Official Venting Thread

Since I’m legally, socially and morally obligated to be optimistic all the time, I’ve been having a hard time finding the right place to vent and let go of some steam.  So I thought I’d set up a thread with the simple purpose of complaining and letting out my frustrations with the current version of this team.  I slipped up the other day and called Ronny Cedeno a crappy baseball player after he booted the game ending double play.  For the rest of the year, the only place I’m allowed to complain is in this thread.  Let’s see how effective and cathartic this is.  Note, I’m not aiming to be entirely accurate with these complaints; this is just some thoughts that have been going through my head during the past week or so.  Here we go…

WTF is wrong with you, Derrek?  You’re doing a piss poor job impersonating a major league 1B and #3 hitter.  You’re constantly grounding out weakly with runners on and in good hitter’s counts.  And what’s with the defense this year?  It’s not up to your current standard.  Did you get old on us all of a sudden?  Lou should seriously consider moving you to the 8th spot or letting Hoffpauir see some time at first.

As great as Ramirez has been in the 7th inning or later, his numbers are down across the board (outside of walks).  He’s always been a bit of a streaky hitter, but he’s had quite a few more of the lows this year than any other year I remember.  This last week his defense has gone in the crapper too, most of his errors are of the concentration variety.  It’s not his fault he’s coming up with the bases empty a lot lately (see Lee, Derrek), but 24 HRs?  That’s sad.

Soriano sure seems like one of the worst hitters ever with runners on.  We thought he was gonna go on one of his super streaks after the game in Cinci Saturday, but that didn’t happen.  I bet he’s left more runners on base this year than anyone else on the team, and that’s saying something with all the time he’s missed.  And is it me, or is that stupid hop in LF getting more exaggerated?  One more drop, and I’m gonna lose it.

Theriot is getting one base, and it was nice to see an extra base hit last night (seems like the first one in months for him).  But I still can’t believe how bad of a baserunner he is. 

Soto’s been great with the bat again lately, and it’s not his fault Lou stupidly asked him to bunt last night.  I think someone needs to teach him how to block the plate.  We’ve seen quite a few guys score this year when the throw beat them to the plate, and I’m putting that directly on Geo. 

I think Edmonds is turning back into a pumpkin, which is what we should have expected out of him.  He’s taking pitches and walks, but the power streak is over and I’m finding myself questioning his defense. 

I don’t want to single anyone out in the bullpen, because overall they’ve still done a good job and Howry’s gotten all the grief he’s deserved.  But the pen isn’t as automatic these days.  I know the pathetic showing by the offense is putting a lot more stress on these guys to be perfect, but it’d be nice for them to actually hold one of these slim leads. 

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I guess I feel better.  I still have no doubts about the Cubs making the playoffs.  I don’t want to see them lose the division or home field advantage.  Thank goodness the Brewers are at least as bad right now.  I don’t want to rag on Lou too much because overall this team has been a joy to watch.  I think he’s trying too hard to get stuff done right now and is overmanaging, but that wouldn’t be a problem if most of the team wasn’t playing with their heads up their butts. 

Well, no more pessimism or complaining from me.  Back to all positive, all the time. 

PS: Ronny Cedeno still sucks.