2012 MLB Season Game Thread: May

[Fritz]

I feel like lots of douchefuck fratty types have Volstad-esque faces. The fat cheeks and dull-eyed look makes for easy blending.

[Beef]

I dunno, I feel like Cubs fans would not forget a face that stupid
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Beef, should we see if Erika Amundsen will look out for him?

I don't think Erika needs any nudge from guys like us. She knows what she's doing.
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Fritz is right, 9 years ago, I lived with a shorter, fatter Volstad.
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Volstad tonight: 2 IP, 4 ER, season ERA now 7.46

ehe, I figured he stayed in and got thru the next couple innings scoreless.

It's weird that mibs was only a Marlins fan because of this guy.

[HUGG]

The lead of the Sun-Times game recap is great:

For the first time in years, Carlos Zambrano won’t be in the Cubs’ rotation for the White Sox-Cubs series.

By the time the series is over, the guy who replaced Zambrano might not be, either.

The story says he has a minor league option left, I didn't realize that. Is there an Iowa Cubs message board?

[Fritz]

Embit might have to create one.

[Madman81]

The lead of the Sun-Times game recap is great:



The story says he has a minor league option left, I didn't realize that. Is there an Iowa Cubs message board?

The whole article is great.

For the first time in years, Carlos Zambrano won’t be in the Cubs’ rotation for the White Sox-Cubs series.

By the time the series is over, the guy who replaced Zambrano might not be, either.

After his worst start in an already-rough season, sinkerballer Chris Volstad could be headed to the minors Friday, depending on the outcome of talks manager Dale Sveum expects to have with team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer.

‘‘We’ll get together as a staff and talk to Theo and Jed and evaluate the situation, for sure,’’ Sveum said after Volstad lasted only two innings Thursday night in an 8-7 loss against the Phillies that only got that close when the Cubs rallied with two outs in the ninth for four runs.

‘‘We’ll see what our options are and go from there.’’

The only guy in the place having a worse day might have been late-arriving chairman Tom Ricketts, who still appeared to be on hold with City Hall as he took his front-row seat just in time to see Volstad’s last few pitches.

Or maybe catcher Geovany Soto, whose left knee got bad enough in batting practice that he was scratched from the lineup and is expected to find out Friday how bad the injury is.

Or the ticket scalpers having trouble unloading inventory for the crosstown series at Wrigley amid concerns that the NATO summit will keep people close to home.

Whatever the final tally in the worst-day contest, the last-place Cubs ride a three-game losing streak into the series.

Volstad (0-6), who was acquired from Miami in the Zambrano dump/trade, allowed nine baserunners and four runs in his shortest start in three years, loading the bases each inning.

Casey Coleman, who replaced Volstad and pitched four effective innings, could be an option for Volstad’s spot, but Sveum seems to want Class AAA lefty Travis Wood.

‘‘It’s a logical choice, no doubt about it,’’ said Sveum, who added that Wood’s schedule would be a factor before being told he also pitched Thursday (seven innings, one run). ‘‘Then we’re in good shape.’’

Not so much Volstad, whose ERA jumped to 7.46 as his overall winless streak reached 19 starts, dating to last year’s All-Star break.

‘‘I think I’m trying too hard, trying to do different things, just a lot of forcing it instead of letting my ability take over,’’ Volstad said. ‘‘I know it’s in there. I’ve thrown beautiful games in the big leagues before. I’ve just got to tap into it.’’

Volstad only has one quality start, and he allowed four runs in it (three earned). And the Cubs are 0-8 in his starts.

‘‘There’s just no life, no command, on [any] of his pitches,’’ Sveum said. ‘‘He couldn’t keep the ball down again, keep it in. Not a real good outing at all for the situation we’re in.’’

Enough to make anybody miss Zambrano yet? The Cubs won’t go that far, but Volstad’s struggles have been especially conspicuous in a rotation that otherwise has a 10-6 record and 3.08 combined ERA.

Whether he expects to lose his rotation job, ‘‘I don’t know how you want me to answer that kind of question. I mean, I’m working and pitching and trying to show them that I deserve to be in the rotation. ... It’s up to them.’’

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/12602...-phillies.html

[Metes]

I’ve thrown beautiful games in the big leagues before.

AHEHAHEAHHAHEHAHEHAHEHAHEAEHEHAHEHAEHAHEHAE

[emkayseven]

he's the worst

I hate him more than Kyle Skipworth

[FishFF]

Brutal numbers, I'm surprised he's stuck in the rotation this long. Poor Volstud.

[MiamiHomer]

Kerry Wood is apparently retiring today.

[Metes]

Chris Volstad should retire today

[FishFF]

I wish Mibs would just come out already and say, ok he sucks. You can still like the guy, just admit he sucks.

[Metes]

I'm sure the defense behind him has been really terrible

Also, the fans are real mean to him

Plus, he's allergic to ivy

[Beef]

It's a very very strange thing to be only a Chris Volstad fan and not a fan of a team. If she would just be a human and have a conversation, maybe it'd be less strange.

[Ramp]

apparently Kerry Wood will make one more appearance for the Cubs... probably to get an ovation from the crowd

[Fritz]

I think the main problem is that the deep dish pizza in Chicago makes Volstad feel fat and bloaty so he does not pitch as well.