5-7-10 Cubs at Reds

[RedsManRick]

Cubs
Theriot, 2B
Fukudome, RF
Lee, 1B
Byrd, CF
Ramirez, 3B
Soriano, LF
Soto, C
Castro, SS
Silva, P

Reds
Cabrera, SS
Phillips, 2B
Votto, 1B
Rolen, 3B
Bruce, RF
Gomes, LF
Stubbs, CF
Herandez, C
Bailey, P

[TheNext44]

Thanks, RMR. I know how painful that must be to post the Reds lineup.

[VR]

Don't get the Gomes love vs. righties.

New leadoff guy. How about that/

[kaldaniels]

For those like me who didn't know...Castro just got the callup by the Cubs today and is starting at SS...one of their top prospects.

[VR]

Silva is getting paid $12,750,000 to pitch for the Cubs this year.

Chew on that for a moment.

[Cyclone792]

Planning on heading down to the game. Let's hope this one moves along quickly, because they're calling for strong storms tonight. If we can get this one in at around 2.5 hours, there's a good shot they'll finish it. If this game drags on for well over three hours, the weather could get dicey.

[GAC]

Cabrera leading off

http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/wp-content/uploads//2008/08/laughing_horse.jpg

[PuffyPig]

Silva is getting paid $12,750,000 to pitch for the Cubs this year.

Chew on that for a moment.

It would be worth paying him that to not pitch.

[reds44]

Bailey strikes out a guy per innning but also gives up a hit per inning.

How is that possible?

[guttle11]

Bailey strikes out a guy per innning but also gives up a hit per inning.

How is that possible?

He's got very inconsistent breaking stuff. When it bites, see ya. When it stays flat, it's very hittable.

[reds44]

Great breaking ball by Homer to K Byrd.

[reds44]

Wow, where did that miss?

[TheNext44]

Bailey gets out of another 1st inning jam

[TheNext44]

And it begins...

[mth123]

Well, Homer got through it. He has trouble early and picks up steam in the middle innings. A lot of really good pitchers have had that MO. Just needs to get a little better command to go later in the game.

[mth123]

Cabrera grounds out to Ramirez.

[reds44]

The amount of errors in John Fay's tweets is almost comical.

[mth123]

Phillips GO to Theriot at 2B.

[mth123]

Votto with a single to RF.

[mth123]

Rolen rolls one to CF. Votto to 3B.

[mth123]

Bruce walks. Loaded

[reds44]

Dadgumit he just missed that.

[mth123]

Gomes flies to LF. 3 outs and 3 LOB.

[NC Reds]

Free Chris Heisey!!

[mth123]

This is why the top two are important. Low OBPs mean your best hitters start the rally with 2 outs and waste a lot of hitting.

[mth123]

Soriano walks.

[alloverjr]

Gomes is the perfect slo pitch softball player in a 1 pitch tourney.

[mth123]

Soto singles Soriano to 3B.

[mth123]

Starlin Castro with a 3 run HR.

[reds44]

Have a nice night everybody.

[oneupper]

Starlin Castro with a 3 run HR.

Some debut. :thumbdown

[Blitz Dorsey]

That's what you get for walking an unwalkable hitter like Soriano. What a joke. Then Homer doesn't throw his best pitch on 3-2 (fastball) and tries to get cute with Castro? Very poor.

[Joseph]

Bailey just may never get it all together.

[pedro]

Enough with curve ball Homer.

I'm 100% Dave Duncan wouldn't let you throw it. Ever.

[mth123]

Silva GO to Phillips.

[mth123]

Theriot FO to Bruce.

[mth123]

Fukudome K's.

[oneupper]

49 pitches for Bailey thru 2

[mth123]

Stubbs FO 9.

[mth123]

Ramon K's.

[mth123]

Bailey GO to 2B.

[mth123]

Lee walks.

[jojo]

deja vu?

[CTA513]

Bailey is going to have another high pitch count game and make the bullpen have to go about 4 innings with the way hes pitching.

[mth123]

Byrd Homers. Ugh.

[jojo]

Homer might be the least intimidating guy with his arsenal that I've ever seen.

[flyer85]

the more I see of Cueto and Bailey the more convinced I am that their future is in the pen.

[GADawg]

I can't figure out what Homer is scared of...with an ERA over 6 and growing at a rapid pace you might as well relax and throw some smoke

[edabbs44]

The word is tertiary.

[CTA513]

I hope Owings, Lincoln and Fisher are ready to eat some innings.

[Joseph]

the more I see of Cueto and Bailey the more convinced I am that their future is in the pen.

So you believe they still have a future. You're a very positive guy. What it like to live in positive land?

;)

[mth123]

Ramirez walks. Hope Owings is getting ready.

Stall for rain.

[flyer85]

The word is tertiary.:D

[JaxRed]

And as we speak Lecure is 3 Innings, 0 Walks, 1 hit, 2.43 ERA

[jojo]

So you believe they still have a future. You're a very positive guy. What it like to live in positive land?

;)

To be fair, Byrd is a monster..

[flyer85]

So you believe they still have a future. You're a very positive guy. What it like to live in positive land?

;)I wouldn't know, its populated with people that believe this year is finally the Reds year. :p:

[jojo]

Homer cares too much....that's the problem.

[mth123]

Soriano with a DP to Phillips. Big outs.

[flyer85]

And as we speak Lecure is 3 Innings, 0 Walks, 1 hit, 2.43 ERA
if you can't command your fastball you won't be successful as a starter unless you have crazy stuff

[WebScorpion]

Pitcher's best friend...the DP! :thumbup:

[mth123]

Soto FO to Stubbs.

[jojo]

Stubbs makes a spectacular grab to end the inning...

[jojo]

if you can't command your fastball you won't be successful as a starter unless you have crazy stuff

Good Homer keeps everything down. Bad Homer dials in the fat part of the plate.

[mth123]

Stubbs makes a spectacular grab to end the inning...

???

[mth123]

Cabrera singles to start the comeback.

[WebScorpion]

Pitcher's best friend...the DP! :thumbup:
and the pitcher's second best friend...the Center fielder with wheels!! :thumbup:

and he's out of the inning. 77 pitches in 3 innings. :help:

[mth123]

Phillips FC. Cabrera out and Phillips barely safe.

[jojo]

???

Just trying to pep up the crowd. It was better than dropping the ball...

Give me an R!

Give me an E!

Give me a D!

Give me an S!

What's that spell?

[mth123]

Silva listed at 250 pounds. Must have only had one foot on the scale.

[jojo]

Thom. Silva is a mirage...

[mth123]

Phillips to 2B on a wild pitch.

[mth123]

Votto K's and doesn't like it.

[jojo]

Votto K's and doesn't like it.

That's cuz he's a gamer.

[nate]

Votto K's and doesn't like it.

Me either.

[mth123]

Rolen FO to the RF. 3 outs

[nate]

Chat is open, btw!

[mth123]

My Over/under on pitches this inning: 21. Any guesses?

[Screwball]

Votto K's and doesn't like it.

It was inside. Shoulda been called ball 4. I hate the Cubs.

[mth123]

Castro FO to Stubbs on the first pitch.

[jojo]

I've always wondered what the Michelin man would look like in a Cubs uniform... Thanks Silva...

[mth123]

Silva K's. 2 outs.

[mth123]

Theriot lines to Phillips. Homer 1-2-3 with some help from the defense.

[Screwball]

That's how you do it, Homer. Strike out the pitcher and induce line drive outs from everybody else...

[mth123]

Bruce pops to Soriano.

[mth123]

Gomes with a single to LF.

[mth123]

Stubbs 6-4-3. Inning over.

[edabbs44]

Silva is getting paid $12,750,000 to pitch for the Cubs this year.

Chew on that for a moment.

Odd that this comment would be made on a Reds board, especially since his ERA is about a third of Harang's.

So far, the Cubs/Seattle trade is a massacre.

[mth123]

Fukudome walks.

[mth123]

Fukudome steals 2b.

[mth123]

Lee walks.

[edabbs44]

Fukudome steals 2b.

Without a challenge. Seems like Homer is just going through the motions.

Does he have options left?

[mth123]

Horrid outing for Homer.

[CTA513]

Bailey and Harang both have the same ERA now.

[mth123]

Without a challenge. Seems like Homer is just going through the motions.

Does he have options left?

His head really worked against him tonight. Worst outing since he was recalled in the middle of last year. Very disappointing.

[Spring~Fields]

Horrid outing for Homer.

It’s frustrating.

Where’s the throw your hands up and walk off icon?

[mth123]

Byrd flies to Bruce.

[mth123]

Ramirez bloops a hit. Loaded.

[Tom Servo]

Horrid outing for Homer.
If the Reds are serious about trying to contend, they can't keep sending him out there every 5th day.

[KronoRed]

Bailey is out of options, if I'm not mistaken.

[mth123]

Soriano K's.

[mth123]

If the Reds are serious about trying to contend, they can't keep sending him out there every 5th day.

The thing is, he's still better at his job than about 10 of the position players are at theirs. This team can't be serious about contending. Run him out there and see if the lumps mold him into a pitcher.

[klw]

On the plus side Bailey threw fewer than 100 pitches.

[mth123]

Soto walks. 6-0.

[nate]

On the plus side Bailey threw fewer than 100 pitches.

Good one!

[Tom Servo]

The thing is, he's still better at his job than about 10 of the position players are at theirs. This team can't be serious about contending. Run him out there and see if the lumps mold him into a pitcher.
I don't know about the positions players comment, but I agree. I personally don't think we're going anywhere and I'm not quite ready to give up on him. But if the Reds are going to proclaim they're 'in it' and making other moves to prove it, then there's no reason not to do something about his horrid outings. 'bullpen or whatever'.

[mth123]

I don't know about the positions players comment, but I agree. I personally don't think we're going anywhere and I'm not quite ready to give up on him. But if the Reds are going to proclaim they're 'in it' and making other moves to prove it, then there's no reason not to do something about his horrid outings. 'bullpen or whatever'.

The Reds have three decent position players. Votto, Rolen and Bruce. Maybe Phillips to make four. The others are all fodder.

[mbgrayson]

Is it any coincidence that Bailey has his worst outing of the year immediately following his 121 pitch outing? Just sayin'....

[mth123]

Castro with a 3 run triple. 9-0.

[mth123]

Is it any coincidence that Bailey has his worst outing of the year immediately following his 121 pitch outing? Just sayin'....

Good point, Laptop runnung out of juice. I'm out.

[edabbs44]

Is it any coincidence that Bailey has his worst outing of the year immediately following his 121 pitch outing? Just sayin'....

If it was completely out of line with the rest of his season, you could have a point.

[CTA513]

Might as well put Heisey in now and let him get some at bats.

[Tom Servo]

The Reds have three decent position players. Votto, Rolen and Bruce. Maybe Phillips to make four. The others are all fodder.
But given their relative success Hangian, Hernandez, and Cabrera have to have some sort of positive VORP though, right? Homer's has got to be getting deeper and deeper in the negatives.

[JaxRed]

Might as well put Heisey in now and let him get some at bats.

Stop making sense. Next you'll say give Janish some at bats

[kbrake]

Is it any coincidence that Bailey has his worst outing of the year immediately following his 121 pitch outing? Just sayin'....

Started wondering around noon today if Bailey was awful how long it would take for this comment. He has had ONE quality start all year. He simply has not been good. I know its fun to blame Dusty for everything but Bailey just isnt getting it done.

[CTA513]

Stop making sense. Next you'll say give Janish some at bats

Janish needs to stay on the bench to make sure the gatorade is mixed correctly.

[nate]

Owings = example.

[Screwball]

Homer's line tonight:

4.0 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 7.24 ERA (on the year)

:barf:

[oneupper]

Owings = LF?

[Spring~Fields]

Castro with a 3 run triple. 9-0.

Starlin Castro
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=castro001sta

The guy has never been above double A

[oneupper]

This ump is terrible.

[klw]

Starlin Castro
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=castro001sta

The guy has never been above double A

Has anyone ever hit for the cycle in their mlb debut?

[edabbs44]

The fat lady just sat down...9-4 now.

[Screwball]

The fat lady just sat down...9-4 now.

That 3 run triple from Castro was a dagger. This is a ballgame otherwise.

[Reds Fanatic]

Reds have suddenly woke up. Gomes singles. 1st and 3rd now.

[klw]

It would be pretty funny if the Reds came back and won this.

[edabbs44]

Drew Stubbs, your shot at totally redeeming yourself is here.

[oneupper]

Has anyone ever hit for the cycle in their mlb debut?

Fred Lewis?

[Reds Fanatic]

That inning is over as Stubbs flies out. 9-4 Cubs after 5.

[Reds Fanatic]

They immediately give back a run. 10-4 Cubs.

[mbgrayson]

Owings now at 48 pitches over 2 innings. He will be unavailable for the next day or two....

[KronoRed]

With starters like this a 13 or 14 man pen is not out of the question

[Reds Fanatic]

Reds have another threat going as Cabrera singles to give them 1st and 3rd with 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

And Phillips ends the threat by grounding into a DP.

[Spring~Fields]

Has anyone ever hit for the cycle in their mlb debut?

According to one source:


no but fred lewis hit a cycle in the least amount of days after his mlb debut.he hit a cycle after 4 days after his mlb debut.

http://96.0.98.5/Baseball_Knowledge/Baseball_Player/15062.html

Would have gotten back to you sooner, but the mouse batteries went deader than Cincy pitching tonight.

[Screwball]

Ump wants this game to end too. Bruce got rung up on a pitch that was easily 6 inches off the plate.

[klw]

According to one source:



http://96.0.98.5/Baseball_Knowledge/Baseball_Player/15062.html

Would have gotten back to you sooner, but the mouse batteries went deader than Cincy pitching tonight.

thanks. It looks like young Castro will come up short tonight.

[Screwball]

thanks. It looks like young Castro will come up short tonight.

He'll have to settle for setting the Major League record for most RBIs (6) by a player making his ML debut.

[edabbs44]

Fisher isn't doing much for me.

[edabbs44]

Fisher isn't doing much for me.

I repeat...GS for Fontenot. 14-4 bad guys.

[CTA513]

Fisher isn't doing much for me.

Hes just copying the success of Bailey and Owings.

[Mario-Rijo]

Unbelievable, can we just erase this crap out of our minds. What a sorry excuse for pitching.

[WVRedsFan]

Fisher is simply not ready for prime time. The Cubs scored 5 runs in three games in Pittsburgh and they maul us. Our pitching leave much to be desired. Why didn't the Reds trade Bailey for anyone? And the bullpen is simply not very good.

Sad night in Cincinnati.

[edabbs44]

Soto just misses a bomb. Raise your hand if you thought Fisher was going to help this team.

[CTA513]

Soto just misses a bomb. Raise your hand if you thought Fisher was going to help this team.

I would say he fits right in.

[HeatherC1212]

After Homer decided to not pitch well tonight, I decided to watch Friday Night Lights and Twister on TV instead of watching the game. It sounds like I made the right choice tonight. :eek:

*HUGS* to anyone who's still watching the game and to all of you here in the game thread. Hopefully the Cubs use up all their runs tonight and don't do anything else the rest of the weekend. *sigh* :(

[traderumor]

Crazy game, eh? One of the few teams to give up more runs than the Reds this season, the Pirates, hold this team to 5 runs in 3 games, and they drop this on us tonight. Maybe they'll face major league pitchers from us the rest of the weekend and go back to their regularly scheduled slump.

[flyer85]

really a fluke that this team is 1 under .500

[Spring~Fields]

Chi Cubs 8th Inning Summary

- C. Fisher relieved M. Owings
- K. Fukudome walked
- D. Lee grounded into fielder's choice, K. Fukudome out at second
- M. Byrd doubled to deep left center, D. Lee to third
- A. Ramirez intentionally walked
- M. Fontenot hit for S. Marshall
- M. Fontenot homered to right, D. Lee, M. Byrd and A. Ramirez scored
- G. Soto ground rule double to deep right
- S. Castro grounded out to pitcher
- T. Colvin grounded out to second
- End of Inning (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)

14 - 4 Cubs

[Screwball]

And after that inning Carlos Fisher is now sporting a 16.62 ERA. Awesome.

[jojo]

And after that inning Carlos Fisher is now sporting a 16.62 ERA. Awesome.

If you take away the innings where he gave up runs, his season looks much better...

[WVRedsFan]

Time for the Reds to realize that running out a starting staff of Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Leake, and Cueto is short of adequate. The bullpen simply has three competent relievers--Rhodes, Codero (sometimes), and Herrera. Leftfield is a mess and center is all defense and no offense. It's a shabby roster. It's called being cheap since the big contracts awarded to Harang, Arroyo, and Codero limit everything. Of course most of this happened when Walt was just an observer. Matters not, but it limits what the team can do. Time to bring up Chapman, Maloney, and others and cut some fat...

[CTA513]

If you take away the innings where he gave up runs, his season looks much better...

That line is only allowed to be used by Reds announcers when talking about Arroyo.

:D

[flyer85]

it's like Depodesta said when he was with the Dodgers, the stars deserve their money, the great inefficiency is in the middle

[edabbs44]

Time for the Reds to realize that running out a starting staff of Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Leake, and Cueto is short of adequate. The bullpen simply has three competent relievers--Rhodes, Codero (sometimes), and Herrera. Leftfield is a mess and center is all defense and no offense. It's a shabby roster. It's called being cheap since the big contracts awarded to Harang, Arroyo, and Codero limit everything. Of course most of this happened when Walt was just an observer. Matters not, but it limits what the team can do. Time to bring up Chapman, Maloney, and others and cut some fat...

A little bit of a knee-jerk reaction, but I think Homer has worn out his welcome here.

[edabbs44]

Thanks for coming up to fill a need Chris, but it looks like you need some more time in the oven.

[Spring~Fields]

Cincinnati 8th Inning Summary

- J. Russell relieved S. Marshall
- J. Baker at third
- J. Gomes struck out swinging
- D. Stubbs flied out to shallow right center
- R. Hernandez singled to center
- C. Heisey hit for C. Fisher
- C. Heisey struck out swinging
- End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

[flyer85]

Lets see Cueto and Bailey lack the command to be starters. The bullpen is 4 deep (Massett has been a victim of bad luck more than anything, his K rate is off the charts). Stubbs and Gomes have been dreadful. Phillips and Cabrera are out machines. Arroyo and Harang have pitched poorly. That doesn't leave much else.

[edabbs44]

JANISH!

[CTA513]

Time for Janish to come in and close out the 9th.

[Spring~Fields]

It's a shabby roster.

Seems like it.

[WVRedsFan]

Thanks for coming up to fill a need Chris, but it looks like you need some more time in the oven.I hope this doesn't stunt his growth as a player. He's obviously not ready. Much better to bring up Vlad who actually had some MLB experience, but whatever.

[flyer85]

I hope this doesn't stunt his growth as a player. He's obviously not ready. Much better to bring up Vlad who actually had some MLB experience, but whatever.
especially if they weren't going to play him.

[CTA513]

Janish and Cairo come in and the Cubs bats go silent.


:KoolAid:

[Spring~Fields]

Cubs 9th Inning Summary

- P. Janish at second
- M. Cairo at third
- D. Herrera relieved C. Fisher
- R. Theriot grounded out to shortstop
- K. Fukudome flied out to center
- D. Lee doubled to shallow left
- M. Byrd flied out to center
- End of Inning (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

[edabbs44]

I hope this doesn't stunt his growth as a player. He's obviously not ready. Much better to bring up Vlad who actually had some MLB experience, but whatever.

Wlad looks like Taveras lite in the minors. And I'm not a buyer of the whole growth stunting theory by bringing a guy up for a cup of coffee.

[edabbs44]

Cairo mashes. 14-5.

[WVRedsFan]

Welsh things Bailey's close to turning a corner. What does he see that i don't?

[Spring~Fields]

Welsh things Bailey's close to turning a corner. What does he see that i don't?

Maybe they are going to trade him to the Cards :devil:

[CTA513]

Grabow must be trying out for the Reds right now.

[edabbs44]

Welsh things Bailey's close to turning a corner. What does he see that i don't?

Homer walking down the hall?

[Spring~Fields]

Cincinnati 9th Inning Summary

- J. Grabow relieved J. Russell
- O. Cabrera struck out looking
- P. Janish flied out to center
- J. Votto doubled to left
- J. Votto to third on wild pitch
- M. Cairo ground rule double to right, J. Votto scored
- J. Bruce walked
- J. Gomes doubled to shallow right, M. Cairo and J. Bruce scored
- D. Stubbs singled to shallow left, J. Gomes to third
- R. Hernandez lined out to right
- End of Inning (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)

[Screwball]

Believe it or not, the Reds actually finished with more hits (16) than the Cubs (15).

Of course, the Cubs worked 6 more walks and hit 2 more HRs, but the Cubs pitching - particularly their bullpen - remains a glaring weakness. Hopefully the Reds are still in the game next time they face a Cub reliever.

[Spring~Fields]

Final Chi Cubs 14, Cincinnati 7

Scoring Summary
Top 2nd: Chi Cubs
Castro homered to right, A. Soriano and G. Soto scored

Top 3rd: Chi Cubs
Byrd homered to deep left center, D. Lee scored

Top 5th: Chi Cubs
Soto walked, K. Fukudome scored, D. Lee to third, A. Ramirez to second
Castro tripled to left center, D. Lee, A. Ramirez and G. Soto scored

Bot 5th: Cincinnati
Owings homered to deep right center, R. Hernandez scored
Bruce singled to shallow center, J. Votto and S. Rolen scored

Top 6th: Chi Cubs
Fukudome doubled to shallow right, R. Theriot scored

Top 8th: Chi Cubs
Fontenot homered to right, D. Lee, M. Byrd and A. Ramirez scored

Bot 9th: Cincinnati
Cairo ground rule double to right, J. Votto scored
Gomes doubled to shallow right, M. Cairo and J. Bruce scored



Cincinnati
IP H R ER BB K HR
Bailey 4.0 5 7 7 5 3 2
Owings 3.0 6 3 3 1 3 0
Fisher 1.0 3 4 4 2 0 1
Herrera 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0

[klw]

Final Chi Cubs 14, Cincinnati 7

14-7. At least the Reds got the extra point this time.

[Spring~Fields]

Believe it or not, the Reds actually finished with more hits (16) than the Cubs (15).



Pretty decent with the bats tonight.

[Spring~Fields]

14-7. At least the Reds got the extra point this time.

I kind of liked that they did not quit when they were clearly beat, they stuck with it on offense.

[Screwball]

14-7. At least the Reds got the extra point this time.

:D

[WVRedsFan]

Reds starters with an ERA of over 5 (with Leake being at 2.94), Reds lineup with averages of .303, .257, .257, .262, .202, .174, .242, and .245. Uh, maybe time to look at things. Minor miracle they are 14-15. And the run differential keeps on gaping farther.

[CTA513]

14-7. At least the Reds got the extra point this time.

Should have tried to go deep to Ocho Cinco instead of trying to pound the ball all game.

:p:

[Spring~Fields]

Reds starters with an ERA of over 5 (with Leake being at 2.94), Reds lineup with averages of .303, .257, .257, .262, .202, .174, .242, and .245. Uh, maybe time to look at things. Minor miracle they are 14-15. And the run differential keeps on gaping farther.

Well it was pitching tonight that hurt the team. Though you have a big point about a team filled with those numbers above. Can't find proof for why so many of them are under performing at the same time. Didn't they have trouble in spring training too when many were saying it was meaningless?

The DIFF took a beating tonight on projection.

RS 128/29 4.414 * 162 715
RA 163/28 5.821 * 162 943
DIFF projection -228 :eek:

Surely that RA will come down, won't it ??

[Ron Madden]

This is why the top two are important. Low OBPs mean your best hitters start the rally with 2 outs and waste a lot of hitting.

So very true.

Why is it so hard to understand?

[Ron Madden]

But given their relative success Hangian, Hernandez, and Cabrera have to have some sort of positive VORP though, right? Homer's has got to be getting deeper and deeper in the negatives.

Hanigan, Hernandez and Cabrea are at best a very minuscule part of the future success of this franchise.

[Ron Madden]

it's like Depodesta said when he was with the Dodgers, the stars deserve their money, the great inefficiency is in the middle

I happen to agree with that quote.

Main thing is you have to have a GM with the ability to recognise the stars.

[Ron Madden]

Time for the Reds to realize that running out a starting staff of Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Leake, and Cueto is short of adequate. The bullpen simply has three competent relievers--Rhodes, Codero (sometimes), and Herrera. Leftfield is a mess and center is all defense and no offense. It's a shabby roster. It's called being cheap since the big contracts awarded to Harang, Arroyo, and Codero limit everything. Of course most of this happened when Walt was just an observer. Matters not, but it limits what the team can do. Time to bring up Chapman, Maloney, and others and cut some fat...

I agree with you WVRF this is a poorly constructed roster, but I believe it would be a mistake to rush Chapman into the major leagues.

[HokieRed]

I happen to agree with that quote.

Main thing is you have to have a GM with the ability to recognise the stars.

And not wildly overpay for the middle, thus tying up the payroll for years.