Will the White Sox pull it out tonight?
(UPDATE 8:58PM Tuesday - Um... Yes, White Sox pull it out. "Dogs and Cats ... Living Together... MASS HYSTERIA!" - Peter Venkman)
I want to stay positive about this baseball season for all Chicago teams and hope the Sox make it through the playoffs
as I would love to see a Crosstown Series this year,
but as a Cub fan, it's hard for me to not make a snide comment about this:
The Sox are asking all of their fans to wear black to the ballpark.
Hmm.... are they plannning a funeral? (rim shot!)
Sorry... it was like shooting fish in a barrel. :-)
"We have to fight like a cat, paws up. If we are going to fail, fail like a man, with your belt tight." - Ozzie Guillen
"Wooooohoo o ohooooo oooohhhh !!!!" - Ron Santo
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
So Dempster it is!
Dempster will start game one, as all of you voted for. I voted twice by accident; I had both of the Zambrano votes.
Today we have one chance to finish off the Brewers, with CC Sabathia starting for them- and Zambrano not starting for us. I don't think Lou actually wants to keep Milwaukee out of the playoffs. But it would be to our advantage if we could play against the Mets, should they make it. the Dodgers scare me a lot more. The Mets have a case of the yips, still carried over from last season.
Meanwhile, on the South Side, they are doing their very best to choke... you know how they (Sox fans) would behave if our team did this. Show no mercy, Cub Nation!! Even so, I won't be mad at all if they make it. I am ready to take the Sox on for all the hardware! Bring it, Southside!
Today we have one chance to finish off the Brewers, with CC Sabathia starting for them- and Zambrano not starting for us. I don't think Lou actually wants to keep Milwaukee out of the playoffs. But it would be to our advantage if we could play against the Mets, should they make it. the Dodgers scare me a lot more. The Mets have a case of the yips, still carried over from last season.
Meanwhile, on the South Side, they are doing their very best to choke... you know how they (Sox fans) would behave if our team did this. Show no mercy, Cub Nation!! Even so, I won't be mad at all if they make it. I am ready to take the Sox on for all the hardware! Bring it, Southside!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Cubs - THE MONOBROW VIDEO
A few of our Cubbies having fun with a little video from FUNNYORDIE.
This is the year! 100 years or bust!
This is the year! 100 years or bust!
Uribe's Curse - 100 years for the Sox
I was listening to Johnny B. on WLUP 97.9FM - CHICAGO the other day and he was talking to a guy who had sold his boat to White Sox third baseman Juan Uribe.
According to the man who sold the boat, Uribe had asked him to store the boat for him for a few days so he could arrange to have the boat shipped to his home in the Dominican Republic.
Just google (yes, now it's a verb) for "uribe boat" and you'll find plenty of articles that give the details.
Long story short... Uribe has left the boat at this man's car wash/detailing shop for the whole season and has yet to pick it up, so the man contacted Uribe's people and said he would have to start charging daily storage fees.
This information apparently was never relayed to Uribe and so the third baseman refused to pay, and has yet to pick up his boat.
Has anyone noticed the Sox are kinda suckin right now? Suckitude to the level of possibly not making it into the playoffs?
FORGET GOATS!
I'm thinking that Uribe better pay this guy and pick up his boat or the Sox may suffer from...
According to the man who sold the boat, Uribe had asked him to store the boat for him for a few days so he could arrange to have the boat shipped to his home in the Dominican Republic.
Just google (yes, now it's a verb) for "uribe boat" and you'll find plenty of articles that give the details.
Long story short... Uribe has left the boat at this man's car wash/detailing shop for the whole season and has yet to pick it up, so the man contacted Uribe's people and said he would have to start charging daily storage fees.
This information apparently was never relayed to Uribe and so the third baseman refused to pay, and has yet to pick up his boat.
Has anyone noticed the Sox are kinda suckin right now? Suckitude to the level of possibly not making it into the playoffs?
FORGET GOATS!
I'm thinking that Uribe better pay this guy and pick up his boat or the Sox may suffer from...
THE HUNDRED YEAR BOAT CURSE!
Keep it up, Uribe! Maybe the Sox Fans will forgive you.... some day.
Go Cubbies! 100yearsorbust.com
Go Cubbies! 100yearsorbust.com
Friday, September 26, 2008
Top 3 choices for our WS opponent... if we get there....
1. Rays
You know they'll be just happy to be involved. They won't admit it, but it's true. This would be a sure win. And that's what I want most of all.
2. ChiSox
The series Chicago would never forget. The negativity of Sox fans would spill over to become a big stress-ball for their team, like we used to do to our Cubs. Why so stressed? Sox fans are mad as hell we got this good this soon. It spills over in to ugly comments about our fans and our park. There's nothing more weird than hating on Wrigley, my friends. But that's what they're saying. It's all because they were hoping to have a long time to lord it over us... now they're facing the end of that, and the loss of bragging rights. If we win, of course, the shoe is on the other foot. And that's the LAST thing they want with an aging, declining team of their own.
3. Angels
They tend to underperform at the crucial times. If they make it back to the series, they still might not play as well as they could.
These teams are, for me, the ones who, in order, are most beatable of the contenders. Who scares me? Red Sox - very scary. Twins - if they make it. When the Twins see the WS they always have won it.
You know they'll be just happy to be involved. They won't admit it, but it's true. This would be a sure win. And that's what I want most of all.
2. ChiSox
The series Chicago would never forget. The negativity of Sox fans would spill over to become a big stress-ball for their team, like we used to do to our Cubs. Why so stressed? Sox fans are mad as hell we got this good this soon. It spills over in to ugly comments about our fans and our park. There's nothing more weird than hating on Wrigley, my friends. But that's what they're saying. It's all because they were hoping to have a long time to lord it over us... now they're facing the end of that, and the loss of bragging rights. If we win, of course, the shoe is on the other foot. And that's the LAST thing they want with an aging, declining team of their own.
3. Angels
They tend to underperform at the crucial times. If they make it back to the series, they still might not play as well as they could.
These teams are, for me, the ones who, in order, are most beatable of the contenders. Who scares me? Red Sox - very scary. Twins - if they make it. When the Twins see the WS they always have won it.
kinda sorta poll about the world series - revised
If the Cubs make it to the W.S. , who would you like them to play?
Here's my top 3 choices:
1) Red Sox
The team that used to have the second longest W.S. drought.
2) White Sox
A crosstown series? The city would probably implode. No wonder Chicago was ranked as the most stressful city.
3) Yankees
I was fortunate enough to see the Cubs play the Yankees at Wrigley. This was a sufficient surrogate W.S. for me.
3) Twins? Rays? I dunno.
Tell me your top 3 choices... POST A COMMENT BELOW :-)
Here's my top 3 choices:
1) Red Sox
The team that used to have the second longest W.S. drought.
2) White Sox
A crosstown series? The city would probably implode. No wonder Chicago was ranked as the most stressful city.
I was fortunate enough to see the Cubs play the Yankees at Wrigley. This was a sufficient surrogate W.S. for me.
3) Twins? Rays? I dunno.
Tell me your top 3 choices... POST A COMMENT BELOW :-)
Monday, September 22, 2008
HOME FIELD!
Cubbies Clinch Home Field advantage until the World Series!!
We should have home field advantage in the World Series also, but Bud Selig is a douche bag that came up with a stupid ass rule of making the All Star Game mean something. F U SELIG!
We should have home field advantage in the World Series also, but Bud Selig is a douche bag that came up with a stupid ass rule of making the All Star Game mean something. F U SELIG!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Clinch Time? Is This the Day?
Top of the First - Ted Lilly looks good. Alfonso misplays one, and Ludwick gets a double. I did not know he was second in the league at SLG. With a runner on Pujols is up, against a lefty. Pujold eats lefties, hitting .411 against them. Who are we kidding? Pujols destroys all pitching... but not this time. Weak grounder to short. Theriot makes kind of a bad throw, but thats just what makes DLee a gold glove quality 1st baseman. He makes the dig look easy.
Lineup time. Good to see Soto in there. Fukudome batting eighth. I don't care what he's hitting. I will never forget his early season contribution, and it very much was worth the entire $48 million. Besides if our economy keeps going so bad, Fukudome may not be rich anymore when he returns to Japan. Just a joke, I'm sure he will be fine.
Jeanie Zelasko is keeping us up to date on Milwaukee, who have CC pitching against the Reds. So far, no score.
Piniero just became a father yesterday. Congrats. but lets not give these kids a birthday present just yet, ok? How about you wait until their first birthday...
McCarver makes a good point about the Brewers. they have to go for it this year, when they have Sabathia and Sheets. Sheets has already said that he will go free agent. Sabathia just might re-sign though, media outlets have reported that he is really liking Milwaukee.
Two solid hits off of Piniero, but no runs.
Top of Second.
Good inning by Lilly.
Bottom of the second.
Great hit by Edmonds. That would have been out of the park in most stadiums! Soriano drives in three witha single to left, that left fielder Brian Barton makes a little-league kind of mistake... that was one of the worst plays I have seen in a long time. The kind that makes you wonder if he even IS a left fielder! But now... all THREE RUNS SCORE!
It'a s big lead... now let's hold it, and Cubtober can be officially proclaimed!
Top of the third
Cards get one on, but Lilly gets a DP grounder to get out of it before Pujols can bat- he was on deck. That's one more reason we are doing so well. That was a great DP. As for the Cardinals, they failed to turn two against DeRosa, which would have prevented the disaster in left field. That was two bad defensive plays by St. Louis in one inning. Technically, they are still alive for October. But they'll never make it that way, and thank you god for that.
Bottom of the third...
Three up and three down. Good inning of pitching by Piniero. Still, 18 outs to go! Cubs 3, Cardinals 0.
Top of the fourth
Ted Lilly still pitching. Pujols to lead off... his at bats are still must-see. He has no lineup protection. Felipe Lopez bats cleanup for St. Louis. AMAZING diving stop by Ramirez! EVEN BETTER PLAY by DLee to get the out... tagging Pujols on the foot while diving for the ball? Two weak outs by Lopez and Glaus. Twelve down, fifteen to go. If only it can be that simple...
White Soxtober? I don't think so. It's time for CUBTOBER!
Bottom of the fourth. Let's pile on some more, guys...
Piniero's pitches have great movement. Too bad it tends to just move out of the strike zone in a way that no one would swing at.
WOW! Would we have any runs if the Cardinals had 9 gold glovers? Well, let's just thank god they don't!
Glaus lets Soto on by just not getting his glove down. E-5. Then, another one hit out to the overmatched Brian Barton in left... off the bat of Mark DeRosa! 84 RBIs by DeRosa this year. And to think we almost got Brian Roberts? you know the old saying... sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Off the wall and rolls away from Barton. Followed by a safety squeeze with Lilly batting. Even though its much too late, Piniero still tries to get the out at the plate. And even Lilly is safe. DeRosa in, 5-0 Cubs!
Top of the 5th.
Before I can even type that, the Cardinals are down to fourteen outs to go... now Brian Barton batting. He'd need to hit about 4 homers to make up for his earlier mistakes. And he's trying to do just that... flyout to left. Thirteen to go. Piniero bats for himself. Not even LaRussa is trying hard right now. Twelve.
Bottom of the fifth.
Piniero still pitching. He's been ok, just the Cardinals can't catch. I didn't realize that Adam Kennedy is in right field today. That doesn't make much sense to me. McCarver is rambling but he is on to something. He's talking about what did the Cubs in last year against the Dbacks... the short series. I feel better about us though; we play good defense and have some great pitchers. Double play by St. Louis. Still 5-0.
Top of the sixth.
Jason LaRue flies out. Eleven to go. Now up, Cesar Izturis... Cub reject. I should not have said that - line drive to center. Runner on for St. Louis. Ludwick strikes out. Ten to go. Pujols batting. Walked. Two on, Lopez batting. Double steal by St. Louis! They haven't given up yet. Lopez gets a solid hit. Theriot keeps it in the infield, but now 5-1. Would not have scored without that double steal. Three-run shot, Glaus. 5-4. We took them too lightly. Should have pitched him more carefully than that with Adam Kennedy on deck. Now, it's a game again. Is anyone warming up? Walk to Kennedy. Lilly having trouble now. Cotts and Samardzija up. Now the crowd is getting in to it... with 0-2 on Brian Barton. Barton grounds weakly to short. it's close though, such a slow roller. Exhale. 5-4 Cardinals, nine to go.
Bottom 6. Piniero.
Single, Soto. What a hitter. DeRosa hit it hard, but out. Fukudome batting. great time to un-slump, Kosuke... hit and run called. Did Fukudome miss the sign? Had to have. Soto out easily. Now we're getting sloppy. Piniero throws Fukudome a bad pitch, a hanging slider, but he misses it completely. Awful. Yes, I still love KF.
Top of the 7th...
Josh Phelps, contact-challenged slugger, pinch hits for St. Louis. takes strike three looking. Not good, Phelps. Eight more outs... Jason LaRue, catcher, batting. Strike three. Seven to go. Lilly looking much better. Milwaukee leading 2-1. Ground out! Six to go! Time to sing! Who is it? Well, Im watching on Fox, so I don't know. 5-4. Slim lead, but 6 outs to go.
Bottom 7th.
Ryan Franklin in. Fontenot batting, PH for Lilly. Surprised it wasn't Daryle Ward. I guess Piniella is saving his best option for last, as the Cards don't have a real closer, exactly. Three up and three down. Josh Lewin gets schooled on baseball trivia by Vince Vaughn! Lewin is talking about Alan Benes, who went to Vaughn's high school on the North Shore. Vaughn mentions the older, more successful Andy Benes. Lewin looked a little flushed. He should have saved it by saying he brought up Alan becaue Alan ended up pitching for the Cubs. But he didn't. Carlos Marmol warming up. Is there any other move Piniella can make? No, not really.
Top 8th.
Marmol pitching for the 79th time this year. Goes 3-0 on Ludwick, but Ludwick was intimidated as soon as Marmol got strike 2. Soft fly out to Edmonds. Five to go. Pujols batting... another out. Lopez up, and Lopez down! THREE MORE OUTS!
Bottom 8th.
Let's get Kerry some insurance runs!
Ryan Franklin throwing well for St. Louis. DLee and Aramis strike out. Edmonds grounds out weakly. Kerry walks in from the pen. It's TIME...
Top 9th.
Hopefully, this is the end. Cross your fingers. Cmon crowd, make this deafening! Glaus first. Last time, a homer to give the Cardinals three of their four. Wood walks Glaus. Brendan Ryan pinch runs. I'm reminded of Steve Stone on WSCR at the beginning of the year, saying Wood couldn't be a good closer because he walks the leadoff man too much, and that would leave him vulnerabel to the steal. Greg Maddux always said, don't worry about the steal. Just get the hitters out. Weak grounder to second, DeRosa throws out Ryan (lead runner) at second. One out. Kennedy on first. Two to go! Schumaker batting. Wood embarrasses him with a slider. He hung on as long as he could against Wood's fastball. He was frozen.
last out? Arron Miles... its over, we're in. 2007 and 2008. 1907 and 1908.
Here we are... its done. You should see my face!
You can tell the team is not satisfied. They did the mound celebration but it is kind of subdued...
But for us fans... CUBTOBER is here!!!
Lineup time. Good to see Soto in there. Fukudome batting eighth. I don't care what he's hitting. I will never forget his early season contribution, and it very much was worth the entire $48 million. Besides if our economy keeps going so bad, Fukudome may not be rich anymore when he returns to Japan. Just a joke, I'm sure he will be fine.
Jeanie Zelasko is keeping us up to date on Milwaukee, who have CC pitching against the Reds. So far, no score.
Piniero just became a father yesterday. Congrats. but lets not give these kids a birthday present just yet, ok? How about you wait until their first birthday...
McCarver makes a good point about the Brewers. they have to go for it this year, when they have Sabathia and Sheets. Sheets has already said that he will go free agent. Sabathia just might re-sign though, media outlets have reported that he is really liking Milwaukee.
Two solid hits off of Piniero, but no runs.
Top of Second.
Good inning by Lilly.
Bottom of the second.
Great hit by Edmonds. That would have been out of the park in most stadiums! Soriano drives in three witha single to left, that left fielder Brian Barton makes a little-league kind of mistake... that was one of the worst plays I have seen in a long time. The kind that makes you wonder if he even IS a left fielder! But now... all THREE RUNS SCORE!
It'a s big lead... now let's hold it, and Cubtober can be officially proclaimed!
Top of the third
Cards get one on, but Lilly gets a DP grounder to get out of it before Pujols can bat- he was on deck. That's one more reason we are doing so well. That was a great DP. As for the Cardinals, they failed to turn two against DeRosa, which would have prevented the disaster in left field. That was two bad defensive plays by St. Louis in one inning. Technically, they are still alive for October. But they'll never make it that way, and thank you god for that.
Bottom of the third...
Three up and three down. Good inning of pitching by Piniero. Still, 18 outs to go! Cubs 3, Cardinals 0.
Top of the fourth
Ted Lilly still pitching. Pujols to lead off... his at bats are still must-see. He has no lineup protection. Felipe Lopez bats cleanup for St. Louis. AMAZING diving stop by Ramirez! EVEN BETTER PLAY by DLee to get the out... tagging Pujols on the foot while diving for the ball? Two weak outs by Lopez and Glaus. Twelve down, fifteen to go. If only it can be that simple...
White Soxtober? I don't think so. It's time for CUBTOBER!
Bottom of the fourth. Let's pile on some more, guys...
Piniero's pitches have great movement. Too bad it tends to just move out of the strike zone in a way that no one would swing at.
WOW! Would we have any runs if the Cardinals had 9 gold glovers? Well, let's just thank god they don't!
Glaus lets Soto on by just not getting his glove down. E-5. Then, another one hit out to the overmatched Brian Barton in left... off the bat of Mark DeRosa! 84 RBIs by DeRosa this year. And to think we almost got Brian Roberts? you know the old saying... sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Off the wall and rolls away from Barton. Followed by a safety squeeze with Lilly batting. Even though its much too late, Piniero still tries to get the out at the plate. And even Lilly is safe. DeRosa in, 5-0 Cubs!
Top of the 5th.
Before I can even type that, the Cardinals are down to fourteen outs to go... now Brian Barton batting. He'd need to hit about 4 homers to make up for his earlier mistakes. And he's trying to do just that... flyout to left. Thirteen to go. Piniero bats for himself. Not even LaRussa is trying hard right now. Twelve.
Bottom of the fifth.
Piniero still pitching. He's been ok, just the Cardinals can't catch. I didn't realize that Adam Kennedy is in right field today. That doesn't make much sense to me. McCarver is rambling but he is on to something. He's talking about what did the Cubs in last year against the Dbacks... the short series. I feel better about us though; we play good defense and have some great pitchers. Double play by St. Louis. Still 5-0.
Top of the sixth.
Jason LaRue flies out. Eleven to go. Now up, Cesar Izturis... Cub reject. I should not have said that - line drive to center. Runner on for St. Louis. Ludwick strikes out. Ten to go. Pujols batting. Walked. Two on, Lopez batting. Double steal by St. Louis! They haven't given up yet. Lopez gets a solid hit. Theriot keeps it in the infield, but now 5-1. Would not have scored without that double steal. Three-run shot, Glaus. 5-4. We took them too lightly. Should have pitched him more carefully than that with Adam Kennedy on deck. Now, it's a game again. Is anyone warming up? Walk to Kennedy. Lilly having trouble now. Cotts and Samardzija up. Now the crowd is getting in to it... with 0-2 on Brian Barton. Barton grounds weakly to short. it's close though, such a slow roller. Exhale. 5-4 Cardinals, nine to go.
Bottom 6. Piniero.
Single, Soto. What a hitter. DeRosa hit it hard, but out. Fukudome batting. great time to un-slump, Kosuke... hit and run called. Did Fukudome miss the sign? Had to have. Soto out easily. Now we're getting sloppy. Piniero throws Fukudome a bad pitch, a hanging slider, but he misses it completely. Awful. Yes, I still love KF.
Top of the 7th...
Josh Phelps, contact-challenged slugger, pinch hits for St. Louis. takes strike three looking. Not good, Phelps. Eight more outs... Jason LaRue, catcher, batting. Strike three. Seven to go. Lilly looking much better. Milwaukee leading 2-1. Ground out! Six to go! Time to sing! Who is it? Well, Im watching on Fox, so I don't know. 5-4. Slim lead, but 6 outs to go.
Bottom 7th.
Ryan Franklin in. Fontenot batting, PH for Lilly. Surprised it wasn't Daryle Ward. I guess Piniella is saving his best option for last, as the Cards don't have a real closer, exactly. Three up and three down. Josh Lewin gets schooled on baseball trivia by Vince Vaughn! Lewin is talking about Alan Benes, who went to Vaughn's high school on the North Shore. Vaughn mentions the older, more successful Andy Benes. Lewin looked a little flushed. He should have saved it by saying he brought up Alan becaue Alan ended up pitching for the Cubs. But he didn't. Carlos Marmol warming up. Is there any other move Piniella can make? No, not really.
Top 8th.
Marmol pitching for the 79th time this year. Goes 3-0 on Ludwick, but Ludwick was intimidated as soon as Marmol got strike 2. Soft fly out to Edmonds. Five to go. Pujols batting... another out. Lopez up, and Lopez down! THREE MORE OUTS!
Bottom 8th.
Let's get Kerry some insurance runs!
Ryan Franklin throwing well for St. Louis. DLee and Aramis strike out. Edmonds grounds out weakly. Kerry walks in from the pen. It's TIME...
Top 9th.
Hopefully, this is the end. Cross your fingers. Cmon crowd, make this deafening! Glaus first. Last time, a homer to give the Cardinals three of their four. Wood walks Glaus. Brendan Ryan pinch runs. I'm reminded of Steve Stone on WSCR at the beginning of the year, saying Wood couldn't be a good closer because he walks the leadoff man too much, and that would leave him vulnerabel to the steal. Greg Maddux always said, don't worry about the steal. Just get the hitters out. Weak grounder to second, DeRosa throws out Ryan (lead runner) at second. One out. Kennedy on first. Two to go! Schumaker batting. Wood embarrasses him with a slider. He hung on as long as he could against Wood's fastball. He was frozen.
last out? Arron Miles... its over, we're in. 2007 and 2008. 1907 and 1908.
Here we are... its done. You should see my face!
You can tell the team is not satisfied. They did the mound celebration but it is kind of subdued...
But for us fans... CUBTOBER is here!!!
No No.... YES YES!!!
I was there. I lived the No No 1st hand in Milwaukee (Wrigley North).
The morning of the game my friend(Let's call him Sean) said let's go. I said sure what the hell, it's Sunday night, but why not, I haven't been to a game in a while. I got kids and stuff now and don't get to many games anymore. The plan was to watch Da Bears game and Sean was going to pick me up afterwords. Da Bears game ends and I get a phone call... Sean was unable to go... family emergency. I was like what the f#$%. I still want to go, I'm all pumped up and itchin to go now. I'm also a very pre-punctional person and need to get there early, not only to watch BP, but to miss any traffic and ensure no roads are flooded, ect...
So, in a panic I start calling people and looking for a babysitter, so that I can go with my lovely wife (let's call her Jodi). Jodi wanted to go, but we have two kids at home and one is still nursing. The changes of her going with are pretty slim. I keep my feelers out there and got a hold of a work colleague and super big Cubs fan (we'll call him Keith). He was hesitant, cause he's so dedicated to work (it's sunday fricken night) I told him to get off his ass, I'm coming over to pick him up. He's said ok, but I gotta shower 1st. I told him I'll be there in 10-15 minutes.
I now have 10-15 minutes to print out the ticket, which have been forwarded to me from Sean and pick up Keith. My printer is wireless, but in a closet and not plugged in. I 1st get the printer out and plug it in. Then I poop. (laptop comes to the pooper with me). As I perform my civic doody, and keep pinping the printer, but it's not responding. (hang tight, all this poop talk is making me gotta poop)...
So, yah... I'm pooping, and taking a break from this blog post to check my fantasy sports... bbiab.
ahhhh much better. Not as clean as I would like, but I'll take a shower and be fine.
Where was I... yea, I was able to print out the tickets (this is the type of game where you had actual game ticket and not something from my ink jet). I pick up Keith and we drive to the park, with only a stop at Walgreens for cash and Mountain Dew.
We come around the bend of 894 and there it was, through the lightly rain dripped front window of the car we see the closed roof Miller Park. A sea of blue ripples over the the bridge into the waiting arms of Wrigley North. The ballpark that Zambrano wants to call home....
Side note.. I have been a Cubs fan my entire life and love Wrigley, but it's time to upgrade. When we win it all this year, and we will (damnit). We need a bigger, cleaner, and futuristic ballpark (in the same location). Mark Cuban needs to purchase this team from Sam Zell NOW!!
Back to the game. We enter the stadium and walk around the back side of the bleacher to get a peek of the the Cubs batting practice while we locate an optimal spot to score a ball. We find a sweet front row spot in the right field bleacher. Zambrano was hitting rockets over our head. Ramierz was showing us beautiful rainbows to the upper desk in left, while Fukadome couldn't hit it out of the infield... Angel Guzman, Jason Marquee, Mike Quade, Kerry Wood, Jeff Zsamarja, and a cast of Sept call ups were all shagging balls not more than 10 feet infront of us. At this time we we yelling and asking politely for balls, but they kept tossing them in the the ball boy in the center of the field. We were starting to get anxious, but they wouldn't acknowledge us (the fans). These guys get paid millions and they can't toss a couple 6 dollar balls to the fans?! What gives...
Ok back to the game, we migrate to our paid (not paid yet, I still owe Sean the cash) seats in section 207 to be amazed by the 99.9% Cub fan population. I saw 1 Astros hat while I was there. The entire lower desk was filled, and even the non-staffed upper deck was starting to fill up. The energy in the stadium strong, I'm getting goosebumps right now just thinking of it. From the 1st pitch on, there were rhythmic chats of Z Z Z Z Z Z Z. He was on fire, and did his best to keep his cool while us the 11th man told the Umps what we really thought about some of his irregular ball calls.
The 7th inning was the true test, if he could get Borne, Tejeda, and Berkman we knew that the No No was a true possibility. They went down in order, we were going nutz. The adrenaline was starting to kick in and the tingles didn't go away until the next morning.
The 8th and 9th innings were cake... There was one out of the next six batters that anyone knew. Hunter Pence.. Zambrano made him look silly. 1-2-3...... 1-2-3.... Then there was the last out of the game, there was no way Big Z was going to fail, he was so pumped and we were pumped up even more. It was a full count and 2 outs. Zambrano throws a splitter in the dirt and Soto lifts the ball high in the air as Big Z drops to his knees and points to his almighty.
I can't put the next 30 minutes into words, it was truly magical with endorphins in the air.
Go Cubs Go!
The morning of the game my friend(Let's call him Sean) said let's go. I said sure what the hell, it's Sunday night, but why not, I haven't been to a game in a while. I got kids and stuff now and don't get to many games anymore. The plan was to watch Da Bears game and Sean was going to pick me up afterwords. Da Bears game ends and I get a phone call... Sean was unable to go... family emergency. I was like what the f#$%. I still want to go, I'm all pumped up and itchin to go now. I'm also a very pre-punctional person and need to get there early, not only to watch BP, but to miss any traffic and ensure no roads are flooded, ect...
So, in a panic I start calling people and looking for a babysitter, so that I can go with my lovely wife (let's call her Jodi). Jodi wanted to go, but we have two kids at home and one is still nursing. The changes of her going with are pretty slim. I keep my feelers out there and got a hold of a work colleague and super big Cubs fan (we'll call him Keith). He was hesitant, cause he's so dedicated to work (it's sunday fricken night) I told him to get off his ass, I'm coming over to pick him up. He's said ok, but I gotta shower 1st. I told him I'll be there in 10-15 minutes.
I now have 10-15 minutes to print out the ticket, which have been forwarded to me from Sean and pick up Keith. My printer is wireless, but in a closet and not plugged in. I 1st get the printer out and plug it in. Then I poop. (laptop comes to the pooper with me). As I perform my civic doody, and keep pinping the printer, but it's not responding. (hang tight, all this poop talk is making me gotta poop)...
So, yah... I'm pooping, and taking a break from this blog post to check my fantasy sports... bbiab.
ahhhh much better. Not as clean as I would like, but I'll take a shower and be fine.
Where was I... yea, I was able to print out the tickets (this is the type of game where you had actual game ticket and not something from my ink jet). I pick up Keith and we drive to the park, with only a stop at Walgreens for cash and Mountain Dew.
We come around the bend of 894 and there it was, through the lightly rain dripped front window of the car we see the closed roof Miller Park. A sea of blue ripples over the the bridge into the waiting arms of Wrigley North. The ballpark that Zambrano wants to call home....
Side note.. I have been a Cubs fan my entire life and love Wrigley, but it's time to upgrade. When we win it all this year, and we will (damnit). We need a bigger, cleaner, and futuristic ballpark (in the same location). Mark Cuban needs to purchase this team from Sam Zell NOW!!
Back to the game. We enter the stadium and walk around the back side of the bleacher to get a peek of the the Cubs batting practice while we locate an optimal spot to score a ball. We find a sweet front row spot in the right field bleacher. Zambrano was hitting rockets over our head. Ramierz was showing us beautiful rainbows to the upper desk in left, while Fukadome couldn't hit it out of the infield... Angel Guzman, Jason Marquee, Mike Quade, Kerry Wood, Jeff Zsamarja, and a cast of Sept call ups were all shagging balls not more than 10 feet infront of us. At this time we we yelling and asking politely for balls, but they kept tossing them in the the ball boy in the center of the field. We were starting to get anxious, but they wouldn't acknowledge us (the fans). These guys get paid millions and they can't toss a couple 6 dollar balls to the fans?! What gives...
Ok back to the game, we migrate to our paid (not paid yet, I still owe Sean the cash) seats in section 207 to be amazed by the 99.9% Cub fan population. I saw 1 Astros hat while I was there. The entire lower desk was filled, and even the non-staffed upper deck was starting to fill up. The energy in the stadium strong, I'm getting goosebumps right now just thinking of it. From the 1st pitch on, there were rhythmic chats of Z Z Z Z Z Z Z. He was on fire, and did his best to keep his cool while us the 11th man told the Umps what we really thought about some of his irregular ball calls.
The 7th inning was the true test, if he could get Borne, Tejeda, and Berkman we knew that the No No was a true possibility. They went down in order, we were going nutz. The adrenaline was starting to kick in and the tingles didn't go away until the next morning.
The 8th and 9th innings were cake... There was one out of the next six batters that anyone knew. Hunter Pence.. Zambrano made him look silly. 1-2-3...... 1-2-3.... Then there was the last out of the game, there was no way Big Z was going to fail, he was so pumped and we were pumped up even more. It was a full count and 2 outs. Zambrano throws a splitter in the dirt and Soto lifts the ball high in the air as Big Z drops to his knees and points to his almighty.
I can't put the next 30 minutes into words, it was truly magical with endorphins in the air.
Go Cubs Go!
What Big Z Means to Us
Remember when there was a big three of Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, and Carlos Zambrano? This was way back when, it is a distant and painful memory for Cubs fans.
Now, with the Cubs reeling, on a losing streak, and terrifying Cubs fans everywhere, Caros comes back from the sidelines (not exactly the DL, but we had not seen him in a while) and pitches a no-hitter. I'm 36 and no one has come this close since I was literally a baby. I don't really remember Milt Pappas, how about you?
Once I heard what big Z had done, I knew that we were going to the postseason. September no-hitters don't come to teams destined to choke their way out of the postseason.
Now, with the Cubs reeling, on a losing streak, and terrifying Cubs fans everywhere, Caros comes back from the sidelines (not exactly the DL, but we had not seen him in a while) and pitches a no-hitter. I'm 36 and no one has come this close since I was literally a baby. I don't really remember Milt Pappas, how about you?
Once I heard what big Z had done, I knew that we were going to the postseason. September no-hitters don't come to teams destined to choke their way out of the postseason.
Is Today the Day?
Yesterday didn't quite go as us Cub fans might have hoped! After his magnificent no-hitter, Carlos had me feeling better about him. But getting his butt kicked by St. Louis was not what I was hoping for from big Z...
Despite this, the Magic Number is down to 1. It would take an epic collapse to lose it now, but Milwaukee would have to stop panicking and run the table for us to blow it even by losing. That's not going to happen to the team that was so messed up that they had to fire their manager with only 12 games left!
I await the moment when the Cardinals watch the Cubs celebrate. It is sweet to imagine this possibility. Ted Lilly takes the ball for us today, against the Cardinals' Joel Piniero. In Milwaukee, the Reds crushed 7 (yes!) homers against the Brewers yesterday in their efforts to help us out. In a desperate attempt to get the Wild Card, they are starting C.C. Sabathia, while the Redd have thweir talented Caribbean Jonny Cueto pitching.
OPEN SOURCE CUBS BLOG:
I would like you guys to take your commentary to the next level for Cubtober this year: I have some true blue Cub fans (you know who you are) and I'm making copies of the keys and sending them to you. You'll get an email regarding this.
Despite this, the Magic Number is down to 1. It would take an epic collapse to lose it now, but Milwaukee would have to stop panicking and run the table for us to blow it even by losing. That's not going to happen to the team that was so messed up that they had to fire their manager with only 12 games left!
I await the moment when the Cardinals watch the Cubs celebrate. It is sweet to imagine this possibility. Ted Lilly takes the ball for us today, against the Cardinals' Joel Piniero. In Milwaukee, the Reds crushed 7 (yes!) homers against the Brewers yesterday in their efforts to help us out. In a desperate attempt to get the Wild Card, they are starting C.C. Sabathia, while the Redd have thweir talented Caribbean Jonny Cueto pitching.
OPEN SOURCE CUBS BLOG:
I would like you guys to take your commentary to the next level for Cubtober this year: I have some true blue Cub fans (you know who you are) and I'm making copies of the keys and sending them to you. You'll get an email regarding this.
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