Thoughts about the W

[SKIPPER 11]

The first five to six innings I actually thought I was watching the old version of the Cubs- you all know the ones who blow opportunities countless times, such as not getting bunts down, not putting the ball in play, etc.

Gallagher, I know it seemed like an easy night to pitch with the wind blowing in but to me this guy earned another, if not 2-3 more starts. He had one bad inning and was bailed out by some great defense but the guy is tough as nails. Heck he is 22 and lost 40 pounds. Thats hard for anyone, but A 22 yr old.



Rammy- how clutch and underrated is this guy? I know he looks like he does not hustle and goes through his dry spells at times, but this guy is just an awesome player. He will always take a backseat to Lee, Soriano, Z, and now even Fuku- but to me he is our best player.


Fuku- MVP tonight

Marmol- looks overworked

Wood- awesome

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

I agree Skipper but I would also like to add that depending on how you look at the pitching conditions if you weigh the pro's and cons we all knew that the homerun was going to probably be non existent but in return it is very tough to pitch in the cold. If you look at all the relievers that entered from both sides (minus Wood) they all struggled. It seems to me that Marmol just needed the extra time to warm up I wouldn't say just yet that he looks over worked. I think the cold played into his issues tonight so I would have to wait until it warms back up before I could say that.

[Drockvb]

It's 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. We are down by a run with a guy on second. Who do i want at the plate? Aramis is my choice. He seems to show good patience at the plate more often than not, and tends to hit "his" pitch.

No doubt in my mind that Aramis is our clutch performer. He came through tonight, and he will come through again. :D

-The hit and run by Lou really paid off. Lou deserves some kudos tonight as well.

-Marmol, not his best but did the job.
Wood was great. The only hit was little flare.

-Soriano had a good night. The throw home was a bit wide, but he had a good night nonetheless and was key to the win with the bat.

[SKIPPER 11]

It's 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. We are down by a run with a guy on second. Who do i want at the plate? Aramis is my choice. He seems to show good patience at the plate more often than not, and tends to hit "his" pitch.

No doubt in my mind that Aramis is our clutch performer. He came through tonight, and he will come through again. :D

-The hit and run by Lou really paid off. Lou deserves some kudos tonight as well.

-Marmol, not his best but did the job.
Wood was great. The only hit was little flare.

-Soriano had a good night. The throw home was a bit wide, but he had a good night nonetheless and was key to the win with the bat.




Soriano did have a very good night. That was a tough error he was charged with on the throw.

[SKIPPER 11]

I agree Skipper but I would also like to add that depending on how you look at the pitching conditions if you weigh the pro's and cons we all knew that the homerun was going to probably be non existent but in return it is very tough to pitch in the cold. If you look at all the relievers that entered from both sides (minus Wood) they all struggled. It seems to me that Marmol just needed the extra time to warm up I wouldn't say just yet that he looks over worked. I think the cold played into his issues tonight so I would have to wait until it warms back up before I could say that.


That is a very good point about the cold. It just seems like he uses his slider so much. And he threw a dandy to Loney to get the K. If Marmol doesnt make the All Star team there needs to be an investigation.

[TheBenjamin]

Thoughts fromt the game ( i was in the belachers :D )

Gallagher looked great, and earned the 4 spot tonight. He got in trouble in 1 inning, and didnt really do much to have anyone lose confidence

Matt Kemp is very much hated

Marmol needs some time off

Wood looked like he had the best stuff of the year

Fukudome is an arrogant SOB, and I love it. With his one running catch, i forget the inning, after he made his second remarkable catch of the night and he threw it in, we gave him yet another standing ovation, he looked back at us with a smirk like he was saying "what? did you expect the ball to drop" I love that from him.

Edmunds, while he has lost a lot with the bat, he hasnt lost much if anything with his glove.

They all need to work on sacrafcice bunts. Too many guys thrown out at second on sac bunts

Ram, clutch as always.

[ARamfan]

Rammy- how clutch and underrated is this guy? I know he looks like he does not hustle and goes through his dry spells at times, but this guy is just an awesome player. He will always take a backseat to Lee, Soriano, Z, and now even Fuku- but to me he is our best player.

Hey, I agree. I've been saying this all along! ;)

[ryno4ever]

One HUGE thought of the night..... with this win, we are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays FOR THE BEST RECORD IN BASEBALL!!!!!! WE ALSO WENT UP A GAME AND A HALF ON THE CARDS AND ASTROS!!!!!

[SkullKey]

Thanks for mentioning that Ryno.

As a Cubs fan and a TB fan I do, but try limit, how much I talk about TB. With them playing so well this year it is difficult. My 2 favorite teams have the best record in baseball - tremendous.

And here's a sweet twist on it. TB accomplished this by setting a not insignificant all-time record:

No team, in the history of baseball, has finished dead last in winning percentage one year and then been at the top of winning percentage as late as Memorial Day the very next year. The biggest turn-around in history. Tampa's the first.

*sniff* I'm so proud.

..............................

I just checked. By winning tonight the Boston Hot Sox were in a position to pee in the punch bowl and ruin everything. Seattle got up on it's hind legs and beat them in late innings.

Chicago and the Rays have the best record in baseball. I'm going to go and have a good cry.

(And both are very close to a pace for the "magical" 100 win season. This is shaping up as the most plesant season of baseball I've experienced in 40+ years.)

[ryno4ever]

Okay, Skullkey, so let's just say for fun's sake.... both make it to the series.... how are you going to handle it?????

[VanMan]

Thanks for mentioning that Ryno.

As a Cubs fan and a TB fan I do, but try limit, how much I talk about TB. With them playing so well this year it is difficult. My 2 favorite teams have the best record in baseball - tremendous.

And here's a sweet twist on it. TB accomplished this by setting a not insignificant all-time record:

No team, in the history of baseball, has finished dead last in winning percentage one year and then been at the top of winning percentage as late as Memorial Day the very next year. The biggest turn-around in history. Tampa's the first.

*sniff* I'm so proud.

..............................

I just checked. By winning tonight the Boston Hot Sox were in a position to pee in the punch bowl and ruin everything. Seattle got up on it's hind legs and beat them in late innings.

Chicago and the Rays have the best record in baseball. I'm going to go and have a good cry.

(And both are very close to a pace for the "magical" 100 win season. This is shaping up as the most plesant season of baseball I've experienced in 40+ years.)

Okay, Skullkey, so let's just say for fun's sake.... both make it to the series.... how are you going to handle it?????
Now that would be something: Cubs vs. Rays in the World Series, the team that's marked with a century of futility against a team that could've been contracted a few years ago. One of the smallest payrolls in baseball (TB) vs. the fourth largest (CHC). A team built for the future vs. a team built to win now.

Of course, we're counting our chickens four months before they're hatched here. But, if I were in Skull's predicament, I'd just enjoy the series.

[SkullKey]

I've thought about that. It's both pleasant and unpleasant. Basically, I can't lose. The NL has to win the All-Star game; then I cheer for the home team and the Cubs win 4-3.

The reality is I cheer for the Cubs every game - nothing I can do about it. I'm emotionally attached to the Cubs. As my Dad the, retired mental health professional, once said (quite seriously) It's a "childhood disease". Incurable, chronic, progressive and occasionally debilitating. He was speaking quite negatively and once tried to have me "cured" of my obsession. I was proud of myself.

I would like to see the Cubs win 3 or 5 WS over the next 5 to 10 years (minimum - a flash in the pan performance like the Sux would not satisfy me), then I wouldn't mind losing to Tampa.

The problem is: if/when Tampa gets to the Series they will be very strong. I don't think they will make it this year in the end. It depends entirely on how quickly the young pitching develops. They'll be a household name in 3 years.

[VanMan]

The problem is: if/when Tampa gets to the Series they will be very strong. I don't think they will make it this year in the end. It depends entirely on how quickly the young pitching develops. They'll be a household name in 3 years.
You know, when the Rays dropped the "Devil" in their name, would you have rather they be called the "Sting Rays"? That might have a bit of a better rep, though one did kill the Crocodile Hunter in a tragic accident.

[SkullKey]

" .....Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families. They are commonly known as rays, but that term is also used specifically for batoids in the order Rajiformes, the "true rays". Batoids include stingrays, skates, electric rays, guitarfishes and sawfishes.
Batoids are most closely related to sharks and young batoids look very much like young sharks. Indeed according to recent DNA analyses the catshark is more closely related to the batoids than to other sharks ..... "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batoidea

They aren't really cuddly and are rather hard to identify with. Fish IMO don't make good mascots. (Neither do snakes IMO.) A lot of people objected to the "Devil" in the name (a lot). They're interesting but a dumb mascot. They're actually pretty nasty animals. More than a few people believe thank getting rid of the "devil" removed a curse.

The new "Rays" has nothing to do with anything living but rather a state of mind. It's more the "Sunshine State" idea. I think the star-burst in the logo is the sun setting over the gulf - it's a beautiful sight. If you ever visit Florida the best beaches (by far) are on the Gulf. Leave the East Coast to the twerps from "up-North".