Had to take a different position in my job that didn't allow me to get on a computer as often as I liked. I found the site "firedusty.com" and it got me fired up enough to try and get back on the ball about posting semi-regularly. Hey I also just spent 3 days on the north side hanging out at Wrigley and some cool watering holes around town. That's enough to get anyone started back into blogging.
The Rooftop Report has a nice observation about some bad blood between The Tribune Comapany and City of Chicago. Maybe the Big Wigs in City Hall are Sox fans. This sounds like it could be a long pain in the ass kind of stand-off. No matter, Cubbies are taking their frustrations out on the Stros at the moment. Right now how can anybody say moving So-So was a bad move? Who got in Dusty's ear and got to change the juggle the line-up? It seems that for the moment everyone is pretty comfortable where they are. Patterson 1 for 5, HR, 2RBIs. Lee 2 for 4, 1RBI, 2B. Nomar 2 for 3, 2RBIs, HR. Alou 1 for 5, RBI, HR. So-So 1 for 5, RBI, HR. Grud 4 for 5, 2RBI, 2HR. Barrett 2 for 4, RBI. WOW! Looks like change is just what these guys needed. Munro isn't the best pitcher going right now,but hey we needed a little shot in the arm. Brandon Backe is scheduled to take the mound on Saturday. He's coming back up from New Orleans to fill Pettitte's spot. Let's give him a great big welcome back and score a W
What is wrong with the line up now? I don't see anything. So-So did a great job Thursday going 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 HR. That is literally on fire for him lately. Goodwin starts instead of Patterson and goes 2 for 3, a double, 1 stolen base and 3 RBIs. Hey, I said it before I'm a Cub fan, not a Patterson or a So-So fan, I want ALL the Cubs in the playoffs. 1-8 hitters go 11 for 27...1-8 hitters got on the ball this game. All this against a Lefty. The Cubs have got decide before the playoffs, are they going to hit lefties or not? This guys are too good to keep this back and forth with the lefties. Now, what does Dusty do with the line up. Change it some more, or leave it the way it played Thursday? It think he needs to go with a line up can obviously hit left handers, tweak it a little for the right handers and go with it. Keep So-So where he is for now, it can't hurt and its already better than where he was.
First a little humor, to ease the pain of the last couple of days. Why won't So-So eat at White Castle? Because all they serve are sliders! Ohh, that was great, whew, let me catch my breath before I continue. At this point I'm not sure the Cubbies deserve to be the wild card. They move Patterson to lead off, it worked pretty well, so why won't they open their eyes and move some other players? 1-3 hitters are getting on base, So-So is not getting them in. You can say it anyway you want but he is not getting the job done. When I saw the last couple of games, I was ready to burn the keyboard up on bad mouthing Sammy. Now, I have to rethink it. Yeah, he is bombing at the plate, but is it his fault, or should some of the blame be put on Dusty? Shouldn't he have the coconuts to shake up the batting order to capitalize on Nomar and Patterson doing their job. Also, is there something wrong with So-So? He really looks lost in the box. His swings on breaking balls away are down right terrible. He doesn't attempt to get the base hit, he is swinging for some big HR, and right now I don't think he can do it. Is it his timing, or body mechanics or is he just not seeing the ball? This is another place where Dusty needs to step in and do/say something. If So-So is too vain or too big of a superstar to listen then tough nuts. So-So doesn't knock in ONE run on Sunday! RBI: C Patterson 2 (50), N Garciaparra (7), M Barrett (52), R Martinez (25). This problem needs to be corrected by SOMEONE! Granted the Cubs in general are not getting the job done but the guys that are supposed to get on base are doing a hell of alot better than the guy that supposed to get them in! Alou blowing up on Sunday, who is surprised? I think he has always been that kind of player and the Cubs let that outburst cost them a win. You are not going to be a wild card team and defiantly not going to win a NLCS if you don't adjust and overcome these type of obstacles. Everybody needs to get over Sammy's ego, make the needed adjustments, and get this wild card.
I don't know. I really thought we could put a butt whipping on the Padres. I think this says it, about this game and this season; HR: N Garciaparra (1, 4th inning off Eaton 0 on, 0 out), S Sosa (25, 2nd inning off Eaton 0 on, 0 out), M Alou (27, 2nd inning off Eaton 0 on, 0 out), D Lee 2 (24, 4th inning off Eaton 0 on, 2 outs, 9th inning off Hoffman 0 on, 0 out) Five HRs with NO-ONE ON BASE. Play small ball, when they do that they win. Patterson goes 2 for 5 with a double. Not great, unless you are on a team that goes a combined 8 for 36. What about Lee? 2 for 4, of course they were both solo home runs. He was big winner tonight with 2 RBIs. I'm afraid to say anything about game 2 with the Padres, so I will wait until after the game and see what unfolds.
As much as I love Patterson, I'm there for the team and the win. Looking at the Fox preview for the 1st game between Cubs and SD I noticed some interesting facts..2B Todd Walker is 8-for-15 (.533) against Eaton, and this one about So-So...the Cubs slugger is hitless in a season-high 15 straight 15 at-bats, striking out seven times. Sosa hasn't gone five consecutive games without a homer, let alone a hit, since July 4-9. I'm saying this because I think you have to do what's good for the team. Walker owns Eaton, pull Patterson and start him. So-So is in a slump(that's an awfully pretty word for what he is doing) so he adjusts or he sits down. We want to do what gets the Cubs in the play-offs not doing what doesn't hurt So-So's feelings. I don't think Eaton is looking forward to tonight's game..the last time he saw the Cubs he gave up seven runs and nine hits - including three homers - in five innings of a 7-5 defeat. He is 4-0 on the road with a 2.42 ERA since May 26 though so we still need to be careful. The last time So-So faced SD with Eaton on the hill, Sammy does a fairly respectable job, 2 for 4 with 1 run, 1 HR and 2 RBI. This is an important game, hell they all are this point in the race, they need to get fired up, focused and put some distance between them and the rest of Wild Card.
Maddux gets his 300th. I know this is late but I've been busy and haven't got to get to the keyboard. Way to go Greg!!. Cubs drop one on Sunday. 1-4 hitters go 3 for 15. Holy Cow! Do they get a seeing-eye to lead them to the plate? This is terrible. 5-8 go 5 for 13. A little better, but the 5-8 always seem to get the bat on the ball. If the 1-4 aren't getting on base though, it doesn't matter. Now for the big suprised, they were facing a lefty. Man oh man, they have got to adjust, and not for 1 or 2 games at a time. The last 8 games, he goes 4 for 31, 1 double, 0 triples, 2 HR, and 5 RBIs. 10 SO and only 2 walks. Who is this Great Giant of Offense that contributes so much to our Beloved Cubbies. Sammy "SO-SO" Sosa. May 7 his avg was .303, May 15th and June 19, he reached .291 and since then it has been 2 steps down, 1 step up and the last 3 games have been; .269,.265,.262. This is not a Bash Sammy Band Wagon that I have just jumped on, I have thought they needed to trade Sammy for the last couple of years. He should have been traded when he was something everyone else wanted so we could have got something big in return. Now, we couldn't get squat. The last three years his fielding % has declined, .982, .980, .977. I just think that this isn't a "slump", I think he is on his way down. NOW! I don't think what he has done for the Cubs should be dismissed OR he should be just dumped like damaged goods. I have alot of respect and gratitude for him. I saying that when its time to go its time to go. He is pulling alot now days, he can't hit a lefty, if sitting him down means letting someone that can hit the lefty, then, hey! Do it. I afraid Sammy is going to turn into another Barry Larkin. Just hanging on when its way past time to let go, and the team suffers for it. The time to work someone into his spot is now, not when he can't help mold that someone. I still like Patterson leading off. Granted he's probably not Lou Brock but, I think he can develop into a genuine threat. Adam Eaton takes the mound Tuesday against Prior. He's a righty and his last two outings have not been something to sing about. Aug 4 vs the Phillies he last 5 innings, 8 hits and 7 runs. July 30 vs Dodgers he goes a whole 3.2 innings, 9 hits and 7 runs. Lets hope the Cubs put it on him that fast and Prior can keep them guessing.
ESPN says late Thursday that Jason Schmidt is now the starter for Friday. Still a RHP. No problem, Cubs are rolling.
How's that for turning up the heat on that wild card? The Cubs sweep, that's right sweep the Rockies at Coors Field. Stoney says that is a first. Wood look good, Prior looked great, he's 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Rockies, and the bats were smoking. 1-4 hitters go 1 for 16. But wow, look at the 5-8 hitters they go 7 for 19. That's the way to pick up the slack. So-So makes the error that gives the Rockies their only run. I didn't see the play but it still gives me some info to use to pick on So-So. After Patterson finally turned it around, the one AB I get to see him at, he swings at three terrible pitches. I have always liked Patterson, and I really like him in the lead off spot. His slugging % has gone from .430 to .439 and his OBP from a .321 to .330 since moving to the lead off spot. Ivy Chat says he has never been a Corey fan but he's starting to come around and likes the way things are going now. I agree, I'm telling you, Corey at lead off and Nomar hitting second is going to do great things for us. They are the key! The press is STILL bad-mouthing Nomar! What's the problem with these guys. Is there something there we should know or be worried about? I don't think so, I still say it just sore loser syndrome. Man, swept the Rockies at home! That rocks so hard! Now on to San Francisco facing RHP Tyler Walker. The Cubs haven't faced the Giants, but they handle RHP pretty well. Matt Clement doesn't have to worry about moving anymore, so let's get focused and put some distance between us and the rest of the wild card.
