May 8th, 2008 07:16pm
Tony Garcia
So I was thinking about bringing a sign to Monday’s Cubs-Reds game at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park for Reds announcer Marty Brennaman, seeing as how he holds such a high opinion about the Cubs faithful.
Unfortunately, the only message that kept coming into my head was similar to the advice Vice President Dick Cheney had for Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.
Still, Marty couldn’t be too upset that the Cubs helped bring 69,860 to the 6-year-old park, a good chunk wearing blue.
Compare that with the Reds’ home games from April 21-23, with the Dodgers and Astros, and remarkably similar mid-70s weather, drew only 45,226.
And another thing: The Cubs fans cheered for their team; the Reds fans, probably embarrassed that they were getting outcheered in their own park, tried to shout down the Cubs fans rather than attempt to cheer louder for their own team. I think it’s a little backward.
May 8th, 2008 05:38pm
Tony Garcia
The Sports Illustrated cover featuring right fielder Kosuke Fukudome was dated May 5. Kosuke is 1-for-11, including three strikeouts, since Cinco de Mayo.
But I don’t believe in jinxes.
May 7th, 2008 02:43pm
Gareth Sleger
With Jon Lieber’s heinous rotation performance today (5 earned runs off 4 home runs in 2 innings), Rich Hill learning some lessons in Iowa and Jason Marquis pitching like, well, Jason Marquis, what’s Lou “I’m not stupid” Piniella to do?
Well, mix in the problems Sweet Lou is having with Alfonso Soriano (lead-off hitting and fielding) and trying to get Ronny Cedeno in the starting lineup, and there might be a solution. Albeit (jokingly) far fetched.
It’s something called the Reverse Ankiel: convert Soriano into a starting pitcher. In the same fashion that Tony La Russa changed struggling pitcher Rick Ankiel into a productive hitter.
 Talk about extreme changes.
May 7th, 2008 09:08am
Wally Haas
Lots to like about last night’s Cubs win, but what I found most encouraging was the velocity on Kerry Wood’s fastball. If he can throw his fastball in the mid-90s consistently, something I worried about considering his injuries, that will make him more effective as he learns how to be a closer.
That fastball will make his new pitch, a “backup slider” devastating.
Carlos Zambrano continues to look like a Cy Young candidate. Last night’s eight shutout innings was just what the team needed given the struggles of the other starters. Big Z has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his eight starts.
Today it’s Jon Lieber’s turn. He’s looked good in long relief. Let’s hope he looks good in the rotation.
May 5th, 2008 04:40pm
Wally Haas
You haven’t seen Tony Garcia post anything here in a few days. I hope that means he was able to pull off a great sports weekend.
Tony had an opportunity to see the Kentucky Derby. He was going to head to Cincinnati after the race and watch the opener of the Cubs-Reds series. Perhaps he’ll blog about that when he gets back.
At least I hope that’s what he’s up to. I can’t imagine anything else that would keep him from the company softball team’s season opener.
May 5th, 2008 04:23pm
Gareth Sleger
ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick wrote today that the National League Central Division is only a three-team race between the Cardinals, Cubs and Brewers. But don’t be so quick to dismiss the .500 Astros, who completed a three-game sweep over the Brewers (even without Derrick Turnbow) this weekend. The sweep placed Houston a half game behind third place Milwaukee and four behind division leading St. Louis.Â
In the long run, it just might be the Brewers’ pitching problems (MLB leading 7 blown saves in 19 save opportunities) that will give the Astros a slight wild-card race advantage. Through Sunday, the Brewers rank last in the division in team relief ERA (4.61) and the Astros rank second (3.86). At the plate, the Astros have been quietly productive: fifth in the NL in runs (152) and third in MLB in home runs (39). Also, Miguel “age is just a number” Tejada has transitioned well to the NL batting .349, while Lance Berkman is on pace for a career year with 10 homers and 31 RBI.
May 2nd, 2008 06:45pm
Gareth Sleger
Wrigley Field was ranked the 15th “best” MLB ballpark according to a Sports Illustrated fan survey. The overall rank was based on the results of 10 separate categories.
Turns out the “Friendly Confines” is a traditionally inhospitable cash-cow that serves crappy food and fields a mediocre team but still maintains a great atmosphere with knowledgeable fans in a first-class neighborhood…sure, sounds about right.
May 2nd, 2008 02:17pm
Gareth Sleger
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Kosuke Fukudome has now played one game since his mug on the cover of Sports Illustrated hit newsstands. And by going 4-for-4 yesterday, it appears he’s avoided that mysterious SI cover jinx (which apparently doesn’t mean much to him). And according to SI writer Lee Jenkins, the cover boy didn’t even know about the Cubs’ infamous 100-year drought/”curse” until after he signed his contract.
But, that doesn’t mean the Cubs as whole are in the clear after blowing a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning. The “It’s Gonna Happen” headline will have a lot of fingers pointed at it if it doesn’t happen.
May 2nd, 2008 09:44am
Matt Trowbridge
No one ever said Alfonso Soriano was a perfect leadoff hitter, but he’s not a bum, either. He’s a six-time All-Star as a leadoff hitter (he certainly didn’t make it because of his glove). Anyway, the cries to move him down in the order are now getting hysterical and have lost all reason. Case in point: A Chicago Tribune columnist ripped Soriano on Friday for hitting pitches when the count was 0-1, 1-2, 1-1 and 1-0. What, he’d rather Soriano take a called third strike on a 1-2 pitch, like the White Sox’ Nick Swisher striking out looking on three pitches to end the game with the tying run on base Wednesday? Soriano went 0-for-4 Thursday, and you could argue that it was because he was TOO patient, rather than not patient enough. He was behind in the count in each of his first three at-bats. When pitchers are throwing strikes, you have to swing the bat. All good hitters are going to be looking to swing at strikes when the count is 0-1, 1-2 and 1-1.
May 1st, 2008 10:19pm
Tony Garcia
Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, now manager of Class A Peoria, will bring the Chiefs to Wrigley Field for a Midwest League game against the Kane County Cougars.
I’m a big fan of the last line of the Associated Press story: “The Cubs said it in a release they believe it is the first minor league game in the ball park’s 94-year history.”
Let me save the White Sox fans some trouble and finish the punchline for them: ” … other than every game involving the Cubs for the past 94 years!”
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