Almost cut my hair
It happened just the other day
It was getting kind of long
I could have said it was in my way -- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
A bit of fun this morning -- we need it, right? Magglio Ordonez of the Tigers -- known for the last few years for flowing curly locks that reached his shoulders -- showed up at Comerica Park last night having cut them all off. He did it for charity -- he's auctioning the hair off to benefit the Imerman Angels, a Chicago-based cancer support group.
If you are interested, here's the eBay auction page. You get a bat autographed by Maggs, too. Bids start at $4,000 (yeah, I know, pricey).
Magglio Ordonez has always been a class act. I wish the Cubs had signed him after the 2004 season when he left the White Sox as a free agent, even with the knee problems he had at the time. The Tigers signed him to a deal that protected them from financial exposure if he had a recurrence of the same issue, and after a "recovery" year in 2005, he had three good years and helped lead them to the World Series in 2006. He'd have looked a lot better in right field the last three years than anyone else the Cubs put out there. He's having a tough year so far in 2009 and was actually benched before coming back to play against the Cubs this week.
Now, let's go beat those Tigers. Ryan Freel (and perhaps even his imaginary friend Farney, too) returns from a rehab assignment today as Reed Johnson heads to the DL.
And Dan McNeil of the Sun-Times trots out the tired old if Lou would just get fired up, that would make all the difference story. So Dan, you think if he yelled at an umpire or threw a base, that would get the Cubs to hit with RISP?
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Armando Galarraga is no relation to former Rockie, Expo and Cardinal Andres Galarraga. Now that we have that out of the way, Armando had a fine rookie year in 2008. This year, he has struggled. The Cubs should be able to take advantage of his 1.64 WHIP to get plenty of baserunners. The issue, of course, is getting them to score. Armando has never faced the Cubs. The only current Cubs who have faced him are Aaron Miles (0-for-3) and Milton Bradley (0-for-2).
Ted Lilly has made nine career appearances (six starts) vs. the Tigers; he is 2-3, 3.96 in those games. The last one was September 27, 2006, when Ted beat a World Series-bound Tigers team in Detroit. Players currently on the Tigers roster are hitting .180 against Ted in 89 total AB.
The Cubs are back on WGN this afternoon. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Overflow comment threads will post today at 1 pm, 2 pm and 2:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 120 comments
All i want for christmas is a clutch base hit
a clutch base hit…….a clutch base hit
heine41 - June 25, 2009
you might get one before december
but if you ask for two, that might bee too much
tim815 - June 25, 2009
I guess it's almost time for Christmas in July.
cowsarecool220 - June 25, 2009
July?!
but I want situational hitting now!
Stupid July Christmas…
Blue W - June 25, 2009
And a swing on strike three
a swing on strike three…..a swing on strike three….there’s no place like home.
propheteer - June 25, 2009
What a difference 3 days makes...
Sunday night I was so excited thinking that we finally turned a corner, and then we fall back into the SSDD stuff of the first 2 months of the season. Let’s get out of here with at least a win.
CubsBullsBears - June 25, 2009
+1
The last thing we need is to head to the Cell on a four-game skid giving the Sox a chance to make it seven.
elgato - June 25, 2009
Tuesday even looked like Monday was the aberration
Until the 9th
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
You alluded to this in last night's recap, Al ...
But the next three weeks are critical. We need to get at least two wins out of the next four games. That would make for a 2-5 trip, which is ugly, but workable. And we need to at least win the series against the division opponents.
If we’re more than 5 out on July 12, I think it’s going to be a long summer.
elgato - June 25, 2009
There are 3 more on the trip -- PGH
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
*after the 4
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
today's game against the Tigers
then three against the Sox. That’s four …
elgato - June 25, 2009
And three in Pittsburgh.
Al Yellon - June 25, 2009
which just might help rescue this road trip
I feel like we are still there, we’re not getting blown out and the pitching is still there. We just NEED that bat
heine41 - June 25, 2009
It might help
But right now, they couldn’t beat my slowpitch softball team on the road — and we stink.
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
oh -- my bad
I thought we were playing the Pirates at Wrigley.
elgato - June 25, 2009
S'alright
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
The Big Cat
Was also a pretty good Brave :D
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
Any word on lineups?
Or dare I say it… lineup changes?
lswaidz - June 25, 2009
Lou mentioned drawing them out of a hat...
The Score did it as a joke this morning, and got the lineup of:
Fukudome – CF
Hoff – LF
Lee – 1B
Theriot – SS
Zambrano – DH
Soriano – 2B
Hill – C
Bradley – RF
Fox – 3B
CubsBullsBears - June 25, 2009
Sure.. why not? It's not like anyone else is doing any better lately. I say.. give it a try..
DisCUBbobulated - June 25, 2009
Slugger Theriot hitting cleanup?
Sure, let’s go with it.
Pre - June 25, 2009
If I'm not mistaken...
…Billy Martin did that at least once during the Yankees season in 77. That’s probably were Lou got it from.
MPH73 - June 25, 2009
Galarraga
I’m fearful because he is the kind of pitcher that the Cubs should beat, poor WHIP, struggling command, etc., but somehow have a way of dominating Cubs hitters.
Hopefully I am wrong. A win today would at least give us momentum heading into the next two road series in Chicago and Pitt.
Tangled Up In Blue - June 25, 2009
yeah my eyes lit up when i saw we were going to face him this week
That being said, this is the exact situation when we make this guy look like a Cy Young contender
heine41 - June 25, 2009
At least he's not left-handed
Someone other than DLee may be able to scratch out a hit or two.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
Pretty Much the only thing keeping me happy right now
Is D-Lee’s hit streak. I’d love to see him push it to 30
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Too true.
Agreed about D-Lee’s hit streak. Would be great to see him get to 30.
Tangled Up In Blue - June 25, 2009
Dan McNeil's story is simplistic.
What’s this “we” crap, McNeil? You’re an unabashed White Sox fan. Write something about your own sucky team, and shut up about ours, m’kay?
Goodie1969 - June 25, 2009
Lineup for this afternoon ->
Soriano
TheRiot
Lee
Hoff
Fox DH
Fontenot
Fukudome
Koyie Hill
Blanco
Lilly
cubsnlinux - June 25, 2009
6-9 makes me want to puke
elgato - June 25, 2009
6-1 for me right now.
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
TWSS
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Yeah, that's different
Sheesh, Lou.
I suppose he figured “threatening” to make changes started a winning streak.
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
well, if Milton is day to day
… like the folks below say, Lou doesn’t have a ton of options. I guess he could start Freel.
elgato - June 25, 2009
I suppose that will be 10-12 days, too....
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
I have a soft spot for MIlton, for some reason
But I wish that when he got hurt, he and Lou would just agree on the freaking DL. Playing a man short is bad — and Milton isn’t exactly the best pinch-hitter I’ve ever seen.
elgato - June 25, 2009
I hear you
I want him to do well, I like the way he brings his passion to the table……
I just wish he was better.
heine41 - June 25, 2009
his slugging percentage is so low!
His on base is OK, but his slugging percentage is .070 lower than his career average and almost .200 lower than last season.
And, of course, his RBI total is ridiculously low — but I think that’s partly because he’s been hitting well in the three hole as Soriano has collapsed hitting ahead of him.
elgato - June 25, 2009
Oh, I like Milton
But he’s unbelievably fragile
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
True.
Further, if it’s his damn contract and the third year triggers that has him occupying space on the 25 man and refusing to go on the DL when he can’t play, the contract is flawed.
N Oakley - June 25, 2009
Wouldn't be the first flawed contract Jimbo handed out
He learned from MacPhail. Player options? Really? How in the world can that benefit the club?
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
Hendry has given
way too many bad contracts that favor the player.
propheteer - June 25, 2009
Like 2 years for Miles....
Shanghai Badger - June 25, 2009
I'm less worried about options that favor the player, in this case.
MB’s options are supposedly triggered by games on the active roster. If the contract and concern about the triggers are hurting the team because he doesn’t want to go on the DL, the contract sucks more than a big salary with a NTC.
N Oakley - June 25, 2009
Or Bradley's contract
or Sori’s, or Dome’s.
propheteer - June 25, 2009
Lilly in the 10 hole!!
heine41 - June 25, 2009
are they letting us have ten batters
for this game?
drewishdrewid - June 25, 2009
lol..forgot to add a huge margin/padding before Lilly
cubsnlinux - June 25, 2009
Lilly is always in the 10 hole
Watching.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
Yes.
And 4 outs an inning :)
heine41 - June 25, 2009
They're playing by summer league rules
10 batters and courtesy runners for the catchers with 2 outs, to speed up the game.
Bill Potter - June 25, 2009
that's binary for the 2 spot..you never know :-P
cubsnlinux - June 25, 2009
Didn't Ted Lilly create binary?
heine41 - June 25, 2009
With his bare hands
Pre - June 25, 2009
nice screen name
Bricks and Ivy - June 25, 2009
I like 3gs better though
cubsnlinux - June 25, 2009
Using femurs and skulls
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Ted Lilly doesn't need binary.
He only puts up zeroes.
Goodie1969 - June 25, 2009
+0
Rec’d
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
FTW
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
No Farney
Maybe he has a few good games left, mostly out of anger. I’d trot him out there, considering…
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
especially considering how badly Fontenot is playing
elgato - June 25, 2009
bad he
heine41 - June 25, 2009
oops
Fontenot has been hitting poorly but I feel is playing well in the field.
I don’t think Farney would be much of an upgrade offensively, and might be a step back with the glove
heine41 - June 25, 2009
maybe it's random
But when I’m watching, Fontenot always seems to be in the middle of rallies that fail or that fall well short of what they should produce. Soto would get the silver medal …
elgato - June 25, 2009
Yeah, I'm not disagreeing with the batting aspect
We can always count on Mikey for a strikeout when we need anything else to happen
heine41 - June 25, 2009
It's kind of amazing that Fontenot
isn’t getting more hell considering his struggles. Miles has been really awful, but Fontenot was the guy the Cubs thought would be an adequate replacement for DeRosa.
I know Milton is a bigger name and a bigger mouth, Miles looks like a little leaguer, the bullpen is questionable and Soriano and Fukudome look HORRIBLE. But LBR’s struggles are hardly drawing any notice.
elgato - June 25, 2009
I, for one, feel he's doing what's expected of a bench player
making $430K a year. Compared to his higher-profile teammates who make 10 times more and put up the same stats, LBR can’t really irritate me very much.
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
well, I won't argue the salary point
But Fontenot is not considered a bench player on this team. Before Aramis got hurt, LBR was going to get the vast majority of playing time at second.
elgato - June 25, 2009
If aramis was in there being a rock and stabilizing this offense
….who knows how productive Fonty could be playing his normal position and possibly being platooned against LHP.
I think the lineup is just pushing as a whole, and Fontenot is right in the middle of it.
I’m not expecting Aramis to come back and give us a whole new heart, but maybe just be a bad-ass pacemaker
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Tru dat
Which raises this question: is LBR out of a job now that Blanco has flashed the glove?
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
good question
Also, will the Cubs dump Miles when Aramis returns? I sure hope so.
elgato - June 25, 2009
Still want Andy White at SS
Platoon Riot and Fonty at 2B, dammit!
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
+ Amen
heine41 - June 25, 2009
So you want Theriot to play in 20% of the games?
That means you get 80% Fontenot and %100 Blanco, leaving the best player of those three on the bench.
dr stabbingworth - June 25, 2009
I just say you have 3 players for 2 positions
the best two play
heine41 - June 25, 2009
I think thats because he is being exposed due to Aramis' absence
If he wasn’t able to play an adequate third base the last 6 weeks, I’m we would have been running him out of town
heine41 - June 25, 2009
I'm attributing it to him having to switch positions
I’d like to wait and see how he does once Aramis returns.
Pre - June 25, 2009
It would be stating the obvious
I’m sure Fonty works like heck, but he is just not an everyday player. Rami going down has forced him to play (a lot) more than he should, and that can easily be blamed for his current struggles.
Perhaps with Freel/Fox at 3B, he can move back to 2B and platoon there with Blanco and/or Riot. It might help to play his natural position – it will certainly help to not be in the lineup on a daily basis.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
The Cubs were expecting him ...
to play most of the time at second, even before A-Ram’s injury.
elgato - June 25, 2009
That plan doesn't seem very sound in light of the current facts
We’ve had more than one pre-season plan go by the wayside, though.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
you can say that again
elgato - June 25, 2009
and I'm not questioning his work ethic
elgato - June 25, 2009
Nor am I
Just his ability to trot out there and perform 5 out of every 6 games. That day may come, but it certainly isn’t today.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
agreed
elgato - June 25, 2009
You never know....
…what a part time player will do if they haven’t had extended playing time before. Some guys look like they have great swings when they play part time, but the mental adjustment of going out their everyday can be a challenge.
MPH73 - June 25, 2009
Two words:
The Grind
heine41 - June 25, 2009
I agree
It wouldn’t be an improvement, but I’m speculating on whether Farney is insane enough to spark up something.
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
lol I guess it couldn't hurt
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Sadly, I'd rather see what Freel can do
Fontenot is 3 for his last 33, all singles.
dr stabbingworth - June 25, 2009
Yeah, and maybe he'll be motivated to prove himself
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Ted is going to be REALLY mad now
He is batting TENTH
Doggie Stalker - June 25, 2009
Here's beating a dead horse
Why is Bradley out of the Lineup? Why is Sori in the lineup? Muskrat is reporting that Bradley is out of the lineup through Saturday.
TheCubsGuy - June 25, 2009
Probably did some damage to his wrist on the diving attempt yesterday
lswaidz - June 25, 2009
Bruised knee
I’m guessing
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
Wrist?
Seemed to tweak his wrist or something when he failed to make that diving catch last night.
John Q Freejazz - June 25, 2009
Glass IS fragile you know
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Failed bat break attempt...
That was idiotic.
CubsBullsBears - June 25, 2009
Milton Bradley
is on pace to be quite the free agent bust. He makes me ill.
Reddevil - June 25, 2009
Glass
I love that reference, shall we call him Mr. Glass….Unbreakable reference.
Sorry for this, I have always read that Freel is an odd guy, but where does the Farney name come from?
TheCubsGuy - June 25, 2009
It's his imaginary friend
More here.
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
..................................................man
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Do a quick Google search of "Farney"
and click on the Deadspin link. The comments are so funny…
chilango2 - June 25, 2009
lol he's batshit crazy
heine41 - June 25, 2009
Zobrist..
with our struggles on offense all year, and the talk of getting another bat. Does anybody know if Ben Zobrist is on the trading block, i would love to see hendry to go after him. He’s having a great year. Go cubs!
cubbiebear316 - June 25, 2009
He's on the trading block in my fantasy league
Hold on, I’ll get on the phone with the Boondock Bombers. Hold Please. :)
heine41 - June 25, 2009
My brother is a Rays fan...
and we were talking about this over the weekend. I think he goes back into RF for Tampa Bay when Iwamura returns. The platoon of Gross/Kapler is OK, but Zobrist would outproduce them.
Chris Dobbertean - June 25, 2009
The all Gabe platoon
has to be an MLB first
heine41 - June 25, 2009
At this point..
he might be to valuable for the Rays to trade him, but he would be awesome in a Cbs uniform. Great numbers this year and he has played a lot of positions..we need him!
cubbiebear316 - June 25, 2009
Maggs
Al are you sure you wanted Maggs on the Cubs ?
LAKELAND, Fla. — Magglio Ordonez is being booed at the World Baseball Classic by his own Venezuelan countrymen, who are voicing their displeasure with his friendship with controversial Venezuela President Hugo Chavez.
.
nimblenikelfoos - June 25, 2009
Meh
He can bbq with Ahmadinejad for all I care if he puts up numbers like this.
dr stabbingworth - June 25, 2009
Well, four years ago that wasn't an issue, was it?
Al Yellon - June 25, 2009
Reed Johnson might be almost as painful a loss as ARAM
because it means Dome is our everyday centerfielder, and he’s back to being awful at the plate.
Can we just reverse the Freel trade and get Gathright back?
WanderingWanderer - June 25, 2009
is that why Ozzie doesn't like him?
elgato - June 25, 2009
For his awesome bat?
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
First Pitch Thread is up
Jump!
Clutch16 - June 25, 2009
need todays game
1st time here…intelligent group…gotta beat Tigs 2day & 2 of 3 from Sox. I’m 50 and was just “getting used to” feeling “cubbie confident” :) Cubs may live & die by our OF “anchors”…sadly, now both LF & RF look like BOAT anchors!
jeffstorm2 - June 25, 2009
Fontenot should be a bench guy
which is why we need an upgrade up the middle at 2b. Still don’t get us signing Miles when Orlando Hudson was still out there and signed for not much more than Miles.
TheCubsGuy - June 25, 2009
I blame Hendry
seems Hendry was making trades this season “just to make trades”, “window dressing”, since it appears MB is a bust, other trades hardly mattered…does anyone honestly feel we ran out a “superior team” to ’08? not I…
jeffstorm2 - June 25, 2009
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