Too many curveballs ruined Steve Stone's somewhat succesful career...25 game winner and Cy young in 1980.
MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Cubs ace Mark Prior will be out indefinitely because of inflammation in his right elbow, the latest injury to one of Chicago's star pitchers.
Kerry Wood, slated to start on opening day, is sidelined with bursitis in his right shoulder.
Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said Monday the 24-year-old Prior has some inflammation in the elbow joint and a little irritation to the ulnar nerve.
MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Cubs ace Mark Prior will be out indefinitely because of inflammation in his right elbow, the latest injury to one of Chicago's star pitchers.
Kerry Wood, slated to start on opening day, is sidelined with bursitis in his right shoulder.
Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said Monday the 24-year-old Prior has some inflammation in the elbow joint and a little irritation to the ulnar nerve.
RobFunk said:
Oh yeah I'm sure they'll miss Sammy hitting under .200 w/runners in scoring position. Garciaparra could top that hitting left-handed. Nomar could make more contact with his eyes closed. Garciaparra is a chemistry killer while 'no mrore Sammy' is a problem. Huh? Nomar is a pro, plays the right way, leaves games after it's over, has a bat made only of wood. Nomar is in Chicago because he WANTS to be here obviously, he could have gotten a longer deal elsewhere, but he wants to win. Sammy just wants to get to 700 HR's as fast as possible.
The Cubs chemistry killer(s) are gone. I'm more worried abut them staying healthy, and that includes Nomar.
AB</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>R</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>H</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>2B</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>3B</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>HR</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>RBI</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>BB</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>K</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>SB</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>CS</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>AVG</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>OBP</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>SLG</TD> <TD class=yspdetailttl>OPS</TD>
<TD class=yspscores height="16" align="left">RISP w/2 Outs</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16"></TD><TD class=yspscores height="16">59</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">53</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">16</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">9</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">1</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">3</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">16</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">11</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">19</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.170</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.313</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.358</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.671</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16"></TD>
Is it really that hard to find that kind of production from your cleanup hitter? Please. The Cubs will get 5X the production from Aramis Ramirez as the cleanup hitter.
Wow, that didn't come out well at all.
Anyway Sammy hit .170 w/RISP&2 outs in 59 at-bats. That is plain awful.
<TD class=yspscores height="16" align="left">RISP w/2 Outs</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16"></TD><TD class=yspscores height="16">59</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">53</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">16</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">9</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">1</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">3</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">16</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">11</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">19</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">0</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.170</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.313</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.358</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16">.671</TD> <TD class=yspscores height="16"></TD>
Is it really that hard to find that kind of production from your cleanup hitter? Please. The Cubs will get 5X the production from Aramis Ramirez as the cleanup hitter.
Wow, that didn't come out well at all.
Anyway Sammy hit .170 w/RISP&2 outs in 59 at-bats. That is plain awful.
look , I am not disputing garciaparra is one of the best hitters in the game.
I just know that when he was healthy and playing the sox were mediocre. when he didnt play, the sox won a lot more games and generally just played and produced better and were better on defense.
I dont think the red sox could have won the WS with Garciappara instead of Cabrera. the sox even looked better when Pokey was the starter and is maybe half the hitter Nomar is.
Nomar also is a very unapproachable guy for the most part who didnt exactly have a ton of friends on the team. he isnt exactly your ideal clubhouse guy, like say damon or millar are.
I'm glad youure happy to have him, maybe he just needs a new surrounding.
I still say his defense stinks though
sabermetrics really has me thinking differently, you have to look at the guys defense just as much as his offense and crunch the math in how it relates to to the final score of the game combined with other fators. its complicated crap, but theo came to the conclusion that his hitting .300 isnt enough to overcome his shoddy play at SS and could no longer tolerate his clubhouse antics.
also, you never responded to what have the cubs done to improve for the year unless you are just simply saying that losing sammy is 'addition by subtraction'
I just know that when he was healthy and playing the sox were mediocre. when he didnt play, the sox won a lot more games and generally just played and produced better and were better on defense.
I dont think the red sox could have won the WS with Garciappara instead of Cabrera. the sox even looked better when Pokey was the starter and is maybe half the hitter Nomar is.
Nomar also is a very unapproachable guy for the most part who didnt exactly have a ton of friends on the team. he isnt exactly your ideal clubhouse guy, like say damon or millar are.
I'm glad youure happy to have him, maybe he just needs a new surrounding.
I still say his defense stinks though
sabermetrics really has me thinking differently, you have to look at the guys defense just as much as his offense and crunch the math in how it relates to to the final score of the game combined with other fators. its complicated crap, but theo came to the conclusion that his hitting .300 isnt enough to overcome his shoddy play at SS and could no longer tolerate his clubhouse antics.
also, you never responded to what have the cubs done to improve for the year unless you are just simply saying that losing sammy is 'addition by subtraction'
Clearly the season rests on the health of Wood and Prior. I do not think the Cubs will be worse off without Sammy and Moises. Sammy was awful last year whenever it counted and while Moises hit some HR's he was plain awful on the basepaths and is only getting worse defensively. And his on-base was nothing special. The offense will be at least as good, probably better and more consistent. Bullpen shouldn't be worse, might be better. It's all up to Wood and Prior. If they combine for 55+ starts the Cubs win the division. 35-55 and it's a tossup. Under 35 and it's doubtful. Tell me how many starts Wood and Prior will make and I'll tell you their fate. The trainer might need to be the most valuable guy on the team.
viking611 said:
For all intents and purposes, the Cubs did not have Wood or Prior last year. IF (big IF) they have them this year then that is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT. Like trading for two all-star pitchers. Again, I think the offensive production will be overall similar but a bit more consistent. For better or worse, it all rests on the shoulders (or elbows) of Wood and Prior.
I dont see it happening, but if it does happen that Wood and Prior are healthy a full season, that would be real scary for the Cardinals, both pitchers are capable of winning 40 or more games between them easy. Pitching makes all the difference in baseball,good pitching will beat good hitting consistentenly.
