Harry Canary Unmasked
Knowing the end of his reign here is near, I braved the heat and the Zooperstars today and went to Principal Park in search of something to remember Anthony Rizzo by.
Normally I perch behind the plate in the shade of the mezzanine. Today I transplanted myself to the rightfield bleachers where I'd be positioned to fetch long balls aimed in that direction. There's a fountain out there that was spraying those young enough to frolick in it without drawing stares. I was tempted.
Rodrigo Lopez retired the first 11 hitters he faced but a scoreless tie was broken when Round Rock's Brad Nelson connected on his 12th career homer against the I-Cubs in the top of the 6th, this one a granny. Despite that it wasn't Rizzo who hit it, I gave chase out the rightfield gate just to test my route of pursuit. Homers to center at PP are automatically out of there since there are no seats in that area. Sure enough, when I arrived at the scene the ball was waiting for me just shy of the street that runs between the wall and the river. Unfortunately, a couple of young ballhawks who watched me from their seats in right center beat me to the ball when Brett Jackson brought the home team within two with a solo blast to the same area in the bottom of the 7th.
Jackson's day was a synopsis of his scouting report. He drew a walk, stole a base, hit a homer and fanned, among other things. His walk came after getting down in the count 0-2. He doesn't whiff so much because he's a chaser. He just misses a lot of strikes he swings at.
Alas, Rizzo was hitless for the second consecutive game. Today was the first time I've seen him that he didn't hit at least one ball hard. He did draw a walk in his first trip.
Before I segue to the dreaded Zooperstars I should mention that Josh (JV) Vitters hit third today and singled once to extend his modest hitting streak to seven games. Earlier in the year he'd dropped as low as eighth in the lineup. He's been on a steady burn this month but I still ain't buying.
As for the extra-curricular entertainment, the dressing room for those zany inflatables was beneath the section where I was sitting. When I saw Shark McGwire, Mackerel Jordan, Tiger Woodchuck, Harry Canary, et. al changing costumes between innings I felt like a kid watching Bozo have a smoke. They're really just young guys, carneys working the summer circuit. Oh, the disillusionment!
I've got another day off to use up before the fiscal year ends next week so I think I'll cash it on tomorrow's matinee. Will Scrabble Rizzo be in the lineup? All I know for sure is the Zooperstars will still be in town. They're worth the price of admission only because there is none, not counting the last of my discretionary days. I can't imagine that I'll end up wishing I'd gone to the rock pile. Until tomorrow afternoon...
Recent comments
-
George Altman 49 min 12 sec ago (view)
If this post had a 'like' button, I would press it.
-
Arizona Phil 1 hour 21 min ago (view)
Infielders Ed Howard IV, Fabian Pertuz, Ryan Reynolds, and Yeison Santana, 1B Grayson Byrd, and OF Darius Hill have been moved down to the Myrtle Beach (Lo-A) squad from the South Bend (Hi-A) squad at Minor League Camp.
-
Jackstraw 2 hours 11 min ago (view)
I think somebody finally found and turned off the SUCK mode on their Cubs game controller.
It's important we ALL do that, every day.
-
crunch 5 hours 30 min ago (view)
i think the cubs can risk losing shelby miller.
-
Dolorous Jon Lester 6 hours 16 min ago (view)
Contreras is amazing. It's why I've been so adamant that its completely nuts how often he's popped up in trade rumors.
-
Sonicwind75 6 hours 19 min ago (view)
And the baseball gods smite us with great vengeance.
-
crunch 7 hours 7 min ago (view)
in a world of bryzzo and baez, contreras deserves his props for his all-around game.
he protected lester's shortcomings for years. good luck with that 40% caught stealing rate and less people attempting it in WAS with aged alex avila and yan gomes, guy.
-
crunch 7 hours 25 min ago (view)
cubs are scoring runs early and have a lead.
i'm not prepared for this. deep down inside i'm nearly positive this is a good thing, but i'm going to do some research and try to make sure this is a good thing.
okay, i just checked with my friend that's a dodgers fan and this is a good thing. go cubs.
game 14...only the 2nd time with multiple extra base hits in an inning for the cubs this year according to boog.
-
Dolorous Jon Lester 8 hours 40 min ago (view)
Winkler and Workman return today, Steele and Strop head to alternate site. Yay
-
Charlie 10 hours 24 min ago (view)
No numbers really needed to show that this offense is terrible right now, but I decided to peruse team stats today to see exactly where the Cubs have struggled the most. I was unsurprised to find they have the third highest pull %, the second lowest line drive %, and the highest K% in the majors right now. BABIP is also the lowest in the majors, whih is to be expected when the team is making poor contact and doing so in the teeth of the shift.
That's not fun baseball to watch.
-
Dolorous Jon Lester 11 hours 49 min ago (view)
Don't worry, Joc is DEFINITELY an upgrade.
-
CTSteve 12 hours 51 min ago (view)
And off of a lefty.
Neat.
-
Arizona Phil 17 hours 5 min ago (view)
Most players get only three minor league options, but a player who has accrued less than five "full seasons" is eligible for a 4th minor league option.
-
Charlie 20 hours 34 min ago (view)
I agree that Contreras really sticks that front elbow (and shoulder and to some extent his head) pretty close to the zone. Plus he likes to reach toward the outer half to pull the ball and sometimes to lunge a little at the outside corner, so pitchers will want to work him inside frequently. He should get a thicker elbow guard.
-
bradsbeard 21 hours 38 min ago (view)
Sounds like Steele will be in line for a 4th option year FWIW.
-
crunch 22 hours 46 min ago (view)
limited capacity (and it's a "thunderstick" giveaway night), but LAD @ SD is practically a playoff level atmosphere here in april.
this one could be hot for years.
Comments
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Chicago Deep Shit Pizza needs one tasty ingredient
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Rizzo called up
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
The most unshocking PED suspension ever
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked
Re: Harry Canary Unmasked