It figures, doesn't it? In this season that has made very little sense since Opening Day?
Sam Fuld, who has actually had a fairly productive rookie season, finishing just short of .300 (29-for-97, .299) and with an OPS of .821, came within two at-bats of becoming only the fifth player in major league history with as many plate appearances as he had this year (112 coming into today) with zero RBI -- and three of those were pitchers. Here is the complete list, not including today's game.
Instead, "Little Sam Fuld", as Vin Scully called him when he made that diving catch in Dodger Stadium in August, took advantage of a west wind howling out to right field and launched a fly ball that made it into the first row of the right-field bleachers for his first major league home run and RBI. Later, Sam drove in the Cubs' second run of the day with a groundout. (The wind also blew over my Super Big Gulp, nearly full, only five minutes after the gates opened. In past years spilling this drink has been considered by us as "good luck" for a Cubs win. Silly superstition, yes -- but it didn't portend the right thing today.)
That would have made for a great story if those had been the only two runs of the game; unfortunately, Fuld wasn't the only player taking advantage of the wind. The Diamondbacks' Chris Young, who has made a career of hitting homers at Wrigley Field, hit his fifth lifetime home run at Wrigley off Ryan Dempster with two men on base in the fourth inning, and that was the difference in the Cubs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Arizona, leaving the season record at 83-78, seven and a half games behind the Cardinals, who also lost today (and who enter the postseason, ominously, on a losing note -- they lost eight of their last ten regular season games).
Curiosities abounded today -- in addition to Fuld's feats, Dempster struck out ten, tying his season high and giving him the club leadership for the 2009 season at 172, one more than Rich Harden. One of the K's allowed Gerardo Parra to reach base on a wild pitch. That allowed Dempster to register four strikeouts in the fifth inning. That's the 52nd time in baseball history that a pitcher has done that; Dempster becomes the fifth Cub to do it. Here is the complete list of those who have accomplished this feat; the last Cub to do it was Kerry Wood in the second game of a doubleheader on September 2, 2002. That one was notable because in the fourth inning of that game, when Wood registered four K's, there was an out recorded other than a strikeout; Wood wild-pitched two runners on base.
Also, apart from the delayed 2001 regular season, which ended on October 7 due to the one-week suspension after the 9/11 attacks, this is the latest regular season date ever at Wrigley Field.
Dempster finishes the year with a 3.65 ERA, higher than he would have liked, I'm sure, but still within range of the 2.96 he recorded a year ago. He did manage to post a 200-inning season, something he'd been shooting for, and overall I think he had a very good year given the problems his daughter had after she was born on April 1. Dempster might have had an easier time today and maybe gotten a win, had So Taguchi not dropped Chad Tracy's popup in short left field. While it was not an easy play with the wind, Taguchi had it in his glove and then dropped it -- 3B umpire Ed Rapuano had even signaled "out" before the other umpires realized Taguchi had dropped it. That helped lead to the first two Arizona runs and after Young's homer, Lou played spring training rules with the bullpen, using four relievers to mop up for an inning each. They did all right, giving up only two hits and striking out six.
The Cubs went down meekly in the lat two innings and that, as they say, was that. Leaving the ballpark for the final time of a season that goes no further than the regular schedule is always sad, even on a day like today when the weather was sunny and decent for most of the afternoon. Jim Hendry has much work to do and as I noted this morning, he may have already begun. As noted in eths' FanShot, Von Joshua has already been dismissed as hitting coach, no real surprise, as his work didn't seem to produce any real results, and hitting coaches are often the designated management scapegoat.
We await changes and positive developments for 2010, and we go into this offseason with hope, as ever, that "next year is THE year". BCB isn't going anywhere, of course; we'll be here all offseason with updates, fun stuff and new things, so stick around. In the meantime, I leave this season as I do every season, with this quote from the late A. Bartlett Giamatti's The Green Fields of the Mind:
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
0 recs | 208 comments
Always a pleasure Al...
thanks for some very nice coverage of the Cubs this season. Catch you at the Cubs Convention.
Damen Jackson - October 4, 2009
Thanks, Damen.
Yes, see you there, and also thank YOU for all the great photos you posted here all year.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Yes
Thanks to both of you for the good work. Enjoyed the photos and the coverage.
LT - October 4, 2009
Yes, thanks as always, Al...
…for another season of great Cubs blogging. And thanks for the cool pics, Damen.
daver - October 5, 2009
First!
Dempster got his 200 innings, so that’s good.
Curtain Jerker - October 4, 2009
Just like the Cubs making that run to the post-season...
Clutch16 - October 4, 2009
another Fail
lol
LT - October 4, 2009
It was first earlier
Seriously. When it was just me and Damen Jackson mine was on top.
Curtain Jerker - October 4, 2009
A frustrating year
but a fun year on BCB.
I’m going to the Cubs fantasy camp in January.
VegasCubFan - October 4, 2009
Cool!
Please make a post (or posts) about your experiences there. I’d love to do that myself.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
absolutley!
VegasCubFan - October 4, 2009
Thanks for a good BCB season, Al.
Even if we couldn’t make it a good season on the field, it sure was interesting in the threads!
There’s always next year.
CubsGirl - October 4, 2009
Like I said...
… stick around BCB this off-season. It should be an active and interesting time.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Oh I'll check in, don't you fret ;)
My husband and I are going to try and enjoy the off season by immersing ourselves in Hawks and NIU Huskie football!
CubsGirl - October 4, 2009
The last two years have spoiled me.
I have discovered that I don’t really like knowing in advance which is the last game of the year.
Well, this should be a distracting fall and winter for me. With exquisite timing, I closed on my new house on Wednesday of last week, and will be all moved in a couple of weeks. Let the “Honeydew” projects commence…
And a Happy Offseason to all!
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Congrats on the new house!
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Thanks.
I found out the day before closing that Mike North lives just down the street from me, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. :P
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Means you are moving to my hometown. Welcome to Park Ridge my friend.
Don’t be surprised if when you are in the uptown shopping area a very familiar jovial middle aged man is next to you at the store or such and you realize it’s Jim Hendry who also lives in Park Ridge.
puckishcubsfan - October 4, 2009
Assuming he sticks around in the same capacity, here's hoping he
has reason to be jovial.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
He couldn’t be nicer if you see him on the street,
He frequents a place my friends and I do. My friend Brian is not a sports fan at all and one day I was meeting him and his now wife there and they were talking to him about a completely non sports topic. I said “Hi Jim” and after Hendry left I said “You were just talking to the Cubs General Manager”
puckishcubsfan - October 5, 2009
I'm excited to see
what gets done in the off season. I’ll check in here every day. Thanks Al for putting up with all of us. I know it hasn’t been easy.
sue369 - October 4, 2009
Me too.
Al, please let us know everything you find out during the offseason. I would like to see some better moves made this year than last year.
Also, can we end the Aaron Miles experiment? Like now????
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Believe me, I will post every bit of info I find out.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Thanks, Al.
I’ll stay here during the offseason. I need to keep thinking about the Cubs, even if the season is over.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Hawkeyes fans are the WORST!
dtpollitt - October 4, 2009
excuse you ???
Hawk fans are the greatest.
cozmotaylor123 - October 4, 2009 via mobile
Chillax there, Chief. This is coming from a Badger fan, and was a very large SARCASM comment.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2009
:P
sue369 - October 5, 2009
especially for night games... ;)
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Well, it's finally over
The Saints are 4-0 and LSU beat UGA yesterday to go 5-0, so I’ve been in good spirits lately despite all this. Next year will be better for the Cubs. Wait until next year.
Ace Venom - October 4, 2009
Knock on wood,
But I went 12-0 in my NFL picks so far today.
I have Pittsburgh winning tonight, and Minnesota tomorrow night.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
I could be on my way to 13-0 this week.
Pittsburgh has a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Pittsburgh just beat San Diego 38-28.
If Minnesota beats Green Bay, I will have picked the winner of every NFL game this week (14 games right, 0 games wrong).
Right now, I am 13-0 this week. How rare is this? I have been picking NFL games on and off with my family since 2000. This would be only the third perfect week in that entire span, and my second perfect week.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
I hope you're wrong about tonight
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
I know, I hope so too.
I would like GB to win, just like you.
If tonight is a slow night at work, you’ll be seeing me over at APC.
And even if Green Bay wins, 13 games out of 14 right is far better than the average week in all the years that I have been picking NFL games. Combined with last week (13 games right, 3 wrong), I have gone 26-3 over the last two weeks. My two-week mark will either be 26-4 (if Green Bay wins) or 27-3 (if Minnesota wins).
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 5, 2009
It's hard for me to put this season into words.
The Cubs didn’t seem to good, but they finished over .500. The Cubs had players who were not as good as they should have been. There were also players who did more than any of us would have thought. There was a cycle this season; a cycle of either bad hitting, or bad pitching.(Mostly bad hitting). We as fans thought we were getting a great team. We only got a good team.
Cubbiegoon - October 4, 2009
Cardinals entered 2006 postseason on a losing run
I hate them. I hate their stinking guts and livers.
Worf - October 4, 2009
I hate their name.
I hate how they smell. I hate how they sound. I hate their players. I hate their bat boy.
Cubbiegoon - October 4, 2009
LaRussa loves animals
that makes me want to punch a bunny in the face.
Worf - October 4, 2009
Aren't you happy that your wife is happy about he Cards?
Cubbiegoon - October 4, 2009
"the Cards"
Cubbiegoon - October 4, 2009
She is not happy
she is gloating.
Worf - October 4, 2009
An evil woman, she is, indeed.
dtpollitt - October 4, 2009
...
eths - October 5, 2009
Timing is everything.
83 wins gets us a play-in game three years ago.
Fire up the DeLorean, Doc!
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Actually, wouldn't we be a half-game ahead?
Our percentage this year would be better than the Cardinals’ win percentage in 2006.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
True.
This is the second year in a row the Cubs have only played 161 games. Weird.
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Whoops, I thought it over.
MLB would have us play the game against Pittsburgh that was canceled, and if we lost, we would have to play St. Louis in a one-game playoff.
Just like the AL Central last year.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
The Cardinals also played 161 games in 2006.
They went 83-78. As Casey Stengel once said, you could look it up.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Good point.
My bad. Thanks for pointing it out.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Go Dodgers
That is all
nji232 - October 4, 2009
Are the Dodgers playing the Cardinals in the first round?
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Yep
Rockies-Phils the other series
Yankees- AL Central and Sox-Angels
nji232 - October 4, 2009
Didn't think a year after the NLDS last year that I would cheer for the Dodgers.
In the playoffs, no less.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
yeah it feels weird
but hopefully they have the same first round result
nji232 - October 4, 2009
GO TWINS!
Of course, they’ll prolly just get steamrolled by the Bronx Bombers, but a guy can hope.
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
i dont know
you have cc who isnt that good in the post season, burnett who has been the definition of inconsistency, pettite, and our good friends mitre and gaudin
jesus christos - October 4, 2009
+1
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
It was a fitting end to the season
I’m glad it’s over, and the 2009 Cubs will be stricken from my memory soon enough. This offseason should be full of fun debate and interesting rumors. I can’t wait
nji232 - October 4, 2009
Go Cards!
Dunno why but when the Cubs are out of it they and the Yanks are my go-to teams.
hansman1982 - October 4, 2009
I find this to be flawed thinking
and poor decision making, just my opinion though
nji232 - October 4, 2009
gotta root for someone – might as well make my back-up teams the two most successful franchises in sports
hansman1982 - October 4, 2009
I revoke your Cubs fan license
You have disgraced us all.
Worf - October 4, 2009
But I like the Cubs, but I want to be party of winning it all sometimes too...
/sarcasm
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
I grew up in Iowa and watched the Cardinals as a child.
I loved Ozzie Smith. I wanted to be Ozzie Smith.
But, as the Psalmist says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Go Dodgers!
Dunno why but when the Cubs are out of it they and anyone but the Yanks are my go-to teams.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Exactly
However, there is a short list of teams I will never root for. They are the Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Brewers, Astros, Reds, Phillies, Mets, Marlins, Braves, Nationals, Red Sox, Rays, Indians, Tigers, White Sox, Rangers, Mariners, A’s, or the Angels.
hansman1982 - October 4, 2009
That looks like a pretty long list.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
What the hell do you have against the Nationals?
Worf - October 4, 2009
Apparently, they have the audacity to play in the NL
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
Two-thirds of MLB
However, the fact that the Cardinals are not on this list makes it a complete failure.
And, hating on the A’s? Half of their players are ex-Cubbies. (Or so it feels)
cubs0505 - October 5, 2009
THE SEASON OF ???
Still trying to figure out went went so wrong . But yes there is always next year . Looking forward to Mesa 2010…..( And all the great fans I have met there ) … Part of me will be empty until opening day at Hohokam .
cubs north - October 4, 2009
Ran into an
A-Ram injury and a hot Cards team that did everything right – damn you TLR
hansman1982 - October 4, 2009
Yes, and ANOTHER
losing season series wit the Diamondbacks. Next year I try again to see a regular season Cubs victory here at the aircraft hangar they call Chase Field. I still call it the BOB.
BigJohnAZ - October 4, 2009
I will see you in spring training BigJohn.
mrcubsfan - October 4, 2009
Great! Will be happy to see you again
and discuss the 2010 Cubs over a frosty Old Style or 3!
BigJohnAZ - October 5, 2009
Looking forward to seeing you both again in Mesa next March!
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
The short answer?
Too top heavy on talent. The starters were okay — both pitching and offense — but there was no talent there to make up for injuries and slumps.
Damen Jackson - October 4, 2009
so...its Not happening?
DC Cubbie - October 4, 2009
The end
I’m a big fan of the Giamatti prose and it usually tugs at me a little bit at the end of every season. However, I discovered something this year when reading it once again. This time, I want the chill rains to come, I want to face the fall, I am more than happy to welcome the twilight….the sooner the better. Let those rains and that twilight cleanse the palate from a very unappealing baseball season. Let it refresh anew right now. I could care less who wins in the playoffs and who advances to the World Series. Without the Cubs anywhere near it, I will avoid it and move on. Cut it off quickly and calmly and refresh it for 2010. Bring the chill rains Mr. Giamatti. Bring them right now.
krummy12 - October 4, 2009
Rec'd.
This winter is going to be like a proctology appointment—I just want to get it over with quickly and try to regain my dignity.
Goodie1969 - October 4, 2009
Better verse than my thoughts, but
exactly the same sentiment. Watching the Card’s lead grow over the past weeks during before and after the Cub winning streaks has been torture. Now I can settle in and root for the Dodgers in the first round.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Not me
I will watch the playoffs in hope that someone puts a stop to the Cardinals’ run. I will also watch the playoffs because I love baseball. Sure it stinks that my beloved Cubs aren’t playing, but the playoffs are still exciting. That is what all these teams worked for, and the ones that made it, they are going to hopefully play their hearts out. I relish the chance to watch baseball being played in such a superior form—the way I wish my team had been able to play. But even without my favorite team, I will follow the playoffs and of course I will intesely watch the world series giving me a glimpse of maybe, just maybe where they can be NEXT YEAR!
adam316 - October 5, 2009
Thanks Al
for providing the great quote and the forum another year.
Emotionally, I knew it was over in August. But the season still had six more weeks to go before the inevitable ending.
I wrote a letter asking Jim Hendry to apologize to the ST Holders, and the fans, and of course given the opportunity to do this in the post-game press conference – he didn’t.
His two huge, unecessary blunders of trading Mark DeRosa (when no suitable replacement was on the squad knowing of A-Ram’s annual injury), and signing Milton Bradley and forcing him as a square peg to fit in a round hole, were too much for the 97-win team to bear.
So, the upcoming year is one where I believe the aging core vets will struggle, and the money will be tight with the new owners, awaiting the boyant 2011 FA crop. Unfortunately, as of today, I am not that optimistic – but it will be interesting. We will all see in Sept. 2010.
The only thing I can say for certain is that there is a new owner in town.
I was hoping that Hendry would have appointed Ryno a bench coach. The players could use his work ethic. But “no changes are necessary” according to Jim, so let’s just fire the hitting coach! Yeah..that’s it!
With luck, I have about 38-40 years for the team to win it all in my lifetime at least once.
I hope they can do it.
Happy healthy fall, and all holidays to EVERYONE!
GO BEARS!!!!
The E-Man - October 4, 2009
joshua wasnt going to stay
jesus christos - October 4, 2009
Thanks for your endless work this season Al
I for you appreciate your insights and knowledge of all things Cubs. We shall meet again, hoping 2010 is the end of a long journey to the top. Have a good off season my friend.
mrcubsfan - October 4, 2009
The same to you.
See you in Mesa!
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
pitchers and catchers report in what? 132 days or so?
waiting til next year!
doofus cubs guy - October 4, 2009
Thanks again Al
An interesting year indeed. Just think we can start the Milton watch and count the days until he gets moved. The day that happens is the day the glass goes half full.
Pulling for a Rockies/Twins Series so MLB and the TV ratings go down the tank.
Grockcubs - October 4, 2009
BCB contest alert
Pick the day MB is gone.
cozmotaylor123 - October 4, 2009 via mobile
Hey, there's an idea!
Also, I have to go back through the entries we made earlier to find the winner of this year’s prediction contest.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Halloween would be an appropriate date for MB to leave.
Fraggin Judge - October 5, 2009
December 21st - On the Solstice because
it will be darkest, just before the dawn.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Sorry for typing this. Just reread it and threw up in my mouth a little.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
And All Saint's Day
would be an appropriate day for DeRosa to come back.
katie casey - October 5, 2009
Rec'd for the obscure use of a religious holiday.
chilango2 - October 5, 2009
2010 will be our year!
cubsluver22 - October 4, 2009
Oh brother...
you said that about this year too
The E-Man - October 4, 2009
time to get positive again!!
cubsluver22 - October 4, 2009
Al
Al I’ve been a reader since last year and I just joined I want to thank you for all the work you do.
HawkCub - October 4, 2009
I second that
truelinkfence - October 4, 2009
Thanks to both of you...
… and to everyone else here, for all your kind words.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Same here, Al
We disagree here and there, but you put up with me (and a lot of others). It’s obvious you put a lot of work and passion into this site.
Well done, sir, and keep it up. Thanks.
Not Bruce Froemming - October 4, 2009
Thanks to you too, NBF.
Though we disagree at times, you are clearly passionate too about the Cubs. May we see a World Series win for our team, and soon.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
well I'm going to be more active next summer,
I’m excited for I am finally making the trek out to Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park in late June to see three Cubs games (One at Chi Sox, two vs. Pirates)
should be fun…
Chanman25 - October 4, 2009
Regular season games after 10/4 at Wrigley
Al said:
I remember going to a game at Wrigley on my wife’s birthday, which happens to be October 5. The game was 10/5/1986 and the Cubs beat the Cards 8-1 (box score). The immortal Guy Hoffman went 7 innings to pick up the win.
AlSpangler - October 4, 2009
Thanks.
I had forgotten about that one. (Mercifully so, as the 1986 season was forgettable.)
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
One even later
Greg Maddux got the complete game 7-3 win over the Cards on October 6, 1991 boxscore.
AlSpangler - October 4, 2009
I didn't know that guy was Cardinals manager in 1991.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
And it's over...
Just like that, the Cubs season is over. I’ll be rooting hard against the Cards, but other than them losing, I don’t really have much of an interest in the postseason this year.
Thanks for another great season’s worth of posts, Al. What do you have planned for this offseason (blog wise)?
kanderber - October 4, 2009
Some fun stuff like last year...
… maybe a contest or two. Book reviews, once I get around to reading the books that have piled up all summer. And some surprises. (No, I won’t tell you now. If I did, they wouldn’t be surprises!)
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Don't forget "Name that Mystery Cub"!!!!
carmen_fanzone - October 4, 2009
Maybe we could convince SWL and the Cleveland Spiders to do one more exhibtion game.
A bit like this one: Cubs vs. Spiders, Thursday 8/7, 1:20 CT
It could give winter ball a whole new meaning:
Cleveland Spiders@ Chicago Cubs
Thursday, Dec 26, 2008, 1:20 PM CDT Wrigley Field
Sunny. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time wind chill: -5°. Snow depth 3".
eths - October 5, 2009
That game should star in RF
Notlim Yeldarb. The power hitting, left handed bat in RF who is hitting .350 and had 25 home runs before the ASB.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Another big THANK YOU to Al, this community, and each of you.
I simply quit going elsewhere for Cubs info. This is the best. Another great BCB season.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 4, 2009
This is also my source for Cubs info.
I second this notion … thanks Al, for a great community for Cubs fans.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 4, 2009
Again ...
… just so I don’t miss anyone (and I’m sure I will) thanks to all of YOU for your kind words, and also for your contributions to BCB — this wouldn’t be the great place it is without every one of you.
Al Yellon - October 4, 2009
Thanks Al.
Well done as always. Thank you for the hard work this season. To everyone here (not that I won’t be around all offseason) keep those "W"s saved in a safe location. I’ll be smiling from ear to ear when we get them out in April. Everyone have a safe winter. Better days are ahead.
TCobb1911 - October 4, 2009
The Voice of the Turtle
Al, I love and at the same time am saddened by the Giamatti quote. It does seem a fitting end to each season.
But those of us fans who have been lucky enough to grow up listening to Ernie Harwell of the Detroit Tigers know that he BEGINS each new season’s first broadcast with a biblical quote:
We may lose Ernie to cancer this winter, but for me, THIS is what I look forward to each winter as we await the start of a new baseball season.
GO CUBS! And thanks for all the hard work you put into this site each season. It is very appreciated by thousands of Cubs fans.
Zeke - October 4, 2009
We may lose Ernie to cancer this winter...
I hadn’t heard about this before. If Ernie Banks passes away, it will be like part of my childhood has rolled up and died.
I wish Mr. Banks all the best, and hope that he can overcome his illness.
eths - October 5, 2009
Wrong Ernie
He is talking about this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Harwell
Spotacus - October 5, 2009
Oh, thanks.
My best wishes go out to Mr. Harwell, even if I don’t “know” him.
eths - October 5, 2009
Thanks for clearing that up for eths, Spotacus.
Yes, Ernie HARWELL was who I was referring to. Not Mr. Cub.
Zeke - October 5, 2009
Sloppy reading on my part...
eths - October 5, 2009
NP
Zeke - October 5, 2009
Please join me in rooting on my childhood Tigers.
The play in game should be fun and if nothing else, pull up some old audio of Ernie Harwell. He’s as good as there ever was in the booth.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Ernie Harwell was indeed a great announcer.
But I’m rooting for the Twins.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
Ach -and I respected you, somewhat, right until now.
I take back what I said below, I’m no longer sorry for the demise of your caffeine intake system.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
LOL
I accept that you’re rooting for your childhood team.
As for me, since I had no such rooting interest, I like the Twins.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
If they can get past THIS distraction...
http://www.freep.com/article/20091005/SPORTS02/91005019/1319/Police—Cabrera—wife-had-a-physical-altercation
Zeke - October 5, 2009
Grr
I hate hate hate when people say “so-and-so had a BAC of x times the legal limit” when not referring to DUIs. There is no legal BAC limit for other activities, including fighting with your wife.
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
True, but it IS a reference point to support that he HAD been drinking, prior to the alleged altercation.
In addition to being, well you know, stupid…
Zeke - October 5, 2009
More on this
In your FanShot
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
Thanks for a great season Al
It figures that the Cardinals would go and lose 14 of their last 21 games. It makes me cringe to think of all the missed opportunities, and how easily a game here and there could have kept us in it until the end.
I started following BCB around May this year, and I’ve looked forward to your game recaps ever since then.
Looking forward to better things next year!
cwpettis - October 4, 2009
Thanks Al,..... I am sad it is all over
Al, thanks for another great year!
I am looking forward at starting fresh, nothing seemed to work out this year as planned….other then DLee’s great year. In some way it reminded me of Dawson’s year in ’87. A great effort by DLee with not too much else.
Cub Fan Mike - October 4, 2009
Great year
Al thanks for a great year of BCB even though I’ve been pretty much absent this whole season.
Bad year on the field great year of BCB.
Due to life circumstances I have caught less of this season than any other in my 41 years on this earth. ITS MY FAULT!
puckishcubsfan - October 4, 2009
Thanks Al. Another one in the books.
Glad I got to meet you this year. I got lucky, I think I caught two of the best games of the year when I flew down for those two against the Cards in Mid-April.
Not bad considering I only got to see 4 Cubs games all year.
I am very thankful for BCB and the great community that has built up here. I don’t get to post as often as I would like (chasing my two year old son around) but I always check it, every day.
Can’t imagine being a Cubs fan without it.
Hope the Cards get swept!
Cubskingdom - October 4, 2009
Convention
I’ve only posted once, but I’ve read for 2 seasons now….. Thanks Al for the posts and some comic relief during a stressful season. I’m disappointed like the rest, but I’ll never give up being a Cub fan no matter what!
Any chance there could be a BCB reader “get-together” of sorts at the Convention? Saturday night there’s really not too much going on and it would be kind of nice to put some names and faces together from the site. Just a thought.
Again, Thanks Al for your time and MANY words!
106 days until the convention!
Take care, Vicki
Vicki - October 4, 2009
Mixed feelings.
I’m glad this season’s over, but I hate when the season ends….
Shanghai Badger - October 4, 2009
The most melancholy day of the year
is the last day of Cubs baseball. And so it goes.
Al, let me join the chorus of “thank yous” to you and BCB readers for making this site thrive. I see I’m not the only one who comes here first — ahead of mlb.com, espn.com or the local papers’ web sites — to get the latest ‘n’ greatest info about what’s happening with our team.
Now we make the sad transition to the Hot Stove League… and count down the days ‘til Spring Training ’10. I’ll be here for the ride!
ChipSet - October 4, 2009
Fuld had a great day
Glad I was there to see it. One itty bitty mistake Al which I admit I am the only one who would notice. Scully’s " Little Sam Fuld" call which is a classic was from his LEAPING catch of Manny’s would have been HR. Scully also gave a nice call for the diving fence call but not for " little Sam".
Everyone in my section was looking at me when Sam hit it and to be fair Wally had suggested Sam might hit a homer at the start of the game but I thought he was a little nuts. After the game I went to see if I could get a Fuld T shirt at a discount price. I had seen some at some of the stalls especially on Waveland. Well they were selling shirt for $20 instead of $25 but they had no medium size left and you know WHY they didn’t ?
SAM’S WIFE BOUGHT THEM UP YESTERDAY. Lady at the stand said his wife was stunned they had them as they don’t sell them in the park and the bought 10 in various sizes. Well I suppose it is more important for the Fuld family to have them than me.
Doggie Stalker - October 4, 2009
Funny.
Congrats to Sam. Absent a better option, I’m still favorably eyeing a Fuld/RJ CF platoon next season.
daver - October 5, 2009
I bought one of the Fuld shirts, too.
The guy gave it to me for $15.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
Were you able to see the team give him the silent treatment?
It was pretty funny. Seeing his smile after that HR/ 1st RBI was the highlight of the game to me. Ronnie named him the Chevy player of the game and said something to the effect of “He is the man.”
katie casey - October 5, 2009
Just briefly but Kasey1
is going to send me a copy of the game .
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2009
I think you'll enjoy seeing it.
katie casey - October 5, 2009
Along with others, thanks Al for all the work you do here...
Your blog is a daily multiple check in site for me….365 days a year.
carmen_fanzone - October 4, 2009
At least Al....
…had a great year in 2009!!
Great job again running the show!
MPH73 - October 4, 2009
Great to see the Bears win today.....
and yet it’s still an empty feeling today, just like every year when the Cubs season ends. I’m not sure what to say about this season other than, it had its moments, but for the most part a big letdown from the last two years. In any case, I appreciate the daily therapy I get in reading this site, so thanks to Al and the BCB community. The offseason is always tough for me, but I’ll be here on a daily basis.
ctcoff99 - October 4, 2009
Strange Day
Another real strange day was the day Walter Payton surpassed Jim Brown as the all-time rushing leader. A great moment………combined with the Cubs losing game 5 to the Pads on the same day. Ugh! As a Bear fan, I couldn’t even take solace in Wlaters achievement since it came on Black Sunday.
KedzieKid - October 5, 2009
thanks Al,
for the great writing all year. I’m having trouble deciding what to do with my time during the offseason, as I live on this blog. go cubbies!
bbates6 - October 4, 2009
Al, you DID have a great year
Your coverage of the Cubs is the best sportswriting I’ve read in years – vibrant, engaged, well-informed and also (a bit of a rarity these days) always respectful and sportsmanlike. I look forward to it every day.
While 2009 has been your best year to date, I project a step up in 2010 numbers to at least 300 WARB (witticisms above replacement blogger).
Thanks for all you’ve done for this whole community!
CaughtInTheVines - October 4, 2009
Wow!
I didn’t know there was statistical analysis of bloggers, too!
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
As always...
…you can’t quantify Al’s contributions with statistics, the man has far too many intangibles:)
MPH73 - October 5, 2009
and he's scrappy!
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
But is he a leftie?
eths - October 5, 2009
But Al, this not a first...
2008 Community Projections: Al Yellon
But then again SWL’s future has also been questioned.
Maybe Shawn needs to look into this…
eths - October 5, 2009
Hmmm.
SWL was off on # of road games. By a lot (he said 8, I went to 18).
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
Thank You Al
I rarely post comments but read BCB every day. I enjoy this blog immensely for everything about the Cubs. IMHO it is the best and most informative blog at SBN.
Thanks again for all the work you do. I’ll be checking in daily as usual.
Now let’s see if we can lose Miles in the off season!
Swoosie - October 5, 2009
I just wanted to...
…chime in and say, “Thanks, Al.” Great work throughout the year on all fronts! Looking forward to the off season news, and Spring Training!
And well, at least it was sunny today. A’s managed to score just one more run than the Cubs today, otherwise it was about the same experience; it’s just over.
LeSaboteur - October 5, 2009
Thank you Al, SWL, NBF, Worf, Sue369, Clutch16, Dat Cubfan Daver, Chilango2, Ballhawk, Drewishdrewid, Shanghai Badger, and all the rest
for a wonderful time and a chance to re-connect with my Chicago roots.
I hope everybody has a great off-season.
Eamus Catuli
eths - October 5, 2009
And thank you - our man on the scene in Germany.
daver - October 5, 2009
Bitte schön - Es war mir ein Vergnügen!
eths - October 5, 2009
Gesundteit!
daver - October 5, 2009
It was a good
tme but wish it were still going on. Here’s to hoping we have lots of good things to talk about this off season.
sue369 - October 5, 2009
eths
I just wanted to say that I have been impressed by your inspired graphics output this season.
You have really given SWL some competition in that regard.
vonde6 - October 5, 2009
Gee.... Thanks... ::blush::
I need to say two things though:
1) SWL is and remains the master. I am only a lowly minion.
2) SWL does, afaik, more original work, and I usually scrounge the internet, which is a wonderful source of weirdness.
eths - October 6, 2009
And Gerald Perry Chuckles
Seeing that Joshua got let go brought me back to the appallingly unprofessional way the Cubs released Gerald Perry of his duties. That was embarrassing.
Fire the manager.
As many have said before me, and still more after me, thanks for all your hard work, Al.
Enjoy your offseason, and keep the updates coming!
Canadian Cubs Fan - October 5, 2009
Thanks Al for putting up with so much this season
I don’t remember last year being so contentious, but then again, people are going to be happier when we’re winning. I enjoyed every single one of your recaps and previews, and look forward to doing this all again next year. Thanks also to a bunch of posters who know who they are who kept it real this year. With you guys, there was always laughs and good discussion without treading into name calling and what not.
So yeah, that said, looking forward to more discussion, movie reviews, funny quotes, funny pictures, etc. Take care everybody!
Craig in South Bend - October 5, 2009
On to Winter League!
At least I won’t spend the rest of the year without a baseball team to root for. The Giamatti poem doesn’t apply to warmer weathers with winter leagues, I guess.
Another season is gone. At least the Cubs played over .500 baseball. A few improvements should put the team in real contention next year.
Thanks for the season recaps and analysis, Al. And thanks to all who made my days enjoyable in this web site.
Fraggin Judge - October 5, 2009
Thanks Al for all your hard work on this website
One of these days, I’ll make it to your section o the bleachers and say ‘Hi’
Mapmaker - October 5, 2009
Al thanks for all the time and effort you put in,
making this website the best of the bunch. Your insight is always very informative.
cubdreamer - October 5, 2009
Thanks again to all those above for your kind words.
Stick around this winter — should be one of the most interesting offseasons in many, many years.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
And before we debate much more today, I'd like to echo the sentiments above
I don’t agree with everyone all the time (yes, even you!), I say stupid things sometimes, but this is still a great place to read and type about the Cubs with knowledgebale, passionate fans
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2009
I second this.
chilango2 - October 5, 2009
Al,
Very sorry to hear about your big gulp. I’m off to start my 10 word fanpost on the importance of the hitting coach and why it’s all Perry and Joshua’s fault.
I also want us to start a pool for how many days it takes for the following to be mentioned without code or abbreviations: BR, PV, HWSNBN, KW, MD. Starting now.
I’m pretty close to wanting to fast forward past the playoffs to get to hot stove and see what can be done with this roster, but I guess I’ll try to enjoy October.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
I think we can give up on the PV thing.
He’s not going anywhere.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
MD is off the list.
Full spelling of DeRosa occurred above.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Oh, and since when does someone actually have to be available to
be mentioned around here? :)
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Are the credits still rolling? If so, major league props to Al and all the BCB peeps...
It was an… umm… errr…. uhhh… interesting season to say the least.
But in spite of the unmet expectations, I still had a ball. Actually three balls – an ex-Cub (McGeehee), a clutch Cub (ARam), and a %&$# Cub killer (CYoung) all found their way into my glove this year. Needless to say, ARam’s was the highlight of my year. A big ballhawk shoutout to cubnational for sending me footage of that catch.
And with that, I am all too ready to put 2009 to bed, save for a little nightcap of some (hopefully) exciting postseason ball. I’ll be practicing my ABCYs the rest of October – Anyone But Cardinals Yankees. And I look forward to an interesting offseason – both here on BCB and there at 1060 W. Addison. And I hope and pray it’s the good kind of “interesting”…
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
So how does that ballhawking production compare to previous years?
The sabermagician in me is wondering whether there’s any correlation between total Cubs wins for the year and the number of home run balls that wind up in your glove.
daver - October 5, 2009
YES! I NOW HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THIS OFFSEASON!!!
Man, I was going crazy just sitting around doing nothing since that last game. But now, my offseason has meaning! Screw getting a job, fixing up the condo, losing weight, calling my mom… I now have a higher calling for this offseason. Simply put… “I’m on a mission from dcd”
Seriously, you raise an intersting question daver. I’ll have to dig through my piles of papers a bit, but I should be able to pull some numbers together and see if any conclusions can be drawn…
…besides the obvious one – I need to get a life. ;-)
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
This is what I do.
I help people find better, more time-consuming ways to waste their time while hurting their financial standing, health and familial relationships. In short, I am a giver. Looking forward to your findings.
Oh, and hey – nice job on Twitter, too.
daver - October 5, 2009
so you're this guy?
Bill Potter - October 5, 2009
Three?! I thought you caught more!
Maybe it was during BP. Looking forward to your witty Tweets next spring.
chilango2 - October 5, 2009
Witty Tweets from the street
Say that ten times fast.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2009
yep, I definitely caught more - but only three game homers.
the rest were either batting practice, foul balls, or roof balls.
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
"Roof balls"?
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
Phrase from that Seinfeld episode where they
went swimming in glacier bay.
N Oakley - October 5, 2009
Sometimes when a batter hits a high foul ball...
…the ball goes up on the roof covering the upper deck. Sometimes the ball just hits, rolls up a bit and then rolls back down and falls into the seats. But other times the ball will hit the roof, roll up and over the top and down on to the other side. Those are what we call “roof balls”.
When the wind is blowing in at a pretty good clip and the chances of a home run ball leaving Wrigley are slim to none, a few of us ballhawks will go hang out on the other side of Wrigley – either along Addison (for the RH batters) or along Clark (for the LH batters).
Listening to game on the radio gives us the heads up (pun intended) that one might be coming our way.
Needless to say, the 5th inning is when we usually take our breaks as well and go get a Big Gulp or McDouble… ;-)
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
I'd like to echo everyone's thanks to Al for the wonderful job!
And thanks to everyone else too. I’m probably the least knowledgable of anyone here, but you’ve helped me learn a lot this year. Thanks!
katie casey - October 5, 2009
You can close the windows now until April.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2009
does she have to bar the door too?
ballhawk - October 5, 2009
I can't believe I didn't think of that. Well played.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2009
Oh man, that's a long time.
katie casey - October 5, 2009
Huge loss
As pointed out in this fanshot yesterday’s loss was huge—as in it was very good for us. Had we won, we would have finished ahead of Tampa Bay in the standings and had the 15th best record in baseball. As it was, we have the 16th best record which means we have a protected first round draft pick next season.
We can sign a Type A free agent this off-season and we’ll lose our second round pick, not our first round pick. Probably the only time I’m happy to see a loss.
And congrats to a great season for Al, as well, of course. It’s easy to write good things when things are going good. It’s harder to keep going in a season like this.
Josh Timmers - October 5, 2009
But at what cost????????
“Cubs will win 79 to 83 games.” BLou (7/21/09)
I personally can’t believe they didn’t manage to win an 84th game, despite being in perfect position to do so against a mediocre team.
dr stabbingworth - October 5, 2009
Who cares what that knucklehead said
Craig in South Bend - October 5, 2009
No namecalling, please.
I hate to admit he was right, though.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
Only after hedging
He was solid on the 79 wins thing for a couple of weeks, then Lee started hitting and he adjusted.
Clutch16 - October 5, 2009
Looking forward to opening day!
Have a nice offseason…enjoyed all you hard work Al. Looking forward to 2010. My 33rd year of Cubs baseball. Go Cubs!!
cubprofessor - October 5, 2009
Thanks Al and everyone here for keeping this season interesting and fun.
I went to Sunday’s game, the only one this season. Had a great time, getting to see Sam’s first home run/rbi was awesome.
Oh, and there’s always next year!
BleedsbluinMI - October 5, 2009
YES ! ! ! ONLY 182 days 6 hours 56 minutes 34 seconds till opening day!
I won’t miss Cubs baseball much.
I think.
:(
JFCubFan - October 5, 2009
Dempster's ERA
I know all the games count… and you can do a lot with stats.
That said… if you toss RD’s first month (as he was dealing with his daughter’s condition), his ERA further drops to 3.34. It still isn’t sub-3, but I would imagine most of us would have “taken” that when the season started.
And let me echo all of the thanks to the BCBers for the hard work this season.
fsuapollo - October 5, 2009
Al: it can't be fun running this site when there is so much discontent and swearing,
but I hope you will remember all of Kool-Aid drinkers who will be here through thick and thin with you.
So I toast you Al with a big glass of Kool-Aid:
To a great 2010 and a trip to the World Series—finally. Since we are both in our 50s, I know that waiting more than half a century is long enough! Keep up the great work on BCB, you are the glue that keeps the community together.
LAcarl519 - October 5, 2009
Al
Thanks for creating the environment that allows this online community to thrive. I read a few other sites that are sometimes better in one way or another, but they are mostly lone voices, and you have really pulled together something that is bigger than you and even bigger than the sum of its parts.
Keep up the good work.
vonde6 - October 5, 2009
+1
eths - October 5, 2009
Thanks to both of you, as well as everyone else here.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2009
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