So the Cubs took two of three from the mighty Astros this weekend, cutting a game off the Astros lead over the Phightin’ Phils. The series had it all. From Corey Patterson nearly drowning in center field on Saturday to Jason Lane getting picked off third and trying to dig a hole in the mud to hide in. All that was missing was actual importance to the home team.
Oh, sure, if they go 5-1 they’ll finish 82-80 and Dusty will act like it’s a real accomplishment. When really, all that it will be is gloriously over. This season cannot end fast enough.
The White Sox are breathing a little bit easier and if the Tigers have really packed it in as they appear they have (they got swept in Kansas City in a four game series last week) a playoff spot is all but assured.
I do get a kick out of Sox “experts” who feel the pitching is back on track after their domination of the Twins this weekend. I mean really, if you can hold down a Twins lineup that included Terry Tiffee, Jason Tyner and Jason Bartlett, well you’re on your way to a pennant.
The Indians played pretty well in their series at Kansas City, but coughed up a 3-0 lead yesterday and caught a bad break in the top of the ninth. With the go ahead run on third Mike McDougal threw a pitch to Grady Sizemore that was behind him, Grady froze and in trying to get away from the ball put his front foot back as he lurched toward home plate. The ball hit him. If he gets out of the way the ball goes to the screen and the Indians lead.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Sizemore lost a flyball in the sun and Angel Berroa scored the winning run. The Indians knew the sun was bad because Terrence Long of the Royals had lost a ball in it a couple innings earlier.
The loss was the Indians’ third in their last 20 games.
Read that sentence again.
Obviously, Cleveland’s goal is to knock a game off the White Sox loss column lead so that they can pass the Sox with a three game sweep at the Jake. But in reality, the Indians should be more concerned with giving themselves some sort of lead in the AL Wild Card (it’s .5 a game right now).
If you’re rooting for the Sox to make an early exit from the playoffs, the best way for that to happen is for Cleveland to win the wild card, forcing the Sox to play the Angels in round one. The Angels humiliated the Sox a couple weeks ago and have won eight of their last nine games.
Of course, Anaheim could still end up with a better record than the AL East winner (right now they have 89 wins while Boston and New York have 91) and then the Sox would play the East winner if the Indians get the wild card.
Ugh. I have no idea how this will play out. I’ll just root for the Indians this week because I’ve come to really like them. They’ll have their hands full Tuesday through Thursday with the spunky Devil Rays.
If you needed another reason to loathe the Marlins, how about the fact that their late season demise (while fun to watch) has taken some of the attention off of Dusty Baker’s complete failure with the Cubs. Nobody expected the Cubs to be out of the playoff hunt as early as they were, but nobody expected the Marlins to never make a serious run at the playoffs, either.
Every time another good team flops it takes just a little bit of the spotlight off of Dusty’s idiocy. I don’t like that. If anybody deserves the attention for doing nothing with something, it’s Dusty.
Instead, the Marlins ride a 22 win season from Dontrelle Willis to nowhere. They even got a good second half out of Josh Beckett (7-2, 3.40 ERA in 13 starts) and a ludicrous career year from Todd Jones (38 saves, 1.81 ERA) and…nothing.
Of course it didn’t help that Juan Pierre had an awful year (.322 OBP) and Mike Lowell fell off the planet (.236, 8 homers).
The Marlins went 1-5 during a six game road trip at the Mets and Braves and are now dead in the water.
So with a week to go, there’s only spot open in the National League (either Astros or Phillies) and the Cubs can have a big say in that. There are three spots open in the American League, though it appears the Sox are in, it’s just a matter of whether it’s from the AL Central or the wild card.
However, that doesn’t mean there’s not something else to keep an eye on in the National League.
Remember how last year all the pundits said that the Cardinals’ run to the World Series was derailed by Chris Carpenter’s injury? How losing their “ace” probably extended the NLCS and may have impacted the World Series?
Has anybody noticed how a “healthy” Carpenter is finishing the season?
On September 8 he went seven scoreless innings against the Mets and ran his record to 21-4 with a 2.21 ERA.
Then he gave up 11 hits and four runs in six innings against the Pirates in a game the Cardinals eventually won. OK, big deal.
Then he pitched against the Cubs and only made it four innings and gave up four runs. No problem. Just a little bump in the road.
Until his last start, of course.
At Milwaukee he went five and a third, gave up 12 hits and NINE earned runs. He faced thirty hitters and retired 14 of them (he had a couple double plays).
It could be nothing. But when you take a guy as historically fragile as Carpenter and add a month to his season (he’s only pitched 54 innings in September from 2002 to now), then expect to ride him through another month of the postseason…I’m not saying.
I’m just saying.
I missed 79 games last year and 58 this year. Don’t ruin the good memories of my uncharacteristically healthy 2003. I’d play about 50 games if I was signed by the Cubs.
Does anybody remember when I used to mean something?
“Gus Johnson watched Jimmy Smith go out of bounds on the two yard line, watched the referee waive his arms and signal the ball down at the two and kept yelling, “Touchdown Jaguars!†”
Uh… didn’t the Jags score a touchdown on that play?
I scored, but he’s right that the refs originally tried to spot the ball at the two. I didn’t hear the call, but if Gus kept yelling “touchdown” he’d have needed some sort of trivial psychic ability.
Chuck–
The play had to be reviewed first. The second offical “claimed’ he saw Smith go out of bounds, overruling the offical who ruled it a touchdown.
The second offical also apparently was told to burn down the east grandstands at the behest of his imaginary leprechaun.
I think the Packers are afraid to use the strategy of letting the other team score with a one point lead since I screwed up the math when I called for it in our Super Bowl loss to Denver. I did it in a tie game. Oops.
Hey Grady,
If you ever need to borrow my sunglasses, they’re on my hat!
Does this mean you guys don’t hate me? Can I start when I come back…please?
I am the white Jerome Walton.
Does anyone remember when I meant anything?
I was ripping Gus for taking so long to realize the refs hadn’t ruled it a TD.
And Grady, if you’re white Jerome Walton, then I must have blocked out all memory of Jerome being really, really good.
Grady leads the American league with 20 three hit games, and here are his September numbers.
ba .340
oba .415
slg. .649
ops 1.064
seven homers, six doubles and a triple
15 rbi
All while batting leadoff.
Grady Sizemore can’t hold my jock!!
… Damn, Chuck’s right this time. Gus Johnson should be applauded, not ripped, for calling the play accurately. The referee himself probably would have applauded Gus had he not waived his arms, as if they were Mike Remlinger.
Yup, put me in the Hall of Fame. Just like Jody Gerut and Rocco Baldelli, I’m a can’t miss guy.
Remember when Steve Stone and the like compared Rocco Balldelli to me? How’s that working out?
2005, Joe Crede: ba .254, oba .305, slg .455
2005, Grady Sizemore: ba .296, oba .355, slg .498
One of these players cannot hold the other’s jock. I leave it to you, Joe, to figure out which is which.
I know you’re joking, but you are right. Crede has been the most clutch hitter in Chicago, he’s the best defensive 3rd sacker in the game, and he’s got hustle. You know, he’s the opposite of Aramis.
#17, see #16.
Last I checked, I’m not a third baseman. Crede is more clutch than I am, and a better fielder. He’s usually a better hitter, but it’s an off year for him. Except this year, he only gets hits that MATTER. I’ll be watching the Sox celebrate their division championship on my field in a few days anyway.
I was amazed that you didnt rip Korey for refusing to see a sports shrink, BUT, that article (in the online Tribune this morning) has now mysteriously vanished from the site. Wish I would have saved it. I thought he doesnt want to do winter ball or anything else the Cubs want him to do, so I really hope that this selfish a-hole is traded in the offseason.
Why do I have to hear about this through the media? Why wouldn’t the Cubs come to me first to mention seeing a psychologist?
2005, Joe Crede: ba .254, oba .305, slg .455
career, Joe Crede: ba .255, oba .304, slg .439
Yeah, it’s a real off year for Joe. And I’d be careful about planning that division championship celebration… you might as well plan your “It’s been a nice year, too bad about our first-round loss” celebration while you’re at it.
Now, don’t you have a GED class or something to go see about? Pay careful attention during the “elementary statistics” part, you might learn something useful.
Um, 22, the sox just beat us pretty soundly. We gave up about a month ago, and aren’t that good anyway. We’re last in the league in runs, frankly, wwithout KC and Detroit, we ain’t even near .500. As far as the Tigers, they are awful. They might score 17 one game, and then go 5 consecutive games scoring 3 or less. That’s why their stats even look okay on offense. Truth is, you’re right, beating us and the Tigers doesn’t make you great, or even good, at this point. We both gave up long ago, and we stink on ice anyway.
But Hawk says I’m good.
You mean, we’re not good tests for playoff bound teams?
I’m not actually sure I’m white. Have you seen me with my hat off? I might be like a quarter-black or something. Same with Travis Hafner.
Actually, I think I’m a quarter mongoloid.
Gus Johnson didn’t notice the officials were not giving Jimmy the touchdown. CBS had a camera zoomed in on them putting the ball at the two and Smith waving at them frantically in protest and Gus was still screaming “Touchdown Jaguars!”
I was sitting there watching, wondering “What is Gus doing right now that he’s not actually looking at the field?” I came up with:
– Making himself a postgame sandwich
– Primping in front of a mirror in case he got to do a little postgame interview
– Screaming so loudly his eyes were closed
I think the third one is the winner.
Hey Twins (#23) … I agree with you. I was trying to help #19 learn a few things.
I’m just gonna come out and say it…I love bar skanks.
Oh, and #25 is the perfect definition of our Cubs.
Me dead!
I was the fucking tits. Great show if there ever was one.
Wait Wait Wait –
How in the heck could GB have forced overtime last week vs the Browns? After Heiden’s 60-yd TD, the Browns went up by 9.
Green Bay came back and scored a TD they otherwise wouldn’t have – no argument about that – but that cut the lead to two and then only had 0:04 to catch an onside kick and launch a Hail Mary with the intent of a TD or a defensive pass interference penalty deep enough to set up a potential game-winning FG.
Speaking of Don Adams,
If Sloth’s blog had been around during the first Nixon Adminstration, I’d have made his All-Majestic. Agent 99 was the bomb.
If I fall down and don’t score in Green Bay, the game’s over and Green Bay can’t score the last TD or have enough time for an onside kick.
Um, Todd, we all know you love bar skanks, but that time in San Diego might have been the first time you’ve ever hidden from a camera in your life!
If that camera had me, Todd would have faced it.
Barbara:
The bomb or Nude Bomb?
Reality Police is right. And so is Steve Heiden. I knew there was a Green Bay advantage to him scoring, but I didn’t go back and confirm it. It’s my Phil Rogers moment of the day.
Andy,
You’re about me from being in dumbass Phil’s sphere.
As I was running late for work this morning, I left my normal public-transport “reading material” at home. Furthermore, it being school holiday time, there are no 16 year old girls to surreptitiously look at. So, faced with a 45 minute anti-boredom endurance contest, I did the only possible thing and looked into my briefcase for some mind-occupying substances among the retinue of miscellaneous documents that live in such places.
And here was lucky enough to find print-outs of Desipio’s Award-Winning NFL Season previews from a few weeks ago. So it was with much pleasure that I re-read them – taking the entire trip – and enjoying myself immensely. They’re gold.
Thankyou Andy.
We lost yesterday’s game…big time
#42: YOU SUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!
I AM THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oops.
C’mon coach, Benson, my name’s Benson, it must be on the roster.
Yes, No. 43 I lost big time… to Philadelphia. My brother Ron is the guy to blame for the shitty offense!
Anybody else get the feeling that I’ve been living off that Randy Moss interception from 2003?
A couple more shit-tastic games like Sunday, and y’all won’t be able to tell me apart from Lemuel Stinson
OVER RATED! Clap. Clap. Clapclapclap.
Hey Tillman, you suck.
Hey, dudes. Sup?
Am I too late for this party?
BTW- Jeremy Lincoln. WOW. What a catch.
Anybody remember my lousy ass?
Yes Richard, unfortunately we do remember you.
What’s up guys.
One of the funniest things Buddy Ryan ever said was when he said that “LA” stood for “Lazy Ass”.
In addition to being the one weak link on the ’85 defense, I’m also evidently retarded. Friggin’ Reggie Phillips is still cashing in on the ’85 Bears and, even though I was a starter, I prefer to stay the hell away from that team. It’s the simplest cash cow going, but I’m M.I.A.
Remember me? No. Didn’t think so.
You couldn’t hold my jock Mike.
Shutup Frazier or I’ll also put an end to your coaching career.
A reverse? Isn’t the lead big enough? Oh well…what’s the worst that can happen?
So we’re left dregging up mediocre cornerbacks from the past, I guess.
Anybody old enough to remember Rueben Henderson?
I’m about halfway through John Mullin’s new book on the ’85 Bears. It does a pretty good job of highlighting the building process of the early ’80s, and I’m sure will discuss how they didn’t win more than the one Super Bowl and how they fell apart.
I have a no-hitter through 4 this afternoon, boys.
Never mind. I am now self-destructing. You’re welcome, Ozzie!
Damn you Ortiz, you Dominican f$@#!. 3-1 Red Sox.
I play for Notre Dame. My name gets to haunt Andy’s past and present.
OK, I’ve gone 6, the Bosox lead 3-1. A win makes things a lot more interesting for the White Sox.
You want interesting? Last night Konerko banged 3 fat Polish groupies on the trainer’s table, while Crash Rownad watched and beat off using Icy Hot, all the while yelling “feel the burn Paulie, feel it.” Your move Wakefield.
Holler if you remember me!
Free. Agent. Bust.
I was actually decent.
I was John Mangum’s wife, might still be…anyway, I am absolutely, drop dead gorgeous. Brunette, hot body, with a pair of snack trays you could eat off for months.
So was I Mark.
Woops.
Yo bitches, I come correct. Anybody need a mortgage payment? I suck.
Who the fuck invited all these safeties? Carter? Carrier? Mangum? Get the fuck out of here! Mo Douglass, don’t even THINK about dancing your ass over here neither.
Red Sox win game 1… uh oh…
Hey R-Dub, how bout a block?