July 2010 Archives for Agony & Ivy
SportsMonday: Upper Deck Reserved
"I drink better beer when I go to bars these days, but at the game Old Style or Bud will do," Jim Coffman writes in Upper Deck Reserved, cross-posted here.
1968: A Prelude to Heartbreak
When the Cubs opened the second half by winning three of four against the Philadelphia Phillies, I was guilty of dreaming of a miracle stretch run. But after Sunday night's extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the reality that the Cubs won't contend in 2010 is beginning to sink in.
Cardinals 4, Cubs 3 (11 innings)
Hero: Center fielder Marlon Byrd went 2-for-5 with an RBI single and also was credited with an outfield assist in the sixth when he pegged the Cardinals' Skip Schumaker at the plate when he tried to score from second on a Chris Carpenter single.
Cubs 6, Cardinals 5
Hero: Starlin Castro went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double to raise his average to .308. The 20-year-old rookie shortstop has hit safely in 21 of his last 24 games and is 34-for-94 (.362) over that span.
High Plains Bison Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich
One of the negatives of attending a night game at Wrigley Field for a 9-5 worker is the rush that is necessary to get to the ballpark on time.
Around and Around We'll Go
The news that Lou Piniella will step down as Cubs manager following the season wasn't earth-shaking news.
Cubs 5, Cardinals 0
Hero: When Randy Wells (5-7) struck out St. Louis leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez in the first inning, he had already improved upon his previous start against the Cardinals on May 28, when he surrendered six hits without retiring a batter. Wells didn't stop there, working seven shutout innings while allowing five hits, walking three, and striking out seven.
A Tip of the Cap to Dawson
Andre Dawson's Hall of Fame plaque will feature his likeness sporting a Montreal Expos cap, but the Hawk will always be fondly remembered by Cubs fans for the thrills he provided during his fabulous 1987 MVP season.
Ramirez Joins The Immortals... and Larry Parrish
Interesting stuff courtesy of Chris Jaffe at The Hardball Times:
Astros 4, Cubs 3 (12 innings)
Hero: Ted Lilly impressed the scouts who were there to see him but he ... couldn't ... quite ... finish the job. Lilly was working on a five-hit shutout when he allowed a leadoff homer to Pedro Feliz in the the eighth inning that tied the game at 1. Hindsight is 20-20, but Lou Piniella allowed Lilly to hit for himself in the bottom of the seventh with an off day Thursday. TRL exited with one out in the eighth after allowing seven hits, walking one, and striking out six.
Cubsosphere
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