Cubs | The Baseball Zealot

No-hitter? Let’s not be hasty here.

“You’d rather win than pitch good and lose,” Greg Maddux said that just last night after his less than perfect win against the Mets. Those words never rang truer this afternoon for Mark Prior and the Cubs. Many pundits out there are unforgiving of Baker for his quick yank of Prior with his “no-hitter” through … Continue reading “No-hitter? Let’s not be hasty here.”

“You’d rather win than pitch good and lose,”

Greg Maddux said that just last night after his less than perfect win against the Mets.

Those words never rang truer this afternoon for Mark Prior and the Cubs. Many pundits out there are unforgiving of Baker for his quick yank of Prior with his “no-hitter” through 5 innings. I for one am a little more concerned about the lack of offensive support.

Given Prior’s health situation and the Cubs’ position in the standings, there could have been worse decisions. Let’s face it, at 103 pitches in the 6th inning, there was no way Prior was going to finish that game. Not without lasting damage.

Prior did his job. And let’s face it, the bullpen didn’t do half-bad. But the offense, not to mention Ronny Cedeno, dropped the ball.

Cub Untradables

I was chatting away with Mr Coworker today about the Cubs’ future especially in light of the coming trade deadline. He asked me if I had to choose three Cubs who were untouchable, who would they be? Who did I think was so important to the Cubs organization that they should be considered part of … Continue reading “Cub Untradables”

Apparently, he and the other Cub fan on the floor came up with the same three names.

Hmm… well Lee, right? And Zambrano, too. Those two were easy.

I told him I couldn’t think of anyone else.

His answer? Michael Barrett.

And you know what? I think he’s right.

Yes, his stats look good this year but it’s more than that.

The guy plays hard, he’s only 30 years old, is a team leader and calls a decent game.

Of course there’s this, too:

I jest, of course.

The Beachwood Reporter, however feels differently.

Sometimes you just take what life gives you

… but if you’re a Cubs fan, you don’t know what that might be. Logging in to MLB.TV’s Mosaic, I immediately saw that the Cubs-Mets game was not blacked out. Woo hoo. The baseball gods are looking out for me tonight. I watch as the Cubs score 5 in the fifth giving Maddux a 8-4 … Continue reading “Sometimes you just take what life gives you”

… but if you’re a Cubs fan, you don’t know what that might be.

Logging in to MLB.TV’s Mosaic, I immediately saw that the Cubs-Mets game was not blacked out. Woo hoo. The baseball gods are looking out for me tonight.

I watch as the Cubs score 5 in the fifth giving Maddux a 8-4 lead. Boy, it doesn’t get any better than this.

But I forget this is the Cubs and they’re playing the Mets and nothing is a sure thing. As I write this, the Mets have come back for 3 runs in the 7th to make it a one run game.

Every Met starter has gotten so far except Reyes and he’s due up first in the bottom of the ninth.

Let’s go Cubbies!

Update: My karma remained strong and Dempster pulled it out. Cubs win!

Two Firsts

Two things happened for the first time this season for the Cubs during the their 4-1 defeat of the Houston Astros. They won on a Thursday. They hit back-to-back homers. Long time comin’ for both.

Two things happened for the first time this season for the Cubs during the their 4-1 defeat of the Houston Astros.

They won on a Thursday.
They hit back-to-back homers.

Long time comin’ for both.

PITCHING MATCHUP OF ALLTIME

Greg Maddux Roger Clemens In this day of over hype, sometimes REAL stories slip through the cracks. Unbelievably I find myself 200 miles north of Chicago, when my home is only two miles from Wrigley Field. Tonite Roger Clemens (342-175) of the Hoston Astros will take on Greg Maddux (325-199) and the Chicago Cubs. Maddux … Continue reading “PITCHING MATCHUP OF ALLTIME”

Greg Maddux

Roger Clemens

In this day of over hype, sometimes REAL stories slip through the cracks. Unbelievably I find myself 200 miles north of Chicago, when my home is only two miles from Wrigley Field. Tonite Roger Clemens (342-175) of the Hoston Astros will take on Greg Maddux (325-199) and the Chicago Cubs. Maddux earned his 306th career win over Clemens, who had 329 victories at the time, with a 3-2 win on April 29, 2005. It was the first time since Tim Keefe and Jim Gavin pitched against each other on July 21, 1892 that two 300-game winners met in the National League. This may be the last time two three hundred game winners ever square off against one another. It is becoming harder and harder to get to 300 wins, with five man rotations, pitch counts, & deep bullpens.

Even though I’ve always been a Chicago White Sox fan, I’ve always been a Greg Maddux fan. I take alot of crap when I wear my Maddux tee shirt (in Cubbie blue). Greg was born on my birthday, ten years later, and has been a member of my APBA team the Chicago Champions since his first card. Maddux just picked up his 300th win in Pittsburgh versus the Three River Gamblers, while Roger Clemens trails him in alltime Illowa APBA League wins by two at 298. So even though I’m in Waupaca, my butt will be in front of my new TV, tuned in to WGN-TV.

LET’S GO MADDUX!!!

7/16/06 Linescore of the Day: New York Mets 6th inning

11 runs, 8 hits, 2 errors I didn’t see the game. I DID see that inning. I saw it on a restaurant TV on our way back from the Voles game. The view of the TV was right over my wife’s right shoulder. Which caused some serious miscommunications over dinner. “Noo! Noo!” “What! What did … Continue reading “7/16/06 Linescore of the Day: New York Mets 6th inning”

11 runs, 8 hits, 2 errors

I didn’t see the game. I DID see that inning. I saw it on a restaurant TV on our way back from the Voles game. The view of the TV was right over my wife’s right shoulder. Which caused some serious miscommunications over dinner.

“Noo! Noo!”

“What! What did I do?”

“Hmm? Oh, not you”

…and so on.

Well, David Wright seems to be calling on a higher power and it seems to be working.

Interesting… the Mets two grand slam and 11-run inning seems like it might be newsworthy but not to USA Today. Even as of this morning, there was no mention of it on their Baseball Page.

Finally, Bleed Cubbie Blue has picked up their thesaurus and come up with 22 words that describe yesterday’s game.

Podcast Review: The Steve Stone Show

I have another baseball podcast I’ve added to my list. My buddy Tyler turned me on to this one. It’s The Steve Stone Show. His radio show broadcasts out of WSCR 670AM “The Score” from Chicago. He covers both Cubs and White Sox baseball topics. It wouldn’t be Stoney if he didn’t tell it like … Continue reading “Podcast Review: The Steve Stone Show”

I have another baseball podcast I’ve added to my list. My buddy Tyler turned me on to this one. It’s The Steve Stone Show.

His radio show broadcasts out of WSCR 670AM “The Score” from Chicago. He covers both Cubs and White Sox baseball topics. It wouldn’t be Stoney if he didn’t tell it like it is. Being in his position, he does have some inside information.

Stone takes phone calls during the radio show as well as banters with the regular radio hosts of WSCR. I find most of what Stone talks about interesting and insightful.

Two minor annoyances:
– unlike most podcasts, you need to register your name and info before downloading any podcasts.

– also, no rss feed. So that means you have to go to WSCR’s web site everytime you want to download a show rendering any podcast aggregator useless for this show. Ugh.

That said, it still worth it for Chicago baseball analysis and news. Check it out.

Easy with that Bat, Mr Cora

Thank you sooo much, Joey Cora, for disabling yet another Cubs pitcher with your errant bat before the All-Star game. That’s what the Cubs need right now. It’s not like we have a ton of good arms on the Cubs right now. “Whoa, that’s not a weapon there, Joey Cora” And it’s not like the … Continue reading “Easy with that Bat, Mr Cora”

“Whoa, that’s not a weapon there, Joey Cora”

And it’s not like the Cubs fans need another focal point on the Sox. We have plenty of those already.

Zambrano missed the All-Star Game and is questionable for the next one or two starts. That’s quite a mighty swing you have for a fungo.

Easy with that bat, Mr Cora.

Update: Zambrano assures us he’s ok and is scheduled to make his start on Saturday.

One observation: If Zam hits a homerun on Saturday, he will be tied for 5th on team. Ugh.

FIRST PITCH BY FOX

After watching baseball this past weekend on Cable at
my cottage in Wisconsin I’ve got a whole new meaning
for “throwing out the first pitch”. The lineups were
brought to me by Taco Bell and some other advertiser.
The pitcher’s scouting report was brought to me by
another sponsor. I learned how to prevent leakage and
not pee as often, also can shrink my prostrate. Turns
out a triple stacked beef burger from Burger King
should be my meal of choice. And Chevrolet might’ve
been better served waiting for the game to end before
announcing Aramis Ramirez as the Player of the Game.
They had a little egg on their face as Ramirez made
the last out of the game for the Cubbies, while the
REAL Player of the Game lives on the Southside of
town, a fellow by the name of A.J. Pierzynski!

WHITE SOX @ WRIGLEY FOR 3

Drove straight from the airport to Waupaca with one
thing on my mind, the Crosstown Classic between the
World Champion Chicago White Sox and the hapless
Chicago Cubs. Flipped on WGN at the cottage just as
the game started, the Sox were up 3-0 after 1/2 inning
of play, but the Cubs responded with two in the bottom
of the frame. Juan Uribe drove in three more runs,
after knocking in two in the first, to make it five
for the day. Jon Garland settled down after a shaky
first inning to hang on to a 6-2 win over Cub rookie
Sean Marshall.

The 2nd game was a nooner on FOX. CLou-less Piniella
was announcing the game for Fox. Lou stated Joe Crede
shortened his swing in the offseason and it was really
paying dividends this year, when in reality Crede’s
hot streak started in last year’s playoffs/World
Series and has carried into this season. There was a
popfly double that landed between the Cubs
thirdbaseman Aramis Ramirez and leftfielder Phil
Nevin, granted it was a play the shortstop is normally
involved in, but for the Jim Thome shift. Both
announcers said the ball fell between Ronny Cedeno &
Nevin, the director even showed a split screen of
Cedeno & Nevin. Then Fox chose Aramis Ramirez as the
Player of the Game, he ended up making the last out of
the game for the Cubbies. Ross Gload, Fox showed he
was 0-8 as a pinch hitter even though he was in the
game on a double switch, was the last batter that
stood between Ryan Dempster and the Cubs evening up
this series at a game apiece. But when Gload’s
dribbler eluded Dempster, then Dye walked, and up
stepped A.J. Pierzynski. The game was on the line,
but Fox insisted on bringing up how Michael Barrett
had apologized, just as A.J. Pie launched one out on
Sheffield Avenue for a three run home run. It turned
the game from a 6-5 loss to a 8-5 win, as Bobby Jenks
shutdown the Cubs in the bottom of the 9th.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday! Settled in to watch a pitching
battle between aces Mark Buehrle & Carlos Zambrano.
Felt really confident as the Sox tallied twice in the
first off tightly wound Zambrano, but the Cubbies
jumped all over Buehrle for seven in their half of the
first. Buehrle got a win earlier in the year when he
allowed seven first inning runs, but not today as the
Cubs belted him with four more and went on to win this
one 15-11. Cliff Politte allowed four runs in two
innings, as he’s looked horrible since coming off the
DL.