It doesn’t take much prompting to get Ron Santo to snap. But after a few innings of complaining about things like, “We outplay them, they get lucky and they win.”
Then somebody named Felix (don’t call me Hereida or Jesus) Sanchez gave up a grand slam. Ron stewed. He fumed. It was 6-0 Cardinals and he couldn’t take it anymore.
“I hate these guys!”
And that’s all it took. The skies opened, the sun appeared and E-ramis launched one into the bleachers.
Cubs player of the game Russ Springer came in to pitch and gave up jacks to Moises Alou and Alex Gonzalez and the game was within reach.
Mark Guthrie gave up a leadoff triple to Fernando Vina in the eighth and at the end of the eighth, there was Fernando, still standing on third.
Tony Womack beat out an infield grounder. Kenny Lofton bunted him to second. Mark Grudzielanek sent JD Drew and his creaky knees chasing a roller to the wall for a triple. The game was tied and Sammy was strolling to the plate.
Woody Williams, exhibit A of Tony LaRussa’s full-out panic mania was on the mound. Yes, the same Woody Williams who threw 112 pitches on Monday.
It was, sheer pandelirium at Wrigley. We could have been killed…or worse.
Sosa popped out and the crowd began to worry. Santo moaned and screamed and tried to calm himself with Budweiser.
Moises Alou, with four hits in his back pocket already sealed it with a line drive. Gruddy trotted home, Cubs fans turned to Cardinals fans, pointed, and laughed louder than usual.
In the ninth, it was Regular Joe getting two easy outs. Jim Edmonds and his “bad” knee came to the plate. Collies all over North America started barking for Regular Joe.
Edmonds took a strike and bitched at the ump.
He took another and bitched some more.
He then gave a feeble little swing at strike three.
The mighty Cardinals had dumped a six run lead at Wrigley, their lead was back at one half of a game over the Cubs and all is right with the world again.
Tomorrow it’s TBA versus Brett Tomko.
Today it was Ron Santo and his unbridled anger at Tony LaRussa. Just classic stuff. Ron seethed for a good three hours today. When Danny Haren hit Matt Clement early in the game, Ron had to be restrained from hobbling down to field level, taking off his right leg and beating The Genius to death with it.
Who needs to listen to the pathetic sissified ways of Chip, when Ron is right there for you?
Yesterday’s first game was an epic. It was “Spartacus” or “Ben Hur”, today’s instant classic was shorter, and more fun, it was “Gladiator” or “Top Gun.” It’ll fit nicely into ESPN Classic’s regular rotation.
Moises, you can be our wingman anytime.
I’m starting tomorrow! Me and Brett Tomko! First team to 20 wins!
Postgame announced its Shawn Estes taking the bump tomorrow. Way to keep the pressure on, eh?
Did you see me in the clubhouse in the 9th. No? That’s because I had to run into the clubhouse to watch Edmods’ girl. It’s a little known fact that I’m the one who got Jimbo started on his Collie fetish. Ever notice how shiny my coat is?
If it all goes to plan, Vina will hit a line drive off of Estes’s head to lead off the game, and we will catch it for out number one. This will then lead to me warming up and we will be fine. So don’t worry guys.
The Cubs dont need you pitching on 3 days rest because that also opens a problem for Friday’s starter, and Mark Prior and his 130+ outing on Monday also does not need to be pitching on 3 days rest.
This is not a message from the pitch count police but from someone who expects you and Prior to be 100% healthy for all of October.
Hey, I could start, and it won’t matter. Because we’re lighting Tomko up like a Christmas tree.
Maybe LaRussa can bring Woody Williams in again and we can give him 3 Ls this series.
Bullshit. You can be mine.
I don’t like you because you’re dangerous.
I maintain that today many an inventor, many a diplomat, many a financier is a sounder philosopher than all those who practice the dull craft of experimental psychology. by texas holdem