Executive Chairperson-in-Chief via Proxy cum Laude slash Editor’s note: I offered the chance to pick a post topic in exchange for American Idol results. Emily came through for me and picked the topic “Santo!” I found it to be a perfectly timed suggestion. Thanks, Emily, for not forcing me to compromise my already discredited journablogistic integrity.
I’ve heard it said that heart cannot be measured. I call BS. I can measure heart. I can see it on display. I can admire it in ample quantities. I can even put a number on it: 10.
How much explanation do you need for this? When Cubs fans talk about heart, we can agree almost universally that Ron Santo is the gold standard. He was the epitome of toughness, courage, loyalty, resilience, and enthusiasm—all the elements comprising that ethereal quality we call heart. Cubs legend Ron Santo had it all. On the scale of heart, Ron Santo was a perfect 10.
We can agree without much debate that Ron Santo had heart, but before we go measuring this or any other player or team on the Santo scale, let’s be clear about Ron Santo’s accomplishments in the field of gutsiness.
Ron Santo was a gifted athlete. He put up monster numbers, Hall of Fame worthy numbers (as mb21 states eloquently and convincingly). Ron Santo being talented really doesn’t have much to do with heart. He was, as the saying goes, good at sports. Ron Santo excelling at a Hall-of-Fame level while battling diabetes at a time when not a whole lot was known about treating diabetes? That shows heart.
Ron Santo tirelessly working to raise money for JDRF, even after he passed the point when diabetes research could no longer help him? That’s heart. Continuing to face every day with a smile even as diabetes robbed him of his legs, bit by bit? Diabetes may have shortened his career, it may have taken his legs, and it eventually took his life, but as long as he lived, Ron Santo never allowed diabetes to diminish his heart. His love for life. His love for people. His love for the Cubs.
He gave of himself to help people who suffered like he did, whether they suffered from diabetes or just suffered from wanting the Cubs to win. But let’s not confuse those two struggles, okay?
I say that because it happens way too often. People say it takes heart for a team to keep trying their best when facing the adversity of three-run deficit in the eighth. I enjoyed the Cubs’ comeback today as much as anyone, but the threat of losing an April game to the Dodgers isn’t adversity. It isn’t hardship. And the Cubs’ comeback didn’t exhibit heart of any great measure. Let’s do some comparisons, shall we?
What would last year’s team have done? Let’s say for the sake of argument that last year’s team would have lost this game. But why? If they faced a three-run deficit, would the hitters have stopped trying to get hits? Would they have choked with runners on base? And is that because they would have given up or tried too hard or played too selfishly or uptight or would they have just gone through the motions . . . or complained about the other team scoring too much (oh, crap, that was yesterday’s team)?
I don’t see it. Scoring runs while trailing in a game shows normal levels of heart shared by virtually all professional baseball teams. Every team that has ever mustered enough heart to come back from a deficit has also shown the lack of heart necessary to prevent the other team from building a lead in the first place if, in fact, it’s heart that determines (or even remotely affects) a player or team’s ability to outscore their opponents. Does it, though? Come on. You know the answer is no. Every team tries to win every game. Trying to win a game isn’t special.
For frame of reference, let’s draw another comparison: what takes more heart, trying hard when your team is losing or resolving to keep playing the game of baseball while suffering from a life-threatening disease that prevents your body from regulating its blood sugar levels (with no assistance whatsoever from a medical professional)? Well, let’s see . . . one is something hundreds of baseball players do every day and one is something only Ron Santo did, something that maybe one hundredth of one percent of the population would dare to do if given the same opportunity.
On a scale of 1 to Santo, I’d rank trying hard while losing as the definition of 1 on that scale.
Let’s rate something else on that scale, shall we? How about keeping a positive attitude even though your teammate is mean to you? Let’s compare that to being the most positive person anyone knows even though the God to whom you pray didn’t see fit to answer your prayers for a cure. Hmm . . . the latter is a 10, for sure. Does it seem silly to rank the former as high as a 2? Why yes, yes it does.
So is there anything any baseball player not named Ron Santo can do to move up the heart scale? Sure. When Ryan Dempster continued to do his best to focus on his job and be a leader on his team while he and his wife Jenny also saw their daughter Riley through treatment for 22q deletion, a disorder that reduced her ability to feed and swallow normally, that demanded more than a 1 on the Santo scale. Playing baseball was probably the easiest thing Dempster had to do in 2009. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t take heart. Still, starting the Dempster Family Foundation to help other families facing the disorder was a much more important exhibition of heart. A minimum of 8, I reckon.
Let’s take a strictly baseball-related example: David Eckstein. He’s the butt of a lot of jokes in the scrappy white guy genre, but Eckstein has heart. I’m sure that, based on his physical . . . um . . . prowess, a lot of people told Eckstein any dreams he may have had of playing Major League Baseball were unrealistic. Does he try harder than Alberty Pujols? Probably in the same way Salieri tried harder than Mozart or Chris Farley tried harder than Patrick Swayze in that Chippendales sketch. I’ll give credit to anybody who pursues their dreams despite long odds against their fulfillment.
But let’s be honest. To credit Eckstein’s MLB success to heart is to insult his actual baseball talent. Is it fair to say that Eckstein got major-league results out of AA talent? It’s a great tribute to his heart, but I don’t think that’s fair to him as a player. Eckstein impressed people with how hard he worked, the evidence of his heart exceeding the size of his body (as it were), because it looked like he was trying really hard. It looked like he had to try extra hard. But the reason that hard work paid off was because David Eckstein was actually pretty talented as a baseball player. I give him a 2 on the Santo scale. Maybe a 3 if he really did suck that bad.
These are all my personal judgments on this scale based on what I’ve observed. Your ratings would probably differ somewhat. Maybe you give Starlin Castro a 6 for trying hard to learn English so he can conduct interviews without an interpreter. Maybe you give him a -3 because he still hasn’t learned to slide into bases properly. You might give Marlon Byrd or Reed Johnson an 8 for their obvious grittiness. You might give them both a 2 for writing Cubs blogs. I don’t know, I’m sure you have your reasons. But you do have reasons. There are things about every player’s personality, work ethic, heart, whatever that you feel warrant your admiration or dismay. But you can measure it.
You probably won’t measure it with spreadsheets, but it registers in your emotions and affections. You might like guys who get their uniforms dirty or take extra infield or support worthy causes or give good interviews or hail from your home city, state, or country. Or maybe you just like players who have heart.
I hope you do. I do. But when you evaluate a player’s heart, I also hope that you do so from an honest perspective. The ability to come back from three runs down isn’t indicative of heart. The ability to come back from tragedy (see Joey Votto‘s struggle after his father’s death) or to fight through physical debilitation (Jim Abbott, anyone?) or to look death in the face and smile (I’d say Ron Santo, but you probably know someone personally who fits this description and who inspires you and who registers a 10 on the Santo scale of heart. I’ve known a few. My father-in-law was one. Here is another).
Someone, I’m sure, will argue that you can’t really measure heart. But you can see it in action. And even if you’re not comfortable placing a number on it, the number 10 works just fine for me.
Comments
Holy crap this is long. (dying laughing)
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Holy crap this is long. (dying laughing)[/quote]
It was a very good read. I guess you kind of proved the point that you can’t measure heart with a spreadsheet though (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This is a great post, AC.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I can measure it with a spreadsheet. I just put the numbers in. 🙁
DoogolasQuote Reply
Thanks, guys. (dying laughing), Doogolas.
AndCountingQuote Reply
On an aside, I’m sure you’ll all be happy to know Justin Berg was called up. You know, instead of someone with actually talent like Maine or Carpenter.
Yay. *sigh*
Happy note: Vitters homered tonight.
DoogolasQuote Reply
If the Brewers lose tonight against the Astros, the Cubs will once again be tied for second place in the division, one game behind CIN and STL. I guess the NL Central does suck.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Me and my ilk don’t read any thing that doesn’t involve a spreadsheet.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]Me and my ilk don’t read any thing that doesn’t involve a spreadsheet.[/quote]It’s spelled E-L-K, moran.
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]It’s spelled E-L-K, moran.[/quote]
No dinner for me. Again. I’m hungry.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I can only imagine how famished your elk is.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Why am I talking like Groucho Marx?
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Holy crap this is long. (dying laughing)[/quote]But worth every minute it took to read it. This is great stuff, AC.
mb21Quote Reply
There’s a scene in the movie This Old Cub that shows what it means to have a 10 on the “scale of heart”.
Ron wakes up, puts on his legs, covers them in plastic and goes into the shower. We don’t see what happens after the shower, but we know he has to reverse almost the entire process before getting dressed for the day.
It’s exhausting to watch. And we just see it once. But it’s what Ron did every single day before going to wherever the Cubs were playing so that he could share whatever disjointed thoughts he had about that day’s game (and other assorted topics).
And he always did it with a smile on his face and without a complaint. And with a big heart.
Oh, and by the way, it’s going to take a while before I stop thinking about your friend Beth every time I do anything with my children – who aren’t even children any more. She certainly belongs at the top of the Santo scale.
ednickowQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]Me and my ilk don’t read any thing that doesn’t involve a spreadsheet.[/quote]Or pictures. I like pictures. Pictures of spreadsheets.
mb21Quote Reply
Honestly, if I take just this from what Ed said above, I get a 10 on the scale:
Anyone that walks up, puts on his/her legs has heart.
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_23_chamlb_detmlb_1&mode=gameday
Brewers almost TOOTBLANed into a triple play. Video is only in Gameday for now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
the best people around always have this in common: they don’t complain no matter what happens to them. It’s admirable. So few people can do that. Definitely not me.
mb21Quote Reply
I feel stupid for asking, but what is TOOTBLAN?
DoogolasQuote Reply
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tootblan
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
One of the most classic tv moments ever.
MuckerQuote Reply
Did you make that page on UD just so you could link it or was that already there? (dying laughing).
DoogolasQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]Did you make that page on UD just so you could link it or was that already there? (dying laughing).[/quote]
It was already there 😀
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]Did you make that page on UD just so you could link it or was that already there? (dying laughing).[/quote]
Wrigleyville23 (WV23) invented the term. He had a blog that he no longer updates, but he comes around here sometimes.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]It was already there :-D[/quote]Madness.
DoogolasQuote Reply
Thanks, mb, and Ed. I think there are certain people who you have to find out through a third party that they’ve been through anything difficult. They genuinely smile through it. I really admire those people.
AndCountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing), I just noticed the happy Castro picture. You guys are using my idea. Hilarious.
DoogolasQuote Reply
Fuck. The fat ass tied it vs Houston. *sigh*
DoogolasQuote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck](dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
One of the most classic tv moments ever.[/quote]That and “more cowbell” run neck-and-neck as my favorite SNL sketches of all time.
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]That and “more cowbell” run neck-and-neck as my favorite SNL sketches of all time.[/quote]
Look fellas, I put my pants on one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make solid gold records.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=ednickow]There’s a scene in the movie This Old Cub that shows what it means to have a 10 on the “scale of heart”.
Ron wakes up, puts on his legs, covers them in plastic and goes into the shower. We don’t see what happens after the shower, but we know he has to reverse almost the entire process before getting dressed for the day.
It’s exhausting to watch. And we just see it once. But it’s what Ron did every single day before going to wherever the Cubs were playing so that he could share whatever disjointed thoughts he had about that day’s game (and other assorted topics).
And he always did it with a smile on his face and without a complaint. And with a big heart.
Oh, and by the way, it’s going to take a while before I stop thinking about your friend Beth every time I do anything with my children – who aren’t even children any more. She certainly belongs at the top of the Santo scale.[/quote]
I love This Old Cub. I usually watch it on opening day every year but it’s still too soon 🙁
BerseliusQuote Reply
They finally posted the nearly triple TOOTBLAN…
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14104059
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]I love This Old Cub. I usually watch it on opening day every year but it’s still too soon :([/quote]
I still find myself saying that I’m tuning in to “Pat and Ron” on the radio…it’s going to be a while to get used to…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
My friend pointed out after the game winner the other day by Reed, that he couldn’t wait to hear Ron freaking out on the radio.
It was pretty sad for a couple minutes after that.
DoogolasQuote Reply
Fuck yeah! Quintero double. Houston up 2.
DoogolasQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Quintero just stole third when up two in extra innings. I hope that doesn’t break an unwritten rule.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Quintero just stole third when up two in extra innings. I hope that doesn’t break an unwritten rule.[/quote]Has to be a nonsave situation. Quit not knowing rules.
DoogolasQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]Has to be a nonsave situation. Quit not knowing rules.[/quote]
Is the pitcher allowed to double in a run with two outs? I hope that wasn’t an unwritten rule either.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Is the pitcher allowed to double in a run with two outs? I hope that wasn’t an unwritten rule either.[/quote]Yes. As long as his name begins with B. Or, if it has at least two vowels.
DoogolasQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]Yes. As long as his name begins with B. Or, if it has at least two vowels.[/quote]It has to be a stand-up double, too. If a pitcher has to slide, it’s bad form.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Cubs —> 2nd place
(dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]It has to be a stand-up double, too. If a pitcher has to slide, it’s bad form.[/quote]No, the pitcher HAS to slide. Otherwise he’s rubbing it in.
Good lord am I the only one that reads the unwritten rules?
DoogolasQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]No, the pitcher HAS to slide. Otherwise he’s rubbing it in.
Good lord am I the only one that reads the unwritten rules?[/quote]
Are they written in Braille?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Doogolas]No, the pitcher HAS to slide. Otherwise he’s rubbing it in.
Good lord am I the only one that reads the unwritten rules?[/quote]If he slides it’s almost like stealing. If it’s standing up, it means he wasn’t really hustling (which you’re not allowed to do in that situation). You must be thinking of the unwritten rules for AL pitchers in interleague games (section 5, article 8ii).
AndCountingQuote Reply
Dice K has 8IP with 1 hit
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]If he slides it’s almost like stealing. If it’s standing up, it means he wasn’t really hustling (which you’re not allowed to do in that situation). You must be thinking of the unwritten rules for AL pitchers in interleague games (section 5, article 8ii).[/quote]
Ah, you’re right. Very good, that’s my bad. Easy mistake though.
DoogolasQuote Reply
Quick story and then i am done. The soundtrack of my life is Ron and Pat. When people say i turn down the tv and turn up the radio that makes sense to me. My grandfather had seasons and gave Banks Williams Fergie and Ryno cars. Growing up i had amazing tickets. When Ron died i cried for about an hour. My brother who is a hug fan and I lost it in Vegas together. I miss Ron more than anything.. He made baseball entertaining alot of the time whne cubs baseball wasnt ntertaining.
There are a ot of us that dont have family that have seen a world series… I would give anything so my grandfather could say he saw the cubs win it all..
Sorry for being emotional. I just remember burying my grandfather in a cubs jersey :/
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Good article, AC.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Thanks,SK.
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]I miss Ron more than anything.[/quote]
I know I’m not alone in relating to this and a lot of what you said, bubs. I don’t think there’s a simple explanation as to why any of us like the Cubs as much as we do, but Santo embodied it as well as anybody.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Ron Santo made me want the Cubs to win it all, just for him. I know Ernie Banks is Mr. Cub, but Santo became Mr. Cub Fan.
fight2winQuote Reply
I know Soto hasn’t exactly been on fire, but keeping him in the #8 spot insults me.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
RF Fukudome,
2B Barney,
SS Castro,
3B Ramirez,
1B Pena,
CF Byrd,
LF Soriano,
C Soto,
P Zambrano
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I really should get more credit. This thread exists not without my trolling (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
Dodgers today
2B Miles
3B Blake
RF Ethier
CF Kemp
LF Sands
1B Loney
C Barajas
SS Carroll
P Kuroda
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]I really should get more credit. This thread exists not without my trolling (dying laughing)[/quote]You speak the truth, Mish.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Great read. Very well done.
ummm… (dying laughing)?
Steve SwisherQuote Reply
Soon, our questions will be answered.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Kosuke’s OBP is .126 points higher than his SLG.
MishQuote Reply
Alstradamus.
Or perhaps…Alstradumbass.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Kosuke’s OBP is .126 points higher than his SLG.[/quote]
He’s a singles ninja.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Kosuke’s OBP is .126 points higher than his SLG.[/quote]I couldn’t believe he’s hit nothing but singles when I looked it up (or that his OBP was at .500 as of Friday).
AndCountingQuote Reply
Go Cubs! Big Z gonna kill it today
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
I bet it is somehow a lazy Latino’s fault.
Aisle424Quote Reply
For real though dempster has not been good
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Seriously, fuck Mike Quade.
This batting Soto 8th shit is mindless boobery.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
FWIW, on the Dempster issue, Quade said he’s having problems with his slider. I’m betting Harry can confirm this, given that I’m not sure Quade knows the difference between a White Castle cheeseburger and any one of Dempster’s pitches. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Seriously, fuck Mike Quade.
This batting Soto 8th shit is mindless boobery.[/quote]
Right but outside of batting byrd eigth (not gonna happen) where is he supposed to hit
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Right but outside of batting byrd eigth (not gonna happen) where is he supposed to hit[/quote]In that lineup, I’d hit Soto 5, Pena 6, Sori 7, Byrd 8
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I mean i would hit Soto third. But i dont get to make the lineup.
BTW when does my man crush on Starlin Castro become gay? He is amazing at sports
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]
BTW when does my man crush on Starlin Castro become gay? [/quote]Did you think he looked hot in that pink hazing costume?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Apparently Whitenack was promoted to AA Tennessee
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
^ Interesting. Whitenack has been killing it. Might be a better starter than Russell right now.
Also why is Samardzija trying his hardest for me to like him
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Anyone is a better starter than Russell right now. [/quote]
Ah.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Can someone explain to me why the Cubs still think starting James Russell is a viable option?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Can someone explain to me why the Cubs still think starting James Russell is a viable option?[/quote]
Because their other options are Diamond and Biebens-Dirx, who have been hammered in AAA so far this year?
BerseliusQuote Reply
Oh, and Ramon Fucking Ortiz (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Oh, and Ramon Fucking Ortiz (dying laughing)[/quote]
That’s World Series champion Ramon Fucking Ortiz to you. Plebes.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Because their other options are Diamond and Biebens-Dirx, who have been hammered in AAA so far this year?[/quote]How about the youngsters? McNutt, Carpenter? Is Jay Jackson still hurt?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Jackson is scheduled to pitch Tuesday in Iowa, the same day Russell goes. But he’s not exactly stretched out.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]How about the youngsters? McNutt, Carpenter? Is Jay Jackson still hurt?[/quote]
He’s back now and is actually slated to start on Tuesday. He probably can’t go very deep either, though I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs tried to do a two three-inning start type game with Russell and Jackson on Tuesday.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Carpenter has been bullpened. McNutt’s coming back from that blister and probably can’t go deep either.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]He’s back now and is actually slated to start on Tuesday. He probably can’t go very deep either, though I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs tried to do a two three-inning start type game with Russell and Jackson on Tuesday.[/quote]Not a bad idea, seeing as Russell will be lucky to make 3 innings, anyway. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Carpenter went to bullp[en. Jay Jackson just got back to Iowa. If he is healthy i think he would be up soon. Then again Cashner and wells should be ready soon hopefully
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
WTF Miles.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing), when you give up a leadoff triple to Aaron Miles you might as well forfeit
BerseliusQuote Reply
this is heart…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3x0-P3JFdw&feature=related
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Aaron miles with a triple.. I would bet he had no triples when he played for us
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Settle down, Z.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Who was it who stole the base that got Quade steamed the other day?
BerseliusQuote Reply
Aaron Miles. Surely you jest.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
BABIP hates Z today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Looks like something might be up with Z today. Does his delivery look off to anyone else?
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Who was it who stole the base that got Quade steamed the other day?[/quote]www.whowasitthatstolethebasethatgotQuadesteamedtheotherday.com
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Looks like something might be up with Z today. Does his delivery look off to anyone else?[/quote]Like injury-wise, or he just doesn’t have the good stuff?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
He’s kind of short arming the ball
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Like injury-wise, or he just doesn’t have the good stuff?[/quote]
Both. It looked like he was shaking his arm weirdly earlier, but I guess the coaches didn’t see anything there.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Both. It looked like he was shaking his arm weirdly earlier, but I guess the coaches didn’t see anything there.[/quote]Sounds like his cramping issue is flaring up.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Zambrano on pace to give up 108 runs today.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Jesus, Soriano’s arm disappeared too
BerseliusQuote Reply
Sands left early. Should’ve been out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
5 runs in the first. Great start
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
if the “sure handed” Pena would’ve made the play on Ethier’s grounder, probably a DP and only run in the inning.
Horny GoatQuote Reply
Ug-leeee. Z is gonna get crucified by the (dying laughing)lipop Guild.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]5 runs in the first. Great start[/quote]Let’s See What Happens
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Kosuke SLG > BA now.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
James loney kinda sucks
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Whats the wind doing today? Is it nice there?
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
(dying laughing), I guess these things can even out
BerseliusQuote Reply
The Cubs are so shitty, their shittiness infects their opponents. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The first slider Kuroda threw to Castro was a 92 nasty factor. Highest bubs has seen
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
What’s the odds Pena gets an XBH?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]What’s the odds Pena gets an XBH?[/quote]
Minus three.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ramirez just got Marmoled by Kuroda.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
He did, however, get a hit (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
There’s Pena’s hit for this week. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
In Play (Runs) not used to seeing that with pena
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]Whats the wind doing today? Is it nice there?[/quote]
It’s blowing in, Bubs.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]In Play (Runs) not used to seeing that with pena[/quote]
Regression to the mean.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Good God, Marlon Byrd has no patience. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Ick…Soriano missed a meatball.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Two big strikeouts there
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
I know you stat fags say strikeouts arent a big deal. But theya re a big deal arent they?
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]I know you stat fags say strikeouts arent a big deal. But theya re a big deal arent they?[/quote]
Byrd’s strikeout was better than a GIDP. Soriano’s strikeout was definitely not good though.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Darwin Barney just lost dessert.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Darwin Barney just lost dessert.[/quote]
Z stole Barney’s dessert.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Byrd’s strikeout was better than a GIDP. Soriano’s strikeout was definitely not good though.[/quote]
Right its also better than a triple play. But if a strikeoput is the besty result for a pitcher why is it not similarly the worst result (non multiple out department)
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Z missed a fat one.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
5 K already for Kuroda.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Lazy Latin covering first.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
44 pitches already for Z. No bueno.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
There’s a strikeout.
The long first inning didn’t help him much in the pitch count department.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
More bad luck for Z. Bat was annihilated.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Ugh. I don’t think Z is going to make it far in this game. Dodgers have his number.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Damn how unlucky can Z get. It feels like this happens to him more than most.
LukasQuote Reply
James Shields threw his second complete game in a row
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
[quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]James Shields threw his second complete game in a row[/quote]Will Carroll is busying calculating the astronomical PAP numbers as we speak. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Marlon Byrd approves of Barney’s approach in that AB.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
4 pitches, two outs…let’s see what happens
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Woohoo.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Man, that makes Castro and Barney’s AB’s look really bad.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I’m getting on the Pena is done bandwagon
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
Spreadsheets are used to measure heart. Prove me wrong.
cdwQuote Reply
Pena is broken.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Milton Bradley had a .627 OPS through his first month as a Cubs, and was getting routinely booed and shredded in the papers.
Carlos Pena has a .514 OPS thus far.
But yeah, there was no agenda on the part of the beat reporters.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
wow, the white sox are broken too. haven’t scored in 20 innings, lost 9 in a row. I bet we see some Cub offensive stretches like that this year
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
BTW, 7 K through 3 IP for Kuroda.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Z is getting whacked around badly today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]wow, the white sox are broken too. haven’t scored in 20 innings, lost 9 in a row. I bet we see some Cub offensive stretches like that this year[/quote]
Like the 2005 team, with extended winning and losing streaks? That would be pretty entertaining.
PerkinsQuote Reply
That was Cubs-esque execution from Kuroda. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Aaron Miles is on steroids.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
when you can’t get aaron fucking miles out, you know it’s a bad day. that’s more his than miles had in a whole season for the cubs
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
I’m not sure why, but I really loathe Casey Blake.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Woohoo! Double play.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I’m not sure why, but I really loathe Casey Blake.[/quote]The Grizzly Adams beard?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
The way Z has battled is impressive, but he’s been pretty bad today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
At least we know they’ll win tomorrow.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]At least we know they’ll win tomorrow.[/quote]Let’s See What Happens.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
(dying laughing) @ cdw’s proving of wrongness.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Marlon Byrd has less patience than a 16 year old on prom night.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Len sounds a little resigned, a bit despondent.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]Len sounds a little resigned, a bit despondent.[/quote]We should have Kent Mercker make a call to the press box.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]We should have Kent Mercker make a call to the press box.[/quote]He’s not telling it like it is, yet, ala Chip and Stoney, rather the sadness in his voice when calling routine Cub out after routine Cub out seems infused with a sense that this is his fate for the next 150 days.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Z might be able to go 6 if he can get through this inning quickly. Matt Kemp might have something to say about that though.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
85 pitches. Q probably makes him go 7 full 😛
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Reed in for Z? Interesting.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Reed in for Z? Interesting.[/quote]I bet he stays in the game for Soriano.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Reed in for Z? Game now less interesting.[/quote].
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I bet he stays in the game for Soriano.[/quote]
Amusing, but wrong.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
At least Quade is smart enough to bring in garbage pitchers to pitch in garbage time. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Amusing, but wrong.[/quote]Correct.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I hope Starlin wasn’t hungry.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Nice of Grabow to not suck as much as I thought he would.
Starlin Castro doesn’t have infinite range.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Aaron Miles with the big fuck you to Cubs fans.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Why am I even watching a game on an even numbered day on the calendar? See you tomorrow for some good times.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]Why am I even watching a game on an even numbered day on the calendar? See you tomorrow for some good times.[/quote]SK ——–> No dinner.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Good Lord, is that three games in a row a Cub has been thrown out trying to do that same stupid shit?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
For your facepalm collection.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Soto almost hit another hard out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
About time Soto got a hold of a pitch and it didn’t end up as a loud out.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Fucking Tyler Colvin.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Colvin showcasing his extraordinary patience.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Darwin Barney, RBI Man.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]Darwin Barney, RBI Man.[/quote]Brenly is tumescent.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Castro has not been very patient today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Soriano can play defense?
/Cub fan’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Carlos Pena is awesome.
fight2winQuote Reply
Carlos Pena ——–> D-O-N-E
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=fight2win]Carlos Pena is awesome.[/quote](dying laughing) He will have a nearly sub-.500 OPS after today and has somehow escaped the poison pen treatment.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Soto is very patient.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder](dying laughing) He will have a nearly sub-.500 OPS after today and has somehow escaped the poison pen treatment.[/quote]Pena’s one of the good guys, MO.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Broxton is like a barrel resting on two tree trunks.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]Pena’s one of the good guys, MO.[/quote]Yeah. It really belies all of Sullivan’s denials that he had an agenda in his writing about Bradley, though. Seems to have been entirely motivated by a problem with MB’s personality. On the field, Pena’s been much worse in his first month.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban Kid]Broxton is like a barrel resting on two tree trunks.[/quote]Pitchers don’t do PEDs. It’s only these beefed up hitters.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
SK, that last one is true, only it happened at a philosophy of language conference. J.L. Ritchie gave a paper and the denouement was that while almost every language has a double negative that implies a positive, no language has a double positive that implies a negative. Sidney Morgenbesser was commenting on the paper and immediately piped up “Yeah, yeah.”
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
So, Zambrano sucked, the defense sucked and the offense couldn’t score any runs. Did I miss anything else?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]So, Zambrano sucked, the defense sucked and the offense couldn’t score any runs. Did I miss anything else?[/quote]Quade batted Soto 8th again.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
As silly as that is, it doesn’t bother me. As long as Quade doesn’t bat the pitcher leadoff (or anywhere in the top 7 spots), I’m not going to complain about the lineup. I wouldn’t do it of course, but Pena’s inability to hit, Soriano’s desire to make Koyie Hill look like an on-base machine, and Marlon Byrd and Colvin sucking bother me a lot more.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]As silly as that is, it doesn’t bother me. As long as Quade doesn’t bat the pitcher leadoff (or anywhere in the top 7 spots), I’m not going to complain about the lineup. I wouldn’t do it of course, but Pena’s inability to hit, Soriano’s desire to make Koyie Hill look like an on-base machine, and Marlon Byrd and Colvin sucking bother me a lot more.[/quote]Indeed. I hadn’t looked until today, but Pena’s been a lot worse in his first month than Bradley was. And that’s saying something.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Pena has been really bad and there’s really no sign of him getting better. When I looked a couple days ago his BABIP was actually higher than his career average. It’s early yet, but I’m starting to think the likelihood of last season being closer to his true talent level is higher than we thought.
Soriano’s OBP is going to be about .250 before long. He has 21 strikeouts and 2 unintentional walks. That’s pathetic. compared to Colvin, he has no patience whatsoever. Colvin’s been pretty bad too.
When Castro comes back to earth and Ramirez regresses a bit as well, this is a terrible offense.
mb21Quote Reply
Mike Stanton is strong:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14129265&query=%26game_pk%3D287214
MuckerQuote Reply
[quote name=Muck Muckintuck]Mike Stanton is strong:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14129265&query=%26game_pk%3D287214[/quote]
Wow, he actually hit it in the general direction of a pocket of fans! (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Has Yadier Molina always had those really trashy tribal tatoos on both sides of his neck?
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
Larussa wears his sunglasses at night, so he can, so he can
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Pena has been really bad and there’s really no sign of him getting better. When I looked a couple days ago his BABIP was actually higher than his career average. It’s early yet, but I’m starting to think the likelihood of last season being closer to his true talent level is higher than we thought.
Soriano’s OBP is going to be about .250 before long. He has 21 strikeouts and 2 unintentional walks. That’s pathetic. compared to Colvin, he has no patience whatsoever. Colvin’s been pretty bad too.
When Castro comes back to earth and Ramirez regresses a bit as well, this is a terrible offense.[/quote]The utter lack of patience seems to be a lineup-wide problem, with perhaps the exceptions of Ramirez and Soto. Otherwise, this is a hacktastic bunch.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]Has Yadier Molina always had those really trashy tribal tatoos on both sides of his neck?[/quote]www.hasyadiermolinaalwayshadthosereallytrashylookingtribaltatoosonbothsidesofhisneck.com
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]www.hasyadiermolinaalwayshadthosereallytrashylookingtribaltatoosonbothsidesofhisneck.com[/quote]
That link is broken.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]That link is broken.[/quote]Correct.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]That link is broken.[/quote]You probably just have to clear your cache, restart your computer and then try it again.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]You probably just have to clear your cache, restart your computer and then try it again.[/quote]Don’t tell him what to do.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
8 K, 0 BB for the Cubs today.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Weird, the link still wasn’t working so I went to,
http://www.clearyourcacherestartyourcomputertrysafarifirefoxandie.com
It still didn’t work and I was redirected to,
http://www.youaretoostupidtounderstandameme.com
I’m still confused but at least I know a website that tells me if the Cubs are playing today,
http://www.fratastic.com/bestroofietargetsinchitown/isthereacubsgametoday.html
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]Weird, the link still wasn’t working so I went to,
http://www.clearyourcacherestartyourcomputertrysafarifirefoxandie.com
It still didn’t work and I was redirected to,
http://www.youaretoostupidtounderstandameme.com
I’m still confused but at least I know a website that tells me if the Cubs are playing today,
http://www.fratastic.com/bestroofietargetsinchitown/isthereacubsgametoday.html[/quote]This should have been a FanPost.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]8 K, 0 BB for the Cubs today.[/quote]
I’m pretty sure Soto walked.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I’m pretty sure Soto walked.[/quote]Correct. 8 K, 1 BB.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Correct. 8 K, 1 BB.[/quote]
But not until the bottom of the ninth, so your sentiment was also technically correct. Which I believe is the best kind of correct.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I don’t think Quade is using the right book, MO.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I want grimmace or pujols
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
I want grimmace or pujols
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I don’t think Quade is using the right book, MO.[/quote]Yeah, to put it mildly.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I don’t think Quade is using the right book, MO.[/quote]
BerseliusQuote Reply
Here ya go Bubbles…
I think Pujols tweaked a quad or hammy. Limping a bit.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=bubblesdachimp]I want grimmace or pujols[/quote]Unfortunately, Todd Ricketts has been placed in charge of taking suggestions
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]
[/quote]
Irony…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Game 7 anyone?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Aisle424Quote Reply
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Scapegoat pitchers…Let’s see what happens
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]Scapegoat pitchers…Let’s see what happens[/quote]The guy just can’t stop talking. And the more he talks, the more stupid things he says.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Qudae needs to stfu.
MishQuote Reply
Also, very little respect for people who think pitching is 90% of baseball.
MishQuote Reply
Nice snark.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
You know, Wile E. Coyote had similar injury troubles to Wood, waddled off the screen looking like a pancake, then returned to chasing Road Runner.
Why couldn’t Wood do this?
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]You know, Wile E. Coyote had similar injury troubles to Wood, waddled off the screen looking like a pancake, then returned to chasing Road Runner.
Why couldn’t Wood do this?[/quote]
You know, Marshall Applewhite had similar social troubles to Alvin, delusional idiot with many idiot followers, then held a mass suicide.
Why couldn’t Alvin do this?
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
You know, Romania had a similar personality cult to BCB, rose up against their leader who liked to give himself fake fancy titles, then executed him by a firing squad of hundreds of eager participants.
Why couldn’t BCB do this?
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]You know, Romania had a similar personality cult to BCB, rose up against their leader who liked to give himself fake fancy titles, then executed him by a firing squad of hundreds of eager participants.
Why couldn’t BCB do this?[/quote]
I can’t argue with you today.
Nice snarky meme.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
new stuff: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/is-this-years-team-different.html
mb21Quote Reply