Most memorable Cubs plays of the decade?

[inari]

We've come to the end of the 2000's. What do you think is the most memorable play of the decade (good or bad)?

 

The first play that comes to mind is Rammy's grand slam against Florida. Given what was going on, that hit had me printing World Series tickets. Alas.

http://images.bleedcubbieblue.com/images/admin/aramisramirez.jpg

Edited October 12, 2009 by inari

[rocket]

Even though we ended up losing the game, there was no bigger "HOLY S***" moment to me then Sosa's game tying homerun in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs in game 1 of the NLCS.

[sweetpeteman]

Gutierrez fell down!

[Little Slide Rooter]

8th inning of game 6 of the 2003 NLCS when Miguel Cabrera grounded into what should have been a routine double play to Alex Gonzalez. As we all know, it wasnt so routine.

[treebird]

yeah, memorable doesn't mean positive. say what you will about distributing blame and stuff, but it's pretty obviously bartman for me.

[Tracer Bullet]

"worthy of being remembered"

 

Alex Gonzalez more than anything. Bartman's been screwed by the media and fans more, no doubt. But, in reality, his action wasn't nearly as significant as the boot.

[jersey cubs fan]

The last out of game 5 in Atlanta.

[CubColtPacer]

Hmmm....I guess maybe if it is simply the plays that are most likely to be remembered:

 

1. Bartman

2. Sosa home run (2003 NLCS game 1)

3. Wood home run (2003 NLCS game 7)

4. Ramirez home run (2007 regular season against Milwaukee)

5. Sosa corked bat (2003 against TB)

6. Gonzalez double play ball (2003 NLCS game 6)

7. DeRosa double play hit into (2007 NLDS game 3)

8. Ramirez grand slam (2003 NLCS game 4)

9. Gonzalez home run (2003 NLDS game 5)

10. Sosa/Alou go back to back on 2 straight pitches (2004 against Reds)

 

4 and 5 feel too low to me..I think there is a definite divide between the first 5 and second 5. I know I cheated on the last one but it happened so fast that it felt like one play.

[Schwarber Fan]

2001:

 

The Cubs/Rockies wild finish

 

2002:

 

Nothing

 

2003:

 

Cork

Eric Karros HR to spoil Clemens' 300th

The whole playoff run

So much more

 

2004:

 

Alou/Sosa back to back walkoff

Michael Barrett walkoff (Todd Walker slide)

 

2005:

 

Greg Maddux HR against Boston, 300th win, and 3000th K

 

2006:

 

The season ending

 

2007:

 

Aram's walkoff vs. Milwaukee

 

2008:

 

May 31st comeback

September comeback vs. the Brewers

JIM EDMONDS

 

2009:

 

String of walkoffs and comebacks during interleague play

 

I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out.

[SouthSideRyan]

Sosa's HR to the camera well in CF wasn't really significant from a game perspective(we were blowing them out), but holy [expletive]

[mcgoobs]

Random moments that weren't a part of any special game, just memorable moments:

- Sammy Sosa, August 2001

- Nomar's first at bat after the trade

- Mark Prior beaning Bonds and then not backing down when Bonds had a few words for him

- This board after the Sosa trade

- Jim Edmonds flipping his bat at the Cardinals dugout

- Maddux smirking when players were complaining to the umpire about the frisbees he was throwing in April 2006

- Corey Patterson's flashes of talent during 2003 and 2004

- Shawn Estes

- Reed Johnson's full extension diving catch against Florida and Dempster's reaction

- Reed Johnson robbing Prince Fielder of a grand slam

- Fukudome's first game

- Kyle Farnsworth vs Paul Wilson

- I can't remember what games this was, but Paul Bako hitting a home run and since it had been so long since his last home run, getting no congratulations from the bench as if he was a rookie

[erik316wttn]

Gutierrez fell down!

 

At least for regular season games, this. That was the absolute craziest game I've ever seen from start to finish.

[sneakypower]

for regular season games, Todd Walker's slide into home and Hawkins throwing the ball off Offerman's helmet into the bleachers immediately come to mind

[AlwaysaCub]

Thinking about Wood's game 7 LCS homer, on an 0-2 pitch, still gives me chills. And who can forget Randall Simon going deep in game 3?

 

But I have to say that the moment of the decade has to be the Ramirez walkoff in 2007 against the Crew, when we all remembered what winning baseball was like after the '06 debacle.

[Derwood]

Sosa's HR in Game 1 was surreal.

 

Also, acquiring Nomar on 7/31/04 was, to me, the final piece to a WS championship. It was the most positive I've ever been as a Cubs fans. We know how that turned out :evil:

[third eye]

Has to be Wood's HR in game 7 of the 2003 NLCS. Given the angst left over from the previous night and the fact the game had already gotten off to such a lousy start - to be right back to even was pretty incredible. From what I could tell on TV, the crowd's collective catharsis from the frustration of the previous 24 hours made it more memorable than the Sosa HR to tie up game 1.

[Little Slide Rooter]

How about the game vs. the Rockies in 08, maybe 07 when Eyre and Howry combined to let a 7 run lead evaporate in like seconds and then we came back in the bottom of the 9th.

 

On the other end of the coin, there was the game in 06 when the Mets scored 11 runs in an inning including 2 grand slams.

[Andy]

How about the game vs. the Rockies in 08, maybe 07 when Eyre and Howry combined to let a 7 run lead evaporate in like seconds and then we came back in the bottom of the 9th.

07 - that was also four days before Ramirez's walk-off vs Milwaukee. And it was also the game where a fan tried to run at Howry and got pile-drived by security.

[sweetpeteman]

How about Alf bumping the umpire after Alou hit a fair ball called foul, and the Cubs winning 4 of 5 in four days from the Cards.

 

 

 

Also, Darin Erstad looking like a complete fool striking out on a pitch 3-ft outside to end Z's no-no.

 

 

Speaking of the Rockies, how about the one last year where the Cubs were down 9-1, that had Fukudome and Edmonds go back-to-back, and DeRo homering to put the Cubs ahead after Edmonds brought them within one with a double.

Edited October 12, 2009 by sweetpeteman

[BCVM22]

- I can't remember what games this was, but Paul Bako hitting a home run and since it had been so long since his last home run, getting no congratulations from the bench as if he was a rookie

 

August 25, 2004. In that same game, Hawkins would blow the save and Corey would homer to win the game with 2 outs and a man at third base.

 

It's worth noting that no video exists of Bako's home run and Pat's home run call on the radio is so incredulous that it leads me to believe the whole thing may have been some sort of mass hallucination experienced by the 40,000 fans and other broadcasters and staff at Wrigley that day.

 

Where's Zambrano's no-hitter on this list, folks? A hurricane and Drayton McLane being a complete [expletive] ("St. Louis? Kansas City? Tampa Bay? Absolutely not! We'll be able to play in Houston! Really!") forcing the series to Wrigley Field North, 23,000 fans show up on less than a day's notice and Big Z breaks out the no-hit stick and beats the Astros over the head with it. Epic stuff.

[imb]

Wood's HR in Game 7... I really thought we had done it.

 

Michael Barrett punching Pierzynski has to be on there, that was just hilarious.

 

Prior and Wood beaning Bonds is probably on my list, too.

[TruffleShuffle]

i think the victor diaz game will be burned into my brain forever.

[J.R.]

Events I haven't seen mentioned here:

 

Sosa hitting three home runs in one game on August 9, August 22 and again on September 23 in late 2001. In fact, his whole 2001 season is beyond comprehension.

The doubleheader sweep of Pittsburgh to clinch the division on 9/27/03 at Wrigley.

The awesome 3-6-1 double play to end the game and preserve a much-needed win on 9/12/07 at Houston.

Three in the ninth to beat the Reds down the stretch on 9/17/07 at Wrigley.

Soriano's grand slam to beat Houston in 13 innings on 7/27/09 at Wrigley.

 

As for stuff I saw in person and therefore will personally treasure:

 

McGriff, Rondell White and Hundley hitting home runs in succession off Houston's Dave Mlicki on 9/29/01 at Wrigley.

Goatee Sosa blasting a mammoth home run off the batter's background at Cincinnati in his first game back from the cork suspension on 6/18/03.

Sean Estes' improbable complete game shutout down the stretch on 9/24/03 at Cincinnati.

Prior beating Maddux in Game 3 of the 2003 NLDS on 10/3/03 at Wrigley.

Ramirez' three home runs on 9/16/04 at Cincinnati.

Soriano's three home runs on 6/8/07 at Atlanta.

Cinching the division on 9/28/07 at Cincinnati.

The best Cub fan takeover of an opposing park I've ever been a part of - 9/29/07 at Cincinnati.

Ramirez' grand slam to beat the Phillies on 8/28/08 at Wrigley.

Soriano's three home runs on 9/6/08 at Cincinnati.

Clinching the division on 9/20/08 at Wrigley.

 

Seeing it all laid out in this thread - I think we've had a better time of late than we realize.

[jersey cubs fan]

Seeing it all laid out in this thread - I think we've had a better time of late than we realize.

 

A handful of events spread out over 1600 games doesn't really reflect "better time" to me. 2003, 2007, 2008 had a lot of good times, most of the rest of the decade was filled with crap and/or disappointment.

[SABR Gamer]

i think the victor diaz game will be burned into my brain forever.

 

yeah...its really depressing just thinking about that moment....