It’s easy to look at the recent success of the Cubs and decide that our rediscovered joy with them is because they’re winning. That’s largely true. It’s far easier to enjoy something done well, than something done poorly. But even if the Cubs’ most recent roadtrip hadn’t been the stunning 6-1 success that it was, they’re just plain playing better than they were a month ago. There are times when your team plays poorly and wins and you wonder how long it can last. There are times when it plays well and loses and you worry that it’s just never going to come togehter. Then, there are times like the one the Cubs are in right now, where they play well and get rewarded for it. It’s hard to complain at times like these.
The Cubs try and arrange a superstar’s comeback for every Friday following a road trip. Two weeks ago the Franchise moseyed into town after two months on the shelf. Today it’s Sammy. Unfortunately, that would put Kerry Wood’s return for July 30, so the Friday after a road trip thing can’t be exclusive.
Predictably, the anti-Sammy faction is getting ready to rear its ugly, and really, nonsensical head.
Sammy is not perfect. We’ll freely acknowledge that. But he is the best player the Cubs have ever had. Nobody who’s ever put the Cubs’ uniform on has ever enjoyed a ten year run like Sammy is enjoying.
The Cubs did a good job playing without Sammy. Thanks to the current six game win streak they went 16-14 without the fearless leader. Nobody who’s pretending to be honest can say that the Cubs aren’t better with him back, though. Even if all his return meant was that you have a four man outfield rotation that does not provide starts for Tom Goodwin and Jose Macias you’d be better off.
The Cubs season was teetering on the edge last year in July and August. The Cubs were fading out of the race and two things jolted them back into it. The trade for Kenny Lofton and E-ramis Ramirez, and the two month stretch that a post-concussion, post-toenailectomy, post-cork suspensioned Sammy Sosa provided. Just when we wondered if he’d ever hit again, he hit .294 with 21 homers and 50 RBI in 60 days. He got his swagger back, he made the lineup feared again and the Cubs fought their way back up towards the Astros and Cardinals.
The lineup he returns to today is much improved over the one he came back to last June. There’s no Lenny Harris (thank God), there’s no concussed giant Korean first baseman, Damian Miller’s in the other dugout. The Cubs can hit at seven of the eight every day spots. All Sammy has to do this time is settle in and do his part. The Cubs take turns carrying this offense now. Something completely foreign to his franchise in the last 20 years.
The series in Houston had its good moments and bad moments. Most of it was downright perfect. The Cubs won games in every conceivable way. They pounded Roger Clettitte in the first game, came back on the feared Octavio Dotel in game two, got great relief and clutch hitting in game three and hung in last night, stole the lead and then added on enough to make it hold up.
Here’s the bad thing.
In sweeping the Astros, they pushed Jimy Williams’ job security to the brink. In the NL Central pennant race the Cubs have the following advantages over their foes:
Houston Astros: The Beege is completely inept in center field, Jeff Bagwell’s arm has fallen off and Jimy Williams is a complete dumbass.
St. Louis Cardinals: The starting pitching is a farce and it may pitch just well enough, long enough that the Cardinals don’t think they need to improve it before the trade deadline. The Genius will overthink every situation and never do the obvious thing because it doesn’t make him “Genius enough.” He will also torch an already erratic bullpen.
Cincinnati Reds: You or I could earn a spot in the starting rotation. Sean Casey’s batting average has gone from (April).414 to (May) .377 to (June) .267. Junior Griffey, Barry Larkin and Austin Kearns are made out of paper mache.
Milwaukee Brewers: This is a team who actually starts Wes Helms, Craig Counsell, Gary Moeller’s illegitimate son and Doug Davis. They’re a nice story. They’ll be a nice 77-85 story when the season ends.
Pissburgh Pirates: Hee hee.
What if the Astros fired Jimy Williams and used their savings from the Richard Hidalgo trade to get a defensive minded center fielder? They could shift the Beege to left or right, and juding by the number of balls that fell in front of and next to him, it’d really help their pitching staff. Shhhhh. Let’s not tell them.
The Cardinals are in first right now and playing well. But, when it comes down to it, if the Astros aren’t around at the end to challenge the Cubs, nobody will be. I’m pulling for nobody, myself.
—
It’s pretty cool having the A’s in town this weekend because the two most vaunted starting pitching staffs in the game get to lock horns. The Cubs will send out Matt Clement, The Franchise and Carlos Zambrano and the A’s will counter with NLCS punching bag Mark Redman, the lefty version of The Franchise–Mark Mulder–and Barry Zito. A good time should be had by all. Except for the hitters…and as long as the Cubs win at least two of the games.
—
Time for a lame headline! How sweep it is!
Everybody (well, except for Rey Ordonez) contributed to the winning streak.
Just what exactly is Phil Rogers’ point here? Do we ever know?
PJ Fleck is going to give us an inside look at when the Niners cut him after the first preseason game.
Billy Koch is gone. The Sox are already better.
Luol Deng can’t wait to be a Bull! Hey, the Bulls should take any kind of compliment when they get one.
Is Luol quick enough? He was smart enough to ditch the fat Duke coeds after only one year.
Greg Couch says these aren’t the ’85 Cubs. Hey, they’re quick at the Sun Times!
Here’s how swift I am sometimes. I read this about Gruddy starting on Saturday, and how Walker will start today against Redman and Sunday against Zito and I said, “That’s dumb, why would you make Walker start against the two lefties?” Then, I realized all three A’s pitchers this weekend are lefties. I’m a dope.
The Wizard of Roz says they are going to make a movie out of “Disco Demolition Night” and he suggests Jack Black play Dahl. I think Shelley Winters would have been a better look-a-like.
Sports Guy wraps up the Finals.
This is supposed to help the Marlins?
Hidalgo’s a good get for the Mets. They get him relatively cheap and he’s got a gun for an arm and bullet in one of them, too.
I thought this only happened in Arkansas.
America’s finest news source says JK Rowling finally has discovered boys. That might be news to her ex-husband and kid.
As always, the adverbial Joe Morgan’s chat is stupefying and freaky. Highlights:
— On the Koch trade, just a typo but it’s a good one:
"As far as Koch, obviously, he wasn’t working in Chicago. I think a change of scenery could be fery good for Billy."
Fery good, Joe.
— In response to a Cubs question:
"Well, like last year, I think it will go down to the end. The most important addition for the Cubs is to have Sammy Sosa back. His effect is huge. He plays everyday. He is by far the most important return. That said, I still don’t see them pulling away. With their pitching, they may be the best team in the East, but I don’t think they will significantly pull away in that division."
I agree they won’t pull away in the East. The Central would be good.
— Question from George Ofman in disguise:
"The Tribune Company and the Chicago Cubs need to start telling fans the truth! When do you think Wood will be back?"
"Joe Morgan: I don’t know if they are not telling the truth. What is the truth?"
Very profound.
— On whether Pedro is a HOFer
"I don’t think there is anyone right now who is still pitching that will indefinitely get in. The only cinch situation is Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson at this point. Nobody else is a given right now. Greg Maddux, yes. But no one else."
I’m indefinitely confused. What was the middle thing again?
Hey! Is that quidditch game open? I can’t swing a bat anymore. Maybe I can ride a long brrom handle. Yeah, baby! Ride that stick!
So let me get this straight..I get traded and Jasone Lane hits the weakest home run I’ve ever seen?
Which day(s) should I play Gabor Bako against all these lefties?
Probably today off the night game, right? Redman will be throwing 58-footers by inning 6 anyway.
I might be throwing 450 footers by the 5th inning so you better play Barrett. Bako’s had his hit for the month.
I can’t wait to face my old team! I was an A for a whole day! In December!
Pending approval by major- and minor-league governing bodies, I will actually become part owner of the Double-A Round Rock Express, along with teammates Craig Biggio, Roger Clettitte and Jeff Kent.
Looks like we might have a job opening for an announcer. We’ve got Chip’s number ready to dial. The Beege would love to be close to his "buddy".
I agree that we don’t want Jimy Williams fired, however, I’m not worried about Biggio moving from center anytime soon. Biggio wants to play there, and what Craig wants, he gets. Remember a couple of years ago, it was Biggio and Bagwell who went crying to Drayton McLane and got Larry Dierker fired. There’s only one manager in the league who could convince Beeg to move from center, and he’s in the Cubs dugout.
I can rake!
Here’s a photo of me at work in the dugout.
"I don’t think there is anyone right now who is still pitching that will indefinitely get in. The only cinch situation is Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson at this point. Nobody else is a given right now. Greg Maddux, yes. But no one else."
No one will "indefinitely" (WTF???) get in. Except for three guys.
Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve been the biggest reason this team didn’t fall apart with Sammy’s injury. My numbers have been comparable to Sammy’s. My defense has been better. I run harder than anyone else on this team, breaking up dps, outrunning returns to first. I was safe last night, and rather than be a jerk about it, I said "you’re wrong" and went back to the dugout. It’s incredible that the Cubs have a guy as good as me on the bench.
Rozner writes:
"But of all the truly odd things that occurred nearly 25 years ago, perhaps the most bizarre is one that Steve Dahl has never before shared with the hoople heads and Insane Coho Lips."
And then Rozner goes on to say that Dahl was warned not to talk about it the next day on the radio.
What’s ridculous about that "revelation" is that Dahl has repeatedly told that story. On the air. He even affects the station manager’s souther drawl in saying, "Don’t tawlk about this too-morruh"
I don’t even listen to Dahl every day, but I’ve heard him tell that story at least 6 times.
Nice scoop, Barry. What’s next on your plate? You gonna tell us that Germany surrendered?
Put me in a Hawaiian shirt, and I AM Steve Dahl….
I see Teri’s not only an usher at a Catholic parish, but they named said parish after me.
Must be for the way I have beaten the Satanic Red Fowl.
http://www.stclementchurch.org/
I’ve made the comparison between me and Hemmert myself.
Re: #12
Dead on, Todd. You should play every day. So who sits? Sosa? No. Alou? Maybe every so often. Patterson? Korey’s finally getting on base, and he still catches everything in the air. But he still has no arm. And he still strikes out / first pitch outs too much for me.
I didn’t get to see the end of the game last night, so I don’t know how "cheap" Lane’s homer was, but LaTroy Hawkins still scares me as closer. It looks to me like the Peter Principle applies to set-up men as well as real world employees:
Employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent.
I think I’ll be riding the pine for awhile. Hopefully, I’ll get spot starts for Alou, Patterson, Sosa, and Lee.
Stepping outside my role as Hollandsworth, I’m just really impressed with the way he’s played as a whole. Like I said, last night, he was safe, the ump blew the call, and he handled it like a pro. Umps make bad calls. That doesn’t mean you have to act like an a-hole every time.
I am like Lee Smith, except I can’t get a save.
Yeah, Chuck, like that awesome throw that Mullethead Todd threw yesterday, about 15 feet up the line that skidded past Barret. Thank God Glendon backed it up.
Look, you really should stop trolling with thse inane "31-year old journeyman should start" rants without at least offering up your glass bowl so all of the Desipio readers, too, can get high on your primo bud. Because this cockamanie idea of yours is truly
up
in
smoke
Look, Corey, I’m good. The ball got past Barrett because of a short hop. I’m not saying I should start in Center every day (at least now that you seem to have gotten your head out of your ass), but don’t bad mouth the guy who’s offense (and defense for that matter) has kept the Cubs competitive with Sosa out (.308/.391/.549) That’s .940 OPS for those who can’t add.
"but don’t bad mouth the guy who’s offense (and defense for that matter) has kept the Cubs competitive with Sosa out (.308/.391/.549) That’s .940 OPS for those who can’t add."
And we’ll be sure that you get a
generous playoff share, Todd, so you don’t think we’re ungrateful.
Now go sit your ass back on the bench, Lemon!
Good thing we’re not really retarded and pick fights with each other about playing time. There’s no I in team, guys!
Ain’t no "we" either
and no "wnat the hell are you arguing about" either.
There is a "me" though.
To be accurate, there is an "am" and a "tea". So what?
There is an "I" in win, however.
And, team does have an M-E
Hey, Korey (nee Corey):
Anytime you want to make consecutive good throws is fine by me. To pick on Todd for one throw? Hell. The world can pick on you for 1 bad at bat. Per day. Every day. For your career.
Here’s all you have to know about Todd’s arm vs. yours: Runners tag up on you all the time. They don’t on Todd.
Nice to see you back batting seventh again so you don’t screw up the first inning like you did yesterday. Keep your head down, and swing hard on that pitch 7 feet over your head.