Ted Lilly has been the most consistent starter the Cubs have had so far this year -- despite getting hit hard in two of his five starts. Today, he became the first Cub starter of 2009 to pitch into (and finish) the eighth inning -- and you could have made an argument for him to finish, since he threw "only" 104 pitches (76 strikes). With plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth, one of the better ball & strike umpires, calling a very good and consistent game, Lilly struck out ten, walked none, and capped his great afternoon with a two-run double off the wall in right-center field after the Marlins had intentionally walked the dangerous Aaron Miles to pitch to him.
Aaron Heilman finished the game with a flourish by striking out the side in the ninth, and the Cubs won a game 2008-style, 6-1 over the Marlins. What do I mean by "2008-style"? Last year, the Cubs specialized in being patient (they drew five walks today), didn't just rely on the home run (they had two today, but also nine other hits), everyone contributed, and when regulars were out of the lineup, the subs stepped up and had good days (Micah Hoffpauir, subbing again in RF for Milton Bradley, had two hits, a walk, and a diving catch in right field. I think he's even opened his eyes since he caught that ball).
Meanwhile, Ryan Theriot started off the day like he wanted to go cycling, homering in the first inning (in his second straight at-bat) and tripling off the right-field wall in the second. He wound up 2-for-5, and the three extra-base hits in a row gives him seven for the season. That may not seem like a lot of XBH, but he had only 24 (19 doubles, 4 triples and a HR) all of 2008. If he could have 35 or 40 XBH this year and maybe push that SLG over .400 (it sits at .457 after today's outburst), he'd be a much more useful offensive player.
Derrek Lee looked bad three times at the plate, striking out swinging, but on his other time up he hit a home run that landed on the other side of Waveland right in front of the house on the northeast corner of Waveland & Kenmore that now bears that casino ad on the roof. In the ballpark it was announced at 415 feet, but I'd guess it was closer to 450. BCB's Ballhawk, who stood on Waveland wearing his Cubs cap (keep it on, Ken, it's working) during BP, was nowhere to be seen as the ball bounced into the fenced-in yard of the house. Watching D-Lee closely today, it struck me that his entire batting stance looks different -- far more upright than usual, which might be a result of the chronic neck and back trouble he is having. The homer today was nice, and it simply put an exclamation point on a nicely executed win -- but I still think Lee probably ought to be DL'd, rather than try to grit his way through this injury, and get himself right.
Oddity: the game came within one play -- a fifth-inning grounder back to Lilly by Cameron Maybin (who had beaten out a similar grounder for the game's first hit in the third) -- of being the 10th game in major league history where one team had no assists. You'd think that would be more common, but that means no groundouts, no caught stealings, no runners thrown out on the bases. You need, in general, a flyball pitcher (which Lilly is) who gets a lot of strikeouts (which Lilly did).
It was, as Lou the Weather Forecaster said in his postgame remarks, a beautiful spring day for baseball -- 65 degrees, with, for a fairly rare occurrence this time of year in Chicago, the wind not blowing off the lake. The west wind clocked at game time at 12 MPH occasionally gusted higher, but none of the three homers (including the solo shot by the Marlins' Cody Ross) was wind-aided today. A few puffy cumulus clouds scudding on by cooled things off from time to time, but the baseball played by the Cubs was as beautiful as the weather. Jared Light, who runs the SBN University of Oregon site Addicted To Quack and who now lives and works in Chicago and has become a Cubs fan, stopped by to say hi this afternoon, as did a couple of other BCB readers. You saw what we hope we'll see going forward this season -- onward to tomorrow, let's win another series.
0 recs | 91 comments
First time first!
Nice win today!
plenz - May 2, 2009
TED ROCKS
Great game but whatever Theriot is eating should be fed to everyone.
FYI more pictures of Ted for the LADIES on the blog would be appreciated.
Doggie Stalker - May 2, 2009
Geez.
You got one in the preview thread and one in the recap. I can only post one per thread.
Al Yellon - May 2, 2009
I meant generally
Too much cheesecake and not enough Ted etc.
Doggie Stalker - May 2, 2009
Yum. Cheesecake!
Al Yellon - May 2, 2009
Much better than
beefcake
LT - May 2, 2009
Only to a guy
Actually I don’t like beefcake, I like smaller cuter cake, perhaps for the Cubs it should be strawberry shortcake
Doggie Stalker - May 2, 2009
Ask and you shall receive.
As long as it’s not DARRYL strawberry shortcake.
Al Yellon - May 2, 2009
You got it!
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
lol
sue369 - May 2, 2009
Yep, I was nowhere to be seen...
…unless you happened to be looking out onto Sheffield where I was waiting for Hoffpauir to come up. With Dome swinging a hot bat, Hoff’s power, and LBR’s recent HR barrage, I figured it wasn’t worth running back over to Waveland for Lee. Obviously figured wrong. Curse you Lou and your L R L batting orders… ;-)
What’s really funny is this morning I read vivaelpujols’ excellent “Detailed statistical analysis of Derrek Lee” FanPost which convinced me even more that I was far better off playing the lefties on Sheffield than worrying about Lee going yard on Waveland. Which he did – literally. Ball landed on Waveland and took a big bounce into the back yard of the ex-Budweiser house. Hit a picnic table in the yard and some guy sitting there got it.
Moral of the story? Get in shape, ballhawk. Get in shape…
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
Maybe Maddux will take BP tomorrow
for old times sake and you can catch me one of his ( he did actually hit one now and again in BP ).
Doggie Stalker - May 2, 2009
100 push ups and 4 miles on the treadmill for you, old man!
Emelie - May 2, 2009
No mention of Lilly's two-run double?
DTJchris - May 2, 2009
I'm an idiot
DTJchris - May 2, 2009
You said it first
Doggie Stalker - May 2, 2009
Agreed?
+1?
dtpollitt - May 2, 2009
Agreed?
+1?
dtpollitt - May 2, 2009
Hey!
DTJchris - May 2, 2009
Woo-hoo! I win!
dtpollitt - May 3, 2009
Great game
and the game threads were so enjoyable too.
So happy that DLee hit a homer and whatever has gotten into Theriot I hope he shares with the rest of the team. Maybe it was a wakeup call for this team on Thurs. ngiht when many of their fans were in the concourse watching and cheering on the Bulls.
May seems to be good to the team so far. Hope it continues.
sue369 - May 2, 2009
they said Lou talked to him about his approach
to stop trying for singles, and to put some umph into it
sounds a lot like Jim Freys talk to Ryno in 84
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
If Theriot could do half of what Ryno did in '84 (and beyond)
I’d be ecstatic.
Bill Potter - May 2, 2009
I am not expecting the same results
but it is either ironic or a coincidence
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
a little of both, I'd imagine
It does add to Theriot’s versatility – defenses can’t play him to hit the other way all the time, which is good.
Bill Potter - May 3, 2009
Enjoyable? Really?
I’m sad I missed the entire game…oh well! Tomorrow on the SuperStation!
Dan
dtpollitt - May 2, 2009
I won't be
around for that game. You cheer them on for me.
sue369 - May 2, 2009
Damnit, sue.
We need ya.
dtpollitt - May 3, 2009
Let's let the good day for Chicago continue
With Bulls and Hawks wins. Good news with Rammy, Len said he could be back tommarow.
wrigleyrocker12 - May 2, 2009
That'd be nice.
Al Yellon - May 2, 2009
Strikes me as odd
that someone with no medical training who has never examined Derek Lee assumes they know better than a doctor who has examined him.
TXCub - May 2, 2009
I make no assumptions.
I simply made an observation and expressed an opinion. You’re free to disagree with me.
Al Yellon - May 2, 2009
I actually thought the same thing today
Watching him at the plate, he seemed like there was something different, not sure if something was wrong/painful causing it, or he is just changing his stance a little.
jkobus - May 2, 2009
or changing cuz of pain/discomfort
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
yawn
LT - May 2, 2009
intenitonal walk
The Marlins intentionally walked Fuku to get to Derrick Lee. That right there is a sign that the word is out that Lee is either not 100% or isn’t near the player he used to be. Hopefully he is just hurt. We have Hoff who can fill in. Missing Lee wouldn’t be the disaster like in 06.
jeff_pico - May 2, 2009
Tomorrow
Anyone looking forward to tomorrow’s festivities more than anything they have looked forward to besides playoff games?
puckishcubsfan - May 2, 2009
Actually yes and no
One of my friends recently told me she will be at the game and gets to go on the field before the game/festivities and is sitting right behind the cubs bullpen for the game, so I got real sad that I wont be doing that.
jkobus - May 2, 2009
Great win today!
Not much more to say about that! :-)
Fonzie2178 - May 2, 2009
OT
The derby is about to start. Get out your Mint Julips…
LT - May 2, 2009
oh man, what I wouldn't give to see someone like...
…Larry the Cable Guy and a bunch of his redneck pals, crash the Derby party at Churchill Downs, complete with flannel shirts, trucker foam hats, and a cooler of Old Style.
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
lol
LT - May 2, 2009
trying to find a horse with a Cub-related name to cheer for but no luck
Best I can come up with is:
West Side Bernie — “Bernie’s”
Mr. Hot Stuff – TLR or Soto (for the ladies)
Hold Me Back – Bradley
General Quarters – General Patton
Nowhere to Hide – the entire bullpen…
Guess I’ll go with Hold Me Back
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
Hope he's a mudder lol
LT - May 2, 2009
yep
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
classic
LT - May 2, 2009
what the hell is "the slob"
other than ……you………i guess
I kid because I care.
Gibbon Jockey - May 3, 2009
Just started.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
Mine that Bird
50:1 wow
LT - May 2, 2009
Derby results:
Win: Mine That Bird
Place: Pioneer of the Nile
Show: Musket Man
Mine That Bird put on ONE HECK of a move along the rail in the final straight.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
yep, he barely squeezed through. thought for sure there'd be some sort of crash, spinout or whatever it is that horses do.
ballhawk - May 2, 2009
I thought so too.
He made it through, and it was pretty much over.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
His mother was a mudder
LT - May 2, 2009
they fly
up into the wall and spray “spare parts” into the fans.
drewishdrewid - May 2, 2009
that horse was so money
Gibbon Jockey - May 3, 2009
What Were the Cubs thinking?...
Jason Marquis has been great
Shifty1 - May 2, 2009
Oh, boy ...
Not Bruce Froemming - May 2, 2009
Salary room?
and if he continues to throw this consistently Ill be fully surprised. He always had flashes of skill.
jkobus - May 2, 2009
Start a post about it!
dtpollitt - May 2, 2009
they were thinking
we need to dump this huge salary, and we got this guy Marshall. Sean Marshall? You might remember him. He pitched a great game into the seventh inning, something like three-hit ball, with a shutout. Then the pen blew it, but still…
drewishdrewid - May 2, 2009
they also were thinking how CUb fans (majority)
would not stop bitching about him, and booing him (in a Cubs uniform)
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
maybe
I doubt it figured into the process much. After all, they signed Gregg.
drewishdrewid - May 2, 2009
with us moving players around the system
and the draft coming soon,
oughtn’t we decide on our 2 PTBNL?
tim815 - May 2, 2009
Bulls game is about to start.
GO BULLS!
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
come on Bulls
46-38 Celtics
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
Marlins win
What a celebration for Cubs fans yesterday and today! Finally, the team looks like my Cubs! They are playing as a team, the chemistry seems to be back, and Theriot is on fire and getting some much deserved credit! Theriot is consistent and gives 100% every game. Watching these last two games has even shut me up about losing DeRosa! Way to go guys and keep it up!!!!!
cubbynurse - May 2, 2009
Like I said
yesterday may have been the day we’ll look back at and say “that’s when the 2009 Cubs turned it around!”
I caught part of the game on radio, and the last inning on TV. It looked like the Cubbies of last year.
Awesomesauce.
drewishdrewid - May 2, 2009
Awesomesauce
is that served here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42hk7chbk8o
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
now I want nachos.
drewishdrewid - May 2, 2009
LMAO
5 different nachos?
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
Winning Streak-O-Meter
is at 2 and counting. ledge jumpers hurry jump back in the cubbie world series wagon while you still can!!!!!!
My Cubbies are the 2009 World Series Champs!!!!!
cubsluver22 - May 2, 2009
Bulls are out
They lost to the Celtics and the refs. Blackhawks are winning in Vancouver, 5-2.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
General Motors to sell GM Place in Vancouver for a bag of pucks
Employee22 - May 2, 2009
Hawks win, 6-3
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 2, 2009
series tied 1-1 heading back to Madison Street, I feel good about this one
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
Well at least the Hawks won, and at least the Bulls had one hell of a season
meh, and how bored am I? I’m going to be unable to make it to Chicago this summer but next summer after I graduate, I am taking a huge trip with a couple friends to Chitown, and I am looking at potential sites for THAT trip!
Sigh I guess I am nostalgic about my last Chicago trip…
Chanman25 - May 2, 2009
I ahve tickets to a game, and I wont be able to go to it (AUGH!!!)
some friends from Sweeden, Hawaii, Canada (amongst other places) are coming into town the same weekend for a Roller Derby invitational tournament. I might nee to bribe someone to text me inning by inning updates Satuirday and Sunday (June 20-21 vs Cleveland)
Cubbie-Tim - May 2, 2009
hah! I wanted to go to that series, but I think I'm going to make a Boston trip this season instead with my pap
I always hate seeing the outcome of games I could have been to but just couldn’t find a way to get there..
Chanman25 - May 2, 2009
How 'good'...
…was Hoffpauir’s diving catch?
EJThunder - May 3, 2009
good?
I think it looked pretty clumsy but glad he made it.
jeff_pico - May 3, 2009
not good enuff
to get a craptastic DLee to take a seat while Hoff plays first and rips the cover off the ball.
Gibbon Jockey - May 3, 2009
"Clammy Sosa"
I’m watching Baystars-Dragons game in Yokohama on TV right now, but a yucky creature called Clammy Sosa is visiting the game, ate a human and stripped his clothing… is this Cubs stuff? The other side of Sammy Sosa??
dragonsfanatic - May 3, 2009
and here’s some information on Baystars website….
dragonsfanatic - May 3, 2009
Clammy Sosa
is one of the Zooperstars. They tour minor league stadiums in the US with about a dozen costumed characters. Last year they were on the show “America’s Got Talent” and perhaps that has added to their international appeal. I find it interesting that they get approval from MLB for offical logos and such.
cubzfan - May 3, 2009
Looks from their website...
… that they take famous US athletes and make them in to somewhat absurd cartoons:
It doesn’t look like they particularly play off any one aspect of the athlete’s history or personalty, and are rather naming them base one rhyme (“Yao FlaMINGo”). I"m honestly surprised Sammy got mixed in to this, as the rest of the players (with the exception of the now equally irrelevant – save for the arguably more harsh ‘roid revelations – Mark McGwire) don’t seem to be as relevant or current.
AndrewJStone - May 3, 2009
Thanks for info
Ichiro’s infield basehits are actually called “cockroach hit” here in Japan…. It is so quick and unpredictable where to go… Especially in Okinawa (tropic island) they are so big, fly and jack up people…
dragonsfanatic - May 3, 2009
Oh, wait..
Did you say no walks?
Clutch16 - May 3, 2009
Yes.
Why?
Al Yellon - May 3, 2009
No walks,
And Cubs pitching struck out 13 Florida batters.
Vermont Cubs Fan - May 3, 2009
Speaking of Sammy Sosa...
I think today might be an early indication of whether or not the Cubs plan to retire #21 in the foreseeable future. Seeing as how 31 is being retired today for two Cubs, Fergie and Maddux, it’s been a running discussion point on whether the Cubs will raise one flag or two.
If they raise one 31 – especially if it’s on the left field flag pole – that tells me the Cubs are keeping their option open for retiring 21 someday where obviously it’d on the right field pole. If they raise two 31s – one on each pole – then I think Sammy’s toast.
ballhawk - May 3, 2009
That might depend on whether any other numbers will be retired
Any recent or current Cub players who might have a shot? Zambrano, maybe, if he gets a little better than he’s been? He could yet spend his whole career with the team.
cubzfan - May 3, 2009
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