There are times when I actually feel sorry for the four guys who are paid to watch Cubs games and explains what happens and why on the field. All four would tell you it’s a pretty cake job, but there are times when they earn their money.
This is one of those times. Be it Len Kasper, Bob Brenly, Ron Santo or Pat Hughes (or even the new guy) how can you explain the incomprehensible. They show up for work every day with the expectation that something ludicrous is going to happen and they are going to have to describe it.
You have to hand it to the Cubs though. Their timing is impeccable.
In his pre-game meeting with reporters, Lou Piniella talked about how important it is that the Cubs improve their baserunning. Len and Bob talked about it in the first inning.
In the second inning, ten year (TEN YEAR) veteran Mark DeRosa took off for third base on a ground ball hit right in front of him. He was out by 20 feet.
The fielder’s choice put Michael Barrett on first. He ended up on second, and got picked off by the catcher. How does that ever happen?
Oh, Barrett was at his irritating best last night. Even the at bat that got DeRosa nailed at third was annoying. He tried to pull an outside pitch–one that would have easily advanced DeRosa if he’d just gone with it to right, not to mention that it might have been a hit that way. Then he gets picked off. Then he spends the night going through is full regimen of “watch me stand up to block the umpire on this pitch I want really high” and generally just moving around behind home plate for no apparent reason. No wonder he’s out of position so much on pitches, he can’t squat still. His “reach for the sky” effort as he called for high pitches finally made Bob Brenly snap.
Brenly wanted to now why he kept asking his sinkerball throwing pitcher to try to execute a high fastball on a night when the ball was flying out of the park. It was impossible to tell if Jason Marquis was having control issues or if he was just ignoring where Barrett was setting up from pitch to pitch and throwing it where he thought it should go.
But enough about Our Asshole Catcher (which, by the way is the only I will refer to him from now on).
I got to thinking about DeRosa’s baserunning. Here’s a guy who has only played for three managers in his big league career. Bobby Cox, Buck Showalter and Lou Piniella. No matter what you think of Buck, that’s three guys who don’t put up with that kind of dumbass baseball. And yet, after ten years of knowing what not to do and being held accountable if he did it, he still does it.
Granted, DeRosa seems to be one of the Cubs’ players who has a clue. He seems to understand situational baseball. But then you see him make a baserunning mistake that would get a nine year old yelled at, and it just makes you wonder what it is about putting on a Cubs uniform that drops a players’ IQ by 40 points.
In the case of Jock Jones it only dropped it 25 points, because you can’t lose 40 points off of 34.
DeRosa made up for his baserunning blunder, by giving the Roger Dorn “ole bullshit” treatment to a grounder a couple innings later. No harm, that error simply set up a three run homer. Oops.
After Monday’s game, Cubs.com inbedded (and imbredded) “journalist” Carrie Muskat called the Cubs three run ninth (in a 5-3 loss) a “spirited comeback.”
Gee, what was last night’s effort then? They were down 9-4 and loaded the bases with one out only to see Cornelius Floyd spit his gum farther than he move the baseball and Derrek Lee also whiff to end the threat. That one wasn’t “spirited.” Was it “gutsy?” Maybe it was “determined.”
I’d settle for “half-assed.”
In fact, that’s what we all settled for last night.
I’m not sure Barrett is an asshole, he’s just that goddamn stupid. He has no idea what the word “tomorrow” means. He keeps saying he’ll fix things “tomorrow”.
Hey numbnuts, tomorrow should have been day one of your violently worthless career. Fuck off and rot.
I might get to play “tomorrow.”
Might I suggest “Our Dumbshit Catcher” instead of “Asshole.” It’s more accurate and ODC flows off the tongue better OAC.
I’m willing to come out of retirement.
Me, too!!!
I’m available.
Put me in coach, even though i was Freyed and Zimmered.
Next year is the 100th Anniversary, shake and bake!!
At this point, I’d be an upgrade.
Shit, even I’LL give it a shot behind the plate.
life is too short to be a Cub fan
i am too short to be a Cub fan
We’ve been settling for me since 1908
That was a spirited blog Andy.
Please update me to read “Chicago Cubs and their fans.”
For the life of me, I can’t understand why I watch this dumb shit baseball. Maybe because some night I’ll just turn on the TV, and see that its’ “Lets burn the GM alive “night.
THis has nothing to do with our stupid ass catcher, but the picture of me on cubs.com where they have all of us cub all-star nominees makes me look about 75 years old.
Blackwell’s stint as a Cub was so traumatic that he can’t even remember what manager he played for… Herman Franks, Preston Gomez and Joey Amalfitano were the ones kicking his ass on a daily basis, not me.
Oops. My apologies to Jim. How could I forget the Preston Gomez era.
I’m Available
Admit it, you miss me.
I’m sure we’d at least take Barrett over…god it hurts to even…type. this. name…
…
Todd Hundley.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I’m working at Sears.
i’m ready – but only if Len get’s as school girl excited as Chipper did by calling me Joilet Jeff.
How bout me at catcher? I’m at Wrigley, can field better than Barret, my moustache has a higher baseball IQ than Barret, and I can probably hit better than Hank white.
Don’t forget about me! I never made an error in my career.