This is posted in the Commentary and Analysis category that we have here at Obstructed View, but it really should be posted in a category called Questions. Since we don't ask these questions very often, this category will have to do. It makes no sense to set up a new category for one stinking post. Anyway, this will be short. …
Daily Facepalm – 9.12.2012
The Cubs lost to the Astros 1-0 in what quite possibly could be the worst game of baseball ever played. Between the two teams there were ten hits, six errors, and one meager run. The only reason the otherwise merciless crapfest ended was because Starlin Castro couldn't outrun Dave Sappelt's stupidity, preventing Castro from scoring the tying run before Sappelt …
If The Sun-Times Were a Decent Newspaper, Gordo Would Likely Be a Pulitzer Candidate
I know we like to try to convince people that Alfonso Soriano is a better player than people give him credit. We don't like when boos cascade down on him for every single ball that lands in front of him in the outfield that the fat guy on the sofa thinks should have been an easy catch, or when the …
Season in Review: Matt Garza
Following the 2010 season the Cubs decided to trade a bunch of players to acquire an overrated middle of the rotation pitcher in Matt Garza. Then he surprised many of us by having the best season of his career. His average WAR was 3.7 (5.0 fWAR, 2.5 rWAR, 3.7 WARP). His fWAR in 2011 was 1.9 higher than his previous …
Alfonso Soriano is overpaid
The other day The Hardball Times wrote that Alfonso Soriano is not overpaid. I'm a big fan of anyone who doesn't talk about Soriano in a way that makes him seem like he's a lazy, overpaid player. However, THT relied on fWAR, which uses UZR as its defensive metric. His 2007 UZR is so high that my iPad probably won't …
Top Ten Formerly Unwritten Rules for Cubs
There has been much talk in recent nadirs on the Cubs' undulating saga of suck years about the unwritten rules of baseball. Don't steal when you're up by ten runs. Don't steal when you're down by ten runs. Don't swing at 3-0 pitches when you're up by five runs. So, since it's Friday and I haven't put up a daily …
Alfonso Soriano, Gold Glover?
Everyone has been focusing on Darwin Barney's record breaking errorless streak, but yesterday was the first that I had heard of Soriano's. He hasn't made a single error all season and even noted Soriano critic Bob Brenly has praised his defense this year. So does he really have a shot? The thing that helps him the most is that the …
A Sign of Progress?
Adam Greenberg will not get his desired one at-bat as a member of the Chicago Cubs. As Paul Sullivan reports in the Trib, if he bats anywhere in the majors, it will have to be with a team that is not the Cubs. Jed Hoyer made it pretty clear he was not interested: “Adam made the big leagues based on …
2013 Cubs Payroll
Since the 2012 season is coming to a close soon I figured it might be a good idea to look and see what the Cubs have on their books next year as far as player salaries go. This post will be updated and available on the menu. Here you go. Pitchers DOB B/T Ht/Wt 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 …
Cheers!
I recently stopped in at a local dive called Ritz Klub in Michigan City, Indiana. I had heard their burgers were the best thing ever to happen to dead cattle, so I had to see for myself. I had also heard the place was something short of a spectacle for the eyes, and I love a place that’s not too …