"Nothing This Team Does Surprises Me Any More": Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
That's in quotes because it's not my line, it's Mike's -- that's what he said just after Henry Blanco lined a single just over Cesar Izturis' head with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning, giving the Cubs an excruciatingly exciting 3-2 win over the Cardinals, their third in a row, and seventieth of this incredible season.
Check out the sidebar box showing the team starts through 116 games. The 70 wins is now more than all but ten other Cub teams -- six of those pennant winners. We are witness to things that generations of Cubs fans have grown up not seeing.
Did you ever think you'd see Jim Edmonds get a curtain call after hitting a home run in blue pinstripes? That's what Edmonds got after his second homer of the day tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Edmonds is now hitting .284 in 169 Cub at-bats, with 14 HR and 38 RBI. That'd project to a 42 HR, 114 RBI full season -- something Edmonds did for the 2004 NL Champion Cardinals, but he hasn't come close to that since. He also made an outstanding diving catch in center field.
In fact, defense won this game for the Cubs. After the game was tied up by a Joe Mather (who?) HR in the 3rd, the Cardinals got Cesar Izturis to third after Edmonds made a bad throw following Izturis doubling. But the Cubs sniffed out a possible suicide squeeze with pitcher Braden Looper batting, and Looper couldn't make contact and Izturis was tagged out. On the postgame news conference, Lilly said they had talked about it and if he saw Izturis coming he was going to try to throw the pitch high; instead it was low and inside, but got the job done.
Further good defense helped out the Cubs in the sixth; after St. Louis took the lead on two singles and a groundout, walks filled the bases and Troy Glaus flied to Alfonso Soriano in left -- and Soriano fired a perfect strike to Geovany Soto, who tagged Mather out. It still seems as if Soriano just slings the ball, without getting any real firepower behind the throws, but they are nearly always right on target. Last year he had 19 OF assists; that's his sixth of 2008.
And then, with two out in the tenth inning, Jeff Samardzija caught Albert Pujols napping off first base and threw him out at second. Nice heads-up play, and Samardzija threw two good innings today, dropping his ERA to 1.59. The only thing that I will criticize about the Shark is that he occasionally seems to lose focus -- today, walking the nearly-unwalkable Izturis on four pitches. But I nitpick -- he's been a great addition to the pen. Even Bob Howry threw well today -- after Jessica left our section, unable to watch, she came back and reported there were a ton of people in the back of the bleachers also afraid to see what Howry Hath Wrought. Today, he was good -- getting the hot-hitting Ryan Ludwick on a groundout and then striking out Glaus and Yadier Molina.
And then the winning rally started on something that's been a great weapon for the Cubs this year, a walk, to Derrek Lee. After Aramis Ramirez singled him to third, the obligatory intentional walk was issued to Kosuke Fukudome (who I worry about -- he just doesn't look very good at the plate any more), setting up Blanco's heroics.
It's a team effort -- new heroes every day. Lilly threw very well. Carlos Marmol did his job, getting the Cubs out of a jam in the 8th, and they beat their biggest rival on an absolutely gorgeous, blue-sky, 75-degree, low humidity afternoon, with about 20% or so of the crowd wearing Cardinal red (and some wearing Red Sox red -- as there are some Boston fans in town this weekend for their series on the South Side). I ran into two Cardinal fans in the 7-11 getting my Super Big Gulp -- they asked me "is this the year?" After the obligatory, "Hope so!" they responded, "If we can't win, we hope you guys do." Civilized -- that's why I like this rivalry so much. Mutual respect, and tightly played games like today's. Now go get 'em again tomorrow. And go Nats.
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The best part of today's win:
St. Louis paid Jim Edmonds $12K to hit 2 HRs against them
Dome-san!!
by Goat Whisperer on Aug 8, 2008 5:47 PM CDT 0 recs
...and to throw his bat toward TLR in the dugout after his second HR.
TLR’s public statements have been a little nasty to Jimmy Ballgame this year.
by zevkalman on
Aug 8, 2008 5:50 PM CDT
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TLR being nasty?
Theres something new…
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 5:53 PM CDT
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TLR was really nice in his post game
he said that Edmond’s ‘been a good player this year, he’s been a good player his whole career,’ in the post game down here in the lou. Didn’t want to start anything, even though the local reporters definitely made it an issue. When he was asked whether he took offense to the bat flip, TLR said he didn’t see it, and if he did, he said that is the way players are playing the game nowadays. (Neither Ludwick nor Looper took notice either.)
I think the stuff he said earlier was just gamesmanship.
From a life long cubs fan in st louis.
by brianm on
Aug 8, 2008 6:42 PM CDT
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Interesting note, Al.
The Cubs, with a 44-16 home record, have now won as many games at home this season as they did all of last season.
Oh yeah….we still have 21 home games left.
Go Cubs Go!
by Chadnudj on Aug 8, 2008 5:48 PM CDT 0 recs
Great Game
Hated to listen to Cardinal TV today, but thanks MLB and St. Louis being a “home team”. It is a new person every day. Keep the pressure on the Brewers and let’s put away the Cardinals.
A Cub fan in Cardinal territory.
by FSArkCubsFan on Aug 8, 2008 5:49 PM CDT 0 recs
Someone pinch me please
Howry DIDN’T blow this game in the 11th???
by JFCubFan on Aug 8, 2008 5:52 PM CDT 0 recs
Nope
he even pitched WELL.
Of course I left the radio on and walked away until I heard a commerical come on. I couldn’t do it.
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 5:54 PM CDT
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i watched every pitch..
but i think if chewed off half my hand in nervousness (not really but you get my feeling). But he looked really good today. IF we can get the Howry of old back look out b/c our bullpen will be very very good. And thats saying something b/c it is already good.
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Aug 8, 2008 5:55 PM CDT
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I actually said to myself
Lou sees something in him. Maybe he’s due to break out.
And he did.
But I was caught up in doing the PBP, too.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 6:12 PM CDT
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I fled to the restroom
Literally. I mean I had not moved since the 2nd inning anyway but I just could not watch. As
I was walking out I heard a lot of disgluntled people saying they also could not wath Howry
ahd one guy in a loud voice said ” I will not pay money to see Bob Howry pitch”. I am glad to
see Howry do well but not exactly gonna be confident next time he comes in with the game tied.
Fun if VERY nerve wracking game today. Amazingly few people left .
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on
Aug 8, 2008 6:28 PM CDT
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I love that about Cards fans
they’re by and large fans of the game first. Like any group, you get some nasty ones, but on the whole they’re solid fans of their team who still muster respect for their rival.
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 8, 2008 5:55 PM CDT 0 recs
Come on down to Central Illinois.....
This is my 32nd season as a Cubs fan. I grew up in a neighborhood of nothing but Cardinal fans and my father owned a small grocery store where the ratio was about 55/45 Cardinal fan to Cub fan.
Sadly… here in Central Illinois where it’s more evenly divided the fans are ALOT more uncivil and alot more obnoxious. There are a few decent ones but most… even when the Cubs are doing well…. the Cardinal fans can never resist talking about how many World Series they have won and how they can’t wait for us to choke. And when we lost last year in the play offs some of them were unsufferable. Laughing about 100 years and so and so on.
Again, I stress, these are perceptions gathered from dealing with Cardinal fans through a local business for over 25 years. That’s more than a hand full of random people.
The more amazing Cardinal fans will ask a fan like me when the Cubs are doing well and they see me in a Cub shirt… “When I jumped on the band wagon?”
I just shake my head and reply… “About 1976 when I wanted to hit the ball as hard as Bill Madlock did.”
During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball. `Mickey Mantle, 1970
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby
by iceman71 on
Aug 9, 2008 12:35 PM CDT
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I so wanted Edmonds
to get a walkoff at the bottom of the 9th. It would’ve poetic justice. Who’da thunk that Howry, of all people, would help us out of the jam? Still think he stinks, tho.
by Emelie on Aug 8, 2008 5:55 PM CDT 0 recs
Edmonds
They just showed the highlites on SportsCenter w/ a Cub fan holding up a huge sign w/ “Don’t you wish you had him back? Go #15”
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 6:02 PM CDT
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Saw a whole family in Red Sox shirts
strolling through the lobby of my building. If I’d known
by Emelie on Aug 8, 2008 5:56 PM CDT 0 recs
If Wrigley still allowed smoking...
....they would name the designated smoking areas “The Bob Howry Smoking Section sponsored by Marlboro”.
Let’s hope he’s figured something out. They said on TV that it’s been stressed to him to try to use more off speed and “moving” pitches, instead of that 92 mph meat pitch. Looks like it worked today.
And I’ll say it: Daryle Ward is HORRIBLE this year. Since Giles turned down that trade to Boston, I’m still hoping we can somehow get him.
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on Aug 8, 2008 5:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Ward has been good for 10 intentional walks this year.
Don’t tell the other teams not to fear him. They haven’t figured it out yet.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 8, 2008 6:03 PM CDT
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I know he's walked a few times, but have that many really been IBB?
he comes off the bench and puts together a solid AB. I don’t think he’s “awful”.
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 6:04 PM CDT
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He has 10 walks as a PH, not sure if they're all intentional....
But, he’s 4-38 now as a PH. I mean, we’re not sending Daryle up there to walk really, we’re sending him up to get a big base hit. And, really, can you remember the last time he’s had a big pinch hit?
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 6:11 PM CDT
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Not all the IBB are as a PH.
But yes, you’re right, he’s not up there to walk. He’s really been bad this year. Fortunately, it’s still worked out, for now at least.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 8, 2008 6:13 PM CDT
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We are 24 frickin games over
and you are bangin on Ward? PLEASE
I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck
by Employee22 on
Aug 8, 2008 7:08 PM CDT
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agree
Hell Ward is due, September he will have some big pinch hits, wait and see.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on
Aug 8, 2008 9:04 PM CDT
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We could be 27...
I want all the holes on this team filled, is that asking too much? What other team keeps a PH who’s only 4-38? It’s a season long slump, so what do we do in the playoffs? Keep saying he’s “due” and wait for what hasn’t happened all year in a key situation?
I will say this for Hendry, he’s always looking to upgrade. I would think this is a situation where he’s doing just that.
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 9:49 PM CDT
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Are you serious?
Saying it’s a “season-long slump” kinda masks the fact that it’s not even 45 at-bats. Seriously.
by cwyers on
Aug 8, 2008 9:54 PM CDT
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Season long Pinch Hitting slump?
Is that better?
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 9:56 PM CDT
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2-20 PH since he came off the DL?
2-18 before. Is that what you want out of your best PH? Seriously.
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 10:00 PM CDT
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Giles is NOT available.
He had the right to veto the trade, and he did. That meant that SD had to pull him back from waivers. He cannot be placed on revocable waivers again this season, and I doubt that SD would put him on unconditional release waivers—they would be on the hook for his contract.
"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007
by DeRoMyHero on
Aug 8, 2008 8:50 PM CDT
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Howry isn't as bad as we think
From todays Baseball Prospectus email:
Top 5 Most Helpful NL Relievers, by Inherited Runs Prevented
Player, Team, Inh Runs Prevented
Carlos Marmol, CHN, 6.3
Bob Howry, CHN, 5.3
Chris Sampson, HOU, 4.8
Damaso Marte, PIT, 4.5
Hong-Chih Kuo, LAN, 3.2
Marmol and Howry top the relievers in the NL when it comes to keeping inherited runners from scoring. Not a bad place to be.
Yeah he has gone through some bad times lately but he may make us proud of him yet.
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 8, 2008 5:58 PM CDT 0 recs
How many times do Howry and Marmol come in with inherited runners?
Both of them usually start off fresh, no?
by GoCubbies34 on
Aug 8, 2008 6:06 PM CDT
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Yes, they do and....
Marmol’s ERA w/ bases empty: 2.25
Howry: 5.11
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 6:14 PM CDT
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I don't understand that stat...
He’s prevented 5.3 runners from scoring all year?
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 6:07 PM CDT
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Thanks, bubbamike...
Howry has been struggling, but he’s effective when he doesn’t give up the longball…I think thats something he can fix, however.
The team needs to carry him a while and see if he can return to form. I guess some have to find the one thing that’s going badly and harp on it.
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 8, 2008 6:06 PM CDT 0 recs
I would, definitely.
There’s a team option, IIRC.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 8, 2008 6:13 PM CDT
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me too
everyone else was bashing us the other day….i love having him as a mentor to geo
by cubswynn on
Aug 8, 2008 6:15 PM CDT
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I agree.....
You can tell he’s a clubhouse leader. Plus, he’s hitting pretty damn well this year!
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 8, 2008 6:16 PM CDT
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He's a great backup for geo
And the guys seem to like him.
I hope they do bring him back.
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 6:20 PM CDT
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Hank White for President!
What a game!
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on
Aug 8, 2008 6:55 PM CDT
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that would be funny
a bunch of people with 24 jerseys that say “White” on the back
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 7:48 PM CDT
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Samardzija didn't catch Pujols napping
In fact, Pujols tried to catch the Shark sleeping (he must have noticed the same lack of focus that you pointed out re the Izturis walk) and took off for second before the pitch. Henry Blanco came out from behind the plate and pointed to second (and yelled too, I’m sure), and Samardzija then threw down to catch Pujols. Credt the Shark for not balking.
But you’re right about the losing focus. Izturis also stole third without a throw because of that.
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
by JohnM on Aug 8, 2008 6:12 PM CDT 0 recs
That steal of third was kind of pointless.
There were two out at the time—it would have taken a hit to score him anyway.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 8, 2008 6:14 PM CDT
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Or a wild pitch
My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.
by JohnM on
Aug 8, 2008 6:15 PM CDT
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it's scrappy, tho!
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 6:30 PM CDT
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Not to Izturis...
He wanted to sneak over and say hi to Aramis….
by BartlettBob on
Aug 8, 2008 11:00 PM CDT
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give him their secret "hand" shake
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
by El Borto on
Aug 9, 2008 11:17 AM CDT
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I just mouthed that same quote to my Dad
Just got off the phone with him. I’m a little giggly today, beating the Cardinals at Wrigley just feels great. Edmonds, this guy has been amazing. Love the replay off him tossing the bat and glancing at the Cardinals dugout. Eat that LaRussa.
If this is indeed “the year” I will be getting a Edmonds Cubs jersey, framing it and hopefully get him to sign it somehow.
by TheRamZamDLEE on Aug 8, 2008 6:16 PM CDT 0 recs
I'm starting to think
I should get an Edmonds jersey.
Maybe I’ll just get one of each.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 6:30 PM CDT
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Did you ever in your wildest dreams think...
... that you’d be saying that?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 8, 2008 6:41 PM CDT
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lol....
well, I was never anti-Edmonds based on his history with the Cardinals; I just thought he was tapped out.
But no, when he was brought on, I figured that the only Edmonds Cubs jerseys would be the ones he wore. :D
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 6:45 PM CDT
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we're not the yankees
we can hate a guy when he’s not on our team and when they are a cubbie, you gotta at least give them a chance
by cubswynn on
Aug 8, 2008 7:17 PM CDT
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Nice
Wrigleyvillesports.com has some Chicago Cubs Edmonds gear … jersey, t-shirts, etc.
Cubs record since April 2004: 4-0
by Vermont Cubs Fan on
Aug 8, 2008 9:16 PM CDT
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That's something I should invest in just for how ironically delicious and wonderful it is.
These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"
by slcathena on
Aug 8, 2008 11:24 PM CDT
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I told my dad, a Cards fan, just last night
that he can go ahead and buy me that Edmonds jersey whenever he feels like it. He responded, “Maybe…”
make/art
by neverAcquiesce on
Aug 9, 2008 9:21 AM CDT
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how i know this is our year
we pinch run for geo, it ends up not working, and henry has to catch…..who gets the winning hit? hammerin hank
everything seems to fall into place for us
by cubswynn on Aug 8, 2008 6:17 PM CDT 0 recs
On Fukudome
Rookie season, new country – he’s gotta be homesick. Talk about culture shock. Not like he can make a quick trip home, but i don’t know what else would help him @ this point in the season.
by thegangler on Aug 8, 2008 6:19 PM CDT 0 recs
Also
Rosenthal has a nice piece on The Shark and papa shark.
by TheRamZamDLEE on Aug 8, 2008 6:21 PM CDT 0 recs
I'm not a ND head, but its nice to see a local boy succeed.
he’s been pretty great.
I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver
by halfblindcubbiegirl on
Aug 8, 2008 6:23 PM CDT
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i didn't catch the TRL/edmonds thing
bat throwing? what happened? i’m confused
by cubswynn on Aug 8, 2008 6:21 PM CDT 0 recs
Edmonds kills a baseball
watches it… looks in the Cardinal dugout and flipped his bat in that direction(as if to say take that), begins HR trot .
by TheRamZamDLEE on
Aug 8, 2008 6:25 PM CDT
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that lack of humility
is what sinks him but without it he’d probably be nothing. Gotta take the good with the bad.
by Emelie on
Aug 8, 2008 6:27 PM CDT
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well
TLR deserves it, frankly.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 8, 2008 6:31 PM CDT
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In Edmonds defense
Wow – feels so weird to type that. He got a bum deal in StL. He did a lot for that team and TLR. They repaid te favor by running him out of town.
by thegangler on
Aug 8, 2008 6:33 PM CDT
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Did you feel the same way about
the way the Cubs treated Sosa? Sosa may not have been the nicest guy but he was treated like crap by the Cubs and their fans at the end. He gave a lot to the team and the city and was treated very badly. I know that most folks here disliked him but the numbers speak for themselves.
Oh and don’t mention juice as you have no evidence. He never tested positive and there is no mention of him as a user in scumbag Conseco’s book.
Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr



