Before we talk about tonight, we’ve got some new features on the site that I hope will help a lot of you guys and will lend themselves to better discussion. If only they had a plugin to make sure people didn’t fight in the comments. Here is a quick breakdown on what I added.
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Share It Links – I added the ability for you to share posts via some of the more popular social networking sites out there these days. If you don’t see one that you would use frequently, let me know what it is and I’ll see about adding it. The plugin allows like 100 different ones, so I’d like to have the ones that you guys use. The best way for us to make this a bonafide community for discussion is to increase readership and the best way to make that happen is to get the word out. Let people know about the community we’re building and let’s increase the participation.
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Easy Quote – The grey box has been a topic of discussion over the last few days. I looked to see if I could find a way to make it simple for everyone and I think I got it squared away. To quote someone, all you do is go to their comment and click the “quote” link. It should put their whole comment in your comment section and then you can just delete the section you don’t need.
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Reply to Comment Fixed – Wordpress apparently added this as a feature and I didn’t even know it. I’ve got it set to only allow 1 reply (i.e. 2 deep). If you guys feel it needs to be deeper, let me know.
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Easy Editor for Comments – For the non-code savvy people, I added an easy tool for making text formatting changes (i.e. – bold, italic, etc) Have fun with it.
Cubs 4, Giants 2 (Box Score)
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Browsing my Facebook news feed, Derek Smart posted a status update from his phone “Dear Aliens: Thank you for the Ryan Theriot replicant. Please keep the original indefinitely. Your Friend, Derek.” I think that about sums it up perfectly. I’m not sure what has gotten into Theriot of late, but I’m certainly not complaining. Three HR in four games is just fine with me. At least someone’s hitting with some power over the last few days.
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Derrek Lee had some really good at bats in the early innings. He saw a lot of pitches and drew some walks. It doesn’t do a thing to increase that average of his that’s hovering around the Mendoza line, but usually when a guy starts drawing walks, it’s a sign that he’s seeing the ball well and that the hits are coming right behind. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Lee is hitting closer to .280 by the end of the month. I’ve got a feeling he’s going to turn it on this month, though I’m not sure how much power that will include.
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The Giants’ TV crew went on and on in the first inning about Ryan Dempster’s glove wag. Unfortunately, they didn’t quite understand the purpose of it. Dempster has said openly that the reason behind it was to prevent him from tipping his grip, which led to the pitches being tipped. By wagging that glove, he is able to adjust the grip while maintaining a consistent delivery from pitch to pitch. The helpless announcers were positive that it was a timing mechanism that kept Dempster in rhythm. Do your homework guys. Don’t just make things up to make yourselves seem smart.
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Ryan Dempster didn’t pitch near as well as his line might indicate. There were several fat pitches or times when the Giants could have capitalized and got to him, but they never did. That being said, sometimes you need to battle and get a start like this to begin to gain some confidence. Maybe this is the start for Demp as he tries to get back the command he had last year. As of yet, I’ve not seen it this year. At the plate, he looked awful tonight, striking out three times, the worst of which came when he tried to get a sacrifice bunt down (which he’s usually really good at) in the 2nd.
Iowa 1, Nashville 5 (Box Score)
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Randy Wells made the start and left after three innings of work and just 39 pitches. My guess is that he’s going to be the one called up to take Zambrano’s spot and this was a tune up before that. He didn’t allow a hit and struck out two.
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We’ve debated about Iowa players with the last name Fox, and I will once again ask Jim Hendry to make a move to bring Chad Fox up to the Majors. Dave made a good point when he mentioned that it’s not about stuff for Fox, but rather his health. If he’s healthy and pitching well, why not take advantage and ride out his arm until it falls off once and for all? He pitched another scoreless inning of relief in the 8th and lowered his ERA to 1.59 on the season.
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Another name that has gone a little unnoticed, at least by me, is Greg Reinhard
who threw three scoreless innings of relief and now has an ERA of 0.55 in 16.1 IP. Perhaps he’s another possibility. In those 16+ innings, he’s struck out 24 hitters.
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Jake Fox Update: 0-for-4 with a D-Lee like GIDP
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David Macias was promoted to Triple-A Iowa from Tennessee
Tennessee 3, Huntsville 2 (Box Score)
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It was a scheduled double header, but rain cancelled the 2nd game of the day.
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RocketMan video My guy, Blake Lalli, picked up his 2nd HR of the season and Tony Thomas added his 5th. For Thomas, he now has 14 RBI out of the leadoff spot.
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Ty Wright, one of the top OF prospects in our system, grabbed two doubles and drove in a run.
Daytona 6, Tampa 0 (Box Score)
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Jake Opitz had another nice day at the plate and appears to be interested in showing people that maybe he can hit better than is expected of him. You might remember we mentioned him the other day as someone who was terrible in Peoria last year, hitting an anemic .142. Hopefully the move to a tougher level does good for him and he takes it and shines. Playing 3B, Opitz picked up a pair of singles in five at bats, raising his average on the young season to .385
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Tyler Colvin had himself a monster game, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two singles. He scored twice and drove in one. I really want him to work out. I’d love to see him in our OF in the next few years.
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Russ Canzler was 2-for-4 with a double, homerun, and four RBI.
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The pitching staff threw a combined shutout with Rafael Dolis picking up his first win on the year going five innings. Dustin Sasser and Henry Williamson each chipped in two scoreless innings to seal the deal.
Peoria 4, Cedar Rapids 3 (Box Score)
- For some reason, Chris Archer was not in the good graces of the manager as he went just two innings of work as the starter. No indication that he left with an injury in the media recap, so I have to assume he was wilder than his line looked. His line for the night: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K and just 9 batters faced.
- Josh Vitters got himself ejected. The recap I received described it as follows: ” Vitters appeared to tie the game in the top of the second with a home run down the left field line, but home plate umpire Greg Stanzak called it foul drawing the ire of Chiefs Manager Marty Pevey. Vitters eventually struck out and the Chiefs went in order…..That call had repercussions in the top of the fourth. Vitters hit the first pitch off his left foot for a foul ball, but Stanzak called him out when catcher Beau Brooks The Waiting Room trailer picked up the ball and tagged Vitters. An argument ensued between Vitters, Pevey and Stanzak that resulted in an immediate ejection of Vitters. Stanzak then conferred with base umpire Adam Schwarz who ruled the ball foul. Pevey was then ejected by Stanzak after another confrontation.”
- Josh Harrison extended his hit streak to 13 with a single.
- Vitters is the first Chiefs player ejected this season…Pevey has been ejected by this umpiring crew twice this series.
Webtopia
Baseball America Minor League Transactions (Source)
Signed: RHP Jose Ascanio, RHP Randy Wells
Traded: RHP Dumas Garcia to Blue Jays for future considerations
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Marcos Mateo
Option transferred: RHP Marcos Mateo (High-A to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Matt Matulia, OF Cliff Andersen
Reinstated from DL: RHP Andrew Cashner, C Mario Mercedes
Phil Rogers Argues FOR the DH (Source)
I have to say that I agree with him, but for a selfish reason. You guys know, if you’ve been reading the site for awhile, that I keep score at home when I watch. Nothing makes me more ill than when all the double switches and pinch hitters come into play. Imagine if we could us the DH. We’d have a spot for someone like Micah Hoffpauir or to give Milton Bradley days off from the field. We could even call up Jake Fox and put him in there.
Bleed Cubbie Blue Readers Scout the Peoria Chiefs (Source)
It’s doubtful that we’ll ever get a link from the juggernaut blog for anything we’re doing over here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t show love anyway. They’ve got a few scouting YouTube videos that I could have grabbed and put here, but that didn’t seem kind.
Mastrick’s Favorite Gets An Award (Source)
If you don’t know who I’m talking about, a former Cub picked up offensive player of the week in his league. Any guesses as to who we’re referring to?
Diaper Dandy Alert? (Source)
Miguel Angel Sano, a 15 year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic was seen wearing Cubs gear…along with some other teams. Smart kid.
Daryle Ward Comes Back to Chicago (Source)
Good for him. I liked watching D-Ward hit.
Who did you think would kick off the comments section this time, Dave?
Derek Smart may be clever but not that smart. Theriot has made a significant contribution since he put on a Cub uniform. I find the statement insulting. And then Joe, you agree with it completely! You my friend, flip-flop across the Theriot fence at will. One moment you praise him, the next you diminish him.
OK everyone, give me what you got. I am used to it.
Oh one more thing, The Riot rocks!
Tommy, I praise guys when they do good things and call guys out when they don’t. That’s not flip flopping. That’s reporting and commenting on Cubs baseball. Right now, Theriot is playing out of his mind. 3 HR in 4 games is not the norm. I’ll say it again. No one is as good as they look during a hot streak or as bad as they look during a cold streak. As much as you want to believe it Tom, this isn’t the normal Ryan Theriot.
Phil Rogers must be smokin’ lefthanded cigarettes again, that whacky tobaccy is givin’ him some funny ideas! A better case could be made for lowering the height of the bag or making it softer – Z’s injury looked like the one that happened to Corey Patterson, looks like he hyperextended it when he hit the bag wrong.
As for Dopirak getting EAS player of the week…every dog has his day! Ryan Harvey is hitting .231 for Tulsa and he’s cut his strikeouts down to about one in every five at bats; his release must have gotten his attention. Mark Pawelek has still not latched on to a minor league team – I see a Budweiser delivery truck in his future.
Tommy… really? Smart’s comments had nothing to do with whether Theriot has contributed to the Cubs in the past. It has to do with his power surge that is coming out of nowhere.
Or do you want us to believe that you expected that?
Theriot, up until this week, has been a singles hitter. A good singles hitter, but still just a singles hitter. And while he was able to contribute to the team in that way, he wasn’t a very valuable offensive player. I know that you don’t like to hear that, but facts are facts. BUT… if Theriot can continue to drive the ball, without losing much of his contact abilities, he will become MUCH more valuable to this team.
Tommy… true or false: A 1-4 night, with a homerun, is more valuable than a 2-4 night?
First, Joe, thank you for cleaning up my sloppy attempt at quoting Derek.
Secondly, I am the first to admit that this new power intensive RIOT is unusual. What I was taking exception to was the part of keeping the original. The original was not hitting home runs, true. But the original wasn’t chopped liver. Ryan may not hit another home run all season. He is still a bargain for the money (1/2 a million).
Third, I have no problem calling out ALL players when the need arises, ’superstars’ as well as ‘utility’ players.
Fourth, all of a sudden we don’t have the star system anymore? Did you finally come to your senses? Or are you waiting for Lee and Ramirez to start getting theirs?
ooops, another slip, I replied to myself by accident when I meant for it to go here.
Tommy, why do you keep posting your comments in bold?
Dave, Theriot’s contributions go beyond hitting singles. That is unfair to categorize him, to limit his accomplishments to just that. He gets on base to allow the Lees and the Sotos to drive him in. He steals bases. He gets in scoring position so that the Lees and the Sotos and the Fukudomes can get the rbis and the glory.
Do I think he’s a great defensive shortstop? No and I never claimed as much. I think he will improve in this area.
Now the question. I love true and false because there’s a 50/50 chance I will be right. But it’s a trick question because it depends on the situation. A 2-4 night can be more valuable if more runs are scored than from a 1-4 w/ hr effort. Home runs are sexier, chicks dig the long ball or so we are told. But the individual situation will dictate the answer to your question.
I obviously do not know what the tar heel I am doing with these gray boxes. I better just return to work. Oy!
Because I am legally blind. I thought you knew that. I think everyone’s comments should be in bold. If this offendeth thee, I shall quit commenting.
He gets on base… by hitting singles. He occasionally draws walks, but it actually is not his strong suit.
He steals bases… but he doesn’t steal them very well. He was excellent stealing bases in his first season. But since then he has actually been pretty awful, only being successful 65% of the time. If you are successful less than 75% of the time, you are actually hurting your team (source).
I hope so… but this season he appears to actually have regressed defensively.
To some extent this is true, but you can actually determine which is more likely to help your team win. And the one that is much more likely to help your team win more is the 1-4 with a home run.
Oh… and it isn’t that home runs are sexier. It is that, without question, a home run is more valuable than a single, a double, or a triple.
Give me a Tony Gwynn over a Sammy Sosa any day of the week.
That isn’t really relevant. Ryan Theriot is not Tony Gwynn, and he probably never will be.
Gwynn had a career slugging of .459. Theriot has a career slugging of .378.
Gwynn averaged 51 extra bases hits, when averaged out for a full 162 game season. Theriot has averaged 29.
Tony Gwynn was one of the best pure hitters in the history of the game.
Gwynn and Theriot are not even in the same category.
And Sosa, in the prime of his career, was a significantly better than Gwynn was in the prime of his career.
testing
Testing 1,2,3
I was merely speaking philosophically, not ever implying that Theriot is akin to Gwynn. I’m just saying the game is more than home runs and players can contribute in other ways than homer and still be considered quality players.
To fairly judge Theriot offensively, we need to compare his accomplishments with those of his fellow National League shortstops. A long way to go this season, granted but right now as of today Ryan is first or second among his peers in the following categories; runs, hits, triples, home runs, runs batted in, stolen bases, batting average, on-base pct., slugging pct, and OPS.
I absolutely agree… and I never said otherwise. But the difference between Gwynn and Theriot is that Gwynn DID contribute in other ways, and Theriot has not.
We have… and I don’t think you will like the comparison. You weren’t around for this post?
These are pretty meaningless rankings at this point in the season, which you acknowledged. It is way to early, and these sample sizes are way too limited, to do any kind of meaningful analysis.
It is extremely unlikely that Theriot maintains a .485 slugging percentage.
Of course… if he does, he will end up being one of the SS’s in the league, and I will be the first to admit that. But there is nothing in his history that would make any of us think that those are sustainable numbers.
I wish I could read all 51 comments of that post. It was a “good” discussion if I recall.
When Mike Fontenot doesn’t recall Theriot hitting a homer while they were at LSU, I’m thinking this is an aberation. I like it, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing this all year.
I see after four straight wins, the “sky is falling” crowd has vacated the premises.
I just read through it all (the link to the first 50 comments is hidden, but if you click right under the “51″, you can get to the first 50) … it was pretty funny. And not much different than this thread.
People like Theriot because he is a good singles hitter. I say that singles hitters are overrated. People get mad because I use stats to show that singles hitters are overrated.
Fun times…
You have that article framed and hanging over your bed, don’t you?
Why would I do that? Its a blog post.
If you would like to actually deal with the content of what I wrote, that would be nice.
i have been. Just thought some humor might be nice for a change. You’re a big hit at parties, aren’t you?
Enough already Tom. All you’re doing is instigating. Saying things like “You have that article framed” is unnecessary.
Let me just sum up the Theriot arguments that we continue to have.
Me: Theriot is a singles hitter who has a role on this team, but not a very valuable one. He is also poor defensively. If Theriot continues his unlikely power surge, he could become a very valuable player on the Cubs.
Others: Theriot is a very valuable and productive player on the Cubs, because he has a high batting average, and helps the team in other (undefined) ways.
Fair summary?
This still makes me laugh.
Can the David Patton experiment end now?
What did Patton do wrong today?
Patton is pitching better than Samardzija…
So their ace, the reigning Cy Young winner if I’m not mistaken, beat the Cubs what, # 5 starter? Tip your cap and move on to tomorrow.
Yeah, sorry Dave, was looking at the wrong line in the box score yesterday. D’oh.