Tuesday – 7:15 p.m. Channel 9 – Ryan Dempster vs. Kyle Lohse
Wednesday – 7:15 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Theodore Roosevelt Lilly vs. Braden Looper
Thursday – 7:15 p.m. Comcast SportsNet – Dick Harden vs. Todd Wellemeyer
- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson 
September 9, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Fuck this team Fuck Carlos Marmol Fuck winning shit Fuck our offense
God I’m sooo fucking pissed
September 9, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Hey Chicago whaddya say, the Cubs have choked again today.
September 9, 2008 at 10:23 pm
This is a very special team. Something we will remember for a long time and will want to tell our grandchildern and great grandchildren about. Many teams who have gone on to win the a WS championship played bad baseball in Sep. So, relax, enjoy your evening and tomorrow is another day when we’ll go out and___Oh, wait, wrong website.
September 9, 2008 at 10:26 pm
You know what? It doesn’t even bother me anymore. I know they aren’t going anywhere so why sweat it.
I just sit back and laugh. This team is the court jester of MLB. All they need is the red nose, red wig, and rubber chicken to complete the uniform. My son played Little League baseball, and when the kids got picked to be on the Cubs you should of heard the groans. “Oh no, not the Cubs.” No kidding.
We are without a doubt the clowns of baseball. I’m with ya Nemo, “Go Cubs Go, hey Chicago whatta say, the Cubs will certainly choke today!!!”
September 9, 2008 at 10:37 pm
From Goatriders:
“Despite losing 7 of their last 8, the Cubs have the best record in the National League. They’ve got a 4.5 game lead on a Brewers team who’s lost 6 of their last 8 – and that’s the largest lead of any playoff-bound team in the NL, by the way – and there are multitudes of Cub fans who have already declared this a lost season.
I’m sorry, but that’s embarrassing. It’s tough enough for me to read all about it on the net. If I was in Wrigleyville listening to these guys lament their sorrows while drowning in Old Style, I’d probably start throwing punches.”
I wish I lived in Chicago, because I would love to go to Wrigleyville and hope this punk took a swing at me. First I’d wipe the floor with him, then I’d sit him down and tell him a story about the Chicago Cubs. No B.S. just straight facts.
These people are like cultists, you have to take them out to a lonely shed somewhere and deprogram them. It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, some force has taken over their bodies and they’re no longer human!!
I don’t mind people being positive, but I do mind stupidity.
September 9, 2008 at 10:54 pm
“I don’t mind people being positive, but I do mind stupidity.”
Amen, brother ernie.
Maybe some of the younger fans will get a clue as they age. But not all. After all, IGNORANCE is rampant, just turn on the TV, read the paper, go online if you don’t believe me.
As for the Cubs: what are they now in September, 1-8? How embarrassing. This team is doing it’s best to continue their PATHETIC legacy of choking, losing, and being the fucking laughingstock of professional sports.
All kidding aside, if they don’t snap out of it, they could miss the playoffs. Remember, Colorado had an insane winning streak to close out 2007. If anybody can do the opposite to close out 2008, the Cubs are a good candidate.
I’d sit the veterans that aren’t contributing for a couple of games, they don’t deserve to play and besides, what is there to lose? Respect?
Stop Cubbies Stop.
PUKE CUBBIE BLUE. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
One more thing: Old Man Zell. Sell the team, asshole. You don’t deserve to be an owner.
September 9, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I have a suggestion: Make the entire team watch film of the Houston Astros for 3 hours tomorrow…that is a team that is FIGHTING to win.
Then, cancel batting practice and give the bullpen the day off…just let whoever starts tomorrow pitch the whole game.
Try it, what have we got to lose?
September 9, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Listening to Lou on WGN, “you gotta roll up your sleeves and kick somebody’s ass!”
Lou is starting to lose it now, the Cubbiecurse is getting to him. We’re all used to it, but it is tough on the rookies.
Dempster said they’re “playing tense.” Gee, I wonder why that is?????? 1969 – 1984 – 1989 – oh well, you get the point. They are all wilting under the pressure of 100 years of futility.
September 9, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Amazingly, the Brewers will not let the Cubs wilt-losing again to the Reds. The way this is going, maybe the Cardinals or the Astros will be the ones catching the Cubs. Pathetic!
September 9, 2008 at 11:41 pm
At least the Reds beat the Brewers, glad to see someone around this division knows how to win. It would be nice not to have to rely on someone else to do the work for you.
I bet the players wouldn’t have someone else come fuck their wives, or maybe they would because THEY CAN’T DO ANYTHING RIGHT!
No-talent, impotent sons of bitches!
September 9, 2008 at 11:45 pm
When the Cubs lose, life sucks.
I am 22 and have seen three collapses: 2001 (First place until September I believe), 2003 and 2004. After 2004, I started to get use to this garbage. People come in to my work and tell me all this bullshit like: We are fine. Keep believing. Blah blah blah. Another thing that pisses me off about some of these people is that they wear Cubs clothes and what not. If the game is on my TV at work, they look at it and ask “Go Cubbies”, “Are the Cubs winning?”, or “I didn’t know they were playing”. IF YOU ARE A CUBS FAN, YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING AND IF YOU ASK IF THEY ARE WINNING, LOOK AT THE DAMN TV. IT IS RIGHT THERE!
That makes me feel better.
September 9, 2008 at 11:46 pm
We can fuck their wives and drive their fancy cars and they can fucking focus on baseball!
September 9, 2008 at 11:52 pm
How about switching salaries?
You know. How all of us probably will never make as much in our lives as some of these assholes make in a single year.
Players get paid millions of dollars to work six to eight months a year and some of us work 340+ days a year just to barely get by.
Someone mentioned this on the old site about how if we performed shitty at our job, we could probably lose it. These assholes can suck for years and get paid millions. What a shame.
September 9, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Fro, for 22 you have a deep understanding of the Cubs that many will never realize (refer to Bleed Cubbie Blue……uh oh….BAAAAAAAARRRRRFFFFFF).
Feel good about that, I didn’t “wake up” until 1989, I was 32 years young.
September 9, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one…but I definitely ranted on the job performance issue more than once.
September 9, 2008 at 11:59 pm
“Players get paid millions of dollars to work six to eight months a year and some of us work 340+ days a year just to barely get by.”
Fro, some of them get paid for doing nothing at all but sit on their ass.
September 10, 2008 at 12:06 am
Is anyone else so sure that the Cubs are done that they are kinda wanting the Brewers and the Phillies/Astros/Cardinals to win-just so we can fucking get it over with?
September 10, 2008 at 12:09 am
I agree erniesarmy.
I go to work at 9 or 10 most days and I do not get off until late in the afternoon. Between the 5:00 and 7:00 o’clock hours. Yes, I am bitching about this.
A baseball game is on average 2.5 hours but I will say three just for sure. These players then work an average of 20-25 hours a week for the six to eight month period or as you mentioned erniesarmy. How many hours do we work? 40? 50? 60?
Exactly.
September 10, 2008 at 12:27 am
Scenario #1: The Cubs WAKE UP and start kicking ass, finishing the season strong and winning the NLCS. And in a perfect world, WINNING the WS.
Scenario #2: The current CHOKE continues…the Cubs miss the playoffs completely. Hendry and Rothschild are fired. The team is sold to an owner that knows baseball and wants to win.
I prefer #1.
But either way, “the culture of losing” must be changed.
***********************************************
from http://www2.eou.edu/~kdahl/cultdef.html
Culture: is a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior — an abstract “mental blueprint” or “mental code.”
September 10, 2008 at 12:40 am
Piniella says the Cubs are “waiting to get beat”. DP Lee disputes that.
Phil Rogers says “There was a noticeable lack of angst in the Cubs’ clubhouse. No matter what Piniella said about front-runners getting caught, it doesn’t seem the players have grasped that October could get away from them.” Can’t be good when the team is tuning out the manager.
September 10, 2008 at 2:11 am
Nemo, I don’t think that Lou will allow the team to tune him out. If they don’t get this shit turned around soon, certain players will be pulling Lou’s foot out their asses. It’s a damn good thing that the Brewers decided to tank at the same time. But watch out for the Astros. All of a sudden, they are only four games out in the wild card race.
September 10, 2008 at 8:17 am
We’ve either been fooled and they aren’t very good, or they’ve quit. Zambrano’s and Harden’s injuries don’t explain this. They think they’ve got it sewed-up and they aren’t trying. I’m about as impressed with their having this sewed-up as I was with their having had a players’ manager. I don’t watch major league baseball for this crap.
September 10, 2008 at 8:56 am
jf, I agree.
Every team deals with injuries…it’s a given. Boo hoo.
…that’s right, don’t count the Astros out. Right now they are the best team in the NL.
The only team playing worse than the Cubs of late? The Orioles. MacFAIL does it again…ugly.
September 10, 2008 at 9:07 am
I say we let all the kids play. I would let Samardzija start, throw Reed Johnson in left Felix Pie in Center Derosa in Right, the bat girl at third, Theriot at short, the bat boy at second, Hoffpauir at first and Soto behind the plate. This lineup could not possibly be worse than what is being put out there day in and day out. The players just need to keep their mouth shut and let the manager do all of the talking. There should be one mouthpiece for the Cubs and his name is Lou Pinella. The players need to learn their place which is on the baseball diamond and let their bats do their talking.
Hey Derrek Lee why don’t you get a hit when it matters before you even think of getting in front of a microphone. You have done nothing for this team since April and you are supposedly one of the leaders. I am sick of this crap. I can’t possibly understand how these current players are under so much stress that they are playing so tight. None of the players were around in ’69 to witness the collapse, or at least remember it. Get off your high horses hit the baseball, catch the baseball and win some ball games. In other words DO YOUR JOB!!!!! That is why us fans have to take out second mortgages to come and watch you play a child’s game, so you can make 20 million a year. What a joke this team has become.
September 10, 2008 at 4:09 pm
If were gonna let the backups play-bench Soto for Koyie Hill.
September 10, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Alright guys. Let’s chill for a second. We are all pissed off and I agree some need benching but not Soto. I agree he needs more rest because Lou keeps putting him in and that is why he isn’t as strong. Maybe Lou should give him two straight days off instead of once every ten days.
I think Hoffpaiur should start in right and Ward should be at first for that piece of shit Derrek Lee.
September 10, 2008 at 5:47 pm
If/when the team from the North side of Chicago loses tonite (i didn’t want to call them the bears that are babies..too much pressure) what will the excuses be. Dude we had Lilly he isnt’ a horse. Dude there are lots of bugs in St. Louis and you know we can’t hit with bugs in the air. Our announcers said we may be choking…fire Len and Bob. I am sick of the excuses about how we haven’t gotten the breaks, aren’t getting timely hits, blah blah blah. And if I hear another word about 69 I am going to wonder if thats the boys favorite position on each other. Is there anyone on the active roster of the Cubs that was born before ’69.
I was just kidding about the backups my point is I am tired of seeing the same old crap out of Soriano Lee Ramirez and the rest of the regulars.
September 10, 2008 at 8:25 pm
…when was the last time DP Lee came through, when it mattered?
September 10, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Agreed, Genre, I say dangle him this off season and see what we can get via trade. He’s heading into his mid-thirties now, so nows the time to make a move while he still has some value.
I love his defense, but he is really beginning to show signs of deteriorating offensively.
September 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Agreed on Lee. What a disappointment he’s become.
Even Pie is looking better at the plate tonite than Lee, is the world coming to an end? Oh I forgot, that will happen when the Cubs win a WS.
September 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm
why the fuck take out Lilly in the 9th? he had only thrown 90 pitches and was in TOTAL control. And he had only gone two innings last time. Fucking monumentally stupid even if Wood hangs on here.
September 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Definition of a fanatic:
Someone who redoubles their effort once they’ve lost sight of the goal.
Place a picture of Lou Piniella next to that definition. That’s the only way to explain why he keeps bringing in Wood, when Marmol is obviously our closer.
September 10, 2008 at 10:02 pm
hey I’m not watching the game “live”…why did Lou pull Lilly for Wood?
Is it against the fucking law to let a Cub pitch a complete game? The bullpen has stunk lately. And why let Lilly bat for himself in the 8th…if he’s not coming back to pitch the 9th?
What am I missing?
September 10, 2008 at 10:04 pm
dammit, I’m missing a HR.
Wood has officially become a liability.
September 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Theriot: 0 for 5
Lee: 1 for 5
Soto: 0 for 3
It’s a good thing Lilly showed up tonight, because the offense didn’t. This slump isn’t over guys, not until they start hitting consistently. They could very easily lose the next 4 in a row unless these guys start hitting.
September 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Marmol is more valuable in the 7th and 8th innings than the 9th. If there are runners on in the 7th and 8th and outs need to be made, Marmol is the guy.
If he is the closer, who is going to be the lockdown pitcher that can get batters out like Marmol?
No one. Why? Because Jim Hendry thought he didn’t need any bullpen help at the trading deadline.
September 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm
“And why let Lilly bat for himself in the 8th…if he’s not coming back to pitch the 9th?”
And there’s another reason why the Cubs have been in a slump, genre, Piniella needs a Vulcan mind meld or something. His moves, lately, have made absolutely no sense. He talks about the team looking like they’re waiting to lose, maybe they’re waiting for him to wake up AND DO HIS JOB!!!
September 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I am happy for the win.
That said, I bet Lilly is pissed and rightfully so. He should have finished this game. I’m less and less impressed with Piniella lately. Maybe he’s becoming a burnout.
I didn’t like Mitch Williams closing and I don’t like Wood either. I’m sorry–I wanted to. I feel for Wood, I believe Baker and Rothschild may have played a role in damaging his career/health. I think Marmol should be groomed to be the closer for next year.
I still don’t believe that this Cubs team has the focus, determination and fire to win it all. NO KILLER INSTINCT. They were fortunate to win tonite.
No more Wood as closer, unless they have a 5-run lead. And sit DP Lee for a few days, nothing to lose.
September 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I understand your position Fro.
Once again, I believe that the only thing that should save Hendry’s job is a WS appearance.
September 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm
continuing trend: cubs score a few early and then completely STOP SCORING. It’s hard to win games in the second and third inning all the time.
The game was huge and Lilly really showed up when needed tonight, but it takes more than one win to change the overall trend.
September 10, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Has Howry been released yet? If not, expect him to make an appearance soon…as closer.
BAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.
September 10, 2008 at 10:16 pm
“If he is the closer, who is going to be the lockdown pitcher that can get batters out like Marmol?”
Excellent point, Fro, but do you want Wood on the mound with a one run lead and the division, pennant, or WS on the line? I don’t. I flat out don’t trust the guy.
I’d prefer either Wood or Smardjzsa as the set up guy, although they haven’t been in that role all year, I trust Marmol as the closer. For one inning, Marmol’s stuff is dynamite.
September 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Mr. Soriano threw out Izturis at home in the 3rd. Good thing he did that.
They probably wanted Wood to pitch an inning otherwise he would go too long without pitching again. That doesn’t explain Lilly hitting for himself.
September 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm
“continuing trend: cubs score a few early and then completely STOP SCORING. It’s hard to win games in the second and third inning all the time.”
Absolutely, Nemo, and if that trend doesn’t cease, expect more losing. Pitchers can’t pitch successfully when they know their offense can’t score runs. Eventually it begins to wear on you, because every strike becomes mandatory, every ball, and every run you give up means game over. A team in an offensive slump does not instill confidence in the pitching staff, since they know that once you fall behind you won’t catch up.
September 10, 2008 at 10:25 pm
They said on tv they thought Marmol might be unavailable tonight. He pitched 1.1 innings and lost last night. Marmol has generally been awesome since the break. If I needed one out to win it all-I’d go with Marmol over Wood.
September 10, 2008 at 10:29 pm
One out to win? Yep, I vote for Marmol.
And while we all bash Soriano, he has been making things happen lately. Didn’t he throw out another runner at the plate earlier in the week? At least he is playing with intensity. Unlike some of the other starters.
September 10, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Appreciate the hard-nosed play of Lilly, but I don’t want him getting hurt in a collision with the catcher. This could have been avoided had DP Lee had hit a single or a somewhat deep fly ball instead of a shallow ground ball.
September 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm
The power outage is concerning. All singles tonight with the 4 walks. Good thing Lilly hung in there. They can’t keep winning that way, and we know that lately they haven’t.
I think Lee still has a couple of years left on his contract. He’s good defensively, but I always thought that good first basemen were a dime a dozen. I’d move him down in the lineup. The middle of this lineup looks like the middle of the Dodgers lineup before they brought-in M. Ramirez.
September 10, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Lee has 9 errors-seemed like more to me. he is great at saving bad throws. my guess is that most all of his errors are on batted balls in play. I could definitely see him doing a Leon Durham in a big game.
September 10, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Leon Durham? Damn, I was hoping to get a good night sleep….
*********************************************************
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_National_League_Championship_Series
Game 5
Sunday, October 7, 1984 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 2
San Diego 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 X 6 8 0
WP: Craig Lefferts (2-0) LP: Rick Sutcliffe (1-1) SV: Goose Gossage (1)
HRs: CHC – Leon Durham (2), Jody Davis (2)
As if to tease their fatalistic fans, the Cubs started out well in the final and deciding game of the series. Durham hit a two-run homer in the first and Davis added a solo homer in the second to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. With National League Cy Young Award winner and Game 1 victor Rick Sutcliffe pitching brilliantly, the Cubs maintained their lead until the bottom of the sixth. Then disaster struck in a way that left many Cubs fans muttering about curses and other storied collapses in the franchise’s history.
Chicago’s downfall began innocently enough, with San Diego getting two sacrifice flies in the sixth to cut the Cubs’ lead to 3-2. But the Padres’ seventh proved catastrophic for Chicago. Carmelo Martínez led off the inning with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Garry Templeton, and scored when Tim Flannery’s grounder trickled through Durham’s legs for a crucial error. Alan Wiggins singled Flannery to second, and Gwynn doubled both runners home to give the Padres a 5-3 lead. Garvey followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-3. Steve Trout then replaced Sutcliffe on the mound and got out of the inning unscathed.
The Cubs got three baserunners over the final two innings against Gossage but could not score, and San Diego took home its first National League pennant. The Padres would go on to lose the World Series to the dominant Detroit Tigers in five games.
******************************************
Good night all.
September 10, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I remember the Cubs having runners on second and third with Gary Matthews at bat-and he didn’t get it done. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 11, 2008 at 2:50 am
The good news is that as of today, the Cubs are in pretty good shape. As of today is the operative part of that sentence. Another positive is that the teams with the two largest elimination numbers, the Brewers and the Phillies play each other so one of those numbers will go down. Hopefully it’s the Brewers’. The flip side of that is that one of those teams will win. At least if the Phillies win enough, they’ll take the East.
I’m just hoping for a good performance from Harden tomorrow and a slightly better offensive performance.
I don’t really understand how you can make players more clutch or how they can be less clutch. Is it lack of focus? Lack of preparation? This is a difficult game. In most situations, most hitters will fail. In some ways, I feel like the Cubs aren’t getting the breaks. I’ve seen some balls that are smoked but right at someone. I don’t know if you can train someone (aside from Ichiro Suzuki) to hit the ball where they ain’t.
That’s what has me puzzled about DP Lee. He seems to always hit the ball hard at the shortstop. To me, in that case, he’s doing something wrong. I think he’s not getting ahead enough on the ball. A half second earlier, and, perhaps, he hits the ball in the hole past the shortstop or smacks it past third and into the left-field corner.
I don’t see as much patience from this team as I did before. I think that is part of the problem. The rest I don’t really know.
September 11, 2008 at 2:17 pm
where the fuck are they gonna play this hurricane series? Cubs should just stay in St. Louis and evacuate the Astros to play there.
September 11, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Another possibility is to play at Wrigley, but give Houston the homefield. That was discussed as well.
Getting back to tonight’s game, I think Harden will pitch a good one as long as he keeps the count low. Hopefully the offense will wake up more too. Not good to keep scoring in the early innings, and not get any late insurance runs.
September 11, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Has Howry been released yet?
HA HA HA HA HA
September 11, 2008 at 6:12 pm
“That’s what has me puzzled about DP Lee. He seems to always hit the ball hard at the shortstop. To me, in that case, he’s doing something wrong. I think he’s not getting ahead enough on the ball. A half second earlier, and, perhaps, he hits the ball in the hole past the shortstop or smacks it past third and into the left-field corner.”
Excellent point, Andersonville. I never played baseball at any level, so I too have puzzled as to why a player who has probably been playing baseball since he was 6 cannot make adjustments when he knows something in his swing is wrong. Moreover, where is the Cubs hitting coach? Why isn’t he going over the tapes of his swing? And if he is going over the tapes, why can’t Lee make adjustments? Is he just too old? Has his swing gotten slower? Is he injured? Is he too stubborn and ego-driven to admit he needs to change something?
Maybe someone here who has played can help us out.
September 11, 2008 at 7:33 pm
MLB and Bud Selig are jokes. This Houston series should be played in St. Louis. So what happens if Houston is destroyed on Saturday? Then they got to play in St. Louis when they could have done that all along. I know the Butt-stros owner cried and whined about losing home games. I’m sorry you live in the path of a hurricane, but the season must go on.
This is so stupid.
September 11, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I played baseball but not very well.
September 11, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Derrek Lee needs to be dropped in the lineup, and I swear Soriano is Sammy Sosa reincarnate. Just like Sammy, he has no fucking brain. Another missed opportunity in the first inning.
September 11, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I don’t think DP Lee could have looked any more pathetic striking out against NL Cy Young award winner Todd Wellemeyer. Damn, he looks like shit now.
September 11, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I’ve counted three batters already who have swung at the first pitch … Where is Gerald Perry or Piniella to correct that? Is Dusty Baker in the dugout?
September 11, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Where’s Fukudome and his influence on the Cubs hitters to be more patient .. pffffffft!
September 11, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Also does it seem like Soriano always has two strikes on him? He never gets ahead in the count …
September 11, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I just checked the St. Louis forecast. Thunderstorms all weekend. 60% chance Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I wouldn’t stay there to try to play baseball either.
September 11, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Five batters who have swung at the first fucking pitch .. through three innings
September 11, 2008 at 7:53 pm
It didn’t have to be St. Louis. I read there were 14 or 15 parks that are empty this weekend. …
September 11, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Derrek Lee is definitely pressing … Of those five who swung at the first pitch, Derrek Lee accounts for two of those.
September 11, 2008 at 8:00 pm
If I was manager, I’d sit DP Lee for at least 2 games. Too bad I’m not.
September 11, 2008 at 8:32 pm
…and here is DP Lee’s chance to prove me wrong….DO IT!
September 11, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Thank Goodness he didn’t hit that any harder or it would have been a DP. That’s eight batters who have swung at the first pitch.
September 11, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I’m sorry…but that is a disappointing inning. Ramirez and Lee are not big $$$ players. Watch some film of Manny Ramirez you jerks. That 2-run inning should have been 4 or more.
That said, at least DP Lee had a ground out RBI.
Yes, after so many years I have learned to accept mediocrity (as far as the Cubs are concerned). I still don’t like it. Good thing it’s only a game.
September 11, 2008 at 8:37 pm
BTW, the Astros are kicking ass AGAIN…IMOP, that is the team to watch…and if the Cubs don’t win the next 3 series, the team to beat.
September 11, 2008 at 9:01 pm
hell, maybe DP Lee and A-Ram will learn something from watching Pujols play the game of baseball.
September 11, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Keep this in mind fellow Cubs fans; Right now the Astros are just playing unconscious baseball. If the Cubs lose this game, and lose the next three to the Stros, then the Astros will be only 3.5 games out of first place by Monday.
If that does happen, put me down as one who sees the Astros overtaking the Cubs to take the Central going away.
The Cubs, just as they always do, are fading. They are hanging on for dear life, like a football team that once had a 20 point lead trimmed down to 3 with 2 minutes to go and the other team has the ball on the 50, with all 3 of their time outs.
September 11, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Ernie…you read my mind.
September 11, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Cubs have a big 6 hits in this game, yeah, that will get it done.
Anyone willing to lay odds on the Cubs hanging on to this lead?
September 11, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Damn I need a drink.
September 11, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hey, whatta ya know, ole Woody gets himself in a mess of trouble, then gets Pujols to pop out.
Yep, we want to get in those kinds of jams every day, don’t we Woody?
September 11, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I’m getting just a little bit tired Kerry Woods closing out ball games turning into a goddamn adventure. That was just too fucking scary.
Rest up boys. You got 2 days off because of that hurricane. Use it wisely.
September 11, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I believe the Cardinals are officially out of it. Losing 2 of 3 to the Cubs at his time has got to be completely disheartening…and telltale.
September 11, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Hey!!!! ….can we trade Howry for Mitch Williams? That was always BIG FUN!
September 11, 2008 at 10:30 pm
If Fukudome would have played a decent right field Woody is probably not in that situation. I swear if this team wins we’re peeved if they lose we’re peeved. I understand the whole 100 year situation but they just took two of three from the Cards and should have swept them. I understand they are not hitting the ball real well right now, but Harden pitched very well tonight and the bullpen didn’t allow a run. If the Cubs only give up two runs a game the rest of the way they will win this division by next weekend. Are there problems with this team 100% yes. I just don’t understand the negativity when they won their last two games…on the road against a divisional foe.
September 11, 2008 at 10:42 pm
We were lucky to win that game. Rather be lucky than good right?
The balk by Marmol that wasn’t called was huge. Soriano and Fukudome made great catches. The game would of been at least tied if that balk was called.
Kerry Wood being the asshole that he is made it interesting. Brendan Ryan oversliding 3rd base and being tagged out was big. The replay looked like he was safe. Lucky again.
Six game lead in the loss column with two days off. I am going to miss baseball but this team needs another couple days off. Rest of the bullpen.
Last but not least: BENCH THAT PEICE OF SHIT DERREK LEE.
September 11, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Two legit wins and good starting pitching. Not convinced they are out of their hitting slump though. They needed too much help from the Cardinals to score what few runs they did – both yesterday and tonight.
I hope there isn’t anything too destructive in Houston this weekend.
September 11, 2008 at 11:01 pm
“I understand the whole 100 year situation but they just took two of three from the Cards and should have swept them…I just don’t understand the negativity when they won their last two games…on the road against a divisional foe.”
Since I’m probably one of the few on this site who was there for all five (1969, 1984, 1989, 1998, and 2003) Cub meltdowns, I’ll take a shot at your question.
The 100 years is a total and complete embarrassment. For a team in a major market to not win a championship for that many years is worthy of mockery. And make no mistake about it, the Cubs are mocked by every city in the Majors (“lovable losers”).
The Cubs choke! That’s really all they do. They don’t illicit fear in their opponents, only amusement. No team is afraid of the Cubs making a comeback, because they know it won’t happen.
The Cubs last pennant was 1945, that’s right 1945! Expansion teams have had more success than the Cubs. Even teams like the White Sox, and Red Sox won pennants (post 1945) before they had their current success. Cubs can’t even win a pennant!!
The Cubs have earned nothing, NOTHING, from their fan base. If they want the kind of optimism you talk about, then prove it on the field. If the Cubs could have at least won the pennant in one of those years I mentioned, then I’m with you. They have no right to expect adoring optimism from their fans – not until they earn it on the field. The sheep over at BCB will give it to them whether they win or not, because they care more about being “Cubbie fans” they do about winning. They think a true fan will put up with this garbage, no, a true fan will demand accountability. A true fan will demand a better product on the field. A true fan won’t put up with the pathetic excuses they are fed year after year from this organization.
So, you can be as optimistic as you like, but don’t come around here trying to illicit sympathy. We’ve seen this movie before, and we’ve had enough of it.
September 11, 2008 at 11:40 pm
You’ve never experienced the true shame of Cubdom until you sit through an entire game in St. Louis hearing the chant “1908”!
September 11, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Ernies Army
I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I am not trying to illicit sympathy or anything. The thing I don’t understand is if the Cubs win fans are peeved and when they lose fans are peeved. Unlike yourself I nor any member of the Cubs team has lived through the chokes that you mentioned. I will completely understand all the negativity if this Cubs team loses the division lead, doesn’t make it to the World Series, doesn’t win the World Series, because I am in complete agreement with you that a team from a major market should have at least played in a world series in 60 plus years. They also should have won at least one in that same time frame. This team has played like crap for almost two weeks, but there lead in the division hasn’t shrunk.
The only point I was trying to make is this team could win by 50 runs and there would be fans out there that would complain that they didn’t win by 51. That has absolutely nothing to do with choking.
September 11, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I guess I also misspoke. I COMPLETELY understand why Cubs fans are peeved when they LOSE. I am peeved when they lose.
September 11, 2008 at 11:50 pm
“The thing I don’t understand is if the Cubs win fans are peeved and when they lose fans are peeved.”
And this is where you misunderstand. None of us are upset that they won. What some of us are upset with is Lou continuing to put Lee in the #3 hole when he is choking like a dog with a bone in his throat, and using Wood as the closer.
Marmol didn’t do much endear himself to the closers role tonight either, but I still prefer him to that rally starter Wood. Wood, yeah, that’s a good name for him. He comes in to put Wood on the fire.
To say that any of us is upset that the Cubs won is patently unfair.
September 11, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I think that any most of the griping found here when the Cubs win is because the Cubs have played a very flawed game-and we know that won’t cut it in the playoffs. I am happy they won today. But I look at Marmol today, Wood AGAIN, the poor offense AGAIN and I see this season as not ending with a championship. And THAT is my complaint.
September 11, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I like Kingsford as Wood’s nickname.
September 12, 2008 at 12:01 am
Kerry Wood = “Kingsford”
HAHAHAHA…I like it Nemo.
Or, “Can’t get a flame, put a little Wood on that smoke and watch it go!”
September 12, 2008 at 9:52 am
HOY HOY HOY
…how about “Kingsford Balsa Wood”?
The team that wins it all will likely play their BEST ball of the season when it really counts. The Cubs haven’t been doing that for quite awhile and were fortunate/lucky to win 2 out of 3 from the Cardinals, who clearly “don’t have it” this year.
Houston is showing us playoff/championship ball of late….they are a team to watch if they can scratch their way into the playoffs.
Look: I want DP Lee to succeed (as I do the Cubs)…but let’s face it, Derrek can’t buy a big hit. I’m serious when I say shop him around during the offseason, unless he suddenly turns it around and becomes “Mr. October”. Another season like this one and he won’t be worth the proverbial bag of shells on the trade market…he’s too old (in baseball terms). Suggestion: bench DP Lee for AT LEAST 2 games.
As for Harden, I am very happy the Cubs have him. He has been the most effective pitcher on this cubs team, and IF he stays healthy — wishful thinking (a miracle?) — I nominate him for “the ace”. Zambrano will likely NEVER be an ace, unless he sees a good head doctor.
The hitting is weak…and the bullpen is not striking fear into the heart of the opponents, I guarantee it. Doesn’t bode well.
I do give points to Wood for getting Pujols on the final out under trying circumstances. Don’t count on that happening again!
Get rid of Bob Howry NOW. Wouldn’t that instill some confidence in the starting pitching?
Finally, I think the Astros owner is a fucking dumbass. One of the most effective ways to cool off a “hot” team is to give them some time off…we’ve seen it time and time again (ie., last year, Colorado Rockies).
I feel for the people on the Gulf Coast.
September 12, 2008 at 10:32 am
Lee is definately pressing. He usually never has an approach like he had last night swinging at first pitches thrown to him. Not only that he appears to be trying to pull everything too. He needs to stop pulling off the ball and wait just a fraction later and try hitting to center or right. That is when he is at his best when he hit s to all fields. I know Gerald Perry worked on this same thing with Soto earlier in the year and got him out of that slump with that approach. That being said Lee should not bat third in this lineup. I have been posting since last yr on the old site that he should be a number 2 hitter. He’s had number 2 hitter numbers for 2 yrs now. Also, if Lou made that move he could move Ramirez into the third hole where he should be and put Soto or Soriano(Which he won’t do) in the cleanup spot. Lou should be tinkering with this lineup anyways to try and get it going. The hitting is eerily reminding me of how they hit in the playoffs last year. Stranding baserunners left and right or if they don’t they are hitting in to DP’s in really bad momentum changing spots in a game. That being said at least they we’re lucky enough that the Cardinals screwed up worst then them and let them have the series. For now I will take it because all I am concerned with at the moment is this team clinching this division and getting to the playoffs. If they get in then all I will be concerned with is them winning the damn thing. Cause we all know once you get into the playoffs that is a completely different season where anything can happen. Genre I was thinking the same thing as you..you would think the last thing the Astros owner would want to do is give that team a few days off. That would not suprise me at all if that plays into the Cubs advantage.
September 12, 2008 at 10:44 am
“I don’t know about anybody else, but to me he’s not that good,” Lopez said. “I’m not going to give him that much credit.” …
-Felipe Lopez comment on Ted Lilly
Is this guy serious? One of the many reasons I hate the Cards, their fans, and their announcers (brutal being a Cubs fan living in St. Louis, and forced to listen to Al Hrabosky butcher everything baseball related).