Here we go again
Remember how the Cubs started off last year? It was hot. They tore up the month of April. Then they sucked shit for the rest of the season. I mean, individually they still hit pretty well, but guys must have been clogging up the bases or something according to Ol' Cloggy Bases, because the offense was stagnant.
That makes me concerned about the way this team has started out. On one hand, I really love the way that Lou Piniella runs the team, aside from hitting Jacque Jones in the 2-hole. Through the lineup we're pretty solid, and if our worst hitter hits something like .270 (aside from the .230 we're likely to get from Neifi 2 with a glove), this team could really win some big games.
But then Piniella is kind of making excuses for the team's poor performance. I really don't think it's something he should be doing either, since the season isn't even 2 weeks old yet. But he said that the Cubs aren't built for 40 degree weather. What about 30 degrees? Does he realize Chicago is cold in September/October too? I hope so. I would rather have him say something along the lines of "We're just not hitting, and our bats haven't really warmed up yet."
Then he let go this gem. "We're not really built for small-ball." This is just wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. We've got speed throughout this lineup, and while we're not gonna have 5 guys stealing 60 bases, we do have speed. But we easily have enough speed to get a lot of guys in motion with hit and run's and whatnot. And various guys can get bunts down. This team can play small-ball, but it's built for power hitting. You want fewer power hitters? Make guys make adjustments, shorten their swings on cold days when the wind is blowing in. Seems simple enough. Of course, then Adam Everett could go yard on you, but whatever.
I have also heard complaints that this team is too right-handed. Right-handed, shmright-handed. We have enough good hitters that it shouldn't matter what kind of pitchers we face. And if that's not true, then what the hell did we sign all these people for?
Anyways, aside from all that business, guess who got some more bad news. I don't understand Mark Prior. I would love for nothing more than to see him succeed in a Cubs uniform. Chicago Cubs, but also Iowa Cubs first. If I were Mark Prior, I would want as much time for a full recovery as possible. This hurrying back from injury (aside from inability to diagnose the problem) is obviously not working. If he's got a tear, fix it. Then let it recover. If it's unfixable, then let it go. It's not like he's forgotten how to pitch. His arm and his mind probably just don't match up.
Anyways, it's same old same old in Cub country. I think the lack of performing, while a problem, is not a horrible problem. Look at how even the NL Central has been so far. And with Carpenter going down for the Cards so early, they could be in a lot of trouble.
Whatever the case, it's a long fucking season, so it's way too early to get our collective panties in a bunch. Let's just all chill out about not winning every game this season, and just win out from here on out.
That makes me concerned about the way this team has started out. On one hand, I really love the way that Lou Piniella runs the team, aside from hitting Jacque Jones in the 2-hole. Through the lineup we're pretty solid, and if our worst hitter hits something like .270 (aside from the .230 we're likely to get from Neifi 2 with a glove), this team could really win some big games.
But then Piniella is kind of making excuses for the team's poor performance. I really don't think it's something he should be doing either, since the season isn't even 2 weeks old yet. But he said that the Cubs aren't built for 40 degree weather. What about 30 degrees? Does he realize Chicago is cold in September/October too? I hope so. I would rather have him say something along the lines of "We're just not hitting, and our bats haven't really warmed up yet."
Then he let go this gem. "We're not really built for small-ball." This is just wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. We've got speed throughout this lineup, and while we're not gonna have 5 guys stealing 60 bases, we do have speed. But we easily have enough speed to get a lot of guys in motion with hit and run's and whatnot. And various guys can get bunts down. This team can play small-ball, but it's built for power hitting. You want fewer power hitters? Make guys make adjustments, shorten their swings on cold days when the wind is blowing in. Seems simple enough. Of course, then Adam Everett could go yard on you, but whatever.
I have also heard complaints that this team is too right-handed. Right-handed, shmright-handed. We have enough good hitters that it shouldn't matter what kind of pitchers we face. And if that's not true, then what the hell did we sign all these people for?
Anyways, aside from all that business, guess who got some more bad news. I don't understand Mark Prior. I would love for nothing more than to see him succeed in a Cubs uniform. Chicago Cubs, but also Iowa Cubs first. If I were Mark Prior, I would want as much time for a full recovery as possible. This hurrying back from injury (aside from inability to diagnose the problem) is obviously not working. If he's got a tear, fix it. Then let it recover. If it's unfixable, then let it go. It's not like he's forgotten how to pitch. His arm and his mind probably just don't match up.
Anyways, it's same old same old in Cub country. I think the lack of performing, while a problem, is not a horrible problem. Look at how even the NL Central has been so far. And with Carpenter going down for the Cards so early, they could be in a lot of trouble.
Whatever the case, it's a long fucking season, so it's way too early to get our collective panties in a bunch. Let's just all chill out about not winning every game this season, and just win out from here on out.
Labels: cubs
posted by Jtrouble at 1:44 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home