Major League Baseball announced Monday the 30 nominees for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. And the Cubs’ nominee is Anthony Rizzo.
The Roberto Clemente Award “recognizes a player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.”
Each team nominates one player “in an effort to pay tribute to Roberto Clemente’s achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others.”
Wednesday is the 14th Annual Roberto Clemente Day throughout baseball.
Dan Haren and Clayton Richard
Dan Haren had a really poor outing Sunday. Haren had no command and barely made it through the three innings he completed. Joe Maddon acknowledged Haren “could not find his command.” And Haren admitted he was “fighting it.”
Maddon was asked about Clayton Richard replacing Haren in the rotation. Maddon loves Richard in the bullpen but admitted it was hard to say Sunday which direction the Cubs will go with the fifth spot in the rotation.
Dan Haren is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Cardinals at Wrigley. Haren was very, very good in St. Louis and until Sunday had pitched better than his numbers. Haren has allowed 25 runs, 24 earned, on 49 hits with 12 walks and 33 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings with the Cubs. In his eight starts, Haren has served up 10 home runs and is 2-2 with a 5.31 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 5.60 FIP.
Clayton Richard righted the ship Sunday but was hung with the loss proving once again how irrelevant a pitcher’s win-loss record is. Richard allowed the go ahead run to score after a triple and a wild pitch … a ball that should not have gotten past Miguel Montero. Richard completed four innings and was rather efficient (51 pitches, 36 strikes).
In 17 appearances with the Cubs, three starts, Richard is 3-2 with a 4.04 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 3.65 WHIP. As a starter, Richard is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. In 18 innings, Richard has allowed six runs on 17 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Tim Sheridan – Public Address – A Thirty Year Journey with The Chicago Cubs
Most of our readers know Tim Sheridan as the Voice of Cubs Spring Training Baseball and from his wonderful website ‘The Boys of Spring.’ Those that might not know Tim by name and have been to a Cubs Spring Training Game know his voice. Tim has been working on a Cubs documentary for a while and is looking for help to fund the film’s music.
An upcoming documentary film featuring Chicago Cubs announcer, Tim Sheridan, has launched a crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo, the film’s producers announced today. The film, Public Address – A Thirty Year Journey with the Chicago Cubs, is based on Sheridan’s long career with the Cubs. The film tells the story that Sheridan has experienced over his lifetime with the Cubs, using extensive behind the scenes footage that has never been seen, as well as a new Cubs song, Clear the Way, which was inspired by the 7th Inning Stretch singing of legendary Cubs announcer Harry Caray.
“This film is about the Cubs and their journey through three decades that changed America, and the game itself,” said Sheridan in a statement. “It also tells the story of the passion that a unique ball club inspires in both its players and fans.”
Sheridan has been the Cubs Spring Training Public Address Announcer for the past thirty-two years. From his first day on the job, sitting next to Caray in the press box, he started filming and documenting. The film includes many of Sheridan’s recollections of working with Caray as well as the changing face of the Cubs. Using archival footage and photos, the film shows the audience memorable moments with everyone from Ryne Sandberg to Kris Bryant. Public Address has been Sheridan’s vision and passion for a long time.
Music is currently the focus of the production. Through a collaboration with Dango Rose, from the band Elephant Revival, as Music Supervisor, the film now has a new rock anthem for the Cubs. Clear the Way was partly recorded on the actual microphone that Caray used for many years to lead the 7th inning stretch. “The song sort of took a divine path to being created, with the help of several musical genius talents, and the spirit of Harry Caray through one of his conduits to the fans—the mic Harry used to sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” Sheridan added in a statement.
Currently Clear the Way is only available at Indiegogo for a small $5 donation to the documentary film. The Indiegogo campaign aims to raise funds to complete production for the film’s music.
Click Here for more Information and to Support Public Address
Wrigley Field
Stadium Journey recently posted its updated review of Wrigley Field. The changes made this year in Phase One of the 1060 Project at the old ballyard have been well received and Stadium Journey thought the results “are stunning, leaving many fans looking forward to the other projects planned.”
Click here for the full review of Wrigley Field: The Friendly Confines in Its Second Century
“Wrigley Field is in a category all its own. When a ballpark with history can retain its charm through modernization, a special thing is achieved which is exactly what is transpiring on the North Side of Chicago.”
News, Notes and Rumors
• ESPN Chicago gave a shot at what the roster for the Wild Card Game could look like, if the Cubs make it to the one-game playoff. Based on Joe Maddon’s history, Jesse Rogers speculated the Cubs would have nine pitchers and 16 position players on the 25-man active roster.
• Jake Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher since Ferguson Jenkins in 1971 to have at least 19 wins and 200 strikeouts in a single season.
• Since August, Cubs’ outfielders have put up the fourth best OPS in baseball. According to FOX Sports, outfielders for the Mets (.972), Mariners (.908), Red Sox (.888), Cubs (.864) and Nationals (.848) have the five highest OPS in the majors.
• According to Jesse Sanchez, OF Eddy Julio Martinez is still available. Martinez has a workout scheduled Tuesday with the Reds in the Dominican Republic. Sanchez said the Giants are still in the mix but did not mention the Cubs.
• Curious City asked if the design of the Wrigley Field Scoreboard was revolutionary, retro or both?
• Sports Illustrated ranked the Cubs as the eighth best team in baseball.
• Joe Maddon is the front-runner for NL Manager of the Year. CBS Sports asked if Terry Collins pushing Maddon for the award.
• According to Comcast SportsNet, the Cubs shouldn’t take their window to contend for granted.
• The Cubs will find out this week how ready they are for the playoffs according to the Sun-Times.
• The Sun-Times reported the Cubs have three weeks to shore up a bullpen that could be the difference in October. And Carl Edwards Jr. could play a role in the pen down the stretch.
• And the Pittsburgh Band is convinced the Cubs are gonna go down.
This Day In Cubstory
2010 – The Cubs completed the first three-game sweep in St. Louis in more than 20 years. The Cubs topped the Cardinals 7-3 to complete the first sweep since June 12, 1988.
2009 – Cubs released Ezequiel Astacio
2002 – Sammy Sosa collected his 100th RBI of the season on a three-run homer in the eighth inning of a 6-0 shutout over the Reds. Sosa joined Mel Ott and Willie Mays as the only three players in National League history to drive in at least 100 runs in eight straight seasons.
1998 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Felix Sanchez
1992 – Cubs signed amateur free agent Julio Zuleta
1971 – Burt Hooton struck out 15 Mets in his second big league start as the Cubs posted a 3-2 victory at Shea Stadium and completed a doubleheader sweep. Billy Williams smacked a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning for the winning run. Cubs won the first game 6-2 behind Bill Hands.
1970 – Ken Holtzman won his 15th game of the season in a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals. The Cubs moved into third place behind the first place Mets and Pirates.
1968 – Ernie Banks played in his 2,245th game in a Cubs uniform, surpassing Cap Anson, as the Cubs blanked the Phillies 4-0 behind Ferguson Jenkins at Philadelphia.
1964 – Larry Jackson gave up six hits in a 6-1 victory over the Reds at Wrigley Field. Jackson became the season’s first 20-game winner and posted a 24-11 record for the eighth place Cubs.
1930 – Hack Wilson hit home run No. 50.
1902 – Only 260 fans witnessed the first Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double play as the Cubs beat the Reds 6-3 behind Carl Lundgren at West Side Grounds