Hope Springs Eternal: A 2007 Cubs Dynasty

[Maestro23]

Looks like Milwaukee is trying to make this a 4-team divisional race. Watch out for them man! You know the one thing I am surprised about is the fact that Zambrano has only 49 SO in 120+ innings.

Yeah, Big Z's lack of strikeouts is not his fault. :smile: I've got to setup his pitches better. :headache: All my pitchers for that matter.

The Division is definately getting tight. My rearview mirror is crowded. Yeah, I'll be playing the Brew Crew later tonight.

[JoeRudi26]

Yeah, Big Z's lack of strikeouts is not his fault. :smile: I've got to setup his pitches better. :headache: All my pitchers for that matter.

The Division is definately getting tight. My rearview mirror is crowded. Yeah, I'll be playing the Brew Crew later tonight.

Good luck against the Crew, M. With Z's lack of performance, have you taken a look at Iowa and considered any options?

Just curious what direction you may be thinking about going. I've been there myself, letting guys play through the slumps, or giving AAA guys a shot at the Bigs.

Either way, it looks to be some interesting decision making. :)

[Maestro23]

Good luck against the Crew, M. With Z's lack of performance, have you taken a look at Iowa and considered any options?

Just curious what direction you may be thinking about going. I've been there myself, letting guys play through the slumps, or giving AAA guys a shot at the Bigs.

Either way, it looks to be some interesting decision making.

Yeah, I have thought about a stint for Z down at Iowa. I just brought Prior up and sent down Marquis. I'll have to see what's down on the farm. :smile:

[Maestro23]

Dynasty Update:

Cubs clean the trash out of Wrigley by sweeping the Brew Crew. Now have a 2.5 game lead over Houston.

Mark Prior will be getting his 1st Major League start this year during the Washington Nationals series.

D. Lee and Jason Kendall are still in the running for the All-Star team.

St. Louis is just 3 games back.

[JoeRudi26]

Congrats on the sweep, M. Man, Jones continues to produce, you gotta love it. He actually just went 3-4 in my win against the Reds (Game 2), so hopefully I'll get some of what he's giving your Cubbies.

Interesting to see Prior in Game 2 against the Nats, I can't wait to see how he performs for you.

Nice to see you seperate a bit from Houston, they need to be cork screwed as well.

Nice update as always, M. :)

[Maestro23]

Congrats on the sweep, M. Man, Jones continues to produce, you gotta love it. He actually just went 3-4 in my win against the Reds (Game 2), so hopefully I'll get some of what he's giving your Cubbies.

Interesting to see Prior in Game 2 against the Nats, I can't wait to see how he performs for you.

Nice to see you seperate a bit from Houston, they need to be cork screwed as well.

Nice update as always, M.

Thanks JR. Yeah, you can have some Jones' mojo for your Cubbies man. :smile: Him and Murton have carried this team for the past couple of weeks. Both coming up with the clutch hits with men on base.

Looking forward myself to see what Prior can do. Hey, its the Nats.. How much trouble can he get into. :smile:

[Maestro23]

Dynasty Update:

Cubs enjoy 4th of July in Nation's Capital.

D. Lee and J. Kendall are making late push for All-Star game.

Mark Prior impressive in 1st start.

Ryan Dempster leads the Majors with 26 saves.

Trouble at 2nd base. Could DeRosa be coming back after the break?

Houston 2.5 games back... St. Louis 3 games back.

[JoeRudi26]

Hey M, good job on the Nat's series. Nailing down those sweeps are tough to do, especially in a 4 game set.

And wow, looks like Murton got some of what J. Jones was having for breakfast. 3 ding dongs on the 4th? Great to see he's doing well for you.

Murton and Jones, Murton and Jones. If you say it long enough, it sounds like a tandem to be reckoned with.

Seriously, that page of yours is a total gem. Good luck with the Bucs.

[Maestro23]

Hey M, good job on the Nat's series. Nailing down those sweeps are tough to do, especially in a 4 game set.

And wow, looks like Murton got some of what J. Jones was having for breakfast. 3 ding dongs on the 4th? Great to see he's doing well for you.

Murton and Jones, Murton and Jones. If you say it long enough, it sounds like a tandem to be reckoned with.

Seriously, that page of yours is a total gem. Good luck with the Bucs.

Thanks JR. I didn't realize Murton was trying to do his best "Reggie" impersonation until after he hit the 3rd homerun. Then I was like, "Wait a minute.... LOL"

I wanted that 4-game sweep so bad, but Bergmann was locating his pitches very well, and I couldn't get any good contact. He didn't give Jones anything up in the zone, which is where I like to hit with him. He even cooled down Murton with an 0-for-4.

Well, on to the Bucs when I get home tonight. Hope to finish strong going into the break.

[redsox]

Man, who said the NL Central division was not a tough division. Look at those .600+ teams in the standings. :wink:

BTW, nice job on the 3-1 series win. Looks like you need to get some men on base in front of Jones - 20 HR and only 35 RBIs? Also, what was DeRosa's stats before he was sent down?

[Maestro23]

Man, who said the NL Central division was not a tough division. Look at those .600+ teams in the standings. :wink:

BTW, nice job on the 3-1 series win. Looks like you need to get some men on base in front of Jones - 20 HR and only 35 RBIs? Also, what was DeRosa's stats before he was sent down?

Thanks red. Yeah, if Jones had only had men on base when I was in the zone with him. His RBI total would be so much higher. Another thing I've got to work on in the 2nd half.

DeRosa was hitting about .171, I could never get anything going with him. I think I was trying to do to much with him at the plate. Gotta remember, I was struggling with him when I had a team batting avg of around .218 :smile: I'm finally learning how to hit with this team.

As you see the average is above .240 now and I'm pretty comfortable with just about every hitter now. Soriano is back of the DL and I'm hoping I can get him on-base more and setting the table.

I think if I bring DeRosa back, I can produce with him now.

The Central is a flat-out dogfight, and I love it... just as long as I stay on top. :smile: Things will get real interesting when I start playing the 'stros and Cards in the 2nd half.

Thanks again redsox for checking in.

[philliesphan18]

Did you touch up your Mark Prior screenie for game two in photoshop, or is that just pure graphics?

[Maestro23]

Did you touch up your Mark Prior screenie for game two in photoshop, or is that just pure graphics?

Actual screenshot with the photoshop "sharpen" tool used on it once. The overlay came out a little fuzzy though.

[Maestro23]

Dynasty Update:

Cubs limp into the All-Star break having lost the Pirates' series 2-1. Although still in 1st-place, Lou is not a happy man. Expect to see some changes after the break.

On a good note, 3 Cubbies made it to the All-Star game. J. Kendall, C. Zambrano, & R. Hill.

Houston is still 2.5 games back, and St. Louis is 3 back. Houston and Chicago will collide right after the break, with a 3-game series at Wrigley.

[JoeRudi26]

Just like you said, M, you can't judge the team by their record. BTW, who the he** does J. Bay think he is?

Seriously, any plans for the All-Star Game? I wound up having to sim mine this year, but I usually do anyway.

Just curious.

[Maestro23]

Just like you said, M, you can't judge the team by their record. BTW, who the he** does J. Bay think he is?

Seriously, any plans for the All-Star Game? I wound up having to sim mine this year, but I usually do anyway.

Just curious.

Man JR, You should have seen the controller go flying across the room on both of his catches. :smile:

I just couldn't get anything going in the first 2 games. And then when Torres came into to close the game... forget about it. :headache:

I think I'm just going to sim the All-star game as well. Just report the results. I really anxious to start the 2nd half of the season. That first series with the 'stros is calling to me. :smile:

[MetsReyes777]

cant wait till that series with the stros, stupid fools

[Maestro23]

cant wait till that series with the stros, stupid fools

LOL.. Thanks MR777. Neither can I man... neither can I. :wink:

[MrCubbie12]

you should make vidoes of your dynasty. that would be cool

[Maestro23]

you should make vidoes of your dynasty. that would be cool

Thanks for checking in MrCubbie12. I have thought about it, but my RL job keeps me busy at times. Right now, I get an update out about every 3 days. I do want to do some type of series highlight vid though.

I might come up with something for the 2nd half of the season.

[philliesphan18]

I like the update Maestro!

-- RL job? Huh?

[Maestro23]

Dynasty Update:

Well guys, I'm back. Since it was All-Star break in my Dynasty, I decided to take a break and catch up on some stuff.

Second-half of the season has begun with a tense 3-game series against the hated 'stros at Wrigley. Who would prevail?

The National League won the 2007 All-Star game, which was a slugfest. Lot of homeruns and hits. Mr. Utley was the hero. Read all about it on my page.

I am now using KG's 4.1 Roster update that included all trades made by the deadline. I have turned off CPU trades. I will only make moves that my Cubs make from here on out. Thanks to Ty's .dat importer/exporter, all my stats from the 1st-half are still there. Ty is da man. :wtg:

Sorry I have been away for awhile. Hope you guys continue to follow. :smile:

[Maestro23]

Dynasty Update:

Cubs split 4-game series with Giants. Mr. Bonds is held homerless.

Dempster leads league in saves with 30. Theriot is 1st-player to hit 10 triples on the year.

St. Louis is just 2 games behind the 1st-place Cubs. Chicago will face them after the Arizona series.

[JoeRudi26]

Way to hang in there with SF, M. Containing Bonds is about as tough as containing Pujols.

Good to see The Riot starting to hit. Looks like your pitching is in tact, and you really scattered the ball this series. As of late, I can't find any offense at all.

Good to see you still on top, and good luck with the D'Backs.

[Maestro23]

Way to hang in there with SF, M. Containing Bonds is about as tough as containing Pujols.

Good to see The Riot starting to hit. Looks like your pitching is in tact, and you really scattered the ball this series. As of late, I can't find any offense at all.

Good to see you still on top, and good luck with the D'Backs.

Thanks JR. Theriot has been heating it up lately. I'm hitting more to rightfield with him and he's been wearing out the ivy in right. :smile:

I was surprised we contained Bonds like we did. I didn't give him any intentional walks, but we didn't give him anything right down K-street either.

Pitching is holding up pretty good. I've got two 10-game winners now, but what worries me is that Big Z has lost his last 2 starts. The pen hasn't imploded in awhile, and if I can just get to Dempster... well you see he's pretty much lights out.

I can't sleep-walk through this series with Arizona because the Cardinals are right on my heels and I will see them after the Arizona series. Man, I hate pitching to their lineup, and they are hot right now. :headache: