John Bracken

I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the dentist’s chair I try to come up with something to distract my thoughts away from the scraping and probing. (No drilling or pulling today.) This afternoon I puzzled over the roster decisions the Cubs will face in two weeks, should they hang-on to their division lead. (As a Cubs fan who has experienced Steve Garvey’s mashing of Lee Smith’s hanging slider in the 1984 play-offs and the 2003 Game 6 collapse, I take this step with some trepidation. At least I’m not alone– Bleed Cubbie Blue engaged in the same exercise earlier today.)

The NLDS schedule is such that the Cubs could get by with a three-man (Zambrano, Lilly, Hill) rotation, but you keep Marquis, too. The back of the bullpen (Marmol, Howry, Dempster) is automatic, Eyre makes it 8 as the only lefty in the pen.

Decisions: Trachsel, Marshall, Woods, Wuertz. Kerry Woods will of course be the Buzz Bissinger-inspired sentimental selection, but Wuertz has had a decent, if unheralded year. I can’t imagine that the Cubs would leave Trachsel off the list after trading for him at the deadline– unless he keeps whining about not starting. But, Marquis can serve as the long-man, and it wouldn’t hurt to have another lefty to face the likes of Carlos Delgado or Adrian Gonzalez. (Arizona doesn’t have many dangerous lefties.) So, it says here to go with Wuertz and Marshall in the 7-man bullpen. Hopefully, the Cubs will only stick with 10 pitchers.

After juggling line-ups for the first 4 months of the reason, Lou Piniella has settled on a regular regime, with Floyd and Murton platooning in right (Kendall, Lee, DeRosa, Ramirez, Theriot, Soriano and Jones are the others, for those scoring at home.) That leaves us 6 spots. Ward and Fontenot are automatics; Pie’s been a steady late-inning defensive replacement; Monroe’s been suspect, but stays on.

Backup catcher could require some creativity: Geovany Soto, the PCL MVP, has been hitting the tar off the ball since being recalled on September 1 and may be the Cubs best catcher. However, since he wasn’t on the Cubs 25 man roster on August 31, Soto isn’t eligible for the playoffs, leaving Henry Blanco and his .174 batting average. Blanco has only appeared in four games since being activated August 21. Here’s hoping Jim Hendry can find an injury excuse (Blanco’s neck injury?) that will enable Soto to replace Blanco. Ronnie Cedeno hits no better than does Blanco. Angel Pagan, who’s been working out in Arizona, would be a great story, coming back from colitis to appear in playoffs.

Before today’s Cubs-Reds game, the team  commemorated Jackie Robinson. The PA announcer mentioned that Robinson’s first appearance at Wrigley Field drew the largest crowd in the stadium’s history– 46, 572 in 1947, a fact also pointed out by Al Yellon at BCB.

The Wrigley announcer failed to point out a fact that Jules Tygiel mentions in Baseball’s Great Experiment, that the Cubs were “one of the most troublesome clubs for Robinson.” He describes an incident in which Cubs shortstop Len Merullo “deliberately kicked” Robinson following a pick-off attempt. Robinson “started to swing at the shortstop,” but didn’t.

Tygiel also quotes a column by Mike Royko on the ocassion of Robinson’s 1972 death. As a kid, Royko (whose brother was my Little League coach) attended Robinson’s first game at Wrigley Field in 1947:

 By noon, Wrigley Field was almost filled. The crowd outside spilled off the sidewalk and into the streets. Scalpers were asking top dollar for box seats and getting it.
I had never seen anything like it. Not just the size, although it was a new record, more than 47,000. But this was twenty-five years ago, and in 1947 few blacks were seen in the Loop, much less up on the white North Side at a Cub game.
That day, they came by the thousands, pouring off the northbound Ls and out of their cars.
They didn’t wear baseball-game clothes. They had on church clothes and funeral clothes·suits, white shirts, ties, gleaming shoes, and straw hats. I’ve never seen so many straw hats.
As big as it was, the crowd was orderly. Almost unnaturally so. People didn’t jostle each other.
The whites tried to look as if nothing unusual was happening, while the blacks tried to look casual and dignified. So everybody looked slightly ill at ease.
For most, it was probably the first time they had been that close to each other in such great numbers.
We managed to get in, scramble up a ramp, and find a place to stand behind the last row of grandstand seats. Then they shut the gates. No place remained to stand.
Robinson came up in the first inning. I remember the sound. It wasn’t the shrill, teenage cry you now hear, or an excited gut roar. They applauded, long, rolling applause. A tall, middle-aged black man stood next to me, a smile of almost painful joy on his face, beating his palms together so hard they must have hurt.
When Robinson stepped into the batter’s box, it was as if someone had flicked a switch. The place went silent.
He swung at the first pitch and they erupted as if he had knocked it over the wall. But it was only a high foul that dropped into the box seats. I remember thinking it was strange that a foul could make that many people happy. When he struck out, the low moan was genuine.
I’ve forgotten most of the details of the game, other than that the Dodgers won and Robinson didn’t get a hit or do anything special, although he was cheered on every swing and every routine play.
But two things happened I’ll never forget. Robinson played first, and early in the game a Cub star hit a grounder and it was a close play.
Just before the Cub reached first, he swerved to his left. And as he got to the bag, he seemed to slam his foot down hard at Robinson’s foot.
It was obvious to everyone that he was trying to run into him or spike him. Robinson took the throw and got clear at the last instant.
I was shocked. That Cub, a hometown boy, was my biggest hero. It was not only an unheroic stunt, but it seemed a rude thing to do in front of people who would cheer for a foul ball. I didn’t understand why he had done it. It wasn’t at all big league.
I didn’t know that while the white fans were relatively polite, the Cubs and most other teams kept up a steady stream of racial abuse from the dugout. I thought that all they did down there was talk about how good Wheaties are.

I am a fan of writing about baseball. To my wife’s dismay, one of our book shelves is dedicated to my modest collection. So I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that its taken me until now to read Jim Bouton’s masterful Ball Four. His behind-the-scenes look at the Seattle Pilots’ (inaugural) 1969 season reads like a good blog. One of the many characters to pass through Ball Four is new Cubs manager Lou Piniella:

Lou Piniella has the red ass. He doesn’t think he’s playing enough. He’s a good-looking ballplayer…He says he knows they don’t want him and that he’s going to quit baseball rather than go back to Triple-A…Pinella is a case. He hits the hell out of the ball… but they’re easing him out. He complains a lot about the coaches and ignores them when he feels like it, and to top it off he’s sensitive as hell to things like [Pilots manager] Joe Schultz not saying good morning to him.

Piniella, of course, was traded to Kansas City where he won the Rookie of the Year award in 1969.

Frank Deford has a nice story on Piniella on HBO’s Real Sports. Baseball Musings and Goat Riders like what Piniella had to say about not playing small ball, at least not early in games. Just in case, a pessimistic (read: pragmattic) Cubs fan is already prepared for the end of the honeymoon. [Update, Fire Lou Pinella has moved, via Repoz. It seems there's a Fire Sweet Lou domain war.]

Opinionated Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, previously known for participating in forums at the Red Sox fan site the Sons of Sam Horn, has taken the next natural step and started a blog. From his first post, he sounds ready:

I don’t know that I’ll be changing my style, but I do know that getting ripped for something I say here will be getting ripped for something I actually said–with the entire contents of my comments included….Fortunately, I have zero problems being wrong. I don’t intend to make mistakes but it happens, which is part of the learning curve of life. I’m prone to having quick reactions which, in the world of baseball and media coverage–even when you might be right–can make you wrong.

I dont see any links yet, and this isn’t a sports blog, but just thought I’d get it out there that AM 1000 is reporting Soriano signed a 7 year contract. Hmmm.

I had a busy week and was only able to follow the baseball playoffs on the radio this week. When one of the series involved my two least favorite non-Yankee teams, maybe that’s not so bad. What’s more, it seems that by avoiding Fox’s TV coverage, I am better informed. Richard Sandomir reported Friday that Fox reports that pitches as faster than the figures recorded by the stadium radar gun. (A shocker: watch Fox, know less.)

There are another advantages to listening to baseball on the radio. As Phil Mushnick notes, “the best way to watch a game these days is to listen to it on the radio - with the sound off.” I am not sure who is more annoying among Lou Pinella, Steve Lyons, Tim McCarver, and Luis Gonzalez (who never mentions the steroid “whispers.“) Listening to the radio, I am unaffected by the fact that Fox “leads the free baseball world in needless crowd shots.” (Mushnick again, he may be the only thing I miss about the NYC tabloids.) Fox also finds time for player profiles such as the one that informed us that Paul Lo Duca likes Robert De Niro and owns race horses, without mentioning his fondness for teenagers and gambling. (In fairness to watching TV, the Jay Z and Tommy Lasorda commercials are pretty funny– and I hate Tommy Lasorda. I also enjoy hearing what merenge and reggaeton jams the Mets batters choose as soundtracks.)

HOVA HOVA

When it comes to Da Bears (have you heard that they’re undefeated?) WBBM radio’s Tom Thayer and Jeff Joniak trump anything the Fox or CBS can come up with (though Aikman is good). The problem is that the post-Janet & Justin delay imposed on live TV means the play is over on the radio before it begins on TV. Last week I worked out a ritual of turning down the radio just before the play; I’m not sure how long I can keep that up.

I love it when I have an idea for a blog post but someone else beats me to it and does it better than I would have. On Sunday afternoon, I was on the Lake listening to the Cubs “big announcement,” Andy MacPhail’s resignation and his (temporary?) replacement by Tribune Golden Boy John McDonough. (Even Steve Dahl sang his praises on Monday.) I scribbled some notes on some of the oddities of the event thinking of a blog post. Well, by Sunday night, Chuck had already broken down the press conference, with the help of “Pestilence” Byron’s transcript at Goat Riders of the Apocalypse (the best name in Cub blogdom). Chuck hit on just about all of my points, and then follows up with a post that concludes that:

the events of the weekend confirm that the Cubs are, indeed, one of the Trib assets available for sale. The question is: Where do the Cubs rank in terms of assets for sale? Are they at the top of the list or somewhat lower? We should all find out in the next 3 months when the Trib board meets again.

Uncertainty reigns. And with it, the hopes of winning baseball at Wrigley Field. May the Trib decide what to do quickly or 2008 will be soonest there could be any hope for Cub fans.

(I was at Joe Girardi’s first game at Wrigely Field in 1989 and hopes he gets the gig, no matter who the state of the Tribune or whether he was impolite with his bosses in Miami.)

Not as exciting as that other craigslist revelation– but could this be a sign of things to come at Clark and Addison?

I love it when the Cubs play on the West Coast– I always seem better able to follow the games later in the evening. Last night, I was captivated by an amazing performance by Greg Maddux while drafting a report. I kept the TV on mute for the most part– I find Bob Brenly unbearable. He tries too hard– he sounds like he is performing. I know he doesn't talk the same way when he's at home. Harry Schear made a similar observation when talking about Anderson Coper in an interview with Robert Siegel on Monday. "The goofy thing about TV," he said, "is that its not enough to be something, you have to play it as well it."

The late Cubs start gave me the chance to listen to the White Sox new radio team of Ed Farmer and Chris Singleton. I've never liked Farmer– he seems to have a permanent chip on his shoulder, a chip that John Rooney seemed to balance out. Singleton is a rookie, so he gets a time-limited pass for his inanity and forced patter with Farmer. (The schtick is that Farmer is old and doesn't know about the Internet or text messaging.)

All this is a prelude as to why I am so content to be sitting lying here tonight listeing to the Cubs radio team, Pat Hughes and Ron Santo. The two fit together hand in glove, perhpas because they've been in the same booth for awhile. As frustrated as I get with Santo's ignorance sometimes (he's a homer, he knows little about opposing player, he misses plays), he, and Hughes, are comfortable with themselves and their relationships to the game and their audience. Plus, Santo sounds so genuinely sad when the Cubs lose, I find it easy to moan along with him. (Tonight they're having fun with Dodgers rookie James Loney's name. Hughes gets points for his Roy Orbison reference–'Only the Loney.'

I can't hold a discussion of baseball broadcasters without pointing to one of my favorite media criticism sites, Fire Joe Morgan, which focusses on the silly things the Hall of Fame second baseman (and occassional other brothers in the booth) says on the air or his ESPN.com chats. I don't find Morgan an anathema– Rick Sutcliffe, Chris Berman and Harld Reynolds are more pedantic, or at least more annoying about their pedantry– but I appreciate any attempt to try to introduce sports broadcasters to the wonders of rational thinking. Here's an example from last night, penned by Junior, convalescing from Lasic eye surgery:

On the brilliantly titled GMC Diamond Cutters feature, Joe tried to explain the higher-than-expected home run frequency of the young 2006 season:

I think more guys swing for the fences now than they were, say four, five years ago. Now, I mean, guys realize, if I can get it, I can get it out of here.

More than say, four, five years ago? You mean like five years ago, as in 2001, when 5,458 home runs were hit in the major leagues, or the second highest total in history? The year Barry Bonds hit a mind-boggling 73, presumably by realizing, hey, if I can get it, I can get it out of here?

Another reason Joe gave is that "a lot of young pitchers are trying to find their way." So I guess there are no young hitters struggling this season. 2006: The Year All Hitters Are Cagey Veterans. Mark it down.

All right, time to put some drops in my eyes, slip on a satin mask, and listen to the sweet sounds of Christmas with the Kranks on Starz! Kids and Family.

Here's a taste from one of Joe's recent chats, with comments from Ken Tremendous:

Vik (Chicago): Do you think Andruw Jones 50 HR season was an aberrition, or can he repeat that performance this year?

Joe Morgan: I don't think it was an abberation.

KT: So you think he will consistently hit 50?

HR hitters hit in cycles and are streaky.

Oh…sorry. You don't think he will consistently hit 50. You think he will be streaky.

It seems to me he will have more hot streaks than before and that will add up close to 50.

Oh…sorry again. You think he will be streaky, but consistently streaky, and will again hit 50. Great.

Denver, CO: Hi Joe, Do you see any production from the big two (Woods and Prior) of the Cubs this year or will it be another bust like 2005?

Joe Morgan: I think they will get some production out of the two this year, but it should be icing on the cake and not the whole cake. I like the Cubs attitude of going forward without them.

CUBS' CLUBHOUSE
Chicago, IL
4/14/06

Baker: Guys, bad news. We've lost Prior, and we've lost Wood.
Walker: What are we gonna do, skip?
Baker: What can we do? We are canceling the season.
(Players start packing up gear, making off-season plans, etc. Joe Morgan enters.)
Joe Morgan: Hey guys. Listen up. You don't have to give up. There's a different way.
Players (in unison; baffled): Huuuuhhhhhh?!
Joe Morgan: You can change your attitude to: "let's go forward without them."
(Players ponder this; several do old-timey actual scratchings of tops of heads; Baker chews toothpick; several minutes pass)
Baker: Let's give it a shot!
Players: tossing caps in the air Hurrrrah! Thank you Joe Morgan!
Flourish. Exeunt. Curtain.

Tim (Cincinnati, OH): Did you hear Pete Rose's interview on the Dan Patrick show the other day, Do you believe he should be able to get put on the voters card so he can have a chance to get voted in?

Joe Morgan: Someone told me he was on but I didn't hear it. What exactly did he say?

KT: Oh boy. Does Joe understand that computers and phones aren't the same? That this guy can't just answer him? I guess not, because he just continues with the chat.

d (st. louis): Did you see the piece on Darren Daulton? He has some inner demons from his playing days

Joe Morgan: I saw the piece. He was one of my favorite players. I read the story also until it bothered me and I stopped. I didn't like what I was reading. I guess I was disappointed about the jail time, etc. I didn't read the whole thing because it just bothered me.

KT: Joe in a nutshell. Stops doing something that would make him better informed because it "bothers him." This guy is an Emmy-winning journalist, remember.

Josh (Lakeland, FL): Joe now that they have new owenership whats your take on the Devil Rays? Do you think they are moving in the right direction?

Joe Morgan: Tough question. I don't know the new owners or what their gameplan is…

KT: Emmy. Winning. Journalist.

Finally, because I don't know when i will next blog about baseball, Hugo Chavez has reason to be proud today: Seven Venezuelan pitchers started games tonight.

Tony Armas Jr. and Gustavo Chacin got the ball for Washington and Toronto, respectively. Mets right-hander Victor Zambrano struggled in a loss to the Braves. The Angels-Twins game featured two Venezuelan pitchers: Minnesota right-hander Carlos Silva and Los Angeles right-hander Kelvim Escobar. Felix Hernandez of Seattle and Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs also started Tuesday.

The seven pitchers got a lot of attention in Venezuela, where the country's sports daily Meridiano said it showed the growth of the country's baseball talent. "Lucky seven," the paper said.