Archive for August, 2009

I watched not one second of Friday’s affair. I managed about 10 minutes of Internet access and caught the 2-1 score, posted this premature comment and then later flipped on my XM radio to catch the final 5-2 win. The good news is the Cubs got a win and Milton Bradley and Alfonso Soriano went a combined 6/6 with 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 Runs Scored and 2 BB’s. The bad news was the comedy of errors from the offensive heroes and the Cubs needing a dramatic come-from-behind win against a team missing their five best players.

Some links and notes after the jump…

- Bruce Levine is sticking with the Minnesota Twins as the team awarded the claim on Rich Harden. How he got past the entire NL is a little confusing with the way he’s pitching and the rather minimal committment left on his contract. I don’t hold high hopes that the Twins would take the rest of his contract and give up top prospects for Harden. And it looks like the San Francisco Giants were awarded the claim on Aaron Heilman. The Sun-Times says a few more Cubs were claimed, but doesn’t offer up any names.

- In minor league news, 2009 first round pick Brett Jackson has been placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his right wrist. He should be back for Peoria’s playoff run as they have already clinched a playoff spot in the Midwest League. As of this writing, Iowa is a 1.5 back of Memphis and tied with Nashville with just over a week left in the PCL season. In Double A, Tennessee is tied with West Tennessee and the two teams finish the season with a five-game set.

- The Daytona Cubs aren’t going to be repeating as FSL champs, but they’ve thrown their second combined no-hitter in the last two weeks. Both times 20-year old pitcher Oswaldo Martinez was involved and he has not given up an earned run in 10.1 IP since joining Daytona.This time he combined with Mike Perconte on the no-hitter, last time it was a four pitcher effort with Martinez, Craig Muschko, Chris Siegfried and David Cales.

- Alfonso Soriano is set to have his MRI on Monday.

- I’ve got some Internet troubles at home, so dont’ expect much from me this weekend, hence this hastily done post.

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I have always been a big fan of Francisco, I have to say, seeing news like this gives me mixed feelings.This will be shocking news for Francisco fans, but some of you who will say that you saw it coming from a long way away. I can’t say I’m all that surprised. Francisco is sweet, I hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the team.

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Believe it or not, the D-Cubs threw another no-hitter tonight, less than two weeks after the last one. It was another one of the seven-inning no-nos.

Generally good news from the farm tonight, although Brett Jackson went on the DL with a sore right wrist.

Iowa Cubs (69-65)

The Iowa Cubs moved into second place with a 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Jeff Samardzija dominated tonight for six shutout innings tonight. He gave up only three singles and one walk. The Shark struck out six.

Jeff Stevens threw two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

The I-Cubs were paced tonight by a pair of solo home runs. The first as a third-inning shot by right fielder Brad Snyder, his 14th on the season. Snyder was 1 for 3 with a walk overall. The second one was an insurance run in the eighth inning by DH Matt Craig.  It was his fourth home run for Iowa, seventh in the PCL and 11th overall. Craig was 2 for 4 on the night with two runs scored.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 3 with two stolen bases. Barney had one RBI and scored once. Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 3 with a walk.

The Iowa Cubs are two games behind the Memphis Redbirds in the standings with ten games to play. They have no games left with Memphis, however.

Tennessee Smokies (33-28)

The Smokies late-inning heroics just keep on coming. They scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Mobile Bay Bears, 3-2 and move back into a tie for first place.

Starter Chris Carpenter allowed one run on five hits in his six inning start. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.

David Cales got the win with two innings of relief. Cales gave up two hits and a walk, but didn’t allow any runs. He did not strike anyone out.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin had the big blow, an RBI double that tied the score in the two-run ninth. He later scored the winning run on Doug Deeds‘ pinch-hit single. Colvin was 1 for 4.

Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4. Catcher Welington Castillo went 2 for 3.

Daytona Cubs (27-33)

The Daytona Cubs split a double-header tonight, losing the first game, 3-2 in nine innings and winning the second game, 3-0 as the D-Cubs staff tossed their second seven-inning no-hitter in less than two weeks.

In the first game, Ryan Searle started and allowed two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Searle walked one and struck out six.

Chris Siegfried pitched the ninth inning and took the loss, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out one.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Jake Opitz  and center fielder Tony Campana were both 2 for 4.

The no-hitter was in the second game, as starter Oswaldo Martinez pitched the first four innings, walking two and striking out one. Martinez has now pitched in four games since signing out of the Mexican League: two of those games were no-hitters. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in his Cub debut on August 15.

Mike Perconte finished the no-no and got the win since Martinez didn’t go five innings. Perconte walked one and fanned three.

Jake Opitz was the DH for the second game and was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (37-23)

The Peoria Chiefs were knocked on their ears by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-3.

Justin Bristow started but only lasted two innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. Bristow walked four and struck out two.

Jeff Beliveau pitched much better in relief, but got the loss anyway. Beliveau allowed one run over his four innings of relief. He surrendered five hits. He didn’t walk anyone and he struck out four.

Center fielder David Macias had a two-run double in a 1 for 4 game. The Chiefs did not have a hit after the second inning tonight.

Boise Hawks (30-37)

The Hawks were officially eliminated from the playoffs tonight with a 7-2 loss to the Spokane Indians.

Chris Rusin started and took the loss. He went four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit his second home run in the second inning. The solo shot was his only hit in a 1 for 4 game. Shortstop George Matheus went 2 for 5 with a double.

AZL Cubs (13-15, 29-27 overall)

Beat the Brewers, 3-0.

The rookie league team’s season is now over.

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I have always been a big fan of Martinez, I have to say, seeing news like this gives me mixed feelings.This will be shocking news for Martinez fans, but there are those of you who will say that you saw it coming from a mile away. I can’t say I’m all that surprised. Martinez is awesome, I really hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the team.

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News about Martinez -

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What do you think?

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You don’t need a reason to drink this weekend, but you may need a reason to watch a 49ers-Cowboys preseason game that doesn’t include “it was the only thing the sheriff would let me watch from the holding cell.”

The Cowboys insane video scoreboard and it’s special teams abilities will be a hot topic of broadcaster conversation at every Dallas home game (and some away games) this year, so bloggers—as is their wont—have been forced to invent a drinking game. A brief selection from the rules:

6. One shot if the broadcast cuts to Jerry Jones‘ uneasy face after Andy Lee punts the ball into his scoreboard.

7. Two shots if Coach Mike Singletary looks amused with Andy Lee punting the ball into the scoreboard.

8. One shot if any broadcaster makes an analogy between the new Cowboy Stadium and the Death Star.

It might not be that fun, but I guarantee you’ll be passed out before halftime.

Andy Lee Drinking Game Niners Nation

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I have always been a fan of Lee, but I have to say, seeing news like this gives me mixed feelings.How do you think this news will affect the rest of the team this season?

Take a peek at a vid of Lee:

Lee Elia Tirade - Chicago Cubs - 4/29/83

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Haha, I can’t believe this guy,

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Let’s push controversy aside for a while, shall we, and try to just enjoy a baseball game this afternoon?

The last time the Mets visited Wrigley Field was more than 16 months ago, on April 22, 2008. That isn’t that long ago in baseball terms, but of the eight starting Cubs that day, four are no longer with the team and one is on the DL. Five other Cubs who appeared in the game are elsewhere as well. As for the Mets, four of their starting eight from that game won’t appear due to injury and three others have departed.

Ronny Cedeno hit a grand slam in that game, just to remind you of blasts from the past. It’s still his only slam. (That’s just about the time we started calling him ONEDEC.)

Two very different teams will take the field at Wrigley this afternoon from that long-ago day in 2008 (the Cubs did face the Mets last September, still almost a year ago, when the Mets were desperately trying to win a playoff spot, which they lost on the last day of the season). The Mets have been decimated by injuries, both to their starting lineup and pitching rotation — the three Mets probable starters in this series, Pat Misch, Bobby Parnell and Nelson Figueroa, were definitely not the pitchers Jerry Manuel envisioned in his rotation in April.

OK, I suppose I can’t resist a couple of links and comments regarding the current Milton Bradley situation. Phil Rogers says the Cubs should just cut him, which would cost north of $20 million and I think is a ridiculous idea, but Rogers also offer some suggestions of other teams’ bad contracts that could result in a trade:

The only way to trade Bradley, according to executives with other clubs, is to up your ante to take on someone else’s bad contract. You know the names — the Blue Jays‘ Vernon Wells, owed $98.5 million over five years; the Giants‘ Barry Zito, $83 million over four years; the Astros‘ Carlos Lee, $55.5 million over three years, maybe the Giants’ Aaron Rowand, $36 million over three years.

The best of those scenarios involves the Rangers‘ five-year, $80-million deal with Michael Young, who at 32 is a productive player. He’s owed $16 million a year for four more seasons.

In a cost-cutting mode because of ownership problems, Texas might consider a Bradley-for-Young trade. But it wouldn’t do it during its ongoing playoff race and it’s going to be increasingly awkward for them to try to wade through a hugely problematic trade.

As Rogers says, Texas is in a playoff race and probably wouldn’t do it now. So are the Giants with Zito, who has actually pitched very well since the All-Star break. The Vernon Wells deal would be more palatable to the Cubs if it didn’t have five years and nearly as much money as Alfonso Soriano’s. But I’d do it. Wells is virtually the same age as Bradley (about eight months younger) and, though he’s had a couple of tough years since he signed his monster deal, at least he does have proven power numbers from the past, and could play CF, allowing Kosuke Fukudome to move back to RF next season (with Reed Johnson retained to back them both up).

And strangely enough, the best local media words on this situation come from the Tribune’s Steve Rosenbloom, who I almost never agree with and who often writes ridiculous bombast. But today he nails it, in a column titled Bradley’s response ought to anger those who take on racism seriously:

Racism is serious. If you are concerned or angry enough to put that in the public discussion, then you seemingly should be motivated to explain when and where this happened. How else do you take a step toward keeping it from happening again?

But when Bradley offers only cynicism and sarcasm, he diminishes the severity of the issue. Moreover, he does a disservice to those suffering abuse but who are willing to fight the fight head on.

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Under no circumstances does anyone deserve to be abused racially. Underachieving baseball player and racial epithets are dots that should never connect.

But Bradley’s history and now his dismissive response to questions following his serious charges invite the suggestion that he’s looking for ways to shield himself from his problems, self-inflicted or otherwise.

One hundred percent correct, Mr. Rosenbloom. Bravo.

Try to enjoy today’s game.

Today’s Starting Pitchers

Ted Lilly Cubs vs. Pat Misch Mets 9-8 W-L 0-1 3.40 ERA 4.09 116 SO 13 27 BB 13 21 HR 1 vs. NY – vs. Cubs

There’s no profile photo of Pat Misch in a Mets cap available (at least not in that size), so you get one of him with his former team, the Giants. The Mets acquired Misch on waivers in July and he’s spent the last couple of months shuttling between Buffalo and New York, making 15 relief appearances with the Mets (after four with the Giants). He is a Chicago-area native who graduated from Glenbrook North HS in Northbrook in 1999 and has made three career relief appearances vs. the Cubs, all in 2007. This will be his first start as a Met. Only one current Cub has a hit off him — Koyie Hill (1-for-2), but that’s covering only eight total at-bats from all current Cubs.

Ted Lilly is 2-1, 3.86 in five career appearances (four starts) vs. the Mets. His last two starts against them, one in 2007 and one in 2008, were both wins, the last one in the April 22, 2008 game mentioned above. The current Met who has the most AB against Ted is Gary Sheffield; Sheffield is only 5-for-28 against him.

Cable-only today in Chicago (CSN) and New York (SNY). For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue.

Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

.:”

I’m willing to bet everybody saw that one coming! Any thoughts?

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Lee is at it again -

Hak-Ju Lee and Jose Valdez were named to the Northwest League Post-season All-Star Team.

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I bet nobody saw that one coming! Thoughts?

Here’s a vid of Lee at his best:

KcCollectibles Baseball Auto#2 Jeremy Bonderman, Lee Smith

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Check out who is making news again, Lee! Cubs Minor League Wrap–August 25. In the interest of saving time:

Len Kasper mentioned this during the game tonight, but Chiefs Rebel Ridling, Josh Vitters, Kyler Burke and Josh Harrison were all named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team. Harrison was traded to Pittsburgh, of course. Chiefs manager Marty Pevey shared the manager of the year award.

Wish I had better news to report tonight.

Iowa Cubs (66-65)

The Iowa Cubs were derailed by the New Orleans Zephyrs, 8-1.

J.R. Mathes took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings. Mathes didn’t walk anyone and struck out two.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies (31-28)

The Smokies fell out of first place tonight when they were beaten by the Carolina Mudcats, 7-6.

Hung-Wen Chen got the start and picked up the loss. He went six innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. Chen walked one and struck out four.

Catcher Welington Castillo was 3 for 4 with two doubles. He had one RBI and scored once. Center fielder James Adduci was 3 for 5 with a run scored. First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Daytona Cubs (25-31)

Figures that the teams who have already been mathematically-eliminated would be the teams that won. The Daytona Cubs aren’t just playing out the string though, as tonight they tamed the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 6-4.

Starter Craig Muschko got the win. He pitched five innings and he allowed two runs on four hits. He was great around the plate as he didn’t walk anyone and struck out eight.

Luke Sommer pitched the ninth to get his second save. Sommer allowed one hit but no runs. He didn’t walk anyone and he struck out one.

Second baseman Nate Samson hit a solo home run in the third inning. It was his second home run on the season. Samson was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Josh VItters hit home run number three (and his second in three games) back-to-back with Samson’s shot. Vitters was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Left fielder Tony Campana was 3 for 5 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez had a double and a triple in a 2 for 4 game. Gonzalez scored once and had one RBI. First baseman Jake Opitz went 2 for 4 with two doubles.  Opitz had one RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (35-22)

The Chiefs were robbed by the Quad City River Bandits 9-6 in 12 innings.

Starter Jeffry Antigua pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He only walked one and struck out seven.

Erik Hamren got the loss in relief. Hamren went two innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned. He allowed two hits and walked two while striking out two. He also balked with an inherited runner on third in the tenth inning.

It was home run number 20 tonight for second baseman Ryan Flaherty.  Flaherty’s home run was a solo homer in the bottom of the first. He went 3 for 6 with two runs scored.

Center fielder Brett Jackson also hit a solo home run tonight, his fifth for Peoria, in the fifth inning. Jackson went 1 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored.

First baseman Rebel Ridling was 3 for 4 with a run scored. Kyler Burke was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Boise Hawks (30-33)

The Hawks were stopped by the Spokane Indians, 6-4.

Eduardo Figueroa started and took the loss. He allowed four runs over three innings, but only one of the runs was earned. He gave up six hits and didn’t walk anyone, although he did have two wild pitches. Figueroa struck out two.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. However, he did have another one of those two error games. Lee does seem to make errors in bunches, although he does often go a while without making one.

First baseman Greg Rohan had two doubles in a 2 for 3 game. Rohand also walked once. He had two RBI.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Angels, 5-4.

Again, the mathematically-eliminated team wins.

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How do you think this news will affect the team this season?

Here’s a vid of Lee:

Lee’s Baseball All Star Game

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choo doesn’t know what he’s into -

I believe Oddjack would have set the odds of Isiah Thomas causing controversy at Florida International at 0.5 games into his college coaching career. If you took the under, you are a winner.

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Thoughts?

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Cabrera is in todays news -

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Thanks to quick reactions by their rookie shortstop, the Texas Rangers escaped with a victory after a nerve-racking ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Elvis Andrus turned Melky Cabrera’s line drive into a game-ending double play, and Texas held off the New York Yankees 10-9 on Tuesday night in a potential playoff preview.

.:”

Any thoughts on Andrus, Rangers hold off Yankees 10-9 in wild 9th?

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choo is in the headlines again -

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Tebow missed practice! TEBOW MISSED PRACTICE! Something about a stiff back, which shouldn’t be a problem for a running quarterback with weak mechanics. But it doesn’t matter because he’s a walking M.A.S.H. unit that you cannot keep off the field.

Now it can be told! Tim Tebow hurt his non-throwing shoulder in the season opener last year—no, it wasn’t because that was when he carried you—and had to have pain-killing injections before every game. (Hmmm … a Drug that Enhanced his ability to Perform football-related tasks? Nothing wrong with that!) Oh, and that same shoulder bothered him the year before and he broke his hand in the Florida State game in 2007 and … AND … he broke his leg in high school and still played through that. Pain is not weakness leaving the body, it’s the fuel that feeds his robot power cells.

So basically the guy is held together by string and rubber bands, but what is the media takeaway? He’s even tougher than we thought! Wild horses could not drag him off the field. His character is so solid he doesn’t need a helmet! He’s basically accomplished everything in his life from a wheelchair and what’s even more frightening is that he’s now fully operational. (Unless he isn’t! Maybe there’s a new injury to hide, one that will make eventually make this upcoming season even more incredible in retrospect.)

His injuries make him more human, yet somehow also more immortal. Tremble, weaklings!

Tebow’s durability has been amazing ESPN
More From Tebow On His Back, Shoulder Tim Teblog
Tim Tebow finally healthy for once Orlando Sentinel

(P.S. Wednesday is “What Would Tim Tebow Do?” Night at the Fort Myers Miracle game. I think what he would not do is attend a Fort Myers Miracle game.)

.:”

Any responses to What Mysterious Injury Is Tim Tebow Hiding? Tim Tebow?

Every day could be opening day when you open your checkbook and see the logo of your favorite Major League Baseball team prominently displayed. All 30 teams available. Matching labels and cover are also available. These MLB checks are only $27.90 at DesignerChecks.com