I've been meaning to do this kind of a post for awhile now.
Derrek Lee has been the rock of this team literally all year long.
He does it with quiet authority, dignity, clutch hits and a bad neck.
When I saw the tumble into third yesterday on his first inning triple, I thought he might come out.
Later, when he missed the foul ball and then stayed on the ground for a second longer than he should, I knew he would.
But that is one tough man.
Imagine having the discs in your neck...not right.
And playing baseball.
Luckily, he doesn't swing with the violence of Aramis Ramirez.
His swing is super smooth, and it starts from about the Cubby Bear and then out over the pitcher's head.
The liner to center he hit yesterday (caught, unfortunately) was my favorite connection of the day.
And kudos to the Reds centerfielder, because when Lee hits it on the sweet spot, the baseball becomes a blur.
I wish I could remember who I was listening to driving to Wrigley yesterday - it was an interview.
And the guy said basically that Derrek Lee is the perfect Cub.
This is a team and a city that gets super caught up in alot of crap.
God, remember the GIDPs last year?
He lets it all roll off his back, which is a skill you wish some of the other Cubs possessed.
Anyway, if there's one Cub who truly stepped up when the going got tough, and one Cub who'll do it again, it's him.
He came out of the game in the 9th yesterday, when the 5-1 lead should have been safe (no comment on our ex-Met reliever).
I didn't notice until after the second out.
Aramis, Alfonso, and Milton Bradley all hit homers.
Young Kevin Hart pitched really well.
Ted Lilly's gonna be gone for awhile, but there is no tear in the shoulder.
I read somewhere that yesterday Hart was sitting next to Terrible Ted when the Cubs were batting.
If you were gonna have something rub off on you, Kevin, that would be the stuff.
