If only MLB would take pity on the plight of all miserable Cubs fans and allow our beloved team to play the Nationals for the remainder of this season's schedule. The Nationals took pity on Alfonso Soriano and served up a fastball (when was the last time a pitcher was dumb enough to throw him anything that was straight, hard, and over the plate?!?!) that Fonzie cranked over the right field wall for his first homer in a month and half. Zambrano throws over 40 pitches in the first inning of his Friday outing and still manages to win the game AND drive in two runs. Fielding errors, baserunning mistakes, leaving men on base in scoring position -- it's a dream team for Milton Bradley!
From the category archives:
Alfonso Soriano
We can dream can't we? It's come to the point where I would trade Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley, and Aaron Heilman for a player to be named later. It's clear the Cubs (surprisingly) have some talent in the farm system and are ready for a shot at the big leagues. I know that Lou is waiting for Soriano to break out of his slump (as Lou says, "he's broken out of slumps .. uh ... in the past and performed .. uh .. great."), but this slump seems different as NL pitchers have finally figured out that Alfonso can only hit the fast ball for power AND watching him "play" left field induces serious nausea in this miserable Cubs fan.
The day after the Cubs signed Aaron Heilman (1/31/09) I posted the following three videos with the heading "A Peak Into the Future - Welcome to Wrigley Aaron Heilman." My prediction has come to fruition as Heilman truly let the first game with the Cardinals get away with tons of walks and a horrible wild pitch. Can we package him with Milton Bradley and Alfonso Soriano to get an injured Mark DeRosa or Jake Peavey? Pretty please?!?!
Aaron Heilman Getting Booed
Aaron Heilman Booed Off The Mound at Shea
Heilman's Last Pitch of 2008
Lou Piniella checks in for his weekly chat and continues to be surprised by the mood swings of Cub fans. Piniella is thrilled that the Cubs continue to remain three games back with Ramirez on DL, is also delighted with the glove work that Jake Fox is showing at third base, ... AND (say it ain’t so Lou!) that with Reed Johnson and Ramirez coming back next week, Jake Fox might have to go back to the minors(?!?!).
LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD - Lou Piniella.mp3
Well now Randy Wells knows that he better damn well pitch a no-hitter in order to get a major league win. For someone who claims that he doesn't have "Ace stuff," he is sure surprising me. All night long he got ahead in the count and consistently threw strikes. Great performance Randy! Now as for Marmol & Gregg ...
Rothchild & Piniella continue to be (unfortunately) correct with their pre-season diagnosis of Carlos Marmol's pitching mentality. Five hit batters? I've lost count as to how many times he has walked the first batter he has seen with four straight pitches. And Kevin "still can't find the strike zone" Gregg -- what the hell? He was up 1 ball and 2 strikes to Jeff Franceour and then decides to throw one right down the middle. It's June already! Please start pitching like you are a professional!
I have some meaningful thoughts on today's game, but I have to begin with the odd post-putout congratulatory exchange at the bottom of the 1st inning. Cubs first baseman Micah Hoffpauir fielded a slow grounder that was hit along the first base line. Carlos Zambrano hustled over to first but Micah was already on the bag. As the two turned to head to the dugout, Micah went to pat Big Z on the ass, but (alas) Big Z was already turned around. If you have the MLB.TV subscription, check out the archived video as Big Z had an enormous smile on his face as he entered the dugout. Ahhh, what can I say, Spring Training games are not exactly thrilling so how else am I going to get your attention?