Wednesday, July 8, 2015

CUBS, STROP COUGH UP LOSS TO CARDS

8 July:


Somebody famous once said ‘doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’ – a paraphrase, for sure.


But it always did ring true. BTW, it was, indeed, Alfred Einstein. You all knew that one.


Joe Maddon is not a physicist. He’s an scientist performing ART. An alchemist in the truest sense of the word.


Merlin the magician, born in 1136 although most likely a composite, would heartily accept one Joseph John Maddon, an Aquarius from Hazleton, Pa.


They would have gotten along just fine.


However, when you mix and make magical potions for a living things can go, invariably, wrong.


The Cub Cardinal game tonight comes front and center in this deep story rife with talismans. The potion would be three parts Jason Hammel to two parts Rizzo, a sizeable pinch of Bryant, and hoping the bench guys (Denorfia, Coghlan) can pick up for the non-producers.


Starlin Castro.


If ever a player as hit his dead end in this city it’s him.


Even the local media has tossed him overboard, pretty much unceremoniously, about a month ago.


You won’t read an article out there that doesn’t exalt a struggling Addison Russell over the possessor of over 1,00o hits at 26 out there.


BIG change.


Look at it THIS way:


Would any other team have given a player with his demonstrable weaknesses SUCH an opportunity?


Luis Valbuena is another prime example. A minimally skilled player, was given a shot at driving the baseball, and he became a .226 hitter who can hit 16 homers in 520 at  bats.


He’s got 19 homers in the amusement park in Houston while hitting .203.


With only THIRTY SIX rbi’s. Lot’s of solo homers there. And very little contact. Castro is just a better version; more talent, less game. But essentially fringe players.


Castro will never see another All Star game. Why is all of this important?


Because no matter HOW good a magician, he needs to have the right mix of potions. And, once again, the weak spots in a crucial situation were the aforementioned shortstop and Pedro Strop.


How many epic fails by these guys do you really need to see?


Strop can be demoted back to the 6th and 7th, where he can just mow people when he has a lead.


Castro is just a black hole in the middle of a team desperate to win. He makes a little contact tonight and Strop is an afterthought.


The rest of the team played GREAT.


That’s the most agonizing thing about it…


Off day tomorrow. The White Sox throw stud draft pick Carlos Rondon against Kyle Hendricks; 3:05 start, CSN TV, WBBM radio



CUBS, STROP COUGH UP LOSS TO CARDS

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