Another Big Win

What a game. Big Z goes 7 and gives up 2 runs (2-run homer to Francoeur in the 2nd), but it isn't quite good enough as the Cubs went to the bottom of the ninth down 2-1, with the single run coming from an Edmonds sac fly in the 7th.

Wearing the 1948 throw back unis, the Cubs tied it up with one out in the ninth on an Edmonds solo shot to the opposite field.

In extra innings, Wood pitched two scoreless and Johnson got hit by the first Ridgway pitch with the bases loaded to force in the winning run. A strange way to get a sweep, but they'll take it I'm sure. That makes 11 straight wins at home and a 29-8 home record.

Good start to the next six weeks of Soriano-free baseball as the slugger did indeed suffer a bad injury. A broken bone in his hand will keep him on the sidelines for a while and leaves a gap in the lineup. Soriano had really been looking good at the plate lately. Such a lengthy stretch will be tough, but the team built itself with depth in mind. They will really be tested, but I think they can get it done.

Eric Patterson got a game at LF today, going 1 for 5, but I don't think he will be a lasting solution. This setback certainly makes the reemergence of Edmonds a must. He has looked better of late and Reed Johnson is certainly capable. Fortunately, with DeRosa, Hoffpauir, and Cedeno the Cubs have a versatile lineup to work with.

Ouch

Soriano took a hard pitch on the left wrist in the bottom of the 2nd inning. It didn't look good. At first look, I thought he might have taken in the face, but it ricocheted off his wrist and bonked him behind the ear.

Hopefully, this isn't really serious. He was removed from the game. Fontenot pinch ran and scored immediately on a Theriot double to the gap in left center.

Apparently, Soriano is headed to the hospital for x-rays.

At least the Cubs lead the Braves 5-0 after 2.5 innings.

ISFA's Last Stand?

Who knows. This just won't go away.

According to the Trib, Jim Thompson and the ISFA's latest attempt to broker a deal for Wrigley Field has fallen flat.

As usual, both sides tell a different story, with Thompson claiming the Tribune Co. requires some use of future tax revenue, new taxes, or the transfer of ISFA funding already allocated to other projects. Trib Co. claims the ISFA plan is not within the policies of MLB, alleged by "sources" to be MLB's policy against using ticket revenue to back stadium financing.

Neither side will give any details to back their claims, which is to be expected. I see Thompson trying to make Trib Co. look bad by claiming they want exactly the sort of tax funded proposal Thompson was floating originally and throwing in the claim that Trib Co. may have wanted funds diverted from US Cellular projects.

I wish the state would just step back and let the team do its thing. This sale isn't likely to happen soon and this separate Wrigley deal is just getting in the way. The article stated, once again, "The financial books on the Chicago Cubs will go out". How many times have we heard about this impending feat of strength?

I'm tired of the nonsense. Thank god the team is looking good so far.

Across Town

The Cubs spent the week on the west coast and were able to swing a winning road trip, going 4-3. They won two of three in San Diego, with two wild wins and split two apiece with the Dodgers in a tough, tight series.

What to do when the boys are out of town? Go see how the other half lives. You can't beat that ticket price. The Sox busted out for four home runs in a 9-5 win and pitcher Gavin Floyd pitched 7 strong innings, giving up only 2 earned runs.

It didn't take long for the cold air to blow in some eerie mist. It makes you wonder when summer is going to show up (today, it seems).

A good time was had by all.

so far, so...far

This road trip is going ok. The Cubs continue to come from behind late.

Down 3-0 to the Dodgers after Hart gives up a squeeze play to score a runner from third and register a hit, leaving men on 1st and 2nd with one out in the bottom of the 6th.

Can they do it again? Who might the hero be?

Seems a ton to ask after the late heroics last night by Fukudome and a wild Wood save.

Kiss My Ass, Mr. "Expert"

I'm breaking from the Cub banter for a moment to talk about the "expert" picks in sports. Now, there are guys that spend a ton of time and brain power crunching numbers, talking to scouts behind the bleachers and generally making a damn good attempt at sports prognostication. There are also a throng of fancy suits and former players scattered throughout the media. Some good, some bad. Most understand just how hard it is to predict sporting outcomes. You do the due diligence, but ultimately anything can and will happen.

Something that has been pissing me off lately (since the damn NCAA tournament actually) is the amount of these guys I hear utter the words "since I picked them in the beginning" or some variation thereof.

What the fuck am I babbling about? It's the mantra of the moment. When asked who will win in the NBA championship, the answer is Boston because the talking head picked the Celtics 6 weeks ago. How about you pull your fucking head out of your ass and give us a breakdown of the series, an assessment of how the teams have fared thus far and why you would (a) stay with your original pick or (b) how you have gained new insight from the last 6 fucking weeks of play. Wanting desperately to be right in your original pick isn't really a helpful analysis and it makes the audience pissy.

While I am ranting, you can all stop saying shit like "most fans don't know about this guy" and calling someone "the most underrated" or "best unknown". We know. We have internet access, DirecTV packages and friends across the land. We know. Stop talking to us like we are your sports-phobic new girlfriend. We know.

Here We Go

The Cubbies have been killing and are on a 7-game win streak. Home cooking really served them well.

Now the team is confronted with a big test. Fortunately, not the normal June test for the Cubs where we try to determine if they can be slightly better than .500 and if a good win streak can vault them back into contention for the wild card before the season becomes a total wash. No, this is a test of whether the Cubs really are what we think they are...a monster of a ballclub, with their best days ahead.

The Cubs head for a stretch of 13 of the next 16 (and 23 of the next 32) games on the road. This has been the sore spot for this club in an otherwise rosy looking season. With a road record of 10-13, the Cubs have dropped some stinkers away from the Friendly Confines. Granted, the best of the best in the NL on the road so far is Philly at only 15-13 and for MLB, the Angels are 16-11. However, watchers have seen the Cubs fall to well below their home standard this year and suffered defeat against teams they should beat.

Fortunately, the first stretch starts with San Diego. Big Z will take the mound tonight and will get another start before the teams gets back to Wrigley on June 10th. The bad news is that June will provide some tough competition:

@SD for 3
@LAD for 4
home for 3 games against the Braves
@Toronto for 3
@Tampa for 3
home vs White Sox for 3
home vs Orioles for 3 (first Baltimore visit to Wrigley field)
@White Sox for 3
@SF for 4 (Jun 30, Jul1-3)

then 3 at St. Louis before getting a 6 game home stand (3 Cincy, 3 SF) prior to the All-Star break.

Here's hoping they keep the ball rolling. They'll need to.

And if you missed it, Mark Prior has been shut down for the season. No big surprise there.