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

 
ODDS AND ENDS: I have been meaning to get to some of these stories, so here goes.

UNBALANCED SCHEDULE: In Saturday's Chicago Tribune, Paul Sullivan complained about the unbalanced schedule and called for a return to the balanced schedule. During the game on Saturday, Chip praised the article and echoed the call for a return to the balanced schedule. Chip whined that Cubs fans want to see Barry Bonds more than once a year and Giants fans want to see Sammy Sosa more than once a year. Speak for yourself Chip. In his column, Sullivan complains about the Cubs playing teams like the Mets, Giants, and Dodgers only once at home and once on the road while playing several series versus National League Central teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers. Translation: It really annoys Paul Sullivan he only gets to eat at the restaurants of New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles once a season while being forced to go to less attractive cities like Milwaukee and Pittsburgh several times during the season. In an attempt to prove fans dislike the unbalanced schedule, Sullivan stated attendance was down 9 percent in April from a year ago. Sullivan cites this fact and jumps to the conclusion fans hate the unbalanced schedule and desperately want a return to a balanced schedule. This proves nothing of the sort. Attendance is down 9 percent for one month and Sullivan concludes people want less Cubs-Cardinals, and more Cubs-Marlins matchups. Chip and Sullivan can whine all they want. For years we were stuck with the ridiculous balanced schedule which never made any sense. For the last two seasons we have had a schedule where division rivals play each other several times a year making division races far more interesting and meaningful because you play your divison opponents more often. This has been a terrific change. If anything, NL Central teams do not play enough games against each other because of six teams being in the division causing less matchups (16-18 games a year vs. each divisional opponent) between the teams as opposed to the other divisions (19 games a year vs. each divisional opponent). So Paul and Chip tough out those trips to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, but I will be enjoying the 17 games vs. St. Louis this year instead of the 11 games we played against them in 1998.


MORRISSEY ON CUBS' TICKET BROKER BIZ: In Friday's Chicago Tribune, Rick Morrissey wrote the Cubs attempt to enter the ticket broker business is not worth the public relations problems. I have to agree. It would be better to just charge higher prices for these tickets than do this round about way of trying to be ticket brokers.

PALMEIRO A HALL OF FAMER? Over at espn.com, Jayson Stark and Rob Neyer had a debate on if ex-Cub Rafael Palmeiro belongs in the Hall of Fame or not. I am not convinced at this point in his career that Palmeiro deserves to be in the Hall of Fame but I think Stark had the better argument for putting Palmeiro in. Stark uses Palmeiro's stats to argue he belongs. Neyer's arguments for keeping Palmeiro out are rather odd. Neyer says Palmeiro does not belong because Palmeiro has not done well in MVP voting and too many first basemen are in the Hall already. I really do not think either of Neyer's points proves Palmeiro should not be in the Hall of Fame. Just because a player has not come close to winning an MVP award does not mean he doesn not belong in the Hall. As for too many first basemen in the Hall, even if true, how does this prove Palmeiro does not belong in the Hall?
posted by Thomas at 4:42 PM

 
SUNDAY'S GAME VS. COLORADO: Kerry Wood once again did not have his best stuff but was able to get through six innings with only giving up three runs, which all came in the first inning for the Rockies. The Cubs came back with two runs in the bottom of the first. The Cubs tied it 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth on walks to Moises Alou and Hee Seop Choi, a bunt single by Corey Patterson, then after Mark Bellhorn and Damian Miller struck out, Eric Karros got pinch hit and drew a walk bringing in Alou to score. The Rockies took the lead in the top of the seventh 4-3, but Ramon Martinez homered for the Cubs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. Alex Gonzalez hit a game winning home run for the Cubs in the bottom of the tenth to give the Cubs a 5-4 victory.

MEL ROJAS AWARD: The Mel Rojas Award for worst performance by a Cubs' relief pitcher to Alan Benes. Benes pitched 1 1/3 inning giving up three hits, two walks, and one earned run.

RUDY MEOLI AWARD: Introducing the Rudy Meoli Award given for the worst performance by a Cubs' infielder. The Rudy Meoli Award for worst performance by a Cubs' infielder to Mark Grudzielanek. Grudzielanek went 0 for 4 on Sunday, with 2 strikeouts, 4 runners left on base (3 in scoring position), and made an error on a routine ground ball which he allowed to roll under his glove.
posted by Thomas at 2:26 PM

 
SATURDAY'S GAME VS. COLORADO: Carlos Zambrano struggled at times on the mound but was able to help his own cause with his bat by hitting a home run and having two RBI on the day. The bullpen was very poor for a change giving up the lead and causing the Cubs to fall to the Rockies 6-4.

MEL ROJAS AWARD: The Mel Rojas Award for worst performance by a Cubs' relief pitcher to Mark Guthrie. Guthrie pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up a walk and a homerun, for two earned runs.


posted by Thomas at 11:21 AM