Past, Meet Future
Yes, the Cubs lost again, to the Padres 4-3 in 14 innings today, and yet another pitching meltdown from Will Ohman was the cause (and I won't blame Jacque Jones for letting the ball get by him, because the run was going to score anyway on the hit).
But years from now -- maybe when Felix Pie is finishing up a stellar career, hopefully all in a Cubs uniform, what I'll remember, and what I hope you will remember, from this sunny, windy and chilly afternoon at Wrigley Field, is the throw he made to gun down Russell Branyan at the plate in the 10th inning, preserving the tie so the game could continue for another four eventually unsatisfying innings.
Pie's throw was accurate, strong, and just about perfect. I don't think this is being too hyperbolic to say that I haven't seen a throw like that, at least not at Wrigley Field, in many, many years. Maybe, among current players, Ichiro Suzuki or Vladimir Guerrero could make a throw like that and make it count.
But a Cub? And a rookie playing his first major league game? That's truly special. Yes, the Cubs lost, and yes, at times they looked pretty bad today (they had only two hits after the fifth inning, and after not striking out for the first 10 innings, they K'd 8 times in the last four), but I know I can tell people I was there when Pie made the first of what may be many great defensive plays.
And further, no matter what he does in his career, he can always say that he got his first major league hit -- a ringing double off the left-center field wall in the fifth inning -- off a Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux, the future of the Cubs facing one of the all-time greats who once graced our team.
Neither Maddux nor Cub starter Wade Miller was very good today, though Maddux managed to get through four decent innings before Pie and the Cubs roughed him up in the 5th to tie the game. Miller had nothing from the get-go and was lucky to leave the game with a no-decision. In the third inning, after he'd walked the bases loaded, Lou Piniella came out to talk to him -- with no one warming up in the bullpen. I can only imagine the expletives that were spoken -- but they worked, because after that Miller settled down, and the only reason he had to be lifted was that he had thrown an ugly total of 98 pitches (only a little more than half, 54, for strikes) in his five innings, and the highest reading I saw on the scoreboard for him was 89 MPH.
This is the reason I think it's a good thing that the Cubs sent Angel Guzman to Iowa -- Guzman can now start every fifth day and ought to be on the fast track to return to the Cubs as the replacement for Miller, who just doesn't seem to have much.
To be fair to Miller, he had thrown exactly once in the last 19 days, on April 8 in Milwaukee. His last outing before then was March 29, the last spring training game in Mesa. There's no way any starting pitcher can get any sort of rhythm going pitching that infrequently. I assume Miller will get at least two more chances, on regular rest, before any decision will be made.
A decision will have to be made about Pie sooner than that -- as of now, Alfonso Soriano's injury will have him out for about a week. After that, will Pie be sent back to Iowa? Or will there be movement elsewhere in the outfield, a trade, perhaps, leaving room for Pie in CF and Soriano in one of the corner spots? This all remains to be seen.
Kudos today to the Cub bullpen -- well, except Ohman, of course -- who kept the Padres scoreless for eleven innings, allowing in that time, eight hits and four walks. The Padres stranded seventeen baserunners in the 14 innings, and Pie's great throw wasn't the only good defensive play by the Cubs; in the sixth, Neal Cotts pounced on a bunt and threw out the lead runner at third; there was a nifty double play that followed. And in the 12th, Mark DeRosa, who had come into the game in one of Lou's double-switches, speared a line drive off the bat of Marcus Giles, saving the tie for yet again another Cub opportunity.
It would have been interesting had the club been able to tie the game in the last of the 14th, because Lou had pinch-run for Daryle Ward (who had popped a ball into CF that the wind blew in too far for Mike Cameron to catch) at second base with Jason Marquis. Marquis was the 22nd Cub to appear in today's game -- only starters Carlos Zambrano, Rich Hill and Ted Lilly didn't appear -- and had the Cubs tied the game, Marquis would likely have gone to the outfield, with either DeRosa or Ryan Theriot moving to first base.
It sprinkled for a short time at the beginning of the game, but then the sun reappeared, making it tolerably warm in the left field corner -- that is, until the sun dipped behind the corner of the upper deck. Jeff, Howard and I started migrating toward center field and the sun at that time, finally winding up near the concession stand with some of the other season ticket holders and regulars. Of the 36,021 who paid today, maybe 20,000-22,000 of them actually entered the ballpark and there couldn't have been more than 3,000 or so left when the game ended at 5:40 pm. Those in the shade looked horribly cold; the usual lower-deck migration toward the RF corner, where the sun shines late in the day, collected most of the remains of the crowd, as well as the very first row of the upper deck in right field, creating a funny scene -- one row filled in the sun, the rest of that side of the upper deck completely empty.
I met BCB reader TheBeerBaron and two of his friends today. I gave him the tickets outside the park and told him where to find me and to pay me inside. He didn't show up, so I figured he decided to sit elsewhere. About the sixth inning I spotted him sitting about six rows in front of us, so I called him. When he asked where I was, I said, "Turn around." We had a nice talk -- nice to meet you!
While this loss is horrendously frustrating, I wouldn't say by any means that it indicates anything except one more number added to the "L" column (speaking of which, I taught my daughter Rachel something today -- I had to pick her up at her tutor's after the game, and driving past the park, she asked who won. So I explained what the "L" flag on the scoreboard meant -- and even a 14-year-old teenage girl thought that was cool). The bullpen did an excellent job, except for Ohman, and I think the Cubs have to seriously think about doing something with him, because he's been absolutely awful all year. Jacque Jones seems fine in LF -- again, I do NOT blame him for the 14th-inning run, because that run would have scored anyway on Geoff Blum's hit (seems like that guy does nothing except get game-winning hits in the 14th inning), and Aramis Ramirez is clearly fine, hitting a triple in the first inning and playing good defense. So I'll settle for a split with a very good San Diego team; on to this little orphan two-game road trip, and then what may be a defining homestand with the Cardinals and Brewers.
And always remember, even if you just saw it on TV, or even followed it on Gameday, that you bore witness to the birth of what may be, what we hope will be, an excellent major league career. Chants of "Felix! Felix! Felix!" were heard today in the bleachers. It won't be the last time.
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Comments
We could hear
Tomorrow is a new day.
by sue369 on Apr 17, 2007 7:43 PM CDT 0 recs
That throw was amazing
by LilLPLancer23 on
Apr 17, 2007 8:01 PM CDT
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Is there a cooler name in baseball than Felix Pie?
--CoCo Crisp
--Prince Fielder (The Prince)
--A.J. Pierzynski...JUST KIDDING!!
Dan
by dtpollitt on Apr 17, 2007 7:49 PM CDT 0 recs
Just waiting...
Cherry, p
Pie, ph
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 7:50 PM CDT
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I remember that comment from spring training...
Dan
by dtpollitt on
Apr 17, 2007 7:57 PM CDT
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LOL
by riggs on
Apr 17, 2007 7:59 PM CDT
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A.J.
by LilLPLancer23 on
Apr 17, 2007 8:00 PM CDT
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Rocky Cherry
by sanantonecub on
Apr 17, 2007 8:03 PM CDT
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Let me be the first to say
by kerrysotherwife on
Apr 18, 2007 12:51 AM CDT
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Pie
by riggs on Apr 17, 2007 7:50 PM CDT 0 recs
Good recap, Al..
So does this end the Wade Miller experiment? I know the Cubs haven't dumped a huge amount of money into him, but you have to think that he just simply cannot compete on the MLB level. If he can only be counted on for 5 innings of 4 BB pitching then he will be giving up far more than 3ER most days.
Onward to Atlanta. I'll be there June 9th/10th.
by Will23 on Apr 17, 2007 7:57 PM CDT 0 recs
I don't think it is worthwhile to give up on him..
Dan
by dtpollitt on
Apr 17, 2007 7:59 PM CDT
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Ohman the cause?
by Jeff Pico on Apr 17, 2007 7:57 PM CDT 0 recs
The Padres
by Kornchex on
Apr 18, 2007 10:37 AM CDT
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Jones will never survive
by lemon17pie on Apr 17, 2007 8:11 PM CDT 0 recs
Nice recap Al..
by Damen Jackson on Apr 17, 2007 8:13 PM CDT 0 recs
What sort of photos?
If there's anyone out there at the game who has photos and wants to email them to me to post, I'll be happy to, and give you credit.
What I won't do is post photos from other sites that are copyrighted. At SBNation we try to take other sites' copyrights seriously so they will respect ours.
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:16 PM CDT
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No, no..
by Damen Jackson on
Apr 17, 2007 8:19 PM CDT
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I may...
But you're right, I could get some nice shots from LF. Will try to do this as the season goes along.
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:26 PM CDT
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Al, not sure you can post game photos...
Remember what Steve Stone said every telecast:
"Any rebroadcast, reproduction, or other use of pictures, discriptions or accounts of this game without the express written consent of Major League Baseball is prohibited."
by Jeff Pico on
Apr 17, 2007 8:27 PM CDT
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Game recaps
However, as a freelance writer, editor and photographer myself, I can go out to Wrigley, write my own account of the game, take my own photos (ballplayers, like politicians, are public figures so you do not need express written consent, trust me I know this fine line intimately) and post them online or in print form in my own publication. I just cannot steal from WGN, Comcast, etc. How do you think the Trib and Sun-Times can get away with their accounts?
Do people do it? Sure? How many of you have on VHS the first NOT night game at Wrigley and then the real first game?
by No Southern Belle on
Apr 17, 2007 9:26 PM CDT
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Not True
That's not true. The Supreme Court ruled that time-shifting is legal in the early 80's. You cannot however redistribute that recording in any form to a 3rd party.
by jolietconvict on
Apr 17, 2007 11:25 PM CDT
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You can tape games
You can record games keep them tear up the tape and make wallpaper with it but you can't sell them.
by kerrysotherwife on
Apr 17, 2007 11:39 PM CDT
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Hmmm...
Well, that must mean there are thousands of sites out there with little respect.
by nextyearcub on
Apr 18, 2007 1:07 PM CDT
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OHMAN! BS
- 0 runs in nine innings is not acceptable with a good offense
- If Jacque had played the ball right of the bat and threw it in on one bounce he would have probably gotten the runner.
by roach on Apr 17, 2007 8:19 PM CDT 0 recs
Again...
Jones can handle left field. That inning was squarely Ohman's fault.
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:28 PM CDT
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Sorry Al, but.....
by No Southern Belle on
Apr 17, 2007 9:42 PM CDT
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Sorry
by eamuscatuli1881 on
Apr 18, 2007 6:52 AM CDT
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Theriot
by Imtrejo on
Apr 17, 2007 10:32 PM CDT
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Bingo
by eamuscatuli1881 on
Apr 18, 2007 6:53 AM CDT
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There are some here
by kerrysotherwife on
Apr 18, 2007 10:37 AM CDT
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And yet
When you have to switch sides in the outfield because your arm is a total joke, there's a problem. When you take the position of someone who can actually produce offensively, there's a problem.
by Kornchex on
Apr 18, 2007 10:41 AM CDT
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Come on Al...
Ohman would have been out of that inning if it was not for Theriot.
by big_lowitzki on
Apr 17, 2007 10:42 PM CDT
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That's a good point.
by Al on
Apr 18, 2007 3:50 AM CDT
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Ohman and the Double to RF
Also, the pitch that Greene pounded to RF for a double was actually a pretty good pitch by Ohman. It was low and out of the strike zone. Greene just got the bat head on it. Just a bad break for Ohman there in my opinion.
by BJ Simpson on
Apr 18, 2007 6:08 PM CDT
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I know, it's April
by lilkimmer77 on Apr 17, 2007 8:34 PM CDT 0 recs
Well, I'd like to make a personal plea...
Personally I think Ohman is officially in Lou's doghouse, but I don't see him going anywhere.
by Damen Jackson on
Apr 17, 2007 8:39 PM CDT
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Forget the top of the lineup..
Izturis, E-Ron, Barrett and Blanco need to contribute more offensively if this team is going to score runs more consistently.
by Will23 on
Apr 17, 2007 8:59 PM CDT
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barrett is hitting the ball hard
by buckmulligan on
Apr 17, 2007 9:12 PM CDT
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Pie>Jones
by CubsBall2202 on Apr 17, 2007 8:40 PM CDT 0 recs
I disagree about Jones.
I disagree further that he should just be dumped for anything they can get. Yes, it appears Felix Pie is the real thing, but let's wait more than one day before we anoint him the savior of this franchise.
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:47 PM CDT
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Besides...
by Damen Jackson on
Apr 17, 2007 8:51 PM CDT
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Except...
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:57 PM CDT
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I'm not wishing it...
As for Floyd, I wouldn't have believed someone would let Murton play in right. Until Lou did, that is. So, IF Pie sticks (after next week I don't think we see him again till fall), I'd expect Murton would be traded ahead of Jacque.
by Damen Jackson on
Apr 17, 2007 9:55 PM CDT
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Seems to me
by tharr on
Apr 18, 2007 2:38 AM CDT
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Pie in, Ward out
We'd be very deep and very good on the bench.
All Ward is, is Floyd without the (sigh) range.
by WittyUserName on
Apr 18, 2007 10:13 AM CDT
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Ward is
by tharr on
Apr 18, 2007 6:45 PM CDT
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I should have restated the "trade him for ...
by CubsBall2202 on Apr 17, 2007 8:53 PM CDT 0 recs
Jones....
I'm happy with keeping him if he produces. I'm happy with trading him if it improves the team.
by Al on
Apr 17, 2007 8:57 PM CDT
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Second that.
We're in April here, and it's going to take 'til the middle of summer before any significant kind of trade will happen.....or before we know how this team and it's individual members are going to perform for the long haul.
by southerncubbie on
Apr 17, 2007 9:11 PM CDT
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"The fans ...
Cubsball--it appears you are the example of that fan. Jones couldn't sneeze in the outfield without your disapproval! Why is that? Why?
Granted, though I thought Jacque looked uncomfortable today--and I have no idea why he and Murton were playing opposite fields--he shouldn't just be shipped off for no return. Give the guy a chance, even if it is to be nothing more than trade bait.
Thanks for making Jones' stay here a little more profitable.
LRRF
by Littlerock Rynofan on
Apr 17, 2007 9:29 PM CDT
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I think its pretty clear
by CubsBall2202 on
Apr 17, 2007 9:41 PM CDT
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Last year was last year.
by Littlerock Rynofan on
Apr 17, 2007 10:21 PM CDT
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Ohman
by Purddog76 on Apr 17, 2007 9:12 PM CDT 0 recs
ohman's gonna have to be fired.
by buckmulligan on
Apr 17, 2007 9:13 PM CDT
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ummm...
by cubsluver22 on Apr 17, 2007 9:18 PM CDT 0 recs
At least...
by Brave Sir Robin on Apr 17, 2007 9:23 PM CDT 0 recs
Pie's throw was beautiful.
I love Pie, so I'm thrilled he's here. I'm even more thrilled because I might get to see him play live. The Cubs lost, but I really don't feel unhappy. I have also discovered that I love extra innings games.
by sparkles721 on Apr 17, 2007 9:32 PM CDT 0 recs
pie and guzman...
by iCub on Apr 17, 2007 9:45 PM CDT 0 recs
Swagger
Lou made a comment this spring something along the lines of there are 50 games you are going to loose and 50 games you are going to win throughout the course of the year, the season boils down to how you play in the other 62...so far we have not won any of those pivotal games.
by NashvilleBlue on Apr 17, 2007 9:50 PM CDT 0 recs
I had to laugh
by kerrysotherwife on Apr 17, 2007 11:05 PM CDT 0 recs
Great recap.
by deadcatbounce on Apr 18, 2007 12:01 AM CDT 0 recs
Pie is the Real Deal
by TheRamZamDLEE on Apr 18, 2007 12:05 AM CDT 0 recs
Look at his minor league stats from last year
He wasn't ready yet. He turned a corner this winter and is ready now.
by Wreckard on
Apr 18, 2007 1:48 PM CDT
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Corner
by frustratedfan on
Apr 18, 2007 1:57 PM CDT
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Totally agreed
by danimal15 on
Apr 18, 2007 2:35 PM CDT
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Nice recap, Al...
Incidentally, was Dunston ever tried as a pitcher and clocked on the gun?
I did not expect Pie to be called up but maybe the think is that if Soriano needs only a few days off then there is no expectation going in to it that Pie will remain right now (all else held constant)?
I was critical of Jones in 2 earlier posts but I don't fault him here. Before Pie's arrival he was our best defensive OF and even as the best he still has a poor arm so I don't expect him to be gunning guys down. The injury to Soriano could make it very easy for Lou to reinstate him as LF of Cubs when healthy and move Jones to CF.
The Derosa stab was outstanding as well, some excellent defense by the Cubs today.
Too early to give up on Miller, but it would be better if he had an outing where his velocity broke the 90 mph barrier. I think he deserves several more starts, but if his velocity starts dropping now and his walks increase then it's probably a sign of bad things to come for him in 2007 and he won't be given half a season with the MLB club to get it together.
by DudeVf11 on Apr 18, 2007 12:06 AM CDT 0 recs
This move....
by louslovechild on Apr 18, 2007 12:07 AM CDT 0 recs
Yeah, great throw like everyone is saying
by lilkimmer77 on Apr 18, 2007 1:09 AM CDT 0 recs
I apologize
A, I can't sleep (I know, get a life right).
B, I don't even wanna look at a major league scoreboard.
C, I'm not participating in fantasy baseball until things turn around.
And D....not even sure I ever had a D, may have forgotten it.
Anyways, time to look at things with a respectable perspective. Yes, right now we suck, and I am defining suck as we're losing a lot more games then we are winning. And last place sucks too. But it's early. Not too early to make some roster moves, but too early to tank on the season, which I really really really wanna do when I see the Cubbies play, at times, horrible and ugly ball.
I also don't wanna go through the season just watching AWESOME plays from a bad team. I'd rather see absolutely nothing flashy (no ropes to home like our "dessert treat" or moon shots by our home-grown big-man). Yeah, that's right, I'd be happy if no one hit a home-run from here on out as long as good baseball is played at the right times. Because with the individual talent this team has, that would be enough to win 85-95 games, on talent alone. But instead we see Aramis swing at a face high fastball to K or Murt jump on a first pitch at the letters. I'm ranting and I don't even remember where I was going with this. But anyways, I think what I'm trying to say is that I'm sick of being happy with what has been going on. I personally can't read about how great Pie was today because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, if we don't win. Pie could have a hall of fame career, I'm talking 500-500, 5-tools, pitch like Babe Ruth, whatever. Obviously I would appreciate the beauty of something like his grace in the field or sweet sweet lefty swing or his absolute WMD throwing cannon of an arm, BUT, if he can't lead me to the promised land, I'll trade him right now for Corey Patterson if he's gonna get the job done. Now I fully realize that on any other given day, derosa ends it walk off style with his shot to left, or it doesn't even get into extras, whatever. I guess my frustration is stemming from the fact that I legitimately think that we should have 8 wins right now. And to those who are thinking this, yes, I know it's April, but does anyone else think we need to have a good end of the month? That is all, sorry for the random and probably frustrating to read post.
by lilkimmer77 on
Apr 18, 2007 1:43 AM CDT
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