I'm not going to write about the weekend series in Arizona because I'm in a good mood this morning and I don't want to ruin it. There was some good news over the weekend.
Mr. Soriano is returning to the Cubs on Tuesday against Milwaukee. This is huge for the Cubs. Look, let's be honest with each other, the Cubs offense isn't the best. Ok, it's barely mediocre most nights and that's when Soriano IS healthy. The Cubs have played the last 19 games without Soriano and while they went from 2 games back to 1 1/2 games up....the offense struggled....mightily. While Soriano won't be stealing bases like Jose Reyes, he will bring another weapon to the offense. On top of that, now Ryan Theriot will slide down to the two hole and the Cubs should have even more runners on base for....
Have I told you lately how much I hate Derrek Lee right now? I understand that he hit an inside the park homer yesterday, but come on. The guy is a taller version of Mark Grace. Not that Mark Grace was bad, but he wasn't/shouldn't have been the #3 hitter on a contending team. It's almost to the point where I'm thinking Lee is going to hit in the two hole next season because of his lack of power. Then he'll be forced to start stealing bases again (which Buck Rampage approves of). It's time to move Aramis to the three hole. Maybe next season we'll go Theriot-Lee-Ramirez-Soriano at the top of the order....probably not though, that's a lot of right handed hitters.
As for the teams behind the Cubs....Milwaukee, St. Louis, and now Cincy.....forget them. There is no need to worry about them. The Cubs have to take care of business now and win ballgames. The bullpen is pitching great and the starters are....kind of doing their jobs, so now the offense needs to turn it up and close this out. If the Cubs can take 2 of 3 from the Brew Crew that will put Milwaukee under .500 and I can't imagine what that will do to their psyche. Wait, yes I can. It will break them. They will be done. Then it will be up to the Cubs to beat the Cards and Cincy in September, and they play both teams at least five times.....including a season ending series in Cincy.
I've been trying to figure out all morning how to put YouTube clips up with this new formatting tool we have and I can't figure it out....So, go here to see an awesome clip of Harry Caray and Steve Stone celebrating the 1984 Cubs.
can we talk a little about the weekend? Friday night, ninth inning, Lee hits into his ninth double play of the game and half assed it down the line. Ramirez up nexts and hits a grounder and walks about half way to first and stops. It was bad Karma for the weekend. Wuertz sucks in the top half but they pull it out because of a four run lead and of course they lose the next two. All because they were lazy on Friday. I woke up the family cursing at the tv at 12:30 at night.
Anonymous
said
I unfortunatly didnt see any of the games as I was in Upstate NY.
But with Am Ram being bothered with nagging injuries, im sure Pinella has informed him to kinda take it easy in hopes to keep him healthier.
This year, more than any other, I think Am Ram has been hustling and fielding better than i've ever seen him. I recall a game, where he turned a standup double...into a triple just based on wanting to get extra bases. He always came off as "lazy" but this is not the case.
Gianluca....actually commenter 'hoosiernation' and I were watching that exact thing happen on TV while sitting in a bar and I said that I thought Lee had to have been hurt because he made no effort at all...at all, horrendous. I agree that it probably carried over into the frustrating weekend.
I also agree with you Klompus, 9 times out of 10 A-Ram is hustling more than ever
2008 Cubs Preview
Seriously. Nobody in the league spits more than Fonzi.
In fact, he's spitting right after he hit the ball in your shot! awesome pic.
Huge week coming up for the cubs.
that's how he keeps that ethiopian type body.
can we talk a little about the weekend? Friday night, ninth inning, Lee hits into his ninth double play of the game and half assed it down the line. Ramirez up nexts and hits a grounder and walks about half way to first and stops. It was bad Karma for the weekend. Wuertz sucks in the top half but they pull it out because of a four run lead and of course they lose the next two. All because they were lazy on Friday. I woke up the family cursing at the tv at 12:30 at night.
I unfortunatly didnt see any of the games as I was in Upstate NY.
But with Am Ram being bothered with nagging injuries, im sure Pinella has informed him to kinda take it easy in hopes to keep him healthier.
This year, more than any other, I think Am Ram has been hustling and fielding better than i've ever seen him. I recall a game, where he turned a standup double...into a triple just based on wanting to get extra bases. He always came off as "lazy" but this is not the case.
that last post is not anonymous.
it was from me Klompus
Gianluca....actually commenter 'hoosiernation' and I were watching that exact thing happen on TV while sitting in a bar and I said that I thought Lee had to have been hurt because he made no effort at all...at all, horrendous. I agree that it probably carried over into the frustrating weekend.
I also agree with you Klompus, 9 times out of 10 A-Ram is hustling more than ever