Game 125: I’ll Miss Ya, Lou

As Joe reported earlier today, this was Lou Pinella’s final game as manager of our beloved Cubs. I’m sure many will put him down because of this pitiful final year, but I loved Lou as the coach of the Cubs and I hope after the dust settles he will be remembered as the one who led the team from last place to first and brought us playoff action (albeit brief) two years in a row. He gave us what we wanted and raised our expectations going forward. Unfortunately, that made his job even harder. His post-game interview broke my heart. I’m sure you’ll see it replayed over and over again. Be well, Lou, you’ll always be a winner in my book.

Today will also mark the end of our BTS game for the season. Not only are the Cubs not winning, they’re not hitting much either and the game has turned into a bunch of 1s and 0s. Let’s quit while we’re ahead and pick it up again next season! A big round of applause for everyone who’s played, and we’ll recap the entire season (with a prize!) sometime within the next few weeks. Final results after today’s game:
Doug S. = 3
Rich Beckman = 1

Oh, speaking of the game, Mike Minor pitched himself a beauty in only his third Major League start, striking out 12 in his six innings. I wanted the Cubs to win this one for their skipper, but Mike Minor had other ideas. Come to think of it, so did the Cubs themselves, playing another really sloppy game defensively with meager offense (though not quite as bad as usual … just inconsequential). The Cubs stayed close until the seventh inning, when four different pitchers (and an error) allowed the the Braves to break it wide open and put the game out of reach. The misery continued as the remaining innings d-r-a-g-g-e-d on ad nauseam. That’s about it in a nutshell. Might as well not suffer through all the gory details. Final Score of Lou’s Final Game: Atlanta 16, Cubs 5. Exactly the same as the score on Opening Day 2010, vs. the Braves. Doesn’t that tell the story of the season?

Mike Quade takes the reins tomorrow in Washington. (He’ll probably be freezing, not having to spend half of every inning in the blazing sun. Where’s that hoodie?) He’ll manage the team for the rest of the season and will be a candidate for the full time coaching position next spring. Alan Trammel will not be a candidate, per Jim Hendry.

I would imagine Lou finished up today’s game, breathed a huge sigh of relief, and turned his attention squarely toward his family. I believe I’ll do the same. Enjoy what’s left of the weekend without thinking anything Cubs-related.

Posted in Featured, General | 21 Comments »

GirlieView (08/20/2010)

Hello and Happy Friday. Heard about (but didn’t see) DLee’s standing ovation and helmet-tip to the fans in his first at bat against the Cubs this afternoon. He’s a class act, I miss him, and I’m very happy the fans treated him as he deserved.

I’ve decided to conduct a little poll. Maybe I’ll do it every week, maybe not. We’ll see how it goes. For this week, we’ll gauge your continued interest in what has become (or always was?) a very disappointing 2010 Cubs season. Where in here do you stand?

a.) I still watch and enjoy every game.
b.) I still watch every game and enjoy very few.
c.) I watch when I can but this team is low on my list of August priorities.
d.) I can’t even watch anymore, too painful.

Or, heck, make up your own choice! I’m about a solid C myself. Maybe a C+. For some reason I still look forward to seeing the games when I can. It’s just that the “when I can” part seems to take on a notably different definition with each passing week. Things that I’d never let interfere at the beginning of the season easily displace the Cubs now. Like, enjoying a riveting Brady Bunch rerun. Doing laundry. Watching grass grow. It no longer takes much. How about you?

Ok, on with the week in review. Good quotes this week!!!

Lizzies

• An even 20 games under .500 with the .300s looming in the future. What fun!!!
• SWEET WHISTLIN GERONIMO that guy is slow.
• I miss you Sherm
• be fair. Lou hasn’t really blown that many games in the late innings. We are usually out of it far before that point.
• I have to tell you that watching this game was better than putting a sharp stick in my eye, but not much better.
• Wait a minute, I know I’ve been paying only loose attention lately, but we have a purple dinosaur playing in the infield?
• once again this offense is making another decent pitcher look like a Cy Young candidate!
• Matt Stairs is still alive? I had him in a dead pool 2 years ago.
• With Lou Piniella’s upcoming retirement, your proud franchise will need a steady hand behind the wheel in 2011. I am officially offering my services.
• When you are hired can I be named “Special Assistant to the Manager”? No duties, just a paycheck? Sort of like Crane Kenney.
• Anyone who wears wristbands is welcome.
• For the 7th inning stretch, just let Ron do it. He’s got more passion than anyone in the stadium, players included.
• Kind of like when you seen an ex-girlfriend who you’re not really sorry you broke up with but you still kind of miss her and you want to be nice because you still want to be friends but you’re also bitter and disappointed and can’t believe things turned out this horribly after having such high hopes and yet she’s still cute and sometimes funny and you share all these memories and you know you’re never going to be able to completely cut off contact with her so you better not say what you really want to, which is…
• Pretty sure Skip Caray is still dead, and thus his whining will be fairly soft.
• I predicted a Latos shutout. If you look at it from that angle, the Cubs overachieved

Lizard

• The Cubs started off pretty good, but eventually they reverted to their default setting which resembles a slow spiral descent into hell.

Wanna play Beat the Streak with us? You can find out all about it here. And, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (VFTB and/or GirlieView and/or Dave) and Facebook (VFTB and/or GirlieView).

Posted in Featured, General | 14 Comments »

Game 118: Voices

A funny thing happened on the way to the game today. After a morning filled with yard work I found myself done and ready to recap about 40 minutes before the game started. 12:39pm, to be precise. Ahhhh, done. I’ll just stretch out here on the couch until the game comes on…………..

OOPS! I think I dozed. It’s the bottom of the third! Didn’t TiVo the game since I fully planned to watch it. So you get my Gameday-driven-type-recap for the first three innings and if anything exciting happened that the computer isn’t telling me I’m sure you can read about it. You’ll just have to read about it elsewhere. Sorry everyone. Not like me, but so goes this season. Maybe if I had more reason to watch I wouldn’t have been so likely to snooze. So it’s the Cubs’ fault. Yeah. That’s it. It’s their fault!

1st inning: Derrek Lee got the Cubs off to a nice start with a solo home run. Alas, short-lived as Albert Pujols returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning and we’re back to square.

2nd inning: Most exciting thing to happen in this inning seemed to be Xavier Nady’s HBP. From the perspective of GameDay (pitch #2), this did not look like pleasant positioning.

However he stayed in the game so I’m guessing the cartoon characters aren’t anatomically correct. Lucky for him!

3rd inning: Well I’ll be dipped! Derrek Lee homered again! Go DLee! This time Pujols did not return the favor, Cubs lead 2-1.

I’m awake now! Just in time for some fun!

4th inning: The Cubs loaded the bases with no outs before Koyie Hill drove in two runs on a ground-rule double, scoring Nady and Byrd. Cubs lead 4-1. Which I accidentally just typo’d as “cups” lead. Made myself laugh. Dempster helped his own cause by singling in Blake DeWitt. Still no outs!! That marked the end of Kyle Loshe’s day. Cubs lead 5-1. Fukudome kept it going with a double scoring Hill. Still no outs! Dempster made like a professional baserunner when MacDougal threw a wild pitch and scored even though the ball didn’t get two far away from Molina. The risk paid off, he was safe! Castro grounded out bringing up DLee. Can he do it again? Nope! Strikeout. But that’s ok. Ramirez walked to keep the inning alive, bringing up Marlon Byrd for the second time this inning. Byrd singled in Fukudome giving Nady his second chance this inning. Cubs lead 8-1. I haven’t had this much fun while watching a Cubs game in months! Nady ended the inning with a ground out. Nice comfy lead now. Why do I hear a voice in my head wondering how they’re going to blow it? Bad, bad Lizzie.

::::::::snip::::::::::

No, I didn’t fall back to sleep. This time the game was the snoozer, not me. The Cardinals managed one run in the fifth making it 8-2. DLee left the game with lower back stiffness (which should come as no surprise if you watched yesterday’s game, he looked hurt) and that’s about all that transpired for awhile.

Saw a lot of ads for Curb Your Enthusiasm, which premiers September 13 on WGN. Have you seen the show? Anyone? It’s fantastic, I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t, especially if you were a Seinfeld fan. But for those of you who know the show, is it just me, or can you not even imagine how they can make it acceptable for mainstream television? Then again they managed to do it with Sex and the City. In fact that came up in conversation today. Bozo the Bush. That’s all I can say in mixed company.

9th inning: Colvin doubled and scored on a Ramirez single in Cubs’ half of the inning, making it 9-2. In the Cardinals’ half, my “how can they possibly blow this?” voices started again as Steven Hill hit his first career major league home run making it 9-3. While ignoring the voices and considering what I might cook for dinner, Marcos Mateo managed to load the bases giving up two singles and a walk. No outs. James Russell replaced Mateo and struck out Skip Schumaker for a big first out. After walking in a run Russell was relieved by Carlos Marmol. Since he’s entering the game with the tying run on deck, he qualifies for a save in what originally began as a blowout. Oh those voices! Felipe Lopez promptly singled in Aaron Miles and Brendan Ryan bringing the tying run to the plate in Randy Winn. Marmol walked him to re-load the bases. Allen Craig represents the winning run for the Cardinals. A nice double play ball was bobbled by Castro but they did get an out at first, with another run scoring. 9-7. Here’s Steven Hill again. He too grounded to Castro but this time he fielded it cleanly and ended the drama. Dempster gains his 11th win, Marmol his 21st save. Whew.

BTS after the game:
mrbaseball2usa = 6
Dragon = 5
Big Bob = 3
Gabo = 3
Ben = 1

This is the first two-game winning streak (? do you call it a streak at 2?) for the Cubs since mid-July. Guess who they beat two times in a row? The Cardinals. This also marks their first series win since mid-July (also vs. St. Louis, in the same series that they won 2 in a row.) Back to Wrigley for tomorrow night’s game against the Padres. Tom Gorzellany will take the mound. Join my good pal CubbieDude for the recap!

Win Probability

First Star – Derrek Lee (WPA = .226)
Second Star – Blake DeWitt (.108)
Third Star – Albert Pujols (.090)

Posted in Featured, General | 9 Comments »

GirlieView (08/13/2010)

Hello and Happy Friday. I’ve got to hand it to you guys (and gals!). This week provided some of the best quotes I can remember reviewing! I think we’re all in the same boat. We’re all disgusted with our team and misery loves company so I think we collectively cheer ourselves up using humor and a sense of collective friendship. Man that sounds sappy even to me. Nevermind. Let’s move on!

Beat the Streak

After yesterday’s Giants game, here’s where you all stand:

• Rich Beckman = 5
• Dragon = 4
• mrbaseball2usa = 4
• Scott = 4
• Big Bob = 2
• Gabo = 2
• Joe L. = 2
• Shane = 2
• Ben = 1
• Brent Huelsmann = 1
• Doug S. = 1

Lizzies

• The Cubs came close today.  Close, but no cigar.
• the Cubs are contenders right now….They are contending for the title of “Doormat Of The National League”.
• I’ll bet Lou is counting the days until this mess of a season is over.
• The Cubs lost another game?
  Big deal.
  Byrd didn’t get me a hit for BTS.
  Bigger deal.
• Is that something fun flying? or mating? Having never mated with a dragonfly before, I would say the flying is the something fun.
• As irritating as Carlos Zambrano has been this year, there is still something fascinating about him.
• Zambrano HAS to do well, so that the Cubs can get rid of him!
• I don’t know how family relations work in your neck of the woods, but if you didn’t get two sets of grandparents, somebody somewhere made a very terrible life decision.
• I kill me.
• General Manager Jim Hendry was seen shrieking into his cellphone earlier today as he tried to refill the Cubs 25-man roster after every single player in uniform for last night’s depressing 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants asked to be placed on the disabled, bereavement or restricted list before tonight’s game.
• Not to be outdone, starting left fielder Alfonso Soriano told the team that his best friend in the world — his Hummer — is suffering from severe transmission problems and needs his support immediately.
• [Fukudome's] tersely worded (er, lettered) statement to the team, sent via text message, was simply “BRB.”
• I wonder if Samardzija reads VFTB…poor guy might have his hopes as high now as his breaking balls were in April.
• Samardzija should realize how lucky he is that he’s been in Iowa all year, and thus can’t have the disaster of ’010 placed on his doorstep.
• doesn’t it seem as though we have suffered a string of losses that blurred together in a mosaic as if it were happening in a parallel sports universe.  Kind of like we were being stabbed over and over but couldn’t feel it because we were already dead?
• Hey, Look Big Z is punching out our new first baseman in the dugout!
• if I have to watch one more game with such terrible, horrible, not-even-a-fitting-adjective-for-this-level-of-disgust defense, I might explode.
• I remember a translucent set of round Kool-aid glasses and a matching pitcher with that smiling face on it. We had cool shit in the 60′s
• No more Cajuns. I guess we will have to go back to enunciating our terminal Ts.
• this is where overpaying for a “veteran” relief pitcher really bites you in the arse.
• he can’t hit worth a damn. But Lou loves him.
• The Tea Totallers have a good-looking young prospect who can play every position at once. A kid named Bunny; looks like the Cubs could use him. Here’s some video from a scout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzqxIql0Pnk
• They were the Cadillac of buns, only out done by J-Lo.
• I deadpan that I don’t have any dogs to the cashiers
• I really don’t like cashiers fondling any of my goods.
• Cornhole..I guess the Carolinas are a bit closer to Kentucky than I thought.

Lizard

• The unlucky dragonflies, the ones with maimed wings or unfavorable mutations, die frustrated and unfulfilled. Those dragonflies must have a moment at the end where they say, “what was the point?” Those dragonflies know what it’s like to be a Cubs fan.

Enjoy the Cardinals and the weekend (not necessarily in that order!)

Wanna play Beat the Streak with us? You can find out all about it here. And, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (VFTB and/or GirlieView and/or Dave) and Facebook (VFTB and/or GirlieView)

Posted in Featured, General | 2 Comments »

Game 111: Dragonflies

Well, what can I say? I enjoyed watching Thomas Diamond, Casey Coleman, James Russell and Mitch Atkins pitch (all rookies), even though no one did particularly well. I’m a big fan of the young guys this year. Not that I don’t like the veterans. Regardless of whether they’ve been good or bad this year they’ve been among my favorites for many years and I’m not going to lower myself to name-calling and bad-mouthing. Oops, got on a rant there, my apologies. What I was saying is that I enjoy watching the young guys getting their start in the bigs, and I have to thank Joe for that because before I found VFTB a few years ago I didn’t know the name of a single guy in the minor league system. Thanks to Joe’s minor league reports and other conversations we’ve had surrounding the farm system over the past few years, not only do I know the names, I even know who’s promising and who to watch. Thank you Joe, and all others who have contributed to those conversations over the past two or three years.

The Cubs had a defensively poor first inning, which seems to match their not-quite-in-the-basement-but-might-as-well-be place in the standings. The poor defense centered around the middle infield. The pair of miscues cost them a pair of runs, and the trend continued as the game continued. Errors + Walks = Losses.

When the Cubs came up in the bottom of the first, they made the Reds’ pitcher (Travis Wood) throw precisely eight pitches to retire the side. When they came to bat in the bottom of the second inning, he  threw only six pitches to get three outs. Third inning: eight pitches. And that included a walk. This my friends, is about all you need to know about this game, this season, these Cubs. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the dragonflies. Infinitely more enjoyable.

Other Notes

• By precisely 1:54pm Central Time (and the game started 15 minutes late) I knew it was yet another in a long line of futile efforts.
• I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention today is the 22nd anniversary of lights at Wrigley Field. 8/8/88!
• The Cubs made a run for it in the 7th, with four runs. Precisely half what the Reds had at the time. I haven’t really been keeping track, but my perception is that this is how it’s been lately. They do at least try to make a comeback in the later innings, but it’s simply too little too late.
• I disagree with the decision to use Zambrano as a pinch hitter. I don’t care if he likes to hit. Come to think of it I disagree with the decision to allow him to start tomorrow, too. I think I’m just over Zambrano completely. No name calling, I just would like him gone. I don’t think that wish will be fulfilled.
• Castro didn’t get a hit today, thus ending my streak at 11. With the exception of one game where I picked Geo, my entire streak was made up of hits by Castro and Colvin. Thanks boys! We had a good run!
  Standings after today’s game:
  Ty Jo = 2
  mrbaseball2usa = 1
  Rich Beckman = 1
  Great time to jump in and start a new streak! If you’d like to play, click here to make your pick.
• There are more than 5,000 different species of dragonflies, and they spend most of their lives without wings. We rarely see them except when their wings are formed (flying around) and this is toward the end of their lives. They spend about three weeks with wings, and during that time their primary purpose is mating. At least they spend their last few weeks doing something fun!
• Final Score: Cincinnati 11, Cubs 4. Swept by Dusty’s Reds, and they’ve now lost 10 of their last 11 games. Off we go to San Francisco!

Win Probability

First Star: Jay Bruce (WPA = .225)
Second Star: Travis Wood (WPA = .102)
Third Star: Xavier Nady (WPA = .067)

Hope you all have a great week!

Posted in Featured, General | 17 Comments »

GirlieView (08/06/2010)

Busy week here in GirlieView-land, hopefully things calm down over the weekend. Meantime, I’ve been remiss on posting the Beat the Streak results so here are two sets:

After Wednesday’s Game vs. Milwaukee nearly everyone was safe except those who picked Brewers!
Lizzie = 10
Big Bob = 6
Dragon = 4
Joe L. = 3
John Santoro = 3
odie = 3
Rich Beckman = 3
Doug S. = 2
mrbaseball2usa = 2
Shane = 2
Steve K. = 2
Joe Aiello = 1
Ty Jo = 1

After today’s loss to Cincinnati, the only people who were safe were those of us who didn’t play (Me, Big Bob, Steve), Ty Jo for picking Byrd, and Doug S. for lucking out with Soriano on a day he warmed the bench!
Lizzie = 10
Big Bob = 6
Doug S. = 2
Steve K. = 2
Ty Jo = 2

I was very disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to make a pick on Wednesday. Today, not nearly as broken up about it. Here’s the week in review!

Lizzies

• Bob Howry was released? Hallelujah!!
• Has there been a GM in the history of baseball that has cornered the market on shitty second basemen more than Hendry?
• Another road game, another loss.
• There is something intoxicating about a relief pitcher who could strike out the side on nine pitches or walk five straight hitters.
• I salute any Cubs fan that is a glass half full kind of person.
• I have no complaints about any manager. It’s the players that concern me.
• Angry Birds is the s**t!!
• I watch the Cubs on the iphone too, then it’s usually Angry Doug.
• There is no fan more pure in baseball then the one who continues to watch when their team is out of the race and starting to gear up for next year.
• He steps out of the box, practically undresses, taps every extremity of his body with the bat and then stretches out between each pitch.
• I am betting Jim Hendry plays this cool…..however, if I were him, I would be hurling empty bottles of booze from the bar in my luxury suite out onto the field in a drunken rage.
• Ooh…and a chocolate malt cup! That may be all I have to look forward to.
• you can’t polish a turd.  I have tried, doesn’t work and just ruins the rag.
• shining a turd is possible. You let it dry out completely, and varnish it with multiple layers of you favorite urethane coating.
• One problem with your turd shining technique…..The chemical composition of Urethane coating actually eats away at the turds fragile dried outer crust causing decomposition.
• you simply are not letting your turds dry enough before varnishing.
• What scares me is that you guys seem to know what you’re talking about.
• So much better than discussing the hot mess that is the Chicago Cubs professional baseball club.
• I still do not know why anyone likes Steve Stone. He is an arrogant ass, that will throw anyone under the bus to show you his baseball “intellect.”
• We don’t have much to cheer about, but I think we can savor the fact that most of Los Angeles seems to be really upset about the Lilly/Theriot trade.
• Which is sweeter: a Cubs win, or the Cubs lighting up LaTroy Hawkins? At this point, I’ll take the latter.
• As I’m sure you know, the Cubs blew out the Brewers in stunning fashion yesterday – with Whinin’ LaTroy Hawkins and Ken “The Manager From La” Macha getting ejected to boot!
• I’d love to see Joe G, but would take Guillen in a second.

Lizard

• The dog days of summer are approaching and it looks extra canine on the north side.

Wanna play Beat the Streak with us? You can find out all about it here. And, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (VFTB and/or GirlieView and/or Dave) and Facebook (VFTB and/or GirlieView)

Posted in Featured, General | 3 Comments »

Numbers Galore

When’s the last time you used an abacus? Ever? There are some young-ins around here, do they still even have you touch an abacus in school these days? The old goats among us know exactly what is it, and some of us even know how to use it. Not something I put on my resume but an interesting party skill. If you’re at a party filled with people of my generation. A really boring party. Full of math geeks. In togas.

Stat Madness

Onward! It’s time for some numbers! Remember our July Stat Madness contest? If not, I’ll refresh your memory. Joe presented you with five innocent-looking questions and you made your guesses. The questions (with their answers in parentheses) were:

1. How many wins will the Cubs get in July? (12)
2. How many walks will Soriano take in July? (4)
3. How many innings will Zambrano pitch for the Cubs in July? (0)
4. How many extra base hits will Starlin Castro hit in July? (13)
5. How many Cubs players (prospect or veteran combined) will be traded in the month of July? (2)

You made your guesses. Now, we tally the results. You get a point for the amount “off” you were from the answer. So for example, the Cubs won 12 games in July. If you guessed 15, you get three points (the difference between 10 and 12). If you guessed 5, you get seven points (the difference between 5 and 12). So, the closer you are to the correct answer, the fewer points you receive. Low overall score wins!

Here are the full results! We have dual winners this month! Congratulations odie and Jesse, get with Joe via the Contact Page to claim your prize!

Beat the Streak

Let’s recap our BTS game for July and the season overall.

• We’ve had 130 distinct players so far this season.
• Despite the Cubs’ dismal season, July brought the highest participation levels yet!
• The season-high streak through July is 10, by our own Joe Aiello! Congratulations Joe!
• Our players of the month are Chet (BA = 1.000 with just enough plate appearances to qualify!) and youngkaren (.833).
• Honorable mentions to Michael Powell and Joe Aiello (both .800 for the month!)
• Doug S. had the highest participation this month. He played in 24 of 26 games.

Thanks for participating, everyone!

Here are the full results for July. (In order to appear here you needed to play in > 3 games this month)

And here are the overall season results. (If you’ve recently begun playing and you don’t see your name here, don’t fret. You need a minumum number of games to qualify for the season averages, but we’re keeping tabs. As soon as you get there, you’re in!)

Good luck all around going forward! I’m still planning on giving away some prizes at the end of the season if I can rustle some up! If you’re not playing yet, join us here every day to make your pick!

Posted in Featured, General | 9 Comments »

Game 105: Welcome Blake!

Well, this makes five in a row. Five losses, that is. Not a fun weekend for the Cubs no matter how you look at it. I’m sure they’ll be happy to get on that plane tonight to head home. It was a long game, giving me plenty of time for observations. Hope you’re in the mood for some reading!

Random Notes (Game and non-Game!)

• The Rockies’ pitcher today reminds me of the reason I don’t go to many Cubs games anymore. I found that no matter how much you dole out for your tickets, you can count on sitting near at least one a-hole. Like the time I sat in front of one of those know-it-alls who insist on telling everyone around them everything about the game as if we’re all idiots. Got myself a little giggle though because this particular know-it-all, who seemed to truly love Mark DeRosa, called him Mark De La Rosa. All. Day. Long.
• Today brings us Blake DeWitt for his first start as a Chicago Cub. He’s sporting uniform number 9, which, now that I mentioned him, was Mark DeRosa’s number. And, they both have the same kind of DeSomething last name. Damn I’m bored.
• Geovany Soto is batting cleanup today. And that’s not the only interesting thing in today’s lineup. Have a look. See if you notice anything special. [Note: I'm not referring to the picture of Soto, even though he is a hotty.]
  
  Now, I’ll admit Tyler Colvin’s been pretty good this year but who knew he was talented enough to play 2/3 of the outfield at the same time! (Apparently he’s batting slightly better when playing right.)
• After two quick outs courtesy of Colvin #1 and Castro, the Cubs managed to load the bases before Soriano struck out. Perhaps they should have tried Colvin again afterall. Ok I’ll leave that go for now. Just a misprint, I know. But I need to amuse myself somehow during this pitiful season!
• Carlos Silva couldn’t make it through the first and appeared hurt. Len and Bob, while always remaining politically correct, seemed sour on Silva during the injury conversation. I don’t want to read into any implications that I may be imagining, so let’s just say they didn’t seem very sympathetic. (Neither did the CSN announcers after the game.) James Russell replaced him and limited the first inning damage to 2 runs. We later learned Silva left the game due to “illness.”
• Heads-up baserunning by Jeff Baker to start the second turned a bloop single into a double while the Rockies’ centerfielder took a snooze. Baker moved to third on a wild pitch, and Blake DeWitt doubled to right for his first RBI as a Cub. Welcome Blake! Neither Russell nor Colvin nor Castro could get him past second base. 2-1 Rockies.
• The Rockies loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with one out. Good thing I don’t have dinner reservations. This is gonna be a long game. 6-1 Rockies.
• They sell freeze pops and sno cones at Coors Field. They look good! I’m bored AND hungry!!
• Soto walked and Byrd singled for some baserunners in the third, but Soriano promptly hit his first pitch into a double play. He’s stranded 5 runners and it’s only the third inning.
• What do you call one player on the Colorado team? A Rocky? Or a Rockie?
• Finally, a 1-2-3 inning (3rd) for the Rockies.
• Blake DeWitt singled in the fourth for his second straight hit. I’m glad he’s having a good first outing. I would imagine trade days are tough even for the most seasoned players, not to mention when you replace two well-liked guys.
• Carlos Zambrano, who replaced Jeff Russell in the 4th, wasn’t sharp. 8-1 Rockies after 5. We’re two hours in and the game’s only just past half. I should have done a little experiment. Net time spent at bat per team. I’m guessing we’re at about a 5/1 ratio favoring the Rockies. Maybe 7/1. Please let it be over soon. (You can decide whether I mean this game or this season!)
• Do y’all play Angry Birds on your iTouch/iPhone? If not, you should give it a go. Makes time fly by! (no pun intended). It’ll run you 99 cents but it’s a whole lotta fun for a buck. And remember, I’m all about positivity: they’re really not all that angry. Actually very cute!
• Colvin (BB) and Castro (single — thanks Starlin, you’re my BTS pick today!) got something started in the 7th, then DLee singled to score Tyler. (8-2 Rockies). That marked the end of the day for Jorge De La Rosa. Soto singled and Castro scored. (8-3 Rockies). Time to stretch.
• Andrew Cashner, who needed a super-good outing to gain confidence after his last two not-so-good ones, managed to get himself into and out of a jam in the 7th with no damage done.
• Soriano led off the 8th with a solo home run (8-4 Rockies). Blake DeWitt promptly followed with a single for his third hit today. The remainder of the 8th inning was uneventful.
• Speaking of Soriano, Brenly was talking about how Soriano has improved in left field. “You don’t get the willies quite as much when the ball goes up in the air to left field…” The willies. Good way to put it Bob! (I do agree with him, by the way.)
• Huston Street. What a cool name for a baseball player. Ranks right up there with Starlin Castro (who lined out to center on Street’s first pitch to start the ninth), Casey McGehee, and Rebel Ridling.
• After Castro’s quick out, DLee walked. Wonder if Soto could hit a five-run homer here to put this one away? No luck, but he walked and Marlon Byrd promptly tripled driving in two (8-6 Rockies). Soriano was about an inch from tying the game but Dexter Fowler made a great catch in center (possibly breaking a rib or two in the process). Byrd scored on the sacrifice (8-7 Rockies). Jeff Baker struck out for the sweep. Props for making it interesting, guys!

Let’s go home. Night game against the Brewers tomorrow. Join Chet for the recap!

BTS After This Game

Lizzie = 8
Big Bob = 4
Rich Beckman = 2
Tommy = 2
Doug Bagley = 1
Dragon = 1
Eric = 1
jerry gross = 1
Joe L. = 1
Jose can you see = 1
Mitchener = 1
odie = 1

Win Probability

First Star, Second Star, Third Star = All Rockies, All Weekend Long

Posted in Featured, General | 17 Comments »

GirlieView (07/30/2010)

So I’ve been following the trade rumors all day long hoping to bring you some breaking news about all the wheeling and dealing Jim Hendry’s been doing. Are you excited to hear it? Hold your breath! Here it comes!!! Get ready!

…

…

…

…

: : : : : : : : : : insert crickets here : : : : : : : : :

…

…

…

…

Big bunch of nothing. Which is how I expect the deadline to pass. Hope I’m wrong!

Meanwhile, let’s recap the really great conversation around here this week (quantity AND quality!) We’ve got a great group of Lizzies thanks to plenty of our regulars plus a hearty dose of new faces (and returnees!).What’s a Lizzie, you ask? It’s recognition given to certain VFTB quotes throughout the week that particularly strike my fancy. Totally subjective, but I have a great time picking these out each week. It’s a good gig. Especially this week. The Lizard is the best of the Lizzies. Enjoy!

Lizzies

• there are exactly two reasons to watch the Cubs these days: Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro.
• A very special congratulations to Andre Dawson
• Three straight years above .500 = miracle.
• [Hendry]’s great at making big moves with his less valuable chips, but he’s terrible at knowing when to cash in his more valuable ones.
• You have to give Jim credit for the altered expectations.
• I’ve never felt like the Cubs have been leaders in the market. They have always had a reactionary and old fashioned business model, and never had the ingenuity to be a leader
• he did turn Milton Bradley into Carlos Silva.
• How do you think Milton Bradley will not be Milton Bradley?
• All this improved play of late is really throwing a kink in the trade plans.
• Personally–I think the “apology” on ESPN was a typical attention-getting move from Zambrano. Have some class–shut up, do your job, and talk to your teammates quietly in the clubhouse.
• I like Theriot in the 8-spot, but Hendry could ship him out and bring up Scales for all I care.
• Unless Colvin and Castro change their names to Strasburg, they have no chance at ROY.
• [Colvin]‘s just a good-looking (and I mean that in a manly way) athlete with a bit of the rock star in him.
• Personally, I like him because his last name rhymes with the word “moustache.”
• Tango and Cash have nothing on Ryno and ‘Stache.
• Although it was VERY nice to watch a Sunday Night game and not have to endure Joe Morgan (also nice not to hear that Miller guy), Bobby V still should not even be on this list.
• I still can’t believe Howry occupies a MLB roster spot.
• As we got to the front of Wrigley under the Marquee he stopped in the midst of a solid cantor and squatted!
• If you know pugs then you know they have personalities like people and he shot back a look that was like “if you gotta go?”
• Nerd power.
• I have a BS in Middle Grades Math Education
• I have Eular’s identity tatted on my left arm…top that.
• I’m beginning to see why that goofy chart is omnipresent on the daily recaps.
• I just have a lot of BS
• @jim: Please go on. Your keen insights are clearly what this blog is lacking.
• Anybody wanna bet we get very little if anything decent for Ted Lilly?
• I wish I could text Jim Hendry or send him a message on facebook or something…
• Despite the painful ending, it was the best year of baseball I have ever experienced.
• In 1984, I did not care about their salaries, their agents, their late-night antics, their dugout ravings. In 1984, the Cubs in this 13yr old eyes were titans, gods, pure magic…

Lizard

• Unfortunately anything that draws a connection to this season and dog shit, is spot on.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Wanna play Beat the Streak with us? You can find out all about it here. And, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (VFTB and/or GirlieView and/or Dave) and Facebook (VFTB and/or GirlieView)

Posted in Featured, General | 6 Comments »

GirlieView (07/23/2010)

Happy Friday, VFTB’ers! What shall we chit chat about today? Anyone? Anything? Bueller? Bueller? I don’t have anything noteworthy to say about the Cubs, and it’s too blasted hot to talk about anything else. So maybe we’ll get right to the Lizzies! Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Lizzies

• Exactly why did I think the Cubs might make some noise in the second half?
• I see you’ve found my picture on google.
• You know who Joe Morgan’s favorite player is? Joe Morgan!
• The fiance is now the wife.
• That cute little girl from that new(-ish) Love Bug movie is in trouble with the law??
• I found myself hoping for a rainout almost immediately.
• I’m pretty sure I just made up the word “chummery.”
• Who wouldn’t rather go home to play with the grandkids after a year like this?
• Odd bunch Cubs fans are…
• Have you heard the news? Lou is retiring at season’s end!
• The Astros must be in first place, right???
• I’m pretty sure Fukudome flies back to Japan in the end of April and sends in a body double for the remainder of the season.
• In my eyes, [Zambrano] should still be sitting in the corner without dessert.
• gotta love a cubs comeback win
• After all, dude sawed his fingers off and still plays.
• The Astros, sick of waiting for us to finish them off, take care of business in the 12th
• It’s time, Jimmy Boy, it’s time. Make the calls and let’s start moving.
• At least Milton is gone…right? Right?
• No, not that kind of quickie.
• Nice pic Daver…now I want shrimp and booze.
• The way this team stinks, and looking at the hot mess of next year, slumpbusting could be taken to a new level…
• this one’s broke and it needs to be fixed.
• Kevin “Walk-Walk-Homer” Gregg

Lizard

• I just hope Uncle Lou has stocked up on whiskey and smokes. It’s going to be a LONG summer.

Wanna play Beat the Streak with us? You can find out all about it here. And, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (VFTB and/or GirlieView and/or Dave) and Facebook (VFTB and/or GirlieView)

Posted in Featured, General | Comments Off

Game 91: Aram-O-Rama

Chet talked yesterday about an Aram-o-meter. I’ll take it from there and call this game “Aram-O-Rama”. This game was all Aramis. Well, I take that back. We also had some Byrd-Is-The-Word. Plus some Frilly-Lilly (Sorry Ted. It rhymes! I meant it in a good way.) And a hearty dose of Nasty-Marmol (also in a good way!). But after the first half Aramis had, I’ll be happy to give him top billing for a change!!!

A funny thing happened in this game that I don’t recall seeing in the first half. The Cubs kept pace. This happened yesterday too (before they broke the game open). Seems like in the first half, if the opposing team scored first the attitude (among the fans or the players or both) turned immediately to “oh well, game’s done, we lost” even if that lead was taken early in the game. It doesn’t feel that way to me now. The game isn’t automatically lost just because the other team scores. That’s positive.

Game Notes:

• I don’t like Todd Hollandsworth. There. I said it. Now I’ll move on.
• Marlon Byrd got the Cubs’ first hit in the bottom of the 2nd, only to promptly become the lead end of a Soriano double play to end the inning.
• Wrigley Field Road Tour!!!! I really want to do this. But they’re only allowing 10 hours for the 100 miles and I’m more at a 12-hour pace right now. Like a turtle. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to ride all the way up there and only see the 8th and 9th innings!! My goal for the year will be to work on my speed and make the trip next year if it becomes an annual event.
• Shane Victorino got the first Phillies hit in the fourth with a home run that made it 1-0.
• Things got a little gamey for ol’ Teddy-boy in the 5th after a pair of singles by Cody Ransom and Carlos Ruiz left runners on 1st and 3rd with only one out. But, he struck out Wilson Valdez and Joe Blanton to get out of the inning unscathed.
• Aramis Ramirez (my BTS pick!) led off the 5th with a nice single. After a fly out by Byrd, Soriano walked and Castro grounded out (but NOT into a double play, yay!) Soto was intentionally walked to bring up Ted Lilly. Lilly worked the count to 3-2 and all the fans stood and cheered him. He walked and helped his own cause, “driving” in Ramirez from third to tie the game at one. Theriot grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
• A two run homer by Ryan Howard (after Jayson Werth walked) gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the 6th.
• The Cubs got those runs back in the bottom of the 6th when Marlon Byrd hit a nice long home run after an Aramis Ramirez double. No doubt about this one, it was long gone! Way to go Marlon! And I have to say, Ramirez looks sharp lately. It’s like he’s a different person.
• Easy 7th inning for Teddy, three up three down.
• Starlin Castro singled to lead off the bottom of the 7th and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Soto hit a sacrifice fly to get Castro to third (another thing we didn’t see too much of earlier in the season … a little bit of small ball!!!) Maybe Starlin will steal home again, wouldn’t that be a hoot!! Fukudome pinch hit for Lilly and promptly struck out on four pitches. Lilly himself fared better two innings back and I might have gone with him! Theriot actually worked his count full (another thing we rarely saw in the first half). He struck out, but it was at least a better at bat than usual for him.
• Lilly left the game with 10 strikeouts, his season high.
• Speaking of 10, Sean Marshall needed only 10 pitches to get through the Phillies in the top of the 8th!
• Ramirez hit a ball completely out of the ballpark in the bottom of the 8th to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead. As I said, Ramirez is looking really, really good of late. Joe called it all season long and no one believed him including me.
• Marmol struck out the side in the ninth and that was that!

Win Probability
(don’t understand this graph? Click here to learn all about it!)

First Star: Aramis Ramirez (WPA = .378)
Second Star: Marlon Byrd (WPA = .253)
Third Star: Ryan Howard (WPA = .184)
Honorable Mention: Carlos Marmol (WPA = .166)
Funny Note of the Day: Lilly’s WPA as a batter (.131) was better than as a pitcher (-.013)

Beat the Streak after the game:
Chet = 2
Lizzie = 2
Terrelle Pryor = 2
April = 1
Chase Kahlenbeck = 1
Jack McClendon = 1
Joe L. = 1
mrbaseball2usa = 1

A series tie (at least) already and we’ve still got two games to go! Enjoy the weekend and Go Cubs Go!

Posted in Featured, General | 7 Comments »