Sunday, June 18, 2006

Tigers 12- Cubs 3

After a succesful road trip, the Cubs went 0-6 at home. I got to witness yesterday's 9-3 loss and there wasn't much to say about that one, just like there was nothing to write about today's game. Even if the Cubs pitching lets up 5 runs, they still lose this game, because the offense really sucks. Mark Prior pretty much looked like Glendon Rusch the guy he replaced on the roster when Rusch went on the DL before the game. Hopefully Rusch can get back to showcase his skills for a possible July trade. His back spasms sound like something he's had and played with for a while. Now a tough road trip to Cleveland and Minnesota, two teams that really scare me, but just about any team scares me these days, besides Pittsburgh and Kansas City and maybe Baltimore.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Czech Republic 3- USA 0

Wow. That's about all I could think watching this game. As I talked to the Puget Hound (former roommate and soccer expert), his reaction was, "Well, it didn't really surprise me." I kind of felt the same way. It wasn't as if the US got cheated by the Czech or anything. All three goals were awesome shots and executed perfectly. I wish the US had done more with their possessions, but they couldn't connect at all. If you didn't see Bruce Arena's interview today, it was basically nobody showed up including Donovan and Beasley, although Oneywu, Convey and Eddie Johnson played pretty well. The US has a huge hill to climb, but they still "control their destiny" so to say. We'll see if it happens.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Cubs 9- Reds 3

The Cubs got a bunch of things right today: 1. Hit home runs with guys on base. They did that 3 times while the Reds hit 3 solo home runs. 2. Bat Neifi Perez 8th when he plays, and look how he responded. 3. Play Phil Nevin. With a team starving for offense, I have no idea why he doesn't play against right handers. He would be the leading home run hitter with his AL home runs. I know that his splits against right handers aren't very good, but neither are Jaques Jones's against left handers and he's been run out there a bunch this week against left handers. 4. Bring up a pitcher that will throw strikes. It was a great debut for Carlos Marmol, a guy that likes to challenge hitters. That being said, I hope he does not stay in the rotation, meaning Kerry Wood and/ or Mark Prior are back in their every day situations. A great road trip, even with the hick up in Houston Wednesday.

The Heat
The Heat lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals tonight, getting blown out by the Mavericks. Really nobody on the Heat had a good game, sans James Posey, even Wade. Antoine Walker for as good as he was on the offensive end, was awful defensively. He was always out of position, making poor decisions running at shooters or helping. In the middle of the 4th as the Heat were making a decent run, Antoine decided to double whoever was bringing the ball up, leaving his man, Jerry Stackhouse wide open for a 3, putting the real end to the game. The Heat are in real trouble if Udonis Haslem cannot come back from whatever shoulder injury he has. The Heat do not have anybody his size to guard Nowitzki or rebound. Speakin gof Nowitzki, I still don't see it. He has been awful defensively the last two games. For a guy his size, he should at least challenge shots. Tonight on a Wade break, he looked way to European, when Dwyane turned him around twice. Dwyane's going to try to score, you need to go to the basket, not spin away from it. I can see it now, if the Mavericks win. It will be all about how Dirk is such a great player that he defers to his teammates when he needed to win a title. Whatever.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Cubs 4- Reds 2

Michael Barrett's grand slam in the 7th inning won the game for the Cubs tonight. That and Carlos Zambrano's great pitching performance. Both of these individuals are good possibilities for the All-Star team, although Barrett may have a tough time after he slugged AJ. As Bob Brenly pointed out tonight, the Cubs drew 6 walks as a team tonight, most after the 5th inning. Juan Pierre also used his speed to keep the seventh inning alive, forcing an errant throw to first. The Cubs did leave the bases loaded twice after that however, oppurtunites that would could have busted the game wide open. Tommorrow, I am very interested to see Carlos Marmol make his major league starting debut. The one thing that I liked about him in his two appearances was the ability throw first pitch strikes. That will almost always make a pitcher succesful.