One Game in April
Finally. After what felt like a million years, proper baseball games are back. Spring training games are fun, and baseball of a sort. But it’s not “real” baseball; not when the games are taken so lightly a manager can exhaust his bullpen after calling on two relievers.
One does not like to draw conclusions based on one game, but there were aspects of the Cubs’ Opening Day victory against Cincinnati that made me feel a little better about the upcoming season.
Like Juan Pierre’s leadoff triple. That’s a pretty good way to start the year. And, as Cub Fans around the net have pointed out, that kind of stuff is why we traded for Pierre in the first place.
Seeing Todd Walker in the lineup was a good thing, too. Walker had been the subject of trade rumors all winter; whether any of that was real or just the fever dream of a writer on deadline is a mystery. Baker has said that Walker will be the “primary” second baseman, with Jerry Hairston as the defensive replacement. Good. Walker is a middling fielder (to be generous). But I’ll take my chances with Walker’s glove the first six or seven innings. Bring in Hairston or Neifi Perez in the late innings – hopefully after we have a lead to protect.
And how ‘bout Matt “Orange Guy” Murton? A couple hits, a three-run bomb to cap off the first, and a great catch to end the Reds threat in the first. The jackals in the Chicago media turned on Murton this off-season, when it became clear that he would get the left field gig. Maybe now they’ll stop carping on the fact that Murton isn’t Billy Williams and will focus on the things he can do.
On the other hand...Carlos Zambrano didn’t get the job done. The bats gave him a big lead, and he couldn’t make it through five.
Was he too pumped up? Was it too cold? Did he just not have his A game going? Or maybe some combination of the three?
God only knows. After his performance the last three years, I think he’s earned a pass. And, as you may have guessed by the 16-7 final score, he had plenty of company on the “bad pitcher” list. I won’t write him (or anyone else) off after pivotal game one of the season.
Of course, it would be nice if the staff could kick it up a notch for tomorrow’s game...
A few other random notes, as I review my scoresheet:
** The Cubs sent nine guys to the plate in the sixth before the Reds recorded an out -- way to ruin the rally by hitting into a double play, Barrett!
More incredibly, there was nothing in this inning that even could be classified as a hard hit ball. There was a walk, two infield singles, a bunt single, a looping liner that Adam Dunn misplayed.
Let me reiterate that – two infield singles and a bunt hit. By the Cubs. Great lion of Zion! I can’t remember when my heroes put together two infield hits and a bunt single in a week, let along the same inning.
Our cause was helped along when Dunn fell down on the warning track trying to track down Derrek Lee’s deep fly ball. That was probably the best hit ball of the inning -- a high fly ball that got caught in the gale blowing out. Fortunately for us, Dunn is a klutz.
** For good measure, we played small ball in the ninth, too. Pierre beat out a bunt single. Hairston dropped a sac bunt ad reached when Incarnation booted it. Finally, fleet-footed Neifi beat out Lopez’ relay to avoid an inning-ending double. All three would score in the inning.
Intriguing, this new style of ball...and it seems to be more effective than hoping D-Lee or A-Ram can hit a three run dinger.
** We pulled of a 3-5-3 double play, thanks to the Griffey shift. With Lopez on first in the fourth inning, Junior hit a grounder right to Lee. Fortunately, Ramirez was standing right on second, so it was an easy toss there and back for the out. Even thought it worked, I still think these odd defensive alignments are more trouble than they’re worth.
** I know Ozzie Guillen keeps track of this stuff, so I’ll put it on the record:
Tribune White Sox Opening Day coverage – 4 pages.
Tribune Cubs Opening Day coverage – 1 1/2 pages.
Tribune White Sox World Series Ring coverage – 1 page.
** Last, and certainly not least, Jim owes me a Coke. Jim was dead certain last October that Neifi would be our Opening Day shortstop.
Oh, ye of little faith! I’ll take a Diet Coke with Lime. Mmm...lime....
One does not like to draw conclusions based on one game, but there were aspects of the Cubs’ Opening Day victory against Cincinnati that made me feel a little better about the upcoming season.
Like Juan Pierre’s leadoff triple. That’s a pretty good way to start the year. And, as Cub Fans around the net have pointed out, that kind of stuff is why we traded for Pierre in the first place.
Seeing Todd Walker in the lineup was a good thing, too. Walker had been the subject of trade rumors all winter; whether any of that was real or just the fever dream of a writer on deadline is a mystery. Baker has said that Walker will be the “primary” second baseman, with Jerry Hairston as the defensive replacement. Good. Walker is a middling fielder (to be generous). But I’ll take my chances with Walker’s glove the first six or seven innings. Bring in Hairston or Neifi Perez in the late innings – hopefully after we have a lead to protect.
And how ‘bout Matt “Orange Guy” Murton? A couple hits, a three-run bomb to cap off the first, and a great catch to end the Reds threat in the first. The jackals in the Chicago media turned on Murton this off-season, when it became clear that he would get the left field gig. Maybe now they’ll stop carping on the fact that Murton isn’t Billy Williams and will focus on the things he can do.
On the other hand...Carlos Zambrano didn’t get the job done. The bats gave him a big lead, and he couldn’t make it through five.
Was he too pumped up? Was it too cold? Did he just not have his A game going? Or maybe some combination of the three?
God only knows. After his performance the last three years, I think he’s earned a pass. And, as you may have guessed by the 16-7 final score, he had plenty of company on the “bad pitcher” list. I won’t write him (or anyone else) off after pivotal game one of the season.
Of course, it would be nice if the staff could kick it up a notch for tomorrow’s game...
A few other random notes, as I review my scoresheet:
** The Cubs sent nine guys to the plate in the sixth before the Reds recorded an out -- way to ruin the rally by hitting into a double play, Barrett!
More incredibly, there was nothing in this inning that even could be classified as a hard hit ball. There was a walk, two infield singles, a bunt single, a looping liner that Adam Dunn misplayed.
Let me reiterate that – two infield singles and a bunt hit. By the Cubs. Great lion of Zion! I can’t remember when my heroes put together two infield hits and a bunt single in a week, let along the same inning.
Our cause was helped along when Dunn fell down on the warning track trying to track down Derrek Lee’s deep fly ball. That was probably the best hit ball of the inning -- a high fly ball that got caught in the gale blowing out. Fortunately for us, Dunn is a klutz.
** For good measure, we played small ball in the ninth, too. Pierre beat out a bunt single. Hairston dropped a sac bunt ad reached when Incarnation booted it. Finally, fleet-footed Neifi beat out Lopez’ relay to avoid an inning-ending double. All three would score in the inning.
Intriguing, this new style of ball...and it seems to be more effective than hoping D-Lee or A-Ram can hit a three run dinger.
** We pulled of a 3-5-3 double play, thanks to the Griffey shift. With Lopez on first in the fourth inning, Junior hit a grounder right to Lee. Fortunately, Ramirez was standing right on second, so it was an easy toss there and back for the out. Even thought it worked, I still think these odd defensive alignments are more trouble than they’re worth.
** I know Ozzie Guillen keeps track of this stuff, so I’ll put it on the record:
Tribune White Sox Opening Day coverage – 4 pages.
Tribune Cubs Opening Day coverage – 1 1/2 pages.
Tribune White Sox World Series Ring coverage – 1 page.
** Last, and certainly not least, Jim owes me a Coke. Jim was dead certain last October that Neifi would be our Opening Day shortstop.
Oh, ye of little faith! I’ll take a Diet Coke with Lime. Mmm...lime....
posted by Bob at
9:20 PM
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