Cubs | The Baseball Zealot

4/17/07: RED LINE DOUBLEHEADER

Chicago L Red Line The day before the BIG doubleheader I checked out the schedules and realized this was doable. I was “only” going to see the White Sox at night at the Cell, but when I heard Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres, I decided to see both games. I left my house … Continue reading “4/17/07: RED LINE DOUBLEHEADER”

Chicago L Red Line

The day before the BIG doubleheader I checked out the schedules and realized this was doable. I was “only” going to see the White Sox at night at the Cell, but when I heard Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres, I decided to see both games.

I left my house at 10:15 AM, hopped on the CTA bus, and soon was standing at Clark & Addison. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and I was very excited to be able to see TWO GAMES! As soon as I took my position in the Bleachers, after downing a piece of Connie’s Pizza, washed down with a large Mountain Dew, it became overcast, and began to drizzle.

Things got even better when I saw Felix Pie would be making his major league debut. Felix got a double off Maddux and made a terrific throw to nail Russell Branyan at the plate. Greg allowed three runs on the day, but two were as a result of centerfielder Mike Cameron losing a flyball in the sun, which resulted in an RBI double to Derrek Lee, and then Lee scored on a two out hit.

The game remained tied until Geoff Blum knocked in what proved to be the game winner in the top of the 14th at 5:30 PM. By that time the sun had broken threw, was quickly setting, and it was time for me to hustle on down to the Cell.

Boarded the Red Line at Addison, got off at Sox 35th, picked up a ticket at the window, and I was on my way. After eating some Elotes with everything, a Gardenburger with cheese, it was time to grab my spot next to Nancy’s organ behind home plate.

The only Sox scoring would be as result of a Jim Thome longball to straight away centerfield. It was Sammy Sosa’s homecoming, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pleaded with fans to be nice to Sammy cuz he was good for Chicago baseball, but that request fell on deaf ears.

The game really began at 7:32 PM when Sosa stepped to the plate to the sound of thunderous boos, that turned to cheers when he went down singing at 7:33 PM. But when Sammy knocked a three run blast over the wall to put the Rangers up 8-1, it was time for me to fly.

I bounded along blustery 35th street to my Red Line chariot waiting to take me home, I walked in my door at 10:15 PM, a twelve hour adventure. Even though both Chicago teams lost, it was fun. My next Red Line Doubleheader will be 4/25.

Top Ten Responses to Soriano’s injury

Here’s my Top Ten list of Cub fans’ responses to Alfonso Soriano getting injured in the Cubs’ 12-4 win today 10. If this is what it takes to get Matt Murton in the lineup… 9. With a $136 million contract, Soriano really wasn’t an integral part of the team. 8. Mr Hendry? Mr Hendry? Are … Continue reading “Top Ten Responses to Soriano’s injury”

Here’s my Top Ten list of Cub fans’ responses to Alfonso Soriano getting injured in the Cubs’ 12-4 win today

10. If this is what it takes to get Matt Murton in the lineup…

9. With a $136 million contract, Soriano really wasn’t an integral part of the team.

8. Mr Hendry? Mr Hendry? Are you ok?

7. Soriano’s defensive play in center wasn’t quite up to speed anyway

6. Alfonso who?

5. Now we get to see how we’ll do without a .234 hitter with 1 homerun.

4. Soriano needed to get outta that pick-off funk somehow.

3. We’ll let Zambrano and Marquis pick up the slack in the power department while he’s out.

2. Aramis Ramirez needs someone to play MLB 2K7 with.

…and the #1 response to Soriano’s injury is…

1. Wait’ll Next Year!

Wishing our blog a Happy B-day the best way possible

As Teddy Ballgame already mentioned, two years ago today I started The Baseball Zealot with its introductory post as well as its very first Linescore of the Day, Zack Greinke. Thanks for the note, Teddy. I was thinking the best way for TBZ to celebrate was for the Illini AND the Cubs to win. Boy, … Continue reading “Wishing our blog a Happy B-day the best way possible”

I was thinking the best way for TBZ to celebrate was for the Illini AND the Cubs to win. Boy, did they ever. Let’s start with the Cubs.

Aside from some control problems early, Rich Hill was simply nasty. He didn’t allow a run in seven innings. Probably just as important, the bullpen didn’t blow it. The Reds’ bats were cold and the Cubs shut them out 7-0.

But the Illini!! Wow! They didn’t win a game. They won two! They swept the Northwestern Wildcats today.

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Mike Stankiewicz

In Game 1, Mike Stankiewicz threw a one-hit shutout, striking out seven. Mike Rohde’s rbi single in the 6th was all Stanky needed to get the win (and it was all the Illini got). What’s this? Rohde’s a threat on the basepaths? He stole 2 in the first game.

Ryan Snowden’s double in the very last inning of the game, not only kept his hitting streak alive but broke the University of Illinois record. Way to go, Snow!

Final Score: Illinois 1 Northwestern 0

Game 2 was a lot more closer but outcome was the same. First of all, Snowden didn’t wait till the end of the game to get a hit. He doubled in Illinois’ first at-bat of the game. Just to be sure, he single in the sixth, too.

Starter Aaron Martin wasn’t on his game today and lasted only two-thirds of an inning, giving up foru runs. Fortunately, the Illini bats were good to go. Kyle Hudson, Shawn Roof, Brandon Wikoff all got two hits in addition to Snowden. Mike Rohde went back to what he does best; driving in runs and added a two-run homer in the 3rd.

When the dust settled and reliever Jake Tooehy did his work in the last two innings, the final score was Illinois 8 Northwestern 7

Nice work, Illini!!!

Update: It was close but the Wildcats tied Game 4 of the Series in the bottom of the ninth and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 10th. Final score: Northwestern 6 Illini 5.

Lars Davis is just like a Timex watch. He keeps on ticking. In the loss, he was 4 for 5. That raises his BA to .452.

WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO???

Lou Piniella Just like the new groom after the honeymoon, Lou Piniella got an upclose look at his bride without her makeup. Yikes!!! “What did I get myself into?”, thoughts had to be running through the head of the new Cubs manager. The Cubbies had a 5-0 lead over Cincinnati on Friday the 13th with … Continue reading “WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO???”

Lou Piniella

Just like the new groom after the honeymoon, Lou Piniella got an upclose look at his bride without her makeup. Yikes!!! “What did I get myself into?”, thoughts had to be running through the head of the new Cubs manager. The Cubbies had a 5-0 lead over Cincinnati on Friday the 13th with their Ace Carlos Zambrano on the hill. Z was on a roll through 4 innings, he even knocked a homer to the delight of the Bleacher Bums. Then everything came crashing down in the 5th, Will Ohman even walked in the 5th & 6th runs of the frame, before being replaced by Michael Wuertz who K’d the side, Big Carlos didn’t get anybody out in the fifth.

After the game Sweet Lou was asked by a reporter, “What went wrong?”, to which Piniella lost it. It is part of the manager’s job to meet the media after the game, if he wasn’t prepared to do this part of his job, he should have stayed hidden in his office.

It’s going to be a long three years!!!

Me ‘n Billy

My buddy Tyler snapped this pic of me with Billy Williams at the 2007 Cubs Convention I attended in January. Tyler convinced me to take the pic with his girlfriend’s camera because it was so much better (which it was). I just didn’t know I’d have to wait 3 months for it. Seriously, thanks Tyler! … Continue reading “Me ‘n Billy”

Seriously, thanks Tyler! The photo is awesome.

Billy Williams

BACK TO THE BLEACHERS

At the last minute I decided to go to the Bleachers Tuesday to see the New Look Swagger Cubs, under Uncle Lou. I had a ticket for Wednesday’s game, but when the weather looked halfway good for Tuesday (at least there wasn’t snow), I hopped on the bus and ventured southeast to Wrigleyville. Luckily my seat was in the Bleachers, cuz the rest of the ballpark looked kinda cold. In fact one hour before game time about the only fans in the park were in the Bleachers. I sat back, relaxed, fell asleep, but luckily a fan behind me woke me in time for the Star Spangled Banner.

I’d almost forgotten how dumb the Bleacher Dumbs are. But was reminded once the Houston Astros took the field. LF SUCKS, RF SUCKS, CHRIS BURKE SUCKS, LUKE SCOTT SUCKS, THE WHITE SOX SUCK!!! Then in the 9th inning a female Houston Astro fan who made the unforgivable sin of wearing her team’s jersey to the Bleachers had to be escorted from the Friendly(?) Confines, all the while having debry & beer thrown at her and told SHE SUCKED!

Getting back to the game… There are three ways a player can commit an error; 1) on a throw, 2) fielding a ball, or 3) on a catch. Cesar Izturis made all three types of errors in this one game. Izturis is one of the players in the Cubs lineup in their for his glove, the other being Derrek Lee, but he’s a pretty good hitter as well. The Tribune spent alot of money on the new-look Cubbies, but they have alot of the same old problems as the old-look Cubbies. One of those problems is defense, on this day it was Izturis, but on most days it will be the outfield. The Tribune has put together on of the worst fielding outfields ever! Alfonso Soriano was barely adequate in LF last year for the Nats, after stinking it up for years at secondbase, now he’s the Cubs centerfielder, the captain of the outfield. Excuse me for pointing out the obvious, but this captain is lost at sea. Then there are Matt Murton & Cliff Floyd in left. Murton doesn’t have an arm and has Ron Cey’s range, only Matt plays the outfield. Floyd is one of the worst outfielders in the game today, can’t think of any worse at the moment, and that includes Carlos Lee. As far as Jacque Jones is concerned, I don’t know why cutoff men even bother setting up for his throws, as he never hits them. I know Sammy Sosa never did either, but Sammy could flat out mash! Then there’s Mark DeRosa at secondbase, he’s only played 114 games at second in the majors in his life before this season. Last year he played RF for the Texas Rangers.

I’m having a tough time focusing on the game, maybe it’s all the SUCKS rolling around in my head. Almost glad it’s raining/snowing outside and today’s game has been called off. Luke Scott knocked in three runs on the day, starting with a two run first inning double. Chris Sampson, making his first start of the year for the Stros, shutdown the Cubs on three hits over five innings, then handed the game over to Rick White, Chad Qualls, and newly annointed closer Dan Wheeler. “Newly Annointed” almost gave the game to Chicago by allowing four hits & two runs in the 9th, to close the gap to 4-2. Brad Lidge had better get his act together quickly!

Zambrano gives the Brewers a reason to win next time

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Somebody shut Carlos Zambrano up.

“I think it’s a different ballclub,” Zambrano said after Saturday’s game. “I think Cincinnati has better hitters than Milwaukee. I’m not saying the Milwaukee Brewers are nothing, but the offense of the Cincinnati Reds is better and there’s no room for mistakes.

“When you pitch against Cincinnati, they have Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey and all those guys, and when you make a mistake … you will pay for it,” he said. “Sometimes you make a mistake here [against the Brewers] and sometimes they miss, and that’s good.”

Yah, well even it’s true (and I’m not convinced it is), no point in giving them added incentive in winning the next time we face them.

Hill picks up where he left off last year

No downslide for Rich Hill Watched the Cubs game on the TV tonight. Well, once the first inning was over, Milwaukee starter Homer Bush pitched a good game pitching five scoreless frames. However, it was the first that ultimately did him in. The Cubs managed to plate six runs. To me, the big story was … Continue reading “Hill picks up where he left off last year”

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No downslide for Rich Hill

Watched the Cubs game on the TV tonight. Well, once the first inning was over, Milwaukee starter Homer Bush pitched a good game pitching five scoreless frames. However, it was the first that ultimately did him in. The Cubs managed to plate six runs.

To me, the big story was lefty Rich Hill. He retired the first fifteen batters before Corey Hart took one deep. That would be the only run and only hit Hill would allow in his seven full innings.

Hill’s overall stats were mediocre (6-7, 4.17) but his last two months were awesome for a rookie. He was 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA from August 1 on. Add to that, he had 78 Ks in 76 plus innings. I said it on the last episode of our podcast… one key to the Cubs pitching will be Rich Hill.

That makes three very solid outings in a row by Cubs starters (unfortunately, Marquis’ was ruined by the bullpen antics). Ironically, Zambrano was the only one who has had a rough outing. He’ll come around, I’m sure.

4/4/07 Linescore of the Day: Ted Lilly

Ted Lilly: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

Ok, so I’m showing my colors. Sue me. Lilly showed he has some stuff and maybe silenced the critics. Will he do this every time? Likely not. But this is a good way for Lilly to start 07.

I’m giving special mention to White Sox reliever David Aardsma. He pitched 2 innings allowing one hit and striking out five. What wasn’t reflected in his linescore was that he entered the game in the 8th with the bases loaded and no out. He proceeded to strike out three Indians to retire the side.

The Sox lost anyway.

Aardsma, by the way, was one of the players honored by the Coastal Plain League along with University of Illinois shortstop Shawn Roof. Specifically, he was named to their All-Decade team. You can read more about it here.

Cuttin’ it Close with Zambrano

Piniella says “five” years for Zambrano Looks like Zambrano and the Cubs might just pull off a long term deal before the opening day deadline. The deal is said to be for 5 years. Salary figures are yet unknown but rumored to be sub-Zito ($18m/year). I have a bet with BZR co-host Cluke that a … Continue reading “Cuttin’ it Close with Zambrano”

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Piniella says “five” years for Zambrano

Looks like Zambrano and the Cubs might just pull off a long term deal before the opening day deadline. The deal is said to be for 5 years. Salary figures are yet unknown but rumored to be sub-Zito ($18m/year).

I have a bet with BZR co-host Cluke that a deal would be reached before Opening Day. Looks like I’ll be getting a free diet soda next time I see him.

Update: The latest news is that Zam has extended the deadline to reach an agreement.

“Our discussions have progressed to a point where we are extending the deadline for an indefinite period of time,” Zambrano’s agent, Barry Praver, said on Sunday.

However, more details are out. It looks like 5 years and $80 million.