Bartender Banter: Optimism Waning

Wait, did we just drop 2 of 3 to the Texas Rangers? A team that has allowed more runs than anyone in the majors other than Tampa Bay? A team whose staff "ace" is the 3-8, 6.69 ERA Vicente Padilla? Jebus. These are the series that we need to be winning if we're going to have any semblance of a chance. Now we're 8.5 games behind the Brewers (who've won 8 of their last 10 by the way), and are even a game behind the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals! They've resorted to starting Todd frickin' Wellemeyer and we're a game behind them?



Seriously, you're telling me we lost to that guy?

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(sigh of despondency)





My optimism is waning fast folks. I just feel like we've had the carrot dangled in front of our faces for an extra month is all. Unless we can pull a 2005 Astros run in the second half, which happens practically never, I'm not holding out much hope for this season.

But hey, the implosion on the Southside has been a real treat!

The Barrett Trade
Now that it's been a few days since the Michael Barrett for Rob Bowen and Kyle Tyler Kyler Burke trade, it seems the main consensus of fans aren't terribly upset Michael is gone, but wish that Hendry had gotten a little more for him. Eh, maybe, but I don't think we got entirely hosed on the deal by any means either. Barrett was an asset in the batters box, but a huge liability behind the plate and on the basepaths. Looking around the Cubs blogosphere, I'd say that Andy Dolan's article over at Desipio explains the whole thing best. A good read.

Also the next person that says "addition by subtraction" gets punched in the throat.

And lastly, let's not rag too hard about this Kyler Burke kid. He's only 19 and he's in his first full season of professional baseball. You need to wait at least a couple years and then if he hasn't made significant strides, then you can rag on him. I've got my calender circled the next time Peoria swings into town though, so I'll try to catch a game, and maybe catch a glimpse of possible Cub future stars.