fathom

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 19, 2007 -> 10:46 PM) One thing I'm really not looking forward to is the return of Pods and Erstad, because it'll resign Owens either to the bench or to AAA. If this season's a loss, then we might as well see if this kid can keep the hot streak he's on right now going against ML pitching, because if he can, it solves an awful lot of our problems for next season. Think of it as your in-laws coming to visit. It's three days of hell, but it's over after one weekend. That's what the return of Pods and Erstad will be like. Hell, maybe Erstad will even make it to the dish this time.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 19, 2007 -> 10:26 PM) Rumor has it that the Brewers are this/close to getting Dunn. Where do you see this?

Jack Wilson is a very mediocre hitter, and it's not like he's cheap. The only way I'd consider him an upgrade is if the Pirates take on half of his salary for the next two years, and I can't see them doing that.

Cubs just don't lose right now....at least the Brewers are playing solid baseball so that they still have the lead in the NL Central. The Brewers desperately need another bat though.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 08:45 PM) You mean the first half of last year when he was unbeatable? Is that when you meant? And our bullpen had a ton of potential and showed it in April. Nobody could have predicted the full meltdown that has happened. Look at the "exact science" of bullpen pitchers. How many guys from our 2005 WS champion team are still in the majors? We needed more veterans in the pen this year. We went with so many young "stuff" guys. Something that was really strange was how much stuff every reliever we have, besides Boone, lost coming into this year. Jenks, MacDougal, Thornton, Sisco, and Aardsma's fastballs were all significantly down from last season.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 08:36 PM) I don't think KW is naive enough for that. If there were decent moves to be made I think he would do it. The lack of trades i simply a testament to teams not wanting to trade young, cheap players (Rosenthal has a column about that up now I think...). I would hope not, but I could see him talking about how this team had a winning road trip and is showing signs of turning it around if they split in Boston. Hopefully Dye keeps hitting well, and it's a great time for Contreras to have a good start. I think teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Brewers might start to panic and offer more in trades in about 10 days.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 08:25 PM) And yet had all offseason to recover, kinda like the rest of our staff (buehrle). He was our Ace and was put in the #1 spot to show that he was. The players are to blame for this season, nobody else. The only way he was going to recover to get back to where he was two years ago was if he found the Fountain of Youth. I'm just mad we didn't trade him for Adam Dunn. And KW did an atrocious job this offseason improving our bullpen. There's no reason to worry about it for this year, and we just have to hope that massive changes are made to this team's personnel over this offseason.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 07:54 PM) On to Boston to get Contreras back on track. Carmines have been stumbling a bit since the break - would be good to split that series. A split would be awful if it means KW thinks we can still compete. Either sweep the series or get swept. With Contreras and Danks going, it's going to be hard to win more than 2 games that series.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 08:03 PM) Unf***ing believable how many runs the Cubs score on defensive miscues or after errors that would have ended the inning. What happened this time? And yes, the Cubs have gotten so many lucky breaks lately. I'm just shocked the Giants actually won last night. Carlos Zambrano might win 23 games this year if he keeps up this pace.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 08:01 PM) you are right, it was totally an overexpectation to think that our offense would perform as it has the last several years, and to assume the ace of our staff would continue to pitch well, and to think that at least 3 people in our bullpen could be trusted. Total insanity!!! Who's the ace you're referring to? If it's Contreras, then I think we all knew better after how he looked since returning from injury last season.

Byrnes and Rowand would cost you about 20 million dollars a year between them. Don't worry though, the grinding will be out of control. And getting rid of Dye for nothing is very dumb, as it's likely his two Type A compensation picks will be much more valuable than what the Rally Killer will get you right now.

Just wanted to say that Paul Konerko is awesome right now....that contract he signed is such a waste. But yes, it's amazing how bad our bench is right now with Toby, Cintron, Gonzalez on it.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) Yeah, even with the contract situation, this doesn't sound like the kind of behavior we've heard from JD over the past few years does it? From day one this year, Dye was playing selfishly. He's chased so many 3-1 pitches out of the zone this year as he tries to hit homers every plate appearance. He's been the Human Rally Killer this season.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 04:58 PM) Number one target of any trade should be a replacement for Uribe. Absolutely...he makes getting a hit seem so difficult, and his defense has been mediocre this year.

Just wanted to say how unreadable another Sox site is compared to this one....it sucked getting Sox news the last few days.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 03:01 PM) I appreciate Sheffield for speaking his mind. Don't appreciate ignorance. The sooner Sheffield's out of the game of baseball, the better. Maybe he can take his bff, Joe Morgan, with him.

Sounds like the reports of Dye being a cancer in the clubhouse this year are more accurate than we thought.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jul 18, 2007 -> 04:55 AM) I haven't been around for too long, but haven't seen a pen like this, ever. It sounds like the veterans on the team are getting really pissed off. You never see a guy like Buehrle start saying in the press that some people need to go.

What was the publication that said he couldn't maintain his velocity at his current arm angle without hurting himself?

Tribune reports he has arm tenderness, and will throw in the next few days and will remain in the bullpen. Might as well just keep him out there so he can become Matt Thornton Jr.

Oh good heavens....how about we just use Haeger as a reliever, and Ozzie lets our righty/lefty specialists only face the side they do well against. His use of Logan lately has been disappointing.

Cubs only 3.5 back now....the Brewers have lost Capuano's last 10 starts.

Crappy day of baseball all around.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 14, 2007 -> 02:05 AM) Hawk b****ing about the umpire was pretty comical especially when the Sox are taking strike 3 right down the heart of the plate. Can someone please explain to me again why Andy Gonzalez leads off? He isn't a basestealling threat. He doesn't get on base that much. He doesn't make a lot of contact............its ridiculous he's leading off. Its probably ridiculous he's in the major leagues no matter how much Hawk and DJ gush over his abilities. Yep, we either see Jerry Owens or Andy Gonzalez lead off. How pathetic is that?

Brewers pitchers have given up 9 runs in last 3 innings. They better hope Hall returns soon, as Jenkins looks pathetic against LHP. Can we just loan them Dye?