Mark DeRosa steals third base in the 4th inning
Micah Hoffpauir makes his ML debut
Birds swoop over the ballpark in the 7th, waiting for the game to end so they can eat
Brian Bixler thinks he's walked, but plate umpire Ed Montague punches him out to end the game
It was windy yesterday. Fly that W flag!
Click on photos to open a larger version in a new browser window. All photos by David Sameshima
0 recs | 72 comments
hoffpauir and marshall
I have reason to believe that they were split at birth
Chanman25 - May 19, 2008
Hoffpauir
Looked horrible at the plate. Just slashing away with the bat not even coming close to hitting a damn thing. I know it’s his ML debut, but that was very very sad looking. Here’s to hoping D. Ward isn’t gone long.
adam316 - May 19, 2008
Agreed.
At least one of those swings looked like Ted Lilly batting.
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
He Isn't the Technicolor Roy Hobbs
Well, Micah is younger than the Roy Hobbs character. Still, Micah isn’t exactly young by MLB rookie standards being 28 years old. I don’t expect him to go on a power binge to lead his team to the NL pennant as the Robert Redford movie version of Roy Hobbs did. However, It is nice to see someone I saw in AA and AAA get a shot in the bigs.
memphiscub - May 19, 2008
My yahoo
feed shows the picture captions only, and it was very amusing to read that the birds were waiting for the game to end so they could eat Brian Bixler.
bintie - May 19, 2008
LMAO
Guess I should have put a period after “eat”.
But who knows, maybe they did. Better check to see if Bixler is still on the Pirates roster tonight.
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
he's a skinny little guy
I doubt they got much.
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
Hmm.
I figured Micah would hold onto that shiny #67 from spring training. Nothing says ML star like #67.
northsider - May 19, 2008
Yeah, I noticed that...
he had #6. I thought the equipment mgrs always gave call-ups the high numbers. Just wondering…
crw89 - May 19, 2008
The double steal
was really cool.
As far as I can recall, it was a rare occurrence during the Dusty regime.
But with his current Reds squad, he doesn’t have to worry about clogging the bases much.
The E-Man - May 19, 2008
Except for that one year with Juan Pierre.
But what do you expect when you are in the bottom third of the league in OBP every year? No runners = no running
californiachicagoan - May 19, 2008
Thanks for the pics
Soaking in everything Cubs after a week in Cancun, Mexico. A great vacation but very little access to the Cubs. Sprotscenter in spanish (ESPN Deportes) is about 80% soccer, 10% tennis and a combined 10% for all US only sports like NBA and MLB. I would stay up for about an hour watching the sports ticker for the Cubs score. Ofcourse I missed it a few times around. Aside from that I paid for 30 minute blocks of internet use a few times. Glad to see the great homestand, maybe I should go away more often.
tony412 - May 19, 2008
that's why god (and yes not al gore) invented the internet and laptops
cubsnlinux - May 19, 2008
Great pics
He must have a kick-ass camera! Thanks!
Itchy - May 19, 2008
A beautiful day at the ballpark
Granted it was colder than a well digger’s keester in January, but the Cubs won so that is all that matters.
MDBNIU - May 19, 2008
It wasn't that cold.
It was way colder during the night games.
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
Are you saying MDBNIU is wrong?
Because he played college baseball, so he probably has more knowledge of the temperature at baseball parks than you.
santoswoodenlegs - May 19, 2008
Yeah, and c'mon...how many well diggers actually work in January?
That’s a guess-posting hack’s analogy right there.
daver - May 19, 2008
HAHAHA!!
sue369 - May 19, 2008
I was cold in the 3rd base side seats my friend...
I’ve been colder at Wrigley, but yesterday was no picnic.
MDBNIU - May 19, 2008
Are you one of those guys
wearing the shorts, tshirt and sandles?
Wear a coat.
Hammer - May 19, 2008
Coats are for 98 pound weaklings.
Being properly attired for a ball game in Chicago in May is for the basement-dwelling, back-of-the-bubblegum card crowd.
Weather, like all other numbers, is just that: a number and numbers lie.
You’re such a geek, Hammer.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
Ha
I think you are being sarcasitc, I have been a crazy overdresser for years.
Hammer - May 19, 2008
Totally sarcastic.
I usually end up underdressed, but out of sheer laziness rather than trying to be a tough guy. That’s right; I have been cold at a ballgame because I didn’t want to carry my jacket around on the off chance I didn’t need it. Great Odin’s Raven, that is a sad statement.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
From my seat in 209...
It was cold, but I have been at many much colder games…like last Wednesday Night
Kasey
kaseyi - May 19, 2008
Anyone in Houston?
I’ll be at all 3 games this week in Houston. Anyone else going to be at the game?
TXCub - May 19, 2008
No
but a prediction. DOME hits two opposite field homers this series. Hes a smart hitter who sprays the ball but Ill bet he will try and get it up in the air to left.
Hammer - May 19, 2008
That's a good call
n/t
MPH73 - May 19, 2008
Astros
Astros are playing ridiculously over their heads if you ask me. They have one pitcher on that staff worth a beans, and that is Roy Oswalt. I would expect the Cubs to be on a hitting tear at Minute Maid Park.
MDBNIU - May 19, 2008
Games played on both sides.
They aren’t winning due to unexpectedly good pitching (although they do a good job of at least not walking people). Its their offense. 3rd in runs scored in the NL. That could be the mirage, since they are 8th in OPS. However, they are aggressive on the basepaths. Tops in stolen bases, near the top in SB success %, and near the bottom in DPs grounded into. They are aggressive at the plate too, near the bottom in walks (w/o being high in strikeouts).
In fact, aggressiveness describes the whole team. The pitching is aggressive too, just not as successful. Throwing a lot of strikes, leading to low walks and high BAA.
All else being equal, aggresion can wear on one’s opponents and lead to mistakes. I would say that’s how they are winning. We need to use that aggression against them. Nibble a little more pitching, look first pitch fastball over one half of the plate while hitting, and use some well timed pitchouts/pickoffs.
This should be a battle of two hot NL Central contenders. We are 8-2 over the last 10, and they are 7-3. Considering neither of our aces will be pitching in this series, we should see tons of runs in every game.
I’m pretty excited for this series.
californiachicagoan - May 19, 2008
I thought Z was going to pitch?
or is that wishful thinking?
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
He pitched Saturday.
So its Lilly, Demps, and Gallagher. So we dont have our ace going, but then again Demps has a better ERA and WHIP than Big Z. Can you have two aces?
californiachicagoan - May 19, 2008
what a totally bizarre statement
dempster the #2 who would have thought
Madison Cub Fan - May 19, 2008
I'd like
four, please.
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
AL
Im sure you heard it a thousand times already but I was in Colorado Springs this weekend following the Cubs on my phone. I got home last night at 7pm and went through my DVR watching the games (all three games took about 3.5 hours total) and I noticed the BCB shirt on Sorianos leadoff homer.
Very nice SHAMELESS marketing—-love it.
Hammer - May 19, 2008
Cool!
You actually SAW that? Glad it showed on the air!
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
I knew it!
I thought I was seeing things and since it hadn’t been mentioned….
AlabamaCubFan - May 19, 2008
And speaking of Oswalt...
...for those who haven’t heard, he’s hurting with what’s apparently a hip injury and may not make his next start. I initially read that he had a groin injury, but I guess that wasn’t quite right.
daver - May 19, 2008
Bixler should have walked...
but the strike zone increased significantly after two strikes on both of Wood’s 9th inning strikeouts. Maybe the birds weren’t the only ones in a hurry to eat… ;-)
ballhawk - May 19, 2008
Nothin' better than a hungry ump in the top of the ninth...
...when your team’s ahead and you’re playing at home.
daver - May 19, 2008
Montague's strike zone was all over the place yesterday.
It was high for a while, then it got wide, then it got really tight, then high and wide and it was huge by the time Kerry came in.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
i love how he rings guys up
its awesome.
Hammer - May 19, 2008
It is a nice call.
not too much, not too little.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
what
you don’t like the guy who does the back-flips?
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
Leslie Nielsen
is a great comic actor, but likely a horrid umpire!
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
god, that's a great scene
I forgot about it…
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
Because I'm a giver...
...here’s a pretty high-quality YouTube clip of the scene in question.
daver - May 19, 2008
see
THAT’s UMPIRING. :P
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
Strike?
LOL…looks like Jay Johnstone had a bad game..
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
Love his Moonwalk..
Classic!
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
LOL
“Birds swoop over the ballpark in the 7th, waiting for the game to end so they can eat Brian Bixler”....
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
Headbands
BTW, WGN showed a bonehead with one of those racist “Horry – Kow” headbands yesterday. Luckily it was quick but I saw him a couple of rows back from the visitor’s dugout. Security needs to take care of those idiots.
wombat - May 19, 2008
"Coolie Hats"
What’s up with people wearing those?
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
They are in bad taste
But security cannot start policing clothing and slogans on T-Shirts and other clothing.
rlpete - May 19, 2008
Yes they can...
Last year a guy a few rows down from us wore a shirt that said something to the affect, “Screw Pujols.” Security gave him the option of removing the shirt or leaving the ballpark. He put up quite a stink and was subsequently shown the exit.
MDBNIU - May 19, 2008
Bad taste..
That’s putting it mildly. I can’t believe these “fans” would actually think Fukudome would find those stupid hats entertaining…
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
Fun stat of the day:
Astros SP Shawn Chacon has started 9 games and has not recorded a single decision.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
Let's make him 0-1 on Wednesday.
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
I'm happy
to blow him out early, and make them resort to the Pen. :P
drewishdrewid - May 19, 2008
Yes, let's give him the DECISIVE loss he's been longing for.
daver - May 19, 2008
More than I can say for Zito. :)
malicedoom - May 19, 2008
Zingilicious, my friend.
daver - May 19, 2008
ESPN for tonight's game
Any word on whether the ESPN gods will let me watch Cubs baseball tonight? Or will I be subjected to ESPNews?
Anyone know who’s blacked out tonight? I’m in Indianapolis.
Bildo1805 - May 19, 2008
Ramos is after every striker and attacking midfielder in La Liga, it seems!
It’s getting hard to keep up with the rumors!
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
The latest one is funny.
Not La Liga, but Anelka. Come on, no way Le Sulk is coming to WHL.
Bildo1805 - May 19, 2008
Hahahahaha!
Swap a sulky Bulgarian for a sulky Frenchman. That’s rich.
gary varsho - May 19, 2008
Tivo or DVR
should tell you if you try to record it, if you have either of those. I tried to record a game awhile back and when I tried to set the DVR timer, I got a little pop up thingy saying it was blacked out.
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
Thanks.
Bildo1805 - May 19, 2008
Supposedly...
... Monday night games are not blacked out anywhere (the 4/21 game at Wrigley was available nationally).
Al Yellon - May 19, 2008
Thanks.
Bildo1805 - May 19, 2008
Bildo 1805
That was for you…guess I forgot to hit reply…
Bump Bailey - May 19, 2008
Hotter hitter...
We are all well aware of Soriano’s recent hot-hitting. Tonight we’ll see a guy who may be even hotter. Berkman is hitting .586 in the last 15 games with a .647 OBP. A commentary in the Houston Chronicle is calling on fans to give Berkman a standing ovation when he comes to his first AB tonight. I like Berkman, but I hope he goes cold this series. Him and Tejada have been devestating lately.
TXCub - May 19, 2008
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