If I’m not mistaken (though normally I am at an astounding rate) the Cubs have scored at least eight runs in seven of their last nine games. The Cubs! This can’t be true, right? This is the team last year that considered a four run game to be an offensive explosion.
Suddenly, everybody in the lineup is a threat to go deep. Suddenly, the middle of the order is a frightening place for opposing pitchers.
Suddenly, the starting pitchers don’t have to throw shutouts to win games.
Who knew?
On last night’s broadcast Steve Stone said (and apparently Mike Murphy heard him, too) that the Cubs have six guys in the lineup who could legitimately hit 30 homers this year.
Six?
Let’s see: Sammy? Sure.
Aramis? Yup.
Derrek Lee? It’s a possibility.
Moises? He hasn’t hit 30 since 2000. Not a good bet.
Corey? He could, but he was on a pace to hit 25 last year when he got hurt, so probably not.
Mike Barrett? He’s got four in 11 games, but his career high is TWELVE! No.
Todd Walker hit 17 once, but he played half that season with the Rockies.
Alex Gonzalez hit 20 last year and it was his career high.
Todd Hollandsworth’s career high is 19 and he played every day, which he doesn’t now.
So it looks like Stone said six, but meant three.
This, after all is the guy who explained last year that the Red Sox traded Jeff Bagwell to the Astros in 1990 because they were set at first and third. With CECIL COOPER and BUTCH HOBSON!
Nineteen ninety? Or Nineteen eighty? Yikes.
Regardless, the Cubs do have an explosive offense, and often times it doesn’t explode all over themselves, which is a nice change of pace.
Last night they staked the always insane Carlos Zambrano to a four run lead before he stepped out of the dugout, and then they piled on. Even last year when the offense began to click in August and September you could expect the Cubs to score early and then never again.
—
Longtime intrepid reader Robert Roos wrote in to share a hilarious link that you must see.
He also has a good point about Carol Slezak’s column yesterday about how “dangerous” it is around Wrigley before, during and after Cubs games.
Here’s what Robert had to say.
Check out Carol Slezak’s column lamenting the current state of Wrigleyville (you may also remember her column bitching about the lack of parking around her Wrigleyville condo last year). Just curious, when did the martians move Wrigley Field to her neighborhood? After all, as a sports “reporter”, she couldn’t have possibly known before she bought that there were going to be 81 professional sporting events in a place nicknamed the “world’s largest outdoor beer garden” around the corner each year. Words do not do this work of art justice. Suffice it say, NO sports column should EVER contain the word “ewwww”. Unreal.
Carol also used the word coif in the column, too. Yikes.
Here’s the thing about the area around Wrigleyville. It’s full of bars. Are we surprised there are drunk people around bars? When I get drunk, I’m normally near a bar. Or at a ballgame. Wrigleyville just means you can do both at the same time! As for the people around there bitching, they bitch about everything anyway. First they bitched that the Cubs sucked and their property was undervalued. Then they bitched that the Cubs were good and there was no where to park. Then they bitched that lights were coming. Then they bitched that the gay people were moving into the neighborhood. Then they bitched that there weren’t enough gay people and not all of them could get a rub and a tug every Friday. Then they bitched that frat boys and floozy sorority girls driving Jettas were moving in. Then they bitched that there weren’t enough cell towers in the neighborhood. It’s always something.
So just shut up.
Links to come later…
Wait–
You mean there’s a world that exists WEST of ASHLAND?!?!?!
As a Michigan alum, I have to tell you in Ann Arbor, the sports fans are not annoying snots who deserve to have the shit beat out of them, there is no imbibing anywhere in town, and the townies all love us.
The world is flat and the edge is Irving Park Road.
I love that. In the shallow, yuppified bubble that she lives in, Ms. Slezak defines the eastern border of "Wrigleyville" as Clark Street.
Clark Street. East border. That’s precious. Clark Street, which happens to run WEST of the ballpark. This demarcation by Carol "Rand McNally" Slezak would exclude–oh, let’s see–Murphy’s, Sports Corner and Hi-Tops to name just three overflowing bars.
Has she ever heard of Sheffield Avenue or does this jaded, solipsistic nitwit find herself to deathly afraid to actually cross Clark Street?
Evidently, the U of M Geography Department is underfunded.
Not to mention their Journalism Department.
Just another civic embarassment employed by the Sun-Times Sports Department. Who’s running the show over there–Jim Frey?
I see the local sports media has already picked this year’s "Cub’s issue that we beat into the ground", replacing last year’s premium ticket scalping operation. I’ve already heard about it from Boers and Berstein, Mike Murphy and Carol Slezak. I’m sure Mariotti will weigh in (heavily) on this any time now.
A couple of things:
Somebody should tell Carol Slezak and those other whiners that 15-20 years ago, there were NO $400,000 condos or $2000 a month apartments in Wrigleyville. The neighborhood was in bad shape, and there were no bars, or restaurants. Once the Cubs popularity reached its peak, and businesses saw that they could expect 20-30 thousand people at the park 81 times a year, they moved in and made money (which provided more revenue to the city) and raised the property values.
The second thing is, everyone seems to imply that the crowds outside the park, are the problem of the Cubs. Well, guess what, if people who don’t have tickets to the game are getting drunk, its because of the neighborhood bars, not the Cubs. If locals want to stop drunks from roaming around during the Cubs game, why don’t they get some balls and try to get an ordinance passed limiting the times that liquor can be sold OUTSIDE the park on game days?
"If locals want to stop drunks from roaming around during the Cubs game, why don’t they get some balls and try to get an ordinance passed limiting the times that liquor can be sold OUTSIDE the park on game days?"
Because, CT, that’s too logical, and it doesn’t sell papers like self-righteous bleating about Tribco.
Besides, you need to heed Sloth’s advice and turn off the SCORE. It long ago became a mockery of itself. So just turn it off.
Forever.
Except Thursdays at 9 AM when Jimmy Piersall’s on.
Mike, sorry, I didn’t mean to drag logic into this.
I try to turn off the SCORE, but I can’t. I ride the train into the city every morning, and I need to listen to something that will keep me awake, without making me think. That’s Murph and Fred.
So, you’re saying The Score was good radio when I ran the morning zoo? LOOK ALIVE, WILL YA???
And I’ve forgotten the name of my newsman who is now dead.
I noticed that her geography was a little off there too, Mike. You think she would define Wrigleyville as an area that actually contained, oh, I don’t know, maybe – WRIGLEY FIELD?!?!?!
And another thing, 200,000 people at a sporting event should not be as big an issue as she makes it. If NASCAR can control half-a-million gun toting, Busch Light drinking, wife/sister swapping hillbillys every Sunday, a sophisticated city like Chitown should be able to come up with some way to address her "issues".
Among my favorite people are the ones who buy homes near an airport and who then file a lawsuit against the airport, the city, all of the airlines and each of their neighbors because of the noise.
Hell, Carol, we get mor people into the Big House on a Saturday as the Cubs get in a 3-game series. And they’re all drunk college students, or drunk assembly line workers, or drunk Lions fans, or other menaces to society.
Of course, as you know, we’re Michigan. When the Ann Arbor Dept. of Sewers shows up to take care of some plumbing issues, it’s not as disgusting a prospect.
Talking about us Stew?
I’m glad to see that prople have abandoned Murph & Fred after listening to the crap that I spewed every morning with The Bull & The Bear.
Back then, even my wife listed to Fox Sports Radio in morning drive.
You’re missing one whale of a show today. I’ve given my review of a delightful frisee with salmon lardons and a walnut viniagrette that I shared with my parents last weekend; giggled uncontrollably at my Dusty Baker impersonation, saying "Awww Man!!!!" to everything; and have made my daily reference about how my 2 year old daughter Zoe loves black men.
I’ve also managed to patronize every "celebrity" caller, and talked down to every listener who has disagreed with me.
Have no fear — you can catch a live replay again tomorrow at 10AM.
Idiot, you forgot to mention the name of the University you went to!
I’m the dead, news-reading sidekick of Tom Shaer’s. At least I THINK my first name was Tom.
Good times.
In fairness to Slezak, Clark runs at an angle there and meets up with Sheffield at about Roscoe. Being generous to her, we could assume she’s talking about Clark/Sheffield/Roscoe as the Southeast corner and extending North to Grace and Sheffield. Still, it’s sloppy.
Usually you should use a North-South street to indicate an eastern or western border. Sheffield would have encompassed a much more accurate area.
But she’s a transplant, someone who wouldn’t know where anything out of downtown or her happy Lakeview neighborhood is.
Why are so many columnists wasting ink on Rob Gallas'(Sox promotions director) resignation today? Who cares?
Why are so many people who live in the sticks so worried about my geography?
Because he’s "one of theirs". These morans think we care about their stupid, self-congratulatory fraternity.
I can’t wait to listen to Piersall tomorrow at 9 AM (my only 1/2 hr. of listening to the SCORE), and hear how he tried to strangle Gallas to death.
Uh, Carol, try strolling down Lincoln (I know, it’s tough, the street isn’t North/South or East/West) any night of the week, all year.
Drunk fratties are everywhere. It’s a big city, and they have lots of cheap beer.
And, as someone who had to live at Roscoe and Western (right next to a lovely ‘Cubs Parking Here’ sign), you know what you’re getting into when you move there.
Trees are good for pissin’ on, just stare at their girlfriend when they do it.
Hey all y’all…Here was best thing about the Tom Shaer/Tom Webb/Monsters of The Midday/Heavy Fuel Crew/820AM era.
Murph’s show would start at 6PM, & the station would sign-off at 6:40PM.
I would call Murph in my squeaky high-pitch voice, try to sound well-versed by using polysyllabic words incorrectly, and ramble incoherently for 35 minutes. Since I was the only caller, Murph would never cut me off.
And then he would sign off.
LOL
Please! Donate!!!
This is what I’ve become since The Score took away my credentials!
I don’t think enough attention has been paid to the resignation of Sux’ promotions director Rob Gallas.
He was a true innovator.
Who else had the vision to hold a "whup his ass good, Pa" night?
Grobber, you should have hung on to the rights to that Lee Elia tape, you’d have been rich!
Screw you Reinsdorf!
Now that I’ve resigned, he says my lame little Beatles tribute band can no longer give pregame concerts.
What is up with Grobber’s poll?
I can’t believe only ONE person thinks that listenng to me talk about my daily workout routines, my juco coaching days, and my fawning over Lance McCallister makes for the best sports talk in Chicago!
And, on top of that, the damn thing only allows me to vote once a day!
Here’s something new to argue about, it’s ESPN’s Power Rankings!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1786788
The Cubs are 15th. The Pirates are 14th, despite having lost 3 of 4 to the Cubs (Tuesday’s games were taken into account). The Sox are 7th and the Astros 1st. They are .5 and 1 game better than the Cubs respectively. Somebody over there smokes rocks.
My vision is one day for us to have an entire netword dedicated only to coverage of the Boston Red Sox – New York Yankees rivalry.
Oh, wait a minute. I guess that’s what ESPN already does.
The Paul Bako Meter rules.
Shouldn’t the Paul Bak-o-Meter perpetually be at God-awful?
I got 2 hits in my last start!
My first chance to face the Astros this year.
I sure like these guys.
I’m deader than Tom Webb. The equivalent of "None of the above" is leading Grobber’s poll.
Oh shut up Matt.
I think it’s hilarious that Mariotti hasn’t gotten a vote on that poll; even though there’s only about 25 cast, he’s the only one with a goose egg so far.
Not a single vote. Maybe he’ll finally "get it" and realize he his rah-rah celebrity worship doesn’t wash with Chicago fans, and pack his bags.
Ahh, who am I kidding? We’re cursed to have Eddie Munster looking back at us from the Sun-Times for a long time, but at least I’ve had some civic pride restored from looking at that poll (even if it probably is 90% Desipio readers)
As long as the checks don’t bounce I’ll do anything.
Can someone run my website for the next 5 minutes? I can’t put-off my weekly shower any longer. The dandruff keeps falling from my eyebrows into my eyes.
Allright my friends…
You’ve seen the poll.
You’ve read the results.
You’ve debated the merits.
I believe we can decisively draw the conclusion, that you — the well-informed Chicago sportsradio listener — has voiced your opinion with your own, inimitable style, grace, and knowledge.
Without a doubt, it is time…
ABSOLUTELY!
To rejuvinate…
C.O.S!!!!
Very simply, the best!!!!!
What, no love for me? My WMAQ AM-670 Sports Huddle was da bomb back in ’92.
Right?
Hello?
–crickets chirping–
If I hadn’t bolted for Ann Arbor, I could guarantee a minimum of 5 additional votes for Sports Central. And don’t forget the fine work I did once a month as the Saturday sports anchor on The Superstation.
"This the Chicago Cubs Baseball Network!!!"
If I wasn’t terrified of getting my ass kicked again outside Sux Park, I would own this town by now!
I know I didn’t do sports–although I did come on after Chet–but I just wanted to throw a shout out.
Hate to keep feeding this beast, but I was at the in-law’s place in western Michigan in December, during the last week of the NFL season (when the Bears got pantsed by KC). This was when the Lions upset the Rams and took away home field from them.
Anyway, the local Grand Rapids FOX affiliate had a Lions postgame and guess who was doing the live remote from a bar? None other than Bill Simonson himself.
He even had a ring on his left ring finger and the studio crew was busting his balls about recently getting hitched and my only thought while looking at his bloated face on TV (he looked a lot worse than he had in Chicago–even AFTER he got his ass kicked in Bridgeport) was, "Damn, I feel sorry for the poor soul that he climbs on top of at night"
I would think that’s quite a career detour, going from your own show in Chicago to hosting a lame remote for a bunch of Dutch Reformers (whooppee!!) in a Grand Rapids bar.
Swirsky can talk all he wants ,but we all know that I was The Guy during the heyday of Chicago sportsradio!
My hosting of Sports central speaks for itself, not to mention my stellar work on Cubs pre-game.
Chicagoans, you didn’t know how good you had it. Me & Davey Nelson on the same Cubs broadcasting crew.
Did I ever remember to mention on my show that I think OJ is innocent?
Does anyone remember us? We had the overnight slot on Saturday nights a few years ago on The Score… Until we got canned for violating The Score’s policy that prohibits being funny and entertaining.
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