2015: The Back To The Future Season

[SKO]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Last night seemed like the perfect use for Soriano, I thought.

I don't think they should just punt on a game because their starter was removed for a rain delay. That's why Travis Wood exists and they brought him in once Soriano predictably shat the tub, anyway. Not sure why they wouldn't do what they can to use the better half of the pen and win that game, since you hopefully plan on Arrieta going 7 or 8 the next night.

It didn't seem like much at the time but that Neil Ramirez injury has really caused quite the ripple effect on the season. It led to several winnable games being lost early in the season thanks to guys like Schlitter, and now it's led to trying to make this Soriano thing work. Would be awesome if Carl Edwards, Jr. would stop walking everybody at Iowa so he could come up and use that curveball to drink the blood of the nonbelievers.

[InternetApex]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Last night seemed like the perfect use for Soriano, I thought.

I don't think they should just punt on a game because their starter was removed for a rain delay. That's why Travis Wood exists and they brought him in once Soriano predictably shat the tub, anyway. Not sure why they wouldn't do what they can to use the better half of the pen and win that game, since you hopefully plan on Arrieta going 7 or 8 the next night.

It didn't seem like much at the time but that Neil Ramirez injury has really caused quite the ripple effect on the season. It led to several winnable games being lost early in the season thanks to guys like Schlitter, and now it's led to trying to make this Soriano thing work. Would be awesome if Carl Edwards, Jr. would stop walking everybody at Iowa so he could come up and use that curveball to drink the blood of the nonbelievers.

I wouldn't call it punting the game. There was a small window to get that thing in and it was slightly risky sending anybody other than your shittiest reliever and your long man out in it. If it doesn't work out and you end up playing the game well... that's what Travis Wood is for.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I did not see one second of the game. The cable isn't on at my spot yet.

[SKO]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Last night seemed like the perfect use for Soriano, I thought.

I don't think they should just punt on a game because their starter was removed for a rain delay. That's why Travis Wood exists and they brought him in once Soriano predictably shat the tub, anyway. Not sure why they wouldn't do what they can to use the better half of the pen and win that game, since you hopefully plan on Arrieta going 7 or 8 the next night.

It didn't seem like much at the time but that Neil Ramirez injury has really caused quite the ripple effect on the season. It led to several winnable games being lost early in the season thanks to guys like Schlitter, and now it's led to trying to make this Soriano thing work. Would be awesome if Carl Edwards, Jr. would stop walking everybody at Iowa so he could come up and use that curveball to drink the blood of the nonbelievers.

I wouldn't call it punting the game. There was a small window to get that thing in and it was slightly risky sending anybody other than your shittiest reliever and your long man out in it. If it doesn't work out and you end up playing the game well... that's what Travis Wood is for.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I did not see one second of the game. The cable isn't on at my spot yet.

I get what you're saying, my approach would be the opposite, honestly. I'd bank on that game getting rained out after 5 and do my best to win it before then. Use your pen in reverse. Run out Strop and Rondon and try to keep the Pirates off the board, put in Schwarber and try to drive one or two in before 5 innings are up. If you have to play a full game, well, use Travis Wood for the last 3-4 innings and hope he can hang on. Then you hope Arrieta goes his usual 7+ innings of ass kicking and you can get out of tonight using just Rondon, maybe.

[Quality Start Machine]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Last night seemed like the perfect use for Soriano, I thought.

I don't think they should just punt on a game because their starter was removed for a rain delay. That's why Travis Wood exists and they brought him in once Soriano predictably shat the tub, anyway. Not sure why they wouldn't do what they can to use the better half of the pen and win that game, since you hopefully plan on Arrieta going 7 or 8 the next night.

It didn't seem like much at the time but that Neil Ramirez injury has really caused quite the ripple effect on the season. It led to several winnable games being lost early in the season thanks to guys like Schlitter, and now it's led to trying to make this Soriano thing work. Would be awesome if Carl Edwards, Jr. would stop walking everybody at Iowa so he could come up and use that curveball to drink the blood of the nonbelievers.

Hunter was a pretty nice pickup, especially since he only cost Junior Lake. Watching him throw that upper-90s gas makes me wonder how in the world he doesn't have a K/9 higher than 6.4 this year.

[SKO]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Last night seemed like the perfect use for Soriano, I thought.

I don't think they should just punt on a game because their starter was removed for a rain delay. That's why Travis Wood exists and they brought him in once Soriano predictably shat the tub, anyway. Not sure why they wouldn't do what they can to use the better half of the pen and win that game, since you hopefully plan on Arrieta going 7 or 8 the next night.

It didn't seem like much at the time but that Neil Ramirez injury has really caused quite the ripple effect on the season. It led to several winnable games being lost early in the season thanks to guys like Schlitter, and now it's led to trying to make this Soriano thing work. Would be awesome if Carl Edwards, Jr. would stop walking everybody at Iowa so he could come up and use that curveball to drink the blood of the nonbelievers.

Hunter was a pretty nice pickup, especially since he only cost Junior Lake. Watching him throw that upper-90s gas makes me wonder how in the world he doesn't have a K/9 higher than 6.4 this year.

INTREPID READER JASON MOTTE:

I bet I know.

[Saul Goodman]

Even a lineup with David Ross in it can make NORTHWESTERN ALUM* J.A. Happ sorry he ever picked up a baseball, right?











* We're still clinging tight to the Joe Girardi/Mark Loretta/Bo Schultz/George Kontos eras. All those memories of all those College World Series non-appearances. We are amazingly good at baseball. And sports. And maybe unionizing them.

[InternetApex]

Even a lineup with David Ross in it can make NORTHWESTERN ALUM* J.A. Happ sorry he ever picked up a baseball, right?











* We're still clinging tight to the Joe Girardi/Mark Loretta/Bo Schultz/George Kontos eras. All those memories of all those College World Series non-appearances. We are amazingly good at baseball. And sports. And maybe unionizing them.

Don't do this.

[Saul Goodman]

Don't do this.

The point was, let's ruin J.A. Happ.

[CubFaninHydePark]

Don't do this.

The point was, let's ruin J.A. Happ.

The point should be Russell should be batting 6th or 7th when the human firebarn is catching, and the firebarn should hit 9th.

Also, Castro can just get hit by a bus.

[Slaky]

Don't do this.

The point was, let's ruin J.A. Happ.

The point should be Russell should be batting 6th or 7th when the human firebarn is catching, and the firebarn should hit 9th.

Also, Castro can just get hit by a bus.

Very productive.

[Tonker]

Don't do this.

The point was, let's ruin J.A. Happ.

The point should be Russell should be batting 6th or 7th when the human firebarn is catching, and the firebarn should hit 9th.

Also, Castro can just get hit by a bus.

Quite apart from whether or not you agree with the concept of batting the pitcher eighth, you clearly don't understand the rationale behind the Cubs doing it.

[Shooter]

So is Joe doing the "look at this shit you gave me to work with?" thing with Soriano that he did with Schlitter and Coke? Is he trying to get the front office to admit defeat and cut the guy? That's got to be it, right? There's no way he actually thinks that guy can be useful, is there?

Probably. The front office is great and they need to have more of a process than us lazy fans on the couch BUT I do think they're sometimes slow to admit mistakes. It seems pretty obvious that Soriano has nothing left in the tank (he didn't last year either). Why are they still messing around with him?

5 games indicates they're too slow to admit a mistake?   I think it was fair to give him more than 5 appearances to see if maybe his arm needed to wake up.  Last night was his 6th appearance and if they DFA him now I find it hard to assert that they took too long to make the decision.

On the other hand If they don't DFA him now I might be inclined to your line of thinking but I just don't see how 2.5 weeks is slow to admit a mistake.  

That's all fair. I was probably being a bit pre-emptive in that I'd be surprised if he was shipped off anytime in the next few weeks.

Based on his history with Soriano, I'd guess Joe would be the one who give him the benefit of the doubt more than the front office would.

[SKO]

Coghlan at second today, Schwarber in left. Starlin on the bench. Let's get weird, fellas.

[Quality Start Machine]

Coghlan at second today, Schwarber in left. Starlin on the bench. Let's get weird, fellas.

When does Maddon give us a lefty-throwing catcher? Seems more like a matter of when than if.

[SKO]

Hell yeah