Tag Archives: Cubs

Team MVP

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Yup, it’s another Cubs update.  But, what can you expect?  Not only are the Cubs in first place in the NL Central, not only do they have the best record in the National League, they have the best record in all the majors.  And I learned yesterday that the last time that happened was 1908, the last year the Cubs won the World Series.  Exactly a century ago for the North Siders.  Coincidence?  Perhaps.  I dunno…I’m just sayin’.

Anyway, my two favorite players on the Cubs are first baseman Derrek Lee and right-handed setup man Carlos Marmol (MARMOL!!)  Lee is the best defensive first baseman in professional baseball and a pretty darn good hitter, too, despite his recent struggles. He’s a career .282 hitter with a career OPS  or .870, plus he’s a three-time Gold Glove winner.  Go ahead, find me another active first baseman who can field better than D-Lee, I dare you.  And Marmol?  He’s only turned into the one of the most (if not THE most) dominant reliever in the majors, with a high-90’s fastball and a slider that’s just filthy.  Stupid filthy.  In 29 games this year, he’s struck out 54 batters while only walking 12 in 36 innings and posting a miniscule 1.75 ERA and leading he majors in holds.  As Mike and I have been saying for about a year now, Marmol is the next great closer.

The way I see it, despite the contributions of Lee and Marmol, which have been tremendous, the Cubs’ MVP thus far has been rookie catcher Geovany Soto.  Let’s start with the numbers: in 53 games, he’s batting .296 with 9 HRs, 38 RBI, and 19 doubles, along with a .942 OPS, all of which place him at or near the top among rookies and catchers.  Not to mention that he calls a great game, works well with Cubs’ pitchers, and has the ability to throw out runners (he’s caught 11 of 24 would-be base-stealers).  And he’s done all of this from the bottom half of the batting order, starting the season in the #7 spot and recently moving up to the 5-hole.  Keep your eyes on Soto; he’s a superstar in the making.  Remember this folks, you heard it here first: Soto will be this year’s Rookie of the Year (with Fukudome coming in second).

(Cast your votes for the MLB All-Stars.  Vote now and vote often, up to 25 times.  Needless to say, I’ve already voted for Lee at first and Soto behind the plate, and I wrote in Carlos Marmol.)

Oreo’s new spot

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I’ve had Oreo now for about five weeks, and in that brief span she’s grown tremendously, both physically and mentally.  She knows a couple of basic commands and has learned to tell me when she needs to go outside.  Before I got her, I made the decision to not let her on my couch.  My recliner, however, is a different story, because it’s old and, frankly, a P.O.S., so I don’t mind if she sits on it (I bought it from one of my college roommates for $10).  So, a handful of times over these past five weeks I’ve scooped her up and had her lie in my lap while I watch TV.  Late this morning, to my pleasant surprise, I found her asleep in the recliner while I was working in my office.

She made it up there all by herself, which is an accomplishment because she’s shy and a bit afraid of trying new things, especially on her own.  The video below is of Oreo getting the recliner all by herself.  It’s nothing special, really, just cute footage, especially the face she gives at the very end.  (That’s Seinfeld Season 7 in the background.)

And while watching the Cubs beat the Dodgers tonight in extra innings, she hopped up there again and passed out.

Again: Too.  Cute.

The Cubs and their fans

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I read Mike’s blog today, and couldn’t help but comment (I’m T-Chris).  It also got me thinking, so much so that I had to blog about it.

 

Why do so many people hate the Cubs and their fans?  I did a Google search for “Cubs suck” websites and came up with, literally, hundreds of thousands of hits.  Yikes.  Why all the hate for the boys in blue?  Some comes from the fans of division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers.  But Cardinals and Brewers fans who truly HATE the Cubs are pretty few and far between.  The teams are rivals, yes, but there’s mutual respect among the fans.  Debates are heated and the games are spirited, sure, but there’s hardly a lack of respect for the opposing teams or their fans.  They are healthy rivalries.

 

Much of the Cubbie hatred, I’m sad to say, comes from White Sox fans.  I don’t know if it’s jealousy or insecurity or what, but many (not all, mind you) Sox fans are bitter, bitter people.  I’m not writing this entry to antagonize White Sox fans out there.  I’m just curious as to why so many of you truly hate and loathe the North Siders and their fans.  Now, you may point to my comment in Mike’s blog, and say that I’m bitter and hateful towards the Sox and their fans.  Quite the contrary: my statement was merely a reaction to the spew of the previous comment.  Cubs fans don’t inherently hate anyone, not even the Sox or their fans.  We may not like other teams, but we’re content to mind our own business in the Friendly Confines and watch our team try to win.  (And speaking of trying to win, I think I speak for Cubs fans everywhere when I say that I’m over the whole “Lovable Loser” tag.  It’s time the change the mentality of Cubdom and the rest of baseball.  The Cubs are trying to win just as much everyone else.)

 

Are you Sox fans jealous that Wrigley routinely gets sold out?  You deride the Cubs and their park for being filled with people who just want to enjoy the sun and the bleachers.  So what?  My response to you: if you’re so concerned that Wrigley sells out and Comis…er…US Cellular Field doesn’t, then tell more of your fans to show up to games.  It’s that simple.  And all this talk about Cubs fans not being knowledgeable about the game of baseball is a bunch of crap.  There are just as many die-hard baseball fans in the stands at Wrigley Field, if not more so, than those who are there merely for the social aspect of the game.  We all know it’s been a century since the Cubs last won a World Series.  So you’re saying the Cubs suck because of that?  Well, duh.  But instead of worrying about other teams, how about you worry about your won team and how it’s doing (not so hot, last time I checked the standings).  Do well first, then maybe, just maybe, you can start the trash talking.  Until then, why not just positively root for your own team rather than deride another?  That goes for the Sox fans, Cardinals fans, Brewers fans…anyone and everyone.  Mind your own business.

 

I’m proud to be a Cubs fan, whether they’re in first place or last place.  Always have been, always will be.  And that’s indicative of the vast majority of Cubs fans around the nation.  Through thick and thin, we support our team, not at the expense of other teams or their fans, but simply because we love the Cubs.  Can you say that about your team and its fan base?

 

Go Cubs, go!!

May 12 of 12

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It’s May already.  Heck, it’s almost halfway through May.  Yikes.

8:46am – Good morning world.

8:50am – Taking Oreo out for her morning business.  As usual, she’s eating something she shouldn’t be.

9:26am – Oreo and I still aren’t on the same page regarding her morning “routine.”  Thank goodness for Brawny paper towls, biodegradable poop bags, and the enzymes in PetZyme.

10:47am – I’ve got a bit of laundry to fold.

12:39pm – Getting my ass whomped in MarioKart Wii by Marty and Mike online.  Still, the game’s a ton of fun.

1:33pm – Somehow, Oreo manages to sleep through all my yelling at the TV.

4:31pm – I’m making my way through the Seinfeld series, episode by episode.  After some lunch, I fall asleep to “The Understudy,” the last episode in Season 6.

8:57pm – Mmm, pizza.

10:15pm – Checking in on the Cubs’ rout of the Padres while chatting with Mike and Marty.  We proceed to set up another round of MarioKart Wii.  Too fun.

12:57am – Washing dishes before calling it a night.

1:01am – Oreo standing at attention, waiting to go outside one last time before bed.

1:14am – One last check of email, one last round of mindless (yet completely necessary) chatting with Marty, and the posting of this entry.

Happy May!