What's Not To Like?

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 5:50 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs Recaps

Jason Marquis threw a really nice game, making only one serious mistake (the HR to Yadier Molina).

Felix Pie hit his first (of what we hope are many) major league HR.

The bullpen threw 2.1 solid innings in relief of Marquis.

And even one of our favorite new whipping boys, Cesar Izturis, drove in a key insurance run.

All of that added up to a satisfying 5-3 Cub win over the Cardinals last night in St. Louis.

I had a lot longer post nearly finished when my browser ate it. So, I'm in the process of trying to reconstruct my thought process about this game.

I was worried about Marquis last Saturday when he threw really well against the Cardinals; I had thought maybe he'd be too keyed up against his old team. Then I worried about last night because he'd be facing them twice within a week. He really seemed almost too calm, dispatching them quickly through the first six innings, before getting into trouble in the seventh. His 98 pitches included only 54 strikes, which isn't a great ratio -- but it was good enough on a night where the bullpen constantly pitched itself out of trouble.

The Yahoo boxscore attached to that recap shows Dempster with seven pitches, five strikes, which can't be right, because he had two strikeouts and three other outs. The cubs.com boxscore has the correct count, 26 pitches, 17 strikes, which isn't too bad for someone who had his first five-out save since June 20, 2005, at Milwaukee. Dempster was stretched out partly because he hadn't thrown since Monday, and partly because, according to the Yahoo recap:

because setup man Bobby Howry tweaked his back moving his barbecue grill off his patio.

Add this to the litany of weird Cub injuries (the Kerry Wood hot-tub incident comes to mind). What, is Lou Piniella going to have to police the Cub pitching staff at home now, too?

WGN's graphics were missing the inning notation early in the game; later, they added a "TOP" and "BOT" inning number in between the score and the ball/strike count, which looked odd. I also find it jarring, from a TV production standpoint, to see players' names on the screen and then have their stats "slide" in. This is something I call the "Fox Sports Effect".

What's next, swooshing noises?

A couple of notes: Derrek Lee has reached base in all 22 games this year, hitting safely in 20 of them. The last Cub to accomplish this feat was Ron Santo in 1973.

Finally, a compliment here to someone we often like to disparage -- Tony LaRussa. Yesterday, LaRussa got into a huge argument with Bernie Miklasz, one of the main baseball columnists in St. Louis, over a column written by one of his co-workers, Derrick Goold, a tired recap of all the history we live as Cubs fans every day. (Read the column at that link. It's really lame.) Afterward, he said he wouldn't answer any questions from Miklasz' paper all weekend, and continued:

"That cheap shot against the Cubs, I don't want to be a part of it, and I want them, I want everybody to know that the St. Louis Cardinals and their manager have an absolute disregard for that," La Russa said.

Miklasz suggested that rather than boycotting questions, the manager take up the issue with the paper's editors.

"I know it's the editor [who] makes those decisions," La Russa said. "But I have a couple of ways [to protest], and the one way I'm going to do it is I'm not going to answer questions from the Post-Dispatch. If you disagree with that, write that you disagree with it. I don't care. I really don't. What I care is that I don't put my stamp, any way shape or form, on the cheap shot like that at a Major League organization."

Miklasz is full of it, in my opinion. Take it up with the editors? I'll bet they all thought it was really funny. Ha, ha, ha. It makes the Post-Dispatch writers and editors like the drunk fans who chant "19-08" at us all the time -- as if we didn't know.

Good for Tony. He's had a tough year, but this simple act shows he's a class guy.

Now let's go out and beat his team again this afternoon.

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I feel like

I am sitting in the front row of church being possibly the first poster to this diary. I thought last nights game was a total team effort. Good moves by Pinella, strong SP, decent DF, timely hitting and of course the bullpen. I notice Lou had Ohman on a real short lease. Good thing.

I think back to that game in Cincy where Lou had a couple real quick words for Dempster. I get the impression it left an impression on Dempster. Let us hope that keeps paying dividends.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Apr 28, 2007 6:09 AM CDT reply actions

How calulated of a

move is this by LaRussa? The article to me is no big deal. If LaRussa does not "defend our honor", chances no one outside STL even knows this article is around.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Apr 28, 2007 6:26 AM CDT reply actions

Well, I would have found it eventually

but that's just because I like visiting the P-D online website after our guys beat theirs just to see the writers pout or make excuses. Why? Well, I grew up in St. Louis as a Cub fan in the 80's and basically had poor sportsmanship defined for me by Cardinal fans of every generation: kids, teens, teachers, friends' grandparents, and the columnists at the P-D. I know Miklasz wasn't the one who wrote it (Goold did), but take the name away and I would have guessed Miklasz because of all the crap he spewed in the paper and on sports talk shows for all the years I was in Missouri. He was just as fickle as most of the Cardinal fans I knew, but one thing he was really consistent at was taking cheap shots at the Cubs or even the city of Chicago. I guess his colleagues followed his example. Al's right - lame article. But believe me that's not unique. Maybe after the win last night (and hopefully a series win by the Cubs) they'll fall back to their old method of waiting until the Cardinals win before talking about how bad the Cubs are.

by jcg996 on Apr 28, 2007 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Just saw the blowup on ESPN.

LaRussa went crazy! How hilarious! My wife heard it from the other room and wanted to know what was going on? I was completely speechless. I can't stand the guy, but I admit that was pretty funny watching him go nuts defending the Cubs. Good stuff.

I thought the best part was when Miklasz was told him "You're lowering yourself." I thought LaRussa was gonna fight him right there.

Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...

by eamuscatuli1881 on Apr 28, 2007 7:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Blowup

It was great. If anyone has a chance to catch it, I highly recommend it.

I do agree that LaRussa did make a bigger deal of it than it needed to be. But then again, he's probably just trying to fire up his club, since they're off to a slower start than they hoped.

"Don't think; it can only hurt the ball club."

by Jesse Guam on Apr 28, 2007 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Wish I could see it!

Sounds like, despite the fact that I don't like the man, he did right...go figure!

Got Hebrew National?

by Kinky Reggae on Apr 28, 2007 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Fans in STL

I live in St Louis right now and I agree with your assessment of Cardinals fans. I can't listen to the radio during Cubs-Cardinals series because the DJs are constantly saying "Cubs suck, blah, blah, blah." It is infuriating. I know that this is not common with division rivals, because I lived in Cincinnati for 3 years before I moved here 2 years ago. I like living in St Louis, except for the nasty attitudes of Cardinals fans regarding the Cubs.

by bluesweatergirl on Apr 28, 2007 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Blecchbirds .. FEH ..

There are jerks everywhere on any side of a baseball divide, but I have to agree that I have found more of them wearing those filthy red caps and jerseys with STL on them then anywhere else I've been.

I've heard it said about how "gentle" the rivalry of the Cards and Cubs when compared with the Red Sox and Yanks. Baloney. It get just as savage when things get right down to it, and they're not above being less than the "class act" LaRussa is and rubbing it in. It's just an Eastern media myth that ESPN and FOX love to perpetuate. They ignore the plain reality right in front of them.

I cannot forget the hoo hawing right in our faces over the years we got when the Red Scum took the division back in 2005 when my brother and our wives went that beautiful to Wrigley. They were juiced up on testosterone and brew, and we tried to ignore them since he and I were both pretty mad about the way the whole year went. Watching the Wrigley fuzz chase all the Cub fans out while letting all the CARD FANS cluster at their dugout to celebrate was even MORE infuriating.

(PR HINT: Mr. McDonaugh, here's a MEMO for your ushers: GIVE THE HOME TEAM FANS TIME IN THE PARK AS THEY WALK OUT AND BE COURTEOUS ABOUT IT, and don't be the anal shills you seem to become about 45 minutes after the game ends. How about being like the ushers at Turner Field for a change? I can't stand their fans, team or the venue, but those are consistently the most pleasant and courteous ones I've ever seen. Shows you what Southern hospitality has on we Northerners ..

But I digress .. when my brother and I went into Wrigleyville Sports to mindlessly dream about Next Year when we got out of the park and our wives waited outside, two drunk Card fans confronted them in their Cub jerseys and said some pretty outrageous stuff to them.

The girls wisely didn't say anything to us until we were in our car heading out. That was smart because in the mood we were in, there would have been trouble had we found them outside harrassing our women.

Again, you'll find that anywhere in sports. But that's I think indicative of a lot that really does exist here ..

Let's go Cubs! If you do NOTHING ELSE RIGHT THIS YEAR, beat those stinking Red Scum. Sweep those dogs. Dangle em in the wind for the ravens to fight over. Take no prisoners. Show no MERCY.

Uh, figuratively speaking of course.

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

by cubnational on Apr 28, 2007 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Card fans; a bit of humility is necessary remedy

Recently I have had a few anecdotal conversations with Cardinal fans who now pity my affiliation to the Cubs...screw them....it is the arrogance of winning the WS LAST YEAR....

It would be grand to sweep them in SaintLouie and get back close to .500.

As for the Cubs I think Pie is sticking quite well. It is fantastic he has a fellow mentor Dominican roommate who I also think will relax Soriano. He makes the bottom end of the lineup potential.

I also like the potential of playing Theriot at SS through the 7th inning and then finding a way to PH and put in Izturis or Cedeno at SS. Now only RF is in flux.

What gives, how heavy is a BBQ grill? Doesn't it have wheels? Didn't he have friends?

Best Harry moment: 'Hey there's Marla without her shorts on!'

by Ivy Walls on Apr 28, 2007 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

My brother and I

once had a serious discussion on which would be worse in switching some media roles: to listen to Bernie Miklasz do color commentary during a ball game or to read anything that Mike Shannon wrote. I don't remember which option won (lost?), but there were some upset stomachs from just thinking about it.

I went to Wrigley the first time in '89 to see a ridiculous barn burner between the Cubs and Phillies (Ryno hit 2 HR), and though the Cubs lost, it was like a whole new world. Every other time I'd seen the Cubs play in person was at old Busch surrounded by hostiles who weren't below taunting 10 year olds. It got so bad that I think my Dad (still lives there) cares more about rooting against the Cards than rooting for the Cubs. Funny side story which I'll elaborate on if anyone cares: he even turned down a baseball McGwire offered him personally in '99 while sitting next to the dugout.

Anyway, as a result of seeing just how tasteless it is to rub something in another fan's face (by wearing the face in question), I now never have even the slightest inkling of an urge to do so when the tables turn. I'm sure that there's a beatitude in there somewhere, but I'd rather just celebrate with y'all and read their whining on-line the next day.

by jcg996 on Apr 28, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Why not use a word processor?

Your browser has eaten your posts a few times now, IIRC. What a pain! I can't remember MS Word ever eating anything I've written. You can even turn on the "autosave" feature so that it saves every few minutes. Just a thought.

by JohnM on Apr 28, 2007 6:50 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, I should do that.

Often, when I'm writing a post, I will copy what I've written so far to the clipboard. I just hadn't done that when I got a browser burp.

This is supposed to be one of the things they are going to fix for us when we get the site upgrade later this summer.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions

la russa

not surprising la russa has always been a class act.met him when he was playing in the tigers minor league system. invited me into the dressing room and spent time talking to me all because i had asked him to sign a cubs media guide.yes kids he did play in the cubs system once. good job tony.

by NOMAR on Apr 28, 2007 7:08 AM CDT reply actions

Not only did he play in the Cubs system...

... he actually made one appearance in a Cubs major league uniform.

For some reason, he wound up on the Cubs' opening day roster in 1973. On that day, he entered the game as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning -- for Ron Santo, after Santo reached base on an error.

He scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk.

Not only was it his only appearance in a Cub uniform, it was the last major league game he played in.

Here's the boxscore.

Oh, and one more interesting thing. Guess what uniform number he wore?

42.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I was at that game

I don't remember La Russa, just that I was at Opening Day when I was 10. It might also have been my first brush with that guy you don't like naming - because "Monday woo" has been stuck in my brain ever since.

by JohnM on Apr 28, 2007 7:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I hope ...

... one day you can purge that from your being. Not good walking around with that in your head for 34 years.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Missed the game

How'd Murton look in right?

by JohnM on Apr 28, 2007 7:29 AM CDT reply actions

Fine.

No problems as far as I could tell. But then, he wasn't asked to make any important throws.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Fine

He only handled the ball a couple of times-- almost nothing was hit to him.

On the other hand, I hope that his walk and double in four plate appareances gets him another start today.

by Romero on Apr 28, 2007 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

browser trouble

Ever consider writing the first draft of your post on Word? That way the browser can't eat it.

by Jhoratio on Apr 28, 2007 7:32 AM CDT reply actions

As noted above...

... I probably should do that.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think LaRussa is a class guy

so much as he was mad at the Dispatch for potentially riling up the rival just before their series. Had the story come out right after the Cubs left town, or in the off-season, I think LaRussa would have had no issues with it.

LaRussa is all about LaRussa. Always has been.

And you can't trust a guy who wears sunglasses at night. (Unless he is Corey Hart).

by dfrancon on Apr 28, 2007 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

re: I don't think LaRussa is a class guy

This is a really good point. I was all set to give LaRussa some credit for his comments, and perhaps he still deserves some.

But the Cards have been losing at home this season, and LaRussa knows that any additional motivation you give an opposing team could hurt his team come gametime. Last night it did -- let's hope that's a trend that continues.

"You learn a lot more about a team when you lose than when you win." Lou Piniella, 4/24/07

by daver on Apr 28, 2007 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I Agree 100%

LaRussa had no interest in defending the Cubs. This was about protecting himself and the Cardinals.

Lou should have done this after Zambrano's comments about the Brewers.

The tape, however, is very entertaining on ESPN.

By the way, LaRussa has waived arraignment on his DWI charges.

¡BLANCO!

by 08Cubs on Apr 28, 2007 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Or

Maybe he had just had too much to drink again.

¡BLANCO!

by 08Cubs on Apr 28, 2007 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Pat & Dave read the P-D...

...and were talking about the article in last night's broadcast, citing the headling "No Tinker, No Evers, No Chance." Not a nice thing to be the first thing you see when you pick up the paper.

I wonder the extent to which franchise-bashing has an effect on today's generation of players, like a Soriano, who will play for a half-dozen MLB clubs in their careers. It's not like the Santo-Williams-Banks days where players spent most of all of their careers with one club.

by ChipSet on Apr 28, 2007 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

Marquis' Demeanor

I think you bring up a good point, Al, in pointing out that only 54 of Marquis 98 pitches were strikes.

For a guy who took so much crap last year from St. Louis fans about his mental state, I've found Marquis' demeanor during games his most appealing quality. I mean, let's be honest, he wasn't throwing strikes last night. He didn't strikeout a single batter last night.

Yet I never felt like he was losing focus or panicking. He just kept challenging the St. Louis batters to hit the ball and they did -- and most of the time the Cubs' defense was able to get them out.

This is obviously a risky road to walk. But if a guy is going to pitch in this style, he needs to have some cajones. Marquis has got them.

"You learn a lot more about a team when you lose than when you win." Lou Piniella, 4/24/07

by daver on Apr 28, 2007 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

My post below talks about Piniella and his approach. It sure seems Marquis has been paying attention. Even when he ran into trouble in the seventh, his body language didn't indicate any type of submission. He still wanted to go after people, I thought. It was nice to see.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Apr 28, 2007 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

If that's the change that Rothschild and Piniella have been able to instill in him, it's working.

Marquis has never been, and will never be, a big strikeout pitcher. His key is keeping the ball down and getting groundouts. He did that last night -- the ball up to Molina was really his only mistake.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

What Struck Me About Last Night's Game....

...was how active Piniella was. He's been this way all season so far, but it seemed to coalesce last night. You knew he was involved every step of the way. He actually managed. One could argue he might have overdone it with the mid-inning pitching changes, but at least he was having an idea out there and moreover, the moves paid off. You've got to be an adult to play for Piniella, meaning he doesn't give a rip about how a guy feels about a move at the time. If it's what he sees as the right one, he makes it. That type of mindset hasn't been seen around the Cubs in quite some time, and I'm not just talking about Baker. You get the sense that Piniella wasn't just spewing when talking about a Cub swagger. He's out there attacking, and 25 guys better follow suit. And to think it took a 65 year old alleged has been to get this going.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Apr 28, 2007 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

Sweet Lou's stalking was incredible

I didn't start watching until the 7th, when the Cubs were still up 4-1. I don't think I ever saw Lou sitting down once. Not once.

There was a real intensity on his face that I don't think I ever saw on DB's visage. He would have been chewing that pick on the bench all during the game. Not Lou - he had a fire in his eye that lit him up and you could see the clockwork turning in his head. You could really see it when he was dispatching Ohman to Wuertz after what, 3 pitches? That is something I've not seen in years on the Cubs.

I have to agree with you totally Beer, Lou is clearly a hands on guy and he's been showing us that he's making good - so far - on what he said he would do, and thats coach as directly as he can to get the job done.

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

by cubnational on Apr 28, 2007 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions

I think...

... Lou has been out of the dugout more in 22 games than Dusty was in four years.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2007 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL

I thought the same thing. And every time he goes out for the first pitcher's visit instead of Rothschild you know there's a one way conversation coming soon, meant not only for the pitcher, but every guy on the team as well.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Apr 28, 2007 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep

There's no question he's doing all he can so far to impose his will on players. They can't claim they don't know what's expected of them, that's for sure.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Apr 28, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

The clip...

...of Larussa is available on espn.com.

by jolietconvict on Apr 28, 2007 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

Can you post a direct link?

I couldn't find it.

"You learn a lot more about a team when you lose than when you win." Lou Piniella, 4/24/07

by daver on Apr 28, 2007 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

re: Can you post a direct link?

To answer my own question, just go to espn.com and click on "Video" from the menu bar across the top of the home page. Then click on "Baseball" and you should be able to find it easily enough.

Great clip. I still think Lou's relatively minor blowup was better, though.

"You learn a lot more about a team when you lose than when you win." Lou Piniella, 4/24/07

by daver on Apr 28, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

It's been awhile since I've seen a game

that I thought was managed well from beginning to end. I liked it. I want more of it. I'm really tired of the PK Wrigley legacy of lackluster teams as long as there's a profit to be had. Kudo's to the organization for last night. Now, if they can just make a habit of winning now and after they're sold. I was also impressed with Soriano's arm last night if not his bat. And Larussa...meh.

by teacher tom on Apr 28, 2007 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

Lou was great last night.

A great win. I really hope he sticks with this lineup, with the possible exception of batting Floyd for Murton, and maybe moving Soriano down; he really is pressing a lot. I really get the feeling he believes the weight of the team is on him, and it's not.

Let's see Zambrano pitch like a mano, and not a boy today.

"Ronny Cedeno seems like the type of guy who could run over himself with his own car.." Earth2Sean

by Matt Allison on Apr 28, 2007 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

Decisions, decisions...

For the first time in a while, I didn't start having a panic attack while watching the game last night when the Cards started to make a comeback. The best thing about last night was watching Lou take command of all of the action. I'm so much more happy when a decision maker is in charge of the Cubs instead of someone who sits on his hands.

Moving Theriot into the ss role was gutsy. If you ask me though, it will take a lot more cojones for Pinella NOT to send down Pie next week when they bring Guzman up. Let's hope that Pie continues to make that a tough decision and that Lou (and Hendry) will NOT take the path of least resistance and move Pie back down to AAA.

Sitting Floyd and Jones against Reyes was actually a smart thing to do based on the splits. Who'd a thought it out of a Cub manager.

I also thought Lou made the right moves with the bullpen. I can't fault Cotts for the HBP last night. He was only trying to push the batter off of the plate a little bit. That HBP was crap. The ball barely hit the guy's jersey. It was an unfortunate thing but not Cotts' fault in my opinion.

I liked seeing Wuertz get put into the game in the role of setup man.

I also liked the fact that Lou used our closer in the 8th inning when it all mattered. We all should give Dempster his due praise for a good start to the season. Let's hope that this all continues.

I'm glad that the Lou's decisions worked out and the Cubs got the win. However, I shudder to think what we would all be discussing this morning if Dempster would have blown that save in the 8th inning? I think most would have second guessed Lou's decisions over the whole deal. Yes, there are going to be times when right decisions are made and it still doesn't work out for the best. I hope that we, as fans, can recognize the difference.

There's always next year.

by BJ Simpson on Apr 28, 2007 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

Gotta keep Pie

His energy and defense have been a lift for the team.

"Ronny Cedeno seems like the type of guy who could run over himself with his own car.." Earth2Sean

by Matt Allison on Apr 28, 2007 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't think the P-D article...

was worth getting all worked up over. More of a ho-hum/whatever/is that the best you got?

Agreed on the WGN graphics issue, that "Bot9th" was difficult to read even on a 36" TV.

by bison on Apr 28, 2007 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

nice win last night

great pitching timely hitting and some good fielding now lets make sure to take this series to build some momentum going into an easy part of the schedule with pit/wash/pitt again

by CubsBall2202 on Apr 28, 2007 11:09 AM CDT reply actions

Tech weenie stuff RE: WGN

Al, did you notice how sometimes -- the font for the bar graphics sometimes changes mid-game? It's subtle, but geeks like myself notice that stuff. Their technical coverage has gone to hell, and needs a complete makeover -- when it comes to 'sound effects' I barely even notice that stuff any more, since just about everybody plays with that crap.

No Fox coverage in the SD market today. I didn't think they'd run Cubs/Cards 2 successive weeks.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 28, 2007 1:15 PM CDT reply actions

Even non-geeks notice

I only caught a few innings, but the music that they use when cutting to a commercial break started up after the second out on at least two occasions. I switched over to a Braves game during the commercial break, and the difference in the graphics and presentation amazed me. They either need to resurrect Arne Harris or start doing more games so that they are more experienced

by TC Cubby on Apr 28, 2007 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions