They did it again.
Each day, new heroes, new ways to win; I stare in amazement, as the atmosphere at Wrigley Field gets more and more playoff-like; today, Alfonso Soriano's 7th-inning homer off Clay Condrey gave the Cubs a 3-2 win over the Phillies, their seventh win in a row, but it was patience and walks that put the ballclub in position for victory.
Clogging the bases with relish, the Cubs scored the tying run in the sixth inning with no hits, as Ryan Theriot, Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa and finally, Kosuke Fukudome, drew walks, forcing in a run. The first three walks (and two others earlier in the game) were off Philly starter Joe Blanton, who had the Cubs handcuffed until Aramis Ramirez singled in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Phils scraped two runs off Rich Harden, who wasn't sharp today, but just as Ryan Dempster did last night, he kept his team in the game despite being uncharacteristically wild -- walking four, and throwing 100 pitches in five innings. The first run came when Harden hit Chase Utley in the first, and then, apparently rattled, he gave up a walk and a single to Pat Burrell, and then an unusual bad throw by Fukudome, who hit either Lee or baserunner Ryan Howard on a relay, allowed Utley to score the second run in the fifth.
Another walk, also to DeRo, gave the Cubs their first run, getting that fifth-inning Philly run back, and though Jeff Samardzija wasn't sharp either today, walking two in his inning-plus, he kept it close enough for Soriano's heroics (and to claim his first major league win), and then Carlos Marmol, who closed because Kerry Wood had thrown in four straight games, shut the Phillies down with nasty sliders (I thought he had Utley struck out a pitch before he swung and missed; plate umpire Bill Welke's strike zone was a little strange today).
More history was made today: the Cubs' 51st win of the season at home ties them for the most home wins in a single year since 1945 -- that was accomplished in 1984 by the 96-win NL East champions. Eleven home games remain, so not only can they break that record, but they have a shot at the all-time Cub record for home wins, 58, which was set in the pennant year of 1910.
I don't know how many more transcendent words I can come up with. Each time this team seems to have reached a peak, they top it with a victorious way that we haven't seen before. Yes, a homer won today's game, but as I said, it was patience at the plate -- something that's been wonderful to see this year, something we haven't seen from a Cubs team in decades, if ever -- that put them in position for Soriano's game-winner.
So rest and enjoy the evening and savor, till tomorrow. Go Pirates!
0 recs | 145 comments
I think Al Capone said it best:
“Enthusiams… What are mine? What draws my admiration? What is that which gives me joy? Baseball! A man stands alone at the plate. This is the time for what? For individual achievement. There he stands alone. But in the field, what? Part of a team. Teamwork… Looks, throws, catches, hustles.Part of one big team. Bats himself the live-long day, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and so on. If his team don’t field… what is he? You follow me? No one. Sunny day, the stands are full of fans. What does he have to say? I’m goin’ out there for myself. But… I get nowhere unless the team wins.”
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
i love your signature.
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Hey thanks!
I kind of always thought the “It’s Gonna Happen” thing is kind of like that saying: “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” So rather than look toward some imaginary future event, I’m taking Al’s advice and just savoring the here-and-now. And what a here-and-now it is!
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
Lou should make Fonzie watch that scene... ...and the ensuing "at-bat".
Maybe that would help him focus more in the field. ;-)
ballhawk - August 29, 2008
First!
Go Pirates!
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2008
fail
CyberCyclist - August 29, 2008
Rather have the Brewers win, CyberCyclist?
wnielsen - August 29, 2008
Nevermind
I’m sure you were referring to the “first”
wnielsen - August 29, 2008
Nice to see Alfonso
snap a 56 at-bat homerless drought. Let’s hope it starts a homer binge.
An even better sign: he’s been taking pitches, finding holes and getting on base while not hitting homers.
Bill Potter - August 29, 2008
i love that he's gotten into
being aggressive but only swinging at strikes.
this quality at bat thing is contagious! i love it.
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
he's becoming
a lead-off hitter.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2008
it's scary
but he really is. and it’s working out rather well, if i do say so myself
Bill Potter - August 30, 2008
I really love it.
I minus the strike outs he’s devestating at the top of the line up.
slcathena - August 30, 2008
I can't help myself....shame on me.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2008
You've got one for every occasion, don't you?
willie mays hayes' gloves - August 29, 2008
Burn!
That’s okay, though. Doesn’t make you bad…
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
hehe
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Funny
NittanyCub - August 29, 2008
since things seemed bleak
back on july 27th and we were down big to the Marlins, we’ve gone 24-6 for a stunning, .800 winning percentage. That is unreal.
And it looks like we’re finally starting to gain some meaningful separation from the Brew Crew. This is awesome.
knock on (not Kerry) Wood
tal1286 - August 29, 2008
The funny thing
it must be frustrating to be the brewers,. since we swept them we have gone 20-6 and they have gone 11 over 500 and they have lost 1 1/2 games.
too bad so sad.
puckishcubsfan - August 29, 2008
I agree...
…but I would caution, for those folks who are scared of facing the Dbacks, the Brewers would scare me much more in a playoff series. With Sabathia, Sheets and their lineup, they could make some serious noise in the playoffs
The Cubs and Brewers in the NLCS, is a distinct possibility.
MPH73 - August 29, 2008
I don't think the Brewers care
what the Cubs are doing. If they play as well as they’ve been playing, then they’ll be playing in October. All they have to do is win ballgames, and not worry about the Cubs.
The Original Dave - August 30, 2008
agreed
If I’m the brewers or thier fans, I’d be focusing on the Wild Card right now. If they keep winning they will be in the playoffs, they can catch us unless they win.
MerlinDog - August 30, 2008
the noose
is tightening brew crew!!!
cubsluver22 - August 29, 2008
actually
on the cards, not that they have a chance at the division anyway
dr stabbingworth - August 29, 2008
Ive said it along
the cards youth will eventually show along with their lack of pitching. the brewers on the other hand have to be in a panic mode.
cubsluver22 - August 29, 2008
well, I don't really think they're panicking because
they have a pretty good grip on the wild card. Although, I agree, they probably realize the division is becoming less likely
philadelphiacub - August 29, 2008
that was the strangest strike zone
i’ve ever seen. it was bizarre.
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
I agree
I think thats why Kosuke was confused on the walk with basesloaded to push in The Riot. That ball was low but when I first saw it and then again on replay, it clearly was above his knees.
Luck was on our side this game, Philly has some great hitters that we stranded.
blueapple - August 29, 2008
Even on gameday
and I know you really can’t judge a strike zone on gameday it really looked like a strike. Was very surprised that he walked based on the way that pitch looked.
tucsoncubsfan - August 29, 2008
gameday isn't 100% accurate
but i was following the radio on gameday… and it was all over the place. usually pat’ll get the hang of a strike zone by the 3rd inning or so, but this time he’d say “and he takes inside…. for a strike?” at least 6 different times.
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
The company that runs Gamday, Sportsvision, has done tests...
…where they fired baseballs at a foam backstop, and they compared where the indentions in the foam were to where the Gameday data said the balls hit. They were within an inch. Gameday is very, very accurate. The problem is that the Gameday app doesn’t do a good job of reporting where the strike zone is.
(Also, for those who try to call balls and strikes from the comfort of your own home – due to parrallax, you can’t do it, or at least can’t do it well. The center field camera isn’t straight away, and due to various laws of physics and optics, you’re actually not seeing the strike zone the way you think you’re seeing it.)
cwyers - August 30, 2008
Sorry Al, I'm with the torches and pitchforks crowd on this one
Just saw the replay, thanks to cwyers link below. Ball went all the way to the wall and stayed there – didn’t bounce back. Ruiz did react quickly as he was the only one hustling on the play, but he still had to go all the way to the wall do get it.
The part I didn’t get is it looked like Theriot did start to take off but then he stopped for some reason. I’d be more inclined to hang the “bonehead play” tag on him if he had never made the effort, i.e. he just turned around and headed back to third. But he did take a few very quick steps toward the plate and it sure looked like it was in response to the ball skipping away. But he must have figured he couldn’t make it so he stopped short (hey – that’s my move!) and headed back.
ballhawk - August 30, 2008
ok - obviously this is in the wrong place. Evidently "cancel" doesn't really mean "cancel".
Please ignore. Nothing to see here. Move along…
ballhawk - August 30, 2008
Theriot...
…would have scored if he would have read the ball better, or taken the direction from DeRosa who has the best view of the play.
From third base, there are times you can’t get a good read on how far the ball gets away from the catcher. In those circumstances, you are taught to pick up what the hitter is telling you (because he has the best view of what is going on), but Theriot either didn’t pick up DeRosa or he just didn’t respond to his prompt.
MPH73 - August 30, 2008
There were a number of those on Gameday
yesterday that I wondered where they were when they showed up as balls. As Al said, it was a very odd strikezone yesterday.
gwood - August 30, 2008
How about that.
This is the post-season team kind of difference, winning games that many teams cannot win. I think this series against the Phils tells alot, your talking about two teams that by and large are going to shrink the opportunities to get ahead down to 2-3 innings. Its what we saw yesterday, as well as today. These Cubs can see and react to those kinds of narrow windows, AWESOME.
StevenABQ - August 29, 2008
Can someone help me?
I saw posted a few days ago the Cubs record since Lou’s outburst last summer. Does anyone remember/know what that record is?
Blaze22 - August 29, 2008
You can help yourself actually...
the search feature exists just for this purpose!
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2008
yeah I'm trying
not having much success. Does anyone know the date of when that happened? I was there but can’t find my ticket stub anywhere
Blaze22 - August 29, 2008
June 2, 2007.
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
June 2nd
I think
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Some people here know my hatred for the AP.
This even furthers my hatred towards them.
In case you can’t see it, it says “Efficiency Lesson: Cubs top Phillies 3-2 on five hits.”
Anyone else notice the irony in that title?
NittanyCub - August 29, 2008
Ha!
No one can ever accuse the AP writers of using their peripheral vision…
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
AP = biased agenda setters
Emelie - August 29, 2008
oh also
the magic number for the WILD CARD is only 17!
tal1286 - August 29, 2008
or 18
tal1286 - August 29, 2008
Wild Card?
We don’t need no stinking wildcard!!!
sanantonecub - August 29, 2008
+1
We need to go for the division and the best record in the NL to get home-field advantage throughout the DS and CS.
blueapple - August 29, 2008
We tied last season's total.
With over a month left. Amazing.
Sam Adams octoberfest for the win!
sanantonecub - August 29, 2008
27 games left
If they go 15-12, they can win 100. It’s doable.
salparadise23 - August 29, 2008
Hey!
NittanyCub - August 29, 2008
If jinxes worked
I’d make sure the Cardinals never won another game. :)
salparadise23 - August 29, 2008
Touche sir
NittanyCub - August 29, 2008
just in case they do...
from what I’ve seen the cardinals are the ’08 rockies. I have no doubt they will win out.
ELcachorros - August 29, 2008
Win series.
Every series from here on out is winnable. And that’s all we need to do. :)
sanantonecub - August 29, 2008
have a good night
i’m off to a cedar falls to hit on coeds
cubswynn - August 29, 2008
Cedar Falls? Iowa?
UNI grad here. I miss The Hill.
spoiledcubbage - August 29, 2008
The pub where I watched the game today
Are convinced the Cubs have been lucky all year! A team doesn’t win that many games being lucky.
Howard may have been safe but it wasn’t called that way.
Better teams find a way to win. Like the Cubs did today!
Drinking a Stone Pale Ale. One of many today!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers!!! Until Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
I've also read at various places on the net other fans saying we're just lucky as well.
Kinda getting old.
Ilan - August 29, 2008
It gets old
I don’t care what other fans say.
The umps called it the way they did! How many times has it gone against the Cubs?
A lot of people can’t face the fact the Cubs are the best team in baseball!!
They bettter be ready to deal with it over the next two months!!!!!!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
Yep.
I could care less what they say. I’ll take more of the same, through October, please.
slcathena - August 30, 2008
Yea right, lucky
How about when Philly scores today when a throw to the plate hits Howard going back to first. Luck is winning the division on the last day of the season in 07 . Then backing it up by getting swept in the NLDS.
Employee22 - August 29, 2008
I agree
I got dirty looks at the pub I was cheering the Cubs throughout the game.
The Phillies are a good team, but aren’t in the Cubs class.
I’m hoping they play the Phillies in the NLCS so I can see the Cubs win the NL pennant in person.
The Phillies broadcasting crew was saying how they have Harden’s number since they saw him before in Oakland. And just take pitches to get to the Cubs bullpen. Guess that didn’t work today!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
August 29 = lucky?
can’t reach this point in the season on luck alone… feh
Emelie - August 29, 2008
+1
Grockcubs - August 29, 2008
I work with a Phillies fan
who told me he now hates the Cubs because we have a “fight song.”
I wouldn’t say Go Cubs Go is a fight song as much as a victory celebration-starter.
Also, he’s just jealous.
The Original Dave - August 30, 2008
ROFL
I love that song!
slcathena - August 30, 2008
Had to work
missed the game, followed on the MLB. Read the Recap on YAHOO, said Howard was safe at first on the cover by Shark. Well if was so be it.
Interesting note that I read, first game in 61 that the Phils did not have a extra base hit.
The reason I love this team, and there are many, but what stands out is the bullpen. Woody can’t throw, and the Cubs can close with Marmol, that is nasty.
Lets get them tommorrow, Meyers has been solid since his return from AAA. Lilly just keep the Phils in the park.
Go Cubs.
Grockcubs - August 29, 2008
The Howard call was really awful....
….he was safe from my RF bleacher perch. I guess that made up for the bizarre Welke strike zone?
This team never ceases to amaze me. They are without question the best team in ML baseball and I am savoring every moment of this incredible season!
JB 23 - August 29, 2008
Happy days are here again
It’s now Saturday…
HAPPY HUSKER GAMEDAY!!!!
sanantonecub - August 29, 2008
Walk on By...
It’s funny that you should use this in the title, Al, because as the Cubs were all walking that song by Dionne Warwick came to mind.
tucsoncubsfan - August 29, 2008
OT- My nephew and 15 of his friends
will be in the left field bleachers tomorrow celebrating my nephew’s upcoming marriage next Saturday. I told my nephew to look for you, Al, so if you see a bunch of rowdy guys (pretty common I suppose) it probably will be them. Sure hope the Cubs win for them and of course for everybody else here at BCB.
tucsoncubsfan - August 29, 2008
LOL
I’ll keep an eye out for them!
Al Yellon - August 30, 2008
cubs
boy they sure are having fun at wrigley field. im stuck here in tampa bay where they,re complaining about small crowds for a 1st place team.but we all know rays fans will never match up with cub fans.let,s hope the year only gets better. cubs-rays?? im still hearing about that sweep.a nice cub series sweep would help even that up.
NOMAR - August 29, 2008
+1
I want payback.
NotSure - August 29, 2008
This year is special in many ways
as is this team…I won’t get giggly (Lou was asked about “destiny” today and he said in effect … “I don’t know about destiny, but i do know good hitting, good pitching, good catching…”). Stay on point, stay focused, believe, and maybe it’ll come true.
Emelie - August 29, 2008
3-0 Brewers in the 2nd
cubs ftw - August 29, 2008
Get in the Brewers pen
Ready to be up by more than 7!!!!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
Braun 3 run homerun
xene - August 29, 2008
Cubs-Brewers Best of 7
I like the Cubs in that one!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
I like...
The cubs in any series!
blueapple - August 29, 2008
Damn right!!
I’ll take the Cubs in any series!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
Pirates load the bases in the 3rd on a walk an error by weeks and another error by Fatso.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2008
and come out of it with nothing
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Yep - there were 2 outs when all of that started
wnielsen - August 29, 2008
Thankfully the Cubs keep doing what they've been doing....
so that even if brew crew does win……….. they are still 7 behind
Madison Cub Fan - August 29, 2008
thats the beauty of being in first
:-)
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Yes, although I only focus on the loss column
and they are 6 back.
wnielsen - August 29, 2008
isn't it 6 1/2?
cubs ftw - August 29, 2008
If the Brewers win tonight, yes
wnielsen - August 29, 2008
6 in the "L" column is what counts
So since they beat the Bucs, it’s 6.5 games but their 56 losses to 50 for the Cubs matters more. Once a game is lost, it cannot be made up.
blackhawk24 - August 29, 2008
Hi Gang!
I’m back….
Just got back from Arkansas. Thanks to everyone for taking such good care of my boy — and the next NL player of the month — DeRo.
Cardinal country was a tad quiet…..
This team has been a pleasure to watch all season, and the replays of the games a missed — all wins — will be just as sweet.
DMH
DeRoMyHero - August 29, 2008
Since Gary Matthews was the 7th inning singer today
Who’s in the charge!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
.
THE SARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
84 vets remember that!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
Wow.
I’m glad we control our own fate being in first place… the Pirates really are awful.
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
The Cubs should know!
cubs ftw - August 29, 2008
i thought i had a good idea
how bad they were, but its surprising
halfblindcubbiegirl - August 29, 2008
Before they traded away everyone who mattered
the Pirates had the second best offense in the league – I do believe. It’s their bullpen that’s awful. Their starters are just bad.
The Original Dave - August 30, 2008
Just love watching the replay
on the CSN Philadelphia!!!!!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
That DeRosa
made a “great” slide in the 5th!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
pirate hit a HR
3-1 brewers still
preachermancubsfan - August 29, 2008
Get in that beer makers
Pen!!!!!!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
3-1
McLouth with a homerun
cubs ftw - August 29, 2008
If anyone on here has CSN Philadelphia
The game is being replayed..
Right now!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
If you're watching the replay
it’s now 2-1 Phillies. Double play ball thrown away.
Bottom of the 5th!!!!!
PhillyCub - August 29, 2008
Oh man
What if the Cubs lose the second time around?
daeviant - August 29, 2008
Cubs are on a good streak!
It is amazing how many records are being grabbed by this years team. Most of this since 1945 most of that since 1907 and on and on. This is truly a special season. We have a 7 game win streak going at the absolute best time to start a long streak. The end of August is upon us.
We are heading into the beginning of September with a nice lead. This team is too good to get into long losing streaks and that is why we lead the majors in wins. Every game has a new hero and this team plays like a team.
I have felt so good this year watching as June past without a June swoon. July past and we got through our toughest month in very good shape. August has been nothing but sensational.
Lets take the last month and then really turn it on in October. Go Cubs Go!
billkelly - August 29, 2008
This team is just ridiculous
and I LOVE IT!
Brett Taylor - August 29, 2008
Just keep it going Cubs.
Every day the excitement just builds. I love it!! Football and baseball tomorrow so it’s going to be a great day.
sue369 - August 29, 2008
+35
over .500 now!
With that I will call it a night. It was fun to read this thread. I love reading everyone’s passion AND happiness. It makes this season that much more special….
Good night all!
LAcarl519 - August 29, 2008
Night Carl.
Sweet Cubbie dreams.
sue369 - August 29, 2008
Football/baseball
Going to Northwestern game tomorrow Cubs on Sunday (But taking the enemy my friends from Philly who are attending a wedding tomorrow) they went today and said the atmosphere was amazing and they love how everyone sings at the end although they didn’t like the score!
We have Bears tickets for the 21st but if the Cubs can clinch will give them up for the Cubs.
puckishcubsfan - August 29, 2008
Friends
My fiends from Philly just took the doggies for a walk with the kids.
They are sockless as the Cubs have knocked them off the last 2 games.
I said I haven’t worn socks all year.
puckishcubsfan - August 29, 2008
clog the bases with relish?
I like it, now I have to go have a CHICAGO style hot dog.
As difficult as it is – so many folks around my work see me every day, knowing the die hard I am and ask about my excitement – I feel it’s getting to the point where I’m starting to get a bit giddy about this team. ‘69, ’77, ’84, ’89, ’98, ’01, ’03, ’04 & ’07 are telling me don’t but it’s hard to control the feeling this team is really special.
blackhawk24 - August 29, 2008
Giddy is a perfect
description of how I feel.
sue369 - August 29, 2008
We finished last season with 85 wins. We have reached that with ONE month to go
We could easily get 100 wins, without a doubt..plus this win today means that we will not have lost a series in the ENTIRE month of August
Chanman25 - August 29, 2008
Cardinals lose again, now 11 back
They are most likely not going to win the division, they are praying for the wild card now.
Chanman25 - August 29, 2008
Well, if they can stay within 3 or 4 games
of the Brewers, we’ll gladly help them out in September…
Goodie1969 - August 29, 2008
The difference between this year and previous years
Previous years, they don’t tie it in the 6th, after a play that I am very surprised wasn’t mentioned here — Theriot’s lack of awareness on what should have been a game-tying wild pitch in DeRosa’s at bat. Everyone in the park except Ryan knew that he was supposed to score when the ball went to the backstop.
I’m not trying to start a Theriot discussion (he really does suck as a baserunner), but rather pointing out that they overcame that — and in years past, I would have expected a strikeout from Dome, not a walk.
This is good stuff. 85-50. Wow.
Shanghai Badger - August 29, 2008
I wasn't in the game threads due to work...
…so I don’t know how it was discussed there. But I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it, even though:
1) I was watching the video just to see that play.
2) I don’t really like Ryan Theriot to begin with.
I mean… wow.
cwyers - August 30, 2008
game thread
was unhappy with that (lack of) play. Very unhappy. Then the fighting began.
Emelie - August 30, 2008
I will say this about that.
Theriot has been a bad baserunner this year. But he would have been out had he tried to score. The ball came back to Ruiz quickly and he’d have thrown Theriot out. I can only imagine the screaming here had that happened.
Al Yellon - August 30, 2008
I disagree
It didn’t get back to him that quickly. DeRosa was frantically waving him home.
The problem is that after the pitch, Theriot turned his back to the plate and walked back to third with his head down. A competent baserunner is anticipating a ball getting away, and takes a step or two twoards the plate with the pitch. More importantly, he watches to see what happens.
The pitcher didn’t hustle home, either. I’m convinced Theriot would have scored. I don’t know if that’s why Lee went over to third base to talk to Theriot during the subsequent pitching change, but I did see Piniella talking to him after Dome’s walk scored him.
Shanghai Badger - August 30, 2008
All's well that ends well.
We’ll agree to disagree. I think Theriot would have been out and then everyone here would have been bitching all night.
But, it didn’t hurt to have a couple people talk to him about being more heads-up.
Al Yellon - August 30, 2008
Well, let's go to the videotape.
Here’s the inning in question. Should be free – I don’t subscribe to MLB.tv. It’s about 12 minutes in. Judging by Lou’s reaction in the dugout, Theriot probably should have scored.
cwyers - August 30, 2008
Thanks for the link
Damn, Brenly really is a Theriot apologist.
Shanghai Badger - August 30, 2008
Sorry Al, I'm with the torches and pitchforks crowd on this one
Just saw the replay, thanks to cwyers’ link. Ball went all the way to the wall and stayed there – didn’t bounce back. Ruiz did react quickly as he was the only one hustling on the play, but he still had to go all the way to the wall do get it.
The part I didn’t get is it looked like Theriot did start to take off but then he stopped for some reason. I’d be more inclined to hang the “bonehead play” tag on him if he had never made the effort, i.e. he just turned around and headed back to third. But he did take a few very quick steps toward the plate and it sure looked like it was in response to the ball skipping away. But he must have figured he couldn’t make it so he stopped short (hey – that’s my move!) and headed back.
ballhawk - August 30, 2008
Did you hear Brenly excusing Theriot away?
It was kind of disgusting. He was talking about how he couldn’t see the ball because people were in the way. Never mind the fact that the hitter was PLEADING for Ryan to score…
Curtain Jerker - August 30, 2008
The first words out of his mouth were "In Theriot's defense..."
…and I couldn’t believe it. Len was absolutely shocked – he was in his puberty voice and everything and then the run didn’t score.
cwyers - August 30, 2008
I've traditionally given Bob the benefit of the doubt
but I agree with you on this one. Caught that too and Len’s reaction too. Lou was just about as disgusted as I’ve ever seen him and can’t blame him a bit. Made him cranky for several innings after that.
Emelie - August 30, 2008
The guy...
…seems to get brainlock on the basepaths nut unlike the throwing disorder that effected Steve Sax and Chuck Knoblock.
I don’t quite understand it, but his instincts on the basepaths do leave a lot to be desired.
MPH73 - August 30, 2008
I can't believe
all the negative comments about Theriot. Sure, he’s had lapses, but he’s got the highest OBP on this team, he’s got the most steals, tied for the best AVG and he’s fast. Give him the benefit of the doubt- looks to me like the ball did kick away in a direction that it was hard to gauge how far away it got. You know how people would would just torture him if he was out at the plate. And there have been several times I recall that the ball ricochet’s off the wall and right back to the catcher.
epcub - August 30, 2008
He also has the most caught stealings in the league, and the second-lowest ISO of any qualified starter in baseball.
More to the point, Alfonso Soriano has stumbled into an above-average OBP to go along with his incredible power numbers (highest SLG among full-time starters on the Cubs), has 17 steals with only two caught stealings, has the best throwing arm of any left-fielder in baseball… and yet people still criticize him when he muffs a routine fly ball in left field. Or when he cheats himself out of a double by gazing at a home run ball.
Plenty of people around here see no problems with criticizing better ballplayers than Ryan Theriot. And why not? We’re paying customers. Should we just sew our eyes shut when he runs the bases? Even the biggest Soriano fans don’t feel compelled to completely paper over his flaws the way Theriot fans do, and believe me, Theriot has more flaws in his game than Soriano does.
And I think there’s a growing discontentment about Theriot – I’m told that on Boers and Bernstein yesterday they were ripping him as a poor fundamental baseball player, which is a paradigm shift.
Over the past seven days, Theriot has been hitting .269/.387/.308. Over the past month, .281/.390/.303. If he turns it around again and gets back to, say, his May production of .308/.407/.337, a lot of this will die out again (except for the diehards like me). But if he doesn’t pull out of his “slump,” expect the “bashing” to get worse before it gets better.
cwyers - August 30, 2008
For the record...
…his rest-of-year Marcel forecast is .287/.359/.376. So I wouldn’t expect him to be as bad as he’s been the past month, but probably not as good as he’s been season to date as a whole.
cwyers - August 30, 2008
As I have stated...
…many times, I have been impressed with his steadiness in the field and his improvement at the plate. He has clearly been a positive contributer to the club, but no matter how you slice it, baserunning is not his strength.
MPH73 - August 30, 2008
Great (but weird) Game!!
My first game at Wrigley this year, had AMAZING seats, 3rd row, aisle 33, club box, right in full view of 1st base, where much of the action was today. . .
Such a weird, weird game!!!
Very “off” strike-zone. . . Aramis was perplexed for at least 2 at-bats. . .
Ryan Howard interference on the throw from Kosuke, which most around us thought was intentional. . .
and the first base ump was wrong on TWO calls, the first being that Utley was OUT on the double play with Theriot’s bad throw. . . and Howard was definitely SAFE on the last play that inning, so in my mind, that one “evens out.”
the Phillies lengthy mound meetings. . .
Soriano’s first HR in what seems like ages AND everyone knew when it left the bat. . .
couldn’t have scripted the day better!!! (and the first time I’ve gotten to sing ‘GO CUBS GO’ in person in at least 3 years!!)
great day at the ballpark. . . happy labor day weekend everyone!!
noiseboy - August 30, 2008
welcome home!
glad you had a chance to catch a game at Wrigley.
Emelie - August 30, 2008
My seats weren't as good
So I had the advantage of seeing the monitors that are in place for the folks in terrace reserved. Howard was definitely safe, but Utley was, also.
Shanghai Badger - August 30, 2008
When Scotty Eyre came out to pitch... how was his reception?
Did the Wrigley faithful cheer for him? Scotty is a good guy. I was only able to catch the end of the game.
jackieboy - August 30, 2008
There wasn't much of a reaction at all, either positive or negative.
Al Yellon - August 30, 2008
cubs
sept will tell all.probably the toughest schedule in baseball.6 with the cards,6 with the brewers and 4 with the mets.lots of non cub fans think the cubs have it locked up.though i have more confidence in this team than any other it,s a long way from locked up.lets hope they,ve saved their best for last
NOMAR - August 30, 2008
Are you replying from a Blackberry or something?
wnielsen - August 30, 2008
This was such a fun game to watch!
I was at a local sports bar by Fenway, filled with Redsox fans, but there were like 6 of us Cubs types huddled by the bar/a TV and we just went nuts when Sori hit his shot. (The lone Philly fan in the vicinity left at that point).
Go Cubs, it was pretty sweet.
slcathena - August 30, 2008
what time does the pregame thread post for today?
chomping at the bit…oh, and going to the game…
derv - August 30, 2008
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.