SB Nation User Blog: Zeke

Our Ted's Prayer

Zeke — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:13:39 -0000

Our Ted, who art at Wrigley

Hallowed be thy game.

Thy strikeouts come, thy will be done

On the mound, as it is in K-zone.

Give us this day, our daily win

And forgive us our BCB flaming

As we forgive those who flame against us.

And lead us not into the cellar

But rather into the playoffs.

For thine is the destiny of the division title,

the NL Pennant, and World Series glory,

Now and forever...

Amen (and Awomen)

(thanks to fellow contributors DisCUBbobulated, Vermont Cubs Fan and drewishdrewid)

Michiganian Cubs Fans visit Comerica Park

Zeke — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:15:33 -0000

Random observations from Detroit

My wife and I are attending all three Cubs games in Detroit this week. As native Michiganders, the Tigers are our “American League” team, while the Cubs are our #1 team. As we’ve been telling people at the ballpark, these are the only three regular season games that we WON’T be rooting for the Tigers…and we’re running into a fair number of Cubs fans here doing exactly the same thing.

It’s been kind of a melancholy week with respect to the Detroit ballpark. I openly stayed AWAY from attending Tigers’ games in Comerica Park for the first few years in protest of the move from Tiger Stadium. And as many of you may have seen in posts here this week, all that’s left of the old ballpark is the press box elevator shaft and the center field flagpole. As Cubs coach and former Tiger Alan Trammell saw first hand Tuesday, the rest is just a pile of rubble. As someone who spent a fair number of days and nights at that ballpark, it’s very sad.

That being said, Comerica is a beautiful park. The Tigers and owner Mike Illich did it right. It’s in about the best area left in Detroit and makes for a nice area in “Foxtown”- adjacent to Illich’s Fox Theater, Ford Field, the HockeyTown Café and Chelli’s. It’s a short walk from Greektown (with hotel and casino, which incidentally, many Cubs fans have discovered).

Nearby parking runs from free (on the street if you get there early enough) to $5, $15, $20 & $25 lots. The closer you park, the more it costs. On both days, my wife and I went early enough to get a free spot on the street and then did some sight seeing. We finished each afternoon at the HockeyTown Café, enjoying “Anchor Steam” on tap with an appetizer of “Red Wings”. Nice!

The park itself is stunning on the exterior. Lots of tigers incorporated into the architectural design. Inside, it’s very open and clean with a wide concourse decorated with Tigers historical displays- and even a statue of former legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell.

The park staff is very friendly. Once inside, you can ‘upgrade’ your seats to a better location (if available). Tuesday and Wednesday night, I upgraded to seats behind home plate- from $39 dollar tickets to $77 dollars per. Well worth the money. These level seats get access to the ‘Tigers Club’, an upscale bar/buffet area on pressbox level. You also get a wait staff at your seats that take food and drink orders and BRING them to your seat (for no additional charge- a beer costs the same as if a vendor sold it to you or you went and stood in line at concessions).

Bathrooms are clean and easy access. Even with the large crowds each night, there were no lines and you get in and out quickly- and back to game action. Concession lines seamed relatively short and kept moving. Again, the staff we encountered were happy to serve and glad to help if you have any questions.

There is a ‘Beer Garden’ where you can go inside and cool off with a cold one. Adjacent to this area are several open-air grill-style concessions with covered, sit-down seating. Also nearby is a small Ferris wheel. Rides in the baseball shaped cars are $2.

Fans are generally very nice. There is a policy for fan conduct that is regularly reinforced via public announcements: a “Visiting fans are our guests and are to be treated as such” sort of thing. Most people comply. Some don’t.

Now a word to Tigers fans (and I’m one) who want to “playfully” heckle fans of the opposition: Be more creative. Chants of “100 years”, curses, “Soto- you’re FAT” and “Bartman” are lame. Come on- do you think Cubs fans have NEVER heard that before? On the other hand, chanting “off the juice” and “.224” to Soriano and “Candyland” to Bradley were at least something new.

Oh, and really drunk 20-somethings screaming “it must really SUCK to be a Cubs fan” conjures up images of Bubba Helms in 1984 and is just silly coming from fans of a team who have had some of the longer droughts in baseball as well- and just 6 years removed from 43-119. As Dean Wormer said in Animal House: “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son…”

Anyway, on to todays game. Perhaps the Cubs can finally pull one out against the Tigers. I was at Wrigley in 2006 when the Cubs and Tigers played and it wasn’t fun then- or now. Let’s change that this afternoon…

Alan Trammell visits what's left of Tiger Stadium

Zeke — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:15:48 -0000

Alan Trammell visits what's left of Tiger Stadium

Cubs coach and former Tigers' shortstop Alan Trammell visits the site of the former Tiger Stadium.

Roll call: Who is attending Cubs - Tigers games this week?

Zeke — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:54:11 -0000

So who is planning to attend Cubs-Tigers games this week?

What are your plans? One game? Two? All three? (Yep, my wife and I are going to ALL of them...)

Tickets remain. Why even our own Al Yellon gets MSM time in this Detroit Free Press article:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009906210431

What sights are you planning to see? Are there any planned BCBer gatherings and where?

Roll call time!

Cubs save Detroit (well, not REALLY...)

Zeke — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:34:11 -0000

Cubs save Detroit (well, not REALLY...)

The Cubs' visit to Comerica Park this week is expected to give the beleaguered Detroit metro area a jolt of cash. Even BCB's Al Yellon weighs in...

Sweeping Cleveland Could Be the Ticket for DeRo to Return to the Cubs

Zeke — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:32:27 -0000

If the Cubs sweep the Indians this weekend, it could push Cleveland further out of contention in the AL Central. If that happens, Mark DeRosa could be one of the first players dealt when Cleveland starts a summer player purge. Obviously for those (like myself) who want to see the Cubs reacquire DeRo, a Cubs sweep of the Indians is the best case scenario.

But what happens if this doesn't occur? Does winning 2 of 3 matter? Losing 2 of 3? Or what will happen if it's the Indians who do the sweeping?

Thoughts BCBers?

When Did We All Fall Into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine?

Zeke — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:10:53 -0000

So when exactly did we all fall into Mr. Peabody's "Wayback Machine" and travel to the deadball era of 1968? With the way the Cubs have hit this season, it sure SEEMS like we did take a trip with Sherman and Mr. P. to the time of Gibson, McClain, Kofax, Marichal and Jenkins.

This isn't just a mass case of "juicelessness" (is that an adjective? Well it is now...). This situation requires ACTION to help tip the scales of justice back in the favor of the poor, overmatched hitters.

BCBers: What would YOU do to to revive offense?

Make the DH mandatory in the NL?

Lower the pitching mound (again)?

Make pitchers throw from second base?

Make pitchers use their non-dominant arm?

Let batters take TWO bats to the plate?

Let's hear YOUR ideas for how MLB can help wake up the Cubs hitters and return them from the 1960s!

World Series Games to start 40 minutes earlier- ABT (about bloody time!)

Zeke — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:30:52 -0000

World Series Games to start 40 minutes earlier- ABT (about bloody time!)

ESPN.com link

OT: You want (Red) Wings with your hockey playoffs?

Zeke — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:39:19 -0000

Alright! An Original Six Conference Final between the Blackhawks and Red Wings.

But be careful what you wish for Blackhawk fans.

This takes me back to the late 1960s and early 1970s when these two franchises hooked up in some of the most exciting hockey around.

I'm a Red Wings fan AND a Blackhawks fan. (OK, it's hard to write Black Hawks as one word after it being two words for so long) so this series is going to be fun. It's good to see the Hawks rebirth and hockey being paid attention to in Chicago again.

After watching the Red Wings play the Ducks in a hard fought series, I think the Blackhawks will steal a game in Detroit early on. But, the Wings are on a mission and I think they'll regain home ice with a win in Chicago.

If the Hawks decide to play it physical like the Ducks did, they could pull the upset. Both teams are hot right now.

Prediction: Wings in seven.

So what'da'ya think BCBers?

Midwest League Report: Chiefs 7, Lugnuts 6, Hotdogs 3

Zeke — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:24:13 -0000

Tuesday night was $1 hot dog night at Oldsmobile Park as the Peoria Chiefs and the Lansing Lugnuts opened their three-game Midwest League series.

Peoria’s DH Josh Harrison started off a fine personal night by singling to lead off the top of the first. One out later, he was erased on the front end of a 5-4-3 DP started by Rebel Ridling. Fortunately, Reb’s night got better. More on that later.

Righthander Aaron Shafer took the hill for the Chiefs and retired the first two Lugnuts before giving up an infield single and then a long home run to the Lug’s cleanup hitter, Yohermyn Chavez. The Lugnuts led 2-0 after one.

The Chiefs immediately tied the score at 2 in the top of the 2nd. Kyler Burke and Junior Lake singled and came home on a long two out single by Ryan Flaherty. Ryan stumbled a bit coming out of the batter’s box, but should have ended up at second instead of only first. An interesting note: all three outs in the inning were infield foul pop-ups. (PF2, PF3 and PF5)

The Lugnuts pushed across another run in their half of the 2nd when Lansing’s Jon Del Campo hit the first of two booming triples. Chief’s center fielder Drew Rundle got turned around as Del Campo’s ball hit the base of the wall in dead center. Del Campo came in on a sacrifice fly to put the Lugnuts up 3-2.

With 2 outs in the 4th, Del Campo hit his second triple of the night despite a great face plant at the wall by Rundle as he tried desperately to catch up with the drive. Peoria’s Shafer then uncorked a wild pitch that eluded catcher Michael Brenly allowing Del Campo to score the Lugnuts 4th run.

Lansing made it 5-2 in the 5th when Tyler Pastornicky doubled with two outs and came home on an infield single by Mark Sobolewski.

The Chiefs closed to within one run by scoring single tallies in the 7th and 8th. Rebel Ridling’s 7th inning sacrifice fly brought home Michael Brenly to make it 5-3 and Josh Vitters hit a solo homer to lead off the 8th.

Lansing tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th when Sobolewski scored (again with two outs) off Chief’s pitcher Mike Perconte to make it 6-4 Lugnuts.

Lansing’s closer Mike Barbara came on to finish the game. He would have been better off staying in the Lugnut bullpen.

Harrison reached base for the fourth time when Lansing’s first baseman Mike McDade booted his leadoff grounder in the top of the 9th. Rundle followed with a sharp single to right and then Rebel Ridling hit a three run homer down the line in left. Or so most everyone thought. The ball was hit so hard and bounced back onto the field off a portion of the left field wall so quickly that initially the home plate umpire gave no “home run” hand signal. The entire Chiefs team was standing up in front of their dugout pointing down the left field line and calling for a homer as Harrison and Rundle circled the bases- Rundle even drew a throw as he slid in safely at the plate.

Chief’s manager Marty Revey came down the line from his third base coaches’ box and asked the plate umpire to consult with the umpire at second. The consult was short and sweet: Home Run! The Chiefs led 7-6.

Chief’s closer Erik Hamren had a better night than his counterpart. Despite a lead off infield single and stolen base by Lugnuts’ right fielder Markus Brisker, Hamren retired the next three batters, ending the game with a called strike three on Sobolewski.

Even with the nice weather (sunny and 68 at game time with a slight SSE wind), the paid attendance was only 1437, with at least half of those fans appearing to be empty chairs.

Josh Harrison was 3-5 with two doubles and a run scored; Drew Rundle went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored (and defensively was involved in nine plays, either as putouts or in fielding Lugnut hits); Rebel Ridling was 1-4 with a HR, Sac fly, run scored and four RBIs; Josh Vitters went 2-5 with an HR and a stolen base.

Others of note for the Chiefs were Junior Lake with two hits and a run scored, Ryan Flaherty with a single and two RBIs and Michael Brenly with a single and run scored.

Aaron Shafer went 6 innings giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, getting hit HARD at times. Mike Perconte went 2 innings giving up one run and got the win. Erik Hamren pitched 1 inning and got the save.

Final Score: Peoria 7, Lansing 6; with three, $1 hot dogs being enjoyed by yours truly- hence the original headline.