good idea, but don't do it again

WGN thought it would be a good idea for "throwback day" to broadcast today's game in the same way one would have watched (if you had tv) in 1948. the stadium was decorated to look like 1948, the players wore throwback uniforms, even len and bob were dressed up.

and the broadcast was done with old-school camera angles, and the first few innings were broadcast in black and white, with no instant replay or slow-down camera work.

good idea. terrible execution.

i couldnt see SHIT with the camera angles. and with no instant replay, i might as well have been listening to the game on the radio. the black and white was entertaining for about 2 minutes before it got old. and they would only show the stats of the game once every few min, the score, if there were guys on base, the pitch count. and no pitch speeds. all those little things that make baseball appeal to the math nerd in all of us.

i hope they dont do it again. that is, unless it means the difference between a win and a loss for the team. as games go, it was a nail-biter. while i knew that the cubs would pull off another come-from-behind win when they loaded the bases with no outs in the 11th inning, the strategy was brilliant. lets put the player who gets hit a lot into the game, and let him take a pitch for the team to drive in the winning run. he doesnt have to swing. which reed johnson did, with no problems. first pitch, pegged on the ankle. game over. atlanta swept.

im not going to say the words. but with games like that, how else can the season end but with the cubs winning it all?

atlanta braves 2, chicago cubs 3

B's first game @ AT&T park

maybe she was tired of me asking her, but b agreed to go to mets vs giants with me and the baseball buddy. i promised her that no one would spill beer on her, which is what i think happened the last time she was at fenway. not surprising.

we had a really good time. b got a drink, and some good food, and we sat in a sheltered area where the wind wasn't so bad. and the $11 tickets were a bargain! she may even be inclined to go again, under the right conditions. maybe i will make her a fan, after all!

the game itself was noteworthy only due to the fact that it was pedro martinez's first game back since he went on the DL earlier this year. he silenced the giants' bats (what little they have) and claimed his 210the career victory. and he got 2 hits, too. what a beast.

we're so cute! we dont even look that cold



barry zito took the loss. no surprise there.

mets 9, giants 6

still holding a grudge

being able to watch 6 games at 1 time on mlb.tv mosiac is both a blessing and a curse.

im sure that when crunch time comes around the last couple weeks of the season, having 6 games available will help assauge my nerves a little.

however, days like today, it puts me in a bad mood.

just randomly caught a pre-game interview before the reds-phillies game. they were interviewing dusty baker about the tear that chase utley has been on lately.

i didn't hear a word baker said. all i could think about was this week's article about mark prior having season-ending shoulder surgery, again. so ridiculous

i can't forgive baker. maybe someday, when prior can come back and win another 18 games for the cubs, i can make an attempt. hell, i would be satisfied if prior can just pitch in the big leagues again.

i don't think thats asking too much.

get that restraining order ready

so, CJ called me on thursday, and asked if i wanted to go to a baseball game. uh, yeah, thats pretty much a no-brainer.

once i found out that the giants were playing the padres, i took it upon myself to find the seats closest to michael barrett and the visiting dugout. i scored seats in section 106, 12 rows up, 30 feet from 1st base off craig'slist at $45 a pop. not too bad.

it was a great game, and CJ and i had a lot of fun. it was nice to be able to go to the game with a girl who actually knows something about the game. but also someone who can still girl-out with me and check out the players' butts.

i got some great pictures, and posted them on my flickr site. here's one of the best ones, of michael barrett smiling to himself after grounding out.

the giants ended up winning in 10 innings. free baseball! and while he wasnt at his best, and got charged with both a blown save and a loss, it was pretty cool to see trevor hoffman in action.

we did have some fun at his expense though. after the game, as we were headed back to the BART, a firetruck and an ambulance drove past me and CJ. i turned to her and said "someone must have called 911, cos trevor hoffman was choking!"

im so funny.

its nice to be able to see games whenever at such a great park. it doenst come close to living a mile from wrigley, but we cant have it all.

in other news, the cubs won AGAIN today for a perfect homestand. where did these guys come from? the more games they win, the less i have to complain about. its pretty crazy.

padres 3, giants 4
rockies 3, cubs 5

soul selling

the cubs came back from a 8-0 deficit to win the game today 10-9 vs the rockies. who sold their soul for that one? maybe jim edmunds, in an effort to win over the fans who don't appreciate his .175 batting average (before today).

i'm getting used to this, the team always winning. not much to blog about. this season is going to end up really good, or we are headed from a super-sized letdown if things change.

should i be scared? naw, that is so cub and i should know to be on my guard.



rockies 9, cubs 10