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Anchorman is Awesome!

Friday, July 9, 2004

First, an apology for my loyal readers. This week has been a hectic one, and unfortunately, the blog was odd-man-out for the week. However, with my big presentation completed this morning, rest assured your favorite Cubs blogger will be working hard to remain/become your favorite.

Second, despite not having time for the blog, I did make time to go watch "Anchorman" today. Its a great movie, and I recommend you go watch it if you appreciate Will Ferrell's typical brand of adolescent comedy.

Finally, I'm home and watching a ball game live, so I'll be updating throughout the game.

Lineups: The Cubs lineup looks pretty bad again tonight. Part of it is due to injuries to Aramis and Gonzalez, and part of it is Dusty's committment to using all 25 men on his roster. However, with this game being probably the most important game of the year, I would have rather seen a slumping Barrett over Bako. However, the it is the continuance of the failed Rey Ordonez era that is really frustrating me.

The Cardinals look like they are running out their "every-day" lineup, with the possible exception of John Mabry in left... I'll have to check and see if he's their everyday left fielder.

First: Cubs Its a good thing Sammy got a single in the first. Grudz saw two pitches, Ordonez 4, and Sosa 2. Eight pitch innings won't help. Ideally, the Cubs should see more than the 12 they are seeing.
Cards Well, Maddux didn't make it out of the first without giving up a run, I know he's given up first inning runs in each of his last three starts at least, but I was hoping. However, the damage was limited to a solo homer by Edgar Renteria... better than the typical three. Now, lets hope Maddog shuts 'em down for the rest of the game like he often does.

Second: Cubs Pizza's going in the oven as D.Lee hits a solo shot to give Maddux a reprieve. Ramon Martinez also got a hit, and I'm thinking Marquis might not have great stuff today... there's a wild pitch...
Cards Paul Bako throws out Jim Edmond's swiping second, but that doesn't stop Reggie Sanders from stealing. How in the world has Greg Maddux won 296 games allowing runners to steal at will?

Third: Cubs I think the Card's have managed to steal the Cubs' hit and run signal. With Grudz on first, and Ordonez batting. Jason Marquis kept trying to pick of Mark Grudzielanek, and then throw's a slider about 20 inches off the outside of the plate, which Ordonez swings at while Grudz is being thrown out on the foiled hit and run. Marquis just walked Sosa.
Cards Tony LaRussa has already been ejected for arguing balls and strikes... he's like Lloyd McClendon only he wins.Tony Womack gets on base, and Stony says "its just a question of when to call the pitch out." He's right as Womack attempts a steal on the third pitch. Unfortunately, Renteria chooses that pitch to dump it over Lee's head sending Womack to third. An Albert Pujols sac fly later, and the Cubs are down 2-1. Next, Renteria steals a base. The Cards have now attempted 4 steals off Maddux in three innings. Not suprisingly, the Cards have only had 4 baserunners. Just remember Correlation does not equal Causation... or so they say.

Fourth: Cubs D. Lee and Martinez reach for men on first and second with one out... but the Cubs are slumping so Bako hits into a double play. Chance over.
Cards Well, it looks like the Cards have a jumbled platoon in Left Field, although Ray Lankford is the primary starter. (The platoon or is it quadtoon? includes Lankford, Mabry, So Taguchi, and Roger Cedeno.) Maddux just went 1-2-3 with an 8 pitch inning. This is better.

Fifth: Cubs Nothing doing but a Rey Ordonez single off the second base bag.
Cards: Jason Marquis hurts himself by not getting down a sacrifice bunt after Yadier Molina's lead off double. Womack grounds out to the right side, which would have scored Molina if he was standing on third. Instead, Molina goes to third on the grounder but doesn't score on Renteria's flyball to C-Pat.

Sixth: Cubs Corey Patterson grounds into a double play. Its his sixth time this season, which seems a bit high, except I can remember three of them, all by about half a step.
Cards Albert Pujols goes yard... solo. 3-1. Jim Edmonds goes yard... solo. 4-1.

Seventh: Cards Womack goes yard... solo. 5-1.

Eighth: Cards I'm really wishin I hadn't bothered watching this game. Scott Rolen doubled, then stole third off Mercker, and then scored on a single by John Mabry, 6-1.

Anyhow, I'm giving up on this game and heading to the video store to return the Bourne Identity before I have to pay an overdue fine... Can't wait for the sequel to come out in a week or so.

Final score, 6-1 Redbirds. The Cubs are now 7 back of St. Louis.

Again, I didn't see Thursday's game, but the Cubs got shut out again by the Brewers. This time, the final score was 4-0 Milwaukee.

This is the first time the Cubs have been swept in a three game series since Dusty Baker took over. While the pitching has remained solid if not spectacular, the Cubs offense managed only 2 runs the entire series. Aramis Ramirez' strained groin is killing the offense. With the left side of the infield as Rey Ordonez and Ramon Martinez instead of Alex Gonzalez and Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs are slipping in the standings (now 6 back of the st. Louis Yankees.)

Posted by Byron at July 9, 2004 7:14 PM | | |

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