I love Lou Piniella

I only love him because he is listening to me…or at least I think or maybe the fact that we think just a like…a couple of days of ago I wrote a blog talking about how I would like to see the batting lineup and today’s game is almost identical…except he needs to drop Soriano down futher, put him 5th and either put Fontenot in the game but I know he is injured…being that this is sunday when most of your regulars usually have some days off during the year…this would have been perfect

My line up

Lou’s lineup today 4/6/08

1. Soriano
2. Reed
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. Fukudome
6. Derosa
7. Theriot
8. Blanco
9. Zambrano

So all in all it looking all good… and I can see some big things if this stays more in tact.  Just add Fontenot!

Why Run on Soriano?

As the cubs try to win their first series of the year, against Cecil Cooper and the Houston Astros…their prized, speedy Center Fielder Michael Bourn was the first person this year to test Mr. Outfield Assist, Alfonso Soriano this year and I just have to say that the Astros lost on that one. 

For the first time in a long time, the Cubbies actually have some strong arms on the corners (Fukudome in right) in the outfield, allows us to forget Juan Pierre… or maybe even the throwing problems of Jacque Jones…so for now enjoy it!  as there rumors that Pierre might be on the radar as he has fallen out of favor LA, a little.

Bottom of the 3rd…Gamed tied at 1 apiece!

BTW… I am really liking hating this Bourn dude that plays centerfield for the Astros!  He gets to everything!

Cubs drops leads to Astros win

Fan Favorite Mark Derosa, misplayed a easy ground ball off the bat of lance Berkman and the flood gates opened just like they usually do…2 runs later the cubbies were down 4-2.

Earlier in the game a 2 out walk by Rich Hill and the next thing we know we were down 2-0 because that doggone catcher from the Astros put one out barely fair and barely foul…but never the less it was a 2 run jack.

The Cubs battled back and Derosa got one of those runs back with a 9th inning jack to close the gap to 1 run…but we couldn’t get the other one…and we ended the game with Ward standing in the on-deck circle…I would have simply pinch hit Mr. Felix Pie with Ward… and then took our chances with Ward versus having Mr. free swinger, no plate patience Pie up there…I think he needs to bunt for base hits for the next couple of weeks and take advantage of his speed and bring the infield in…and that might open up a few holes in the infield…we got to keep them on their toes… just my take on it.

so now we are 1-3 and have to win the next 2, to win the series or risk losing 2 series in a row to another division rival…what do you say Lou…can you say “give pie the bunt sign” and then give him a chance to steal second…because he has the speed but we can’t make them respect it if he aint on base…

today 4/4/08 the guest conductor for “take me out to the ball game” was Bill Matlock

going into the weekend…here is my new lineup for ya… Sweet Lou

1. Fukudome
2. Fukudome
3. Fukudome
4. Fukudome
5. Fukudome
6. Fukudome
7. Fukudome
8. Fukudome
9. Zambrano

But Since or maybe we can is we fleece Japan’s baseball fleet of stars waiting to come to America… here is the lineup I think you should go with and I want credit when you use this lineup…call me 219-512-9910(Ryan)

1. Reed Johnson
2. Fukudome
3. D Lee
4. Ramirez
5. Soriano
6. Soto
7. Fontenot
8. Theriot
9. Pitcher

Remember when we went on our first run of the season last year we had the LSU connection in the line-up everyday…I like those gritty players and trust me Derosa is one of my favorite players in the game today…but our goal is to win and got to score some runs…you said we need 5-6 a game right?  especially when we get to like the 3-4-5 pitchers…we can always give Felix Pie 3-4 games a week, and Derosa the same since he can play 1b, 2b and 3rd…that will keep D-Lee, Aram and fresh… and Reed can be your main guy in CF for a minute and flip-flop he and Pie can platoon…it will give both of them enough swings to stay fresh and Reed can spell Sori and keep him fresh especially when we are going to be playing well into October this year.

That’s my take

 

Cubs drop series to the brew crew

The cubs dropped the ball literally to the division rivals brewers early this week.  I am a big believer in it is a long season… all you have to do is win series that’s all and that is how you get into the playoffs…especially series against teams in your division… I know it seems simple doesn’t it… but why doesn’t it happen to the cubs?

I am not on the superstitious side, that would be my grandma who would walk around the block to avoid a black cat…LOL and just like that I would laugh and call her crazy for that…maybe she knew something that I didn’t know.

on a lighter note… during the home opener season, I still saw some potential Ted Lilly didn’t have his great stuff and that is ok, I know he will come along just find, he was the losing streak stopper last year and I always like to see him pitch when he was with the blue jays and Lord knows I love a lefty with one of those sweeping curve balls that he and rich hill throw.

The Cubs lost the first game with big Z on the mound 4-3 and they loss that one late, we were in that game until the 9th inning…promising especially Fukudome…I am in love with him.
cubs season 0-1 3/31/08 Ernie Banks was the guest conductor of ”take me out to the ball game”

The Cubs lost the second game with Lilly on the mound 8-2 and even though he didn’t have his best stuff, he fought like a veteran does… remember this is a 162 game season and I peg him for at least 15 wins.
Cubs season 0-2
4/2/08 Bears Tight End Greg Olsen was the guest conductor of ”take me out to the ball game”

The third game of the season featured Ryan Dempster as the starter, and we won 6-3, we are used to seeing him close out games but the role is switched this year and I liked what I saw…that changeup was nasty along with that slider…as long as he can give us 6 good quality innings we are good especially with that bullpen we got.
Cubs Season 1-2
4/3/08 The guest conductor for “take me out to the ball game” was

 

Awesome…Cubs will play today!!!

Looks like the skies are opening up and Ernie Banks said today at his Statue Ceremony…he was the only player to play for one major, one owner, one team, and under one light…God’s light.  What an awesome speech he gave and then Hank Aaron had some great things to say about Ernie…He even thanked Ernie for giving him some wisdom, wearing long sleeves under his jersey… That must have been an old school thing as I don’t see a lot of players doing that today…but I always have. 

My Little League Coach “Mr Mac” would always tell us to that when you come to practice you have to be ready to play… no short pants, or short sleeves, he didn’t want us to be afraid of getting dirty… and then as I progressed on to High School Ball… Coach Benny Dorsey would send players back to the locker room for the same reason, especially when we would have to practice in the gym on bad weather days…ain’t nothing like practicing sliding on a gym floor with short pants and sleeves on…you will learn very quickly… and on those hot days like Ernie told Hank, it keeps you cool, and that it does.

Now in Chicago we got 2 Statues …we got MJ on the West Side and Ernie Banks on the North Side… and there are rumors that Harold Baines is going to get one on the South Side…even though I am not much of a Sox Fan…I watch the games on TV, but most of my friends are so obnoxious when it comes to the White Sux.

Not looking good for the home opening at wrigley

I just stepped outside and while the temperature is pretty decent for this time of the year in the 50’s…it is still a constant drizzle…and I don’t think that the Cubbies will run out on the field for the home town crowd today, if it continues like this and I even hear some thunderstorms…the news reports say that if the game is cancelled it will be made up tomorrow.

This sucks!!! and sorry if you took the day off or work today!!! Hell take tomorrow off too… lol

Why April will mean so much for the Cubs

April could mean everything to our Cubs this season, they have 19 games with central division foes…they start the season off today with a 3 game set against the Brewers, then the Houston Astros come to town for 3.

Then off to Pennsylvania for 3 against Pirates, then cruising through Philly for 3 before coming back home to play Dusty Baker and the Reds for 3, and then the Pirates, before the Mets come in to wrap up the 8 game homestand, before heading back on the road to get some revenge against the Rockies and then land in D.C. for 3 to check out the Nationals new ballpark.

The Cubs come home for a quick 3 game set to finish out April with the Brewers before going to St. Louis.

The Cubbies could really do some damage in the Central Division and place themselves in a good spot if they we can win 75-80% of game that would give them around 14-15 wins to kick start the season.  I’ll take that!!!

Go Cubs Go!!!

Cubs April Schedule

Matt Murton and Sean Marshall sent down to the farm.

I was wondering if that crappy inning that Sean Marshall had against the Mariners on Saturday was enough to send him to Iowa and it seems as though Sweet Lou aint playing…Marshall will be making his season debut in Iowa, and I really like Sean but when you job is on the line… you have to step up, not give up 2 hits to your first 2 batters, especially when you are battling to be the left hander out of the pen until Scotty Eyre gets healthy…so Carmen Pignatiello get the nod.

Matt Murton is a big-time favorite of mine… I remember nicknaming him “Big Trailer Park” back in 2005, he would have got “Big Country” but that was already taken… lol …so me and my friends would be like, Big Trailer Park is coming up and he is a favorite of ours and I guess a big favorite of the Cubs too as they are trying to shop him, plus he had an awesome spring… but the outfield is crowded and he can only play right or left he is somewhat of a defensive liability, but I love his bat and always seem to get some clutch hits.

Opening Day…the beginning of the Cubs March to the World Series

I just wanted to say hello to all my fellow Cubs fans… I am different type of fan, I know that it is a long season and we are going to have ups and downs, winning streaks and losing streaks so I try to keep positive…at least not let them see me sweat. 

Please join me in talking about the Cubs, celebrating wins and and losing all while singing the song, Go Cubs Go!