Let’s play four: Cards, Cubs open tonight
July 27th, 2006
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs open a four-game series at Wrigley tonight. Although the Cardinals certainly have playoff aspirations, for the Cubs, the series is once again mainly about pride.
This will serve as the forum for any discussion related to the weekend series. I’m not going to get to see much of the game tonight or tomorrow night, but I hope to be able to watch the games on Saturday and Sunday.
Before the fur starts to fly on this topic, I have just one question…
Do we have to be civil to Zoner?
Game 4 looks to be a great matchup between Carpenter and Zambrano. I might smell a sweep. Go Cards!!!!
Cubs will take 3 of 4.
IF the Cubs take 3 of 4, they’ll only be 17 games back……HA HA HA HA!
Anyone else see that poor Cub fan get drilled in the throat by Juan’s laser shot to left earlier? I guess you ask for that sort of luck when you’re rooting for Chicago…
If the Cubs win tonight, I’m inclined to agree with Steve — they’ll take three of four. If the Cards win tonight, I think the teams will split. I predict the Cubs will win games 2-3, while the Cards will take game 4 with Carpenter pitching.
The Cubs are coming back, now tied 4-4, cubs up bases loaded!
One down…yeah buddy!
And since Dusty is going to be around the rest of the season, everyone should be shaking in their boots.
Yeah, the Cubbies take game 1 of their World Series. It speaks volumes that the Cubs’ World Series is in July.
That’s the only one they’ll get
Don’t worry about being civil Bro. I hope they keep losing. Between them and now the Sox it’s just brutal.
This is not the Cubs’ World Series. The Cubs’ World Series was in 1945.
Zoner,
What has happened to the Sox? Do you have any inside info on why the runs scored are down and the ones given up are up. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the pitching on a decline, but they aren’t scoring the runs like they were either.
in game 2 the Cards strike first. 2 - 0 top of the 4th.
Mabry hit a 2 run shot to tie it at 3 in the 4th.
They are scoring enough runs. In fact no team in the MLB has scored more runs than the WSox. It’s mostly starting pitching. I did a post on Buerhle here: http://chicagozoner.blogspot.com/2006/07/baseballs-staggering-stats.html
This fine post also includes some good fodder for you Cubs haters.
Dusty is a whiner. Rolen takes one between the shoulder blades. Then Looper does the right thing and hits the Cubbies’ third baseman IN THE RUMP. That’s how it’s done. Sit down, Dusty, and shut up.
Dusty must have gotten uncomfortably warm. As the home plate umpire has just awarded him the privilege of watching the remainder of the game from the air-conditioned comfort of the club house.
Zoner,
If you look at the 12 games since the All Star break compared to the 12 games before the break the run production is what has contributed mostly to their 2 - 10 record since the break. They actually allowed less runs.
Before the break: Sox 78 runs or 6.5 per game
Opp 72 runs or 6 per game
Since the break: Sox 42 runs or 3.5 per game
Opp 65 runs or 5.42 per game
Chuck, you were right. It could be a sweep. Let’s see what Maddux has this afternoon. Tim, to continue stating the obvious is unnecessary. Everyone knows the Cubs aren’t having a good year. This small series is enough for right here, right now. Go Reds.
Tom,
I’ll continue saying whatever I please about the Cubs, thank you very much. What, they’re suddenly off limits because they’re having a bad season? Give me a break.
Cubs are hot at home this weekend so beit… Let’s talk about BRRUUUUUUUCE SUTTER! 1982…the year I discoverd my passion for baseball at 12 years old. What a year.
I wish the Cardinals would get their heads in the game. This is a circus.
Tim, Where can I find info on how the Hall of Fame nomination and voting process works. What are the nominations based on and why only 1 person inducted one year and 3 or 4 another year. Ect.
Tony,
Try this.
Let me know if that doesn’t answer all your questions.
Three down, one to go. Go Reds
I think the column I wrote last year about this time is still remarkably appropriate.
Thanks Tim, I’ll Check it out!
My apologies. It seems my ‘Cubs win 3 of 4′ call may be way off. I think I may have totally overestimated the Cardinals. Please forgive me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Steve Mc. Say, how’s the view from 16 games behind the overestimated Cardinals (and 19 games under .500)? You’re forgiven.
If the Cardinals don’t win the division, it will be because of the Cubs. Either way, they’ll choke in the playoffs.
Steve, Zoner, Craig, Tom. et al…Congrats.
When you get handled as soundly as the Cardinals did this weekend, the only thing a gentleman can do is tip his hat to his respected friends who happen to be North-Side sympathizers.
If I happen to ever come across a gentleman, I’ll be sure to give him this message.
I’m smiling
Nice save, Tony. Very gracious. Indeed, this 4-game series is our season. This series is all we’ve got. The only thing beteer yesterday was perhaps Buck O’Neil speaking at Cooperstown as an invited non-inductee. What a gentleman. You can find the transcript on my blog, posted this morning.
I told you I smelled a sweep at the beginning of this series. My smeller must be off though, because I smelled it from the other end. It pains me to say this, but congrats Cubs fans. That was very depressing.
I’m still looking for an amazing comeback for the Cubs. Who knows - if they win every game till the end of the season, they just might win the division!
Just not the Wild Card. I’m being forced to be hopeful about the Braves winning that.
The Braves? Speaking of sweeps…..
Bring it on.