June 29 vs Brewers – Running Diary

In honor of the Cubs amazing comeback yesterday, it’s time for another running diary! (all times pacific) (via Gameday)

10:40am Prior’s starting again. He needs a good start today. The Brewers are throwing out some dude named Geremi Gonzalez and his 6.08 era. It would be really nice just to have a confidence building 12-2 win today. As much happiness a Dusty loss gives me, all the Cubs losses are hurting too much. Go Cubs!

11:12 Interesting to note, that with a 100m budget, there isn’t even one cub in the top 5 at any position in the all-star voting… were all the cub fans voting for other teams in a show of irony but I didn’t get the memo? The Pirates have a player in the top-5 at every position but catcher.

11:26 Weeks leads off with a hit. I’m not a major league coach, but Prior seems to be throwing a lot of 0-2, 1-2 pitches in hittable areas. I’m not saying he should be bouncing them in there, make ‘em chase!

11:31 Carlos Lee owns the Cubs. The Cubs are Carlos Lee’s little plaything. It’s humilating. 1-0 Brewers. Also, Weeks stole 2nd on a foul tip strikeout. Didn’t know you could advance on a foul ball without tagging. But I don’t know everything. On the bright side, Prior did K the side, he just gave up 2 hits, 1 SB and 1 Run. Kudos!

11:34 There is no Neifi in the lineup today… with the exception of Nevin in for Murton, it’s a pretty sane lineup… could be a boring diary.

11:37 After some thought, Murton hits like a girl. Neifi drives in more runs per AB than Murton. Ride some pine and reflect there, Red.

11:45 Aside from Derrek Lee working a nice AB into a BB, not much else. So it might be a good time to bring up the fact that Carlos Zambrano has more HR & RBI than John Mabry. And CZ has a better walk rate than Neifi. (CZ has 1 walk in 33 PAs, just to give you an idea of how much a “Dusty Guy” Neifi is.)

11:49 DIIIIING! Corey Koskie homers. 2-0 Brews. On the plus side, Prior has 5 Ks thru 2 innings. On the minus side, he has given up 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 HR and 1 SB.

11:53 Wait a minute! This is the same Geremi (Jeremi) Gonzalez who pitched for the Cubs in the late ninties. I have nothing to add beyond that. Nevin broke up his no-hitter after 1 1/3 innings.

12:09 Slow goings, until a 2 out single by walker and a walk by Lee, then A-Ram flew out and I’m drowsy. Top of the 4th, 2-0 MIL. But here comes Carlos Lee!

12:18 C-Lee did single… but D-Lee turned a double play. Then Koskie walked (excuse me, Mark, this is KOREY KOSKIE!!!!) and then stole 2nd. Now Damian Miller is fouling off balls like… a guy who fouls off a lot of balls. When a guy fould off 4-6 balls in an AB, bad things happen, like a double and its now 3-0 Brewers.

12:22 It breaks my heart to think we could’ve gotten Miggy Tejada for Prior. It breaks my heart even more that I would wish Prior was gone. I WANTED TO LOVE YOU! YOU MANEATER! You broke my heart, it’s broken, you vagina!

12:27 G-Gonz is DEALING! Reality got lost, will he make it to the park in time? Or will Geremi be doing his Cy Young impression for nine innings?

12:37 Prior is getting his Ks. 7 thru 5 innings. If he can put together 2 more scoreless innings this could be a decent start. Too bad Gonzalez is making the Cubs look like the Cubs today.

12:44 I know Juan Pierre hit a home yesterday, but why on earth is he still hitting leadoff when he’s so inept at getting on base? Why do I have to keep asking this question? Why do I care?

12:49 They walked D-Lee again. With A-Ram hitting like Matt Murton in a dress, why not? (I am now hoping A-Ram makes them pay!)

12:53 A-Ram walked and Jones made them pay with a 2-run single. 3-2 Brewers. Why are so many message boarders and bloggers down on Jones? He’s been one of the few bright spots on this team. Viva La Jacque!

1:03 Cub Master Carlos Lee walks, unnerving MarkyMark enough to give up back to back singles, to Cecil’s kid Prince and to arch-nemesis Korey Koskie. Bases loaded, nobody out…

1:06 Has Prior ever really recovered from the game 6 8th inning 2003 playoffs… the Bartman/Gonzalez inning? I don’t think so. He’s never seemed totally the same fearless dominating pitcher. Now he’s scared of injury and not intimidating. Though he did just K Damian Miller to get the first out. He needs to get out of this inning.

1:10 Now he K’d Clark… one more. Bear down.

1:13 Prior of 2003 would’ve gotten Gabe Gross to make an out and have gotten out of the inning with no damage. Mark Prior of 2006, allows Gabe Gross (I can not emphasize this enough, not Carlos Lee, not Prince Fielder, Gabe Gross) to knock a two run single. And here comes Roberto Oh-No-voa. Final line for Prior: 5.2 innings 5 runs 8 hits 4 BB 1 HR 2 SB. There’s the Franchise.

1:22 Well, Ron Ce took one for the team and Blanco followed up with a single. It’s time for Matty Murton to step up.

1:26 By step up I did not mean ground into a double play. (At least he got the run in) Take a seat, Red. There is plenty of room on the Murton bandwagon, because people are jumping off it like crazy.

1:35 What a shocker, Carlos Lee with another base hit! He becomes Babe Ruth when he sees a Cub pitcher looking back at him. Then he steals a base! There is no comparison for the C-Lee domination.

1:40 Derrek Lee steps up as the tying run after a Walker single. Let’s see if they give him a pitch to hit…

1:46 Lee grounded into a force, but A-Ram singled and now something is brewing with Jacque Jones stepping into the box. First & Second, One Out. 5-3 Brewers. You can cut the tension with a… BASE HIT! The Cubs cut it to one!

1:48 Ugh, with A-Ram at 3rd, Nevin grounds to third. GET THE TYING RUN HOME! Poke it the other way. FUNDAMENTALS! F**k You Dusty Baker. I blame you!

1:52 Ron Ce flies out. I need a smoke. BRB.

1:59 Nice quick inning by Williamson (who is going to be traded in the next few weeks, you heard it here 10th) Blanco walks and Neifi bunts him over. (Well done Neifi!)

2:04 2 on, 2 out for Derrek Lee. (Both runners in scoring position.) And here comes Turnbow!

2:11 The whiff. I’m just glad Jones is gonna get a chance in the bottom of the ninth.

2:13 Unless Howry implodes. Lead-off walk to teen-idol Corey Hart.

2:17 Teed-idol Corey Hart is gunned down in a strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play. Then Howry blows Bill Hall away and it comes down to the last 3 outs.

2:24 Two quick pop-ups and the game rests on the shoulders of Phil Nevin. Considering he was the slapnut who couldn’t get A-Ram home from 3rd with 1 out in the 7th, it makes sense that it comes to this… redemption, or total failure.

2:28 A walk. Ok. I’ll take it. Well done Nevin.

2:30 Wild pitch, Nevin, the tying run is on 2nd., 3-1 count on Ron Ce.

2:31 Marmol pinch runs for Nevin! Full count!

2:32 Cedeno whiffs. Game over. In other news, Pittsburgh won, so the Cubs inch closer to dead last.

2:34 Meh.

Cubs v Fish running diary via MLB gamecast

This is a new feature: I will keep a running record of the game watching via gamecast. This could totally suck and my opinions will be skewed because I can't see what's happening!!! Fun!

10:05 – Mad Dog going for the Cubs. Neifi! gets the start at 2B, at least he's batting 8th… so Maddux can expect to lead off a few innings today. I notice Ryan Theriot riding the pine, having recently been called up. I'm sure glad we didn't bring a 1B up… I'm dreaming of the day Dusty have 4 2Bs in the infield at once. Maybe it could happen today!

10:08 – The Marlins have a hell of a future, Hermedia, Willingham, Jacobs, Ramierez, Cabrera… not bad.

10:09 – Pierre walked to lead off the game. The thermostat is at 30 degrees here in my personal hell.

10:12 – Cedeno Ks, Pierre caught stealing… Walker grounds out on next pitch. momentum is shot in 2 minutes. I don't know if the cubs can recover from this. Espcially since Maddux is pitching like Glendon Rusch these days…. MUST STAY OPTIMISTIC!

10:20 – Uggla singles to break up Maddux's NoNo after 1/3 of an inning.

10:21 – This game is being played at Dolphins/Joe Robbie/Pro Player Stadium. I can't wait for football season

10:25 – The above mention M-Cab doubles to drive in Uggla (top 10 active baseball name nominee)

10:28 – Some other funny baseball names: Scott Eyre (say it like a pirate) Bartolo Colon (when pronounced without the accent) Albert Pujols, Nick Swisher, I could go on all day!

10:31 – Why is Dusty batting Aramis sixth? Is he dumb? Is this a rhetorical question?

10:32 – A-Ram-Ram just got drilled… again… this is at least 3 times this week. What gives? Note to Mike Barrett: Being hit by a pitch a few times is a good reason to fight. Being knocked over on a clean play is not.

10:40 – Drumroll please… Neifi! 1st AB of the day!

10:42 – Basehit for Neifi! he surges over the Mendoza line! .203 Ring the church bells!

10:45 – Juan Pierre is hitting .107 with runners in scoring position. Wow! Even Neifi! hits over .200 with RISP.

10:59 – 2 on, nobody out and the 5-6-7 hitters up… Jones flies out.

11:01 – A-Ram-Ram triples! Walker & Barrett score! Aramis's hamstrings cry out in pain!

11:06 – Murton sac flies A-Ram in… this is rare execution by the cubs. I feel honored to be blogging about it live. Neifi! ends the inning. Maddux due to lead off the 5th. I think it's really funny that I am suprised and pleased when the cubs do anything fundamentally correct… my expectations are L.O.W.

11:15 – Uncharacteristc leadoff walk by Mad Dog. But he seems to be sailing. Four Ks as well. 3-1 cubs thru 4 innings.

11:18 – Cubs have an off day tomorrow. Seems like a good day as any to shitcan Dusty and his staff. Just noting.

11:19 – Correction: Neifi! is at the Mendoza line (.200) and with a double, Maddux is hitting .211! Pierre grounds out, but gets Maddux to third with one out. You HAVE to get this run home.

11:22 – Brian Moehler OWNS Ronnie Cedeno

11:34 – Maddux is no longer sailing. Two quick outs followed by a harmless infield single, a triple, a double and an intentional walk. It happens so fast. I don't understand how it goes so fast for Maddux. He's either in total control or pitching batting practice. (at least his last few starts). As I type Joe Borchard homers, completing the cycle for the inning (in 5 batters) and the lead is gone. Whatever Larry Rothschild said to Maddux when he went to the mound sure worked. That's why he's the anti-Mazzone. This guy is a killer. It might be time to drop Maddux from my fantasy team now.

11:40 – cubs suck… I'm depressed.

11:50 – 2 on, nobody out. Aramis grounds into a DP, Murton grounds out, the flicker of false hope has been extinguished.

12:01 – We don't have a better pinch hitting option than Freddie Bynum? Why is he even on the roster? Did Jim Hendry lose a bet? He's terrible. He's Neifiriffic. And Juan Pierre is doing his best to get there.

12:08 – I'm running out of commentary.

12:12 – M-Cab just hit a 3 run shot. The game is over. The Cubs have been swept by the Marlins. It could not get worse. I would call the mercy rule.

12:17 – On the bright side, the cubs have only given up 4 walks in 6 1/3 innings! I wonder how many runs the marlins will have to score today to cost Dusty his job? 13? 18? 20? Nah, just kidding. Dusty will probably get an extension tomorow as a show of solidarity in these trying times. I will also then extend a finger down my throat.

12:30 – I never thought I'd say this… but Corey Patterson would be a better alternative than Juan Pierre. Glendon Rusch is making an appearance. He'll probably have a 1-2-3 inning to spite me. I hate Glendon Rusch.

12:33 – Yup, 1-2-3. and we go to the ninth. Let's pretend this is for Dusty Baker's job. The cubs need 6 to tie or 7 to take the lead…. you can cut the tension with a spoon.

12:40 – Neifi! has plummeted under the Mendoza line. But to his credit, he did not ground into a double play to end the Dusty Baker era.

12:46 – Pierre grounds out, the game is over, as is my running diary. blah.