In praise of Ryan … not the former Illinois gov

Add comment May 31st, 2008

The player maligned by some Cubs fans as “Ryan Dumpster” for the past couple of seasons improved to 7-2, including a 7-0 mark at Wrigley Field, and also doubled home the Cubs’ first run.

Enjoy the ride.

Now that’s a comeback

Add comment May 30th, 2008

Down 8-0 going into the bottom of the fourth it looked pretty bleak for the Cubs, but they justified Tony Garcia’s faith in them and came back to win 10-9.

Wish I could have seen it. Can’t wait to turn on ESPN when I get home tonight.

A different time, a different place

Add comment May 29th, 2008

For the past two nights, instead of dreading a perilous situation (trailing late in games), I have had the belief that the Cubs would somehow, some way, find a way to win.

To quote “Penny Lane”:  Very strange.

Expecting success is a tremendous feeling, and very foreign to this Cubs fan.

We are conditioned to prepare for failure, the brightest example being Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins. When Moises Alou failed to catch Luis Castillo’s foul ball, many Cubs fans, myself included, just KNEW it was going to end bad … even with the Cubs STILL holding a 3-0 lead and the ace, Mark Prior, on the mound.

But now, nearly five years later, the dread is gone. Sure, there’s going to be losses, at least four or five more before the season is over.

I like this ride.

Is Jim Hendry reading this blog?

Add comment May 29th, 2008

On May 20, I wondered why the Cubs brought up a right-handed pitcher from AAA Iowa when they were already loaded with righties and desperately needed another lefty on the team.  I specifically mentioned Neal Cotts, a guy with major league experience who had been pitching well for Iowa.

Well, today the Cubs called up Cotts.

Good move, especially since it looks like Lou Piniella has no confidence in Scott Eyre.

Now if I see Jim Edmonds go on the DL, I might have to ask the Cubs for a consulting fee.

Maybe Fukudome will hit for power

Add comment May 29th, 2008

All the Fukudome to center talk revolves around the premise that he can’t hit for power because he only has two homers so far. Well, maybe more will come later. Stumbled upon this comparison to Kaz Matsui and Hedeki Matsui at Hardballtimes.com:

So, the Cubs supposedly slap-hitting Japanese import has shown more power in his first one-third of a season in America than the Yankees’ Japanese right fielder who went on to average 24 homers and 108 RBIs in his first four full seasons in New York. … There is absolutely no reason to worry about any part of Fukodome’s game to this point. Especially not a day after he made three wonderful plays in right field to help the Cubs win 3-1.

A way to fix Edmonds

1 comment May 29th, 2008

Jim Edmonds continues to struggle with the bat and sat out last night’s game against the Dodgers even though there was a right-hander pitching.

If I were Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, here’s what I’d do.

Give Edmonds a couple more starts and if he continues to struggle, put him on the DL with one of those mysterious back injuries. Then, have him go to the minors on a “rehab” assignment so he can work on  his stroke.  Then, activate him and if he still doesn’t hit, release him.

That way you’ve given him every possible chance.

Leave them alone

1 comment May 28th, 2008

Too much discussion about Kosuke Fukudome batting second and Alfonso Soriano being pulled in the late innings for a better fielder.

Let’s start with Fukudome.  I’m sure he would be a fine No. 2 hitter, but Ryan Theriot has good numbers batting there. If Theriot were struggling, fine, then consider Fukudome batting second.

Theriot’s hitting .311 to Fukudome’s .301.  Fukudome’s on-base percentage is better (.406 vs. .391) but he also has struck out more times (31-18).

If you did move Fukudome, you’d have a lot of righties following (Jim Edmonds won’t last) and your middle and bottom of the lineup would not be as strong.

There’s also talk of moving him to center field. After watching last night’s game where Fukudome made at least one if not two game-saving catches in right, do you really think the Cubs would be better off with a less accomplished right fielder? Sure, Fukudome can play center, but not as well as guys who have been playing the position for their entire careers. You’d be weaker in two outfield spots.

There’s no reason to make a move.

Now to Soriano. OK, he’s botched a couple of fly balls, but let’s not forget he has an accurate throwing arm and has gunned down a lot of runners the last couple of years.  It may not be a wash, but it’s not enough of a difference to make a move at this time. Plus, taking his bat out of the lineup in the late innings could come back to bite you.

Lou Piniella knows what he’s doing.

Leave Fukudome alone

1 comment May 27th, 2008

While I enjoyed Mike Nadel’s column for GateHouse Media in Tuesday’s Register Star, and perked my ears up that the Cubs are considering moving Fukudome to center, I agree with Tony: Don’t move him on defense. On offense, I do agree with Nadel: Fukudome is a better fit batting second. I found it funny that much of the Jim Edmonds haters I heard on the radio were against the signing because they worried Edmonds would take Fukudome’s No. 5 spot in the batting order and bump him up to second. His high-average, high-walks, modest-power, slap-hitting style is perfect for a No. 2 hitter. … That said, the Cubs could also leave Kosuke Fukudome batting fifth and that would be OK, too. If it’s been such a bad fit, how come the Cubs lead the Majors in runs scored? He’s third on the team in runs scored and his .399 on-base percentage is only .011 points behind team leader Aramis Ramirez. Fukudome’s 32 walks lead the Cubs. … Ramirez’s on-base percentage, by the way, is 71 points higher than his career average. Ramirez has never drawn more than 50 walks in a season. This year he’s on pace for almost 100. The Cubs are second — SECOND — in the Majors in walks after ranking near the bottom almost every year now for 40 or 50 years. That all started with Fukudome. He’s not been a disappointment for $48 million. He’s been a bargain, no matter what his stats say.

 And this idea that some positions require power and others don’t is ridiculous. Who cares if your right fielder hits 10 homers as long as the center fielder hits 30? Is that any different than your right fielder hitting 30 and your center fielder 10? The Cubs aren’t crying out for more power. They rank 7th in the Majors in home runs.

Here’s a novel idea: Play your position

1 comment May 27th, 2008

GateHouse News Service sports columnist Mike Nadel says that the Cubs are thinking about moving Kosuke Fukudome to center field so the team could pursue a more traditional, power-hitting corner outfielder.

If that fails, the Cubs, Nadel suggests, could turn to just-called-up Micah Hoffpauir to play right. Keep in mind, Hoffpauir, a first baseman, has been learning the outfield for all of two months. And he’s supposed to step into one of the most difficult right fields in the majors in the Cubs’ quest for a World Series title.

Let’s look at the scorecard: Alfonso Soriano, playing out of position in LF, Fukudome, who would be playing out of position in CF, and then Hoffpauir, playing out … well, you get the picture.

Excuse me while I tear out my hair to match Nadel’s dome.

I’ve seen the Cubs try to win pennants by slugging their way to victories. All I am saying is give defense a chance.

Ron’s growing up

1 comment May 25th, 2008

Cubs radio analyst Ron Santo, though clearly upset, was not as hysterical after Sunday’s dropped fly ball by Alfonso Soriano as when Brant Brown dropped the ball Sept. 23, 1998, in the Cubs’ 8-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

He’s taking these things better. Good for him.