Bleah: Cubs 6, Cardinals 12
Well, the weather was nice.
That's about all there is to say about today's goofy 12-6 Cubs loss to the Cardinals. If you split the game into two halves, the Cubs lost the first 4 1/2 11-0, but won the second half 6-1.
It doesn't work that way, of course, and the game was really over in the first inning when Carlos Zambrano, coming off his no-hitter, started throwing a "no-outer", letting the first four batters reach base and then giving up a grand slam to Adam Kennedy. In so doing, Kennedy doubled his HR total to date this season in over 300 at-bats. It was wind-aided, but it didn't matter. Z was just as bad in the second inning, allowing two more hits and eventually three more runs (one of which scored after Sean Marshall relieved him), and Lou was, according to his remarks at the postgame news conference, irritated with Z for leaving the mound before he came to get him; Lou told him to go back there, and I think that's the least you can do to show some respect to your manager.
Turns out Z's grandmother passed away and he spent most of the time in his days off since the no-hitter traveling back and forth to Venezuela. I can understand Z's mind not really being on his work today, but Lou didn't have a whole lot of other choices -- he was asked that at the news conference but got pretty exasperated; Marshall would have been the only other choice, but can you imagine what the buzz would have been if Marshall had been sent out to start today instead of Z?
The 1.2 inning outing tied this June 22,2005 game vs. the Brewers for the shortest and worst of Z's career; if there's consolation in that, Z faced Milwaukee again six days later and threw eight shutout innings. It's also the second-most runs scored off any pitcher in his next start after a no-hitter; you can find a list here in the cubs.com game recap, and there are a couple of Hall of Famers on it (Dazzy Vance, Catfish Hunter; Jesse Haines is in the Hall, too, but probably shouldn't be).
In any case, when it got to 11-0 Lou emptied the bench and played the rest of the day like a spring training game; only Mike Fontenot (and three Cardinals, Kennedy, Skip Schumaker and Jason LaRue) played the entire game. In that sense, it was a good day to give some of the regulars a rest and give some of the bench players some AB's; Daryle Ward had a good day, with two doubles (I asked Mike, "When do you think was the last time Ward was on third base?" -- after he had gotten there twice. He couldn't think of one. The answer appears to be July 6 in St. Louis, when he had a pinch-double and got thrown out at the plate on a Mike Fontenot single); Ronny Cedeno had a hit and walked twice, and Felix Pie had a nice AB in the 9th, winding up with an opposite-field double.
Conspicuous by his absence from this mass lineup turnover was Kosuke Fukudome, who, logically, should have been inserted in RF in the fifth, with RHP coming out of the St. Louis bullpen, to give him some AB in a non-pressure situation. Instead, Reed Johnson played the rest of the game in RF and Dome only appeared to pinch-hit for Michael Wuertz in the 8th, coming up with an RBI single. Could Dome be left off the postseason roster? It doesn't seem possible, given his defense, but Felix Pie made a case for himself to be included today. Since the Cubs are likely to go with an extra position player rather than 12 pitchers, Pie could be the guy added. Who's odd-man-out? Maybe Bob Howry, although he threw a decent 9th inning.
The Iowa Cubs made an attempt to make the score look respectable in the ninth, with a walk and two doubles scoring two runs and forcing Tony LaRussa to yank Kelvin Jimenez, who was in line for his first career save had he finished the final three innings; instead, Ron Villone came in to strike out Johnson to end it.
I met BCB reader dtpollitt and his dad today; they sat with us and seemed to have a good time despite the result, and they'll be in the upper deck tomorrow. The Cubs ought to be able to shake this one off pretty easily; sometimes it's easier to put a blowout like this behind you rather than a tough late-inning loss. If the Brewers lose tonight, the Cubs can clinch by winning tomorrow afternoon, and even if Milwaukee wins, they can clinch with a win and a Brewer loss. And no worries about the minor injury to Geovany Soto; he didn't have to participate in the carnage today and Lou said in the postgame conference that he'll be "fine".
Finally, the Cardinals have a player named "Brian Barden" and also a player named "Brian Barton". Even though they are easy to tell apart:
Barton
Barden
... this sort of thing shouldn't be allowed. One of them is going to have to go to another team.
Hey, if you can't have a few laughs after this... right? That's all you can do. Let's get 'em tomorrow. Your official discussion thread for the Brewers/Reds game is here. Go Reds!
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FIRST
Just to say it can be done.
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Sep 19, 2008 6:00 PM CDT 0 recs
Just heard on Strike Zone Central...
That Zambrano is back on a plane to Venezuala right now. Hope he is able to take care of his family, that comes first.
The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.
by sanantonecub on Sep 19, 2008 6:04 PM CDT 0 recs
Wow, he had to go back a second time?
In that case, they probably SHOULD have skipped this start.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Sep 19, 2008 6:07 PM CDT
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That's the way I heard it...
Something about “left after the game”
Could of meant the game the other day, but I’m not sure.
The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.
by sanantonecub on
Sep 19, 2008 6:08 PM CDT
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Lou got cranky with the press
when they questioned his playing Z under these circumstances. They had a point, but betrayed their ignorance when repeatedly questioning the “jet lag” incurred … there’s no time difference! Z did mention that his legs felt tired which is entirely understandable. Press thought Lou should have played Marshall instead. They may have a point but why piss off the manager in the process? Lou was not impressed.
We had fun in the game thread. Not that we paid much attention to what was going on in the field.
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on
Sep 19, 2008 6:21 PM CDT
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And Emelie made some awesome stuffed peppers!
Mmmmmm…..
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Sep 19, 2008 6:32 PM CDT
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And gave us all a lap dance too!
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:10 PM CDT
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on my way to Iowa City yesterday...
…great opportunity to listen to the game! Uh, CD player was up and running by the 3rd inning.
sue369: No, I’m not a Hawkeye; my wife is. Came out for new AXO house dedication.
by thermal54 on
Sep 20, 2008 10:27 AM CDT
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Hope your wife
is cheering right now. The Hawks aren’t looking too sharp.
by sue369 on
Sep 20, 2008 11:42 AM CDT
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They're losing to Wanny!
Oh well, the “Hawkeyes will be foin.”
by thermal54 on
Sep 20, 2008 12:01 PM CDT
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That was the BEST
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on
Sep 19, 2008 11:07 PM CDT
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actually
it was a GREAT game thread. One of the more enjoyable ones we’ve had, certainly, during a loss.
Al, there was at least one guy who got flagged a few times, tho, check your email.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on
Sep 19, 2008 6:37 PM CDT
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Hey! Those were safe for work pics!
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on
Sep 19, 2008 6:38 PM CDT
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no, no...
those were GREAT, and I think you should do them EVERY thread. ESPECIALLY Steeler Girl.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on
Sep 19, 2008 6:40 PM CDT
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Men!
I yell from the kitchen…
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on
Sep 19, 2008 6:52 PM CDT
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you guys get to see
Geo Soto EVERY DAY!
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on
Sep 19, 2008 7:39 PM CDT
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ESPN radio reported that has grandmother passed away last night.
….I find it really bizarre that he started the game today under those circumstances, especially considering he knew he would be going to Venezuala.
"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08
by JB 23 on
Sep 19, 2008 6:56 PM CDT
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I left after the second inning. I had a drunken Sox fan in front of me. Obnoxious.
by Rick B on Sep 19, 2008 6:06 PM CDT 0 recs
I guess he wanted to experience
What a playoff race atmosphere is like.
Since the 20,000 fans at the Cell don’t make one.
The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.
by sanantonecub on
Sep 19, 2008 6:07 PM CDT
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dang straight
Smellular Field STILL .. this past week didn’t come close to enjoying the attendance Wrigley has.
It always amazes me, and my SIL who is a Sox fan never is able to quite answer this .. WHY, if the White Sox have such great fans, do they never turn out to watch their team?
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on
Sep 19, 2008 6:14 PM CDT
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I've given up with the argument
All they have to say is that whether they play in front of their usual 20K-25K or sellouts every day, they have a ring and we dont. I haven’t been to the Cell since they’ve poured all the extra money into it making it look respectable. I’ve heard nothing but good things since they’ve done it. Maybe I can get a better feeling of why after next Friday.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on
Sep 19, 2008 6:18 PM CDT
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I went to a White Sox game last month
at the Cell and liked it. They have done a nice job with the ballpark. I hadn’t been there since the first year or two after it opened.
The only bad part about it was that the Sox won. :)
by Not Bruce Froemming on
Sep 19, 2008 6:39 PM CDT
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It's OK if theSOX win....
just as long as it doesn’t inflate their ego…(or make fans thinlk it’s OK to rush the field an beat people in the ears)
The best defense is a good offense
by kcjones on
Sep 19, 2008 10:54 PM CDT
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BTW...St. Lewie...
Musta been fun last week.. :)
The best defense is a good offense
by kcjones on
Sep 19, 2008 10:55 PM CDT
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Felix sure didn't make a case for himself...
….as a defensive sub with that throw to home. Ugh. Cut off man, Felix, cuf off man.
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 19, 2008 6:13 PM CDT 0 recs
At the game today
Just a couple thoughts:
-Al, I didn’t realize you had the fancy footwork that you do when I saw you get out of the way of a batting practice rocket towards you in the bleachers.
-My brother and I decided that if we were watching the game on TV, we would have turned it off and if it was MLB 2K8 it would have been restarted.
-Good to see the Farm play somewhat decent. Casey had the first 2 RBIs of his MLB career on some groundouts.
-To really stretch it, it was good that Z was able to throw on schedule but not over extend himself and that everybody got at least one AB as Fukudome’s appearance marked the last position player off the bench.
-WGN was saying it works out better anyways because if all goes well they can celebrate at home in front of 40,000+ instead of by their lonesomes.
"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth
by TkGoUWGB on Sep 19, 2008 6:15 PM CDT 0 recs
Yeah, that ball was a rocket!
If I’d have had a glove I would have tried for it, but I didn’t want a broken hand.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Sep 19, 2008 9:12 PM CDT
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Good news about Geo...
….could it be the hand that he’s always shaking when he misses a good breaking ball? Len and Bob always comment when he does that, but it’s never been explained if that hurts him much or not.
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 19, 2008 6:15 PM CDT 0 recs
It did seem Lou raised the white flag
when he trotted out the expanded roster guys. Can’t say I blame him. The mojo just wasn’t there today.
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on Sep 19, 2008 6:23 PM CDT 0 recs
wrong white flag
I wish it had a W on it
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on
Sep 19, 2008 6:52 PM CDT
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Cardinals 12, Cubs 6, featuring the bizarro Cubbies!
Daryle Ward gets 2 extra-base hits, Casey McGehee drives in 2 runs, Bob Howry pitches a scoreless inning, Fukudome and Pie get RBI hits.
Meanwhile, Zambrano gives up 8 runs in 1 2/3 innings and Aramis Ramirez fails to come through in the clutch.
Everyone be on the lookout for flying pigs.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
by hip2bsquare on Sep 19, 2008 6:26 PM CDT 0 recs

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on
Sep 19, 2008 6:36 PM CDT
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Paging Dr. Stragelove....
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
by hip2bsquare on
Sep 19, 2008 6:38 PM CDT
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great record
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on
Sep 19, 2008 9:59 PM CDT
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lol! you nailed it.
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on
Sep 19, 2008 6:54 PM CDT
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rough game today huh?
Yikes… now Zambrano has almost as many excuses as Houston
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Sep 19, 2008 6:52 PM CDT 0 recs
Youo don't think his
grandmother passing is a good excuse?
by sue369 on
Sep 19, 2008 7:41 PM CDT
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no its a fine excuse
but it is funny how everybody here is saying that the Astros should just suck it up, they are major league ballplayers and that is no excuse to get no hit… no excuse? You mean they dont play at home on a home day, their city is evacuated, their homes and families are in jeopordy… but when big z losses his grandmother, whiich is a GREAT excuse for a bad game, i understand that, but everybody seems to flip flop, instead of going with their original argument that its a major league ballplayer that gets paid a lot of money to do what he does
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on
Sep 20, 2008 12:32 AM CDT
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You make a good point but
I haven’t heard Big Z compain about it or blame the lose of on it. Or making goofy t-shirts. Everyones complaint was about the Astros whinning about everything not that they played poorly
"Destiny is a matter of choice, not chance"
by MerlinDog on
Sep 20, 2008 8:37 AM CDT
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Z was very apologetic about his outing
he appeared quite humble and chastened in his press conference. I felt badly for him.
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on
Sep 20, 2008 8:39 AM CDT
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Z Will Be Fine Come October
I’m expecting the “no hitter Z” to show up in October. Not that he’ll toss another hitless game against the Dodgers or Phils or Mets – I’m talking about the focus and sharpness.
Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.
by CaliCub on
Sep 20, 2008 10:24 AM CDT
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Unlike the Astros, Zambrano didn't look for a scapegoat.
He even aplogized to the fans.
To me, this one’s on Lou. He should not have sent Zambrano to pitch yesterday under those circumstances. It was better to let Zambrano rest and mourn than to grant his ill-advidised wish to pitch.
by Fraggin Judge on
Sep 20, 2008 1:40 PM CDT
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Me too
If I remember hearing correctly when talking about him his grandmother was a huge influence in his life and one of the big reasons he is where he is today.
Go Cubs
by cubstoseriesby100 on
Sep 20, 2008 11:25 AM CDT
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Fukudome...
How can Piniella even think about leaving Kosuke off the post-season roster?? The $48 million man not playing in October? Ridiculous.
"Hey-Hey! Home Run! Attaboy Ronnie!" ~ Jack Brickhouse
by ronsanto10 on Sep 19, 2008 7:04 PM CDT 0 recs
He's not playing now.
Why would October be different?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Sep 19, 2008 9:12 PM CDT
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I don't know...
…if a righty is throwing for the Cards tomorrow, but if so, I predict Fukudome gets a start and makes a posiitve contribution to the clincher.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on
Sep 19, 2008 9:45 PM CDT
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It's Joel Piniero.
Yes, Dome could start today (Saturday). If he makes a positive contribution, that’d go a long way toward Lou giving him more playing time, especially in the last week, to try to get him back on track.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Sep 20, 2008 7:33 AM CDT
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Offense Is So Much Better With A Good Dome
Captain Obvious, I realize, but the hitting attack is more well-rounded and relentless when Dome is collecting his hits and walks.
Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.
by CaliCub on
Sep 20, 2008 10:27 AM CDT
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I would be shocked
Dome will be on the roster, I predict a bid hit in the playoffs, in at least one of the games
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on
Sep 19, 2008 10:01 PM CDT
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i think fuk u do me will be on the roster... atleast for a pinch runner late in a game
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on
Sep 20, 2008 12:34 AM CDT
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that wasn't necessary
why insult Dome?
That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou
by Emelie on
Sep 20, 2008 3:52 AM CDT
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really
To think Dome is not busting his tail to get better, he would like nothing more, and so would Lou, to be in rightfield hitting the ball again.
So your ill attempt at humor failed.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on
Sep 20, 2008 6:21 AM CDT
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I believe she was
talking about you insulting him by saying his name the way you did. That is disrespecting him and an insult.
by sue369 on
Sep 20, 2008 10:13 AM CDT
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I didn't insult anyone
I agreed to Emelie.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
by Grockcubs on
Sep 20, 2008 11:04 AM CDT
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Sorry, you are correct.
She was talking to Southside. Sorry!
by sue369 on
Sep 20, 2008 11:45 AM CDT
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Not that it matters much
But the Brewers are down 5-0 in the 3rd.
"Earthly fame is naught but a breath of wind, which now comes hence and now comes thence, changing its name because it changes quarter." -- Dante, Purgatorio, Canto XI
by sweetswinger on Sep 19, 2008 7:04 PM CDT 0 recs
6-0 now...
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:12 PM CDT
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Just Carlos being Carlos
He’s still got to go out and get the job done, he got some days off and it was time to go back to work. Walking off the mound like that isn’t what you want to see from your Ace. But I see it as just a blip.
Cue the Astros Fans (Skip Bayless) wanting an asterix next to Z’s no hitter.
Oddly enough I was at that ’05 game in Milwaukee. I remember walking over to watching him warm up in the bullpen. I blamed myself for that loss as It was my 1st trip to Miller Park.
by TheRamZamDLEE on Sep 19, 2008 7:05 PM CDT 0 recs
Hey - is the replay of the no-hitter on WGN-9 in Chicago or not?
All my ‘guides’ say ‘regular programming’. HELP!
Wait a minute... who am I here?
by malicedoom on Sep 19, 2008 7:19 PM CDT 0 recs
Yes!
Should be on WGN-9 and WGN-America both. At 10 CST.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:21 PM CDT
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OK, thanks. My DVR is gonna freak out - I'm going to have...
…to tell it record ‘Family Guy’ and ‘stop recording 2 hours late’ – LOL – damn you, Comcast digital guide…
Wait a minute... who am I here?
by malicedoom on
Sep 19, 2008 7:24 PM CDT
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And they're replaying it again tomorrow night at midnight on WGN-America.
In case your recording screws up. Not sure about Channel 9 tomorrow though. I’ll have to check.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:27 PM CDT
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8-0
Reds.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Sep 19, 2008 7:26 PM CDT 0 recs
Thank you Dusty!
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:27 PM CDT
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I had a hard time
even following the game today. Hopefully tomorrow will be a huge day for the Cubs and their fans.
by sue369 on Sep 19, 2008 7:43 PM CDT 0 recs
Same here
I listened off and on to the radio while driving. Going through the game threads, looked like you guys had a pretty good time though. Except for the guy trolling for Theriot arguments.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Sep 19, 2008 7:46 PM CDT
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Oh, we had a good time
with him too, I just don’t think he realized.
"That’s the great thing about b




