Chicago Baseball thread

[fentonfreshman]

Let's not have this become a Cubs/Sox bashing thread...ok?

Sox are looking really impressive so far and the Cubs are starting to shake off the rust, who here thinks Chicago can have both Central divison champs?

[milerkick]

Let's not have this become a Cubs/Sox bashing thread...ok?

Sox are looking really impressive so far and the Cubs are starting to shake off the rust, who here thinks Chicago can have both Central divison champs?

Sorry, I think the Cards will win the Central (excuse the central Illinois bias). Sox have a chance though.

[Sean Olson]

I think the Twins will take the AL Central and the Cards in the NL. No offense guys, right now the sox are killing the Twins but we are 5 games in.

[merun4fun]

cubs wont come close to winning the nl central because they suck

[fentonfreshman]

cubs wont come close to winning the nl central because they suck

Let's not have this become a Cubs/Sox bashing thread...ok?

??

[merun4fun]

i said what i think will happen and why. nobody has to respond to that

[Mr. Powers]

Yankees are better

[antispandex73]

Yankees are better
You had better be joking because no one in Illinois can legally like the Yankees/think they are better than the Cubs/Sox.

[idontgetit14]

i have to say that the sox have looked very impressive and i think will cruise to a division title.
But the cubs are going no where, and fast.

[antispandex73]

Let's not have this become a Cubs/Sox bashing thread...ok?

Two characters.

[fldwtch87]

You cant make a huge statement about the cubs this year, considering they started off this way last year and did pretty well, not amazing, but they weren't in the gutter. I think they can take the wild card but the Cardinals seem to have too good of a team.
For the Sox, I don't see why they shouldnt win the AL Central, Twins didn't really improve in the offseason and the Sox got some pretty good guys new this year.
I'm a cubs fan, so of course I hope they win the division, but realistically I don't see it happening

[idontgetit14]

You cant make a huge statement about the cubs this year, considering they started off this way last year and did pretty well, not amazing, but they weren't in the gutter. I think they can take the wild card but the Cardinals seem to have too good of a team.
For the Sox, I don't see why they shouldnt win the AL Central, Twins didn't really improve in the offseason and the Sox got some pretty good guys new this year.
I'm a cubs fan, so of course I hope they win the division, but realistically I don't see it happening


the cubs have some problem areas and so do the sox. The cubs need to work on there starting rotation. The sox need to work on there closers. Shingo is good, but i dont think he's the answer. I wish though that he didn't blow that game, b/c the sox would now be 5-0 instead of 4-1. But the sox are gona go pretty far this year.

[Mr. Powers]

You had better be joking because no one in Illinois can legally like the Yankees/think they are better than the Cubs/Sox.
Sure i can. Probly because i live in south central Illinois

[Shiznit.]

You know what really has me excited, is the upcoming baseball draft. This isn't related to Chicago in anyway...but whoo-e. Justin Upton and Alex Gordon...man.

[idontgetit14]

Sure i can. Probly because i live in south central Illinois



still, the yankees can't be like by an illinoian period. it's illegal.

[ditka3001]

Both teams have legit shots to make the playoffs, but if I had to bet on one I would take the Cubs. I don't think they'll win the central (Houston will, not the Cards), but I think the NL central will have the wild card team. The Sox need to win their division to make the playoffs, and Cleveland and Minnesota are both solid teams, with that said, the AL central is the worst division in baseball and the Sox have as much if not more talent than any team, so they also have a good shot at the playoffs.

[Mr. Brightside]

still, the yankees can't be like by an illinoian period. it's illegal.
Outside of the Chicago area the usual debate is between Cubs/Cards not Cubs/Sox. I don't see too many Yankee fans down here, but with that kind of a dynasty, they will have fans from every part of the country.

[ditka3001]

I don't see too many Yankee fans down here, but with that kind of a dynasty, they will have fans from every part of the country.

That's called being a fair weather fan aka the scum of all sports fans.

[MDRunner400]

im a huge cubs fan im having a little trouble gettin excited bout this season, the cubs lost their power gettin rid of sosa and alou, now i know a lot of ppl dont like sosa but be realistic burnitz will not put up numbers like sosa did. Ramirez is the cubs power right now i think he can hit 35+ hrs, and im glad he singed a long term deal. Noamar staying wit the cubs is also huge, if he stays healthy hes gonna have an awsome yr. The problem wit the cubs is gonna be their bullpen once again. Latroy doesnt seem like he can come up wit the pitches in preassure situations. Rush is gonna be the only one whose gonna have a good yr out of the bullpen, and if wood and prior dont stay healtyhy and pitch like they always do the cubs r screwed cause their gonna need some good pitching cause thats always been their strenght. Patterson needs to act more like a leadoff guy and get on base more and cut down those strikeouts. I think they can win the wild card if they stay healthy and maybe jim hendry will come up wit some big trades like he did when the cubs won the division 2 yrs ago.

Now i think the sox have a shot to win the division this yr, they got speed, but not too much power loosing thomas, lee, and magglio. Their pitching staff looks strong though, they deffinatly look like they can come up on top in the weakest division in MLB. I would love to see a windy city world series but idk if that will ever happen

[run2win]

the sox still have their fair share of power though as they have shown early in the year w/ paulie and Carl. The key to winning the division however will be the starting pitching. I think that the sox starting pitchers are better than their counterparts on the northside and that will make the difference. Also they are dependable and will not get hurt at least once or twice a year (cough prior and wood cough).

[MDRunner400]

hey hey dont bash my buddies prior and wood, yea i admit their injury prone, prior still hasnt pitched a fulled season since hes been wit the cubs but who wouldnt want a healthy woody and prior as their 1-2 punch in their rotation? once they get healthy they will pitching like they always do, and wit zambrano pitching like an animal their gonna have a great 1-2-3 rotation,

[ditka3001]

I think that the sox starting pitchers are better than their counterparts on the northside and that will make the difference.

Is that a joke?

[merun4fun]

well let see...

kerry wood = 8-9 last year, constantly injured
mark prior = 6-4 last year, injured again
carlos zambrano = 16-8 last year, very good but ol dusty threw his arm out last year, and exceeding 100 pitches in his first 2 starts doesnt look like dusty learned anything
greg maddux = 16-11 last year but his first outing doesnt look to good

vs

Freddy Garcia = 9-4 with the white sox last year
Jose Contreras = 13-9 last year
Orlando Hernandez = 8-2 last year
Mark Buehrle = 16-10 last year

plus, the white sox pitchers dont have a big problem with injuries

[Runr Of Cwood]

Who are you? reppin Central IL and what not

[idontgetit14]

well let see...

kerry wood = 8-9 last year, constantly injured
mark prior = 6-4 last year, injured again
carlos zambrano = 16-8 last year, very good but ol dusty threw his arm out last year, and exceeding 100 pitches in his first 2 starts doesnt look like dusty learned anything
greg maddux = 16-11 last year but his first outing doesnt look to good

vs

Freddy Garcia = 9-4 with the white sox last year
Jose Contreras = 13-9 last year
Orlando Hernandez = 8-2 last year
Mark Buehrle = 16-10 last year

plus, the white sox pitchers dont have a big problem with injuries



even though it may not look like the sox are way ahead in starting pitchers are way ahead, but they are. ZAmbrano is good, but wood and Prior were good there first year, and now are injured and people have seen them and can hit them easily, and Maddux is over the hill.

The sox now, Buehrle is gona have another good year, Contreras is gona have a good year, Hernandez is the player to watch, Garcia is just as good as Buerhrle, and Garland is an outstanding 5th starter. He'll win half his games.

You also have to look at closers. LaTroy Hawkins sux horribly. He blew a lot of games last year, and he's already blew one this year. Whil the sox have shingo, hermenson, and marte who is due for a good year.

[ditka3001]

well let see...

kerry wood = 8-9 last year, constantly injured
mark prior = 6-4 last year, injured again
carlos zambrano = 16-8 last year, very good but ol dusty threw his arm out last year, and exceeding 100 pitches in his first 2 starts doesnt look like dusty learned anything
greg maddux = 16-11 last year but his first outing doesnt look to good

vs

Freddy Garcia = 9-4 with the white sox last year
Jose Contreras = 13-9 last year
Orlando Hernandez = 8-2 last year
Mark Buehrle = 16-10 last year

plus, the white sox pitchers dont have a big problem with injuries

The opposing side...

Kerry Wood - Inconsistent, but when he's on, he's one of the most dominant starters in baseball. When he's healthy for a full season ('98, '03 it seems the Cubs go to the playoffs)
Mark Prior - Only on the DL bc the Cubs management is hyper-cautious about keeping him healthy for the long run. Career 3.08 ERA. Could pitch in the next few days.
Zambrano - IMO, better than Wood and as good as Prior. All-star last year, only 23. How do you figure Dusty blew his arm out? The guy is a horse.
Maddux - Always starts out slow, but never gets injured, and will get his 15 dubs without fail.
Dempster - I'm not crazy about him, but he's got a mid 90s fastball.

Freddy Garcia - Solid #1, but had a 4.46 era w/ the Sox last year, and the only reason he had such a good record was because of his run support
Jose Contreras - Has never lived up to potential. 4.77 lifetime ERA and is 35 years old, and some people have said he may be older than that.
Orlando Hernandez - Past his prime. Hasn't pitched a full season since 2002.
Mark Buehrle - Solid inning eater. Pitched 2nd most innings of any pitcher in the bigs since 2001, but opponents batted .271 against him last year, and .278 in 2003.
John Garland - Career 4.68 ERA. Has yet to win more than 12 games or have an ERA less than 4.50 for a full season.

[PreLikedBeer]

but wood and Prior were good there first year, and now are injured and people have seen them and can hit them easily
wow thats just completly wrong...especially on wood who has constantly every year one of the best BAA (batting avg against).

I agree with Ditka on Wood, when he is healthy, he is definitly one of the best pitchers in baseball. And not outta control.

[ehof]

You also have to look at closers. LaTroy Hawkins sux horribly. He blew a lot of games last year, and he's already blew one this year. Whil the sox have shingo, hermenson, and marte who is due for a good year.
I think the people are right who say that latroy hawkins is very good as a middle reliever, but bad for a closer.

[black n gold]

go braves

[MDRunner400]

I think the people are right who say that latroy hawkins is very good as a middle reliever, but bad for a closer.


i agree, we need borowski, hes a whole heck of a lot better than hawkins

[run2win]

with the possible exception of Mark on Sun vs. Santana, there has not been one bad performance by the sox starters this year. Plus they have shown that they can win the close games with the new smallball approach and plus, Dusty Baker is one of the worst gameday managers I have ever seen. He is notorious for running his pitch counts far to high with his starters and burning them out. Also wood has never won 15 games in one year and Madduz is done.

[ehof]

Dusty Baker is one of the worst gameday managers I have ever seen. He is notorious for running his pitch counts far to high with his starters and burning them out. He must be doing something right. He was managing in the World Series in 2002. Maybe there just isn't anyone to bring in that could do any better. I don't like managers to just take people out because they have a high pitch count if they are doing well. If pitchers built up to it, teams could probbly go with a four man rotation.

[nurunner614]

Yeah, Dusty was managing in the 2002 World Series first season with the cubs 5 outs away from the World Series and last year they were in the hunt for the wildcar but the NL Central proved to be too tough for the Cubbies and in the last week they fell off. This year so far they are pretty average with a 3-4 start but I think they will be fine and I would be expecting around july they will pick up a big name closer if they can get one.

[chrizcross1988]

:D cubs wont come close to winning the nl central because they suck

[Gump]

"Fans at Yankee Stadium booed the great closer (Riviera) on his way back to the dugout, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Yankee fans are headed to hell."-Bill Simmons

My sentiments exactly.

[PreLikedBeer]

anyone see the yankee game with sheffield and the boston fan...craaazzy

[Gump]

Yeah that was crazy. What is it with fans' fascinations with throwing beers? very entertaining stuff.

[nurunner614]

Yeah that was crazy. What is it with fans' fascinations with throwing beers? very entertaining stuff.

I don't think beer was thrown this time, just spilt. But the reporter during like the 9th inning said that the guy claimed he was trying to swipe at the ball, his hand was no where close to the ball he was def trying to distract sheffield/hit him. I hate some fans especially with what went on with the Pacers and Pistons. That fan should get ejected, arrested and charged with whatever the charge would be and a 1 year ban on him from Fenway park.



Edit: wait I don't see how they could successfuly ban someone from a stadium, but if they could they should.

[Gump]

I don't think beer was thrown this time, just spilt. But the reporter during like the 9th inning said that the guy claimed he was trying to swipe at the ball, his hand was no where close to the ball he was def trying to distract sheffield/hit him. I hate some fans especially with what went on with the Pacers and Pistons. That fan should get ejected, arrested and charged with whatever the charge would be and a 1 year ban on him from Fenway park.



Edit: wait I don't see how they could successfuly ban someone from a stadium, but if they could they should.

As much as i dislike Joe torre, he puts it best: "These people shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets much less come to a ballgame. The sad part about it is it's a handful of people screw it up for the people who just come to watch a ballgame."

[nurunner614]

Oh geez, Nomar out for 2-3 months!!! he hasn't really produced much yet, but our offense can't afford these injuries!! this saddens me :(

[Gump]

You can look at it on the bright side: Nomar was hurt last season before the red sox traded him...a sign? anyway, the cubs are about to lose to the cards. top of the ninth, 4-0, 2 outs.