Laura

This garbage is getting old. Don't care if you're joking or pissed or what not. Amen, Serena. Chill on the shooting people scenario, plz. I just don't think there's a trade out there than can really fix the Cubs. Unless it's trading Dusty somewhere.

Scoreless game going into the 4th in Kane County. You can hear the kids yelling SpongeBob SquarePants! consistently in the background. Nate Baliva was saying that the Cougars estimated that the weather yesterday cost them 2-3,000 walkups. They were expecting 10-11,000 for the game. ETA to add random game notes: Chiefs take a 1-0 lead in the 4th. Montanez doubles with one out Flowers singles to LCF, Montanez to 3rd Granato sac-fly Bernard Ks Eric Patterson is hitting .364 vs. lefties (20/55) and has walked 3 more times than he has K'd vs LHs. (after typing this, he Ks twice vs the LH) Harvey is hitting .233 vs lefties; 2 of his 11 HRs were vs LHs. Montanez's double was his 25th of the season. He's 2nd in the league in doubles behind Deacon Burns with 27(?). The Chiefs single-season record for doubles is 38. "Montanez is a doubles machine." He doubles again with one out in the 7th for #26. Montanez doubles again in the 8th for his 3rd consecutive double. Sam Fuld singles in the first to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. He also has walked twice and reached on an error. Shaver lives dangerously at times, but pitches five complete scoreless innings. 5IPs, 4 hits, 4BBs, 4Ks, 0Rs. On the road, Shaver has a 3.17 ERA; overall 4.09 ERA. Aldaberto Mendez in for the bottom of the 6th. Chiefs score again in the 7th, 2-0 One out Aaron Smith singles Simokaitis walks Fuld walks Eric Patterson Sac Fly - close play at the plate, throw beats Smith, but he slides beneath the tag, Simokaitis to 3rd Harvey flies out Chiefs score in the 8th, 3-0 Montanez doubles Montanez steals 3B Ball goes into LF, Montanez scores Blevins blows the save by allowing a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the 9th. 2 outs, winning run at 2B. 3-3 to the 10th, 4th straight no-decision for Shaver. Chiefs lose 4-3, but I didn't hear how it happened. Nice game for Fuld and Montanez.

Your sarcasm is appreciated, but you missed my point. My point was that neither Hairston or Hollandsworth can really play an effective LF at Wrigley, so it doesnt make any sense for Baker to assume Hairston would be any worse in LF than CF. The sarcasm wasn't directed at you. I understand the point.

This is closest to mine. Perez Walker Lee Burnitz Ramirez Hollandsworth Patterson Barrett Maddux It would probably be best not have a LFer at all rather than subject someone to the rigors of adapting to a position they haven't played thousands of times before. I think it's Barrett for Maddux again now that interleague is over; I'll assume Blanco will be catching Prior again tomorrow.

The Peoria - Kane County matchup will be LH Chris Shaver (3-6, 4.32) vs. LH Trent Peterson (0-0, 0.00)

Aaron Smith is one of my personal favorites. :) Aaron Smith was the Pepsi Player of the Day. He was the only Chiefs pitcher not to allow a run. =;

Wow. According to the Chiefs website, that was the worst loss in Chiefs franchise history. 21-2. Aaron Smith is one of my personal favorites. :)

Mark Prior with an assist from Kerry Wood (and Z and Clement). Unbelievable starting pitching at the end of the season. And even then, by the skin of their teeth.

And not to take Lee's name in vain, but he's been pretty much worthless the past 2 games. Hairston can get on base all he wants, but if Walker and Lee aren't doing anything with him on base, then who cares? One might think, that -- in the long run -- have players that get on base ahead of the hitherto-best-hitting-player-in-baseball-this-season might pay some dividends. But who knows for sure? Maybe low-OBP-at-the-top-of-the-lineup-as-well-as-throughout-the-lineup is really the cutting edge way to win these days.

19-2 Cougars Harvey hit a HR.

It's not, but I tend to think he can be better than a .257 hitter, which is where he's at right now.

I've been hoping the Hairston-Walker combo at the top of the order would pay dividends. In two games so far, Hairston has delivered in a big way, Walker has not. I'd give the combo a few more days, though, just like the previous combo got before making a final decision. And, yeah, Holla has been hitting. Barrett's BA has been dropping like stone, and his plus value is his ability to hit.

The Cubs.com headline says: Home plate eludes Cubs in Atlanta opener

GO CUBS!

Nice. =D>

12-0. Jones is pitching.

Missed how it happened, but now it's 11-0 Cougars. I'm guessing Johnson isn't pitching any more. :? 11 runs on 12 hits

Well, it's an early Sharona Monk episode, so I'm switching over. So Bad, So Bad, So Bad. :x :cry: =;

2nd Inning (and my last pbp inning) Leslie (S) #5 0-1 called on corner 0-2 called on corner 0-3 K swing and miss Pineda (RH) #6 0-1 called on corner 1-1 "wide" 2-1 on corner but a little low 2-2 swing-and-miss 3-2 outside off corner, Johnson wanted the call ripped down LF line, rolls to corner, standup double Kim (LH) #7 1-0 outside low 1-1 swing-miss 1-2 fouled down 3B line 2-2 outside high fastball 2-2 fouled back 2-2 hammered really deep LF off wall, but Pineda falls down rounding third, so holds and doesn't score runners on second and third Tom Pratt visits Grant Johnson Ryan Ruiz (RH) #8 infield deep first pitch = back-to-back-to-back doubles, 2 runs score 3-0 Cougars Johnson leaving pitches over the heart of the plate Gregorio Petit (RH) #9 1-0 high and tight and inside, crowd goes ooooh and Petit dives down 2-0 ball off of C Alan Rick's wrist and bounces to backstop, he's clutching his left wrist, runner to 3rd, scored WP. Rick staying in game. Kane County plays M*A*S*H theme. 3-0 upstairs 4-0 inside, runners 1st and 3rd Blasi #1 0-1 swing and miss 1-1 outside off corner eek, LF, single, another run scores 4-0 Cougars, runners first and second Cliff Pennington #2 WP to the backstop, both runner move up 1-0 1-1 fouled off 1-2 fouled straight back 1-3 K inside corner called HAHA Herrera (RH) #3 0-1 called inside corner 0-2 check swing lined into right center, scores 2, fuld holds him at first 6-0 Cougars bullpen warming up, Dicksen, Jones and newbie Ramos HAHA, Herrera picked off/caught stealing. 6-0 Cougars, end of second Probably not what the Chicago crowd was hoping for. :(

I've traded some emails with him, and he's been nice about providing updates on players. :)

Sisk was a giant for Peoria, though he cooled off a lot lately. I'll be interested in seeing how he does for the DJaxx.

The Kane County Mgr has been tossed 3 times all year ... all 3 times by the current ump crew, which will be calling the home-away series. The Cougars are wearing funky patriotic unis. Missed the first half inning. Bottom of the 1st: Blasi (RH) 1-0 upstairs 1-1 inside corner called 2-1 low home run Pennington (L/S?) 0-1 watching 1-1 outside 2-1 inside, low 3-1 upstairs diving catch by Sam Fuld in CF -- "fully extended, gets a high 5 from Montanez" Herrera (RH) 0-1 big swing-miss 0-2 swing miss 1-2 outside in dirt 1-2 fouled 2-2 curveball misses inside 2-2 fouled back to screen 2-3 K, outside corner, freezes him HA HA Padron 1-0 low 2-0 low flyout to RF

Not until everyone in the entire city and across the country completely spazzes out about how bad Neifi is. Dusty always pushes Cubs fans to their absolute limits ... and beyond. isn't it already? :cry: viva neifi!

Shaloub isn't the problem; the new sidekick is. I kept hoping she'd get killed off, too. Not good, Neifi. Sweet, the Chiefs game is starting.

Monk marathon on USA network. This team is crap. Whoa, got any good MadTV episodes to recommend, too?