I get out of the thing I’m supposed to be doing right now and Andy isn’t here?
Geesh…
Nayer
on October 14, 2003 at 7:10 pm
I can take over!
First, let’s shut off the TV and open up our Excel spreadsheets
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:10 pm
First inning recap:
out
single
out
single
out
JL
on October 14, 2003 at 7:10 pm
I’m predicting it right now… that was the last time the marlins get a runner past first base the rest of the night.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:11 pm
Fine, fine. I’m here. Sorry. Sometimes work gets in the way.
I showed up and Castillo was on first, Prior walked Pudge then got Cabrera to hack at a slider for a fly out and then D Lee did what he’s been doing all week. He struck out.
After half an inning, Marlins 0, Cubs coming to bat.
And feast on Carl Pavano.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:12 pm
Replacing Andy temporarily…
The Franchise teases us for a moment but gives the wicked curve ball to Derrek Lee to keep it scoreless after the top of the first.
FOX thought they were covering Angels Baseball according to the graphic at the bottom of the screen at the end of the inning.
Miguel Cabrera showed why he’s still a 20-year old baseball player by swinging at a first pitch after a walk…
The Marlins held the Cubs scoreless in the first inning for the first time in the series in Game 5. I don’t think they’ll do that again tonight.
JL
on October 14, 2003 at 7:12 pm
Kenny’s going to lead off with a double, Grudz will bunt him over to third and Sosa will drive him in.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:14 pm
Welcome, Andy!
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:14 pm
Isn’t it scary that when I get into Andy Mode I suddenly get positive thoughts?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:14 pm
Atta boy, Kenny. Lofton singles to center.
Gruddy bunts him to second.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:14 pm
Thanks, guys.
Sammy’s up.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:15 pm
Sammy fouls one off Pudge and Pudge is limping. Is a broken too much to ask? Really?
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:16 pm
Well, I almost sold my Waveland Avenue standing room only tickets for $250 each today….
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:16 pm
Pudge faking an injury to try to psyche out Sammy here…
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:16 pm
That pitch was worst than the first… and he called that a ball.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:17 pm
Can’t Crawford get the runs again?
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:17 pm
I just hope Sammy’s bat isn’t afraid of curveball today.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:18 pm
That should have been toe, obviously.
Or a broken too, I suppose.
I have no idea.
Sammy doubles and The Franchise has his run!
Nice hitting by Sammy, there. Dumped it into right.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:18 pm
Sammy with a RBI double…
1-0 Cubs.
Sammy’s going the other way now too. He’s on fire…
JL
on October 14, 2003 at 7:18 pm
Sammy’s coming home on the up coming Moises Alou double.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:19 pm
sammy’s bat, nOT afraid of curveball, slices a blooper to right, and it’s WE 1 ThEY 0
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:19 pm
How many people are in the Cubs’ dugout? Sixty?
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:19 pm
Did we get a prediction Andy??
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:21 pm
Walk Alou to get to our best hitter.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:22 pm
Al Leiter is getting PAID to say this crap???
Steve Lyons is getting PAID to say this crap???
Thom Brennaman is getting PAID to say this crap???
Yikes.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:22 pm
Alou singles to the hole at short, Gonzalez fields it and unlike Luis "Lonnie Smith, Jr." Castillo, Sammy does not run into an out.
Runners at first and second for E-ramis.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:22 pm
Moises, with a "quick bat inside", dribbles an infield hit to short. Sammy stays at second.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:23 pm
Sammy w/ the good baserunning… I’m amazed… Aramis might be swinging at the first 3 pitches from the looks at the first one.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:23 pm
JK, my prediction tonight is that the Cubs will be the National League Champions. How’s that?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:24 pm
E-ramis lines very hard to left field.
Two down. Pick him up here Randall.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:25 pm
The ivy is brought to you by ivory Soap.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:26 pm
Simon hits one hard but right at Cabrera.
Even the outs were loud.
After one, Cubs one, Marlins 0.
Oh, Eliza!
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:26 pm
Two hard hit balls right at Florida fielders.
I am starting to think Mr. Pavano may not be long for this game.
Mark, you got your offense, good luck buddy…
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:27 pm
Simon lines hard to rightt, and after one, its:
Chi-N 1
Fla-N 0
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:28 pm
Sounds good Andy!! If so, its me streaking through the quad to the Gymnasium.
You just know tHom is going to try and emphasize Chicago’s security preparations in case of a clincher just so he can rub it in if it doesn’t happen. What were they supposed to do, pretend it wouldn’t happen?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:30 pm
Prior goes full to Lowell and uses the big part of the yard to get him out. Lowell flies to Kenny.
One out.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:31 pm
Is the wind blowing in? Seems like none of the balls are carrying out there right now.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:31 pm
Conine hits one that Simon should have caught, still a nice effort, but Conine reaches first.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:33 pm
Imagine that, the Cubs winning the TV poll???
Who said it was going on first? Andy Dolan.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:33 pm
Gonzalez grounds softly to Gruddy, Conine forced at second. Two out.
Another stupid Sprint PCS question. Even tHom has caught on and knows that the Cubs will win every poll.
Eww tHom is just creepy when he looks at the camera.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:33 pm
After 1 1/2;
FLA 0 0 0 2 0
CHI 1 1 3 0
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:33 pm
Prior shatters Pavano’s bat and he grounds to second. After one and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 7:33 pm
Good afternoon all. Things going well so far, keep it up, lads.
Here’s a better pool question: which commercial is worse? The Jeter/Steinbrenner Visa commercial, or the FOX commercial for "A Moment With Stan Hooper"? Both of them make me want to poke my eye out, personally.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:36 pm
On the first pitch (stop it!) Alex grounds to…himself?
One out.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:37 pm
Is tonight the night Bako finally gets a hold of one?
Perhaps not.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:38 pm
Thom blaming that one on the Cubs’ grounds crew not covering the outfield.
Yikes.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 7:39 pm
Since when is a 45 bouncer a "STRIKE TO FIRST"?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:39 pm
Bako grounds to short, but Gonzalez slips in the wet outfield grass. He still throws it, though he has no chance and despite the fact he was more likely to throw it into the dugout than get Bako out, Lyons loves it!
Jothththth Lewin lisping his way thwew a weport on the wet gwass.
Hiwarious.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:40 pm
Prior fails to get a bunt down, then does the fake bunt thing, and takes strike three.
Not his best effort.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:41 pm
Lofton grounds to first.
After two, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:43 pm
Should I mention the 24 season premiere is on my birthday?
Why are the standings flags still up on the scoreboard? Shouldn’t they all be taken down by now?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:45 pm
Gruddy’s wild ride in the NLCS continues. He throws one away and Pierre reaches. Actually, on the replay it showed Simon could have caught it before the bounce.
Blecch.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:45 pm
Simon’s lackluster defense cost us on that one, ignoring the scorer on that one…
Brutal.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:46 pm
Prior crosses up Bako and Bako drops it, sending Pierre to second.
This is horrific.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:46 pm
Is Paul Bako EVER going to catch a ball????????
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:47 pm
E-ramis makes a great play on a lined bunt by Castillo, he makes a diving, backhanded catch in foul territory. One out.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:48 pm
Aramis Ramirez catching it better than Bako right now.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:48 pm
Al is gushing about he Marlin’s bunts, and I’m thinking how happy he’d be playing for
Don Baylor
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:48 pm
Lyons playing agronomist, explaining that you can’t grow the same grass in Florida as in Illinois.
Pudge grounds to E-ramis, Pierre still at second.
JL
on October 14, 2003 at 7:49 pm
We haven’t seen a double clutch by E-ramis in 3 or 4 games now.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:50 pm
Lofton manages to turn a routine pop up into a sliding catch.
Whatever, it works.
After two and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0. More runs to follow in this half.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:52 pm
That inning ended up really well. Now if Mark can just keep his pitch count down a tad.
Greg Stempin
on October 14, 2003 at 7:53 pm
Hey! When do I get a mention tonight?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:53 pm
Gruddy hits a routiner (Mike Krukow) to right and Cabrera nearly plays it into a hit. That kid will botch one in right before the night’s over.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:54 pm
Sammy strikes out and tHom plays amateur pitching coach. Just shut up.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:56 pm
Pudge is Bizarro Damian Miller. He appeals almost every check swing, Miller appeals hardly any.
One, two, three.
Still 1-0 Cubs.
Sammy from Lakepoint
on October 14, 2003 at 7:57 pm
Slump? 500 home runs and ask about a slump?
Next.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:57 pm
Andy, I have this sick feeling we’re either going to score one tonight or twelve tonight…
I’m hoping for the latter, but expecting the former.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 7:59 pm
Lee flies deep to Kenny on the first pitch.
Gulp.
One out.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 7:59 pm
Prior’s throwing longer flyballs than I’d prefer right now…
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:00 pm
It’s scary when Steve Lyons seems to have a better game plan for pitching Mike Lowell than the Cubs do.
Maybe they’re still trying to trade for him?
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 8:00 pm
I assume conditions favour you guys in a windy and/or drizzly encounter?
Stay with it guys, don’t give them hope…
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:01 pm
Prior’s pitching to the conditions. The balls aren’t really carrying, and if they’ll get themselves out on flyballs…go get them. Not as deep as Lee’s though.
Lowell strikes out on a nasty pitch.
Two out.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:04 pm
Prior plants Conine with a fastball, and the crowd goes wild.
Lyons picks game six to break out a Jeff Conine raquetball story.
Sure looked like Conine DID NOT check his swing, but it’s ball four none the less.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:04 pm
What was that first base umpire smoking on that one?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:05 pm
It’s racquetball, isn’t it? Oh, who cares?
Prior misses his spot with a curve and still mows down evil Alex.
After three and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
E-ramis, Randall and Alex due up.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:05 pm
Looks like the umpires did the last thing the Marlins didn’t want to have happen…
Get Mark Prior mad.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:06 pm
Pitch count:
Pavano: 46
Prior: 60
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:06 pm
This is where the Cubs lineup is markedly improved. In June and July you got nothing after Sammy, Moises and Corey, now you can actually get some offense out of the middle and bottom of the order.
Let’s hope I’m prophetic.
Wait, I’m the prophet, so I AM prophetic.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:08 pm
How many times have we seen Prior find that groove in about the third or fourth inning, and just start cruising? Sure looked "groovy" that last inning.
I’m not saying.
I’m just saying.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:08 pm
Hey, there’s my phrase!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:09 pm
That’s a start!
E-ramis singles to lead off the fourth.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:09 pm
Simon ends that threat with a routine 643 double play.
Can he EVER take a pitch?
Just once maybe?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:12 pm
Alex walks. And here’s Paul Bako.
Could THIS be the much-awaited homer?
Hmm?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:12 pm
Nope. Routine grounder to second.
After four, still 1-0 Cubs.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:14 pm
Did anyone else see that Blair Hull ad?
Is he running for President too?
Karry Ling
on October 14, 2003 at 8:14 pm
Karry Ling here live from Waveland Avenue where I’m here with about 12,000 of my closest friends.
Hey, I haven’t seen this many Yuppies in one place since the porch fell off my apartment building!
I kid because I care. I’m here with Kip, a longtime Wrigleyville resident.
Kip, isn’t this a great way to meet girls?
"Uh, my name’s Kip. Do you think I’m really interested in girls?"
Uh..hey, thanks for the hug. Uh…woah, take it easy there tiger. The Asstros won’t be back into town until June.
Back to you, Andy. Help!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:15 pm
Apparently, Blair Hull thinks he’s running for Senate against George Bush.
Prior subdues Pavano on three pitches.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:17 pm
Pierre singles just over Gruddy. Might have been nice if Grud had actually raised his glove.
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 8:18 pm
My boss lived/worked in Georgia for about 5 years, and it was only a week ago he was asking me for regular score updates.
Obviously, I had to pretend I was more behind on things than I actually was… But the point is, since last Tuesday week, he hasn’t been asking me how the Cubs are going.
But I’m telling him.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:18 pm
Castillo takes two pitches and you can tell he’s pissed that Pierre’s still standing at first and hasn’t at least tried to steal second.
Luis takes a weak hack at a two strike pitch and fouls it off. Throw that one again, Mark.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:21 pm
Great throw by Bako and he nails Pierre trying to steal second…again.
Third time this series.
Full count now to Luis.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:22 pm
Foul pop by Castillo down the left field line and Alex makes a very nice catch. Prior likes it.
Wrigley likes it.
The Franchise, Lofton and Gruddy to start the fifth.
After four and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:22 pm
pitch count:
Pavano – who cares?
The Franchise – 75
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:23 pm
If Florida had made a play like that, Thom Brennaman would go on about it for five minutes after the break. Let’s see if he does that here.
JL
on October 14, 2003 at 8:25 pm
Come on Prior. At least one of the Cubs batter is making Pavano waste some pitches.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:26 pm
Prior strikes out, but makes Pavano throw seven pitches to do it.
Plus, Mark doesn’t have to run the bases. Although, the only Cubs starters you worry about on the bases are Clement (asthma) and Estes (moron.)
One out.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:27 pm
Sammy’s in the dugout checking his bats. He just put the one with the C on it away and picked out the one with the HR in it.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:27 pm
and Alphonseca – too many toes!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:28 pm
Lofton strikes out.
Suddenly, Carl Pavano is Cy Young.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:28 pm
Lyons: "Lofton was right on that pitch, he just missed it."
Uh..then he wasn’t "right on it."
Cy Young
on October 14, 2003 at 8:29 pm
I resent that
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:29 pm
Oh, no. Al is waving a baseball at the camera again.
Just make it stop.
He’s got his Marlins World Series ring on, too.
Gruddy whiffs. He’s been awful in this series.
After five, still Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 8:31 pm
…from this distance, I’d have said Grud is playing better here than he did against the Braves?
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:34 pm
Can anybody name our starting lineup for opening day? W/ out looking?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:34 pm
tHom says, "Remember in Pudge’s last at bat, Prior was 0-2 and walked him. That was in the first."
Huh? This is the sixth. Did they skip his turn once?
Prior strikes Pudge out.
One down.
11
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:35 pm
cf Patterson
2b Gruddy
rf Sosa
lf Alou
1b Choi
3b Bellhorn
ss Gonzalez
c Miller
p Wood
How’d I do?
Cabrera whiffs on a nasty pitch.
Two down.
10
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:36 pm
Thats right… how about our batting order?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:36 pm
Lee flies helplessly to right.
Wrigley is starting to buzz.
tHom is trying to kill that buzz.
We’re not buying.
After five and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
9
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:37 pm
Gruddy led off, then Bellhorn, Sosa, Alou, Patterson, Alou, Gonzo, Miller and Wood?
I’ll tell you something sad. When I was a kid, I could name that Star Wars thing on the Rebel Strike commercial. He’s a General from the end of the original Star Wars.
Yikes.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:39 pm
Thats a tough question.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:39 pm
Plus, I typed Alou a second time instead of Choi.
We did a gamecast that day, too.
It’s been a long, great season, and it’s about to get even better.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:40 pm
Andy, do you dress in Star Wars outfits and then wear them too bed?
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:40 pm
I like the offense we’ve got now better.
Although it still is maddeningly inconsistent.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:41 pm
Yeah that day won’t matter once we win the WS!!! Then I can die a happy man at the age of 22.
Admiral Ackbar
on October 14, 2003 at 8:41 pm
CORK!
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 8:41 pm
I have never heard the road crowd chant " check that bat " after one of Sammy’s broken bats.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:41 pm
Sammy breaks his bat. No cork in that one, of course tHom brings it up.
Sammy beats out the slow grounder to first.
Lyons (who sees the replay before we do, mind you) correctly sees that Sammy missed first. The throw got away and he’s on first anyway, though.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:42 pm
Pitch Count:
The Franchise – 86
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:42 pm
Dontrelle is up in the bullpen. Bring that meat in.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:43 pm
Moises singles and the sixth inning is open for business.
Two on, nobody out, here’s E-ramis.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:43 pm
Come on McKeon, PLEASE put in Willis!!!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:43 pm
Admiral, is this a trap?
And are you the guy from that commercial?
Wayne Rosenthal is on my TV again, as are two guys the Cubs have lit up so far, Chad Fox and Dontrelle in the bullpen.
Things are getting good.
D-Train from Aurora
on October 14, 2003 at 8:44 pm
Not me… puh-puh-puh-puh-please!
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:44 pm
Jack McKeon sends tthe pitching coach to Check on how Christy Matthewson is doing….
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:44 pm
tHom wants E-ramis to bunt here. Sure, then they walk Randall and pitch to Gonzo and Bako. Nice strategy.
E-ramis is not bunting. Ball one.
Admiral Ackbar
on October 14, 2003 at 8:45 pm
We have no choice against firepower of that magnitude! Prepare to retreat to Miami!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:46 pm
tHom says he saw Matt Williams bunt in this spot in the 2001 World Series, and Williams hadn’t had a sac bunt in seven years.
He also hadn’t had a hit in about two weeks.
E-ramis, grounds into a 643, but that’s a big runner at third for Randall here.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:46 pm
Brutal. Just brutal by E-Ramis.
Willis coming in now.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:46 pm
Dontrelle is coming in to pitch to Randall. Does Karros come up here?
I’d say no. Save Karros to hit for Bako later on.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:48 pm
I am humbled.
Admiral Akbar.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:48 pm
Here’s Karros.
Dontrelle can’t throw strikes anyway.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:49 pm
Here comes the black Rick Ankiel.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:50 pm
Told ya.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:50 pm
While the Fox guys are extolling (rightly) Pavano’s peformance, why don’t they wonder why he only got one start in the playoffs?
You know if he was a Cub, they’d be all over it.
WILD PITCH! Thanks D-train.
Sammy scores a huuuuuuge run.
2-0 Cubs.
Karros walks.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:50 pm
Hey, when did we trade Paul Bako the the Marlins?
It’s 2-0 Cubs!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:50 pm
Dusty’s a genius, Randall would have swung at all four of those.
Annie from Tatooine
on October 14, 2003 at 8:50 pm
The Force is not with you, Dontrelle!
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 8:51 pm
I rate Karros.
hey, a KD sighting. How’s things mate?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:51 pm
That was a terrible job of blocking a ball with a runner at third by Pudge.
Thanks, though.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:51 pm
McKeon tells Carl Hubbell to take his glove out of lye oil and start to warmin’ up.
Charlie
on October 14, 2003 at 8:52 pm
Anyone notice that bat-on-ball sounds are a single click and not the WGN double click?
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:52 pm
Jothth Lewin says its much wouder down on the fwield now.
Dontrelle gets Alex, but the Marlins hand us a run.
It’s a doozy and it’s 2-0 Cubs.
And, we’re into their pen now.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:52 pm
Cubs fans starting to smell it?
That’s Smart Bar’s garbage piling up …
Jack McKeon
on October 14, 2003 at 8:53 pm
Pudding! Pudding!
Wayne Rosenthal: "We don’t have anybody named pudding."
No, I want some pudding.
Hey!
Dontrelle Willis
on October 14, 2003 at 8:53 pm
I deserve to be MVP… without me, the Cubs don’t win this series.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:53 pm
I’m on pills, Matt, Willis stole my #35…
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:55 pm
Nice pantlode inducing shot of a routine flyball Fox just used. I thought that was gone. Stop it!
Lowell’s out.
One down.
8
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:56 pm
Fox comes through with a 1984 clip to make us all throw our remotes through the window.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:56 pm
Hey, did you guys know that in 1984 the Cubs won the first two games of the NLCS…
SHUT UP THOM and cut out that stupid videotape.
(Simmering)
Conine flies to center.
Two down.
7
Charlie
on October 14, 2003 at 8:57 pm
Gamecast is locked up. What’s TF’s pitch count?
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:57 pm
All these shots are pantload shots, ask Kip.
Dawson sporting the Cosby sweaters, nice.
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:57 pm
We are looking good for the series – only one ex-Cub on the roster!
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:58 pm
Nice shot of Andre Dawson sitting next to Tony Perez with his (try to not root to loudly for the Cubs) body language.
Hey, Bernie Mac is singing the stretch. What network is his TV show on?
I wonder if Fox will show him sing it?
Hmm?
Gonzalez flies to Sammy.
Three flyballs.
6
After six and a half, Cubs 2, Marlins 0.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 8:58 pm
Pantload, pantload, pantload.
Now Bernie Mac.
Anyone?
p. d.
on October 14, 2003 at 8:58 pm
pitch count:
the Franchise: 95
the D-train; 1 (wild)
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 8:59 pm
Bernie Mac: "Cause it’s root root for the CHAMPS! CHAMPS!"
I meant the matchup pitching-wise. Wood v. Redman?
10.5 innings left.
on October 14, 2003 at 9:40 pm
Andy,
what about the New Cubs?
I’m serious. Don’t fucking lose it now.
How can this happen?
on October 14, 2003 at 9:41 pm
How? No one can have karma this bad. We lose again, there is no way we bounce back tomorrow, Kerry Wood or not. I just can’t take this again, it is just like 84. Help.
Askins
on October 14, 2003 at 9:41 pm
and to think i was hoping to watch the cubbies in game 1 from the tvs in the l&l…shoulda known moving to chicago wouldn’t be that flawless.
have i thanked you for the apartment lately, kd?
jda
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:41 pm
Nice first pitch here by Remlinger. He gives up an RBI single to Pierre.
8-3.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 9:42 pm
I mean you guys have a Durham/Goat because you have someone else to blame a loss on.
Get over it, shape up, warm the Texan up and win Game 7.
It’s that fruggin’ easy.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:42 pm
The only thing to do here is to just get so torched tonight that you forget how close you were.
The Cubs bullpen seems to have just that in mind.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:43 pm
Mercifully it ends.
A horror show in the eighth. Marlins eight, Cubs three.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 9:44 pm
I feel very sorry for that guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if something terrible happens to him. I’m guessing he will get a police escort.
Just in case you were thinking about it, tHom is telling Cubs fans not to kill the left-field fan.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 9:44 pm
3-0 w/ one out in the 8th and this happens. I just want to punch someone.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:45 pm
Honestly though, who do you even blame this on? You can’t blame the short bus kid in the stands because even though Moises made a nice effort, we don’t know if he’d catch it. Plus, Gonzalez’s error wouldn’t have ended the inning anyway.
Just a group clusterfuck, I guess.
Argyles
on October 14, 2003 at 9:45 pm
Sorry, I have to leave now and vomit up a pint of ulcerated tissue and blood.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:46 pm
Sheer brilliance here from Jack. Needing two wins to win the NLCS he sends his closer out with a five run lead to pitch two innings.
Does he know he has the lead?
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 9:47 pm
That’s what I’m saying. It’s like blaming Hue Hollins for 1994 when we should have won that series anyway (couldn’t hit a FT).
Too dispirited, too soon, y’all. Have some fun with this and look forward to the Texan tomorrow.
JDA, I’m back online (hopefully tomorrow),
Total Wipeout
on October 14, 2003 at 9:47 pm
Do we honestly have any chance of getting off the mat tomorrow night? This is so devastating. My God.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:48 pm
Look at that fucking Nissan sign in the background.
It says Nissan Shift 1908.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 9:49 pm
We will be facing Redmond… have some faith.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:49 pm
Ahh, nothing says fun at the ballpark like crying fans.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:50 pm
If we truly are the Anti-Cubs, tomorrow will be the day we prove it once and for all.
Or disprove it.
Cubs go 1-2-3 in the eighth.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 9:52 pm
Worst part about the whole thing, I promise I am a bigger fan that that dumb ass. And I am sitting at home watching it on TV and he was sitting front row and costs us the biggest game in Cubs history up to this point.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:53 pm
El Pulpo in to pitch the ninth.
Ramon in at short. Alex is in the locker room flogging himself.
Pudge lines to center.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 9:53 pm
I guess this is where Kevorkian comes in real handily.
On the bright side??
on October 14, 2003 at 9:54 pm
Tomorrow night Kerry Wood gets the chance to be the biggest sports hero in Chicago history–bigger than MJ, bigger than Sweetness, bigger than anyone. Let’s hope he does it.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:54 pm
How typically Cub is it that our Jeffrey Maier wannabe does it when we’re in the field?
I guarantee you that by tomorrow we’ll know what that kid’s name is. And we shouldn’t.
Mattus
on October 14, 2003 at 9:55 pm
I’m off for now.
See you here tomorrow.
Chins up, people.
later KD.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:55 pm
Derek Lee hits into a double play. See, Pulpo should have pitched the eighth!
OK, maybe not.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:58 pm
I hate to admit this, but I’m sitting here trying to be pessimistic about tomorrow, so I don’t get my hopes crushed again.
I can’t. That’s how dumb I am.
Then again, the sheer speed of the eight run eighth will haunt us all night tomorrow.
But this is not as "crushing" as the Red Sox in 1986. They were one strike away from a world championship seven times. We were five outs from a pennant.
Still sucks. But more in the piss you off kind of way than in the leave you on bed bleeding to death.
Fuck the fish. All they did tonight was piss us off.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 9:58 pm
Cheers, Matt.
Either six runs this inning or one run tomorrow.
Turn that electric oven off.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 9:59 pm
Ugy Urbina still in there in the ninth. This makes no sense. Hopefully it costs them tomorrow.
Lyons says the Cubs security took the fan out to "protect him." Cubs security could very well be trying to bludgeon him to death right now.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 10:01 pm
tHom is trying to protect the infamous fan. I’m not blaming that guy for the loss. I don’t see Moises making that catch. But I do blame him for being dumb enough to try and catch that ball.
Ramon flies out. Two down.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 10:01 pm
Andy, we will win it tomorrow! I promise this. Wood will throw a shutout Cubs will go to the world series. Go Cubs!!!
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 10:02 pm
He was making that catch. O well, we live to play another day.
Andy
on October 14, 2003 at 10:02 pm
Kenny pops out and we’re off to a seventh game tomorrow night.
Florida wins 8-3.
Psycho thinks the pressure is on the Cubs tomorrow. I think if the Marlins want to go to the World Series, it’s on them, too.
Well, tomorrow night, we’ll try and get through it tomorrow without a horrendous crash.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 10:04 pm
JK, if Wood pitches a shutout tomorrow somehow the Cubs would blow it.
JK
on October 14, 2003 at 10:06 pm
B. C., I know its hard, but lets have some faith. Wood will pitch well and we will score 6 or 7. Go Cubs!!
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 10:16 pm
It’s hard to be confident when your team chokes it away…
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 10:27 pm
When people look up chokers in the dictionary next year, they’re going to be seeing the picture of the 2003 Cubs right by the pic of the 1984 Cubs.
CT
on October 14, 2003 at 10:31 pm
B.C., different situation, the ’84 team’s big choke came in the final game of the series. This team has been battered and beaten all year. They’ll get off the canvas and give it a go tomorrow.
B.C.
on October 14, 2003 at 10:44 pm
And, to think, all of this could have been simply avoided by Dusty Baker not pitching Mark Guthrie in Game 1 of the series. That’s going to come back and bite us in the ass, guaranteed.
KD
on October 14, 2003 at 10:47 pm
There’s a lot of things to dislike about Cub fans, but it’s this defeatist attitide that gets to me the most.
Game 7, at home, with Kerry Wood on your side. Things could be a lot worse. Kick some ass tomorrow.
Yeah, if we’d been swept by the Braves we wouldn’t be so freaking sick right now.
Losing to a better team is one thing. Losing to a just above average team is another.
Kerry Lee Wood
on October 15, 2003 at 2:20 am
All you pussies quit pissing and moaning. Fuck the nerd that knocked the ball from Alou, fuck all this goat shit, fuck the Marlins, fuck T-Hom Brennaman and the other two closet queers in the Fox booth.
Tomorrow I put this team on my back and put us over the top. I’ll provide all the offense too if need be. Now Cubbie up and be a man about all this, tonight was just one game.
Must Kill the Marlins, Must Kill….
bob
on October 15, 2003 at 2:32 am
CUBS CHOKE! CUBS CHOKE!
GONZO CHOKES! THE GREAT DUSTY,SHOWN
WHY HE NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A PITCHER WARMING
UP WHEN PRIOR STARTS TO GET INTO
TROUBLE EARLY IN THE 8TH. DUSTY’S
EGO TO PROVE THAT HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT,GETS IN THE WAY OF HE EVER
BEING A CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER!
In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference. by texas hold’em
Anyone seen my flannel shirt?
Andy…. hello?
I’m lost too, can you find me?
I get out of the thing I’m supposed to be doing right now and Andy isn’t here?
Geesh…
I can take over!
First, let’s shut off the TV and open up our Excel spreadsheets
First inning recap:
out
single
out
single
out
I’m predicting it right now… that was the last time the marlins get a runner past first base the rest of the night.
Fine, fine. I’m here. Sorry. Sometimes work gets in the way.
I showed up and Castillo was on first, Prior walked Pudge then got Cabrera to hack at a slider for a fly out and then D Lee did what he’s been doing all week. He struck out.
After half an inning, Marlins 0, Cubs coming to bat.
And feast on Carl Pavano.
Replacing Andy temporarily…
The Franchise teases us for a moment but gives the wicked curve ball to Derrek Lee to keep it scoreless after the top of the first.
FOX thought they were covering Angels Baseball according to the graphic at the bottom of the screen at the end of the inning.
Miguel Cabrera showed why he’s still a 20-year old baseball player by swinging at a first pitch after a walk…
The Marlins held the Cubs scoreless in the first inning for the first time in the series in Game 5. I don’t think they’ll do that again tonight.
Kenny’s going to lead off with a double, Grudz will bunt him over to third and Sosa will drive him in.
Welcome, Andy!
Isn’t it scary that when I get into Andy Mode I suddenly get positive thoughts?
Atta boy, Kenny. Lofton singles to center.
Gruddy bunts him to second.
Thanks, guys.
Sammy’s up.
Sammy fouls one off Pudge and Pudge is limping. Is a broken too much to ask? Really?
Well, I almost sold my Waveland Avenue standing room only tickets for $250 each today….
Pudge faking an injury to try to psyche out Sammy here…
That pitch was worst than the first… and he called that a ball.
Can’t Crawford get the runs again?
I just hope Sammy’s bat isn’t afraid of curveball today.
That should have been toe, obviously.
Or a broken too, I suppose.
I have no idea.
Sammy doubles and The Franchise has his run!
Nice hitting by Sammy, there. Dumped it into right.
Sammy with a RBI double…
1-0 Cubs.
Sammy’s going the other way now too. He’s on fire…
Sammy’s coming home on the up coming Moises Alou double.
sammy’s bat, nOT afraid of curveball, slices a blooper to right, and it’s WE 1 ThEY 0
How many people are in the Cubs’ dugout? Sixty?
Did we get a prediction Andy??
Walk Alou to get to our best hitter.
Al Leiter is getting PAID to say this crap???
Steve Lyons is getting PAID to say this crap???
Thom Brennaman is getting PAID to say this crap???
Yikes.
Alou singles to the hole at short, Gonzalez fields it and unlike Luis "Lonnie Smith, Jr." Castillo, Sammy does not run into an out.
Runners at first and second for E-ramis.
Moises, with a "quick bat inside", dribbles an infield hit to short. Sammy stays at second.
Sammy w/ the good baserunning… I’m amazed… Aramis might be swinging at the first 3 pitches from the looks at the first one.
JK, my prediction tonight is that the Cubs will be the National League Champions. How’s that?
E-ramis lines very hard to left field.
Two down. Pick him up here Randall.
The ivy is brought to you by ivory Soap.
Simon hits one hard but right at Cabrera.
Even the outs were loud.
After one, Cubs one, Marlins 0.
Oh, Eliza!
Two hard hit balls right at Florida fielders.
I am starting to think Mr. Pavano may not be long for this game.
Mark, you got your offense, good luck buddy…
Simon lines hard to rightt, and after one, its:
Chi-N 1
Fla-N 0
Sounds good Andy!! If so, its me streaking through the quad to the Gymnasium.
Good God! It’s raining!
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prior is a little wild. Not good.
You just know tHom is going to try and emphasize Chicago’s security preparations in case of a clincher just so he can rub it in if it doesn’t happen. What were they supposed to do, pretend it wouldn’t happen?
Prior goes full to Lowell and uses the big part of the yard to get him out. Lowell flies to Kenny.
One out.
Is the wind blowing in? Seems like none of the balls are carrying out there right now.
Conine hits one that Simon should have caught, still a nice effort, but Conine reaches first.
Imagine that, the Cubs winning the TV poll???
Who said it was going on first? Andy Dolan.
Gonzalez grounds softly to Gruddy, Conine forced at second. Two out.
Another stupid Sprint PCS question. Even tHom has caught on and knows that the Cubs will win every poll.
Eww tHom is just creepy when he looks at the camera.
After 1 1/2;
FLA 0 0 0 2 0
CHI 1 1 3 0
Prior shatters Pavano’s bat and he grounds to second. After one and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
Good afternoon all. Things going well so far, keep it up, lads.
And the Cubs aren’t doing badly, either…
Here’s a better pool question: which commercial is worse? The Jeter/Steinbrenner Visa commercial, or the FOX commercial for "A Moment With Stan Hooper"? Both of them make me want to poke my eye out, personally.
On the first pitch (stop it!) Alex grounds to…himself?
One out.
Is tonight the night Bako finally gets a hold of one?
Perhaps not.
Thom blaming that one on the Cubs’ grounds crew not covering the outfield.
Yikes.
Since when is a 45 bouncer a "STRIKE TO FIRST"?
Bako grounds to short, but Gonzalez slips in the wet outfield grass. He still throws it, though he has no chance and despite the fact he was more likely to throw it into the dugout than get Bako out, Lyons loves it!
Jothththth Lewin lisping his way thwew a weport on the wet gwass.
Hiwarious.
Prior fails to get a bunt down, then does the fake bunt thing, and takes strike three.
Not his best effort.
Lofton grounds to first.
After two, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
Should I mention the 24 season premiere is on my birthday?
Why are the standings flags still up on the scoreboard? Shouldn’t they all be taken down by now?
Gruddy’s wild ride in the NLCS continues. He throws one away and Pierre reaches. Actually, on the replay it showed Simon could have caught it before the bounce.
Blecch.
Simon’s lackluster defense cost us on that one, ignoring the scorer on that one…
Brutal.
Prior crosses up Bako and Bako drops it, sending Pierre to second.
This is horrific.
Is Paul Bako EVER going to catch a ball????????
E-ramis makes a great play on a lined bunt by Castillo, he makes a diving, backhanded catch in foul territory. One out.
Aramis Ramirez catching it better than Bako right now.
Al is gushing about he Marlin’s bunts, and I’m thinking how happy he’d be playing for
Don Baylor
Lyons playing agronomist, explaining that you can’t grow the same grass in Florida as in Illinois.
Pudge grounds to E-ramis, Pierre still at second.
We haven’t seen a double clutch by E-ramis in 3 or 4 games now.
Lofton manages to turn a routine pop up into a sliding catch.
Whatever, it works.
After two and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0. More runs to follow in this half.
That inning ended up really well. Now if Mark can just keep his pitch count down a tad.
Hey! When do I get a mention tonight?
Gruddy hits a routiner (Mike Krukow) to right and Cabrera nearly plays it into a hit. That kid will botch one in right before the night’s over.
Sammy strikes out and tHom plays amateur pitching coach. Just shut up.
Pudge is Bizarro Damian Miller. He appeals almost every check swing, Miller appeals hardly any.
One, two, three.
Still 1-0 Cubs.
Slump? 500 home runs and ask about a slump?
Next.
Andy, I have this sick feeling we’re either going to score one tonight or twelve tonight…
I’m hoping for the latter, but expecting the former.
Lee flies deep to Kenny on the first pitch.
Gulp.
One out.
Prior’s throwing longer flyballs than I’d prefer right now…
It’s scary when Steve Lyons seems to have a better game plan for pitching Mike Lowell than the Cubs do.
Maybe they’re still trying to trade for him?
I assume conditions favour you guys in a windy and/or drizzly encounter?
Stay with it guys, don’t give them hope…
Prior’s pitching to the conditions. The balls aren’t really carrying, and if they’ll get themselves out on flyballs…go get them. Not as deep as Lee’s though.
Lowell strikes out on a nasty pitch.
Two out.
Prior plants Conine with a fastball, and the crowd goes wild.
Lyons picks game six to break out a Jeff Conine raquetball story.
Sure looked like Conine DID NOT check his swing, but it’s ball four none the less.
What was that first base umpire smoking on that one?
It’s racquetball, isn’t it? Oh, who cares?
Prior misses his spot with a curve and still mows down evil Alex.
After three and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
E-ramis, Randall and Alex due up.
Looks like the umpires did the last thing the Marlins didn’t want to have happen…
Get Mark Prior mad.
Pitch count:
Pavano: 46
Prior: 60
This is where the Cubs lineup is markedly improved. In June and July you got nothing after Sammy, Moises and Corey, now you can actually get some offense out of the middle and bottom of the order.
Let’s hope I’m prophetic.
Wait, I’m the prophet, so I AM prophetic.
How many times have we seen Prior find that groove in about the third or fourth inning, and just start cruising? Sure looked "groovy" that last inning.
I’m not saying.
I’m just saying.
Hey, there’s my phrase!
That’s a start!
E-ramis singles to lead off the fourth.
Simon ends that threat with a routine 643 double play.
Can he EVER take a pitch?
Just once maybe?
Alex walks. And here’s Paul Bako.
Could THIS be the much-awaited homer?
Hmm?
Nope. Routine grounder to second.
After four, still 1-0 Cubs.
Did anyone else see that Blair Hull ad?
Is he running for President too?
Karry Ling here live from Waveland Avenue where I’m here with about 12,000 of my closest friends.
Hey, I haven’t seen this many Yuppies in one place since the porch fell off my apartment building!
I kid because I care. I’m here with Kip, a longtime Wrigleyville resident.
Kip, isn’t this a great way to meet girls?
"Uh, my name’s Kip. Do you think I’m really interested in girls?"
Uh..hey, thanks for the hug. Uh…woah, take it easy there tiger. The Asstros won’t be back into town until June.
Back to you, Andy. Help!
Apparently, Blair Hull thinks he’s running for Senate against George Bush.
Prior subdues Pavano on three pitches.
Pierre singles just over Gruddy. Might have been nice if Grud had actually raised his glove.
My boss lived/worked in Georgia for about 5 years, and it was only a week ago he was asking me for regular score updates.
Obviously, I had to pretend I was more behind on things than I actually was… But the point is, since last Tuesday week, he hasn’t been asking me how the Cubs are going.
But I’m telling him.
Castillo takes two pitches and you can tell he’s pissed that Pierre’s still standing at first and hasn’t at least tried to steal second.
Luis takes a weak hack at a two strike pitch and fouls it off. Throw that one again, Mark.
Great throw by Bako and he nails Pierre trying to steal second…again.
Third time this series.
Full count now to Luis.
Foul pop by Castillo down the left field line and Alex makes a very nice catch. Prior likes it.
Wrigley likes it.
The Franchise, Lofton and Gruddy to start the fifth.
After four and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
pitch count:
Pavano – who cares?
The Franchise – 75
If Florida had made a play like that, Thom Brennaman would go on about it for five minutes after the break. Let’s see if he does that here.
Come on Prior. At least one of the Cubs batter is making Pavano waste some pitches.
Prior strikes out, but makes Pavano throw seven pitches to do it.
Plus, Mark doesn’t have to run the bases. Although, the only Cubs starters you worry about on the bases are Clement (asthma) and Estes (moron.)
One out.
Sammy’s in the dugout checking his bats. He just put the one with the C on it away and picked out the one with the HR in it.
and Alphonseca – too many toes!
Lofton strikes out.
Suddenly, Carl Pavano is Cy Young.
Lyons: "Lofton was right on that pitch, he just missed it."
Uh..then he wasn’t "right on it."
I resent that
Oh, no. Al is waving a baseball at the camera again.
Just make it stop.
He’s got his Marlins World Series ring on, too.
Gruddy whiffs. He’s been awful in this series.
After five, still Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
…from this distance, I’d have said Grud is playing better here than he did against the Braves?
Can anybody name our starting lineup for opening day? W/ out looking?
tHom says, "Remember in Pudge’s last at bat, Prior was 0-2 and walked him. That was in the first."
Huh? This is the sixth. Did they skip his turn once?
Prior strikes Pudge out.
One down.
11
cf Patterson
2b Gruddy
rf Sosa
lf Alou
1b Choi
3b Bellhorn
ss Gonzalez
c Miller
p Wood
How’d I do?
Cabrera whiffs on a nasty pitch.
Two down.
10
Thats right… how about our batting order?
Lee flies helplessly to right.
Wrigley is starting to buzz.
tHom is trying to kill that buzz.
We’re not buying.
After five and a half, Cubs 1, Marlins 0.
9
Gruddy led off, then Bellhorn, Sosa, Alou, Patterson, Alou, Gonzo, Miller and Wood?
Nope, Grudz, Gonzo, Sosa, Alou, Choi, Bellhorn, Patterson, Miller, Wood. Close !!
I’ll tell you something sad. When I was a kid, I could name that Star Wars thing on the Rebel Strike commercial. He’s a General from the end of the original Star Wars.
Yikes.
Thats a tough question.
Plus, I typed Alou a second time instead of Choi.
We did a gamecast that day, too.
It’s been a long, great season, and it’s about to get even better.
Andy, do you dress in Star Wars outfits and then wear them too bed?
I like the offense we’ve got now better.
Although it still is maddeningly inconsistent.
Yeah that day won’t matter once we win the WS!!! Then I can die a happy man at the age of 22.
CORK!
I have never heard the road crowd chant " check that bat " after one of Sammy’s broken bats.
Sammy breaks his bat. No cork in that one, of course tHom brings it up.
Sammy beats out the slow grounder to first.
Lyons (who sees the replay before we do, mind you) correctly sees that Sammy missed first. The throw got away and he’s on first anyway, though.
Pitch Count:
The Franchise – 86
Dontrelle is up in the bullpen. Bring that meat in.
Moises singles and the sixth inning is open for business.
Two on, nobody out, here’s E-ramis.
Come on McKeon, PLEASE put in Willis!!!
Admiral, is this a trap?
And are you the guy from that commercial?
Wayne Rosenthal is on my TV again, as are two guys the Cubs have lit up so far, Chad Fox and Dontrelle in the bullpen.
Things are getting good.
Not me… puh-puh-puh-puh-please!
Jack McKeon sends tthe pitching coach to Check on how Christy Matthewson is doing….
tHom wants E-ramis to bunt here. Sure, then they walk Randall and pitch to Gonzo and Bako. Nice strategy.
E-ramis is not bunting. Ball one.
We have no choice against firepower of that magnitude! Prepare to retreat to Miami!
tHom says he saw Matt Williams bunt in this spot in the 2001 World Series, and Williams hadn’t had a sac bunt in seven years.
He also hadn’t had a hit in about two weeks.
E-ramis, grounds into a 643, but that’s a big runner at third for Randall here.
Brutal. Just brutal by E-Ramis.
Willis coming in now.
Dontrelle is coming in to pitch to Randall. Does Karros come up here?
I’d say no. Save Karros to hit for Bako later on.
I am humbled.
Admiral Akbar.
Here’s Karros.
Dontrelle can’t throw strikes anyway.
Here comes the black Rick Ankiel.
Told ya.
While the Fox guys are extolling (rightly) Pavano’s peformance, why don’t they wonder why he only got one start in the playoffs?
You know if he was a Cub, they’d be all over it.
WILD PITCH! Thanks D-train.
Sammy scores a huuuuuuge run.
2-0 Cubs.
Karros walks.
Hey, when did we trade Paul Bako the the Marlins?
It’s 2-0 Cubs!
Dusty’s a genius, Randall would have swung at all four of those.
The Force is not with you, Dontrelle!
I rate Karros.
hey, a KD sighting. How’s things mate?
That was a terrible job of blocking a ball with a runner at third by Pudge.
Thanks, though.
McKeon tells Carl Hubbell to take his glove out of lye oil and start to warmin’ up.
Anyone notice that bat-on-ball sounds are a single click and not the WGN double click?
Jothth Lewin says its much wouder down on the fwield now.
Dontrelle gets Alex, but the Marlins hand us a run.
It’s a doozy and it’s 2-0 Cubs.
And, we’re into their pen now.
Cubs fans starting to smell it?
That’s Smart Bar’s garbage piling up …
Pudding! Pudding!
Wayne Rosenthal: "We don’t have anybody named pudding."
No, I want some pudding.
Hey!
I deserve to be MVP… without me, the Cubs don’t win this series.
I’m on pills, Matt, Willis stole my #35…
Nice pantlode inducing shot of a routine flyball Fox just used. I thought that was gone. Stop it!
Lowell’s out.
One down.
8
Fox comes through with a 1984 clip to make us all throw our remotes through the window.
Hey, did you guys know that in 1984 the Cubs won the first two games of the NLCS…
SHUT UP THOM and cut out that stupid videotape.
(Simmering)
Conine flies to center.
Two down.
7
Gamecast is locked up. What’s TF’s pitch count?
All these shots are pantload shots, ask Kip.
Dawson sporting the Cosby sweaters, nice.
We are looking good for the series – only one ex-Cub on the roster!
Nice shot of Andre Dawson sitting next to Tony Perez with his (try to not root to loudly for the Cubs) body language.
Hey, Bernie Mac is singing the stretch. What network is his TV show on?
I wonder if Fox will show him sing it?
Hmm?
Gonzalez flies to Sammy.
Three flyballs.
6
After six and a half, Cubs 2, Marlins 0.
Pantload, pantload, pantload.
Now Bernie Mac.
Anyone?
pitch count:
the Franchise: 95
the D-train; 1 (wild)
Bernie Mac: "Cause it’s root root for the CHAMPS! CHAMPS!"
Nice touch.
Marty Burns’ mullet likes the Bulls:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=chicagohope&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns
Bako, Prior, Lofton. I smell a run!
Wait, no, my oven’s leaking gas again.
Can we get an actual singer up there?
Oh wait, Ozzy Osborne screwed that pre-conceived notion up.
And I, like Marty Burns’ mullet. But then, who doesn’t?
If Chad "The Shaved Possum" Ford picks them to go to the playoffs, I’m moving to Cleveland.
Love that the Bud commercial is Cubs vs. Marlins.
Will Dusty make us storm the field by putting Guthrie in to replace Prior?
Um, no… Dusty isn’t that dumb. I think. Maybe. Oh please God have mercy on my soul…
Andy:
Love that nose.
Lyons says that Dusty won’t pinch hit for Bako here because if Damian Miller got hurt, they’d have no regular catcher.
Can you imagine Ramon Martinez strapping on the gear for the ninth inning of the clincher? That’d be SO Cub.
Bako says, "I need no pinch hitter!"
He singles to center.
Prior to bunt.
Any way I can gt on that team?
Prior having bunting issues.
But…the Mr. Clutch that he is, with two strikes he lays down a perfect one. One out, Bako to second, Kenny Lofton up.
This ump calls pitches like Nuke LaLoosh fucks.
Come on Cubs…
Pils, nice. I’m on authentic Sri Lankan tea…
Dontrelle can be tough on lefties, though. He strikes out Lofton.
He’ll make a good LOOGy some day.
Chad Fox in from the bullpen to give up a couple of homers.
This should be fun.
He still looks like that guy from Oz.
Jack McKeon replaces D-rain with Dick Radatz.
Gruddy singles.
Bako scores.
3-0 Cubs.
When Dick Radatz got wild at the end of his career, did they call it Steve Blass disease?
Not a homer, but I’ll take from Gruddy…
When we needed it, he came through.
Now, it’s Sammy’s turn.
3-0 Cubs.
Holy smoke! I told the kid at Costco tonight that the final is gonna be 3-1!
I am NOT on the wall at Wrigley.
Andy:
KEEP THAT NOSE!
Sammy lines one to right that Cabrera plays into a single. Nice at bat by Sammy.
Lofton to third.
Moises can put this one out of reach right here.
Pudge wants the Marlins to walk Moises here.
Jack is asleep in the dugout.
And the answer is:
I am the MVP of the 2003 NLCS.
You have 30 seconds. Good luck players.
With Ruth and Gehrig up next inning, we still have a chance.
Alas, Alou flies to right.
But, the Cubs get another huge run.
After seven it’s 3-0.
And Eliza is mad for not getting her due after the second run.
Sorry.
Whos is Mark Grudzalenik?
Trader Jack double switched and moved the pitcher position to the third batter this inning???
Who is Kenny Lofton.
Though, I think Mark Prior deserves a shot. E-ramis, too. But you can’t ignore Kenny scoring in five of six first innings.
Let’s just not talk about series MVP’s right now…
Bruce Hurst was the 1986 World Series Most Valuable Player for eight minutes.
Boston still isn’t over what happened in those eight minutes after that.
Speaking of Eliza…. her commercial is due up either the middle of the eight or the end of the eighth.
Who is: Mark Prior.
Future Hall of Famer Mike Mordecai to lead off the eighth.
We own October 14! In ought-eight the Cubs won the World Series on this date. Who knew?
Nice Fox shot of an old lady, like maybe she was there?
Mordecai flies to right.
One down.
5
Three Finger Brown was may fave.
It’s good to see the Marlin bench getting all excited about a foul ball off the Franchise.
Pierre doubles down the line in left.
Did somebody say three fingers?
Ooooh!
The strike zone has suddenly disappeared in this inning.
Can’t let Castillo on here.
The guy that’s killed us all series is next.
Nice dumbass fans down the left field line who want a ball more than to let the Cubs get an out.
That man could very well be receiving a pummelling right now.
Can we NOT have moronic fans right by our fences for once?
It couldn’t be easy.
Castillo walks, Bako misses another one. I hope the fan who screwed with Moises’ catch is getting reamed by Pat and Steve. He’s got his headphones on.
Now security is throwing him out, which is just dumb, considering there was no interference called on the play.
I hear the deveil in my headphones! I hear the deveil in my headphones! I hear the deveil in my headphones! I hear the deveil in my headphones!
Heheh, he’ll probably be reading this tonight when he finally gets home.
…you’ve helped make his night…
I’d be pummeling that guy right now, that’s for sure.
Pudge singles. It’s 3-1.
He even makes me think I’m in the other field!
DO NOT put Farnsworth in THIS situation.
Grounder to Gonzalez, he would not have gotten a double play, but he would have gotten Pudge at second. He drops it.
E-6.
Bases loaded for Derek Lee.
Oh. Shit.
Lee singles. It’s 3-3 and there’s still only one out.
Dusty is coming in to get Prior.
come on guys, come on guys…
We truly ARE cursed. I am without speech.
Y’all got a new Durham/Goat.
This makes no sense. Dusty brings Farns in and now has him intentionally walking Lowell.
Let Prior walk Lowell.
Now Farnsy starts out by throwing four bad ones.
There’s no fucking goat curse. Just bad fielding.
Long way to go. Looong way.
Even when you were up 3 it wasn’t over. And it sure ain’t over now.
Come on Cubs. Prove it.
I think I’ve set a record for in-room crapping my pants.
We’re going to blow it again, unbelievable.
Conine flies to right. Scores Cabrera and Sammy throws it home, though he had no shot and the runners advance to second and third.
Marlins 4, Cubs 3.
The car is running, the garage door is closed…
Farnsy walks Hollandsworth intentionally.
As Farnsy throws his pitches to Hollandsworth a ball rolls from the bullpen behind home plate.
That’s good luck, right?
Asshole prick
Hi!
Remember me?
hahahahahaha
You are not cursed. You are not out of it.
Come on guys, where’s your faith????
Looks like Yanks and Marlins
Mordecai doubles to left to make it 7-3.
It’s over.
And I don’t mean just tonight.
So, what’s the matchup for tomorrow?
Marlins vs. the Chokers.
I have tickets for tomorrow. I can’t go because I can’t watch. Anyone want them? Dead serious.
I meant the matchup pitching-wise. Wood v. Redman?
Andy,
what about the New Cubs?
I’m serious. Don’t fucking lose it now.
How? No one can have karma this bad. We lose again, there is no way we bounce back tomorrow, Kerry Wood or not. I just can’t take this again, it is just like 84. Help.
and to think i was hoping to watch the cubbies in game 1 from the tvs in the l&l…shoulda known moving to chicago wouldn’t be that flawless.
have i thanked you for the apartment lately, kd?
jda
Nice first pitch here by Remlinger. He gives up an RBI single to Pierre.
8-3.
I mean you guys have a Durham/Goat because you have someone else to blame a loss on.
Get over it, shape up, warm the Texan up and win Game 7.
It’s that fruggin’ easy.
The only thing to do here is to just get so torched tonight that you forget how close you were.
The Cubs bullpen seems to have just that in mind.
Mercifully it ends.
A horror show in the eighth. Marlins eight, Cubs three.
I feel very sorry for that guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if something terrible happens to him. I’m guessing he will get a police escort.
Just in case you were thinking about it, tHom is telling Cubs fans not to kill the left-field fan.
3-0 w/ one out in the 8th and this happens. I just want to punch someone.
Honestly though, who do you even blame this on? You can’t blame the short bus kid in the stands because even though Moises made a nice effort, we don’t know if he’d catch it. Plus, Gonzalez’s error wouldn’t have ended the inning anyway.
Just a group clusterfuck, I guess.
Sorry, I have to leave now and vomit up a pint of ulcerated tissue and blood.
Sheer brilliance here from Jack. Needing two wins to win the NLCS he sends his closer out with a five run lead to pitch two innings.
Does he know he has the lead?
That’s what I’m saying. It’s like blaming Hue Hollins for 1994 when we should have won that series anyway (couldn’t hit a FT).
Too dispirited, too soon, y’all. Have some fun with this and look forward to the Texan tomorrow.
JDA, I’m back online (hopefully tomorrow),
Do we honestly have any chance of getting off the mat tomorrow night? This is so devastating. My God.
Look at that fucking Nissan sign in the background.
It says Nissan Shift 1908.
We will be facing Redmond… have some faith.
Ahh, nothing says fun at the ballpark like crying fans.
If we truly are the Anti-Cubs, tomorrow will be the day we prove it once and for all.
Or disprove it.
Cubs go 1-2-3 in the eighth.
Worst part about the whole thing, I promise I am a bigger fan that that dumb ass. And I am sitting at home watching it on TV and he was sitting front row and costs us the biggest game in Cubs history up to this point.
El Pulpo in to pitch the ninth.
Ramon in at short. Alex is in the locker room flogging himself.
Pudge lines to center.
I guess this is where Kevorkian comes in real handily.
Tomorrow night Kerry Wood gets the chance to be the biggest sports hero in Chicago history–bigger than MJ, bigger than Sweetness, bigger than anyone. Let’s hope he does it.
How typically Cub is it that our Jeffrey Maier wannabe does it when we’re in the field?
I guarantee you that by tomorrow we’ll know what that kid’s name is. And we shouldn’t.
I’m off for now.
See you here tomorrow.
Chins up, people.
later KD.
Derek Lee hits into a double play. See, Pulpo should have pitched the eighth!
OK, maybe not.
I hate to admit this, but I’m sitting here trying to be pessimistic about tomorrow, so I don’t get my hopes crushed again.
I can’t. That’s how dumb I am.
Then again, the sheer speed of the eight run eighth will haunt us all night tomorrow.
But this is not as "crushing" as the Red Sox in 1986. They were one strike away from a world championship seven times. We were five outs from a pennant.
Still sucks. But more in the piss you off kind of way than in the leave you on bed bleeding to death.
Fuck the fish. All they did tonight was piss us off.
Cheers, Matt.
Either six runs this inning or one run tomorrow.
Turn that electric oven off.
Ugy Urbina still in there in the ninth. This makes no sense. Hopefully it costs them tomorrow.
Lyons says the Cubs security took the fan out to "protect him." Cubs security could very well be trying to bludgeon him to death right now.
tHom is trying to protect the infamous fan. I’m not blaming that guy for the loss. I don’t see Moises making that catch. But I do blame him for being dumb enough to try and catch that ball.
Ramon flies out. Two down.
Andy, we will win it tomorrow! I promise this. Wood will throw a shutout Cubs will go to the world series. Go Cubs!!!
He was making that catch. O well, we live to play another day.
Kenny pops out and we’re off to a seventh game tomorrow night.
Florida wins 8-3.
Psycho thinks the pressure is on the Cubs tomorrow. I think if the Marlins want to go to the World Series, it’s on them, too.
Well, tomorrow night, we’ll try and get through it tomorrow without a horrendous crash.
JK, if Wood pitches a shutout tomorrow somehow the Cubs would blow it.
B. C., I know its hard, but lets have some faith. Wood will pitch well and we will score 6 or 7. Go Cubs!!
It’s hard to be confident when your team chokes it away…
When people look up chokers in the dictionary next year, they’re going to be seeing the picture of the 2003 Cubs right by the pic of the 1984 Cubs.
B.C., different situation, the ’84 team’s big choke came in the final game of the series. This team has been battered and beaten all year. They’ll get off the canvas and give it a go tomorrow.
And, to think, all of this could have been simply avoided by Dusty Baker not pitching Mark Guthrie in Game 1 of the series. That’s going to come back and bite us in the ass, guaranteed.
There’s a lot of things to dislike about Cub fans, but it’s this defeatist attitide that gets to me the most.
Game 7, at home, with Kerry Wood on your side. Things could be a lot worse. Kick some ass tomorrow.
That was so Cub.
Like they say at McD’s, "I’m lovin’ it!"
"Things could be a lot worse."
Yeah, if we’d been swept by the Braves we wouldn’t be so freaking sick right now.
Losing to a better team is one thing. Losing to a just above average team is another.
All you pussies quit pissing and moaning. Fuck the nerd that knocked the ball from Alou, fuck all this goat shit, fuck the Marlins, fuck T-Hom Brennaman and the other two closet queers in the Fox booth.
Tomorrow I put this team on my back and put us over the top. I’ll provide all the offense too if need be. Now Cubbie up and be a man about all this, tonight was just one game.
Must Kill the Marlins, Must Kill….
CUBS CHOKE! CUBS CHOKE!
GONZO CHOKES! THE GREAT DUSTY,SHOWN
WHY HE NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE DOES NOT HAVE A PITCHER WARMING
UP WHEN PRIOR STARTS TO GET INTO
TROUBLE EARLY IN THE 8TH. DUSTY’S
EGO TO PROVE THAT HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT,GETS IN THE WAY OF HE EVER
BEING A CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER!
In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference. by texas hold’em