The Cubs and Sox will now play their annual interleague series (plural) with the Crosstown Cup on the line, an actual, literal trophy that will go to the team winning the majority of the six match-ups.
I never cared about the back-and-forth, intense, heated games that the Cubs and Sox have played ever since 1997, but I will now! A trophy, you say? Will it be gold? Will the players be allowed to carry it around with them for a day like they do with the Stanley Cup? Does Tom Ricketts have anything better he could do with his time?
And here's the worst thing: if the teams split the six games, as they have done four of the 10 years in which they've played a home-and-away format, the team that wins the last game gets the trophy. How is that fair? I say, for this year, give it to the team who outscores the other (if there's a tie), and in the future, when they split 3-3, the team that "owns" the trophy simply keeps it. Until the other team can take it away by winning a season series, it stays wherever it is.
But now I've spent a full two paragraphs analyzing this absurd, Little League-style award that none of the players will give a damn about, and that makes me angry. This isn't technically a BAD idea, just a pointless one. I hope I never hear someone utter the words "We won the Crosstown Cup!" even if it's a Cubs fan saying it.
Showing posts with label White Sox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label White Sox. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, September 4, 2009
Crosstown Class-ick
Thursday: White Sox 5, Cubs 0
I got it! I got it! I don't got it.
Carlos Torres? Seriously?? A 27-year-old rookie making his third major league start and shooting for his first major league win? And all he does is throw seven scoreless innings in 2009's final installment of the Crosstown Craptastic.
This loss is on Alfonso Soriano. Congratulations to Derrek Lee, who was attending to the birth of his second child, but it's a shame he had to miss the game, as Jake Fox was then forced to play first base instead of left field. Down 1-0, Soriano came to the plate with runners at first (Fox) and third and one out ... and struck out. Then, still in a 1-0 game, he came up in the seventh with a runner at second (Fox) and nobody out, needing to move him over to third ... and struck out. Baker then singled to right, but Fox was thrown out at the plate. Because Soriano didn't move him to third. Because small ball isn't really his thing. Because he's not a team player.
Oh, and he's not a real dynamite fielder, either. Soriano fell down as he attempted to catch a ball in the eighth, resulting in a three-base, run-scoring error. I'm not even going to feign shock; this is what he does. Even Ron Santo called Thursday's performance "embarrassing."
I honestly can't believe we have this guy for five more years (Soriano, not Santo). Five more years! That's 2014! We will have had another presidential election, a summer Olympics, two winter Olympics, and two World Cups by then. And I'll be 32! Maybe some AL team would like to have an aging DH.
Dempster did his part, pitching what should have been eight scoreless innings except for Soriano's dunderhead play out in left. With the first three Sox runs being unearned (due also to an error at first by Fox), the Cubs had pitched 30 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, and the bullpen racked up 22.2 straight scoreless innings. That all ended, however, when Sean Marshall allowed two runs of the earned variety in the ninth.
I got it! I got it! I don't got it.Carlos Torres? Seriously?? A 27-year-old rookie making his third major league start and shooting for his first major league win? And all he does is throw seven scoreless innings in 2009's final installment of the Crosstown Craptastic.
This loss is on Alfonso Soriano. Congratulations to Derrek Lee, who was attending to the birth of his second child, but it's a shame he had to miss the game, as Jake Fox was then forced to play first base instead of left field. Down 1-0, Soriano came to the plate with runners at first (Fox) and third and one out ... and struck out. Then, still in a 1-0 game, he came up in the seventh with a runner at second (Fox) and nobody out, needing to move him over to third ... and struck out. Baker then singled to right, but Fox was thrown out at the plate. Because Soriano didn't move him to third. Because small ball isn't really his thing. Because he's not a team player.
Oh, and he's not a real dynamite fielder, either. Soriano fell down as he attempted to catch a ball in the eighth, resulting in a three-base, run-scoring error. I'm not even going to feign shock; this is what he does. Even Ron Santo called Thursday's performance "embarrassing."
I honestly can't believe we have this guy for five more years (Soriano, not Santo). Five more years! That's 2014! We will have had another presidential election, a summer Olympics, two winter Olympics, and two World Cups by then. And I'll be 32! Maybe some AL team would like to have an aging DH.Dempster did his part, pitching what should have been eight scoreless innings except for Soriano's dunderhead play out in left. With the first three Sox runs being unearned (due also to an error at first by Fox), the Cubs had pitched 30 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, and the bullpen racked up 22.2 straight scoreless innings. That all ended, however, when Sean Marshall allowed two runs of the earned variety in the ninth.
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College football started last night. To all those teams with championship aspirations: if you're going to lose, you'd better do it now. Lose late in the season and the ridiculous BCS will get ya! And I'm not talking to you, non-major conference teams. You have no right to have championship aspirations you ... you ... you non-major conference teams you!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Not an August performance
Monday: Astros 5, Cubs 3
What do you think Rich Harden was thinking about when he went to bed Sunday night? Was he hoping to be traded to Minnesota, where the Twins are 3.5 games behind the Tigers and where his good friend Justin Morneau resides? Or was he hoping to find himself on the mound at Wrigley Monday night, keeping open the possibility that he will remain in Chicago beyond 2009.
We may never know the answer to that, but while the Twins were dealing a knockout blow to the White Sox (the Sox traded Jim Thome and Jose Contreras after the game), the Cubs were turning in another meek performance en route to a 5-3 loss and an 11-17 August. It was the almost-former Cubs night, as Harden went five innings and then Aaron Heilman, who was claimed off waivers by the Giants over the weekend, came in for the next two. Former closer Kevin Gregg pitched the eighth and pretty new Cub John Grabow threw a perfect ninth.
Piniella says he'll play Koyie Hill "a lot more" instead of Geovany Soto, and I can't blame him. I just hope Soto finds his 2008 Rookie of the Year form when the calendar turns to 2010.
Back to Jim Thome getting traded: he went to the Dodgers, which makes me wonder where he's gonna play. Having played just 28 games at first base since 2005 (he was strictly a DH with the White Sox), are they just going to use him off the bench? I'm not sure that Thome, who has 23 home runs and 74 RBI this year, would be too thrilled with that.
Speaking of trades by the Dodgers...
L.A. also picked up starter Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks, and the best part of that trade is that Jon Garland found out during their game last night--against the Dodgers. So all Garland had to do was switch dugouts!
I predict that I'm about to toot my own horn
While the Twins apparently killed the White Sox' chances of making the playoffs, the Cubs have been turning twin killings at a rate very pleasurable to me this season. That's because heading into last night's game, the Cubs were on pace to turn 149 double plays. That happens to be the exact number that I predicted prior to the season.
What do you think Rich Harden was thinking about when he went to bed Sunday night? Was he hoping to be traded to Minnesota, where the Twins are 3.5 games behind the Tigers and where his good friend Justin Morneau resides? Or was he hoping to find himself on the mound at Wrigley Monday night, keeping open the possibility that he will remain in Chicago beyond 2009.
We may never know the answer to that, but while the Twins were dealing a knockout blow to the White Sox (the Sox traded Jim Thome and Jose Contreras after the game), the Cubs were turning in another meek performance en route to a 5-3 loss and an 11-17 August. It was the almost-former Cubs night, as Harden went five innings and then Aaron Heilman, who was claimed off waivers by the Giants over the weekend, came in for the next two. Former closer Kevin Gregg pitched the eighth and pretty new Cub John Grabow threw a perfect ninth.
Piniella says he'll play Koyie Hill "a lot more" instead of Geovany Soto, and I can't blame him. I just hope Soto finds his 2008 Rookie of the Year form when the calendar turns to 2010.
Back to Jim Thome getting traded: he went to the Dodgers, which makes me wonder where he's gonna play. Having played just 28 games at first base since 2005 (he was strictly a DH with the White Sox), are they just going to use him off the bench? I'm not sure that Thome, who has 23 home runs and 74 RBI this year, would be too thrilled with that.
Speaking of trades by the Dodgers...
L.A. also picked up starter Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks, and the best part of that trade is that Jon Garland found out during their game last night--against the Dodgers. So all Garland had to do was switch dugouts!
I predict that I'm about to toot my own hornWhile the Twins apparently killed the White Sox' chances of making the playoffs, the Cubs have been turning twin killings at a rate very pleasurable to me this season. That's because heading into last night's game, the Cubs were on pace to turn 149 double plays. That happens to be the exact number that I predicted prior to the season.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Are we sure Zambrano's not still hurt?
Sunday: Mets 4, Cubs 1
I don't ask that just to be cantankerous. I ask it for two reasons:
1) Zambrano hasn't just struggled in his two starts since coming off the DL, he's been lit up. Seven hits and eight runs in just 4.1 innings against the Nationals on Tuesday, and then 11 hits--including five straight at one point--in just 3.1 innings Sunday against the Mets. In total, he's allowed 18 hits and 12 runs in his last two starts. It looked like batting practice despite it being a cold day (57 degrees at game time) with the wind blowing in.
2) Big Z has an ego and a serious competitive streak. He, more than some players, is the type to fight through pain when perhaps he shouldn't.
If he is in fact feeling any lingering effects from his recent DL stint, the Cubs would be better served with Tom Gorzelanny taking the ball every fifth day. Zambrano isn't fooling anybody on the mound right now.
The Cubs offense, however, was fooled all day by Nelson Figueroa. They managed seven hits, all singles, and scarcely threatened to score after taking a 1-0 lead in the first.
And may I ask, what is with Cubs players swinging on 3-0 counts this year? It's a freakin' epidemic. Milton Bradley must have a clause in his contract requiring him to do so, and Derrek Lee has done so quite a bit this year, including once on Saturday and once on Sunday.
First of all, I'm not a big fan of swinging 3-0 no matter what. As a batter, you've worked hard to get the pitcher into a terrible count, and then you bail him out by swinging at the next pitch? But hey, I realize the pitcher often grooves one right down Broadway on 3-0, and if you can tee one up and drive it hard somewhere, that's understandable. But Bradley is 1-for-14 this year when he swings at a 3-0 pitch, and Derrek Lee flied out on 3-0 each of the last two days. And, yesterday, he did so with two men on and the Cubs' most clutch hitter, Aramis Ramirez, on deck. A potential bases loaded situation vanished when a normally patient hitter took a weak swing at a pitcher's pitch. I can understand Lou giving these guys the green light, but someone needs to tell them the green light doesn't work like a stoplight--you don't have to swing!
The Cubs fell to 3-3 on the homestand and to two games over .500 overall with just one more game to play until September.
News from the South Side
The White Sox appear poised to join the Cubs at the back end of Sportscenter. They're 1-6 on their current 10-game road trip. Ozzie Guillen berated his team with a barrage of expletive-filled Ozzieness after Saturday's performance in which they tallied one hit against Sergio Mitre and the Yankees. Jose Contreras got lit up again and has been demoted to the 'pen. And their supposed savior, Jake Peavy, left his most recent rehab start and will have his elbow examined.
The Sox remain in the hunt in the AL Central, sitting six games back of a mediocre Tigers team and 1.5 games back of the how-do-they-stay-in-the-race-every-single-year Twins. But the reality is, the Sox are two games under .500, and the butt-whooping they've received from the playoff caliber Red Sox and Yankees this week has shown their true colors--a home run-dependent, defensively challenged, pitching poor team in a piss poor division.
News from the East Side
Cutler silenced the boo birds--well, actually, I think the boo birds were pretty resilient. But Cutler did all he could, completing 16 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in his return to Denver. Cutler vs. Orton was obviously the main event, but there were some great undercards as well.
Devin Hester brought back visions of 2008 when he backpedaled to the five yard line and fair caught a punt, but then reminded us of 2007 on another punt return with a great cutback move and a 54-yard return to the Denver four, leading to the go-ahead touchdown.
Adrian Peterson opened some eyes by averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 12 attempts, scoring a touchdown along the way. And that chemistry we've been hearing about between Cutler and Greg Olsen was evident as Cutler lasered a couple balls into Olsen's breadbasket (three catches, 47 yards total for Olsen).
Denver helped out the Bears defense quite a bit with some penalties (10 for 86 yards), but all in all it was a good night for Lovie Smith's squad. The Bears were facing the first of four consecutive 3-4 defensive schemes (including Cleveland in the final preseason game this week, then Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the first two regular season games), so they'll be seeing some familiar sights by the time the real games roll around.
Did you know ...
With a 4-1 loss on Sunday, the Pirates have now lost 21 straight games in Milwaukee. Twenty-one straight! That's the longest streak by one team over another at home since 1954 (Indians over the Orioles). I hope the Pirates players at least found some watering holes while in the beer haven known as Milwaukee.
I don't ask that just to be cantankerous. I ask it for two reasons:
1) Zambrano hasn't just struggled in his two starts since coming off the DL, he's been lit up. Seven hits and eight runs in just 4.1 innings against the Nationals on Tuesday, and then 11 hits--including five straight at one point--in just 3.1 innings Sunday against the Mets. In total, he's allowed 18 hits and 12 runs in his last two starts. It looked like batting practice despite it being a cold day (57 degrees at game time) with the wind blowing in.
2) Big Z has an ego and a serious competitive streak. He, more than some players, is the type to fight through pain when perhaps he shouldn't.
If he is in fact feeling any lingering effects from his recent DL stint, the Cubs would be better served with Tom Gorzelanny taking the ball every fifth day. Zambrano isn't fooling anybody on the mound right now.
The Cubs offense, however, was fooled all day by Nelson Figueroa. They managed seven hits, all singles, and scarcely threatened to score after taking a 1-0 lead in the first.
And may I ask, what is with Cubs players swinging on 3-0 counts this year? It's a freakin' epidemic. Milton Bradley must have a clause in his contract requiring him to do so, and Derrek Lee has done so quite a bit this year, including once on Saturday and once on Sunday.
First of all, I'm not a big fan of swinging 3-0 no matter what. As a batter, you've worked hard to get the pitcher into a terrible count, and then you bail him out by swinging at the next pitch? But hey, I realize the pitcher often grooves one right down Broadway on 3-0, and if you can tee one up and drive it hard somewhere, that's understandable. But Bradley is 1-for-14 this year when he swings at a 3-0 pitch, and Derrek Lee flied out on 3-0 each of the last two days. And, yesterday, he did so with two men on and the Cubs' most clutch hitter, Aramis Ramirez, on deck. A potential bases loaded situation vanished when a normally patient hitter took a weak swing at a pitcher's pitch. I can understand Lou giving these guys the green light, but someone needs to tell them the green light doesn't work like a stoplight--you don't have to swing!
The Cubs fell to 3-3 on the homestand and to two games over .500 overall with just one more game to play until September.
News from the South Side
The White Sox appear poised to join the Cubs at the back end of Sportscenter. They're 1-6 on their current 10-game road trip. Ozzie Guillen berated his team with a barrage of expletive-filled Ozzieness after Saturday's performance in which they tallied one hit against Sergio Mitre and the Yankees. Jose Contreras got lit up again and has been demoted to the 'pen. And their supposed savior, Jake Peavy, left his most recent rehab start and will have his elbow examined.
The Sox remain in the hunt in the AL Central, sitting six games back of a mediocre Tigers team and 1.5 games back of the how-do-they-stay-in-the-race-every-single-year Twins. But the reality is, the Sox are two games under .500, and the butt-whooping they've received from the playoff caliber Red Sox and Yankees this week has shown their true colors--a home run-dependent, defensively challenged, pitching poor team in a piss poor division.
News from the East Side
Cutler silenced the boo birds--well, actually, I think the boo birds were pretty resilient. But Cutler did all he could, completing 16 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in his return to Denver. Cutler vs. Orton was obviously the main event, but there were some great undercards as well.
Devin Hester brought back visions of 2008 when he backpedaled to the five yard line and fair caught a punt, but then reminded us of 2007 on another punt return with a great cutback move and a 54-yard return to the Denver four, leading to the go-ahead touchdown.
Adrian Peterson opened some eyes by averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 12 attempts, scoring a touchdown along the way. And that chemistry we've been hearing about between Cutler and Greg Olsen was evident as Cutler lasered a couple balls into Olsen's breadbasket (three catches, 47 yards total for Olsen).
Denver helped out the Bears defense quite a bit with some penalties (10 for 86 yards), but all in all it was a good night for Lovie Smith's squad. The Bears were facing the first of four consecutive 3-4 defensive schemes (including Cleveland in the final preseason game this week, then Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the first two regular season games), so they'll be seeing some familiar sights by the time the real games roll around.
Did you know ...
With a 4-1 loss on Sunday, the Pirates have now lost 21 straight games in Milwaukee. Twenty-one straight! That's the longest streak by one team over another at home since 1954 (Indians over the Orioles). I hope the Pirates players at least found some watering holes while in the beer haven known as Milwaukee.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Who said the trade deadline wouldn't be busy?
By my count, at least 22 teams were involved in trades in the last couple weeks. The biggest--at least on paper--would be Victor Martinez to the Red Sox, Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers, and Matt Holliday to the Cardinals.
The Red Sox are of course right in the thick of things, and their offense has slumped since the All-Star break (16 runs in the first seven games after the break). Martinez (.284, 15, 67) will take at-bats from Jason Varitek (.239, 13, 44) and shore up an offense that already benefits from the fourth best pitching staff in the AL.
The Tigers lead the AL Central by just two games, and Jarrod Washburn (8-6, 2.64) gives them a solid lefty in the middle of their rotation. If they're able to push their way into the playoffs, they set up well with Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Washburn in a short series.
And it's already been said here, but Holliday provides protection for Pujols and stretches their lineup as they try to score more runs for Carpenter, Wainwright, Piniero et al.
In the trade no one saw coming, the White Sox responded to the Washburn acquisition by getting--really, this time--Jake Peavy. The Sox traded Friday's scheduled starter Clayton Richard, top prospect Aaron Poreda, and two other prospects. Only problem is, Peavy is injured and out for at least another month. With Richard gone in the deal, the Sox are going to be hard up for a fifth starter for the next month. The good news for the Sox is that Peavy is also locked in for a few more years, though his salary (upwards of $17 mil) is not in the range that Kenny Williams is accustomed to paying his starting pitchers.
The Red Sox are of course right in the thick of things, and their offense has slumped since the All-Star break (16 runs in the first seven games after the break). Martinez (.284, 15, 67) will take at-bats from Jason Varitek (.239, 13, 44) and shore up an offense that already benefits from the fourth best pitching staff in the AL.
The Tigers lead the AL Central by just two games, and Jarrod Washburn (8-6, 2.64) gives them a solid lefty in the middle of their rotation. If they're able to push their way into the playoffs, they set up well with Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Washburn in a short series.
And it's already been said here, but Holliday provides protection for Pujols and stretches their lineup as they try to score more runs for Carpenter, Wainwright, Piniero et al.
In the trade no one saw coming, the White Sox responded to the Washburn acquisition by getting--really, this time--Jake Peavy. The Sox traded Friday's scheduled starter Clayton Richard, top prospect Aaron Poreda, and two other prospects. Only problem is, Peavy is injured and out for at least another month. With Richard gone in the deal, the Sox are going to be hard up for a fifth starter for the next month. The good news for the Sox is that Peavy is also locked in for a few more years, though his salary (upwards of $17 mil) is not in the range that Kenny Williams is accustomed to paying his starting pitchers.
Friday, July 24, 2009
South Side perfection
Congratulations to Mark Buehrle on his perfect game against the Rays. It was the first in the majors since Randy Johnson blanked the Braves in 2004, and just the 18th in MLB history. The win also brought Buehrle into a tie for the league lead in wins, and pulled the Sox into a virtual tie for first in the AL Central.
I'm no Sox fan (as evidenced by a t-shirt I own which says nothing but "SOX SUCK" in giant block letters), but Buehrle's a good guy and hard to dislike. He's got a good attitude, throws a ton of innings, and gives his team a chance to win pretty much every time out.
And props to MLB.com which allowed visitors to watch the end of the game on MLB.TV even if they weren't subscribers. I got to see the last two innings live on my computer, which was pretty cool.
Even cooler was the catch by Dewayne Wise for the first out in the 9th. I thought the ball was going to leave the park, and that's because it was--until Wise leapt in the air and snagged it, but then juggled it and eventually secured it in his throwing hand as he tumbled to the ground. Given the inning and the context, it's one of the best catches I've ever seen.
Speaking of White Sox pitchers ...
Did you catch this captivating read from the Sun-Times? Former White Sox pitcher Jim Parque wrote an essay admitting to HGH usage and explaining the reasons for his decision. Worth a read.
Central Intelligence
The Cardinals are close to acquiring Matt Holliday from the A's. He will be a free agent after this season, and while his Oakland Coliseum stats (.287, 11, 54) haven't matched the numbers he put up in Coors Field, he's batting .344 this month.
***UPDATE***According to ESPN, the deal is done.
Draft dodging
Because it just wasn't long enough, the NFL is expanding the draft to three days. Now I have to ignore the vapid routine of random players being announced for three days instead of two!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Let's just stick to the NL from now on
Sunday: White Sox 6, Cubs 0
The Cubs have reached a new low point. I don't say that just because they lost two in a row to the hated White Sox, but rather because they're two games under .500 for the first time this season. On top of that, they came within a Brandon Inge two out, 9th-inning home run of falling into 5th place in the NL Central. They're just 1 1/2 games ahead of last place Pittsburgh.
But the Cubs may have reached a mental low point as well. If you can recall them playing a game in this disinterested a fashion in the last three years, let me know. Sunday's game--which was apparently sponsored by Barnum & Bailey--featured consecutive fly balls that the Cubs refused to catch, a suicide squeeze that was successful due to a wild pitch by Zambrano, and two hit batsmen by Big Z as well. I've said it before, but it bears repe
ating: the Cubs have absolutely no focus or fundamentals this season, and they are much, much closer to first place than they deserve to be (the baseball gods bestowed yet another round of Cardinals and Brewers losses upon the Cubs, keeping them within 3 1/2 games of first).
The offense once again turned John Danks into Cy Young, tallying just three hits in seven innings and scoring nary a run. Danks's total line in two games against the Cubs this season:
14 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 4 BB (0.64 ERA)
Consistency is not exactly the Cubs' calling card this season--they scored five runs Friday, all via the home run; seven runs Saturday without the benefit of a long ball; and zero runs Sunday, looking pretty pathetic in doing so.
Zambrano has pitched very well since returning from the DL, but couldn't get out of the 6th on this day. He loves to hit so much, I honestly wonder if he struggles more in AL ballparks because he gets bored sitting in the dugout during the top half of each inning. He won't have to worry about that any more in '09, as the Cubs are finished with road interleague games.
There was one good moment in the game. When Danks threw a retaliation pitch and hit Ryan Freel in the arm, Freel brushed off his arm as if to say, "I barely felt it." Freel reached base three times and stole a base.
The Cubs will throw Harden, Lilly and Wells against Zach Duke (third lefty in a row), Ross Ohlendorf, and Virgil Vaszuez, who has started one game since 2005.
Quote of the week
"If he's not 100 percent to help the team to win, we don't need him."
-Alfonso Soriano, on Milton Bradley
Are you kidding me? If there's one player on this team who gives less than 100 percent (and unfortunately, I think there's more than one), it's Alfonso Soriano. There are examples galore, but I can think of three just from Sunday's game. First, he turned a gapper that was fielded near the warning track into a single (leadoff man my ass). Then, he was unable to cut off a ball hit by Paul Konerko that the vast majority of left fielders would get to, allowing the tortoise-like Konerko to get a double. Later, he broke back on a shallow pop-up, then jogged in and was unable to get to the ball before it dropped.
Don't get me wrong, Soriano's right: if Bradley isn't giving 100 percent, that's a problem. But Soriano calling out Bradley is like the charred, burnt pot calling the kettle black. There's nothing that drives me more crazy than our $136 million man moseying around the basepaths and meandering around the outfield as if he'd rather be doing anything but playing baseball. Wait, there's one thing that drives me more crazy--that same player calling out teammates for being lazy.
Random link
Great column from Tim Kurkjian on the increase in strikeouts in baseball. Teaser: last season, 90 players struck out 100 or more times. In 1960, just seven did.
Samardzija watch
Jeff has been locked in in his last two starts. He notched a win with a seven inning, three-run performance Friday after throwing eight shutout innings in his previous start. He's now 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA at Iowa, and we may see him in the big league bullpen soon.
The Cubs have reached a new low point. I don't say that just because they lost two in a row to the hated White Sox, but rather because they're two games under .500 for the first time this season. On top of that, they came within a Brandon Inge two out, 9th-inning home run of falling into 5th place in the NL Central. They're just 1 1/2 games ahead of last place Pittsburgh.
But the Cubs may have reached a mental low point as well. If you can recall them playing a game in this disinterested a fashion in the last three years, let me know. Sunday's game--which was apparently sponsored by Barnum & Bailey--featured consecutive fly balls that the Cubs refused to catch, a suicide squeeze that was successful due to a wild pitch by Zambrano, and two hit batsmen by Big Z as well. I've said it before, but it bears repe
ating: the Cubs have absolutely no focus or fundamentals this season, and they are much, much closer to first place than they deserve to be (the baseball gods bestowed yet another round of Cardinals and Brewers losses upon the Cubs, keeping them within 3 1/2 games of first).The offense once again turned John Danks into Cy Young, tallying just three hits in seven innings and scoring nary a run. Danks's total line in two games against the Cubs this season:
14 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 4 BB (0.64 ERA)
Consistency is not exactly the Cubs' calling card this season--they scored five runs Friday, all via the home run; seven runs Saturday without the benefit of a long ball; and zero runs Sunday, looking pretty pathetic in doing so.
Zambrano has pitched very well since returning from the DL, but couldn't get out of the 6th on this day. He loves to hit so much, I honestly wonder if he struggles more in AL ballparks because he gets bored sitting in the dugout during the top half of each inning. He won't have to worry about that any more in '09, as the Cubs are finished with road interleague games.
There was one good moment in the game. When Danks threw a retaliation pitch and hit Ryan Freel in the arm, Freel brushed off his arm as if to say, "I barely felt it." Freel reached base three times and stole a base.
The Cubs will throw Harden, Lilly and Wells against Zach Duke (third lefty in a row), Ross Ohlendorf, and Virgil Vaszuez, who has started one game since 2005.
Quote of the week
"If he's not 100 percent to help the team to win, we don't need him."
-Alfonso Soriano, on Milton Bradley
Are you kidding me? If there's one player on this team who gives less than 100 percent (and unfortunately, I think there's more than one), it's Alfonso Soriano. There are examples galore, but I can think of three just from Sunday's game. First, he turned a gapper that was fielded near the warning track into a single (leadoff man my ass). Then, he was unable to cut off a ball hit by Paul Konerko that the vast majority of left fielders would get to, allowing the tortoise-like Konerko to get a double. Later, he broke back on a shallow pop-up, then jogged in and was unable to get to the ball before it dropped.
Don't get me wrong, Soriano's right: if Bradley isn't giving 100 percent, that's a problem. But Soriano calling out Bradley is like the charred, burnt pot calling the kettle black. There's nothing that drives me more crazy than our $136 million man moseying around the basepaths and meandering around the outfield as if he'd rather be doing anything but playing baseball. Wait, there's one thing that drives me more crazy--that same player calling out teammates for being lazy.
Random link
Great column from Tim Kurkjian on the increase in strikeouts in baseball. Teaser: last season, 90 players struck out 100 or more times. In 1960, just seven did.
Samardzija watch
Jeff has been locked in in his last two starts. He notched a win with a seven inning, three-run performance Friday after throwing eight shutout innings in his previous start. He's now 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA at Iowa, and we may see him in the big league bullpen soon.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Rain, rain, go away, because I'm going to the game today
I'll be at Wednesday's game with Trevor Sierra and Brian Brennan. Tuesday's rainout was the first time a Cubs-Sox game had ever been rained out, and let's hope Game 2 doesn't suffer the same fate.
After two off days in a row for the Cubs (which is completely unacceptable), let's take a look around the rest of the majors:
-I hate to do this, but did you know that Mark DeRosa's "big three" statistics (BA, HR, RBI) are better than those of nearly every single Cubs player?
Average
DeRosa: .280
Highest Cub: .283
Homers
DeRosa: 13
Highest Cub: 14
RBI
DeRosa: 48
Highest Cub: 27
-The Cubs now sit 3.5 games out of first after the Brewers took the first two games of their set with Cleveland.
-Colorado's 11-game winning streak was finally snapped with a 12-4 loss to the Rays, who are now on a six-game winning streak of their own.
Did you know ...
-Ichiro is leading the AL in hitting (.360).
-Chad Billingsley and Matt Cain are tied for the NL lead in wins (9).
-The Royals lead the majors in complete games (7).
Monday, June 15, 2009
Cubs get a big win, pull closer to first in mediocre NL Central
Sunday: Cubs 3, Twins 2
Ahhhh.
Doesn't that feel good? A nice walk-off win at home got the Cubs back to .500 for the 12th time this season. Theriot's game-winning single ended the four-game losing streak and gave the Cubs some good mojo heading into a big series with the crosstown rival White Sox (who, by the way, beat the Brewers again to help the Cubs pull within 2.5 games of first).
Ted Lilly pitched well enough to get the win, but left the game with the score tied 2-2. Interestingly, despite having a team-leading seven wins, Lilly has won in just two ballparks this season: Wrigley Field four times and Minute Maid Park three times.
Enjoy the day off on Monday--the Cubs will play the next 23 days.
Cubs note
Ryan Theriot, who struck out once Sunday, has seen his strikeout total rise significantly this season. He already has 39 K's this year; he had just 58 all of last year and 50 in 2007. He seems to have a completely different approach at the plate this year--he of course has the six home runs, and he seems to shoot for the right side of the field much less often. Hit clutch single on Sunday was more like it.
MLB notes
-You couldn't make this up.
-Caught in a rundown Sunday, Johnny Damon took a page out of A-Rod's playbook and swiped the ball out of Alex Cora's glove. Fortunately, the ump saw it and called Damon out. Just another reason to hate the Yankees.
-The combined lines of NL East aces Derrek Lowe and Johan Santana Sunday: 5.1 IP, 17 H, 16 ER (ERA of 27.00) .
-Two AL pitchers hit home runs Sunday: Mark Buehrle and Josh Beckett. Beckett, of course, used to play in the NL with the Marlins.
Ahhhh.
Doesn't that feel good? A nice walk-off win at home got the Cubs back to .500 for the 12th time this season. Theriot's game-winning single ended the four-game losing streak and gave the Cubs some good mojo heading into a big series with the crosstown rival White Sox (who, by the way, beat the Brewers again to help the Cubs pull within 2.5 games of first).
Ted Lilly pitched well enough to get the win, but left the game with the score tied 2-2. Interestingly, despite having a team-leading seven wins, Lilly has won in just two ballparks this season: Wrigley Field four times and Minute Maid Park three times.
Enjoy the day off on Monday--the Cubs will play the next 23 days.
Cubs note
Ryan Theriot, who struck out once Sunday, has seen his strikeout total rise significantly this season. He already has 39 K's this year; he had just 58 all of last year and 50 in 2007. He seems to have a completely different approach at the plate this year--he of course has the six home runs, and he seems to shoot for the right side of the field much less often. Hit clutch single on Sunday was more like it.
MLB notes
-You couldn't make this up.
-Caught in a rundown Sunday, Johnny Damon took a page out of A-Rod's playbook and swiped the ball out of Alex Cora's glove. Fortunately, the ump saw it and called Damon out. Just another reason to hate the Yankees.
-The combined lines of NL East aces Derrek Lowe and Johan Santana Sunday: 5.1 IP, 17 H, 16 ER (ERA of 27.00) .
-Two AL pitchers hit home runs Sunday: Mark Buehrle and Josh Beckett. Beckett, of course, used to play in the NL with the Marlins.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Central Intelligence
It's been four days since baseball season began. So, four thoughts, all related to AL and NL Central teams (for no apparent reason):
The Cubs payroll is actually $135 million, and ranks third in the ML behind the Yankees ($201) and Mets ($135.7). I stated earlier this week that the Cubs payroll was $118, but the new figures came out Thursday.
- Chris Carpenter threw like Christ Carpenter (hey, and Christ was a carpenter ... weird) Thursday, rising from the ashes of last year's injury to put together a near-perfect start--he took a no-hitter into the 7th (strangely enough, the Pirates were still winning 1-0, despite being hitless). Carpenter ultimately went seven innings for the win, allowing no earned runs and striking out seven. Redbird Nation had to be quite pleased to see this comeback performance from their ace.
- But oh, that closer situation. LaRussa threw gas on the fire by using a new closer in the team's second save situation of the season. While Jason Motte was anointed the closer going into the season, his blown save on Opening Day might mean he's lost the job to newly acquired Dennys Reyes. This could be the beginning of a season filled with drama when it comes to the Cards bullpen.
- The White Sox scored a grand total of five runs in three games against the Royals. Yeah, those Royals. And three of those don't count because they came on one swing off of home run machine Kyle Farnsworth.
- On the other side of the offensive spectrum, the Rangers put up 29 runs in a three-game sweep of the Indians. Cliff Lee? Lit up. Fausto Carmona? Not good. How 'bout Carl Pavano? Uh, not so much. 1 IP, 9 ER. The Tribe had a worse run differential (-15) in their series than did the Nationals, who were drubbed by the Marlins.
The Cubs payroll is actually $135 million, and ranks third in the ML behind the Yankees ($201) and Mets ($135.7). I stated earlier this week that the Cubs payroll was $118, but the new figures came out Thursday.
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