News & Notes
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Lou Piniella says he has “all the confidence in the world” in Sean Marshall. Yeah Lou, that’s why he’s been in the rotation all year. Oh wait, he hasn’t. Don’t crap me on this, Lou. If Zambrano wasn’t hurt, your confidence in Marshall as a starter wouldn’t even be close to entering the discussion.
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Mark DeRosa is a scheduled guest on PTI today on ESPN. Make sure you check out the show to support Mark.
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Oklahoma 6, Iowa 2 (Series tied 1-1) - The Iowa Cubs fell to the Oklahoma RedHawks 6-2 Thursday night at Principal Park to even the first round of the PCL playoff series 1-1. Oklahoma batted around in the second inning and posted a five-run rally with two outs. John Mayberry got on base by an Iowa error and scored on Jason Ellison’s single for a 1-0 lead. Ben Harrison, who was 1-for-4, then hit an RBI single and Casey Benjamin doubled in a pair of runs. Ryan Roberts’ single scored the fifth a final run in the second inning for the RedHawks to take a 5-0 lead. Travis Metcalf homered for Oklahoma in the third inning for a 6-0 lead over the Cubs. Despite out-hitting the RedHawks 10-6, it was not until the bottom of the eighth inning that the Cubs tallied a run. Andres Blanco led off the inning with a single and Andres Torres followed with a double. Blanco scored on Bobby Scales groundout and Torres was driven in by Josh Kroeger’s RBI single. Ed Campusano, who spent most of the season in double-A Tennessee before being called up to Iowa, struck out the side in the eighth inning. J.R. Mathes took the loss allowing six runs over five innings. The RedHawks’ Derek Lee picked up the win The Cubs and RedHawks meet for game three of this best-of-five series tomorrow night in Oklahoma City.
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Kevin Hart was recalled from Iowa and is ready to pitch if needed in tonight’s game against Cincinnati.
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Brandon Rosage and I recorded the latest edition of The Pitch last night. Only a week after it debuted instant replay, MLB was forced to use it after an Alex Rodriguez home run clipped the foul pole in Tampa Bay. The Pitch hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage waste no time making quick judgment of how it effected the game and might come into play in future, more intense competitions. The discussion then veers toward criticism of the Brewers and ace CC Sabathia after his non-no-hitter was rebutted by Milwaukee with the argument that the pitcher’s gaffe on Andy LaRouche’s single should’ve preserved his no-no. And the show doesn’t sneak by without a few jabs at Cubs fans’ armor through their one-week skid and news that Carlos Zambrano is headed to the disabled list. The show also features great community e-mail about Barry Zito’s ass in new jeans all over metropolitan billboards and predictions for all-time home run No. 250,000. (Download the MP3)
Joe talking about Barry Zito’s ass? Oh lord. I’ve got to hear this!
What is Lou supposed to say Joe? “I have no confidence in Sean Marshall”?? I don’t see that happening.
When he feels the need to shovel maybe he can just say things like “We’re hopeful this young man will come through for us.” That wouldn’t be a lie at all but also wouldn’t give himself away if he was scared to death about having to be without Zambrano for awhile.
I know it might seem really negative, but we have NO chance, as of tonight, of winning the division. We have an outside……very outside chance of winning the Wild Card, provided the Astros lose some, and the Mets and Phillies keep going back and forth on each other….and, provided the Dodgers and D’Backs beat up on each other much the same.
As of now, we are technically l0 games up on the Wild Card. With giving up 9 runs already tonight, an offense that has all decided to sleep at the same time, injuries to our two biggest pitchers—Harden and Z….We are absolutely screwed, and I actually cancelled my trip to Chicago for the playoffs. I don’t even believe that’s within reach.
I am actually starting to believe curses. Who could’ve seen this? I mean, our absolute longest losing streak was like 3 at one point, wasn’t it? Now, at five, and no end in site, I think it’s safe to say we’re done. The Brewers are winning their game, and have way better young talent than we have….In case you haven’t noticed, in the post-greenie era, veterans have largely struggled later on, just as we are. We have a fairly old team with Lee, DeRosa, ARAM, Soriano, Edmonds, Fukudome, Lilly, Dempster, Howry, etc. all in their thirties. The Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Brewers, Phillies, all have young talent. We have Soto and Theriot in our everyday lineup. The ONLY regular starter under 30. hmmmmmmmmm
Everything written above is ridiculous
is it so ridiculous? I could say you’re ridiculous. The excuse, “it’s only one game”, “a lot more games to play”, etc., aren’t going to fly anymore.
This team seems old, and is playing like it, and they flat out SUCK. This is crunch time. Here’s two facts:
1) It’s either feast or famine with this team on offense
2) If they have injuries, or tough times, they all crawl in a hole
I really do not think this team has a single vocal leader at all. I think Wood is leader of the pitchers, and Z is fairly vocal, but in a self-motivating way. If any of you have ever played ball, it doesn’t matter how vocal pitchers are—the everyday players keep apart from them most of the time anyway. If you have a clubhouse leader, he says, “get your head out of your asses, and start playing like we’re the best”
Other teams are rising to the occasion at the right time. The Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Astros are all playing like they have everything to gain and nothing to lose, while we are just flat out losers. We are just lucky as hell that the Brewers aren’t pulling away with this right now. SIX gentleman!!!!!!! SIX!!!!!!!!!!! This is September, NOT May. WHen you lose this many in a row when it truly matters, you don’t even deserve to make the playoffs. What that tells you is you don’t even belong there in the first place.
Now, I’m not saying I don’t want them there, but I believe that anything less than a World Series championship this year is an utter FAILURE. The Cubs limped into the playoffs last year. They got swept in Florida, then won the next two in Cincy, then got blown out in the last game. We sat back and watched a team with little plate discipline get swept by the D’Backs. On any other team, you see 2-3 runs put on the board by the other team, and you feel you have a chance. But not with that team, and now, unfortunately, the same broken record is playing at the end of this year.
It’s pathetic when the only team we can really seem to handle this year is the Pirates
This person makes me embarrassed to be a Cub fan
I love the haters that reappear when things start getting a little rough.
To support Aarbear, I tried writing a very similar post yesterday, but had computer problems and never reposted it. Aarbear brings up some very valid points. We may not like it, but they are valid. This team has lost it focus. It might be because they are old, hurt, or because they think they already have it won. Either one is not good news. Just because you are willing to focus on our flaws, does not make you less of a Cubs fan. For me, anything less than a World Series appearance would be considered a failed season.
Cubs Visit Cincinnatti by The Cubbie Dude Friday 05 Sept 2008
So the Cubs have lost 5 in a row. Lefty Ted Lilly (13 -
pitches tonight and will try to put a stop to this downward spiral.
The Cubbies play of late has reminded me of the Cubs teams I’ve known and loved all my life. That includes the pitching, hitting, and defense. And final scores.
Lou Pinella & Matt Sinatro got lost driving from Chicago to Cincinatti today. Seems they almost ended up in Cleveland. Well, they were headed to the right state at least.
On the plus side, however, the Cubs remain 5 games ahead of the Brewers going into tonight’s action, and are 30 games over .500, with 85 wins and 55 losses.
On the pitching front Carlos Zambrano had a terrible August, and now he’s having shoulder problems. Rich Harden is having “discomfort”. This September should be interesting.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Cubs game will not be televised on Time-Warner tonight. Ouch. A few years ago, when the Bulls were three-peating and re-three-peating, I couldn’t get a lot of those games either. Sometimes cable is not the answer.
6:20 PM Barack Obama weighed in earlier this week on whether he preferred cheering for the White Sox, or the Cubs, or both. He said he is a Sox fan, no question. Mr. Obama said the White Sox fans are “Real baseball fans”, whereas Wrigley Field patrons are Wine & Cheese eating elitist snobs who don’t even watch the game. I was disappointed to hear that from him.
6:25 PM The game gets underway after a slight rain delay. Soriano leads off with a strike out again. Now it’s 2 strike outs in a row (Theriot). Make that 3 Ks in a row (Lee). The Cubs offense must have lost their bats somewhere on the road. Let’s pray for a rain out!
6:38 PM Two run homer for the Reds. Score is now 2-0 Reds. This sucks!!
6:43 PM Inning over. Pray for rain.
6:49 PM I see amc is showing a “Muscles from Brussels” movie. Thirteen seconds until the bomb explodes. KaBoom!!!
6:52 PM Cubs do nothing in the top of the 2nd.
6:56 PM Ron Santo is sounding increasingly frustrated. Comcast Sportsnet just showed a couple of “highlights” from the first inning. Lots of empty seats in Cincinnatti, and most of the people there are wearing Cubbie Blue. If it weren’t for the Cubs fans across the country, a lot of teams would have no attendance at all.
6:59 PM Keppinger hits a double off the left field wall, driving in a run. 3-0 Reds. Pray for rain.
7:02 PM Lilly walks in a run. 4 - 0. Fortunately, the rain is picking up. Come on rain!!
7:04 PM Sacrifice fly. Keppinger scores. 5-0. Come on rain!!
7:06 PM Three outs. Inning over. 5-0. I’m glad I brought a good book to this party. I’m reading (and enjoying) “Dog Man - An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain” by Martha Sherrill. So far the book’s much better than the game.
7:12 PM Cubs catch a break. A fielding error puts a base runner on second with1 out. Hofhower pinch hit for Lilly. He just stole third base. Meanwhile, bats are breaking like there’s no tomorrow. Let’s go back to ash bats.
7:15 PM Soriano strikes out for the second time tonight. 2 outs. Three outs. Runner stranded at 3rd. Score remains 5-0 Cincinnatti. Pray for rain!!
7:20 PM Bottom of the 3rd. Lieber pitching for the Cubs. Hits the first batter. Double play, 2 outs. Hurray!! I’m still praying for rain, though. Three outs. 5-0 Redlegs.
7:26 PM Leadoff batter in the top of the 4th, Derrek Lee, is on with a single. One out. Two out.
7:30 PM The rain has stopped.
7:32 PM Jim Edmunds gets his second hit of the night. Brings up Soto. Three outs.
5-0 Reds. On the book front, Morie & Kitako are breeding and raising Akitas and loving life.
7:36 PM First batter in the bottom of the fourth pops out. Keppinger gets a base hit up the middle.
7:38 PM A double for Philips. Runners at 2nd & 3rd. Intentional walk to Bado to load the bases with 1 out. Pop out, 2 outs.
7:44 PM Grand slam homer to left. Reds lead 9-0. Come on rain!! Start again!!
7:46 PM Three outs. Cubs might as well pull all the starters and make this a scouting game to check out all the recent call-ups from Iowa, etc. On the South side of Chicago the White Sox are leading 4-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.
7:48 PM Casey McGee pinch hits for the pitcher, Jon Lieber, and strikes out. 2 out. This brings up the lead off hitter, Soriano, who has struck out in both of his previous at bats tonight.
7:51 PM Soriano walks, with 2 out. Three outs. 9-0 heading to the bottom of the 5th.
7:55 PM Stephen Colbert is interviewing Representative Ron Paul. His book is titled “The Revolution - A Manifesto”.
7:57 PM New pitcher for the Cubs. Derrek Lee catches a pop foul for 1 out. Morie is not trying to “breed pets”. He’s hoping that one day he might “raise a dog that could save somebody’s life”.
8:03 PM Derrek Lee leads off the Cubs 6th. One out.
8:07 PM Aramis Ramirez flies out to left. Two out.
8:08 PM Fox TV is reporting that current polls have Obama & McCain in a dead heat. Thanks to the Palin bounce. Three out for the Cubs as we move to the bottom of the 6th. 9-0 Reds. Is it too late to be saved by rain? Let’s pray for an earthquake maybe.
8:12 PM Lou Pinella has taken my advice and is “resting” many of the regulars. Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee, on Fox News, says there is an excitement in the Republican Party that didn’t exist a week ago.
8:16 PM Three outs and we move to the top of the 7th. I’m expecting a lot of new names in the Cubs lineup.
8:19 PM Jim Edmunds draws a walk to lead off the 7th, bringing up Coy Hill.
8:20 PM Hill doubles to center field, scoring Edmunds and bringing up Fukudome.
9-1 Reds. Morie has decided he will never sell a dog for money, no matter what.
8:23 PM Kosuke grounds out. Dusty Baker brings in a new pitcher for the Redlegs.
8:26 PM Michael Moore is being interviewed by Larry King on CNN. I can’t hear him because the sound is turned down. Ted Nugent is being interviewed by Glenn Beck on CNN Headline News. I can’t hear him either. But he looks happy. Miichael Moore, on the other hand, looks unhappy.
8:29 PM Blanco flies out for the second out. This brings up Soriano, the leadoff batter.
8:31 PM Soriano walks for the second time tonight. Ryan Theriot is still in the game and comes up next. Everyone is smiling in the Cialis commercial.
8:34 PM Theriot walks to load the bases for Ward with 2 out. On the South side the Sox are leading 7-0 in the bottom of the 4th with runners on 2nd & 3rd. Dusty Baker makes a pitching change for the Reds.
8:38 PM Ward strikes out, leaving the bases loaded. This really reminds me of the Cubs of old. You can take the Cubs out of the past, but you can’t take the past out of the Cubs. Let’s move on to the bottom of the 7th. 9-1 Reds.
8:41 PM Kevin Hart is pitching for the Cubs. amc has a Clint Eastwood movie on. Dirty Harry Callahan. Bruce hits a double to right to lead off the Reds 7th.
8:45 PM Cabrerra pops out to Fontenot at 2nd base. One out. Morie says “A good dog doesn’t like being laughed at.”
8:49 PM Reds score a run. 10-1 Reds. Cory Patterson pinch hits. The Grizzly Bear Guy is tempting death on Animal Planet. I’ll give odds that he’s gonna end up dead.
8:50 PM The White Sox lead the Angels 7-0. Patterson strikes out.
8:54 PM Carrie Underwood is being cheated on by a sleazy guy on Great American Country. While an Elvis impersonator officiates at her wedding ceremony. To the sleazeball. 3 outs. We move to the top of the 8th. Hope this ends soon. For my father’s sake. Poor dad. i know he’s watching this. (He’s got Comcast digital.)
8:59 PM Fontenot gets a base hit to the 1st base side of 2nd base. Edmunds grounds out.
9:03 PM Fontenot scores on Coy Hill’s hit and an error in right field. 10-2. Three outs.
9:06 PM Two or three bad guys are firing maching guns at Dirty Harry, who crashes, then kills the bad guys. He’s getting a commendation.
9:08 PM Hurricane Ike is tracking along just north of the Greater Antilles, as seen on the Weather Channel. One out in the bottom of the 8th inning. Fly out to Fukudome. Two out.
9:10 PM Tropical Storm Hannah is tracking Northward along the Carolina coast. Howry is pitching forl the Cubs. Three outs.
9:12 PM Mercifully, we move to the top of the ninth. 3 outs and we can end this suffering. The Cubs will extend their streak to 6 games. It looks as though September will be a long and painful month for Cubs fans. My poor father.
9:15 PM Reed Johnson strikes out to lead off the top of the ninth.
9:17 PM Soriano strikes out for the 3rd time tonight. Two down.
9:19 PM White Sox are up 9-0 in the top of the 7th.
9:20 PM Theriot flies out to end the misery. Reds win 10-2.
9:21 PM And that ends the “Cubbie Dude” blog for today. I’m reminded of the saying: “Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.” We’ll try it again tomorrow night. That game may be televised up here, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. See you all then.
Aarbear… lets bet on it then if you think “we have NO chance, as of tonight, of winning the division. We have an outside……very outside chance of winning the Wild Card.”
You name the price… I will bet you that the Cubs make the playoffs.
Let me know.