Len & Bob's baseball blog

Thought I'd tackle some recent posts today:

FROM ALEX: During yesterday's game, someone mentioned how the Reds led the National League in home runs AND strikeouts...Seems to me like a Catch 22 but it is evident that the Reds are suffering more so from
their strikeouts as opposed to benefitting from their massive power with only 38 wins to show for their efforts. With that said the Reds are always very pesky against the Cubs but I'm looking for the Cubs to
take 3 of 4 from Cincy.

LEN: Alex, the bottom line is this--the Reds entered this series 2nd in the NL in runs. Their offense is plenty good enough. The strikeouts are an off-shoot of a HR-hitting offense. The Reds' problem is simple--they haven't pitched well.

FROM DIANA: Since the Cubs are playing the Reds again, can you re-air the play from the April 18th Cubs vs Reds game involving Adam Dunn? In
the bottom of the 8th inning, things got weird and ugly. No outs and the Reds have the bases loaded, game tied at 5 apiece. Adam Dunn is the runner at second base. The batter hits the one bouncer to the Cub's
Ramirez, who tags third base for the force and throws the ball to the catcher Barrett who tags the runner for an out at home plate. Then Barrett spots activity heading to third and throws the ball that direction (for a potential triple play perhaps?) but it was a bad toss and rebounds off the wall. The runner from second base (Dunn) finishes rounding the bases and touches home plate. This was one of the weirdest
moments in this year's Cubs season.

LEN: Diana, yes, it was a bizarre play and I was upset at myself for not nailing it as it happened. Dunn was already forced at third, so Barrett's throw was unnecessary in the first place. Eventually we
figured out what happened. What a game...you always see something you've never seen before!

FROM DIANA (SAME ONE?): CHICAGO -- Greg Maddux is six strikeouts away from becoming the 13th member of the 3,000-strikeout club, and the Chicago Cubs pitcher also would become the ninth with 300 wins and
3,000 Ks.
Will the Cubs have herald trumpets play fanfares for this achievement? I love it when they play at Wrigley. Saw them play for Ron Santo's number retirement ceremony and also for Maddux's 300th win ceremony.
Trumpet fanfares mean something wonderful has happened. Love those fanfares!

LEN: Diana, he's so close that he might do it Thursday @ Cincinnati. I know one thing - Greg won't make a big deal of it. He downplayed his 300th win last year and likely will do the same with his 3,000th
strikeout. I believe Fergie Jenkins is the only guy to have 3,000 Ks and fewer than 1,000 walks. Maddux will soon join him.

FROM LENNY (I LIKE THE NAME!): THREE OF FOUR.... THREE OF FOUR....
This needs to be our MANTRA this week. Continue to win series and let those other teams beat up on each other. We have to take advantage of the weak Sally's of the division and make a move.

LEN: Hey Lenny, first of all, any team can be dangerous, particularly a powerful offensive club like the Reds. The bottom line for the Cubs is, it's not who they play, but how they play. If the Cubs are playing like this against the Cardinals, they'll do well. When the Cubs are clicking, they're as good as anybody. It's finding that consistency that's been the issue. Hopefully it's all comng together for an
extended run here.

FROM LEO: hey bloggers who are in are little contest to see who wins the 2nd half mvp,i went out and bought a cubs calender(ya i know big spender huh,lol) and after every game im gonna inital the persons name
whos player did the best every game and what the player did that way at the end i can kinda tally it up. gives me somin fun to do. boy can you
tell i got a busy life ha!!!anyway im not gonna say it everyday but like yesteday lenny would get the point or win or whatever,you know what i mean. then again at the end we all will prolly have all diffrent views on who won,that outta be interesting.i dont want everyone to think im taking it really serious,its all in fun,isnt it great to be a cubbie fan!!!!go cubs.oh ya and nomar when you get back HURRY UP!

Posted by leo s. at July 18, 2005 02:29 PM

LEN: Leo, have fun with this...I'll take Derrek Lee!

FROM CARRIE: I agree Bob, Cinci is a dangerous team -- any team that is rebuilding and has nothing to lose is a scary proposition. The Cubs *should* handle them well, but they'd better be careful not to let their guard down....we gotta keep the good mojo working!

Cake, Napoleon Dynamite, and your discussion on how to properly worship the baseball gods....you are too funny. You crack me up at least once each show -- I don't know if poor Len can keep up sometimes! :) You
guys are doing such a great job, thanks for making the games so entertaining.

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!

LEN: Carrie, would you believe I'm actually younger than Bob? Sometimes he makes me feel like I'm 100 years old, he's so hip! Bob's the best...

FROM CHARLIE: The Dubois for Gerut trade is a sound one. Dubois has had previous chances to show that he deserves to be on the roster for the Cubs and has never quite made an impression. He sure looks like he's got a lot of power, but the strikeouts have been too many and the defense lacking. In the mean time, Murton has been looking great and has certainly got a spark that Dubois has not shown, so the need to
hold on to Dubois for the future has been steadilly dwindling. I have nothing against Dubois, but I certainly would rather trade the guy who has had chances to play and is still not proven than trade someone like Corey or Holly who have done great things for us in the past, and who seem to have some fire, even if Corey hasn't always shown it.

LEN: Charlie, I love this trade. Dubois can play some OF and DH w/Cleveland (i.e., he's well-suited for the AL) while Gerut is a solid player who can play anywhere in the OF. Plus, he's a Chicago guy, so
welcome home to Jody. It will be interesting to see where he plays and how much he plays. He has some speed, some pop and will take walks.