Cubby-Blue

Does Anybody Want my Bad Karma Lou Pineilla #41 promo hat?

Email me and I'll send it to you.
With an envelope for you to send back the postage I'll pay.
When we were going in Wrigley last night, they're handing out these Lou Piniella hats.
I love free stuff.
I go, "Hey man, any chance I could get two of these things?"
"Only one per person."
But the way these hats are packed in the box, they're smash-folded together in there.
The guy accidentally hands me two hats stuck together like two new $20s from an atm.
I don't say anything.
I'm with Goff, and I proudly show him I got two hats but in the back of my mind I'm thinking...is this somehow bad karma?
I shoulda known better...
My day yesterday started with a walk in the park.
There's a part of the park that's waaay wide open - it's where the outfield of 4 little league fields meet.
I can see a small branch in the middle there - a stick somebody probably had doggie fetch.
I walk towards it.
This takes like 5 minutes.
Now it's right in front of me and...I trip on it.
My foot gets tangled in the little part sticking up, and then I do that thing where you take about 4 giant steps trying to catch your balance.
I don't go down, but still.
Way out in the middle of nowhere, just me and a stick.
I knew it was gonna be a bad day.
And it was.
This game was painful.
The Brewers were teeing off on Marquis - big shots going all over the park.
The Cubs were doing actual damage against Sheets, and you should NEVER lose to this guy when he's not in command.
Plus, there was the weird delay where if they said anything on the pa system about an ump being sick nobody around me heard it.
The players all just meandered off the field.
Really weird.
So, Cubs lose their 4th out of the last 5 games 7-10.
Plus, it was cold.
Anyway, I'll check email at the end of the day.
First person to email me gets the hat, if anybody wants it.
I'm keeping the other, non-bad karma one.
Wait.
Which one is which?
doh

Wrigley Gopher to Ryan Braun: I'm hungry.

It was easier disliking the Brewers when they had Cub-killer Carlos Lee in left, but for this post Ryan Braun will have to do.
(No reason for the gopher, I'm just liking the GIF thing. Pretty soon I'll have plots...)

Uh, IT'S A BAD TIME FOR THE CUBS TO LOSE THEIR BATS!
IF he doesn't feel any tightness in his triceps, Ben Sheets will bring his .96 ERA, his 14 hits in 28 innings, and his 24 strikeouts to Wrigley Tuesday night.
Looking at the weather, the low is projected at 37.
That's 5 degrees above fuh-reezing.
So I'm thinking tightness in the triceps, Ben.
You?

Lee Elia...
The profanity is what made me like him.
Now, he's using it to make money to fight cancer and apologizing to the city.
Can't a man age gracefully?

See you at WrWrWrigley at 7:05 in layers, hat and glove.
Go Cubs.

Calmbrano Zambrano with Celestial Seasonings Caffeine Free Tea

Have you noticed how calm Carlos is lately?
Me neither.
He was storming around, practically sprinting off and on the mound between pitches.
That ump last night seemed all-over-the-place, though, so Carlos can stomp all he wants.
Hey Celestial Seasonings!
If you were paying attention, this would be an AWESOME product to bring out about now with Carlos and the bananas and no caffeine and all.
Like Cherry Garcia ice cream or whatever.
Okay.
Pretty much a mismatch last night - I thought the Cubs would go double digits for sur...
Ah listen to me.
Spoiled rotten already.
It was a fabulous shut out against a team the Cubs are supposed to beat.
Cubs 7 Nats zeero.
Carlos is having his best start ever at 4 wins 1 loss, but no projections from me (feels jinxy).
Today is Lilly vs. Lannan.
Lannan?
Oh, John Lannan.
Career 3-4 with a 3.86 era.
Go Cubs.

Reed Johnson does some folklore stuff

(PLS NOTE: a number of you sent me notes saying Reed's number is 9 (not 8), so I fixed it. But my question is this: when I edit an old post and save it, do you who get Cubby Blue emailed get another email or not?)

Folklore stuff.
Kerry Wood definitely did it as a rookie on May 6, 1998 with his 20 strikeout performance against the Astros.
But that one's an official legendary performance that's in the record books.
You can ask any baseball fan and they'll know that.
Remember Sam Fuld's catch last year?
Cub fans will, because it became a story - a bit of folklore.
You won't find anything about it in any book.
Folklore stuff - I figure that's what Reed Johnson did last night, and he's only been a Cub about 15 minutes.
Washington National Felipe Lopez hit a ball about as far as you could hit it in their new park, about half way between Johnson and left fielder Mark DeRosa.
Reed ran.
Ran some more.
And took a dive on the warning track stretched out like a 6 year old jumping on a bed, snared the ball and smashed into the padded wall with his head.
Full speed.
Came up showing the ump the ball with the bill of his cap turned up goofy like a cartoon character.
Man, you won't see a better catch than that.
Next time Reed shows up at Wrigley, it'll be standing O time.
(By the way, I hope he never tries that there...)
But the Cubs lost their second game in a row, this one 3-5 to the Nats.
Tonight is Zambrano (3-1) vs. a guy named Chico (0-4).
Lets get a W.
Oh, one more thing.
Maybe in a couple years you might be in a bar somewhere watching a baseball game, and you'll see a pretty good catch.
And you'll say, "Yeah, but do you remember the Reed Johnson catch in '08?"
Folklore.
One of the coolest parts of the game of baseball.

My Cub Fan Head Is Spinning

Did you see the Fukudome catch AND PRINT IT How many wins in a row is that What election Reed Johnson could be half of the 2008 "daily double" D Lee rhymes with MVP Lilly looked good last start Another extra inning win What's going on at work Aramis is catching fire Will the Cardinals fizzle Fingernails need clipping The whole team has patience at the plate Soriano is coming back Where will he really bat Did I put on clean underwear How long can this streak go Lou is a God Paper or plastic Will Ben Sheets get hurt again Honey I'm home Theriot with the game winner Who will it be tonight Hill's curve looked awesome I feel unusual What if Pie and Cedeno are for real Carlos Marmol is the best reliever in baseball Jim Hendry is a genius Don't say the "WS" words Ten thousand wins Fukudome may be the best signing ever First place Central Division What's going on in Arizona Gas will be four bucks this summer Has Zambrano ever had an April this good I'm calling off all vacations Lieber will be incredibly valuable before this season's over You try soaking them out you try scrubbing them out yet still you end up with those filthy rings

Okay, that's it for today.
Cubs 7, Rockies 6.
Tonight is Marquis vs Cook.
Go Cubs.

Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie Get A Seat At The Grown-Up Table

About now is when it gets really really fun to talk about the Cubs.
Me, Vitellaro and Oif were talking in the office on Monday - none of this whoopin' up on the Mets stuff had happened yet. We're talking about Felix, and Oif clearly remembers that when Ryne Sandberg first came up he absolutely looked lost forEVER. Then one day he got a couple hits and suddenly he was the real Ryno.
Oif is good with memory and sports trivia, do you guys remember that?
So, how about Cedeno and Pie the last couple days?
What if?
I got home Monday just in time for the Cubs to come up in the 8th.
Fukudome's walk after a hundred foul balls was amazing, but when Cedeno gets the 2-out hit and knocks in two, well...that's what real baseball players do.
Then Pie with the 3 run dinger off Sosa.
This is the Mets - their bullpen isn't just a bunch of pixies.
And yesterday it's just CRAZY busy at work.
I've seen nothing.
I'm in a meeting, Sutter's even there.
Suddenly JT Mapel walks by and gives us the breathless recap including Cedeno's grand slam in the 8th.
Turned out to be a pretttty good meeting.
I gotta run, but I always say be happy when you can with the Cubs.
You can.

Cubs are in 1st, perfect day in Chicago

Out in the back yard with my flip flops on with a cold one and Ron and Pat on WGN telling me the Cubs not only sweep the Pirates, but move into first place.
Somewhere in there I grabbed the paints and dragged 'em out too.
What an awesome day it was here in Chicago - plain old gorgeous - even if it started with a trip to the office.

Zach Duke, he's usually way better against us.
But the suddenly potent Cub bats pounded the ball all day long today.
Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot both with the 4 hits, Aramis hitting one out.
I have no idea how many pitchers the Pirates used the last couple days.
Unfortunately, I think the Cubs have done the same.
Tomorrow, of course, will be more of a reality check with the NL East leading Mets in town.
It's Big Z against John Maine.
Know why I remember Maine?
I was in New York watching the Mets/Cubs, and according to the guys in the bar Maine wasn't pitching like his normal self - not too good.
But that put me in a pretty good mood until Soriano came tearing around 2nd and suddenly began doing the I've-just-torn-my-quad hop.
Not a pleasant memory, but there you go.

Okay First Place Chicago Cubs, show us what you really got.

(This is what my tiny bistro table looked like about 3 yesterday afternoon.)

It's only April, but Derrek Lee is having a monster season

Derrek Lee is hitting the living snot out of the ball.
He leads the majors in homers with 7.
Yeah, I'm aware that the season is only 3 weeks old, but if he hits 7 homers every 3 weeks...why that's 63 homers.
Not including playoffs.
(I counted the weeks on my magnet schedule, so...pretty sure that's right.)

I'm trying to remember when the Cubs started off the season with so many opportunities to sweep.
Man, two more victories in the last week and we'd be damn near undefeated!
Okay, maybe not, but we'd be in front of the Cards.

Jason Marquis - looking pretty smooth out there today buddy.
Kosuke Fukudome - cool shades.
(I'm SO GLAD those hideous Jim Riggleman-style shades have pretty much gone from the game.)
And you Pittsburgh pitchers - nothin' wrong with 50 walks in a game, guys, that'll always put me in a good mood.
And lastly, Matt Murton, it's good to see you here.
Do me a favor and swing your bat like there's no tomorrow.

Cubs 13, Pirates...uno.
Tomorrow's gonna be Ryan Dempster against oh and oh Zach Duke.
Sweep please.

Lastly that line "If your skin don't crawl, you're not pitching to him" was semi-lifted from an old movie I can't remember the name of, only the line went "If your skin don't crawl, it's on too tight."
Genius.
I cut it out, still have it somewhere.

Carlos Marmol is at his best position

Pretty sure somebody will correct me on this quote, but that was at least the spirit of something Lou said last year about young Carlos Marmol.
And it's why I still think Carlos coming in anywhere in the 6th through 8th inning, is at his best position on this team.
I know Lou's trying to massage Rich Hill back into a starter's state of mind with the "I thought he could go a little more than five, but, look, let's build a foundation, let's get a base in place." quote (out of the TRIB).
But he just as easily could have said the quote in the painting about this game.
Given the way Cubs starters are throwing, seems like mid-late relief has bigger role on this team.
Marmol comes in and just wrecks everybody's fun in the other dugout.
And as long as Kerry Wood is throwing strikes and healthy, the deal is pretty much with the cherry on top.

I read the quote from the Cincinnati broadcaster and I just don't care.
That guy's gotta watch the Reds all the time, I'd be angry too.
I do hope the 15 balls thing is an isolated incident, though.

Okay, looks pretty Chicago-like outside right now - gray and crappy.
Lets see if Marquis can get half the wins Lieber's got today.
Go Cubs.

Cubs Finally Win A Laugher

I didn't get to see, but Sutter was there and texting.
(Sometimes it's okay to use your cell at the park.)
The first was: "r u watching this?"
That peaked my interest, so I reply.
"WHAT GOING ON TELL MORE PLS"
"Big Z 7 innings 100 pitches 3-4 at the plate cubs up 11-2"
I excused myself from dinner table and sprinted to my room, where of course they don't get whatever channel the Cubs were on last night.
This hotel is patience challenging.

Later, Sutter sends this email: "Maybe you should stay in Florida--we've identified you as the jinx, not the goat. Last two nights were the best I've ever seen them play--highlight reel defense, clutch hitting, great pitching (it's not easy to hold the Reds to that few runs when the wind's blowing out at 30MPH both nights), not a single stupid play either night.

No Murton, it's Eric Patterson up from Iowa.

Great moment tonight that I've never seen before. Adam Dunn hits one onto Sheffield in the 8th. After the obligatory pause, the throw it back ball comes flying back into the park from the street. Another pause--at least a dozen balls come flying in from Waveland onto the field one at a time for the next for a couple minutes."

So Carlos must have been magnificent, D Lee is reaching surface-of-the-sun type of hot, weird with Patterson coming up (maybe he's hitting better than Murton, and they just keep DeRo in left?). While that sounded fun with the balls, I hope security doesn't decide to throw people out of the park who throw the ball back, and I wish the Cardinals would cool off.
And now...how about a sweep?