Monday, June 28, 2004
So now the Cardinals are the 10th best team IN THE WORLD IN ANY SPORT. Well, the Cubs officially have no chance. That's a joke: if the Cardinals win the Central this season, I will send Neil Miller a 5th of Jack Daniel's. He doesn't even read this website, either. Oh Christ, the Cardinals! I'm shaking with fear! Spare me.
Also spare me any talk that Terminator 3 was any kind of a good movie. I'm watching it now because it's entertaining for a Monday night at home...but I don't think that's quite what they were looking to accomplish with the film. In fact, I'm not sure exactly what they were going for with T3...it's like Harry Potter meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II meets the Terminator. If anybody agrees with me, they can consider themselves officially insane.
I love wiffleball!
Also spare me any talk that Terminator 3 was any kind of a good movie. I'm watching it now because it's entertaining for a Monday night at home...but I don't think that's quite what they were looking to accomplish with the film. In fact, I'm not sure exactly what they were going for with T3...it's like Harry Potter meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II meets the Terminator. If anybody agrees with me, they can consider themselves officially insane.
I love wiffleball!
Monday, June 21, 2004
I was allowed back into the country only after a stern warning from the Chicago National League ballclub, who were understandably upset to learn that I was bringing my distracting presence back to Chicago.
The Cubs went on a 6-game tear while I was away, and in general seem to play better when I'm not looking. Despite this, they have managed to win 2 straight games since I got back, and tomorrow begin their most important stretch of the season: 3 @ STL, 3 @ SOX, 3 vs HOU, 3 vs SOX, 3 @ MIL, 3 @ STL.
The way they are going right now, they could win all of these, or they could win one of 18. I'm afraid to make predictions at this point, except to predict that the Cubs are unpredictable.
Let's recap a bit:
D. Lee is, once again, very cool. He is rounding into form, as he does every season at about this time. RODAN!
IF the Cubs get Kerry Wood back...I'm afraid to think about it. I would not want to be the rest of the division if the Cubs can put together a healthy stretch with their current personnel playing at their current levels.
The Astros are suddenly very bad. Not sure if this is permanent, or what. If it is, I consider it a tremendous break for the Cubs. I just don't think anybody else has the pitching to win 90 games in this division.
It's weird to be the voice of reason for my Cubs-loving friends, which I've basically been this season. Mike Bodnar, for example, all but gave up a few weeks ago, when I had to remind him that the Cubs, then missing Prior, Wood, and Sosa, would get these three All-Stars back within a few weeks (Wood continues to be a mystery to me) without giving up anything.
Things are looking up, at least for now. It likely won't continue, but what do I know?
The Cubs went on a 6-game tear while I was away, and in general seem to play better when I'm not looking. Despite this, they have managed to win 2 straight games since I got back, and tomorrow begin their most important stretch of the season: 3 @ STL, 3 @ SOX, 3 vs HOU, 3 vs SOX, 3 @ MIL, 3 @ STL.
The way they are going right now, they could win all of these, or they could win one of 18. I'm afraid to make predictions at this point, except to predict that the Cubs are unpredictable.
Let's recap a bit:
D. Lee is, once again, very cool. He is rounding into form, as he does every season at about this time. RODAN!
IF the Cubs get Kerry Wood back...I'm afraid to think about it. I would not want to be the rest of the division if the Cubs can put together a healthy stretch with their current personnel playing at their current levels.
The Astros are suddenly very bad. Not sure if this is permanent, or what. If it is, I consider it a tremendous break for the Cubs. I just don't think anybody else has the pitching to win 90 games in this division.
It's weird to be the voice of reason for my Cubs-loving friends, which I've basically been this season. Mike Bodnar, for example, all but gave up a few weeks ago, when I had to remind him that the Cubs, then missing Prior, Wood, and Sosa, would get these three All-Stars back within a few weeks (Wood continues to be a mystery to me) without giving up anything.
Things are looking up, at least for now. It likely won't continue, but what do I know?
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Back from the Old World, where I saw a lot of amazing sights, took in a lot of beautiful sun, drank a lot of tasty wine, and laughed a lot of belly laughs. Cruising the Mediterranean in style is something I highly recommend, especially if you are a millionaire or are related to a millionaire and you can do it without worrying about the astronomical expense involved. I haven't the time or, really, the inclination to put pictures up here, but let me know if you want to see some and I will send them to you. I think I took some pretty good ones.
And of course the Cubs went on a 6-game tear while I was gone. Standard.
More to follow.
And of course the Cubs went on a 6-game tear while I was gone. Standard.
More to follow.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Leaving for Europe in just 2 days, meaning that tomorrow is my Friday. Are there many things better than a midweek Friday? If there are, their list is short.
I'm very pleased about this Europe trip; even if we were not going anywhere special, it is going to be hilarious to be on the road with my mother's entire family (12 siblings and their kinfolk, about 45 people in all). The fact that I'm going to set foot for the first time on the Continent proper only sweetens the deal, and Euro 2004 will be ongoing while we're there, as well! For those of you unfamiliar with soccer (or Europe and their insane attachment to it), imagine the NFL playoffs multiplied by 16 and there you have it.
More to follow.
I'm very pleased about this Europe trip; even if we were not going anywhere special, it is going to be hilarious to be on the road with my mother's entire family (12 siblings and their kinfolk, about 45 people in all). The fact that I'm going to set foot for the first time on the Continent proper only sweetens the deal, and Euro 2004 will be ongoing while we're there, as well! For those of you unfamiliar with soccer (or Europe and their insane attachment to it), imagine the NFL playoffs multiplied by 16 and there you have it.
More to follow.
Friday, June 04, 2004
A cloudless and radiant early summer day today lent some of its clarity to the Cubs' situation. Mark Prior made his first start of the season this afternoon, and was welcomed jubilantly by a Wrigley crowd that included both Mike Bodnar and myself. He was brilliant, posting 6 strong innings of 2-hit, shutout ball, fanning eight while walking none.
Of course, he did not figure in the decision.
Wins and losses are a lousy way to determine a starting pitcher's worth, but today worked effectively to designate blame for the game's unhappy outcome. Joe Borowski came in to protect a one-run lead and got smoked, surrendering laser beams to almost every hitter he faced and generally projecting an air of total incompetence. When the dust settled, he took his 4th loss of the year, blowing his second straight save and supplying further ammunition to his growing army of detractors.
I feel like I've been behind JoBo pretty much this entire year. I thought he would be able to reduce his walks to a manageable level, and that he would eventually stop giving up line drives on almost pitch his opposing batters swung at. Now I don't think that's going to happen.
The Cubs right now have an awfully high number of players they could release outright without thinking twice about it, especially for a contending team. Borowski has been so awful this year that I feel like his name could be added to the list, along with Rey Ordonez, Mike Wuertz, and Andy Pratt.
I'm just kind of venting.
This game was really a microcosm of the Cubs entire season, including--but not limited to--variations on the following themes:
Great starting pitching
Inconsistent hitting, with poor performance in the clutch
Lousy relief pitching
Great defensive plays by the opposition
Failure to capitalize on opponents' errors
Corey Patterson striking out and failing to produce in the clutch
Derrek Lee striking out and deepening my concern over his ability to play well
Too many AAA players in the starting lineup (Ordonez, Patterson)
Missing injured starters (ironic, but true!)
Poor management (Walker bunting with the runner already in scoring position in the 9th, after he had smoked the ball every time up??? Borowski continuing to come up in critical situations???)
A raucous, sellout crowd
Nice weather
I'm now going to rank the Cubs that played today by my level of hatred for them (more asterisks = more hatred)
Corey Patterson *****
Rey Ordonez *****
Joe Borowski ***
Derrek Lee **
Todd Hollandsworth ** (I want Sammy back, and I'm not ashamed to admit it)
Mike Remlinger **
Kent Mercker **
Aramis Ramirez *
Todd Walker * (in fairness, he could have been 5-5 today)
All other Cubs = no hatred, with Prior, LaTroy, and especially Alou actually getting love (it can't be reverse hatred because that's indifference)
Alou was an absolute stallion today, scoring the Cubs' only run and making a great throw to keep the game scoreless, along with a nifty catch in the 9th that saved extra bases, but was probably overrated because he's so damn slow he made it look more dramatic than it was, which FYI he does that a lot. But I still love him, and run-on sentences. He's playing like 2001 Moises Alou.
Okay, I'm spent. I return to the Confines on Sunday for the wrap of the 3-game Pirates set. I'll probably be drunk by then.
Of course, he did not figure in the decision.
Wins and losses are a lousy way to determine a starting pitcher's worth, but today worked effectively to designate blame for the game's unhappy outcome. Joe Borowski came in to protect a one-run lead and got smoked, surrendering laser beams to almost every hitter he faced and generally projecting an air of total incompetence. When the dust settled, he took his 4th loss of the year, blowing his second straight save and supplying further ammunition to his growing army of detractors.
I feel like I've been behind JoBo pretty much this entire year. I thought he would be able to reduce his walks to a manageable level, and that he would eventually stop giving up line drives on almost pitch his opposing batters swung at. Now I don't think that's going to happen.
The Cubs right now have an awfully high number of players they could release outright without thinking twice about it, especially for a contending team. Borowski has been so awful this year that I feel like his name could be added to the list, along with Rey Ordonez, Mike Wuertz, and Andy Pratt.
I'm just kind of venting.
This game was really a microcosm of the Cubs entire season, including--but not limited to--variations on the following themes:
Great starting pitching
Inconsistent hitting, with poor performance in the clutch
Lousy relief pitching
Great defensive plays by the opposition
Failure to capitalize on opponents' errors
Corey Patterson striking out and failing to produce in the clutch
Derrek Lee striking out and deepening my concern over his ability to play well
Too many AAA players in the starting lineup (Ordonez, Patterson)
Missing injured starters (ironic, but true!)
Poor management (Walker bunting with the runner already in scoring position in the 9th, after he had smoked the ball every time up??? Borowski continuing to come up in critical situations???)
A raucous, sellout crowd
Nice weather
I'm now going to rank the Cubs that played today by my level of hatred for them (more asterisks = more hatred)
Corey Patterson *****
Rey Ordonez *****
Joe Borowski ***
Derrek Lee **
Todd Hollandsworth ** (I want Sammy back, and I'm not ashamed to admit it)
Mike Remlinger **
Kent Mercker **
Aramis Ramirez *
Todd Walker * (in fairness, he could have been 5-5 today)
All other Cubs = no hatred, with Prior, LaTroy, and especially Alou actually getting love (it can't be reverse hatred because that's indifference)
Alou was an absolute stallion today, scoring the Cubs' only run and making a great throw to keep the game scoreless, along with a nifty catch in the 9th that saved extra bases, but was probably overrated because he's so damn slow he made it look more dramatic than it was, which FYI he does that a lot. But I still love him, and run-on sentences. He's playing like 2001 Moises Alou.
Okay, I'm spent. I return to the Confines on Sunday for the wrap of the 3-game Pirates set. I'll probably be drunk by then.
