Category: Cubs

Brilliant Show by the Cubs

I’m not in the habit of agreeing with my Sox fan friends especially when it comes to Cubs/Sox issues but I have to hand it to my good buddy Teddy Ballgame. He’s right about Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Someone needs to take his mike away. Don’t ask me why but Sunday I turned on Comcast … Continue reading “Brilliant Show by the Cubs”

I’m not in the habit of agreeing with my Sox fan friends especially when it comes to Cubs/Sox issues but I have to hand it to my good buddy Teddy Ballgame. He’s right about Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Someone needs to take his mike away.

Don’t ask me why but Sunday I turned on Comcast to watch the Cubs-Sox game. That was about the time that Juan Uribe was called for interference. I think that Ford Frick nominee Ken Harrelson said “This is BS!” about 3 time then guaranteed that the protest would be upheld. All this, of course, before he even heard what the final ruling was.

I’m not sure what Hawk meant by BS. Maybe he meant Bad Series by the Sox who eventually dropped all three to the Cubs. Or Blundering Shortstop Juan Uribe who committed the interference infraction.

I eventually got smart and changed the channel to WGN. Len and Bob to the rescue.

The Cubs have won 4 in a row (including the one tonight that got away and they roped backed in) and are 14-8 since according to the media Piniella had “lost control of his team”.

Yet, as good as the Cubs are doing, Milwaukee is doing that much better and remain 7 1/2 ahead.

What we need right now…

a Brewers Slump.

Rod Beck no longer Shooting

Mr Rod Beck, intense reliever yet laid back teammate, is dead at 38. The Shooter signing autographs at the 2007 Cubs Convention I saw the Shooter at this year’s Cubs Convention. Out of all the old-timers signing autographs on the lower level, Rod Beck was one of the more popular ones with the fans. He … Continue reading “Rod Beck no longer Shooting”

Mr Rod Beck, intense reliever yet laid back teammate, is dead at 38.

The Shooter signing autographs at the 2007 Cubs Convention

I saw the Shooter at this year’s Cubs Convention. Out of all the old-timers signing autographs on the lower level, Rod Beck was one of the more popular ones with the fans. He had a friendly way with those waiting in line. With his signature handlebar mustache and longish hair, he stood out.

His cause of death is unknown and is pending an autopsy. I’m not holding my breath and quite honestly, you probably won’t hear about the results here. The results probably won’t be surprising.

That said, Beck’s persona was one of a kind. A pitcher who camps out in an RV beyond a minor league scoreboard is bound to have a little color.

But let’s not forget that the Shooter was once one helluva a pitcher. Yes, he had 286 career saves but he had incredible control too.

In 1994, when he had 48 saves for the Giants, he came in 8th in the Cy Young voting. Cubs fans will remember his 1998 season when they made the playoffs. That year he recorded 51 saves, his career high.

 

Sammy Sosa and 600

I never understood the “hatin’ on Sammy” thing. Many of my Cub fan friends are bound and determined to think ill of Sosa since he left our team. Not me. Let’s make one thing clear. While I think it’s great Sammy has reached his milestone, I sure wouldn’t have minded if he had waited till … Continue reading “Sammy Sosa and 600”

Sosa

I never understood the “hatin’ on Sammy” thing. Many of my Cub fan friends are bound and determined to think ill of Sosa since he left our team. Not me.

Let’s make one thing clear. While I think it’s great Sammy has reached his milestone, I sure wouldn’t have minded if he had waited till the Texas’ series with the Cubs was over. The media had a field day with it but I didn’t.

That said, I guess it’s hard for me to get down on any player who contributed as much to my favorite team despite the manner he left it. Let’s face it, in the thirteen seasons he played for the Cubs, he gave us 545 homeruns, 1414 rbis, and 1245 runs. All that for ONE team. My team.

Not to mention he was involved in one of the most exciting homerun races in recent history albeit one that has been tainted slightly. Sosa has recently been maligned about how he handles the press but let’s not forget how exciting he was back then and the press ate him up. He handled that well.

For all that, I’m willing to give Slammin’ Sammy a mulligan for his transgressions in his time near the end with the Cubs.

It is said that Sammy Sosa has big ego. Those who actually know him would say that he is a proud individual. A fine line maybe. Either way, I’m happy for him.

But couldn’t he have waited just a couple of games?

 

 

The Barrett-Bowen deal

When I heard that the Cubs traded Barrett to the Padres, I immediately thought of the scene in A League of Their Own where poor misunderstood Kit finds out that she’s been traded. I can just see pretty Dottie Hinson say, after having the ball thrown at her, “You!? They were supposed to trade ME!” … Continue reading “The Barrett-Bowen deal”

league of their own

When I heard that the Cubs traded Barrett to the Padres, I immediately thought of the scene in A League of Their Own where poor misunderstood Kit finds out that she’s been traded. I can just see pretty Dottie Hinson say, after having the ball thrown at her, “You!? They were supposed to trade ME!” Though I somehow I doubt Zambrano entertained that idea.

Quite honestly, I don’t like trades like these. The Barrett-Bowen trade was made more for HR reasons (that’s Human Relations, not HomeRun) rather than team improvement. Additionally, it almost seems like it was a public relations move. A trade to make things right. Trades made under these situations are obviously made for reasons outside of realm of baseball talent.

Cub fans as are most baseball fans, are a picky bunch. It wasn’t just a year ago that hard core fans considered him a hero for landing a punch on cross-town rival backstop A.J. Pierzynski. On top of that, he was a solid hitter, solid enough to win the 2005 Silver Slugger award.

But things change and so do attitudes and apparently defensive skills. As an aside, it kinda surprised me that Barrett is only 30. It seems like he’s been around for a while. Anyway, with a overload of young catchers waiting in the wings, the Cubs have had their fill of Barrett. At least that’s what I hope. Even if they are using the Zambrano and Hill incidents as an excuse to bring in some new blood behind the plate, I wouldn’t mind. But please, I hope this isn’t any move to simply move Barrett without any long-range
plan.

By the way in addition to Rob Bowen, the Cubs did get OF Kyler Burke in the deal as well. You can see the breakdown of his minor league stats here. Nothing too special hitting .211 with one homer in 213 at-bats playing for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low A ball). The good news is that he’s only 19.

Farewell, Mr Barrett.

Followup: Here’s an article from Chattanoogan.com about Burke’s trade to the Cubs. Burke is from the Chattanooga area.

Zook tuning up

Illini fans, wear your Orange and Blue if you’re going Saturday’s Cubs’ game. University of Illinois football coach Ron Zook will be singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch that day.  

zook

Illini fans, wear your Orange and Blue if you’re going Saturday’s Cubs’ game. University of Illinois football coach Ron Zook will be singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch that day.

 

WALKOFF WALK

Michael Wuertz Jose Reyes singled for the Mets with two outs in the bottom of the 9th of a 4-4 game. Everyone knew he was going to steal, so Wuertz threw to first a number of times, before delivering a pitchout to Endy Chavez, but Reyes was safe at 2nd anyway. Three more balls to … Continue reading “WALKOFF WALK”

wuertz.jpg
Michael Wuertz

Jose Reyes singled for the Mets with two outs in the bottom of the 9th of a 4-4 game. Everyone knew he was going to steal, so Wuertz threw to first a number of times, before delivering a pitchout to Endy Chavez, but Reyes was safe at 2nd anyway. Three more balls to Chavez put runners on 1st & 2nd. Carlos Beltran received three straight balls before being intentionally walked. The Shea crowd was going crazy as Carlos Delgado fought through a ten pitch at bat, before Michael walked him too, forcing in the winning run. 5-4 Mets over the Cubbies.

Later I was watching Greg Maddux on TV dispose of the Cincinnati Reds in a complete game, little over 90 pitch gem. The Reds announcers said that Maddux has only gotten to a 3-0 count on 18 batters, in his career, AMAZING!

MLB swinging the Pink on Sunday

On Mother’s Day, batters will be using the pink bats again to support research for breast cancer. Last year, Andruw Jones not only did that but he embellished his image with harlequin shades. Seriously, one player who will be looking at this from a personal perspective is Cubs outfielder Cliff Floyd. Last year, his sister, … Continue reading “MLB swinging the Pink on Sunday”

On Mother’s Day, batters will be using the pink bats again to support research for breast cancer.

andruw

Last year, Andruw Jones not only did that but he embellished his image with harlequin shades.

Seriously, one player who will be looking at this from a personal perspective is Cubs outfielder Cliff Floyd. Last year, his sister, Shanta died of breast cancer at the very young age of 21. I can only imagine how important this will be to him.

Cubs’ Marquis surprising many

I’m sorry, Jason. You know, for the joke that went around when you got signed. It went like this… “Well, if he can’t pitch, at least we can use him as a pinch hitter.” I think many baseball people are waiting for the real Jason Marquis to step to the mound. When Marquis was signed … Continue reading “Cubs’ Marquis surprising many”

marquiscubs

I’m sorry, Jason. You know, for the joke that went around when you got signed. It went like this…

“Well, if he can’t pitch, at least we can use him as a pinch hitter.”

I think many baseball people are waiting for the real Jason Marquis to step to the mound. When Marquis was signed over the off-season, I don’t think too many expected an ace performance from a starter who just last year had a 6.00 plus ERA for the Cardinals despite winning 14 games.

Yet here he is, fresh off a complete game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates today making his record 4-1 in six starts with a minuscule ERA of 2.09. Even more surprising is that Marquis, who previously has had a penchant for the long ball (35 allowed in 2006), has only allowed 2 so for in 2007.

It’s a question we ask ourselves of a lot of players (teams, too) this time of year. Are they that good or just lucky? The further we delve into the season, the harder the case it is to make that they are just lucky.

Who knows? Maybe, Marquis is due for a good year?

Oh, as far as his hitting? You know, it’s not bad but it’s down a little.

That’s ok, Jason, that’s not why we’re paying you.