tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52319952011-04-21T20:33:11.493-06:00Let's Play TwoCubs, baseball, Leo Mazzone, urinals, hookers, whatever
Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comBlogger2811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1114541463485365892005-04-26T12:28:00.000-06:002005-04-26T13:38:34.496-06:00Make Detroit Neifi-riffic!I just don't know what to say about Neifi Perez.Yesterday, Desipio posted the numbers Neifi's compiled since he joined the Cubs last year. A .965 OPS in 110 at-bats. Neifi responded last night by hitting a home run, knocking in 4 runs and scoring 2.So in 2005, he's got a 1.022 OPS going for him. That's second-best on this Cubs team, behind only the otherworldly Derrek Lee at 1.184. It's 11th in Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1113324628883612012005-04-12T10:42:00.000-06:002005-04-12T10:51:10.503-06:00Sammy wishes he had that kind of rangeTony, the youngest member of the Let's Play Two staff at nearly 13 months old, began walking yesterday. Actually it was more like a half-hour of solid running interrupted only by the occasional full-out face plant, and it was truly exhilarating for all of us.When I squinted real hard, it looked like he was tracking down fly balls in some miniature, carpeted outfield. And I'm pretty sure that eachDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1113255842339826762005-04-11T15:24:00.000-06:002005-04-12T09:13:55.223-06:00I feel like I should be more upsetThis Cub offense reminds me of something . . . I can't quite put my finger on it.Oh yeah, now I recognize it. It's the Cub offense of virtually every year I can remember.Shame to spoil some nice pitching by Dempster, Wuertz, Fox and Leicester. The winning (only) Padre run scored as a result of two dropped balls. But that's what happens when you have leave so little room for error.You can leave Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1112987908298587342005-04-08T13:09:00.000-06:002005-04-08T13:18:28.296-06:00"Cubs Squander a Leadoff Double"These are the saddest of possible words:"No runs, one hit, one left."A single bear cub, standing on third,Of situational hitting bereft.Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,Predictably wasting a leadoff double--Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:"No runs, one hit, one left."Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1112122386874948132005-04-06T11:14:00.000-06:002005-04-06T11:18:19.426-06:00Spring Traning ReportOK, this is a little late since it was actually two three weekends ago that I made the trip. Short on time a little lately and my my attention has been more on the boys from Champaign than our boys in blue. Still, the trip was great and I've been meaning to bore you with my tale, so here goes.First, some background. My friend Bryan and I attended our first Spring Training in 2002, had a great Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1109881612437780122005-03-03T13:07:00.000-07:002005-03-03T13:26:52.436-07:00Sorry, RonI don't really need to go into the details of the Ron Santo thing. You all know the two essential facts, which are:1) Santo was a great player and deserves to be in the Hall, and this is backed up in every conceivable way by statistical and anecdotal evidence; and2) His fate nonetheless lies in the hands of a bunch of assholes with titanic egos, the living Hall-of-Famers, who will likely never Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1109796277820891792005-03-02T13:16:00.000-07:002005-03-02T13:44:37.823-07:00I Guar-awn-tee itWhat's everybody so worried about?As I peruse the blogs and the papers, what are we most worried about with respect to the Cubs in 2005?1) Can Jeromy Burnitz adequately replace Sammy Sosa in right field in terms of offensive output? Let's ask him! Jeromy Burnitz:If I'm healthy and doing well, around 30 [homers], maybe a little more. Could it be a lot more? Yes. Could it be less? No way. No Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1109718617062835112005-03-01T15:46:00.000-07:002005-03-01T16:13:35.296-07:00LimpWell, I promised last week I would begin posting with some degree of regularity. But really, there's nothing happening. Nothing! I'm only human for God's sake.I thought I might make fun of yesterday's ridiculous Phil Rogers column. I mean, look at the title of this thing."Cubs may regret letting go of Clement."That's right. They may end up regretting it. So several weeks after the Cubs unleashed Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1109199260330983472005-02-23T15:32:00.000-07:002005-02-23T15:57:22.746-07:00I take steroids to make my brain smartererOK, I updated my Cub blog links at left, with mucho assistance from the unbelievably thorough Cubs Blog Army - Central Command. Thanks Byron.I'm not even going to try and count them. Back in the day (uh, like two years ago) there were about eight of us. I used to read each of them every day, and I suspect the others did the same. I don't think I'm going to be able to do that with 50 blogs, so if Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1109109219646859672005-02-22T14:25:00.000-07:002005-02-22T15:42:08.620-07:00Well, somebody's been reading their Dr. Seuss . . .Hi folks,For what it's worth, I'm planning to start posting quasi-regularly again.The Let's Play Two staff has some serious cleaning up to do. It seems a new Cubs blog sprouts every day or so while another fades away, so there's a bunch of link updating that needs to be done. Some other changes will be necessary too, as the Choi/Lee Trade Tracker is no longer any fun. I imagine the new one will Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1098293678750902572004-10-20T11:01:00.000-06:002004-10-20T11:34:38.750-06:00Good baseballWhen the Cubs elegantly bowed out of the 2004 season by losing 7 of 8 down the stretch against the worst teams baseball has to offer, my disappointment ran so deep I didn't figure I'd be watching much postseason ball. The Divisional Series did nothing to pique my interest, with the teams I hate most (Cards, Astros, Yanks) all advancing. Like most Cub fans, I had ambivalent feelings about the Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1093461575770386702004-08-25T13:08:00.000-06:002004-08-25T14:24:19.926-06:00Right on scheduleI was just checking out the comments to Alex's thread over at the Cub Reporter. Sure I could just make my own comment over there, but then what would I tell my Mom when she says, as she's bound to any day now, "You never write in your blog anymore!"
First of all, Alex is right. One-run games mean nothing. Well, I guess they mean something, at least in the standings. If the Cub record in such Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1092423004122712182004-08-13T12:28:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:54:43.473-06:00Suck it upI'm really beginning to think these Cubs just don't have what it takes.
Look, nobody hates bad umpiring as much as I do. Bruce Froemming has been incompetent for far too long and should really just call it a career at this point. Move along, Bruce, and try getting some exercise while you're at it.
Froemming's "safe" call at 2nd that led to the two 6th inning runs was particularly egregious. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1091642480501788002004-08-04T12:01:00.000-06:002004-08-04T12:08:59.616-06:00Coors Field Report, 8/3/04I get to at least one Rockies-Cubs game every season, and I have to say I have never seen the Colorado Cub fans as fired up as they were last night. It's really impossible to overstate what the Nomar trade means to Cub fans. Naturally there is optimism, in that he makes them an appreciably better ballclub. But there is also a measure of pride that didn't exist before, a kind of swagger resultingDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1091559697154829672004-08-03T12:31:00.000-06:002004-08-03T13:06:28.470-06:00WWJD?What Would Jim (Hendry) Do?
Until this past Saturday, the answer was: he would make a smart, practical move, doing his best to fill holes without sacrificing too much minor league talent. He'd cover his ass by ensuring that the new player would (a) spend enough time with the team to cover the cost of the trade; or (b) be quickly disposable in the event the new player didn't pan out or was Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-108900173295303522004-07-04T22:20:00.000-06:002004-07-04T22:30:28.683-06:00Nice at-batYou hear people talk about "good at-bats" all the time. Generally the only criterium for the "good at-bat award" is that a large number of pitches must be thrown. The batter flails away 10 times, fouling off a bunch of shitty pitches before striking out, it's a good at-bat. Just ask Chip Caray.
How about this one:
Bases loaded, tie game, bottom of the 9th, batter falls behind 0-2. Takes a ball,Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088790602403915032004-07-02T11:18:00.000-06:002004-07-02T12:00:12.110-06:00Walk it offInteresting stat on Baseball Tonight yesterday. Sammy Sosa's now tied with Barry Bonds for the lead among active players in career "walk-off home runs" with 10.
Which is strange because we all "know" that Sammy only hits meaningless, solo homers, right?
Of course, the "walk-off" home run stat is itself pretty stupid. As far as I know, the term "walk-off" only came into existence a year or two Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088711239631913972004-07-01T13:44:00.000-06:002004-07-01T14:02:54.180-06:00K-chip malfunctionRey Ordonez is 2 for 2 with an RBI so far this afternoon.
The K-chip in its current form is simply not capable of processing this data. Sparks fly and the smell of molten plastic fills the air here at the Let's Play Two lab.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088615114199831332004-06-30T10:09:00.000-06:002004-06-30T11:05:14.200-06:00Well, well, wellHow to describe last night's 7-5 Cub victory?
Well-played?
Do you mean Patterson's 10-pitch at-bat resulting in an RBI double or moments later when he was picked off at second?
Do you mean Patterson's two-run homer or his dropped ball in center field?
Do you mean the Goodwin-Grudz hitting clinic in the 7th or Ramon Martinez booting two grounders in the 9th?
I guess the answer to that question isDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088447978868136072004-06-28T12:18:00.000-06:002004-06-28T12:42:14.176-06:00Don't put that on the board. Please. Don't.The best thing about the weekend being over is that we're done listening to the White Sox TV broadcast team, Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Darrin Jackson.
It's not that they're homers, I don't have a problem with that. I wouldn't even care if they said "nyah, nyah nyah" every time the Sox scored a run. Even that ridiculous "Put it on the boooaaard" home run call doesn't really bug me, stupid and Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088171234797071642004-06-25T07:40:00.000-06:002004-06-25T07:47:14.796-06:00Ordonez must goI know it's not fair to pin the entirety of yesterday's 4-0 waste of time on one guy, but is it possible to have a worse inning than Rey Ordonez did in the 4th?
Top of the inning, he grounds into inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Bottom of the inning, he boots a potential inning-ending double play grounder leading to all 4 runs.
Ballgame.
Ordonez really isn't MLB material at Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088085576063661422004-06-24T07:59:00.000-06:002004-06-24T08:16:25.033-06:00No focusFrustrating loss.
What should've been a stirring come-from-behind victory for the Cubs turned instead into a dispiriting loss. The Cards needed every conceivable break to overcome the 9-5, 6th-inning deficit and they got them, often with quite a bit of help from our guys.
One run on a bad hop to Martinez. Another on a weak Taguchi grounder through the middle. Another on a non-called strike Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1088007231379977832004-06-23T10:11:00.000-06:002004-06-23T10:13:51.380-06:00GooglersA reader was recently directed to this site upon Googling chicago, hookers and rush street.
I've never been more proud of this little blog than I am right now.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1087845664941047662004-06-21T12:29:00.000-06:002004-06-21T14:50:21.166-06:00Z!Very satisfying win yesterday.
Games like that one are what make Carlos Zambrano so valuable. Hey, we all like the games where Z hits his spots with that heavy, sinking fastball, when we watch opposing hitters trudging up to home plate to take their beating, fully aware that each swing of the bat will result in nothing more than a whoosh or a ball pounded downward into the dirt. But yesterday Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1087498349906313172004-06-17T12:05:00.000-06:002004-06-17T13:00:42.940-06:00Oh my God, please kill Kenny! You bastards!So many fine moments during the ESPN broadcast of last night's 4-1 Cub victory over Houston. A well-played, tight game in which the Cubs extended their winning streak to 5 games and set up a possible 4-game road sweep of the Astros.
But what was my favorite moment? Was it:
a) Ken Griffey, Jr flying out weakly to center?
b) Griffey popping out in foul territory?
c) Griffey walking, a Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1087327631159319532004-06-15T12:31:00.000-06:002004-06-15T13:30:33.286-06:00Yes, I'm still alive.I awake from my blogging slumber to find the Cubs on a three game winning streak. Rather than hit the Snooze button (a new but not-very-well-publicized feature of the new and improved Blogger), as I have for the past two weeks, I figure I may as well rub my eyes and roll out of bed. Last night's feel-good victory is the rising sun, its rays reaching through yonder window, rousting the Let's Play Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1085585757042709402004-05-26T09:32:00.000-06:002004-05-26T09:35:57.043-06:00Don't get well soonIs it my imagination, or do struggling opposing pitchers seem to mysteriously "get well" against the Cubs on a regular basis?
And are they really just "getting" well, or are the Cub bats making them well?Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1085424253302083162004-05-24T12:16:00.000-06:002004-05-24T12:44:13.303-06:00No. 1 bites the dust; "RBI guys"I keep in my head a list of pitchers whom I am especially interested in having the Cubs beat. Feel free to suggest your own candidates in the comments section.
Some pitchers are on the list because they perform particularly well against the Cubs. Randy Johnson's there, Dwight Gooden used to be there, even Greg Maddux was high on that list until he rejoined the Cubs this season.
Other pitchers Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1085422466828964212004-05-24T11:59:00.000-06:002004-05-24T12:14:26.826-06:00FOX rantI can be fairly accused of beating a dead horse here, but FOX absolutely sucks. As I've pointed out many times before, Denver is a National League city. So when there are 4 "Games of the Week" available for local broadcast, and 3 of them are National League games, what possible reason exists for showing the American League game?
Yes, I'm just bitter because when I turned to FOX at 11 am Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1085173807246594792004-05-21T14:57:00.000-06:002004-05-21T15:12:40.996-06:00Dusty Baked-erCan somebody explain this to me?
Mitre gets rocked in the top of the 5th. He gives up 3 runs on 4 hard hit balls including 2 homers, as the Cubs fall behind 7-2. Dusty leaves him in to finish the inning. I figure since Mitre's due to lead off the bottom of the inning, Dusty wants to leave Mitre in so he can pinch-hit for him rather than pulling a double-switch.
But then Mitre bats in the bottomDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1085095006416374532004-05-20T17:01:00.000-06:002004-05-20T17:21:09.193-06:00No punch, no finishYou know, I kinda want to be pissed off about the Cubs' lackluster performance today in their 10 inning, 5-3 loss today.
All of the Giants runs scored with two outs today. To take this train of thought even further, all of their scoring sequences began with 2 outs and nobody on base. In the 3rd, Maddux gave up 3 hits and a wild pitch with 2 outs, resulting in two runs. In the 10th, Borowski Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1084908065277304352004-05-18T12:25:00.000-06:002004-05-18T15:28:05.870-06:00Cub fan = Child abuse?We took Tony, our youngest staff member, to his 2-month doctor's appointment yesterday. We've got a pretty good benefits plan here at Let's Play Two.
Tony has an interesting behavioral quirk which involves the regurgitation of large portions of his meals. Commonly referred to as "spitting up," I'm told this quirk is shared by many other human beings of his age. No object within a couple of feet Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1084387278463441102004-05-12T12:23:00.000-06:002004-05-12T12:41:18.463-06:00A little tightnessEasy, Cub fans.
I rode my bike into work yesterday, it's about 15 miles one-way. I pushed it pretty hard and got here in 50 minutes, which is a good time for me. While walking the halls at work in the afternoon, I noticed my right knee, the one in which the ACL was replaced about 10 years ago, felt a little funny. Not pain exactly. Stiffness? Maybe "a little tightness" would be a good way to Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1084031624387783452004-05-08T09:53:00.000-06:002004-05-08T10:49:16.623-06:00I've got a fever - and the only cure is more Estes
Look familiar?
I was at work and didn't see the Cubs' 11-0 drubbing of the Rockies yesterday. In fact, I was in meetings and wasn't able to check on the game until the 7th inning.
I'll be honest; I was 95% sure the Cubs were going to lose to Shawn Estes yesterday:
- The Cubs fare poorly against soft-tossers;
- The Cub hitters are in free-swinging overdrive right now;
- Estes has been mostly "Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1083870259485414142004-05-06T13:04:00.000-06:002004-05-06T13:08:39.450-06:00Dog didn't eat my homeworkSorry I haven't written in almost a week, but . . . wait a minute, I'm not sorry at all. The Cubs are so uninspiring right now I've just been unable to generate the energy to write anything entertaining. Starting pitching's been good, relief pitching not as good, and offense shouldn't even be placed in the same sentence as "good." In the last week:
Two very good starts by Wood: wasted.
One Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1083380783695019802004-04-30T21:06:00.000-06:002004-04-30T21:18:47.543-06:00SlopStupid Play Scoreboard: Cubs 5, Cards 0.
Top of the 4th: I don't know who screwed up this play, but Alex Gonzalez took off for 2nd with one out for no apparent reason and was gunned down by about 20 feet. Michael Barrett followed that with a double. Result? No runs.
Bottom 4th: Pujols scored on an Edmonds double when Corey Patterson fumbled the ball in center.
Bottom 6th: Kerry Wood sends a Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1083230751351737942004-04-29T03:25:00.000-06:002004-04-29T03:31:02.030-06:00And that, my friends, is called "salvage"Let's put it this way:
When you are outscored 22-5 in a 3-game series, a 2-1 series loss is an acceptable outcome.
On to St. Louis!Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1083004657057886592004-04-27T11:37:00.000-06:002004-04-27T11:51:42.750-06:00Let's Play Two Cubs Q&A: Mark GrudzielanekIt's time for this week's Let's Play Two Cubs Q&A.
The concept for you newcomers: each week simple-minded Cub fans send inane questions to a Cub at Cubs.com. The Cub then provides answers so mind-numbingly banal that the reader must fight the urge to drive one or more large nails into his or her skull. The crack staff at Let's Play Two then produces its own answers to the inane questions. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082660302070527942004-04-22T12:58:00.000-06:002004-04-23T16:27:53.983-06:00The Trade Tracker"So what's the deal with the 'Trade Tracker'?" you ask. Or I at least imagine that you ask, since it's been up for a couple of weeks and I haven't really said anything about it.
Yes, I'm on record as being mildly against the Lee-for-Choi trade. And yes, Choi is outperforming Lee at this point in the season, although Lee has racked up a bunch of RBIs over the last 3 days. But I fully expect that Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082576801924129452004-04-21T13:46:00.000-06:002004-04-21T13:50:41.686-06:00Hi Gavin!A heartfelt congratulations goes out to our good friends Bryan and Kirsten, who gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday. Well, Bryan just watched, I think, but it's the thought that counts.
Happy birthday Gavin! And on behalf of the other 6 billion or so inhabitants of this fair planet, welcome aboard!Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082575754250179382004-04-21T13:29:00.000-06:002004-04-21T14:02:28.670-06:00One-Nut strikes againYou know what really sucks? When you watch ESPN's "Baseball Tonight," you wait for highlights from your team's game and they either give it short shrift or show only highlights involving the opposition.
And then there are nights like last night. Here is how Baseball Tonight covered the Cubs' 9-1 pounding of the Pirates:
1. 20 seconds or so of flashback to last week's 8-3 pounding of the PiratesDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082487089969415722004-04-20T12:51:00.000-06:002004-04-20T13:14:31.640-06:00New K-chip settingThe Let's Play Two tech squad continues work on the K-chip. Reports from the lab are not promising. Fortunately, day games and a lame WGN-TV schedule, not to mention hours spent training the new staff member, have kept me away from the TV. So the slow/no progress hasn't affected me too adversely.
In any case, Alex Gonzalez's at-bats are causing me much less pain lately than Corey Patterson's areDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082401516931511282004-04-19T13:05:00.000-06:002004-04-19T13:15:11.983-06:00The final word on . . .Crazy weekend. I was pretty busy trying to keep Tony from being smothered, as the weekend was spent with both sets of grandparents. I failed, and the kid definitely thinks he is pretty hot shit right now. All of this is my way of excusing my failure to witness much of what were apparently exciting, if not exceedingly well-played Cub ballgames. I did see the last inning and a half of Saturday's Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1082055250425474562004-04-15T12:54:00.000-06:002004-04-15T13:03:31.000-06:00Master of the ObviousI like Pat Hughes, and I rarely have much to make fun of with respect to his game broadcasts. But just now, after Ramirez's 3-run homer in the bottom of the 1st gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead, Hughes said this:
Ron, I think we may look back on that Aramis Ramirez 3-run homer as a turning point in this game.Maybe he's just a little too excited today; it is Carlos Zambrano Day, after all. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081894743080539142004-04-13T16:19:00.000-06:002004-04-13T16:22:52.606-06:00Deep, incomplete thoughtsI feel bad for having given the Baseball Gods such a hard time the other day, just because they dumped about 6 inches of snow in the days preceding the Rockies' home opener. Though temperatures never reached 50 at the game yesterday, the shade receded from our seats in the 2nd inning and I was quite comfortable wearing only my T-shirt. And pants.
Katrin's parents flew in from Berlin on Sunday Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081790573206114462004-04-12T11:22:00.000-06:002004-04-12T11:34:27.233-06:00The K-chipI made a throwaway joke in Saturday's post about programming the V-chip in my TV to block out the vomit-inducing at-bats of Alex Gonzalez and Ramon Martinez. Reader Argyles suggested a more appropriate name for such a device:
The "K-chip."
The main difference between the V-chip and the K-chip? The V-chip is used to block material that may cause offense, while the K-chip would be used to block Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081612338298409022004-04-10T09:52:00.000-06:002004-04-10T10:00:57.326-06:00A win is a win, I guessSome of the best games are those knock-down, drag-out, 15-inning affairs. Where two good teams lock horns, matching each other inning by inning until finally, one team catches a break and pushes it over the top. As the final run is scored or the final out recorded, the winning team and its fans explode with joy as the other side collapses in despair.
Last night's 2-1, 15-inning Cub victory was Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081528483944261542004-04-09T10:34:00.000-06:002004-04-09T10:52:25.340-06:00Why have you forsaken me?In preparation for the Rockies home opener on Monday, the Baseball Gods have decided it would be appropriate for them to drop 4-8 inches of snow on the Denver Metro area tonight. They also think it might help if they were to drop some additional snow on Saturday and Sunday, because it would be a shame if the grounds crew were given too much of an opportunity to clear the field.
I personally Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081457437098139152004-04-08T14:50:00.000-06:002004-04-08T15:01:05.340-06:00How the mighty have fallen . . .It seems like only a couple of days ago that the Cubs were in first place, sporting a league-best record.
But after today's somewhat disheartening loss to the lowly Reds, they find themselves rotting in the NL Central cellar. Only 3 notes worth making:
1) Nice to see Sammy cut loose today;
2) Adam Dunn is pretty freakin' annoying; and
3) While I truly believe this year's offense will be an Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081365302282879692004-04-07T13:15:00.000-06:002004-04-07T14:10:18.373-06:00Baby needs a new pair of, er, bootiesThe Cubs (the Trib?) are generally pretty good at extracting money from people in any manner one could possibly imagine. A couple of examples:
When they realized they weren't seeing a dime from the rooftop parties across the street, they filed suit and are now set to make millions of dollars off of them. That's pretty much free money now, the Cubs don't have to expend any additional resources Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081278395703738532004-04-06T13:06:00.000-06:002004-04-06T14:40:30.500-06:00More Good NewsYesterday was so pleasant that I'm just going to pretend it's still Good News Day. Just imagine that the sun never went down last night.
Good News Item #4:
The Cubs vaulted into the division lead yesterday with their 7-4 win over the Reds, and they currently share the best record in baseball with several other teams.
It wasn't pretty. Kerry was shaky. Sloppy play, including an error, a wild Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081193830381159592004-04-05T13:37:00.000-06:002004-04-05T13:40:49.076-06:00Here's a fun fact:
If you use Google to search for "Leo Mazzone" and "urinal" you will receive exactly 1 hit. I bet you can guess what it is.
Let's Play Two - America's #1 Leo Mazzone/urinal information resource!Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081189497124446112004-04-05T12:24:00.000-06:002004-04-05T12:37:04.590-06:00It's 11:44 am. Do you know where your game face is?
Baseball starts in less than a half-hour. And those who know me can vouch for me when I tell you my game face is right here - eyes glazed, nostrils flared, jaw slack, hair standing staight up, and drool slowly creeping from the corner of mouth, down my chin and onto my shirt.
But first, it's Good News Day at Let's Play Two.
Good News Item #1Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1081097217321863072004-04-04T10:46:00.000-06:002004-04-04T10:59:30.466-06:00Next time somebody tries to bowl you over with the dazzling brilliance of the shining star that is George Will, you can brush them off with this doozy, from this morning's column:
Selig has been -- baseball is a game of inches, but this is not a close call -- the greatest commissioner.Will's column is meant as a tribute to the resiliency of our national pastime. It is ironic that he fails to noteDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1080942302921258122004-04-02T14:45:00.000-07:002004-04-02T14:52:06.436-07:00Just to follow up on this morning's post.
Dusty Baker says a lot of stupid things. He's sort of like Yogi Berra, except after Yogi says something you chuckle, whereas the things Dusty says tend to make you turn to the person next to you and say, "was that offensive? I think that may have been offensive."
On the topic of testing for steroids, Dusty recently said, "It's like McCarthyism or Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1080924861155804702004-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:002004-04-02T09:57:55.340-07:00This just in:
Jack McDowell is a turd.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1080848845227070852004-04-01T12:47:00.000-07:002004-04-01T12:51:09.060-07:00In a move reminiscent of the occasional Batman episode in which evildoers came together to battle the forces of light and goodness, George W. Bush will throw the ceremonial first pitch at Busch Stadium this year.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1078939684975159572004-03-10T10:28:00.000-07:002004-03-10T10:33:07.466-07:00I can't do it.
The reason I enjoy making fun of the Cubs Q&A so much is that there is just no way that the combination of stupid fan questions and the cliched, banal responses from coddled athletes can go unmocked.
But the Shawon Dunston Q&A reveals the same ballplayer I've always had a soft spot for, one who ran harder, threw harder, and swung harder than any ballplayer I've ever seen. ShawonDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1078868024471677072004-03-09T14:33:00.000-07:002004-03-09T17:48:57.826-07:00At Let's Play Two, our favorite Cub of all time, even more favored than Carlos Zambrano, is Shawon Dunston.
Our favorite blogging activity is the "Let's Play Two Cubs Q&A."
Today worlds collide, as Cubs.com has posted a Q&A with Shawon Dunston!
You may expect an update here soon! In the meantime, help yourself to the Let's Play Two Cubs Q&As of 2003:
Eric Karros
Mark Grudzielanek
Aramis Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1078587051069109842004-03-06T08:30:00.000-07:002004-03-06T08:35:55.373-07:00I've added a bunch of Cub blogger links to the box on the left, I think there are an astounding 33 but I tend to lose track when I run out of fingers and toes. Also removed a few links to blogs that appear to be dead or at least dormant. If I've missed you or prematurely deleted you, drop me an email and I'll update.
No baby yet . . .Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1078430661822170672004-03-04T13:04:00.000-07:002004-03-04T13:59:12.060-07:00Well, the actual playing of baseball has begun. I bought my MLB Gameday Audio subscription yesterday and am tuned to the vocal stylings of Pat Hughes as we speak. Corey Patterson just hit a booming home run in his first at-bat since tearing his ACL last July. Nice start!
Spring Training is a beautiful thing. I heartily recommend the experience to anyone deranged enough to be reading Let's Play Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1078427316790168562004-03-04T12:08:00.000-07:002004-03-04T12:12:48.733-07:00Ah, Spring Training games begin today. Finally, we'll be able to write about baseball.
But before I move on, I'd like to thank everybody for their comments/emails written in response to my previous post. Here's my favorite, via email, in its entirety:
Your blog is good!
Your political views are of no interest. Well put! I started this thing almost a year ago, and this was my first blowup. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1077658924935482022004-02-24T14:42:00.000-07:002004-02-24T14:48:16.170-07:00I usually keep politics to a minimum here - you're here to read about the Cubs, or possibly you're just here to find out if I said something funny today or not. You're not really here to listen to my political opinions. So I typically throw out smartass remarks here and there when I want to poke fun at political figures, and I leave it at that.
If you've taken note of any of my previous Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1077177745754132312004-02-19T01:02:00.000-07:002004-02-19T01:10:39.873-07:00Well, how about that.
Greg Maddux is a Cub again.
The Cubs are overpaying. And I don't give a crap. 11 years ago, Larry Himes and the Tribune treated Maddux as if he were disposable, as if his just-completed 20-win, Cy Young award-winning season had been some kind of fluke. Atlanta had offered him roughly the same money as the Cubs had. Greg took one last look over his shoulder, looking forDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1075943280465974422004-02-04T18:08:00.000-07:002004-02-04T18:17:01.873-07:00I'm used to getting random email in the Let's Play Two mailbox, but this one's really odd:
Hello,
I am creating a web directory, The-Insight.com, and would like to include your website Cubfan.blogspot.com under the "spirituality/angels" category. If you'd like to be added, please follow this url:
http://www.the-insight.com/add.cgi
We shall put all our efforts into having your link up in less Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1074099457645482422004-01-14T09:57:00.000-07:002004-01-14T09:59:27.390-07:00The Cubs have made an offer to Greg Maddux, believed to be for 13-15 million over two years.
Stay tuned . . .Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1070895725050334232003-12-08T08:02:00.000-07:002003-12-08T08:03:07.076-07:00The Cubs signed Mark Grudzielanek to play 2nd base in 2004.
While not spectacular, Grudz was certainly a decent choice among the available alternatives. And not too unreasonably priced at $2.5-3 million. The Cubs need a lefty bat somewhere, and this ain't it, but Grudz plays a solid second base and there's no denying that he played a big role in the Cubs' fine season last year. And he's great inDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1070653430789882742003-12-05T12:43:00.000-07:002003-12-05T12:45:37.250-07:00Bill Simmons the Sports Guy gushes over Curt Schilling today.
I have to admit it's a pretty cool story, the one about Schilling chatting online in a Red Sox chat room in an effort to decide whether to join the Sox or not. And from what I know about Schilling (admittedly, not all that much) he seems like a pretty decent guy, and of course he's a great pitcher. And I understand the story is that Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1070575682312482182003-12-04T15:08:00.000-07:002003-12-04T15:43:03.436-07:00Woah, I'm late on all the LaTroy Hawkins/Luis Castillo/Jose Vidro/Greg Maddux trade talk and rumor-mongering. Mongering? I'm sure that's a word, but it looks so ridiculous on its own like that. Hmmm.
Anyway, with me being so late on this, there really is little left to say that hasn't been said. So, let me 'splain.
No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
LaTroy! We love LaTroy at Let's Play Two.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1069802207770464782003-11-25T16:16:00.000-07:002003-11-25T17:14:13.170-07:00The Cubs just traded Hee Seop Choi to Florida for Derrek Lee.
Was it a good move? Well, it may be a couple of years before we find out. I don't think I would've made this trade though.
Choi was cheap, like, league-minimum cheap. Lee isn't - think 5-7 million (I'm using The Cub Reporter's numbers here).
Choi was left-handed. Lee is right-handed, like everyone else on this team.
Derrek Lee is Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1069697908380717232003-11-24T11:18:00.000-07:002003-11-24T11:20:02.030-07:00As a Colorado resident hailing from Chicago, what's better than having your pathetic, 3-7 (now 4-7), lost-to-Detroit-last-week, no-account Bears beat the Broncos in Denver, pounding home what what may be the final nail in Denver's 2003 coffin?
Not a whole hell of a lot.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1069356575163872012003-11-20T13:02:00.000-07:002003-11-20T14:24:11.500-07:00The various stupid baseball awards were issued over the past week or so. Certainly you've been asking yourself, "what should I think about all this?" And like the sad sacks in the Subway commercials who "ask Jared" for non-sandwich-related advice, you've come here for answers.
As ruler of the Let's Play Two empire, I've exercised my prerogative to downsize in the offseason. The temps are gone. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1067984122429391002003-11-04T15:15:00.000-07:002003-11-04T15:15:38.686-07:00Pretty cool tool over at mlb.com:
Free Agent Tracker
No, I don't know why it says Rudy Seanez was with the Cubs this year.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1067891112262267142003-11-03T13:25:00.000-07:002003-11-04T15:13:13.170-07:00Some people live for the offseason. I think some of them even like it better than the regular season. See, in the regular season, you're forced to face reality. For example, during the 2003 season, I was often forced to face a number of sobering facts. Here are some fine examples of things I muttered to myself:
- Alex Gonzalez is a pretty good fielder, but he strikes out too much.
- Corey Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1067631551744947782003-10-31T13:19:00.000-07:002003-10-31T13:19:35.903-07:00This just in: Sammy's staying with the Cubs. He's not exercising his option to become a free agent and will be a Cub for $33 million over the next two years.
I'm OK with it. I mean, I wouldn't have been upset if he had gone elsewhere, but only if he'd been adequately replaced. And there are not many players out there who would adequately replace him, and history tells us there's a decent chance Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1067371786871398762003-10-28T13:09:00.000-07:002003-10-28T13:10:40.403-07:00Other than Alou in left field, the only position player you can ink into the Cubs' 2004 Opening Day lineup card is the third baseman, Aramis Ramirez. And not only that, nobody even wants to get rid of him.
No question mark at third base? This has the makings of a truly bizarre offseason.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066947566288054662003-10-23T16:19:00.000-06:002003-10-23T16:28:14.060-06:00Man, it's been a week already. A week since the Cubs' devastating NLCS collapse, and a week since I last posted.
Not much going on. I caught the ends of all the World Series games so far. The 9th inning coincides with my bedtime and Yankees-Marlins makes me sleepy. Hard-fought but unremarkable games for the most part. Well, perhaps they would be more remarkable if I gave a crap about the outcomeDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066338684215726712003-10-16T15:11:00.000-06:002003-10-16T15:15:47.580-06:00By the way, I have to say that FOX's broadcasting work throughout these playoffs may be the worst thing I've ever had to sit through. And I attended law school for 4 years, sitting through . . . well, let's just call it a majority of my scheduled lectures. So I know what I'm talking about.
I spent the last few innings of Game 7 shouting at the TV, "SHUT UP!!! WILL YOU PLEASE F&@$ING SHUT THE Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066277750816074592003-10-15T22:15:00.000-06:002003-10-16T11:45:46.133-06:00Well, I said two days ago that if the Marlins could beat Prior and Wood in Games 6 and 7, they deserved to go to the World Series.
They did, and I can't take it back now.
I'm obviously bummed out, too much so to write anything that will make anybody feel better about the disappointing way this season ended. I'll be back in a couple of days for a nice wrap-up, acknowledgements, thank yous and Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066229014954496002003-10-15T08:43:00.000-06:002003-10-15T09:54:18.396-06:00Weird.
Katrin's pregnant and we're expecting our kid in March. I say this not only to put last night's debacle into its proper perspective, but also to explain the really odd frame of mind I'm in right now.
We'll be visiting Katrin's family in Germany in December, and it's for this reason that we're not taking our pregnancy/birth classes closer to the expected birth date as one usually would. Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066162442541273062003-10-14T14:14:00.000-06:002003-10-14T14:14:47.160-06:00You know that barroom argument, the one where you answer the question, "If you were about to play the most important game of your life, and you could pick one pitcher in all of baseball to pitch that game, who would you pick?"
He's pitching tonight.
Go Cubs!Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066157841768575102003-10-14T12:57:00.000-06:002003-10-14T13:18:30.110-06:00It must kind of suck to be a Red Sox fan right now. Not because of the way the ALCS is going, after all it's now tied 2-2 and they've got a pretty good shot at advancing. If they were smart they'd just throw Wakefield out there for the rest of the postseason.
It's just that throughout the history of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, they've always occupied the high ground, secure in the knowledge Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066071073464121042003-10-13T12:51:00.000-06:002003-10-13T13:07:50.790-06:00Let's see, what should I post today?
The "I'm not worried" post
Hey, I said we were only looking for a split in the last two games in Florida, and that's what we got. No way anybody was beating Beckett yesterday anyway. Two chances to win at Wrigley, first with Prior and then with Wood. All is well, this is just how we planned it.
The "My stomach hurts" post:
Man, this is exactly like 1984. OneDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1066066649411014912003-10-13T11:37:00.000-06:002003-10-13T11:38:49.046-06:00Note to ESPN.com: Please be careful about how you write your "ESPNEWS headlines" on the right side of your web page.
Today there's one that begins "Tommy John surgery sidelines Cubs' "
After I changed my underwear, I realized that the final word was not "Wood," not "Prior" but "Womack." Tony Womack? Is that even worthy of a headline?
Next time, try something like "Former D-back Womack to Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065893019114029102003-10-11T11:23:00.000-06:002003-10-11T11:32:18.970-06:00Well, I have to say last night's 11 inning, 5-4 Game 3 Cub victory was the most intense, stressful, and ultimately satisfying game I've ever seen the Cubs play. Seriously, I looked down at my chest after the 10th inning and I could see my shirt moving in response to my pounding heartbeat. I'm not making this up.
I've got yard work to do, so I'll try to keep it brief. Let's just run down the 8-Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065798138119797072003-10-10T12:29:00.000-06:002003-10-10T12:43:52.543-06:00This post is inspired by another written by Big Stupid Tommy on Wednesday, in which he bemoaned the enslavement of Major League Baseball by its red-headed stepdad, Bud Selig. Recommended reading.
Why do the Cubs have so many fans? Well, right now, new fans are coming out of the woodwork to support them, but let's ignore them for now, because if you think most Cub fans are of the bandwagon Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065721898461366972003-10-09T11:51:00.000-06:002003-10-09T11:54:56.033-06:00It's always nice to get the occasional laugher. In the overall scheme of things, you don't care how you get the wins, but all Cubs playoff games but one have been 1-run or 2-run affairs. But when you pile up an 8-0 lead after three innings like the Cubs did yesterday, you can sit back and relax, even if it's just for one day. You can allow yourself to step back and take a look at the big picture.Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065640863877153542003-10-08T13:21:00.000-06:002003-10-08T14:16:38.096-06:00OK, "Phil Rogers is an idiot" is insight on par with "Randall Simon is a free-swinger." Everyone knows this. But still, what is more fun than poking fun at a guy who gets paid for doing what almost every not-for-profit baseball blogger does better than he?
Before we get to today's clusterf&#% column, let's take a look at some of Rogers's "work" over the last 2 weeks.
9/28 - Dodgers' trade sealsDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065625267393689662003-10-08T09:01:00.000-06:002003-10-08T12:11:39.676-06:00An open letter to Cub fans:
Dear Cub fans,
Remember Game 1 of the Braves series, when thousands of you invaded Turner Field? As the Cubs rallied, you waved your hats in imitation of the Tomahawk Chop Braves fans are infamous for. I found this to be fairly amusing, first because you were sticking it to the Braves in their own park, and second because you did it with a mocking tone which seemed Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065554075608176912003-10-07T13:14:00.000-06:002003-10-07T13:36:05.023-06:00I just want to add I really don't get the Curse of the Bambino thing. And before I get into it, I want to cut Sox fans some slack by noting that I believe it to be mostly a media creation and not something that many Sox fans give a crap about.
I know the Cubs have the "Curse of the Billy Goat" and all, but I mean that's just fun, nobody really cares about it. I just really like the idea of some Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065553546602554052003-10-07T13:05:00.000-06:002003-10-07T13:05:46.690-06:00The blue screen of death just wiped out a long post I spent my entire lunch composing. I am devastated, I was really happy with it and was pretty much finished when the crash occurred. I'm going to channel Steve Kline here and say I hope Bill Gates gets hit in the head with a line drive. No way I can do it over. Here's the summary:
I expect a good start from Zambrano on 5 days rest tonight. If Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065467131046799202003-10-06T13:05:00.000-06:002003-10-07T10:34:49.283-06:00As of 12:55 PM MDT today, Let's Play Two has received 256 visitors, almost double the previous high for an entire day. Hmm, interesting. There are a number of explanations, of course. Pick the correct one below:
a) Word has finally spread of the incredibly satisfying content here, and baseball fans everywhere are rushing to catch the latest entry created by the Let's Play Two staff.
b) The Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065464436946823402003-10-06T12:20:00.000-06:002003-10-06T12:49:48.950-06:00What a strange feeling. Last night, the Cubs beat the Braves to win the Divisional Series, their first postseason series win since 1908.
Like Kerry Wood, who was so calm it was "freaking him out," I was relaxed before the game. Katrin asked me, "are you nervous?" I replied, "not really. You know, I win either way - if they win, well, that's awesome. And if they lose, I get my life back."
I was Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065366179485511602003-10-05T09:02:00.000-06:002003-10-05T09:13:11.846-06:00Disappointing loss yesterday, the first game in which the Cubs were truly beaten by Atlanta. I was optimistic in the 1st inning when Clement looked like he had it going. Unfortunately, his control fell of a little after that, eliminating our margin for error.
The offense still sucks. Here's what Ortiz had in Game 1: next to nothing. In Game 4, he actually had nothing, yet Cub bats were unable toDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065227311876696692003-10-03T18:28:00.000-06:002003-10-03T18:28:31.680-06:00Awesome finish to the Giants-Marlins game as Pudge Rodriguez singles home 2 runs in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 4-3 victory.
2nd game in a row that Jose Cruz's defensive miscue cost the Giants a game, as he dropped Jeff Conine's high pop to right to begin the 11th inning. Much easier play than his misplay of Juan Pierre's bases-loaded fly in Game 2.
Did anybody see Lenny Harris at the Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065131665078036232003-10-02T15:54:00.000-06:002003-10-02T15:54:25.296-06:00I know it's late in the season, but I'm adding Big Stupid Tommy to my links on the left. I've been meaning to do this for a couple of weeks, but have been too lazy to do anything about it. This will not stand.
He's funny.
He lives in Tennessee, like my friend Scott.
And he like the Cubs, so much so that he writes about them periodically.
Good enough for me!Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065109215087678742003-10-02T09:40:00.000-06:002003-10-02T10:01:19.550-06:00Well, yesterday's 5-3 loss was disappointing but I don't feel too bad about the series overall.
I mean, c'mon guys, these are the 2003 Chicago Cubs. It's easy to talk about all their missed opportunities, but I could do that after virtually every single game. The Cubs aren't in the playoffs this year because they take advantage of scoring opportunites. They're here because more often than not, Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1065053492601935712003-10-01T18:11:00.000-06:002003-10-01T18:30:48.110-06:00Goddamn, I haven't had a moment to spare to write about yesterday's wonderful 4-2 victory over Atlanta in game 1 of the NLDS. Game ended late, I spent 7:00-8:00 this morning calling in for NLCS tickets (no luck, big surprise) and went out for lunch with the boss and couldn't update. Meanwhile, ESPN moved up game time for today's Game 2 and I missed the 1st inning. Currently Cubs lead 2-1 in the Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1064944185036730412003-09-30T11:49:00.000-06:002003-09-30T12:25:19.960-06:00No position-by-position analysis at Let's Play Two. This has been done well by The Cub Reporter (pitching, infield, outfield, bench) and The [Untitled] Cubs Page, as well as numerous Braves blogs and others including a favorable one at Aaron's Baseball Blog.
I've got no predictions for the Cubs-Braves series.
Here are some things I can tell you:
The Cubs' starting pitchers are better than the Derekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5231995.post-1064861338237201212003-09-29T12:48:00.000-06:002003-09-29T16:32:02.566-06:00Well, the Cubs are in the playoffs. Their 88-74 regular season record won't scare anybody, but Wood, Zambrano and Prior sure as hell will.
The intensity of my emotions over the last few days far exceeds my ability to write about them. I'm sure most fans of the teams entering the postseason this year feel much the same, notwithstanding the inability of some of those teams to sell tickets to theirDerekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01014695303609803614noreply@blogger.com