Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
I bring back non-Cub fan co-hosts so I can gloat
No, I don’t really :-)
Here are the show notes…
032- Pre-Postseason Roundtable
Show Notes for Episode 32:
Hosts: Tom, Chuck, Todd
Summary: After Todd tells how happy he is about the Littlefield leaving the Pirates, we discuss the upcoming postseason. We give our opinions on who will go on and who won’t.
Thanks for listening!!
Time: 46:19
Date Recorded: 9/30/07
Regular TBZ readers may have noticed the “Magic Number” widget we had on the right sidebar. It was a (free) handy little piece of code we got from MLB Magic Numbers. It simply calculated the Cubs’ magic number and updated it on the fly. After the Cubs clinched, it displayed “Clin”. Any way you spell … Continue reading “Handy Magic Number Widget Confuses Cubs with White Sox”
Regular TBZ readers may have noticed the “Magic Number” widget we had on the right sidebar. It was a (free) handy little piece of code we got from MLB Magic Numbers. It simply calculated the Cubs’ magic number and updated it on the fly.
After the Cubs clinched, it displayed “Clin”. Any way you spell it, it means Clinch!!.
However, I load up TBZ today and notice that the Cubs’ magic number has impatiently risen to 163. It’s no cruel joke… seems that their coding is ready for 2008.
Looks like at least one of my predictions will be right for the NL this year. Thank goodness it was the NL Central. Zambrano brought his A game to the mound for his last start of the season. He was in complete control for the whole game allowing six hits and no runs (and one … Continue reading “Clinch!”
Looks like at least one of my predictions will be right for the NL this year. Thank goodness it was the NL Central.
Zambrano brought his A game to the mound for his last start of the season. He was in complete control for the whole game allowing six hits and no runs (and one walk) over seven innings.
My kids stayed up with me to watch the game. My seven year old daughter even attempted to stay up to watch the end of the Pads-Brewers game to see if we would clinch. Bless her heart she dozed off by the ninth. When I roused her to tell her that the Cubs were going to the playoffs, she mumbled, “Good” then fell back asleep.
She was much more excited about the matter this morning.
One lasting image that will stick with me?? Seeing the multitude of fans rooting for the Cubs at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. When the scoreboard showed that the Padres had jumped ahead of the Brewers 4-3. it seemed the whole stadium erupted. Even through the TV, I could hear the chant, “Let’s Go Cubs! shouted in unison.
I took a day off from the Cubs today instead taking my aforementioned daughter to “A Game Plan” (actually, not a bad movie… if you have a young daughter, she will love it). I see that Rich Hill got the job done putting to rest any idea that the Cubs are backing into the playoffs.
Next up, Ted Lily on Sunday.
Finally, I leave you with this video that Tyler from Baseball Zealot Radio subjected me to. Can’t say much about the music. A college student who works for me says it’s based on song that’s popular with the kids these days. But it does has some cool Cubs imagery.
Tyler and Alex join me again this week. Here are the show notes:
031- Cubs Chat II: Keepin’ it Positive
Show Notes for Episode 31:
Hosts: Tom, Alex, Tyler
Summary: Alex Breen and Tyler Davis are back for more Cubs analysis We cover the last week’s series and look forward to the last series of the year with the Reds.
Also, we discuss which players Lou might take to the postseason.
Thanks for listening!!
Time: 31:46
Date Recorded: 9/28/07
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Cub fans who are interested in getting NLDS tickets should prepare to get up early Sunday morning. The online waiting room opens at 8:30am and ticket sales begin at 9am. Here is the entry point if you’re interested. You can also phone in and try your luck with that route. Good luck and Go Cubs! … Continue reading “Cub fans, set your alarm clocks for NLDS tix Sunday am”
Cub fans who are interested in getting NLDS tickets should prepare to get up early Sunday morning. The online waiting room opens at 8:30am and ticket sales begin at 9am. Here is the entry point if you’re interested.
You can also phone in and try your luck with that route.
Good luck and Go Cubs!
BZR turns the big 3-0 (episodes) this week. I remember a poster that my cousin had up on his wall back in his rebellious days that said “Never trust anyone over 30!” Of course now he works for a defense firm so take that for what you will.
This week’s show features two Cub fans as guest hosts. I must say that provides for a different atmosphere when discussing my beloved Cubs.
We had fun doing the show and I hope you enjoy listening to it. As I say in the show notes, I think I’ll have them back again.
Without further ado, here are the show notes:
Show Notes for Episode 30:
Hosts: Tom, Alex, Tyler
Summary: It’s crunch time for the Cubs so I bring on Cub fans Alex Breen and Tyler Davis as guest hosts.
We discuss the Cubs’ improved pitching staff, Lou Piniella’s shaving habits, and decide who we would choose for this year’s Cub MVP.
We had so much fun, BZR might invite those two back again.
Links:
Here is the info you need if you’re interested in getting tix for the NLDS.
Thanks for listening!!
Time: 31:21
Date Recorded: 9/20/07
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It happened to Terry Francona last week and now it’s happened to Lou. Lou Piniella was threatened with a $1000 fine for not wearing an official Cubs jersey during games. The supposed infraction during the series against the Giants in San Fran. ”It was cold, so I wore the fleece top,” Piniella said of the … Continue reading “Piniella accused of wardrobe malfuntion”
It happened to Terry Francona last week and now it’s happened to Lou.
Lou Piniella was threatened with a $1000 fine for not wearing an official Cubs jersey during games. The supposed infraction during the series against the Giants in San Fran.
”It was cold, so I wore the fleece top,” Piniella said of the pullover that is included among the uniform items. ”I had on the gray [T-shirt] underneath the fleece.”
Apparently, someone above noticed and Piniella got the letter with the threat of the fine.
As my friend, Todd V would say, “Leave it to the MLB to find a way to make money”. The issue here lies with the corporate sponsors who require all players and field personnel to wear the official uniform.
Don’t get me started on this. If it were up to me, I’d put all managers in street clothes during games.
Call it the Curse of the Long Term Contract or maybe The Curse of the Rainout. Either way, since Carlos Zambrano has signed his five year contract (and pitched 3 innings of perfect ball only to have the game called because of rain), he has been less than effective. Ok, that’s putting it nicely. Quite … Continue reading “Big Z: Searching for a win”
Call it the Curse of the Long Term Contract or maybe The Curse of the Rainout.
Either way, since Carlos Zambrano has signed his five year contract (and pitched 3 innings of perfect ball only to have the game called because of rain), he has been less than effective.
Ok, that’s putting it nicely. Quite frankly, he’s stunk. He has a 8.29 ERA and 0-5 record over that period. Not only that, he’s close to 6 walks per 9. Hopefully, Monday’s game is the bottom of the barrel for him and he can start climbing out of his funk. After his baserunning boner, he fell apart against Dem Bums and allowed 8 runs.
The media came out strong against Zambrano’s blast of the fans. Maybe it’s me but I don’t think he was THAT out of line. Derrek Lee came out against the booing and I’m glad he did. Bonus: he took Big Z for missing the stop sign.
“I’m a grown man. I know when I make a mistake. I know what I’m doing. I know when I have to come to whoever I offended. I don’t think somebody has to tell me what to do,”
I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt. I’ll bet Z had a nice chat with Rothschild and Piniella. Hendry says that nobody told him what to say. For some reason, I’m dubious.
Zambrano has been inconsistent all year and this is the time of year we really need him. The timing of this downturn doesn’t help his cause.
Zambrano is a different personality. Do I expect him to come forward and be a team leader in the way that Derrek Lee is. Probably not. But I do expect him to pitch effectively and consistently. Whatever it takes to get him to that point, be it a missed start or whatever, Lou needs to do it.
And fans, get off his case. I don’t think the booing helps.
Update: Cubs are now up 4-2 and Lilly pitched well allowing 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Maybe we can salvage this last game.
I was a little surprised to hear that the Cubs acquired Steve Trachsel from the Orioles. It’s conventional wisdom that the Cubs already have a solid, deep rotation. That said, there are reasons that down the stretch and beyond, he may be useful. With proper rest, Trach can pitch effectively if not overpoweringly. His lifetime … Continue reading “Steve Trachsel comes home”
I was a little surprised to hear that the Cubs acquired Steve Trachsel from the Orioles. It’s conventional wisdom that the Cubs already have a solid, deep rotation. That said, there are reasons that down the stretch and beyond, he may be useful.
With proper rest, Trach can pitch effectively if not overpoweringly. His lifetime ERA at Wrigley is solid (4.13). And beyond all that, Trachsel has a way to pitch above his talents.
Most of all, my bet is that the Cubs are trying to cover their bases. It’s all too easy for a pitcher to fall to injuries right now, they are in the midst of a 22-game stretch without a day off.
Call-ups
Geovany Soto
Somebody else who will be joining the squad will be catcher Geovany Soto. What a season he’s having in AAA! With 106 rbis and 31 doubles and a .353 average, he won the PCL’s MVP award.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do.
I caught up with Al who gave me an interview for the Zealot. He’s quite busy this season especially this time of year.
I think this was the first time we’ve had a Cubs fan on the show. A real treat for me and a quite a switch from putting up with my Sox fans co-hosts. Just kidding, CLuke.
Thanks to Al for his time.
Thanks for listening!!
Show Notes for Episode 29:
Hosts: Tom
Summary: Al Yellon is one of the biggest names in the Cubs blogosphere. His blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, is a great resource for Cub fans and judging by the amount of feedback, he has a large following.
For Episode 29, Tom chats with Al. We talk a few minutes about the BCB blog then spend the rest of the show on what’s happening with the Cubs.
Links:
During the show, the topic of BCB’s Top 100 Cubs of All Time came up. You can find the full list here.
Time: 22:44
Date Recorded: 8/30/07
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