Twenty-seven years ago today, the Cubs and Cardinals contested one of the most memorable games that has been played in Wrigley Field in my lifetime. Ivan DeJesus hit for the cycle; the Cardinals blew a 12-6 lead and the Cubs won 16-12 when Barry Foote hit a walk-off grand slam. The Cubs improved their record to 6-3, and people walked out of the ballpark whooping it up like the Cubs had just won the World Series.
Of course, that turned out to be the high point of a 98-loss season. On that day, also, the warmest April temperature ever in Chicago history was recorded -- 92 degrees. It won't be that warm today, but it might touch 80 degrees, with the wind blowing out.
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Today will be the first time that Wade Miller has thrown on "normal" rest since spring training. He threw better in his last start than the first, and even better once Lou Piniella came out to the mound after Miller had walked two batters in a row. I can only imagine the expletives that were spilled on that visit.
Both Miller and the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright have had control trouble this year; Miller has walked six in nine innings and Wainwright, who walked only 22 in 75 IP as a reliever last year, has ten BB in 19.2 IP. Lifetime, Miller is 8-6, 3.74 in 19 appearances (18 starts) vs. St. Louis, and he'd better watch out for Albert Pujols, who is .293/.396/.756 against him (12-for-41, six HR).
Pitching note: the Cubs have three shutouts this month -- the first time they've done that in April since 1985.
Today's game is on WGN, so unlike yesterday's, it will be available to most of you, and also at the Mediacenter.
Discuss amongst yourselves.