Frustration

I watched that so called Cubs game at New York today and thought wow, the Cubs seem to be able to win this game and gain a series split with New York on this road trip. Then Angel Guzman was pulled and Michael Wuertz came in and pitched pretty well. Then after one out in the seventh inning, Michael gets yanked and Wil Ohman comes in and God it seems that this team is going to wind up loosing this one. Surprisingly Ohman some how does well and the Cubs survive to the 9th inning with a four run lead. Then we enter the ninth inning and all hell breaks loose.

I have said it before and will continue to say it, Ryan "Crybaby" Dempster is not a closer and is a disgrace in our bullpen especially being assigned as the so called Closer. What is a closer you may be asking yourself and wondering what I am thinking. I'll tell you what a closer is to me. A closer in baseball is someone who wants the ball everyday no matter what is happening. Is reliable and consistent in their approach that the opposition is fearing versus thinking what is going to happen next. A closer is someone who comes in and gets the final outs to a game and there is no drama in regards to the ending. Whether it is a closing situation, or like today just getting the closer some time on the mound to keep him sharp. The Cubs have had quality closers in the past that include Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Randy Myers and Rod Beck just to name a few. Sutter for one was one of the more special closers because he usually pitched more than just one inning. Now we have to deal with a player who does not get mad at the fact that his team eliminates a save opportunity for him and still goes out there, a bit steamed and mows down the opposition.

I have talked about it before and Ryan Dempster does not impress me. I spoke with him while the Cubs were in Los Angeles in 2005 and apologized for the fact that the team eliminated the save chance. Ryan was more than relieved that he did not have to work on a save and had extra runs to get through. A true closer would have been a bit pissed off and would have gone in and worked even harder to remind the opposition that he was in the game and would make you quake in your boots. Crybaby just does not get it and neither does the fool the signed him to be the closer, Jim Hendry. I am still miffed how this so called general manager still has a job with this team, as he continues to make more bone headed decisions versus intelligent decisions to help this team. I am only able to hope that the new owner of this team who ever it is, comes in and cleans house completely and brings true baseball people in to turn this beloved franchise into a legitimate contender.