Guess-Hitting Hack Homers, Cubs Lose To Giants Anyway, 8-6

by Al on Mar 18, 2009 7:04 PM CDT in Recaps Comment 67 comments

You'll recognize the "nickname" in the headline as one that a certain member of this website has bestowed on Alfonso Soriano. The "hack" hacked his third homer of the spring and also singled, but a massive blowup by reliever Jose Ascanio, who allowed five Giants runs in the ninth, turned what appeared to be an easy 5-3 win into an 8-6 loss, even though the Cubs scored a run in the last of the ninth.

Nick Noonan, a Giants farmhand who won't turn 20 until May and who spent last year at Augusta in the South Atlantic League, hit a grand slam off Ascanio, whose ticket to Iowa was likely punched today, though he probably had little chance of making the roster anyway. This makes that cut that much easier for Lou and Jim. Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino weren't that good, either, but at least Vizcaino struck out the side in his inning.

A HoHoKam Park record crowd of 13,024 (was there someone here talking about attendance problems? That's a huge crowd for a Wednesday) brought the total spring attendance so far to 120,130, or 10,010 per game, with seven home dates remaining, almost all of which should be sold out or close, especially if the weather remains as spectacularly nice as it was today (I understand it's supposed to cool off over the weekend, then warm up again next week).

Tim Lincecum, who started for the Giants, must have been working on something today, because the Cubs hit him pretty hard and he was also wild, walking four (while striking out six) in 3.2 innings of work. Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster was outstanding, allowing only four singles and a walk in his five innings of work, striking out four. He should be right on target for his first start in the season's second game in Houston. Mike Fontenot had two more hits, raising his average to .391, and Joey Gathright also had two hits, and one of them hit Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval in the face; Sandoval had to leave the game.

Tomorrow, Aaron Heilman faces the Mariners' Gaby Hernandez at Peoria. Heilman was a Mariner for 47 days, between December 12 and January 28. Wonder if he and Garrett Olson will swap frequent-flier mile stories from this past offseason?

Finally, this photo has nothing to do with the Cubs, but I thought it was hilarious, so I wanted to post it here anyway. Today, Manny Ramirez helped some Australian cricketers tape a promotional spot for DirecTV's cricket coverage at the Arizona Cricket Club in Gilbert. No, I am not making this up. The mind boggles:

photo via d.yimg.com

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heh, Ramirez carries a big stick

#34: You'll be missed!

by Chanman25 on Mar 18, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Back when I was a professional high school baseball player (sarcasm), playing the hot corner, I got a line drive straight in my chest. It happened so fast—and apparently I wasn’t very quick—I fell down instantly, had the wind knocked out of me, my short stop barehanded the ball and threw the guy out. Needless to say, I was both embarrassed and in a lot of pain. Coach came over to check me out, we lifted my shirt, and there was already a bright welt the size of a softball forming on my chest. I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a baseball hit you in the face, my chest hurt enough.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 7:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's great to get hit in the face by a baseball.

Like Dan, I was playing in high school, where our coaches liked to have “bucket” drills, where we’d basically field fungoes until our legs were jelly. Rotating between second and third, I caught one right on the bridge of my nose.

I don’t know how my nose didn’t bleed, but you could clearly make out the stitches of the ball on my nose afterward.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Mar 18, 2009 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And these two posts are the

exact reason my mother still won’t let me near a baseball/softball. That and the fact that my fully sighted older sister had a chipped orbital bone in her right eye in HS.

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Mar 18, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heck, my sister took a bat to the teeth

The dentist had a field day with that one.

Personally, I’ve taken a couple of baseballs to the back of the head (playing “pickle” with a couple of older dudes), but the most concussive thing I ever had was a soccer ball to the face. The defender was attempting to clear from about six feet away and it just smashed me in the left eye. I lost a contact and I was woozy for a few minutes afterward, but hey – I got an assist.

"I owe [Dunston] a lot. Nobody would know how good I was at digging balls out of the dirt if it wasn't for him..." -Mark Grace
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Mar 19, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I've seen that happen, too.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of a baseball book I read as a kid- "Hard Smash To Third"

One of a series of sports books (mostly baseball and football) by Bill Carol. Dave was an outfielder but Coach wanted him to play third or something like that. I got hooked (no pun intended) on his books after reading another one – “Lefty Plays First”.

Here’s a list – see any you read as a kid? btw – see if you can find ones meant for DLee, Lilly, and Theriot. ;-)

Circus Catch
Backboard Scrambler
Clutch Single
Scatback
Hit Away!
Full-Court Pirate
Hard Smash to Third
Long Pass
Long Throw from Center
Lefty’s Long Throw
Inside the Ten
Touchdown Duo
Lefty Finds a Catcher
Lefty Plays First
Crazylegs Merrill
Sandy Plays Third
Stop That Pass!
Squeeze Play
Linebacker Blitz
High Fly to Center
Fullback Fury
Double-Play Ball
Flare Pass
Single to Center
Blocking Back

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 18, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those are great!

Lee – GIDP Wannabe

Riot – Single to Center

Lilly – Fullback Fury??

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lily - "Lefty Finds a Catcher"

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 18, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hey, aren't those Matt Christopher books?!

I use to love those books!

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Mar 18, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Christopher

Had Catcher With a Glass Arm (Rick Wilkins?) and The Kid Who Only Hit Homers (Soriano?), among others.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Mar 19, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You get an assist for that . . .

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Mar 19, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ain't nothing like a hot smash coming right at you

and you’re in the groove, senses all hyper alert and you can hear that thing hissing in the air and heading like a cobra strike right at your face.

Son, you ain’t lived til you’ve fielded a guaranteed concussion and tried to do a put out

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Mar 18, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who's called him a guess-hitting hack?

That’s one of the stupidest nicknames he can have, considering power hitting is one of the things he excels at. Making fun of his defensive left fielding makes sense, or always staring the season colder than a dead hooker’s hands is another. But hack hitting? Oy vey

by NittanyCub on Mar 18, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll give you one guess about the "guess-hitting hack" remark.

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

by Al on Mar 18, 2009 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

welp

Ascanco it was a good run, but can we trade you back to the Braves please?

#34: You'll be missed!

by Chanman25 on Mar 18, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Omar Infante available?

We could use him.

Oh, wait.

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

by Al on Mar 18, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to give up but this is why they play the games at this time

He has things to work on and he knows that now he is not ready, let me on my list knock the list down to 19

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Mar 19, 2009 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could definitely make the Braves' 25-man roster

by Clutch16 on Mar 19, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Kevin Hart

pitched a perfect 8th inning, striking out 2. Funny enough (now, anyway) the Ho Ho Kam field announcer proclaimed that Luis Viscaino was pitching the 9th. Ascanio, Viscaino……whatever…….

I was thinking the same about Tim L — is he trying out something? It seemed Maddux-esque……his first pitch of the game was high and inside….and Soriano deposited it in the Al Yellon spot on the LF berm. (Right there, Al. you would have had that ball without moving.) Lincecum was high inside and outside the plate through his entire stint.

But, as was written, Dempster looked very, very good.

Paul Bako looked very, very bad at the plate. Horrible.

That was a nasty hop that hit Sandoval in the nose/mouth…..couldn’t tell exactly where….he was ‘toweled up.’

Of course, if this was the NHL, he’ d be stiched up and back out for the 3rd period.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 18, 2009 8:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

San Diego Smooth Jazz Man...

The Hohokam field announcer didn’t say Luis Viscaino was pitching in the 9th, he said Jose Ascanio. I know that because I am the Hohokam PA Announcer and remember it distinctly because of the way I said Ascanio and that their was some fairly loud music or ambient sounds going on at the time.

I’m certainly not immune to mistakes but in this case I think you may have misheard what I said.

by cubsAZ.com on Mar 18, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well............

there you go. Can’t get a better source than that!

"I still don't know what happened"- Fergie Jenkins on '69

by tommy veryzer on Mar 19, 2009 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so cubsAZ please give us your own scouting report

tell us who will secure the last bullpen positions?

How does Koskie look?

Is K Hill the back up?

Will Gathright stick or will it be the Pauir?

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Mar 19, 2009 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 2 cents on these areas

Koskie looked great in his first Cubs at-bat belting a double off the wall at Camelback Ranch, he appears to be in good shape physically and is a decent fielder. If he hits in the next couple weeks he very well could be the back-up for A-Ram.

K Hill is doing well and and may have the slight edge right now to back up Soto, he’s certainly hitting better than Bako this spring .414 to .208. The pitchers like him and defensively it’s probably a wash between the two. Maybe Hill’s hand injury has helped him focus on his hitting because he seems more comfortable at the plate this spring.

Gathright is what Lou wanted “more speed”, he has impressed me many times this spring with stellar defensive plays in the outfield…I think he sticks because of his wheels and defense.

by cubsAZ.com on Mar 19, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the word about Hill.

If the pitchers like him and his defense is Bako’s equal, I say the job is his.

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

by Al on Mar 19, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Soriano is a great hitter

and a better fielder than people give him credit for.

The critical thing to understand is that major-league pitchers don't appear to have the ability to prevent hits on balls in play. There are many possible reasons why this is the case, and I don't really have a concrete idea as to why it is.

But the one thing I do know is that it is the case.

--Voros McCracken

by nbt on Mar 18, 2009 8:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A little late to the party, but...

Soriano is a streaky hitter. When on, there is nobody better. He is not a good fielder, but is not the worst left fielder in baseball by any stretch. Therefore, I agree, he is better than most give credit for.

if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand

by N Oakley on Mar 19, 2009 7:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs have definite concerns

All teams have worries. That said, there are several items that are troubling.

1. The bullpen — Get past Marmol and Gregg and there is nobody I feel good about.

2. The middle infield — A team that likes to think it is among the best in baseball and has a payroll well over $100 million should not have Theriot, Fontenot and Miles as its shortstop and 2nd base options. A collection of middle infielders like that is something you might see in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.

3. Derrek Lee — Nuff said already on this one.

4. The bench — Who backs up 3rd, shortstop and 1st? No infield defensive whiz on the bench? Not a good thing by any stretch.

5. Alfonso Soriano is still leading off — I guess two seasons of extreme hot and cold cycles punctuated by disapperance in the playoffs wasn’t enough for Hendry and Sweet Lou to find means to move Soriano to the middle of the lineup.

6. Kosuke — Until proven otherwise I am not convinced he can hit major league pitching. Meaning we may see a lot of Johnson and Gathright.

by BLou on Mar 18, 2009 9:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have two worries

1. Getting to the playoffs and winning.
2. See worry one.

by Employee22 on Mar 18, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

DeRosa with a homer and a couple ribbies tonight. Yet another reason we should not have gotten rid of the man.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 10:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume you're going to keep giving us all the DeRosa updates throughout the season...

and remind us over and over again what a mistake trading his was?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

his = him

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're glad they traded him away?

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What difference does it make how we FEEL about it?

It’s time to move on.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew it. You're a robot.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beep Boop Borrp....

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then why don't you stop posting all your LAME...

…sarcastic jabs, Isn’t it about time you post one of your LAME pics?

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bite your tongue!

by cubsonWGN4ever on Mar 18, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't speak -- I typed

dtpollitt was just posting updates — he shouldn’t be mocked

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is he your boyfriend or something? Why are you so upset at me giving him a hard time?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How do you know I'm not his girlfriend?

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is going to take a turn for the funny in about 30 seconds...

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not put Dan on a pedestal just yet calicubfan...

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why are we capitalizing LAME?

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno. I just did

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Roberts

2-3 tonight, 2 R, 1 BB

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We really should have never traded HIM.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 18, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dome batting 7th for Japan.

Let’s see how awesome he does tonight.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In his second AB...

…Dome runs a 5 pitch AB into a walk. High leverage situatin iwth Japan already up 2-0 and a man on 2B.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Balk by Cuban pitcher. Seems to be a bit tense!

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad to see Mark finally bought himself a baseball team...

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 18, 2009 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What? We traded his was too??? Damn you all to hell, Hendry....

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 18, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Team USA's bullpen

shockingly bad… who came up with this?

by dmlichte on Mar 18, 2009 10:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LaTroy (Boom Boom) Hawkins

Team Venezulea ran to the bat rack

by Employee22 on Mar 18, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hasn't Adam Dunn looked great @ 1st tonight?

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things fish do in it" -W.C. Fields

by calicubfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i was just about to ask that same thing

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 18, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lumberjacks belong in the outfield, where they can be hidden in the corners.

I didn’t want Dunn to take away from our Gold Glove 1B. I wanted him in the corner, to run amok and silly @ Wrigley Field sunshine, not play first. He did walk twice tonight though.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 18, 2009 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs