Cubs top Padres, but some cracks showing -- Major League Baseball

[OCubs]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
Doing the research (which would confuse most of you idiot cub fans)- 1966 Orioles - Andy Etchebarren (who had played parts of two major league seasons before - so again like Scoscia a bit of a stretch to consider him a 'rookie')- Needless to say, it is a rarity for a rookie catcher to lead a team to a world series win. But that is a FACT - a thing cubs fans avoid like the plague.

Idiot Cub fans? It's Cubs first off. Second, let's compare education levels between Cubs fans and White Sox fans. White Sox fans maybe graduate from high school. Maybe. Cubs fans have college degrees. Always remember the old saying, "White Sox fans work in the steel mills, Cubs fans own the steel mills". I'm sure this idiot has "Doug" spelled out on his work uniform.

[Cardman]

cubbie fan wrote:

<quoted text>'no thwe writers here just need to find something negative. When the suxs had a 8 game wins they where great acording to the press here

No, the Cubs actually do have issues. I know Cubbie nation likes to think that this is the year (like last year, and 2006, and 2005, and 2004, and 2003, and...I digress), but the fact remains they've played the likes of the Rockies, the Padres and the ever-dangerous Pirates.(Even some of the recent contests have been unnecessary nail-biters once you get to the pen.)

They have, however, lost in series to the Astros and Cardinals. I know what you're thinking: "Hey, we beat the Diamondbacks." True, but you also lost 4 of 6 to the Brewers before they came to earth.

By August, this will be a 3 team race since the Cards aren't going anywhere and the Astros will eventually have their 2nd half surge.

Kerry Wood brings back images of the bobsled in the movie "Cool Runnings". Yeah, it's going OK now, but eventually will fall apart at the end.

There is hope, though. Playoff baseball will be played in Chicago, just at U.S. Cellular Field. If you want to see World Series baseball, however, I think Southwest Airlines has some great deals from Chicago to Boston.

[Doug]

OCubs wrote:

<quoted text>
Idiot Cub fans? It's Cubs first off. Second, let's compare education levels between Cubs fans and White Sox fans. White Sox fans maybe graduate from high school. Maybe. Cubs fans have college degrees. Always remember the old saying, "White Sox fans work in the steel mills, Cubs fans own the steel mills". I'm sure this idiot has "Doug" spelled out on his work uniform.

Way to drag out old, tired sterotypes when you are confronted with cold, hard facts. Typical cubs fan. Fact is I am not a White Sox fan (who dont have a rookie catcher so they actually have a better chance to win the Series than the cubs) and I probably have more degrees than you do. But way to go. Way to reinforce my opinion that cubs fans know absolutely nothing about the game. I am sure you will whip out another sad cubs vs. Sox fan stereotype that has no basis in reality - so I am quite excited to see what that might be. Don't let me down you loser!

[Eric Norris]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
Just love the history of the game. Especially the history of the World Series. That's probably a subject you cubs fans know very little about - and with your rookie catcher you wont be part of this year's history either.

Yeah, you love the game. Sure thing champ. it shows by your disrespect for the team that leads all of MLB.

We'll see what happens later on, but for now, since you are hung up on facts, here's the only FACT that matters......there is no team with a better record than the CUBS.

FACT.

[OCubs]

Hey Dug, cold, hard facts? I can sit here and come up with statistics that mean nothing just like you. You started this idiot "Cub" fan thing. Fact is, Soto is a very good catcher with great offensive and defensive skills. The Cubs are playing very good baseball and beating the teams that MLB scheduled for them. And you are a White Sox fan with zero degrees. It's obvious in your cold, hard facts.

[Eric Norris]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
Way to drag out old, tired sterotypes when you are confronted with cold, hard facts. Typical cubs fan. Fact is I am not a White Sox fan (who dont have a rookie catcher so they actually have a better chance to win the Series than the cubs) and I probably have more degrees than you do. But way to go. Way to reinforce my opinion that cubs fans know absolutely nothing about the game. I am sure you will whip out another sad cubs vs. Sox fan stereotype that has no basis in reality - so I am quite excited to see what that might be. Don't let me down you loser!

What a hypocrite. You start with the name calling and sterotyping of CUBS fans, then you cry like a school girl when it comes back to you. Weak kid.

LOL, this catcher "fact" is so weak. You really think there's something behind a USELESS statistic like that? You have a lot to learn about the game of baseball kid.

[Yup]

Cardman wrote:

<quoted text>
No, the Cubs actually do have issues. I know Cubbie nation likes to think that this is the year (like last year, and 2006, and 2005, and 2004, and 2003, and...I digress), but the fact remains they've played the likes of the Rockies, the Padres and the ever-dangerous Pirates.(Even some of the recent contests have been unnecessary nail-biters once you get to the pen.)
They have, however, lost in series to the Astros and Cardinals. I know what you're thinking: "Hey, we beat the Diamondbacks." True, but you also lost 4 of 6 to the Brewers before they came to earth.
By August, this will be a 3 team race since the Cards aren't going anywhere and the Astros will eventually have their 2nd half surge.
Kerry Wood brings back images of the bobsled in the movie "Cool Runnings". Yeah, it's going OK now, but eventually will fall apart at the end.
There is hope, though. Playoff baseball will be played in Chicago, just at U.S. Cellular Field. If you want to see World Series baseball, however, I think Southwest Airlines has some great deals from Chicago to Boston.

Is this all coming from a Cardinal fan?

The mighty Cardinals that have, thus far, amassed their record againt teams whose winning % is a combined 48.8%? Yes, that is a lower winning % than the Cubs competition...to date.

Bashing the Cubs for losing series to the Astros (who are 3 games above .500) and the Cardinals (who are 10 games above .500) while the Cardinals have losing records against San Francisco (9 games under) and Pittsburgh (4 games under)?

Gimme a break. I'm not saying the Cubs are WS bound...far from it. But if we're going to question the Cubs ability to beat up on lesser competition, let's at least look in the mirror.

[Doug]

Eric Norris wrote:

<quoted text>
What a hypocrite. You start with the name calling and sterotyping of CUBS fans, then you cry like a school girl when it comes back to you. Weak kid.
LOL, this catcher "fact" is so weak. You really think there's something behind a USELESS statistic like that? You have a lot to learn about the game of baseball kid.

Listen the only people who need to learn about the game are cubs fans. Everyone has their panties in a bundle because I pointed out the FACT that only four teams over the last 105 seasons have won a world championship with a rookie catcher. That's a FACT. If you all want to insult me for giving you ignorant cubs fans a does of reality go ahead. The FACT of the matter is that history is not kind to teams with rookie catchers. Accept it and move on already.

[Doug]

OCubs wrote:

Hey Dug, cold, hard facts? I can sit here and come up with statistics that mean nothing just like you. You started this idiot "Cub" fan thing. Fact is, Soto is a very good catcher with great offensive and defensive skills. The Cubs are playing very good baseball and beating the teams that MLB scheduled for them. And you are a White Sox fan with zero degrees. It's obvious in your cold, hard facts.

Ummm...how about that stretch earlier in the season when he didnt throw out a base stealer for like three weeks? didnt he set a record or something? So he is pretty awesome defensively right?

[Mark from Jacksonville FL]

Is it time to start thinking about another Greg Maddux return? He would come cheap!

[Doug]

Eric Norris wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, you love the game. Sure thing champ. it shows by your disrespect for the team that leads all of MLB.
We'll see what happens later on, but for now, since you are hung up on facts, here's the only FACT that matters......there is no team with a better record than the CUBS.
FACT.

And the FACT is that they have played one of the weakest schedules in baseball so far. Plus I dont really get how pointing out that rookie catchers do not lead world championship clubs is 'disrespect.' But, as a cub fan I am sure you are easily confused. And who really cares if they have the best record in baseball? It is the first week of June after all. That just leaves them more time to screw it all up with their rookie catcher.

[OCubs]

No this didn't happen. It's easy to make up stats and then hide behind them in a place like this. Didn't you ever have to use references when stating facts. You're obviously making up this crap because it bothers you that the Cubs are so good. A lot of other people believe Soto is a very good catcher, just look at the All Star voting. He's leading. And Dug, you need to improve upon your spelling and grammar. Obviously you don't have a degree in English (or anything else). This is too easy.

[Doug]

OCubs wrote:

No this didn't happen. It's easy to make up stats and then hide behind them in a place like this. Didn't you ever have to use references when stating facts. You're obviously making up this crap because it bothers you that the Cubs are so good. A lot of other people believe Soto is a very good catcher, just look at the All Star voting. He's leading. And Dug, you need to improve upon your spelling and grammar. Obviously you don't have a degree in English (or anything else). This is too easy.

Didnt make anything up. He was having problems throwing out runners earlier in the season. Again the FACT is his defense is actually BELOW average when ranked against the other starting catchers in the division. See below:

Kendall - thrown out 50% of basestealers
Molina - 36%
Bako - 33%
Soto (the cub you are talking about)- 31%
Towles - 31%
Paulino - 23%

And to infer that All Star voting has a direct correlation to actual talent I wanted to ask if you just started watching baseball yesterday. But then I realized that you are a cub fan so the answer is most likely yes.

[Doug]

OCubs wrote:

No this didn't happen. It's easy to make up stats and then hide behind them in a place like this. Didn't you ever have to use references when stating facts. You're obviously making up this crap because it bothers you that the Cubs are so good. A lot of other people believe Soto is a very good catcher, just look at the All Star voting. He's leading. And Dug, you need to improve upon your spelling and grammar. Obviously you don't have a degree in English (or anything else). This is too easy.

PS A column from the first week of the season:

"Henry Blanco got the start at catcher for the Cubs, who rested Geovany Soto and gave him a chance to practice using his legs to aid his throwing motion. Base stealers are 7-for-7 against Soto this season."

So I made this up huh?

[Yup]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
And the FACT is that they have played one of the weakest schedules in baseball so far.

Simply not true, Doug.

The Cubs strength of schedule to date is the 14th strongest (out of 30 MLB teams).

A number of teams currently playing good baseball have schedules that are weaker than the Cubs, to date. This would include the:
- LA Angels
- Phillies
- Cardinals
- Diamondbacks

Just because you assume they have played a weak schedule doesn't make it so.

[Truth]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
Didnt make anything up. He was having problems throwing out runners earlier in the season. Again the FACT is his defense is actually BELOW average when ranked against the other starting catchers in the division. See below:
Kendall - thrown out 50% of basestealers
Molina - 36%
Bako - 33%
Soto (the cub you are talking about)- 31%
Towles - 31%
Paulino - 23%
And to infer that All Star voting has a direct correlation to actual talent I wanted to ask if you just started watching baseball yesterday. But then I realized that you are a cub fan so the answer is most likely yes.

What is hillbilly AJ's %?

[Doug]

Yup wrote:

<quoted text>
Simply not true, Doug.
The Cubs strength of schedule to date is the 14th strongest (out of 30 MLB teams).
A number of teams currently playing good baseball have schedules that are weaker than the Cubs, to date. This would include the:
- LA Angels
- Phillies
- Cardinals
- Diamondbacks
Just because you assume they have played a weak schedule doesn't make it so.

Ok...so the strength of schedule is right about the middle of the pack. Nothing to write home about. It will be interesting to see what happens when they actually have to play some good teams on a consistent basis. I wouldnt exactly call them the best team in the game and annoint them world series champs seeing they have played nearly a quarter of all their games against the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates.

[Doug]

Truth wrote:

<quoted text>
What is hillbilly AJ's %?

Sigh...another sad stereotype by a cub fan. Dont really know what AJ's percentage is. If you read the post I was comparing Soto with other catchers in his DIVISION. And you come back with a 'hillbilly' reference. Brilliant. Again just reinforcing the idea that cubs fans cannot deal with REALITY and FACTS. Of course if the team I rooted for hadnt won a championship in a century I would avoid REALITY as well.

[Cubs Time]

Doug wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok...so the strength of schedule is right about the middle of the pack. Nothing to write home about. It will be interesting to see what happens when they actually have to play some good teams on a consistent basis. I wouldnt exactly call them the best team in the game and annoint them world series champs seeing they have played nearly a quarter of all their games against the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates.

So you admit that you are making up all of your facts. Here's a fact: There has never been a team that didn't win a World's Series with a first year catcher named Geo Soto. There, that's a fact too.

[awareadams]

The Cubs' "curse" are the small confines of the Wrigley Field outfield (360' to the baskets in left and right field alleys) coupled with an every year smaller foul ball area.
The result, since 1938, has been the worst record in baseball in terms of pennants and no championships.
Until the Cubs get a legitimate baseball park with an outfield and foul areas that give a pitcher a break, they will continue as is.
By contrast, consider baseball's greatest gimmick: the "porch" or short right field in Yankee Statium (to be continued in the new one), the deep center, and deep left fields. These manipulated confines explain 26 championships more than any Yankee player.
The French have a pharse for it: "C'st la Vie".