July 2006 Archives

Game One Hundred Five - Cubs 4 Diamondbacks 15

Including Notes from Jim Hendry on Monday's Trade Deadline Deals

Game time temperature was 106 with the heat index at Wrigley and the Diamondbacks must have felt right at home. Orlando Hudson had a huge night at the plate, that included home runs from both sides of the plate, and in the field despite committing an error but he was just one of many standouts on the night for the D'Backs. On the day the Cubs traded away their future Hall of Fame pitcher, what took the mound on Monday night can only be explained by one word....horrible.

Mark Prior was to quote Ron Santo, "Wilder than I have ever seen him." He threw 106 pitches in 5 innings, hit two batters, threw a wild pitch, walked 3, struck out 5 and gave up 3 home runs including a grand slam to Orlando Hudson that put the game out of reach for the Cubs against the D'Backs ace Brandon Webb, who was not that sharp himself. Glendon Rusch gave up 3 more home runs and to say it was a long night would be an understatement.

Game One Hundred Five: Cubs (43-61) vs. Diamondbacks (53-51)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187/190
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Mark Prior (0-4, 6.60) vs. Brandon Webb (11-4, 2.64)

The Trade Deadline has come and gone (3:00pm C.T.) and everyone by now knows what happened. The Cubs traded Todd Walker to the Padres for 19 year-old pitcher Jose Ceda but most importantly they traded Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for infielder Cesar Izturis. Izturis has already been added to the Cubs Active Roster but a roster move to replace Todd Walker has not been announced and the Cubs have not announced who will pitch against the Diamondbacks on Thursday and replace Greg Maddux in the rotation.

From everyone here at the CCO....Thank you Greg and Todd!!!

Mark Prior is coming off his best start of the season against the Mets when he did not allow a hit in 5 2/3 innings of work. Prior left after 103 pitches and the Cubs lost the game to the Mets 1-0 in 10 innings....probably the most promising loss of the season for the Cubs.

BREAKING NEWS...Todd Walker traded to San Diego

Chicago Cubs starting second baseman Todd Walker has been traded to the San Diego Padres for 19 year old RHP Jose Ceda, who is from the Dominican Republic.

According to CBS Sportsline, Ceda was signed by the Padres as a non-drafted free agent in November 2004, and is pitching for the Peoria Padres in the Arizona Rookie League this summer.

As of 3:00 CST, this is the only move that has been confirmed by the Cubs. There are only 30 minutes left until the non-waiver trading deadline, it will be an interesting half hour.

UPDATE - 3:13 CST - Maddux has been traded to the Dodgers for Cesar Izturis.

We will do our best to bring you the information as soon as it becomes available.

Is it easier to sweep the barn if the horses are all gone? After winning their last 6 out of 7 games, Dusty must be wondering how this surge of victories was possible, without his "horses". If Dusty isn't wondering, then I sure am, and I hope Jim Hendry and the Cubs Faithful are wondering the same thing, too.

Even without Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, and Derrek Lee, the Cubs are able to beat the top 2 teams in the National League (the Mets and the Cardinals). When this season officially went into the tank, sometime in May, a lot of fans and experts blamed it on the injuries, while conveniently ignoring the fact that plenty of other teams were doing just fine, despite key injuries of their own. I was reminded over and over again that the Cubs could never be expected to win without Dusty's "horses" all being healthy and back in the stable, or whatever lame excuse/story Dusty said his daddy had taught him. If you think the Cubs had no choice but to be almost 20 games below .500 at this point, due to injuries alone....well....now you know better.

Game One Hundred Four - Cubs 6 Cardinals 3

The last time the Cubs swept the Cardinals at Wrigley in a 4-game series was July 29-31, 1972, almost 34 years to the day the Cubs did the unthinkable and swept the Cardinals at home. The win Sunday gave the Cubs their longest winning streak of the season, 4 games, and topped off the best week the Cubs have had all season. After taking 2 of 3 from the Mets, the 4-game sweep of the Cardinals topped off an amazing week, one that saw them win 6 of 7 games from he best two teams in the National League. The Cubs have won 10 of 13 games from the division leading Cardinals and those 10 wins equal the number of wins the Cubs have against the East and West Divisions combined....explain that one Cubs fans.

Sunday's game was another complete win, Carlos Zambrano won his 9th in a row and threw very well, the offense did their job and gave their ace an early lead that allowed him to settle in and the bullpen continued their excellent relief work. Regardless of everything that has gone wrong this season, this past week everything fell into place and the Cubs won some games against two very good opponents.

Game One Hundred Four: Cubs (42-61) vs. Cardinals (58-45)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (11-3, 3.27) vs. Chris Carpenter (10-4, 2.68)

Can the Cubs pull off the sweep and win their 4th in a row? On the day that former Cub and Cardinal Bruce Sutter gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, the present and the future of the two teams meet today at Wrigley Field. Both Carlos Zambrano and Chris Carpenter are legitimate Cy Young award candidates this season and today is the second match-up of the year for the two aces. Today's game could be decided by who scores first.

Game One Hundred Three - Cubs 4 Cardinals 2

Whether Saturday was Greg Maddux's last with the Cubs at Wrigley does not matter the way he pitched and the appreciation shown from the Cubs Faithful was unbelievable to see. Saturday was unofficially Greg Maddux Day at Wrigley and the Ole Professor was at the top of his game. Forget the fact he won his second game in a row, forget the fact the Cubs won their 3rd straight, forget the fact the Cubs beat the Cardinals but remember Saturday as the day Greg Maddux stepped up and performed in unbearable conditions and pitched his best game since May 1st....this was vintage Greg Maddux.

When he left the field the baseball fans that "just go to Wrigley for the event" stood up and applauded and the lasting image of Maddux tipping his cap in appreciation was one of those rare events that should be cherished and remembered. Greg Maddux stepped into the dugout with his team ahead but most importantly the last impression he left on the Faithful was that of a winner....something he has and always will be.

Game One Hundred Three: Cubs (41-61) vs. Cardinals (58-44)
Game Time - 3:05pm C.T. FOX TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Greg Maddux (8-11, 4.83) vs. Anthony Reyes (2-4, 4.57)

With the trade deadline looming, today could be the last game for Greg Maddux in a Cubs' uniform....whether it is or not, it would be great to see Maddux leave the mound with the Cubs ahead and for him to leave having won his last two games in Cubbie Blue.

Friday's game was another chapter in the colorful History of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry and today there could be some spill over on National TV. But the most important thing is the win, which would be the Cubs third in a row and would match a season high.

Game One Hundred Two - Cubs 6 Cardinals 5

This series could boil over before the end of the weekend, Friday's game was just the beginning and it is pretty obvious the two teams are ready to explode. The Cubs and Cardinals are one of the oldest and most heated rivalries in all of sports....and Friday lived up to the billing.

This game had it all, a good pitching performance from Carlos Marmol, another good offensive effort from the Cubs, two hit batsman that included an obvious retaliation and Dusty Baker was ejected in the 8th but most importantly the Cubs beat the Cardinals for the second day in a row and with a little help from Scott Rolen.

Game One Hundred Two: Cubs (40-61) vs. Cardinals (58-43)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Marmol (3-4, 4.50) vs. Jason Marquis (12-7, 5.62)

Can the Cubs take two in a row from the Cardinals? For the Cubs to accomplish that feat they will need Carlos Marmol to throw strikes and go deep in the game, something that Cubs' starters have not been able to do as of late. Over the last 7 games the starting staff has pitched through the 6th inning only twice either due to ineffectiveness, injury or in Mark Prior's case against the Mets, a high pitch count. The Cubs next scheduled day off is not until August 7th and the bullpen has been overworked in recent days. A move to bring up a fresh arm for the pen before today's game would not come as a surprise.