9/5/11 Cincinnati Reds 3, Chicago Cubs 4

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Game 1 of 3

GARZAMAN STRIKES AGAIN!!

The overall tone and tenacity of the Cubs/Reds contests this season has changed considerably compared to last season. As most Cubs fans know, the Dusty Baker Tendency Chart has always revealed what we already know: his window for baseball success only comes once every few years or so, once it’s closed, it’s closed for quite some time. I know it’s hard to explain this to your favorite Reds fan, but all you have to do is draw a chart of Dusty’s postseason success on a napkin for each year and this will tell the story just fine. Where it seems the Reds’ roster has indeed improved a bit, leave it to the toothpick guy to make decisions at critical points that don’t add up on a regular basis…they only add up once in a while.



But, I must digress. Let’s get to the game. Hell, yes, Matt Garza. This guy on a Cubs team with more precision and fundamental offense would have been stellar by the general population’s statistical basis (can you imagine him as a member of the Cubs’ 2008 rotation? MY GOODNESS!) but he’s on this team, this year, and for every outing where his performance is de-ballooned by the offense (and even defense), he seems to pull a magical outing once in a while. Today’s game was one of those once-in-a-whiles. 7.2 IP, 6H, 3R (only one earned, the other two due to errors by Reed Johnson and Starlin Castro), 8 flaming strikeouts, 3 walks.

It was the Cubs’ 5th inning that made the difference in offensive support of Garza; with 2 outs Castro and Johnson reach safely and are driven in by a shocking opposite field Aramis Ramirez single . Jeff Baker (HEY!) responds with a double, Ramirez scores on a wild pitch. The Cubs have the lead for the rest of the game, despite the error-capitalization by the Reds in the 7th and 8th innings.

The truly unfortunate side of this story is Dontrelle Willis’ great outings for the Reds with no W recorded in a decision to date. Unlike some other players, Willis is the guy everybody loves, no matter who he’s pitching for, myself included. He was fantastic in the minors this year, but he has been unable to bring this fantastic to the Reds, and baseball fans around the world are profoundly confused by this. He began the game with a remarkable set of 1st through 3rd inning, 29 pitches worth of “3 up, 3 down” outs. When he started issuing passes in the 4th, yes, even I held my head in my hands and murmured the same thing everybody else was…”This guy just can’t get a break at the Major League level.”

But, hey…not so sad because it’s the Reds!

This was Devin Mesoraco’s first MLB start, in the 7th he gets his first MLB RBI on a groundout to short, scoring AAA teammate Yonder Alonso…whose Wrigley woes in 2011 continued as he lost a Reed Johnson ball in the ivy for a Ground Rule Double.

Joey Votto Flies into a Double Play, the second time in a week I’ve seen this happen (see this game for the other one. Earlier this season, I saw not one, but two PIDP (popped into double play) for the first time ever. This season has been a boon for oddball firsts (and in waves) for my scorebook.

7/24/11 Houston Astros 4, Chicago Cubs 5

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Game 3 of 3


It’s GARZAMAN!!!

OK, so once again…you already know the story…Matt Garza puts in a better-than-decent day of work (7 innings here, 9 K, 2ER) and leaves the game with the W. However, the Cubs’ inconsistent bullpen finds a way to give up the game to a tie and render Garza’s outing a no-decision in less than an inning at the hands of Jeff Samardzija, thereby magically converting a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit.



The Cubs come back in the 8th for a Broken-Bat Single RBI by Alfonso Soriano, scoring Marlon Byrd, to tie the game and force extra innings. You can’t say the offense didn’t support Garza efficiently, not in this outing at least.

A common occurrence in Cubs victories over the past few weeks has been the advent of timely hitting…it’s a shame that the occurrence isn’t “more than common” but I’ve seen it more this season than I had in 2010 and yes, from where I sit, that does illicit some sort of a light at the end of the tunnel that isn’t muzzle flash.

The Cubs get that timely production with a leadoff triple by Marlon Byrd. Tony Campana is intentionally walked (HEY TONY, YOU SHOULD MARK THIS DOWN ON YOUR RESUME!!), then Darwin Barney is intentionally walked and Astros RHP David Carpenter pitches to Mr. Cubs Surprise himself, Jeff Baker.

Baker works the count full, and then pops off what you’d hope Baker can do more often, but sadly doesn’t…a ripping line drive to left field that scores Byrd in a dramatic walk-off win.

You want it to happen more often…I know I do. But then again, I’ll take a more consistent bullpen and less timely hitting in many situations.

Once again, Matt Garza…what a stud…and no geometric progression in the ‘industry standard’ W-L/ERA statistical database that says “you rock, buddy…we’re glad you’re a CUB.”

Go CUBS.

4/23/11 Los Angeles Dodgers 8, Chicago Cubs 10

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Game 2 of 3

You gotta love the top of the order…



Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney (batting #1 and #2 respectively) combine for 6RBI, 7H, 4R, and even 2SB (Barney’s was part of a double steal with Marlon Byrd…it’s so good to see that kind of stuff again!).



Pre-game hype was all about the clash of the TITANS, Ryan Dempster against former Cub Ted Lilly. Meh. Neither were great, neither lasted more than 5.2 innings…they combined for 12ER, 20H, 4BB and 6K facing 52 batters total.

Jeff Baker’s 2RBI double in the 8th capped off a 5-run inning that gave the Cubs the kind of lead they needed to keep on top of the Dodgers for the rest of the game.

What Lilly let go of, Matt Guerrier made it worse for the Dodgers. Sean Marshall did his best Carlos Marmol impression, really leaving us nearly to vomit…shockingly, Jeff Samardzija (YES, that same guy!) came in to pitch a stellar 1.1 innings with 3 consecutive strikeouts on the 8th inning. WHOA!! And then the real Carlos Marmol enters to only freak us out half as much as he usually does, but does very well.

Andre Ethier hits safely in his 20th consecutive game.

Scorekeeper’s Note: in the bottom of the 4th, while attempting to steal second, a pick-off attempt on Darwin Barney by Lilly > James Loney is called “Obstruction” (on Loney, for not clearing the basepath). The obstruction call is subsequently ruled an Error, charged to Loney, on your scoresheet.

Go CUBS.

3/13/11 LA Dodgers 3, Chicago Cubs 4

Cashman Field, Las Vegas, NV
(Las Vegas Exhibition Game #2)

Second game of the Las Vegas Exhibition series, this time hosting the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Another one run game, lower scoring than yesterday, but this time the W ended up on the right side!



Zambrano was great, 5 IP, 6H, BB, 3K, only 1 run! Kyle Smit needs to gain a few pounds!! Jeff Baker is good at baseball!!!

Starting for the Dodgers today: Rubby De La Rosa, I saw him start for the Chattanooga Lookouts this summer. Jerry Sands and Dee Gordon were also in the Lookouts lineup for that game, and made appearances in this one as well.

Dodgers' relief 1st baseman Gimenez hits a HR in the 8th inning that "killed" the inflatable cow on the RF wall.

Watching the game on WGN, I got my first glimpse of Trey Hillman in a Dodgers uniform. Ewwwww.