Power Pros Forum

Spring Training (the bane of the log's existence):

Game 1: 3 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 6 strikeouts

Game 2: 3 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts

Game 3: 3 innings pitched, 5 hits, 3 runs, 4 strikeouts (Prince Fielder is ridiculous, he can crush any pitch 500 feet)

Game 4: 3 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 strikeout

---

Abilities after Spring Training:

105 Top Speed
B 159 Control
A 174 Stamina
Level 3 Sinking Fastball
Level 6 Sinker
Level 2 Changeup
Level 3 Knuckle-Curveball
W/RISP 4
VS LH Batter 4
Poise 2
Spin 4
Relese 2
Recovery 4
Safe Pitch
Good Deliver
Battler

Title: Triple Crown

---

Apparently the team's aim is now to have a powerful offense. You would kind of wonder why they'd spend 30 million on a starting pitcher with a goal like that, but that would be too logical.

The manager talked about me being a part of a young team or something, but I doubt he had any idea what he was talking about, I'm probably one of the younger players on the team. I checked our order in one of the Spring Training games, in spots 1-7 of our batting order, all of the players had at least 14 years of major league experience, 6 of them had over 15 years of experience, and two of them even had over 20 years of experience. The age of the team is a big part of why I decided I didn't even want a long term contract, I mean, who knows how many of these guys will even be alive in 5 years?

The coach told me early in Spring Training that I wouldn't be able to improve my breaking pitches any more, I have no idea how he figured that out, but it turned out he was right, this saddened me greatly. I mean, after winning Pitcher of the Year the last... How many years? 4, maybe? I probably don't need to improve a lot more to be successful, but none of my pitches are really legendary, and not being able to improve any further makes me wonder how much longer I have before I start getting worse...

i would practice on increasing that Change up.

...Did you even read the post??

oh i read the post, its just that i dont listen to the coach untill my BBPitches are max.

All I have left to work on now is stamina.

The humor in this log... it is *(censored)* fantastic.

Thanks, I try. Perhaps too hard sometimes, but if it's working, no point in changing my writing style at all.

---

End of April stats: 2.11 ERA, 4-0 record
Chicago Cubs record: 16-12, 3 games behind

What a way to start the season, opening day, at home, I pitched a no-hitter. According to some sources it was a perfect game, but my stats clearly showed I had 2 walks in that one game played, so it couldn't have been. Still though, that's the first no-hitter of my career, and unless I get a lot of luck again, it could easily be the last as well. I've heard some people pitch their whole career without getting one. Of course, some people play whole careers without winning a World Series, and I'm starting to worry about becoming one of those. If that opening game is any indication, I could be well on my way to a 5th consecutive Pitcher of the Year award.

I didn't even win a Player of the Week award that week I had the no-hitter, and my other start was 7 innings with 2 runs allowed. What do I have to do to win that? Apparently just pitch 1 game is the answer, the following week I pitched 1 game, got a shutout, and took the award.

The Cubs overall had an okay month, considering that after my no-hitter they had a 6 game losing streak to come back from. Next month, I want the team to perform as well as they did this month, but without that losing streak. Then we should probably be good enough to get swept out of the first round of the playoffs again.

End of May stats: 2.22 ERA, 7-1 record, 93 strikeouts
Chicago Cubs record: 33-22, 1 game behind Pirates, leading NL Wild Card

May was a very slow month. I didn't pitch any no-hitters, I didn't cause any pregnancies, I didn't do much specifically, just hung around, reading, playing chess, talking to Ted Lilly to try to gain his trust and steal his secrets. Nothing unusual.

that whole post was funny.

End of June stats: 2.04 ERA, 11-2 record, 151 strikeouts
Chicago Cubs record: 50-32, 4 games ahead of Pirates

A good month for the team gives us a division lead. Somewhat of an uninteresting month for me again, but a good one too. I'm now in the triple crown race for the MLB, leading in wins and strikeouts and tied in ERA with Zach Duke of the Red Sox.

You're tied with/beating Zach Duke in every category?

You are a true legend.

End of July stats: 2.05 ERA, 14-4 record, 209 strikeouts
Chicago Cubs record: 61-45, 1 game behind Pirates, leading NL Wild Card

I won a Pitcher of the Month Award for my performance in June, I guess this is my 9th Player of the Month Award in my career. I'm kind of running out of room for these awards. I think in the offseason I'll have to take on a project to expand my trophy room. I still do owe another 90 million on this house though, so maybe I can just stick some of these in a closet.

This month, I had a bit of an interesting misunderstanding that almost got me into a bit of trouble. My wife, Emma, heard me making dinner plans over the phone with a "Lilly", and confronted me about cheating on her. I had to explain that it was my teammate, Ted Lilly, I was making plans with, as I call everyone else in the league by their last name no matter who they are and how long I've known them. She seemed to reluctantly accept that reason, but still didn't talk to me for the rest of the day. Maybe I should call him for golf next time and hopefully avoid incidents like these altogether.

The Cubs made a blockbuster trade in July, trading away Manny Ramirez to the Rangers for Gallardo. God, this management... Trading away a .324 hitter with 21 home runs for a pitcher who hasn't even pitched this year yet? When you're leading your division and set the team goal for the year as having a powerful offense? And people wonder why we can't win a World Series... Granted, Manny Ramirez is like... 46 years old at this point, but he's still showing no signs of slowing down, so why get rid of him?

I made the All-Star Game as the Starting Pitcher for the NL this year. I almost feel bad for anyone else who might want that chance, as I always take it every year. Ah well, what can you do? It's not like I can legally refuse to go to the All-Star Game or anything. As if the Ramirez trade wasn't bad enough in the first place, he hit a home run against me in the All-Star Game, damn you management. The AL won, but who cares? Manny Ramirez got the MVP for the game, which apparently confused the media into thinking the NL won the game. Morons.

I won a Player of the Week in week 15, along with Alex Rodriguez, so the Cubs took both of them for the NL that week.

The Cubs second blockbuster trade of the month involved trading away some Munro guy I've never heard of for A.Jones, and Matthews Jr. of the Tigers. I don't see any of these players making too much of an impact on either team, I think the media calling it a blockbuster was quite a stretch.

On the last day of the month, the Cubs traded away Beckett with Gettis to the Angels for Lannan, I guess Beckett kind of sucks now, so that's not too bad of a trade.

The Cubs finished off the month on a 5 game losing streak, losing 7 of their last 8 to surrender the division lead. I did pretty well in the month though, as I now lead all MLB pitchers in every Triple Crown category, yet again.

Another great update.

End of August stats: 2.30 ERA, 15-7 record, 255 strikeouts
Chicago Cubs record: 73-61, 4 games behind Pirates, 3 games behind in NL Wild Card

I didn't win the Pitcher of the Month for July? Okay, whatever, that's fine, but the way it was awarded made no sense. Nathan got the Pitcher of the Month Award, with 7 saves and a 2.31 ERA, with stats like those, it's safe to assume he's a relief pitcher, but the Relief Pitcher of the Month Award went to nobody... What the hell is up with that? Good God the people who handle these awards need to get off whatever drugs they're on, or maybe double the dosage, depending on what they do and why they're taking them.

The Cubs had an abysmal month of August, I couldn't even get a win with this lack of support until the 28th of the month, and the team is no longer in a playoff position and has to try to catch up in September, with no major roster changes possible. The team will need to pick up their play, especially their offensive play in games I'm pitching. I hate when we lose 9-8 in a game someone else is pitching, and then go and lose 1-0 when I get the start.

I'm no longer in contention for the Triple Crown, but I'm still blowing the rest of the league away in strikeout numbers.

I think this is how Jeff Samardzija feels