James Russell is who we thought he was
We all had a horrible feeling going into last night’s game that James Russell would somehow make it impossible for the Cubs to win. While it wasn’t a colossal failure, it was just enough to put victory out of reach. Mike Quade, where do we go from here?
“I don’t know, I really don’t know,†Quade said. “What I’m concerned about, honestly, is trying to salvage a game in this series tomorrow. You could do (reliever Jeff Samardzija). That’s not really something I’m interested in doing. But if we need to do it, we’ll do it. We’ll keep looking at the people who are pitching at Triple-A and anybody who can give you length.â€
Tuesday marked the third game this year the wind has blown out at Wrigley. Alfonso Soriano’s ninth-inning solo homer was the Cubs’ first in those conditions while the visitors have cranked out 8. Quade, though, said his hitters shouldn’t change their approach at the plate based on the wind.
“If people start changing because of the weather and we’re not hitting homers and we start back-legging stuff, that’s not going to work,†he said.
American hero Jeff Baker had two more hits last night, raising his average to .407. Starting first baseman Carlos Pena is hitting .169, but Quade insists there is no first base platoon.
‘‘It can’t be a platoon system for me because I still would like the left-handed power in the middle of that lineup that I know Carlos has,’’ Quade said. ‘‘And I’m not willing to bail on that two weeks, three weeks into the season in April in Chicago. Hopefully, that’s a conversation for never.’’
Or any time the Cubs face a left-handed starter.
Ahahahahaha! Re: Samardzija: “That’s not really something I’m interested in doing.”
Heeeee.
It seems like Quade has trouble finding anyone in the minors “who can give you length”
That sounds problematic.
I’m too lazy to look up the actual numbers but i remember last night hearing the bullpen’s era is somewhere around 1.5 less than the starters, anyway we can have a rotation of 2 starters and 3 games of all relievers?
Why don’t the Cubs just call up Chris Archer…oh, damn.
Pouring AGAIN here. Not optimistic about today’s game. Even if we do play. HA.
Please tell me it will be rained out… it;s to early to be woken up for another game like yesterdays…
it’s looking like it might be rained out.
We just had a two funnel clouds pass through here. And, it’s just 10 am. This afternoon looks much worse…no worse that Russell though!!
Meanwhile-we have a Santa Ana watch, and the workshop at my job for firefighter has been cancelled as all personnel is being redployed for a Red Flag warning in areas we had massive fire damage last year. Temps in the 80′s-90′s. Would trade for the rain, but not the funnel clouds….
Re: Standings flags…are we really in first place? Go us!!
No. Pat is just busy.
Today’s lineup:
Fukudome RF
Castro SS
Baker 2B
Ramirez 3B
Pena (AAAHHHH!) 1B
Byrd CF
Colvin RF
Hill C
Coleman P
Is your AAAHHHHH! similar to Charlie Brown’s when Lucy pulls the football away from him? That’s what I’m hearing.
I LOL’ed.
How far into the season does the money we’re spending on Pena no longer matter vis-a-vis the return we’re getting for said money?
A sign that your team isn’t very good…
Jeff Baker is your #3, #4 or #5 hitter.
Please see the lineups over the last 3 games for reference.
Or if you field two RFs. I guess Colorado is going to try to hit it to left
whatever. one of them is playing LF. Probably Colvin.
What difference does it make that it’s Baker and it’s the Cubs? Any player with an OPS of almost 1.000 (1.500 with RISP/2 outs) would be 3/4/5 in the Yankees lineup, for goodness sake.
You’re going to have to come up with better examples.
Baker will revert.
Y’think?? When he’s hot you play him.
All you need is for him to face so right handed pitching…all will return to normal at that point.
A sign that your team isn’t very good…
Your starting 3rd baseman, 1st baseman and center fielder have a total of 1 homer.
And, somehow we are only two games out of first???
… such as this!
A sign that your team isn’t very good…
Koyie Hill