First Star – Derrek Lee (.291)
Second Star – Mark DeRosa (.179)
Third Star – Carlos Marmol (.173)
Top Play – Lee’s HR off A. Harang in the 5th (+.319)
All star information comes from WPA. For More Information visit www.fangraphs.com
In case you missed it, Soriano made a routine catch in the first inning off the bat of Brandon Phillips. As usual, he did his characteristic retarded hop and this time it came back to bite him in the calf. He was helped off the field by a teammate and was pinch hit for to leadoff the game by Mike Fontenot. I’ll be honest with you. I’m not the least bit sympathetic for him and take the attitude that he gets what he deserves. I know it sounds cold and you never really want to make lite of peoples misfortunes, but when you do dumb things, you get what you deserve. Hopefully it’s just a tweaked ankle that can serve as a warning to knock off the hop for the good of the team. It’s made me nervous from the time I first noticed it. Hopefully this fixes that.
Random Game Notes
- There is much talk about the lack of black players in the league these days, but I’m concerned about the lack of white players sporting the Jackie Robinson jersey today. Here is a complete list of the 330 players that sported the # 42. It needs more white boys. Can’t they honor a great man too?
- Ryan Dempster has been better than most would have expected so far this year, though the walks were a bit alarming tonight. Overall, I think we made the right call with bringing him into the rotation.
- Would you have guessed that Derrek Lee would be atop the leaderboard for home runs after the first half of April?
- I think way too much has been made about the return of Dusty Baker to Wrigley Field than was needed. I found myself completely forgetting about it once the game got started, which is the way it should be.
- Harry Pavlidis mentioned on his blog “Corey Patterson flew out to Felix Pie. Much to my relief, this proves that they are not the same person.”
- Coming into the game, for some reason, the Reds lead the playoff probability percentage on Baseball Prospectus. I can’t quite figure that out. They’re not as good as they will be down the road. They’re not going to be a factor this year.
- I asked the question yesterday that no one answered so I’ll ask it again. If you had to pick between Ted Lilly or Rich Hill right now to win one game for you, who would you throw out there?
- Ken Griffey Jr hit home run # 595 and each time he hits one it starts the talk about what could have been. Griffey is one of my favorite players and that got me thinking about what my all time favorite lineup would look like.
C – Jason Kendall
1B – Mark Grace
2b – Craig Biggio
SS – Jack Wilson & Rey Sanchez
3B – Kelly Gruber
OF – Kirby Puckett
OF – Ken Griffey Jr
OF – Ichiro
SP – Greg Maddux
SP – Steve Avery
SP – Steve Trachsel
SP – Curt Shilling
SP – Matt Clement
What does yours look like?
Outside of Soriano and Wuertz, great game. Lee was fantastic, Dempster showed toughness, and Wood and Marmol looked untouchable.
I was VERY happy with the defense in the top of the 7th. I’ll be watching for Fontenot on web gems.
Was I the only one that was surprised we left Pie in when Dusty Baker brought in the lefty to face him? I know we were already up, but I would have loved to see Reed Johnson in that spot.
As for your question, give me Ted Lilly right now, although I’d be less than optimistic about either one. I do think Rich Hill will figure it out and become the solid starter that we need him to be.
Went to the game tonight, two observations:
1) F*%K soriano! What a GD a’hole. I despise him.
2) The majority of cubs fans are idiots. i can’t tell you how many people were in the outfield giving Corey Patterson more crap than i’ve ever seen them give anyone.
What has corey done besides not turn out a stud? Would Cub fans boo Alex Gonzalez? probably not, and he cost the Cubs a hell of a lot more than Corey ever did.
just completely absurd.
Boomer, I’m in total agreement with you on Sori (aka Sori-ass). I knew that stupid hop would cost us some way, some how! Ugh. He’s a complete idiot and the more I see of him, the less I like him. And what’s up with his legs anyway?? If he were a boxer, I’d call him glass-jaw.
Nice to see D-Lee pick up the slack and for all you Pie-nuthuggers, fuggetaboutit! He’s TOTALLY WORTHLESS at the plate! Let him pinch-run and occasionally come in late in games for his defense only.
And Joe, you must be referring to a lack of USA born black players because there are a ton of black players in the league. I think the the racial statistics count Dominicans as Latin when in fact guys like Soriano, David Ortiz, etc. are both black and latino.
I go with Rich Hill. He was last year’s team’s strikeout leader, and once he finds the zone again, he’ll mow them down.
“Can’t they honor a great man too?”
Indeed. A GREAT ballplayer AND a great man. I’ll do my little Jackie Robinson rant. We all hear that he broke the color barrier in baseball so much that we never hear anymore about how great of a ballplayer he was. Just a FEW things — he batted .311 lifetime with a .409 OBP, & averaged 111 runs, 23 SB out of 27 attempts (including 19 straight steals of home – not on the front end of a double steal), 16 HR, 86 RBI and (per Bill James) was one of the top five in fielding second basemen in baseball history. He was the complete package, playing a position normally reserved for good glove/poor hitting players. Harry Carey called him the single most exciting player he ever saw play in his life.
He was such a great ballplayer that all of the owners who wanted to keep blacks out of the game changed their minds and said, “Wait a minute — we gotta get us some ballplayers like that before the Dodgers sign them all.”
On top of that, he succeeded with the pressure of representing his entire race in the face of a concerted effort to drive him from the game. He was a man. Everybody else are just ballplayers.
Here is my all time favorite lineup.
C-Johnny Bench
1B-Lou Gehrig
2B-Ryne Sandberg
SS-Ozzie Smith
3B-Ron Santo
OF-Ted Williams
OF-Kirby Puckett
OF-Tony Gwynn
SP-Nolan Ryan
SP-Greg Maddux
SP-Sandy Koufax
SP-Steve Carlton
SP-Fernando Valenzuela
RP-Rod Beck
My impression is that white players are actively dissuaded from wearing Robinson’s number because he isn’t ‘their’s.’ I agree with you totally, and if they’re avoiding the number for any other reason, it’s entirely lame. In fact, that rationale in itself is even lamer, but its another example of how badly turned around racial politics are in this country. Robinson is a hero to the vast majority of all Americans, race not being a factor at all, but white players who try to wear his number might well get accused of trying to ‘steal’ him, retarded as that is. (And a rejection of everything Robinson actually stood for.)
This was a great game, except for when Soriano injured himself. Another thing is I’m tired of Felix Pie. We have been waiting for him to show his stuff for too many years. I think it’s time to trade him. It’s sad but it needs to happen. We could get a good player in return.
I wonder how many will change your tune if Pie gets hot later in the year? Not that I’m a huge fan but, still.
My all time fav, and these are only guys I’ve seen play:
C – Carlton Fisk
1B – Derek Lee
2B – Ryne Sandburg
SS – Omar Vizquel
3B – Mike Schmidt
OF – Kirk Gibson
OF – Ricky Henderson
OF – Andre Dawson
P – Greg Maddux
P – Nolan Ryan
P – Orel Hersheiser
RP – Fernando Valenzuela
RP – K Rod
CP – Lee Smith
I agree but I’m tired of waiting for him to get in the game. Can anyone say Kenny Lofton?
Soriano is an asshole because he strained his calf?
What would that make him if he broke his leg? Something far, far worse, I suspect.
I agree with Maddog, Soriano is an asshole because he strained his calf? How do you know that little “hop” had anything to do with that injury? As I watched a fly ball to left when Derosa was covering for Alfonso he did a little hop himself, it was a freak injury, but screaming at him like it was the way and reason he catches the ball that made the injury happen is absurd. Thats like yelling at someone at the plate for their stance, if Fonzy was hitting fine then this conversation wouldnt be taking place. It was a freak injury, get over it.
The hop probably is what caused the injury, but how does that make him an asshole? Besides, if the hop did cause it as it appeared, it was going to happen to anyway It was just a matter of time. If a little hop can strain a muscle, it will get strained somehow.
I just find it odd that Soriano is an asshole because he got injured. Then again, I usually find it odd that Cubs fans find new ways to bash their best players so whatever.
Watching the game last night made me think, wow, if 3-4 of our guys get hot at once, our lineup will be tought to beat. BUT, the fact of the matter is hop or no hop the Cubs are a better team with a helathy and productive Soriano, personal feelings aside.
D. Lee is just fun to watch, up to bat, in the field, he is the real deal. Ken Griffey Jr, still love his swing!
True, I can see how the hop may have caused the injury, it was odd but just seemed like a natural move for him. The loss of Soriano will be like last year again, limiting his mobility and hey maybe in the time that he is out someone can solidify a spot atop that lineup, so when Fonzy comes back he can bat later in that lineup like he should be. I know that we dont have much options for a leadoff, and I personally dont like Fukudome going atop the lineup, we need him to guard Rammy and get him some nice pitches, but if someone can make a case for leadoff and stay there, maybe Lou will sink Soriano back to the 3rd 4th or 5th spot. Fonzy wont be able to run much now after he is back, so who knows maybe a later spot in that lineup gets him back on track to .300
Biggio over Ryno, eh? Talk about sacrilege.
Also, regarding #42: We have kids on the field for the All-Star Game, “God Bless America” replacing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and now players being guilted into wearing OTHER players’ jerseys. Just play the game already.
One more thing. I love the breadth of info and commentary on this site, but why such a negative heading for today’s post, considering the magnificent victory that inspired it?
I chose the title because it’s big picture. Soriano messed us up with his hop.
c- pudge
1st D lee
2nd Ryno
3rd M. Schmidt
ss Jeter
of Griffey Jr
of Dale Murphy
of Anre Dawson
“I wonder how many will change your tune if Pie gets hot later in the year?”
You mean, will we start judging him differently if he begins playing well, instead of playing poorly, as he has been?
Probably. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?
^ Yes, as in I’m tired of wishy washy fair weatherness. It’s 13 friggin’ games, and we’re bashing Pie, Soriano, Wuertz, etc, etc, etc. In some case, we’ve resulted to calling players a-holes because of a stupid hop. Give me a break.
If I recall, a good portion of you felt that if Pie played decent defense, and sub standard offense you’d be fine with it, because it wasn’t necesarily needed. Now all of a sudden, the tune has changed.
Hey Joe, Bryan, Matt and Cale: Where the h@ll is Babe Ruth on your all-time lineups?!? Are you guys totally insane?!?
Matt Jacobs – “Yes, as in I’m tired of wishy washy fair weatherness. It’s 13 friggin’ games, and we’re bashing Pie, Soriano, Wuertz, etc, etc, etc. In some case, we’ve resulted to calling players a-holes because of a stupid hop. Give me a break.”
No Matt. It’s called a sense of urgency.
Here’s my all-time lineup:
C – Mike Piazza
1B – Lou Gehrig
2B – Ryne Sandberg
SS – Cal Ripken
3B – Mike Schmidt
RF – Babe Ruth
LF – Barry Bonds
CF – Joe DiMaggio
SP – Walter Johnson
SP – Pedro Martinez
SP – Roger Clemens
SP – Tom Seaver
SP – Randy Johnson
RP – Mariano Rivera
DH – David Ortiz
Adam_,
maybe you missed the concept. It’s not the best lineup of all time, it’s a lineup of my “All Favorites” team. How else could Kelly Gruber make the list and narrowly beat out Steve Buchele?
Adam, reading is fun duh mental. Here’s my quote on my team:
How’s your foot taste?
And by my calculations, 162 – 13 = 149. That’s right, there’s a 149 games left to play before tonight. Give me a break about urgency. If he still sucks by the end of May, then I’ll listen about urgency.
Sheesh! Easy Matt…I read it quickly and didn’t pick up on the “favorite” part. I was thinking “greatest” for some reason. My bad and sorry if I offended you. Regardless, how can you guys not LOVE Ruth?!
As far as a sense of urgency, last time I checked, games in the first half of the season count just as much as the second half. And keep in mind, we only won the Central by 2 games last season and with no chance at the wildcard!.
And hey, it’s great to see some emotion on these boards rather than just dry analysis. We’re all fans and this is a great forum to voice our opinions! (whether right or wrong, dumb or smart). And yes, sometimes we’ll stick our feet in out mouths!…hehe
And keep up the opinionated commentary Joe!
Here’s my all-time favorites list:
C – Mike Piazza
1B – Lou Gehrig
2B – Ryne Sandberg
SS – Robin Yount
3B – George Brett
RF – Babe Ruth
LF – Jim Rice
CF – Mickey Mantle
SP – Nolan Ryan
SP – Jack Morris
SP – Steve Carlton
SP – Greg Maddux
SP – Randy Johnson
RP – Dennis Eckersley
DH – Frank Thomas
Adan, you haven’t been around these parts long enough. It takes a bit to “offend” me. Piss me off, yes. But offend me, no!
As for my team. I won’t put someone on it, if I’ve never seen them play. That’s just me. And I had to fight the urge to put Lou Whitaker on there too!
Last I checked, the Cubs sucked in April last season, so let’s not get our undies in a bunch about 13 games. That’s all I’m saying!
The best I have seen- – -
C- Pudge Rodriguez
1B- Frank Thomas
2B- Ryne Sandberg
SS- Ozzie Smith
3B- Mike Schmidt
OF- Henry Aaron
OF- Mickey Mantle
OF- Roberto Clemente
SP- Sandy Koufax
SP- Greg Maddux
SP- Steve Carlton
SP- Bob Gibson
RP- Hoyt Whilhelm
RP- Dennis Eckersly
RP- Rich Gossage
RH Pinch Hitter- Manny Mota
LH Pinch Hitter- Smokey Burgess
C – Ozzie Virgil
1B – Leon “Bull” Durham
2b – Ryno
SS – Tony Phillips or Robin Yount
3B – Mike Schmidt
OF – Joe Rudi
OF – Carl Yazstremski
OF – Dale Murphy
SP – Greg Maddux
SP – Nolan Ryan
SP – JR Richard
SP – Jack Morris
SP – Dave Stewart
RP – Lee Arthur Smith
DH – Frank Thomas
Tom C. – Good call on Dale Murphy. I completely forgot about him and he was one of my idols growing up!
“If I recall, a good portion of you felt that if Pie played decent defense, and sub standard offense you’d be fine with it, because it wasn’t necesarily needed. Now all of a sudden, the tune has changed.”
First of all, if a “good portion” of us said that, that mean a good portion of us didn’t say it. Even for those who did, I think “sub standard offense” meant hitting about .250. I sincerely doubt ANYBODY was prepared to settle for him hitting a buck fifty. Also, fair or not, after years of suffering through Corey Patterson, most fans are not ready for a replay of him. Pie’s flailing at bats are bound to draw ire, and frankly, they should.
Fair weather fans, nothing. This isn’t a guy who’s done tremendous things for us in the past and is now getting flack for a short-term bad streak. There are now serious questions about whether Pie is ever going to be able to hit major league pitching, and the fact that he seems to be actually getting worse is a legitimate concern. Until he get UP to a merely sub-standard batting average/onbase percentage, he should only be used in late inning defensive situations. This isn’t about being fair, this is about putting in the best guy to help us win games. Barring late game defensive situations, right now that is pretty clearly Reed Johnson.
Again, I’ll try to hammer on that it’s the 13th game. Batting Averages can change so much in so little time, it’s not worth panicking for at this moment.
Like I’ve said before, if he’s still hitting .150 at the end of May, then yes, we have a problem. Then again, this is the crowd that chastised me for even thinking of bringing in Kenny Lofton, and wasn’t real excited about Reed Johnson. It’s a no win situation with some of you.
And I think we’re already seeing that Lou like Reed more anyway, so it’s a moot point.
limited to players active in my lifetime…
C- Thurman Munson
1B- Willie McCovey
2B- Ryne Sandberg
SS- Cal Ripken Jr.
3B- George Brett
OF- Andre Dawson
OF- Ken Griffey Jr.
OF- Carl Yastrzemski
SP- Greg Maddux
SP- Nolan Ryan
SP- Rick Sutcliffe
SP- Steve Carlton
SP- Randy Johnson
RP- Dennis Eckersley
M- Lou Pinella