NLDS GAME 3 VS. ATLANTA: What a performance by Mark Prior last night against the Braves! Prior pitched a complete game, giving up only two hits and one run to the Braves in a game we had to have. The offense had its hands full with Greg Maddux but was able to get two in the first. After Maddux came out, the Cubs got an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and held on to win an outstanding game 3-1, and take a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS.
posted by Thomas at 12:32 PM
NLDS GAME 2 AT ATLANTA: The Cubs scored two runs in the top of the first then had the bases loaded with nobody out but Eric Karros, Ramon Martinez, and Damian Miller struck out to keep it at 2-0 Cubs. Carlos Zambrano pitched ok but had to come out in the sixth as the Braves took a 3-2 lead. The Cubs came back in the eighth when Eric Karros got a basehit. Doug Glanville pinch ran. Randall Simon pinch hit and got a basehit to center and Glanville made it to third. Tom Goodwin pinch hit and hit a sacrifice fly to center on which Glanville scored to tie the game 3-3. For some bizarre reason Simon tried to make it to second and was thrown out. Dave Veres came into the game in the eighth and gave up two runs and the Braves took a 5-3 lead. The Cubs then went down one, two, three in the top of the ninth to lose 5-3, and even the series up 1-1.
MEL ROJAS AWARD: The Mel Rojas Award for bad relief pitching to Dave Veres. Veres pitched one inning, giving up one hit, two walks, and two earned runs to lose the game for the Cubs.
PRESTON GOMEZ AWARD 1: The Preston Gomez Award for bad managing to Dusty Baker. In the top of the seventh inning with the Braves leading 3-2, Kenny Lofton led off the inning with a walk. Mark Grudzielanek was allowed to swing away and he promptly hit into a double play. I would have had Grudzielanek bunt him to second. Sammy Sosa was due up next, followed by Moises Alou, then Aramis Ramirez, and the Eric Karros. Even if the Braves walked Sosa the Cubs would have had runners on first and second with one out and Moises Alou up, followed by two more good hitters.
PRESTON GOMEZ AWARD 2: The Preston Gomez Award for bad managing to Dusty Baker. In the middle of the eighth inning Baker had his choice of where he wanted to place shortstop Alex Gonzalez, catcher Paul Bako, and pitcher Dave Veres in the batting order. Baker put Veres in the nine spot in the line-up which was leading off the top of the ninth. Baker then had to use a pinch hitter in Troy O'Leary (.218 BA, .631 OPS, 5 HR) when he could have Alex Gonzalez (.228 BA, .704 OPS, 20 HRs) leading off the top of the ninth and saved Troy O'Leary for later if needed since he was the only position player left on the bench.
posted by Thomas at 2:39 PM
NLDS GAME 1 AT ATLANTA: Kerry Wood was dominating in the Cubs 4-2 victory. Wood pitched 7 2/3 innings giving up 2 hits, 2 runs, while striking out 11. Wood also doubled in the sixth to drive in two runs.
posted by Thomas at 2:06 PM
2003 PLAYOFFS: The 2003 playoffs are here and here come some more (mediocre, and hopefully a wrong prediction about one NLDS series) predictions. ALDS: New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins; Oakland Athletics over Boston Red Sox. NLDS: Atlanta Braves over Chicago Cubs; San Francisco Giants over Florida Marlins. ALCS: New York Yankees over Oakland Athletics. NLCS: Atlanta Braves over San Francisco Giants. World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves.
posted by Thomas at 1:46 PM
SORRY: Sorry I have not done any blogging despite the great run for the National League Central Division Championship. Great work by everybody. Prior, Wood, Clement have been excellent. The Saturday sweep of Pittsburgh after Houston lost was great.
ONE ORDER OF CROW PLEASE, BUT IT SURE TASTES GOOD: Back on July 24, 2003 the Cubs were 50-50, 5 1/2 games out of first place and I wrote, "...the Cubs are still a mediocre team which will likely finish closer to .500 than first place." I would have completely agreed with that statement at the beginning of September when the Cubs were only three games above .500 but the Cubs were just outstanding in September winning 19 games to win the division title. I was skeptical of the Cubs being in the race until after the St. Louis series when the Cubs took 4 out of 5 from the Cardinals. I am now a believer the Cubs can win the World Series if everything goes right.
PLAYOFF SERIES VS. ATLANTA: I know we can beat the Braves. Wood, Prior, and Clement should be able to shut them down. My concern is Zambrano. Zambrano has not been real impressive the last few times out and his back is bothering him. Zambrano is going to start Game 2 and we have to hope he can come back to his good form. In the end I am afraid Atlanta is going to have too much for the Cubs and will win the series.
posted by Thomas at 1:27 PM
