Marquis Effort
I wanted to point out a gutty effort by Jason Marquis last night. I think we've all seen pitchers who go out there some nights and you just don't see the same kind of competitive fire as we saw from Jason. He realized very early on that he didn't have his good stuff, but he found a way to keep his team in the game.
I had teammates during my playing days who would go out to the mound and when they didn't have good stuff, start pawing at the dirt and keep looking in the dugout, waiting for a pitching coach or manager to come and get them out of the ballgame. Not so with Jason Marquis. He wanted to do everything he could to help the Cubs win. Even though he didn't get the decision, his ability to eat up 5.1 innings and keep his team in the game was very important.
Len and I were saying that the biggest moment of the game might have been getting Geoff Jenkins out right after the entire Cub infield let a pop-up drop between them. That had the potential to be one of those "here we go again" moments that everyone would focus on as "the Cubs have gone and done something sloppy to beat themselves again." Instead, Jason induced an easy groundball to end the inning and the problem.
Bob
Comments
He did bite the bullet, so to speak, and pitched his way out of jams. Thanks to the pitching staff and M. Barrett for their help in getting him through the rough spots. What ever has happened in the dugout, with this two win winning streak. I am hoping that when Lou returns it keeps happening.
Posted by: Todd Behrends | June 5, 2007 12:03 PM
Yeah B.B.
NO ONE can complain about the effort MARQUIS has put out this season thus far. He's been awesome and we're lucky to have him.
Posted by: Lenny C | June 5, 2007 12:24 PM
Well said, BB....Jason held it together, though he clearly didn't have his great stuff. Pitchers don't need to be spectacular; they just need to be "good enough." When that ball dropped in the infield, I know I wasn't the only one who said, "Here we go again." He kept his wits about him (no easy task) and got out of one of a couple jams last night -- well done.
By the way, a 4-game suspension for Lou when that loony with the Atlanta minor league team only got 3 for his tantrum? Shameful. Lou didn't do any more than most managers do, and the assertion that he "kicked" the ump is UTTER (face-saving) CRAP. You go Lou, we're all behind you!
I'll be there in Milwaukee tonight, helping bring Wrigley North alive....let's keep this butt-kicking square dance going!! C'mon Cubbie Nation, we need you loud and proud again tonight!
Posted by: Carrie C. | June 5, 2007 12:28 PM
It was great to see Jason hang tough and get the Cubs out of a jam more than once last night. They need all the confidence bossters they can get right now. Soriano provided a big one last night. Let's hope the Cubbies can keep this confidence going and string together a nice winning streak or even better; a dominant June.
Posted by: Michael | June 5, 2007 1:08 PM
Bob, this tea, has been a major disappointment until the past two days. Finally we're starting to see a team play with some spark in their gut. I'm one of those who thought Marquis' signing was the height of foolishness, but he's been the one bright spot in the first third of the season. It's a shame that the old rule that the score keeper can assign the victory to the most deserving pitcher wasn't used in last night's game. Jason deserved the victory.
Posted by: Jim Manis | June 5, 2007 4:18 PM
well marquis did not have his great stuff,buthe pitched with what he had and got throug it,with a lot of help from the defense.and are defense made some bad plays too but i think they made up for it,espn and a lot of critics are writing jason off saying he will fall back into his second half form very soon,were do they come up with this,there is no evidence to even prove this,he is still giving us qaulity innings,also espn jayson stark had soriano on his top ten most overratted players then went on to say he is on pace to hit 16hr's and 30 sum rbi's,good assement stark,not!i betcha he has those numbers by the end of the month,for those who want to see it check out espn and scroll down to the top ten most overatted players,its ridiculous to base a players performance over two months.anyhow i am very happy with what i have seen since all the drama last weekend,soriano is on fire,d.lee and ramirez continue to put up all-star numbers,dero seems to be coming ouuta it,in fact these last two games seemed to be a team effort,nice to see,i see us going on a winning streak or somin like taking the next 8 outta ten maybe more,dont give up yet cub fans we might just get it together,and please people VOTE FOR FONZIE,LEEAND RAMIREZ,THEY ARE WELL DESERVING of another all star appearance.
Posted by: leo s. | June 5, 2007 4:53 PM
one more thing,i know ive said it before but we have a bigtime surplus of outfielders,some of these guys like jones,floyd and especially murton are never gonna hit if they only play a few times a week,its like coming off the d.l. for some of these guys getting thrown right back into action.i agree pie in center,soriano in left and floyd for the most part in right,keep pagan on the bench as well as murton and jones needs to go possible in a deal,jones and a prospect for another established starter.
Posted by: leo s. | June 5, 2007 5:00 PM
BB, In light of Soraino's hot streak, who had the best streak you have seen?
Posted by: Kent | June 9, 2007 6:53 PM