The strange thing is that apparently some Cubs analysts and (lots of) fans haven’t actually watched the team play in 2004 or 2005, because the hysterical reaction to another Kerry Wood injury just seems out of place. It sucks that he’s hurt again, and for the 1,124th time the Cubs are assuring us they took the “cautious” route by removing him from a game and that he could have kept pitching, but why take a chance? So this time after giving up moon shot homers to Adam Dunn, Junior Griffey and the great Felipe Lopez, Kerry was back in the trainer’s room saying his arm felt “tight.”
So now it’s back the familiar routine of shoulder exams, MRIs and no doubt a chance for Kerry to run his simulated games winning streak to 37. The strange reality of it is that it’s not that big of a deal.
Sure, if you had your choice you want a healthy Kerry Wood. But this is the Cubs’ third starter (at best). Last year the Astros lost Andy Pettitte and Wade Miller (and Tim Redding, though that probably helped the cause) and we know how that turned out. If Mark Prior or Carlos Zambrano go down (again, in Prior’s case), you’ll find me in the fetal position. Until then, just move Glendon Rusch back to the rotation where he’s comfortable, or bring up Rich Hill and let’s see what happens.
I’m sorry I can’t work up more angst for you, Kerry. But that well ran dry a long time ago.
The worst part of last night’s game, was the way Dusty Baker managed the game after the injury.
Kerry had gone three innings the Cubs were down 3-0. They were being handled by the great Aaron Harang (and where was Chip to make a hilarious Lemon Harang joke?) and our second hint that Wood was hurt (the first was a visit to the mound after Griffey’s homer in which you could read Larry Rothschild’s lips as he said, “Wow, you’ve got nothing tonight.”) was Mike Remlinger warming up furiously (well, as furiously as Mike Remlinger can do anything). Remlinger pitched the fourth and got through it. Then the Cubs mounted their version of a rally (they got a guy on base) and Michael Barrett batted as Ronny Cedeno took a spot in the on-deck circle.
You were optimistic that Dusty knew better than to press his luck with Remlinger going more than one inning.
But Barrett ended the inning and Cedeno went back to the dugout for a nap.
Remlinger’s re-emergence meant one thing. The game was about to end.
The decision to leave Remlinger in made no sense. Glendon Rusch was so warm in the bullpen that fans were cooking hot dogs on his forehead (at least I hope what we saw laying across his forehead were hot dogs…)
The Cubs are carrying 12 pitchers, an absurd luxury that actually worked in their favor on this night because Dusty could empty that pen and get through a short start without burning anybody out. But no.
Rusch stayed in the ‘pen because Dusty hoped Remlinger could get three more outs so he could pinch hit for Remlinger in the top of the sixth.
Even if you didn’t watch the game you know what happened. So how many runs did Remlinger give up?
Two.
Though, this dumbass manuever almost worked. Adam Dunn has only hit into two double plays all year but with runners on first and second and two outs he rolled one right to Todd Walker. Unfortunately, Todd was apparently sitting on a step stool and could not be troubled to actually charge the ball. He waited for it, then he inexplicably shot putted the ball to second base at approximately 19 miles per hour. Neifi took the throw and almost doubled Dunn off anyway.
The next batter doubled in two runs.
This wouldn’t have been so galling except Walker used that same dumbassed shot put throw on Tuesday night and almost let a Red beat out a routine grounder. Who is he, Al Orter?
(Fine, I know Al Orter threw the discus, but I don’t know any famous shot putters, so you can go cram it.)
Dusty used six pitchers anyway. Good thing he tried to squeeze an extra inning out of Remlinger.
Yesterday a Cubs’ fan site had a very long thread (it’s still going now) started by a guy with inside information about a trade that would happen today of Adam Dunn to the Cubs for Rich Hill, Sergio Mitre and Corey Patterson.
I think we all expect that Corey will next wear a Major League uniform that doesn’t have Cubs on it, and Mitre and Hill seem like logical targets for any team looking for young pitching.
Then, things started happening that took the trade from “Oh, that’s cute” to “Hey, maybe something is going on, here” status.
First, the Reds made a move around lunch time to activate Ryan Freel from the disabled list. Instead of disabling David Weathers (who wrenched his back on Tuesday–though he claims he’s fine now–sure) they waived outfielder Kenny Kelly and the Nationals claimed him. That’s not that big of a deal. Kelly sucks, hadn’t played much and isn’t a big loss. Except that the Reds knew that if they ever waived him that Jim Bowden would claim him for Washington and the Reds’ muckety mucks (Carl Linder and John Allen, especially) hate Jim Bowden. So that seemed odd.
Then, a couple hours later the Reds made an even curiouser move. Ten days ago GM Dan O’Brien had to defend not sending his favorite little guy, Anderson Machado, to the minors to recall Austin Kearns when injuries racked the Reds outfield to the point where Machado, an infielder had to go try to play outfield (to the amusement of everyone in attendance). O’Brien said he “guaranteed someone would claim Machado” if he had to try to sneak him through waivers back to AAA. O’Brien said he did not want to lose Machado. Besides, he said, with Dunn, Griffey and Wily Mo Pena all playing, why bring up Kearns to sit on the bench, while losing a player? That seemed logical.
So what did O’Brien do yesterday? He waived Machado, recalled Kearns and the Rockies claimed Machado. Oops.
Suddenly, the Reds were flush with corner outfielders again, and had a 40 man roster with 38 players on it. Hmm…
The source went back to NSBB and said he now “knew” that the trade was going to happen, but that the Reds wouldn’t do it with the Cubs in town and have to watch Dunn make his debut with the Cubs in front of the home fans.
The rumor made it to the Cubs broadcast booth (because I sent it there, though Len had the good sense not to say anything to Jim Hendry about it), and to the Reds’ booth (where Marty Brennaman enjoyed very much throwing it in Jim’s face). In the Reds’ booth, Hendry sounded apoplectic as he denied it.
So who knows? Maybe it wasn’t bogus. Maybe it would have happened if Kerry Wood’s arm hadn’t fallen off again, throwing the Cubs’ pitching staff into it’s favorite state…flux.
Maybe Dunn will get on a plane with the Cubs. And maybe I’ll learn how to travel through time this afternoon. Anything’s possible.
About the bet on Nomar’s wrist…are you willing to increase my chances by specifying which wrist?
If the Dunn deal was just for K-Patt and Sergio, I’d say do it. I don’t like throwing Hill in there unless the Reds have a catching prospect to send back.
Wow. First the groin and then the wrist? How will he find any release, if you know what I mean?
And how do the Sox still have any prospects to deal? I thought Kenny Williams emptied his farm system when he dealt for Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett.
Twice.
Me wife she tell Kenny she trade me to White Sock for that tasty little Shingo.
I’m the white Dontrelle! You can’t trade me! I’ll haunt you for years!
Or at least for six or seven starts with another team until everybody stops taking my curveball and whacking my 88 mph fastball.
I can’t believe it would take 60 pages of posts for a group of people to decide whether or not someone might or might not be telling the truth. The world needs new hobbies, we all suck.
Hey Hill, I’m in the ‘pen now, where I’m actually doing pretty well and I cleaned up your four inning-six run mess last night.
I think we should ban number four, I think he’s a troll and not really Roberto Alomar!
Don’t lie to me! I’m fragile! I get my hopes up over a baseball team so much that when things don’t turn out the way they were promised to me on a message board I wet my pants!
OMG #8 IS LYING, I KNOW FOR I AM THE TRUE NSBB GUY AND NOBODY CAN LIE TO ME, SOURCE PLZ.
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desipio just got spammed
Come here, Andy. I want to show you something.
Dunn = 2.5
Patterson = 0.0
Mitre = 1.6
Hill = 1.1
2.5 VS 2.7
reds, give us a little cash to close the deal
Spam! Where?
Yes, I was poster 14.
I know for a fact that the Dunn trade is going down. I am a Fed Ex driver, and yesterday I delivered 3 dozen cream filled- maple frosted Tim Horton’s donuts to Jim Hendry’s room. You know something is cooking when he has the good stuff over-nighted.
The Cubs are most likely to catch VD *from* the Cardinals.
Oh no! My source is revealed.
We used to get spammed on all the old threads, that’s why they close after 10 days now.
Jim Hendry in today’s sun times: “Without that bad stetch (the 8 game losing streak) we’d be in better shape.” Yeah, if only we could play teams like Pittsburgh and Cincinatti all the time instead of teams like Washington and Atlanta. It just isn’t fair.
If I were the GM, I wouldn’t say things like that.
What will Roberto Novoa do with his uniform (beside all the crap on the seat of his pants) if Dunn rolls into town?
GaborBako has been providing some much needed entertainment value to “that thread.”
I better give a call to John Elway and ask him some tips about selling cars. Maybe I can buy an arena football team too?
Will I exist today?
Hairston
Walker
Lee
Ramirez
Barrett
Burnitz
Cedeno
Murton
Maddux
Freel
Lopez
Griffey
Kearns
Dunn
Aurilia
Pena
Valentin
Milton
Cubs Live or Dead today? Lineup!
Lesser CF
Shot Putter 2B
MVP 1B
MVP Lite 3B
Walk Fest C
Short Bus RF
Ron Ce SS
Opie LF
Mr. 3000
Honest to God, make sure you read Greg Couch’s article.
I am so stupid. Like, really, really f%#@ing stupid.
How do I get to Greg Couch’s article?
Couch Companion:
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/SPORTS05/507190391/1016
I feel for Corey. You see, if it wasn’t for me being fat and old, I would have been a HOFer, just like him, who is battling being way too talented for this game. Corey was born to slay Lions, and fly with birds, and hunt sharks….or something.
I think he’s the next Ricky Williams, we’ll soon find out he has some sort of social disorder or confidence problem. Much like me, who is also all of those things too.
Really, I think all I need to do is find my hitting zone, and only swing at pitches in it.
Couch writes,
“You get the picture that the Cubs were letting Patterson rely on natural talent when he was young, and they should have been coaching him”
Now true-blue diehards may recall a quote attributed to me back around 1999/2000. Supposedly I instructed the minor-league instructors to not do ANTHING with Patterson’s swing. Apparently I am such an arrogant asswipe who was evidently handed the baseball-hitting tablets directly from God that I wanted an untaught Patterson all for my own when he arrived at Wrigley. Great plan, huh?
I am a flaming assbag who took credit for Sammy Sosa’s turnaround, when GNC probably deserved more of the credit. I not only presided over some of the weakest hitting Cubs teams in the history of human beings, but I am still haunting the Cubs three years after my long-overdue dismissal.
You’re also haunting the Royals just months after your long-overdue dismissal.
Kerry Wood is worthless. Give up on the guy this year and try and trade him in the offseason. Package him and KPat and finally everyone of those deadbeats from the 2001 roster are history.
Really, between Kerry’s cunt problems and Korey’s freeswinging problems, these two stoogies have driven Cubs fans up a wall and out onto a ledge this year.
If you’re Jim Hendry, why do you continously put yourself through these types of headaches? It seems like a person would just get sick of it and make the problem go away.
Jim you made the Farns, the Gladitor, LaStunk, and others disappear. What’s another two more fucks to drop going to take?
Baker Basher
Today’s lineup–and pitcher–has the same stink as last Saturday when the Cubs lost 3-0 against Zach Duke. They won every game last week except for the one that I flew 1200 miles to see. Doh!
Good Dose Andy,
I have nothing to say except I love hearing Aubrey Huff’s name mentioned in trade rumors. I’m going to mention it now just for fun.
AUBREY HUFF…wee!