Comments on: Not With a Bang, But a Whimper…Again

By: Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:44:58 +0000

your declare that excuses are for pussies, and then you conclude that our team suffers from “lack of an outspoken leafer”. After playing great baseball for the most part all year, our problems are suddenly clear after losing three games?

I agree with lou piniella, good defense and timely hitting is what wins ball games. traits which we lacked in our short time in the NLDS. Our team won 97 games and dominated the NL, I’m not sure what else we should expect of our team coming into the posteseason… a team that played as well as we have should not logically self-destruct because it struck october and I don’t neccessarily buy that we are mentally weak. And that’s what makes it so bewildering. I would sell my soul for a do-over.

By: Klute

Klute — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:32:28 +0000

Excuses are for pussys. You would think playing in Chicago these players would understand the pressure of the spotlight, but not these lames. For all of Piniella’s so called bluster, he never showed an ounce of urgency.

Anyone could tell that Dempster, who had only walked 8 batters in the whole month of September, after walking 7 in 4 innings was lost. But not our brainiac manager.

Facing the dominant RH pitching staff of the Dodgers, Piniella leaves Hoffpauir of the roster so we can have a 6th outfielder that will only pinch run if lucky. Piniella even said he was worried about the team offensively going into the playoffs and will need as many as LHBs as possible, then leaves one of the hottest hitters off the roster? And don’t even get me started on his decision not only to start but hit the pirouetting pussy 2nd.

Much was made of the Dodger lineup initially buying into Torre’s philosophy but once they had, started to turn their season around. Does Piniella even know what a game plan is? If he does, his players don’t follow it.

Say what you will if you can quantify clutch performances or not, but whatever measure you do use, this club doesn’t have it.

The lack of a real outspoken leader, whether it be a player or manager is really evident on this team.

I don’t have the answers but the problems are all clear to see.

By: ebanks14

ebanks14 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:38:14 +0000

Couldn’t have written it better myself, except I would have mentioned Lilly on the bench, along with RJ. WTF – why didn’t we put him in the bullpen? Not that it would have helped, but if you ask me Lou is once again guilty of saving players (Zambrano last year) for games we’re not going to play. And, does Fukudome have pictures of Lou’s wife or something? WHY else would he get so much playing time?? I’m also bothered by the team’s lack of emotion about the choke. If you don’t address, and if it doesn’t bother you, it will just happen again next year. Can you imagine?

By: Rusty Baker

Rusty Baker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:24:32 +0000

Dude awesome post. Exactly how I feel. What a wasted summer. I’m sick of all the time I wasted watching those meaningless games in April and May. Never again! These guys are bums plain and simple.

By: Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:39:08 +0000

great article.
Dave Caplin jumped right in on that night’s postgame show, claiming the cubs “will never win the world series with a guy like Alfonso Soriano in the lineup”. Give me a fucking break. Revisionists have come out of the woodwork speculating about weakness that foretold this catastrophe. Continue to tell them to shut the fuck up.

By: Lou Pinella

Lou Pinella — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:32:46 +0000

And I’m going to start hating you too, son.

By: CactusMcHarris

CactusMcHarris — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:04:48 +0000

Fellahs,

It was completely mystifying how the Cubs fell apart. Lack of clutch hits, defense, managing….man, I was left wondering, as many of you did/do, how it could have happened….and all I’ve come up with is some sort of ineffable, inexorable and (gasp!) inexplicable collapse on all fronts. As if the Hand of God reached out and said ‘Try again – not this year’.

How else can one explain the collapse of so many things that brought the Cubs to 97 wins?

Maybe they should win only the wild card next year – then the expectations wouldn’t be as high.

By: Jarritos

Jarritos — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:34:31 +0000

I have a bad feeling that I’m gonna start hating Lou by the end of 2010. What with his senility and all.

By: Bruce Dickenson

Bruce Dickenson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:52:43 +0000

I’ve got a fever…and the only prescription is MORE REED JOHNSON!

Yes, that’s what it was. The lack of Reed Johnson’s balls-out clutchiness.

By: Ryan Beariot

Ryan Beariot — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:51:50 +0000

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120313290200&ssPageName=ADME:B:ONA:US:1123

Fro Dog?