MLB 08 Season

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:29 pm

Anyone catch the end of the Cards/Cubs game today? Heck of a finish!!!!

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:47 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Anyone catch the end of the Cards/Cubs game today? Heck of a finish!!!!

Yes it was!!!

I love those stars and stripes caps all the teams are wearing for the weekend. Did they do that last year?

Think I'll pick a Cardinal one up.

I wish Lohse could have gotten #11 though.. but I'll take the W!

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:30 pm

I'm a big Kerry Wood fan, and I think he is turning into the dominant closer all of us Cubs fans have been hoping for. BUT, this guy walks such a tight rope at times. Just the night before he was painting with 98-99mph fastballs, yesterday he struggled to get to 95mph in the strike zone. Great finish for Cards fans in a game that didn't seem so exciting as the ending would suggest. Hope this isn't one of those season propelling games. Best thing the Cubs are still guaranteed first place regardless of what happens today. Cant beat a Cubs/Cards series. Much better than Sox/Yanks, SF/LA or Cubs/WSox, in my opinion.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:46 pm

Edit...oops...it was there

Ill go with the Dodgers Giants ...who through history have actually played games that mattered outside their own cities.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:23 am

Cubs beef up their roster with the trade, we'll see what happens in the playoffs. I like Harden, a bargain under 5 million.

It's been awhile that the Jays come back from behind like they did last night. Sweet, but things are not looking too rosy.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:27 am

10spro wrote:Cubs beef up their roster with the trade, we'll see what happens in the playoffs. I like Harden, a bargain under 5 million.

He is? He's pitched less than 300 innings in the past 4 years combined. He's good when he's healthy...you know, a quarter of the season.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:42 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
10spro wrote:Cubs beef up their roster with the trade, we'll see what happens in the playoffs. I like Harden, a bargain under 5 million.
He is? He's pitched less than 300 innings in the past 4 years combined. He's good when he's healthy...you know, a quarter of the season.

His numbers this season are respectable, yes he's been injury prone with his shoulder, but with MIL making a big move yesterday, CHI needed to step up.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:03 am

Good move for the Cubs. They got a guy who has been pitching very well this year without having to give up very much -- Sean Gallagher and spare parts. His injury history is a concern, but he's very consistent. With Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, and Dempster, they have a pretty solid playoff rotation. They also have enough depth at SP to ride out any Harden injuries. Plus Gaudin is also a decent bullpen addition.

It's of course not the same as getting Sabathia, but it improves a pitching staff that was already good. It's nice to see the Cubs not sitting on their heels despite having a great season so far.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:05 am

Weird seeing CC in a different uniform.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:16 am

dbdynsty25 wrote: He is? He's pitched less than 300 innings in the past 4 years combined. He's good when he's healthy...you know, a quarter of the season.

Considering the market for SP's, he's priced right. A full year of those numbers woud be worth $20m

Given the Cubs resources and ownership situation, it's a good move.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:53 am

RobVarak wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote: He is? He's pitched less than 300 innings in the past 4 years combined. He's good when he's healthy...you know, a quarter of the season.
Considering the market for SP's, he's priced right. A full year of those numbers woud be worth $20m Given the Cubs resources and ownership situation, it's a good move.

Yeah, I don't see how this would be a bad move for the Cubs unless Harden's arm falls off and can't pitch this year. Are the guys they gave up projected as future stars?

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:23 am

Glad to see a good ol' Canadian boy on the Cubs.......always love watching their games on WGN (HD looks amazing) for some national league action and a break from my Jays' dream season.

Speaking of Canadian ball-players, have there ever been this many quality ones in the bigs? (not bragging, just taking pride in what usually is slim pickings):

Morneau
Martin
Bay
Dempster
Harden
Bedard
Votto
Stairs
etc...

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:47 am

jLp vAkEr0 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote: He is? He's pitched less than 300 innings in the past 4 years combined. He's good when he's healthy...you know, a quarter of the season.
Considering the market for SP's, he's priced right. A full year of those numbers woud be worth $20m Given the Cubs resources and ownership situation, it's a good move.
Yeah, I don't see how this would be a bad move for the Cubs unless Harden's arm falls off and can't pitch this year. Are the guys they gave up projected as future stars?

What I'm hearing is that Gallagher was the must-have guy. Donaldson was the 48th pick overall in the 07 draft. But Murton and Patterson are 3rd or 4th outfielders at best. I wouldn't be suprised to see Patterson switched back to 2nd base where he excelled at Georgia Tech.

In regards to Harden, he hasn't had any surgeries yet, but Sun-Times columnist, Jay Marrioti is comparing him to Mark Prior.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:06 am

TheGamer wrote:

In regards to Harden, he hasn't had any surgeries yet, but Sun-Times columnist, Jay Marrioti is comparing him to Mark Prior.

Marrioti is a dope. A perfect reverse barometer.

The Cubs answered the Brewers trade...at that price its not that big a risk.

There I was all happy CC went to Milwaukee. Good trade Cubs...you bastards.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:29 am

Harden is no worse of a risk than Ben Sheets, and Harden has never had to have surgery. Given how fragile most SP's are these days, Harden is about par for the course.

I second that Mariotti is possibly the dumbest sportswriter at a major newspaper. He makes Skip Bayless look like Pulitzer material.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:34 am

Wonder where/if AJ Burnett gets moved.

I'd say the injury worries shouldn't be an issue, but his inconsistency certainly could be. At times he is abolutely dominant. Unfortunately, I don't think he realizes how good he is and is often afraid to attack hitters, instead opting to nibble and get himself into trouble.

It also doesn't help that his concentration breaks so easily. Whereas Halladay thrives under adversity, AJ seems to hate it.

I'd like to see us move him for a decent bat.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:39 am

fanatic wrote:Wonder where/if AJ Burnett gets moved.

I'd say the injury worries shouldn't be an issue, but his inconsistency certainly could be. At times he is abolutely dominant. Unfortunately, I don't think he realizes how good he is and is often afraid to attack hitters, instead opting to nibble and get himself into trouble.

It also doesn't help that his concentration breaks so easily. Whereas Halladay thrives under adversity, AJ seems to hate it.

I'd like to see us move him for a decent bat.

Oh, he'll be gone in about a couple of weeks when mathematically the Jays are done. You're correct in your assessment of A.J, but surprisingly he's been one of the most consistent guys in a season of inconsistency for the team. When his fastball is on, not many can touch him, I would be surprised if he still remains a Jay during playoff time.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:09 am

MIKE PELFREY.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:11 am

I'm not terribly excited about the Mets surge.

They won't be able to keep this up with scraps playing LF, RF and 2b.

The pitching has been phenomenal lately.

Good to see Pelfrey finally show something.

If they can't trade for outfield help, they are not gonna make it.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:08 am

The Cardinals have I believe 21 blown saves this year! Have somewhat of a decent bullpen, and the Cards are in first by a handful of games rather than being down 4-1/2 at the break. That lost to the Pirates on Saturday evening was absolutely vomiting.

By the way, what's up with Marmal on the NL All-Star team? That's a downright pathetic selection. I guess the NL goes another year without a win. That's bad news for the Cubbies if they make it to the World Series. They're a much better home team. Oh well....

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:42 am

sportdan30 wrote: They're a much better home team.

There's alot of that going on this year, a 50-year high for home team winning pcts...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=m ... &type=lgns

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:16 pm

sportdan30 wrote:By the way, what's up with Marmal on the NL All-Star team? That's a downright pathetic selection. I guess the NL goes another year without a win. That's bad news for the Cubbies if they make it to the World Series. They're a much better home team. Oh well....

Actually despite the rough patch he's been going through lately, he leads the league in holds. Also, the broadcast team mentioned yesterday that he was the next highest vote getter among the players voting. So apparently the players think he's pretty good.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:07 pm

He had two great months to start the season. Then something VERY bad happened.

His era in july is 13.50....and well its more rough patch as his june era was 7.36...

If this guy has gone bad I would be ready to move the Cubbie record to 101 years.

I Split G GS GF W L S CG SHO IP ERA H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP
+-+------------+---+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+-----+------+---+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+
April/March 14 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 17.1 1.56 8 3 3 1 5 0 23 1
May 15 0 4 1 1 1 0 0 18.2 1.93 7 4 4 2 7 1 31 1
June 13 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 11 7.36 5 9 9 2 9 0 12 3
July 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5.1 13.50 9 9 8 2 4 0 4 1

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:55 am

One of the better AS games that I watched for awhile.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:16 am

10spro wrote:One of the better AS games that I watched for awhile.

Yeah...defensively, outside of Uggla (the 3rd error was a horrible scoring call), it has been phenomenal.