It never ceases to amaze me how any team could consistently lose to the Pirates, possibly one of he worst teams of the past decade in most facets of the game. But there it is, the Cubs accomplished this ten times in fifteen tries this season. But at least they took this series, and there were some good things to note sandwiched around the terrible thumping they took in the middle game.
One such grace note is that at least one of the younger bullpen guys seem to be coming around again, namely Cashner, who looks to be regaining his confidence. Another seems to be the resurgence of Carlos Zambrano, who is 3-0 since returning to the rotation and has looked very good in most of these outings. He was throwing a lot harder on Monday night, but since he had something like a fourteen run cushion, he may just have been relying more on his fastball to set up his other pitches. Gorzelanny's injury looked very scary. One hopes it is not a broken bone and that he can come back and pitch before the season is over. I can't recall a pitcher getting hit more often in a single year than Gorzelanny. He should be careful crossing streets.
Among the hitters, Starlin Castro continues to impress and to improve every day. This kid is going to be a super star if he continues to mature and I rather think he will hit for more power when he learns what pitches he can turn on. His fielding will come around in time as well. I wish I could say the same thing about Colvin. He continues to hit for power and now that he has been dropped down in the order by Quade, he gets significant hits. He still strikes out too much, and he still needs to develop more plate discipline. I would be remiss not to mention that Fukudome is pretty much carrying this team every day he plays and that he is really in a groove right now. Somebody on the coaching staff should figure out what he is doing right on these streaks and made sure he sticks with this approach.
Today, like many of these games late in the season when nothing really counts, was an amusing game to watch. Quade seemed determined to set some sort of record for double-switches. Perhaps this was an effort to demonstrate to management that he could both execute the manoeuvre successfully - a feat that often eluded Lou's grasp in the past - and that the moves made some tactical sense.
Today also saw the re-dedication of the truly gruesome Harry Caray statue, this time parked on the corner of Waveland and Sheffield near the entrance to the bleachers. Something about this statue gives me the creeps. He seems like some sort of strange hulk rising from who knows what subterranean region to exhort us to well, I don't know what. Maybe it is just me, but it is a weird piece of art. At least it is no longer exposed at Addison and Sheffield.
It appears that the Ivy Man doesn't care too much for Colvin. I like the kid, he, like Castro, is in his rookie season in the bigs. He hits for power, is very athletic, has a strong throwing arm and covers a lot of ground in the OF. Hopefully he will learn the strike zone better with more experience. Did you see the throw he made a few days ago to gun down the runner advancing from 1st to 2d base?
ReplyDeleteAn OF rotation I too would like to see mgmt implement is Fuko in RF, as long as he stays hot, Byrd CF, and Colvin platoon with Sorryexcuse in LF. (Mgmt is unlikely to do this, as would be the case with platooning Fuko and Sorryman.)
I do agree that if the Z Man and Fuko continue to play well, retain them instead of paying some teams to "take" them of the Cubs hands.
I hereby proclaim my fervent wish to cease my acrimonious comments toward the Ivy Man, and to promulgate joy and good will to all serious Cub Fans.
Sincerely, Beagleman
Dear Mr. Beagleman,
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I don't like Colvin. I think he is potentially a really good prospect. What I think is that, really through no fault of his own, he became a kind of football in the Piniella wars. He hit really well in the early part of the season when for whatever reason Lou was trying to implement a five-man outfield rotation that made very little sense. When he broke into the lineup, it was almost as if Lou wanted to demonstrate how wrong everyone was about him, so he put him in the leadoff spot. Although Colvin continued to hit for power, pitchers soon discovered his weaknesses as a hitter. Unlike Castro, Colvin has not yet made the necessary adjustments. I think he probably can, and I think he has a bright future as long as he can take the right lessons from his first season and not become home run happy.
As for Colvin's outfield play, I think Lou was right in saying his natural position is left field. He has a strong arm and he has made some great throws, but maybe it is just a question of learning the hitters and the finer points of play, but I get the impression in CF or RF that he doesn't get the sort of jump on the ball that really accomplished outfielders like Byrd and Fukudome get almost all the time. Because of this, he tends to play a little too deep, especially in CF, I think because he lacks the confidence to go back on a ball. He might improve with good coaching, but he doesn't look like a natural all the time. I'm also a little worried about his arm in that he had Tommy John surgery a few years back. Not sure how outfielders can get this elbow issue, but he might be better served initially by playing in a less demanding position. Can't see why they don't give him a shot at 1B? What have they got to lose?
Things would be so much simpler if they found a way to dump Soriano. But all is sweetness and light whilst the Cubs are winning. Lets hope they continue. They have a sweet run in their schedule in early September, which would have been welcome had they stayed withing striking distance. I don't catch too much of the Cardinals, but they seem to be sinking like a stone, don't they? What I don't get is how the Reds can keep winning.
I think the Cubs should pursue a 1B Man and a good starting pitcher. I too would do cartwheels if they shed the Albatross in LF. His mere presence on the team forces the Cubs to play this loser, resulting in any upcoming OF prospects having reduced playing time.
ReplyDeleteMy man Colvin could probably be taught to play first base (Not By Tramell of course). If he can't, platoon him or start him in the OF. The Cubbies could also use a back up catcher who can hit better than Hill. Plus they could use at least 2 decent middle relievers with ML experience.
If Ricketts had any beisbol brains, he should dump the Donut man, hire Mad Dog as the GM, and get either Brenly, Girardi, LaRussa, or F. Martinez to manage, while bringing up Ryno as a bench coach, or infield coach, thus giving hime some ML experience B4 becoming a mgr.
Beagleman has barked.
Woof, Beagleman,
ReplyDeleteColvin played 1B a little in college. Actually, anybody who can catch can play 1B, as evidenced by Nady's relatively successful run since the Lee trade. Well, maybe almost anybody. Apparently Adam Dunn cannot play there very well, which is all the more reason to experiment with players you have under control. Dunn appears to be someone they are considering. I hope not. Big contract, getting on in years, has hit peak level of performance, one dimensional player, slow. Hey, in Hendry's mind a perfect Cub? In my mind, the only established 1B to pursue would be Adrian Gonzalez if he becomes available, but this is likely to cost a lot in a trade as well as a contract extension. Not a free agent until after 2011.
As for manager candidates, I suppose anyone of the bunch you mention with the exception of LaRussa would be an improvement, but most of them are unrealistic. I really don't like LaRussa and besides he is another old fart celebrity manager. Been there, done that.
Gonzalez is likely to succeed Cox in Atlanta, and I cannot see Girardi jumping ship unless the Yanks fall apart in the playoffs, and how likely is that? I also cannot see Sandberg not managing somewhere next year. There are likely to be 9-12 ML openings in the off-season, and I would suppose in his mind he has paid his dues. If they were to go with Quade or Brenly or even Gonzalez or Girardi, these guys are about Sandberg's age or younger, so where is the percentage for him? Or for whoever is the mentor? Unless it were an old guy like Lou, he would always be thinking that Ryno was perched at his shoulder waiting for him to fail.
Did ye mean Martinez likeley to succeed Cox, not Gonzalez? Did the Beagleman catch Ivy in an error at the post position?
ReplyDeleteB.Gullman