I'm sure the Fox-TV crew won't say a single thing about the Milton Bradley incident on today's telecast. One of the best things about baseball is that if there's a distraction or problem one day, there's generally another game the next day so a team can take its focus and put it on defeating its opponent then, rather than looking back. That's what I hope the Cubs do today.
In the middle of everything else, Lou had some comments on Geovany Soto's positive marijuana test:
Piniella said he would have encouraged Soto to talk about the incident weeks ago but wasn't aware of it until this week.
"It really has had a negative effect on his performance," Piniella said. "It was supposed to have come out a few times, and they've delayed it, and I don't think it has done any good."
Asked about the seriousness of the offense, Piniella said: "Look, I smoked dope one time in my life, and it didn't do a damn thing for me and I never tried it again. And I'm fortunate because of that. But a lot of people do [smoke marijuana]. You can buy it [for medical purposes] in California."
Somehow, I can't picture Lou doing that. But he's right. Maybe this was weighing on Geo to some extent. In any case, he sure had a big hit the day after the revelation, and for the last five weeks, he's been hitting well. Keep it up, Geo.
And, good news for Ryan Dempster and family:
On the mound will be Mark Buehrle for the Sox and Ryan Dempster for the Cubs. Buehrle is having a fine season, going 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA. Dempster is 4-5 with a 3.83 ERA while being distracted by family health worries.
Those worries may be lessening now that his infant daughter, Riley, is home. She was born April 1 with DiGeorge's syndrome, a disorder that affects her ability to swallow and digest food. Riley had spent her first 2½ months in hospitals.
"I think I've slept better the last three days than I have in months," Dempster said Friday of having his second child home since Tuesday.
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Mark Buehrle is 4-4, 4.57 lifetime vs. the Cubs in 10 starts. Too bad Reed Johnson is on the DL -- he's 10-for-27 vs. Buerhle. Other Cubs who hit him well include Derrek Lee (5-for-11, 2 doubles, a HR) -- and Milton Bradley (8-for-25, 2 doubles, a triple, four walks). One thing about Buehrle -- he works fast and throws strikes. Today's game is likely to be a quick one. (Someone should have told him to stop crying before they took his picture, though.)
Ryan Dempster threw pretty well against the Sox ten days ago at Wrigley Field, but the impotent Cubs offense couldn't help him out. He'd certainly like to pay the Sox back for the pasting they gave him at the Cell one year ago today. Watch out for A.J. -- he's homered off Dempster, but that was on July 1, 2006, when Dempster was closing, a game best forgotten.
Today's game is on Fox. The other two games are Red Sox/Braves and Angels/Diamondbacks, so it appears most of the middle of the country will get the Cubs game. Complete market listing here. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
To find out what Sox fans are thinking, visit our SBN Sox site South Side Sox.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 4 pm, 5 pm and 5:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 111 comments
first by a longshots
hiphopgamer26 - June 27, 2009
first
and THE CUBS RUE THE DAY THEY TRADED DEROSA
Enjoy
cubnational - June 27, 2009
This deserves a fanpost. :-)
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
the fact that he said first
when he was second? Interesting…
LT - June 27, 2009
note we logged on at ALMOST the same time.
He and I were waiting.
And he must have had a cable modem versus my DSL
cubnational - June 27, 2009
Win this one for Riley, Demps!
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
Some of a b****.
I don’t friggin’ care about the Red Sox or Braves. I demand that all of Washington, D.C. bow to my whims!
*grumble**grumble*
CubsWin!Oregon - June 27, 2009
Maybe you can't change Fox's schedule in DC...
…but the guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. might hold some sway. I hear he’s a Sox fan, he probably wants to see today’s game too.
hip2bsquare - June 27, 2009
yeah
we definitely need that socialist to be meddling into what tv stations should be showing where.
ARob1 - June 27, 2009
Flagged.
Politics do not belong here.
MN exile - June 27, 2009
I didnt bring him up.
ARob1 - June 27, 2009
Please no politics. And no dissing us cool Chicago dudes in the DC area!
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
are u referring to yourself?
ARob1 - June 27, 2009
Myself and everyone else from Chicago in the DC area...including the current
resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
he's not that cool
in this discussion…. he’s a Sox fan
LT - June 27, 2009
Beltway also displeased with Red Sox-Atlanta
Now must actually go outside and enjoy weather
BeltwayCubsFan - June 27, 2009
You made it political by calling him a socialist
Which is a pretty hollow label. In either case, the point is, a reference to Obama in the context of “maybe he can help” is not politics. “that socialist” is politics. Take is over to politico or NRO or wherever you want to have those discussions.
Sincerely,
Another dude in DC (coolness in jeopardy because of my visits here).
Orval Overall - June 27, 2009
You brought the political into it.
’Nuff said. Take it to Red State, then.
MN exile - June 27, 2009
Chicago Cubs Baseball
or the circus….I’m not sure what I’ll be watching today. Go Cubs!
heine41 - June 27, 2009
I predict...
…Milton gets two hits today and he goes yard.
MPH73 - June 27, 2009
I'll be shocked if Fox doesn't bring it up
Clutche - June 27, 2009
me too
heine41 - June 27, 2009
I'm willing to wager big money they will
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
The only issue on Fox bringing it up is
Do the mention it BEFORE or AFTER they say " 1908" ?
Doggie Stalker - June 27, 2009
HAHAHAHA
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
agreed
i couldn’t tell if Al was joking or not….FOX eats this stuff up. it will be brought up more than once.
GreenLantern411 - June 27, 2009
They will use it as a teaser
for the new show “When Athletes Attack”
trefrog66 - June 27, 2009
so lou did lie about not knowing the difference between a steroid and reefer
jesus christos - June 27, 2009
Maybe Lou thought he was taking steroids
when he first smoked pot
nji232 - June 27, 2009
explains why hes so mellow now…
jesus christos - June 27, 2009
anyone wanna trade their Fox feed for mine?
even if watching the Braves pound the Red Sox has a sick fascination for me
cubnational - June 27, 2009
maybe lou will have energized milton
fischisgod - June 27, 2009
NOOOOOO!!!!
I have to watch Red Sox/Braves…
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - June 27, 2009
Bradley is a sensational story line and it is so what
The real story is what Steve Stone said, in 2 1/2 months of opportunity Bradley has driven in less runs than the one month that Ramirez did.
Now if Hendry is so good he will find a way to DL or trade him. Could the Cubs make a my bad for your bad and Randy Winn? Salary swap and then get one year off the books?
Also MLB Trade Rumors is reporting DeRosa conversations. Those two moves would energize the Cubs. Platoon Hoffpauir and Winn in RF, bring in Winn for defensive purposes, and play DeRosa at 3B until Ramirez is ready
Ivy Walls - June 27, 2009
I think Bradley is tradeable
I mean how many competent GMs are there in baseball? Maybe 5? The one thing we can bank on is someone thinking they can “change” Bradley. GMs are their own worst enemies.
trefrog66 - June 27, 2009
I vote Baltimore even though I like MB and don't want him traded. The Orioles like our throw-aways.
And MB would like it there….(actually here, since Baltimore is only 30 mins from DC). MB could also DH so he doesn’t have to count the number of outs all the time.
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
In the interests of full disclosure, let it be known that....
…Buehrle is on Al’s fantasy team and Dempster is on mine.
(sorry Carmen)
ballhawk - June 27, 2009
Well Al should bench Buerle
and never have drafted a White Sox player in the first place.
Doggie Stalker - June 27, 2009
+ a lot
LT - June 27, 2009
he didn't. I traded Buehrle to Al. ;-)
ballhawk - June 27, 2009
Well, he AGREED to the trade,
so -100 BCB points for Al.
cowsarecool220 - June 28, 2009
Bring your "A" game Dempster.
Glad to hear Riley is home and they are all doing well.
Light Buehrle up today!!!
sue369 - June 27, 2009
Milton Bradley fanposts
soon to outnumber Mark DeRosa fanposts. Book it!
And Go Cubs!
Goodie1969 - June 27, 2009
lineups posted, MB batting third
DC Cubbie - June 27, 2009
rest of the order???
fischisgod - June 27, 2009
there's a rest of the order?
Emelie - June 27, 2009
Lineup
Sori, Theriot, MB, Lee, Fox, Soto, Freel, Dome, Blanco
DC Cubbie - June 27, 2009
who is where??
fischisgod - June 27, 2009
sori lf theriot ss buster bradley rf lee 1st fox dh soto c farney 3b dome cf blanco 2nd
jesus christos - June 27, 2009
nice
TY!
fischisgod - June 27, 2009
Judging by that Buehrle picture...
I think him and Geo have been hanging out…
kanderber - June 27, 2009
How far away are we from first pitch?
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
I'm about
843 miles.
Reddevil - June 27, 2009
I'm about 690 miles.
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
I see what you did there
In that case i’m about 3000 miles
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
2,779 miles here
Emelie - June 27, 2009
Just a little over
600 miles for me. But I have whiskey, so there are compensations.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
LOL.
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
I like your style
i’ve got canadian beer! But i’m at work……
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
Lake/Cook Rd. to the 90/94 Junction on a Friday afternoon.
So, in other words, about an hour.
Goodie1969 - June 27, 2009
Somewhere past 400 miles here...
n/t
MN exile - June 27, 2009
From Twitter
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
I have to say
this is a pretty dumb thing to say.
He played well without this quote, the writers of the postgame recap would draw the link on their own.
If he doesn’t do something of import, he looks even more ridiculous.
When it comes to public discourse, this guy loves to shoot himself in the foot.
Reddevil - June 27, 2009
This coming from the guy who shuns the limelight...
So yeah, you’re 100 percent right.
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Please just give it a rest. He said he would
Orval Overall - June 27, 2009
sorry, finger twitch posted too soon
He said he thought he would play well. Are you serious that this is what you focus on for negativity, and you DON’T think you’re looking for excuses to dislike the guy?
Yesterday gave you plenty to dislike. Stop looking for reasons where they don’t exist.
Orval Overall - June 27, 2009
From Sullivan
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
what did they expect?
DC Cubbie - June 27, 2009
Those people may have a confidentiality agreement somewhere in their contracts
and that’s why this could blow up a bit further.
chilango2 - June 27, 2009
Actually, I think it was Dr. Crawdad who was hiding in the Cubs locker room and leaked it :-)
zevkalman - June 27, 2009
Was he looking for Cubs players
Who professed that they didn’t care about the Sox and then celebrated when the Sox lost?
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
That AJ homer off of Dempster in 2006
was one day after my son was born. We were all watching in the hospital…my son’s first Cubs game. Sad yet somehow fitting. Now he’s hooked.
ScottieG33 - June 27, 2009
MLB Saturday Blackout Restrictions Drive Me Crazy
Why do they even bother to list this game on their MLB.com Media Center Page if they won’t let you watch the damn thing?
When will those mlb suits figure out that not all Cubs fan live in the midwest and that those that don’t subscribe to their mlb.tv?
Motherfrackers!
And Fox Sports, I am NOT GONNA WATCH THE GAME YOU’RE PIPING TO THE LOCAL FOX AFFILIATE. F U!
JFCubFan - June 27, 2009
Agree 100%
The worst is when Fox isnt even broadcasting the game on any of its stations, but they black it out nationally anwyay because they have some other game in the Saturday 4pm slot. Those of you in Chicago may see it on CSN or whatever, but out of towners can’t get it anywhere, not even EI.
Orval Overall - June 27, 2009
I am very glad to be in Twins country for this game
As opposed to Braves country, where I would normally be.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
I've tried for the last 1/2 hour to find video of o the AJ punch
anyone know of somewhere I can find it.
DC Cubbie - June 27, 2009
MLB is pretty good at scouring the Webs
and removing all official video. I hate that. The only thing they leave is video fans shoot themselves.
ScottieG33 - June 27, 2009
No offense to those that have a problem with FOX talking about the confrontation
But as die hard as everyone is here on the board and in Chicago, its two mediocre .500 teams so they’ve got to spice it up somehow.
BeltwayCubsFan - June 27, 2009
Jake Fox
Todays impact player of the game!
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
And no offense to those who aren't fortunate enough to live within the cubs broadcasting blanket
But if you are as diehard as you claim, you will have no issue paying for MLB.tv. I was a broke ass college student living in St. Louis and I ponied up the dough. You either want to watch your Cubs bad enough, or you don’t. Yes the system is screwed up, but it is what it is.
Signed,
Priorities
heine41 - June 27, 2009
That wasn't the argument
MLBtv blackouts stop that from working all the time
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
I pay for MLB.TV
Premium, no less. While in Atlanta, during Saturday day games, I have no legal way of watching the Cubs if the Braves are playing at the same time (unless, of course, they’re playing each other). Period. I can listen to Pat & Ron, and follow it on Gameday, but unless MLB decides that I’m one of the fortunate few to be allowed access to the Cubs game, I just cannot watch it.
My unofficial sig: Stupid, stupid MLB.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
Agreed
It is one of the most asinine things in sports
heine41 - June 27, 2009
correct
only way you can watch this one is thru illegal means. MLB will not allow anyone to pay.
LT - June 27, 2009
continued
to watch. Stupid stupid stupid
LT - June 27, 2009
I'm a disgruntled Premium owner too
The premium feed lags so far behind I never use it. I end up switching video quality to manual and flick it back to normal mode…. sucks but I hate the delay on the premium feed
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
Yeah, the HD feed is very pretty
But when Gameday is quicker at updating you, something’s way wrong.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
I pay. Give me a break.
buckmulligan - June 27, 2009
only if you are in the area that fox would be broadcasting that game?
or am I incorrect?
heine41 - June 27, 2009
oops sorry, thought i hit reply
heine41 - June 27, 2009
I think you're correct
I’ve only experienced it with MLB tv on Jays games since i’m in canada. I’m on the west coast so I don’t get their broadcasts, but MLBtv still blacks it out for me. But I’m over it, Jays aren’t that great
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
yeah and if we were blacked out
we went a local sportsbar that would be carrying the game
heine41 - June 27, 2009
No good there, either
I used to practically live at a sports bar – if local Fox didn’t have the game before 7PM (Eastern), then you could not watch it (legally).
Stupid, stupid MLB.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
I don't know if anyone has seen this...
DeRosa Back to the Cubs?
GateCity, VA Cubs Fan - June 27, 2009
yeah, rumors have been flying around
linky
heine41 - June 27, 2009
I didn't see it under "Around SB Nation"
sorry
GateCity, VA Cubs Fan - June 27, 2009
The tribe are looking for pitching
who would we be willing to dish out I wonder
Cubsfanatic - June 27, 2009
Harden...?
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - June 27, 2009
Doubtful
He is not under contract for next year and is not considered a prospect
LT - June 27, 2009
And there we go... 3:01 for first MB mention on fox.
Count it.
AndrewJStone - June 27, 2009
yeah, it took NO time
heine41 - June 27, 2009
Wait, is there a game too?
They LITERALLY only cut away from dumb pregame stuff to go to Chicago to talk about Pinella / MB.
Hope this isn’t the way today goes. If so, i’m going WGN radio.
AndrewJStone - June 27, 2009
Same.
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - June 27, 2009
Aaaaandddd....
We’ve got Joe Buck. I’m all yours, Pat & Ron.
AndrewJStone - June 27, 2009
Didn't say a whole lot about it
Tempest in a teapot.
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
YAYA!!!! Joe Buck and Tim McCarver!!!
heine41 - June 27, 2009
- infinity
LT - June 27, 2009
Pretty shot of the Clarence Buckingham Fountain :)
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
Too bad the damn Red Sox are on here...
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - June 27, 2009
First Pitch Thread is up!
Jump!
Clutch16 - June 27, 2009
Lets Do It!
Juuuuummp!
heine41 - June 27, 2009
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