Phillies Hope To End 364-Day World Series Drought

Charlemagne — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:31:17 -0000

Phillies Hope To End 364-Day World Series Drought

Carlos Zambrano rehabbing for the Peoria Chiefs More photos

Charlemagne — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:44:00 -0000

Carlos Zambrano rehabbing for the Peoria Chiefs
More photos

Big Z will rehab in Peoria on Thursday.

Charlemagne — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:55:30 -0000

Big Z will rehab in Peoria on Thursday.

Peoria Chiefs on Facebook

All-Star break distraction... Highlights from 2008's memorable season

Charlemagne — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:50:45 -0000

1st half of the season is in the books, and while it has been disappointing, being within shooting distance of first despite the injuries and slumps is encouraging. I believe the best baseball is yet to come with the Cubs and I think at the end of the day we will be in the playoffs and once that happens (as we know all too well) anything could happen.

While we have a few days off, I figured it would be fun to revisit some highlights of the magical season we had last year. As I watched some of the highlight clips it was hard not to be nostalgic. Click on the dates to be taken to the wrap up and highlights of the game. Enjoy!

March 31 – Opening day. Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-3 including a game tying 3 run blast in the bottom of the ninth in his (US) big league debut. Cubs eventually lost 4-3 in extras.

April 30 – Cubs score a season high 19 runs lead by Geovany Soto’s two 3 run homers. Mark DeRosa reached base 5 times as Dempster went 4-0 and the Cubs beat the Brewers 19-6

May 11 – Cubs come from behind to beat the Diamondbacks 6-4. Highlights include Reed Johnson’s first home run as a Cub and Daryle Ward’s huge 2-run pitch hit double in the eighth. This win was one among a 20-2 home game win streak ranging from May 9 to June 12.

May 15 – Ryan Dempster goes 8 1/3 innings and strikes out 12 and beats former Cub ace Greg Maddux. Cubs win 4-0.

May 28 – Carlos Zambrano pitches a gem as the Cubs come from behind to beat the Dodgers 2-1 with a walk off single by Alfonso Soriano.

May 30 – Cubs shock the Rockies by coming back from a seven run deficit to win 10-9. What was great about this win was the Cubs bench really came through. After going down 8-1, Lou Pinella took most of the starters out. Henry Blanco and Mark DeRosa each had a two run HR in the seventh as the Cubs rallied for an amazing win.

June 12 - Jim Edmonds goes yards on throw-back day and Reed Johnson is HBP to knock in the walkoff run in the 10th and Cubs beat Atlanta 3-2. Hey Hey

June 20 – Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez go back to back in the seventh to tie the game and Ramirez had another walk-off homerun in the ninth as the Cubs rally to beat their cross-town rivals, the White Sox 4-3.

June 21 - Cubs had an amazing 9-run fourth where they went back to back twice (Jim Edmonds and Mike Fontenot and Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds). Cubs went on to win 11-7. I was lucky enough to be at this game with my Dad, by brother-in-law, Chris, and my father-in-law who are all White Sox fans. Luckily, we all still get along.

July 27 – After being tied for the NL Central lead with the Brewers, this game ended their slide by overcoming an early 5 run deficit and beating the Marlins 9-6. Soriano and Lee each homered and Fontenote had a bases clearing 3-run double.

July 28 – The Cubs traveled to Milwaukee to face C.C. Sabathia and the Brewers for a four game set, holding on to a one game lead in the division. The atmosphere was playoff like with the NL Central lead on the line. The Cubs go back and forth with the Brew-Crew before beating the Brewers and their ace. The Cubs went on to sweep the series and sent a statement to the division on who the best team was.

August 3 - Reed Johnson hits a pitch-hit homer in the 8th to give the Cubs the lead, which is immediately followed by a Soriano long ball. Cubs win 8-5 over the Pirates

August 8 – Former Cardinal now Cub Jim Edmonds homers twice and Blanco has a walk off single as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 3-2 in the 11th.

August 15 – Daryle Ward hits a go-ahead 3 run homerun in the ninth as the Cubs rally to beat the Marlins 6-5 and extend their away winning streak to 9 games.

August 28 – Cubs rally with two homeruns in the eighth, including a Aramis Ramirez go ahead grand slam as the Cubs beat the Philles 6-4.

September 14 – Big Z No-hits the Houston Astros at Miller Park. Cubs win 5-0

September 18 - With 2 outs in the ninth, the Cubs rally from four behind, highlighted by Geovany Soto’s 3 run blast. The Cubs go into extras where Derrek Lee hits a walk-off single in the 12th after Kerry Wood pitched his way out of trouble. The Cubs beat the Brewers 7-6

September 20 – Cubs clinch the National League Central championship at home with a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kerry Wood got the save before the Cubs celebrated their season at Wrigley Field. I was lucky enough to be at the game to witness history.

Maybe the 2nd half of this season will be as amazing as last year. Who knows, this could be the year.

GO CUBS!!

Ramirez & Johnson in Peoria

Charlemagne — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:49:11 -0000

Ramirez & Johnson in Peoria

Caught another Chiefs game and took some more photos.

Aramis Ramirez and Reed Johnson during warm ups at their rehab assignment with the Peoria Chiefs at...

Charlemagne — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:06:53 -0000

Aramis Ramirez and Reed Johnson during warm ups at their rehab assignment with the Peoria Chiefs at Kane County. Aramis Ramirez missed a home run by about 2 feet at his first at bat and ended up with a stand up double. He later took a base-on-balls and scored twice. Reed Johnson also had a hit and scored. Here are the rest of the photos.

I know Neil Cotts is not the most popular person as of right now, but I thought I would share this....

Charlemagne — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:46:17 -0000

I know Neil Cotts is not the most popular person as of right now, but I thought I would share this. Go Cubs and go Redbirds!

Want to own a pair of Neil Cotts' spikes?

Charlemagne — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:48:35 -0000

Want to own a pair of Neil Cotts' spikes?

Kinda werid, but Illinois State University is auctioning off Neal Cotts' autographed baseball spikes that he wore in college.

Cubs Clinch

Charlemagne — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:51:38 -0000

Cubs Clinch

If anyone is interested, here are some photos from the game on Saturday.
Also a shout-out to BCBer's DigitalBenjamin and Dan (forgot your screen name) who introduced themselves when they saw my BCB shirt.

A State Farm commercial. Pat and Ron call a walk-off homerun, a boy catches it on the Waveland,...

Charlemagne — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:26:50 -0000

A State Farm commercial. Pat and Ron call a walk-off homerun, a boy catches it on the Waveland, and then hands it to another boy. Great spot.

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Phillies Hope To End 364-Day World Series Drought