Game one might have been the most important game of the year for the Marlins, and since they won that, game two might be the most important game of the year for the Cubs.
Since the Cubs are sending The Franchise to the mound, they’re in good hands.
Shop the Desipio/Pointless Exercise Store
Julie Unruh is confusing Cubs fans with relatively easy trivia on the WGN TV pregame show. Then again, a stop sign is confusing to some residents of Chicago.
Besides, Julie Unruh is pretty hot.
Also, nice to see Dan Roan is over the "I’ll just puff my hair up on top of my head and I won’t look as bald" phase.
I’m also finding it disturbing that Dan Roan is sitting right next to Steve Stone in the seats at Wrigley. Come one guys, you have the whole row, leave a seat.
Yikes.
Tom Skilling’s forecast has the Cubs with a 9-2 lead in the fifth inning. I’m not even making this up.
Since it’s warm, how come nobody’s talking about how easy this is for the Marlins to adjust to?
Well, I guess I just did.
By the way, I hate the f@#$ing lady bugs, too.
Steve Sanders (not the 90210 guy) just called the Marlins "scrappy." Stick to news, Scott. Oh, and comb your hair. I know it’s windy on top of the bar, but yikes.
Now, I need to find FX on DirecTV…
I hate Fox.
Except for The Simpsons, of course.
Will Dusty throw away his insanity-causing toothpick tonight?
Lord knows I’m going to do something really bad if Guthrie makes another appearance tonight.
The last out he got was somewhere in July, I think.
I don’t know who he is, but some guy with a bad toupee (is there any other kind) was just hosting the great movie "Kingpin" on FX. And he has a hot sidekick with big juggs who just bowled a strike.
Anyway, the Cubs are on regular Fox and the Yankees-Red Sox are on DirecTV 248 if you’re surfing.
You’re welcome.
I think winning is third to breathing and eating. So eat that, Steinbrenner…
I’m baaaaaaaaack!
Not really.
Not yet anyway.
Jack McKeon can’t pinpoint what caused the Marlins to win because he forgot how they on walking back to the clubhouse…
Let’s just hope Dusty Baker doesn’t grab defeat from the jaws of victory again tonight.
I’m sick of this "one that got away" crap from last night. The Marlins led seven innings last night, the Cubs only led TWO. The Cubs came back to tie it twice! The facts are getting in the way of their clever headlines.
Man, my typing’s bad…
I must be nervous as Hell then.
Either that or I’m just a bad typer all the time anyway.
Jack McKeon’s lineup for tonight:
cf Devon White
2b Craig Counsell
rf Gary Sheffield
lf Moises Alou
1b Jeff Conine
3b Bobby Bonilla
ss Edgar Renteria
c Charles Johnson
p Al Leiter
Uh…Jack…
Is it just me, or does Jeannie Zelasko look a lot like a blonde version of the chick from Will and Grace (and I don’t mean Jack), only unlike Grace, Jeannie has a rack?
I’d probably know better if I’d watched a single episode of that show in the last four years…
Hey, Fox has at least one other show they can promote!!!
All the Red Sox players have shaved their heads.
No word on if the Red Sox will still choke with or without hair.
It must be Jeannie’s new long hair.
Two families divided by ambition?
Does Fox have any original ideas?
Oh, yeah, maybe they do… Just not the ones they are promoting on TV.
Is Thommy balding from the sides first? That’s the only way I can figure it out.
Wind’s blowing out again, and it feels like a less humid Florida right now. Boo!!!
Thommy just said Brad Penny is "much more experienced" than Mark Prior. How much Thom? One year? I don’t think that matters…
Remember Prior pitched in the College World Series, that’s only kind of a pressure situation too.
tHom is still creepy tonight.
Al is at least looking at the camera this time.
But Steve? Did he just say that if Mark Prior wants the Cy Young he needs to prove it tonight?
Uh….somebody call Steve on his little Sprint PCS phone and remind him they voted for Cy Young right after the regular season.
Ouch. He makes my brain hurt.
I think Brad Penny pitched in the community college World Series once.
Lots of pressure there, and sometimes…like 45 fans.
Can Karry figure out that hair thing for us Andy? I know I need to figure it out before it drives me insane.
Jack McKeon is spitting out teeth again.
The M’s.
cf Juan
2b Castillo
c Pudge
1b Lee
3b Cabrera
rf Encarnacion
rf Conine
ss Evil Alex
p Brad Penny
Grudzielanek doesn’t bobble the first play of the game…
One down.
I’ll get Karry on that during the half inning break.
tHom asked Al if home plate ump Chuck Merriwether was a hitter’s or pitcher’s ump.
Al, "Neither. He is inconsistent, though."
Juan Pierre is still afraid of the "ivory" he grounds to Gruddy. One out.
Fox using the same background advertisement for both games…
Chuck Meriwether’s strike zone smaller than a pea right now.
Prior walks Castillo, but he got hosed on two ball calls.
He struck him out twice.
We love to walk castillo w/ pudge up next. (See: we are down 0-1)
Prior walks Castillo.
Pudge coming up. I’d like to see a pitch at his helmet sometime in this game, but who knows…
A ball the last batter called a strike on Pudge…
What is that fan doing?
The thing about Pudge’s $10 million contract is that almost all of it is deferred over like six years. When he talked with the Cubs he wanted three years, $30 million.
Pudge pops into the first row of the stands and two fans knock the ball away from him. If Pudge gets a hit, those fans will be killed by other fans.
They’re chanting asshole and pointing in the direction of both fans.
I love us.
Prior strikes out Pudge anyway.
Two down.
That guy is sitting front row and he doesn’t have any cubs gear on. Its ok to be rich and have first row, but at least act like you have been a fan all year and buy a 10 dollar hat or something.
There goes the no hitter.
Derek Lee singles to right, Castillo stops at second.
Plus he was w/ his nerdy son who probably can’t throw a baseball 20 feet.
Well, they might be throwing it away there Steve. Everybody knows the Gold Gloves are given automatically to the Cardinals although they don’t deserve any.
Is Prior trying to be effectively wild?
Prior looks to be a little pumped or nervous.
Cabrera is still a good hitter… I’d let that kid play for the cubs.
tHom says Cabrera has "been red hot this entire playoffs" he then adds, "he’s done of all of his damage in the last two games."
Which is it tHommy?
Steve said that when Mike Lowell got hurt, none of the players knew Cabrera and didn’t know anything about him. Except he’d been playing left field for them for a month. Oops.
Maybe Miguel’s just really quiet.
Prior blows away Cabrera and the Fox gang are worried about his pitch count.
He’s Mark Prior! Unlike Woody he’ll get a few six pitch innings to even it out.
After half an inning, we’re scoreless.
Well, if the strike zone had been called accurately that first inning, Prior would have thrown 10 to 12 less pitches than he did.
Considering our middle relief, this is very important.
After one half inning, it’s no score. Buckle those seatbelts…
Karry Ling here just outside of the Harry Caray Memorial Press Box and I just got off the phone with a nice lady named..uh, Sergio…who cuts tHom Brennaman’s hair. I asked him or her or whatever about tHom’s interesting hairdo. Sergio told me that he gave tHom something to keep his hair in.
A shoebox!
Oh, I kill me.
Back to you, Andy.
BTW scoreless after a half inning in New York.
Great, Brad Penny is a former Diamondback, that just means tHom and Steve will fellate him the entire time he’s in the game.
Lofton, Gruddy and Sosa to open the first.
Lofton bounces one off Penny’s fat ass. He recovers to throw Kenny out. One down.
tHom and Al say Penny needs to get ahead of hitters.
Uh…doesn’t every pitcher need to do that?
Gruddy singles to center.
Jeannie Zelasko =
Markie Post, post-"Hearts Afire"
Thom Brenneman =
James Dean in "Giant"
Sammy got a four-pitch walk…
WHO KNEW!?!?!?!?
Sammy walks on four straight.
Steve says Sammy can’t hit Penny’s fastballs. If they’re all that bad, he’s right.
I’m a big fan of the "Night Court" version of Markie Post.
I think Brennaman looks a litle like Hooch from "Turner and Hooch."
Hooch was the dog, right?
Pudge gets crossed up and is mad at Penny. But if he’d catch every ball with the glove down, it wouldn’t hurt so much. The Marlins pitcher’s don’t like Pudge any more than the Rangers did. But he’s hitting, so nobody’s going to complain.
Alou jams himself and Derek Lee throws his gold glove away trying to catch it. It lands in the stands, harmlessly.
Alou flies to deep right, he sent Encarnacion into the well, a little left and it’s a double.
Gruddy tags and goes to third.
Two out.
Alou flies to right, two down. Gruddy at third. Sammy at first. E-Ramisy at the plate.
These limp Wrigley Field flags are brought to you by Levitra!
Huh, there’s that stat again. Aramis Ramirez with more RBI than the great Scott Rolen.
Could it be?
Really?
And E-ramis is younger?
Hmm.
And…he walks. They’re loaded for Randy Simon.
E-Ramisy walks. You mean the E-Ramisy we know and love WALKED?
Bases loaded for Randall Simon. I’d prefer a pinch hit for Karros here Dusty… :-)
Dusty’s got the mojo going!
If Simon is a bad pitcher hitter, then what is Brad Penny?
Randall singles to left. Gruddy scores. Sammy scores (Sammy’s still got good wheels).
Two nuthin’ Cubs.
These two already feel more substantial than the four did last night.
Red hot Alex Gonzalez is up.
A bad pitcher?
Let’s hope.
Uh oh. tHom is trying his hardest to doom Prior. "You’re down 2-0 to Prior it could be a loss!" Shut up. Mind your own business.
Gonzo takes a 1-2 pitch that looked like strike three. Let’s see what he does with his lifeline.
He flies to Conine. He hit it pretty hard, though.
After one, the Cubs lead it 2-0.
Still scoreless in New York they’re in the bottom of the second there.
Tim Wakefield is pitching for the Red Sox. He must have the biggest balls in baseball to go to the mound with that crap he throws up there.
Back to you, Andy
Tim McClellan behind the plate in Yankee Stadium tonight… Make sure your bat is perfect guys!!!
In other news, it’s the end of one inning in Chicago and it’s 7:50 PM in the CENTRAL TIME ZONE.
Fox has to do something about these crappy starting times.
Gosh watching a game you know you are supposed to win isn’t as exciting as last night when we had no idea which Zambrano we would get. I would be happy if this game doesn’t get excited the rest of the night. Go Cubs.
Jorge Posada breaks up the no hitter in New York. OK, it’s only the second inning…but still.
I wish Thom would shut up sometimes…
Encarncion doubles to lead off.
Encarnacion doubles to right. Steve just wet himself watching the replay of Juan’s homer last night. Steve thinks it neat that it hit the Tru Link fence back there.
That’s not all that far, really.
Conine singles.
Prior’s doing what he always does when he gets hit early. He’s throwing too many fastballs for strikes.
Miller’s always a little slow to adjust. Let’s see how Bako does tonight.
Chip Caray Re-Dux in the Fox booth as Thom calls Florida the "Fighting Fish" after another single for Florida.
This isn’t going well.
tHom "Trader Jack’s had lots of wins but none greater than last night, his first chance to manage in the postseason…"
Since Saturday?
Prior gives Alex nothing but curveballs. Steeeerike three.
One down now.
Brad Penny will do his best Mark Prior impersonation.
Steve is defending AL baseball right now. That won’t fly in these parts you American League pansy.
Brad Penny’s trying to bunt, but his heart’s not in it.
Penny bunts foul for strike two.
Al thinks this bunt is good to stay out of the double play. But Brad might bunt INTO a double play.
tHom just called Penny’s third swing a "Butcher Boy." Where did tHom get that one from, 1923?
Penny strikes out on a good curve.
Two out.
Mark gets two out with some wicked curves…
Interesting Virtual Manager question. I know I don’t want the Cubs’ bullpen.
The Marlins probably do have the best remaining bullpen.
Pierre pops the second pitch up foul for a strike. Prior points hopefully at it but it lands about 40 rows back.
Steve now says it’s bad that Prior struck out Penny. Please shut up.
Pierre pops this one fair. Gruddy gets it and I think Prior just found his gameplan.
The first two hit fastballs hard, the next three get wicked curveballs early in the count.
This…is a nice trend.
After one and a half, 2-0 Cubs.
Mark now mixing it all in.
I think he’s on. But the third inning was a problem last night. And 2, 3, and 4 are due up for the Marlins in the third tonight.
More runs for the Cubs would be nice.
Bako, Prior, and Lofton due up.
Cubs bullpen: Farns, Remlinger, Regular Joe and lots of crap.
Marlins bullpen: Ugy Urbina, a skitish Braden Looper and a pile of crap so high they use Dontrelle and Penny on their trow days.
We may not love it, but the Cubs bullpen is better than what Florida is trotting out there.
Their only lefty IS Mark Guthrie-esque.
I think the Cubs hitter have this rule.
First inning: take pitches
Second inning on: Swing at everything.
You might see a correlation between the runs they score in the first and the runs they score in every other.
Blecch.
Steve Lyons and Al Leiter going on about Al’s math skills.
Lord help us.
Bako singles, Castillo makes a nice play to run it down and then makes a no look throw about 30 feet away from first base.
Steve thinks it’s cool, but that throw is just stupid.
Bako’s on. Prior up. He’ll show Penny how to bunt.
Oops, he pops the first one foul.
Prior proves me right on pitch two. He sacrifices Bako to second.
Kenny’s up.
Fox guys now complaining about the strike zone Penny is getting…
It’s another LONGGGGGGG night for me. I’m not able to get WGN-AM without a ton of static where I’m at right now.
Lofton gets a ball over Alex Gonzalez’s evil namesake, it’s 3-0 Cubs.
The great Alex Gonzalez muffs a Kenny Lofton grounder (it did take a bad hop) Alex’s glove slows it down, and Bako scores easily.
Should be an RBI single.
3-0 Cubs.
The first base ump is Fielding Calbreth?
What is this, a Dickens novel?
Lofton steals second easily. Pudge does not throw because he doesn’t want to look bad.
Hee hee.
Gruddy does his job and grounds to second to get Kenny to third.
Sammy’s up. Penny’s going to try and come inside with fastballs again. If he misses, it’ll be 5-0.
Warning National League!!!!!
Sammy is RED HOT.
That one left a vapor trail.
Five nuthing Cubs.
An absolute bomb.
I think that was only kind of a long homerun there Sammy…
5-0 CUBS…
If our boys in Iraq are still looking, the weapons of mass destruction are wearing 21 in Chicago.
Alou flies to right.
But the Cubs get three more.
After two. It’s 5-0.
This lead’s not going anywhere tonight.
Jeannie just filled the boys in the Bronx in on Sammy’s heroics. Unfortunately, Joe was denied a chance to make a spiffy Corky comment due to the end of the inning.
Darn.
Castillo pops to good Alex.
One out.
That Sosa homer is of astonishing length.
Pudge singles to right.
tHom just said, "Remember, last night the Marlins were down 4-0 with one out and one on in the third. There’s one on and one out here."
Al said, "Yeah, but Mark Prior is on the bump."
Now there are two out.
Lee pops to Gruddy.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what Prior has done.
Early on he was trying to get ahead with all fastballs. In the second the Marlins jumped on two first pitch fastballs. Now he’s mixing in curveballs on at least half the first pitches and they’re befuddled.
Cabrera lines to Sammy.
After two and a half, still five zip Cubs.
Sammy showing why he deserves every $$$ right now.
5-0 Cubs heading into the bottom of the third.
I’m here with Brad Penny’s wife. Mrs. Penny, things aren’t going so well are they?
Mrs. Penny: "Uh…I’m not Mrs. Penny."
Sure you are.
"No, I’m not. He’s down 5-0. I’d never marry that. I’m…uh…I’m…Mark Prior’s wife!"
Sad. Just sad.
Back to you, Andy.
News flash! Penny’s behind another hitter.
Something named "Bump" is warming up in the Marlins’ bullpen.
Is it Bump Wills?
tHom just called the Schilling/Johnson World Series the "greatest pitching of all-time." Easy there D’backs fan boy.
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale once pitched five complete games in a World Series.
Andy, I was making the comment about the Marlins bullpen because I know how bad our bullpen sucks behind the Big Three.
With Florida, I don’t know how bad they stink or are good.
Considering it’s Florida, they probably have to have an election each night just to decide who will stink that night.
E-ramis just lost one into the left field bleachers.
Six-nothing Cubs.
My wife will deny me two times tonight.
Once in the stands.
Once at the hotel.
This is exactly what we need to do.
Have them burn their bullpen up…
We have Wood going in Game Three, they have Mark Redman going…
Who is Mark Redman? Seriously, who is that guy?
Randall Simon singles on the first pitch.
It’s Penny’s last.
Future Hall of Famer Nate Bump is coming in.
This is much like bringing Juan Cruz into a 6-0 game. It’ll be 10-0 before tHom can lose more hair.
Note to self: call agent about long term contract. 6 years, $68 million sounds about right to me.
Isn’t Red Man a rapper?
I feel SO white right now.
What lead is safe if Dusty gets the smart idea to put in Veres, Alfonseca, Cruz, or Guthrie?
Would it have to be a fifteen run lead?
12 runs should do it, so look for veres in the 6th…
Steve Lyons isn’t sure why Nate
Bump is in right now.
Uh…because Brad Penny couldn’t get anybody out.
Steve also just said the game’s over. Call the commish!
Cubs win!
Poppy Ortiz homered in the Bronx. Two nothing Red Sox.
Al, if those four guys throw one inning, that still means Florida needs somebody to pitch three more innings.
How about this for strategy. If Senile Jack lets Penny take his lumps and the Cubs score two or three more runs, it means Prior leaves after six, get the win and he’s rested and ready for game six.
If they keep it at six and get a couple runs, he’ll pitch eight.
I think Jack’s doing the right thing.
Alex hits a routine double play grounder to short that evil Alex hot dogs and does a backwards flip to Castillo. Castillo makes a weird side armed throw to first and good Alex is safe.
That should have been two.
I’m glad it wasn’t.
When was the last time both Boston and the Cubs were winning games in October? how about after the lastt lockout 5-6 years ago when some of the World Series was played in Novenber, if I recall.
Evil Alex dove for a ball he could have run through. He could have just grabbed it and stepped on second.
tHom thinks Alex and Castillo are the greatest defensive double play combo ever.
I just spit Cherry Pepsi all over my laptop. (Computer that is.)
Bako doubles to the gap in left, Alex scores easily and it’s 7-0 Cubs.
Florida has the best up-the-middle defense ever??? What???????????????
Now Thommy going on about Cincy’s Big Red Machine defense. Yuck.
—–
Stop the presses!!!
Paul Bako gets his first hit against anyone other than Cinct.
7-0 Cubs on the two-bagger.
Are these guys INSANE?
I’d sit here and make a list of double play combos better than Alex and Castillo, but we only have two and a half more hours.
I can’t even ponder the idea of six innings of "blowout time killing banter" between tHom and Steve.
I pity Al.
I really do.
Prior grounds to second, Bako to third.
Johnny Bench was on the Bob and Tom Show this morning. He’s in Scotland golfing with Bob. Johnny’s joke was, "You know why Bob’s wearing a kilt tonight?"
"Because sheep can hear zippers from 50 yards!"
Let’s hear Pudge tell a sheep f@#$ing joke.
Lofton singles, Bako scores and it’s 8-0 Cubs. Hell, Prior might pitch game FOUR at this rate.
8-0 Cubs.
Thommy trying to get Florida fans excited talking about Mark Prior’s two worst appearances in his career. Out of what? 45?
Vizquel – Alomar for one….
Maxville javier for another.
Wild pitch. Lofton to second.
I’m going to give you a Nate Bump scouting report.
I know, I’m violating the Jim Tocco "you have to see a guy 100 times" rule.
Nate Bump, RHP
Sucks…big time.
How’s that?
Nate Bump defies my scouting report and strikes out Gruddy.
The Cubs get two more and lead it 8-0.
Ozzie Smith and anybody.
Ryne Sandberg and Shawon Dunston
Bret Boone and Alex Rodriguez
Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese
Tony Fernandez and Robbie Alomar
….
No, Andy…
Nate Bump = Right-handed Mark Guthrie. Only worse.
There’s my scouting report.
In other news, what is it about girls in a red t-shirt that makes them hot in commercials?
This needs to be answered. Somebody, anybody?
Paul Noce and Mike Brumley
Rafael Ramirez and Glenn Hubbard
Mike Gantner and Robin Yount
Eric Young and Jeff Blauser
Jose Vizcaino and CRAIG BIGGIO!
OK, that’s enough.
Hee hee! Rick Helling’s up in the bullpen.
I think Pudge just kissed Jack McKeon on the mouth.
Encarnacion pops to Bako.
Paul Noce and Mike Brumley
Rafael Ramirez and Glenn Hubbard
Mike Gantner and Robin Yount
Eric Young and Jeff Blauser
Jose Vizcaino and CRAIG BIGGIO!
OK, that’s enough.
Hee hee! Rick Helling’s up in the bullpen.
I think Pudge just kissed Jack McKeon on the mouth.
Encarnacion pops to Bako.
I know this is sacrilege (Is that how you spell it?), but one I thought of is Julio Lugo and Craig Biggio.
Chip Caray just perked up from his drunken stupor at the University of Georgia Quad when he heard Biggio’s name just now.
Hey, the opposite of the Null—the double post.
Conine doubles over Kenny’s head. Kenny takes some strange routes to balls.
I miss Corey Patterson. At least in the field I do.
tHom says, there’s a "long, long time to go!"
Tell us about it, we have to listen to you for five more innings.
Is it just me, or has Lofton been playing too shallow for this whole series?
What do you guys think about taking out Prior, going with Cruz & Wellemeyer, and starting him in game four????? Responses?
Helling is coming in?
Oh yes, this has a couple homers written all over it. For the Cubs.
tHom is bemoaning the fact that the only reason it’s 8-0 is because the Marlins squandered scoring chances in the second and third.
No. Prior made pitches when he got in trouble. Penny did not. THAT’S why it’s 8-0.
Gonzalez grounds to E-ramis.
Something named Brian Banks is pinch hitting for the great Nate Bump.
Unless it gets over 11 or 12, I think Prior is staying in until he gets to 100 or 105 pitches.
Note to self: Call agent, see what minor league deal I can sign for next yesr.
Andy, here’s one for you:
Mickey Morandini and Jose Hernandez…
Think about it…
I’m with dramadog. Only I’d let him go five. If it’s 10-0, do it. Especially if Trader Jack starts yanking guys like Pudge and Conine.
The great Brian Banks (who tHom helpfully told us that his only appearances in the NLDS were pinch hitting ones–really, I thought he’d start a few!) flies to Kenny.
After three and a half. Eight-0 Cubs.
My favorite outtfield of all time:
No Neck, No Brains, and No Thumb (Williams, Bradford, and May of the White Sox).
Another favoite: Seles and Helling and 3 days of shelling!
Al Leiter now complaining about the basket.
Priceless.
Good Lord help us.
You know, if I had a dollar for every time I said, "I’m with dramadog."
Ozzie Guillen is wearing a microphone. How about mic’ing a guy who speaks discernible English?
Sammy grounds to short.
They ought to put one on Wavin’ Wendell.
"Go! You’re scoring! Go! Oh, wait…nobody’s on base. My bad. Oh, and FLORIDA’s up? Oops. Go! Go! Damn, did it again."
Moises flies to right.
E-ramis grounds to short.
The Cubs fail to score for the first time.
Rick Helling is awe-some!
Got another couple:
Teufel and Santana
Sax and Offerman.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Was that Sax before or after his throwing problems?
FX told TiVo that the Red Sox-Yankees game will be on from 7 to 10. When was the last time an American League playoff game finished in three hours? Six hours is more like it.
Juan Pierre grew up in a trailer park? What were the odds.
tHom says he’s "sweet." Whatever.
tHom’s sweetie pie grounds to second.
One out.
I’d like to slide my hard manmeat into Jeanie Zalasco.
tHom just said: "I don’t think I’ve met a sweeter kid in the world than Juan Pierre." Honesty compels me to say that Craig Biggio is a sweeter kid.
FX told TiVo that the Red Sox-Yankees game will be on from 7 to 10. When was the last time an American League playoff game finished in three hours? Six hours is more like it.
Juan Pierre grew up in a trailer park? What were the odds.
tHom says he’s "sweet." Whatever.
tHom’s sweetie pie grounds to second.
One out.
Chip, go back to wherever you go in the offseason to become more of a moron.
Can’t believe we got rid of Dontrell Willis! Still pisses me off. Clement will never live up to his potential, and Alf sucks my ass.
Not so sweet Luis Castillo and peachy keen Ivan Rodriguez ground out and Prior’s on cruise control now.
After four and a half, it’s 8-0 Cubs.
That was pre AND post throwing problems Steve Sax, btw.
The league has caught up to Dontrell, and Clement is the much better pitcher now, and will be in the future as well.
Ahh…more double posting. Isn’t it grand?
Randall Simon against former tHom Brennaman love child Rick Helling.
Simon doubles. I think. Let’s wait for him to get to second.
…
…
…
…
OK, yeah it’s a double.
Thommy gets all smackdown, this time on a fan who spilled beer on Conine.
For the love of goodness, somebody get this guy off the announcing crew now!!!
Kessinger – Beckert
Aparicio – Fox
Just for a Chicago flavor…
A fan dumped a beer on Conine in the corner. tHom wants him ejected from the game, and one of the umps is pointing him out to a friendly Andy Frain.
tHom said, "How’d he like it if somebody dumped a beer on him at work tomorrow."
Take it from me, a former exotic dancer.
WE LOVE IT!!!!
Evil Alex thinks his nickname is Sea Bass. We all know Roger Clemens is the only Sea Bass.
"You don’t mow another man’s lawn!"
Helling fires one past Pudge. Pudge is freakin’ lazy.
Simon to third.
Well, there is that tenth run.
Dusty may have Prior pitch the sixth and then turn it to the pen.
And to think, I was advocating avoiding the pen at all costs earlier tonight.
Note to self: 5 years – $75 million
I’ll let Steve set the scene.
"Helling throws easy cheese. He won 20 games in 1998 for the Rangers. This guy can pitch."
The ball leaves Helling’s hands and second later is bouncing down Waveland.
It’s 10-0 Cubs. Home run for the good Alex Gonzalez.
agon – grudz
Routiner (TM Mike Krukow) to Conine in foul ground. He misses it and it his his knee.
Paul Bako has new life! That’s bad news for Rick Helling!
I just hope our Alex Gonzalez’s deal with the devil is good through October. Wow.
Steve wants a new nickname for our Alex Gonzalez. He said, "Long Gonz" but it sounded a lot like "Long Dong."
Where’s Long Dong Duck when you need him.
Prior bunts Bako to second.
Um, I think Pudge will get a ball at his head after Prior almost got hit with that one.
Don’t worry about it, Andy, but look out next year – I’d trade him if I was you!
Long Duck Dong. I can’t type tonight.
"No more yankee my wankee! The Donger needs food!"
Wendell’s arm must be kinda tired!
Mr. Devil, with the Cubs three wins from the World Series, what’s the temperature in Hell?
Lofton singles…Bako to third. Wendell actually held him.
Gruddy doubles. Bako scores…Lofton to third. It’s 11-0.
Can we save some for Friday?
Pull Prior right now and save him for his next start!
i normally just enjoy these from a distance, but i had to tell you all that Long Duk Dong now plays Yosh, a male nurse on ER.
Oh how the mighty fall.
2,186 celcius att 9:14pm cdt
Senile Jack is putting Sammy on. He’s trying to cut down that all important 12th run.
Oh boy, here come the "unwritten rules of baseball" talk from tHom and Steve.
Steve’s worried that one of the Cubs will hit a 3-0 pitch for a homer and all Hell will break loose.
Shut up.
Moises taps to Helling. Lofton out at home. Two out. Bases still loaded.
Al thinks they walked Sammy to make Rick Helling "feel good."
Shut up, Al.
E-ramis is up there hacking. He smells four RBI.
Hey, I’ve been on ER for ten years. I get $5,000 a show. We film 22 of them a year.
Do the math! Fallen my ass!
Cate Blanchette in "Veronica Guerin" equals a movie none of us will ever pay to see.
Sorry, I kept looking for a "good" fastball, and never saw one. Hellava changeu, though.
Oh, that was his fastball?
Oops
I told you we needed to take Prior out. He’s lost it…(sarcasm mode turned off)
Derek Lee homers and there goes the shutout. The lead is down to TEN!
Start the panic!
Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!
why in the hell am I still in this game? I’m a mop up guy or something?
With Prior out there, I’m not worried. However, if zambrano was out there, I might be
If we lose this game, I am just going to stab myself with a pencil.
Steve seems amazed that in a small ballpark that the dugouts are close to home plate. Blecch.
Al is going on and on about how great Miguel Cabrera is going to be.
I happen to know that Miguel Cabrera is Spanish for "Gregg Jefferies."
I’m a mop up guy, and proud of it!
Eh!!!
Cabrera homers to right. Woof.
Down to NINE!
Aaaaaaaah!!!
Prior just tried to throw it in the seats
BC, if we lose this game, you ought to use something stronger than a pencil
Juan Encarnacion makes like a good boy and strikes out.
Prior was trying to put guys away with fastballs for strikes again and got in trouble. Now he’s back to mixing the curve back in.
Sometimes you get in too big of a hurry to get guys out.
I am modelling myself after Dwight Smith, the PREMIER hitting coach on the planet – just ask him.
You’ve got to be kidding me…
This has disaster written all over it.
Who is Bill Robinson and why is he on my TV?
Prior gets completely jobbed on what should have been strike three. That was literally right down the middle. Conine even started to walk to the dugout. Given new life, he singles to left. Chuck Merriwether is very, very bad.
Larry on the mound talking to Mark. "Hey, cut it out."
Mark: "OK."
No, it’d have to be a slow, long, painful death… That’s why I’d use a pencil.
Alex Gonzalez hits a relatively routine fly to left..Jeff Conine is taking a tourist trip around the bases and gets doubled off.
Inning over.
BC, we love you buddy…but you need to relax.
After five and a half, Cubs by NINE RUNS!!!!!
Conine was trying to score 8 runs there! Muhhhahahahaha.
Remember, Larry is a people person.
Karry needs to get on the ball and get an interview with that fan who dropped the beer.
Just like FOX interviewed the guy who gave Boston a homer a couple innings ago.
Can somebody stab Thommy to death with a pencil?
Simon leads off the sixth. Miguel Cabrera moves to short with Lowell in at third.
Davey Concepcion belongs in the Hall of Fame. As long as he pays his eight bucks to buy a ticket just like you and me.
Hey, the good Alex Gonzalez is hitting it hard!!! 12-2 Cubs.
Give him the Gold Glove!
Randall grounds out.
Karry has made his way to Murphy’s Bleachers where the just ejected beer dumping Cubs fan is standing by.
We’ll get to Karry after this half inning.
We’re nothing if not full service.
I think Miguel Cabrera is playing shortstop because Jack McKeon got confused and thought he was Alex Gonzalez.
Speaking of Alex Gonzalez..the good one Long Duck Gonzo just homered into the bushes in center.
I know they’re junipers, but it’s just "too Chip" to call them that.
12-2 Cubs.
Wow, those old pills I found at the bottom of Sammy!
why the fuck is he still in there??? I say give it to cruz.
Wow those old pills I found at the bottom of Sammy’s locker really seem to help!
Bako strikes out.
Fox shows a little girl in the stands holding her doll and a baseball. Rob Goldman would go down and interview her, but the Lake County Sherrif’s Department won’t let him.
Prior flies to right.
He’s off to pitch his last inning tonight.
After six. Cubs 12, Marlins 2.
Muahahahahahahahaha!
Prior should have been pulled after the fifth, and to have him pitch this inning is a crime.
Relax guys…
B.C. only has me within two feet of his body right now.
I think he’ll be fine. ;-)
I’m here at Murphy’s Bleachers across the street from the outfield at Wrigley and I’m here with a recently ejected fan who dumped his beer on Jeff Conine.
Sir, why did you do it?
Drunk Cubs Fan: "Go Cubbbbbbbbs! Whooooooooooo! Marlins SUCK!"
Doesn’t it bother you that you dumped a full beer on a guy, you paid to drink that, you know.
DCF: "Whoooooo! That wasn’t beer! Well, I guess it was once. I kind of "recycled" it. IF you know what I mean. Whooooooo!"
Oh. Well that’s OK, then.
Back to you, Andy.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do not put in Mark Guthrie under any circumstances unless we are ahead by 20 or behind by 20.
If we need Guthrie to get three big outs, the game is over….
Al wants Guthrie to pitch the ninth. We should note that Mark is one of Al’s best friends. Otherwise, Al would just be insane.
Pierre grounds to Gruddy.
Dave Veres is going to pitch the eighth, I’d bet my life on it. Juan Cruz the ninth, most likely.
Now is not a time to worry about anybody’s confidence.
i don’t want to see dave veres either
Prior threw like six pitches there. Castillo lines softly to second.
Nice job, Mark.
After six and a half, Gary Sinise will croon the seventh inning stretch (not shown on TV) and it’s Cubs 12, Marlins 2.
How’d you like to be a Red Sox fan right now. Not only are you waiting to do something horrible and lose the pennant to the Yankees again, but Fox’s "celebrity" announcer for the series is the Yankees third baseman’s brother!
Carl Pavano in to get lit up for the Marlins.
Mike Redmond (not to be confused with Friday’s starter Mark Redman) in to catch. Mike Mordecai in to play second.
Lofton greets Pavano with a single.
Not only that Andy, but McCarver is a former Yankee player and announcer.
At least Buck doesn’t have any stupid allegiances that make him say really stupid things… Right?
Oh, wait, this is JOE Buck we are talking about…
Al: "You have point four tenths of a second to swing."
Point four tenths? That’s not much.
That’s what, four one thousandth of a second?
Gruddy grounds to Lee. Lofton to second.
Al Leiter sez you have .4 tenths of a second to recognize and swing at the pitch. Wouldn’t that make the Franchise’s fastball seem like 980 MPH?
Yes, I am a complete and utter no-talent idiot…
The nice thing about this game is that unlike last night, I can actually watch TV the rest of the night. Last night I went straight to bed and didn’t listen to sports radio all day.
Sammy strikes out and you can tell it makes tHom happy. tHom’s a classy guy, eh?
Troy O’Leary in for Moises.
At least the announcers can read the "in inning" commercials well….
Prior is coming out AGAIN?
Good lord Dusty, what the Hell?
Since nobody was in the Cubs bullpen when Mike Lowell caught O’Leary’s foul popup to end the seventh, apparently Prior’s going out there again.
This is a tad excessive.
After seven, still 12-2.
It’s Melting Time folks…
Boston’s starting the meltdown in New York.
Prior’s arm starting to meltdown in Wrigley.
THAT shows the confidence that dusty has in our bullpen.
Meriwether’s strike zone smaller than a pea again.
Prior’s still in as Fox shows the Waveland mosh pit. tHom is amazed that there are that many fans out there. Uh..tHom there ARE a FEW bars over there, too.
Nice shot of home plate umpire Chuck Meriwether showing the full count with his hands, only he showed two balls and three strikes. Which is what it ought to be.
Prior walks Redmond.
Let him have a seat, Dusty.
Geez, we can’t get an out for a million dollars right now.
Gruddy makes a nice play on a chopper over the mound, but Randall drops the throw.
Dusty’s coming to get Mark.
Dave Veres is humming it up in the high 50s in the bullpen!
BC…you’re doing it again.
Dusty: "Who do we have in the pen we can count on to hold this lead for six outs?"
Rothchild: "Kid Farns, Remmy, and Normal Joe."
Dusty: "What about Guthrie?"
Roth: "He sucks, and so do the rest in the pen"
Dusty: "Leave ‘the Franchise’ in then, right?"
Roth: "Yup."
Warm up Remmy… NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E-ramis makes a diving stop. For some reason he doesn’t run to third, he throws to first and the bases are loaded.
Oh no, if they hit a grand slam here they’ll cut it to SIX!!!
Look out he’s bringing it at 75 tonight!
RR, I was just about to write that. HE hit 77 with that heater. That thing is smokin!
He’s also throwing it almost 58 feet.
Wrigley’s radar gun is whacked out.
They have Veres at SEVENTY-SEVEN miles per hour.
No way, no how.
Encarnacion hits into a 463 double play. Two down, the Marlins cut the lead to NINE.
12-3.
Grudz goes for the sure play and actually gets two. B.C.’s breathing now back to almost normal.
It’s a field goal fest folks!!!
12-3 Cubs.
tHom just said, "How good was Kerry Wood in that Division Series against the Chicago Cubs?"
Wait, did he leave for Atlanta already?
Now they’re mocking the Cubs for playing Connect Four in the clubhouse.
For the record, Carlos Zambrano reigns in Connect Four.
"I must kill the red checkers!"
tHomm "Just how good was Kerry Wood against those Chicago Cubs?"
Who did we get for him anyway?
tHom is amazed that none of the fans have gone home.
Did you see the crowd in the street? They couldn’t leave if they wanted to.
Lowell pops to second. Dave Veres is the man!
I was hoping he’d give up a double, and that Larry Rotschild would walk to the mound, rip that stupid "57" patch off his glove and then walk back to the dugout.
After seven and a half, Cubs 12, Marlins 3.
Does anybody know if they took down that Santo jersey in the dugout?
That patch just reminds him that he pitches like a dick now, but was a star back in 1957 in little league…
Ah… Lenny Harris right where he should be.
On the bench.
One out, Karros at the plate.
Michael Tejera in to pitch the eighth. His first pitch goes into the Marlins dugout. Hi-larious. One of his teammates must have been heckling him.
How does that happen? Seriously? I told you this guy sucks.
E-ramis hits a rope to Lowell. One out.
I think Tejera was throwing at Lenny Harris. I don’t blame him.
Wow, someone wilder than Juan Cruz? Or was that a pick off play to the pitching coach?
Eric Karros singles in a pinch hitting role. You can tell the game has been long, Karros has grown a full beard since the first pitch.
Ramon Martinez in now.
Ramon sends Juan Pierre to the warning track. Two out.
Damn, Steve just stole my beard joke.
Ramon must be wondering where that ivory was to spear Pierre on that deep flyball.
Two down.
Paul Bako at the plate.
Aaaaaahhhhh! Mark Guthrie is up in the bullpen! Hide the women and children. Do not let them see this!
Guthrie’s coming in…
I have crapped in my pants without going to the bathroom.
See, Andy, this is EDUCATIONAL!!!
I need some confidence, can I pitch the ninth?
Karry Ling here in the Marlins dugout (don’t ask.) I think Tejera threw that one at ME!
Jack McKeon, now that Mark Guthrie is coming in to pitch for the Cubs, do you wish you’d left your starters in the game. You’re only down by nine.
Jack: "Woody Guthrie? Damn! All we need is a touchdown and a field goal. Screw that. If we get the TD, I’m going for TWO! You know, play for the win on the road and the tie at home. We’re not home are we?"
Back to you, Andy.
Sorry Hee Seop, you’re not on the playoff roster. You and Augie and Wellemeyer are the bat boys.
Veres still in for now. Whew.
Tom Goodwin in for Sammy and Ramon and Karros are still in.
Nice shot of Ugy Urbina making fun of Tejera in the Marlins dugout. If I’m Tejera I just say, "Hey, I didn’t give up a two-run jack in my one inning. How’d you do yesterday?"
Dusty’s coming to get Veres with one out. Here comes the great Guthrie.
Joe Buck had to mention Dave Veres was pitching in the Cubs/Marlins game…
It’ll be nice to see him HAVE to be objective in the World Series, won’t it Andy?
Muhahahahaha!!!
I like this move by Dusty. When you fall off the horse you have get back on him. Just make sure you lube your crack up nice and good, first.
Thom couldn’t get through the commercial card read-ins without laughing…
Um, Fox, he SHOULD be fired for that.
Honesty compells me to tell you I am almost as excited about the outcome of this game as I was when I heard that Craig Biggio was coming to my pad for dinner and drinks!
Crap! I can’t even get a hit off of MARK GUTHRIE…
Lewin: "Upstttttttttttttttairs…"
Good grief.
I think Dusty is just replaying the last inning last night. He let the righty stay in to pitch to the pitcher’s spot, then the lefty to get the first two spots in the order.
Mordecai grounds to second.
Karros robs the great Lenny Harris (isn’t that just always the way, Lenny?) first to the pitcher covering.
Mark Guthrie’s a stud!
Cubs win! Cubs win!
tHOm managed to remind us four times in one inning that the Cubs hadn’t won a LCS game since 1989.
Josh Lewin lisping his way through an interview with "one of the Alex Gonzali."
Hilarious, is he missing a tooth? Wow!
"Isth that homer that Tshammy hith sthill twavellwing?"
Crap, I can’t even blow one by LENNY HARRIS! My days are numbered….
Or maybe not…
Buck and McCarver were talking and mentioned Sammy hit a long homer.
Buck then asked McCarver "…(W)ho didn’t hit one tonight?"
Yuck.
Nice that all of Chicago just switched over to the Yankees-
Red Sox in time for Joe and Tim to start making Sammy cork jokes. They just can’t get over it, can they?
Anyway…the Cubs player of the game is..Brad Penny!
Thanks, Brad!
The Cubs tie the series at 1-1 and head to loverly south Florida with some momentum and Kerry Wood pitching on Friday night.
Suddenly, things look good again.
Just like, deep down, we all knew they would.
See you Friday night at 7 p.m.
So my forecast was a little conservative. The Cubs were actually up 11-0 in the fifth.
If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is a man who has so much as to be out of danger? by texas hold’em