An Anniversary Cubs Fans Would Rather Forget: Cubs vs. Padres, Saturday 5/23, 9:05 CT

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2009 7:00 PM CDT in Game Threads Comment 36 comments

It's hard to believe nearly 25 years have gone by since the Cubs went to San Diego needing only one win in three games to win the NLCS. As we all know, it didn't happen.

One of the things I've always wondered about is why the series got scheduled the way it did. First, let me explode a myth: the Cubs did NOT lose home field in the 1984 NLCS -- they were never scheduled to have it. Under the alternate-year rotation then in place, the NL East had home field in 1983, though the Phillies needed only two home games to win it. The Cubs would have lost home field in the World Series, but we'd have taken that just to get in, right?

In any case, after playing two day games in Chicago, the Cubs were forced to fly to San Diego and play the next night, instead of having the usual travel day. Whether jet-lagged or tired or both, the Cubs got blown out in game three and then got an off day. After that ...

Well, no need to rehash it. But the Padres are doing so tonight, having a "Padres 1984 NL Champions Celebration presented by San Diego County Toyota Dealers and brought to you by XX 1090 and The Walrus" promotional date. Gee, I wonder why they scheduled it this weekend? (And they need three sponsors to "present" and "bring" this event to fans?)

I hope Petco Park is filled with Cubs fans tonight who will boo the very appearance of Steve Garvey. The Padres fans that were there in 1984 -- and I can tell you this because I was there -- were among the worst I have ever seen. They went way beyond heckling; friends of mine had nails thrown at them. The '84 Padres fans seemed happier that our team lost than their team won. If you, for some reason (sort of like watching a train wreck), want to know where the 1984 Padres are now, check out this post from our SBN Padres site, Gaslamp Ball. I particularly like the description of what Terry Kennedy is up to these days.

Back to this year's Cubs: Bruce Miles says no to Soriano at 2B, although I'd like to see it at least tried, and also:

The other day, I blogged that the Cubs had to do something with Rule 5 pick David Patton, the reliever who hasn't relieved since May 9. I maintained, and still do, that it's unfair for Patton to be sitting in the big leagues when he could be working on his craft in the minor leagues, even if it means sending him back to the Rockies organization. I suspect this will come to a head sooner rather than later, from what I'm being told. In an ideal world, the Cubs would either get Patton through waivers or bite the bullet and send him back to the Rockies. From there, they could call up Jake Fox from Iowa and go with 11 pitchers. All by themselves, the Cubs have proven what folly it is to carry 12. They have 12 on the roster, but they're using 11 without benefit of the extra position player.

Today's Starting Pitchers


Randy Wells Cubs	vs.	Josh Geer Padres

0-0	W-L	0-1
0.00	ERA	5.61
9	SO	14
5	BB	7
0	HR	7
vs. SD	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Randy Wells	0-0	2	2	0	0	0	0	11.0	9	0	0	0	5	9	0.00	1.27

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Josh Geer	0-1	6	5	0	0	0	0	33.2	37	24	21	7	7	14	5.61	1.31

This is new ground for both of tonight's starting pitchers. Neither has faced tonight's opponent. Randy Wells has yet to allow a run in the major leagues in five appearances (two starts). Josh Geer has allowed seven home runs, all of them in his last three starts. If that isn't a recipe to get Cubs bats awakened, I don't know what is.

Caption for Josh Geer's photo: "You're taking my picture? You mean right now?"

Cable only tonight, in both the Chicago and San Diego areas. Maybe that's better. For today's other games see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Overflow comment threads will post today at 10 pm, 11 pm and 11:45 pm CDT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

It wouldn't make up for 84

But a win tonight sure would be nice… Go Cubs!

by LT on May 23, 2009 7:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

go cubs

by coral on May 23, 2009 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I normally stay away

from the in-game threads on rarely post on the pre-game threads.

But today I’m going to say:

JOSH GEER—LIGHT ’EM UP!!!!!

And let’s get a win for Randy Wells.

by Josh77 on May 23, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Kind of glad I am out of the loop

Been in Columbus Ohio since Thursday with limited computer access and no way to see the games. Just a quick browse of BCB is awfully depressing. I don’t blame you but I still hold to my theory that hitters can come to life but bad pitching is forever so the fact that the starters have all been very good in this horrible string of losses still gives me hope.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 23, 2009 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you, DS

If the pitching were hopeless, that would be one thing. But the bats need to come alive.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Twittermeyer is htiting the sauce again...

Soriano gets a blow. Font, bradley back. Lineup: riot, fuky, milt, hoffp, soto, font (2b), scales (3B), wells

by lswaidz on May 23, 2009 8:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What a horseshit lineup.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

--Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on May 23, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m watching Motley Crue Carnival of Sin on HD on some random channel instead… sick of seeing loosing, it’s depressing… the Crue however, is not.

by lswaidz on May 23, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that would be Palladia HD

by LT on May 23, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha there it is

I saw this tour live and the DVD and what not doesn’t do it justice… this isn’t bad though. Tommy Lee’s drum solo is nuts… absolutely crazy. One of the better live shows I’ve ever been to.

by lswaidz on May 23, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sori is the only one missing.

Doesn’t look too bad to me.

I like Bradley in the 3 hole.

by kanderber on May 23, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS?

by redward on May 23, 2009 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What exactly does "Soriano gets a blow" mean?

Strange.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2009 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL, thought the same thing.

by kanderber on May 23, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess the TWSS quota

has been fiilled for the month?

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on May 23, 2009 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's why i thought he was on the sauce

by lswaidz on May 23, 2009 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if he actually witnessed that.

"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.

by zevkalman on May 23, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lineup

Lee is hitting 4th at 1B

by Steves Stoners on May 23, 2009 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct.

This isn’t the first time that Gordo has left someone off the lineup list. Hoffpauir is playing LF.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Terry Kennedy

There actually is a black skateboarder named Terry Kennedy, so it was just a play on the name lol

Yes lets get a W I don’t care what the lineup is, Josh Geer shouldn’t keep any major league team from scoring less than 3 or 4 runs.

by jeff_pico on May 23, 2009 8:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Your missing Lee in that lineup up there… hes between bradley and Hoff… so its not as bad as it looks..

by CubbieBlueGuy on May 23, 2009 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Hopefully Lee can get some power back tonight.

by Steves Stoners on May 23, 2009 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I for one...........

hope the Cubs get beat bad. I hate the Cubs and all of their crappy players. Bradley will definitely go 0-4. What a bad signing. Ok that should be enough.

I didn't get the players I wanted in the offseason!! Hopefully I get what I want in the Regular Season---The World Series Trophy!! Go Cubbies!!

by cubsluver22 on May 23, 2009 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

HA HA

So the Padres are making a big deal abou this game. To all those pads fans out there, I would say time to GET OVER IT. Be excited your team is playing well, but don’t jump on the 25 year old bandwagon.

BTW HAving the XX host sponsor this game tonight isn’t that big a deal, since they are the flagship station, (and IMHO the ony reason to listen to them at all.)

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on May 23, 2009 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Otherwise known as

“Equis Equis (something or other, Rosarito, Baja California.” I love their station identification. Seems like all the sports radio stations in San Diego actually are based in Mexico.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2009 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Branding is good,

content is not.

Rumor has it the Hacksaw may be returning to the SD airwaves, which would not suck!

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will

by eswan9 on May 23, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought they were sponsored by a Beer

dos Equis

by LT on May 23, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stay thirsty for a World Series, my friends

“XX” in this case is the brand identification for the Padres’ flagship radio station (“Double X Sports”). The actual call letters are XEPRS-AM, and the station’s transmitter is across the border in Mexico.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as is ESPN 800 AM, a Mexican Licensed station.

However, KLSD am 1360 — dubbed XTRA Sports — is located down from hall from me on Granite Ridge Rd.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 23, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

25 year anniversary?

What a black sheep franchise the Padres are.

"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie"

by calicubfan on May 23, 2009 8:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope Steve Garvey gets hit with a nail...

propelled at high speed from an angry Cub fan who remembers ’84, and hates the Padres as much as I do. There, I said it. I feel better. I hate Steve Garvey.

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on May 23, 2009 8:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Al

I e-mailed you from San Diego last year telling you how bad Padres fans were. They seemed to be in denial. Yeah they got to the World Series in the last 20 years, but they refused to acknowledge that they’ve never actually won one. At least any time anyone brings up our bad luck I respond with any team can have a bad century. I got heckled by a crowd of Padres fans in a parking garage elevator. They serenaded me with Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye acting is if it was 1984 all over again. I stepped off the elevator and told em watch us in the playoffs in October unfortunately after that they didn’t make me look good, but thats in the past lets beat em tonight for ’84.

Someday we'll go all the way.

by Cubbinstrongsince86 on May 23, 2009 8:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was at Petco in 2007

And I experienced the same thing. Not sure what is wrong with these people, they really have an inferiority complex.

by LT on May 23, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went to Qualcomm

the last season before Petco opened and wasn’t harassed at all. On the other hand, there weren’t any Padres fans there either. Cub fans outnumbered Padres fans 3-1 at least.

They’re not so brave when they’re outnumbered.

by Josh77 on May 23, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They are always outnumbered, Josh. It doesn't make any difference

The old refrain… “If you like Chicago so much, why are you here???" usually, I’ve said — “somebody has to run this city while you surf…..”

Friday night, 4 drunken Padres fans were hassiling a pair of Cubs fans in front of them. (I was behind them, and they ignored me. (Probably because if I was quieter, I would have been invisible.) An usher had to come over to settle the drunks down.

I’m at work, and I have to keep the sound down on the TV because it’s one rope—a-dope after another on Cox Channel 4….with plenty of highlights from that ‘magical’ sewason.

It’s as sickening now as it was then, except I’m not being assaulted, I’m not having beer thrown at me, and every obscene word in the book is not being yelled at me just because I was a Cubs fan.

Such behavior never took place in the 1989 NLCS at Candlestick Park.

I’ve never encountered such behavior in 25 years worth of visits to Dodger Stadium.

Draw your own conclusions about San Diego Padres fans.

A horrible, horrible experience 25 years ago.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 23, 2009 10:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

they're just pissed

bc they’ve never won a major title in that town. Chargers or Padres. They’re just jealous. Yeah I can agree with you about Dodgers, I went there after I was in San Diego. They make fun of the team more then the fans. I sat next to a couple who were split, the husband was a cubs fan and the wife was a dodgers fan. I think if you’re respectful when you go to another teams park to watch your team you will generally be accepted.

Someday we'll go all the way.

by Cubbinstrongsince86 on May 24, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs