Cubs | The Baseball Zealot

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

I ran into Mr Cubfan Coworker today. After being out of action for a couple days, I asked him for an update on the last few days in the baseball world. He says that the Cubs have lost the first two to the Astros and if we’re lucky they’ll lose the last one and maybe … Continue reading “One Step Back, Two Steps Forward”

I ran into Mr Cubfan Coworker today. After being out of action for a couple days, I asked him for an update on the last few days in the baseball world.

He says that the Cubs have lost the first two to the Astros and if we’re lucky they’ll lose the last one and maybe get swept by the Brewers.

Huh? Mr Coworker has been a Cub fan for as long as I’ve known him so I know he hasn’t changed allegiances.

He explains. His thinking is that as long as the Cubs don’t mount some sort of winning streak, Hendry has a good case for firing Dusty Baker by the weekend. He has already said he is “evaluating everything” after the first half.

Cubfan feels that the timing is right. The Cubs need to build for next year and beyond (I think any realistic Cub fan realizes that by now). Bringing in a new manager at this point would allow him to get used to the current team and work with the late season call-ups, players which may make a real difference in 2007.

Cubfan Coworker may be overstating his point (I can’t see myself or even him, rooting for the Cubs to lose) but his point regarding the timing of managerial change is well taken.

Bleed Cubbie Blue has a good posting on the issue of the possibility of Dusty being replaced. One of the names rumored as potential replacements is Razor Shines.

Razor Shines!?!!

The name may not be familiar to many unless you follow minor league baseball or if you live in Indianapolis.

Shines had a total of 81 at-bats in the majors. But he is probably one of the most popular players in Indianapolis minor league history. Go to a Indianapolis Indians game today and you will still see clips of Razor’s play from 20 years ago and the crowd will react.

More to the point, Shines is now manager of Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox’ farm team. Last year, he was Southern League’s Manager of the Year when he was with the Birmingham Barons.

Other names mentioned: Lou Piniella, Tom Kelly. Bob Brenly, Jimy Williams, Lloyd McClendon, Tony Pena

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 … 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.

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. … 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!

6/18/06 Linescore of the Day: Mark Prior

3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 4 HR (Loss) Well, Cub fans, this was the day we were looking forward to all season. Remember? The only good news is that Prior says that he felt fine and just didn’t have command of his pitches. The 12-3 loss completes … Continue reading “6/18/06 Linescore of the Day: Mark Prior”

3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 4 HR (Loss)

Well, Cub fans, this was the day we were looking forward to all season. Remember?

The only good news is that Prior says that he felt fine and just didn’t have command of his pitches.

The 12-3 loss completes a 3-game sweep by the Tigers. Kevin Brown won his 200th career game.

Sox fans rooting for the Cubs this weekend?

I’m not in the habit of reading White Sox blogs very often but occasionally I glance over at Southside Sox. While I was there, I noticed that the folks at (Cubs blog) Bleed Cubbie Blue have submitted a friendly poll on their site. The essence of it was will you as a Sox fan be … Continue reading “Sox fans rooting for the Cubs this weekend?”

The essence of it was will you as a Sox fan be rooting for the Cubs this weekend? The intent, presumably, was to find out if logic and practicality would prevail over intense dislike of the Northsiders with the Cubs playing the Sox’ Central Division rivals Detroit Tigers.

Check out the current results here.

At this point, it doesn’t seem the Cubs are doing anyone any favors ‘cept the Bengals.

Sutcliffe makes an appearance in the booth

…and belts out “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” to the Wrigley faithful. Yesterday, Rick Sutcliffe joined Cubs’ broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly in the booth after he and his daughter sang TMOTTB during the 7th inning stretch. It was good to see Sut back at Wrigley… even wearing a Cub jersey. Shoot, if … Continue reading “Sutcliffe makes an appearance in the booth”

…and belts out “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” to the Wrigley faithful.

Yesterday, Rick Sutcliffe joined Cubs’ broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly in the booth after he and his daughter sang TMOTTB during the 7th inning stretch. It was good to see Sut back at Wrigley… even wearing a Cub jersey. Shoot, if he didn’t look so pained after throwing out the first pitch, I’d say he get out there and throw a few innings. Seems he won a game here and there a few years back.

I remember Game 5 of the 1984 NL playoffs. I was on my way back from Washington DC with a vanload of people. There were enough ~~people~~ guys on the van who wanted to see the game so we stopped at a smoky bar to watch it. Sut pitched that game and got the loss. He couldn’t be held totally accountable… that was the game when the infamous (well, infamous to Cubs fans, at least) grounder went through Leon Durham’s legs.

The majority of us were Cubs fans, of course so we were pretty disappointed and I never forgave Steve Garvey who had a hell of series, I never held it against Sutcliffe unlike some fans. We would never had made it that far without him (he went 16-1 after the Cubs picked him up) and he pitched a hell of a game 1.

It was good to see the Sut in the booth and hear him talk about the old days with the Cubs. I normally don’t care for in-game interviews and feel they interfere with the action on the field. Maybe it’s because Sutcliffe is a broadcaster himself or because he has a tie with the team but I didn’t mind so much this time.

Some Rookie Catchup

Carlos Marmol: I asked a co-worker who is a Cub fan what he felt about Marmol. He said he would be like “another Hill, Guzman, Wuertz.” That was before Marmol’s first major league start on Sunday when he allowed one run in six innings. “The first pitch, I was nervous,” Marmol said. “After that, it … Continue reading “Some Rookie Catchup”

Carlos Marmol:
I asked a co-worker who is a Cub fan what he felt about Marmol. He said he would be like “another Hill, Guzman, Wuertz.” That was before Marmol’s first major league start on Sunday when he allowed one run in six innings.

“The first pitch, I was nervous,” Marmol said. “After that, it was like pitching in Double-A. It was exciting.”

Don’t know if that changed the mind of Mr Co-worker. Not that should necessarily. Much is made of a rookie’s first MLB start with the thinking that it steers the rest of his career. Much was/is being made of Cole Hamels first start on May 12 where he threw five shutout innings. Since then, he’s done ok. He’s maintained a 3.68 ERA and 22 Ks in 22 innings, certainly decent stats for a incoming rookie.

But my point, before we get too excited about Marmol (I know, with the Cubs pitching the way it is, the temptation is there), let’s see some more. Fortunately for Marmol, the opportunity is there.

The LA Dodgers New Crop of Rookies:
I ran across this USA Today article published today about the Dodger class of 06. The list of Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Willy Aybar, and Andre Ethier was more than familiar to me having read Teddy Ballgame’s Boys of Summer, Indeed article. Since then, I’ve noticed those boys more and more in the Dodger box scores.

The Dodgers also have 21-year old Jonathan Broxton who throws fire and slugger Joel Guzman.

6’6″ Guzman is a natural shortstop but with his pure hitting ability, the Dodgers are moving him to left to give him time to develop. Of all the Dodger rookies, Guzman has probably the least playing time but probably the most potential.

As for Broxton, he’s gotten more playing time in the bigs than Guzman. And faring pretty well at that. With 21+ innngs under his belt, he’s got a 2.95 ERA. And that part about throwing fire?? He’s got 28 strikeouts so far.

Cubs take on Sampson

No, not that Sampson Today it’s the matchup of rookies: Marshall against Astros’ Chris Sampson. Sampson has a rather interesting story. Drafted by the ‘Stros as a shortstop, quit the game, now given a second shot as a pitcher. He made his MLB debut last Friday when the Astros had pretty much lost the game. … Continue reading “Cubs take on Sampson”

No, not that Sampson

Today it’s the matchup of rookies: Marshall against Astros’ Chris Sampson.

Sampson has a rather interesting story. Drafted by the ‘Stros as a shortstop, quit the game, now given a second shot as a pitcher. He made his MLB debut last Friday when the Astros had pretty much lost the game. Now he gets his chance to start.

There’s more info on Sampson over at Bleed Cubbie Blue.

Oh and I’m not going to talk about last night’s game and Wood’s performance other than to say that if and when Prior and Miller get back, KW should go to the pen… if I had MY way.

Update: No complaints about Sampson so far from the Astros’ perspective. He’s retired the first nine batters.

Update: Sampson just got pulled. What an outing for him! Six shutout innings allowing only 3 hits. He had a one-hitter though five. Interestingly, he didn’t strike out a batter.

His velocity reached the high 80’s. Definitely a groundball pitcher. For what it’s worth, he’s not bad defensively. He had more than few chances in the field.

Much is going to be made about Sampson’s performance in the media but with the exception of one bad pitch to Brad Ausmus, Sean Marshall is also having a great day. He’s only allowed the one solo shot to Aumus and still in the game.

6/5/06: Linescore of the Day – Carlos Zambrano

Carlos Zambrano had a STRONG night deep in the heart of Texas!!! The Chicago Cubs enthusiastic righthander not only pitched his way to victory, but he also supported his mound effort at the plate. Preston Wilson broke up his quest for a no hitter with an eighth inning single to rightfield. Carlos is normally a good hitter, despite his .080 batting average this year. He remembered what to do with the bat in this game with a 2nd inning three run homer, he also picked up a sacrifice fly, for a total of four runs driven in on the day. Houston starter Taylor Buchholz was tagged for 11 hits and eight runs in five innings of this laugher, 8-0 Cubbies

Carlos Zambrano W 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO
1 for 3, 1 HR, 1 SF, 4 RBIs, 1 run

Baker weighs in on Pujols loss

Dusty Baker “feels Pujols’ pain”. To his credit, Dusty didn’t really say that. That was just MLB.com’s Carrie Muskrat’s take on the whole thing. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that he feels Tony LaRussa’s pain. “You don’t like to see anybody hurt at all,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said Sunday. “We’ve … Continue reading “Baker weighs in on Pujols loss”

“You don’t like to see anybody hurt at all,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said Sunday. “We’ve had our share of injuries. It just goes to show you it’s a long season, No. 1, and No. 2, it’s a test of who has the most depth. That’s what it boils down to — who has the best bench? Who has the best secondary players who can play in a primary role for a long period of time?”

What I guess Baker was trying to do was empathize with the Cards plight. And I guess he’s gone through some of the woes that LaRussa will have to face.

But it’s not the same.

Speaking of Albert, the MRI results came back but it doesn’t seem the Cardinals know much more than the they did before. The results of the tests were inconclusive. LaRussa is approaching it with the right attitude, in my opinion.

“You just don’t know,” St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa said. “You can do anything you want to, but I’m not going to get into this day-to-day soap opera with Albert’s this and Albert’s that.”

The less focus on Pujols and the injury on a team level, the better for the Cardinals.