Thoughts on the Chicago Cubs and other topics in baseball. E-mail Tom at: tomsmithcubs@ hotmail.com

 
THURSDAY'S GAME AT SAN FRANCISCO: Matt Clement pitched another outstanding game pitching seven innings and giving up no runs. Sammy Sosa hit two home runs as the Cubs cruised over the San Francisco Giants 9-3.

MEL ROJAS AWARD: The Mel Rojas Award for worst performance by a Cubs relief pitcher in Thursday's game at San Francisco to Jeff Fassero. With the Cubs leading 9-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning Jeff Fassero entered the game and promptly gave up three runs to make the score 9-3.

CHIPMUNK: Chip said during the game that on December 7, 1941 St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck was in Los Angeles making plans to move the Browns from St. Louis to Los Angeles. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Veeck decided not move the St. Louis Browns to Los Angeles because of World War II. Great story Chip. One small problem with it is Bill Veeck did not own the St. Louis Browns in 1941.
posted by Thomas at 3:34 PM

 
WEDNESDAY'S GAME AT SAN FRANCISCO: The Cubs offense hibernated most of the game before waking up late in the game to come back from being down 3-0 to tie the game at three. Antonio Alfonseca lost the game in the tenth inning to lose the game for the Cubs by a score of 4-3.

LIEBER TO HAVE SURGERY: Jon Lieber is going to have "Tommy John" surgery that will end his 2002 season. Lieber likely will not be able to pitch again until late in the 2003 season. I predict the Cubs will not pick up his option for 2003.
posted by Thomas at 12:31 PM

 
TUESDAY'S GAME AT SAN FRANCISCO: In a great pitchers duel at Pac Bell Park on Tuesday night that reminded no one of Sandy Koufax vs. Juan Marachial the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants 11-10. Steve Smyth just called up from Iowa where he had an ERA of over 6 started for the Cubs. Smyth gave up four runs in the first inning and three more in the third. Fred McGriff hit a three run home run in the top of the third only to have Barry Bonds hit a three run home run in the bottom of the third. The Cubs battled back from 4-0 and 7-4 to lead 9-7. With the Cubs leading 9-8 heading into the bottom of the eighth Kyle Farnsworth loaded the bases, Rich Aurilla struck out. Jeff Kent was up next and hit a ground ball to third which Bill Mueller threw side armed to first, the low throw should have been caught by Fred McGriff at first but McGriff barely went for the ball and the ball went past McGriff allowing all three runners to score to give the Giants an 11-9 lead. The Cubs came back to score one in the ninth to come up short 11-10.

DON BAYLOR AWARD: In the eighth inning Alex Gonzalez doubled to lead off the inning. Joe Girardi came up next and Bruce Kimm had him attempt to bunt instead of try to hit the ball to the right side. Girardi not used to bunting looked terrible and struck out.

MEL ROJAS AWARD: The Mel Rojas Award for worst performance by a Cubs relief pitcher goes to Kyle Farnsworth for blowing the lead in the eighth. It was not all his fault but he was the one who loaded the bases.

CUP OF JOE: Early in the game WGN showed a guy sitting in a small boat out in McCovey Cove and Joe sang, "Sitting on the dock of the bay" made famous by Otis Redding. Joe, the guy was not sitting on the dock, he was in a boat. If Joe had to sing a few lines from a song to go with the picture of a guy in a boat "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship" came to my mind.

CHIPMUNK: In the fifth inning Chip said of Pac Bell Park, "This place is really beautiful during the day. You can look across the bay to Oakland." Yes Chip, nothing says Bay Area beauty more than a view of Oakland.

posted by Thomas at 6:25 PM