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Comments, News & Rumors - 2004 August
Archives
Headlines
Chances are slim - 9/30/04 10:01pm
Must win? Better believe it - 9/30/04 9:36am
Down to the wire - 9/29/04 6:39am
Alou suggests umpire conspiracy - 9/27/04 10:54pm
Cubs announce NLDS tickets - 9/27/04 10:43pm
Match-ups could give breathing room - 9/26/04 6:50pm
Cubs lose series to Mets - 9/26/04 6:33pm
Cubs latest scenario - 9/23/04 8:09pm
Cubs outfield in 2005 - 9/22/04 7:41pm
Cubs have best shot - 9/21/04 10:24pm
Mia will help Nomar decide - 9/19/04 10:53pm
Scout notices Prior's problems - 9/19/04 10:47pm
This Old Cub on DVD - 9/19/04 10:06am
Cubs on a roll - 9/18/04 7:40pm
New heroes each game - 9/16/04 10:32pm
Finding a Groove? - 9/16/04 4:50pm
Sosa slamming again - 9/16/04 10:08am
Nomar may be gone longer than expected - 9/14/04 11:50pm
Patterson wins it, then gets pied - 9/14/04 11:34pm
Consistency and chemistry are the keys - 9/13/04 11:10pm
Cabrera pokes fun at Cubs - 9/12/04 2:24pm
Turning point? - 9/11/04 11:55pm
Cubs inconsistent again - 9/10/04 11:16pm
Sosa leaves Cubs hanging - 9/9/04 1:33pm
So far, Cubs have no chance - 9/8/04 9:05pm
4 hitters to get the Cubs to the playoffs - 9/8/04 9:01pm
Starting 4 if Cubs take Wild Card - 9/8/04 9:31am
Something to Borowski and Farnsworth's injuries? - 9/8/04 6:55am
Adjusted schedule announced - 9/7/04 8:04pm
Cubs hosting Red Sox in 2005 - 9/6/04 3:51pm
Sosa injuried - 9/6/04 3:45pm
Players fewd with booth - 9/6/04 10:58am
Frances takes series - 9/6/04 12:18am
Mercker suspended for hunting down umpires - 9/2/04 7:47pm
Fans signing petition for Nomar to stay - 9/2/04 7:43pm
Friday's game cancelled - 9/2/04 3:14pm
Cubs skipping Florida series? - 9/1/04 10:39pm
Prior struggling, Wood looking good - 9/1/04 8:39pm
9/30/04 10:01pm - Chances are slim
After losing 3 of 4 to the Reds, the chances of the Cubs winning the Wild Card are slim. More importantly,
the Cubs probably do not deserve to make the playoffs the way they are playing.
Losing 2 of 3 to the Mets and 3 of 4 to the Reds now pushes them a full game behind the Astros. While the
Astros play a 3 game series at home against the Rockies, the Cubs end the season with a 3 game
series against the Braves. The difference is that the Astros have won 15 straight at home and the Cubs
are having problems scoring runs and they are losing to bad teams.
Can the Cubs sweep the Braves? If the offense steps up this is possible, but it is more likely for the
Astros to sweep the Rockies. In that case, playoff games would take place to determine the Wild Card winner.
If the Giants are tied as well, it would be a 3 way battle.
If for some reason, the Cubs can sweep the Braves and somehow make the playoffs, it would be very tough
to take the next 3 out of 5 from the Braves to move to the next round of the playoffs.
Fans may be blaming the curse again, but a lack of offense is to blame in the latest extra inning loss.
Mark Prior has finally come around, pitching a great game and only giving up one run while striking out
16 batters over 9 innings. Unfortunately, when you have trouble scoring runs, 16 strikeouts isn't enough
to get a win. It didn't help that the Cubs left the bases loaded 3 separate times without scoring
any runs.
Fans who question Dusty Baker may also have more reasons to fuel their fire. In the 12th inning, with Mike
Remlinger pitching, Adam Dunn singled to center field. Some may question the move to keep Mike Remlinger
in the game after Dunn was 5-6 in his career against Remlinger. While Dusty was looking for the lefty to
lefty match up, his plans backfired. After Farnsworth came in, Dusty decided to pitch to Javier Valentin
with first base open. This proved to be a critical mistake after Valentin doubled and pushed the Reds up
2-1. Dusty could have pitched to Anderson Machado who was 0-4 on the day and was unable to hit the
ball out of the infield.
If you are wondering if it is crunch time, it looks like the Cubs may be beyond that point. The phrase, "Wait
until next year" is probably going to be heard quite a bit this weekend.
- Knop's Korner | Return
9/30/04 9:36am - Must win? Better believe it
If you want to find the definition of the phrase: "must win", look no further than Clark and Addison this
afternoon.
After losing 4 out of the last 5 games to the Mets and Reds, the Cubs find themselves tied with the
Giants for 2nd in the NL Wild Card race. The Astros have come all the way back from 5th place a month
ago to leading the race.
ark Prior vs. Aaron Harang. Sounds like a gimmie, right? Well, have you ever heard of Luke Hudson,
Josh Hancock or Aaron Heilman? The Cub's amazing offensive bats could only muster up 5 runs against all
three of these pitchers during these critical games. I'm not giving these guys the Cy Young or anything,
I'm simply pointing out that our great homerun hitters that are going to set all of these records
can't get the job done when it matters.
Alou wants to talk about his future as a Cub? Well how about playing like you want to come back. A
game-winning, 3-run homer that would have kept us in the wild-card lead is a lot better on the resume then
a rally-killing, double-play. The game this afternoon is the very definition of a "must win" game.
Knop's Korner will be a regular feature at cubbiesbaseball.com where Mr. Knop will give his predictions, advice, and
commentary on the Cubs.
- Knop's Korner | Return
9/29/04 6:39am - Down to the wire
As the Wild Card race comes to an end, it will come down to the wire to figure out who will continue on
in the playoffs. After Tuesday's loss, the Cubs are now tied with the Giants. The Astros have also been
sneaking up crawling within a half game.
A series of coin flips were conducted Tuesday to determine what would happen is teams were tied when the
season ends. If the Giants, Dodgers, and Cubs are all tied, the Giants and Dodgers would play a one
game playoff with the winning taking the NL West. The loser would play one playoff game against
the Cubs for the Wild Card.
Based on previous coin flips, the Cubs would not have home field advantage against any team, should they
be tied for the Wild Card. The Giants, Astros, and Padres would all have home field advantage in a
one game playoff if it is necessary.
- Bryan | Return
9/27/04 10:54pm - Alou suggests umpire conspiracy
Moises Alou has been no stranger to controversy this season. Already in a scuffle with the Cubs announcing
booth, Moises is now suggesting there is a conspiracy against him by the umpires.
Alou has already been ejected two times this year for arguing balls and strikes, and just recently he received
a letter from MLB that if he was to be ejected again, he would be suspended. It has been obvious to fans that
Alou is currently leading the poll on CubbiesBaseball.com for the player who has the hardest time controlling
his anger. Earlier this season, he called the Cubs broadcast booth after several comments by Steve Stone
and Chip Carey. Other fans have commented on Alou's anger whether it be arguing with umpires or throwing his
bat after striking out. After Sunday's game, Alou once again complained about the umpire's strike zone.
"To tell you the truth, I think (the umpires) are after me," Alou said after Sunday's game. He also suggested
that the umpires were "baiting" him.
"I'll have to swing at everything, I guess," he said. "I've been getting a lot of bad calls.
I'm going to have to do something about that."
"It's like guarding Shaq with five fouls," Alou said. "This is what I'm going through right now. I'm not a guy who
is going to complain or have an excuse. This is serious stuff."
Monday, Dusty Baker defended Alou's comments. "That's his opinion," Baker said. "Can't a man have his own
opinion? Can't a man say what he feels any more without always the fear of getting
suspended? Isn't this America? Don't we have freedom of speech?"
One thing fans want is for the Cubs to stop complaining about things and concentrate on winning the Wild Card.
- Bryan | Return
9/27/04 10:43pm - Cubs announce NLDS tickets
The Cubs have announced that on Monday, October 4th, NLDS playoff tickets will go on sale at 9am CDT. Tickets
will be available through the internet and by phone. Fans are limited to 4 tickets per credit card and
address.
If the Cubs win the Wild Card, they will play the Atlanta Braves. Both Game 1 and Game 2 will be in Atlanta.
Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4 of the best-of-five NLDS would be played at Wrigley Field on October 9th and
10th. For more information on how to purchase tickets visit the Secrets section of
CubbiesBaseball.com.
- Bryan | Return
9/26/04 6:50pm - Match-ups could give breathing room
With the Giants loss to the Dodgers, the Cubs remain a 1/2 game head of the pack for the Wild Card race.
As the Giants and Dodgers continue to butt heads, the Cubs could have some breathing room.
After the Giants fell to the Dodgers on Sunday, the Giants fell to 2.5 games out of first place in the NL
West. They also dropped 1/2 game behind the Cubs. With 3 more games between the Giants and Dodgers,
they may actually cancel each other out.
If the Giants sweep the Dodgers, they may actually take over the NL West lead. This would push the Dodgers
into the Wild Card race but at the same time it could move them right out of the Wild Card race if the Cubs
keep winning. As the Cubs have 4 more games against the Reds and 3 more against the Braves,
they could actually finish the season 4-3 and still be leading the race. As fans think about that, they
can't forget about the Astros who continue to hang around. They are not trailing the Wild Card race
by 1.5 games. Climbing back from 2.5 games out, they have a chance, but they open a 3-game series against the
Cardinals on Monday and finish the season with a 3-game series against the Rockies.
- Bryan | Return
9/26/04 6:33pm - Cubs lose series to Mets
A week ago the Cubs were swinging the bat great and a new hero was stepping up each night. Now, the Cubs are
struggling to get hits. Not only are they struggling to get hits, they are losing the critical one run games
that they need.
Today, the Cubs fell to the Mets by a score of 3-2 after only getting 3 hits. This is the second game in a
row that the Cubs have lost. The problem is that the pitching has been good, but the offense has been
absent. The outfield combination of Sosa, Patterson, and Alou only combined for 1 hit during the whole series.
Yesterday, the Cubs were up 3-0 in the 9th inning with 2 outs and 2 strikes. Rookie outfielder,
Victor Diaz, hit a game tying home run off of Latroy Hawkins. Hawkins, who was playing in his 6th consecutive
game, may have been overused and will probably need a day or two to prepare for the final games of
the season.
On the other hand, Mark Prior had his second good outing in a row, which could mean he is back to his
dominant form from last year. With only 7 games left for the Cubs, they lead the Wild Card race by 1/2
game over the Giants.
- Bryan | Return
9/23/04 8:09pm - Cubs latest scenario
After sweeping the Pirates in a few impressive games, the Cubs look like they may be the favorites to take
the Wild Card. The most impressive part was not their offense, but their pitching and defense. These were
the keys that have been missing all year.
One of the other developments is the race between the Giants and Dodgers in the NL West. With the Dodgers
leading by only half a game, it looks like the Dodgers may be slipping away. With the Giants and Dodgers
playing each other 6 more times this season, this could go down to the wire.
Either way, the Cubs can continue their impressive run after winning 12 out of the last 15. Playing 6 more
games against the Mets and Reds, the Cubs should continue to make their run, while the Giants and Dodgers
may cancel each other out. It will be hard for both of these teams to make the playoffs, especially since
the Dodgers have only won 3 out of the last 10 games.
As of now, it looks like the Giants have the momentum to move ahead of the Dodgers and not look back. With
the Cubs playing as hot as they are, don't expect the Dodgers to keep up with them. If the Cubs take
2 of 3 from the Mets and 2 of 3 from the Reds, they should take the Wild Card. Finishing the season
strong against the Braves will greatly help their chances should they make the playoffs.
- Jim | Return
9/22/04 7:41pm - Cubs outfield in 2005
Fans are fixated on several things. Will the Cubs make the playoffs? Will they get to the World Series?
Will they win the World Series? Will Nomar sign next year? One thing that most fans have not considered is
what will happen to the outfield for next season.
As of now, it looks like Moises Alou will probably move to another team next year. The Cubs will not be willing
to exercise his $11.5 million option because of his age.
Sammy Sosa is signed through the 2005 season, though don't be surprised if Jim Hendry tries to shop him
around. It is unlikely any team will bite, because his contract will guarantee him an $18 million wage in
2006 if he is dealt.
The Cubs are planning for Corey Patterson to stick around for a few years. It is also unlikely they will move him
anywhere other than center field because of his speed and fielding abilities.
Next year, it looks like there will be one roster spot. Don't be surprised if Sosa ends up in left field. His
fielding abilities have greatly deteriorated, though his effort has stayed consistent. In left field, his flaws
could be hidden. Patterson will stay in center field. By freeing up the extra money that Alou would have taken,
the Cubs will have the ability to go after a big name outfielder. Don't expect them to bring up a rookie to fill
the spot.
Names like Magglio Ordonez, J.D. Drew, and Carlos Beltran have been thrown around recently, but Hendry insists it
is too early to start thinking about that. Don't forget that the Cubs will
also be interested in re-signing Nomar Garciaparra as well, so that may be a factor in how much they are looking
to spend on a free agent.
- Bryan | Return
9/21/04 10:24pm - Cubs have best shot
With 12 games left, the Cubs may not have that hard of a time acquiring the Wild Card. Having won 10 of the
last 13, the Cubs have finally started to put the pieces together and it looks like they are not about to
slow down.
The Cubs have 2 more games against the Pirates, 3 games against the Mets, 4 games against the Reds, and 3
games left against the Braves. Between the Giants and Astros, the Cubs have the easiest schedule only playing
one team over .500.
The Giants have won 7 of the last 8 games, but have a more difficult schedule. Currently, tied with the Cubs,
they may have a hard time keeping the lead. They have 3 games against Houston, 6 games against the first place
Dodgers, and 3 games against the Wild Card contending Padres.
The Astros also have a hard schedule, but it may be a little easier than the Giants. They are playing 3
against the Giants, 3 against Milwaukee, 3 against the Cardinals, and 3 against the Rockies.
If things come down the last game, fate could be determined with a coin flip. The only way the Cubs would
have home field advantage in a possible tiebreaker game would be if they are tied with the Marlins. The Marlins
are already 5 games out and will have a difficult time coming back. If the Cubs are tied with the Giants
for first in the Wild Card standings, they would play a tiebreaker game in San Francisco. If the Cubs are tied
with the Astros, they would play their tiebreaker game in Houston. If any of these situations are the case, they
would play the game on October 4th.
The Giants will have a difficult time sweeping the Astros during this three game series, but even if the Giants
win 2 games, the Astros fall back. Either way, one of the teams is going to drop back a few steps. The
Dodgers are in 1st place and will be working hard to stay there, so it would be difficult for the Giants to
take more than 3 games against them. For the Astros, they will have a 3 game series against the Cardinals, who
have been playing great lately and other teams like the Brewers have not been easy pushovers this year.
If the Cubs take at least 8 out of the next 12 games, they should walk away with the Wild Card. The Astros
might be able to take 7 out of their next 12, which will still leave them a few games shy. If the
Giants take 7 games out of the next 12, the Cubs would win the Wild Card by 1 game.
Even though this is wishful thinking, the Cubs should tie another team for the Wild Card if they finish
the season going 7-5.
- Bryan | Return
9/19/04 10:53pm - Mia will help Nomar decide
Though he insists he is only concentrating on getting the Cubs to the playoffs, don't be surprised if Nomar
joins another team next season. Currently battling a groin injury and other nagging injuries, Nomar has
been sitting out watching the Cubs battle for the Wild Card.
"I don't want any steps backward," he said. "I can't wait to get back. I'm enjoying watching my teammates.
They're playing great. I want to be a part of this as well."
After this season, Garciaparra will have to decide if he should sign a long term contract with the Cubs. Nomar's
wife, Mia Hamm, insists she will be part of this decision making process.
"One of the things that we talked about is that we get to make [the decision] together," the gold metal winning
soccer icon said. "His reception since he has been here has been tremendous. You go from a great baseball
town of Boston ... I don't think he could have picked a better one to come to and be a part of. So it
definitely makes the decision even harder."
Insiders have suggested that Nomar will not accept the expected figure the Cubs will offer. Because Nomar has
been injury prone for the past few years, he may not get what he would like from the Cubs. Since Nomar is from
California and several West Coast teams may be willing to pay him more, will this be a short stint
with the Cubs?
- Jim | Return
9/19/04 10:47pm - Scout notices Prior's problems
A scout who sees the Cubs often reports that their ace Mark Prior isn't throwing with the same zip as in
the past. Prior's fastball just touches 95 mph, whereas it used to hit 97 mph regularly.
Knowledgable fans will also notice that his breaking ball does not have the same zip that it did
last year. Prior has also had a problem finding the plate. This season, in 97 innings he has already walked
44 batters. Last season he only walked 50 total batters in 211 innings.
- Bryan | Return
9/19/04 10:06am - This Old Cub on DVD
'This Old Cub', the inspiring true story of Ron Santo will be available on
DVD September 28th. 'This Old Cub' features the former all-star third
baseman, broadcaster, and Cubs legend and his lifelong battle with diabetes.
The movie is available at Wrigley Field on the 28th, but is also available at several
release parties. At 2pm before the game on September 28th, Bernie's on Clark and
Waveland will also have the DVD. You will also be able to get the DVD on October 3rd
at Ron Santo's Walk-A-Thon.
- Bryan | Return
9/18/04 7:40pm - Cubs on a roll
The Cubs have officially started their playoff run. Having won 7 out of their last 8 and
jumping out to an early lead on Saturday, the Cubs may be about to take the lead in the
Wild Card race.
Patterson, Sosa, Ramirez, Lee, and Alou have all stepped up to show their power. Each
has been the main offensive weapon in each of the wins as of late and with the
solid play of Neifi Perez, the Cubs are in no hurry to rush Nomar back in action.
"I don't want any steps backward," Garciaparra said. "I can't wait to get back. I'm enjoying
watching my teammates. They're playing great. I want to be a part of
this as well."
Derrick Lee has also been solid with a 7 game hitting streak, where he is batting
.385. With one more home run, he will tie his career high.
The bullpen has also been very strong lately, which is a big reason why the Cubs are
hot. With solid pitching from Mercker and Hawkins, the Cubs hope they can keep them
fresh.
With the mediocre starting pitching, the offense has still been able to get the job
done. If Prior and Wood become dominant like they were towards the end of last
season, the Cubs may just pull away from the pack.
- Bryan | Return
9/16/04 10:32pm - New heroes each game
With a new hero stepping up each game, fans can only guess who will be next. Patterson, Sosa, Ramirez all have
been the heroes this week. Patterson hit two homeruns Tuesday to account for all three runs in the victory over
the Pirates. Wednesday, Sammy Sosa hit two homeruns himself accounting for 5 RBI's. Thursday night, it was
Ramirez's turn, as he had three homeruns and 5 RBI's.
Having won six of their last seven, it seems the Cubs may be back on track, but is there anything fans should worry about?
Though the Cubs have been winning, it has been against poor teams and they have been having problems scoring
as a team. Most of their runs have come because of one player's heroics. Wednesday's
game looked very good as hitters were getting on base and everyone was contributing. The
other problem is the starting pitching. Prior and Wood have had their problems and Matt Clement does not seem
to be fully healed from his injury.
Either way, the Cubs are starting to gain the momentum they need to win the Wild Card. The Giants still hold the
edge, but they have a much harder schedule coming up.
- Bryan | Return
9/16/04 4:50pm - Finding a Groove?
Mark Prior needs help finding something. I don't know how any of us can help, but we need to try something. Mark needs to
find his groove, and he needs to do it fast. It's easy to say he's not the same pitcher down the stretch this season as he
was last season, that's obvious. What I don't understand is that he'll only show us a glimpse of who he was last year.
Dr. Mark will vanish and Mr. Prior will come out and surrender 12 base runners in 5 innings to the Pirates.
In September of last season, if the Cubs had jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning with Prior on the
mound, the game was literally over. It's tough to blame the injury, because he will go out there and throw 8 strong
innings against a playoff contender like Florida or Houston, then come back in his next outing and not make it past
the 5th inning against Montreal or Pittsburgh, two of the worst teams in the league. He does have that groove
somewhere, he just needs to get a solid grip on it.
Knop's Korner will be a regular feature at cubbiesbaseball.com where Mr. Knop will give his predictions, advice, and
commentary on the Cubs.
- Knop's Korner | Return
9/16/04 10:08am - Sosa slamming again
First it was the diving catch on Tuesday night. Then on Wednesday, it was a home run in the first inning. All that was capped
off with a grand slam in the eighth. Sosa may have just got his confidence and swing back and it couldn't have come at a better
time.
Sammy finished the game on Wednesday going 3-4 with 5 RBI's. Most important, he did not strike out. With the wind blowing out to
left field, Lee, Sosa, and Barrett all hit consecutive home runs.
"He's swinging the bat great," teammate Derrek Lee said. "When he's swinging the bat like he is now, he can carry a team on his
back."
A crowd which has been known to get on Sammy lately, showed their appreciation and gave Sosa a standing ovation until he came
out for a curtain call. With the Wild Card race heating up, Sosa is heating up when the Cubs need it the most.
- Jim | Return
9/14/04 11:50pm - Nomar may be out longer than expected
Nomar Garciaparra may be out longer than expected. Originally expected to miss about five games for a
strained right groin, Nomar may be out a little longer.
"You have to take your time with it," Dusty Baker said. "That groin area is a very volatile area so we have
to take our time. We want to give him time to get ready for that final stretch."
"I really don't know (how long)," Baker said. "He doesn't know. The doctors don't know. It's all a guess.
Five days would probably be the minimum amount of time."
Earlier this year, Aramis Ramirez was out almost two weeks with the same injury. With about three weeks left
in the season, the Cubs are hoping Nomar can bounce back and help the Cubs win the Wild Card.
- Bryan | Return
9/14/04 11:34pm - Patterson wins it, then gets pied
Corey Patterson won the game for the Cubs Tuesday after hitting two home runs accounting for all
three runs. In the eighth inning, Patterson hit a game tying two-run home run. With two outs in the
12th inning, Patterson hit the game winner.
After hitting the home run, the crowd erupted with "Corey, Corey, Corey" chants. As he was being interviewed by
a local TV station, Ryan Dempster ran out and threw a pie in the face of Patterson. This has become common
for the Cubs when an interview is going on.
The Cubs played excellent defense turning several double plays in the game. In the 11th inning, Sammy Sosa
made a great diving catch, which brought the momentum back to the Cubs.
The Cubs have now won 4 of the last 5 games and look to sweep the Pirates tomorrow at Wrigley Field. With
the Giants and Astros winning, the Cubs still remain a half-game out of the Wild Card lead.
- Bryan | Return
9/13/04 11:10pm - Consistency and chemistry are the keys
The Cubs continue their inconsistency of winning big and then losing big.
Monday, they dominated the Pirates after scoring 5 in the first inning.
Sammy Sosa hit his 30th home run and Neifi Perez continued his super-sub
role for Nomar after hitting a home run as well.
This has become common for the Cubs lately as they win a big game and then
lose the next. When the Cubs hit at least two home runs in a game, they
are 41-15, however when they fail to homer, they are 13-30.
"We've got a lot of power in this lineup," said Todd Walker. "We probably
live and die by the home run, but I probably wouldn't have it any other
way."
Last weekend against the Marlins, the Cubs lost the first game of the
Friday doubleheader 7-0, but then came back to win the second game with a
score of 11-2. Then Saturday, the Cubs came back to win after getting
dominated by Dontrell Willis. Sunday they followed with an 11-1 loss
against the Marlins to split the series.
Consistency will be just half of what is needed to get the Cubs to the
playoffs. The other half will be team chemistry. This is what the
Cardinals have this year and what the Astros and Marlins started to show
recently. The Cubs of 2003 had great chemistry as the season ended. That
is why they were one game away from the World Series.
- Bryan | Return
9/12/04 2:24pm - Cabrera pokes fun at Cubs
A very sore spot with Cubs fans was when Steve Bartman interfered with Moises Alou last year in Game 6 of
the National League Division Championship. As the ball was hit to left field, Alou jumped up and was about
to make a great play, when a fan interfered with the ball. Shortly after that play in the same inning, the Marlins
scored several runs to come back from a 3 run deficit. Eventually they would win in game seven.
Sunday, in the third inning a ball was hit to left field drifting towards the crowd. As Miguel Cabrera
ran over, he jumped up imitating the same play that Alou had last year. Immediately after, the crowd booed
for several minutes.
The next inning, Glendon Rusch pegged Cabrera in the shoulder. While it did not seem intentional, the Cubs may
have been trying to make a point with the young player. Cabrera jokingly pretended to lunge at Barrett afterwards.
- Jim | Return
9/11/04 11:55pm - Turning point?
In a crucial game, the Cubs finally stepped up to turn boos into cheers. In what could be a major turning point
for the Cubs, they were able to come back after trailing 2-0 in the eighth inning to win the game 5-2.
After losing the first game yesterday and then coming back strong in the second game, it was very promising to
see the Cubs come back again to beat the Marlins. With San Diego and Houston losing Saturday, the Cubs now
own the lead in the Wild Card race by one game.
Sammy Sosa was also able to step up and get the ball rolling for the Cubs. This was done after Dusty Baker
moved Sosa to 6th in the batting order. Though striking out in his first two plate appearances, and hearing the boos from
the crowd, Sosa had an RBI single in the eighth to tie the game. After loading the bases, Derrick Lee hit a
base clearing single, which put the Cubs up 5-2. That was all the Cubs needed when Latroy Hawkins came in to
close the game.
With Sosa moving to sixth, the Cubs order was Patterson, Lee, Ramirez, Alou, Garciaparra, Sosa, Grudzielanek,
Barrett, and Zambrano. Expect the Cubs to keep this order for a while unless Sosa starts to hit again.
Though the Cubs got the win, Garciaparra had to leave after the fifth inning after
apparently tweaking a groin injury he sustained a few days ago. He is expected to sit out on Sunday, though it
does not seem to be serious. Neifi Perez will take his place, and has been filling in nicely for the past
few days. "Right now I'm day-to-day," Nomar said. "Hopefully, it'll heal quick."
In other news, Kyle Farnsworth was seen before the game throwing a short bullpen session and long
tossing. Wearing a knee sleeve, he did not appear to limp or have any problems throwing the ball.
- Jim | Return
9/10/04 11:16pm - Cubs inconsistent again
Just after getting blown out by the Marlins in Game 1, the Cubs turned the tables and squashed the Marlins 11-2.
Becoming a frequent scene in Chicago, the Cubs played one game full of errors, bad base running, and the inability
to score runs. Game 1 was followed by a totally different performance where the Cubs were able to score runs,
run the bases well, and play an errorless game.
The good news from the result of this doubleheader is that Mark Prior had a solid outing. The bad news is that
Kerry Wood was not terrible, but the Cubs' defense didn't help him at all. The inconsistency continues with
the Cubs, which lead many fans to believe that this weekend's four game series against the Marlins is a
do-or-die weekend.
Between the games, Dusty Baker, who was obviously upset with the performance, said the Cubs were
playing "bad baseball". "Sometimes they can just see the look on your face," Baker said. "We knew
what we had to do."
Mark Prior may have benefited from the extended time off. Instead of playing against Florida last weekend,
Prior was able to work on some of his flaws. This may have helped him strikeout seven in eight innings and
pitch his longest game of the year. "Mechanically, I was better." Prior said. "I was throwing the baseball the way I should be throwing it."
If the Chicago Cubs are to win the Wild Card spot and get into the playoffs, the key will be strong pitching
performances from both Prior and Wood.
- Jim | Return
9/9/04 1:33pm - Sosa leaves Cubs hanging
Sosa was back in the lineup Wednesday, but when reporters asked Dusty Baker on Tuesday why Sosa did not pinch hit on Tuesday,
he only replied that Sammy was "unavailable". According to the Chicago Tribune, Sosa was more than unavailable. He wasn't
even in the stadium.
During the game, cameras were on Sammy in the dugout as he was clapping and cheering on his team, but about halfway through the
game, Sosa dressed in his street clothes and left the stadium.
When it came to a point where the Cubs needed a pinch-hitter late in the game, they were forced to use Neifi Perez and Ramon
Martinez, instead of Sosa. The Cubs would later lose that game in 12 innings.
On Wednesday, Sammy miraculously announced he was 100%, which brings fans to question Sosa again. How can an injury be so
bad that he has to leave the stadium, just to announce he is 100% the following day? Did Dusty Baker allow this to happen?
Of course, we will never know what was wrong or what was going through Sosa's head. He could have been in pain on Tuesday
and he could have felt fine Wednesday. Again, it brings fans to talk about how Sosa is not a team player.
It is not unheard of for an injured player to leave the stadium, but Sosa should have continued to sit in the dugout for
the whole game. Then, each time the camera turned to him and the red light went on, he could start clapping again like
he cares.
- Jim | Return
9/8/04 9:05pm - So far, Cubs have no chance
With the Astros and Marlins coming on very strong, now is not the time you want your team to start to fall apart.
With their inability to get wins against teams like Montreal, the Cubs may be the long shots to win the Wild Card.
The Cubs have not played to their potential this year, so an argument can be made that they can't fall apart
if they never played well to begin with.
So far, it has been very hard for the Cubs to score runs without hitting home runs. The problems grow beyond
the Cubs' inability to hit. There has also been bad base running by veteran players, the bullpen continues to
have problems, and their dependable offensive superstar, Sammy Sosa, has been in a huge slump, when he
actually plays.
Sosa has been sidelined two separate times for back and hip problems. Both have been questionable
injuries.
If you want to mention the other problems the Cubs have had with the umpire crews and the broadcasting booth, it
makes it even harder to see this team moving on to the playoffs. With the expectations of this team, is it too
early to blame it on the goat again?
- Bryan | Return
9/8/04 9:31am - 4 hitters to get the Cubs to the playoffs
With the lineup the Cubs have, it is hard to pick four hitters that can push the
Cubs into the playoffs. Unfortunately this year, the bats have been silent at times and the pitching has been
inconsistent. Injuries have also added to the roller coaster ride for 2004, however, there are four hitters
that will make the biggest impact as the season heats up.
Aramis Ramirez
Dusty Baker calls Aramis Ramirez his "RBI Guy" and that just what he is. Since coming to Chicago in a trade
with Pittsburgh in 2003, he has been a key factor in Chicago winning the NL Central Division last year, and has
been the most dependable Cubs hitter this year. Ramirez is batting .320 with 84 runs, 90 RBI's, and 29 homers.
What isn't mentioned much is that he only have 54 strikeouts and he has not struck out since August 19th. He
also edged Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou for the Century 21 Hank Aaron Award nomination for the Cubs. He has
truly been the offensive key this year taking most of the focus away from Sammy Sosa.
Moises Alou
Alou is probably having the best year of his career. Batting .284, he has already hit 33 homers with 87 runs and
87 RBI's and looks like he will probably surpass his 1998 total of 38 home runs. Since Dusty changed the roster
to allow Alou to bat 4th, he has batted .337. Opposing pitchers have had a hard time pitching around Alou, when
they have to face Sammy Sosa next. Though his base running has not been the best, Alou continues to be a threat
at the plate. He has a good eye and will force pitchers to give him the pitch he wants.
Corey Patterson
Corey Patterson started out the season slow. Since jumping up to the leadoff position, his value has
skyrocketed. In the last month, he has batted .340 with
20 runs, 17 RBI's, and 8 home runs. He has been compared to Hall of Fame greats such as Lou Brock with his
combination of speed and power. In the leadoff
spot with the Cubs, he has had his best batting average of .328 with an on base percentage of .379. He still
has his off-games where he will strikeout a few times, but he has dramatically changed his presence at the
plate. He is also a Gold Glove candidate for center field.
Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar began the playoff push for the Cubs. By acquiring Nomar, the Cubs then moved Patterson to be their leadoff
man. Nomar has continued to do what he did in Boston and is hitting .306 as a Cub. He is the guy who the Cubs
needed who can get the hits the Cubs desperately needed.
Other parts of the offense have been great as well. Michael Barrett, Mark Grudzielanek and Todd Walker have added
great offense to the team, while Sammy Sosa has struggled. Sosa has been working this year to find the power
and presence he once had at the plate. If this returns to Sosa, the Cubs could run away with it all.
- Bryan | Return
9/8/04 9:31am - Starting 4 if Cubs take Wild Card
With a possible playoff appearance, the Cubs would plan to move one of their starting
5 pitchers to the bullpen. Usually this is an easy decision because teams will just
move their fifth pitcher, but with the Cubs, this can not be an easy
decision at all.
Zambrano and Maddux have been the club aces for the year. They will easily make the
cut. Wood has also started to step up and show the dominance he had last year. It
then comes down to Prior and Clement to fill the fourth spot. Clement has
had a great first half of the season but lately has been sidelined with back spasms.
His ERA is at 3.44, but his run support has been horrible, as his record
has fallen to 9-12.
Prior has been very inconsistent this year having problems finding the
strike zone. He is at 4-4, while his ERA has climbed to 4.87.
With the possibility of shipping Clement on next year, would the Cubs
consider keeping Prior as one of their starters if they make the playoffs? At this point
of the season, the answer is NO. Dusty Baker can not depend on Prior's inconsistency and has
been able to depend on Clement.
If Prior starts to show consistency, expect Clement to be the odd man out. The only
problem is Clement takes longer than most pitchers to get ready. Will
this help a bullpen if the starter gets in trouble?
Either way, fans will be watching both pitchers as the season winds down.
A dream rotation of Wood, Prior, Maddux, and Zambrano would be preferable, but if
things continue, it may just be Wood, Maddux, Zambrano, and Clement, with Prior coming out
of the bullpen.
- Jim | Return
9/8/04 6:55am - Something to Borowski and Farnsworth's injuries?
First it was Joe Borowski who landed on the DL without having and official
injury. Then,
Kyle Farnsworth landed on the DL after losing a fight with an electric
fan.
Are these separate occurrences a result of a MLB team saving their players
who were
having tough outings? It is much easier for a player to be traded or to
sign with
another team if they recovered from a so-called injury, rather than if
they had a terrible
year and was sent down to the minors.
Earlier this year, after several bad outings the Cubs announced that there
was something wrong with Joe Borowski and he was being placed on the DL.
The problem was that he was placed on the DL without even having an
official injury. After numerous MRI's, it was reported that a small tear
was found in his right shoulder. Since that time, he has rehabbed the
injury and then spent time in triple-A Iowa working his arm without
much luck.
Then came Kyle Farnsworth. After struggling through the middle of the
season, he
was unexpectedly placed on the DL after kicking an electric fan and
spraining and bruising his right knee. As he was pulled from his last
game before "hurting his knee", he even tossed his glove into the
stands.
Were these separate cases related? Is this an easy way for a MLB team to
save a player's
career by placing them on the DL instead of sending them down to triple-A?
More than
likely, neither pitcher will be back next year. Both injuries are very
curious since the pitchers were having such a hard time. Would the Cubs
do this or is it just a coincidence?
- Bryan | Return
9/7/04 8:04pm - Adjusted schedule announced
As expected, the Cubs will play a doubleheader this Friday against the Marlins. Because of Hurricane Frances,
the weekend series we cancelled, which forced the Cubs and fans to speculate when the games would be made up.
To makeup the other two games, the Cubs and Marlins will play another doubleheader in Florida on September 20th,
a date they both previously had off.
Friday's doubleheader will start at 1:20. Prior will pitch the first game and Wood will pitch the second game.
Because of a rule against changing the home team, the Cubs will remain the home team for both games.
"We had nothing to do with it," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the rescheduling. "There's no
perfect scenario for anybody."
The Cubs will have a busy month as they end the season without their extra off-day. The Cubs hope to save
the bullpen and keep their players fresh during this time.
- Bryan | Return
9/6/04 3:51pm - Cubs hosting Red Sox in 2005
The Boston Globe has reported that the Cubs will be hosting the Boston Red Sox for 2005 interleague play. This would
be the first time ever that the two historic franchises would meet during the regular season.
It was reported that the Red Sox would visit Wrigley Field June 10th-12th to play the Cubs. Though the official
schedule has not been released yet, the information is coming from Red Sox principal
owner John W. Henry, who serves on the scheduling committee, and Katy Feeney, a senior vice president for
Major League Baseball in charge of scheduling. The schedule is subject to change because teams have the right
to request revisions.
- Bryan | Return
9/6/04 3:45pm - Sosa injuried
Sammy Sosa sat out Monday with a sore right hip. The slugger did not have enough time to heal after the four days
of rest. The Cubs insist this injury is nothing to worry about, and will utilize Ben Grieve in right field, until
Sosa returns.
"We don't know if it's from a dive, we don't know if it's from swinging," manager Dusty Baker said. "We just have to
treat it. He didn't swing for a couple days hoping it would get better. It didn't."
- Bryan | Return
9/6/04 10:58am - Players continue to scuffle with broadcasters
The feud between the Cubs players and the announcing booth of Chip Caray and Steve Stone has continued. Now,
Dusty Baker is defending his team. Dusty said last week that fans should watch the games with the
sound turned down. He insists that these types of feuds have been going on for years between players and
announcers.
Baker said, "I don't think I have a team that's going to complain unjustifiably. At times it appears
it's more focused on what we haven't done than what we're doing."
Earlier this year, Moises Alou criticized Caray and Stone for their negative remarks about the team. Just recently
on August 27th, Kent Mercker called the press box to criticize Steve Stone for his praise of Roy Oswalt after
the pitcher had several problems with Michael Barrett. After that incident, while the Cubs were traveling by chartered
bus, Mercker began loudly berating Stone in front of his teammates while Stone was reading a book. Mercker was upset
because the call he made to the press box got out to the media and he was expecting to keep their problems inside
the organization. The front office has quashed the attempt by the Cubs to ban Caray and Stone
from team charters.
Not only Mercker and Alou have problems with the press box. In an interview on WSCR-AM on Thursday, Todd Walker
said the players wouldn't care what Stone or Caray said "if we didn't have to be on the plane with them, if we
didn't have to be on the bus with them, if we didn't have to be around them constantly."
Many players and coaches have suggested that Stone and Caray have taken cheap shots at some of the players.
When Alou argued with umpire Eric Cooper after a strikeout last week, Stone remarked:
"Obviously Eric had a lot to do with him missing that pitch."
When Mike Remlinger marched out of the dugout last Sunday to scream at Houston outfielder Lance Berkman after
Derrek Lee was plunked, Stone said during a slow-motion replay: "Here comes Mike Remlinger, by himself,
by the way." "They were behind him 100 percent," Caray added. "Certainly," Stone said. "And you really want
to scream at the other team. That's the way to lose three in a row."
Asked the next day whether Remlinger was on his own, Baker replied: "Our guys ain't never on their own, bro,
so don't listen to TV. Just watch it."
Chip Caray is son of Skip Caray and the grandson of Harry Caray. Steve Stone has been announcing for over twenty
years and pitched for the Cubs in the mid 70's.
- Bryan | Return
9/6/04 12:18am - Frances takes series
Thanks to Hurricane Frances, the Cubs and Marlins will have to wait to start their three game series. No
makeup dates have been announced, but it is likely to happen very soon.
"We have three games that need to be made up," Cubs team president Andy MacPhail said Saturday. "We have no
definitive schedule as to when this might be."
Because the Marlins are coming to Chicago Friday, Sept 10th, it is likely that they will end up playing a
doubleheader that day. It is unlikely that they will play two back-to-back doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.
The next possible scenario has the Marlins coming to Chicago on Monday, September 20th to play another doubleheader.
This is currently an off-day for both teams. Neither team is very excited about this possibility, since it was
already a day they had off. If this is the case, the Cubs may not be the Home team during these games.
This break can help or hurt the Cubs. While ailing players have an extra few days to rest, this time off
can effect the timing of hitters and the routine of the pitchers. It gives the bullpen rest, but it also forces
the bullpen to possibly work much harder during the doubleheaders.
Since last playing on Thursday, the Cubs still hold the lead in the Wild Card, but the Astros and Marlins have
started to move closer. There are now five teams that are within two and a half games of the Cubs for the Wild
Card lead.
This break might give the Cubs time to reflect on their position this year. Only slightly leading the Wild Card,
they have had several days to watch other teams start to move close. This could be a wakeup call for the team
as they prepare for their nine game home-stand Monday.
- Bryan | Return
9/2/04 7:47pm - Mercker suspended for hunting down umpires
Kent Mercker was suspended by MLB on Thursday after his actions during the game against the Astros on August
27th. During the game, Michael Barrett had exchanged words with Roy Oswalt as a result of the August 22nd game
where Oswalt hit Barrett in the back. Once again both benches emptied on Friday, but no punches were thrown.
During the sixth inning, Mercker hit Oswalt and both benches were warned.
Mercker said he did not intentionally throw at Oswalt. He said, "Throw a fastball inside to a pitcher.
I was just trying to go in."
After the game, Mercker apparently went looking for the umpired in their dressing room. Mercker has not commented
on the incident. Because of this, Mercker was penalized for his "inappropriate actions during and immediately
following the conclusion".
If Mercker does not appeal, his suspension will start immediately once the Cubs resume their schedule.
- Bryan | Return
9/2/04 7:43pm - Fans signing petition for Nomar to stay
Now that the Cubs have Nomar, its time for the Cubs fans to show Nomar that they want him to stay.
Visit signnomar.com to sign a petition to let Nomar and the Cubs know that fans want Nomar to play for the
cubs for years to come. Nomar has already showed that he loves Chicago and the fans. He has been overwhelmed
by the reaction he has received each time he steps to the plate. Only after an agreement with Michael
Barrett to consider resigning in Chicago, did he get his #5 jersey. The Cubs would definitely love to sign
him as would all Cubs fans. Sign the petition at signnomar.com.
- Bryan | Return
9/2/04 3:14pm - Friday's game cancelled
Reuters is reporting that Friday's game against the Marlins has been postponed due to the impending
arrival of Hurricane Frances in the Miami area.
No makeup date has been determined as of yet. Frances, a Category 4 storm, is expected to hit the South Florida region late Friday
or early Saturday morning.
The Cubs will make an announcement later Friday as to if the games will be played Saturday and Sunday. If they do play Saturday,
expect them to play a doubleheader either one of those days. If the Cubs and Marlins only play Sunday, they would probably play
a doubleheader and then have another doubleheader next week when the Marlins come to Wrigley. If no games are played this weekend,
the Cubs and Marlins could be in for a few doubleheaders next weekend.
Either way, its going to be tough to fit these games in when the Cubs only have two days off for the rest of September. Do not expect
the Playoffs to be moved back.
- Jim | Return
9/1/04 10:39pm - Cubs skipping Florida series?
With Hurricane Frances coming to Florida, will the Cubs and Marlins get their chance to face-off? After the
game against the Expos on Wednesday, the Cubs will be making the trip back to Chicago, rather than
to Florida to steer clear of the hurricane's path.
Meteorologists predict the hurricane will hit landfall on Friday when the Cubs and Marlins
open their series. Frances has been categorized as a Category 4 hurricane and has the possibility of being
even more damaging than Hurricane Charley, which decimated the Sunshine State just a few weeks ago.
Cubs president Andy MacPhail informed the Chicago press that the team will fly back to Chicago on Wednesday
after wrapping up the Expos series to wait out the storm. If the brunt of the storm passes by Saturday morning,
the Cubs are planning to fly to Florida on Saturday morning, open the series on Saturday night and play a
doubleheader on Sunday.
With only three open dates in September, the Cubs have little room to play with when it comes to possibly
making up any games. If the series is cancelled this weekend, the most obvious time to make up any games
would be at Wrigley Field when the Marlins visit September 10th, 11th, and 12th.
- Bryan | Return
9/1/04 8:39pm - Prior struggling, Wood looking good
Mark Prior had another bad outing Tuesday as he gave up 4 runs in the first inning. Having trouble with control
since coming back from his injuries, he gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings, while striking out 8 and
walking 4.
Prior, now 4-4 with a 4.87 ERA has struck out 96 batters this season, but walked 41. In 2003, he only walked
50 batters the whole season. He has been hit or miss this year since coming back from his injury. Since he
did not go through spring training, fans are hoping he is still trying to work his way back to being as
effective as he was late last year.
On the other hand, Kerry Wood had a great outing Wednesday, after striking out 11 batters in 8 innings without
giving up a run. Though he didn't get the win, he is starting to show the dominance he had during the 2003 playoffs.
Last September, Wood was 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA.
Wood has also been hit or miss this year, but lately has been much more effective than Prior. After the game
Wednesday, Sports Commentators on Fox Sports talked about Prior would be the top candidate to move to the
bullpen from the five Cubs starting pitchers if they were to make it to the Playoffs. It won't matter either
way, because if the Cubs don't have both Prior and Wood at their best, it will be very difficult to win the
Wild Card race.
- Bryan | Return
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