|
|
 Alright, I was still pretty excited when I wrote that post last night, so here are some actual coherent notes from the game.
- Mark DeRosa is a sliding machine. He was able to sneak in at second base one time and at home plate last night with excellent slides. People underestimate a skill like this. It's the little things that count. He also made an excellent defensive play in the game. He's played really well in this series.
- Ryan Theriot did not get the night off but was moved down in the lineup to the 8 spot. This was to take some pressure off of him and he rewarded Lou with 2 RBI's.
- Piniella was still fired up after the game, "This type of game really should get us on a roll," manager Lou Piniella said. "You really have to think that the worm has turned. A man on third with no outs? And to get out of that with just a great double play. ... You have to feel that things are going to start going your way."
- Howry got the job done once again.
- When that ball Loretta hit bounced off the first base bag I thought the Cubs were done for the season.
- Rich Hill was fantastic last night....except when he was bunting. I actually sent an email to Len & Bob last night detailing exactly why Hill struggles with bunting (he doesn't commit his body to it), that's how frustrated I was with it....so maybe that will make the airwaves at some point.
- Felix Pie came in as a late inning defensive replacement and kicked around Lamb's triple....I love the kid but he has to play better.
- That was the most fired up I've ever seen a manager in my life. When the game was over Lou came running out of the dugout with his hands up in the air and yelling. I didn't know if he was ready to choke someone or if he was celebrating. It wasn't until he started throwing around bear hugs that I figured out what he was doing. This leads me to....
- I think Lou realizes now that this Cubs team lacks a true leader and he's trying to be that guy. I don't know if that's going to work, but the guy is certainly trying
- Respected commenter Hoosiernation pointed out to me this morning in an email that it seems more and more Cubs hitters are throwing their bats in disgust after making outs. These guys need to relax.
- Disrespected commenter Gianluca pointed out how few pitches Marmol and Howry threw the other night and how well Michael Wuertz has been with inherited runners. He is also correct in saying that Dempster needs to stay as the closer. It's much too late in the season to be fooling around with that crap.
- Steve Trachsel goes tonight against Woody Williams. Trachsel is going on three days rest, so who knows what will happen. I'd imagine that Sean Marshall will be ready to go at a moment's notice in the bullpen. It would be nice if the Cubs were able to get out to a nice lead and run through some of the extra bodies in the bullpen and maybe get DeRosa, Kendall, Lee and Ramirez out of the lineup early to rest a bit.
- Cincinnati scares me.
- Finally, how long until someone hunts down this guy and does something outrageous to get the Cubs ready for the playoffs?
- Every game from now until the end of the season will be the biggest game of the season for the Cubs.
Leave a comment
|
|
|
6 Comments
Leave a comment
|
|
|
2008 Cubs Preview
Respected commenter? Wow! It must be because I get on base ahead of him to help pad Cobra's RBI totals in our softball league. We win our series' (plural???), we win the division. It's that simple.
I was going to mock you about the dorkiness of e-mailing tv announcers but that would be disrespectful.
Cub pitchers can't bunt at all.
Cub pitchers can't hold runners close.
Jason Kendall can't throw out anyone 5/48. That is brutal. I know his bat was/is good and he hit .340 or something in August. Pitching and defense win in the playoffs. You can't have a leadoff walk turn into a double because he can't throw out John Kruk. I'd support the argument of replacing Kendall with Soto before the closer.
I actually taped the game and ran through Hill's attempt in slo-mo. It's not that difficult to figure out what he's doing wrong. I've always wanted to write in and stump them with this:
"Why are the baseball positions numbered 1-9, who came up with that and why?"
I don't remember seeing a pitcher bust his ass to get first like Dempster did last night. A day after the cubs put down several perfect sac bunts they go back to screwing it up.
You are right, Hank. I re-watched that play this morning and Dempster was on a dead sprint from the moment that ball left the bat. It didn't hurt that the Astros had a former catcher hitting, but it was nice to see the hustle...then the fist pump....a little emotion is good (except from Z)
I heard Z was so pumped up in the dugout he punched out 3 of the no namer callups. In fact, thats the main reason they are all up hear to be Z's punching bag to keep him on an even keel.