usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 28, 2011 12:09:39 GMT -6
Any Cubs games you plan on going to? I've been looking at the Twins and Royals schedules for possible road trips. I have an idea, who do the Cubs play right after the SD Wisconsin football game? Would be a great road trip to catch the Yotes and Cubbies, heck maybe even the Brew Crew.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 28, 2011 12:11:18 GMT -6
Nevermind in St Louis
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 28, 2011 12:17:35 GMT -6
Brewers are home though against the Marlins. Or you could take the whole week off, go to Cubs Brewers games earlier in the week, head to Madison take in State Street, Yote game. I have your summer vacation planned for ya Yote 53. Now I just need to figure out a way I can go with ya.
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Post by Charlie on Apr 28, 2011 14:10:26 GMT -6
Any Cubs games you plan on going to? I've been looking at the Twins and Royals schedules for possible road trips. I have an idea, who do the Cubs play right after the SD Wisconsin football game? Would be a great road trip to catch the Yotes and Cubbies, heck maybe even the Brew Crew. Wait long enough and you might get those Twins tickets at bargain basement prices. I'm starting to understand what Cubs fans feel like!
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Post by Yote 53 on Apr 28, 2011 16:51:28 GMT -6
Ahhh, if only was independantly wealthy. I won't even make it to the UW game as I am sure I will be coaching the mighty 4th grade tanagers to a gridiron victory over some rival local school.
Actually, were looking at the Cubs/Yankees series in June. Airfare out of MSP and 3 nights hotel on the Magnificent Mile for $400 per person. Tix are running $90 min for half decent seats. Bleachers are $125. Anywhere in the first level, forget it, $$$$. Buddy of mine that I was going with text me today about not being able to go. Up in the air now but will definitely be hitting Target Field in late July or August.
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Post by Yote 53 on Apr 29, 2011 10:23:56 GMT -6
After last night I don't know if I'll be able to make it a whole season doing weekly updates. It's hard rooting for a team when you know the season is over and it isn't even May 1st. I'm going to ask the posters and lurkers of GoYotes for a little leeway on the weekly updates. Some of them are going to be extremely short.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 2, 2011 9:25:56 GMT -6
Monday Morning Rewind for 5/02/11 Last Week Record: 2-4 Season Record: 12-15, 5th Place in NL Central (3.5 GB)
“A good friend of mine used to say, ‘This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.’ Think about that for a while.” – Ebby Calvin LaLoosh
That quote about sums up last week for the Cubs. They couldn’t throw, catch, or hit very well. They lost often and yes, luckily, it did rain. The Cubs lost the first two games of the series with Colorado and the third game was rained out or a sweep was inevitable it seemed. The Rockies took two straight winning a couple of close ball games 5-3 and 4-3. In game 1, Starlin Castro got the hat trick recording 3 errors in the second inning leading to 3 runs for Colorado. Game 2 was another example of the Cubs just not being able to pull out close games. Credit to the Rockies, they are a pretty good team.
The weekend ended with a split of the 4 game series with the D-Backs. Game one was about as ugly as you’ll see as Arizona jumped out to a 7-0 first inning lead on their way to an 11-2 trouncing. The Cubs battled back and made a series of it winning the next two games 4-2 and 5-3, the 5-3 victory was due to some clutch late inning hits by Darwin Barney and Starling Castro to seal the win. In the finale Sunday, the Cubs rally in the 9th fell short as Jeff Baker grounded into a game inning double play with two on and one out.
Good News: Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner get closer to returning to the Cubs’ rotation. While no timetable has been set for a return date the both threw from 90 feet on flat ground last week as they continue their rehab. Carlos Zambrano and Matt Garza had some good starts last week but this rotation needs to get healthy soon.
Bad News: Ryan Dempster continues to scuffle along getting lit up by the D-Backs last week pushing his season ERA to 9.58. Starlin Castro continues to be a liability in the field. While he is batting at cool .336 clip his fielding hurts the team. He has all the tools available to be a good fielder he just needs to put it together.
This Week: The west coast swing continues with a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Monday and the Cubs return home Friday for 3 games against Cincinnati.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 9, 2011 9:13:48 GMT -6
Monday Morning Rewind for 5/09/11 Last Week Record: 3-3 Season Record: 15-18, 4th Place in NL Central (4.0 GB)
The week started off good taking two of 3 from the Dodgers but ended on a down note losing 2 of 3 to the Reds in a tightly contested series over the weekend.
Pitching was key in winning the Dodgers series and ending the 7 game road trip with a 4-3 mark. In the two wins against the Dodgers the Cubs pitchers only yielded one run per game winning the final two games by 4-1 and 5-1 scores.
In the weekend series back home at Wrigley, after dropping the opener 5-4, the Cubs only win against the Reds came on Saturday with a ninth inning rally capped off by Kosuke Fukudome’s walk off RBI single. Sunday’s finale was a 2-0 loss which saw the Cubs unable to get the clutch hits necessary to put some runs on the board twice failing to plate a run with the bases loaded.
Good News: Starting pitching is coming around. Matt Garza, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Casey Coleman all had good starts this past week. The NL Central remains a tight cluster with no team really going on a streak and breaking away from the pack.
Bad News: Timely hitting. The Cubs were right in both games they lost to the Reds and had their chances to win those games. The Cubs record last year against the other NL Central teams was dismal, something that will have to change if they want to contend this season.
This Week: All home games this week as the Cardinals visit for a 3 game series starting Tuesday and the Giants come in for 3 games starting Friday. I noticed on the TV yesterday that the ivy is starting to show a little green here and there. Between the ivy coming to life and an expected temp of 93 degrees in Vermillion on Tuesday I think summer might finally be arriving.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 17, 2011 10:02:13 GMT -6
Monday Morning Rewind for 5/16/11 Last Week Record: 2-3 Season Record: 17-21, 5th Place in NL Central (5.0 GB)
A day late but here we go. I’ll include the Cubs latest loss to the Reds on Monday in next week’s write-up. So, the Cubs are actually 17-22 and 6.0GB as of this post.
Not a good week as the Cubs lost 2 of 3 to the Cardinals and split 1-1 with the Giants, the series finale being rained out Sunday. The Cardinals series had some highs, a big game on Wednesday where they put up a lot of runs after a 50+ minute rain delay, and some lows, the next day getting trounced 9-1. The Cubs have to start winning these division series.
The Giants series started out good on Friday with a nice 11-4 win with Ryan Dempster pitching very well and the bats coming to life with pretty much the whole lineup having a good day. Doug Davis made his Cubs debut Saturday and didn’t do half bad giving up 1 earned run in a rain shortened 3-0 loss. Hopefully he turns into that 5th starter the team has been looking for.
Good News: Randy Wells has been in the Minors making rehab starts and is expected to rejoin the team next week. Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster pitched well this week, hopefully they can keep it going.
Bad News: Andrew Cashner will undergo an MRI on his throwing shoulder after feeling tightness while warming up Monday. This should set him back a bit. Carlos Zambrano melted down, again, in the 7-4 loss to the Reds this Monday. I know, I’m a week ahead here but this prompted a team meeting after the game. This club needs to kick it in gear now or this season is over and it's not even Memorial Day.
This Week: All road games, 2 with Cincinnati, two with Florida, and then a return to Historic Fenway Park as the Cubs play 3 against the Red Sox in an inter-league matchup. Should be exciting as the Cubs return to Fenway for the first time since 1918. The Sunday night game will be on ESPN.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on May 19, 2011 11:43:50 GMT -6
I thought I better check in on ya. Another tough one with unearned runs, late inning meltdown. You ok?
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Post by Yote 53 on May 19, 2011 15:43:56 GMT -6
Which loss are you talking about? They are all beginning to blur together, cloudy like the day after a heavy bender. Monday was bad, Tuesday was brutal. Won on Wednesday. Take tonight's game and roll into Beantown for a big series. Saturday night's game is primetime on FOx and Sunday's is primetime ESPN.
I'll be ok. Used to it by now.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 19, 2011 20:32:33 GMT -6
Two wins. That's a streak.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on May 20, 2011 8:10:27 GMT -6
I sense a Bull Duram quote coming ... (lollygaggers!)
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Post by Yote 53 on May 23, 2011 9:14:35 GMT -6
Monday Morning Rewind for 5/23/11 Last Week Record: 3-4 Season Record: 20-25, 5th Place in NL Central (6.5 GB)
The week started off ugly going 0-2 against the Reds in some games where the Cubs just looked plain horrible at times. Turned it around and took 2 from Florida and ended the week dropping 2 of 3 to Boston. Losing 2 of 3 in Boston isn’t that bad considering how well the Red Sox are playing now and given that the Cubs started both Doug Davis and James Russell against the Sox. I’m just happy to get one win in that series.
Injuries have plagued this team and just continue to mount. Davis and Russell should not be starting pitchers in the majors but have been forced into action due to injuries to Cub’s starters. Matt Garza was supposed to start Sunday but was scratched due to shoulder tightness. Marlon Byrd suffered a very scary injury when he was hit in the face with a pitch in Saturday’s game. He suffered some fractured bones in the face and has been put on the 15 day DL. On Sunday, Jeff Baker left the game with a groin injury. Reed Johnson will take over duties in centerfield for Byrd and Baker is expected back in the lineup Tuesday.
Good News: Going 3-4 on a seven game road trip is respectable. Wow, is this all I can come up with for good news? The division is still within reach. Given how poor this team has played at times and the problems with the rotation fans should be thankful the team is only 5 games under .500.
Bad News: Injuries, injuries, injuries. Have got to get healthy, and fast.
This Week: A home stand with 3 against the Mets starting Tuesday and 3 with the Pirates starting Friday.
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Post by Yote 53 on May 31, 2011 9:51:06 GMT -6
Monday Morning Rewind for 5/31/11 Last Week Record: 3-4 Season Record: 23-29, 5th Place in NL Central (7.5 GB)
A day late this week due to the Memorial Day holiday.
The Cubs took 2 of 3 from the Mets, lost 2 of 3 to the Pirates, and started off the new week Monday by losing to Houston in game one of this weeks series.
The Cubs season is slowly circling around the drain. This team isn't a contender, though we've known that for some time. It will be an interesting June and July with all the teams that are in contention looking to add players to see what contracts the club can unload and what prospects they can get.
Good News: Randy Wells came back to make a start, even though he got shellacked.
Bad News: It's after Memorial Day and the season is over.
This Week: At home for 3 against the Astros then on the road for 3 in St. Louis.
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