Cubby-Blue

Rally Caps Are...Related to the Goat?

So, I was with a group at a Cub game a couple weeks ago, losing to the Dodgers. Towards the end one of the guys, Mark Carlson, puts on the Rally Cap.
I’ve done the Rally Cap many times - you turn your hat inside out and hope for rally-luck.
It’s such an odd thing to do, I decided to Google it.
I didn’t dig deep, but I went to Wikipedia and found this: the Rally Cap was “invented” when the Detroit Tigers were playing...the Cubs?
Huh?
It’s game 5 of the 1945 World Series. The radio announcer says the Tigers in the dugout have their hats on inside out. Then a ball goes through Cub first baseman Phil Cavaretta’s legs. Then 4 runs score. Then the Cubs lose 8-4 as the “Rally Cap” captures the imagination of the public.
And then the Cubs lose the series, and still haven’t won for 99 years.
Can you believe that?
Mother of God!
Everything jinxy in baseball is somehow related to the Cubs.
(This was also the World Series where Billy Sianis tried to drag his goat into Wrigley and…well, you know that story.)
Anyway, I wish I hadn’t found this out.
I kinda like the Rally Cap.
And now...Sutter and the Judge are at the Ted Lilly vs. the Reds game tonight.
Lets see what happens...

Impossible Cub Rally in the 9th

Sept 18, 2007

Here’s what I can tell you about last night: it was as exciting a game as you could possibly hope to attend.
My voice…I could do a nice Tom Waits impression today…
Anyway, not quite the Sandberg game, but coming back from 2 down in the bottom of the 9th – that just doesn’t happen every day.
Especially for my favorite team.

And now for the weird…
Last week I got an email from Ben*.
“Speaking of bizarro, Monday night when we go to the game I will have in my possession the ashes of my college roommate's dad (who also married my wife and I as he was a judge in California) who requested that some of his ashes be spread on the field at Wrigley (he was born in Chicago).”
Wellll...okay.
So when I met Ben and Olson on the roof, well, the Judge was there too.
In fact, the Judge joined us for the game.

And now for the excellent...
The ninth inning.
How about Aramis Ramirez’ totally clutch triple to tie the game. Hobbling Derrek Lee (on 1st) almost caught up to The Riot (on 2nd) on their way home.
But it was Mark DeRosa’s night.
Somewhere about the 4th inning, Olson goes, “So who’s your mvp for this year?”
Not a lot of thinking.
Both Ben and I said DeRosa.

Guy can play any position, and he’s such a gamer with the bat.
Without him, the Cubs aren't where they are...
So it was DeRosa (5 for 5 with a run and 2 RBI) who brought in pinch runner Sam Fuld for the winning run.
And after all the yelling and dancing and singing “Go Cubs go”, I was walking out with Ben.
It was time to spread The Judge.
“After tonight's performance, maybe we should save the Judge.” I said.
He thought for a minute.
“He’s kinda...good luck", said Ben, “Guess I’ll have to get a new baggie.”
So if you see Ben at Wrigley, you might ask to say hello to the Judge, who in one amazing night became our unofficial good luck mascot of 2007.
Judge, we ask that you help fend off the goat, and that clown with the "It's Gonna Happen" sign.
Go Cubs.

*not his real name.

Cubs finished with the Cards

I was the dork with the transistor radio walking through that Bucktown craft fair on Sunday. With all these hipsters walking around - haltered women with blonde dreads and hand-made miniskirts, young guys still sporting that Johnny Knoxville look, and me letting out the joyful “WOOO!” when young Matty Murton hits the 3 run dinger and puts the early dagger in the heart of the Cardinals.
My daughter Emily, thankfully, was not horrified at my antics.
Mother-in-law Donna was eye-deep in a booth selling home made milk-soap.
Anyway, fabulous afternoon, beautiful day.
Cubs 4 Cards 2, Brewers 5 Reds 2, Cubs still in front by one game.

Then I got home and watched football with Garry the Cop.
I’ve already lost my patience with the Bears allowing Rex to drive the Caddy…this is a good team.

Okay, Reds tonight.
I’ll be there with Sutter and Olson.
Go Cubs.

Cubs/Cards split Doubleheader

This was true: I saw this interview with Lou, and this huge fly was buzzing around his face.
Reminded me of the Cardinals.
Alfonso Soriano huge in game 1 with the 2 run homer in the 8th and Cubs win 3-2.
But in the nightcap, the Cubs looked really lethargic and couldn't get it done.
Poor Sean Marshall was rusty and had some bad errors happen around him, and he didn't even go three innings.
Cubs lose 3-4.
Seriously, the Cards are pretty much toast at 6 games back, but the Brewers won so the Cubs are up by one little game.
Today it's Jason Marquis vs. his old team and Mark Mulder.
The goal today is to SWAT THAT FLY!
Go Cubs.

What Does Your Heart Attack Look Like?

Bottom of the 9th, Cubs 5 Cards 1.
I am relaxed and reclined on the couch.
Dempster comes in, Edmonds homers.
I don’t even sit up.
Then some guy named Ryan Ludwick hits another one out to the deepest part of the park.
Damn.
Then Molina smokes a single, and I realize none of these hits have been cheap and my heart starts to get cranky as LOU PULLS Dempster and in comes old Iron Man Bob Howry but BANG!! What is going ON? it’s another hit and there’s something not healthy now COMPLETELY awake in my chest and BANG! THE BASES ARE LOADED AND LIKE A GAZELLE THAT REALIZES THE LION IS NEAR, THE HEAD OF RON SANTO POPS OUT OF MY HEART AND BEGINS SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS AND BANG!! IT’S A CRAZY BACKSPINNING GROUNDER TO SHORT AND now the game is over.

I saw it in my head as sure as it was right there on the table: my heart attack has the head of a screaming Ron Santo coming out of it wearing those glasses with lenses that are supposed to get dark in light and light in dark.

Today I worship at the Altar of Carlos as (except for a Pujols blip) he shuts down the Cards completely for 8. Floyd gets his third homer in as many days. The Cubs load the bases in the 9th, and Daryle Ward knocks in the decisive runs with the bases clearing double.
And Forgotten Felix even hit a rocket double to right!
Cubs 5, Cards 3. Brewers 5, Reds 6 (Big Swede: you owe me MONEY!).
And today is the big double header.
Go Cubs.