Browse >
Home / July 2009
"Ya gotta believe" are the magic words, the "open sesame" of baseball history, immortalized by Tug McGraw in 1973. But the baseball good wish fairy doesn't always respond. Chicago Cubs fans and players remember the year, 1969, when the wish was never fulfilled.
In the span of two months, the Cubs slipped from nine-and-a-half games in front of the Mets to eight games behind.
"It's true," said the late Jack Brickhouse before his death in 1998. He watched it all go down in '69 from the great heights of the radio announcer's booth. "The Cubs lost it," he said.
The Big Fade. A 17.5 game ...
It seemed like a great idea. Everyone in the Cub Kingdom was excited. Alfonso Soriano would be the missing piece to the puzzle.
He came at just the right time. No one was quite sure what Chicago could be like without their once beloved outfielder turned villain, Slammin' Sammy Sosa. Alfonso was powerful. He had speed. He was fun to watch. All the things we enjoyed during Sammy's tenure (prior to corked bats and steroid "revelations").
But as Mr. Harvey would say, "Now we know the rest of the story."
Everyone had seen how Soriano had a tendency to disappear during the postseason. Somehow, ...
Dear Derrek Lee,
Many times on this very site I have either called for you to be traded or have expressed frustration with both your inability to hit for power as well as your seemingly nonchalant attitude.
I have said that you were indifferent; that you were sleeping through at-bats that never even came close to the numbers you displayed in 2005, when you hit .335, with 46 homers and 107 RBI.
True, you still aren't likely to ever approach those numbers again, which raises suspicions that you were on PEDs that year.
Look, such obvious one season anomalies still ...
The Chicago Cubs were able to get out of their offensive woes against Seth McClung and the Milwaukee Brewers, as they took down the NL Central division leaders 9-5.
Derek Lee led the Cubs with a career-high seven RBI on two home runs, going two-for-four on the day.
Ryan Dempster had a decent start, allowing just three earned runs in six and 2/3 innings, tying a season high with nine strikeouts.
The Cubs scored all of their runs on home runs, starting with Lee’s first home run, a three-run jack in the first inning, which also drove in Sam Fuld and Ryan Theriot.
Two ...
I'll tell you a story.
Back in March, I had occasion to chat with a few very nice young ladies in one of Chicago's tonier nightspots. We talked for awhile, I explained what I do and what's involved with it. As an aside, if you ever want a laugh, try explaining to someone the economics of blogging. You'll see.
But they were all too happy to share that they had just met the next great Cubs outfielder, Sam Fuld, the past weekend at this same spot. Now, Sam had obviously—and for obvious reasons—overstated his role with the ballclub a bit, and I ...
The Chicago Cubs acquired Colorado Rockies infielder Jeff Baker for Minor League pitcher Alberto Alburquerque today. It's another huge splash in Jim Hendry's quest toward .500.Baker is currently batting .130 with three RBI and one stolen base. Baker went on the 15-day DL on Apr. 29 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24, so he should fit in well with the Cubs motto of "get hurt early and often." Ryan Freel will most likely be sent down to make room for Baker, where he will get some playing time at second, third, outfield, bullpen, and perhaps a ...
Here we are, sitting 37-38, on the eve of an heroic victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Heroic, you ask? The Pirates, you ask? Yes, heroic and the Pirates.
In stunning fashion, the Chicago Cubs ended Pittsburgh's hopes of a series win and left Cubs fans everywhere asking, "Why am I excited?" This question is distressing, sure, but does it not bring back that sour taste we've all come to enjoy; some of us for decades?
These feelings of disappointment are perpetual, and must at some point become humorous. Cubs fans are as well humored as any because we have lost and lost again. Only when a ...
« Previous Page
