SB Nation User Blog: 08Cubs

OT: Prior Reports Shoulder Soreness to Padres

08Cubs — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:40:31 -0000

OT: Prior Reports Shoulder Soreness to Padres

I feel bad for him personally, but did anyone here really *not* expect this to happen?

Cubs-Yankees Notes (Tickets Released, Weather)

08Cubs — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:08:53 -0000

Two public service announcements for those contemplating attendance at the games this weekend:

1) While tickets have been steadily available for the past few days, it looks like the Yankees just (late Thursday) released a bunch of *good* seats. I just upgraded to three $50 tickets right behind the plate for Saturday, and there are also 360 club and "legends" seats available. If you need tickets or are looking for an upgrade, now is the time. (Only downside is the upgrade is moving me out of the section with the Cubs STH.)

2) The weather is a significant factor for tomorrow night, but right now the forecast is for the rain/possible thunderstorms to move out right before gametime. Lets hope that holds or gets even better.

Can't think of any better way to open the building than with a Cubs sweep. Anybody want to bring a goat and see if they let it in?

Cubs-Yankees - Who Got Tickets?

08Cubs — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:53:29 -0000

I'm in - received confirmation of tickets for the Saturday game. I put down Friday as first choice, so am just curious whether anyone else got bumped to a different date or rejected. No word yet on the location of the tickets.

In any event, very happy to be able to go and appreciate the Cubs offering these to season ticket holders. This will be a historic occasion, and I am looking forward to watching the Cubs christen the place in style.

Frank TV Cancelled

08Cubs — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:56:56 -0000

Frank TV Cancelled

Another step forward to better Octobers - "Frank TV" has been canceled, although apparently he will keep doing bits for Fox Sports.

I think we can all rest easier during the regular season without the specter of Frank TV commercials lying in wait in October.

Boswell: Seize the Moment

08Cubs — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:29:51 -0000

Boswell: Seize the Moment

"Reverse Psychology"

If you're surrounded by negativity and looking for something to raise your spirits for tonight, this is it.

Kosuke Fukudome gets turned all the way around by - Marco Estrada of the Nationals. August 23,...

08Cubs — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:25:44 -0000

Kosuke Fukudome gets turned all the way around by - Marco Estrada of the Nationals. August 23, 2008.

It's not visible in this particular shot, but Dome is using Geovany Soto's bat here.

Aramis Ramirez (first) home run - Augist 23, 2008

08Cubs — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:22:15 -0000

Aramis Ramirez (first) home run - Augist 23, 2008

NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley

08Cubs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:03:48 -0000

Not officially confirmed yet, but the report out of Minnesota is that the NHL will indeed hold the Winter Classic at Wrigley on New Years Day between the Hawks and the Red Wings.

Link

According to a knowledgeable source, it’s official. The NHL’s second outdoor Winter Classic will take place New Year’s Day at the storied Wrigley Field when the Blackhawks take on the Stanley Cup-champion Detroit Red Wings.

An announcement is expected next week in the days leading up to the three-day inaugural “Blackhawks Convention” at the Chicago Hilton.

I'm really looking forward to this. My immediate question, of course, is whether Cubs season ticket holders will have an opportunity to buy tickets.

Declaration of Independence - July 4 Notes and Photos

08Cubs — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:38:45 -0000

Well, Z certainly looks alright.

On the Fourth of July, the Cubs rode a strong return from Carlos Zambrano and home runs by Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto to declare independence from the Cardinals, opening up a 3 1/2 game lead in the division with a 2-1 victory. It's a good thing America's a melting pot, because without Japanese and Venezuelan players not much would have happened tonight.

The game was pretty much about Carlos, who handcuffed the Cardinal offense for six innings. For the most part, he either stayed well ahead of the hitters or induced them into quick outs. (In reviewing my photos during the game, I noted "Pujols strikes out. Check. Pujols pops up. Check.") Actually, there were only a few moments of tension during the game, as Kosuke homered on the ninth pitch of his first at bat for the early lead. (And I say domo arigato to Kosuke, who hadn't previously done very much at any games I've attended this year.) Geovany Soto also had a great game, with the aforementioned homer, a walk, and two singles. Two runs might not have been enough for most of this week, but tonight it was just enough. Jim Edmonds got a very nice and very loud standing ovation and doffed his helmet to the Cardinals fans, and then proceeded to strike out three times and meekly fly out.

The main threat from the Cardinals didn't come after Albert Pujols hit his 300th career home run in the eighth (meh) to bring them within a run. It came in the second, when Yadier Molina reached on exactly the type of infield hit that occasionally sends Z mental. With two runners on, however, genius Tony LaRussa had his pitcher in the 8th slot, ending the threat.

Although the end of the game was exciting after the Pujols home run (Howry - strong start, but meh), fortunately no one was on base ahead of him, and Neal Cotts and Kerry Wood held onto the lead for four more outs. Actually, the bottom of the ninth was one of the stranger things I've seen in a ballpark, with the St. Louis fireworks display beginning as Kerry warmed up on the mound and continuing throughout the inning. Didn't bother Woody, though.

A fine evening at the ballpark, and a fine way to spend the Fourth.

Z on the mound.

Dome with Pujols

In-game fireworks

Wood closes it out.

Pouring (Game Notes & Photos @ WSH 4/26)

08Cubs — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:07:07 -0000

It poured almost all night at Nationals Park - but the rain didn't start coming down until after the game.

Despite the dire weather predictions, there wasn't a drop until the fans hit the parking lots. The Cubs, however, poured on the offense tonight, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning enroute to an easy 7-0 victory. Happily, it's a fairly simple storyline. Cub hititng came through on its end of the cliched baseball advice that a good team has to do its job against bad pitching.

For the Nationals, starter Matt Chico simply hasn't been a very good pitcher this year. In fact, he probably will be sent down to the minors in the not too distant future. But Chico was only half of the equation. The good news (Geo, can you step out into the hall for a second?) is that the rest of the offense continued to show that they can take advantage of such weakness. Put that behind a very effective performance from Carlos Zambrano, and that's about all she wrote.

The 8 Cub strikeouts stood out a bit on my scorecard, but I suppose that's largely understandable with a big lead against pitching you're not expecting to be very good. I'm not sure, however, that that explains Dome's performance. He struck out twice and was actually down in the count a fair bit tonight - I hope he's not pressing.

Overall, a very nice - if largely workmanlike - night at the ballpark. Really, the only two milestones were Mark DeRosa's 2 RBI single to give the Cubs the early lead, and the completion of the bottom of the 5th inning that ensured the game would stay in the books regardless of the oncoming storm. The crowd was largely quiet all night, except for the noise from Cub fans whenever they scored. I have to say I was stunned, though, at the sheer volume of pro-Cub cheering and clapping with two outs in the ninth - especially since the Nationals haven't been cheered that loudly to close out a ballgame in their own ballpark all year.

Given the relatively straightforward nature of the action tonight, I thought I'd try to give you some slightly different photos from yesterday, including some flavor for the ballpark. I would expect the Nats to be a lot more competitive tomorrow. John Lannan, tomorrow's starter, didn't make the club out of spring training, but he has pitched extremely effectively all year after coming back up. Given Ted Lilly's performances so far, the Sunday game should be far less predictable than the outcome tonight.

Cubs BP, and a view of Nationals Park

Big Z hard at work.

Deuces Wild: Derrek Lee motors to second base on his 2 RBI double in the second inning.

Dome heading out to field

The President's Race. Perennial loser Teddy Roosevelt had the early lead, but was tackled on his way to the finish. I think the whole thing is fixed.