Archive for June, 2008

Cubs-Sox rivalry unmatched, but some don’t get it

My wife just doesn’t get it; how can a Chicago baseball fan not support the White Sox when they win? She understands my affection (obsession?) for the game, but she cannot comprehend the Cubs versus Sox rivalry. My wife is beautiful, brilliant, insightful, charming, and in fact has a PhD in psychology, but my utter [...]

June 20, 2008   Posted in: observations, rivalries  No Comments

Yank’s loss of Wang could cost Cubs

With Chien-Ming Wang’s foot injury likely to keep him out the remainder of the season, that could cost the Cubs in their ability to make deadline deals in July.  The Yankees already had pitching problems contributing to their dismal start to the season.  Granted, many franchises would be pretty happy being 4 games over .500 [...]

June 16, 2008   Posted in: Hot Stove, observations  No Comments

Reed Johnson best option for Lead-off?

Lou Piniella has apparently anointed Reed Johnson for his lead-off batter in Alfonso Soriano’s absence.  Of course Lou is apt to change his mind on occasion, but for now that’s the way it is.  Reed provides some spark and has a gamer attitude, but he’s far from the prototypical #1 slot hitter based on his numbers. [...]

June 16, 2008   Posted in: Lou Piniella, lineup, players, stats  No Comments

Cubs-Sox Tickets for Wrigley or the ‘Cell

A rare season this is as the Cubs and White Sox prepare to face off the next two weekends on the Northside and Southside; both teams are in first place! Usually, these cross-town series are pretty much the peak of one team or the other’s season.  Often by mid-June one team is clearly an also-ran [...]

June 14, 2008   Posted in: Wrigley Field  No Comments

John Dewan’s Stat of the Week™

Who can score from the 7-8-9 slots? June 12, 2008 The Chicago Cubs have the best record in baseball. But here in Chicago the debate continues—where should Alfonso Soriano bat? It will be a moot point for the next six weeks or so because Soriano broke a bone in his left hand after getting hit [...]

June 12, 2008   Posted in: John Dewan  No Comments

A walk-off bean-ball?? This is Our Year!

I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a walk-off beanball winning a game in the major leagues.  Tied 2-2 in the 10th, Ramirez walked, Fukudome intentionally walked, Soto singled loading the bags for Edmonds. Reed Johnson pinch hits, and does so literally:  He was beaned in the leg on the first pitch driving in the [...]

June 12, 2008   Posted in: observations  No Comments

Sore-iano DL could affect July trade options

With Soriano on the shelf until late July, looks like the team will call up Micah Hoffpauir again. This will give them a corner outfielder with (so far) a decent stick. I think we will see plenty of Mark DeRosain Left with Mike Fontenot at second, and Reed Johnson in Left with Jim Edmonds in [...]

June 12, 2008   Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, lineup, players, roster  No Comments

Karmic balance: Pujols & Soriano out

I heard a lot of chatter yesterday about how the Cardinals will finally fall back down to earth in losing Albert Pujols until the All-Star break. Cubs fans were privately rejoicing in his injury, feeling like maybe this really is Our Year. A few hours later though, Alfonso Soriano takes a pitch off his ring finger knuckle [...]

June 12, 2008   Posted in: curse/superstition, observations, players  No Comments

Memo to Jim Hendry

FOR GOD’S SAKE, DON’T PICK UP STEVE TRACHSEL FROM THE SCRAP HEAP!!!  (Again.) O’s designate Trachsel for assignment (AP) Steve Trachsel was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Baltimore Orioles, who couldn’t count on the right-hander in the bullpen after he struggled as a starter. The 37-year-old Trachsel was 2-5 with an 8.39 ERA in [...]

June 10, 2008   Posted in: Jim Hendry, roster  No Comments

Rumors, deals, possibilities to consider

I’m not ready to lighten up on Jim Edmonds. Sure, he came through big in 3 games two weeks ago, putting about 140 points on his season batting average. But 3 good games does not a season make. With the Cubs legitimately in position to contend this year it seems worth while to start thinking [...]

June 10, 2008   Posted in: Hot Stove, players, roster  No Comments