The Monday Funnies

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 8:13 AM CDT in Cartoons

For the first time in three years, we as Cubs fans find ourselves in serious playoff contention.

Do you know how to deal with it? Mike has some ideas.

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Here's what I think

the Cubs are in a position to take the lead by September 1. I'm pretty optimistic after the last month. The Brewers have 13 home games and 23 road games until September 1. In August the Cubs play 16 of 29 at home with fifteen games against opponents that have below .500 records. Of course we have 3 against the Brewers at the end of August, at home. While the Brewcrew does not play well on the road, their NL leading home record is not where we will make up ground against them. I can envision if the current state of Brewers winning at home/losing on the road continues, they will go something close to .500 in 36 games while the Cubs need to go at least 22-15 to force a tie going into September. We can do that, with any luck, we'll do more and never look back.

This is Harry Carray, goodbye from Wrigley Field and So Long Everybody.

by mrcubsfan on Jul 23, 2007 9:06 AM CDT 0 recs

Yeah - I'm with you

I think that the Brewers pitching has to give out here in the heat of the race. They'll have a bad streak and stumble a bit. 87 games might win the central.

by Ihatethecards on Jul 23, 2007 9:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think...

... you guys have it scoped out pretty well. This next road trip for both teams (since we are playing the same clubs) ought to give a clue as to what we'll see in August.

And remember, the Cubs are only TWO games out of the wild-card lead this morning.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 9:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

The last weekend of the season . . .

could be VERY interesting, with the current leaders of the NL Central and Wild Card playing each other in a four game series and our Cubbies playing the team that is currently the worst team in the NL.

Go Cubbies!

by NC Cubs Fan on Jul 23, 2007 9:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Don't get too far

One game at a time. Let's beat the Card's.

Hey Chicago, What da ya say ......Cubs Are Going To Win Today!!

by Don Da Cubs Fan on Jul 23, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Hey Don

I've not seen you here before - Welcome to BCB! FYI - I'm still recovering from our trip!

by Ihatethecards on Jul 23, 2007 11:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm fer that, not agin it......

This is Harry Carray, goodbye from Wrigley Field and So Long Everybody.

by mrcubsfan on Jul 23, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

love it

wish I had that talent...

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Jul 23, 2007 9:10 AM CDT 0 recs

Since there is no Cubs game tonight

I'll continue watching my Cubs DVD set. Tonight is going to be Game 2 of the '89 NLCS.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Jul 23, 2007 9:53 AM CDT 0 recs

Like all good cartoons...

...truth lies at the heart of the humor. Well done!

Yep, the Cubs have a six-game road trip coming up and despite the relatively low caliber of the teams they're facing, I'm looking for a 4-2 result.

I caught some of the Cards-Braves game on ESPN last night and found myself cheering on the Braves -- to no avail. Just before I changed the channel to watch something else with my wife, the Cards tied it at two on a Pujols homer. And when I checked the game a half hour or so later, the Cards had exploded for five runs in the 10th inning.

It seems like the Cards and Reds always elevate their games when they play the Cubs, so I don't think either one will roll over the way Houston and the Giants did. The Cubs need to make a statement against both teams by taking a series in their respective home parks.

Long term, the Cubs likely have little to worry about when it comes to the Reds. But the Cards are still only four games behind the Cubs in the loss column -- I'd hate to see that number get any lower.

Brew Crew: We are coming for you. (And we mean it this time.)

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 23, 2007 9:54 AM CDT 0 recs

The Braves...

... are tied with the Cubs, two games out of the wild-card lead. Much as I hate to see the Cardinals win, I was happy to see an Atlanta loss last night.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 9:56 AM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly

I too was cheering for the Cards for the same reason. Man, that felt really strange.

Go Cubbies!

by NC Cubs Fan on Jul 23, 2007 9:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

d'oh!

Looks like I need to start paying more attention the wild card race.

Brew Crew: We are coming for you. (And we mean it this time.)

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 23, 2007 9:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Scoreboard watching in July

Gotta love it :)

by GoCubbies34 on Jul 23, 2007 10:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

I found myself rooting for the Cards

One reason is I have a bet with my two friends (Yanks and Braves fans) that we just made on Friday on who will have the best record at the end of the year. Also, you can't worry about who is behind us, gotta worry about who is ahead of us. As long as we keep winning games though, it shouldn't really matter.

by GoCubbies34 on Jul 23, 2007 9:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good point...

...old habits just die hard. I can't seem to stop worrying about the Cards, no matter how God awful they've been this season.

Brew Crew: We are coming for you. (And we mean it this time.)

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 23, 2007 10:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

oh

and as always, the cartoon is great.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike on Jul 23, 2007 9:54 AM CDT 0 recs

That one's going on my cubicle wall!

Well done, indeed!

by eamuscatuli1881 on Jul 23, 2007 10:06 AM CDT 0 recs

Trivia

Name the only two pitchers to allow homers to both Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. (hint - one was a Cub when he was victimized by one of the two sluggers)

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 10:47 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks for that!

I heard this question posed on the Fox game of the week but couldn't stick around for the answer.

Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on Jul 23, 2007 1:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rick Reuschel?

Has to be one who had pretty long career...74 through whenever Bonds came up...just a wild guess here am I close?

When we gonna get the answer?

by writerinwrigley on Jul 23, 2007 10:52 AM CDT 0 recs

Nice

Rick Reuschel was one of them. He gave up a homer to Aaron at Wrigley in 1974 and to Bonds while pitching for the Giants in 1990.

The other pitcher also had a long and successful career, but never pitched for the Cubs. I'll leave people a bit more time to come up with the answer.

Hint - he was a teammate of Nolan Ryan's at one point. (but Ryan never gave up a homer to Bonds -Ryan was victimized by Aaron, however)

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 11:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

Anyone else want to guess?

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 11:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Frank Tanana

by HIGGY on Jul 23, 2007 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

You got it

The Ryan hint must have worked.

Tanana gave up a homer to Aaron in 1976 and to Bonds in 1993.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Correct...

and did you know that Tanana only gave up 2 HRs that year (93)? - mind you he only pitched in 19 innnings...

by HIGGY on Jul 23, 2007 11:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Tanana

I didn't see that - I know it was the end of his career. Unlikely that in just 19 innings he'd give up a homer to Bonds, but luckily he did, and in doing so, became part of the answer to a trivia question.

I wonder if there was a pitcher who gave up homers both to Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. It's technically possible, as Ruth's last year (1935) was 19 years before Aaron's debut, but offhand, I can't think of any one pitcher whose career spanned that timeframe.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 11:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Here's a curiosity about the above.

Reuschel not only gave up a HR to both Aaron and Bonds... but he was also a teammate of Bonds on the 1986 Pirates.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

Answer to above trivia question.

No pitcher faced both Ruth and Aaron.

However, there is one player who played against both -- and he is still living.

Former Cub Phil Cavarretta.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Cavaretta

Actually, Al, I'm not sure you're right, because by 1954, when Aaron debuted, Cavaretta was playing for the White Sox, and so wouldn't have played vs. the Braves. It is true that Cavaretta played vs. a team on which Ruth was active. Phil was an 18-year old rookie in May 1935 when the Cubs swept Ruth's team, the Boston Braves. Since box scores aren't available, I can't say for sure that Phil and Ruth actually played in the same game, but it's probable. Ruth retired the next month.

I didn't think any pitcher had faced them both, so that's not suprising. I think WW2 cut a lot of careers short, which is why you don't see too many guys with careers beginning in the early 1930s playing into the 1950s. Bob Feller came on in 1936, right after Ruth, and was still active in 1954, when Aaron debuted, but obviously he wouldn't have had a chance to pitch to both.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

By the way

Reuschel was not only teammates with Barry Bonds. He also was teammates with Barry Bonds' dad Bobby Bonds, with the Cubs in June 1981. They were ships passing in the night - the Cubs acquired Bobby Bonds just days before trading Reuschel, and they never actually played in the same game together. Nevertheless, another interesting Reuschel fact for you!

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 4:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Jason Kendall

Here's my take on Kendall:

I think he's gonna be one of the Hendry success stories this year. The guy is a catcher that pitchers love (just ask any of them that had him for a catcher). He is very much aware of what goes on in the field: how the batter grips the bat, where the batter stands, where the SS is playing him, etc. The guy is a professional. Also, he's someone who will do anything to get on base, including walking into a 95 mph fastball to get on 1st base. As far as I can see it, considering that Bowman still can't hit (see his recent hitting stats AFTER the Cubbies traded him), and considering that Barrett got thrown out of a game last night for having one of his sissy-fits, we oughta be happy for Hendry's trade even in Kendall only bats .250 (I'm betting that he hits closer to .280 for the rest of the season).

by zevkalman on Jul 23, 2007 11:23 AM CDT 0 recs

Contention!

Being in Contention! is so much fun. Getting to watch those results every day -- and who's pitching for Milwaukee and their opponent tomorrow? -- is why baseball fandom is so much more rewarding than other sports. Even Cub fandom, with its attendant scarring.

Thanks to Al and Mike for their work here, who add to the fun every day. Al, you truly don't get thanked enough; we ought to pay you to run this place (Simpsons Donuts don't count).

To paraphrase "Airplane!", I picked a good year to give up fantasy baseball.

Drifting ... drifting ... foul.

by mlf on Jul 23, 2007 11:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks Al

As mlf mentioned, I also love this place and would like to thank Al!

I anxiously await your game threads and recaps during game days. Plus all the other stuff. ;-)

by Ilan on Jul 23, 2007 11:32 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks, you guys.

The donuts are good, but fattening.

This site is a labor of love, and glad to know that so many of you like it, and also I appreciate the contributions of everyone here.

Now let's go beat those Cardinals!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 23, 2007 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

We all appreciate this site Al!

I just stumbled onto this site about a month or two ago and I am sure glad I did! My work blocks a LOT of web sites, very strict for some reason (guess my employer actually wants me to work for some reason, go figure). Anyhow, I am able to view this site luckily, but not any other blogs that I have tried going to! (Viva, the other BCB, etc) So I consider myself very lucky to have this website available. Keeps me much up to date with all the information about the Cubs! And the people here are very knowledgable and friendly (unlike some of those on the main Cubs MB)

by GoCubbies34 on Jul 23, 2007 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Completely

Sprinklicious'ed up (is that a word?)
For at least 2 days. Didn't want to buy them all, and after all I'm trying NOT to eat this stuff.

But, you do what you have to and then run a mile.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 23, 2007 1:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Arghhh

How much I hate an off-day!

Guys, any trade rumors circling around?

by cubsnlinux on Jul 23, 2007 11:39 AM CDT 0 recs

JJ & Prospect for Jeff Conine?

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Take it for what its worth, I know we all hate this site... but hey ITS A RUMOR!!

"The game is always healthier when the Cubs are good, and in a week they have made themselves a whole lot better."

by BillHoldenFan on Jul 23, 2007 1:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

I would say No

He is not the power bat we are looking for and if thats our best option then lets keep our prospect to ourselves

by cubsnlinux on Jul 23, 2007 2:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

I agree 100%

"The game is always healthier when the Cubs are good, and in a week they have made themselves a whole lot better."

by BillHoldenFan on Jul 23, 2007 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

at least JJ is defensively versatile. Conine is not the player this club needs and unless Pie coems back up, I think Jacque is going to have to play himself out of favor with Lou in order to not be in CF on a regular basis.

"One thing you learn as a Cubs fan: When you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth." - Joe Garagiola

by gary varsho on Jul 23, 2007 2:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

News (not Cub related)

One of the last living pitchers to have faced Babe Ruth has died (and he was the oldest living ex-major leaguer at age 100):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/07/23/stiles.ap/index.html

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 11:53 AM CDT 0 recs

I will be watching the Crew v Reds on Direct TV..

and will post updates as I can..

Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on Jul 23, 2007 1:28 PM CDT 0 recs

from the cards blog

"i think the cardinals are already toast.
there's one other factor that informs my decision: the cubs. i'm not sure the cardinals could catch them even if they got carpenter back. chicago ranks 2d in the nl (and 4th in the majors) in era; they've straightened out their bullpen problems and tightened up their defense; and they're 19-7 over the last month. the cardinals haven't had a 19-7 stretch in more than a year. chicago has sustained only 8 blowout losses all season (with "blowout" defined as a deficit of 5 runs or more); st louis has 24 such defeats. i'm well aware that anything can happen; we only have to look to last october for evidence of that. but last october the cardinals had carpenter and suppan; they have at least one good equivalent for suppan (wainwright), but there's still no carp. he started 5 of the 16 october games, and the cardinals won 4 of them; his absence is just a back-breaker"

lets go cubbies

by holycow07 on Jul 23, 2007 3:02 PM CDT 0 recs

Thanks

Interesting to hear from the other side.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jul 23, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, even without that

You just kinda know by now it isn't the Redbirds year. (We've seen plenty of that, haven't we.) They seem to have had multiple bad breaks. (Which, of course -- we have no problems with. And before any Cardinal fan chirps up -- I'm not talking about the death of a player. That transcends baseball. I'm talking 'baseball' problems, here.)

Another example -- the White Sox just cannot be that bad. Their bullpen is horrible, yes, but it appears just about everybody on the roster is playing below potential. Again -- you can tell in the Chisox case, a turn-around is highly unlikely.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 23, 2007 9:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

HR for Reds - 1 - 0!!

Ross hit a solo shot to dead center.

Third inning no out.

by TedAbernathy on Jul 23, 2007 6:45 PM CDT 0 recs

Tied 1-1

11th now, Reds get out of based loaded nobody out jam.

Give the Reds credit, they are hanging in there. They have the second best record in the NL Central, after the Cubs.

I hope the cool down by Friday -- they look as good as they did when the season opened. Of course, they tanked. And, when the Cubs see them again, they are playing well. Figures.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 23, 2007 8:52 PM CDT 0 recs