2013 Epstink's Chicago Cubstinks

[CBStew]

Two days in a row.  Two different visiting teams clinch the playoffs at Wrigley.  That has got to be a record. 

Only thing that could make it better is both pitchers also winning their 300th games.

via No-Hitters

On the other hand, it is good for tourism.  "Come to Chicago.  See your team fatten up.  Visiting teams are guaranteed to win or your fourth day is free."

[J. Walter Weatherman]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

[Saul Goodman]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

[CBStew]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

The problem is that they haven't explained how or why letting Sveum finish out his contract would be inconsistent with "the Plan."

[flannj]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

Transpose the first two words of the sentence made bold and you have your answer.

[PenFoe]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

The problem is that they haven't explained how or why letting Sveum finish out his contract would be inconsistent with "the Plan."

I think it's because the plan is to develop young players and they don't think Sveum is good at that, now having seen him for two years.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

The problem is that they haven't explained how or why letting Sveum finish out his contract would be inconsistent with "the Plan."

Listen, I get that someone getting dismissed from the Cubs organization without the club totally torching said someone's reputation via the media both before and after the dismissal is kind of a novel thing. But I think it's quite possible that, from their vantage points in the front office, Theo and Jed are privy to a number of details about Sveum's strengths and weaknesses as a major league field manager and developer of young talent that maybe we, the general public, can't see. And that perhaps they'd prefer not to go around airing out Sveum's shortcomings just for sake of looking a little bit better themselves.

[CT III]

You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.



Bonus points for the prescient CTA train illustration in the nameplate.

Theo has a lot to answer for?  What?  Only if the people who keep asking questions weren't listening to the answers they've been given for two-plus years.  It continues to astound that people still demand accountability for Theo and Jed when they couldn't have been more clear since the beginning about what they're doing.  No, they're not perfect, but I'm getting pretty much what I expected to get since they took over.  Is it just easier for hacks to stir shit up and be "provocative" than to actually try reporting on how the plan is going, whether it needs to be modified, what's working and what isn't?  Someone help me out here.

The problem is that they haven't explained how or why letting Sveum finish out his contract would be inconsistent with "the Plan."

Listen, I get that someone getting dismissed from the Cubs organization without the club totally torching said someone's reputation via the media both before and after the dismissal is kind of a novel thing. But I think it's quite possible that, from their vantage points in the front office, Theo and Jed are privy to a number of details about Sveum's strengths and weaknesses as a major league field manager and developer of young talent that maybe we, the general public, can't see. And that perhaps they'd prefer not to go around airing out Sveum's shortcomings just for sake of looking a little bit better themselves.

You are forgetting sir, that we "the general public" pay these people's celeries.

[R-V]

Sveumstink was terrible *

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/3/5/5471442/estimating-number-of-runs-saved-by-infield-shifts

* Or maybe this is just statistical noise/bad luck

[Eli]

Sveumstink was terrible *

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/3/5/5471442/estimating-number-of-runs-saved-by-infield-shifts

* Or maybe this is just statistical noise/bad luck

There also seems to be a very rough correlation between runs saved and the quality of the team (not always, since good teams like the Tigers ranked low). It could just be that the Cubs were pretty bad at everything and the numbers reflected that.

Like you said, too much noise here to really be that useful.

[CBStew]

Sveumstink was terrible *

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/3/5/5471442/estimating-number-of-runs-saved-by-infield-shifts

* Or maybe this is just statistical noise/bad luck

...It could just be that the Cubs were pretty bad at everything...

Captain Obvious

[CBStew]

Que lastima!

The Cubs have fired their team psychologist