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Commentary: The truth about Yu
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Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 13, 2019, 12:03 PM
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Commentary: The truth about Yu

My fellow writer here at CubsHQ.com, Ken Allison, is really struggling to keep his sanity every time Yu Darvish climbs the hill for a start with the Cubs. He’s not alone as social media is exploding with anti Yu rants and anguish. Full Story »


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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 13, 2019, 11:46 PM
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Was Yu supposed to be planned replacement for Arrieta ?

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 7:55 AM
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Not really, NortyBEAR. Teams don't look at it like fans do. Team Theo wasn't sitting in his office with a big board and moving names around thinking this guy replaces that guy.

What they do is determine a need and then look for the best player available to fill that need. They felt they needed a big power pitching right hander and Darvish was available so they went after him.

Fans have turned it into an Arrieta for Darvish issue. For my money, Arrieta was ready to be let loose by the Cubs and I don't miss him one bit. He was becoming unreliable and not going to be worth the big money he was asking.

Message was edited by: chi2pd®


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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 9:03 AM
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Good article, Dan. I certainly hope to get a little more than that out of him, now that he's healthy, but it is what it is, I suppose. Question- If you had a choice, would you rather see Darvish or Chatwood in that rotation spot?

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 2:22 PM
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If i can put my thoughts in, Darvish is looking like Chatwood from last season. The issue with tyler was a mechanical flaw that he appears to have ironed out. Darvish thinks too much on the mound. Instead of going out there and trusting his stuff, he worries about making the perfect pitch which is more often than not harmful than beneficial. His stuff is amazing and nasty when he worries less about outside stuff an just throws the baseball. For what we are paying Darvish, I want him in the rotation over Chatwood or anyone. What I am not opposed for, is piggy backing Darvish during his starts. Put him on a five inning limit to see if he can regain his confidence and then bring in Monty or Chatty for three or four innings out of the pen. It worked thursday against the Marlins and I think the Cubs could benefit from that.

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 8:16 PM
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A good friend of mine back in Chicago has a connection with someone in the Cubs front office and called me yesterday after my story came out to share this nugget.

The Cubs are getting increasingly frustrated with Darvish because he refuses to listen to anyone coaching him. All he wants to do is strike guys out and he won't even consider letting opponents hit it to one of his position players. He doesn't trust them to catch it so he only wants a strikeout.

If this is true, and I have little reason to doubt this source, then he is even more messed up than we all thought.

To answer Ken, your choice is like asking if I would prefer to have my eyes scratched out or stabbed repeatedly. However, if I have to pick one guy today I would stay with Darvish for now.

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 11:00 PM
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Interesting answer, Dan. I've compared them stat for stat, and Chatwood has proven himself to be superior this season. He's only being held back by a manager who refuses to let him shine unless it's convenient.


https://www.cubshq.com/story/Cubs-by-the-Numbers-Bryzzo-rated-No-1-and-No-2-hitters-Lesters-still-the-man-more-15280

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 15, 2019, 1:30 PM [ in reply to Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu ]
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@chi2pd® Thank you for sharing that story and your "inside source" commentary, that is incredibly revealing and disheartening to hear. My sincerest hope was what I believe a previous member had posted in that his issues were all mental and it was a matter of him "battling himself" and just getting out of his head. While this can be frustrating, we have seen it happen in many players and have seen them eventually succeed and it's a glorious sight and suddenly everything clicks and all the frustrations seem to go away.

However, based on your comments and your inside source, it seems that the problem is MUCH worse...it is EGO and not being a member of the team. Which as we know from sports history in general, any player in a team sport that plays using ego and the attitude of "I have to do it ALL" as their strategy is dangerous. They are NOT winners, they are toxic in the locker room and on the field, court, stadium, etc. The fans begin to turn on them and it becomes a poison. I am really bummed to hear about this as this is NOT the Culture that the Cubs have created under the leadership of Theo, Jed, and Joe.

As a matter of fact, it has been VERY apparent and exciting to see that there has been an obvious focus on being a "team!" You win as a team, you lose as a team, when things are clicking it is as a team, when things need to be addressed it is as a team. I have loved this approach and this focus and it has undoubtedly worked and we have seen every player embrace it and live it and it has made it exciting to watch as a fan and has been good for the sport as well. So, I hope Yu will see a Sports Psychologist or perhaps they can have a team meeting and be able to make him realize that he will never succeed if he doesn't have TRUST and that it goes both ways. Thanks again for sharing that and GO CUBS!

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 15, 2019, 8:00 PM
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Thanks LShaw for taking the time to read our site.

My key takeaway is that, like a lot of pro athletes, he is afraid to make a change to something that got him to the big leagues to begin with. I've not heard anything about not being a good teammate, or being selfish. Cole Hamels has always spoken highly of him as an example.

I would look at this as more of being hard headed than an ego issue. What I do know is that whatever is the issue will eventually see the light of day because they always do.

Come back and visit us often.

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 16, 2019, 11:57 AM [ in reply to Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu ]
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Thanks for the comments LShaw. I just wrote a commentary about this thing with the desire to win by himself (focusing on strikeouts). Pretty interesting stuff came out of my research- it should post later today. Take a look and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks again for stopping by and contributing- come back often.
-Ken

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Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu


May 14, 2019, 12:51 PM [ in reply to Re: Commentary: The truth about Yu ]
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Thanks for the explanation, @chi2pd

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