General view of the Houston Astrodome during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport)
The Houston Astrodome was known as the House of Pain when the NFL's Houston Oilers played there.
That phrase was so true, too, for the Chicago Cubs, who went 83-137 there in the 35 seasons (1965-1999) the Astros called it home. The Cubs couldn't seem to win there even when they were good and the Astros weren't.
In 1986, Houston would go on to win the NL West title while the Cubs struggled through their second straight losing season after the 1984 NL East division title.
This game was no exception to the rule.
I think Jim Frey is panicking and if he keeps this up, Dallas Green might even have to think about replacing him, less than two years after he led the Cubs to their best season since World War II. That's a harsh statement, but after tonight's 9-6 loss to the Astros, the Cubs' third straight loss, it does seem as if Frey is losing it.
This game started out well. Jody Davis and Keith Moreland both homered off Houston's soft-tossing rookie Jim Deshaies in the first inning, and when Davis homered a second time off Deshaies in the top of the sixth, the Cubs had a 6-3 lead; Dennis Eckersley, who was roughed up a bit in the first two innings, had settled down. Incidentally, this is only the second time in the 22 seasons the Cubs have been playing in the Astrodome that they have hit three home runs in a game. They lost the other one, too, 11-7 on May 1, 1974. This place has been the worst road stadium for the Cubs for decades.
Maybe that's why Frey panicked after two of the first three hitters in the bottom of the sixth got hits, with a run scoring, making it 6-4. It's not as if anyone was really hitting Eck hard; sure, he'd given up 10 hits by then, but nine of them were singles and, showing his usual control, Eck hadn't walked anyone.
The Cubs' bullpen has been shaky all year and that's why Frey should have let Eckersley work his own way out of the jam. Jay Baller and Guy Hoffman were awful; Baller got the second out but allowed a single to pinch-hitter Alan Ashby, cutting the lead to 6-5. He wild-pitched pinch-runner Tony Walker to second and then gave up another hit to Bill Doran that tied the game. Hoffman came in and...
... well, you probably don't even want to hear the rest. It was ugly. Three straight hits made it 9-6 Astros, which is where it ended.
Before this latest losing streak, the Cubs had actually climbed out of the 2-8 hole they dug at the beginning of the year, going 11-10. But playing this weekend series in Houston isn't going to help, and neither is trying to climb out of last place, 10.5 games behind, when we're not even in June yet.
You know, the Cubs have a kid named Jamie Moyer who's been throwing great at Double-A and Triple-A this year. Maybe they could bring him up and slide Eckersley over to the bullpen... Eck's control would be a great help there.
Do you think that would work?
0 recs | 33 comments
I actually met the first PResident Bush and his wife at the Astrodome while on business in Houston and went to a game with someone who had connections. Politics aside meeting someone who once was the leader of our country is an experience. And you have to appreciate the sports fan in him that wanted to see the kid everyone was talking about even if he was on the other team (this was 1998 and it was Wood).
Hey has anyone heard of this kid coming up through our system? I hear he’s pretty good. Maddux or something like that? I heard he has an older brother who might be a good coach someday. I think he’s someone Jessica and I will really like.
1986 was a very forgettable year for the Cubs. It was my senior year in high school to start the season and first year of college to end the season. The year started on a high in Chicago of course sports wise but the only thing memorable about the season was the debut of Maddux who didn’t set the world on fire that season but had his moments.
puckishcubsfan - January 21, 2012
Although the Cubs had Lee Smith as closer,
by June they also had two certified baseball geniuses in the front office and dugout, with Dallas upstairs and Gene Michael as field leader. As two of baseball’s all-time great talent evaluators, it’s surprising neither would have used Eck as a setup man.
Overlooking Eckersley’s potential in the bullpen was the first step in a spectacular Cubs comedy of errors that continued with the firing of Green and Michael, the hiring of Frey as GM, and the trade of both Eck and Lee Smith.
ernaga - January 21, 2012
From what I recall
Green & Co wanted “Double Deck Eck” to move to the BP, and he bitched about it and basically refused to do it, so they dumped his sorry ass to the A’s. Still pisses me off …
Jose's Eyelid - January 21, 2012
That makes sense.
Green and Stick knew what they had with Eck’s incredible ‘85 K to W ratio, but when he wouldn’t cooperate and pitch in relief, they shipped him to Siberia. Wonder what the A’s did to convince him to make the move? Maybe the trade itself was enough.
ernaga - January 21, 2012
He went to rehab
and he stopped being the mean jerk drunk he had been.
What might have been if his family had staged an intervention just one season earlier.
Josh Timmers - January 21, 2012
Exactly.
Eck later admitted the day games and the night life of Chicago did him in with the Cubs. He just wasn’t very mature when he was with the Cubs. I can’t blame the Cubs for the trade.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - January 21, 2012
The only thing you can blame them for
… is not getting any real talent in return. None of the three players received in the deal ever played in the major leagues, though one of them (Mark Leonette, a RHP) is the only man — at least since 1932 — to be recalled from the minor leagues, be on the roster during the period of the 25-man limit, and never get into a game. He warmed up at least once, but never appeared.
Incidentally, one of the other players received for Eckersley was David Wilder, who later became director of minor league operations and assistant GM with the Cubs. Within the last couple of years, as director of player personnel for the White Sox, he was involved in a scandal, skimming money off bonuses supposedly paid to Dominican players. He pleaded guilty to fraud a year ago, but has not yet been sentenced.
Al Yellon - January 22, 2012
If the 2012 season plays out the way many predict,...
…there may be a good opportunity for the Cubs to help cheat some personal fates and right some obvious wrongs in September by activating Mark Leonette and Adam Greenberg for a game or two – maybe tied in to a Welcome Back Bobby Scales night.
Imagine the teeth-grinding anguish both men must suffer whenever someone reminds them of their Moonlight Graham status in the record book. There ought to be an Eddie Gaedel Cup O’ Joe wing in Cooperstown where the stories of such one-shot wonders can properly be commemorated.
ernaga - January 22, 2012
At least Greenberg got into a game.
… and was still active in the Atlantic League in 2011.
Leonette just turned 50. I think his time has passed. Although, he’s only a year older than Jamie Moyer.
Al Yellon - January 22, 2012
Speaking of closers
I see that Dave Smith picked up the save for the Astros in this game. I’ll bet he’d look great in a Cubs uniform!
Jody Jody Davis - January 24, 2012
Jody Davis and Keith Moreland are among the list of players
that I’m thinking might be at the fantasy camp next week. Wouldn’t that be cool?! Sorry, don’t mean to have such a one track mind, but we are really excited.
As an Island of Dr. Moreau/ Island of Lost Souls fan I am amused by the nickname House of Pain.
Jamie Moyer…hmmm…he just might turn out to be a valuable player. Maybe even HOF worthy.
katie casey - January 21, 2012
Nah...
Guys like that don’t last too long.
Easy Ed - January 21, 2012
What about that kid in the minors named Maddux? I heard he might play for us and the Braves someday. I think Jessica will like him.
puckishcubsfan - January 21, 2012
There's a kid in Peoria
who we grabbed in the 24th round last year. He’s hitting .342 down there. Can’t remember his name. Grant? Green? Grace. I think it’s Mike Grace.
Josh Timmers - January 21, 2012
there were there in 2010
I hope they’ll be there again this year. TOMORROW!!!!!
VegasCubFan - January 21, 2012
a little over 1 month
before I was born. :(
RIP Slim - January 21, 2012 via Android app
That Guy Hoffman dude...sheesh...
…that’s my mom’s baby brother’s little boy. Once struck out 19 (out of a possible 18 outs) in a 6 inning Pony League game in Ottawa. He’s either in the Bradley HoF or Peoria HoF…can’t remember. He also was a member of the 1974(?) Ottawa Marquette basketball team that finished 2nd in the state tourney. And he pitched a complete game for the Cubs in ‘86. His fast ball couldn’t break a window, but, had a pretty good hook. Went to Japan and made some decent yen, then retired and now owns a HUGE sports bar. I seen him last August at a family reunion and he looks like he could still hold his own. Oh yeah…he also got me an autographed ball from Carlton Fisk, when he pitched for the White Sox in ‘83…good ol’ cuz, Guy.
Thus ends your Guy Hoffman biography lesson for the day. Pop quiz to follow.
Easy Ed - January 21, 2012
Seriously?
Guy Hoffman is your cousin?
Al Yellon - January 21, 2012
Yep...
…he’s 2 years older. He was really highly sought after as a high school pitcher. Full ride to Bradley. I really envied him as I was growing up. Dad and I went to a lot of his pony league and high school games. I only seen him pitch professionally 2 or 3 times.
Easy Ed - January 21, 2012
Very cool story.
When I wrote this post I had no idea I’d find a regular poster here was actually related to a Cubs player.
Thanks for posting!
Al Yellon - January 21, 2012
Wow indeed
And I was going to tell a story about how I knew a guy named Guy Hoffman at the time he was on the Cubs. But the Guy I knew wasn’t the Guy you knew.
Josh Timmers - January 21, 2012
Jamie Moyer?
I think he’ll be definite bust. Probably won’t even make it out of the 80’s before calling it quits…
#1 iowan cubs fan - January 21, 2012
Correction:
I think he’ll be a definite bust.
#1 iowan cubs fan - January 21, 2012
Soft tossing lefty
Could be a back of the rotation guy for a few years. Heck, he can’t be any worse than Randy Lerch, can he? And people kept giving Lerch a job.
Josh Timmers - January 21, 2012
Drew Hall, Jay Baller, Eck, and That Southside Manager
He’s the best pitching prospect that the Cubs have. Forget about Moyer and that other guy I’ve been hearing about, Maddox! I know that other guy isn’t related to Garry.
The Cubs need to have Jay Baller as the closer. Lee Smith is too slow. Smith is no Jeff Reardon. The idea of moving Eck to the bullpen is ridiculous. That sounds like something stupid that manager on the southside would do. After that guy gets canned, he’ll never manage in the big leagues again. If Eck can’t get his act together, he’ll be through in the big leagues, too.
Really, can you think of any pitcher in MLB history who’s been a starter for 11 years that ever became a great reliever?
memphiscub - January 23, 2012
Drew Hall: "Can't Miss" Pitching Prospect for the Cubs
memphiscub - January 23, 2012
Moyer
Out of the 80’s or out of his eighties? The latter appears possible…
John916 - January 21, 2012
I think Al should do recaps to all the Cubs games played before the days of BCB.
I really like reading them.
I would like to see a “non-random” recap of the game from 9/28/1995. That was the game in which the Cubs became the first major league team since 1900 to overcome six different deficits to win a game. Defeating, ironically, the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field 12-11 in eleven innings. Also, that was the game in which a fan named John Murray ran out on the field and attacked Cubs pitcher Randy Myers. Lets just say Randy Myers won that battle.
However, after that game, the Cubs’ hope of making a Wild-Card spot faded quickly.
#1 iowan cubs fan - January 21, 2012
The day after that game...
Seven Cubs players became ill with food poisoning. Leon Durham, Ron Cey, Gary Matthews, Chris Speier, Bobby Dernier, Manny Trillo and Rick Sutcliffe all became ill after ordering extra mayonnaise from room service in a Houston hotel.
Moral of the story here: Don’t eat the mayonnaise in Houston hotels : )
#1 iowan cubs fan - January 21, 2012
Ive gotten sick from hotel food in Houston twice. Moral of the story don’t eat hotel food in Houston anytime.
Actually the food in Houston is really great. If you’re out there don’t eat in the hotels eat out. I worked for a company based there from 94-99 and traveled there all the time.
puckishcubsfan - January 21, 2012
As the standard of modern ballparks from '65 through '71, the Astrodome served as an ideal test lab...
for the Cubs to demonstrate what happens when a talented team that plays its home games on grass, in daylight, under extremely-variable weather conditions, surrounded by brick walls and miniscule foul territory, tries to win in a vast, highly-controlled, futuristic snake pit like the Dome.
Of course the stark transitions proved to be too much for the Cubs to win in Houston, and having to play in such a foreign environment probably cost the Cubs a couple of division titles from ’69 to ’73.
ernaga - January 21, 2012
The Cubs were bad in the Astrodome, but not bad enough to accomplish that. Cubs record in the Astrodome from 1969-73:
1969: 5-1
1970: 2-4
1971: 2-4
1972: 1-5
1973: 4-2
Overall: 14-16. Mediocre, but not bad for a road team. The Astros were pretty much a .500 team, more or less, for those five years, but at home they were:
1969: 52-29
1970: 44-37
1971: 39-42
1972: 41-36
1973: 41-40
It wasn’t just the Cubs who had trouble winning in Houston in those years.
Al Yellon - January 21, 2012
Whitey's Kansas City Teams
They played really well in the regular season on the turf at home in the late 1970’s. A lot of that is because the Royals were the only good AL team on turf back in those days. The Mariners and Blue Jays were just starting out as expansion teams then. The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Brewers, and Angels all played on grass.
memphiscub - January 23, 2012
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