great game last night . . . time to read Al’s recap now

to get back on this side of the country, I’m getting tired of staying up late.

i fell asleep when it was 4-0. I hate these stinking late nighters.

that was a mistake. I am SO tired! Anyway, Al, I am happy to have you in the Hoffpauir camp! We appreciate your support!

I hope he succeeds up here, if for no other reason then because he may make good trade bait. I like him a lot, whether all you people say he is destined to be a nobody.

GO CUBS!

how when you are tired, superstitions are hard to maintain. I was trying to keep the remote in my hand so as to fool the gods again…just my thang…and I fell asleep and dropped the romote and woke up to a tie game a la Bob Howry Cow.

but I happened to flip over to FSN in time to see Dukes’ shot. It was mammoth, probably 410 to straight-away center. I actually found myself yelling, “Go, go, go!” urging it along like I would a Cub.

He never would have given up that home run.

Respect the shirt!!

I’d be happy to contribute to some sort of “nanny” fund that would allow them to hire an entire entourage to make sure they were comfortable WHEREVER they were. :)

Seriously, it’s really cool his family is finally here to share this great experience.

Al, did you ever think you would be typing “give thanks to Elijah Dukes”?

Cubs starting pitchers
Last 9 “Non quality” starts, cubs record 9-0
Last 1 “Quality” start, cubs record 0-1

It is an easy game.

in the back of my couch. So glad he managed to eke out the last K. Goodness, that was painful! Go Cubs.

ready to ditch Wood after opening day, the brutal Milwaukee loss, etc. and I’m very happy to admit that it looks like I was wrong. He doesn’t always make it look pretty, but right now he’s doing the job and that’s enough.
As for D-Lee-I think it’s interesting that people are always ready to talk and argue about dropping Soriano from the lead-off position but people rarely talk about dropping Lee from the three hole where he’s been going through brutal streaks all year long.

...but when it isn’t normal it’s usually better for us because the games are ending earlier or are done when we get home from work, LOL…

Nice write up of the game. I got out of my laziness a little a week or two ago and looked up Wood’s stats and he’s pitched very well. He has had essentially 3 poor outing (2 against the Brewers) that have inflated his stats. But when you look at his production in total, he’s getting it done and he’s doing it well. Part of the problem with perception is that you tend to remember the 3-4 HBPs because you don’t see that much unless your closer is Mitch Williams, so it sticks with us. But you look at his stats in total and his WHIP being under one (very good for Woos) and he’s really produced in this role. What upset me last night was walking the King of the Judys, Juan Pierre, it was frustrating, LOL…

There is an enormous amount of pressure that comes with trying to carry the weight of 100 years of losing. This team is surely going to hit some rough spots ahead because of that pressure and because the rotation is not providing enough innings and IMO, Lou mishandles this pen. Al is right on about the one hitter reliver—it hurts your bullpen because you make too many changes. Lou has got to commit to other guys longer and let them pitch or there won’t be much left in the arms of the 3 Amigos come September. It particularly makes no sense when you are carrying an absurd number of pitchers on the roster.

Lou needs to step back from 100 years of pressure building and put 2 more everyday players on the roster and give the 3 Amigos more rest (or at least Marmol). There’s a long way to go and we need to be able to cross the finish line. I am loving watching this team but I cringe when think of a possible collapse down th stretch-think good thoughts-we are winning and we take it one game at a time. Go, Cubs!

our shortstop has moved his table-setting average up to .330. Night in and out he has got on base. His 9th inning hit last night was the key to the win.

Also, I am amazed Edmonds is hitting after all looked lost and even I said he was done. He is looking like a great platoon partner…..for now at least. The bottom of our line-up has to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers with Johnson/Edmonds, DeRosa, Soto and our hitting pitchers.

...So i am sure it is a security blanket for Lou. Pen has been carrying them lately, so they were due for a hiccup (just baseball). Nice to see Kosuke have a good game on the road and Edmonds continue to contribute. Had a couple great catches last night.

I’m pretty sure this was Kosuke’s first late inning game winning RBI for the Cubs. He’s had other “game winning” runs (technically speaking) but usually not in the 8th or 9th, so it’s not talked about as much. The Japanese press has got to love it seeing it come off Saito as well.

I’m not worried long term, but he’s not helping us right now.

One of your star players goes down (Soriano) and the team goes on a winning streak.

On Takashi Saito bobblehead night at Dodgers stadium, thank you for another blown save, sir!

is that it takes him time to get in the groove. As a starter, the book on Kerry (as with a lot of starters) is to get to him early because he gets stronger as the game goes on. As a closer he does not have that luxury and needs to be throwing strikes right away. Marmol seems to be able to get into throwing strikes right away and so seems to fit the closer mold. Kerry would have the same problem as a setup man as well so not sure how he can overcome this. I guess we will just have to accept the fact that by the end of the season we will all have our hair more grey or bald, no nails, a worn out path in our carpets in front of the T.V., no more voice and new cuss words. Such is the life of a Cubs fan in 2008.

I pissed off Shanghai Badger with this…

i smell another hee seop choi

by lswaidz on Jun 5, 2008 9:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions 0 recs

That was after a comment was made about Dodgers infielder Chin-lung Hu. I want to take a minute to clarify my comment, as I unknowingly insighted a minor riot, which was NEVER my intention.

The first year I REALLY got into the Cubs was when Hee Seop Choi fever was hitting the town almost as much as Fukudome Fever has hit it this year. Hee Seop was the “first baseman of the future” and was about as hyped up as any played I’d ever heard about, and I was so excited to see him play. Unfortunately, he did… and the hype was far from deserved. In only 80 games he hit .218 with 8 home runs. You can blame his collision with Kerry Wood on June 7, 2003 for some of his strugles, but still, a major disappointment.

Hee Seop went on to have a decent career, hitting .240 over the next two yaers with the Marlins and Dodgers, and is now playing with the Kia TIgers and doing ok, from what I’ve heard.

Hu with the Dodgers came up with the same fanfare, comparisons to Jimmy Rollins have been made, and he has a lot of weight to carry on his shoulders, and I wish him nothing but the best, once the Cubs leave town.

However, my comparison was never based race, solely on how both players were over hyped and have under delivered. I appologize if I upset anyone, but this forum isn’t a place for discussions of anything other than baseball and life, in my opinion. I’m here to have fun, joke around a little, and most importantly support the Cubs. To Shanghai and anyone else I upset last night, I am sorry – but please, understand I meant no harm, and hopefully stuff like this never happens again!

...when he KEPT going 3-0, 3-0, 3-0 – ARGH!!! By the time Soto FINALLY came out to ‘talk’ to him, Lou was already coming out to GET him. They’re (Cubs) usually more ‘on top’ of that sort of thing – where someone usually would go out there sooner and go YO RYAN – THROW SOME F*CKING STRIKES!!! Drove me nuts.

(yes, I feel better now – thanks bundles)

I love the guy. I spent a lot of time in SoCal listening to him. But he annoyed me last night with two of his comments “The Cubs look like they’re kinda standing around waiting to be caught” and “the rookie catcher talking with the veteran”.

Also, Vin should learn to pronounce MLB players’ names.

Regarding the Soto-Howry discussion, maybe Vinny was right about Howry not appreciating Soto coming out to talk to him, but I’m not 100% convinced.

Where would this team be if it wasn’t for Ryan Theriot. God willing he stays healthy this would be his first full season in the majors. Theriot was a key figure last year in helping the cubs come back from that horrible start (22-31). His numbers did drop in September but people need to realize the toll a season takes on a player especially one who plays almost everyday. I believe this kid will be a key player for this organization in the years to come. On a side note I hate Dodger fans…. also a word to wise never sit in the bleachersin Dodger stadium unless you want to get shanked!

Another person who wears the headband upside down....