June 2006 Archives

Game Seventy-Nine - Cubs 2 White Sox 6

Day in and day out this season, the Cubs lack of clutch hitting gets more and more frustrating. For the fourth straight game the Cubs had opportunities to put up a win and in those four games they are a disappointing 1-3. The Cubs managed 9 hits against Sox pitching including 3 from Juan Pierre but they left 9 on base and could not score any runs after the 1st inning.

Sean Marshall settled down after the 1st inning but the 3 runs he allowed on 5 hits put the Cubs behind before they ever stepped to the plate. Marshall fell behind hitters all afternoon and had trouble, again, recording the third out of the inning. The Cubs cannot get a hit with 2 outs, but they give up more than their share. With Angel Pagan and Michael Barrett back on the active roster, the Cubs have lost the injury and health excuses for losing and like Ron Santo said during the game on Friday, "Now it's a character issue."

Game Seventy-Nine: Cubs (29-49) vs. White Sox (51-27)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Sean Marshall (4-6, 5.13) vs. Jon Garland (6-3, 5.76)

Welcome to the Civil War, Part II....the North vs. the South, however in this case the team from the South is the defending World Champions and hold the second best record in baseball but the team with the best record, the Detroit Tigers (54-25), resides in the their division and the Sox find themselves 2 1/2 games back in the standings. The American League Central has beat up the National League Central in Interleague competition this season and the Cubs hold a 3-9 record this year going into the final weekend of play and have already lost 2 out of 3 to their neighbors to the South. Can Sean Marshall quiet the White Sox today at Wrigley? And Welcome Back Michael Barrett....

While I was in Cincinnati a few weeks back I had the pleasure of meeting a very talented photographer by the name of Chris Proctor. I spoke with Chris briefly before the game....a game that the Cubs won, remember that series they played so good against a very talented Reds team that is currently 2nd in the division....but I digress. Chris and I exchanged a few emails and here are a few of the photos he took on that Saturday in Cincinnati. To see all of Chris' work go to www.cproctor.smugmug.com or just click to go directly there. He really has a passion for photography and the Cubs.

Game Seventy-Eight - Cubs 4 Brewers 5

The Cubs showed on Wednesday afternoon how they are capable of playing with a near healthy roster, on Thursday they had plenty of chances to win the game on what should have been their third victory in a row....shoulda, woulda, coulda has become a theme for this year's team. The Cubs were not patient enough against the Brewers starter and former Cub, Geremi Gonzalez. Gonzalez was given his first victory as a Brewer and his first victory of the season.

Carlos Lee continued killing Cub pitching on Thursday and was 3 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI, for the series Lee was 8 for 16 with 2 home runs, 4 RBI's and 3 runs scored. Mark Prior continued to improve on the mound but his 6th inning bases loaded jam was the difference in the ballgame.

Game Seventy-Eight: Cubs (29-48) vs. Brewers (39-40)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Mark Prior (0-2, 9.64) vs. Geremi Gonzalez (0-0, 6.08)

Can the Cubs win two in a row? Mark Prior goes to the hill today for the Cubs against former Cub, Geremi Gonzalez (1997-1998). Doug Davis was scheduled to start today's game but was skipped because of stiffness in his lower back. Gonzalez is a right-hander which is better for the Cubs, besides Davis has already beaten the Cubs once this season. The Cubs' victory on Wednesday was one of the best wins of the last few months. They got a strong performance by Carlos Marmol and a big come from behind victory for the offense, but if they lay an egg today, all will be for not. The Cubs and Mark Prior need to build on the momentum from Wednesday and split the series with the Brewers....and send the Cubs Faithful home happy again.

If you have read anything I have written in the past six months, you know I am a true die-hard, to a fault in fact. But even I have had it, and I am not alone. I am so not alone that I saw Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, at a restaurant yesterday DURING the Cubs game. I was not the only true blue fan avoiding what has become of this baseball team, and when I saw Mr. Banks, I realized just how bad it has become.

Game Seventy-Seven - Cubs 6 Brewers 3

Carlos Marmol was tremendous, Juan Pierre hit a home run for the first time in almost a year and Derrek Lee led the comeback in the 8th that saw the Cubs score 5 runs to end their 5-game losing streak and their 9-game home losing streak, it was the first win for the Cubs since May 30th at Wrigley.

Marmol faced just one over the minimum before he took the mound in the 7th. Marmol had allowed just 1 hit, a double to Carlos Lee in the 2nd inning....that he actually picked off. He was in cruise control, he had command and control of the strike zone. The rookie recorded 8 strike outs, a career high, but with 1 out in the 7th, Marmol ran out of gas and Scott Eyre could not keep the tying run from scoring....Marmol received a no-decision but the Cubs recorded the win in comeback fashion led by Derrek Lee....this June day felt more like April from a Cubs standpoint.

Game Seventy-Seven: Cubs (28-48) vs. Brewers (39-39)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Marmol (1-2, 4.98) vs. Dave Bush (5-6, 4.64)

Is anyone else punch drunk after Tuesday night's debacle? The Cubs lost their 9th in a row at Wrigley and you could almost hear a pin drop when Dempster blew that save. Zambrano and the Cubs played a heck-of-a-game but they keep finding ways to beat themselves. The Cubs are 20 games under .500 and are inventing ways to lose games, will today be any different? The Brewers have outscored the Cubs at Wrigley now 39-7 this season and they have hit 12 home runs off of Cubs pitching. Carlos Lee continues to kill the Cubs every time he plays against them; no matter which uniform he is wearing.

Colvin and Lansford Agrees to Terms, The Diamond Jaxx All-Stars, Jeff Samardzija Makes His Debut and Wade Miller Results from Tuesday

There were eight current and three former West Tenn Diamond Jaxx named to the Southern League All-Star team on Tuesday. Rocky Cherry, Juan Mateo, J.R. Mathes and Chris Shaver, pitchers....Nic Jackson and Chris Walker, outfielders....Eric Patterson and Scott Moore infielders and Carlos Marmol, Clay Rapada and Randy Wells were named as well but because of promotions they are unable to participate. The Southern League All-Star game takes place in Montgomery, Alabama at Riverwalk Stadium on July 10th.

Game Seventy-Six - Cubs 5 Brewers 8

Carlos Zambrano was on the mound on Tuesday night as the Cubs looked to snap their longest home losing streak in 14 years. Zambrano and the Cubs faced rookie left hander, yes another lefty Zach Jackson. Jackson is 1-0 with a 4.67 ERA. But he is a lefty and as we all know the Cubs have struggled against lefties all year. Jackson threw 3 perfect innings before Juan Pierre recorded an infield single, the Cubs came back in the 8th before it happened again....on to the game.