it wouldn't be the first time the Cubs lied about a pitchers injury.  It all started as he was just going to miss 1 start, and then all of a sudden he was on the DL.    As for your other pitchers, Marquis isn't that good, you know that.  Lilly while good, had a horrible post season last year.   Do the Cubs have a 5th starter written in?  Gallagher is probably your best bet.  I don't know what happened to Hill, all I heard last year was he was going to be the best lefthanded pitcher in baseball, and he couldn't find the strike zone this year.  I'm not saying you said that about Hill, I heard that from many many Cub fans, on why he shouldn't be traded for Bedard last year.

Once again, the Cubs top 2 pitchers are very good, also their bullpen is one of the best in baseball, but the bottom 3 are questionable, and if you lose Wood, I don't know how the rest of the bullpen will hold up.  Can Marmol close?  Can Howry or Eyre handle the late inning pressure?  Can they handle the pressure of the playoffs?

The answer is yes, yes, yes.

[stpitner]

The cubs just don't need games in a dome on that stupid field turf.  I'm hoping the Cubs can find a taker on likes-to-swing-at-pitches-near-my-eyeballs-Cedeno.

I heard a report during tonight's Cubs game that Z was playing catch casually today while trying to relax - he is ready to go once the 15-day DL is up (and playing catch isn't the reason why he's ready to go, it sounded like he told Santo he was ready).

Cool note: Lilly started the season 0-4, but is now 8-5.  Works for me.

Dempster spent the entire offseason concentrating on endurance exercises.  Hopefully a good result of that is a full season.

Marquis: get back to me after he starts a few after the all-star break.  You never know with this guy.

It would be great to see another starter come in here that could help bolster the rotation.  Who do the Pirates have for the Cubs to pick at and steal? lol.

Magic Number: 80

[CEValkyrie]

Just when I was starting to like Edmonds he lets us down. He dogs it from 3rd on the fly ball then has a chance to light up Molina. He does not & gets thrown out. A huge rally was killed.

Yes Wood should have closed that out but  a few insurance runs would have been nice.

[Dan Michler]

Things have heated up in the Central with the Brewers on a roll.  This 4 gamer this week is about as big as a July series can get.  I'll be happy if the Cubs can split on the road and keep the 1 game lead.  Soriano sparked the offense yesterday and I think he can really give the added boost we need to get to the finish.  It'd be nice if Fukudome could bring some of the energy back that made us the best team in baseball for the first 3 months.

I'm going to the game on Wednesday.  Can't wait!  Miller Park is an awesome place to see a game.

[discpro99]

I'm going to the game on Wednesday.  Can't wait!  Miller Park is an awesome place to see a game.

See you there!

[dana]

Big series.  I can't believe the Brewers swept the Cards in St. Louis.  Wonder if Carpenter coming back and starting this week will give the Cards a boost.

I hope CC doesnt get his 4th complete game in a row (unless its for a loss!).

[Dan Michler]

I'm going to the game on Wednesday.  Can't wait!  Miller Park is an awesome place to see a game.

See you there!

you going too?  i'll be in sec'n 207 which is 1st base side in the outfield foul territory.

[discpro99]

I'm going to the game on Wednesday.  Can't wait!  Miller Park is an awesome place to see a game.

See you there!

you going too?  i'll be in sec'n 207 which is 1st base side in the outfield foul territory.

Im not sure where im sitting yet I signed up for one of those party buses in May for 75.00. Ride to and from game, ticket and all you can drink on the bus. Not bad. Hopefully its as good of a game as last night.

[damonshort]

So Griffey goes to the White Sox....

I happened to be in Cincinnati over the weekend. Sat nite he let a fly ball drop 30 ft in front of him; the boos would have been deafening had the park not been only half-full. Later in the game he nailed a runner at the plate w/ a bullet from 350, so he can still play if he wants to. In between these plays he hit one out, which I missed because I was at a concession stand (Great American Ball Park has the most mediocre food of any MLB park I've ever been to, incidentally...)

He clearly wanted out of Cincy - the team itself has obviously quit already, and the manager (whose name I can't recall at the moment  ) left his pitcher in until he'd given up 15 hits by the 5th inning (I'm not kidding.) How exactly he'll fit in with the Sox is a question others will have to address.

Oh yeah, got a round in at Mt. Airy. Long, tough but fair, fun, not a destination course but definitely worth playing if you're out that way.

[Jon Brakel]

You have to figure that the Sox have some other trade brewing to make room for Griffey. Griffey had to approve the trade and there's no way he would approve a trade if he wasn't going to be an every day player. Either that or they're going to put Konerko on the DL...ever since he's been back he's been playing like he's injured.

[stpitner]

unreal what the Cubs have going on right now.  After 121 games last season, the Cubs were 62-59.  This year they are 74-47.  Wow.  They didn't have 74 wins last year until September 12th!

I forget how many games over .500 they were when I heard the stat that they hadn't been this many games over since the 1984 season (it was something around 23 or 24 games I think).  Now they are +27.  Hope they keep it rolling in Florida!

[Sr.]

What a game! If the Cubs dont win the World Series this year,  then they will win it next year. 
Not to change the subject but what a race by Phelps. Unreal finish!
GO USA

[Dan Michler]

Pitner's Dusty Baker loving preseason prediction:

Cubs
Reds
Brewers (rotation issues is why I put them 3rd)
Astros
Cardinals (if only because of Pujols do I not put them last)
Pirates (who from the Pirates gets traded to the Cubs this year? Jason Bay?)

Michler's intelligent and insightful preseason prediction:

Cubs
Brew
Astros (this team is greatly improved with Pence, Bourn, and Tejada in the lineup.  They could end up winning it when the inevitable Cubs/Brewers meltdowns come)
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates


Reality:

Cubs
Brewers  -4 1/2
Cards  -10
Astros  -12
Reds   -23 1/2
Bucs  -26


With the Astros winning their last 7 games, it looks like I'm going to nail this thing exactly.  I just wanted to point out how awesome I am    Go ahead and pick the Reds to compete again next year Scott!

[stpitner]

lol, I want to see if I talked about the Reds before or after they signed Corey Patterson and whatever other lame ex-Cub they could scrounge up.  You also wouldn't have expected quite as bad of a season as what Harang is putting up along with Arroyo.  If those two were anything like what they were in the past with how Volquez is doing, things would be a little different.

But ... they were Bakered.  Pitiful.

[Tom McManus]

Pitner's Dusty Baker loving preseason prediction:

Cubs
Reds
Brewers (rotation issues is why I put them 3rd)
Astros
Cardinals (if only because of Pujols do I not put them last)
Pirates (who from the Pirates gets traded to the Cubs this year? Jason Bay?)

Michler's intelligent and insightful preseason prediction:

Cubs
Brew
Astros (this team is greatly improved with Pence, Bourn, and Tejada in the lineup.  They could end up winning it when the inevitable Cubs/Brewers meltdowns come)
Cardinals
Reds
Pirates


Reality:

Cubs
Brewers  -4 1/2
Cards  -10
Astros  -12
Reds   -23 1/2
Bucs  -26


With the Astros winning their last 7 games, it looks like I'm going to nail this thing exactly.  I just wanted to point out how awesome I am    Go ahead and pick the Reds to compete again next year Scott!

Dan,

I have an extra sling for your arm in case you wrenched your shoulder by patting yourself on the back.

[Jon Brakel]

Hey, sometimes around here it's the only way your back gets patted!