May 15, 2008...11:56 pm
Game 41
- Thursday May 15th – Wrigley Field
- Cubs 4 – Padres 0
- Record (25-16) – 1st place in the NL Central
- Season-high 10-game homestand – (6-1)
The skinny: Hanging around a Major League ballpark always seems to lift my spirit. It’s been that way my whole life. I just love everything about it, the smells, the sounds, the fans and the games.
So, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity this afternoon to watch Greg Maddux pitching against Cubs newbie Jim Edmonds. By 12:45 I was heading east on Waveland with Wrigley in site.
Particularly, I was interested to see how the Chicago fans would react to Edmonds’ introduction for the starting line-up – it was a mixed chorus of cheers and boos – and how Maddux would fare in what could be his final appearance at the Friendly Confines.
As you would have guessed, I clapped for Edmonds and cherished watching Maddux (4.1 IP, 4-R, 11-H, 0-BB and 1 K) work one last time.
Clearly, Maddux was the headline act, but Ryan Dempster (8.1 IP, 0-R, 6-H, 1-BB 12 K) stole the show.
All year the red-head has been brimming with confidence on the mound, staying ahead in the count, limiting walks, and above all else, pitching well consistently.
Even during spring training I reminded myself not to get too high on Dempster’s return to the rotation. If the metamorphosis didn’t work I certainly wasn’t going to cry about it all summer.
However, I don’t think anyone expected Dempster would be dealing like an ace with a (5-1) record into mid-May. I know I didn’t.
Maddux, on the other hand, was lucky to reach the fifth inning. Had the Cubs not helped Greg out of a couple of early jams by rapping into two double plays and Aramis’ base running gaffe, the legend may have been pulled after two frames.
Nonetheless, the Cubs finally put everything together in the fifth with a four-run rally: all the runs they needed.
My boy Ronny Cedeno was one of four Cubs with a multi hit game. And don’t look now, but Aramis had three more hits this afternoon pushing his average to .294.
It’s about time for the big man to break into a sizzle at the plate and this could happen against Pittsburgh’s three starting left-handers over the weekend.
Plus, God willing, the weather might actually peak above 50-degrees (of course I’m bitter; its 45-degrees in the middle of friggin’ May).
Plus, this stat won’t get the attention it deserves, but Chicago is leading the entire league in OBP (.399). In turn, the team also leads the league in runs scored; again showing OBP and RS go hand in hand.
Edmonds arrival truly puts the finishing touches on this potent line-up. In fact, it’s very American League-like when viewed top to bottom: no breathers. Heck, even Dempster knocked in an RBI this afternoon.
Man, it was weird seeing Edmonds (1-for-4) sporting blue pinstripes and trotting out to center. It’s not like I haven’t seen players switch teams before, but this was different.
I started thinking about this weirdness during the game, what player moves would have been the equivalent of Edmonds playing for Chicago?
My list: Barry Larkin in a Mets uniform (that nearly happened, by the way), Edgar Martinez in an Oakland uni, Tony Gywnn in Angels gear or perhaps, Bonds in Dodgers’ blue.
Of course, I’d be interested in hearing some of your suggestions on this topic, maybe something more current like Jeter playing for Boston or something.
Anyway, today’s visit to the ballpark definitely lifted my spirit. Although, another part of it is the team’s victory and my overall good feelings for this club right now.
W: Dempster (5-1) – Wood (8)
L: Maddux (3-4)
- Notes: Dempster was two outs away from his first complete game in six years.
- During one stretch this afternoon he retired 15 batter in a row.
- The Cubs are now 7-2 when the right-hander starts.
- At 25-16 the Cubs are off to its best start since 1987, sharing identical records (25-16).
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