Game 1 Recap - So Yeah, That Happened

I can't really afford the time to pour into these game recaps as I'd really like, so I'll just comment briefly on the bigger WTF moments.

Today, the honor goes to Kerry Wood and Dale Sveum in the 8th. Granted, I got called to a meeting just as Wood was imploding, but let's take at the play-by-play.

- K. Wood relieved R. Dempster
- I. Desmond stole second
- R. Zimmerman walked
- I. Desmond to third, R. Zimmerman to second on wild pitch
- A. LaRoche walked
- J. Werth walked, I. Desmond scored, R. Zimmerman to third, A. LaRoche to second


So after not paying attention to the tying run, then a walk, a wild pitch and another walk of a guy that had already struck out 3 times versus a righty, who in the ballpark was thinking Wood was suddenly going to find his groove to shut this thing down?

Raise your hand, Dale Sveum!

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Cubs Game Recap
Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 4:58pm
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Comments

Submitted by joshb
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 5:21pm

actually, kerry wood should have struck out at least one of the walks if the umpire had not screwed up the call. Funny the game ends on a called strike that was exactly as close as at least 2 of wood's pitches. He got royally screwed IMO.

Submitted by Leons Crusty Glove
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 8:23am

Score more runs.

Submitted by misterwhipple
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 5:36pm

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2012 Chicago Cubs. Ringing in the new era with a loving retrospective on Cubbery. At least we know the new leadership is a quick study.

Submitted by 10man
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 12:24am

This game is probably indicative of many moments were going to experience this season, so buckle your seat belts and keep one eye closed at all times.

Submitted by The Joe
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 5:38pm

Who groaned the instant Kerry Wood was called up?

Submitted by RI Mike
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 5:51pm

Signing Wood was stupid. For a big market team, the Cubs are way too sentimental, assuming they want to win. Being sentimental with a millionaire because you remember when he was terrific and could have taken the team to the promised land only helps him, not the team. (And he doesn't need the help. He's got plenty of money). Assuming, again, that they really want to win.

Reminds me of them bringing Sandberg back after his "retirement." Yuck.

Submitted by nd1961
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:17pm

I am 72 years old. I have been following this alleged professional team for 66 years.
I have seen this movie over and over and over again. The ending is always the same.
Theo, my good man, you will soon realize there is no hope.
Doomed forever in Dante's Inferno are we.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:21pm

~quietly waves miniature cubs pennant~

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:23pm

My money is on theo. sorry you are so jaded.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 1:18pm

Is it really being jaded when you have 66 years worth of data to support your point?

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 1:25pm

That is kind of the main way one becomes jaded.

Jaded - made dull, apathetic, or cynical by experience or by surfeit.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jaded

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:26pm

Wood always pitched this way. Always. He nibbles when he should challenge and vice versa. Never much liked his style. But he'll be okay this year.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 8:36am

He doesn't nibble, he just can't consistently throw strikes.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:44am

That is also true. But watching Woody for his whole career it seems to me he is trying to be too fine ALWAYS. Trying to sit on the outside bottom corner - or drop it off the table. RARELY will you see him challenge the hitter. He has been that way his whole damn career. What about heater at the eyes down the middle once in awhile. Mano y Mano. But no Kerry has to try and hit a minuscule spec on the edge of the planet. that said he will be one of our better pen arms. But I cannot watch him. His posture and his wildness are forever etched in my brain. For me it is not fond memories, it's PTSD!

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:52am

You may certainly be right, I am no scout, but it seems to me that Kerry didn't walk three players yesterday because he was being too fine, he was unwilling to challenge the hitters, or because he was being squeezed. He walked three players because he frequently has trouble throwing strikes.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:11am

Kerry did yesterday what he frequently does when he's wild--he lost his fastball up and out of the zone. That's usually a symptom of flying open, which was a problem for Kerry earlier in his career at least. I couldn't tell if that was happening yesterday for sure. He also had a few close pitches that missed, but he threw several pitches that were nowhere close.

Submitted by Vegas Brian
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:59am

I see superjimmer's point. Yes, he was overthrowing yesterday; but he was also either ahead or even in the count on all 3 batters he walked. I can see why he didn't go after Zimmerman, but there was no reason to nibble with LaRoche or Werth, IMO.

And Wood isn't the only one that does this. It seemed to be a Rothschild thing for years to get ahead of the count and let the batter chase.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:10pm

over/under on Rob G's game recaps before he goes insane?

~all is well baseball network showing dodgers vs pads with vin on the mic~

Reminder you get free baseball on extra innings this opening week.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:58pm

16th inning TOR/CLE (new longest opening day game by innings)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:30pm

my job will drive me insane before the Cubs.

as I mentioned I missed the late inning theatrics just as Wood threw that wild pitch, so if he was getting squeezed, I suppose I understand keeping him in. But I don't know why managers presuppose because they brought someone in for an inning that they've got it that day and feel the need to justify that move by staying with them when they clearly don't have any fucking control of their pitches.

Submitted by Vegas Brian
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 6:44pm

Yeah, a couple of close pitches-one really, IMO (on Werth). But he missed badly on most of the other balls, and could only get it over when he took something off.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:14pm

August 8th, 2009

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:04pm

Rizzo starts his career as a Cub with a single, Jackson K'd earlier.

R. Wells gives up an early 2-run HR.

Iowa vs. Round Rock in the 2nd.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:12pm

interesting enough lineup for Iowa, 6 guys worth keeping an eye on...

Campana, Jackson, E. Gonzalez, Rizzo, Castillo, Cardenas, Sappelt, Vitters, Tolbert

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:21pm

encouraging

Campana bunt single to leadoff 3rd and then B. Jackson walk

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:30pm

Rizzo singles again, and then steals a base

in other news, LaHair's back is feeling tremendously better

-edit- Rizzo's SB then got W. Castillo plunked with first base open

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:34pm

oh yeah, they're facing a pitcher named Mark Hamburger.

that must have sucked as a kid.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:17pm

Coach Buttermaker would approve-

Padres behind home plate wall advertisement-
http://www.aladdinbailbonds.com/

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:19pm

AA

Adduci, Watkins, Ha, Bour, Cerda, Burgess, Brenly, E. Soto, Struck

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:24pm

In trying to be objective, and it is hard sometimes, this is only Game 1, Woody did not get much ST action, they played a better team with a real bullpen, and probably 1/2 of this squad will not be here next year.

The "little things" preached all spring meant nothing this game. Every "aggressive" play backfired, and Baker is as bad as always playing defense.

- sigh -

Hopefully there will be some bright spots we can be excited about in the months to come.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:44pm

The Iowa Cubs lineup is much more entertaining than the parent club's.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:53pm

stomach flu for C. Kershaw before anyone freaks out about him only pitching 3 innings.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:14pm

vin is awesome

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:54pm

3-2 Iowa in bottom 5th. I got the milb video subrx this season.

last run on a Campana single, steal, BJax rbi single (then he stole 2nd also).

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 10:56pm

Didn't know you could get milb video, may have to look into that...

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 9:24am

The "BJax rbi single" was a grounder to third that Jackson beat out. Campana scored from second on the play.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:24pm

Iowa 5-3. RWells gave up another HR (solo)

Iowa loaded the bases (Sappelt double, Vitters and Tolbert walks) then runs on a Campana SF scoring Sappelt and a BJax rbi single

(your turn Rob, gotta go meet someone at the airport)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:30pm

I got AA scores

Ha RBI double, Bour RBI single

2-0 in 5th

Peoria playing as well.

M. Jensen with 5 shutout innings, Peoria up 5-2. W. Darvill 2/3, DeVoss with an error, turned 2 DP's, 2 K's, a hit and a run scored.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:30pm

TV announcer for I-Cubs said Frank De La Cruz has reported to Iowa and will be available in their pen.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:47pm

Corpas in the 8th, trying to protect a 2-run lead

N. Struck with 5 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 K in AA heading to the 6th

K. Burke threw a scoreless frame for Peoria

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 8:51pm

Corpas actually came in the 7th inning, 2 scoreless innings for him

Struck gets in trouble in the 6th, already given up a run and now has bases loaded with 1 out.

Submitted by granolaCUB
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 12:08am

I thought it was supposed to be Marmol, then Wood to finish games?

Submitted by 10man
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 12:28am

While Woody and Sveum get some flack, I see that Marmol choked again. Looks like the same dude we saw last year lacking in confidence and killer instinct. We need a closer who is NOT a head case.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 9:27am

The Tracy double was windblown. The Desmond single was just a slap to shallow right. Good hitting, not bad pitching.

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 8:40am

When soriano was caught stealing third, why wasn't the guy on first(Stewart?) running also?

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 8:50am

i don't know... something about swinging on a plane...

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 9:47am

I'm also not sure why Baker wasn't charged with an error on his botched grounder at first. It was hit just to his right and he out ran it and tried to backhand it. He is a dildo.

To quote the Asian groundskeepers from Major League. "They're still shitty"

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:03am

He's not the only dildo on this team. I can't believe we have THREE of Stewart, Dewitt, and Baker. And Barney. And Mather. And Reed Johnson. And Lahair for that matter, who is unproven. Most teams would have a couple of those types of players on their roster, tops. We have SEVEN guys like that, who should probably be 24-25th men, or in the minors. That tells you all you need to know about this team.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:20am

I think you have to distinguish between guys they acquire, like Stewart and Mather, and ones who have been kept around as roster filler and trade bait, like DeWitt and Baker.

Stewart looks pretty good to me so far swinging a bat, and I love having a 3B who understands what the glove is for (although I haven't actually seen him make plays yet).

I think you have to wait a couple of months for the roster to shake out.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:15am

It's a one-game sample size obviously, but I was very disappointed with Stewart's approach yesterday. I didn't see any patience from him or the other guy that was supposed to bring more discipline to the lineup, DeJesus. Everybody was hacking early and mostly putting the ball in play very weekly (Stewart twice hit grounders that couldn't make it to the pitcher). With a hurricane coming directly in from CF, why not make the pitcher throw more pitches? Bob praised DeJesus or doing it late in the game on a 7-pitch AB, but maybe they ought do have to done it during the first 2 times through the lineup.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:34am

Stewart also crushed that triple.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:40am

but maybe they ought do have to done it during the first 2 times through the lineup.

easier said than done with certain pitchers on the mound, Strasburg seems to be one of those pitchers. From what I could tell, he was pretty much around the plate the whole game.

at least I hope that's the case...doubtful Stewart and DeJesus are suddenly going to be guys that don't see around 4 pitchers per plate appearance once it's all said and done.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 1:49pm

Probably right. I was just frustrated to see him go through the first few innings throwing so few pitches. Seemed like the Cubs were swinging at the first pitch that was close and usually hitting it weakly. I expect it from Soriano, Barney, and to some degree Castro. I didn't like to see DeJesus and Stewart contributing to the problem.

It was only one game against possibly the most overpowering pitcher in the league. I just hope "swing early in the count" wasn't a gameplan. Probably wasn't.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 3:15pm

So what you are saying is you haven't yet accepted Dejesus as the Cubs savior?

#GoodFridayHumor

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 6:07pm

I worship the flying spaghetti monster.

Samardzija is starting to resemble him, though.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Sat, 04/07/2012 - 10:06pm

While not a FSM guy myself, +1 for the reference

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:22am

It looked like he didn't even try to field it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:32am

Baker gave up on the ball thinking Barney was behind him.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 10:31am

The Cubs blew a game! The sky is falling!!!!

Did anyone actually expect them to beat with Nationals with Dempster going up against Strasburg?

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:16am

I think the main reason for all these complaints is losing the game mostly because our 2nd best reliever walked in a run when he only had to get one out. If not for that we'd probably all be saying exactly the same thing you are.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:32am

I think the main reason for the complaints is they lost a game they had a very clear opportunity to win.

We should probably all get use to that feeling.

Regardless of our feelings on the season, we all deep down wouldn't complain if the Cubs miraculously were good this season and I don't think any of us think they should just accept losing, especially at this early stage of the season.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:26am

well, dempster did beat strasburg...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:30am

arguing and complaining over the minutiae of one game of 162 is kind of the fun of it all. It should not be translated as some overall testament for my views on the Cubs this season.

Others may feel differently...

Submitted by superjimmer
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 12:40pm

I totally agree Rob. Hopefully we all know it is one game, early and for a team with low expectations. But why not examine the details, they are still there for the picking'. All in all they did what they said they'd do and weren't terribly good at some of it (aggressive baserunning, fielding, patience at plate). But according to Dale a lot of this was adapting to a pitcher who is not likely to be wild.

All in all it is a new team and they werent very good at any of the new finesse yet, but had some talent (Dempster etc). Takes time to get good!

Our AAA lineup IS where the excitement is tho. No doubt!

Submitted by dc60124
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 1:26pm

The Cubs blew a game! The sky is falling!!!!

yes. and no.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 1:43pm

Obviously, Saturday's game is a must-win.

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