Category: Cubs

ARam went twice where AJ could only go once

Way to go Cubs!

Midway through the Cubs-Sox game today, A.J. Pierzynski had his mug on the on the front of mlb.com’s website.  This was due to his fifth homer of the season which put the Sox ahead 3-1 in the third inning.  Meanwhile, Aramis Ramirez was just getting warmed up. 

Aram followed up a Derrick Lee solo shot with one of his own to tie the game in the seventh.  Two innings later, hit a walk-off homer against Scott Linebrink to win it all 4-3.

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A.J. KOed by Wood!

A.J did have a chance with a runner in scoring position in the top of the ninth.  But AJ Pie got called on a swinging strike going just a little too far.   AJ wasn’t none too happy about that, throwing his helmet to the ground and neither was Sox manager Ozzie Guillen who threw up a dismissive hand.

A tough no-decision by John Danks who allowed just one run in six frames for the Sox.  On the other hand, the bullpen (this time Howry and Wood, who got the win) came through for the Cubs something they haven’t done in a few games. 

Let’s get them tomorrow!!

Cubs swept by the Rays: It’s a good thing I don’t drink

“I need a three-day vacation from Tampa-St. Petersburg.”

– Lou Piniella after getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays

Man, I thought Lou was making the right decision by not bringing in Neal Cotts tonight.  I guess I was wrong…

I don’t know what else could have gone wrong with the Cubs in series against the Rays.  Ok, I’m not pushing the panic button just yet but this isn’t the kind of series we needed going into the Sox weekend.  

The Cubs became the last team in the majors to lose three in a row when the bullpen just couldn’t get the job done once again.  This time, we had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of 7th.  Then the Rays exploded for 7 runs ensuring a Rays sweep.  Marmol and Eyre bore the brunt of the Rays’ attack giving up all seven runs. 

That’s bad enough.  Now we play the waiting game with Zambrano undergoing tests on Friday.  He’s already scheduled to rest on Tuesday.  A likely candidate to take Z’s spot in the rotation is Sean Marshall. 

Were that not enough, both Jim Edmonds (plantar fascitis) and Reed Johnson (back spasms) sat out Thursday’s game as well. 

Shall we add some more?  Kevin Hart, pitching his first game for the Iowa Cubs, was hit in the head with a line drive and suffered a Grade 1 concussion.  Welcome to Iowa, Kevin.

But I’m not I’m panicking yet.  We’re still 17 over .500 and we get to play the Sox at home this weekend.  Time to make up for those three games with a sweep!

JEREMI GONZALEZ STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

A sad note, former Cub pitcher, Jeremi Gonzalez was killed on May 25th in Venezuela when he was struck by lightning. Jeremi was 11-9 in 1997 & 7-7 in 1998, before being out of MLB for nearly five years due to three surgeries and a variety of injuries.

In 2003, he was rewarded by Tampa Bay with the Out of Nowhere Award. Gonzalez ended up being the Rays’ most consistent pitcher, despite his 6–11 record. He allowed three runs or fewer in 17 starts, but received the lowest run support of any AL East starter. He was known as Jeremi Gonzalez until he was traded to the Brewers in 2006, at which time he informed the team of the proper spelling of his name.

At the time of his passing, Geremi Gonzalez was only 33 years old.

RYNO GIVEN THE HEAVE-HO

Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is serving the third day of his three-day suspension today. It seems Sandberg, manager of the Peoria Chiefs, took exception with an opposing player bunting for a basehit, while his team was leading 6-0. The feisty manager engaged the other manager in a discussion, which led to a bench-clearing brawl.

Some might say, it’s the minor leagues and this player was just brushing up on his bunting skills, a learning process. To which I’d say, you don’t bunt for a basehit when leading 6-0, a learning process. From a Hall of Famer, way to go Ryno!

Hill’s all right in AAA

The Cubs’ starter Rich Hill made the most of his second start for the Iowa Cubs yesterday.  He pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball for the win. 

Box Score

For 10+ innings he’s pitched for Iowa, he’s only given up two runs.  Hopefully, it won’t be too long before he’s back up in the bigs where he belongs.  From an article in the Des Moines Register:

“It’s a process,” he said. “That’s what’s so great about this game. It’ll build you up, bring you down and teach you how to get back up again.”

Hurry back, Rich.

Cubs Win Flag makes my day

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Yay! The Cubs won!

On my way to work, there’s a house that routinely flies the Cubs victory flag when the good guys win one.  That be usual fare on the Northside but seeing it down here in Urbana is enough to put an extra spring in my step in the morning.  I find myself walking down that street more often on my way to work just so I can see that flag. 

 

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Dang, the Cubs lost the day I took this picture.

On the days the Cubs don’t win, the people at this house fly the American flag.  That’s a decent sentiment, I would think.  Despite what my friends might think, I have a healthy respect for the red, white, and blue.  But this causes a dilemma.  Now when I turn the corner, look up and see the Grand Old Flag, I’m reminded of the Cubs loss the night before.  The pain, the anguish. Like Paul Revere’s lights in the tower, the American flag is a signal, only a signal of my team’s defeat. 

Maybe I should go buy them a second flag holder. 

Go Cubs!

Kosuke cleans up

With injured Aramis Ramirez sitting, Cubs’ rightfielder Kosuke Fukudome found himself batting cleanup yesterday which probably surprised him more than anyone.  After starting out the season with a bang with a dinger in the first game of the season, he’s been homerless since.  He’s batted primarily in the fifth spot and done well there batting .350. 

The results from yesterday’s experiment in the fourth spot were positive for Kosuke.  He rapped 2 doubles and overall went 3 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run.  They helped from a team perspective, too.  The Cubs spanked the first place Cardinals 9-3, only their second win in six games.

We’ll see if Skipper Lou will continue this plan of batting KFuk cleanup.  If it gets us runs (and more importantly wins), I’m all for it. 

Confidential to Rich Hill: Hurry back!  My APBA team will need the pitching starts next year. K, thx!

Wrigley Field – A Perfect Place for Minor League Baseball

Watching baseball today on WGN-TV the Cubs announced the Peoria Chiefs will play a regular season game on July 29th versus the Kane County Cougars. Ryne Sandberg is the manager of the Cubs A-Ball team in Peoria. Ryno was saying how exciting it will be for the players to play in a big league ballpark. But my question is, will their fans (the guys) enjoy peeing in trofts? Then the Cub announcers said, “This will be the first time a minorleague team has played in Wrigley”. As a White Sox fan, I have to ask, does it get any easier? Hasn’t anybody been paying attention the last 100 years? This is too easy.