I did not know that

Add comment May 23rd, 2008

It’s great to quote Johnny Carson.

But back to my point. Thanks to the hitting abilities of Carlos Zambrano on Friday night during the Cubs’ 12-3 dismissal of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I was able to find out that the Cubs had actually acquired two former 20-game winners from the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1964.

To quote Inigo Montoya, “Let me ’splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” Zambrano went4-for-5 to become the first Cubs pitcher since Lew Burdette on July 23, 1964, to have a four-hit game.

I didn’t even know Burdette, a World Series hero for the Milwaukee Braves, had even been a Cub.

Yet he was, dealt to the North Side by the St. Louis Cardinals for the immortal Glen Hobbie, about two weeks before the infamous Brock-for-Broglio trade.

The Right Stuff

Add comment May 23rd, 2008

Cubs give Kosuke Fukudome a night off and throw Mark DeRosa in RF. Lou Piniella gives Pirates lefty Zach Duke an all right-handed hitting lineup, including switch-hitting P Carlos Zambrano.

I’ve heard lefties can better find their rhythm when they’re not worried about going back between LH and RH hitters. We shall see.