Introducing your 2009 Chicago Cubs!!!!!

mca47

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

Its pretty simple to see why the Cubs will not be going anywhere this year....

Like I have said a thousand times over the years, for a team to be successful, they need to be strong up the middle. Right??

Our center fielder?? Fukudome is hitting .250
Our second baseman?? Fontenot and Blanco are both hitting .220
Our catcher?? He is hitting .220 and is on the DL

Theriot is a solid ballplayer...But he isnt going to win any MVP's....

This team cant manufacture any runs. Theriot leads the team with a whopping 10 stolen bases.
Soriano may be the worst lead-off man in baseball
Zambrano, and his $80 million dollar contract, has a total of 4 fucking wins.

I don't think most people here will argue with you on that. We can at least hope we take the shitty division, whereby squeaking into the playoffs.

We of course will get swept in the first round, but the playoffs are still attainable! LOL!

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Thank you Mr. Pujols......

SPEEDY MCCREADY

now go out and WIN game 2 of this doubleheader.............

3 out of 4 from St. Louis sounds good.........
plus you took 2 out of 3 from Milwaukee earlier in the home stand......

lets go into the break on a fucking high note...........

pureoc

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

now go out and WIN game 2 of this doubleheader.............

3 out of 4 from St. Louis sounds good.........
plus you took 2 out of 3 from Milwaukee earlier in the home stand......

lets go into the break on a fucking high note...........

Hell yeah, big difference between 3 1/2 back at the break and 1 1/2 back. I'd like there to be a reason for Eddie to possibly play "Someday We'll Go All The Way" at the United Center!!

Sawyer

AWESOME!!!! I am off to Wrigley for the night cap...here we go....1.5 back before the break:)

pureoc

Sawyer wrote:

AWESOME!!!! I am off to Wrigley for the night cap...here we go....1.5 back before the break:)

Bring home a W for us!!

mca47

Well here it is...
I've done this every year for the last 4-5 years on here so once again here is MCA47's Mid-Season Report Card:
*Ratings are not relative to other players*
Position Players
Soriano: D
Offense: .233 ave and a shitty OBP. If he wasn't making the kind of money he is, he'd be in AAA right now.
Defense: A well below average LF. He has a strong arm, but watching him field balls is horrific!
(If he doesn't figure out his swing and show some more patience at the plate, he should spot-start at best)

Fukudome: C
Offense: .251 lead-off guy with a .367 OBP. I like that fact that he's hitting lead-off now, but he needs to start putting the ball in play! Again, getting too much money for the numbers.
Defense: Very solid year in CF and LF.

Bradley: D-
Offense: This guy needs to learn how to hit the f'n ball! Good god! Another overly paid outfielder who should really be in AAA! Interestingly is that he leads the team in OBP! He does take a lot of walks...which is something that cannot be said for Soriano.
Defense: Yikes. While he makes most plays, there have been sooooo many that make me cringe.
(Horrible decision bringing him to the Cubs! I actually hope he gets hurt, so when he comes back he's forced to play in the minors a bit. Oh and a terrible baserunner!).

Ramirez: B
Offense: Prior to the injury he was knocking the cover off the ball. I hope his shoulder gets back to 100% ASAP because he's a HUGE piece of the offense.
Defense: When healthy, he's a GGlove contender.

Theriot: A-
Offense: Most consistent bat in the lineup all year. Good numbers for a SS.
Defense: Solid year so far. Arm could be a little stronger, but he makes all the plays.

Fontenot: C-
Offense: Bad first half. Needs to start putting the ball in play. Soooo sick of his groundouts to 2B!
Defense: Solid D who has played mostly 2B and 3B.

Lee: B
Offense: Bad start but hitting the ball much better.
Defense: Good first half, always a GGlove contender.

Soto: C-
Offense: Rookie of the year one year, POS the next! I wonder if last year was a fluke or he's caught the Cubs funk like the others.
Defense: Solid D.

Johnson: B-
Offense: A bit streaky the first half, but when he's on he really drives the ball.
Defense: The best outfield D the Cubs have. The guy is a walking highlight reel!
(Needs to start more in place of Bradley or Soriano!)

Hoffpauir: B-
Offense: Nice lefty with power coming off the bench. I'd like to see him shorten his swing just a little.
Defense: Average D.
(Should get a few more starts)

Miles: C-
Offense: Didn't really expect much from him at the plate, but he needs to start making better contact.
Defense: Average D.
(Should get few starts)

Hill: C
Offense: What offense? Not a O-oriented player. Hitting .213.
Defense: Very solid defensive catcher.

Blanco: C-
Offense: Ugh
Defense: Pretty good glove and arm.
(Another middle infielder with a shitty bat)

Fox: A-
Offense: The guy is kicking ass so far. Killer numbers in the minors and still driving the ball and is hitting .313.
Defense: Decent D.
(Sadly, he's the odd-man out. He really should play more but with ARam back and Lee not going anywhere, he's going to be watching most games. He should play some LF for Soriano!)

Scales: C
Offense: .241 ave.
Defense: Average I suppose.
(Another shitty infielder with no bat)

Fuld: B
Offense: .375 ave with little playing time.
Defense: Average
(Another odd-man out. I'd like to see if he can stay hot, but don't imagine he'll see much time).

Baker: C-
Offense: Ugh. .167 ave. Are you kidding me?!?! Good move Cubs!
Defense: Average
(Another shitty infielder without a bat!)

---

Pitchers

Zambrano: B-
3.53 ERA is solid, but 5 wins is pathetic for an "Ace".
Right now, he's the 3rd best starter in the rotation.

Lilly: A
Lilly has been really one of a few bright spots on the Cubs this year.
Would like to see him give up fewer long-balls, but most of those have been solo shots...so not that big of deal.
Easily the "ace" in my opinion. If...big IF the Cubs make the playoffs, he needs to start game 1!

Dempster: B-
4.09 ERA is higher than it should be. After last season, I expected similar numbers...the first half he's been hit pretty hard. I hope he can get it back.

Harden: C-
5.47 ERA. 16 HR in 74 IP. NOT GOOD!
Needs to figure it out ASAP!!!

Wells: B+
I think its safe to say this guy surprized everyone. 2.72 ERA, 4 wins in 12 games!
Hell of a first half!

Marshall: B-
Solid lefty out of the pen. His starts were rough this year, but it's nice to have a guy who can pitch every day and spot start if needed.

Heilman: C

Marmol: C+
My god! Learn how to throw a f'n STRIKE!! Could be one of the best in the game, IF he learns how to pitch! Nailbiter every time he comes in.

Guzman: B
Good when he's been in there. 2.40 ERA out of the pen is nice.

Ascanio: B-

Cotts: D+

Smardizia: C-

Gregg: B-
Yeah, a B-. I don't really like him as a closer and a month ago would have probably given him a D-, but he's done a pretty good job of late.

---

Pinella: C-
Wake the fuck up Lou! Soriano in the lead off was NOT an experiment...it was a disaster! I believe that has cost the Cubs 9-10 wins this year.
When is he going to realize Bradley and Soriano SUCK ASS and should be benched?!?!

---

Pathetic first half!

The starting line-up in the second half should be the following (first name should be considered the #1 guy and the subsequent names who else could/should start in order):

LF: Fox (Soriano, Fuld
CF: Johnson (Fukudome, Fuld)
RF: Fukudome (Bradley, Fox, Fuld)
3B: Ramirez (Fox, Fontenot)
SS: Theroit
2B: Fontenot (Blanco, Miles)
1B: Lee (Fox)
C: Soto (Hill)

pureoc

I agree almost right on with your grades. It's complete BS that Bradley and Soriano have to play because they make a lot of money. F that, you don't produce, you don't play. It's sad, but I hope they both get injured, at least then they won't have to play and rob us blind of money they don't deserve.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Is it football season yet????

ewokpelts

My report card: Cubs wont make it a three peat as NL Comedy Central Champs.
Cards FTW.

mca47

Good series!

Too bad we can't play the Nationals more often!!

104 years and counting

Its good to see Soriano get a couple big hits this weekend, but yeah its only the Nats. Any decent team would not have left the bases loaded five times in four games. I think they get a good test in Philly.

mca47

chicagocubsfan14 wrote:

Its good to see Soriano get a couple big hits this weekend, but yeah its only the Nats. Any decent team would not have left the bases loaded five times in four games. I think they get a good test in Philly.

Hahaha, pretty much!


Yeah, that Philly series is going to be huge!

pureoc

mca47 wrote:

chicagocubsfan14 wrote:

Its good to see Soriano get a couple big hits this weekend, but yeah its only the Nats. Any decent team would not have left the bases loaded five times in four games. I think they get a good test in Philly.

Hahaha, pretty much!


Yeah, that Philly series is going to be huge!

Yeah I think this series will give us a good idea of how good we really are.

mca47

Lou should have taken Soriano out of that game mid-inning after that bullshit!

Fuck that guy!


9-0 now.


Fuck!

104 years and counting

So THIS is what a World Series contender looks like. For just a moment I became optomistic about the Cubs after yesterdays game, silly me, what was I thinking.

pureoc

mca47 wrote:

Lou should have taken Soriano out of that game mid-inning after that bullshit!

Fuck that guy!


9-0 now.


Fuck!

Truly pathetic. Those HR's you hit (surprise surprise agains horrendous pitching) don't mean shit if you can't catch a routine fly ball. Again, more proof he is the worst free agent signing EVER.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

and then reality set in............

How many more games do we have against Wasington????

hehehehe............

QuarterToTen

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

and then reality set in............

How many more games do we have against Wasington????

hehehehe............

well the weekend series against the Reds
should easily boost the number in the Win column

by 3

South of Seattle

mca47 wrote:

Lou should have taken Soriano out of that game mid-inning after that bullshit!

Fuck that guy!


9-0 now.


Fuck!

The problem with Soriano is the fact that he is an infielder. Put him at 2nd base.