Hire Jim Essian

You shithead. Seriously? Is this how it’s going to be in September? I was in the midst of a party to appease J-Kerm on Saturday. When I turned off the Cubs game, they had a very comfortable 9-1 lead. Ned Ryerson on Sunday told me that the final of the game was 14-9. Honestly? Eight runs in the 8th and 9th innings. Are the Cubs aware that they are the team that’s supposed to win games like the one on Sunday? They are the team that scores 8 runs in the last two innings. They are the team who should win the NL Central, blow through the playoffs, and advance to the World Series for the first time in over sixty years.

Can someone please let the Cubs know?
Let’s get something straight. I’m still not worried. This team is going to make the playoffs one way or another. If they don’t, they should just disband the team and not have a 2009 version of the Cubs. I’m dead serious about that. Even after the Cubs lost six games in a row, they still had more wins than any other team in baseball when the sun set on Saturday night.

But God damnit, does anyone want to win this division? The Astros seem interested. They’ve been playing out of their minds, even after losing Carlos Lee. The Cubs and the Brewers have been playing hot potato with the division since the start of September. It’s the Cubs’ division to lose, and it seems like they have no greater desire than to do just that.

I have been very even-keeled this season, to the delight of J-Kerm and to the dogs. I haven’t shouted and screamed. I haven’t gotten too high nor too low. But on Sunday afternoon, I couldn’t help myself. That loss was the first this season that legitimately pissed me off. When Ronny F. Cedeno played patty cake with that ball and ruined the Cubs’ chance to win an 8th consecutive rubber match, I fired my hat into the ground and let out a very loud, very therapeutic, “FUCK!”

I mean, come on. Is Cedeno aware that even ONE out would have been sufficient in that situation? Is he aware that the Brewers were in the midst of getting their asses kicked by the Padres, and a win from the Cubs would have restored their five-game lead? Is he aware that he was about to make the fucking BEARS the highlight of the weekend?

The thing I find the most hysterical is that the Cubs could STILL lose four games in a row, and the Brewers would still need to win four games in a row just to TIE the Cubs. But God damnit. This should be about an eight-game lead today, and it’s only a four-game lead. What the hell is going on?

Someone has to want to win this division, right?

Jon Lieber

I have no interest in winning this division.
http://www.urbanagora.com JayBandit

Well, let’s put the blame where it belongs. Yes, Cedeno screwed the pooch on that last play, but he was doing so to save his Closer’s ass because the guy running down to first is a pretty fast SOB.

K-Wood had absolutely no control with his Slider, and that would be the reason that he walked Valentin and his .190 pinch-hitting average after having him down to 0-2.

But I don’t even blame Woody that much, I place most of the blame on Lou. Why not pitch Woody the night before in the blowout in order to get him some work? He did that with Marmol, even though before he gave up the Grand Slam we were up 14-5. Woody needs rest, but if you’re going to give him 5 days rest, he probably needs to get in there for some type of tune-up before a 3-1 closing situation.

Lastly, I blame the offense a bit. Harang most certainly did not have his best stuff, and we only managed 3 runs when we had opportunities for many more.

Overall, I’d say that was a terrible TEAM loss. No one outshined the rest of the team, and everyone did something poorly. Too bad they couldn’t hold on.
ChuckDickens

I was told that the Shoutbox had articles and I had to come check it out for myself. I don’t know who this Jim Essian guy is, but I’m intrigued by his opinions.
http://hirejimessian.com Mike D.

Noticeably absent from today’s rant: Kerry Wood.

Walking that pudgy little bastard Valentin after starting out 0-2 should be a capital offense.

In retrospect, perhaps Lou should have pitched Wood in Saturday’s clusterfuck. Down the stretch, I’d like to see Wood go no more than 3 days between appearances.

I’m not excusing Wood, of course. He needs to throw the goddamn ball over the goddamn plate. Period.

Also, his blown save against Ankiel in the Tardinals back in July still hurt more than yesterday’s.
http://hirejimessian.com Bad Kermit

I’m annoyed with Wood, no doubt, but he still got the double play ball that should have gotten him out of the inning. Or at worst put guys on 1st and 3rd with a 1-run lead and 2 outs. Cedeno is a fucking spaz.
Blue Eyed Monster

Putrid baseball currently on display? Meh.

Cedeno on the playoff roster? Frightening.
Rick

Ronny Cedeno = Alex Gonzales
booze, broads, and bullshit

That play was changed to a FUCKING double?! I’ve seen a lot of bullshit hits, but never a 2 hopper baby dick hit back up the middle for a DOUBLE?

I hope Lou throws a gigantic Yost-esque hissy fit and petitions MLB to overturn it.
http://www.the-slog.blogspot.com Jon

Let us never speak of last night again.

As far as I’m concerned the game was cancelled. Like the 2005 World Series.
patpieper

Anyone else wonder why with runners on 2nd and 3rd in a tie game in the 9th, you don’t walk Cabrerra and play the infield back? Maybe, just maybe, Ramirez has a chance at that ball.
Reuschel’s Jowls

That’s why Cedeno’s error was so inexscusable, Pat. Get at least one out on that play, and Ramirez would have been playing back with a shot at Cabera’s ball.

Even prior to the recent slide, we’ve gotten away with leaving runs on the table a LOT this year. Maybe this will wake them up to the fact that you can’t come up empty when you have three chances to add insurance runs in the late innings.
StPatrick

I was there and it was awful.
Brant Brown

Jesus, maybe people will start forgetting about me now.
genrebuster

“They are the team who should win the NL Central, blow through the playoffs, and advance to the World Series for the first time in over sixty years.”

Well, I certainly hope you are right…but the shoddy play of late is disturbing…and not completely unexpected. As for the Astros, we’ve seen this late season charge before, more than once…perhaps the Cubs will take note and emulate.

Wood has been less than stellar…but Cedeno was the difference yesterday.
CactusMcHarris

Cubs Fans,

I was going to use the example of the 96′ Pads (sweeping the Dodgers the last series of the regular season to win the NL West) in an effort to allay your fears about this season’s outcome….then I remembered that the Pads then got swept by Your Favourite Team Led By A Genius.

Anyway, it should turn out OK. I just hope you have Z and Harden for the playoffs.
djwoody

Who wants to win the NL Central? Apparently not the fucking Chicago Cubs!!! At least they are finding new and exciting ways to lose games. Brutal.
http://hirejimessian.com Bad Kermit

This is getting tough to watch.
CactusMcHarris

On the positive side, Our Man Lee had something more than a single.
genrebuster

There is nothing positive about the way this Cubs team is playing this month.

It may be a “different year” and a “different team”…but lately we are witnessing the same PATHETIC performances that long-time fans have grown accustomed to.

It would take a monumental choke for this team to miss the playoffs…but if any organization is capable of it, it’s the Cubs. Remember what the Rockies did last year to make the playoffs. And the fucking Astros are playing excellent baseball of late…barf. Almost anything is possible…

What really concerns me the most (at this time) is how will the Cubs play if they advance to the playoffs (?)…still a likely scenario (unless the current level of play continues). None of us will be happy with a first round exit, much less a 3 and out, will we? Hell, I won’t.

It’s time to wake up and play ball…tick tock…tick tock.

Who Wants to Win the NL Central?

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