These fucking guys blow. They will be lucky to take one from the Sock this weekend.
This fucking sucks.
Lou is a boob, he should have left Marmol in take his lumps. He was the only pitcher we had who could get out of a jam like that. I could give a fuck if it was of his own making or not. He can turn it around on one pitch. I knew we were fucked when his fat ass came out of the dugout and hit his left arm.

Oh, and D Lee, anytime you want to get a hit when it matters, feel free. You sorry ass piece of shit, Goddammit.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Well, the Yankees are getting better and are only a few games behind the Rays, and we'll see the Sox for the next three games as another measuring stick.

The Cubs lineup is a bit different than it was in April and May. Lee and Ramirez... I'm sure they'll come out of their slumps, but I still haven't forgotten what they did last October when the lights were turned on. The bench is much thinner than it once appeared to be. Fukudome's average has dropped considerably since the first six weeks, as has Soto's for that matter.

Again, I know this is just one series, but it's a measuring stick, and the Cubs measured up way short of where I thought they would.

Reason, I thought I was being Mr. Negative! I'm getting some heat here, so thanks for being a lightning rod for me!

I do not think it is pretty obvious at all. 2 of the 3 games were one run loses.



Our lineup is better. Our bench is better. Our manager is better. Our pitching is probably right now about even.



The Red Sox are the only team that I have seen that are better, and possibly the Angels, but no way is it a "number" of em.



It is just one series in a very long season. We leave TB with the same lead in our division as when we arrived in town.

Bring on the Sox!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Sure but one run is all you need to win by. I'm not being sarcastic; it's true. When you're swept, the fact that some games were close doesn't really mean much.



You're right, I'll give you Lou, and the bullpen. But the lineup, bench, and starters... dunno...



I'm not worried about the division (provided Z is OK), I'm worried about October. Not just the WS; between now and Oct is plenty of time for other teams to align themselves like AZ last year to knock the Cubs off.

Well one of the Cubs runs were scored by Hoffpauir, who would be in the minors if Ward wasn't hurt. One of the RBI today was by Fontenot, who is the backup second baseman. And the backup catcher is hitting .300.

So I would say the bench is a strong suit for this team and as good as any team.

Aside from Upton in CF, who in their lineup would you rather have?

Who on their Bench is better?

What starters?



It is a long way til October. Lets get thru the season first. There is no reason for us to be worrying over AL teams right now.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

the season is a marathon. the cubs will be fine. marmol and the bullpen will be fine. the bench is fine. the weakness of the team is starting pitching, and even they have been pretty good lately. it is way to early to be scoreboard watching, just keep playing hard every day, and see where things stand come august. if this team wants to be truly feared come playoff time, they need another starting arm, and hendry should be working the phones on that already. the rest of the team is fine as is.

I have a feeling you'd rather have Crawford, Upton, Shields, Kazmir at the minimum.

Wow, that was extra Wannyesque.

I agree though. The Cubs still look like one of the two best teams in the NL, and probably are the best team. It was a tough series on the road at a tough place to win at. And Tampa Bay has shown they are a really good team. It's not like getting swept by the Royals or Mariners.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

i just think that coming to the conclusion that the cubs are inferior to the rays, and therefore inferior to several other AL teams, all based on a 3-game stretch is a bit ridiculous. i think this is the first 3-game losing streak for the cubs this year. im not quite ready to throw in the towel on them yet. i do continue to have doubts about doing damage in the playoffs. winning this division and getting knocked out early isnt a fate i look forward to, and i feel confident that hendry will do whatever he has to to improve this team and make it ready to win this year, because he has a lot more riding on it than i do.

Ok, I will give you those 4, but even if that is the case that still makes the Cubs lineup and pitching better overall.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Hey, the Cubs lost two 1 run ballgames and a game they were leading 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th, to a team that has been almost perfect at home in the last month. Put those games at Wrigley and the results may be very different. The Rays are no doubt a very good team at home though.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Glad to see Eyre is back to being bad.

Marmol has been bad lately also. He has been getting out of it, but hes falling behind on every hitter, and getting hit hard, just right at people.

I've got two words for you: Jason Bartlett.

About 20 years of watching baseball, and I can't say I can recall ever seeing someone walk 2 batters consecutively and then follow it up by hitting two batters consecutively.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

So you've not seen Damaso Marte or Kelly Wunsch pitch then?

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He just wanted to be more efficient as he went along.

OK I have to admit, I feel better now that the Red Sox got their asses handed to them on a platter too down there in Tampa (or wherever the hell they actually play). What the hell is going on down there?

Whats going on is they are a darn good team.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

You got yourself the Tampa Bay Rays.

Oh-uh, trouble in paradise?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings


Tampa Bay 55 39 .585 .5 36-14 19-25 433 387 +46 Lost 7 3-7 29.6 25.7 5