Last night was one of the toughest losses I've ever witnessed. Sure, we've blown big leads in the past and this was a small lead but it's the way it happened and the situation we were in. We beat Kerry Wood. Red outpitched Kerry Wood when nobody gave us a chance to take him down. We took the lead only to lose it when Chad Fox gave up the homerun to Simon. But, we were not done! We tied it up again only to lose in extra innings on a base running blunder and an unclutch AB from Derrek Lee. Last night was tough to take because we lost the game once, came back and lost the game again. That is always hard to accept especially when the starter was Kerry Wood and you beat him.

 

How do we move on from this? We put it in the past and take a look at the positives and the ways we can improve this club here and now.

 

First the positives:

 

1) Miguel Cabrera showed he can fill in for another spot in the field now that we have seen him in RF. His cannon arm would replace Enc's great arm if needed and we know that.

 

2) We can beat Kerry Wood. If we face him again, we can beat him and we know it. The hitters should have more confidence now.

 

Now the changes we should make:

 

1) Get Derrek Lee out of the cleanup spot. He can't handle the pressure and the spot is too important for a guy who can't take the heat. Move him down in the lineup and try Cabs at cleanup I say.

 

2) Stop using Michael Tejera against lefties, he can not get them out so what's the point?

 

3) Pull Fox if he's not making pitches. He gave up an extra base hit and should not have faced Simon there. Bring in Uggy for the extended save. Fox has come thru before but it was pretty evident he wasn't himself. Even the outs were hit hard.

 

We're going to win this series. This is our National League Championship to lose. This is our season. Jack and the boys will not let us down and it starts to turn around today with Dontrelle.

:marlins

Move him down in the lineup and try Cabs at cleanup I say.

I said that during the regular season and everyone thought I was crazy.

An unclutch AB from Derrek Lee.

I swear I've heard that before...

Move him down in the lineup and try Cabs at cleanup I say.

I said that during the regular season and everyone thought I was crazy. I doubt i did.

I agree 100% Admin. The saying for this team all playoff long has been "It's not over till we say it's over"! And this team is not done.

 

 

We saw last night that Kerry Wood IS beatable. Yes it was a tough loss and tonight is a must win...heck even tomorrow is a must win. But these guys played their @$$es off after getting knocked around in Game 2. These guys aren't going to give up and I'm not about to give up on them!

 

 

IT all starts with tonight! Bring it on, Cupcakes!! :angry

Move him down in the lineup and try Cabs at cleanup I say.

I said that during the regular season and everyone thought I was crazy. I doubt i did. Everyone told me he was too young.

 

I basically said I don't care if he's 20 or 40, he's got the talent to hit there.

An unclutch AB from Derrek Lee.

I swear I've heard that before... not Derrek Lee?

 

he is the "best all around 1st baseman who can do no wrong"

If Conine was our cleanup man last night the Marlins would be up 2-1...

 

BELIEVE

I'm sorry, but this is SHEER INCOMPETENCE. Somebody do a statistical test on this, it is statistically impossible for this guy to be a left-handed specialist after 79 left sided regular season AB's.

 

 

Michael Tejera's splits:

 

vs. Right: 221 AB, 51 H, 25 BB, 48 SO, .224 AVG, .298 OBP, .329 SLG, .627 OPS

 

vs. Left: 79 AB, 31 H, 11 BB, 10 SO, .392 AVG, .442 OBP, .595 SLG, 1.037 OPS

 

 

If anything, we can use him as a right-sided "specialist".

 

Just MIND boggling... :banghead :banghead :banghead

In baseball there is nothing to be specialized in.

 

You pitch, you hit, you run, and you defend. A pitcher must be able to get the outs not matter if they are right-handed, left-handed, can use both hands, or have no hands.

 

This crap about a "lefty specialist" is just that, crap. Bring in the best pitcher possible because he pitches well not because he is a lefty or righty.

:marlins

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!

I've said for more than two weeks (check the archives!) to move Lee down from the fourth spot. Seems very few of us remember what they said.

I think Lee has proved he is not up to the challenge of the post season. Conine, Pudge, Cabrera, Pierre, Castillo have all been tough outs and have come through in the clutch. Encarnacion and Lee and Gonzalez have all gotten a lucky hit or two. I am surprised at the lack of adjustment McKeon has made with this offense. We need to pack all these guys who are producing around each other and find a way to get Lowell in the game. Last night moving Cabs to RF and Lowell to 3B was a very interesting move - but should only be done if we need offense. I dont want to see Cabs out there make a defensive mistake and cost us a game when we have the lead (a la Cruz). This looks good, great idea Admin:

 

Pierre

Castillo

Pudge

Conine

Cabrera

Lee

Encarnacion

Gonzalez

P

 

Our first five hitters can start a rally and keep it going until we hit #6 on down - then it will be tough. Gotta win 3 of 4...CUbs just have to play .500 ball.