Really?!?!?!

The other day I was on my way to my office when a lady that works in the facility I work at came to me and asked if I was going to a Cubs game in the next few weeks. I informed her that yes I was indeed going to a Cubs game with a friend of mine who is one of the biggest Cubbies fans I know. (He had got tickets for cheap through a friend of his and had no one else to go and so for the love of the game I decided to go against me better judgment and accompany him to the game).
She then proceeded to tell me that on the day I would be at Wrigley field they would not be serving beer at the stadium. Wanting really bad to call her bluff I decided to see where this was going to go. I proceeded to ask why not and she once again that they were no longer able to serve beer at Wrigley Field. I start thinking to myself so you mean to tell me that the ballpark often times referred to as the “The Bar on the North Side with a Baseball Diamond In it” is not going to be serving beer.
Im pretty sure she started to see tones of disbelief in my face as I look at her waiting for the catch. It was then she said what I didn’t really think she would say. Now before I give you her ending to this great story she was telling, let me first say that this lady is and has been a cubs fan for all of her life. She has talked about going with her 21 year old daughter and both of them getting tattoos she however had debated on getting a cub’s logo for her tattoo. Now to me having a teams logo on your body forever is die hard. You can’t get any more dedicated to your team then that.
Now to end the suspense, after seeing much disbelief in my face he proceeded to tell me that they reason for not serving beer at Wrigley field is because they lost there opener.
I couldn’t help but laugh, I mean being a Sox fan for most of my natural born life the fact that a cubs fan has to deal with jokes like that. I almost and I repeat almost breaks my heart.
Yes I have to admit that I am going to be watching a cub’s game with a good friend of mine. I know that as a white Sox fan I should be appalled that I was even invited. I will admit that I would like to once in my life see Wrigley field in person, I would much rather see them play the sox but living in Indiana I have to take the opportunity when it comes.
The original plan for my buddy Paul and I was to try and catch a Cubs game and a White Sox game in the same week if not the same day and take our rivalry even deeper and give us both something to write about having experienced both sides of the coin first hand. That still is a possibility and may still happen but unfortunately not this trip.
In other news how about those White Sox there off to a 7 and 4 start. This is second in the A.L. Central behind the Cleveland Indians one game. The Sox don’t play the tribe until July 22-24. There are a few games between now and then that I'm pretty sure that the Sox can make up that game before the series.
Many players are making strong starts. Paul Konerko is leading the team in RBI’s (12) and Batting AVG. (.381). The Captain is leading as he should. Carlos is off to a great start as well batting a .310 and 10 RBI’s. Juan Pierre is in my opinion is not playing like himself, but for a guy last year who would catch everything hit his way its just not that same. Listings Milledge is not panning out like I hoped he would. I know I know I had high hopes but I thought he would be a great addition to the team. Milledge was sent down to triple A to make room for a reliever.
The Pitching staff has had its ups and downs. Jackson leads the team with 24 strike outs and ERA of 2.89 lowest of all the starting pitchers. Buehrle is Buehrle as usual and Gavin Floyd and John Danks are still trying to get there first wins. Jake Peavy is throwing bullpen sessions no one is real clear as to where he is at in his recovery but being the first to come back from a surgery like this no one knows how things are going to go. Peavy on his good days, is amazing.
Thornton seems to be struggling with the move from Set up man to Closer. He has had 3 save opportunity’s and not been able to close out the game very well. Chris Sale has come in as a relief for Thornton and done OK in his first season in the Majors. With a somewhat of a strong star the Sox seem to be making a decent point that there are in deed “ALL IN”. Lets just hope that this gamble they have taken lands us a spot at the final table. And last but not least…………………………Go Sox.

Even

As I write this I am listening to the Cubs play the Brewers. Baker just hit a 3 run homer to give the Cubs a 5-2 lead. I'm pretty excited. I realized that I needed to write and I figured, what a better time than this. Until this game is over the Cubs are at and even .500. Their record is 3-3. So how was the first full week? Not bad, but not good either. It could've been worse. We could've lost more games, but on the same hand we could've won more. We're not leading our division and that's what matters. We're trailing the Reds and the Pirates. The Reds have been very impressive this first week. The Cubs have shown that they can play, but we haven't seen the leaders that we expected.

We expected a lot from our pitching rotation. We have a strong top three. The bad thing is that currently none of our top three have a W. The good thing is that the young starters on the back end showed great poise. Wells, and Cashner both got W's in their starts and that gave Cubs fans some room for hope until a couple days ago. A few days ago reports came out that the only two winning pitchers that we have are both going on the DL at the same time. Hopefully for a short time, but we'll have to wait and see. Carlos Pena who was supposed to be a great leader on the team missed half of the first week. Carlos Zambrano left his first game with a hurt thumb.

It could've been better. Our strong veterans could've shown up a little more and been a little stronger and maybe we could've pulled out a few more W's. We could've had a first week with no injuries and maybe that would've helped.

It could've been a lot worse. These injuries could've been season ending, like some that the Cardinals have seen so far. So I guess we should be thankful.

The benefit is that we have some more young pitchers who can step up and fill in a little bit in the starting role, specifically Coleman.

The Cubs have shown that they can contend and that if they can stay healthy and everyone can bring their best to the table they can easily be a playoff team. The Cardinals are not showing to be a great team this year, but it's just the first week. The Reds are bringing back memories of the Big Red Machine which would make things difficult for the Cubs. The fact is that it's the first week. I don't want to get my hopes up too high. Being even isn't bad, but it still leaves room for improvement.

I have no doubt that our veteran players will step up and show us what their made of and stand tall and strong. Our rookies have already shown a good attitude and resiliency. I have no doubt that they will continue to do that and bring a fresh energy to the team. I have every hope that this is a great team and that we'll see a good season.

If only our American League counterparts could have something to be optimistic about.

Go Cubs Go!

Opening Day.........Its About Time.

It came and it went, and what do you know the White Sox once again won there season opener. Now the real challenge begins holding the spot atop the AL Central. The twins as of right this moment are losing to the blue jays and the Kansas City Royals are tied up with the L.A. Angles. With Detroit losing to the D@*^ Yankees the White Sox are the leaders. Now I know its only the first game and its still a long season but let me enjoy it while It lasts.
The Sox started the season stronger then most people thought they would be. Know one would have guessed that the White Sox would jump to a 14 to 0 score in 6 innings of the season. Now in football thats a good cushion but in baseball its pretty much a given that you have the game in the bag. The Whites Sox however having a lead that big Manager Ozzy Guillen deiced to pull the starters and let the “Reserves” get some playing time. A decision that almost turned deadly the Indians turned around and scored 10 runs with four in the 6th inning. On 670 am the announcers talked about how Buehrle would still continue to pitch like they only had a one run lead. Someone forgot to tell Buehrle that. He almost failed to notice that the Indians were hitting the first pitch that he kept throwing down the middle of the plate but the Sox still held on and survived.
I was pretty well pleased with the way the bullpen handled the situation. To many ups and downs to call but Ozzy still figured out how to pull off the win. The offensive starter were solid with 2 two run home runs, 18 hits. Adam Dunn went 2 for 4 driving in 4 runs and even chalking up a double. Paulie also went 2 for 4 starting the season strong with a grate plate appearances. Carlos Quintien has returned to the player he needs to be going 3 for 4 driving in 5 RBI'S and hitting a 2 run home run in the 3rd. Lastings Milliedge who barley made the team as it was, had a hit as well but I am still skeptical on this guy. He has a lot of proving to do. I hope he can come and be a decent sub for the outfield.
Ozzy ended up using more pitches then I think he intended to use the pitching staff showed that they were up to the challenge of holding onto a lead even with the other team was Rallying back.
All it all it was a good game for the Sox now all we can hope is that we don't do the same old song and dance and state the season strong to just fizzle out in the middle. I would really like to be watching the Sox playing on into October.

Lets Go Sox