mdn82

Yes we are Olivia. Please stay on topic Olivia.

  While this is true.  These players were committed.  He knew who was gone if he came.  There was never a concern from the Harris family how he would get there.  Roth was going to be gone.  Most thought he was coming back.  When Buss didn't qualify they didn't have to make the move they were going to, that would have brought him in.  But I do know for a fact the Harris family wasn't worried about where his spot was coming from.  Beyond that, when the coaches tell a top 15 kid in the country he has a spot, one is open.  Its the others already on the team who would have been more worried.  At the time there was talk of Zeller paying his own way (but I don't know that to be true or not).  The only thing I know for certain this was never a concern. 

Never seen a shift on a pitcher before.

Whew

Not too worried about that just yet. This is what he has done against the Cards. Happy we got this far with him only giving up 3. Travis Wood for the next 2+ scares me though.

This is the Kyle Hendricks I know and love

Or now......

Get him through the 5th and make the change.

Incredible feat in today's game.

Our infield is going to be sick when they move Bryant to the OF and Baez to 3b. Castro at 2b just is so much better. He hasn't booted the easy grounders he always did, but has the same range.

That was odd

If Hendricks could get us to the 6th I will be the happiest man alive

I love this sport!!!!

We NEEDED this inning!

Sometimes you have to gamble.

Well Hendricks keeping the ball up early. That's great.

Plus Dallas Keuchel threw 99 pitches over 6 innings against the D Backs before shutting out the Yanks on Wednesday. I know it's not 100 pitches but come on.

I think where we differ is the level of stress. I don't feel as though a 4-0 provides much. Only one time late in that game could they tie it with a swing of the bat. That's where I am coming from. I do think we disagree on overall philosophy of the situation but that's the biggest holdup.

That has drove me as nuts as anything. IMO That is Crean's biggest issue. He doesn't know how to build a team. It's not an area recruiting issue. It's a type of person issue.

Thats fair but outside of VJ3 I think the others put up their best numbers on good teams. Part of having good player development is getting the workers who buy in. That is part of my character issue I have with recruiting. We aren't going after players who fit in to our strengths. Look at the 2012 and 2013 class. Pretty low turnout for gym rats. I count Yogi, Hartman, and Troy as the only ones considered "gym rats". That's like Shaka Smart recruiting finesse players to play his Havoc scheme. Wouldn't make any sense.

Ugh........

FYI GC after graduating Russell, Schwarber, Bryant, and Soler to the major league level for +25 wins this year vs last we still have a top 5 farm with 3 players in the top 50. So you are quite literally smoking crack on this as you have 0 clue what you are talking about. You talk shit about a lot of things you think you know. But the here and now of the Cubs isn't one of them. They are good now and for the foreseeable future. Deal with that fact.

How does the Cubs come into this rant? Can't wait to hear this gem.

I would probably disagree with that. The improvement of Hulls, VJ3, Williams, Yogi (the shooter), and even Sheehey minus his Senior year. I thought all of those players improved immensely in different areas throughout their time. Whether or not we like how they were used is another story. Jordy and his ability to stay on the floor at both ends of the floor were amazing starting with his Junior season. As a freshman I though he would be a sharpshooter at best. Yogi has improved incredibly as a shooter. Last year he dribbled less than his Vonleh season. Now the frontcourt? That's another story. I think Crean has spent more time trying to get them away from the basket than not.