Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
After reading this column from Morris (IL) Daily Herald entitled OPINION: These Cubs one of the worst ever, my first impression was “No, really. Don’t hold back. Tell me how you REALLY feel. Don’t spare us Cub fans’ feelings. We can take it.” Feh. We Cubs fans don’t need reporters telling us how bad the … Continue reading “Don’t Hold Back”
After reading this column from Morris (IL) Daily Herald entitled OPINION: These Cubs one of the worst ever, my first impression was “No, really. Don’t hold back. Tell me how you REALLY feel. Don’t spare us Cub fans’ feelings. We can take it.”
Feh. We Cubs fans don’t need reporters telling us how bad the Cubs are doing now. We already know that. Be original..
Interesting that they chose to run the story after one of the Cubs rare victories of late and on the day after DLee comes back.
6 for 10, 2 2B, 3 runs, 3 rbis In yesterday’s doubleheader sweep against the Phils, Tejada worked overtime. He went 2 for 5 and 4 for 5. To think the Cubs almost had him for Mark Prior. And everyone thought THAT was a bad idea.
6 for 10, 2 2B, 3 runs, 3 rbis
In yesterday’s doubleheader sweep against the Phils, Tejada worked overtime. He went 2 for 5 and 4 for 5.
To think the Cubs almost had him for Mark Prior. And everyone thought THAT was a bad idea.
MSNBC contributing author Mike Celizik is a bit confused about the Red Sox Nation. In his article about Pedro Martinez’ return to Fenway last night, he insists that Red Sox fans must boo the former Boston star. They’ve got to boo him like no one not named Roger Clemens has ever been booed in Boston’s … Continue reading “Pedro gets a warm welcome at Fenway despite what some “journalists” think”
MSNBC contributing author Mike Celizik is a bit confused about the Red Sox Nation.
In his article about Pedro Martinez’ return to Fenway last night, he insists that Red Sox fans must boo the former Boston star.
They’ve got to boo him like no one not named Roger Clemens has ever been booed in Boston’s little jewel of a ballpark. They’ve got to hiss and scream and bellow until the air is congested with spittle. They’ve got to boo his backside back to that mango tree in the Dominican Republic he once talked about sitting under.
Hmm. Anger issues much?
Commenters to his article, many of them Red Sox fans, had no qualms about telling him that he was clueless about the situation.
Celizik claims this would have nothing to do with logic rather it is a “emotional thing”. Further, he was sure that Sox fans would give them all they got.
Well, they did in a way.
The fans of Boston gave Pedro a warm welcome he won’t soon forget. They chanted Pedro! Pedro! as he warmed up before the game and he signed autographs for many fans.
The Red Sox team, however had a different type of welcome for Martinez though. They tagged him for 8 runs in 3 innings for his fourth loss of the season. Pedro maintained perspective:
“It’s not disappointing at all,” Martinez said. “The reception I got, I will always remember that as one of the best moments of my life.”
Today is the last chance to fill in your All-Star ballot. It’s a pity that AL homerun leader Jim Thome isn’t even on the ballot. If you are so inclined, there IS a write-in section at the bottom of the ballot. Yes, I know he is a DH (though he did play 2 games at … Continue reading “Last chance to vote today”
Today is the last chance to fill in your All-Star ballot.
It’s a pity that AL homerun leader Jim Thome isn’t even on the ballot. If you are so inclined, there IS a write-in section at the bottom of the ballot.
Yes, I know he is a DH (though he did play 2 games at 1B). But this is an All-Star Game. Bring on the All-Stars!
And yes, I know he plays for the White Sox. Unlike other authors on this blog, I’m not hatin’ on the cross-town team.
Go Cubbies and Go NL!!
Chicago Bandit and Team USA softball hurler Jennie Finch has a guest column for the Arizona Daily Star. She takes a stand against the new policy by the Department of Education which essentially gives schools a free pass in regards to Title IX if they can prove “no interest”. According to the policy, the amount … Continue reading “Finch opines on new Title IX policy”
Chicago Bandit and Team USA softball hurler Jennie Finch has a guest column for the Arizona Daily Star. She takes a stand against the new policy by the Department of Education which essentially gives schools a free pass in regards to Title IX if they can prove “no interest”.
According to the policy, the amount of interest in Title IX sports can determined by a email survey which no one is likely to read anyway.
She makes some good points and I agree with her.
Mark Teixeira was robbed of a potential game-winning double and was tossed out of the game for his trouble. Texas was down by a run with two outs in the ninth and two runners on. Teixeira, who was 0 for 4 with 3 Ks for the day, hit a line drive down the first base … Continue reading “Rangers’ Teixeira robbed of game winner”
Mark Teixeira was robbed of a potential game-winning double and was tossed out of the game for his trouble.
Texas was down by a run with two outs in the ninth and two runners on. Teixeira, who was 0 for 4 with 3 Ks for the day, hit a line drive down the first base line which first base ump Tom Hallion ruled was foul.
Seeing Hallion’s call, Tex simply went ballistic. Not so much angry but unbelieving. Well ok, he was a bit angry too. But I was watching the game and I’d be a bit pissed too if I were him.
They played and replayed the Teixeira’s line drive and it was clear it landed squarely on the foul line. Anyone watching it could see the chalk spray up.
So Tex got himself booted from the game (by Hallion) as did Manager Buck Showalter and Mark DeRosa. Michael Young had been ejected earlier in the game.
Ranger owner Tom Hicks has gotten invloved in the foray. He’s been on the phone with Mr Selig.
“I’ve communicated my disappointment to the Commissioner,” Hicks said by phone from Dallas. “Umpires that make blatant mistakes, they need to be held accountable.”
San Francisco held on for the win 5-3.
Was this what the Cubs were waiting for? Thank goodness it’s arrived. Derrek Lee sparked a 6-3 Cubs win over the Brewers today. And boy, he did it in style! Down 3-1 in the 8th, Lee’s two-run shot sparked a 5-run rally to put the Cubbies ahead for good. With Lee, 9-5. Without Lee, 19-40. … Continue reading “DLee-ightful!! Naive Ramblings of a Cub fan”
Was this what the Cubs were waiting for? Thank goodness it’s arrived.
Derrek Lee sparked a 6-3 Cubs win over the Brewers today. And boy, he did it in style! Down 3-1 in the 8th, Lee’s two-run shot sparked a 5-run rally to put the Cubbies ahead for good.
With Lee, 9-5. Without Lee, 19-40. Now we enter the new phase of the season.
But could this slump that has lasted a third of a season be attributed to the loss of just one player, even one as good as Lee?
Probably not. But a win like this is a good a place to start as any. It helps that Mark Prior pitched a game more befitting of him on Saturday. Not perfect, mind you. Not even a win. But at least the ol’ ERA is now down in the one digit range.
And did my eyes decieve me or did Juan P hit his first HR of the season today?
Carlos Marmol who looked like a hot prospect after his first start and since come down to earth, actually pitched a decent game today. Yes, one run in 6+ innings but also 8 strikeouts to 2 walks. Maybe there’s still hope for this rookie.
Things are looking up in Wrigleyville!
You’ve probably heard. Baseball analyst Peter Gammons had a brain aneurysm. He is currently resting after an operation to treat the aneurysm. Gammons is one of few hard core intelligent baseball people to stay within the realm of today’s sports media world full of ex-jocks. I suppose it is to the credit of ESPN to … Continue reading “Gammons resting after surgery”
You’ve probably heard. Baseball analyst Peter Gammons had a brain aneurysm. He is currently resting after an operation to treat the aneurysm.
Gammons is one of few hard core intelligent baseball people to stay within the realm of today’s sports media world full of ex-jocks. I suppose it is to the credit of ESPN to recognize Gammons’ value.
Gammons was the Sportswriter of the Year three times, 1989, 1990 and 1993. He was honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing in 2005.
Something I didn’t know. Gammons plays guitar and actually has an album out. Yes, that’s the cover you see above. He’s also played at a charity concert organized by Theo Epstein.
Get Well Gammons.
4 for 5, 3B, run, 5 rbis In our Illowa APBA League rookie draft this March, Joe Mauer was the number three pick (Howard and Kazmir were #1 and #2). The manager who picked him was well covered at catcher. After the draft was over, I remember him telling me, “I didn’t care, I just … Continue reading “06/26/06 Linescore of the Day: Joe Mauer”
4 for 5, 3B, run, 5 rbis
In our Illowa APBA League rookie draft this March, Joe Mauer was the number three pick (Howard and Kazmir were #1 and #2). The manager who picked him was well covered at catcher. After the draft was over, I remember him telling me, “I didn’t care, I just picked the best player available.”
That kind of talk is usually reserved for late rounds when all the primo picks are gone and you’re deciding between someone who might help you a little this year or someone who has the potential to develop for future years.
But in this case, even with 2005 rookies like King Felix, Cano, Francouer etc available, I know now exactly what he was talking about.
But I think Big Joe Mauer, now hitting .377, has exceeded even his expections in this half season.
2 for 5, 2 HR, 2 runs, 7 rbis Put this in the “What does a guy gotta do? category. Sox second sacker Tad Iguchi blasted two shots including a grand slam in the ninth to tie the game. Unfortuately for the Sox, they couldn’t hold on as the Astros scored in the thirteenth. His … Continue reading “6/25/06 Linescore of the Day: Tadahito Iguchi”
2 for 5, 2 HR, 2 runs, 7 rbis
Put this in the “What does a guy gotta do? category. Sox second sacker Tad Iguchi blasted two shots including a grand slam in the ninth to tie the game. Unfortuately for the Sox, they couldn’t hold on as the Astros scored in the thirteenth.
His seven rbis was a career high.
A couple side points to followup on my post on leadoff men:
– As soon as I make dig at Juan Pierre’s inability to get on base, he goes 3 for 5 the next day. I’m making a mental note.
– Jose Reyes went 4 for 5 for the second straight day. As a matter of fact, in his last 8 games, he is batting .583 (21 for 36) and slugging .944.