Hope this is the start of a hot streak for him. Couldn’t come at a better time. Let’s get ’em tonight!

refresh the blackberry, and see the Brewers/Dodgers final as it was.

You have to love DW’s attitude. I think his attitude is why he, although uglified on here quite a bit, was never absolutely ‘hated’. He has always seemed to put forth sincere, focused effort and performed with grace and humility when he succeeded. I’ve always cheered quietly for him.

I too am worried about Z. I have no confidence in brother Larry’s ability to ‘fix’ his arm positioning – Z will have to do it on his own. I guess the saving grace is the strength of the rest of our rotation and the explosive offense that no longer requires the Cub pitchers to go 7IP and allow only 1 run.

By the way, I had a charbroiled fish sandwich for lunch yesterday in honor of the series. May have to find another today.

Last night was really frustrating not being able to watch. I had to rely on BCBer’s to keep me up to date and I really appreciated it. I think we will grill fish tonight and watch the game. Yummy!

I was in a room full of Cardinal fans when Ward walked up to the plate, and I did not have a good feeling about it. The HR was incredible. Thank you Mr. Ward. Nice job (finally).

Al, you’re absolutely right, we all need to remember where we were during each of these spectacular wins… last night, i’m sitting on the couch watching the olympics and listen to pat call the game via mlb radio, cubs are down 5-3 and i think… “it’s rally cap time”. i grab my hat from the fireplace, turn it inside out and sit back down, the next thing i hear is pat describing the HR by ward…. what a game, onward to tonight!! GO CUBS!!!

having a blonde moment… is normal rest 4 days or 5 days? ie, is Z on normal rest for thursdays start or 1 extra day… if it’s normal rest, why wouldn’t lou put marquis as starter for z on thursday in cincy and have z start on friday?

Er, I’m sorry, he believes he’s rushing. According to this Sun-Times article, Carlos thinks he just needs to slow down his delivery a bit. Says Z:

“I think I’m rushing too much. I’m throwing 1.0 [seconds] to home plate, and the pitching coach told me 1.2 is good for me.”

So there ya go – he adds .2 seconds to his delivery and all is right with the world.

DWaryle stunned me last night just as much as Pat Hughes, I’d guess. I flipped the game on in the third, just in time to see Big Z give up all those runs. So I figured it would be another Floridian nightmare and turned it off. (I was at a family party, so I didn’t want to be completely antisocial.) Fortunately, I was able to catch the bottom of the ninth – and was elated to see Woody get the save, though he did have to labor quite a bit.

I watched the replay of DWaryle’s home run later and, wow, what a monster shot. Let’s hope this is the win that turns the tide in the panhandle state.

Should I be annoyed that the video highlight of DWard’s HR on the Cubs website is from the Florida broadcast?

H E L L

N O ! ! ! !

after Len Kasper brought up the statistics on Gregg and Ward.

Gregg: Converted his last 11 save opportunities. (Due for a clunker)
Ward: Hitless in his last 13 plate appearances. (Due for a big one)

With two men on, the bottom of the order comes through again! This season has led me to expect the unexpected and believe the unbelievable. There are storybook moments aplenty in 2008, and they just keep coming. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see Marshall throw a shutout today in a spot starter role. To quote Dan Plesac, “The Big Blue Train keeps rolling along!”

I especially like the last sentence in the quote from Ward, “I was so excited.” I didn’t see that in the story that I read in the CST this morning. Really captures the human element. Also, the entire quote and description of ward provided a better look in t the life of a pinch hitter.

Also, every time I read stuff about Wood like that it reinforces my respect for that guy as a total competitor. I will always be a fan of Kerry Wood the competitor, I would love to see him close out a trip to the WS this yea.

No one was happier than Ward who fought back smiles on the post game interview. What a finish! When things are going well………..

1) I was on the phone with my girlfriend watching the game on my laptop. I think I scared her when I yelled “GO, GO, GO, YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!” but we had a good laugh about it after the fact.

2) I’m going to Wrigley on Friday and before the rainout / doubleheader / rotation shuffle I had it figured out that Harden or Dempster would be be pitching on Friday depending on if Lou skip Marquis or not. Now it’s going to be Marquis so I’m a little disappointed. I know Marquis is pretty good 5th starter but I’d rather see Harden or Dempster.

Don’t have the numbers in front of me but it seems like, at least this year, that Ted gets torched by Cincy. Hoping for two out of three next week.

That’s as emotional (and surprised!) I have heard him on a call in some time.

surprised you didn’t mention the pitching match-up with former Cubs Maddux and Moyer. For two “old farts” they put on quite a display. Both went 7 innings, Moyer gave up 3 hits and Maddux 5, but one was a HR and the Pads lose 1-0.

Watching the game and enjoying a few cold one’s last night I told my buddies when D Ward was walking up that if he could get a hold of one here all would be forgiven for how bad he has been for most of the year. All is now forgiven Ward! Let’s do it again tonight!!

anyone have a high-res shot of the crowd reaction from behind Ward? I’d love to make that my new desktop…

Just got back from jaw reconstruction surgery, and I’m happy to say the Cubs winning on the road in Floriday actually did a pretty good job of cheering me up…at least now since I won’t be showing my puffy face outside for at least a week, I’ll have plenty of time to watch the Cubbies!

…staying on the highway! What a great win.

Does recognize that Z’s arm slot is off:

Zambrano allowed five runs on four hits and five walks in a six-inning stint, throwing 119 pitches and losing his composure over plate umpire Bill Miller’s strike zone. Piniella said Zambrano was rushing his pitches and dropping his arm slot.

Hopefully, they can fix it.

Since August 1, following the Cubs’ four-game sweep in Milwaukee, the Brewers have gone 10-4 (.714 for over 8% of the season) — and lost 1/2 game in the standings.

Wow.

went really bad, but instead it went exceptionally great! Exciting stuff! I will be stuck at work again tonight and will have to listen in on MLB audio. I am hoping for it not to be busy, but a full moon and 2nd shift on a Saturday night at a police department is a bad recipe.

Let’s get that road record at +1!

Keep the pressure on the Brewers.

15-3 starting with the comeback win before the Brewers series.

How frustrating this must all be for the Brewers (too bad so sad) to have an 8 game winning streak and only gain 2 games and then lose that 2 game gain in 2 days.

it looks like it is important for the Cubs to build up as big a lead as possible through 8/27. After that date the Cubs have NO GAMES LEFT AGAINST TEAMS WITH LOSING RECORDS, and have very few home games left. The Brewers will still have home/away series left with Pirates and Reds.

Between now and the 27th we will get to play Reds & Gnats while Suds play the red hot Astros and RedBirds. It would be great if we can get this lead to 8+ games in the next 11 days as that stretch from 8/28 until the end of the season looks brutal.

The only thing you like is that contenders won’t have “surprises from AAA” that beat you. You know what you are up against. The Brewers will face a bunch of scrappy September call ups that they won’t have scouting reports on…we know what that is like.

Anyway, no one said it would be easy or that it would be handed to the Cubs. i just hope that this team can stay healthy and focused down the stretch. GO CUBS!!!

The shock of pleasant surprise in Pat’s voice on Ward’s HR was great to hear and perfectly captured my own emotions.

Funny thing I’ve noticed: I sometimes imagine Pat calling a Cub HR in a key game situation. It almost never happens. I didn’t do that with Ward’s AB. (Was still too PO’d over Fontenot having gotten robbed.) Kind of like my my own playing days. I never remember hitting a HR when I really tried to. When they did come, it was as if they came precisely because I wasn’t thinking about it when I swung.

I’ll remember last night pretty well for a while. I was at Piece in Wicker Park and the place erupted after Ward’s blast. It’s been a while since I’ve heard such loud applause. Then Michael Phelps winning his 7th Gold Medal just a few minutes later and another huge celebration…wow, what a night…

9 WGN (and I believe on the SuperStation)
Cubs Forever: Celebrating 60 Years of WGN-TV and the Chicago Cubs

Sat, Aug 16, 4:00 PM Run Time: 120 min.

Looks back at 60 years of broadcasting Chicago Cubs baseball.

He needs to get squared away. He is obviously vital to Cubs and fall baseball.
 I have to admit I was peeved at Z last night, and walked away from the TV and followed the game on the computer. Cubs got two on in the ninth worked my to the TV again and then caught Wards drive into the night. I mentioned in a post a few days past that Ward would come up big in September, well just a few weeks early. Ward is a pro, really a great player to have around. Him and Hank should be signed for next year.
 Go Cubs

CAN NOT WAIT!

but isn’t it great that we are finding other ways to win? I am sure his arm issues will be figured out, but I can’t remember any other Cubs team who have had their ace go out and get hit hard, and then have picked him up and won the game another way…Great pitching by Gaudin last night too, he was a gem in the Harden deal…Let’s do it again tonight!

Is he supposed to be in the lineup tonight?