Bleed Cubbie Blue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: RSL Soapbox for Real Salt Lake Fans!

Grrrrrrrrrrr....

PHOENIX, Arizona -- Oh, I was SO proud of myself.

Arriving early at the BOB, avoiding most of the traffic, I found a place to park about five blocks from the stadium -- free, on the street.

This would have been great, except after the game, I took the wrong exit out of the park and wound up taking about a ten-block tour of Phoenix' finest rail yards. I had to double back, actually go back into the BOB and back out the right exit to get to my car.

I know you don't feel sorry for me, but this is just about how the Cubs must have felt tonight in a maddeningly frustrating 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks, evening the series and season record at one win and one loss.

Tonight's crowd was smaller and far more easygoing than the frenetic activity of Opening Day. I checked out some of the newer food stands; they have opened one called "Ribbies" -- rather obvious play on words, serving barbecue-style stuff, and I had a "Pulled Chicken" sandwich that was actually pretty good, though pricey at $6.50.

The two letter I's in the following photo are supposed to, I guess, represent ribs. I leave it to you, dear reader, to decide for yourself what they may look like:



As usual, click on photo to open full-size in a new browser window

Finally settled in along with my friend John who lives here, and his teenage son Josh who spent most of the game text messaging (never could figure out the attraction of that), on to the ballgame.

Greg Maddux ... well, he made two mistakes, both to Luis Gonzalez, and Luis hit both of them to almost the same spot in dead right field, the first a two-run homer, the second a solo job. This is something that Maddux did with disturbing regularity last year, allowing a career-high 35 homers, and I hope this doesn't continue that trend.

Sandwiched in between Gonzo's homers was a three-run shot by Todd Hollandsworth that bounced off the top of the wall and into the swimming pool in right center.

On Gonzo's second homer, Jeromy Burnitz tried to leap over the wall and grab it, just barely missing. Think our last right fielder would have even attempted that?

The eventual winning run scored after a questionable umpiring call at 2B in the bottom of the fifth. With one on and none out, D'backs catcher Chris Snyder grounded up the middle. Rather than just throw him out at first, Nomar decided to try to tag the runner, Chad Tracy, coming from first. From my vantage point (and that of several thousand other blue-clad Cub fans down the RF line) Tracy looked out, but 2B umpire Dan Iassogna called him safe. Two more singles followed, including one from pitcher Russ Ortiz (who, with a .206 lifetime average coming into 2005, is a pretty good hitter), and the D'backs had a 5-3 lead.

The Cubs had the tying run in scoring position in the 8th with nobody out and the middle of the lineup up -- and nothing doing. Aramis Ramirez struck out in the middle of this sequence, and I know how many of you hate the strikeouts, and so do I, but Ramirez didn't get cheated, worked the count, and it was just a matter of this time, the pitcher won the battle.

In the 9th, after Derrek Lee (who was identified on the stat part of the scoreboard correctly, but right next to that was a big picture of him labeled "DEREK LEE") daringly stole second with two out, Dusty chose Neifi Perez to bat for the pitcher.

You can rail about this all you want, but what choice did he have, really? With only five bench players, and Jose Macias having already pinch-hit (he popped up weakly), you're not going to run your backup catcher out there. I guess it was the "platoon" differential, as the other choices -- Jason Dubois and Jerry Hairston -- both hit righthanded and Perez doesn't.

Actually, Neifi didn't have a bad at-bat, and nearly stretched out his legs enough to beat out a deep grounder to short, but alas, not enough, the game ended.

Good things today: the bullpen was excellent, throwing three innings of one-hit, four-strikeout relief, and that included Chad Fox, who couldn't have found the strike zone with a halogen beam during spring training. Michael Wuertz threw hard and threw strikes and I still think Dusty ought to consider at least trying him in the closer role.

Bad things today: After a very nice day at the plate yesterday, Corey Patterson led off the game with a four-pitch (one foul) strikeout. Nomar went 0-for-4 with two weak little popups to second, though one of the outs was an RBI groundout in the 8th.

The Diamondbacks announce the "total" attendance, not the paid crowd, and the stadium crowd was announced at 31,370, of which 30,260 were paid admissions. At least half were clad in Cubbie Blue, and we were way louder than the D'backs fans... well, except when Gonzo hit the homers. When he came up the third time, with two out, a runner on third and two runs already plated in the fifth, Maddux ran the count to 3-0 and then intentionally walked him, a smart move, I thought.

It was Maddux' only base on balls of the night. His six strikeouts brought his career total to 2922, seventy-eight short of the milestone number of 3000.

Sight seen: a very large man sat down two rows in front of me bearing a strong resemblance to Carlos Zambrano. I knew it couldn't be Z, though -- the guy sat quietly for the entire game.

Couldn't resist. We'll get 'em tomorrow.

Oh, and Chuck? Mark Prior will start Iowa's opener at Albuquerque on Thursday, throwing about 80 pitches, and remains on target to pitch against the Padres next Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

0 recs  |  Comment 16 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Baker had 2 other choices in the 9th...
Hairston and Dubois. If you want, eliminate Dubois because he's better against lefties than he is against righties, and because you don't want the rookie thrust into a high pressure situation this early in the season (i'm reaching here). However, Hairston hits better against righties than lefties and he's better against righties than Neifi is. And (i think) he's faster than Neifi. I'm a Dusty supporter, but i thought putting Neifi in there was a huge mistake. If we're going to throw Macias and Perez up against every righty this year just for the L/R matchup, then we can expect to have little to no production from our bench, given that both of those guys are horrible at the plate and that most pitchers are right-handed.

I'm a Dusty supporter, but there was no reason to bat Neifi at the end of the game, other than a gut feeling on Baker's part. Lets just hope we sign Ben Grieve and call him up.

The Cubs will shine in twenty-oh-five!

by shawndgoldman on Apr 6, 2005 1:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Points well taken.
FWIW, Grieve has in fact been signed and will play at Iowa.

Perez, for his part, had a pretty good at-bat and nearly beat out a hit.

But you're right, there were other choices and there would have been even more if the club didn't insist on carrying 12 pitchers.

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

after a good night's sleep
I've found reason to trust Dusty's decision. Lyon's splits against lefties are absolutely awful, so Dusty could have been playing against those numbers instead of for Neifi's.
The Cubs will shine in twenty-oh-five!

by shawndgoldman on Apr 6, 2005 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

your food pic reminds me...
The Cubs are getting new catering at Wrigley this year. Its supposed to be the same group that caters The Cell, which is known for its good food. Something to look forward to if i ever get back to Chicago for a home game this summer.
The Cubs will shine in twenty-oh-five!

by shawndgoldman on Apr 6, 2005 1:54 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Rumor has it...
and I am attempting to confirm this... that the new Wrigley concessionaire is going to try to ban all outside food at the Yard.

If this is true, two things are going to happen.

One: I will boycott buying any food at Wrigley Field until they change this policy, and

Two: I will write about this as often as possible here.

Doing something like this, given the very high cost of going to a ballgame in the first place, is almost unconscionable.

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 1:58 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

What about bottled water?
I remember last year's mothers day game. There were several rain delays, it went into extra innings, and was ultimately won by Corey Patterson in the 13th. Fortunately, I brought in two bottles of water, instead of one, as it was very muggy after the rain stopped, and the vendors stopped selling food and drinks after the ninth. I would think if they are not going to allow food or water, then at the very least they need to sell bottled water in extra innings. It would only take one very hot and muggy summer afternoon for someone to get dehydrated and need medical attention.
-- jp

by jdeff on Apr 6, 2005 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also...
there are little kids who can't or won't eat ballpark food, and also people who have medical conditions that require certain types of food... beyond being unconscionable, it's a logistical nightmare.

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What are the current restrictions?
I know at SBC/PacBell they let you bring in a soft bag (no hard sided coolers), with like 16x16x8 dimensions can be brought in, without glass or cans.

by Whitebacon on Apr 6, 2005 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's pretty much...
... the same as Wrigley Field. No food has ever been restricted, except, as you mention, in glass and cans.

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Excellent!
Gotta go shopping when I get home... and find some big enough to hold a Jimmy John's sandwich!

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 10:10 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Darth Ivy Chat
The power to start a game at Iowa is insignificant compared to the power to pitch in Wrigley Field.
[HISS]

by Ivychat on Apr 6, 2005 12:06 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well, of course it is.
But he's still on target to pitch 4/12.

Also, tomorrow's game is at Albuquerque, not Iowa.

by Al on Apr 6, 2005 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Darth Ivy Chat
More likely he's pitching on Alderaan.

by Ivychat on Apr 6, 2005 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maddux early season problems
I think it comes down to him missing his spots over the meat of the plate. What Maddux has been deft at is enticing good hitters to believe that Maddux has made a mistake and then the ball dances out of the hitting zone where they hit it meekly at a defender.

With Gonzo he laid it right in there and wham it was out of there.

The problem is that Maddux at this stage of his career is a great pitcher when lined up against a team's 4th or 5th starter but against a top of the staff pitcher like Ortiz he might not be there. This was my worry as Wood and Prior were moved down in the cycle.

by BobsConsulo on Apr 6, 2005 12:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I was there as well
Is there a better watering hole around the BOB than "Sliders"?

by AlabamaCubFan on Apr 7, 2005 10:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Chicago Cubs blog for the SB Nation, created on February 9, 2005 by Al Yellon
Start posting about the Cubs »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Sb_small
Ask BCB - Wacky Trade Proposals
Bucky_small
OT: Annual Thanksgiving  Thread
Small
Reversal of opinion...Bradley will not be moved
Yelloncard_small
Baseball Picture Puzzles Overflow 1
Derrick_rose_poster_by_rokasm_small
You know you want him, Get it done Jim!

Recent FanPosts

Small
Time to get yelled at...
Cubs_small
Cubs HR Over/Under
Cubs_ying_yang_small
OT Aged Stadiums
Small
Here's a thought
Jake_fox_small
25th Annual Cubs Convention
Dscn2381_small
Cubs 2010 2B and "the L word"
Cubswin712_small
Is there anyway we trade some of our high-priced players?
Yelloncard_small
Milton Bradley Named NL "LVP" By Joe Posnanski

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

Would you blow up the farm system for Halladay?
FanGraphs calls Grabow a "waste of cash."
Fangraphs hasn't given up on Geo, should you?
Baseball America's Top 10 Cubs Prospects
An animated tribute to the no-hitter that Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw on June 12, 1970. Simply...

Recent FanShots

Keith Moreland On How The Cubs Can Win It All
Marlins Considering Moving June Series Vs. Mets To Puerto Rico
Mike Kiley insults Wrigley and Cubs fans
Muskat on Fuld : even DUMBER than usual
Free Agency Blunders
"I Want Mark DeRosa"
White Sox Sign Vizquel To One-Year Deal
Cubs' next major hire: marketing guru
Zambrano attends Bears game
Cubs install sign boards in bleachers to block Horseshoe Casino (Budweiser) building...

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

It Is Only...

Cubs By The Numbers

Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.

Click here to order your copy, available now!

SPONSORS

Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges

Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: Cubs Convention 2010
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: General 2009 Ticket Exchange
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: September 29-October 4 Homestand

Managing Editor

Yelloncard_small Al

Editorial Cartoonist

Toonmike_small toonmike

Contributors

Dsc_0139_small holy mackerel

100px-boisehawkscaplogo_small Josh77

Small shawndgoldman