You'll recognize the "nickname" in the headline as one that a certain member of this website has bestowed on Alfonso Soriano. The "hack" hacked his third homer of the spring and also singled, but a massive blowup by reliever Jose Ascanio, who allowed five Giants runs in the ninth, turned what appeared to be an easy 5-3 win into an 8-6 loss, even though the Cubs scored a run in the last of the ninth.
Nick Noonan, a Giants farmhand who won't turn 20 until May and who spent last year at Augusta in the South Atlantic League, hit a grand slam off Ascanio, whose ticket to Iowa was likely punched today, though he probably had little chance of making the roster anyway. This makes that cut that much easier for Lou and Jim. Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino weren't that good, either, but at least Vizcaino struck out the side in his inning.
A HoHoKam Park record crowd of 13,024 (was there someone here talking about attendance problems? That's a huge crowd for a Wednesday) brought the total spring attendance so far to 120,130, or 10,010 per game, with seven home dates remaining, almost all of which should be sold out or close, especially if the weather remains as spectacularly nice as it was today (I understand it's supposed to cool off over the weekend, then warm up again next week).
Tim Lincecum, who started for the Giants, must have been working on something today, because the Cubs hit him pretty hard and he was also wild, walking four (while striking out six) in 3.2 innings of work. Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster was outstanding, allowing only four singles and a walk in his five innings of work, striking out four. He should be right on target for his first start in the season's second game in Houston. Mike Fontenot had two more hits, raising his average to .391, and Joey Gathright also had two hits, and one of them hit Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval in the face; Sandoval had to leave the game.
Tomorrow, Aaron Heilman faces the Mariners' Gaby Hernandez at Peoria. Heilman was a Mariner for 47 days, between December 12 and January 28. Wonder if he and Garrett Olson will swap frequent-flier mile stories from this past offseason?
Finally, this photo has nothing to do with the Cubs, but I thought it was hilarious, so I wanted to post it here anyway. Today, Manny Ramirez helped some Australian cricketers tape a promotional spot for DirecTV's cricket coverage at the Arizona Cricket Club in Gilbert. No, I am not making this up. The mind boggles:
photo via d.yimg.com
0 recs | 67 comments
heh, Ramirez carries a big stick
Chanman25 - March 18, 2009
Back when I was a professional high school baseball player (sarcasm), playing the hot corner, I got a line drive straight in my chest. It happened so fast—and apparently I wasn’t very quick—I fell down instantly, had the wind knocked out of me, my short stop barehanded the ball and threw the guy out. Needless to say, I was both embarrassed and in a lot of pain. Coach came over to check me out, we lifted my shirt, and there was already a bright welt the size of a softball forming on my chest. I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a baseball hit you in the face, my chest hurt enough.
Dan
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
It's great to get hit in the face by a baseball.
Like Dan, I was playing in high school, where our coaches liked to have “bucket” drills, where we’d basically field fungoes until our legs were jelly. Rotating between second and third, I caught one right on the bridge of my nose.
I don’t know how my nose didn’t bleed, but you could clearly make out the stitches of the ball on my nose afterward.
Bill Potter - March 18, 2009
And these two posts are the
exact reason my mother still won’t let me near a baseball/softball. That and the fact that my fully sighted older sister had a chipped orbital bone in her right eye in HS.
halfblindcubbiegirl - March 18, 2009
Heck, my sister took a bat to the teeth
The dentist had a field day with that one.
Personally, I’ve taken a couple of baseballs to the back of the head (playing “pickle” with a couple of older dudes), but the most concussive thing I ever had was a soccer ball to the face. The defender was attempting to clear from about six feet away and it just smashed me in the left eye. I lost a contact and I was woozy for a few minutes afterward, but hey – I got an assist.
Clutch16 - March 19, 2009
Yeah, I've seen that happen, too.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Reminds me of a baseball book I read as a kid- "Hard Smash To Third"
One of a series of sports books (mostly baseball and football) by Bill Carol. Dave was an outfielder but Coach wanted him to play third or something like that. I got hooked (no pun intended) on his books after reading another one – “Lefty Plays First”.
Here’s a list – see any you read as a kid? btw – see if you can find ones meant for DLee, Lilly, and Theriot. ;-)
Circus Catch
Backboard Scrambler
Clutch Single
Scatback
Hit Away!
Full-Court Pirate
Hard Smash to Third
Long Pass
Long Throw from Center
Lefty’s Long Throw
Inside the Ten
Touchdown Duo
Lefty Finds a Catcher
Lefty Plays First
Crazylegs Merrill
Sandy Plays Third
Stop That Pass!
Squeeze Play
Linebacker Blitz
High Fly to Center
Fullback Fury
Double-Play Ball
Flare Pass
Single to Center
Blocking Back
ballhawk - March 18, 2009
Those are great!
Lee – GIDP Wannabe
Riot – Single to Center
Lilly – Fullback Fury??
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Lily - "Lefty Finds a Catcher"
ballhawk - March 18, 2009
Hey, aren't those Matt Christopher books?!
I use to love those books!
DTJchris - March 18, 2009
Matt Christopher
Had Catcher With a Glass Arm (Rick Wilkins?) and The Kid Who Only Hit Homers (Soriano?), among others.
Bill Potter - March 19, 2009
You get an assist for that . . .
Shanghai Badger - March 19, 2009
ain't nothing like a hot smash coming right at you
and you’re in the groove, senses all hyper alert and you can hear that thing hissing in the air and heading like a cobra strike right at your face.
Son, you ain’t lived til you’ve fielded a guaranteed concussion and tried to do a put out
cubnational - March 18, 2009
Who's called him a guess-hitting hack?
That’s one of the stupidest nicknames he can have, considering power hitting is one of the things he excels at. Making fun of his defensive left fielding makes sense, or always staring the season colder than a dead hooker’s hands is another. But hack hitting? Oy vey
NittanyCub - March 18, 2009
I'll give you one guess about the "guess-hitting hack" remark.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
welp
Ascanco it was a good run, but can we trade you back to the Braves please?
Chanman25 - March 18, 2009
Is Omar Infante available?
We could use him.
Oh, wait.
Al Yellon - March 18, 2009
Not to give up but this is why they play the games at this time
He has things to work on and he knows that now he is not ready, let me on my list knock the list down to 19
Ivy Walls - March 19, 2009
He could definitely make the Braves' 25-man roster
Clutch16 - March 19, 2009
But Kevin Hart
pitched a perfect 8th inning, striking out 2. Funny enough (now, anyway) the Ho Ho Kam field announcer proclaimed that Luis Viscaino was pitching the 9th. Ascanio, Viscaino……whatever…….
I was thinking the same about Tim L — is he trying out something? It seemed Maddux-esque……his first pitch of the game was high and inside….and Soriano deposited it in the Al Yellon spot on the LF berm. (Right there, Al. you would have had that ball without moving.) Lincecum was high inside and outside the plate through his entire stint.
But, as was written, Dempster looked very, very good.
Paul Bako looked very, very bad at the plate. Horrible.
That was a nasty hop that hit Sandoval in the nose/mouth…..couldn’t tell exactly where….he was ‘toweled up.’
Of course, if this was the NHL, he’ d be stiched up and back out for the 3rd period.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - March 18, 2009
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man...
The Hohokam field announcer didn’t say Luis Viscaino was pitching in the 9th, he said Jose Ascanio. I know that because I am the Hohokam PA Announcer and remember it distinctly because of the way I said Ascanio and that their was some fairly loud music or ambient sounds going on at the time.
I’m certainly not immune to mistakes but in this case I think you may have misheard what I said.
cubsAZ.com - March 18, 2009
Well............
there you go. Can’t get a better source than that!
tommy veryzer - March 19, 2009
so cubsAZ please give us your own scouting report
tell us who will secure the last bullpen positions?
How does Koskie look?
Is K Hill the back up?
Will Gathright stick or will it be the Pauir?
Ivy Walls - March 19, 2009
My 2 cents on these areas
Koskie looked great in his first Cubs at-bat belting a double off the wall at Camelback Ranch, he appears to be in good shape physically and is a decent fielder. If he hits in the next couple weeks he very well could be the back-up for A-Ram.
K Hill is doing well and and may have the slight edge right now to back up Soto, he’s certainly hitting better than Bako this spring .414 to .208. The pitchers like him and defensively it’s probably a wash between the two. Maybe Hill’s hand injury has helped him focus on his hitting because he seems more comfortable at the plate this spring.
Gathright is what Lou wanted “more speed”, he has impressed me many times this spring with stellar defensive plays in the outfield…I think he sticks because of his wheels and defense.
cubsAZ.com - March 19, 2009
Thanks for the word about Hill.
If the pitchers like him and his defense is Bako’s equal, I say the job is his.
Al Yellon - March 19, 2009
Soriano is a great hitter
and a better fielder than people give him credit for.
nbt - March 18, 2009
A little late to the party, but...
Soriano is a streaky hitter. When on, there is nobody better. He is not a good fielder, but is not the worst left fielder in baseball by any stretch. Therefore, I agree, he is better than most give credit for.
N Oakley - March 19, 2009
Cubs have definite concerns
All teams have worries. That said, there are several items that are troubling.
1. The bullpen — Get past Marmol and Gregg and there is nobody I feel good about.
2. The middle infield — A team that likes to think it is among the best in baseball and has a payroll well over $100 million should not have Theriot, Fontenot and Miles as its shortstop and 2nd base options. A collection of middle infielders like that is something you might see in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.
3. Derrek Lee — Nuff said already on this one.
4. The bench — Who backs up 3rd, shortstop and 1st? No infield defensive whiz on the bench? Not a good thing by any stretch.
5. Alfonso Soriano is still leading off — I guess two seasons of extreme hot and cold cycles punctuated by disapperance in the playoffs wasn’t enough for Hendry and Sweet Lou to find means to move Soriano to the middle of the lineup.
6. Kosuke — Until proven otherwise I am not convinced he can hit major league pitching. Meaning we may see a lot of Johnson and Gathright.
BLou - March 18, 2009
I have two worries
1. Getting to the playoffs and winning.
2. See worry one.
Employee22 - March 18, 2009
DeRosa with a homer and a couple ribbies tonight. Yet another reason we should not have gotten rid of the man.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
I assume you're going to keep giving us all the DeRosa updates throughout the season...
and remind us over and over again what a mistake trading his was?
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
his = him
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
You're glad they traded him away?
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
What difference does it make how we FEEL about it?
It’s time to move on.
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
I knew it. You're a robot.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Beep Boop Borrp....
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
Then why don't you stop posting all your LAME...
…sarcastic jabs, Isn’t it about time you post one of your LAME pics?
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
bite your tongue!
cubsonWGN4ever - March 18, 2009
I didn't speak -- I typed
dtpollitt was just posting updates — he shouldn’t be mocked
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
Is he your boyfriend or something? Why are you so upset at me giving him a hard time?
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
How do you know I'm not his girlfriend?
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
This is going to take a turn for the funny in about 30 seconds...
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Let's not put Dan on a pedestal just yet calicubfan...
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
Why are we capitalizing LAME?
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
I dunno. I just did
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
Brian Roberts
2-3 tonight, 2 R, 1 BB
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
We really should have never traded HIM.
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
Dome batting 7th for Japan.
Let’s see how awesome he does tonight.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
In his second AB...
…Dome runs a 5 pitch AB into a walk. High leverage situatin iwth Japan already up 2-0 and a man on 2B.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Balk by Cuban pitcher. Seems to be a bit tense!
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Glad to see Mark finally bought himself a baseball team...
ballhawk - March 18, 2009
What? We traded his was too??? Damn you all to hell, Hendry....
ballhawk - March 18, 2009
Team USA's bullpen
shockingly bad… who came up with this?
dmlichte - March 18, 2009
LaTroy (Boom Boom) Hawkins
Team Venezulea ran to the bat rack
Employee22 - March 18, 2009
Hasn't Adam Dunn looked great @ 1st tonight?
calicubfan - March 18, 2009
i was just about to ask that same thing
Cubbie-Tim - March 18, 2009
Lumberjacks belong in the outfield, where they can be hidden in the corners.
I didn’t want Dunn to take away from our Gold Glove 1B. I wanted him in the corner, to run amok and silly @ Wrigley Field sunshine, not play first. He did walk twice tonight though.
dtpollitt - March 18, 2009
Announcers for the Cuba-Japan game
Just mentioned Zambrano, calling him “boisterous”.
cubsonWGN4ever - March 18, 2009
Petco almost looks as full as a regular season Padres game...
there’s literally hundreds of people there!
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
They're having a hell of a lot more fun at this game than a SD game
Thundersticks!!!
cubsonWGN4ever - March 18, 2009
If a misguided person EVER brings a thunderstick
to Wrigley, please THROW them out!
cowsarecool220 - March 19, 2009
That fog is twice as thick at my house right now...I can't even see across the street.
santoswoodenlegs - March 18, 2009
WAIT A MINNIT
Are you across the street from me or something? Because it’s foggy as hell right now.
JodyDavis - March 19, 2009
Never mind
You sent that a long time ago, I just sussed out the AM/PM (without a hot dog being involved for once.)
JodyDavis - March 19, 2009
What's wrong with guess hitting?
That seems to be the implication – that “the hack” is a guess hitter, which is bad. I can think of two well known guess hitters, Ted Williams and Tony Gwynn. Both firmly believed not guessing was a big mistake.
Harry Pavlidis - March 19, 2009
I guess your right.
santoswoodenlegs - March 19, 2009
There's nothing wrong with it...
… except according to one poster on this site.
Al Yellon - March 19, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.