Geo Curtain Call in the 9th 9-18-08

Just saw the score. When I left work the Cubs were down like 6-2. Haven’t seen the details yet, but can’t wait to do so.

Amazing!

Dave

for those of us who missed it

they find ways to win instead of ways to lose. This has been an amazing week.

I have seen about a 1,000 games (most from the 6th inning on after my paper route) and never remember a comeback like this. With 2 outs and nobody on the Brew Crew must have been popping a few in the tunnel and all of a sudden all hell broke loose and Soto definitely cemented his ROY coronation. Let’s get two!

I am in the 11th inning on my DVR. Kendall ground ball causing the rundown.

Compelling and Rich.

When the Cubs clinch the division, I hope the celebration is mild and the theme is we haven’t won anything yet. Don’t get me wrong, they deserve to celebrate as hard as they want to but I wouldn’t mind seeing the focus being on 11 wins in the post season. Am I wrong to feel this way?

After Geo’s big day, how appropriate that the magic number honors the best Cubs catcher of all time?

…and by the bottom of the ninth i told my friend “we’re about to lose.” right then rami came in with his double and i remember thinking, “well i’m glad he hasn’t given up” and i think thats just it—these players believe it too!!!! they’re trying til the very last out, and not giving any away (in this game, at least). i love it!!!!

…. to me!

Nice to see the Cubs didn’t forget about me!!!!!! Now I’m off to bed since it’s 1am and I’m tired… this post will have a few thousand by the time I wake up probably

So I followed most of today’s game via Gameday audio in my cube at work, chiming in on the game thread when inspiration hit…yadda yadda. Lo around the eight inning, when the game pretty much looked hopeless, I left my desk for a meeting with my boss. By the time I got back, the score was tied. I’d missed one of the most amazing home runs in Cubs history. Unbelievable.

Although it did occur to me at that point that maybe I wasn’t meant to witness this one, I nonetheless listened to another inning or so. But then it came time for me to leave work, so I shut down my computer and left. Well, you know what happened next – while I was away from my computer or a radio or a TV, they won.

So the line starts here: Each and every one of you can thank me. Because if I’d stuck around to listen to Pat and Ron, or found a TV to watch the game, the Cubs would have lost this one. But I made the ultimate sacrifice, and they won. It’s a total team effort, people. And I did my part.

What is with your choices of Cubs wearing the magic numbers? I like Hartnett as much as the next guy but are you serious when you SNUB Ryan Theriot with this decision?

I call into question, Al’s judgement in this case…The Riot Vs. Gabby Hartnett.

Anyone second this motion??

Brewers the last wee.

There is something to be said about letting the Brewers in the playoffs if rather than the then take it cool against the Brewers.

With the Brewers in the playoffs we get the Dodgers in the first round. And easier match up than the Mets IMHO. Also if Sheets is out or hurting the Brewers are the kind of team that could beat the Phils in 5 game series but with a seven game series without Sheets they would not have to the arms to compete.

I know I’m overthinking this crap. I really don’t care. Lets just win two from the Cards and lock this division up.

Right you are!

Figured it just wasn’t our day. I took a nap and then woke up to confirm we had lost, only to see Geo had just homered.

Shame on me for not having faith. I don’t think I will turn off another game all year.

My crow eating moment is over.

I don’t really understand the magnitude of this all, yet. It hasn’t all sunk in.

I live and breathe the Cubs. If the Cubs don’t do well it always seems like I have a bad night/day.

I can’t imagine what Cubs fans older than are going through watching this season. The team is special.

Everyone enjoy and savor. We all deserve this.

We are in for one HELL of a ride.

I’m coming for the weekend. I’m at Nats-Mets now (7-0) and Al got the better deal. Inexplicably, Laz Diaz keeps coming over to chat between innings.

I considered driving up today and trying to get into Wrigley, but I decided against it. Let this be a lesson — never, ever doubt your first instincts.

The good news is I did listen to those instincts last week and went to St. Louis to see Harden’s last start, the 3-2 victory. That was a great game, but nothing like this.

I evny you, Al, for the week you’ve had, and for all of you who were there in person today. I’ve seen my share of games this season, so I won’t complain. But it’s almost like a junkie trying to get a fix — it’s never enough.

Let’s keep that high going for at least another month and a half, eh?

A friend of mine is working on a video tribute to Soto to the song “Holding Out for A Hero” and will post it when done on You Tube.

It’s going to be a series of videos. Her other ideas are rather goofy at times but some are neat.

Derrek Lee “Mr. Lee”
DeRosa and Theriot goofy from Snoopy Come Home “Me and You A Two Man Crew”
Kerry Wood “The Eyes of Texas”
A tribute to the rotation to “Simply the Best”

Supposed to go today but had a work emergency.

Went into a meeting with 1 out in the 9th and the score 6-2. Left at 5 turned on car radio to hear Steve Cochran just in time to hear the win.

all the ledge jumpers today and past games, please never give up on this team. Do not compare this team to past teams. The only thing they have in common is they all have/had 25 players, had a coach and all played at Wrigley. This team is special and today was just another example of how special they are.

They aren’t perfect and yes they will lose a game or two yet this season but enough of the 7th inning doom and gloom crap. Just give believing a chance. It will be worth it.

2 possible kind of weird scenarios.

Cubs win tomorrow. Brewers lose they clinch when they’re all home with their families.

I think the following could be weirder.

Cubs and Brewers start the same time on Saturday. If both win tomorrow the Cubs could actually clinch in the middle of their game with a Brewers loss.

I could just picture the whole crowd suddenly going nuts and the players looking at the scoreboard.

I was in my office and listened on the radio from the pregame on. At the top of the ninth when I said “WHAT?!?!?!” in unison with Ron Santo, I decided to take a walk down the hall to work with a colleague on something that had been waiting all day. He turned his radio off so we could work on our project. A Cardinal fan of all things came sprinting down the hall and said COME TO MY OFFICE CUBS HAVE TIED IT (she shares an office with a Cub fan and has a tv). We ran down there and started jumping up and down.

It was awesome. Of course we got no work done after that. We just stared at the tv in disbelief.

anywhere?

..I have never witnessed a comeback like this. What are the odds of the Cubs coming back, down 4 runs with 2 outs in the 9th and to tie the game in dramatic fashion then coupling that with the Brewers not being able to score in the top of the 12th with runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs??

I mean that is once in lifetime type stuff!!!

Just want to mention this game against Atlanta on April 29, 1979. Cubs are down 5-0 in the top of the ninth inning. The first two batters reach, but the next two batters are quickly retired and it’s still 5-0 with two out in the ninth inning.

Then Ted Sizemore walks to load the bases. Tim Blackwell singles home Dave Kingman and Steve Ontiveros. Larry Biittner singles home Sizemore and Bobby Murcer hits a three-run home run to make it 6-5.

The game was in Atlanta, so Bruce Sutter had to come in and get the save. He did allow a couple of singles, but ended the threat.

Of all the times Jack Brickhouse told me that the Cubs were just a walk, a bloop and a blast from getting back in the game so I shouldn’t go anywhere, this was about the only time he was right.

But I remember a team that had one of the greatest 9th inning playoff comebacks of all time: the 1986 Boston Red Sox (against the Angels), but that’s not what that Bosox team is remembered for.

But i would officially like to take credit as it did happen on my birthday.

I was listening and then got restless and decided the dogs needed to play outside more than I needed to follow the game.

Here

I always keep the thought of victory in the back of my head, even when we’re getting blown out by the Reds (wherefore art thou, John Lieber?), but it was the bottom of the 9th, and there were two outs. “It’s ok,” I said to myself. “We’re still a lock for the post,” I said, nd the division," I said.

I was ok with that. Not the best ending to the series, but hey, we’re still int he best position in decades.

And then.

AND THEN.

Well. We all know the rest. But it’s clear that we can NEVER COUNT THIS TEAM OUT.

EVAR.

Al – do you keep a blank “extra-innings” page on hand, just in case?

What scorecard did you get Sunday night at Miller Park? Mine was Reds at Brewers from earlier in September.

Think where this team would be if Michael Barrett were still catching for us (hard to believe it’s only been little over a year since then too..). He should at least get more votes then Howard, but apparently ESPN has this whole “well he has ALMOST 50 HR, but who cares if he is hitting .240?” attitude. Very similiar to Andruw Jone’s season in 05..

I’d forgotten this was all this week:

Last Sunday, he was behind the plate to catch Carlos Zambrano’s no-hitter. On Thursday, he delivered a game-tying three-run homer with two outs in the ninth that forced extra innings against Milwaukee. The Cubs rallied to win, 7-6, on Derrek Lee’s RBI single in the 12th.

Geez. What a week. Linkage.

Could we please get a picture of Soto in sunglasses with a big ass gun just looking cool

went to Wrigley for the first time on 9/18/97.

Saw them beat the Cardinals and fulfilled a goal of singing the stretch with Harry (just barely, as it turned out). I was fortunate enough to be in Chicago on business last year on 9/18 and got to “celebrate” at Wrigley by watching the Cubs lose to the Reds. Today was much better… even if I couldn’t be there in person.

It’s also been 38 years (9/18/70) since Jimi Hendrix died, so…

Man having to work sucks!

I experienced the birth of my second daughter yesterday (Brynn). Today, I was able to sneak away from the hospital and I got to see the Geo Dong and probably the most amazing comeback I have ever seen.

I missed the game winner but it was awesome to get the text from my buddy….“Sing It B!tch” That was the happiest I have ever been changing a poopy diaper

I really should not have been at the game. For the 18 years I have lived in New York I have always come in for the
final home WEEKEND ( Fri/Sat/Sunday) never earlier but this year looking at the schedule I figured what the hell I can take off Wed afternoon and see TWO more games so I did.
I got a LOT of grief from Al and company today for admitting YESTERDAY that I wanted them to lose because I wanted them to clinch on Sunday. I was given a one day suspension from playing " Home Run Derby" and Al kept
carping about win now and forget when you clinch. Let’s just say he lightened up after the 9th. It really was amazing and VERY few people had left. One strange thing was that in the 12th I STOOD UP WHEN LEE BATTED. Now I NEVER stand up until AFTER something happens. People who stand up and cheer when there are TWO strikes are my pet peeve and I won’t even stand with two out in the 9th but this time I stood. Al and others stared at me because they know I don’t stand. Evil Phil was bitching that Lee should get a clutch hit “for once in his career”when Lee got the game winning hit.

In a way you had to be there to really feel it but it was one of the most remarkable games I have been to.

Tonight the Westside Rooters had a gathering and Geo was the main attraction. CSN’s Sports Nite will have footage of the event on their 10 pm news cast. Just thought other Geo fans would like to know.

I haven’t seen any video of Soto’s HR, or Lee’s game winner.

Anyone got some?