My first post and we are already off to a bad start
To start things off with a proverbial bang the Cubs lost today in a most spectacular fashion. As my father put it LaTroy "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory." Never have truer words been uttered. LaTroy is a great pitcher in almost every facet in any inning other than the 9th. Having said that LaTroy plays like a man with his head cut off in one run closing situations. A very apt example of such behavior was exhibited today. LaTroy actually pitched with some measure of control but found a new way to blow a one run lead. LaTroy speared a line drive hit straight at him by Placido Polanco but proceeded to FREAK OUT on the mound like the ball in his hand was ready to explode and he had to find someone to throw it to. LaTroy decided to unload the ball right into Jose Offerman's head at somewhere near mach 10.
2 "unearned" runs scored to put the Phillies up for good. The kind of behavior shown by LaTroy today on the mound is inexcuasable and has to stop right this instant.
The problem is the only person who can stop the madness is Dusty Baker. Baker is a man that met madness in a bar, slept with it, and had a hideous baby named "Cubs' season 2005." Baker is so crazy that he continuously uses LaTroy to close games. LaTroy clearly doesn't have the chops to be a closer and never will. Dusty never got that memo. Dusty is a great manager and I thank him for the success he gave the Cubs in 2003 but that was 2 years ago. In the following two years LaTroy has managed to ascend to the role of closer under Dusty's watchful eye and manage to ruin the end of last season and the beginning of the next. Dusty has some sort of need for LaTroy like a junkie needs a fix. He keeps on coming back and using him even though deep down he knows it is bad for him. Dusty needs to step back and think to himself "if I were a manager with a brain what would I do?" The answer is simple put LaTroy in the 8th inning where he is untouchable and try some new arms at closer untill JoBo comes back in 2 weeks. My two personal favorites for the job right now are Mike Wuertz, a kid believed to have the "makeup of a closer," and Todd Wellemeyer, a unproven pitcher who can throw it hard and straight.
2 "unearned" runs scored to put the Phillies up for good. The kind of behavior shown by LaTroy today on the mound is inexcuasable and has to stop right this instant.
The problem is the only person who can stop the madness is Dusty Baker. Baker is a man that met madness in a bar, slept with it, and had a hideous baby named "Cubs' season 2005." Baker is so crazy that he continuously uses LaTroy to close games. LaTroy clearly doesn't have the chops to be a closer and never will. Dusty never got that memo. Dusty is a great manager and I thank him for the success he gave the Cubs in 2003 but that was 2 years ago. In the following two years LaTroy has managed to ascend to the role of closer under Dusty's watchful eye and manage to ruin the end of last season and the beginning of the next. Dusty has some sort of need for LaTroy like a junkie needs a fix. He keeps on coming back and using him even though deep down he knows it is bad for him. Dusty needs to step back and think to himself "if I were a manager with a brain what would I do?" The answer is simple put LaTroy in the 8th inning where he is untouchable and try some new arms at closer untill JoBo comes back in 2 weeks. My two personal favorites for the job right now are Mike Wuertz, a kid believed to have the "makeup of a closer," and Todd Wellemeyer, a unproven pitcher who can throw it hard and straight.
posted by Jefe at 11:30 PM
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