Cubs game recap
The Cubs lost 2-1 to the Nationals yesterday. Ryan Dempster had an incredible start, striking out ten batters in 7.2 innings. Unfortunately, after he was relieved in the 8th inning Kerry Wood walked three straight batters to tie the game. Carlos Marmol gave up a double in the 9th to Cubs Legend Chad Tracy followed by a bloop single by Ian Desmond. Ian Stewart just missed a HR off Brad Lidge in the ninth, and pinch runner Joe Mather was thrown out at home in the next at bat. To Dempster's credit, he got the strikeouts but the Cubs best defender yesterday was the wind blowing hard in from center field. Stewart's ball wasn't the only hard-hit one that would have gone out on an average day at Wrigley.
Wood had a lousy day but I still think he should be the primary set-up man. He's not as good as he once was but I don't think there's much case to say that any of the other non-Marmol relievers are better than he is right now unless he's injured.
Dempster's start was the best by game score (78) for a Cubs opener since Bill Bonham in 1974 (87).
Yesterday's TOOTBLANS
Alfonso Soriano was thrown out stealing third base in the fourth inning. Marlon Byrd later singled in Stewart, who was behind Soriano on the basepaths, for the Cubs only run.
Joe Mather was thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth after running on contact. I think he was out either way, since that ball was hit pretty hard to the third baseman. I'd chalk it up to bad luck, but the TOOTBLAN definition is a harsh mistress.
Is there a Cubs game today?
Gio Gonzalez and Matt Garza face off tomorrow at noon.
Maybe Bill Murray should stop throwing out the first pitch
Ryan Dempster accidentally used the ceremonial first pitch ball for the first actual pitch of the game. Bill Murray had signed it and added "good luck, Ryan". Ian Desmond hit a single on Dempster's first pitch.
Pictures from opening day
Fellow Cubs bloggers Doc Blume and Julie DiCaro attended the game and took many pictures. Consensus all around the blog/tweet-osphere is that the new videoboard was a positive addition to the park.
Cubs interested in John Lannan
You can never have too many slightly above replacement level pitchers that are paid more than league minimum. Though maybe the best way to improve the pen is to pick up a ton on fringy starters and make them setup men. It worked wonders for Sean Marshall.
Media waiting to pile on Cubs "culture"
For some reason Cubs players are "tired of the perception that failure is institutionalized in the organization". I wonder what's perpetuating that perception?
Wait, what? moment
During yesterday's game WGN had a shot of someone wearing a "Sveamus Catuli" t-shirt. That doesn't even make sense, and was way too complicated to explain to someone who didn't get the reference. Still better than Pujols mows my lawn, though.
Ad campaign of the day
It looks like some of these ads are showing up in our sidebar too.
I guess that means my “Chicastro Cubsorianos” shirt is probably not going to sell well.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
I might make some Rudy Strode shirts and see how many people get the clever pop culture reference.
In my day, gentlemen wore wool or linen suits and fedoras to the ballpark, not childish t-shirts with silly slogans on them.
But this is the here and the now. The annual challenge of how to boil an egg is upon us. And the old Betty Crocker book says you can gently lower eggs into boiling water in a saucepan. Reduce heat, but keep the water simmering for 18 to 20 minutes until the eggs are cooked. Cool eggs under cold water. This makes eggs easier to handle.
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com/2012/04/nightmare-that-was-opening-day-in.html
Ask Marilyn
Q. What clever license plates have you been seeing lately?
A. My extra eyes in this area have seen UNBLVBL (Unbelievable) and KRZLDY (Krazy Lady). Then there was RAN 1 and BCKNBLK, which I am still trying to figure out.
Mets are insulting their best customers by giving away hundreds of free tickets to tomorrow’s game
Marilyn Hagerty ———————-> prefers Bon Scott-era AC/DC.
Seemed like there was some debate on whether Soriano was safe or not, but I felt that it was a stupid risk anyway. Would’ve been nice if he was safe, but seriously, don’t do that again.
As for Mather, I don’t mind the going on contact thing but Baker hung him out to dry.
@ Rice Cube:
The throw beat him by a good amount. He might have got his hand in before the tag but the ump will call a runner out 10 times out of 10 if the throw beats him.
McNutt pitching tonight for Tenn
@ Rice Cube:
I was definitely cringing at Baker coming to bat versus an RHP in a big game situation, but it’s not as if they had a lot of left-handed hitters on the bench (or first basemen).
@ ACT:
Blake DeWitt would have been a less sucky choice in that situation.
@ Berselius:
He was already brought in as a pinch-hitter, I believe.
@ ACT:
You’re right, he pinch-hit for Dempster in the 8th
@ ACT:
Yup. He pinch-hit for Kerry Wood after the fail.
In that situation instead of the contact play, I would’ve tried a squeeze play.
@ Rice Cube:
I mean, what was the point of Buntfest 2012 if you’re not going to try that?
The Reds offer for Brandon Phillips is 5/60 for his 2012-2016 seasons. Doesn’t sound like a great deal to me, but I’m someone who has always been down on him for no reason that I can pin down.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
I’m not denying that, but I thought you were saying he doesn’t have plate discipline or patience.
@ Berselius:
Racist
@ Berselius:
I guess I can pin it down. It’s his .322 career OBP
Did anyone mention DeRosa getting a rousing ovation during pre-game intros yesterday? It was another facepalm worthy moment.
@ melissa:
I don’t see what the problem is. DeRosa was a valuable player on the last 2 Cubs teams to win division titles.
@ ACT:
I don’t have anything against DeRosa, Cubs fans worship of him is just a little too over the top for me. He’s not a Cubs legend by any stretch but that’s how fans seem to react to him. I’m just over it, probably because I don’t like anything. (dying laughing)
I couldn’t complain about fans over-appreciating a player (especially a good player, as DeRosa was). The under-appreciation for Ramirez, Zambrano and the like is another story.
Berselius wrote:
So Cubs fans may not be the worst after all?
@ ACT:
That’s what pisses me off. They give DeRosa standing Os but I’ll bet a dollar they boo Z and A Ram. If they show the same type of love for all former Cubs, then that’s fine.
I’m with Mucker. The love for DeRosa when combined with the vitriol shown toward other players is what probably annoys me most.
@ melissa:
And I’m not trying to say DeRosa wasn’t good for the Cubs because he was quite good. But Z was probably the best pitcher since Maddux and ARam was the best 3B since Santo. They should be honored more than they are from the fanbase.
Please tell me A-Ram is not going to be booed when he comes back.
Suburban kid wrote:
I agree with Melissa and Mucker here. I’m all for appreciating what DeRosa did for the Cubs in 2007 and 2008. I think it’s great they treat him the way they do, but it’s also ridiculous because of how they treat other players. I don’t want the fans to start treating DeRosa the same as they do other former players, but it’s going to be disgusting listening to them boo Ramirez and Zambrano.
new shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/minor-league-update-4-6-12.html