Archive for April, 2008
April 23rd, 2008
I was talking to a good friend of mine earlier today about how Kosuke Fukudome has greatly improved the dynamic of the Cubs lineup this season. My friend, Jeff, pointed out something interesting: Fukudome is averaging more pitches taken than anyone else in the league.
Sure enough, Fukudome ranks first in the MLB in number of pitches taken per plate appearance. In 86 plate appearances, he averages 4.70 pitches (Oakland’s Jack Hannahan is second at 4.48). Also, his 16 drawn walks leads the team.
Add to the fact that Fukudome (who generally bats in the middle of the order) has a MLB third-best OBP (.477) with a 1.23 walk-to-strike out ratio, and you have one of the most efficient/patient players in the sport…and that’s just 19 games into his MLB career.
April 22nd, 2008
It appears Ronny Cedeno has no intention of slowing down his RBI onslaught. Today, the shortstop/second baseman added 5 more RBI to the 5 he tallied in the three previous games. And they haven’t been petty.
His two RBI in the eighth inning on Monday gave the Cubs a breathing room lead of 4-1. His first RBI today gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning and his final four on a grand slam in the eighth iced the 8-1 victory.
If Cedeno continues his clutch hitting, Lou Piniella is going to have some tough lineup decisions to make when Alfonso Soriano returns May 1. The Cubs will have Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot and Cedeno all capable of holding down the middle infield.
April 22nd, 2008
I just turned on the game to check the score only to see what I complained about a dozen posts or so ago: The Cubs fail to score a runner from third with less than two outs.
This is bad. The Cubs had the bases loaded with nobody out and Ronnie Cedeno looks at strike three and Henry Blanco grounds into a double play. Last night Cedeno came through with two outs after the Cubs wasted a similar situation.
Wasting scoring opportunities will come back to bite you. Still a scoreless game. Cubs should be up at least 1.
April 22nd, 2008
The Cubs offense is simply scorching since Alfonso Soriano’s injury: 59 runs in seven games (6-1).
The week-long fire surge—which positioned the Cubs into first place—came everywhere from the typical (Derrek Lee 8 RBI, 3 HR, .379 BA; Aramis Ramirez 7 RBI, 2 HR .375 BA; Mark DeRosa 9 hits, 8 RBI .391 BA) to the atypical (Ronny Cedeno’s 5 RBI and 4 runs in last three games; Felix Pie’s 3-run HR on Monday; Eric Patterson’s game-winning RBI on Friday).
And that’s not even mentioning Ryan Theriot, who had 13 hits, 9 runs and .481 BA without even playing on Monday.
The Cubs now have five players in the National League’s top-25 batting average and seven in the NL’s top-20 OBP. In MLB, the Cubs rank second in RBI (108), second in runs (118), second in OBP (.364), third in hits (193), fifth in BA (.280) and fifth in extra base hits (67).
Now, I don’t want to be one of those guys who asks “Who needs Soriano?”, because the Cubs do need him. When ’Fons’ went down injured last August and missed 19 games, he came back in September to hit .320 with 14 home runs.
April 21st, 2008
Thanks to this plunking in the eighth inning Monday night, Aramis Ramirez had retaken the team lead he had shared with Mark DeRosa and Reed Johnson. Can’t tell whether he’s trying to remain cool or deciding the 10-game suspension will be worth it when he gets a hold of the next pitcher that nails him.
April 21st, 2008
Great effort from Carlos Zambrano against the Mets Monday night for the national ESPN audience: 101 pitches, 61 for strikes, 1 earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts.
It’s the bullpen’s turn.
April 21st, 2008
Cub fans know how much Ron Santo hates the New York Mets. With that in mind, it may be more entertaining to turn down the volume on your TV sets the next two games and listen to Pat Hughes and Santo call the game on radio.
I love listening to Santo. He may not give you the best insights to a game, but he’s fun to listen to. He and Hughes make a good team.
April 20th, 2008
Wow. Another visiting jealous writer is upset because Wrigley Field is filled and the park where (fill in beat writer from nondescript NL city here) has to work at is not. This time, it’s Paul Daugherty’s turn to fill cliches for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
But at least Daugherty doesn’t go too Brennaman on the Wrigley faithful and instead focuses on the Reds’ plight.
I’ll investigate how the New York writers will lament this week when the Mets visit. But those scribes probably have better things to do, like check up on Pedro’s hamstring.
April 19th, 2008
Can’t even celebrate the Cubs hitting the magic 13-run pool mark without another member of the media attempting to besmirch the club’s honor.
Sean Deveney of SportingNews.com suggests that, maybe, perhaps, possibly, the Cubs beat the White Sox to the “throwing a World Series” game by a year.
Deveney’s evidence is a recently discovered affidavit from Black Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte (played by David Strathairn in the movie “Eight Men Out”). And what motive does Cicotte have to lie? Besides, of course, wanting to save his career.
First Marty Brennaman’s bitter attack, and now this. Whole world’s out to get the Cubs.
April 19th, 2008
I’m usually a fan of bad taste, as long as it’s done creatively.
The T-shirt “celebrating” Kosuke Fukudome’s arrival at Clark and Addison ain’t creative.
Sun-Times Cubs writer Gordon Wittenmyer illuminated readers with the offering from one shirt vendor, an altered Cubs logo made to look like a cartoon-like Asian character and the words “Horry Kow.”
When WSCR morning man Mike North is offended by a T-shirt, you gotta believe something’s really wrong with it.
Apparently, the Cubs were slammed with e-mails complaining about the T-shirt and had the sales halted.
Educated guess: Those who think the T-shirt is cute and unoffensive probably have a closet full of “Save the Chief” gear. Early prediction: Those who already have the T-shirt will try to sell them on eBay.
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