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Witness To History: Cubs 11, Braves 7

With every win -- including last night's 11-7 win over the Braves -- this year's Cubs make their mark on the record books and on team history. Among things accomplished last night were the following:

  • The Cubs swept the season series from the Braves for the first time in the 133-year history of the rivalry. Now, this doesn't mean as much as it would have back in the 1940's when teams played each other 22 times (incidentally, in 1945 they came close, going 21-1 vs. the Reds), but nevertheless, a sweep is a sweep.
  • The Cubs have won eight straight road games for the first time since 1945, when they had a 12-game road win streak. And this in a season where, up to now, they have struggled on the road.
  • Aramis Ramirez hit his 20th HR; that gives him five straight seasons with at least 20 HR and 30 doubles, the first Cub to do so since Hack Wilson (1926-30). Yes, that's right, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Sammy Sosa never accomplished this feat.
  • And, the Cubs won despite having an opposing player -- Mark Kotsay -- hit for the cycle. It was the first cycle against the Cubs since Willie McGee on June 23, 1984. The Cubs won that game too -- it was the famed "Sandberg Game".

Meanwhile, the Cubs hit early and often, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Reed Johnson single and then a bases-loaded walk; the Cubs waited out Tom Glavine, who was on a pitch count. In all, the Cubs drew eight bases on balls last night and had 14 hits, with six different Cubs having at least two hits, including Kosuke Fukudome, who went 4-for-10 in the last two games in Atlanta and maybe, just maybe, that's the first sign of him coming out of his slump. Glavine, returning from the DL to what he called an "audition" for next year, may be on his way to retirement. The Cubs, however, were just on their way to scoring seemingly at will, and they needed to, because the Braves kept clawing within range, mainly thanks to Kotsay.

And also thanks -- or no thanks -- to Bob Howry, who, just as he did on July 23 in Arizona, came in with a seven-run lead and turned it into a four-run lead, this time by serving up a three-run homer to Jeff Francoeur. It's pretty pointless to yell "DFA Howry!" on August 15 -- the rosters expand in a couple of weeks and the Cubs will presumably have some bullpen reinforcements, but I hope Lou won't let Howry near any key late-inning situation. It also seems likely that Howry may be left off any postseason rosters.

Meanwhile, Ramirez, who also singled and scored, hurt his hip when executing a slick-looking diving slide into the plate in the fifth inning on a Geovany Soto double -- the ball falling in between Kotsay and Francoeur after Kotsay lost the ball, apparently in the lights, or in the dusky sky, or both. A-Ram lay on the ground in apparent pain for some time, then left the field under his own power. The injury doesn't appear to be serious and he may be available today. Kerry Wood, however, may not, after throwing 25 pitches in a non-save situation. Carlos Marmol, who didn't pitch at all in Wednesday's doubleheader and who threw only 11 pitches (10 strikes) last night, could close if Wood can't.

HYPERBOLE ALERT!

Ted Lilly, who threw a decent but not great game last night, hit Yunel Escobar in the upper arm with a pitch in the sixth inning. Lilly says it wasn't intentional. The Braves say it was. It had better be the last time.

Ryan Theriot got picked off for the second day in a row. It had better be the last time.

END HYPERBOLE ALERT!

Onward to Florida. That place makes me nervous.

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This series reminded me of the Brewers Series...

Very confident team that buried it’s opponent.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Aug 15, 2008 8:41 AM CDT   0 recs

first!

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Aug 15, 2008 8:41 AM CDT   0 recs

Almost...Sorry :)

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Aug 15, 2008 8:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's kind of weird

when I posted, yours hadn’t appeared yet. When I viewed the diary about Dominic and came back, it had moved down. Oh, well :)

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Aug 15, 2008 8:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Mystery of time stamping....

"Aw, how could he (Jorge Orta) lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico." -- Harry Carey

by TheRiot Police on Aug 15, 2008 8:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hyperbole alert

Al used hyperbole in is post. It had better be the last time.

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Aug 15, 2008 8:42 AM CDT   1 recs

in *HIS* post

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Aug 15, 2008 8:42 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 8:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good work

on momentarily raising the alert level, Al. Vigilance!

"We are not equations with hats." -Dean Young

by Kegler on Aug 15, 2008 9:03 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm thinking SWL needs to make a HYPERBOLE ALERT graphic!

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 9:08 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We also could use

hyperbole tags in addition to the desperately needed sarcasm tags.

make/art

by neverAcquiesce on Aug 15, 2008 9:31 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Indeed

SWL, please, when you get here, perhaps create an alert for us? Maybe even an entire Rhetoricometer, sort of like a geigercounter or something similar?

"We are not equations with hats." -Dean Young

by Kegler on Aug 15, 2008 9:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Aug 15, 2008 11:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hyperbole Alert

currently at Orange? Please be vigilant and keep your belongings close to you at all times.

by Emelie on Aug 15, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I told him a million times

not to use hyperbole!

"Years of academy training, wasted"--Buzz Lightyear (not a flying toy)

by spoiledcubbage on Aug 15, 2008 9:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's nice to see

this team dominating on the road.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Aug 15, 2008 8:45 AM CDT   0 recs

They look very confident...

I liked the fact that when the Braves would plate a couple of runs the Cubs would turn it around a inning later and get them back. I’d like to see this swagger in October.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Aug 15, 2008 8:52 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeppers

Time to take it to the Fish.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Aug 15, 2008 9:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen

Time for a fish fry this weekend.

by TheRamZamDLEE on Aug 15, 2008 1:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

6th

It will be the closest to first ever for me.

Lets do it Cubbies

by slocs55 on Aug 15, 2008 8:45 AM CDT   0 recs

Howry

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t even angry at Howry. Maybe because the Cubs have been doing so well, almost everyone it seems, I was really hoping for Howry to pitch well also. So I was a bit sad for him when he left the mound. I thought to myself, if that was me, and I saw everyone having such a good game, a good series, and I just gave up a three run bomb in 0.1 inn, I would be very very disappointed in myself. I keep hoping it isn’t too late and he can turn things around but it just doesnt look like it’s going ot happen anymore.

Go ahead, Z me.

by tony412 on Aug 15, 2008 8:46 AM CDT   0 recs

That is exactly how I felt too. Angry at first but

then kind of bummed for him. He’s unreliable…Mop up duty only IMO.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Aug 15, 2008 8:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That WAS mop up duty.

Coming in with a 7-run lead is usually safe. Guess not. Now they can only bring him in during blowout LOSSES — and we hope there aren’t too many of those.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 8:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True...

If that wasn’t mop up, well I don’t know what is. Disappointing cause the guy isn’t this bad. Unless the game has passed him by.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Aug 15, 2008 8:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's kind of tough to watch

when a guy is trying but he might not have it anymore. Especially a good guy like Howry.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 15, 2008 8:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mop Up for sure

but still seemed to irritate Lou walking around, waving his arms and blurting stuff out to his coaches. Maybe he’s as much a mystery to them as he is to us. If he’s this bad though, why do you keep him on the roster? We already know what to expect from him so isn’t it wise to see someone else and what they have?

Go ahead, Z me.

by tony412 on Aug 15, 2008 9:06 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe they can invent an injury and get him to the DL.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 9:08 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

its 16 more games

till rosters expand. Lou was able to avoid using Eyre for 2 months, i think he could make it through 16 games if he really needed to…

we’re making a mountain out of a mole-hill here

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 15, 2008 9:10 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Possibly so.

Howry doesn’t really throw in high-leverage situations any more, and after last night, I imagine he’ll do quite a bit of sitting.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 9:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

selective memory

this applies to both responses:

How about last Saturday when Howry was used in a tie game in the 11th and pitched a scoreless frame striking out 2, picking up the win?

How about August 2nd, when he pitched a scoreless 8th in a 5-1 lead against PIT

He’s being used in “less” high leverage situations than before because we’ve had less as a whole, and he’s certainly been moved down the bullpen ladder, but it’s not like he’s being avoided altogether, and when he has been put in there in high leverage situations of late, he’s thrown the ball OK (not great, but not terrible)

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 15, 2008 9:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That tie game...

… well, who else was left at that point? Lou didn’t have many choices.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 9:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I honestly don't remember

but hadn’t the pen been called upon relatively early the day before?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 15, 2008 9:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

for the off-day game against the Spiders!

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 15, 2008 10:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

well, see?

I mean, those Spiders were TOUGH! :D

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 15, 2008 10:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not every game

is guaranteed to be a blow out as we’ve become accustomed to lately. There will be a tough game any day now, or a stretch of them, and that is when every man counts.

Go ahead, Z me.

by tony412 on Aug 15, 2008 9:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Eyre pitched last night...

and threw a scorless inning. good for Scotty..

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Aug 15, 2008 1:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's good to hear.

Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!

by sue369 on Aug 15, 2008 2:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Even when Howry's ERA was bad

just a month back or so, Lou was calling him one of his top relievers. Lou believes in Howry. I’m guessing less so now, but that’s part of what’s going on here.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Aug 15, 2008 9:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Weird, isn't it?

Even when Eyre pitched well, he was still in Lou’s doghouse.

Doesn’t seem to matter how badly Howry pitches, he can’t get INTO the doghouse.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 9:58 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

After last night

it seemed Lou was accepting applications again

Go ahead, Z me.

by tony412 on Aug 15, 2008 10:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lou likes Howry because

He throws fastballs for strikes. I have noticed that he loses favor with relievers who nibble (i.e. Wertz, Eyre).

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 15, 2008 12:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I try to stay positive almost to a fault,

but at least for this year I think Howry is toast. I feel like even when he has a decent inning it’s because the other team is hitting rockets right at Cubs, or flying out to the track, always escaping trouble.

I just don’t get why Howry isn’t in Lou’s dog house and Eyre always seemed to be, I still really think at some point the Cubs are going to regret sending Eyre outta town.

It was ugly, but a win is a win. Hopefully Z shuts down the fish, if for nothing else so I don’t have to hear the Chicago media start to question Z down the stretch.

Lets do it Cubbies

by slocs55 on Aug 15, 2008 8:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It looked to me like he wasn't pitching horrible last night, but the Braves just hit the ball.

I mean remember the fact that the hit Lilly too, so its not like their bats were dead cold and he comes in and gives up 3 runs.

And on the 3 run hr the pitch was inside off the plate, you can’t blame Howry. I still believe he can pitch, but he is not the go to pitcher in the bullpen.

by cubsfaninatl on Aug 15, 2008 10:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

On to Florida, and I already cannot wait to leave

I freakin hate playing the Marlins to being with. Its even worse when we have to play them in their “baseball park”.

If we get just one of these three games I will be ecstatic.

Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs

by nji232 on Aug 15, 2008 8:46 AM CDT   0 recs

Marlins

There’s just something about playing the Marlins that is not exciting at all. I don’t like watching or listening to the games nearly as much.

by dr stabbingworth on Aug 15, 2008 9:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Prolly because for some reason when we play them

Our hitters forget how to hit, our pitchers forget how to pitch, and a bunch of former Kane County Cougars knock the crap out of us.

Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs

by nji232 on Aug 15, 2008 9:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't like watching us play the Marlins

usually because they kill us – and we make stupid mistakes/pitches to their hitters. Playing the Marlins is a frustating game for me to watch usually. I blame it on that 2003 postseason and lingering bad memories of that game….

by DWChaney on Aug 15, 2008 9:02 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

2003 NLCS

It was such a letdown when the Cubs had a chance to finish it down there in game 5 with Zambrano on the mound, only to fall victims to a 2-hit shutout by Beckett.

"Hey hey, kiss it goodbye! That one's in Milwaukee! Man oh man did he hit it. Isn't that something?" - Lou Boudreau, May 17, 1979

by danimal15 on Aug 15, 2008 9:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A certain manager kinda didn't care about that game

Thought foolishly like the rest of us that one of the two “horses” could finish the job at home.

Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs

by nji232 on Aug 15, 2008 9:40 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So quickly we forget

that Z was not the Z we know today. He was a rook and had a back injury. The game that really hurt in that series (outside of game 6) was game 1. He was staked to a nice lead and could not hold it and we ending up being beat by a basket homerun in the 10th. His back issues lead him to leaving the ball up and thus rendering his sinker useless in that game…

It is foolish to judge Z’s performance in game 5…I believe 4 runs in that game…to the Z of today.

I felt at the time that game 1 would come back and haunt us and unfortantely…it did.

"Aw, how could he (Jorge Orta) lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico." -- Harry Carey

by TheRiot Police on Aug 15, 2008 12:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A Question For The Ages

Do you have Alfonseca pitch to Lenny Harris, or Guthrie pitch to Mike Lowell (which is what happened and resulted in the GW HR).

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Aug 15, 2008 12:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's the empty stadium

and the lack of general caring from the local area.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 15, 2008 10:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dolphins Stadium

or whatever the hell it’s called makes me nervous, too. I was there a few years ago. What a creepy place for a baseball game.

by thermal54 on Aug 15, 2008 8:47 AM CDT   0 recs

Agreed.

It’s the worst baseball stadium I’ve ever been in. Of course it’s not really a baseball park at all — it’s a football stadium with a baseball diamond carved out of it. Ugh.

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

by Al on Aug 15, 2008 8:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You are

The Fish are nowhere near a new stadium.

"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...

by Curtain Jerker on Aug 15, 2008 9:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

not accurate at all

they’ve gotten it approved and have a site (the old Miami Orange Bowl), its being delayed because of a personal lawsuit with a high end auto-dealership guy Norman Braman down here.

The funding has been approved and a site has been laid out as has a timeframe (which is being delayed a bit by this last lawsuit)

they’re VERY close to having everything finalized

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 15, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In addition,

they’re set to become the Miami Marlins with the move to the Orange Bowl.

make/art

by neverAcquiesce on Aug 15, 2008 9:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Miami is stll trying for a new home. Tampa has approved a new stadium.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 15, 2008 9:01 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't know. They last I heard, they were

shooting for a retractable dome. That would allow them to have a natural field.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 15, 2008 9:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Here's a link to

ao info.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 15, 2008 9:45 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sorry about that.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 15, 2008 9:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good recovery.

You were thisclose to a fail stamp.

make/art

by neverAcquiesce on Aug 15, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

Not the dreaded fail stamp!!!

"What a great call! Your doing a fantastic job, but people expect me to come out here and be upset. So I'm gonna kick some dirt, you understand?" - Lou Pinella

by Lou In Blue on Aug 15, 2008 9:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Damned Microsoft keyboard!

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill