It was Dusty Baker's fault.

[Whitacre D_WI]

I'm sorry, Cubs (or, for that matter, Giants) fans, but Dusty Baker is a crap manager.

1) He didn't let rookies Bobby Hill (now in Pittsburgh) and Hee Seop Choi play much this season. Instead he went with "proven veterans" Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros -- by "proven veterans," I mean that they are old guys who have proven themselves to be average (at best) baseball players.

2) He made mid-season trades (yes, I know he's not the GM, but he vets all trades) to acquire:
-Tony Womack, who has spent his Cubs career sitting on the bench because, his fine speed notwithstanding, you can't steal first.
-Randall Simon, who will swing at a pitch a foot outside. He might be a good hitter if he imagined the baseball to be a sausage, but as it is...
-Kenny Lofton -- okay, this was a good trade. The man can't play defense anymore, leaving the Cubbies with a TERRIBLE defensive outfield; but he can still get on base and has had a great postseason.

3) He allows his 23-year-old ace, the best pitcher in the league, to throw 130+ PITCHES GAME AFTER GAME! This is completely asinine! 23-year-olds should NOT be throwing this many pitches! I don't care how "perfect" Mark Prior's mechanics are (and they are phenomenal), but if he keeps throwing this many pitches, HIS ARM IS GOING TO FALL OFF.

I understand that playoff games are different than regular-season games, and I do understand why your ace would be asked to go an extra inning or two. But Prior was TIRED last night. He had lost his motion. When your breaking ball is no longer breaking, that is a sign of fatigue.

When your breaking ball is no longer breaking, that is a sign of fatigue. If I know this, surely longtime player and manager Dusty Baker knows this. Nonetheless, he left tired Pryor in there to start the 8th instead of bringing in a rested and ready relief pitcher.

Gonzales' error and the fans in the left field stands getting in Alou's way would likely not have mattered it the Marlins weren't HITTING THE BALL SO DAMN HARD.

Well, that's my rant. Go Cubbies and Sox.

[VermontDem2004]

1. Lofton only had 5 errors this season (I believe)

He is very good at defense. Dusty Baker is a crap manager :eyes: Where were the Cubs at last year?

[Whitacre D_WI]

3. Errors are only part of the story...

Lofton, while he still has good speed, no longer gets a good jump on balls hit into the gaps. His arm is even worse than his ex-teammate Barry Bonds (another formerly good defender who should probably be in the AL these days).

Errors only count the balls you get to, and Lofton doesn't get to many. I've loved watching him slap single after single into right field this series, and I loved watching him play for Cleveland (he was better then); but he's a poor defender.

And the whole "if Dusty Baker is a crap manager, where were the Cubs last year" is really a specious argument. Players win baseball games. Managers, from best to worst, can only account for a handful of wins or losses per year. However, the effect a manager has on his team, IMHO, is heightened in the playoffs.

I'll tell you why the Cubs were so much better this year:

1) Pitching, pitching, pitching. A full season of Mark Prior, who became the best starter in the league his second year. A great season by Kerry Wood, better than last year. Matt Clement's ERA went up, but his peripherals were good. Carlos Zambrano was outstanding, possibly even better than Wood. The bullpen was worlds above 2002's.

2) Strength at the top of the order. Lofton, despite his fielding, can still get on base, and he can still run well. Grudzielanek (even though I think this should have been Hill's season) turned in an inexplicable good year, far better than his career norm. Sosa was off from last year, but still one of the best hitters in the league.

3) Improved offense from key positions. Moises Alou hit MUCH better than last year. Corey Patterson improved immensely; and after Patterson's injury, Lofton hit much better than Patterson did in '02.

4) The competition in the NL Central was poorer. St. Louis and Houston did not field teams as good as they did in 2002, my beloved Reds stunk up the joint, and the Pirates and Brewers were -- well, the Pirates and Brewers.

Like I said, managers only win or lose a handful of games each year. I believe last night was one such game.

[underpants]

4. Aside from pitching Lofton is the reason they have gotten this far

He has been outstanding this post season (as usual) and has lead his team very well. I never understood why he has moved around so much, it must either be a contract thing or he is a jerk in the locker room. I would still want him on my team.

[Whitacre D_WI]

5. I would still want him on my team, too.

He's just not very good in center.

[kanrok]

2. The fans in the left field stands

didn't matter. There was one out when the kid did what ANY kid would have done in those circumstances. At best there would have been 2 outs when the Marlins lit up Cub pitching in the 8th Inning. BTW, I am not a Cub fan, never was, never will be, but even I agree that Baker did an awesome job this year.

[HuckleB]

6. Baloney.

Where were the Giants before Baker? Nowhere. Where are they now? Hmm. Where were the Cubs before Baker? They sure weren't playing seventh games in the NLCS! That's for sure.