SB Nation User Blog: Jerry Mumphrey

Cubs should suspend Piniella and coaches and let Soto manage the rest of the series

Jerry Mumphrey — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:02:12 -0000

The only way I see this series being saved is with drastic measures taken to get the entire Cub's roster to loosen up on the field. They should seriously pull a mutiny and go at alone if at all possible. Geo probably has the best knowledge and sense to make all the field desicions and write out the lineup card. He himself would do the job better than our whole coaching staff at gametime. Wow, for some reason I'm tearing up as I write this.

Two things really ticked me off last night...

Jerry Mumphrey — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:31:17 -0000

First of all, I don't see ANY team winning a playoff game with Soriano batting leadoff. It's never happened and I'm sad to say it looks like it never will. Secondly, and this one often gets overlooked, NEVER change your appearance just in time for the big stage! I knew Dempster was cooked the minute he took the field with his ridiculous red beard. It's an exhibit of self-conciousness. Dye jobs, mustaches, beards, braids up or down...invariably result in a sucky performance for the athlete who decides to debut his new look for the national audience.

Kosuke Fukudome would make a wonderful addition to our bench as a defensive specialist and pinch-runner. He may also be able to improve his hitting with some time spent in AAA.

Jerry Mumphrey — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:38:46 -0000

NOTICE: The title of this post has been edited to placate some of our more sensitive readers.

When can we stop making excuses for this guy? He is a black hole in the lineup. There are better options on the bench (Derosa) as well as the AAA roster. Even if he goes on to hit .400 the last 3 weeks I already know I don't want him anywhere near the batter's box in a playoff game. What did he contribute during the recent losing streak? One nice catch and a bunt out that the 1B ump blew the call on giving him a hit. I'm sorry, but the contigency out there who still insist on giving this guy more chances are sounding a lot like the same people who kept telling us Dusty Baker wasn't the problem. Enough already!

What is WITH the Chicago meatheads?

Jerry Mumphrey — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:20:46 -0000

Just came across this article:

http://www.madison.com/tct/news//298618

Which is a recount of a parking lot malfeasance after last night's game.

It basically describes a drunken gang attack on a single Brewer fan after yesterday's game. I think it would send a message if these thugs were identified and subsequently banned from Wrigley Field as well as Miller Park for life. Keywords: three Cub fans, one Brewer fan, threw a beer, assault, tooth, sister.

OT NBA discussion for the slowest sports day of the year

Jerry Mumphrey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:04:39 -0000

OK so the latest news from the NBA ref scandal is that we now basically have proof that referee Scott Foster is crooked based on phone records showing a pattern of phone calls between he and Donaghy during the "gold rush" of 2006-2007 (134 calls lasting 1-2 mins before and after every game Donaghy was betting on). So we could all suspect that Commisioner David Stern was full of bullroar when he held his press conference to scapegoat Donaghy and assure the fans that the NBA has conducted a THOROUGH investigation along with the FBI and determined that Donaghy was acting alone as a "rogue, isolated criminal". For Stern to say that he was either stupid for not having inquired about phone records during his THOROUGH investigation, or simply lying to the fans. Obviously this was a CYA press conference and he chose to lie about the magnitude of the problem in an attempt to save the league. I hate that. It amounts to me the fan being treated like an imbecile by an arrogant millionaire. Just admit it was a farce for the last decade and scrap the whole system so you can start over. Someone needs to kick this guy out of his office. Anyway where we're at now is SCOTT FOSTER IS STILL EMPLOYED BY THE LEAGUE!!!!! How can this go on? The guy is already guilty in the court of public opinion. What idiot can seriously watch the NBA with their refusal to restore any credibility to the sport? I guess they want us to forget about the whole thing so they don't have to disgrace any more crooked refs? And Dick Bavetta, the company man, has just as much dirt on him and they won't can him either? That league ought to get sued over this for their misrepresentation every step of the way. I'm angry because I feel insulted by the whole current state of affairs. The fans would simply have to be stupid to believe that the referees are among the elite of there profession and that's how Bavetta and Foster continue to be represented. Here's a good link on the subject: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2008/07/14/20080714p2main0715.html

Giddy about Eric Patterson...

Jerry Mumphrey — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:54:50 -0000

Everything is pointing towards this kid being the real deal, from his career minor-league numbers to his recent ability to perform under pressure and capitalize on limited opprtunities. I am thrilled to see that he will get most of a month to try and sustain it at the big-league level while Soriano is out. Hopefully he learned some discipline from his aborted callup last year after showing up late to Wrigley. At the crosstown series he showed patience, power, and basically was able to square the ball up better than any of the other Cubs in that he was consistently pulling line drives to the gap.

For the sake of argument I will assume E-patt stays near .300 with solid defense until Soriano's return. Then what should the lineup ultimately look like? Could he start at 2nd base in place of a slumping Derosa? Could he spot-start in center if Edmonds begins to fade or otherwise needs rest? Personally I would carefully look at the numbers all the guys are putting up when Soriano returns before handing all the starting jobs to familiar veterans. That said, is anyone else concerned about Soriano's production upon his return? He makes a living by sitting on top of the plate and swinging a heavy bat, and now he's been hit in the face after breaking a finger on the last pitch he's seen. For a streaky hitter like that, the psychology of such an event could be devastating. I would definitely like to see him go a rehab assignment for a little while to demonstrate that he's not affected mentally. Brenly said he needs to learn to turn away from the inside fastball, but how do you teach that?

Cubs sign Ben Broussard to minor-league deal, will start in AAA

Jerry Mumphrey — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:37:17 -0000

This guy used to be a pretty good hitter with Cleveland. I don't remember much else or have all the details or the link, so maybe somebody can help out with that. It's in the Muskat game preview. Sorry for the lack of specifics but I'm at a workstation with one arm tied behind my back. Ok, not literally, but you know how it goes with filters and actual work and all. I'm just surprised they haven't blocked BCB yet on my traffic alone!

Chris Speier now coaching for Dusty

Jerry Mumphrey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:57:47 -0000

I was listening to some AM sports talk radio from Chicago and the host started going into how inept Mike Quade is as a 3B coach. I was was actually thrilled to hear it as I thought I've been the only one to take issue with his performance in the past. He's probably great with the players and everything, but his judgement is sub-par when it comes to sending runners, usually erring on the side of caution.

We all know why Speier got canned as the Cubs 3B coach, but he never seemed to make a mistake on the field in his short time over there. Now I see Dusty's picked him up as an IF coach. What is up with that? Are the Cubs too self-righteous of an organization to give the guy a second chance? Did management view him as a stain on the untarnished Cubbie image? Smart move by the Reds anyway. It just kind of burns me that the Cubs allowed a downgrade in the basecoaching department for what was basically a victimless crime (DUI riding solo on a motorcycle) albeit unethical.

firejoemorgan.com with a hilarious post about JJ and Pie

Jerry Mumphrey — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:14:45 -0000

Ken Tremendous skewers an article proposing that the Cubs make locking down JJ contractually a priority in the offseason. He even gets into Pie's projections by the ends. Just find it at firejoemorgan.com. You need to scroll down to October 13th or so. As usual, I had to agree with basically everything he said in it.

I Blame Mike Quade: Updated

Jerry Mumphrey — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:24:59 -0000

Seriously. The guy is not prepared to be a 3rd base coach. He is so overly conservative in sending runners home that he costs us at least 1-2 runs per week. Yes this post is recurring theme under my user name (do a search), but the 3rd base coaching still hasn't improved any. Obviously the players know it's a problem and Zambrano now can't trust him to the point that he just went through the stop sign reflexively. Quade might be great in the clubhouse, hitting instructor, works with the young guys, but he is seriously costing the team runs with his lousy instincts in the 3rd base coaching box. I WISH more guys would run through his stop signs. And yes I blame that problem entirely for Z's subsequent meltdown. If he had a 3rd base coach he could trust he woulnd't have stuck his neck out and embarrassed himself by trying to score, thus ruining his day.

I know Wavin' Wendell was a worse problem, but Chris Speier was the best in recent memory until his banishment for ERUI (easy ridin' under the influence). Does anyone know what happened to Speier?

Edit: Here's what Ryan "Golden Boy" Theriot had to say on the matter... The Cubs players didn't seem to have any problem with what Zambrano said, and shortstop Ryan Theriot even defended his decision to blow third-base coach Mike Quade's stop sign before Zambrano was thrown out at the plate. Theriot did the same thing recently, but managed to score. "It's an instinct, it's a read," Theriot said. "Quade and I talk about it all the time. As a baserunner, you can have a better feel for what's going on than the third-base coach. If you need help, he holds you up, or you keep going. That stuff happens all the time." http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-070904cubsbrite,1,6456995.story?ctrack=1&cset=true BTW did you know Quade has no eyebrows? That would explain the Goonies comparison.