Wake Me Up When November Ends: Cubs Lose To Braves 2-1 On Unseasonably Cool Night
by Al Yellon on Jul 8, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
in Chicago Cubs Recaps
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PrintWill the Chicago summer ever get here? Right now I'd take hot and humid. The temperature hovered in the mid-60's last night at Wrigley Field and both teams' bats were about as cold as the Novemberish temperatures. Combined, the Braves and Cubs managed 15 hits -- 11 singles, three doubles and a triple (the latter probably would have been only a double had Micah Hoffpauir played Brooks Conrad's drive off the wall better), and both pitchers, Carlos Zambrano and Javier Vazquez, threw mostly shutdown ball.
Vazquez was just a little bit better and this was another "tip your cap to the other guy" game, a 2-1 Cubs loss to the Braves, evening the series at one game each.
There's not a whole lot more that can be said about this game, and with a day game coming soon, I'll keep this mercifully short. Z threw well on short rest, keeping his pitch count reasonably low for six innings (91 -- I know we can all remember games when he had 100+ pitches in FIVE innings); Sean Marshall and Aaron Heilman did a good job of keeping the game close, and that's a good sign for the bullpen, which has had more than its share of problems this year. The Cubs were victimized by several good defensive plays, including a number by Braves SS Yunel Escobar, who has outstanding range.
It was good to see Aramis Ramirez get around on some pitches; he had a pair of hits and while he still isn't driving the ball as he used to, I'm sure that will come with timing. Alfonso Soriano, who was loudly booed every time he came to the plate -- ridiculous, in my opinion -- had two hits and had another line drive grabbed by Martin Prado at 3B.
A few words about Ryan Dempster's injury, a fractured big toe apparently suffered when he jumped over the dugout railing to celebrate Sunday's win over Milwaukee and landed wrong. Credit Dempster for being a standup guy and telling the truth. It was, apparently, completely an accident. As usual, funnyman Dempster tried to deflect the pain with a joke:
"I guess it's what I get for making fun of the guys who go on the DL for burning their faces in the suntan booth," he said.
Dempster claims he might only miss "three starts"; the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer tweeted this last night:
Demp says might miss only 3 starts. Says it's about ain tolerance.
"Pain" tolerance, of course; that's a typo. As someone who once suffered the same injury that Dempster had in a similar freak accident (OK, if you have to know: I tripped over the stupid bench they put at the foot of the bed in a hotel room in Las Vegas several years ago), it hurts like hell and took a couple of months to heal properly, and I'm not a professional athlete who has to use his feet and legs to push off for power in his pitching. If Dempster thinks he can manage the pain to pitch, great -- but you also wouldn't want to see him make subtle adjustments in his motion while favoring one foot, because that could cause arm trouble.
Enough. The Cubs can still win this series later this afternoon. The game preview thread will post at 11:30 am CDT.
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And I don’t think it’s totally uncalled for to boo Soriano at this point, Al. I know I’m opening a can of worms here, but he’s been terrible for a month or so at a time when even a decent performance could have meant a lot.
Boo to you, sir
If you think that the man is loafing or not giving effort, then boo him. Else, what is this going to accomplish? Other than sour him towards the fans he has to play in front of for the next 4 years and sour those fans to him.
I don’t really mean boo to you. It just worked out well as a header. :)
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Soriano
Something HAS to be wrong with him. We have seen him have bad streaks before, but not for this long of a time. Is he getting the bat around as fast as he did the first month of the year? Maybe he has some kind of arm/wrist/hand injury we dont know about? Something just isnt right. He definitely isnt slacking, but this slump seems like it will never end.
Right.
I think he needs to go on the DL, and probably should have on Monday, with Sam Fuld staying here.
But I wouldn’t boo him, because I believe he IS giving 100% effort.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Not so sure about the 100 % effort, Al
I’ll give him a pass for his struggles at the plate but there have been many instances where he jogs after balls in the outfield or he jogs on the basepaths. Case in point was I believe Sunday against the Brewers when he was on first , a ball was hit to McGehee that was bobbled and if Soriano had been hustling, at the very least he could have broken up the DP.
Maybe he’s got a leg or hammy injury that bothers him when he has to accelerate suddenly, but if that’s the case, DL him as you suggest. He’s not helping the team right now.
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions
There's been talk about about a left knee injury
that’s been bothering him.
And Fonz runs so smoothly that when he’s “jogging” he’s actually running hard. Just because he doesn’t LOOK like he’s playing hard, doesn’t mean he isn’t.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
by Allie on Jul 8, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree to a point
He is gazelle-like in that results can be there when there is no apparent effort but you can see the difference when he does give 100 % and when he doesn’t. He busted his tail down the line last night to beat the throw to first on an attempted double play. I’d like to see that effort all the time.
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions
if there has been talk about a knee injury, then they need to do something about it
It’s getting pretty ridiculous.
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions
How does a knee injury
explain a total lack of strike-zone awareness? His swing looks fine physically—he just can’t figure out what pitches to swing at. I don’t understand it.
Exactly.
Soriano is not helping the team, and while his desire to play is admirable, if it’s hurting the team, then Lou/Hendry need to sit him down and tell him to take some time on the DL to get himself in order.
Since Soriano (apparently) won’t take himself out, then, in my opinion, he should be booed on that basis.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
Oh yeah
I can see that. He is not going to tell Piniella to bench him. Boo him if it makes you feel better but booing him because he won’t bench himself is silliness. Did David Ortiz ask to be benched when he struggled for several months? It just doesn’t happen.
I should have been more clear.
He should accept a trip to the DL if he is hurt, and to stop trying to “play with the pain”.
If he is hurt and not taking steps to improve his health, then the boo birds should follow.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." ~ Frank Sinatra
The ball to McGehee was a liner that
he had to hold up on. Which is why he could get to 2nd to break up the DP.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Not exactly a liner
It short hopped him, but replays showed that, even after he bobbled it and it squirted away for a second, that Soriano failed to bust his tail and peeled off rather than go full steam ahead.
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't know what view you had
but it was a sharp hit catchable line drive, yes it did sink at the last and short hop to McGehee. If Soriano goes on contact and it is caught and he gets double off people would complain (not saying necessarily you but people would)
From my experiences it is very hard to start running, then you think a ball might be caught and you then hold up or retreat a little and then the ball gets down and you have to start running again. I would have to see a side by side camera of McGehee making the play and Soriano running to know exactly what happened.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Jul 8, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
there was no way
he would have broken up that double play.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Of course not
not going 50 %.
Look, I realize that he is not a perfect player, and I don’t expect him to be perfect. But the effort was not there on that play, and on many others. If he’s hurt, fine, I understand but this is not something new this year.
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
no.
he had to wait to make sure that Hall didn’t catch it so that he didn’t get doubled up. Once Hall dumped it on the ground, he was too far away to make any kind of run.
The effort was fine. You’re misreading the play. He did the right thing; there was simply no way he could win.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
well, even after he saw that mcgehee dropped it,
soriano jogged. now, he was going to be out, but he did not give a full effort. he had to hold up, but he didn’t run hard once the play was clear. i don’t know think it would have made a difference.
i will also say that he kind of loafed it last night on the mcgehee double and then made a terrible throw to the cut off man. that was a very poor effort.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Are we talking about the same play ?
The 3B was McGehee, not Hall. The replays did show him take off, stop and then when the ball skidded away, he started up again at less than 100 %. Perhaps if he had, he could have disrupted the play or put pressure on the 2B. Who knows what could have happened ?
I’m not mis-reading the play, and I don’t want to belabor the point on this one play. If this were the sole instance of his lack of effort, I wouldn’t say a word. Unfortunatey, it isn’t. He lollygags after balls down the line and in the gap constantly. Maybe that only delays him getting to the ball by a 1/2 second, but that could be the difference between being safe and out on a throw to the plate.
I’m not giving him grief about his struggles at the plate, I think he’s been pressing. I’m not giving him grief about his tendency to shy away from the wall, or his inability to get good reads on fly balls or line drives. He’s fairly new in the OF. I’m saying that I expect to see 100% effort on every play. Is that asking too much ?
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Chip carry commented about that play and the fans booing him.
If you remember the ball was hit in the air on a line. so soriano had to freeze initially to see if it would get through or mcghee would catch. it happened that he kind of dropped and bobbled it. So when soriano was out by a mile the fans really let him hear it. Both Chip carry and Buck martinez came to his defense saying it was just one of those plays and there was not much he could have done because it was a line drive.
"Cubs Win, Cubs Win, CUBS WIN!"
Steve McMichael: "I'm going to have to have a talk with that umpire down there." Angel Hernadez then ejected McMichael. 08/07/2001
by MandMexpress12 on Jul 8, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
oh come on!
Were you even watching the game? Len and bob even talked about what happened. If you watch the replay the ball was hit on a line! Which even if you’ve only played t-ball you know you have to freeze first. If he didn’t and got thrown out at first you’d be calling for his head. Let’s all grow up a little
by gizmo6d9 on Jul 8, 2009 1:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I've made this point before
Let’s assume Soriano isn’t hurt (more on if he is in a second). I think it’s boo-worthy when a veteran player (especially one whose salary ensures his starting job and limits what the team can do otherwise) fails to make adjustments to improve his game. I equate such inaction to routinely missing the cut-off man, making repeated baserunning mistakes, etc.
This is all subjective, of course. I wouldn’t boo a guy for a bad week. But a bad SIX WEEKS?
If Soriano IS hurt, then he should go on the DL. But I’ve seen nothing — other than BCB theories — to suggest that he’s so hurt that he shouldn’t be playing.
I would never boo him but
I too believe he is hurt and to me this is just as bad as not giving 100%. If he knows something is wrong and is putting
himself above the team and playing that is worse. I think the Cubs are holding out till the AS break and foolishly hoping a few days off will cure him. Even if he is not injured he is sadly useless and the Cubs management simply has to put him on the DL whether it is physical or mental. He is honestly killing the team, he may not be alone but at least the other way below average guys are producing here and there and he is not.
"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 Jul 8, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions
for the record
I’m not saying we all SHOULD boo Soriano. I just don’t think it’s ridiculous — Al’s word — to do so after Soriano’s performance since late May.
agreed.
he is killing the team, and it’s pathetic.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
You could have said the same thing
about Derrick Lee about 5 weeks ago. Let’s give Soriano the benefit of the doubt. I’m not a Soriano supporter, but, being an old baseball player, sometimes it takes some time to work yourself out of a funk.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
+1
DLee was terrible early and he is playing great right now. People were not booing him but people were rumbling about him on here being done and the Cubs should have gotten rid of him.
by Cubsfan Waveland on Jul 8, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I think age is just creeping up on him
and that he is not adjusting to it.
The booing last night seemed uncalled for. He did get a couple hits.
"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
what's it going to accomplish?
First, I don’t think booing HAS to accomplish anything. Second, I don’t think it really negatively affects players that much.
And we have Soriano for 5 1/2 more years.
then what's the freaking point?
If you don’t think it accomplishes anything, and if you don’t really think it negatively affects them (that’s sounds like ridiculous rationalization to me) then why boo at all?
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions
venting!
And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
so booing him every time he comes to the plate
before he’s even doing anything is a-ok? It’s just beyond childish
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions
not what I said
boo him after he strikes out for the fifth time with RISP.
THAT'S not what you said
you said there was nothing wrong with booing at all. You gave no qualifiers
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions
I said I didn't think it was totally uncalled for
But, OK — I don’t think he should be booed before he gets to the plate. Re-reading Al’s post, I guess that was his big issue.
Thing is, this is all subjective.
If anything
The booing is more for the team, Lou, etc than only Sori. After all, Hendry made the deal and put this team together, Lou kept Sori leading off long past the point when he should have been moved, and Sori occasionally has looked half-assed out there (or simply stubborn, refusing to adjust his plate approach to the way he’s being pitched). I say the boos are warranted and definately not ridiculous.
"We are not equations with hats." -Dean Young
by Kegler on Jul 8, 2009 8:57 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
boo loud and long
if you pay for your ticket, you have every right to boo if you want too. i for one, would love to see everybody boo any cub player who doesn’t perform when needed. nothing agravates me more, than when cubs pitching gives up several runs in an inning, and finally when the inning ends, the lemmings clap. i say if they dont perform on the field, boo them long and loud.
wheatfield mike down here in god's country
by wheatfield mike on Jul 8, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Must be fun sitting next to you
“Doesn’t perform when needed”? You’re booing pretty much non-stop then, huh?
July: New month, new team
by chitownhawkeye on Jul 8, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Didn't you read the memo? Baseball is a game of failure. If a batter gets a hit 30%
of the time, he is considered exceptional. Sometimes a pitcher can execute a perfect pitch and a batter can throw his bat out and get a hit. It’s the nature of the game. If you don’t understand that subtlety, then you are watching the wrong sport.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 8, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
+1. A free
BCB Snuggie to you, sir!
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Why thank you Drew. With this weather, I was feeling a bit of a chill.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 8, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
In a whiny voice:
“But I want my instant gratification, Willie. Soriano always gets a hit on my Playstation. And I can check my Facebook page from the bottom of a coal mine. And, hey, I paid good money to see this Michael Bay movie, so I better damn well see some exploding robots. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Please dont sit next to me
At any game I am at.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
Sure it does.
Let’s put aside for a second that it’s just poor sportsmanship to boo. The fact is that people cheer because they like to share in the success of the players. Some people talk about their team as “we” because they like to be a part of it.
Why not share in the players’ failings then too? Booing puts the blame on them and them alone; it just seems hypocritical to think they’re not mutually exclusive.
ok, back up a second. If I understand the double negatives from your previous post...
…you’re saying booing makes you a jerk. Is that right? And I’m saying it doesn’t make you a jerk. Clearly we disagree.
Now as to your response above… let me respond to that by asking if you have ever uttered a critical word, cursed at somebody’s misplay, bemoaned yet another torturous loss. If you have, that I put it to you that you have engaged in booing as well – you’re just not standing up and saying the actual word “boo”.
If on the other hand, you are upbeat and positive and find something good to say about all the Cubs all the time, then you’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
if you have ever uttered a critical word, cursed at somebody’s misplay, bemoaned yet another torturous loss. If you have, that I put it to you that you have engaged in booing as well – you’re just not standing up and saying the actual word "boo".
If that was booing we would call that, “booing”.
Just to add to this
…because this analogy you’re making here really is ridiculous – booing is not a reactive expression of disappointment. Booing is a deliberate expression of derision, more comparable to shouting “Soriano – you suck!” than saying “Awww hell” when Theriot boots a grounder.
If you can’t see the difference between a reaction of disappointment and deliberately and proactively calling out a player for their failures I’m not sure what to tell you.
well you started this off by pretty much saying if someone boos, they're a jerk
that kind of ridiculous generalization will pretty much get you ridiculous analogies in return.
And if I may channel Freud here… sometimes a boo is just a boo. I think the anti-booers here in BCB might be putting a little too much meaning, insight, and analysis behind a simple boo. It’s not the end of the world and it’s not a scathing Worf-like indictment of that person’s career, life, and all things holy.
Sometimes, it’s just as elgato said earlier – it’s venting. And in that respect, the analogy stands.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'm going to split both ways here
I think it’s perfectly justified to boo and I don’t think there has to be a "point’ to booing other than frustration.
However, I do agree that Soriano is trying as hard as he can. What he can just isn’t good enough right now.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Second
Let’s put this one behind us and hope Kevin hart can throw as well as Randy Wells did in his first start. Win the series!
"Don't give me any of that ole' bulls#!t." - Lou Brown
Even if
Kevin Hart doesnt pitch the greatest we can still win with the bats. Lets get them going again!
Unfortunately, Hart is probably going to get shelled
and I’m not convinced the bats are healthy yet
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Hopefully it'll be a nice November day when we get this....
by GoCubbies34 on Jul 8, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yeah, that works. Rec'd.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions
May we all live long enough to see that day!!
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
I was thinking the same thing
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions
cubs-sox vs. the native americans doubleheader!!
anyone else going to both?
You mean "native Chicagoans"?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
I think
he means the Sox are playing Cleveland while the Cubs are playing the Braves. At least that is what I hope
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
Ohhhhhhhhhhh, right.
Yeah, I’ll just leave that one alone.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Boy, that Braun - how 'bout his eyes, hmm?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
those eyes
those staring eyes…
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm suddenly wondering how much I could save on car insurance...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Maybe a respected, veteran co-worker could talk sense into him
“Ryan, if you’d stop prancing like a little girl, fewer of our batters would get hit”
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
♪ ♫ So tell me who's watchin'? ♪ ♫
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
I cant get over
how cool the weather has been besides that week or so not too long ago. I hope this means the warm/hot weather lasts longer than normal to make up for it. This year’s weather has been pretty terrible. Lots of snow and brutally cold winter temps, never ending rain in the spring, and below avg temps in the summer. Make it stop!!
2009 Cubs Record: 10-2 (9-2 home, 1-0 road)
I would've liked to see Fox...
In RF yesterday, he’s been mashing off righties, but Lou has to go with the lefty/righty matchup.
It looks like Aramis is seeing the ball well and hasn’t lost much bat speed, he was fouling back some high fastballs yesterday, it’s just good to see him in the lineup again.
Someday we'll go all the way...
It's one thing that Fox didn't start....
that’s bad enough, it’s another that he didn’t even get a plate appearance in a one run game. More poor managing
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I believe he was on-deck...
PH for Hill in the 9th. I just wish Lou would stick with the hot bat more often, whether it be Fuld or Fox or whoever.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jul 8, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions
god forbid you pinch hit for the .233 hitter
in the ninth with two out
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I was saying the same thing...
Why not hit Fox for LBR there? He almost walked though, ah well.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jul 8, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Kills me that Fox didn't start for Soriano, or Bradley for that matter
Kills me even more that we end a 2-1 loss, with him in the on-deck circle. The guy is absolutely raking the ball… and, against righties I might add.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
why did bradley lead off that inning, followed by reed?
that was stupid. let reed lead off.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I hope Demps doesn't rush back too soon
I know the Cubs need him out there every 5th day if they’re going to overtake the Cards, but the last thing we need is for the likes of Joe Buck and Joe Morgan and Joe the Plumber to hammer away incessantly about “the curse of Dizzy Dean”. Bad enough they bring up Bartman and black cats ad nauseum (emphasis on the nauseum).
I hope summer takes another 2 weeks to get here
Fair will be much more bearable with mid 70s temps instead of triple digits.
Nice to see Rami get a few hits… I don’t think it’ll take him long to heat up and go on a tear. Starting today even? hehe
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
do the llamas
like it when it’s cooler?
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
I bet it starts to smell awful in the barn
when it gets hotter.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
My guess is that
we’ll see Fox in the lineup today. Most likely at third to give Rami a day off after playing two straight.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
L&B said
Rami probably wouldn’t play today, but he might. It depends on how he feels.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
It would make sense to give him today off...
… then he can rest till Friday.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That'd be fine
Let him ease back in. Plus, it could get Bam-Bam back in the lineup.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Maybe (but I doubt it)
we’ll see Fuld and Fox in the lineup and Sori and Rami can get two days off to rest. Sori is starting to hit better so Lou will probably keep him.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
Similarly, Al,
I broke a toe tripping over a bench in a hotel room. Taped it to the adjacent toe, was still able to run on it. Hurt like hell.
I know exactly how you felt.
And there’s no way I could run on it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
was middle toe,
not big one. I had gotten up at 3 a.m. to yell at my son and his cronies for making noise.
Mine was the right big toe, same one as Dempster's.
Like you & I said, hurt like hell.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That's what Dempster was saying...
That it wasn’t displaced, and there wasn’t really a chance of further injury, it was just about pain tolerance basically.
Btw, beach soccer = broken big toes… wow that was painful.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jul 8, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree about the toe
broke my toe as a kid (karate-kicking my brother in the forehead). Hurts for a long time.
At least thats a better story
than nearly killing yourself on a bench.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
He fell down, but was fine
for the record, it was unintentional—I just meant to jump through a door and kick, and he was coming around the corner. We still laugh about it.
I am irritated beyond belief by this loss
I get on Zambrano’s case a lot, but he showed an incredible amount of guts and heart, pitching the way he did on three days rest.
With Kevin Hart going today, THIS was that game to get, and the bats completely failed. That’s disheartening.
Dempster IS a stand-up guy. But that doesn’t make it any less stupid. He failed the team with his nonsense.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Wow we're going to argue
LoL please don’t respond to my post below.
I get your logic
And the Braves DID play good defense
But today, when they heard they are losing Dempster for 3-5 starts and have a kid going today AND you have a pitcher going on three days rest, well, the bats have to be better.
I hate the way this team shrivels up in key spots.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Your right
But I think the bats were fine. If we hadn’t gone in such an extended cold streak last month or so we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion.
Last night I saw at-bats where the batters were someone patient (not many walks though), fouled off a lot of balls.
I also saw a bunch of hits that normally would not have been hit. For example:
-McClouth made a nice catch early in the game. Had he not played against us so much in Wrigley, the ball might have been missed.
-As much as I dislike him, Escobar made a bunch of diving stops and catches to throw out the runner. I can’t remember if men were on at the time but an extra at-bat from those base hits could change the whole dimension of the game.
That’s why I call it a wash. The pitcher today for the Braves seems hittable. Hopefully we get some wind blowing out and Cubs can have some fun in the field!
This loss wasn't that horrible to me
Only because Vasquez is a good pitcher and WOW the Braves had some awesome defense tonight. Any other team on the field or maybe the Braves any other night and I think Cubs would have scored 3 or more runs.
I’m not usually the guy to give the other team credit, but they earned the win. And this loss had absolutely nothing to do with cold bats or any of our other problems in the last 6 weeks.
we scored one run. How was this loss not about cold bats?
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions
If we score 1-2 runs for an extended period
Then I would say the bats are cold (like we have seen a lot this year unfortunately). If a pitcher has a good day and the defense makes some great plays, what can you do?
2009 Cubs Record: 10-2 (9-2 home, 1-0 road)
well, i would've liked to see lou put some more plays on, especially late.
i want to see the hit and run—a lot.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Dome, 0-3 with 2 strikeouts, Lee 0-4 with 2 strikeouts
Fontenot 0-4 and the last at bat.
Plenty of poor plate appearances. They might have played decent defense, but this offense should be able to score more than one run
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions
What was wrong with Fontenot's last AB?
The AB was pretty good. The result wasn’t, but it wasn’t as if he swung and meekly grounded out on the first pitch.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I still probably would have
pinch run Blanco for Soriano and had Fox hit for Fontenot…. Blanco could have played 2B for the remainder of the game, with Fox in LF if needed….
what about his first at bat?
nate mcclouth is my nemesis.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Well
When you have someone like Lee who has been hot go 0-4, wouldn’t that point more toward the pitcher doing well?
2009 Cubs Record: 10-2 (9-2 home, 1-0 road)
Give Vazquez credit
He was nasty all night.
by Southside Steve on Jul 8, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions
he has amazing control.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
They had some really good at-bats early
I mean we did get Vazquez to over 50 pitches in 2 innings. It didn’t do much in the end but still that showed some good patience at the plate.
OT: Looks like Pie..
Might be dealt from the O’s. How could I be so wrong about him, lol, I really thought he’d flourish in Baltimore playing everyday.
Someday we'll go all the way...
seriously? You actually believed that?
by WanderingWanderer on Jul 8, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Sigh...
Yeah. I really liked his enthusiasm, his arm/defense, I thought his bat would come around.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jul 8, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions
So did I
Well, maybe not “flourish” but I always thought he’d be better than he was.
He’s a lefty and a great OF… someone else’ll give him a shot.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
maybe we can do a trade
to get him and Itzuris? See post on right bar.
When I went to Wrigley in 2006
Itzuris at bat = bathroom break.
At Yankee Stadium, that bathroom break could've earned you $10,001
In August 2008 a fan was kicked out of Yankee Stadium by police officers for apparently going to the bathroom during the God Bless America. The fan then proceeded to sue claiming that he was a victim of political and religious discrimination. As of today it was reported that the fan and the city settled their dispute, and the fan will receive financial compensation for his troubles.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
good for him.
This whole “GBA” thing is way out of control.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
he's changing his batting approach
and hitting better.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?playerId=6475
Once again, he’s not getting enough at bats to be able to put a run together. Hit .467 in June, but people will complain that it’s a small sample size.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
hey, that's what soriano needs to do.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I only got to see the 7th inning on
How nasty was Vasquez the rest of the game?
From the very little I got to watch (before I passed out from the Bendryl) he was really on…
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Yes, he was pretty nasty all night.
And in the strike zone — no walks.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Was Gonzalez's
delivery as irriating in person as it looked on TV?
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
I thought you couldn't watch because you were playing with llamas
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes.
He was getting booed, it was pretty funny.
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jul 8, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Speaking of nasty...
Soriano (ATL) got Aramis with a nasty Marmol-esque slider last night.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jul 8, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
The back of the Braves pen (Gonzalez/Soriano) is filthy.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Speaking of Gonzalez
Can someone clarify the legality of his “wind-up”? I was always under the impression that a pitcher had to come set before delivering the pitch (or is that just from the stretch?).
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
just from the stretch
The only penalty is a balk and you can’t balk with no one on base.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Yes you can.
It is a ball added to the count if you balk with no one on base. But that “shimmying” is part of his windup, and a continuous motion to the plate…
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jul 8, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions
That's
ridiculous! It didn’t look like he ever came “set” before beginning all of his shimmying
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
You don't need to come set in a windup.
Only in the stretch.
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jul 8, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
But from the windup, it's a technical balk
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree.
Gonzalez’s rocking is ridiculous.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
are you knocking Gonzalez's rocking?
don’t you know you’re not supposed to do that? what’d they teach you in grade school anyway…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
It was his game to win
But in Cubs defense, in the first 2 innings they had some really good at-bats with him fouling off lots of balls. While it only brought in 1 run, they didn’t just give him the game.
The key AB in those early innings was Sori's AB with 1st & 2nd and no outs
that’s where our superstar has to come through, that’s what he’s getting paid for. I don’t expect bit players like Fontenot or Hill or Hoff to come through in tough spots but you gotta count on something from your studs when the chips are down.
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
I agree
And he didn’t. But 2 multi-hit games in 3 days is an improvement over Soriano…just not improvement enough.
The way I look at Fontenot, Hill and Hoff are they should be good for 1 hit a game (any more than that and they’re having a good day). I just hope their hits happen to be in key situations.
i don't know.
mccann’s at bat (was it the fourth?) with two outs that led to the double was huge. at bat of the game.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
Atlanta taught Vasquez how to pitch.
We saw him use his 70 – 76 mph stuff more last night. He used to try and get out of trouble with his fastball. Not anymore.
On a diffierent topic. There were some obnoxious Braves fans on the concourse doing the “chop” on our way out last night. I would like those of you who are going today, to start the “chop” when we get the game in hand. We did it a few years ago and it was pretty funny.
It's no different
Than Cubs fans singing “Go Cubs Go” in other ballparks in my opinion.
Agreed
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
absolutely.
i wish we’d quit it with that terrible song.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I like the song
Funny thing about it, since I live on the east coast, whenever friends or co-workers here it they say “that’s the gayest song they’ve ever heard”. I’ve heard that comment 5 times. All I respond is: Look at hte crowd. They have seniors, little kids, good looking girls and families all singing it.
I usually just say
“Of course it is. Look how happy everyone is!”
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas
Perhaps I should know the answer to this
But why is Hart getting this start instead of Marshall? It seems like you could put Marshall in the lineup and Hart in the pen…
Believe or Leave ~Cubswynn 9/9/2008
Either could start
And this is just my opinion, but Marshall is really getting a good groove in the bullpen lately.
Plus, Cubs don’t like to score runs for him when he starts :)
Im pretty sure
Marshall is our only lefty in the pen. And Marshall has been pitching almost every day
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
I think
it is in part because Hart is more stretched out than Marshall is. Marshall has been in the pen for quite a while now, pitching to (usually) one batter at a time, whereas Hart was in the minors starting. Hart is more physically prepared to start and go 5 or (hopefully) 6 innings today.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
that's what I thought for today's game.
But I’d really like to see Marshall back in the rotation. Is it possible that they won’t use him in the bullpen for a few days and have him pitch like on Sunday?
"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
What does booing accomplish?
I was at the 6/19 Indians game (DLEE 2 HR) and fans booed Milton and Soriano, why? What are accomplishing doing that…venting our frustration (maybe), joining in with the rest of the crowd? I was there when fans booed Cory Patterson, Felix Pie, even way back to Dave Kingman. What did it accomplish…not one thing! They continued to be in a slump or play bad. Booing is NOT a magic potion to perform better!
The booing is ridiculous
The guy hasn’t complained or bitched at the media. It’s not like he’s punching water coolers. You can’t deny that Soriano is pressing and trying hard to get back in a groove. Fans have every right to boo, but the mentality that it’s actually accomplishing anything is just ridiculous.
It's venting for us..
that’s why we do it. Some sort of strange catharsis, I think.
Here’s the thing though: Soriano makes $18 mil a season, and people expect the fans not to boo when he’s hitting .225 in July? It comes with the territory. If these guys are going to sign contracts like that, they are signing up to be booed if they don’t perform. I don’t feel sorry for Soriano in the slightest. Making that kind of money and playing so poorly, it’s only fair and in my opinion, justified.
Dave Kingman
is a vile human and was a worthless, one-dimensional player. Booing is the least fans could have done.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Yes, he was
Could NEVER get him to sign an autograph.
He was the best thing they had for those three years he was there aside from Rick Reuschel & Buckner
Those were some crap teams and to a 12 year old watching on TV, Kingman was a hero.
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
While Kingman hit monstrous home runs...
… I have heard from others who had personal contact with him that he was not a nice person.
He once threw a TV producer who was doing a special on him off of a boat into the ocean. (She was OK.)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I always heard he hated hated reporters. that's probably why you never hear or see the guy anymore.
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
I saw him a few years ago at Wrigley
I forget the exact circumstances, but the Cubs were honoring somebody or some season and Kingman was there as part of the festivities. I saw him and what I presume to be his family outside the park before the game walking along Waveland. When they got to Kenmore, his kids turned the corner. Kingman hesitated at first, but then followed.
They walked down 3-4 houses and stood there, looking back towards Wrigley. No one else was around them so I don’t know exactly what they were talking about, but I can take an educated guess. Hardly anybody recognized him – I didn’t at first, one of the older ballhawks told me. Nobody ran up to him, asking for autographs, wanting to pose for pictures, etc.
When they came back towards Waveland, I just nodded towards Kong and he nodded slightly back. That was it. And that was good enough for me.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Roid rage!
Ha… I keed, I keed.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Sent a rat to a female reporter when he was with the A's
And is just generally a prick. I’m ashamed he was a Cub
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Well Worf, I'll give you credit for lasting this long
Your new leaf was refreshing and enjoyable to watch/read these last couple months. But it appears you’re regressing back to your old self. If that’s the case, I’m sure you and BM will have lots to catch up on…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Regressing to the mean?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Rumor is that Pie may end up on the Sox.
Start getting that bust ready for Cooperstown!!
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
Al, I'll wake you up in October.
You’re not going to want to miss it.
"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
Weather doesn't look good
Would I be correct that since we don’t play the Braves again, they’ll wait if needed to get this one in?
July: New month, new team
With Hart scheduled to go, I'd feel bad for you ticket holders, but
would be okay with it being postponed.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
This might be the only game I get to all year
so I’m obviously concerned about the weather :-(
July: New month, new team
by chitownhawkeye on Jul 8, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
My softball team is supposed to play a double header today
Both games are makeup games from rainouts in May. LOL. Figures.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Had a doubleheader last night for the same reasons.
This spring / early summer has been out of control.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on Jul 8, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
It is a day game
So atleast theirs time to make it up today.
They will get it in.
Booing doesn’t accomplish anything. Standing behind these players with positive reinforcement would accomplish more.
ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WRIGLEY SEATING:
I asked this in the game thread yesterday and didn’t get much help. I have tickets to Saturday’s game. I am in Section 205-2, Row 2, Seats 102 & 103.
Does anyone know what “205-2” means?
Also, I see that there are Terrace Box and Terrace Reserved. They say the first 7 rows are Box seats and they won’ be obstructed. My tickets do not say what they are. They just give section, row, and seat.
Does this meant that you have seven rows of box (1-7) then behind the box seats the rows start over at 1? Or pick up at 8? I’m desperately trying to find out if I’m going to be obstructed. I will buy new tickets if this is the case, I do not want to be behind a post.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
The rows for the 200 section start at 1... and go all the way to 20+ or so.
They don’t start over after row 7 (where the poles are at). I’m not gonna claim to be 100% correct, but you’re in section 205. Disregard the “205-2.” Just probably some odd ticket code.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
According to a interactive Wrigley Map..
It looks like 205 is split into two sections. One side having rows of Terrace Box, and the other side being out from the shade, not having any Terrace Box. I wonder if that means since I’m in Row 2 I might have snagged some decent seats.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
It's in the corner, and I haven't sat there before.
The pole in the corner might be in the middle of the section, as opposed to the aisle in most sections. Which could be the reason for the split. Either way… you’re in row 2 of 205… so, you won’t be worrying about the pole.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
I think the booing does serve a puurpose.
It’s a message to management. When Soriano gets booed and Sam Fuld is cheered, the fans are telling the team “We don’t want to see Soriano out there anymore, regardless of the size of his contract.” I happen to agree. Just play the hot bats, and the slumping players will adjust accordingly if they want to stay in the lineup. If they can’t/won’t adjust, then they will be no help in the playoffs so let them sit.
by Jerry Mumphrey on Jul 8, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I feel the same way, but
the day management starts getting orders from the fans and not their higher-level employees, that’s the day I have to tune out.
I have personally sent my own “messages” to the ownership by not buying tickets (2005-2006) and paraphernalia (most of 2007). But I hardly believe anything was achieved by my acts. If Hendry/Piniella think Soriano is better suited for the team and will help them win, then I must believe, against my better judgement, they are trained professionals in their field who know better than I do.
A few years back, a second-division English soccer team was sold to its fans. A few thousand of them got the money together and purchased the whole operation and contracts. Thusly, they got to make on-field decisions. I believe that with my patronage of $60 per ticket (average) to Wrigley Field, I should be entitled to have my say. But sadly, that is just not the case.
What to do if us, as fans, need to send a message? Stop our collective patronage. But that’s much easier said than done. How can you quit something you love so?
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
The message at the end of 2006 was received, though
A lot of empty seats scared the bosses.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jul 8, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
thankfully
management doesn’t work for you. Or me.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
but, i would like a management that works
to keep the fanbase happy, since the best way to keep the fanbase happy is to win.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
here's a new lineup
Dome
Bradley
Lee
Rami
Fox (LF)
Soto
Baker (2b)
Blanco (ss)
Hart
Bradley second, Blanco at short!
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
Yes!
Wait… is this for real? Or did I just get excited about your fantasy line-up?
Love Bradley in the 2 spot… anything to get him out of the clean-up spot. The guy doesn’t clean-up anything. He’s an OBP guy.
Baker, blah. Blanco at SS = nice. Put Theriot at 2B.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
wow I REALLY like that lineup...
minus baker, would like to see theriot at 2b, and Bradley at 2 spot is a +
SWEET LOU! THIS IS GREAT!
This might be my favorite lineup of the year, considering Soriano sucks right now.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Apparently, Lou is listening to me.
I suggested moving Bradley to the two-spot yesterday in the Dome’s Diary Fanpost. Anything else you guys want me to tell him?
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Tell him to play Fox more often
He’s a dreamboat…
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Can you suggest a $1 beer night?
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Wrigley would literally cease to exist. It would explode in an alcohol fuled rage.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on Jul 8, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Could happen. Cleveland's Municipal Stadium came close to exploding during a 10¢ beer night promotion in 1974...
Sounds like a good time at first, but read the Wikipedia entry here and you’ll see it got ugly towards the end. Real ugly.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
GO GET ADAM LIND
JUST TRADE AWAY FUKUDOME!!!
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
could he take the trouble
to shave before a game? And ask him how far along he is, or if he’s carrying twins.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. [ibid] This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 8, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Bring Back Sam Fuld and play Fox daily!!
"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."
fox in left. that's a step in the right direction.
"If you play more than two chords, you're showing off."--Woody Guthrie
by buckmulligan on Jul 8, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
On last night's game:
1) Soriano = 3 LOB
2) We saw what good pitching can do to an anemic offense, on both teams! Both Vázquez and Zambrano pitched very well. Also, both bullpens were effective.
3) I wouldn’t boo Soriano on every at bat but as I’ve posted before, it doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers others. To me, booing is just the opposite of cheering. Fans will cheer the hot player every time so it’s to be expected and understood (though not condoned or appreciated) that they will boo the cold player as well. Soriano can stop the boos by performing better.
4) We saw that even with Aramis hitting this team needs to hit more (needs another hot bat). (Fuld?)
5) As Al said, just tip our hats to the other team (and the other pitcher) and win the series today! This team survived Aramis’s absence. Now that he’s back, it’s time to move up in the standings.
Question for Al or any doctors in the house??
Since you are familiar with this injury due to experiencing it first hand- I have a question for you. Since Dempster says it is about pain tolerance. Do you know if it is possible for Dempster to get the cortisone or any other injection to help with the pain of his toe? I know that injections can only be done and helpful for certain injuries.
"Cubs Win, Cubs Win, CUBS WIN!"
Steve McMichael: "I'm going to have to have a talk with that umpire down there." Angel Hernadez then ejected McMichael. 08/07/2001
Well, I'm assuming
that Geo will help his battery mate with the pain tolerance…
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
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