Awesome.
I mean, Chris Volstad does really seem like a nice guy, he just hasn't gotten a win in over a year.
24 starts without a W.
That's gotta bug you, I don't care what anybody says.
It's also such a unique situation with these Cubs.
I mean, there ain't anybody else to bring up and I'm not sure Volstad even gets to stay in the rotation if it's any other year.
But on a crappy, rainy Sunday, he goes 6 and 2/3 innings and only gives up 3 hits.
Meanwhile, Darwin Barney kinda breaks out of his slump and knocks in a couple runs and scores one too while Brett Jackson not only doesn't strike out, he walks twice, gets a hit and scores.
Starlin Castro goes 2 for 3 and scores 3 times.
I'm not looking it up, but that's gotta be the first time Volstad has even had a lead to work with.
And he gets a big W!
Finally.
Congratulations, Chris!
Now, I've got a problem.
The folks from A+E Home Entertainment/MLB Productions called and offered some prizes if only I could come up with a promo.
The prize, and there are 5 of them, is THE ESSENTIAL GAMES OF CHICAGO CUBS DVD SET.
Five total.
As the guy doing the promo, A+E already sent me one, and I likey!
The details of the prizes are at the bottom of this post, but the SUPER COOL thing is it includes The Sandberg Game.
(I remember where I was sitting that day, and I'm going to study it frame by frame to see if I can find myself.)
You can't get mad at me, I'm just trying to entertain.
So during this 2012 season, I can't think of a better promotion than this.
Write up something you've done instead of watching the Cubs this year.
Then email it to me (address in upper right), or put it in comments.
Like, instead of watching Chris Volstad get his win, I was with my brother at the Manhattan Beach Open, a volleyball tournament by the ocean, and it was super cool.
This is (from left) Jenny Kropp and Whitney Pavlik (the winners) congratulating Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat.
You could include a drawing or picture (only if you email - can't put images in comments unless it's a link).
Please keep the stories relatively clean and most importantly, true.
I'll be the lone judge picking the 5 winners, and if anybody gets mad at my choices well, excuuuuuse me.
A+E tells me you have to live in the Continental US.
Once I pick, the 5 winners will have to email me their home address, which I'll send to A+E, who will then send to you.
And then the next time the Cubs are down by 7 in the 5th, you can pop in one of these DVDs and get happy!
Lets give this a week, so entries must be in by end of day next Monday, September 3rd.
Prize details (as written up by A+E):
The dynamic between Wrigley Field, the home team Chicago Cubs, and their devoted passionate fan exceeds any normal measurements. A connection of team, place, and supporters that has stirred emotions across more than five generations and continues today. This extraordinary collection of Cubs baseball games showcases four game telecasts that feature legendary lineups spanning five decades.
The first game salutes a star-studded lineup featuring four Hall of Famers, and managed by one too (Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, Leo Durocher)!
The second game is stunning display of immense talent, as Ryne Sanberg led a shocking defeat of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jumping ahead to 1998 the one-game NL Wild Card tiebreaker capped a remarkable summer at Wrigley as Steve Trachsel and the Cubs stifled the San Francisco Giants.
Our closing game features a Kerry Wood clinching victory to propel the Lou Piniella-led Cubs to another celebration.
100% classic Cubs. 100% Wrigley Field baseball.
HALL OF FAME SHOWCASE vs. PHI, July 12, 1969: Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ferguson Jenkins headline a win over Philadelphia.
SANDBERG’S COMEBACK SHOCKER vs. STL, June 23, 1984: Ryne Sandberg’s monster game shocks Cardinals.
NL WILD CARD TIEBREAKER vs. SF, September 28, 1998: Cubs prevail over the San Francisco Giants in a one-game, winner-take-all Wild Card tiebreaker.
NL CENTRAL DIVISION CLINCHER vs. STL, September 20, 2008: Wrigley Field erupts as Cubs clinch a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive season.
