Post.

as I said in the game thread; it’s nice to win one of the close ones (closer than the score shows).

I think Kerry’s over-throwing the first batter when he comes in. He’s too jazzed. He actually needs to take a step back, maybe. Once he has that first guy out, he’s almost always rock solid.

I’d actually like to see him come in and NOT get the first guy out, and STILL be rock solid, to prove to himself that he can do it from a “deficit”.

it appears he wanted to five Howry a confidence-builder.

Ryan Dempster continues to get the job done in solid fashion. Without him our already fragile starting rotation would be a major concern.

Nice to see Bob Howry get in a groove. He is very important to this bullpen.

Kosuke looks tired. Probably the transition to MLB starting to take a toll like it has most Japanese imports. Probably also a case of pitchers adjusting.

Yeah, I know, I know - it’s early. However - the Cubs have still not lost more than 3 in a row. The Dodgers are struggling—even more so than the Cubs were the last week. Outside of Ethier, this is not a very scary line-up. Jeff Kemp is fading badly. The starters are not pitching long into the game.

They flew in late last night—this had to be a tired, straggling team, (let alone the injuries) regardless of the win the Redbirds handed to them on Sunday. This team needed to be beat TODAY, to set the tone for this series. A sweep isn’t out of the question.

Make Saito a non-factor, and you will beat the Dodgers.

If Dempster keeps this type of performance up, he would of had me fooled. I figured a 12-10 type of year, but give him credit, he looks sharp and more importantly he looks comfortable and confident.
Dome’s double play ball today was brutal, and I am sure he knows it more than anyone. He needs to find another gear, a mental one. I can just imagine if Soriano was up and hit into the double play, goodness. A;so Theriot swinging on the first pitch with the bags jacked was not sharp, but he will get the free pass around these parts.
Good point Jazz man, don’t let there Dodger closer get into the game with the lead.

and I’m a big fan of the kid. Show us what you got tomorrow! I’m so excited about seeing him pitch tomorrow.

As mentioned in the game thread, you were on TV twice. The first time, just before Soriano’s first AB, when they showed a few ballhawks gathering on Waveland. The second time, after the catch.

Relief is appropriate for both the weather holding up and for the Cubs holding onto the lead.
Three photos:

Derrek Lee’s home run:

Dome waits to ground into the double play. I was as disappointed as Al, but I still liked the picture:

Martin after his out to end the 6th – with the tying run at second:

Best moment of the day – Messmer announces the pinch runner in the eight. ”... Chin-Lung Hu. Hu’s on first.”

[Camera three in 5, 4, 3…]

“Hello again everybody, and welcome to Ballhawk Baseball…” ha ha

Quite the crowd today out on Waveland – little kids playing wiffle ball, bigger kids playing catch in Waveland, people without a clue just leaving their bikes laying on the ground, and there I am in my usual spot against the yellow brick building trying to keep track of everything so I know where to run and not run if one comes out.

Well, as Al said, one did come out – Soriano jacked a nice long one right down the line, unfortunately it was foul by several feet. Sure did look nice coming up though. I took off down the sidewalk towards the firehouse and managed to time it perfectly to snag it on the bounce. I almost lost it in the sun though… I kid, I kid.

Some media crew from FSN Rocky Mtns was out there, maybe doing some advance work for the upcoming series with the Rockies. Anyway, they were psyched because they were right there when I caught it so of course they stick the camera in my face and ask me what it was like to catch a homer.

I had to tell them the truth – it was only a foul ball. Man, were they bummed – I could almost hear the wind going out of their sails. It was pretty funny. But they asked me a bunch of questions anyway, so I shared a few ballhawking nuggets with them. Like I said, I think this was just promo stuff for the upcoming series against the Rockies, so anyone in the FSN Rocky Mtn viewing area, check out their preview shows this week and let me know if I survived the cutting room floor.

will nationally televised soon on NHK, not live but recorded, so I knew how Dome’s ABs were and I also have no time to watch today – but I believe he can make small adjustments and come back, as some other Japanese hitters did in the past…..

at Lou putting the Cubs’ leading hitter between two guys who are on the Interstate.

I know that Lou is a god on this board, but I’m really having some doubts…

that at this moment the best record in the MLB belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays?!

not losing more than 2 in a row is a great way have a nice little record at the end of the year.

keep rolling cubbie.

What was Riley (the home plate umpire) doing following Derosa to the dugout. Some umps just have to put themselves front and center. I think Dero has a legit beef with the umps on some the the strikes he called in that at bat (and some to DLee earlier), first a low strike then a high strike for the third one. Weird strike zone all day.

Great game. Fun to watch, lots of action, unfortunately some of it was a little gut wrenching with all the Dodgers on base, but the Cubs staff did a great job pitching out of the jams today, good to see. Our two big guys came through for us today and that is always good to see too. On to tomorrow, let’s get them again.

If I’m not mistaken Gonzalez’s last start before his 1998 surgery was the last game of the 3 game sweep against the Sox that started with the famous ball in the ivy game that Sox fans still whine about to this day.

Although not total retribution for the lost weekend…at least it was a partial. In all honesty, this was a game that they probably should have lost. But alas, they did not so that is the Baseball Gods helping us out after working against us yesterday.

I was disappointed to not see Dero make the throw to first on Pierre’s swinging bunt…it would have been close but it looked like on the replay that Pierre still had about 30 feet to go. I don’t believe that he would have thrown it away or that the runner from second would have tried to score.

Nice to see Sosa #2 work two walks after going down 0-2 both times.

Demp gutted another one out.

For most of the year, Dome has been the one hitter that when up with runners on base, I feel confident that he is going to put a good swing on the ball. However, lately, he has not. Hopefully it is just a minor funk and he will work through it.

115th post!

Holy Cow.

I think we’re now 11-16 in games decided by 1 or 2 runs

regarding the Cubs on the road? I can’t figure out if this is a real trend or just a bad start.

I think they should put up a cardboard figure of a batter at the bullpen homeplate and when Wood warmsup have him hit it. That should get the hit batter problem out of the way before he comes into pitch.

The Dodgers had 32 plate appearances with an above average leverage index. The Cubs only had 8. The Dodgers had a lot of chances to get back in this game and never quite could.
vr, Xei