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Do-It-Yourself Game Recap

Yelloncard_tiny by Al on in Recaps

I'm lazy today. So here, you can make up your own recap of the Cubs' 9-3 win over the Cardinals:

This afternoon in St. Louis, took the field and against . Ted Lilly started and . Carlos Marmol finished up the last two innings because and weren't available today. Li'l Mikey Fontenot's three-run HR and came right after Geovany Soto . Kosuke Fukudome also had a good day, . There were Cub fans in attendance in the new-record crowd in St. Louis. Cub fans like going to games in St. Louis because . Tomorrow night, with the game on ESPN, the Cubs will have on the mound against the Cardinals. Manager Lou Piniella's comments after this big win included: . The Fox-TV telecast was, as usual, mediocre because . Finally, the biggest news from this afternoon's game is that .

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You Rock, Al

This is hilarious!

by Emelie on May 3, 2008 5:50 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

this is awesome!

Thanks Al, I was so depressed about Eight Belles this is just what I needed.

Is that really a Hatori Hansu bat?

by Hey Moe on May 3, 2008 7:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bleed Cubbie Mad Libs!

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on May 3, 2008 5:51 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

+1

This has guaranteed me hours of fun this evening.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on May 3, 2008 5:52 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Also

Anyone else notice how excited Marmol seemed to be about batting? He was trying so hard to suppress the grin on his face.

“Why is he running like a girl?” – My mom, on Theodore’s base running.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on May 3, 2008 5:55 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

In case you didn't know...

... Marmol is a converted catcher, so he used to get to hit a lot more. No wonder he loves the opportunity. JFTR, in his minor league career he hit .251/.276/.336 in 414 AB with 2 HR.

We should all be glad he converted to pitching.

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

by Al on May 3, 2008 6:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

This reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask:

Is Marmol the emergency catcher? If not, who is?

by DGU on May 3, 2008 6:25 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

who else? DeRo... ;)

Felix Pie must play everyday!

by JB 23 on May 3, 2008 6:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

DeRo was the emergency C with the Braves,

but that was 5 years and one torn ACL ago.

He was asked by the Rangers announcers in 2006 if he would be interested in playing all 9 positions in one game. His answer: “I have no interest in pitching, I have no interest in catching. I’ll play anywhere else—even a different position every inning.”

He might have enough seniority now to say “Let Fonty do it.”

I can’t imagine they’d let Marmol do it. That’s one of the cardinal rules of baseball.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on May 3, 2008 8:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

When Matt Murton is on the roster...

... he’s the emergency catcher. When he’s not, I have no idea who is. I bet Reed Johnson would do it if Lou asked him to.

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 9:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

So would Zambrano

if Lou asked him to do it. Or even if he didn’t.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh77 on May 4, 2008 12:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

So he would punch himself in the face?

"Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me." -Dusty Baker on OBP

by vtcub on May 4, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Big Z

The Not-So-Secret Weapon

by DGU on May 4, 2008 2:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Great recap ;-)

BTW, TWIB will show Cubs special next week here in Japan on NHK with Japanese subtitles. Worth to watch?

I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.

by dragonsfanatic on May 3, 2008 5:56 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Poor Lou... he just can't win with this crowd

he gets roasted for taking Z out of a crucial game last year, and he gets roasted for leaving Marmol in today in another crucial game.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on May 3, 2008 5:58 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Well...

... the SCORE of today’s game wasn’t crucial. This would have been a perfect time for Gallagher to throw two innings and save the rest of the pen. What if they NEED Marmol tomorrow night?

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

by Al on May 3, 2008 6:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Agreed...

It was a six run game. We had Marshall and (presumably) Gallagher available to pitch. There was no reason for Marmol to pitch at all. There was certainly no reason for Marmol to pitch two innings.

Marmol has now pitched 21 innings already this year. That’s a LOT of work this early in the season. Piniella needs to be more conservative with his use of Marmol. His arm is one of our most valuable commodities. It’d be terrible to wear it out this early.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2008 7:28 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

This is exactly the kind of thing that drives me up the wall.

Let’s use Chad Fox in a tied game in extras, but use Marmol to preserve a six-run lead for two innings. Agh!

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 3, 2008 8:23 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i couldn’t agree more. when fox came back in in the 11th for his 2nd inning of work all i could think of was the pre-game interview with ronny on am 720 where they kept talking about how it was going to be fox’s first big league game in 2 or 3 years…and then, in crunch time, after letting the leadoff man on in the 11th lou leaves him in when marmol is warm in the pen…blew my mind. but hey, at least lou shaved today.

by gocubsgoradio720 on May 4, 2008 12:34 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

But.....

In the last nine games Marmol has been used twice. I like what I am seeing. Get Marmol’s arm strength up to be a Joba Chamberlain type. He has better stuff, bu Joba goes 1 and 2/3 often. I feel, with Howry’s inability to get to where he needs to be, and Wuertz not being his normal self, you are going to see a lot multi inning usage for Marmol. But if you really think about it, when we win, we tend to win by bunches lately.

by louslovechild on May 3, 2008 7:48 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Marmol can do that anyway.

Using him to protect a six-run lead is stupid.

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 9:07 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Agreed...

I have no problem with Marmol going more than one inning. What I have a problem with is using him in a six-run game. We’re going to have plenty of close games in which we really NEED him to pitch. We had two alternatives that would have been fine for the 8th and 9th inning with a six-run lead, yet Lou went with Marmol. Now, Marmol is likely unavailable for tonight’s game. Let’s hope it’s not a close game.

by SouthernCub on May 4, 2008 10:27 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Why does Rosenthal

hate saying “Tommy John surgery”? Does he hate the guy or does he just want to sound smart?

I bleed blue... and red, but that's not my fault. I didn't get to choose that one.

by BabeRuthPose on May 3, 2008 6:03 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Observations

How strong is Soto? He waited on the breaking ball and still hit the piss out of it to straight away center.

How does someone who is 5 foot 7 have so much power? Good game by Fontenot today (maybe Lou is smarter than we think sometimes:).)

The homeplate umpire had a weird strike zone tonight. It seemed to expand quite a bit on the hitter’s counts.

Finally, player of the game is Ted Lilly. He looked like the Lilly from last year today and did what we needed him to do the most, eat up some innings today!! Way to go Lilly!

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on May 3, 2008 6:37 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Lou

I have a woman crush on Lou so I’m biased, but I think you speak truth when you say

(maybe Lou is smarter than we think sometimes:).)

by Emelie on May 3, 2008 7:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Yay! Another girl!

I think this brings our numbers to… five or six, I think.

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem. -- Saul Steinberg

by bluebythebook on May 4, 2008 8:14 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

We may be small in quantity...

..but we make up for it by the quality of our comments!

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 4, 2008 10:52 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Agreed

(and I’m not a girl)

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on May 4, 2008 12:02 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Agreed!

"The trouble with baseball is that the player who knows how to bat and field best is sitting in the stands."

by ibchefn on May 4, 2008 1:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

so this is what happens

when Al isn’t traveling or actually at the game. He’s a part time HTML comedian.

Nice work if you can get it. And very entertaining. Now I have to explain to my family downstairs why I was laughing so hard.

Cubs win and secure prestigious 3rd best record in ML! That magic number’s looking smaller every day!

Win.

by RavenswoodRob on May 3, 2008 6:40 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

BTW, the post automatically edited out my sarcastic fake code:

< tongue_in_cheek > Cubs win and secure prestigious 3rd best record in ML! That magic number’s looking smaller every day! < / tongue_in_cheek >

Win.

by RavenswoodRob on May 3, 2008 6:41 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

nice recap

good game today, lets win the close ones and we would be pulling away from the pack right now.

Careful Son, They will break your heart. And then stomp on it. But I will be a Cubs fans until I die. Its your fault Harry!!!

by deployedcubfan on May 3, 2008 6:41 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

how could they worry

with ned yost at the helm? i think i’d be the picture of tranquility.

by gocubsgoradio720 on May 4, 2008 12:36 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

The readers of BCB award you, Al...

...1,000 internets.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on May 3, 2008 6:51 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Kudos

Very funny indeed!

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on May 3, 2008 8:04 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Lazy?

I suspect, Al, that this required twice as much work as a normal recap. Thx for the great stuff.

Dang...I just want something to root for in September

by GamePenguin on May 3, 2008 8:47 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

We're not worthy!!!

Thanks for putting a smile on my face after sanding 19 kitchen cabinet doors (at least I got to listen to Pat and Ron!)

"There is one thing I will never believe, and that is the Sox are better than the Cubs." - Frank Chance

by pfd89 on May 3, 2008 9:28 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Nice work Al!

You truly are the host with the most!
I didn’t get to see the game today (again…sigh), but it was nice to see at least the Cubs bounced back with a win.

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 3, 2008 11:03 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Gotta love Lilly's postgame comments:

“I’ve been catching a lot of heat for [the slide],” Lilly said of his head-first slide into second in the seventh. “It was fun, and the first time I had a chance to do it.”

He knew it was a high-risk maneuver.

“It didn’t matter—it was pre-determined,” Lilly said. “I hadn’t had a chance to work on my slide, so just in case I have to, I wanted to have done it.”

Haha whatever helps him keep pitching like this, I’m for it

------ TheRiot Squad ------

by RightFieldSucks on May 3, 2008 11:12 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

I'd be thrilled

if Marquis pitches tomorrow like Lilly did today.

by sue369 on May 3, 2008 11:37 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

That is awesome, Al!

Kind of like ‘Cub’s Mad Libs.’

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

by ilovepie on May 4, 2008 12:32 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAH

"He's been known to cure narcolepsy just by walking into a room. His organ donation card also lists his beard. He's a lover, not a fighter. But he's also a fighter so don't get any ideas. He is....The Most Interesting Man in the World.

by Keystone80435 on May 4, 2008 12:45 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Al

This is twice this week you said you were lazy. everything ok?

by 1060 W Addison on May 4, 2008 1:25 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Why, thank you for asking.

No, just tired.

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 9:08 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

All the travel

going to the games gettin’ to ya Al? ;-)
hehe

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 4, 2008 10:13 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

LMAO

Working eight days in a row had something to do with it, too…

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 10:55 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

"Fukudome is Cubs' virtue"

This is interesting article about Dome in the point of view of St. Louis.

Fukudome is Cubs’ virtue

“He’s one of those guys, one of those rare guys (who) take the pitcher’s pitch and foul it off,” DeRosa said. “They consistently foul pitches off until they get a pitch they feel they can drive. If there’s a conviction for me to swing, I swing. I almost feel like Kosuke waits until the last second and says, ‘No, that’s not good enough but it’s probably going to be a strike, boom, let me foul it off.’

“It’s very impressive watching him from the on-deck circle.”

Now all you folks know the reason why I call Dome as a mistake hitter before the season….

“He’s really a (No.) 2 hitter,” Piniella said. “We’ve got to protect our 3, 4 hitters and in our scheme this young man does that as well or better than anybody else. In a perfect world, I’d hit him second to set up our lineup that way.”

He never hit 2nd in Japan due to the difference of baseball style between Japan and US (we put more faster and technician guy to #2 spot), but it looks like better for him if perfect world, right?

I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.

by dragonsfanatic on May 4, 2008 2:23 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Yes

And if Geovany Soto keeps it up, he could be the “protection” that Lou wants hitting 5th, allowing Fukudome to move up to #2.

"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome

by JohnM on May 4, 2008 4:12 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

actually someone like Griffey is the perfect #5 hitter and Soto #6 with DeRosa #7 (playing floating starter)

Firstly, DeRosa, where he has basically been playing floating starter since Soriano’s injury anyway, now he is at 3B until Rami is ready and the Cubs have the luxury to make certain he is real ready. When all are healthy I truly want to see DeRosa float around the horn and allow Fontenot, Cedeno, and Theriot get their AB’s and Lou to play the hot hands. DeRosa is batting .277, but has a .397 OBP and 20 RBI’s (.823 OPS), while Fontenot has a .286 BA, .352 OBP, 11 RBI’s and (.821 OPS). Ronnie is batting a huge .391 BA, 16 RBI’s, .472 OBP and (1,059 OPS) while Theriot is batting .316, .381 OBP, 8 RBI’s and .793 OPS. This is all good but if Ronnie ONEDEC keeps it up you can’t keep him out of the lineup for long.
Anyway…..this is why playing DeRosa regularly at 2B is actually counter productive, but playing him regularly for injured (*hit happens) or resting Rami, Sori, DLee and DOME and then playing a game at 2B regularly is better for all.

OKAY, DOME is the Cubs #2 hitter, except they need a left-handed bat in the #5 spot, a big bat, someone who can field either CF or RF. DOME has a enormous .443 OBP but in the 5 hole only has 12 RBI’s, and .953 OPS. Soto behind him and DeRosa (.823 OPS) has 23 RBI’s and 1,044 OPS. When Cedeno bats 8th behind Soto Cubs best OPS is Lee 3rd, (1,072), Soto 7th and Cedeno 8th.

What the Cubs need is a Griffey who can still field RF, move Fukudome to CF and have a lineup of Fukudome, Theriot, DLee, Ramirez, Griffey, Soriano, Soto, Cedeno, pitcher. When DeRosa plays for Dome, move up Theriot and Cedeno; for Soriano (keep lineup the same), for Ramirez (move up Soto), for Cedeno (stay the same). Griffey will become available very soon and won’t cost that much.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on May 4, 2008 9:33 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It'll never happen.

Why would you want to move a guy who you promised RF - and who is an outstanding RF - to CF?

I don’t want Griffey, He’s nearly 39. Can he still hit? Sure. And the cost will likely be higher than you think. No thanks.

Remember: the Cubs are 18-12 - a .600 percentage - and leading the major leagues in runs!

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Word.

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 4, 2008 10:12 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If you get Griffey...

...you better get a pair of crutches in the deal, because it’s only a matter of time before he goes down.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 4, 2008 2:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Dome needs

to stay in RF where he belongs.

by sue369 on May 4, 2008 12:29 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

LSA

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

by Al on May 4, 2008 12:56 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

For the Cubs

I think Dome is the faster technician guy, so he’d be perfect no. 2 (or lead off man, IMO)

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on May 4, 2008 7:48 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I think

this took more work then a typical post…. jk I LOVE IT!

"God will squeeze really hard, but he will never choke you" - Carlos Zambrano

by SouthsideCUBSfan on May 4, 2008 3:42 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

goddamn Joe Bock

and Timmy McCarver —- “In my opinion, if a ball lands fair, its a hit”.......
sorry, thats my tim mccarver rant

Embrace the Goat and It Shall Be Undone

by hawkster34 on May 4, 2008 4:10 AM CDT reply reply   0 recs

I watched yesterday's telecast with the sound off.

Seriously. My daughter was sitting on the couch next to me, watching “Cars” on our laptop, and I could tell the sound of the game was going to distract her, so I just muted the TV.

It turned out to be a pretty cool experience - I didn’t feel like I really missed out on anything. In fact, it seemed like my ability to focus on the nuances of every play increased. I’d recommend everyone try this sometime - maybe tonight during the ESPN broadcast. (Note: I did turn up the sound for Dempter’s reading of the opening lineups and Lou’s in-game interview.)

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by dat cubfan daver on