4/8/11 Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee Brewers 4

Miller Park, Wilwaukee, WI
Game 1 of 3

WOO HOO, the Cubs head for "Wrigley North" (I only write that because it drives Brewers fans BERSERK) for the first time in 2011 and face...

FORMER CUB CASEY McGEHEE



Yes, that's right...Former Cub CASEY McGEHEE. When Len and Bob address the Pirates' Neil Walker as "Cubs Nemesis Neil Walker" it's endearing to most of us, I think. WHen Len and Bob acknowledge players who used to be Cubs, it's also nice for us to be reminded...heck, we can lose track of these guys also, so it's actually a nice gesture. However, for more than enough reasons, I have to ask Len and Bob to make an exception and please oh please stop referring to Casey McGehee, every time he appears at the plate or participates in a play, as "former Cub Casey McGehee." You let us know he used to be a Cub a few years ago, you can stop doing that now. Thanks.

The Cubs played very well. Former New York Mets pitcher and Louisville native Sean Green pitches a spectacular inning of relief for the Brewers, showing off his effective side-arm delivery that we didn't see him use much as a Met.

The Cubs WIN. The Brewers wear fantastic throwback unis. Casey McGehee is NO LONGER A CUB.

Go CUBS.

4/2/11 Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Chicago Cubs 5

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Game 2 of 3

So, the Pirates pwned the Cubs last year…and they pwned us on Opening Day, thanks to Ryan Dempster and “Cubs Nemesis” Neil Walker. Certainly, this pwnership just cannot last. And what of Carlos Pena?



Believe it.



The Pirates score one run each in the 1st, 3rd, and 7th innings. Carlos Zambrano does very well (he is a GREAT pitcher, fact…) but when he leaves the 7th inning after giving up the solo shot to Garrett Jones, the Pirates pwn us again and the Cubs are scoreless.

Enter Evan Meek…and a wild 8th inning…5 runs are scored by the Cubs and what do you know…we WIN!

Len and Bob, recalling his grand salami on Opening Day, refer to Neil Walker as “Cubs Nemesis Neil Walker,” so I will too.

Starting this season, I will welcome Carlos Pena to the team by documenting the Pena Shift…you can see on my scoresheet, for every plate appearance, look for the circled “22,” that means the shift was on. The shift was on for 2 out of 4 plate appearances. The shift is REAL.

Alfonso Soriano received a considerable amount of flack from the Wrigley crowd on what was seen as a baserunning blunder in the 7th inning on a perceived dropped 3rd strike. Soriano stuck out swinging, and the ball was dropped on a wild pitch. No need to boo Fonzie here, the ruling and play are as follows, per Bob Brenly:

With less than 2 outs, 1st base covered, the batter is out automatically, regardless of whether…the pitch gets by the catcher. With 2 outs, this is not the case. Fans were encouraging Soriano to RUN, but he was OUT.

The 7th Inning Stretch was led by Ferguson Jenkins. Go CUBS.