Bleed Cubbie Blue

Lou

is that you? Bradley to sit again

wild bill - April 21, 2009 reply

I now look forward to Harden's starts for 2 reasons:

1) He’s nasty on the mount
2) That picture gets better every time

Schwa - April 21, 2009 reply

is it wise for lou to use

harden in this weather?

Tangled Up In Blue - April 21, 2009 reply

Guess you could look at it one or two ways...

1. Good game to start him because the bullpen is rested after the off day yesterday.
2. Not a good idea to start him as the weather will be a factor, and the bullpen has a greater possiblity to get taxed going into a stretch of 20 games in 20 days.

We shall see…

Harden likes to pitch in cool weather - reminds him of home.

He’s said this on at least a couple occasions.

Tangled Up In Blue - April 21, 2009 reply

Good Point.

Is the field conditions more of a concern on a night like this? Follow through foot placement, etc.?

Shoot

the guy from Canada.

wild bill - April 21, 2009 reply

He looks like the California punks in my neighborhood in that shot, with the gangsta lean...

Jimmyeatworld - April 21, 2009 reply

You might say his pitching is like a sermon.

He looks mentally challenged..........

in that pic

Clutche - April 21, 2009 reply

Per Gordo, Bradley is NOT playing tonight.

He gives the lineup as:

sori, fuky (8), lee, hoff (9), rami, font, soto, riot, harden.

And I REALLY wish he’d stop calling Kosuke “fuky.”

I think thats what the team calls him

I’ve seen Theriot quoted as calling him that.

Regardless, Twitter harkens the end of modern civilization.

The mans a journalist, he shouldn’t be tweeting the Cubs lineup with stupid assigned nicknames. If you want to do that, join the ranks of posters here.

Orval Overall - April 21, 2009 reply

Well that is the beauty of twitter

Some like it, some don’t

You shouldn't talk about yourself like that, Orval!

I have reherasal tonight and I won't be around for this one, but I'm not worried because Aramis is MONEY.

The most awesome curency I have ever seen

Walker71421 - April 21, 2009 reply

It's all about the Aramis's, baby!

Added you on Twitter

Just wanted to say great stuff so far. Looking forward to actual in-game stuff. If the team ever plays again.

camnorris14 - April 21, 2009 reply

Hey, thanks!

I probably won’t get to too much in-game stuff today, but I’ll try to drop in some thoughts here and there.

SWL: why would you have to reherse anything?

great art work on the 1000, though that is known as a “K”, as in $10K = $10,000.

But we’ll take a K (or two) with a game winning homer like he had on Saturday, any time!

LAcarl519 - April 21, 2009 reply

I'm in a 2 act comedy for a dessert playhouse...

and yes I do need to reherse…but I’m not sure if I’ve ever “hersed” in the first place.

I think you "hearse" in the last place, not the first...

ballhawk - April 21, 2009 reply

How in the world can I ever re-hearse if I can't hearse first? Is this like cognizing?

the afterlife my friend, the afterlife...

ballhawk - April 21, 2009 reply

Lets get it Cubs

It seems like its been forever since the Cubs have played

If they don't play tonight...

I’m going to lose my mind. It’s been two days and I’m already going stir-crazy. We just went through the offseason, I don’t need another one.

camnorris14 - April 21, 2009 reply

I wouldn't mind if the next offseason was preceeded by an Aramis Ramirez walkoff HR.

That would probably be an okay thing

Well long breaks from games

Lead to Peavy posts. Yuck.

yeah this break has been awful, worse than the ASG break

heine41 - April 21, 2009 reply

Slightly OT: Bleacher Ivy

This has nothing to do with the game but I’ve been curious about it so I figured someone else must be too. I thought I remember the plans for the bleacher renovations involving the team growing ivy on the new brick exterior walls. I even remember some shoots springing up a while back behind a pretty pathetic steel cable barrier.

When I was there for Opening Day along the Waveland side the little trench of dirt was totally obliterated with trash and I would think combining the inherent nature of some of the visitors to Wrigley it would be very difficult to actually coax anything to grow out of there.

Does anyone know what I’m talking about or am I crazy? Also, if I’m not…are they still trying to grow the new ivy?

CubFan81 - April 21, 2009 reply

Yeah

They did try to grow ivy on the new exterior brick wall, however, is hardly grew at all from a combination of little sunlight and getting messed up by the bleacher line as well as people coming to steal some. Accordingly, they put the plan on hold, saying they may revisit it as some point in the future if I remember correctly. I personally think it will never be revisited.

Mutz - April 21, 2009 reply

I remember that too.

A couple years ago I took a picture of my husband standing by it thinking that it would be cool to show people someday when it was all covered with ivy how we were there way back when it was first planted. We noticed it was gone last year and figured that maybe people were taking it as "souvenirs"so they couldn’t get it to grow.

katie casey - April 21, 2009 reply

looks like the showers are leaving

chance of precip now at 20%

FML

hiphopgamer26 - April 21, 2009 reply

why FML?

We get to see the Cubs play!

GO CUBS GO!!!

YAY, Baseball is back..that was long two days. I hope you guys don’t get rained on tonight…I’ll be working tonight, but hopefully I’ll get to watch most of the game still. GO CUBS GO!!!

KC in OK - April 21, 2009 reply

Harden

That team head shot of Harden makes it look like he’s got major shoulder trouble. Disturbing.

coral - April 21, 2009 reply

or he is Rain Man

Cubbie-Tim - April 21, 2009 reply

I'm kinda hoping

Z doesn’t have the LASIK. It is more prone to complications than PRK. LASIK actually uses a blade in the surgery and has a longer recovery time and infection chance is greater. If he can—and he should be able to if I was able to get it through the military—he should opt of PRK. Its purely laser surgery—about 5-10 seconds on each eye and should be fine within the regular pitching rotation. I loved my surgery—no more worry about contact gunk. This is a completely unsponsored PSA for PRK laser surgery. And I agree, the team absolutely must get a better picture for Harden. He looks physically inept in that picture.

snowyman28 - April 21, 2009 reply

looks like some type of Palsy

coral - April 21, 2009 reply

As a Reds fan I think the Reds should allow Owings to pitch

his ERA in inflated by last season when he was pitching with a sore shoulder. Plus his offensive numbers may be a product of a small sample size. Who knows if it transfers to 600 at bats in a season. He will never be an ace, but he can be a solid mid rotation guy, who can put up league average numbers. Lets face it there is a premium placed on league average pitchers.

justin007000 - April 21, 2009 reply

giggle

I would have totally missed that one :)

Madison Cub Fan - April 21, 2009 reply

His sig line makes the whole thing work.

NO

worries about the weather. Skillethead has said rain will not be a factor. Play ball!

wild bill - April 21, 2009 reply

Yeah looking at the radar

This stuff is going to clear out and we are going to play baseball!

we all miss baseball

but i would just as soon have the cubs take the night off. too cold….

-500 BCB Points.

counter with +600 BCB points

hiphopgamer26 - April 21, 2009 reply

too cold?

These are grown ass men. They can put on the long sleeves and play.

My words exactly.

Unique - April 21, 2009 reply

i'm worried about

injuries, not comfort. it is not worth the risk…

I guess they should just miss the playoffs too...

it can get kinda cold in October.

that's different

How is that different?

Jimmyeatworld - April 21, 2009 reply

you save your players

for the run up to & the playoffs themselves.

I totally understand your concerns about injuried...

… but you’re not making any sense.

Jimmyeatworld - April 21, 2009 reply

You have to make the playoffs first...

which entails winning a bunch of baseball games, some of which must be played under non-ideal weather conditions….like tonight.

well i guess if it is not raining

the game will be played; even if it 15 degrees. but my concern about injuries is valid, imo

you don't think Lou/MLB considers things like this?

i don't know

seems like business as usual w/the pitching choice, line-up, etc…

How many player do you know of that have gotten hurt because of cold?

brian bannister

comes to mind right away

OK...so we've got one. At least that's a start.

many hammies & groins

get pulled in cold weather. those are the most common cold-weather injuries i can think of..

So what temprature range is acceptable to play baseball in?

Can it be too hot?

i would say

55 to 90 is about right

and they should just cancel the game if the weather is outside that range?

if it is not raining/snowing

i guess they can’t; but i would make major changes to the lineup.

except in the playoffs

Like bat the pitcher 8th and move Lee to the 5th spot?

maybe just use

younger players or utility/bench players. again, depending on what is at stake in the game.

I think you’re on to something. I mean, with Micah, Joey, Aaron, and Cotts all starting, I think we could win six, seven games a year.

ok

you guys win

Look, it's just that guy are going to get hurt...

you can’t predict who and when or how, and baseball games get played all the time in cold weather. It’s not ideal, but it happens very frequently. Some of the most important games every year are played in cold weather (playoff games). I could understand make earlier substitutions to get your stars out of the game a bit earlier during really cold weather, but rearranging your lineup with bench players just because of cold is borderline idiocy.

gotcha

Well similiar

there was a recent game where Farve said it was the coldest he ever was and pretty much checked out of a recent Bears game at Soldier Field.

Michael Vick couldnt do anything in the cold at Soldier Field. Im near Wrigley now and they can play in this weather.

he said he felt colder than the NFC game in GB

I was at the NFC game and ended up nasty frostbite
so the fact he thought it was colder I can’t imagine how cold it must have been

Madison Cub Fan - April 21, 2009 reply

no it's not.

and now I understand what happened the past two Octobers

too cold

OWINGS

LIGHT EM UP!

Yeah!

Good to see you Hammer.

New condo and internet hooked up just now!

Congrats!

And way to do your part to re-energize the housing market.

Thanks

we are pretty happy. Nice to have a dishwasher and more etc.

First time owner – very stressful experience. I have a rooftop where Im building a deck and I can see the back Chicago Cubs sign off the bleachers and the roof and lights of Wrigley

How very cool

And you’re a brave man for paying Chicago property taxes.

youre telling me!

…at closing I found out about many scary fees.

It will be worth it one day! That day is today

Im out all – GO CUBS.

alright!

Two things.

1. Is that really the picture of Harden that you’re gonna use all year, Al? Surely there’s a better option!

2. Re: Hoffpauir. I was at the game this past Saturday, and watched him at times. He walks very strangely. Also, he has some really weird routines he does out there. Like, random points towards the infield, chest pumps, etc. Anyone else catch those?

kanderber - April 21, 2009 reply

Sammy Hoffpauir?

Clutche - April 21, 2009 reply

YML

lexmarklover - April 21, 2009 reply

Owings isn't a strikeout pitcher

That might help us. In this weather put the ball in play and maybe they pull a hammy going after the ball.

I suck

I looked everywhere, but I can’t find the Wrigley webcam (not the Cubsword one, the one of the playing field that can be moved around and such).

Can someone kindly link me?

paulucla - April 21, 2009 reply

Here

Link

http://tinyurl.com/cuszkn

chilango..

hiphopgamer26 - April 21, 2009 reply

Thanks!

I really need some of those.

http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam

this is the one i watch

Seriously, I need to watch a Cubs game

Chanman25 - April 21, 2009 reply

DaVinci's Inquest of Videos @ 7 pm!! I CAN'T WAIT!!

Owings

He certainly got off to a nice start in his career, pitching over 150 innings in 2007 with a 4.30 ERA. At that time people really expected him to be a major part of the Dbacks rotation, along with Webb and that was a great rookie season for any starter. I imagine the Reds will give him every opportunity in the world to remain a starter but its entirely possible that if he does not progress, everyone involved may find it best to convert him into a position player.

A sidenote on Owings is that he was initially drafted by the Cubs in the 19th round of the 2004 draft. In that same draft they grabbed Eric Patterson and hoped that by paying them both hefty sums of money that they could steal two guys who fell in the draft because of questions of signability. Patterson was signed but not Owings, who would be drafted the next year in the 3rd round by the Dbacks. Colorado drafted him out of HS, in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft.

dmlichte - April 21, 2009 reply

Tweet from Gordo

Cubs just announced 7:15 expected start time, 10 min late. Tarp coming off field.

Good things

If this game doesn't get in tonight...

…I’m gonna flip. I’ll have to resort to Royals games, doing homework, and Rescue Me.

How's that thesis going?

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

4 year PhD program. Almost done with year 2.

Thats a perfect doctoral thesis title.

It appears we are going to play

The baseball gods would never make us suffer through another day of Jake Peavy speculation and no Cubs baseball.

Really need this game tonight.

After yesterdays bulls game and the lack of cubs games i need this. I have a 4 hour class till 10 so ill be following online but it’ll do.

Rudey - April 21, 2009 reply

pounded out 16 pages of homework last night and this morning

so i can watch tonight and make it to St. Louis on Friday and Saturday…gonna be a great week!

kodypuckett23 - April 21, 2009 reply

Did someone tell you to go pound homework?

best post of the day

Madison Cub Fan - April 21, 2009 reply

...well 'stuffed' 16 pages didnt work, so i went with 'pound'

kodypuckett23 - April 21, 2009 reply

Be carefull with that homework

It’s not like it’s sand.

chitownhawkeye - April 21, 2009 reply

I NEED BASEBALL!

SATE ME! SATE ME! SAAAAAATE MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Take these and call me in the morning.

I don't like Maryland.

i do now

BradB311 - April 21, 2009 reply

I never even noticed what was written on the fabric.

How could anyone?

zevkalman - April 21, 2009 reply

Can you find me a Badger?

TWSS

Badgers? BADGERS?

We don’t need no stinking badgers!

I'll take 'em

but I’ll be busy in the morning.

I'm gonna eat crow now

I went on the record here saying I liked Judd Sirott, and suggested that the haters gave him a chance.

Oh boy, was I wrong. He’s interviewing A-Ram right now, and he sounds like he belongs on the low-end of the dial in Maquoketa, IA, doing a bad crop report. Not to mention his constant gaffes during the scoreboard checks and his call.

So, I fullheartedly take back anything good that I might’ve said about him, and join the legions of his detractors.