Reflections on St. Louis

April can be a "Playoff Atmosphere"
Daddy got Chris Duncan his job.
The Cardinals aren't as bas as we expected this year - but they still suck.
Ryan Ludwick is going to be a PITA this year.
Alfonso Soriano can lead off just as long as he wants - and shut up about it.
Ramirez remain the best clutch hitter on the Cubs and maybe in baseball.
Gregg can, in fact, pitch more than 1 inning.
Cleveland Indians - HOLY CRAP!! - not from our series, but noteworthy enough to mention.
The Cardinals are and always will be securely bent over at the waist right in front of us with their pants around their ankles.

Reflections on Milwaukee...

Our closer can't do more than 3 outs.
Our offense has a good chance of digging us out of any holes our bullpen digs
Milton - told ya so...
Fonzie and Aramis are both cadillacin' it on routine grounders.
Fonzie is a game changer - offensively in a good way, defensively in a bad way.
No doubles doesn't always mean no doubles.
Maybe Fuku won't suck as bad as we all thought....but he still might.
Prince won't offer at the inside breaking ball.

Headlines of the day

"Hoffpauir's grand slam boosts Cubs past L.A."

A mere 5 months too late...

"Soriano plans to return to steal business: targets 30"

Uh huh...

"Indians closer Wood slowed by sore back"

Good to know it's not just us...

Good times...For a minute, The Hoff shines...

Here's something to ponder...

So, your favorite band puts out a new CD. You run to the store, slap the cash on the counter, and run to your car. You pop the CD in, listen to the first track. Killer. Second. Awesome. Third. YES! Fourth. Hot! Fifth.. WTF? What is THIS song doing on here? I mean. I guess it's ok, but....but...huh??? But you listen to it, and the next and the next and the next. I call this the "Nothing Else Matters" syndrome, and it's horrible to experience...

Same thing with the Cubs this year. You gotta take the massive upside, with the minor downside. Soriano's defense. Theriot's and Johnson's occasional base running hiccups. Whatever. Just gotta run with it man. Hands down, this is the best team in the NL, possibly in baseball. Take Soriano. Worst left field defense since Alou. But his jack wins the game today.

Yes, they do have flaws. It'd frankly be boring if they didn't. Just gotta roll with it kiddies. All the way to the ticker tape parade...

One for the minute, two for the show...

World Series thoughts...Part Chetire

Cubs vs. White Sox and why I like our chances.

The White Sox live and die with the home run. They have the slowest lineup in baseball, which includes amateur and geriatric leagues. And they're to say the least, inconsistent. when I last heard, the Sox are 6-36 in games where they do not hit a home run. Their outfield defense is questionable, while their infield is pretty tight. They're getting bitten by the injury bug left and right, which is probably the result of decaying body parts by some of the mummies they're propping up at home plate. Crede and Konerko are a sneeze and an 0-fer away from being benched the rest of the season.

Their dangerous hitters are Thome, Quentin and Dye. The Cubs dangerous hitters are Soraino, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Soto...well, you get the point.

The Cubs pitching staff is composed of strikeout pitchers - you can't hit home runs if you can't hit the ball. Only Lilly and Marquis would be considered "fly ball" pitchers. Plus, in October, the wind blows in. Base hits and doubles will win the game and with the Sox outfield, that's a LOT of doubles. The Cubs in the second half have proven they can hit on the road. If it comes to it, and neither team is a lock by any stretch, I say Cubs in 5.

Sorry David Kaplan - the Sox are hands down the most beatable team of the AL contenders right now, with the Twins being a close second. David disagreed with the caller on that point.

A minute you asked for and a minute you shall have.

And Rickie Weeks still sucks...:D

World Series thoughts...Part Deux

So what's the answer? Cory Provus said "Soriano" I'd be inclined to agree, but only slightly. Yes Soriano has more power and a better average. However, Soriano is a historically bad post-season player IIRC. I don't have the numbers in front of me, But Edmonds against a righty pitcher makes good sense to me, but once again it comes down to we needs more detail.

I'm crapping my pants if it gets there anyway, so maybe it's irrelevant. The main question being asked here, which is REALLY the question that should've been asked int he first place is, who would you turn to more in the clutch.

If the Cubs need a HR to tie/win, then I'm going with Soriano. If a base hit/double will do the job, maybe I'll look into it a bit more. How have both guys performed thus far? If you're going by last year's post season, Soriano sucked donkey balls, along with the rest of the team in October. Maybe this year is different.

Just ask the right question and this isn't an issue. And what the heck are you still doing up?? Go to bed! There's a curfew for God's sake...

A minute for your thoughts...

World Series thoughts...

Yes, yes it's a bit early, but still. Heard a couple of things on 'GN yesterday and today that I wanted to comment on. First last night's call to Corey Provus's post game. Some kid called up saying he was having a debate with his mom about this and asked "It's game 7, two out, bottom of the ninth, Cubs down by one, who would you rather have - Edmonds or Soriano?"

In this minute, we're going to dissect the question -

Ok dip$%it, Game 7 wouldn't have the Cubs in the bottom of the 9th, because game 7 would be at the AL park.

Second, under no circumstances should Edmonds and Soriano be available to pinch-hit that late in that game. Maybe Edmonds, but not Soriano.

Third, who's pitching? Who's on base? Who are they up against? How are those guys' numbers compared to the pitcher? Who else is available to pinch hit?

Most of these come for a basic lefty-righty consideration, not to mention the 7,000 other factors Pinella will be thinking about at that point. Bottom line, it's a stupid question and what the heck are you still doing up? Get to bed you little twerp or you'll be late to your shift at McDonalds tomorrow.

Make it official...

I have never said it in print, but aloud many many times, so let's make it official -

Soriano is the only choice for leadoff.

Soriano is a leadoff hitter and here's why - he sucks donkey a-holes anywhere else in the lineup. I dont have, nor do I know where to get, his splits for batting elsewhere in the lineup, but it's been reported time and again, his numbers really really suck when he bats elsewhere. I'll see if i can find those numbers somewhere... Is he a baby? Maybe. Is he being coddled? Maybe. But here's the thing. Everyone in the world says he needs to be moved down in the order to maximize his run production. Ok, fine. Let's examine that argument. So if Soriano bats, say 5th in the order, his production will go up. Really? It was recently reported, the #8 spot in the batting order has an OBP of over .350 or so. The #7 slot has been taken up recently by Fukudome, whose OBP is above .350 as well. The Cubs also have two of the better hitting pitchers in baseball in Zambrano (batting .350) and Marquis.

Whereas Derrek Lee is leading the NL in GIDP, and Ramirez is currently the RBI leader for the Cubs. So if Lee is grounding into more double plays than the entire Marlins Roster (this is not true 0- just an over-dramatization) and Ramirez is driving in all these runs, who's going to be3 left for Soriano to drive in? What was that? Nobody? ok. This is assuming that Soriano keeps his leadoff numbers when he goes to the 5 hole, which history has dictated won't happen.

There's more to be said about this, but I'm over my minute....It'll have to be a roll-over minute...

What a game.

Edmonds hits two bombs, and he was on deck in the 11th By the way :).

So the Cubs won the "I'm at the game" season series, 2-1 overall. So that's awesome. Great game to be at too. Admittedly by the 8th inning I was dying for a cigarette - no smoking ANYWHERE in Wrigley thank you very much City Council - so I was really hoping score in the 8th, close in the 9th. Eh well. Overall a great game. The Cards botched so many plays it was silly. A failed sac bunt attempt, a failed sac fly, and a failed stolen base. It was funny to watch. And why anyone runs on Soriano, I have no idea. Unless your last name is "Taveras", just don't even bother.

Speaking of which, I need to go on record about Edmonds and Soriano, but those are other minutes...

7* All stars!!

Yes! 7 all stars on Tuesday! Wait - what's that? Ohh Soriano broke his hand. Oh ok, well still 6 All Stars baby! Woo-hoo! What? Oh. Ryan Dempster's last start is two days before so he won't pitch? Rats. Well, ok. Still 5 All stars. Who? Why? Kerry Wood's got a blister? Oh..uh..um...ok.

4 all stars. What? Fukudome's been stinking up the joint lately and if Clint Hurdle knows anything about anything he won't play past his first at bat? Huh...

Congrats Cubs fans! The Cubs will set the record for most invited spectators at the All Star Game...La Di Freakin' Dah!'

Is it still too late to vote in Mark DeRosa?

That's my minute...well, 50 seconds....40...you get the idea.

All Stars

7 players. Nice. Says something. Some of the picks? Questionable. I wonder if Soriano will actually play in the game. I'd like to see him playing there, if only because that means he's playing here too, and he did have the big knock last year.

Fukudome? hmm..tough call. You ask me a month ago, and I say "No Doubt". Nowadays? hmm...Good for Ryan Braun. He deserves it. I'll bet Griffey's pretty PO'ed though...

End of the day, it'll be good for the Cubs. Who closes if there's a lead? Lidge. No Question. He of the sub 1 ERA. I can live with that. Although if memory serves, the past two years, the AL has won the ASG in the 9th. Once off Gagne, and once of Hoffman. Maybe they should have Woody up, ya know. Just in case. Looking at the teams though, I have to say the AL looks much scarier than the NL. Time will tell. One week. Should be sweet. Maybe Zambrano will be able to dodge the fungos this year and get to play...

Another minute in the books....er...blog....whatever...