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mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. Ryan Baltimore Orioles Bob Brenly Bobby Scales Bonehead Booing Boston Red Sox Brett Jackson Bullpen Canadian Concoction Captain Kneejerk Cardinals Carlos Marmol Carlos Silva Carlos Zambrano Chad Fox Chad Tracy Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Cold War Colorado Rockies Contracts Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry Cubs sale Cubs Curtis Granderson Daniel Herrera David Patton Derrek Lee Designated Hitter Detroit Tigers Disabled list Dominance ERA+ ERROR Esmailin Caridad ESPN Sucks Eternal frustration Eternal Optimism Farewell Farney Florida Marlins Free Agency Future Gatorade Geovanny Soto Geovany Soto Gerald Perry Grades Houston Astros I-Cubs Injuries Jake Fox Jason Marquis Jason Waddell Jeff Gray Jeff Samardzija Jim Hendry Jim Wolf Joey Gathright John Grabow Jose Ascanio Kansas City Royals Kerry Wood Kevin Gregg Kevin Hart Kevin Millar Koyie Hill LaTroy Hawkins Legendary Lineup Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Lou Piniella Luis Vizcaino Man Crush Mark DeRosa Marlon Byrd Micah Hoffpauir Middle Infield Midwestern Bias Milton Bradley Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Minor Leagues MLB 2K9 Neal Cotts New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics October Offseason Opening Day OPS+ Payroll Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Playoffs Randy Wells Rant Rich Harden Ryan Dempster Ryan Freel Ryan Theriot Sam Fuld Sam Zell Sammy Sosa San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Sandy Alderson Sean Marshall Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Steroids Strikeouts Suckiness Tampa Bay Rays TBS Texas Rangers Tom Gorzelanny Tom Ricketts Toronto Blue Jays Trade Tribune Company Tyler Colvin Von Joshua Waivers Walks Washington Nationals WTF Xavier Nady RSS Feed Back when I was young, my grandpa sat me down on his lap. He looked at me with his weathered eyes, full of wisdom. I remember what he said like it was yesterday. He said, "Boy, if you can only score 5 runs in 2 games against the 2010 Houston Astros, then you deserve to lose." Those words never rang true more than they did this weekend. First, let's talk about the first game. After scoring only one run in six innings, the Cubs had a conversation in the dug out. Blue Ivy has the exclusive transcript. Lee: Guys, you'll never guess what I just found out. Byrd: What's up, Derek? Lee: That man on the mound is in fact NOT Roy Halladay. Theriot and Fontenot: WHAT?!?! Soriano: No way. That guy can throw OFFSPEED pitches. It's got to be Halladay. Lee: No, guys. I'm dead serious. It's not Halladay. His name is Felipe Paulino. Theriot and Fontenot: WHO?!?!?! Lee: Exactly. Ramirez: So... we can hit this guy? Lee: Yea, man. We can. All Cubs: OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. The Cubs would score 6, and fin. And sadly, it would be one of only two innings where the offense would show up. Carlos Silva gets the Steve Trachsel Player of the Game award for not only an RBI hit, but also 7 innings with only 2 unearned runs given up. Two starts in, and he has been very impressive. I am going to call the "Hang Your Head" award a no contest for that game. Every offensive starter got on base at least once, and no pitcher gave up an earned run. That is about as impressive of a game as you will see. Too bad it is downhill from there. Roy Oswalt turned back the clock Saturday, and if Michael Barrett were there screaming at him, I would have thought it was 2004. As dominant as he was, the Astros almost pulled one from the Cubs playbook and blew it late. Alfonso Soriano's error did not hurt the Cubs in the end, and his two hits included a key double in the 8th inning comeback. For those he gets the Luis Gonzalez (He was a Cub. Remember?) Player of the Game award. For being an 0-fer in the middle of the lineup, including a key strikeout in the 8th inning comeback, Marlon Byrd gets the "Hang Your Head" award. Though Marlon has been pretty darn decent in the first two weeks this year. You cannot get too upset with him. The real aggravation came Sunday, when the Cubs could only scratch across two runs against Wandy Wodwiguez and the Astros bullpen. When you do that, you are asking to lose. Ryan Dempster won the Joe Borowski Player of the Game award for another quality outing. He has emerged as the top starter in this rotation for sure. Carlos Marmol's first blown save wins him the "Hang Your Head" award. He can't save them all, but you darn sure need to save them against bad teams. Don't give me that "Geoff Blum is clutch" crap. If he can raise his level that much in the 9th inning and beyond, then he is an idiot who cost himself millions of dollars by playing at an inferior level from innings 1-8 for his whole career. If he is capable of hitting like that at will, then he should have been a perennial all-star. Therefore I think it is more a case of him getting pitches from the Cubs bullpen that he can handle. Still, you can't help but be frustrated by the man. Pitch around him next time. And now it is on to New York to face a team a couple of days removed from a 20-inning marathon in St. Louis. I expect more maddening play from the Cubs, especially with three lefties on the mound for the Mets. Also, interesting to note that Theriot will be dropped to eighth in the new and "improved" lineup. Ignore those footsteps, Ryan. It's just Starlin Castro coming. Posted in: Carlos Silva, Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Marmol This last month has been a good one for the Cubs, even if the injury bug has continued to bite hard. Being more specific, this post all-star break stretch has been great. I am pretty cautiously excited, even if the Cardinals have managed to revamp their entire lineup in July.
Posted in: Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, I-Cubs, Tom Gorzelanny, 5 Million Dollar Black Hole It has come to a point where you almost have to expect Aramis Ramirez to end the game when it is extra innings at Wrigley Field. That man seems to live for those moments, and it is almost as if everyone expected. Pat Hughes didn't even sound as excited as he has in past walk-offs. Heck, even Santo almost seemed calm and collected about it. The bottom line is its another win in what is such a good rivalry. It is even getting the Cubs another Sunday night game on ESPN. Can you say Midwestern bias? Neal Cotts does exactly what he seems to think his job is, avoid giving up a big hit. So instead he will walk the world. That dude owes Carlos Marmol his first-born for getting out of that. And an inning later, Carlos Marmol owes Robo Cop that very same first-born for getting out of that jam. I give Marmol a pass though. He's already working a ton for this early in the season. It is inevitible that he will hit troubles. But kudos to Gregg. He will win Wrigleyville over quickly if he can do what he did today. The walks have to be concerning though. That isn't an earth-shattering observation, but doing some quick, and probably faulty, addition, the bullpen has now pitched 40 innings and thrown 25 walks, including Marshall's relief numbers. That is 5.625 walks per 9 inning, and that is WAY too high. Oddly enough, the one reliever who hasn't thrown a walk is Luis Vizcaino, who apparently is on the Scott Eyre usage plan. Disclaimer: I am not advocating more Luis Vizcaino. That could be even more hazardous to Cubs fans with heart conditions. Still, you know it is a good day when your best reliever blows the game, but gets picked up by the rest of the bullpen. That is a sign that this team is still going to be aces for 2009. Kudos to Angel Guzman on his first win, 4 years in the making. Next time I'll try to talk about something other than the bullpen. Posted in: Aramis Ramirez, Neal Cotts, Bullpen, Walks, Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry, Carlos Marmol, Midwestern Bias What an intense first couple of games against the Cardinals. I have to tell say, I think the Cardinals are going to do pretty well this year, and it will be great seeing this rivalry at its peak when both teams are relevant. When is the last time that happened? Probably 2004, and even then, the Cardinals ran away and hid with the division pretty early. Here are some thoughts on the game.
Posted in: Cubs, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Geovanny Soto, Neal Cotts, Captain Kneejerk, ESPN Sucks | ||