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POTG: CF Juan Pierre (2B, 3B, BB, 3 RBI)
Runner Up: LF Angel Pagan (3 H, R, SB, OF assist), 1B John Mabry (HR, 2 RBI)
Huh. We won again? And Dempster actually did fine? There’s a little hope for him (and trading him in the off season, for sure.) Give me one more of these, and I can actually start to enjoy these a little bit.
The Cardinals should be quite ashamed of themselves. If they don’t make it to the playoffs, or if someone sneaks the division away from them (the Reds?) by a couple of games, they will be cursing how bad they’ve done in the series so far. Even if the Cubs lose every single game from here on, the Cardinals are leaving wins on the table at a 7-8 head to head record. I was surprised when listening to someone list the Cardinals with the Mets as the two dominate NL teams; I still think the Mets are tops after taking two from there, but the Cardinals aren’t at the level. They need some help, hopefully before the deadline.
Whether you walk them or give them hits, 10 baserunners in 5 1/3rd is quite not good. The interesting difference if Marmol doesn’t seem to let it affect him (even when it should), while Rich Hill blows the heck up. We could learn something from this man, but not the ability to control a baseball.
Cards (npi) on the table time: Will they be traded or stay?
Todd Walker: Trade! and he’s not going to be happy with his playing time
Phil Nevin: Trade! see above
Greg Maddux: STAY. He doesn’t seem to want to go and no one seems to really want him; they’re not going to lower his value by trading him away for peanuts
Eyre/Howry: STAY. The people who figure them gone under rate the Cubs internal opinion of them.
Juan Pierre: STAY. He’s gotten better, and Felix Pie hasn’t – I think he’ll get offered another deal, for one or maybe two with an option.
A-Ram/Jacque/any other noteworthy name: STAY. Hendry doesn’t seem to want to scorch earth here.
It’d be a really bad deal not to get something for Walker and Nevin after all this time, right? I have a bad feeling I might be wrong and at least one stays. The pre-Lee lineup without them would be awful iffy, for one…
1B Mabry? people wanting Barrett even though it won’t happen?
2B lots of Neifi, little Theroit
I’ll be in the park tomorrow, which means bad things on the field, rain, and a really late update.
CUBS OVER CARDS AGAIN???
Ass ociated Press – Rike Moyko (aka TAC)
The Cubs have won six straight against the Cardinals and are 8-3 against them. St. Louis leads the NL Central despite their record versus the pitiful Cubs. What is the reason? … “It’s like we’re playing with 10 guys versus 8” Baker said. Scott Rolen has nine errors this year. Six have been versus the Cubs, four have brought the winning Cub run accross the plate. “He’s our Mole” Barrett quipped. “If we fall behind we just tap one to Scotty and he flubs it, so we can win.” “The six gold gloves are such great cover, who’d ever think it?” Walker added. Former Cub Shawon Dunston stated that this is still part of aftermath of the 1981 Ryne Sanberg-Ivan DeJesus deal with the Phillies. Apparrently, the trade stated that if the Phillies ever gave an All-Star to the Cardinals (e.g. Rolen), that player would have to sandbag against the Cubs. “Sort of a Sandberg and sandbag deal” stated Shawon. “Maybe this was compensation for having to deal with Larry Bowa?” another Cub speculated. “I know the trade had some unusual constraints” stated Baker. “I’m not privy to the details.” Privy indeed.
Liberal Media Bias.