Timeline

Add comment August 15th, 2008

8:48 p.m.: I say to co-worker Eric Pearson, “Daryle Ward can make up for three month’s worth of (word we will not print here) with a three-run shot.”

8:48:15: Ward hits three-run bomb.

8:48:20: Jaw is returned to mouth after it dropped to floor.

The quandary

Add comment August 15th, 2008

Carlos Zambrano is repeating his meltdown effort that he showed Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. But he’s the only hitter that can drive in runs when he pitches.

Decisions, decisions …

Have your scorecards ready

Add comment August 15th, 2008

Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Edmonds (ARam nursing a sore left hip from Thursday night), Soto, DeRosa (manning third for the aforementioned resting Ramirez), Fontenot, Johnson (Fukudome gets a breather) and Zambrano.

This should be a group that can get the Cubs their first win in South Florida since 2005, right?

Did he or didn’t he?

Add comment August 15th, 2008

There’s a bit of a stir about whether Ted Lilly intentionally plunked Yunel Escobar last night.

Lilly should keep his mouth shut because he wins either way. There are quite a few fans who say “good for him” in plunking a guy and defending a teammate. There are others who say, heck it was an inside pitch that just happened to hit the guy. No big deal.

Escobar overreacted big time. From my vantage point of the comfort of the sofa, it looked like the pitch would have brushed his uniform top if Escobar hadn’t dropped his elbow.

Pitching inside and getting hit is part of the game. If you don’t like it, play checkers.

Not just Rookie of the Year

Add comment August 15th, 2008

ESPN’s baseball guru Peter Gammons says Geovany Soto is a legit MVP candidate. It’s an interesting thought, considering talks usually stop with Rookie of the Year. 

Soto has easily been one of the Cubs’ most consistent, if not underrated, players this season; amid hampering slumps from Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome.

And other than his hitting (.387 so far in August) and starting the All-Star game, what’s impressive about the 25-year-old catcher is his astuteness for knowing when to calm down pitchers.