SB Nation User Blog: louslovechild

Cubs Pick Up Pinella's Option Through 2010

louslovechild — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:06:55 -0000

Based on my name, this is great thing. Keep those child support checks coming, but in all seriousness this is great. Lou has brough something to this franchise, along with Jim Hendry, that the Cubs have not seen in.....well forever. Winning is fun, and Lou has brought the fun and "swagger" to Chicago Cubs baseball that all of us have wanted for so long.

Congrats Lou. Well played Jim; he deserved it.

I looked all through the fanposts for this topic and it wasnt here. So if the blog police want to squawk about repetitiveness, I apologize ahead of time.

OT: NIKE USA BASKETBALL COMMERCIAL

louslovechild — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:57:20 -0000

I am not a sap for mushy commercials, especially those that tend to mock patriotism for a buck, but from the moment I saw this commercial I was in complete awe. I remember as a child when Marvin Gaye pulled this off at the 1983 NBA All Star game, and did not thinking all that much of it. Nike nailed this one, as they usually do. This one is a little cooler than normal. I hope anyone interested enjoys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbZTmcIfdBQ

Open Thread: Brewers vs. Astros 7/26

louslovechild — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:45:30 -0000

I was really hoping not to have to do this tonight, but here we sit. Once again, we live in the future not the past. Coulda, shoulda, wouldas never got anyone anywhere. This team we love so much wants to win just as badly,(I am guessing more) than we do. They are struggling, but our time will come. Hope it starts tomorrow, but definitely on Monday, or god help us.

On to tonights Brewers vs. Astros game. It is Backe, who has pitched pretty well this year, and Dave Bush, who has had his ups and downs. We shall see. Brewers have a different line-up in there yesterday, with Durham at 2B and Cousell at SS.

Go Astros.

Open Thread: Brewers vs. Astros 7/25

louslovechild — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:20:35 -0000

Today was a disappointment. Instead of living in the past, let's push forward and give Harden some runs tomorrow. He may only need a couple. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Howry sucks, we can't score runs. Keep movin on I say.

No matter how much we only want to worry about our team and our team only, we can root for the Astros tonight together. Might be a little fun. Go Stros! Light em up!

Beating a Dead Horse

louslovechild — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:35:11 -0000

I am aware that I have posted here before about the dire need for pitching help, but I just cannot seem to get over this. I have watched so called title teams base their years on run production, and hope mediocre pitching will get them through. Well this team is based on mediocre pitching and above average offense.

Please do not yell at me about what I characterizing as mediocre pitching; personally I feel that the trio of Z, Lilly and Hill are the third or fourth best "top three" in baseball (behind AZ, NYM, and Boston), but the drop off after that is a complete joke. And due to Lilly and HIll being southpaws, we have to split them up.

So I am stealing from MLBTR a list of names that, most of which, would be better fit in the 3 slot than Lieber, Dempster, and Marquis.

Freddy Garcia (32) - Type B
Kyle Lohse (29)
Rodrigo Lopez (32)
Eric Milton (32)
John Thomson (34)
Jeff Weaver (31)
David Wells (45)

I took out Clemens, he is done. Russ Ortiz, no comment needed. The remaining pitchers are, in my very humble opinion, worth a look. Personally, Rodrigo Lopez is a valuable commodity. He pitched in the AL east during 2005 and 2006, put up quality numbers, and probably could be had for a minor-league deal at this point.

I am aware that this team is good enough to get the through the NL-Central, but when you get to play the Pirates, Reds, and Astros 16+ times a season, that is not something to be to over zealous about. We, as fans, deserve more than the "Catastrophe among the Cacti" in October. Pitching wins; that is a fact. We can ask the Yankees how they have enjoyed all of those big bats these last 8 years.

A State of Pitching Confusion

louslovechild — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:34:29 -0000

I am a regular on here. I mainly comment on things, but rarely do I start my own diary (fear of taking on the wrath of BCB regulars).

We have talked all winter about the pitching that we have. We know Z, Lilly and Hill are staples. That is great, but now that Lou has named Hill as our #4, I became very intrigued about the level of pitching that we do possess, and what a top tier pitching staff really is.

I understand what Lou is tryint to do. He wants Righty, Lefty, Righty, Lefty, Righty. That is complately understandable. So now we know that Marshall will not be starting this season. He will not go back to back with Hill at the end of the rotation and Lilly is the other Lefty. So that leaves: Gallagher, Lieber, Dempster, and Hart. Hart will probably be the longman, and Lieber was basically guaranteed a spot in the rotation, so we are down to Marquis and Dempster.

By my account the rotation is Z, Lilly, ??, Hill, and Lieber. Do any of you consider Marquis or Dempster to be a #3? Me either. You cannot put Lieber at #3, he isnt reliable enough and is injury prone. So please tell me who it will be, and based on everyone's vast baseball knowledge, how does that rotation stack up? Personally, I feel that it is above average, and that really is all it takes in the NL.

So let us recap. I want to know if you agree with why assessment of the rotation. Who will be the #3 man come opening day? How does our rotation compare, not only in the NL but MLB?

Thanks ladies and gents.

#8 Best Catcher?

louslovechild — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:01:14 -0000

I found a site talking about the Top 24 catchers in baseball. (Fantasy speaking)

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2008/01/top-24-catchers.html

Soto comes up at #8. Did we really go from Kendall, who isn't listed, to the #8 best catcher in baseball? If this is the case, this team is better than even I thought. If we are no longer giving at bats away after the 7 hitter, this year may be better than imagained.

It Is Official: Mark Prior Is Gone

louslovechild — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:44:55 -0000

Is this good news? I am not sure. He may catch on somewhere and become the second coming (he is only 26 after all) but the Cubs made the right move here. We all remember 2003, but that was then and this is now, and the Cubs are headed in a different direction. I did hear today that the Padres took a look at his health records and suddenly are not as interested. I have to say that I am not suprised.

Good luck old friend, unless of course you end up across town, in San Diego, NY, Milwaukee, Cincinatti , or ....never mind. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. We would probably have to pay for the surgery that followed.

Giants get Rowand

louslovechild — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:14:42 -0000

Kenny Williams cannot catch a break. Loses out to Fukudome, cannot land Cabrera, now he will have to listen to those Pale-hose fans who still wish Rowand had never left.

Interesting signing. If they are serious about Matsui, they may compete. Lincecum needs to stay, Alex Rios is not worth giving up that arm for, and if they do get Matsui it will cost them Cain or Lowry.

Rowand may have been the only man available who could patrol that massive center field.

Andruw to Dodgers

louslovechild — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:39:28 -0000

Appears as if the Dodgers have bought themselves another CF with depreciating skills. That Juan Pierre signing looks even more dumb, and I didnt think that was possible.

This has to sting our south-side friends. This was probably their Plan D.

Hunter - Angels
Cabrera - Tigers
Rowand -(My guess is they sign him for too much)
Andruw - Dodgers

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/dodgers-make-pr.html