Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
When you start writing a sports blog, there's a little handbook handed out to everyone that tells you how to drive up your traffic. The list includes posting drunken photos of players, hot women (they don't even have to be sports-related), making up trade rumors and top ten lists. The criteria for this post was the top ten moments I could remember off the top of my head...I only came up with five.
#5 - Michael Barrett grand slam home run at Wrigley
There wasn't a whole lot of hope entering the 2006 season, but there still was some if EVERYTHING broke the right way. And if Mark Prior and Kerry Wood were healthy ($5 to the TCR tip jar for uttering that phrase). The Cubs started off splitting two against the Reds on the road and then came home for three against the Cardinals. By the time Sunday rolled around, they had won the first two and were looking for blood - Cardinal blood!!
Sean Marshall got the first start of his career and put the Cubs in a quick two-run hole after giving up a first-inning blast to Scott Rolen. The Cubs battled back and by the eighth it was 4-3 Cardinals. After Ricardo Rincon walked Todd Walker to leadoff the inning, God's-gift-to-managing Tony LaRussa went to his closer Jason Isringhausen for the two-inning save. He promptly walked Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez to load them up for Michael Barrett. Barrett then nailed a 2-2 pitch deep into the Sunday night air, way out in left field to give the Cubs a 7-4 lead. They added an insurance run and won 8-4.
The Cubs made it through April with a 13-10 record and then lost about 25 straight to start May and maybe another 15 or so to end May and I think there were a few 10 and 8 game losing streaks as well in June and July. But for one magnificent evening, Michael Barrett made us feel like champions (cue theme song from "Rudy").
#4 - NeifiSlam!
The year before, the Cardinals were victimized by a far less suspecting culprit; every Cubs fans' favorite whipping boy - Neifi!. Entering the game, the Cubs were already 13 games back in the division, but still had a shot at the wild card, just 5.5 back. If only we could keep Prior and Wood healthy all season (crap, $5). Prior actually did start that game and labored through six innings, while giving up three early runs. The Cubs took the lead in the eight with two runs, but little David Eckstein tied it up in the ninth with a towering home run to deep center.
Check that, a single to right off Ryan Dempster that scored Hector Luna. The home run would have made for a better storyline though, especially if he hit the lights and they started sparking.
The tenth rolled around - and I believe this was another ESPN Sunday night game like the Barrett game - and the Cubs leadoff again with Todd Walker. He doubled and the LaRussa intentionally walked the uber-hot Derrek Lee (remember his 2005 season, when he didn't hit into a double play every other at-bat?). Jeromy Burnitz then bunted them over (WTF?) and Aramis was intentionally walked to load the bases. That lead to....wait, hold on, Jeromy Burnitz was asked to bunt? That seems strange, no? I bet TCR was all over that when it happened (from Transmission's recap of the game):
With runners on first and second and Burnitz up in the top of the tenth, Dusty has Burnitz bunt. This gives me a profound sense of deja vu, because the only other game recap I’ve ever written was for game 50, and it included this comment:
With a runner on first and nobody out in the ninth, tie game, Gagne on the mound, Dusty asked Burnitz to bunt. Burnitz has one sacrifice bunt since 1999. He bunted hard to the third-baseman, forcing the runner at second base. Let me quote to you from the delightful children’s story and excellent allegory, The Little Prince:
“If I ordered a general to fly from one flower to another like a butterfly, or to write a tragic drama, or to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general did not carry out the order that he had received, which one of us would be in the wrong?” the king demanded. “The general, or myself?”
“You,” said the little prince firmly.
“Exactly. One must require from each one the duty which each one can perform,” the king went on. “Accepted authority rests first of all on reason. If you ordered your people to go and throw themselves into the sea, they would rise up in revolution. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are reasonable.”
Remarkably, this time Burnitz gets it down.
Of course, it’s still perhaps not the right play, because LaRussa just intentionally walks the next hitter, Aramis Ramirez. Joe Morgan correctly points out that by bunting we took the bat away from not just our fourth-place hitter, but also our fifth-place hitter. And indeed, the next hitter up, Barrett, strikes out.
Ah, how we do miss those Transmission recaps. So Barrett doesn't play the hero this time and it's left up to Neifi! Let's go back to Transmission:
So Neifi Perez comes up with the bases loaded and two outs. Neifi has about a .555 OPS since the start of June, and has never hit a home run in St. Louis.
I’ll let the Chatroom describe what happens next.
our hopes lie with Perez
ugh
here’s Neifi “swinging bunt” Perez”
500 ft. homers anyone?
NOOOOO
I have been talking junk about Perez all night….. so this f____r is due for a hit
We need Murton here
our best hope is HBP
(and then…)
rock!!!
woooooooooo
omg
hahahahahahahaha
OH MY GOD
grand slame!! [sic]
Holy sh_t
Oh.
My.
God.
HOLY SH_________________TTTTTT!!!!!!!
WWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
brb pigs are flying in my window.
Great moments in Parachat history....
Neifi lined one right down the line and the Cardinals get punked by Neifi!
#3 - Carlos Zambrano drills Jim Edmonds
Before Jim Edmonds became the glorious Cubs bastard that he is in 2008, he was one of the most hated Cardinals players to ever suit up. On July 19th, 2004, Carlos Zambrano won the hearts of Cubs fans, well this one at least, Alex Ciepley at the time thought he was being immature (Don't be fooled by the byline, Alex wrote that piece). I say Zambrano was being heroic.
It was mid-July and the Cubs were down six in the standings and the Cardinals rolled into town with Chris Carpenter on the mound. Z started off wild and plunked Edmonds in the first inning and by all accounts, it was just one that got away. After three scoreless, Z gives up a two-run jack to Edmonds in the fourth and didn't take too kindly to what he felt was Edmonds gawking at his triumph. A lesser man would have plunked the next hitter or Edmonds the next time up. Instead, when Edmonds sauntered up to the plate in the sixth, Z reared back and threw three straight past Edmonds for the strikeout. You couldn't write it any better than that.
The eight rolled around and the game was tied at three. A leadoff walk to Tony Womack, followed by a Michael Barrett passed ball (who'd thunk?) and a Renteria sacrifice, left the tying run 90 feet away with one out and Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen due up. Z comes back after a 2-0 count to get Pujols swinging.
Awesome.
Rolen steps up and promptly takes him out of the park on a 2-1 pitch.
Shit.
Well you're at 108 pitches and your night is likely over after the next out and your arch-nemesis is coming up; so might as well go out with a bang. Z drills Edmonds and calls it a night. Z claims the ball slipped out of his hand. Tony LaRussa whined like the lil' bitch he always has been:
"I don't care what the rivalry is, what the circumstance is, what the standings are, you are not allowed to cross the line in this game and their pitcher crossed it twice," LaRussa said.
Shut up and get off your shine box!
Cubs go on to lose 5-4, but who cares? There are so many times we're teased about a rivalry that never quite reaches the boiling point. The talk is there, but never the action. This was the baseball we grew up hearing stories about. No stepping down, mano-a-mano, each guy raising their game to the next level and even when you're beat, you give them something to think about for the next game.
Brilliant theater. Bad Baseball.
#2 - Cubs beat Cardinals four out five at Wrigley in September
The magical 2003 season was mostly the Cubs hovering around .500 until September. After losing two of three to the Brewers, the Cubs had the Cardinals coming to town for five straight including a double-header on Tuesday to make up for an earlier rain-out. They entered the series 69-66 and 2.5 games behind the Cardinals in third place and 1.5 back of the Astros.
Game one was a gem by Prior, who tossed 131 pitches in eight innings of shutout ball for a 7-0 shutout. 131 pitches? That seems excessive, no? Reader "Matt Huber" agrees:
I don’t get this? We have a fairly fres Bullpen with the additions of 2 new guys. We have a 7 run lead, why is prior still pitching? GET HIM OUT OF THERE!!!
The next day was the double-header and Z throws a tame 113 pitches in a 4-2 win to beat Jason Simontacchi (we were trailing this team?). The nightcap proved to be the only the Cardinals win of the series, as Matt Morris goes seven shutout innings for the 2-0 win. Kerry Wood goes seven himself with nine strikeouts, but gives up a home run to Jim Edmonds and another unearned run for the loss.
Game four is when the fun really starts as the Cubs spot a six run lead to the Cardinals. They get it to 7-6 entering the bottom of the eighth and a Mark Grudzielanek run-scoring triple and then a Moises Alou game-winning hit give them the 8-7 win.
That sets up game five and a Cubs win means they pick up three games on the Cardinals, a loss means they only pick up a game and would still be in third place. Shawn Estes goes for the Cubs and proceeds to give up five runs in five innings. Curse you Shawn Estes! The offense though sets him up for the win by scoring three in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead.
That holds until the seventh when for some reason Todd Wellemeyer is pitching and the Cards scratch out the tying run. Mike DeJean comes in for the Cardinals in the seveth and gets leadoff hitter Troy O'Leary to ground out. But Moises Alou draws a walk and then Aramis is nailed to set up the stage for....Tony Womack!!!!
Womack comes through with a single, Remlinger and Borowski shut the door, the Cubs get within a half game of the Astros and lead the Cards by a half game and there was much rejoicing.
#1 - The Ryne Sandberg Game
Hell, just call it "The Game" - for it was the genesis of Cubs fandom for millions.
I popped in my DVD from the Chicago Cubs Legends DVD set to wash the taste out of Saturday's loss and jar the old memory. Bob Costas (total St. Louis homer) and Tony Kubek did the call for the NBC game of the week. It would have been nice if the other NBC team of Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola were announcing it, but they were down in Atlanta covering a Fernando Valenzuela start. For those a little younger than me, you may not remember that the NBC game of the week on Saturday was a pretty big deal. The only real opportunity to see other teams play and when the Cubs were on, it was like being on the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week times 10.
Steve "Rainbow" Trout got the start and couldn't make it past the second inning. The big play was a chopper by St. Louis pitcher John Citarella that went over the vertically challenged Ron Cey's head with one out. For some reason, Cey was still playing in for a bunt even though Citarella had two strikes. The flood gates opened up after that and the Cardinals took a 7-1 lead that lasted until the 5th. The Cubs offense struck back, thanks mostly to the "Daily Double" of Bob Dernier and Ryne Sandberg, and by the end of six, it was 9-8.
Neil Allen and Bruce Sutter retired the next six Cubs in a row, which set the table for the bottom of the ninth. Sandberg stepped up against Sutter, already 3-4 with 4 RBI's. Sandberg takes the first pitch for a ball low . The next one tails back over the outside corner for a strike. Sutter throws the same pitch on 1-1 it tails back way too far inside and Sandberg crushes it to the back of the left field bleachers.
There was much rejoicing.
Gary Matthews (The Sarge) singles immediately after and steals second, but is eventually stranded at third base.
The Cards strike back in the 10th with two of their own as Willie McGee hits a double to get the cycle. NBC even gives him the player of the game honors before the game is finished. Sutter stays in for the 10th because that's what relievers did back then and gets Larry Bowa and Richie Hebner for the first two outs.
Bob Dernier steps up and is already 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored. He works the count to 3-2. Sutter throws his splitter which not only has good downward movement but tails back over the plate and in on righties. It looks like Dernier might have offered, but the ump says he managed to check his swing. The pitch itself looked like it might have been a called strike, but Darrell Porter muffed it.That is one clutch walk.
Sandberg steps up again while Bob Costas is running through the thank you's of the TV crew. Sutter though leaves a splitter right over the middle of the plate and Sandberg knocks it about halfway up the left-center stands.
Sandberg goes from hero to legend.
The Cubs win it in the 11th on a Dave Owen single and the Cubs take off the rest of the way to win the NL East.
Honorable Mention
The McGwire/Sosa man-hug after McGwire hit number 62, Tony LaRussa's arrest for drunk driving, this picture, Balls of Steel, everytime we get Albert Pujols out













#1 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Bravo.
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#2 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The Zambrano play was pretty chicken shit. If you want to go for embarrassig Edmonds, I prefer Wood's blowing him away after coming back from injury on the Sunday night game in '06.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#3 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Gary Matthews Jr. singles...
I completely forgot that little 10-year-old Gary Matthews Jr. was on that team!
Seriously, though, awesome list. I couldn't stop smiling.
__________________________Fire Bad!!!
#10 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
just threw that in there to see if people were paying attention. :)
#4 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
A recollection from the 5-game series...I was at the only game the cubs lost. Alou absolutely roped a ball down the left field line with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh that was called foul, but replays seemed to show it was fair (it was really close). Alou went ballistic, then was retired to end the inning and the threat, then went 5-for-5 the next day and basically put them on his back in the big comeback game.
Also, another game I remember off the top of my head was when McGwire broke up Jon Lieber's perfecto with two outs in the seventh with a solo homer to dead center. Lieber fell apart after that, but at the time, that was the farthest I'd ever been in attendance for a no-no (I saw Scott Baker take one into the ninth in Minnesota against the Royals last year--if you ever get a chance to go to a game where a pitcher takes a no-hitter that far, I highly recommend going).
__________________________djchi
#11 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
djchi:
wasn't that the game/play that Alfonseca bellybumped the ump...got a few game suspension as I recall.
__________________________Jason Marquis and Mark DeRosa were salary dumps?
#13 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
yes, he bumped the third base ump
__________________________I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst
#5 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Nice list. That old Transmission recap was awesome. Too bad Transmission has been kidnapped by John Hill. We'll miss him.
__________________________Fire in the disco!! Fire in the Taco Bell!!
#16 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#122 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
You're mistaken. He was kidnapped by bees. Not as nice.
__________________________Fire in the disco!! Fire in the Taco Bell!!
#134 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
LOL!
#6 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
David Ross was DFA'd by the Reds.
Good thing Dusty has Paul Bako around.
__________________________the mindful mission
#62 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
poor ross and his poor health.
guy can barely crouch behind the plate and watching him throw out of the crouch is kinda painful. every throw to 2nd on an attempted steal is a 110% effort and he looks like he just ran a mile after every throw.
hanigan...step on up.
ross...have fun in florida or wherever you end up.
#7 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Great list, I was at Frank Castillo 8 2/3 no hit bid in 1996 (I believe) broken up by Ray Lankford triple (ib)that Sammy dove for to try and save the no hitter.
__________________________I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst
#9 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#8 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Thanks for the memories...
Ahhhh, a useful Barrett.
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#12 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The weird thing here is that two nights ago I dreamed the cubs picked up Ron Cey as a "veteran backup" for the stretch this year. Oh the horror.
__________________________Do they know its Steve Christmas time at all?
#14 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Before Jim Edmonds became the glorious Cubs bastard that he is in 2008, he was one of the most hated Cardinals players to ever suit up.
Nice writeup, but... Please tell me parachat transcripts are not actually stored somewhere.
__________________________Go Royals!
#15 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#123 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The words "plausible deniability" come to mind.
__________________________Fire in the disco!! Fire in the Taco Bell!!
#17 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Hey! Rob is winning his first douchebag match!
Should we send everyone over there stuff the ballot box for you?
Is this the kind of thing that you want to win? Or lose?
But wait... according to them, Rob is going to tell me that I can't talk about this because it isn't about baseball. Huh?
__________________________the mindful mission
#19 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
much like everything associated with them, I could care less.
#20 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Come on Rob G - it is clearly "I couldn't care less"
__________________________“You know they're not going to lose 162 consecutive games.” HC
#21 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
"Could care less" implies you do actually care. Which I hope you don't. At all.
__________________________“You know they're not going to lose 162 consecutive games.” HC
#22 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#24 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Good. Only a douchebag would run a contest about being a douchebag.
On things cubs related, Harden has a new toy to improve mechanics. Any chance we can give that to Guzman as well?
__________________________“You know they're not going to lose 162 consecutive games.” HC
#65 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
That was my point. Anyone who makes a 'biggest douche bag' tourney and seats himself lower than a #2, actually wins by default.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#67 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
there's more people on their list of "douchebags" than there are actual users/posters on the site.
that says enough.
they seem to enjoy going to every blog and making their piss-in-the-sandbox contest known to everyone.
they love the conflict as much as they love their own sense of overblown self worth. oh, why must they share the internet with stupid, ignorant people? sigh...
oh yeah, and they get to make all the rules of the internet. can't forget that.
their internet, their rules...any deviation will result in massive insults and crying like babies along with dares to do things that upset them to begin with. they're complicated little angry people.
i feel the most sorry for their kids growing up around all that "masked with laughter" agro-internet rage. nah, kidding...i don't feel sorry for anyone. heh.
#23 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
and honestly I had no idea there was a difference, but you type the two phrases into google and there are 1000's of hits debating the two phrases.
People will argue about anything on the Internet.
#25 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
These are quite good explanations:
http://incompetech.com/gallimaufry/care_less.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/...
Plus, I am British and anal about these things.
__________________________“You know they're not going to lose 162 consecutive games.” HC
#26 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#18 Off topic
Amusing: Cincinnati Reds blogs referring to Corey P as "Bakerson"
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#27 Re: Off topic
That's just... awesome. :-)
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#30 Re: Off topic
The reason for the nickname is likely this rumor:
http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&n...
Apperantly Cpat's current squeze is Baker's daughter. I haven't seen any confirmation or denial of it in the month since it was posted so I dont know if its true or not, but its one of those rumors were it wouldnt surprise me if it is. We always joked when they they were here he must have had naked photos of him, maybe he got to play as a dowry.
#32 Re: Off topic
Heh... I just read on another forum that he is actually married to Baker's daughter.
Anyone have any confirmation on that?
That would be quite funny...
__________________________the mindful mission
#28 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
In other news, this blog needs more pictures of hot women.
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#29 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
here are some...
http://cubscuties.blogspot.com/
although the definition of a cutie leaves a lot to be desired...also some are NSFW.
#31 What were they thinking when they named this team?
Liberal BeeJays
http://www.beejays.com/
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#124 Re: What were they thinking when they named this team?
Well, to be fair, there was already a team named "Lefty Reacharounds."
__________________________Fire in the disco!! Fire in the Taco Bell!!
#33 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
http://www.anothercubsblog.net/index.php/tournamen...
Vote for Ryno or Jame Gumb and Al.
__________________________Listen: ...
#61 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The Ryno in the douchebag contest is not me. I'm saddened my internet handle has been soiled.
__________________________Go Royals!
#68 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
That is what happens when you use such creative names on Cubs blogs! :)
__________________________the mindful mission
#83 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
lol... I'm claiming legit rights to use the name, though, my name is Ryan and my mom (a huge Cub fan, of course) always called me Ryno growing up. Most family just call me Ryno now.
__________________________Go Royals!
#72 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
wow...almost everything said about Rob in that writeup isn't even true.
maddog gets a banhammer and all of a sudden "his story" is "the world's story"...
pick any random entry and you see offtopic stuff going on. go ahead...give it a try.
I SAID, DO IT.
you don't see bans. you don't see warnings.
maddog/dylan jones = not the center of the world. they sure think they are, though.
i can't wait to see the venom in my writeup about how i'm the "internet cop" and all kinds of other whining crap because they assume the internet has rules of engagement or some bureaucratic crap like that.
if it's anything like rob's it should be a pretty interesting piece of whining fiction where i'm victimizing everyone in the world. by the rest of the world, i mean 1 or 2 people...you know, the only people that matter on earth.
#76 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
crunch... just drop it.
the rest of us are just laughing at them.
you should just do the same.
__________________________the mindful mission
#78 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
i am.
i know some come from the same "world" as i do, but just to lay it out...
*puts on his uniform*
I'M FROM THE INTERNET, SIR.
*salutes*
basically...i've taken a look at what it is and i know they're a joke. i also have no plans to screw with any of them IRL or etc...i've told them this, but they're still so quick to attack any ASSUMED threat to whatever online personality they've built for themselves. also...the things i "do" take so very little time or effort because...umm...well, i'm from the internet, sir.
yes, i should just drop it, though...cuz my fun isn't more important than this board. sorry.
just blah blahing about what it is...
#34 Something named Garrett Mock
#35 Re: Something named Garrett Mock
Hmm... this Garrett Mock dude pitched decently in AAA.
He maybe a better option than anyone else on that team.
__________________________the mindful mission
#54 Re: Something named Garrett Mock
#36 Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
a Randy Winn for Daryle Ward and a PTNBL minor leaguer is close:
http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/viewtopic.p...
My first thought is I dont like it. We would have a logjam in the OF with Sori, Edmonds, Fukudome, Johnson, and Winn to deal with plus we would be minus a expirenced LHPH.
#37 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
thanks for the tip, the rest of the Internets hasn't picked up on it yet though, so I shall wait.
If it is true, it'll depend on the PTBNL, but likely just a salary dump by the Giants and with Fukudome on a death spiral, I think it would be a good move.
#38 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
It doesn't make any sense. Why would the Giants want Ward?
It also hasn't been mentioned by anyone else (such as Levine, Miles, MLBTR, Rotoworld, etc... ).
There isn't even a mention of where the author of the rumor got the information. Just "reports coming out of San Francisco".
No source = no story.
__________________________the mindful mission
#42 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
seems a bit fishy, but getting Ward could just be something to make the salaries work a little better for the Cubs and the Giants really don't have a 1bmen.
We'll see....
#39 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
IF true, that really complicates my (pie in the sky) Brian Giles in Cubs right Field Theory.
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#44 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
This year?
You do know that the Cubs didn't put a claim on Giles, right? And that he then refused a trade to Boston?
__________________________the mindful mission
#45 Re: Over at NSBB a poster is hearing on SF radio that
#51 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
I'm still hoping the stars will align and he'll drop in our lap, irrational as that hope may be.
Afterall, the Padres don't want him anymore and the Cubs aren't on this list
Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Florida, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Washington
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#52 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
he can't be traded this year. He went through the waiver process and Boston won the claim and couldn't work out a deal. He cannot be put back through waivers.
He can't be moved until the offseason, unless he's flat out released.
#53 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
of course I'm sure there's some technicality that AZ Phil will nail me on :)
#66 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
Yeah, that doesn't sound right. Otherwise everyone would just claim everyone and say 'oh, we couldn't work a deal out'. I realize with the NTC it was a bit more complicated...
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#69 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
I believe that the Padres could place Giles on waivers again this month, but they would not have the option of pulling him back off of waivers.
__________________________the mindful mission
#73 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
at least according to wikipedia (dubious I know), once a team takes a player off waivers - like Giles - they can't put him back on the rest of the season.
If a team claims a player off waivers and has the viable claim as described above, his current team (the "waiving team") may choose one of the following options:
If a player is claimed and the waiving team exercises its rescission option, the waiving team may not use the option again for that player in that season. If no team claims a player from waivers in three business days, the player has cleared waivers and may be assigned to a minor league team, traded, or released outright.
#75 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
If a player is claimed and the waiving team exercises its rescission option, the waiving team may not use the option again for that player in that season.
Rob... the option is the "rescission" option - i.e. pulling him back off of waivers.
The can place him on waivers again, but then they cannot rescind the waiver the second time.
__________________________the mindful mission
#77 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
ah, I read that wrong...thanks.
so instead of impossible it's just bloody unlikely they'd put him through waivers again and risk losing him for nothing.
#80 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
Not only that, but it is "bloody unlikely" that the Cubs would claim him off of waivers when the ignored him the first time around in July, and then ignored him when he was on waivers the first time this month.
__________________________the mindful mission
#70 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
#146 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
Isn't that what the Padres wanted?
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#151 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
then why isn't he a Red Sox?
#152 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
reading is for losers...
guess I should have read AZ Phil's comment, but by Giles invoking his no-trade clause, the Padres had to pull back the waiver. That's a weird little rule.
#129 Re: Giles can't be traded this year
Too bad AZPhil was also kidnapped by John Hill. That douche!
__________________________That's Manila with an "L"
#40 Dunn
"The Arizona Diamondbacks added a big bat Monday in their attempt to hold off the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.
Arizona acquired Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, who is tied for the major league lead with 32 home runs, for three prospects.
The trade was first reported by KTAR Radio in Phoenix."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=352996...
__________________________That's great in practice, but how about in theory?
#46 Re: Dunn
oh whoops...
#90 Re: Dunn
Why is Cincinatti bothering with prospects? It's not like they are going to get a chance to play?
__________________________The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude
#41 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
But in bigger news than unsubstantiated rumors, it looks like the Diamondbacks have traded for Adam Dunn for three prospects.
__________________________the mindful mission
#43 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
ESPN confirms it
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3529966
#48 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Heh.
Rosenthal, wrong again - look at the original headline, which you can see in this screen shot.
Of course... Rosenthal and Fox Sports quickly changed the story, without acknowledging it, once again.
__________________________the mindful mission
#71 Re:Adam Dunn to the D-Backs
Good for the Cubs. We've got still got six games left with the Reds and he was killing us as only Dunn can do with virtually no batting average
.207 .395 .759 1.154 5HR
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#47 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Surprised the Dodgers didnt put a block on that.
#79 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The Dodgers were moaning about taking on Manny's salary.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#49 Re: Adam Dunn traded
#58 Re: Adam Dunn traded
I'd imagine thats what they do until Upton comes back. Then they would likely put Jackson at 1B, Dunn in LF and Tracy to bench. They could have Upton learn 2B in his rehab assignment (which owning him in a keeper league I would endorse so I can have him next year with 2B eligabilty) and keep everyone where they are at now and keep Augiedoggie on the bench.
#50 Padres to slash payroll?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/08/padres-to-sl...
Time to get in line on Jake Peavy :)
#55 Re: Padres to slash payroll?
Peavy only makes $8M next year... so they don't need to trade him until next year's trading deadline.
__________________________the mindful mission
#57 Re: Padres to slash payroll?
#56 Cecil Cooper would rather play golf then write B-O-N-D-S
into his lineup:
http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2008...
Hopefully it isnt because of moral concerns about his tax cheating or steroid usage because his SS falsified a legal document and has done roids.
#63 Re: Cecil Cooper would rather play golf then write B-O-N-D-S
bonds personal hate can never be underestimated.
joe g. in arz. publically stated back in the mid/late 90s that he'd never have a chance in hell of working on any club he had a piece in just based on how joe g. saw bonds treat other people around him.
i can't imagine how much "stuff we dont know about" he's gotten himself into, too.
#59 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Nats get nothing out of a bases loaded, no out, and top of the order.
Well, the good news is that the Brewers won't get to beat up on the Nats anymore...instead they'll move on to beating up on the other awful NL teams.
#60 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
#64 Let him pitch!!!
http://deadspin.com/5035593/let-leo-pitch-cubs-tem...
#74 Re: Let him pitch!!!
those comments are great.
#84 Re: Let him pitch!!!
Yes. Lame excuse by the Cubs, too. Seems like this would be good press. They can always throw out multiple first pitches, seen it before (although I guess one technically would be the second pitch :P ).
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#81 heh...
bjays release s.stewart.
way to get rid of r.johnson, guys. appreciated.
hendry's dice rolls have ka-ching'd so far this year...aside from fuku's bat, especially lately. i guess giving 1m to ward didn't work out too great, but who wouldn't make that deal? well, i guess some wouldn't. i'm not one to argue over 600K when it comes to a 120m, myself.
#82 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
look on the bright side, the Nats are in Wrigley Field Friday 8/22-24.
6-1 on a ball under Willie Harris' glove
__________________________Jason Marquis and Mark DeRosa were salary dumps?
#85 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Can Gagne pitch today? Please?
Because if he can pitch today, that game may not be over.
__________________________the mindful mission
#86 Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
The Riot does Paul Sullivan's mail bag-
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/bas...
__________________________I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst
#87 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
hey look...carrie m....take notes on this article. this is how to properly "mail one in" and give the people someone they'd want even more than if sullivan actually did it as a straight interview. it's been done, but a classic approach is a good approach in the right context.
also, this rules (the question about fighting your teammates making "the cut" in the article and the answer itself)...
"I'd beat Font's butt, though Z might kill us."
-edit-
i just discovered there's a second page...even better =p
#103 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
Fontenot and Theriot did have a fight here's the footage-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQK8bGHmbFk&feature...
__________________________I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst
#105 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
awesome.
just awesome.
#88 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
Lots of funny answers there, but I think the one I like the best is about why he hits the ball to right:
"It's just where the ball goes when I hit it."
Great answer. :-)
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#91 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
its so pure it works.
when guys give those detailed answers most of the time it's something they've had to work on...to drill...to study and pay attention to...
he's got "see ball, swing" and his bat control mechanics down to something so natural it just "happens".
hopefully when/if he runs into a bump in his production it doesn't go all to hell if he feels the need to adjust his current approach.
#89 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
Ryan, recently when your LSU college team was playing one of the last games at Alex Box Stadium, the radio broadcasters were telling stories about memorable games there. One story mentioned a game in which the LSU bullpen had been completely used up in a blowout. LSU coach Skip Bertman asked the infielders if anyone wanted to pitch, and you offered to take the mound. Is this story true? Does Lou know about your pitching experience? Is Zambrano worried? -- LSU Baseball Fan, Chicago
Yes it's true. Everyone knows that I've pitched. I make sure of that. I have nine different pitches, all of which are awesome. I have a 0.00 ERA, got one out, throwing all knuckleballs. I don't remember who I faced -- some dude from Ole Miss.
great stuff....
#93 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
Yeah makes you wish Paul Sullivan took about 51 more weeks of vacation each year.
"I have nine different pitches," one for each inch over 5'00"... make that 4'10"
The only part that bugged me was when he typed '4' instead of 'for'. Did he text his answers in on his mobile?
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#135 Re: Rare Pinch Hit by Theriot
The Theriot/Fontenot v Z handicap match reminds me of my favorite McSweeney's piece.
__________________________http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2005/4/8schweiger.html
I have nine different pitches, all of which are awesome.
#92 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
I just hope Washington rolls over and dies for us the way they've done for Milwaukee.
"No heart!"
__________________________"No hustle, either, Skip."
This episode of the Chicago Cubs is brought to you by Micah Hoffpauir and Reed Johnson. That's numbers 6 and 9 on your scorecards, folks.
#94 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
didn't i tell you to cut those sideburns?
#95 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
So Brewers are 8-2 since the Cubs sweep, 6-0 since the "fight".
3.5 up in the wildcard, 3.5 down in the division and they still have a notably easier schedule even after 7 straight against the NL dormats of the Reds and Nats.
#97 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
They're peaking too early.
I hope.
__________________________Equal Opportunity Offender
#98 Re: So Brewers are 8-2 since the Cubs sweep
WE can only hope Sabathia's arm falls off.
__________________________And it might.
7 starts, 4 complete games
Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#101 Re: So Brewers are 8-2 since the Cubs sweep
but he's not throwing a ton of pitches in those complete games. He's been very effecient.
Won't it be fun to face him twice in the last 2 weeks with the division on the line?
#102 Re: Sabathia piling up the pitches
Well, Sabathia is remarkably durable, but he was averaging 107 pitches/start with Cleveland.
Now it's up above 110 with the Brewers including a couple 120+ outings.
And he ranks 3rd in BP's pitcher abuse points.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sorta...
I'm grasping at straws.
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#147 Re: Sabathia piling up the pitches
There's a disturbing amount of similarities between the Sabathia trade and the Sutcliffe trade. Hope things don't work out as well for the Brewers in '08 as they did in the Cubs in '84.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#100 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Well the sooner the Assholes realize they're out of the race, the better. If Young and Peavy get going, the Pods won't be such a pushover either.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#96 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Mets with another 9th inning choke job.
#99 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Remaining Schedules:
Brewers:
22 Home / 21 Away
18/43 (42%) vs Playoff Contenders
Cubs:
19 Home / 25 Away
23/44 (52%) vs Playoff Contenders
#104 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Do they just flip a coin to determine Division Champ and Wild Card if both team end up with the same records overall and head-to-head? Because that's my predicton: 95 wins each, 8-8 head-to-head. I wish I had a trick coin concession in the Seligs' Milwaukee neighborhood; sales could be on the rise this autumn.
#106 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
The next tiebreaker is record within the division, Cubs are 33-22 right now, Brewers, 30-23. Here are the rules:
The Club with the higher winning percentage in head-to-head competition between the two tied Clubs during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in intradivision games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half of intraleague games during the championship season; or
If the Clubs remain tied, then to the tied Club with the higher winning percentage in the last half plus one of intraleague games during the championship season, provided that such additional game was not a game between the two tied Clubs. This process will be followed game-by-game until the tie is broken.
#148 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Those later tie breakers don't bode well for us... Let's just kick their ass.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#107 Rays lose another
#108 Randy Winn updates?
Anyone confirm anything?
I like Winn, and, as a SH I believe, he certainly would be a nice addition. I thought frankly Hendry might have gone after him in December, prior to the Fukudome thing. He has done well against the Cubs.
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#111 Re: Randy Winn updates?
#113 Re: Randy Winn updates?
Oh...
I knew it was way too good to be true.
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#138 Re: Randy Winn updates?
I was all about the Cubs getting him when Seattle traded him. Heck, don't need him now.
__________________________Go Royals!
#109 Dusty is not happy
He sounded really lost and confused on the radio just now. Said he has no idea if the players they're getting will help.
This article hints at it
__________________________http://www.kypost.com/content/reds/story.aspx?cont...
Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#110 Re: Dusty is not happy
they already got rid of 1 OF starter without replacing him with anyone...basically letting patterson fill the spot as the only guy who could. hell, hairston came off the DL before he should just to fill a spot on the bench.
now he's down another OF starter with no clear replacement in sight.
reds being sellers shouldnt surprise anyone, but the GM isnt taking very good care of the team when they do ship someone off.
#112 Re: Dusty is not happy
#137 Re: Dusty is not happy
Dusty checklist:
* Getting rid of Adam Dunn? Okay.
* Not getting a sub-mediocre, black, middle infielder in the trade? Aww dammit.
Yeah, that's right, I said it. Sue me.
__________________________Go Royals!
#139 Re: Dusty is not happy
Has Dusty ever had a black middle infielder on one of his teams?
__________________________the mindful mission
#142 Re: Dusty is not happy
Tony Womack, Freddie Bynum, Jerry Hairston?
__________________________Voting for non-Americans since 2008.
#143 Re: Dusty is not happy
Well... Hairston was and is better than "sub-mediocre."
But yea... forgot about those three. Still - it isn't like he has had a plethora of black middle infielders on his teams.
__________________________the mindful mission
#144 Re: Dusty is not happy
I had Enrique Wilson in mind. Who the f* knew Wilson was a Dominican name.
__________________________Go Royals!
#155 Re: Dusty is not happy
dusty is a GM?
#156 Re: dusty(sic) is a GM
He seems to think so...
"I have never wanted to win more than I do right here, and I will, but this is Wayne Krivsky's team, not Walt Jocketty's and not mine. I just hope there is enough out there after the season that we can get to help us." — Dusty Baker.
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#157 Re: dusty(sic) is a GM
i have no idea how you made that leap.
its not even in the correct context.
dusty probably shouldnt have said it, but it points to the team as it's constructed moving into 09.
if he was a GM he probably wouldnt have traded away 2 starting OF'rs without bringing in other OF'rs to play.
patterson's been in the doghouse for months and he's playing now cuz its all they've got. jocketty has dropped the ball there.
-edit-
reds finally call up chris dickerson...he's nothing special, but he was the logical choice to come up after griffey was shipped off.
#158 Re: dusty(sic) is a GM
i have no idea how you made that leap.
c'mon, nobody is as dumb as you're playing this.
If Dusty just manages the players dealt to him, and has no say who they are, then what does he mean this isn't his team? Didn't he know who was on the team when he agreed to manage them?
Exactly when and under what conditions does a team become his, .... dude?
He acts like Jocketty hired him, not Krivsky.
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#159 Re: dusty(sic) is a GM
well if you want to get into an argument of what it means to "have a team of your own" you need to actually consider dusty's view rather than your view.
you should consider there may be more than one meaning and it may not be the one you think it is.
to me...it seems pretty clear what he said. to you, it seems pretty clear it's something else.
we're both standing at the same place very clearly seeing 2 different things.
*shrug*
at least its not the cubs problem.
#114 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
I think you forgot one - the Dwight Smith game from September 1989 -
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B09090CHN1...
#115 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
I believe that was my first and only game in a Skybox in Wrigley. Incredible game. '89 was really magical as I was old enough to fully appreciate what hung on every pitch and hit. I was a bit too young in '84 to fully "get it", aside from crying hysterically when they lost game 5.
#116 The story of Koyie Hill
http://cubs.scout.com/2/778025.html
probably needs a subscription but here are the highlights:
Hill wasn’t just going through a slump; he just could barely grip the bat. Last October, Hill accidently severed the pinkie and ring fingers from his right hand with a table saw.
------------
The blade completely cut off the pinkie finger on his right hand, and left the ring finger hanging on by the skin near the base of the joint. It also cut deeply into the middle knuckle of Hill’s middle finger and lacerated his thumb.
In the emergency room, Hill evaluated his options.
“I had my wife go get a baseball out of my truck,” Hill said, “because at that point, they were talking about leaving the pinkie off and taking the rest of the ring finger off, so I wanted to see what I would be able to do with the baseball without those two fingers. And I don’t think it would have worked out too well.”
Hill, a switch-hitter, was able to see Wichita hand surgeon Dr. Mark Melhorn and underwent emergency surgery to reattach both fingers.
“I got the ball and put it in my left hand, and they saw the position of it and just fixed (it) the best they could. When they pinned it together, thinking [the fingers] would never move again, they pinned it in a position where I would be able to throw the ball,” he said.
a little bit in there as well where Hendry told him he'd have a job in the organization even if he couldn't play anymore and crediting a small adjustment in his swing in mid-June for his recent numbers (and getting use to his fucked up hand).
#117 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
Didn't he see For Love of the Game? Stay away from power tools!!!!
__________________________"It's 30 Rock!!!!"
#119 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
Or "Walk the Line"?
__________________________I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me- hst
#130 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
Or "Sicko"?
__________________________That's Manila with an "L"
#125 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
Too bad he underestimated his own skills, he should have realized that by him operting the saw the speed of the blade would be increased by 5 MPH.
#127 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
win.
#149 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
nicely done.
__________________________"We've got business to attend to in Chicago town."
#154 Re: The story of Koyie Hill
It actually increases the speed of a hand tool when you set it to fast.
__________________________Tired of OBP? Join the club!
#118 SAMARDZJIA featured in today's New York Times
Samardzija Is a Rookie Pitcher Used to Pressure
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/sports/baseball/...
__________________________Piniella ↑ broadcast booth
Brenley ↓ dugout
Hendry »» on his ass
#120 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Whaaaaa?
Marlins trail the Cards by 2 runs in the 9th. Uggla leads off with a walk, then is cut down trying to steal 2nd.
That was either a missed hit-and-run, or monumentally stupid.
#121 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
Uggla is
a) cut down trying to steal 2nd.
b) monumentally stupid.
c) thought he was still in the All-Star game.
d) all of the above.
__________________________Jason Marquis and Mark DeRosa were salary dumps?
#126 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
We got Uggla'd AGAIN!?!?!?!??!
Dammit.
#128 Re: Top 5 Favorite Cubs vs. Cardinals Moments
I hate Uggla. It's snakes on a plane whenever we need him to play well.
I nominate "uggla'd" to be the new word for Cubbery by a non-Cub. Good word, Wes.
__________________________† The Joe - 2007 TCR Keeper Champion; 2008 Runner-Up