In the bottom of the eighth, after Milton Bradley had struck out with two runners on base, I was sitting in the bleachers thinking gloomy thoughts along the lines of, "What on Earth can I write recapping this disaster?", when Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto suddenly brought life to the blue-shirted portion of today's sellout of 40,467 by slamming back-to-back homers, Lee's into the basket in right, Soto's deep to left-center. It was the Cubs' first multi-homer game since a 7-1 win over the Reds in Cincinnati on June 7, in which Ryan Theriot and Alfonso Soriano homered.
That tied a game that it appeared Carlos Marmol had put out of reach in favor of the White Sox in the top of the eighth by allowing the White Sox three solid hits and two runs. That's only the fourth time all year (in 33 appearances) that Marmol had to be lifted before an inning was over. I'm getting a little worried about him. Fortunately, Sean Marshall put out the fire (after walking Josh Fields) and Kevin Gregg threw a scoreless inning, helped by a nice defensive stop by Theriot, keeping the score tied.
Now, tell me this: even though Soriano has been in a monster slump, why on Earth would you pitch to him with first base open in a tie game with two out in the bottom of the ninth? Theriot hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire, and walking him sets up a force play. Sox fans in the bleachers couldn't believe Ozzie actually went to the mound to discuss it and then decided to pitch to him.
Sori delivered the game-winning single to CF, capping one of the best comebacks of the year and giving the Cubs a 6-5 win over the White Sox.
It is often said about wins like this that they can energize a team and send them on a winning streak. Of course, that's only true in hindsight; perhaps we will look back months from now and say, "That was the game that started the Cubs on their playoff run." All it is, for the moment, is a well-deserved win after the first seven innings were more-of-the-same; wasted opportunties with runners in scoring position, three double plays in the first six innings, and another fine pitching performance from Carlos Zambrano seemingly consigned to the "L" column. Incidentally, if you're thinking about starting the "DP-Lee" talk again after his DP grounder today, don't; that was DP #2 for Lee this year. His production since May 17 now is .362/.439/.574 with 5 doubles, 5 HR and 15 RBI in 94 at-bats.
Z had his heavy sinker working again; in the first five innings there were eight outs recorded on ground balls. The pitch count got a little elevated later and so did his pitches, one of which was driven into the LF bleachers by Alexei Ramirez for a two-run homer after Z's pitch count was already over 110. Lou had Aaron Heilman up in that inning, but apparently thought Z could get Ramirez after the second out was recorded.
I still think a major move needs to be made to pump up this offense; Aaron Miles, who did not start today but came into the game on a double switch in the 9th, grounded out with a chance to win the game and really should just be released. I'd still be in favor of getting Mark DeRosa back. Maybe the Tribe could just leave him here after the weekend. I don't mean to start the back-and-forth firestorm about DeRo again, but since he'll be in town...
In any case, the Cubs will have their hands full with Cliff Lee tomorrow; Lee nearly no-hit the Cardinals last Sunday, and we don't want any of that going on.
Finally, I received multiple emails about nastiness in the game threads today. I don't know how many times I need to play hall monitor and scold you, but the rules of this site are clear. Be passionate about baseball and the Cubs, but be nice to each other. If someone's bothering you, walk away. Thanks for your help in keeping this place an enjoyable place to be for everyone.
And now let's start a long winning streak!
0 recs | 478 comments
AMEN!
Chodes - June 18, 2009
Regarding this graph:
I believe that’s a perfect example of Guillén’s narcissism and stubbornness. That move epitomizes his petulance, and I’m happy it came back to bite him in the ass.
chilango2 - June 18, 2009
I agree to a certain extent.
Not sure about the narcissism part, but I’d guess Ozzie pitched to Soriano because he believed Alfonso would strike out to end the game and, in doing so, take the Cubs and their fans to a new low. Didn’t happen.
daver - June 18, 2009
Except that it wouldn't have ended the game.
Just prolonged it.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
It's still not as bad as pitching to Chipper Jones with 1B open in a game winning/losing situation, IMHO.
DMCub - June 18, 2009
Agree, that one was really bad.
But it’s past.
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
Frankly....
…the way Soriano has been going, I think Theriot would have had a better chance to get a base hit to win the game. I would have done the same thing.
MPH73 - June 18, 2009
Agree fully.
Theriot is more of a contact guy, unlike Soriano who could get the Sox out of the inning with three of his patented whiffs. It didn’t turn out right for Ozzie, but I support the strategy.
tville - June 19, 2009
If Soriano was hot...
…it’s a different story, but he has been ice cold.
If your concern was giving up a homer, you walk him, but if your main concern is a base hit, i pitch to him every time.
MPH73 - June 19, 2009
I agree,
Ozzie’s ego got in the way there. Bob and Len were speculating that Ozzie thought he could get a strike out, as opposed to Theriot who is more likely to make contact.
slocs55 - June 19, 2009
I second the notion of starting a long winning streak!
Itchy - June 18, 2009
In regards to your question of why do
you pitch to Soriano in the 9th? Brenly claimed it was because Soriano was more prone to the strike out while Theriot is more of a contact hitter.
Not sure I agree with that assessment (easy to say now, I know)….but it’s not the dumbest idea in the world either.
Neifi Puppy - June 18, 2009
Brenly does make a good point.
And he knows how a manager would think.
daver - June 18, 2009
True, but...
… the “by the book” move is to put him on.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
I think Soriano has confused everyone by being so bad for so long.
daver - June 18, 2009
think it's
strategery? :P
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
he's wiley, that Soriano.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
crazy...
like a fox!
Hilary Lee - June 18, 2009
Which is ironic, because he's blocking Jake Fox.
daver - June 18, 2009
no he's not!
Is Jake Fox a left-fielder? Jim Thome, THAT’s who’s blocking Jake Fox! :P
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Yeah, really.
Just about every DH in the AL is blocking Jake Fox.
daver - June 18, 2009
Well it's not............
……….like he crushed the game winning hit.
tville - June 19, 2009
The sun does rise in the east.
Reminds me of a line from Happy Gilmore: “Yeah, right. And Grizzly Adams had a beard.”
Heck of a win. Hopefully it is the one that we look back on come September and October.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Crap.
I meant “west”. I’ll change it.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
No worries.
I knew what you were going for.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
So did I.
Long day.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
But a good day.
Just imagine if you had to have written that “Was 2008 as good as it Getz?” recap?
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
::: groan :::
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
I just hope this momentum carries into a strong series versus Cleveland.
They’ll be coming in licking their wounds after being swept.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
This might just be the chance the Cubs' offense needs.
Apart from Cliff Lee, that pitching staff is horrendous.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
I think the Cubs have a shot against Clifton Phifer Lee.
Check out his splits this year: obviously, the numbers are still good, but he’s been ridiculous at home, decent on the road (the road numbers are also influenced from his first start this year in which he gave up 7 ER).
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Probable pitchers for Cleveland:
Friday – Cliff Lee
Saturday – Tomo Ohka (who knew he was still in baseball)
Sunday – Jeremy Sowers (a soft-tossing lefty who wants to try and be Tom Glavine, with less-than-Glavine results thus far)
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Soft lefty?
Yikes.
Allie - June 18, 2009
I was thinking
he’ll be unstoppable.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Yeah
Soft lefty they haven’t seen before…
I may not watch that game. Those ones kill me.
Allie - June 18, 2009
he's like Doug Davis.
but worse. he hasn’t learned to hit spots yet.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Maybe he can re-teach the Cubs to take walks.
daver - June 18, 2009
Seemed to work today.
Those 3 walks helped.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
The guy who pitched 7 innings and gave up 2 hits in a 10-0 win over the Cubs on 4/29?
o.0
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Yeah, that's who I'd compare him to.
But without location, and young – therefore prone to the letting the moment get to him.
(At least that’s what I’m telling myself when I see “soft-tossing lefty”)
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
alright
well, I’ll hope it goes your way. :D
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
You with all your stats and facts...
BleedsbluinMI - June 18, 2009
Man, Haren and Davis were just brutal on the Cubs.
daver - June 18, 2009
Well
Haren is awesome.
Have you seen his stats this year? He’s filthy.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Or, were the Cubs brutal on themselves?
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
I guess that's the eternal question.
daver - June 18, 2009
What if "dog" was spelled
c-a-t?
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
God would be spelled
Tac.
Good Tac. I swear to Tac. TACDAMMIT!
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Indeed.
They have made some poor pitchers look pretty good during the first two months of the year.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Haren was brutal on the Cubs
Davis … well, the Cubs actually have been about .500 against him overall. But that stadium in Phoenix is a house of horrors for the Cubs.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
That it is.
combine a wily lefty like Davis and that stadium, and it’s trouble.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
That's pretty much how I feel, too.
I recall thinking that Haren really was on that night – and he is a good pitcher. Davis just put the Cubs to sleep – they probably should’ve done more with the pitches he gave them.
daver - June 18, 2009
Agreed
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
except when z almost hit for the cycle there this year
jesus christos - June 18, 2009
I was anxious to read your recap
because I was energized after this unthinkable win. Just another game was my thought and then blast-blast and we win in the 9th. This should go a long ways to getting this team back “on”!
mrcubsfan - June 18, 2009
I was reading the game threads, but 20 minutes
behind the game.
It was amazing to see how the two HR’s followed by a win changed the team and the thread.
A big shot of optomism booster right to the tuchus.
N Oakley - June 18, 2009
or optimism.
Optomism sounds like a former stripper wtih 8 babies and bad eyesight.
N Oakley - June 18, 2009
and a pending reality show
Emelie - June 18, 2009
Eww, no talk on premature optomism.
N Oakley - June 19, 2009
It would take a while to get through the comments.
Somewhere along the way, we all (or most) got caught in Overflow 1 and forgot to leave.
Final comment tally in Overflow Thread 1: 1228 comments
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
no one
posted a jump, I think. I ended up having a meeting that ended right before the bottom of the 9th, and I figured out what had happened after the game was over. :D
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
I didn't post a jump
because I was sick of all the bitching and whining in the other thread. It was very nice in the one I was in.
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Glad I missed it
chitownhawkeye - June 18, 2009
well
I can’t argue with that.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
I blame myself.
I should’ve done it. But that thread was slowing my computer down to the point where I had to get off and I didn’t want to slog back through it to post a jump.
daver - June 18, 2009
We can all play the blame game.
I should have looked for Overflow 2, but I got caught up in the game.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
it's alright.
I’ll blame Daver too.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
They don't call me Aaron Miles for nothin'.
daver - June 18, 2009
you have to pay them?
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Royalties.
daver - June 18, 2009
bah
copyright laws.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
I blame you too
CyberCyclist - June 18, 2009
Yeah, yeah...join the club.
daver - June 18, 2009
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Hey, I hit .317 last year!
daver - June 18, 2009
we don't care about
your fantasy baseball career.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
aaron miles did help because if he beat out the throw reed would have waited to see if he needed to tag up on soris bloop
jesus christos - June 18, 2009
IADF
It’s Always Dave’s Fault
Clutch16 - June 19, 2009
the whole feeling
changed. I have my own observations as to why that is, but at right now, I don’t give a darn. :D
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
IT WAS AWESOME!
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Now I'm really bummed I missed it
Boo!
Allie - June 18, 2009
it was like
someone picked the game thread up, twirled it over their head a few times like a pizza dough, and slapped it down, just facing in the opposite direction.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Thank you. That was me paisano!
Zeke - June 18, 2009
Damn
We win when I don’t watch… :-(
Bright side, I won’t be in town this weekend so maybe it’ll work out?
Allie - June 18, 2009
At least you can watch.
I don’t get WGN on my Dish Network, so very few Cubs games. This makes me actually look forward to when they are on FOX or ESPN. Cubs on those networks will make me watch.
P.S.: I’m working this weekend … urgh.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
I get WGN local
but I don’t have CSN or any of the others.
Allie - June 18, 2009
The only time I get those is when I visit Chicago.
My grandmother gets them in her house near Elgin.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
Silly me.
My parents about 30 minutes away by car get WGN.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
for the cost of the gas
you could probably just add the superstation pkg to your Dish and get WGN
LT - June 18, 2009
I'm thinking of looking into that,
But I work evenings. I would still miss the Cubs. The only way I could catch the games is if I set the DVR to record them.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
Huge
Had to work, got home for the 8th, had to listen to “Hawk” and Stone complain about the non-strike call on Soriano ( that was strike 3) for at least the rest of the inning , How people listen to “Hawk”, anyways. I am with you Al, when Bradley went down, my hopes went down also. Lee’s homerun was huge, but Soto’s was bigger, if he can somehow get going, with Lee hitting and Bradley at least getting some hits, it would be big.
I wonder if any changes will take place now? I still think Soriano needs a day off, we will see. I am sure he will be in left tomorrow.
Good to see the club get excited, get a little juiced for a change, please continue.
Grockcubs - June 18, 2009
He had two days off earlier this week.
For me, at least, today buys him a deferral on the DL plan. Von Joshua did say that Soriano looked a lot better in the batting cage before the game (FWIW). I’m not sure what to do at this point.
daver - June 18, 2009
he was
2-4 today, right?
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
2-for-5.
I’m not sure what “looking better in the batting cage” means. Plenty of guys hit well in BP, then not in games.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
you know
looking GOOOOD. Heyo Mistah KOTT-ER!
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
He was talking about Soriano's hitting mechanics.
Can’t remember exactly what he said – something about Soriano either getting started too early or too late.
daver - June 18, 2009
I would assume he's "looking better in the batting cages"
means he was even having some bad BP sessions, or his mechanics were still off, but today that wasn’t the case, at least to the god awful extent. I don’t think Joshua meant Soriano is looking better in the cages than he is in the game. I would hope a professional hitting coach understands the difference between batting practice fastballs, and live game pitches
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Do they throw low and away sliders
in batting practice? :)
CyberCyclist - June 18, 2009
if they don't, they should start
Couldn’t hurt for him to see what’s going on in a more relaxed environment.
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Had to work today and only followed the game now and then via blackberry...
Looks like I know what Im going to be watching tonight!
zevkalman - June 18, 2009
It's sure is nice to see the celebrating after walk offs.
That has to be contagious and hope we can continue. If losing with ineptness causes them to press harder, then a little success can have the same affect.
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
True,
But I’d like to see them win a game and not have to jump around afterward (as in not a walk-off game).
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
I'm all in favor of that too
I just want them to remember how it feels to win. It seems really infrequent lately.
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
you would hope it was contagious, but we walked off Monday
and then played some bad baseball
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Sunday
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
I would've pitched to Soriano there too.
He’s been atrocious the last month plus.
And please, just cut Aaron Miles. He contributes absolutely nothing. He is, literally, worthless.
kanderber - June 18, 2009
Agreed on Miles.
Time to eat the sunk cost and just cut him.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
At this point
I’m thinking paying him NOT to play may be the wisest investment yet.
Allie - June 18, 2009
But then,
We’d still have to pay him money. He’s been a waste of $$$ so far this year.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
But he can help the team by NOT playing!
That way, he can actually EARN his money!
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
I have no problem with that.
Blanco won’t bring much to the plate, but he can play good defense and lay down a fine bunt. When Freel gets back, put him at third and Fontenot can go to second base vs. RHP. Blanco can still play 2B vs. LHP – he won’t hit, but it’ll take the heat off Fontenot and, as mentioned, Andy White still gives you defense.
daver - June 18, 2009
When Freel gets back, put him on the waiver wire.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
SOLD
to the man with the giant umbrella!
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Farnsworth Bentley?
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
So Fontenot stays at third base?
daver - June 18, 2009
Until they get DeRosa back.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
Ahhhhhhh, I see what you did there.
Is this wishful thinking or inside info?
daver - June 18, 2009
I do know they're considering it.
Don’t know how serious that interest is or where it might go.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
A sweep this weekend would go a long way to influencing Cleveland's thinking.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Well, I've teased the DeRomantics in the past...
…but I’d like to see it happen, assuming it didn’t cost the Cubs too much. It really appears DeRo’s power is for real, and he’d take some pressure off Aramis, too.
daver - June 18, 2009
Plus, he's insurance for a continuing Fukudome slump
or a Bradley injury.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
A Bradley injury?
Singular? That’s optimism.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
Why did we trade him again?
nji232 - June 18, 2009
To rile up everyone on this board.
And just to play with Aaron Miles’ emotions.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
to clear payroll
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Career year
wrong side of 30 and a chance to get more LH.
Allie - June 18, 2009
He is well on his way to another career year
But I’ll drop it now
nji232 - June 18, 2009
sure
we know that NOW. But at the time… You have to make your moves with the knowledge you know, not the knowledge you don’t know. Even if you don’t know you don’t know it.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Thank you
Donald Rumsfeld.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
that never
gets old.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Did someone mention Rummy?
NSFW language.
Clutch16 - June 19, 2009
With the interest in Pedro, what
pitcher are they thinking of giving up.
I can’t imagine the Indians would want Harden with his health, cost, and contract up.
N Oakley - June 19, 2009
The Indians probably would take Harden for the contract reason alone...
… their exposure would be limited to the rest of this year.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
can't we put them both on the waiver wire?
Freel is nothing but Aaron Miles II
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
All three of them
Farny too
chitownhawkeye - June 18, 2009
simply amazing...
Chanman25 - June 18, 2009
Good Call
As good of a game as Ozzie managed on Thursday, he did the opposite today. Yanking Gavin Floyd after only 90 pitches, when he was rolling, and pitching to Soriano in the 9th with first-base open were huge mistakes. Thanks, Ozzie!
tripdenten - June 18, 2009
Told you I was good luck ( so far)
I was SO pumped up. My first interleague game at Wrigley.Practically surrounded by Sox fans.
Doggie Stalker - June 18, 2009
Wow!
This win gave me the chills.
katie casey - June 18, 2009
Great win
This weekend is key
nji232 - June 18, 2009
The key to victory was Kalicub's bathroom breaks.
santoswoodenlegs - June 18, 2009
hahahahaha
Not the way I wanted to be immortalized.
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
Would you prefer if we used the picture from the first overflow thread?
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
Which one was that, the outdoor toilet?
At least I would have a view. :)
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
Worst. Shopping mall. Ever.
daver - June 18, 2009
And I thought the perfume isle was bad
Employee22 - June 18, 2009
I always know it's you before I scroll down for the sig line
Emelie - June 18, 2009
So stoked for tomorrow now
I was really, really starting to not look forward to going to tomorrow’s game. I mean, I wanted to go, but it wasn’t the big deal it usually is to me. Now, I can’t wait to get into the bleachers, flag in hand, hopefully being able to fly it, and not use it to cover up from the rain.
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
WOW
I turned off my TV in the 8th.
I said to myself if they have a comeback I’ll read about it and be happy for them.
I went on here thinking you’d have a righful negative post.
This is a win they needed!
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Will Dr. Crawdad show up, ya' think?
zevkalman - June 18, 2009
::: crickets :::
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
say his name
three times, and who knows?
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
PAGING DR CRAWDAD
Crawdad, Crawdad. I’m betting we won’t see him
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Probably later.
Expect a lot of condescending, backhanded compliments, though.
“Good to see the Cubs take advantage of that blown third strike call on Soriano. They haven’t been doing that lately.”
Stuff like that.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
Worst part?
He’s not wrong.
Time to string a few of those together.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Thoughts on Marmol
Remember when he had a brief injury and was off for about 4 games? I feel like that was the turning point for him not throwing too well.
Anyone else have info. to back up that was when his decline started? He might be hurt.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
He tweaked his knee
But he wasn’t really “on” before then.
Allie - June 18, 2009
i was gald to see that lou
did NOT use heilman late in the game after warming him up and then not using him earlier. that kind of stuff kills aaron’s ability to be effective…
brian custer - June 18, 2009
YUP!
Let him start an inning….NOT inherit runners.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Seems like we haven't seen Aaron in a while.
daver - June 18, 2009
maybe he is lou's doghouse
which, if true, would be at least a little bit unjust.
brian custer - June 18, 2009
Not at all
He was innefective when Lou brought him in relieve other relievers. Plus the other guys have been more effective (with the exception to unfortunately Marmol).
ak123 - June 18, 2009
aaron's WHIP
is pretty good. he can be very effective under the right circumstances
brian custer - June 18, 2009
Well, it's 1.57. That's not particularly good...
…but it seems like he’s pitched a little better recently.
daver - June 18, 2009
How about the wrong circumstances
Lou brings him in with inherited runners.
If he starts an inning he pitches OK but that’s not what Lou wants him to do. Lou needs him to get out of jams and he fails. It’s not all Aaron’s fault. He failed at that on the Mets too. Lou should have known this in the past and not brought him in those situations.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Lou's bullpen managment will never make sense
At least not to me.
He does some really strange things.
Allie - June 18, 2009
aaron's real problem
is BB’s. he just seems to need a batter or two to get his bearings; maybe a left-over trait from his starting days at Notre Dame. that option is not available when aaron comes in w/runners already on… aaron has a strong lively arm. hopefully he will find a niche…
brian custer - June 18, 2009
Well, he's given up a lot of hits, too - 27 in 28 IP.
And he’s not striking out enough hitters. His K:BB is under 2.
daver - June 18, 2009
It all comes back to the walks...
his K rate is fine. But when you’re walking six batters per 9 innings, it’s darn near impossible to have a 2:1 K:BB rate.
If he was walking 3 per 9 innings, he’d probably be having a pretty good season…
SouthernCub - June 18, 2009
that doghouse is getting awful full
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Good starting pitching
Has meant less use of bullpen.
But I’m all for us never signing another Cub with the first name Aaron again.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
The less Aaron the better, I say.
Allie - June 18, 2009
I watched some of the game today...
…ON MY PHONE! How rad is that streaming video to iPhone? And it didn’t cost a thing since I already had it for radio!
As soon as I turned it on, the Cubs did too, with back to back dingers :)
PacificCub - June 18, 2009
Cool. Can you do that same exact thing with like results
For say, every game the rest of the year?
BleedsbluinMI - June 18, 2009
I've been trying
When I turned on the radio feed yesterday they promptly gave up 2 runs… so I’ll work on it.
PacificCub - June 18, 2009
Say your team is mired in a godawful offensive slump and you want them to break out of it...
…there’s an app for that.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
LOL
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Awesome.
That means I should get at least an iTouch.
Question: Can you stream the game through the iPhone’s ATT connection, or can you do it only using Wi-Fi?
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
With an iPhone?
AFAIK, both.
Allie - June 18, 2009
I've heard that using the AT&T data service
is a real battery killer though, not so much with the Wi-Fi.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
Other way around
although I do know that if 3G isn’t available, and it switches over to Edge, then that tends to use a bit more juice.
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
I don't have one
But my friend lives in a really rural area and she doesn’t have any problem.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Both
And the 3G isn’t bad quality either… though it did have to play catch up on the stream more than a few times. WiFi was gold.
PacificCub - June 18, 2009
Thanks
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
I don't care what you say
I lurves me my Geo
Emelie - June 18, 2009
I hear ya!! :D
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Al, I'm glad the Cubs are considering trading for DeRosa, as you wrote above.
On the other hand, I think Mármol needs to rest. Let Guzmán set up for a few games.
I just found out about the win logging in here, since I’m still at the office. I just watched the video on MLB.com. My law clerk thought something had happened to me when he heard me screaming. Anyway, maybe I’ll watch it tonight on the archives.
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Close the deal tomorrow night Hendry!
Plays for Cleveland tomorrow, Cubs on Saturday & Sunday.
JFCubFan - June 18, 2009
Marmol hadn't pitched since 6/14.
daver - June 18, 2009
I forgot. That's even worse. Any thoughts on what to do?
I’d still give more responsibility to Guzmán while the coaches work with Mármol’s mechanics.
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Yeah, I think I'd still keep mixing in Guzman and Ascanio...
…but Marmol also strikes me as a guy who needs fairly regular work to stay sharp – but not too much work or he gets overused. I don’t know what to do, to be honest.
daver - June 18, 2009
What's Marmol's option status?
Can we send him down so he can get straightened out?
Allie - June 18, 2009
He does have one option left.
I wonder whether it’ll come to that. Hard to see right now, because he’s still a pretty high-profile guy. But maybe that would help at some point. Michael Wuertz went down last season and he’s been lights out for the A’s this season.
daver - June 18, 2009
If he continues to struggle, maybe.
But then again, Marmol had that stretch last year where he was completely useless, and the Cubs kept him up.
I think they’ll just try to balance throwing him regularly and keeping him fresh versus wearing his arm out.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
That was like 3 weeks
last year.
This has been a lot longer than that.
Didn’t see him today, but the last few times I’ve seen him pitch, he’s forcibly reminded me of Dontrelle Willis’ motion. Arms and legs everywhere with no idea where the ball is going.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Right.
I just don’t see a scenario in which the Cubs take their 8th-inning man and send him to Iowa.
I could see the Cubs using him in low-leverage situations for a while and using Guzman and Ascanio in higher-leverage situations.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
But if he's ineffective
and not getting it back…. you’re going to have to do something.
We’re already holding too many pitchers we don’t trust in the ‘pen, I don’t see how you can add Marmol to that list.
Allie - June 18, 2009
I think the Cubs are too stubborn to send him down.
Finding some “arm trouble” to DL him and give him a rehab assignment, maybe.
But if you’re going to demote people based on performance, Marmol is probably second or third in that line.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Not so much performance
but to get him a chance to get some work without the pressure of always having to be “on”, you know?
I’d rather he found “it” up here, but if he doesn’t… I just think something is going to have to happen.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Yeah, I understand what you're saying.
I think he might find himself pitching the 6th or 7th inning in a few games, just to throw some low-leverage innings to see if he can find “it.”
If he struggles in those outings, then yes, I would think Iowa becomes an option.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
Marmol would have to clear Optional Assignment Waivers
before he can be optioned to the minors.
flachimesa - June 18, 2009
I agree.
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
But that's only two games ago.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
Yeah. I don't think Mármol has been overworked.
He’s just been inconsistent, to say the least.
I would work on his mechanics and give more responsibility to Guzmán until and if Mármol gets back on the right track. Meanwhile, Mármol can be used in situations with less pressure instead of setting up for the closer.
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
I don't care who you are
but no one who saw Soriano make that catch in the Cub’s bullpen in the top of the 7th can say he’s a slacker or lacks passion. That was an extremely difficult play, and he could have slacked off on it without any complaint — he had to dodge Heilman, nearly ran into the wall, and did run into a security guard. That was ballsy.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
props to Sori for that one, especially going over the mound
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
I'd forgotten about that play because of what followed
but you’re right, Drew. That was a helluva play, especially if his knee is still bugging him.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
+1
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
I've never understood the questions about Soriano's heart
Just because guys don’t all play balls out like RJ doesn’t mean they don’t care.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Its not that
Soriano is more talented and a better natural athlete. He’s running hard but b/c he’s so smooth, he doesn’t have the look of Reed’s effort.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Thats what I mean
RJ or even Miles look like they are giving 110%. Soriano is giving 110% too, he just does it naturally.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I agree..
I think a lot of the perception about Soriano’s effort is because he’s really tentative going back on balls hit over his head. So his lack of comfort comes across as indifference or lack of effort because he doesn’t go full out.
As such, he plays deep. He’s less afraid to charge the ball. The play today was in front of him, so he went for it. And made a great play.
Hopefully the base hits (and the non-base hit in the first inning that was lined into the corner but caught) get him going. It goes without saying that he’s REALLY due for a decent stretch of hitting. I mean, he’s OPSing less than Milton Bradley at this point in the season.
SouthernCub - June 18, 2009
I think this whole "passion" thing has been overblown
Everybody looks more “passionate” when they’re winning. Lack of passion hasn’t been this team’s problem. In fact, I think the problem might be too much passion.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
I've had my problems with Soriano's approach at the plate
I’ve never had a problem with his approach to the game. He’s not a slacker.
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Man this feels good
We needed this terribly.
wrigleyrocker12 - June 18, 2009
Most important question
Was this the game?
It seems eerily familiar to 2007 game vs. the Brewers.
Maybe this is the kind of game that jumpstarts everyone.
If we win this series, I think we’re going in the right direction!
ak123 - June 18, 2009
We won't know for weeks
But it could be.
Allie - June 18, 2009
What put so much emphasis on this being what you think it may be
because if it isn’t, you’re just going to be disappointed. Just look at it for what it was, a good, hard fought, come from behind win.
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
Why put, rather
Craig in South Bend - June 18, 2009
I say this after every win
But these are the kinds of games that we as fans look at and say “they turned it around”.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Well, this series is over for the time being.
But I know what you mean – a strong showing against the Indians would definitely be a sign that this team is truly on the mend.
daver - June 18, 2009
Still thinking we have a game tomorrow
The rainout has confused me!
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Tomorrow is the big game
Their ace, who happens to be coming off a near no-no. The offense needs to take off.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
We don't have problems with Aces
It’s the pitchers who have a 4.80 ERA that we make look like a Cy Young winner.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
Sad but true...
wrigleyrocker12 - June 18, 2009
very true
nji232 - June 18, 2009
we didnt make moehler look like lincecum
jesus christos - June 18, 2009
Yes but...
We’ve made enough pitchers look like 90’s Maddux.
ak123 - June 18, 2009
It's better than that game IMO.
Bigger, we have to wait to judge. But we had 9 innings to come back from Rich Hill’s 5-run 1st in that Brewers game. We were down by 4 with 2 outs in the 8th today, and we won it in 9. With as many extra inning affairs as the Cubs have been involved this year, it’s pretty huge that they were able to win without forcing extras in that spot.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
So maybe it was like the 2008 Brewers game or the 2008 White Sox game?
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
It's different in this way for me...
…It was arguably a better comeback than those other games, but it still doesn’t seem bigger in terms of the season yet. I felt like I could believe in those teams, ‘07 & ’08. Those wins felt like they meant something bigger than just one game, like they were on their way somewhere. I was so skeptical of this team going into today’s game that even a win this dramatic feels good, but tempered with the perspective of the first 61 games.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
That's well put.
Hopefully this is the game that finally lights a fuse. We’ll find out eventually.
Bill Potter - June 18, 2009
We do have to wait to judge.
The game today did have the makings of momentum changing win. Lou said he was going to have make some hard decisions; I think everyone and his mother thought that meant Fonzie either out of the line-up, or dropped out of the lead-off spot. Neither of these things happened. Instead Soriano goes 2-5, getting both the game tying RBI, and then the game winning RBI.
Derrek Lee? What else can I say but right now that guy is the calmest, coolest, leader of this team. He’s been doing it with his bat, with a little more power, as evidenced by today’s 3-run shot. He’s also been the calmest, before he started hitting, and after; even during this recent stretch where he has been the only one hitting. In ‘06, when D. Lee went down, I instantly got the feeling that the season could be over. I didn’t have, and still don’t have, that same feeling about Ramirez going down. As bad as this team has been, I still think the division is winnable, and if not, certainly the wild card.
It all depends on whether this loosens up the hitters, and if they continue to listen to Von & Lou. Lou said in the presser that Von has been working with the guys to, “take the ball to RF, stay on the ball longer, be selective.” This is the perfect approach for a team pressing, and continuing to slump. Relax, put the bat on the ball, remember what got you here…
I realize this is essentially me wishing that today’s game has a momentum changing effect for the Cubs team this year. I can’t help it, I’m a Cubs fan, and I still believe in this team.
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
That's the point I made in one of the other threads
Maybe it will be just like that game. It has the potential. Time will tell.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
I thought that game
was the last one we won. Or the one before that. :D
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Also of note...
the last two pictures following wins have involved Bradley bear-hugging the guy who got the winning hit (he was the guy mauling Theriot as well). For all the bashers of his character, he seems to genuinely have a passion for the game and for his teammates.
It looks like the hits are starting to come for Bradley. He’s up to .243 and the OPS is up to .741. Hopefully the power will come soon.
SouthernCub - June 18, 2009
Was there a pic of him doing the
“you can’t see me” to Soriano as he ran at him?
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Did he do that?
That’s AWESOME! I’d love to see that!
kanderber - June 18, 2009
yeah he did
you can kind of see it on the mlb highlight, but I was hoping there would be a better angle. I’m watching the CSN replay right now, maybe they will have it.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I think Milton Bradley
LOVES to play baseball. I really do. I’m sure the money doesn’t hurt, but he strikes me as the kind of guy who would be managing little league or playing in a softball-beer league if he wasn’t a pro.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
He said earlier this season
that he doesn’t play baseball, he feels it. I found that interesting, and illuminating.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
Stop it!
You’re going to make me cry.
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
As if this team hadn't had you
on the verge of tears already. :)
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
that was my sig line
for a while. I really want him to stick with the team.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
I hope he didnt hurt himself
picking up Soriano at the end of the game.
tedinSoCal - June 18, 2009
Is it okay for grown men to cry?
We won a lot of games this way last year, and I was really pumped to hear Pat and Ron going ape-s* when Soriano plated Johnson… kinda nostaligic since last year seems like eons ago to me :-) hopefully that walk-off will be the spark Sori needs and we’ll finally get some offense going. Another think I thought of on my 40 mile drive home, we still (I think) have the least games played this year because of rainouts, we could get several half-games back when we make those up and other teams may have off days… My optimism has been renewed! Whoo, great win!!
Fonzie2178 - June 18, 2009
think = thing
Fonzie2178 - June 18, 2009
It reminds me...
… of Santo crying about a Sox walk-off win in ‘03 the day AFTER. And the Tribune’s Paul Sullivan blasting the Brewers for their win over the Cubs in their home opener. Sullivan said that the Brewers were celebrating like they’d won the World Series. No doubt Sullivan won’t whip out that put-down on the Cubs today.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
Sullivan is a bitter hobbit.
I’m not sure a lot of Cubs fans are too concerned with his sentiments.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
Ok, but...
… a lot of concern about what the sentiments of what some call a bitter old man, The Hawk Harrelson.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
Zzzz
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
Okay, but...
Mine were tears of joy!!! :-)
Fonzie2178 - June 18, 2009
So were mine...
… in 2005 when the White Sox won the World Series in a sweep!
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
you must be so proud...
your like an annoying grandma that wants to always show us pictures of your ugly grandkids. We don’t care.
santoswoodenlegs - June 18, 2009
Just saw the highlights on SportsNite...
With Hawk’s commentary in the background, jeeze, what an unprofessional whiner. That pitch was borderline (ball IMO) low and away, and he just keeps whining about it for the entire inning. Makes me more thankful for Len and Bob every time I hear him.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
He invented the battting glove don't ya know?
Seriously though. Hawk is a huge homer, (as we all know). He harped, and harped, and harped some more about that pitch. Earlier in the game he agreed with Stoney on a pitch, that AJ brought back with his glove. He didn’t say the same thing, even though the pitch and receipt of the ball to Fonzie was very similar. Selective Hawk is. A homer Hawk is.
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
and to me
that’s one of the differences between Santo and Hawk. Santo will talk about what we’re not doing right. He’ll complain about the Cubs players screwing up.
I don’t get the feeling that the WS announcers are like that.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Ron's a homer too...
But I’ve never heard him say that games will be “played under a protest” or gripe about a strike call for an entire inning. A few “Oh gee wiz”s and a “boy o boy” and that’s pretty much the end of it.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
and if
the ump is squeezing their pitcher but not ours, he’ll talk about it. He’ll talk about how we got lucky on a call.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
And he'll bitch about every call that goes against the Cubs
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
eh
sometimes. Sometimes, he sees it the way it is. Hawk was complaining about that not-strike on Soriano in the next inning.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
His first reaction is almost always to bitch
He’ll admit to being wrong, but he’ll usually whine out the “offending” umpire’s name first.
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
I dunno
I listen to almost every game on the radio. Maybe I’m not paying as much attention.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Or when a Cub does it . . . ?
No offense, but you do tend to ignore the “home team’s” foibles.
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
I suppose that's a possibility as well.
Still, I’m glad I don’t have to listen to Hawk. It was worth it to see the game reply, but never again…
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
what bugged me most was
Harrelson seemed to ignore the Getz error that started the whole mess for the Sox.
thermal54 - June 19, 2009
is that the one where Stoney
went on and on about how the front of the infield is soft and the back of the infield is like a trampoline?
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
On and on?
He didn’t do that, but yes that is where he mentioned it. To me it didn’t come across as making an excuse for Getz. Why does BB get props for giving his professional analysis of the game but not Stone?
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
Stoney talked about it
for a good five minutes. Got into how the water table is different under wrigley. Bob would have said “the back of the infield is bouncy, and that’s why you gotta adjust”.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Yeah because BB
never goes off onto long tangents about his second guessing of Lou’s managerial decisions. Never….
I just think that because Stone is now a Sox announcer he doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt and people expect him to be snarky.
For instance, he is getting a lot of flak for saying Geo wouldn’t steal. Well HELLO, there was no one in the world that thought Geo would steal. Let it go Cubs fans, let it go.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
it’s what they CHOOSE to talk about and make big deals out of.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Yet you overlook what BB
CHOOSES to talk about. Bottom line, it’s a double standard plain and simple.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
except
I don’t. We make fun of BB’s marriage schtick all the time.
I think that BB is a much better broadcaster than Stone.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
BB is always second guessing Pinella.
He always has stories that pretain to situation’s based off of his own experience. Stone has information about how the field plays and you jump all over him.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
BB has managerial experience and speaks from that. When he says something stupid we jump on him.
Stoney was COMPLAINING about the field to excuse Getz’s error.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Okay.
If you are going to hold Stone to a standard that he can’t comment on something he has knowledge of and BB can, then that is a double standard. This discussion is going nowhere because you refuse to be an objective fan about this.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
Your team won and 5 hours later you're still bitching about The Hawk.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
Try again, Mr. Thin-Skinned Paranoid
I was talking about Santo.
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
Yeah, there are no posts here...
… in this discussion about The Hawk HOURS after the game.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
Nice rationalization, chief
Mine wasn’t. You know, the one that you replied to?
Can’t you be a man and admit you were wrong?
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
You know, I've obviously stuck up for you at times
But you’re getting ridiculous in here. You’re going after someone else in this thread who was celebrating the Cubs winning like he was mocking the White Sox losing, and now you’re bitching at me for something that I didn’t do.
Oh, yeah. . .Cubs fans are obsessed with the White Sox. Whatever, Doc. Nice inferiority complex.
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
Inferiority complex this...
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
nice, wish we had a ring
now explain how it has anything to do with the conversation
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
I bet that leaves a mark on the hookers faces huh?
santoswoodenlegs - June 18, 2009
Check your mom's face.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
I will when she gets home from your house.
santoswoodenlegs - June 18, 2009
Thanks for proving my point better than I ever could
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
White Sox: stolen name from the Cubs' original White Stockings name &
speaking of “White” Stockings, why does a team that calls itself the "White " Sox always wear black sox?
Their uni color scheme is among the worst in all sports!
Hard for genuine White Sox fans (another oxymoron) to admit or even be aware that their team’s roots originated with cheap Charlie Comiskey stealing the castoff name originally used by the Cubs!
But then there IS the history of the White, always wearing black, Sox – cheap ownership with little originality, and forever doomed to languish in the shadow of our beloved Cubbies!
GeneticCubsFan - June 19, 2009
you know
those rings are really ugly. Not just this one in particular, I think ALL the WS rings are chintzy.
Way to prove his point, tho.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
I think there was a game a few years ago,
When Hawk took issue with a runner interference call against the White Sox. I seem to remember him saying “This is BS” for about five minutes, and this was on the air in a game against the Cubs.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
Yeah I was at that game at US Cellular...
And I was told Hawk kept saying that that game would be played under a protest with the league.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
Yeah, it was this one:
(6/24/07 vs Cubs – after double-play was reversed by the umpires after an interference call. The entire rant he would never mention the fact that Juan Uribe was in the direct path of Mark Derosa)
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
Yep that's it.
I remember thinking, “He really should not be saying this on the air. What if there are kids watching this?”
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
And further, no protest was ever filed.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
Because the rule was enforced properly
Bob went over between innings of that game and explained to Hawk the rule.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Oh, I totally agree...
Let me fix that, “Hawk is an EXTREME homer.”
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
What inning call are you talking about?
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
8th inning...
It was a 1-2 count on Sori. it was a low and away pitch called a ball, and AJ pulled it back and framed it about a good six inches further in the strike zone. After Lee and Soto homered, Hawk kept on attributing the whole collapse to THAT call.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
It was a strike.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
Ball.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
Toe mato!
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
It was close and could have easily..
… been called a strike (as I think it should have). Oh, well. It happens. I would have been better for the Sox had Linebrink went all Milton Bradley or Carlos Zambrano on the ump and got tossed.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
I = it
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
That would be funny.
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
Yeah...
… and it might have rescued this game for the Sox. And it would have had the added bonus of getting rid of Linebrink for a few games.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
You're down on Linebrink?
Ozzie was too.
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
Linebrink escapes much damage to his stats because of the error, but he blows…games that is.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
How did you like Soriano's catch in the bullpen that saved a run?
Do you think Dye would have made that catch?
Acapulco Taco Pie - June 18, 2009
Soriano finally makes a good play and you pipe in?
How do you like Soriano’s 6 errors?
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
when he wins the ball game against the White Sox, I don’t mind ’em as much.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Had to chime in considering you think Dye is a better fielder.
Acapulco Taco Pie - June 19, 2009
I especially like Chris Getz's error to start the Cubs' rally in the 8th.
Your superstar of the future seems to be having some error issues of his own over at 3rd. What’s Ozzie call him? Oh, yeah, Bacon.
Acapulco Taco Pie - June 19, 2009
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got home from work, and almost didn’t check this because when I last looked the cubs were down 3-1 or something and I was just like “not again…” now I’m going to find the archived version of the game and watch it. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
slcathena - June 18, 2009
Enjoy!
It was a wild comeback. I posted “You can put it on the board—Yes!!!!” in the overflow threads when the Cubs hit their home runs in the eighth inning.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
Sweet!!
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Check next weekend.
I will make the following posts.
For any Cubs home run: “You can put it on the board—Yes!!!!”
For any White Sox batter who strikes out: “He gone!”
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
So will I.
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Congratulations to the Cubs!
Sorry to say that I didn’t get to see any of the game. In spite of the outcome, I would have enjoyed being at the game or watching it on TV rather than attend the conference I had to attend, but such is life.
Glad to see though that the Sox are playing a bit better and outplayed the Cubs for 16 innings. The Sox BP was a concern of mine going into the season, so no surprise to me that BP blew what appears to be another very good start by the Sox starters.
On from here, not sure what this win or loss means to either team. Lots of talks in previous years about momentum and turning points after Crosstown games, and I’m not sure it’s actually worked out that way. We’ll see.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
I have three words for the White Sox:
Beat. The. Reds.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
I second this emotion.
slcathena - June 18, 2009
I have three words for the Cubs:
Beat. The. Tigers.
DrCrawdad - June 18, 2009
We'll see if we can't knock the Tribe down a notch or two for you as well...
Jimmyeatworld - June 18, 2009
We'll do our best,
Against both the Indians and the Tigers for you.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 18, 2009
I would make that deal in a New York minute.
We’ll win three if you do. ;)
slcathena - June 18, 2009
Hopefully...
This was a turning point for us. But here’s to you guys sweeping the Reds!
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
Hallelujah!
HAAAA-le-le-jah!
HAAAA-le-lu-jah!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Ha-LE-EH-lu-jah!
The Jade Scorpion - June 18, 2009
Watching the replay on CSN
Steve Stone just dared Soto to run, said “he is no threat to steal a base”
HAHAHAHA owned. Geo steals second.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
now we get a "He gone" on Fontenot
He didn’t strike out
nji232 - June 18, 2009
holy crap
I’m watching the replay, it’s in the bottom of the sixth.
White Sox fans listen to these guys EVERY GAME???
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
its bad
but about to get really really really fun.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
gotta get through the seventh first
but… does anyone really take this Hawk guy, with his faux-redneck BS, seriously?
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
All the Sox fans I know profess hatred of them
But they also scream he gone and mercy during games all the time, so really its just a pretend hatred.
I like listening to Hawk when the Sox aren’t playing the Cubs because of how funny and stupid he is. I don’t think he is good by any means, and I could never listen to him every night.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
really
I’m just amazed at the badness. It’s so… HOKEY. Seriously. And I grew up listening to Phil Rizzuto, for pete’s sake.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
First career SB.
Must have been a botched hit-and-run. Only his 2nd career SB attempt.
Al Yellon - June 18, 2009
know where i can find a replay his theft?
jesus christos - June 18, 2009
The game is archived on MLB.com...
… you should be able to shuttle through and find it.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
I have to give heavy-handed
props to DLEE. He has really come on – and getting back to his offensive norms. GREAT JOB!
How interesting that the two Cubs that have been sucking eggs, actually helped in the W: Soto and Soriano.
With the team at the bottom of the NL with RISP, I hope these key hits starts a trend. As lou stated that Von Joshua is working with the Cubs to tale the ball opposite field and stay on the pitch longer.
I really felt that a loss in this game would have ended the season – a downward spiral. There is HOPE for me at least for another 30 days perhaps. lol
However – the team seemingly is “waiting for A-Ram to get back,,,and then we’ll be alright.”
They MUST get over that way of thinking and believe he MIGHT NOT come back- or – may not produce like the “Old Rammy” for a while. Other teams have done it – because it is very unlikely that Crane Kenny will approve any acquisitions of consequence, imo.
The E-Man - June 18, 2009
Oh, I AGREE, Al
Aaron Miles is killing us. We have enough of those guys that actually are worth something.
The E-Man - June 18, 2009
I'm watching the replay of the game on CSN right now...
and I didn’t realize that Steve Stone is the color commentator for the Chicago White Sox now. I really liked listening to the guy when he was with the Cubs. He makes listening to White Sox games bearable.
aznsensation - June 18, 2009
at least he doesn't do thejoining in with the "YES" that the old color guy did
that was embarassing for him on soooooooooo many levels
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
DJ loved that haha.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
Here's an interesting question for everyone...
Where do you honestly (realistically) think the Cubs will be at the All-Star break? The way the offense has sputtered, I would be thrilled if they were 5-6 games over .500 and only 2-3 games back of either Milwaukee or St. Louis. As long as we’re in a position to make a run once A Ram gets back, I’d be happy…
DKT - June 18, 2009
that's about how I see it
we need to be within striking distance when Rami gets back. But if we can go on a run before that, well, all the better.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
"when Rami gets back..."
Again, we do not know what we will be getting. Too many here think he steps in with the “Cape”, and starts smacking it right away.
The E-Man - June 18, 2009
no
but he will probably be able to play his position, which sends Fonty back to second. That’s a big step, as far as I’m concerned.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Yeah but even if he comes back a little subpar
you got the emotional lift of him being in the lineup and Fonty back at his normal position. And no Miles in the lineup.
KaliCub - June 18, 2009
the annoying thing about this offense is we could very well be atleast 4 games ahead if we won half of the 1 run games
jesus christos - June 18, 2009
I think that's what we're all hoping for
If we can go on a small run now, we should be able to do that.
chitownhawkeye - June 18, 2009
Good point...
It WOULD put Miles on the bench.
Aaron Miles = David Patton, then.
The E-Man - June 18, 2009
I think we can all live with that
Although I’d still rather see Miles on the park bench somewhere
chitownhawkeye - June 18, 2009
I wish he equaled David Patton
then we could just cut him, and he’d be the Rockies’ problem, with no financial repercussions
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Hard to say
even the Padres managed to string together 10 straight wins and lose 6 straight twice.
flachimesa - June 18, 2009
HAHAHA
Hawk screams “Hell yes” after an Alexei homer. The bottom of the eighth is going to be too much fun.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
still
I winced when he hit it.
Also, how come Stone has to do PxP for him?
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
The top of the eighth might hurt a bit
I think Hawk gets an inning off a game to just do color, so Stone does an inning idk why.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
huh.
Hawk is there, and Stone is saying things like “the shortstop is way back” and “the Sox pen is up and running”.
Weird.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Much like Santo
I don’t think Hawk looks for things like that, he just watches the ball and screams.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I know Santo is a homer
and I know that he loses his way sometimes, but no way is Santo half as bad as this.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
IMO
Santo’s problem is keeping up with everything going on, and him screaming OH YESSSS is probably annoying to other fans.
I would agree that he isn’t as bad as Hawk, but Pat Hughes probably helps with that.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
probably.
Stone is no good at keeping Hawk on the rails, if today was any indication.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
I love Ron because he's a Cub to the very core
but he’s one of the worst broadcasters in professional sports. His grunts and groans are bad, his screaming OVER the play by play is worse, and his rambling conversations, where he forgets what he was talking about, but continues on, drowning out the action on the field is the topper.
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
but I'd take him over Hawk 100 times out of 100
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
Agreed on every point
Including your subject line
Shanghai Badger - June 18, 2009
Watching the Replay of the game now
Because I missed it while working.
Can’t wait for the comeback.
zack54attack - June 18, 2009
Yes, it's especially satisfying to listen to how smug Harrelson and Stone sound...
…before the comeback.
bluekoolaide - June 18, 2009
This bottom of the eighth is going to be too much fun
We just made it through that, now the fun starts. Yes! Hell Yes!
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Let me boost the surround sound
xene - June 18, 2009
lol
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Way funny
Employee22 - June 18, 2009
Fucking theriot! pop up! this shit is over....
xene - June 18, 2009
whine whine whine
Hawk wanted a strike 3 batters ago and that caused that homer.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
LMAO! silence.....................
xene - June 18, 2009
Prolly caused that homer too
Obviously the bad pitches after weren’t a factor. YES! HELL YES!
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I'm watching the replay
and listening to Hawk crying about the missed called strike on Sori. HAHAHA!!!!!!! Lee and Geo both went yard. Pretty quiet in the booth.
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Unreal
My friend and I were watching it, and we counted Hawk making reference to that pitch nine times in ONE-HALF INNING.
And the thing is, it was a borderline call. It wasn’t a lead-pipe strike. It’s a pitch you see at leat three-four times in every game, and it could have gone either way.
I can’t stand Hawk, and this just made me dislike him even more. What an arse.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
God, I've never heard an announcer whine so much
If I was a Sox fan I’d be embarrassed by him
bluekoolaide - June 18, 2009
He has it down
to a fine art.
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Hands down
he is the worst announcer in MLB.
Not Bruce Froemming - June 18, 2009
that's what I hate most about Hawk
his rhubarb conversational style is one thing, but the fact that he just goes dead quiet when the other team scores is so freaking unprofessional, it’s astounding.
WanderingWanderer - June 18, 2009
after Soto's hr yesterday
in the replay, you can hear him making some kind of noise. A “hhrra” or something. I can’t decide exactly what it was he was doing… or if I really wanna know…
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
hey am i the only one celebrating these homeruns as if they were live?
xene - June 18, 2009
no
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I still have the Geo game from last year on my DVR.
I watch it whenever I’m feeling too jaded about this team. It helps.
Goodie1969 - June 18, 2009
nope
sue369 - June 18, 2009
heck no.
I just finished on my Tivo, and did a little dance.
drewishdrewid - June 18, 2009
Jesus Milton
Remember the out count. Missed that the first game
nji232 - June 18, 2009
man this guy still crying about the soriano AB, how unprofessional is this old guy?
xene - June 18, 2009
He isn't going to stop
Next week when we play them again, Hawk will still be crying about it.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Book it.
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Regardless of my feelings of Chicago trying to get the Olympics
I like hearing/seeing Michael Jordan as much as possible. Great commercials only because M.J. is in them.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
well, we all get to watch Miles' last AB as a cub
xene - June 18, 2009
doubtful
Though I can hope and pray.
nji232 - June 18, 2009
We're gonna end him tonight.
xene - June 18, 2009
Please and Thank you
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Please, don't tease me...
Talk about addition by subtraction.
bluekoolaide - June 18, 2009
And this ballgame is OVAH!!!
Cubs win 6-5 YES! HELL YES!
Suck it Hawk. Now go sweep the Reds
nji232 - June 18, 2009
I wonder if Hawk...
was muttering in his sleep about the 1-2 ball to Soriano…He wouldn’t let it go. Finally at least Stone blamed the 2 misses by Linebrink to Lee and Soto. The pitch to Soto was off by a foot in the inner half. Screw you Hawk and your hillbilly Hell Yeah
EamuCanoli - June 19, 2009
I got goosebumps watching the replay...
Hearing thousands of Cubs fans singing “Go Cubs Go” with a demoralized Hawk and Stoney in the background… Priceless.
CubsBullsBears - June 18, 2009
Soriano and Milton doing the Jon Cena thing to each other is classic stuff
We need a picture of that. Anybody have DVR and the game still on?
nji232 - June 18, 2009
They did just show
MB doing the “You can’t see me” thingy to Sori. It was awesome.
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Man if this win doesn't pump these guys up and get them going, then they are all coldblooded
xene - June 18, 2009
xene - June 18, 2009
Caption
Two of the most hated Cubs embrace in celebration (perhaps because of all the extra money Jim Hendry gave them?)
nji232 - June 18, 2009
also this is my new phone wallpaper
awesome pic
nji232 - June 18, 2009
Wish it was just them
Someone is hogging the foreground.
Allie - June 18, 2009
Caption
We earned our paycheck today! We really did!
Fraggin Judge - June 18, 2009
Caption
Owww …..my back! Ill be on the DL for 2 weeks now.
tedinSoCal - June 18, 2009
Well that was just
as sweet the second time around. Keep it going Cubs!!!
sue369 - June 18, 2009
Brewers dont play
Cards Lose!
Reds Lose!
CUBS WIN!
Pirates Lose!
Astros win.
Nice day in the NL Central
nji232 - June 18, 2009
And of course, all I hear from Sox fans is that they gave the game away.
Late-inning clutch 2-out HRs doesn’t mean it was given away. It was simply taken. But they’ll NEEEEEVER admit the obvious fact that the Cubs just came back and took it. There wasn’t 5 unearned runs surrendered in the 8th and 9th correct?
Do they EVER admit when they just GOT BEAT.
HawkVision - June 18, 2009
Tough to admit...
The Sox gave the Cubs the opportunity and the Cubs took advantage of it and the Cubs won it. It happens. Good for the Cubs.
But this “do they EVER admit…” applies to your fans as well. In 2003 there probably were (and probably still are) Cubs fans who say the Cubs gave it away and not that the Marlins “came back and took it” or that the ’03 Cubs just got beat.
Al and other Cubs fans still can’t “EVER admit” that the Sox ‘just took it’ in 2005. They’ll regularly temper any comment with comments on how they got “lucky.”
It’s perspective, semantics and a lack of candor that’s very common.
Then there is a Cubbie fan who is a regular in the Sox NG, who still can’t swallow that the ‘05 Sox “just won it,” and can’t give them any credit or just move on. This Cubbie fan in the Sox NG had this to say yesterday:
DrCrawdad - June 19, 2009
Yeah, I did. I told my friends that the Marlins were the better team.
They won the World Series. And I never heard anyone say the Sox would have never won in 2005 without Konerko taking PED’s. Never.
Rick B - June 19, 2009
Never say never.
A Cubs fan who posts regularly in the Sox NG has been making this accusation. Anything, anything for this particular Cubs fan to tarnish the White Sox.
This Cubs fan regularly posts horribly racist, incendiary comments in the Sox NG. Cubs fans regularly post on White Sox Interactive…
DrCrawdad - June 19, 2009
That's a ridiculous assertion about Konerko.
I hope Sox fans just ignore that guy. There can be reasonable discussion about the merits of the two teams without that kind of crap.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
Then there is this Sox fan who posts regularly here
And made a baseless accusation last night in this very thread. When presented with facts that he was wrong, he initially tried to deflect, then simply ignored the discussion.
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
DrCrawdad - June 21, 2009
a Cubs fan posting incessantly
on a White Sox board?
Why, I have no idea what that must feel like.
o.0
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Sox 2005
FWIW, I thought that they made it look easy. Once they got through that hellacious September, it was pedal-to-the-metal.
thermal54 - June 19, 2009
Apparantly, being "Chicago tough" is crying about the umpires.
Rick B - June 18, 2009
Difference between Santo and Harrelson
Santo is self-deprecating. Harrelson is self-aggrandizing.
CaliCub - June 18, 2009
also
Harrelson career HRs = 131
Santo career HRs = 342
Harrelson AS games = 1
Santo AS games = 9
Harrelson Gold Gloves = 0
Santo Gold Gloves = 5
Harrelson Failed PGA bids = 1
Santo Failed PGA bids = 0
santoswoodenlegs - June 18, 2009
in addition to the fact that Hawk always blames one ball/strike call in a game...
to starting everything. He probably says if my teammates didn’t make so many outs when I played…I’d have more RBI.
EamuCanoli - June 19, 2009
and apparently
Alexi was playing farther back as shortstop than he has seen in FIFTY YEARS — that’s FIFTY YEARS of watching baseball.
Did he mention it was FIFTY YEARS?
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
In defense of Hendry re: Miles
I’ll be the first to agree Miles has been a disaster in every way, but sometimes a dropoff like this is impossible to forecast. Here was a guy whose OBP had risen in 4 successive years (in other words his #s were not declining), his average pulling nearly 400 ab per year the last two years was over .290, and defensively he was actually pretty competent last year.
We can certainly debate the 2 year contract Hendry offered Miles and criticize him for that, but if Miles was matching his recent numbers and hitting .300 in 400 ab this year I doubt we would be complaining.
BeltwayCubsFan - June 19, 2009
A lot of people were complaining the second he was signed
He has never done anything good his whole career, and his .317 BA was a mirage. Hendry tries to “sell high” on DeRosa and gets burned, while he signs Aaron Miles at his ultimate “high” point.
Thats a lot like Z’s first two ABs yesterday, big swings and big misses.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Congrats to Lee, Soto, Soriano, Johnson & Hofffpauir..........
Hoffpauir?? He did start the rally in the 8th with a shot that handcuffed the 2nd baseman that was RULED an error………..just saying
Clutche - June 19, 2009
I'll give you that one.
I thought that was going to be ruled a hit. Since it was an error, all four runs off Linebrink became unearned.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
Hawk and Stone blamed Wrigley
The infield was hard in back and soft in front, meaning poor Getz never had a chance, in their mind.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Blame Wrigley
Do other organ-I-zations continually rag on the Northside park like our Southside friends? Just askin’…
BTW, I like the Cell. Just sayin’.
thermal54 - June 19, 2009
The STL tv guys aren't big fans
Wrigley’s wind has wronged the Cardinals every time they play there. The walls are too close, the baskets only catch Cubs homers, and the wind changes in the Cubs favor at all times.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
LOL!!
thermal54 - June 19, 2009
Wait, they blamed the park that was re-sodded and leveled by the same people who did Comiskey?
Ridiculous.
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
They did not blame Wrigley.
Stop that. They were simply saying that the dirt at Wrigley is softer up front than it was in the back. Can anyone say this isn’t true? Had BB made that same comment, no one would have said anything. But because it came from Stone (Sox announcer) everyone is jumping all over him.
Moreover, they kept saying that all the runs were unearned, which to me implied that they blamed it on Getz’s error rather than Wrigley. Now the fantom 3rd call strike on Soriano is a different story, Hawk was being a baby about that.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
actually I would be ripping Brenley if he said that too
its stupid to say something like that. Be a better baseball player, Andres Blanco had no issues with that infield.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Again, he wasn't make excuses for Getz in my opinion.
Stop making me defend the White Sox!!! hahaha. This feels like my Jason Marquis defending last year.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
Fair enough
Nobody should have to defend those guys.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
no
they said the runs were un-earned because that’s the way the official scorer called the play.
Stoney went at length about how while the guy who had re-done wrigley was great, the water table, blah blah blah, front soft, back trampoline, blah blah blah…
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
I'm going to go home and listen how long he talked about it.
30 seconds is my guess. I just think Cubs fans need to be a little more objective at times, that’s all I’m saying. To me it was an interesting note about how the field plays at Wrigley.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
everyone
perceives things differently. I think he was making excuses for Getz’s error.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
watching us get pounded by these storms
I’d say the water table should be pretty high by 1:20 p.m.
thermal54 - June 19, 2009
Congratulate Getz
who misplayed the ball.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
I got into it with Scott Podsednik out in the bleachers.
I was giving him crap about striking out the inning before, he turned around and said something (which I couldn’t hear). Then I started mimicking his strike out with my arms and that really got him going. He said “I don’t swing like that” over and over. It was pretty funny. I’ve never seen a player get into it with a fan like that before.
cubswynn - June 19, 2009
I never understood why fans heckle players
Does this make people feel good about themselves? Proud? Big guy in the bleachers?
Just wondering.
flachimesa - June 19, 2009
I don't get
why fans so that either.
sue369 - June 19, 2009
Listening to Bruce Levine right now
He HATES Milton. Said the hot streak for Milton was all singles implying that it isn’t as good.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Milton
is never gonna get a fair shake from the press. EVER.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Jake Fox is in the lineup
ESPN 1000 reported on their update that Fox will play third and bat sixth today.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Interesting
Looking at the stats, Cleveland doesn’t lay down too many bunts (21 sacrifice bunts on the year), so this may be a game in which the Cubs can protect Fox defensively at third.
I wonder who plays second – Fontenot, Blanco, or the Ancient Mariner.
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
against Lee
Fontenot should be left at home. Knowing Lou it is Miles playing second.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Probably.
Though I’d like to see how Blanco hits right-handed.
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
If I remember right
I think Blanco said after he came up that he can’t hit righty anymore, but then he bunted righty yesterday. Either way I’m playing Blanco everyday because he is at least an equal hitter and a way better fielder.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
His VOM (Value Over Miles)
is pretty high right now, given his defense. Come to think of it, I’m going to judge the other 24 players on the active roster by this scale from now on.
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
Okay...
Please name a player, current or past, with a negative VOM.
N Oakley - June 19, 2009
percieved or actual?
Pie.
Cedeno
EPatt.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
I like it...
Unfortunatley, it doesn’t look like there will be a game today.
CubsBullsBears - June 19, 2009
Heavy storms hitting the north side right now.
I’m not leaving my house till they stop. Enough of sitting in the rain.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
Have you tried singing?
tony412 - June 19, 2009
no,
he needs to DANCE.
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
Pretty dark in the loop right now...
But no rain yet.
CubsBullsBears - June 19, 2009
Oh, I think there will be
They’ve had so many rainouts, they don’t want another. There will be windows and likely a long day.
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
Don't they have to be done a certain time per city law?
Or do they just have to start the game and that law no longer applies?
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Once they start, they're ok IIRC
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
Nice
Well hopefully they start the game on time, get it stated and then play the waiting game.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Or get a nice lead, play 4 1/2 and call it!
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
Sounds like a plan
nji232 - June 19, 2009
No, they don't have to be done by a certain time.
But, they do have a noon start tomorrow. They wouldn’t want to have a five-hour rain delay like they had in NY yesterday.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
true, but at the same time
we don’t want to play 60 days in a row at the end of the season.
A rainout gives us a shot at an extra Aramis game, so either way I’m okay with whatever happens.
nji232 - June 19, 2009
Actually...
… a rainout today probably means a DH tomorrow. The Cubs and Indians have ONE common off-day: September 10. Playing on that day would require the Cubs to play 34 days in a row (since they are already likely making up the Sox rainout on September 3). There’s no way they’d approve that.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
Any ideas on how a DH would work tomorrow, Al?
I ask only because I have tickets for tomorrow and would be driving up from Indianapolis.
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
I'd likely be a conventional DH, not a day-night.
Al Yellon - June 19, 2009
RAPTURE!
santoswoodenlegs - June 19, 2009
Crapture
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
over under on
Jake Fox needs to be sent back to AAA/Jake Fox needs to play over Soriano permanently fan posts by 4pm?
drewishdrewid - June 19, 2009
4
nji232 - June 19, 2009
The way things have been going lately around here
I’ll take the over.
Shanghai Badger - June 19, 2009
How many will start:
“I’m new here, but…?”
N Oakley - June 19, 2009
the line is 1.5
Bill Potter - June 19, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.