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

 
WEDNESDAY'S GAME VS. TAMPA BAY: The circus-like atmosphere was not supposed to arrive at Wrigley Field until Friday when the New York Yankees come to town but the circus came to town early because of the Sosa corked bat story. The game itself was real snoozer from the Cubs perspective. Either the Devil Rays' Victor Zambrano pitched a good game or the Cubs' bats decided to take another game off. It was tough to tell. The Cubs played lousy defense committing two errors and letting a fly ball to shallow center drop between Corey Patterson, Ramon Martinez, and Alex Gonzalez. The Devil Rays hit Shawn Estes early before Estes got it together in the middle innings. The Devil Rays won 5-2.

RUDY MEOLI AWARD: The Rudy Meoli Award for bad play by a Cubs infielder to Ramon Martinez. Martinez went 0 for 3, committed an error, and let a fly ball to shallow center drop between him and Corey Patterson that should have been caught.

TODD HUNDLEY AWARD: Introducting the Todd Hundley Award for bad catching. The Todd Hundley Award for bad catching to Paul Bako. In the first inning on a infield hit Shawn Estes threw home to catch the Devil Rays' Marlon Anderson who was trying to score from second. Bako committed an error by missing the throw which he easily should have caught. Bako was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and one runner left on base.
posted by Thomas at 11:30 AM

 
MARIOTTI PREDICTION COMES TRUE: Last Friday I predicted what a future Jay Mariotti column would look like. In his column on Sunday Jay wrote what I expected he would.
posted by Thomas at 5:01 PM

 
TUESDAY'S GAME VS. TAMPA BAY: Unless you have been stuck in a cave since last night and this is the first information you have received since then you know Sammy Sosa was caught with a corked bat in the first inning. Sosa claims it was a bat he only uses in batting practice. The latest news is Sosa's other bats are all clean. If true it give Sosa's statement some credibility. About the rest of the game, well Chip Caray was right on when he said it was an ugly win. The Cubs won 3-2. The Cubs got a lot of help from poor pitching by the Devil Rays. The Cubs bats were silent most of the night but were able to get guys on with walks, hit batsmen, and then finally won the game in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch.

CORKGATE: On a day with an Israel-Palestinian-Jordan-United States summit in Jordan going on, Martha Stewart about to be indicted, and Senator Hillary Clinton (Illinois/Massachusetts/Connecticut/District of Columbia/Arkansas/New York) reveals in her book she was shocked, shocked to discover Bill had a thing with Monica (sure), what is the big story in Chicago? Sammy Sosa having a corked bat. Sammy Sosa having a corked bat is going to be big news but should it really be the top story in both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times?

ROGERS IS RIGHT: Phil Rogers in the Chicago Tribune is right on when he says Sosa does not need to cheat. Sosa's got a ton of talent who does not need to cork his bat. By getting caught with a corked bat Sosa puts a stigma by all he has accomplished even though it probably should not.


GUTHRIE ACTIVATED, CRUZ TO START FARMING: The Cubs have activated left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie from the DL and sent right-handed pitcher Juan Cruz down to Iowa where the Cubs plan to have him start. I totally support sending Cruz down instead of Todd Wellemeyer. Wellemeyer has pitched too well to be sent back to Iowa whereas Cruz has struggled this season.

CUBS DRAFT HARVEY: The Cubs drafted outfielder Ryan Harvey with their first round pick in the draft. In the movie "A League Of Their Own" Wrigley Field was called Harvey Field. Let us hope Harvey makes Wrigley Field, "Harvey Field" by having many good years with the Cubs.
posted by Thomas at 4:28 PM