He hadn’t had a hit in three weeks.
He’d only come through with hits four times in 40 pinch hit at bats.
But for some reason, when Daryle Ward, yes, the Fat Kangaroo himself, dug in with one out in the ninth inning on Friday night in Florida, you just had a feeling.
Down 5-3 the Cubs were done, dead, beaten for a tenth straight time in Florida. No rhyme or reason for it, just another loss in the sweaty cesspool of Joe Robbie Blockbuster Pro Player Stadium.
But something about the moment just seemed ripe for it to become a moment.
The first pitch whizzed by Ward for a strike. The look on his face told it all.
It said, “Oh, shit.”
He’d let a fastball, right down the middle go without as much as a wave at it.
In most pinch hit at bats you get one pitch to hit. Sometimes it’s the first pitch, and you could tell Daryle thought this one of those.
Certainly Kevin Gregg wouldn’t be dumb enough to throw Daryle another fastball, right?
He stood and watched it for so long that Bobby Cox will probably have to throw at some San Francisco Giants tomorrow. But why the fuck not? It was a bomb. And it had to feel good.
He told Len and Bob after the game, “I was born to hit a fastball.”
Sure looked like it in the ninth.
Kerry Wood made it exciting and hit two guys in the ninth (only one got to go to first, though) and walked one and still nailed down the save.
It was one of those wins that would make you believe something great was starting to happen…but hell, we’ve had that feeling for months now. It’s just another one for the highlight reel.
Oh, and if you haven’t noticed, the Cubs road record is now 30-30, and when you add that to the Cubs absurd 45-17 home record?
It’s pretty supergoddamnedawesome is what it is.
August 16th, 2008 at 2:37 am
All due credit to Kerm, I am having a Daryle Ward Burrito for breakfast.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Beautiful win, and Milwaukee lost, but Zambrano is obviously injured, and that takes precedence. He’s pitching like he has only two other times in his career- prior to his stint on the DL this year, and- much more similarly- his postseason work in ’03, when after his first full season his arm was dead. It’s not good. This team will not win the World Series, or even the NLDS, with Z pitching this way. I dunno if they need to rest him another two weeks or what. But it’s not just ‘in his head.’ He’s hurt.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Shut up, Paul. You’re a douche.
August 16th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Calm down, Pauly. Last August I was 0-4 with a 7.06 ERA.
In September I went 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA.
In my career the only month I have a losing record, or an ERA over 4.00 in is August. It happens every year. Perhaps you didn’t get the memo when you jumped on the bandwagon last week.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I man love you Carlos Zambrano. Ditto for Fat Kangaroo!
August 16th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
’bout motherfuckin’ time.
August 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
New Desipio format again, Dolan?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
It doesn’t happen ‘every year’ at all. It happened last year. That’s- a pretty small sample size, I think. Fact is neither of us knows for sure what the situation is, but I’ve seen him pitch like this before and it was in the ’03 playoffs when his arm was shot. It’s not just numbers, it’s the way he’s getting hit. Maybe he’ll be fine again. But last year he didn’t get shut down in June with a shoulder problem, either.
And considering I’ve obviously been posting at a Cubs board for several years now, I don’t know how I’m jumping on any bandwagon.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I just said there were some guys on the roster, simply because they were good hecklers.
He cant hit the ball for shit, but goddamnit if he aint one of the best hecklers i’ve ever seen.
August 17th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Um Paulie….obviously you’ve been posting at another Cubs board for several years. I read the Tribune 6 part series they did on that, saw the 60 Minutes feature on you, and bought the DVD PBS produced on your ability to diagnose injuries armed only with a television. Don’t listen to these guys. The voices in your head are right.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Before you start typing, have some idea, first, of what you intend to say; second, of how best to say it, so that others will understand it, and your intended message will have been effectively conveyed.
Seriously I didn’t understand what the hell you were babbling about.
Post above you is funny, tho.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Paul, before you decide to post again, please give us your full resume of posting experience, because really, that’s going to make you less of a douche.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
A shame, Andy, that the MLB link on Ward’s homer is of whomever the asshat is that replaced Len Kasper in Florida, and not of Len Kasper. Oh well. That homer was awesome in any non Chip-language and made up for Ward’s 4-40. All is forgiven, Daryle, you fat bastard, and I’m sorry I doubted you.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:20 am
How is that a guy is injured but still throws an assload 94-MPH fastballs? I guess he could have toe injury or something? DOOOOOOOOOOM?
August 18th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Zambrano goes through his annual (yes annual) slump and we come out of the woodwork. Suddenly it’s 2003 all over again. Seriously Paul. Get a ******* life.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’m not sure, because it was 5 years ago, but wasn’t Carlos’ problem in the 03 playoffs that he was throwing the ball too hard which did not allow for the “sinker” part of his sinker ball to work. I believe they attributed this to him being young and overanxious so he overthrew. None of that sounds like he was injured or had a dead arm. Anyone can feel free to dispute this as I am going off of a memory drowned in tears and beers. I think Carlos will be fine. Cooler weather seems to help him. Paul, I don’t know what kind of wagon you are on, but it is obviously not the Cubs fan bandwagon. It’s okay to be cautious in your exuberance of a good Chicago team, but to completely dump on the team just because Carlos had a couple of bad games is inexcusable. In case you hadn’t noticed, this team kicks ass up and down the order (minus Marquis, but he won’t pitch in October) and up and down the lineup. They have the highest run differential and are tied for the most wins in the Majors. That doesn’t mean a World Series Championship, but it also doesn’t mean anyone should bitch about anything going on with this team. So please, take your “years of posting to Cubs blogs” and shove it up your ass as you drag it back to whatever team you actually like. Dikc.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:26 am
How am I dumping on the team? You people are ******* idiots.
And yea Apex, you wigger faggot, you’re right, he’s still throwing 94- just like in the ’03 playoffs when his arm was shot.