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A Going-Away Present: Cubs 9, Marlins 2

The Cubs beat the Marlins 9-2 this afternoon, winning the series (their sixth straight series win), the season series from the Marlins 4-3, and said goodbye to south Florida for 2008 (Note to Mets and Phillies: please keep the Marlins in third place!) -- and good riddance.

I mean, seriously: a rain delay when it's not raining? And yes, I well remember the non-rain delay on August 23, 1999 at Wrigley Field, when at game time, 7:05, it wasn't raining but the field stayed covered until it DID start raining at 9:15, at which time they called the game. That game, which had a sellout crowd, had to be made up as a conventional single-admission doubleheader two days later, costing the Cubs about $1 million in ticket sales (based on 1999 prices) and likely costing Ed Lynch his job. Today, they delayed the start about 20 minutes, keeping the field covered, because they thought a storm might drift over the park. It never did.

This game didn't start out propitiously for the Cubs -- they kept leaving runners on base, shades of last night, five left on in the first three innings. And let me say right now: I like Ryan Theriot's attitude and hustle. But seriously, he has to stop stealing bases, or trying to, because his 58% success rate (18 SB, 13 CS) is horrid. And what was he thinking, trying to steal third with nobody out in a scoreless game in the third inning? Even Bob Brenly, who nearly always praises Theriot, ripped him for doing that. While Theriot is having a nice year via BA and OBA, what little power he showed last year (30 doubles) is gone (only 16 so far this year). A few days off wouldn't hurt.

Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster was throwing a nice game; his first mistake wasn't really his, it was Alfonso Soriano's, for not playing Cody Ross' high drive off the wall correctly. Thinking he could catch the ball, instead it took a Fenway-like bounce away from him for a triple. If Ross is held at second, maybe he doesn't score, because the next two hitters made outs (a shoestring catch by Kosuke Fukudome helped), and maybe the Cubs then give Hanley Ramirez an intentional walk and get out of the inning. In any case, it was just one run, and Dempster gave up another one on a walk and a double in the sixth, but then got out of the inning with only one more run scoring. In the interim, Soriano had played the next ball hit off the goofy scoreboard in Miami well, and it looked like he had thrown Ramirez out at second base, but it appeared the umpire was out of position to see Mike Fontenot tag him on the leg before it reached the base. No harm, because no runs scored in that inning.

And then the Cubs exploded in the seventh, and once again, everyone contributed; the Marlins' Renyel Pinto, so good early in the year, had an 18.00 ERA in five August appearances coming into this game with six walks in three innings, and after Mike Fontenot and Reed Johnson had started the inning with hits, for some reason, Fredi Gonzalez left Pinto in to throw to four straight right-handed hitters, with predictable results: he walked Mark DeRosa, then Soriano doubled in the tying runs (past a sliding Luis Gonzalez, who might have been able to make that play five years ago, but not at two weeks shy of age 41), one out later -- for some inexplicable reason -- Gonzalez ordered Derrek Lee walked intentionally to pitch to Aramis Ramirez with the bases loaded.

Now, we all love D-Lee, but seriously, who would YOU rather face with the bases loaded? In his career, prior to today, Lee is .214/.254/.491 with 8 HR with the bases loaded; A-Ram is .337/.336/.625 with 7 HR (that's not a misprint of the OBA there -- he's got 14 bases-loaded sac flies, and 7 bases-loaded walks). Anyway, we're all glad the Marlins chose to face Ramirez, who smacked a double down the line just out of reach of third baseman Jorge Cantu, breaking the tie to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead. Ramirez, incidentally, now seems fine after that minor shakeup Thursday night in Atlanta.

The best part of watching that was seeing the close-up replay of the dugout with all the Cubs watching intently, then exploding into cheers, led by Johnson and Henry Blanco (who eventually got into the game, and singled and scored, raising his career-best BA to .292), when the ball skipped into left field. It's cool to know that they're rooting that hard for their teammates.

And then, after a sac fly by Dome, two more walks (one intentional, one drawn by ONEDEC!), Johnson (who finished 4-for-5 today and is now batting .314), batting for the second time in the inning, drove a ball to the wall in left-center, clearing the bases and finishing the 8-run inning, the 22nd time the Cubs have scored five or more runs in an inning, far and away the most in the NL (the Phillies with 17 are 2nd).

Dempster got a deserved win, his 14th (one short of his career best), with the offensive outburst and Neal Cotts, Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Marmol finished up without incident, throwing three innings of one-hit relief.

So the Cubs are back to .500 on the road at 31-31, and finish up a 5-1 road trip, their best multicity trip of the year (I say "multicity" because the four-game sweep at Milwaukee, a single-city trip, was also outstanding). Goodbye to Miami and that silly mosquito mascot. We await the result of today's Brewers-Dodgers game, at this writing led by the Dodgers 3-0 in the second after two first-inning homers, to see if the Cubs will go into the off-day up by 4.5 or 5.5 games.

Great series, great trip. Enjoy the off-day tomorrow.

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First!

and damn, are you fast. Whoo hool cubs win.

"Don't worry, Joey. We'll go next year. They're in the World Series all the time" ---My grandfather to my sick father, October 10, 1945

by flyingdonut on Aug 17, 2008 3:40 PM CDT   0 recs

Thought you guys might like a fast recap.

Figured once it got to 8-2, I could start writing.

What a terrific road trip!

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no jinxing it!

Cubs fans started singing in the ballpark, and Marmol promptly threw six or seven balls in a row.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True enough.

Maybe he needs to pitch in tenser situations.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

For Sure

I’m a bit uneasy with all the ‘W’ flags being waived before the game is over too. I don’t think I’m superstitious but why tempt fate?

And so it goes.

by Luigi on Aug 17, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Me too.

It drives me crazy when people unfurl the W flags before the win is secured. Singing “Go Cubs Go” was over the line, too. All’s well that ends well, though, I suppose.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 17, 2008 4:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

even len pointed that out

w/ the always fun line “I’m not superstitious, but” lol

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 17, 2008 4:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I heard that.

I have neighbors who fly the W flag outside their houses. That’s great and all, but I go crazy when they leave the flag up after a Cubs loss. I’ve seriously considered donning my ninja gear and taking a few of them down. Fortunately, that won’t be necessary today.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 17, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

or, perhaps...

Al’s well that ends well?

by Emelie on Aug 17, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That works.

Or maybe “Al’s well when all ends well.”

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 17, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Both Well Played

LOL

"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 17, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Technically...

…. if you listen to the lyrics, the fans were singing the song at the perfect time. The Cubs are gonna win today. I’ve always thought it was silly to sing that after they’ve already won.

If Red Auerbach (sp?) were a Cub fan, he’d have been lit up already.

Dome-san!!

by Goat Whisperer on Aug 18, 2008 9:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

I did forget to change it. I’ll fix it now.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

holy cow!

that was fast.

"I'm like the tide baby: I come and go as I please." --Johnny Drama

by cubs2234 on Aug 17, 2008 3:42 PM CDT   0 recs

twoth!

awesome 7th!

a win is a win.

by JoToPo on Aug 17, 2008 3:42 PM CDT   0 recs

Al:

why so long to post the recap?

slowing down in your old age?

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Aug 17, 2008 3:43 PM CDT   0 recs

LMAO

I did have to wait for the last out! Marmol made me wait a whole extra batter!

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

BTW, we are the same age.

how great is it to have the Cubs at .500 on the road AND to do it against the Fish!!

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Aug 17, 2008 3:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You bet.

It does look like they finally have the Florida monkey off their back. Great series.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Probably because I didn't go this time :(

Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind...
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall, I'll bid the bleacher bums adieu,
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue. --Steve Goodman

by NotSure on Aug 17, 2008 7:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Did you catch?

Did you catch the morning news on 7? They talked about the new Cubs book and showed your picture. Was giving the dog a bath when heard it.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Aug 17, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That was promoted on yesterday's game thread.

I was the one who got Will booked on the show.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oops

I was tied up in and out all day. Was supposed to go to gencom but someone screwed up the hotel reservations.

Go Cubs

by cubstoseriesby100 on Aug 17, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dang that was fast!

Well the Cubs don’t pay Fonzi for his glove but for his bat and he came through with a double to tie it up and set up Reed Johnson who put it away for us.

And Theroit needs to work on his dancing feet. But with a win like this and 2 out of 3 in Flordia I’m a happy guy.

Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr

by bubbamike the one and only on Aug 17, 2008 3:44 PM CDT   0 recs

Fonzi

made some decent catches. And you don’t often see him go back to the wall and jump. I was pleased to see him do that, even if he didn’t make the play. And the second time it was hit off the wall, he played it PERFECTLY. That runner was OUT at second.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 3:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ramirez WAS out.

That play didn’t cost them a run, but the first one may have.

In any case, all’s well that ends well.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Theriot

I didn’t like the attempted steal (or the caught stealing!) either – but was that Teriot’s decision? I thought it was a double-steal, and assumed it came from the bench to try to get them kick-started.

Al is right thought, that his percentages are aweful.

a win is a win.

by JoToPo on Aug 17, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Len and Bob thought

that Riot did it on his own, and Lee was just paying attention.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 3:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If Theriot went on his own...

… then someone has to stop him.

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

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

absolutely

a win is a win.

by JoToPo on Aug 17, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

he hasn’t shown anything close enough to good basestealing skills to be going on his own.

by LT on Aug 17, 2008 3:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll bet

Theriot thinks he can dunk too!

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Aug 17, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

For a good 1/2 to 3/4's of this season

I have screamed: DON’T STEAL, THERIOT. Fat lot good it does. One would think one would learn from experience, but nooooo.

by Emelie on Aug 17, 2008 4:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

we could procure

a sniper rifle from somewhere. (:P)

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

with foam bullets

just enough to get his bleeping attention, or maybe one of those t-shirt guns…

by Emelie on Aug 17, 2008 6:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just tell him

that Z will be waiting in the dugout for him if he gets CS. That should stop him.

by Archie on Aug 18, 2008 9:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Based on the replay..........

………..it looked like this came from the dugout. Seemed Lee broke at the same time as Theriot, so I’d say Lou has to accept the blame.

After last night’s poor showing, suspect he was looking to shake things up early.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Aug 17, 2008 4:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yep, looked like a double steal....

Can’t fault Riot too much, though he got a horrible jump…

The only stats I care about are the ones on the back of a baseball card

by carmen_fanzone on Aug 17, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well then

you actually can fault him.

The Theriot apologists are astounding. If you need a single with nobody on, he’s fine. But he does absolutely nothing else well.

by Leon Durham on Aug 17, 2008 4:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bat Him 8th

and move DeRo/Fonty to 2nd in the order?

"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 17, 2008 4:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Nice Thing About Theriot Batting 8th

is that, assuming he gets on and the pitcher either gets on or makes only the 1st/2nd out, Soriano has an RBI opportunity.

"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 17, 2008 4:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Even better

Move DeRo to second, bat Cedeno 8th, and bench Theriot

by Leon Durham on Aug 17, 2008 4:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Can Cedeno Match Theriot's OBP

given the same number of at bats?

"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 17, 2008 4:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The thing is,

Cedeno’s glove is better, and he’s widely considered to be a much better hitter. He may not post the same OBP, but will hit with some pop.

by sackings108 on Aug 17, 2008 4:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

maybe, maybe not

Riot can NOT, however, match Cedeno’s power.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

quite.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 17, 2008 4:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

seems to me that

theriot does a hell of a job getting on base before the heart of the order comes up……..thats what we need in the 2 hole.

by cubsmania on Aug 17, 2008 7:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

and then getting thrown out on a botched steal.

sorry. couldn’t resist. I’ll sit down now.

by Emelie on Aug 17, 2008 7:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You rebel you. :D

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

by sue369 on Aug 18, 2008 9:21 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't imagine Lou putting a double steal on

with no outs and Ramy at the plate. Not even Ned Yost would do something that stupid. DLee just did a good job of following the lead runner.

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

by DeRoMyHero on Aug 17, 2008 7:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

With the offense............

……….scuffling last night, I can see Lou making this call early in the game.

The replays pretty much verify Lee moving with the pitch. He certainly wasn’t looking at Theriot.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Aug 17, 2008 8:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Great Roadrip!

Now let’s go home and beat up on Dusty.

"Booze, broads, and bullshit. If you got all that, what else do you need?" Harry Caray

by CubbieintheSouth on Aug 17, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

night all

cya tuesday

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 3:48 PM CDT   0 recs

Respek Da Cubs, Yo!

and that’s a “W”

by nervousCUBlover on Aug 17, 2008 3:52 PM CDT   0 recs

BOOYAKASHAH!!!

I’d been monitoring this one at the pool all afternoon and got home just in time to see Marmol wrap it up. What a great offensive explosion. Great pitching by Demp and the pen. And a fine, fine 5-1 road trip. Now it’s time to follow the Dodgers-Brewers game and root for the other boys in blue.

!!!! CUBS WIN !!!!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 17, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Right on, Al

could not believe you’d walk D-Lee in that spot the way he’s hit in clutch spot vs. the way Ramirez has. And the Pinto thing was just laughable—and we all know the dangers of Pintos backing up!

Lou gets his share of criticism but the days are few in which we get outmanaged. I don’t think he pushes as many buttons as he did last year (hit and run, etc.) but more often than not his decisions work out.

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Aug 17, 2008 3:56 PM CDT   0 recs

huh?
Now, we all love D-Lee, but seriously, who would YOU rather face with the bases loaded?

This would be relevant if DLee was up with the bases loaded, but he wasn’t. He was up with runners on 2nd/3rd (where he has hit .325/.529/.663 in his career, which, FWIW, is better than ARam’s .337/.336/.625 with the bases loaded).

With that said… I still wouldn’t have walked him. But at least get the facts straight.

by big_lowitzki on Aug 17, 2008 4:01 PM CDT   0 recs

Yeah.

Derrek is still a dangerous hitter. Granted, he hasn’t hit for as much power as we would like — he still is one of our most potent hitters.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: (Due date: August 11) (Tamia, where are you?)

by Unique on Aug 17, 2008 4:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't The Same Thing Happen vs. the White Sox

this year, at one of the games at Wrigley?

"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 17, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

was trying to remember that myself.

but really? I love Derrek… but close and late with RISP? I want Rami up everyday of the week in that situation.

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 17, 2008 4:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

not when he is in those slumps of his

DLee is fine, he just isnt a flashy player so he gets more grief then most when he isnt hitting 400. Every since his really high average years he has alot to live up to, but he still our guy

"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Aug 17, 2008 4:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Of course.

But many here act like walking Lee to face Ramirez is like walking Blanco to face Ramirez.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: (Due date: August 11) (Tamia, where are you?)

by Unique on Aug 17, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I didn't say anyone said that.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: (Due date: August 11) (Tamia, where are you?)

by Unique on Aug 17, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up