Reds @ Cubs IGT

[Chris J]

I think the Brewers will take the division. They are the most complete team in my opinoin. Two great hitters in Braun and Fielder. Grienke Marcum and Gallardo at the top of the rotation and K-rod and Axfrod in the pen. Pretty solid to me

 

[Uman85]

6 in a row! Hey, hey!

 

[dabynsky]

I think the Brewers will take the division. They are the most complete team in my opinoin. Two great hitters in Braun and Fielder. Grienke Marcum and Gallardo at the top of the rotation and K-rod and Axfrod in the pen. Pretty solid to me

What has happened to Greinke? I knew he had been struggling but he is still sporting an ERA at 4.41 after moving from the AL to the NL. This guy put up a ridiculous year in 2009 with a 2.16 ERA and 205 ERA+, but the past two years the ERA has been over 4 and ERA+ under 100.

The gap between the two staffs was closed a fair bit with the adding of Edwin Jackson, and Jamie Garcia is having the best year out of any pitcher on the two staffs. And if there is one thing I've learned the past decade plus watching this division is to never count the Cardinals out.

 

[Rice Cube]

What has happened to Greinke? I knew he had been struggling but he is still sporting an ERA at 4.41 after moving from the AL to the NL. This guy put up a ridiculous year in 2009 with a 2.16 ERA and 205 ERA+, but the past two years the ERA has been over 4 and ERA+ under 100.

The gap between the two staffs was closed a fair bit with the adding of Edwin Jackson, and Jamie Garcia is having the best year out of any pitcher on the two staffs. And if there is one thing I've learned the past decade plus watching this division is to never count the Cardinals out.

Really bad luck. But since luck isn't a legitimate answer sometimes, we'll just blame Yuni.

 

[dabynsky]

Really bad luck. But since luck isn't a legitimate answer sometimes, we'll just blame Yuni.

Two years in a row though. His rate stats are all good except for the jump in HR/9, and the Brewers defense is pretty bad. He still hasn't been that guy in 2009 though.

 

[daddies3angels]

The addition of K-Rod shored up one of the biggest needs for Milwaukee in the pen. St. Louis certainly loaded up on arms for the pen with the Rasmus deal as well. It will be interesting between those two teams. Kind of funny the similarities in situations with each likely to lose their premier slugging 1B at the end of the season, and only one of them is likely to get into the playoffs this year. If Milwaukee doesn't make it, Doug Melvin is going to look pretty dumb since they spent basically every chip they had for this year.

Every team has a window, even a medium market like MIL has a smaller one, so they have to to go for it. I think Melvin has done a great job and if somehow they dont make it he wont be looked down on it

 

[dabynsky]

Every team has a window, even a medium market like MIL has a smaller one, so they have to to go for it. I think Melvin has done a great job and if somehow they dont make it he wont be looked down on it

I think Minnesota is the model of how a small or medium market team should work. Unless the payroll goes up significantly to keep Greinke, Marcum and Gallardo together with Braun then this is going to be bad for Milwaukee because Melvin has absolutely torched the farm system to build this team. I appreciate guys taking their shot, but this is really a one time deal for Milwaukee because Prince is going to be gone after this year. Marcum, Greinke, and Wolf's contracts are all set to be free agents next year. They could make it work, but it is going to be hard without the pipeline of cheap young talent to fill in the roster.

 

[daddies3angels]

I think Minnesota is the model of how a small or medium market team should work. Unless the payroll goes up significantly to keep Greinke, Marcum and Gallardo together with Braun then this is going to be bad for Milwaukee because Melvin has absolutely torched the farm system to build this team. I appreciate guys taking their shot, but this is really a one time deal for Milwaukee because Prince is going to be gone after this year. Marcum, Greinke, and Wolf's contracts are all set to be free agents next year. They could make it work, but it is going to be hard without the pipeline of cheap young talent to fill in the roster.

Everyone thought the same thing when they went after CC. They seem to replenish the system quickly through draft and trade.

 

[daddies3angels]

Anybody else hoping Campana gets start in LF today

 

[dabynsky]

Everyone thought the same thing when they went after CC. They seem to replenish the system quickly through draft and trade.

I don't know if that is particularly comparable because the system was still higher rated after the CC Sabathia deal than it is now. It isn't just the trades that has depleted the system but promotions. Basically the point is that the guys that weren't in the big leagues already helping this team where traded off in two deals. They could surprise us, but it wouldn't be shocking for the Brewers to slip back down in a couple of years.

 

[dabynsky]

Anybody else hoping Campana gets start in LF today

I would except for Soriano's numbers against Cueto are pretty amazing. He has a .346/.370/.692 slash line in 27 PAs. Tomorrow against Bronson Arroyo though would be a good day off for Soriano though.

 

[daddies3angels]

I would except for Soriano's numbers against Cueto are pretty amazing. He has a .346/.370/.692 slash line in 27 PAs. Tomorrow against Bronson Arroyo though would be a good day off for Soriano though.

That would make sense that Sori starts then since those really good numbers. We know he wont sit Byrd again. Colvin been hitting well since he been playing.

 

[dabynsky]

That would make sense that Sori starts then since those really good numbers. We know he wont sit Byrd again. Colvin been hitting well since he been playing.

I wouldn't mind rewarding Campana because he did swing the bat really well yesterday, but I just don't know where you do it. Colvin has been doing well, and you don't want to do anything to disturb that right at the moment. Byrd got the day off yesterday, and ought to be playing today. Soriano has pretty good numbers against Cueto which I am guessing is going to be one of the few guys on the team with that.

 

[daddies3angels]

WTF....what does cubs managers have against Colvin...playing Reed vs rhp today when colvin been playing well

 

[X]

WTF....what does cubs managers have against Colvin...playing Reed vs rhp today when colvin been playing well

why do some guys have such a boner for Colvin on this site? He's not "been playing well..."

He's been playing regularly since July 28.

in those 8 games, he's amassed 5 hits in 20 at bats. 1 walk, 7 Ks. He does have 2 HRs in that span, which is semi-promising. But a lefty that bat's .200, can't play anything but a corner OF spot and is good for occasional pop is no better than Jerome Burnitz after his prime.

 

[dabynsky]

Playing Reed Johnson in this spot though makes no sense either. He has played a couple of days in a row and showed that he is healthy enough to play if you are looking to deal him. At this point, it needs to be either Colvin or Campana playing.

X I understand that Colvin isn't a top tier prospect, and he could very well not be a good everyday player. However, we need to find out what we have in him at this point. He has been swinging the bat well recently even if the results aren't always there. Starting Reed Johnson doesn't do anything to help this club at this point in time.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

hard to say about colvin...he's not incredibly young either(25)...the thing is,as dabs said, we really dont know what role he'll play on the team(hitting wise and also will be in the outfield or infield) right now...

i still want to see colvin go out there and get some reps which might help improve his plate discipline which right now is not too good

he doesnt really have a high ceiling at all...but he could be better...might just be an everyday player in the end

 

[nwfisch]

I'd rather play Colvin for practically nothing than pay Pena $10M. If he busted this year, the Cubs could have passed and moved on. Now I don't know how the Cubs know what Colvin can do.

 

[85Bears4life]

Reds get bases Loaded...Z gets out of it

 

[dabynsky]

Barney's foot was off the bag on that great play by Castro to even make it a play. Can't help but think back to the play that went against the Cubs that wasn't even as close in the White Sox series. I remember arguing with someone about it being in the neighborhood and how that is always the call.