Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Week Two
New Weight-240.0lbs....a loss of 2.2lbs from 242.2lbs. I did pretty well with my food in Ames and still enjoyed some beverages.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Week One
242.2 lbs...A loss of 2.8 lbs. It helps having a job and not snacking all day long. I'm going to Ames this weekend and I need to at least not eat horrible.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Smaller Me
With the Cubs tanking, I need a new hobby. Back to the drawing board to see if I can lose some of this weight. Going back to teach at my middle school and having teachers tell me I look the same as I did in 5-8th grade is not a good thing...I was fat. I'm going to try to do one pound per week. My trouble, like usual, will be tailgating season. Hopefully I can get some momentum heading into the fall. Current weight as of Wednesday(my check-in day) was 245 lbs. I have taken a picture of myself, but luckily for you my batteries ran out and I can't post at this point.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Cubs Postseason Chances
With 106 games down and 56 games to go, it is no longer a marathon it is a sprint. Although the Cubs remain in a tie for first place in the Central Division with the Cardinals, they have a two-game advantage in the loss column, meaning they control their own destiny. They are two games back of the SF Giants in the Wild Card, with the Rockies in between heading into a four game series against the Cubs this weekend. The goal for the Cubs is not just to make it to the playoffs, but do something once they get there. Here are some issues to consider for the last two months of the season.
Issue #1
Closing Time
Kevin Gregg sucks. Marmol is better in the 8th and Angel Guzman is the most dependable arm in the bullpen. With the addition of Grabow and Gorzelanny the Cubs now have 2 more lefties. Here is something I think the Cubs, if nothing else, just at least consider to solidify the 9th inning. RICH HARDEN. Hear me out. Rich Harden has swing-and-miss stuff, dominating most of the time. His problem in the rotation? He strikes out so many batters he is at 100 pitches after the 5th or 6th inning. Let Gorzelanny fill-in as the 5th starter and if he proves he can't do it move him to the bullpen and have Marshall fill-in that spot. Neither of them would have to start in the postseason. The rotation would then be Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Gorz. Wells is by-far the most reliable starter this season and I hope he gets a start in the playoffs if they get there. So food for the thought: Harden or Dempster as a closer for the rest of the year? Keep in mind the Cubs are 51-4 when having a lead going into the 9th inning, but it is a problem that hasn't hurt them....yet.
Issue #2
Right Field
Milton Bradley is not hitting. Jake Fox is. Now this would work well if MB was hitting from the left side and not the right, but its the opposite. Jake Fox needs a chance to be in the lineup as a regular for at least a week to prove himself as a defender. Yes, defense is important but the Cubs need to put runs on the board. Fox has the same HR's and RBI's in half as many at-bats. The guy can hit and he needs to have a bigger role down the stretch. There is talk of giving him practice at 2nd base in the Instructional League after the year...that sounds scary and if he's going to play 2nd why did you get rid of DeRosa?!
Issue #3
Catcher
Soto is coming back Friday to provide an offensive lift. However, Koyie Hill has played 26 straight games and over 220 innings since July 7th or 36 more than the next catcher (Russell Martin). Thats four games more. The Cubs are 28-17 with him behind the plate. He's throwing out 44 percent of runners, the best in the majors. The Cubs starters are 12-2 since the All-Star break. Catcher is one spot that can be sacrificed offensively for strong defense. He needs to get at least 40 percent of the starts down the stretch. Soto can swing the stick, but if he struggles at the plate there is no reason for Hill to ride the pine.
Issues Resolved:
Soriano hitting 6th seems to have helped him out. He's hitting roughly .340 since the switch and Kosuke hitting leadoff has been a pleasant surprise with an OBP close to .400 which is where you want a leadoff hitter. ARam coming back has been a huge lift and DLee is swinging the stick. I think the Cubs will be fine down the stretch and the Cubs will prevail. The Cardinals are a very good team with one hell of an offense. If their SP's can pitch average they will be a team to be reckoned with.
Prediction:
Cubs by 1 game in the Central
Cards tie Giants for WC--Cards win one-game playoff
Issue #1
Closing Time
Kevin Gregg sucks. Marmol is better in the 8th and Angel Guzman is the most dependable arm in the bullpen. With the addition of Grabow and Gorzelanny the Cubs now have 2 more lefties. Here is something I think the Cubs, if nothing else, just at least consider to solidify the 9th inning. RICH HARDEN. Hear me out. Rich Harden has swing-and-miss stuff, dominating most of the time. His problem in the rotation? He strikes out so many batters he is at 100 pitches after the 5th or 6th inning. Let Gorzelanny fill-in as the 5th starter and if he proves he can't do it move him to the bullpen and have Marshall fill-in that spot. Neither of them would have to start in the postseason. The rotation would then be Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Gorz. Wells is by-far the most reliable starter this season and I hope he gets a start in the playoffs if they get there. So food for the thought: Harden or Dempster as a closer for the rest of the year? Keep in mind the Cubs are 51-4 when having a lead going into the 9th inning, but it is a problem that hasn't hurt them....yet.
Issue #2
Right Field
Milton Bradley is not hitting. Jake Fox is. Now this would work well if MB was hitting from the left side and not the right, but its the opposite. Jake Fox needs a chance to be in the lineup as a regular for at least a week to prove himself as a defender. Yes, defense is important but the Cubs need to put runs on the board. Fox has the same HR's and RBI's in half as many at-bats. The guy can hit and he needs to have a bigger role down the stretch. There is talk of giving him practice at 2nd base in the Instructional League after the year...that sounds scary and if he's going to play 2nd why did you get rid of DeRosa?!
Issue #3
Catcher
Soto is coming back Friday to provide an offensive lift. However, Koyie Hill has played 26 straight games and over 220 innings since July 7th or 36 more than the next catcher (Russell Martin). Thats four games more. The Cubs are 28-17 with him behind the plate. He's throwing out 44 percent of runners, the best in the majors. The Cubs starters are 12-2 since the All-Star break. Catcher is one spot that can be sacrificed offensively for strong defense. He needs to get at least 40 percent of the starts down the stretch. Soto can swing the stick, but if he struggles at the plate there is no reason for Hill to ride the pine.
Issues Resolved:
Soriano hitting 6th seems to have helped him out. He's hitting roughly .340 since the switch and Kosuke hitting leadoff has been a pleasant surprise with an OBP close to .400 which is where you want a leadoff hitter. ARam coming back has been a huge lift and DLee is swinging the stick. I think the Cubs will be fine down the stretch and the Cubs will prevail. The Cardinals are a very good team with one hell of an offense. If their SP's can pitch average they will be a team to be reckoned with.
Prediction:
Cubs by 1 game in the Central
Cards tie Giants for WC--Cards win one-game playoff
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