Gorzelanny, Baker battle the Bucs for win

Tom Gorzelanny just did what was needed by his team. 

Last night, I checked on Zach Duke’s stats, in particular, how he did against the Cubs.  Going into today’s game, he had a 4-6 record against Chicago.  Yet his 3.09 ERA against them was still pretty tasty.  So I figured it was going to be up to Gorzelanny. 

Well, Duke pitched pretty close to his status quo, allowing three runs in 7 plus frames.  But Gorzelanny was up for the task.  The Pirates only scored one run off him in five innings.  Cubs win 3-1!

The big miracle in today’s win was that the Cubs’ bullpen didn’t implode.  Rather, they pitched pretty dang well allowing two hits over the course of four innings with Gregg getting his 23rd save of the season. 

Jeff Baker continues to produce for the Cubbies.  Today, he went 2 for 4 with his second homer of the year.  This one was a solo shot off Duke in the sixth inning.  In the last six games, the Germany-born Baker has fourteen hits.

Hopefully, Geovany Soto is getting back in the groove.  Soto was 1 for 19 in the first two series back from his month-long DL stint (albeit that one hit WAS a homerun).  In the last two games against Pittsburgh, Soto has collected three hits, two of them doubles.  Let’s hope he can find what he had last year.

Tomorrow:  Rich Harden vs Pirates’ Ross Ohlendorf

Cubs find Bucs very obliging

See?! See?!  What did I tell you?  The Pirates came to town and all is better now. The Cubs who seemed like they were repressed beyond belief, exploded all over the Pirates. 

The 17-2 win was full of highlights but Derrek Lee was the big story.  For the second time this season, he drove in seven runs.  This time he only needed two hits to do it, though. 

The Cubs made sure the game was never in doubt, scoring 14 in the first two innings.  The last time that happened was in 1906.  Hmm, 1906
 something happened in 1906.  Something good.  Can’t quite place my finger on it but when I think of it, you’ll be the first to know.

Tomorrow should be interesting with Tom Gorzelanny going against his former ‘mates for the first time.  He and Cubs will be taking on Zach Duke, perhaps a more formidable pitcher than Friday’s starter Charlie Morton.

The question now is Did the Cubs shoot their proverbial wad today?  I’ve seen it happen in the past.  Score in double digits in game one of a series then the bats go flat. 

But hey, these are Pirates, right? 

Go Cubs!

Beer-tosser sobers up, says he’s “sorry”

Johnny Macchione should have drank that last beer.  That’s ironic, because had he gotten drunker, he wouldn’t be in the mess he is now. 

Macchione sobered up enough Thursday to say he what he did to Phillie outfielder Shane Victorino “was a big mistake” when just two nights ago he saw fit to dump a full cup’s contents of beer on him.  Funny what sobriety and the wrath of millions of baseball fans will do to your perspective.

Johnny M apologized to the Cubs team too.  “Chicago Cubs, I’m sorry I disgraced you”.  Part of me wonders if he’s really enjoying his notoriety.  Check his My Space page, stat!

All the apologies in the world aren’t going to get Macchione out of trouble, though.  He’s being charged with two misdemeanors; battery and illegal conduct within a sports facility. 

Kudos to Victorino who not only CAUGHT the ball amidst the splattered rain of beer, he is also saying the right things now.  He’s not holding it against the fans of Wrigley (Ozzie Guillen, are you paying attention?):

"No, I love playing here.  I love the atmosphere. I love the way they go about the game."

Reading some blog comments and forums, I’m seeing some backlash especially from Cub fans who think that the reaction to what Macchione did is “over-reacting” pointing to incidents in the parks. 

a) something that happened elsewhere, at another time does not make this right

b) the fact that Victorino did not get hurt also does not make it right

c) stop making excuses

I don’t think anyone reading this will take issue with me on this but the basic problem here is respect for the game of baseball.  That problem permeates on all levels, management, players, and fans. 

When you see a fan who thinks it’s okay to dump a beer on a player simply because he is there or because he on the other team or because the players are there for our “entertainment”, that is a prime example when a fan has lost respect for the game of baseball.

Uncle Joe Cannon’s Jamboree vintage base ball Tournament- August 22

I had lunch with Shawn Lee today.  Shawn is the web person and occasional ballist for our local vintage base ball team, the Vermilion Voles. 

Aside from discussing what’s ailing major league baseball today, we talked vintage base ball.  Shawn reminded me that the annual Uncle Joe Cannon’s Jamboree Tournament is coming up.  For those in the East Central Illinois area, it’s a great chance to see some great vintage base ball (and lots of it!). 

This year, they’ll be having it at the Voles’ usual home park at beautiful Kennekuk State Park. The tournament will take place on August 22 at noon.  The Voles will be hosting the Chicago Salmon, Rock Spring Squirrels, St Louis Perfectos (and no doubt their bright red stockings). 

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Some Chicago Salmon players taken at the 2008 Jamboree

I went to the Uncle Joe’s Jamboree in 2008 and had a blast.  I did a write up and posted some photos. 

If you’re interested, please come.  The teams love a crowd and really make try to get the spectators involved by speaking to them and informing them about how the game of base ball was played in 1858.

You can find more info (including their schedule) on the Voles’ web site.  

Cubs at a low point but hey, the Pirates are comin’ to town

I’ll go on record here.  If, god forbid, the Cubs don’t win the NL Central in 2009, the 2010 review mags and books will point to their series with the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-August and call it one of turning points of the season.  A “lowlight” if you will. 

And there would many reasons to do so.

The Cubs extended their losing streak to five games after getting swept by the Phils.  When they lost 4-3 in a heartbreaking 12-inning affair in which Rich Harden was perfect into the sixth and the Cubs outhit the Phils 10 to 3.  And when they were out-slugged 12-5 on Jeff Samardzija’s first career start. 

And today, when Ryan Dempster saw his August ERA go sky high (Kudos to Jeff Baker, though who went 2 for 2 and has 11 hits in his last 5 games).  Today’s rout of 6-1 puts the Cubs at 4.5 back in the NL Central.

No timing, no patience, no luck, and no clutch.

Oh as if the players weren’t having a tough enough time, who invited this fan into the park??

God, this kind of stuff puts me in a bad mood.  There’s nothing anyone can say  (including “I was drunk”) that excuses this.kind of behavior.  If you can’t treat people with decency, then stay home.  Chicago, the Cubs, and baseball doesn’t need need to make the news for this kind of crap.

But all will be fine again.  Word has it Ted Lilly is ready to come back on Monday after his surgery.  He threw five scoreless innings in Peoria A ball. 

And this weekend, the Pirates are coming to town.  This year, they’ve gone 4-2 against them.  The last three years?  Same ratio
 26-13. 

So say it loud, Cub fans, The Pirates are comin’ to town and all will be fine again! 

Rejoice!

25 things we miss

I enjoyed reading through Sports Illustrated’s list of 25 Things We Miss in Baseball. 

There’s no reason to expect any of the listed 25 will ever come back nor for the most part, should they
 we live in a different world (#11- Fans Running Out onto the Field, #9- Wimpy Middle Infielders)

But I get it.  Some of the listed are products of baseball when it was a sport in age of more innocence.  And if wasn’t innocent, we didn’t know it. 

I still would like to hear organ music (#13) at a ballpark and quality mustaches (#7) would certainly bring some character to the game (Rollie Fingers, anyone?)

(link via Circling the Bases)

MLB Bits and Bites

Now that Juan Encarnacion is out of baseball since losing most of the vison in one eye because of an errant foul ball in 2007, he’s going political.  He’s running for a Senate seat in his home country of the Dominican Republic.  Here’s an even more detailed article provided you read Spanish.

 

  With the Brewers two games under .500 and 6 1/2 out, they’re ready to make changes.  They’ve demoted slumping JJ Hardy to Triple A and DFA’ed Bill Hall.  Not only that, they’ve fired pitching coach Bill Castro.  Castro had been with the organization as the bullpen coach for almost 20 years before getting upped to his new position this year.

 

Orlando Hudson will be missing a couple days with a groin injury according to Joe Torre.  He is currently on a 10 game hitting streak.  Torre says it “could have been worse”.  Ouch.

 

Finally, poor Jamie Moyer.  He’s having hard time of it.  But as I always tell my kids, you need to find appropriate ways to express your anger.  And in the context of Major League Baseball, this is not it. 

Couldn’t he just smash a water cooler like every other player??

Consistent Percival near retirement

"I don’t think you’re retired until the paperwork’s in. But it’s safe to say as of right now, I don’t see that I’m going to be able to throw a whole lot"

By the time you read this, Troy Percival will probably have announced his retirement.  He’s already met with the Rays’ management and rumors are flying that he has submitted his resignation.  And with the above quote, the writing seems to be on the wall.

Looking back over Percival’s career, there’s no question he had Grade A stuff.  But look closer and see how consistent he was.  It really is quite amazing. 

For starters, in nine years (1996-2004) he dropped below 30 saves just once and accumulated 313 for that period. 

He was solid over the course of the baseball season throughout the years, too.  Both his opponents batting average and ERA were pretty consistent from April to September.  Career ERA high of 3.51 in May and amazingly BA high of .204 in May as well. 

If their was one knock on Percival, it’s that his batting average with runners in scoring position (.273) was slightly high, especially with the bases loaded (.380). 

Interestingly, he had a career 0.00 ERA against the Angels who he played for his first ten years of his career

Assuming he does retire, Percival’s 358 saves puts him #8 on the all-time list behind Jeff Reardon.  He and Billy Wagner are the only two on the top ten list who have never led the league in that category (off topic:  Billy never led the league
 does that surprise you??).

Redundant Team Nicknames in Sports

As a University of Illinois alum, one thing I’ve had to come to grips with is our “Fighting Illini” nickname.  No. I’m not talking about the whole political issue.  I just think the nickname is a bit redundant.  Illinois Fighting Illini” doesn’t roll off the tongue like “Iowa Hawkeyes” or “Michigan Wolverines”.  Too many damn ‘L’s and ‘I’s. 

My list of redundant nicknames in the world of sports. 

Major League Baseball

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Philadelphia Phillies

Minor League Baseball

Indianapolis Indians

Jamestown Jammers

College

Augsburg College Auggies

Illinois Fighting Illini

Lake Superior State University Lakers

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Miners

Pacific Lutheran University Lutes

St John University Johnnies

Silver Lake College Lakers

St Leo University Lions

St Olaf University Oles

US Merchant Marine Academy Marines

University of Utah Utes

High School

Rock Island (IL) Rocks

any team named “Saints” or “Mountaineers” (most of them have St or Mount in their name- West Virginia excepted)

 

The NFL’s Buffalo Bills fall into a totally separate category.  They use their city name for their logo not their nickname.  Also, I have to admit, the St Leo Lions was pretty clever. 

I’m sure there are more.  Especially, if you look into teams from the past.  If you know of one, let me know. 

Trevor Bell and his day job

Reader DonS sent along this article on about Trevor Bell.  Bell who pitched for the Salt Lake Bees in the Pacific Coast League and has been called up to the majors recently (he’s scheduled to pitch Wednesday), has an interesting side story.  He had been moonlighting as an actor. 

Bell calls it a “hobby” now.  As a child, he did a fair amount of acting especially in commercials.  Nowadays, he spends the off-season in LA where he can get in Hollywood atmosphere.

Acting runs in Bell’s family.  His grandfather is Bob Bell who portrayed the original Bozo the Clown for WGN-TV in Chicago.  Living in Illinois as kid, I remember Bozo the clown and how popular he was. 

Now in the Angels’ organization, Trevor Bell is the real deal.  He was picked by Baseball America as the top 14-year old pitching prospect in the country.  That’s when Bell focused less on Hot Wheels commercials and more on baseball. 

In 2009 between stints with Arkansas and Salt Lake, Bell has gone 7-7 with a 2.70 ERA. 

Can Bell continue his “hobby” while pitching in majors?  Doubtful.  One thing is for sure, there’s no clowning around for him when he’s on the mound. 

Sorry, had to fit that pun in somewhere.