Seven days ago the Cubs’ prospects for the season were about as promising as the NBC Fall schedule. Then, Mark Prior caught a line drive with his elbow and things looked even worse. But the Cubs won that day, and the next, and the next and the next and you get the point. Seven days, seven wins and a brand new outlook.
Is it warranted? Well, sort of. They still have deficiencies you could drive a bread truck through. They have hit though, and that makes any team look better, even if your opposing pitchers are the murderer’s row of BK Kim, Joe Kennedy, Wilson Alvarez, Tim Stauffer, etc. They’re playing better defense. E-ramis Ramirez has only hurt himself once this week. Roberto Novoa has been warming up in the bullpen but not being used at a pace that reminds us of Jim Riggleman and a young Bob Scanlan. Jose Macias has not been given a start. These are all signs. Most good. Some…well, pointless.
The win last night had all kinds of good stuff in it. Sure, we basked in the glow of Len Kasper fawning all over us , (fine, he didn’t fawn all over us, though he did seem to amuse Bob Brenly with the mention of the site). Glendon Rusch excelled in every phase of the game. He hit a double and scored the game’s first run. He pitched a four hit shutout. He made a great play where he shoveled the ball to Derrek Lee with his glove, so Derrek decided to balance things out by catching it with his bare hand. Then, in the ninth, he did the Kerry Wood “snag the ball behind his back” thing.
Derrek Lee continued his relentless assault on the National League with three more hits and five successful trips at the plate. Neifi and Corey both extended hitting streaks. Corey even did it with a bunt. Jeromy Burnitz had a big double and lept into the chain link fence in front of the right field scoreboard for a fine catch in the first inning. Jason Dubois even hit a curveball!
It’s easy and probably just plain trite to think about how good a team looks when they’re winning. The Cubs caught the Dodgers at the perfect time because they’re not hitting at all, and the Padres had been so red hot that they had to cool off. But seven days ago did we even think it would matter? Did we think the Cubs could take advantage of any of this?
What has changed? Why have they won seven in a row? Are they really, actually a good team or is this just one of those hot streaks than even mediocre teams can get on?
Well, probably both.
The Cubs win streak has coincided directly with E-ramis Ramirez’s return to form at the plate. He had ten hits in a three game stretch this week. When he’s hitting well, it makes it that much harder for teams to pitch around Lee. E-ramis is too good of a hitter to not snap out of it, and he did.
Neifi Perez isn’t a real lead off hitter, but he’s been playing so far over his head this year that anything’s possible. We keep waiting for him to have a huge slump (he did have a pretty good one in early May), but maybe he is a better hitter than he was in his stints in KC and San Francisco? For the first time in his career he seems to have an actual gameplan at the plate. If you play in he tries to slap the ball over you. If you play back he’s likely to bunt. If you fall behind him he tries to drive the ball, if you get ahead of him he just tries to make contact. Do you have any idea how good the guy who plays behind him (and a little to his left) would be if he would embrace that very approach? I shudder to think. Is Neifi a .300 hitter? Probably not, but some of his improvement is very real. You wouldn’t think a guy could wait until he was 31 (as of last night 32) to learn how to hit, but maybe he did.
Even without Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the Cubs starting rotation is solid. Glendon Rusch has started seven games, he’s given up two runs four times, one run twice and then last night he threw a shutout. Has anybody been better than that?
Greg Maddux is pitching well, and we know how absurdly good Carlos Zambrano is. You can’t be too comfortable throwing out the Meat Tray and John Koronka the other two days, but lately the bullpen hasn’t been exactly overtaxed. In fact, the Cubs had put an APB out on Cliff Bartosh before they found him sitting in the bullpen.
That’s the other great improvement. The Cubs have a very talented bullpen. It has little experience, but the guys can throw it. The current pen reminds me of the kind of bullpens the Braves have used through the years. Bobby Cox has never been afraid to use young guys if they can pitch. He has only one proviso. You’d better throw strikes. The current Cubs’ bullpen is tough to hit. Todd Wellemeyer can make people look downright silly. Mike Wuertz’s slider is impressive even on TV. Even Will Ohman can pump it up there in the mid ’90s on occasion (and you always see the hitter give him a ‘where the hell did THAT come from’ look). Roberto Novoa can throw it through a brick wall. That brings us to their problem. Every one of them, including (and maybe especially) Ryan Dempster, is prone to bouts of wildness. Wellemeyer went 11 innings where he was almost untouchable, and in his last two outings he’s needed a Boy Scout to help him find the strike zone.
If you had your choice you’d find veteran relievers who can throw three or four times a week. But you know what? There just aren’t very many. It may not make Dusty or Larry or us watching at home comfortable to see a 25 year old jog in and start throwing the ball all over the backstop, but this is the Cubs’ bullpen. At times, when they harness their control (like they have for the most part since Dempster took over as closer), they’re a huge strength. Sometimes they don’t look like they could hold a seven run ninth inning lead.
What the Cubs hope is that Joe Borowski can get things figured out. Right now, he’s awful. Even the outs he’s getting are finding the warning track. His problem’s not his velocity. Even if he’s only throwing 84 or 86 miles per hour he can get guys out. But since he came back, his slider’s not sliding. If he can find that pitch he’ll be fine. If he can’t. Well, let’s not think about that.
Derrek Lee’s not the reason for the win streak. He’s not responsible for the seven wins in seven tries or the 10 wins in 12 games. You know why? Because he’s been this good all year. He’s to the point where he’s not even hot anymore, he’s just a stud. He credits his breakout to Gene Clines getting him in a comfortable position in the batter’s box and helping him keep his feet “quiet.” As a result, Derrek doesn’t feel like he can get jammed with a strike and because his arms are like nine feet long, you can’t very effectively pitch him away.
You look at his career numbers and factor in that he always put up good numbers while punting the entire months of April and May and you just start to wonder what kind of full season stats he’ll post now.
Defensively he’s never had a problem. On the rare occasion that he’s unable to dig a bad throw out of the dirt you’re stunned. We saw Mark Grace play a great defensive first base for more than a decade, so we know what it looks like. But Derrek’s better. He’s got more range because he’s bigger, but he’s also quicker and faster than Grace ever could dream of being. Plus he’s an enormous target and safety net for mediocre infielders.
Case in point. Last night in the early innings, Todd Walker made two nice sliding stops of ground balls where he ended up in short right field. Both times he came up firing without hesitation and got the guy at first. Todd’s not exactly Ryne Sandberg at second base. But having an enormous vacuum cleaner at first makes everybody better. Todd knew if he got it anywhere near the bag he’d have an out. As a result he made two confident, accurate throws.
On the bases, Lee and Burnitz are the only Cubs with a clue. Which made him getting duped by Sox shortstop Juan Uribe all the more surprising. But Lee goes first to third with the best of them. He’s the rare slugger who can beat out infield hits and he’s the Cubs’ best and most prolific base stealer.
If you’re trying to find something on the baseball field that he can’t do, well, keep looking, eventually you might find something.
What the Cubs have done is to convince themselves they’re in the race for good. It was important, not just for their own confidence, but management was (and still is) going to have to make a decision about adding talent (and salary) to the team.
The schedule is at its toughest right now. Three more with the Padres, then in succession the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Marlins, Yankees, those pesky Brewers, the Sox and the Brewers again.
But the Cubs are as good as all of those teams and better than a few of them. They are however, probably the most succeptible to prolonged periods of suckitude.
But the Cardinals aren’t that good. They just aren’t. Their bullpen is atrocious, they’re relying on a pair of injury-prone midgets in the middle infield and the starting rotation is made out of paper mache. Plus, the National League doesn’t exactly have a multitude of juggernaut Wild Card contenders. The Braves and Marlins are both solid but flawed, the Mets, Phillies and Nationals are mediocre, the Padres can be tough, but the Dodgers can’t hit, the Giants are Barry-less and the Diamondbacks are living a lie.
Maybe the Cubs are just fooling us. That’s entirely possible. But while they were constantly on edge last year and playing like they were just waiting for something bad to happen, this year they seem to have more resolve, more mental toughness. A lot of it comes from unlikely places.
Three Cubs in particular seem to think it’s their place to step up and take charge. Last year nobody seemed to want to. It’s probably not a coincidence that two guys are new and one guy is in his second full year with the team. But I don’t think I’m imagining things when I see Lee, Neifi and Henry Blanco giving all the outward signs of leadership.
For years the Cubs have had great players who were either unable or unwilling to be a leader. Andre Dawson was a great player, but he just wanted to do his part (which was always more than anybody else could dream of) and fit in. Ryne Sandberg had Hall of Fame talent, but he wouldn’t say shit if he had a mouthful. Sammy Sosa just wanted to wear the C, he didn’t want to have to be troubled with the responsibilities that went with it. We always heard that you didn’t need your best players to be your leaders, but the problem was, nobody seemed to want to actually do it.
Maybe it’s a mirage. Maybe Neifi annoys the other guys with his constant intruding on every mound visit. Maybe Derrek’s obvious effort to linger on the field to congratulate a teammate on a good defensive play is for show. Maybe Hank calling timeout and talking Carlos down off the ledge isn’t that big of a deal.
But I don’t think so. I just get the feeling from watching these guys every day that it’s all genuine. I also can’t help but wonder if the recent improvement in the performance of the bullpen didn’t just coincide with Ryan Dempster moving down there. Not only has he pitched well (and surprisingly efficiently) as the closer, but every good bullpen needs somebody to keep the other guys loose and entertained. That’s a tough job. They sit there for a couple hours and then in a matter of a short few minutes they have to get up, get warmed up, get mentally into the game and get out to the mound and perform.
Last year was strange from beginning the end. The most talented Cubs’ team of our lifetime didn’t just underachieve but they were unlikeable. You wanted to like them, but it was a constant effort. This team isn’t as talented, that’s for sure. But there’s no effort necessary in liking them. And you can’t help but think that with a key addition or two during the summer that maybe the 2005 Cubs can become the team that the 2004 Cubs should have.
Who knows? We’ll just have to stay tuned.
Great Dose today Andy!!
Last week, after Lee’s 4-homers-in-two-games stunt, my friend said to me, “..and Derrek Lee doesn’t even get hot until June! He’s going to bat 1.000 in June, I’m telling you!”
So far, so good. We’re giggling like schoolgirls.
Hey Dolan,
You’ve got your Jims confused. It was LeFebrve who had me leading the league in Bullpen Innings Pitched, not Riggs. By the time that playboy came to town, I was busy throwing my straight-as-an-arrow fastball for the Brew Crew.
It’s so easy to get the Jims confused.
Though if I were Riggleman I’d sue anybody who said I was Lefebvre.
Didn’t we have a ten game winning streak a year or two back? That worked out well.
That’s right. Winning streaks are bad. We shouldn’t win anymore.
Andy, it is uncharacteristic of me to offer unsolicited praise. Nevertheless, I really have to compliment you on today’s well-written and perceptive Dose. I could see for myself the ovbious improvement in Perez at the plate, but I was unaware of his and Blanco’s leadership efforts until you pointed them out. I also liked what you said about the unlikable nature of last year’s Cubs as compared with this year. Isn’t it amazing what seven wins in a row can do for our outlook?
We won 20 in a row a few years back. Got our asses into the playoffs. You got a problem with that Brew Crew?
If the Cubs win one or both of the next two games, Dusty ought to throw Jose Macias into RF, Hairston in CF, Holly in LF, Hank behind the plate, and Enrique Wilson at 3B on Sunday against Peavy. I’d like to see Burnitz get a day off.
It’s too bad Clement will probably not start in the Red Sox series, because it would be interesting to see if he turned and looked toward the Cubs bullpen to see if someone was warming up.
Andy,
You know in fairness (and because all of us demand to be entertained) that you have to follow up that Len interview with one from Chip.
Thankfully, Attaboy Andy is here to lead you all by the hand safely back to the “Hey, the Cubs are gonna win it all…” camp. I was sure Downer Dolan from 14 days ago was being looked to as the Funeral Piper on the way to “Wait ’til ’06-town.”
When will the willy-nilly sheep of this site finally stop biting their collective lips, waiting for the high sign from Andy to decide whether to panic, cry, cheer, wet their pants, have faith, throw in, or bail out?
Put that in your fucking pipes and smoke it!
Hey dicknose,
You can’t smoke whatever shit you’re selling. McRae.
What a performance for Fish Lips Rusch last night! Watching this guy play ball is just great! He’s a crafty lefty that can hit and field too! The best thing I like about it when Glendon pitches, he doesn’t fuck around. He catches the ball and winds up and throws it. That’s how it should be done.
I don’t want to be awaken when DLee gets cold. It’s such a great sight to see this highlight reel. What awesome defense too! The Cubs definitely take that part of Lee’s game for granted. He can scoop with the best of them. F-you Albie!
But Korey once again was up to the same old tricks last night. Chalk it up again, striking out with runners in scoring position. Why doesn’t Korey just bat in the 8th position? Then he could bunt for a hit every time up and the pitcher could sacrafice him over. That way he could utilize his only good quality which is speed. His act is so old. They really need to get some more offense for him and do it soon.
The bullpen is better because Hawkins(way to give up a grand slam the other night too by the way) is gone and Grey Beard Remlinger never ever should come off that DL. The young guys are too stupid to know that they are even put in pressure situations. They are just going out there and trying to light up that radar guy. Sure they’ll try to push us to the ledge sometimes with their dirt balls and back stop throws, but at least they are not getting shelled like Hawkins and Remlinger.
I feel bad for Sweaty Joe, but he has to start some where. I hate to see him throw those warning track shots like he’s doing. But hopefully he’ll get that good slider back and get some command again. I like him and Dempster down there as the veterans though. These are two guys you just want to succeed and not hate.
Let’s get number 8 tonight!
GO CUBS!
Baker Basher
Glendon is the left-handed me.
Before La Troy’s trade: Bullpen is a disaster
After La Troy’s trade: Bullpen is good
one simple move can change things real quick
(and this post is not sarcasm)
Good news!!! Herges was sent to Arizona. Now Graves needs to sign with the Marlins and 2 more bullpens in the NL will be shot.
Trading LaTroy has been like giving me a vacation. Now, I no longer need to wash his pants FOUR times–plus the scrubbing with the wire brush–to get his intense skidmarks out that he leaves for me every time he takes the mound.
When him and Farnsworth would pitch in the same day last year…boy, those days nearly made me an alcoholic.
Tom, unfortunately you still have my menstrual stains to contend with…
Take your time on the DL, Carrie.
This is funny… last month when I said this team was likable, my comment was heckled by some of you dirty scumbags. No matter what the 2004 team did, you couldn’t like them or really care whether they won. Now that there’s a dose about the likable ’05 Cubs, everyone can join in the chorus without fear.
Hal McRae is right…
I love you, you love me. We’re a happy fam-i-lee!
Capital G-Lend on!
Gotta wonder why mopes like Apex and Hal McRae take time out of their exciting lives to come to a site that shouldn’t interest them just to antagonize those of us who like to share ideas.
hey peter johnson, every team that wins 7 in a row is likable, at least for that week.
if they loose 7 in a row nobody will like them, only you and victoria (or whatever her name was).
the “likable” aspect has more to do with W and L, and less with what type of guys they are. If the 2004 team had gone to the playoffs and won the WS, they would habe been liked.
“But the Cardinals aren’t that good. They just aren’t.”
I’m typing this into my Blackberry, and hitting “save.”
(read: I’m a Cards fan, so I’m pissing this on the side of my light-blue trailer, hoping my urine will change the color so I can quote you in October.)
One of the things I’ve noticed about the winning streak, and Bob pointed it out last night, is that the Cubs are working the pitcher a LOT better. Guys are routinely getting into 2-0, 3-1 type counts. Even when they do swing at the first pitch, it’s usually a good pitch to swing at and they hit it hard. Last night they had Stauffer at close to 30 pitches in the first inning. That’s just good smart baseball.
I also think I’ve finally figured out who Korey reminds me of. Here’s a hint … he likes to call people Buddy, he’s a self-proclaimed Gladiator, and he has chickens in his house. Sosa had that all or nothing mentality with runners on and Korey does too. If you think about it, children learn most of their knowledge in their first 5 years of life from their parents. Korey is doing the same. His first 4-5 years in the Majors he’s had Sosa to look up too. So go ahead and sign me up for the trade Korey bandwagon (unless we get someone to unlearn his ass).
Rondell,
I would never antagonize you, my friend. You were my favorite player when the Cubs traded for you. Too bad about all those injuries. The team needed you bad but unlike some of the lackwits here I’d never say you had “Sand in your vagina” or “Mentral stains” in your trousers.
All you’d likely hear out of me would have been a refrain like:
“If you’re havin’ groin problems, I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems and bitch aint one.”
FYA
I am Apex’s favorite word. He uses it more than Corey swings and misses.
Word for Apex? Fucktard.
Peter,
1) I have a better name than you. Trust me, chicks dig big Dick Johnson.
2) A team that EXCEEDS expectations is better than a team that fails to meet them.
3) A month ago, the Cubs had two “all-star calibre” pitchers in their rotation. Both of them are on the DL now.
4) Six weeks ago, the Cubs had a shortstop who not too long ago has been mentioned in the same breath as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Ernie Banks. He’s now on the DL.
5) One week ago, the Cubs had a pitcher who wore the number 32. He was about as unlikable as you could get.
So you have some no-names like the Meat Tray, Koronka, Neifi!, Doo-boy, Ohman, et al who are producing.
You have the heartwarming story of Ryan Dempster taking the closer’s job. You have Sweaty Joe back (although he’s not pitching well, but we like him). You have Derrek Lee enjoying a breakout year, and people are beginning to appreciate Todd Walker and Short Bus Burnitz.
Oh, and you still have stars like Zambrano and Maddux, not to mention the immortal Henry Blanco. Maybe this team is eons more likable than the one that struggled early in the season, or even the one that mailed it in vs. the White Sox?
So eat me.
Apex is the first person I’ve ever heard use the word “lackwit”, so I guess that means he must have been called that a lot as a kid and it’s just a habit now.
Hank and Neifi! helping the cause in a big way, Cubs fans and Kasper cozying up to each other quite nicely…
We all saw this coming, right?
Fuck all 3 of you dickweeds. Go elsewhere and preach your gayness, you tard monkeys. You guys make Baker Basher look brilliant.
Ok, this is getting out of hand. Maybe I’ll change my moniker and start being nice to you guys.
Truce?
Yeah! “McRae” is a dickwad, fucktard, and lackwit! I agree! I agree with everything, especially if Andy says it. But the McRae poster is still gay and wants to have sex with Jim Edmonds and Biggio and Chip Caray. At least we come to the site and parrot Andy’s sunshine or doom and gloom (depending on his mood), unlike the gay faggy homos that are McRae and Apex and Peter Johnson who have opinions contrary to the flock. They are morans. We’ll leave Kelly alone since he is Andy’s friend despite being a Cards Fan. If Andy told us to dogpile on him, we’d do it. All of us Rubber Stampers are just waiting for the Cardinal Collapse, just like Andy promised. It has to happen because he said so. Then the division will be ours!
A truce so long as you stop acting like me, sure.
Right, “Rubber Stamper”, because nobody disgarees with Andy.
Whatever.
You can have opinions contrary to the flock, that’s fine, it’s just the holier than thou attitudes that you post with that everyone hates. This site is for fun, the fact that you take it so seriously makes you a complete moran. The only sure thing about the season so far is that the Royals, D-Rays, Reds are all extremely bad. I’m sure you’re a big tough guy, but calm down. Go fill out some all star ballots at busch, or something.
Ah, Mike D., a card carrying hanger-on. How many beers did you toss back with Andy when you tracked him down at the Cubs Convention?
It’s the classic flip-flop the weak of mind and spirit do everytime the Cubs slump or streak: Whatever way the wind blows in Andy’s weather report is the outlook of an alarming majority of this site’s visitors. Count yourself in or out, I don’t care (you seem rational and intelligent), but people who crowd around Andy’s pulpit and not along are the ones that grate. For you to take offense makes one wonder if you were cut a little too close to the bone in the few Desipio Sheep callouts above.
Feel free to toss out the standard “Listen, kiddo…” indignant response.
Ok…you got me, I’m a 12 year old 113 pound cards fan , who finally got internet access at his trailer park.
:: the fact that you take it so seriously makes you a complete moran
Yeah, I am really wrapped up in it. I’m laughing at you guys. And I am sure Andy is too. He flicks his hand one way and enjoys the sight of numerous heads following his movement. I don’t take it seriously at all; clearly you do. Impugning your merry band of Dolan worshippers is obviously more than you can handle. Don’t worry: Andy’s safe-he is funny and a good writer. It’s him I come here to read, but the sight of you and your ilk marching behind him is laughable.
:: fill out some all star ballots at busch, or something
Yes! The usual Cardinal fan insult. Regular as clockwork. You’ve learned your programming well. Keep it up.
Listen, kiddo?
Rue the day?
What does that mean?
“Who talks like that?” not “What does that mean?”
Isn’t it funny how really stupid people resent me when you’re condescending to them?
methinks I take this a little too seriously, if I have better things to do, why am I spending so much time here? Oh well, back to my job as afternoon shifty at Sonics.
Though you were great in “OKLAHOMA” and “CAROUSEL”. Or was that Bonnie’s dad?
Mommy!
Insults. Can you do better than 4th-grade level? Doubtful.
The whining and freaking out over the last two dozen posts is indicative of the protective and fragile nature of the group I was calling out. You have nothing to offer but weak insults about being gay, in a trailer, cheering the Cardinals, and working at a drive-in which inexplicably has an internet connection and computer.
Don’t bother trying to top one another with the latest take on how much I suck and like to go down on Chip Caray. Maybe Andy will show up and end this. Once he speaks, everything will fall into place…
Oh, you’re so clever “Fake” Ruber Stamper. Just rip into me for working at a McJob. What’s next are you going to call me an assclown?
See how pre-emptive I am? I can actually anticipate your insults. And then I can belittle them before you hurl to show all of you how “ahead of the game” I am. I’m so witty and Rickles-esque. This, combined with my anonymity, allow me to simultaneously troll and flame while not having to stand by my opinions. It’s genius. Thank God for The Internet. I can balst away at you guys and not have to bear the heat myself for yelling at a bunch of Cub fans who i don’t know!!!
Watch, here’s another one– I anticpate you guys calling me gay, white trash, and a loser. This is fun. Imagine if the real person behind my chcikenshit faux handle actually had, you know, a life.
Apex, my boy, well done. After you finish with Desipio.com, you ,me & lassie will rule the world. MUAHAHAHAHAHA
our Sonic has internet access in the office, I get to use it when we’re not crowded.
That’s eerie. I wrote that while the REAL Rubber Stamper had psoted his.
Great dose today.
By the way, anybody got a baked potato? I sure could use one.
Ah Rubber Stamper, you are so wise. Lucky for me, I’ve already purchased the concession for the “What Would Andy Do?” rubber bracelets.
Should I expose Rubber Stamper?
Howdy folks, it’s me from Hotlanta, home of the Brav-o’s. Honesty comples me to say that I’m still a little mad at the Beege regarding my sweaters.
The story of Ryan Dempster becoming the closer was heartwarming? Interesting take.
“It’s easy and probably just plain trite to think about how good a team looks when they’re winning.”
I swear, when my eyes past over this the first time, I thought that it said “how good a team looks when they’re not whining.” And even though that isn’t what was actually written, I think it’s still true. Even though it’s at least partially a byproduct of their winning streak, I think it’s worth noting in and of itself that since LaTroy left we haven’t heard much griping from the Cubs. Here’s to more winning and less whining.
This has to be the worst most egotistical web site on the planet.
Figures it would be a bunch of Cub fans on it
I’ll continue to do the whining, thank you.
Yeah, we are great, I would say Ann Coulter’s site has us beat in the ego department though. Come to think of it, isn’t any website about yourself egotistical? Oh well, nice try baseball fan, go try being tough in person, it’s fun, I swear.
I’m pretty sure this is the most egotistical web site on the planet.
http://www.maddux.xmission.com
And damn funny too.
Can I really be egotistical?
Really?
you can go back now to your “red sox” bandwagon
Is that the best you can do Cub fans?
Oh that’s right, you guys must be busy getting ready for the Gay Pride parade.
I hear Ass-Ramus will be on the “head” float.
Well done, baseball fan, my boy.
The cubs are close now and we must do what we can to rattle them.
Then, the world will be ours (yours, mine & lassie’s).
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
We get flamed on the one side for using homophobic and mysogonistic insults…
…and then we get flamed from the other side for actually BEING being said homos and women?
Hey assholes, we’re Cub fans. Our lives our complicated enough. Go fuck off with your obsession about OUR obsession.
What are the Cubs close to? A seven game losing streak?
What happens when “Wonderboy” Perez goes back to his .220 hitting? And Carrie Wood gets hurt again carrying some hot dogs and chilli with his name on it from Jewel?
I am stil dead and rotting, baseball fan, but my presence is strong in you I see. Please wear a DK57 patch everywhere you go, and be sure to eat fatty foods and do drugs so you can die like me. It also helps to have your ass pumped thrice daily by Lassie, Matty, Kliner, and Veres. Gone but not forgotten.
We’re just jealous because we wanted to keep slaves…how’d that work out anyway?
Hey, the Cubs actually WON their series with Colorado.
Hey, we are great fans, we give standing ovations to everyone, remember when Enos Slaughter slid into 1st, spikes up and put a gash in that no good negro Jackie Robinson’s leg. Yeah, if Pujols wasn’t on our team, head be just another dirty immigrant, but he is, so there.
Stop all of dees fighting. It ees taco nite at my house and all of you are welcome to come. But my wife, she say that all of you must bring a dish or dessert with you.
I’ll bring the flan.
I bring turkey. Careful, though. It make you very s l e e p y.
I have to admit that I am now totally lost and confused. I tried to follow the fight when there was just one “Apex”, one “Baseball Fan” and one “Rubber Stamper”. I dealt with the possibility that they were one and the same. I became convinced the “Apex” morphed into “Rubber Stamper”, but then chose to call him/her/itself the “Real Rubber Stamper” because someone else posted as “Rubber Stamper”. That last person may have then started to post as “NTR Rubber Stamper”. But who can tell? It is usually about this time of day that I have to say that I give up and look forward to a fresh start on Monday
No, we’re not gay, although we do have issues. We just like to to piss on the campfire here.
Now our lives have meaning.
Fine, you geeve up, and Ozzie make you go away too. My wife, she say you can’t come to taco nite now.
I’m no Cards fan. I’ve been called a lot of shit but that’s the least accurate. Fucktard, Dickweed, Preacher of Gayness… subjective and possibly true but as for the Shitbirds, they may rot eternally in hell.
after all the injuries, the latroy show, etc. the cubs are now only 6.5 back of the white sucks… the same white sucks that have “the best pitching staff”, “the future cy young”, “the best record in baseball”, “sure AL pennant winner”, “sure WS winner”, “small ball”, “we are family”.. blah, blah, blah…
white sucks: you’re nothing but a bunch of wackos ready for a big fall, you’re going to be exposed for the fraud you are. you won’t even make the playoffs. see you in 2 weeks in comisk…cell…whatever park.
I am stunned–STUNNED! that it took almost 70 posts to threaten the IP exposé, with a double shot of “You are posting anonymous!” What is this hang-up about a screen name you people have. Does it make any difference to you that my real name is Craig? Any difference? No, didn’t think so. So drop it. Whining about anonymous posts has no teeth since a name means nothing. Saying my name is Craig, I work in Lincolnshire, live in Schaumberg, and my phone number is 847-603-2219 changes things lots, doesn’t it.
Whiny Kool-Aid drinkers who are getting pantsed in an argument have nothing but an IP exposé to wave around. Go for it. If you are losing that bad, pull the trigger.
Good dose.
Real fucking boring, annoying comments.
I forgot to mention that I’ve lost my meds.
That’s why I actually take the time and blast away here at the faceless commentators. Can’t ignore ’em. Nope. The frustration and resentment I carry due to the fact that I’ve got a 2″ penis won’t allow me to do something, you know, CONSTRUCTIVE with my time.
Have a good weekend you insecure gasbags. It’s too bad you guys actually have lives on the weekend; I could keep up this saber-rattling FOR EVER!!!!
I am also one of those really annoying people who just will not go away. I win, you all lose. I am the best thing to happen to this site, you kool -aid drinkers. See how original I am? I mean, Marriotti hasn’t been overusing the kool- aid line for some time now. It’s pretty hard to take any stock in something some tool who copies Marriotti says. I also flex my non existent muscles on the internet to a site that wants nothing to do with me, all the while acting like I own the damn thing. I’ll go away now, because I suck.
Thank God I’m here so people can all go about there business now. Unfuckingbelieveable.
I meant “their” one post up.
…is the message you get when you dial 847-603-2219.
Figures.
Chump.
But where the hell is Schaumberg?
Buffaloe Groove
Does anybody else think I should start being a man and actually BLOCK the plate?
You can get a boo-boo blocking the plate!
I’m not that good at fielding my position, but I could have used a little help tonight.
Fez just didn’t have it tonight!!!!!
He even let that dumbass Kelso score.
I am further proof that roids help players big time. I have never been good untill this season.
We are proof that the Cubs can’t keep this charade up much longer.
Did someone say charade?
You would think that we could bring up someone with more potential than the 2 assclowns up from AAA right now. I know we would have to add them to the 40 man and lose someone, but come on, can’t we see what Hill, Brownlee, etc…could do as opposed to this shit? Why do we always give away games at record pace…Steve Smyth anyone?
The whiners are already on here. Yay!
There are some of us who don’t buy this team as a winner, and would like to see some actual talen called up you faggot. Everyone from the Sux to the Angels has called up their best. Yes, Guzman is always hurt, but what about the other top prospects? I, unlike some of the others here, don’t have faith in this team.
Isn’t it cool when are pussy asses infiltrate a Cubs site? Wouldn’t it be nice if all of us actually died?
was intended for use instead of are, obviously.
Jesus, that was a harsh bunch of comments to sift through.
Remember when we beat up Tom Gamboa?
That was cool.
Great ‘Dose’ today, Andy.
Remember when nobody knew about desipio? This was the best site on the internet to hear the viewpoints of informed, thoughtful baseball fans.
But today’s thread of comments shows the downside of desipio.com’s notoriety. And it keeps getting worse.
To Dave B, Mike D, TW, KD, Rooster, Sloth, even CHUCK fer crissakes, (and a few others) I’m going to miss your perspective. But I just can’t read past the end of ‘The Daily Dose’ any longer. What a colossal fucking waste of time.
Once I get the wig, do I not look just like Meat-Tray or what? If I could post my picture here, I would.
I’m going to build a cake for Summer now.
I agree with Walt…noteriety and fame do have their drawbacks, this site used to be great.
is this the time for this site to start using “registered only” posters??
that would be a great idea, after seeing this shite, and some of the recent garbage, ie.tranny crap, and overall stupid, pointless stuff…it almost seems necessary.
The site is still great, beyond great, the first place I go to in the morning and the last place I’ll go before the cops finally catch up to me (don’t sell bootleg Rockford Files tapes, kiddies).
I think registering Dose ‘comments’ would get rid of all these morans, but things aren’t worth giving up on. The tranny porn thing was something like six months ago and taken care of pretty quickly. Reading through all that crap last night was depressing as hell, but things could be a heck of a lot worse.
Geez, Chad Ford got all paranoid about the message board at a site I used to write for (some 13 year-old threatened to kill another 13 year-old) that he called the cops after tracing the IP himself (instead of learning to spell Derrick Coleman’s first name) — and asked Terry Brown to get in touch with the FBI because the threat “went across state lines.” No shit. Could be worse. At another site I just went to, some wackjob thought I was stalking his apartment because he didn’t like what I said about Vince Carter, and spent the first quarter of 2003 calling me from NYC and hanging up when I answered the phone. Good times.
So, yeah, the bottom half of this page sucks donkey balls, but it’s no reason to stop coming here. You learn something new every day, for instance, I just saw the “Desipio.com is written by idiots, for idiots” tagger. Gotdayum, that’s funny.
KD,
I agree. Selling bootleg Rockford Files tapes is not only illegal, but unprofitable.
I enjoy reading the opinions from the “legion of lackwits” or whatever else other want to call us. Those who want to say everyone here is, in Fred Durst’s words, “in agreeance” with everything Andy says hasn’t been paying attention.
I don’t expect anyone to come here for anything other than what Andy says. Anything else, if it’s witty in the least, is a bonus.
Ha! I got you fuckers!
Rockford couldn’t carry Matlock’s jock.
I am what the cubs would have been if the season ended tonight (saturday june 4th).
Matlock!!!
I think you mean that Rockford couldn’t hold Matlock’s hernia truss.
Shouldn’t you sinners be in church right now? Buy my gospel albums, dagnabbit!
Fuck you, Pa’….
Hey, look…it’s my tits!
Gentlemen, gentlemen, please…it’s winning time. Maybe, I’ll still trade
for somebody, maybe I won’t. But, you people need to chill. Is that Kupchek
on the phone? Put him on, Mitch, wassup? How’s Doc Buss over in Italy?
This has no relevance to anything posted here… I officially hate ‘every-day’ Eddie Guardado and Jeff Nelson and his dumb exaggerated delivery. Here’s a snippet I got from a Web site
Rookie hazing is alive and well in Seattle, where veteran relievers Eddie Guardado and Jeff Nelson have been getting laughs at the expense of Mariners rookies. The partners in practical jokes claimed rookie pitcher J.J. Putz as a victim, emptying his suitcase of clothes and hanging the items on doorknobs in a hallway of the team hotel. Last weekend in Florida, Nelson and Guardado confiscated the new $700 guitar of rookie infielder Gregg Dobbs and used it for batting practice, the instrument winding up in splinters.
Link to the story is here down at the bottom:
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2005/06/05/minors_call_a_major_setback?mode=PF
Eddie and Jeff you are a moran!
Man, Jessica Alba is the shit. I read where that Scientologist fag Tom Cruise was rumored to be after her, too, but she denies it. Instead, he’s sticking tio give Katie Holmes a face rash.
Holy Crow did you sheep fall hard for my rantings. Go look at the original Rubber Stamp post. It’s calling out people for wind-socking whichever way the team goes, following the thread of hope (or gloom) Andy weaves into his Dose.
It has nothing about how much the Cardinals rule (which they don’t), or how much better the White Sox are (which they aren’t). Instead, the ones that that a rebuke too much to heart lash back with the insults of being a jerk, an idiotâ€â€or worseâ€â€a Cardinal fan.
You may think these insults wound or discourage, but they don’t. This should be obvious by now. These witty comebacks are waved off because they aren’t germaine to my contention that a fair number of people who read and post on this site can’t make up their mind if they are going to support the 2005 Cubs. When the team wins, it’s high cotton and everyone is elbowing for room on the bandwagon; but when the team loses a series to the White Sox and Prior gets a busted elbow, it’s scorched earth time and plaintive proclamations of “It’s OVER!”
Get a grip. It’s 162 games, with over 100 to go. Hendy doesn’t need to be fired. Dusty isn’t going anywhere. This is our team for ’05. Give it full support or full derision. Don’t play Chicken Little or Ronnie Woo Woo based on the latest winning or losing streak.
Rubber Stamper,
– A fair number of readers will wind-sock based on what Andy (an opinion-maker of sorts) will write, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that fans of a sports team ARE moody. Think Cubs’ fans are moody? Check out the hand-wringing in New York about the Yankees, the mood swings in South Bend, Lincoln, Neb., Norman, Okla., Baton Rogue, College Station and other places during college football season or the mood swings experienced in Champaign, Bloomington, Ind., Durham, N.C., Lawrence, Kan., and other places during college basketball season.
Cubs fans tend to be pessimistic about so much because they have plenty of experience of failure. The Durocher Cubs (every bit as talented as if not more talented than the Cubs of 2001-today), the 1978 Cubs (how far in first were they at the break?), the 1985 Cubs, the 1986 Cubs, the 1987 Cubs and the 1988 Cubs (all had essential elements of two division winners yet no team finished better than fourth), the 2001 Cubs, last year’s Cubs, etc.
What success have we experienced? The 1984 Cubs, who were over .500 the whole way, but choked in the NLCS? The 1989 Cubs, who surprised everyone with a fast start and held on in a competitive division? The 1998 Cubs, who let Sammy Sosa carry them, and who managed to make the playoffs despite their best efforts to blow it over the final week of the season? The 2003 Cubs, who hovered around .500 in July, but then played out of their mind in August and September?
The only team out of those four that this team is analagous to is the 2003 Cubs, but that team spent much of the first half of the season in first place. It’s harder to run to the ledge when you have five teams looking up at you. When you’re trailing the Brewers by a game or two, lose two of your stud starters in two weeks, have a bullpen that is throwing kerosene on every fire (until a week or two ago), and are holding your breath that your underachieving third baseman doesn’t get hurt or you’ll have Jose Macias playing everyday, it’s easy to think that it will be another summer as an also-ran.
All of a sudden, we’ve been treated to an orgy of good news: a 12 out of 15 stretch, good performances from the pitching staff, including the Meat Tray (and a so-so perfromance from Koronka), a trade by Hendry that made Latroy Hawkins Frisco’s problem, news that Wood and Prior probably will return earlier than previously thought, a hot streak by Neifi!, a hotter than shit streak from Lee, Zambrano’s elbow not falling off (remember, two short weeks ago, we wondered if he wouldn’t be visitng Dr. Jobe or Dr. Andrews), etc.
I’ll give you that Hendry shouldn’t be fired — his decisions weren’t so bad when you consider his alternatives. But I was among the group wondering if Dusty Baker’s time was up a couple weeks ago. I was obviously wrong.
I’m glad that you learned that sticks and stones won’t break your bones. However, why did you find the need to call Mike D. a card-carrying hanger on?