Remember the good old days with Derrek Lee? Getting into fights with Chris Young, hitting into double plays all the time, even sometimes hitting home runs? Well, Derrek did one of those three against Carlos Marmol yesterday in the ninth inning.

Before the 7-5 loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Mike Quade had been extolling his bullpen’s value: a stellar 1.00 ERA (five earned runs in 41 innings) in the previous 14 games and holding opponents to a paltry .156 batting average.

‘‘But not today,’’ he said afterward.

The 5-3 lead Marmol was handed in the ninth inning was slipping away as rain began to fall again after a 91-minute delay. After Marmol walked two to load the bases, former teammate Derrek Lee wiped them clean with a grand slam.

‘‘You go out there and compete. What happens, happens. No excuses,’’ said Marmol (2-5), who hadn’t pitched in four days but hadn’t allowed a run in his last five outings.

» Continue reading “Cubs Sunday Headlines/Game Thread: D-Lee Strikes Back”

(Chicago Tribune photo by Nancy Stone)

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Headlines for Monday, July 27″

» Continue reading “Cards @ Cubs: Live Game Thread”

You sunk my battleship!

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Headlines — July 11, 2009″

Because most Cubs fans have never had the occasion to see one, this is what the World Series Trophy looks like

There have been a lot of good things about the move to ChicagoNow, mostly involving me now getting to bug the Trib’s Jimmy Greenfield with tech issues rather than gravedigger, who was prone to foul language and throwing things in my direction. Oh, and there’s the avatars! And getting to use all Trib Co’s photos without licensing issues!

And, of course, there’s Jack.

Though I’ve spent the majority of my life hating the White Sox and their fans, I never thought I’d develop a relationship with one of them that would allow me to harass him on a daily basis! Plus, I get to ask him all kinds of annoying questions like: “Did you use PEDs, Jack?” “Can you PROVE you didn’t use PEDs, Jack?” and “Jack, why are you so jealous of Ryan Dempster?”

I can’t even begin to describe the joy this brings me.

» Continue reading “Assessing The Cubs’ Chances Using Black Jack’s Formula”

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Headlines for Monday”

MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!

I’m getting dangerously close to admitting that I was completely wrong about DLee this season; I didn’t think there was any way he was capable of a tear like this. However, before I start with the self-flagellation, I want to make sure he doesn’t completely tank in August.

He was en fuego last night:

After Derrek Lee hit .189 with one home run in April, some Cubs fans cried for his benching.

But Lee has been on fire since, and he hit two home runs with a career-high seven RBIs Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Brewers in the opener of a four-game showdown.

“Keep going,” Lee said. “Just about trying to help the team win. Tonight’s a great night, but we’re right back here [Friday afternoon] and it’s another big game.”

The Cubs moved back to .500 at 38-38 and are now within 2 1/2 games of the Brewers and Cardinals, the division co-leaders after Thursday’s action. The 11-game homestand against Milwaukee, Atlanta and St. Louis could be a pivotal point of the season, so it was crucial for the Cubs to get out on the right foot.

Perhaps you will note, Milton, how Derrek was able to address his former offensive woes without blaming the fans, the media, the umpires, or whining about how he has no friends. Ahem.

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs Headlines For Friday”

Why wasn’t this photo taken from the opposite direction?

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs headlines for Thursday”

Photo courtesy Chicago Tribune

Jimminy Jillickers, kids, I would just looooove to recap the game for you guys. Alas, as I said during the 6th inning, those of you who stomp off in disgust before the end of the game risk missing the big comeback and I threatened not to recap it for those of you without the fortitude to stick around. And  . . . well . . .  ahem.

I will say that this game reminded me very much of the 9-run comeback the 1989 Cubs had against Houston that year. That game was seemed to be the turning point that year, the game when that team realized that anything was possible. Let’s hope that this game has the same effect on the 2009 Cubs.

 On the off-chance that you feel really super-cheated by my refusing to recap yesterday’s game for you, fair-weather fans, you can read how it all went down here.

In other fun reading material today, you can learn that yes, DeRosa and Wood really do carry nostalgia in their hearts for their days at Wrigley here. By the way, in case your wondering how both McDreamy and Kid K faired in their return to Wrigley, both received warm standing ovations from the crowd for their initial appearances. McDreamy then ran into the corner of the bullpen phone with his thigh (ouch!) and Kerry gave up a dinger to DLee to tie the game. Welcome home, boys! 

Or about how Lou really, really wants to get Marmol more work (I plan that makes my stomach queasy) here. Or, for a special Saturday pick-me-up, about how the home of the Northern Sausage People was damaged by flooding here. Or, about how the Cubs are finally, FINALLY going to make an effort to get Jake Fox’s bat some more ABs here.

In game two of the series, Ted Lilly (7-4) takes on Tomo Okha (0-1) today at 12:05 on WGN.

I have a delicious feeling the worst may be behind us, with only sunshine lollipops and rainbows ahead. Lineups to come.

If you stopped watching this game because you figured it was going to be another depressing, offenstively-lacking suck fest, all I have to say to you is:

» Continue reading “Chicago Cubs 6, Chicago White Sox 5″