Cubs, Cards Deserve Better Than This

You couldn't have scripted it any better if you tried.  The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs entering a mid-September weekend set in St. Louis sitting first and second respectively in the National League Central.

Apparently, the Cubs didn't read the script.

Simply stated: the Cubs have been exposed as frauds.  No wonder the Yankees-Red Sox series continues to get whored out by network executives.  The Cubs will send Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano to the bump while the Cardinals counter with John Smoltz, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.  On paper, it's must-see-baseball-TV.

Instead, I can almost guarantee the following stories will be written:

• How much the Cubs miss Mark DeRosa and his .233/.303/.402/.705 line since joining the Cardinals.
• Why the Cubs should fire Larry Rothschild and replace him with Dave Duncan...
• ...and Tony La Russa should join him.
• Fantasy scenarios of how Duncan can cure cancer, save the economy and teach Rich Harden how to pitch past the 7th inning.

That is all this series will come down to.  Salvaging a series win would make the Cubs 7-9 against the Cardinals, marking the first time the baby bears have lost a season set to the birds on the bat since the Dusty Baker Era.  A series sweep by the Cubs would tie the series at 8-8.  And ties are like kissing your sister.  At least, that's what I've been told.  I'm an only child, so I have no idea what that whole deal is about.

Sorry to bare the bad news and disappoint.  Maybe I'll write a better Cubs-Cards preview blog next year.

  

Photo via

Cubs, Cards And The Return Of Carp

Long story short, the Cubs are screwed.

If all they could muster off Joel Piniero was three hits, then an offense in which Mike Fontenot is the best option at third base will make Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright look like Bob Gibson and Dizzy Dean.

Sure, Carp is coming off an extended stay in the DL Hotel and hasn't done any minor league rehab ... but he's Chris Carpenter. A former Cy Young award winner who owns a career mark of 7-3 against the Cubs with a 3.08 earned run average, 1.14 WHIP and a 5.69-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in more than 96 innings of work.

And even though he will be making his return to the rotation, I wouldn't be shocked if the Cubs went hitless in St. Louis.

As for Game 3 of this series, the Cubs will have to deal with Wainwright, who has surprisingly struggled this season. Well, except against the Cubs, where Waino already has a win against the Cubs -- thanks in part to Larry Vanover's extended strikezone.

The Cubs will counter with Sean Marshall.

Yep, St. Louis is supposed to be real nice this time of year. But not for the Cubs.

Cubs, Cards To Battle For NL Central Supremacy, Best Lawn Bragging Rights

When the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals take to the green grass of Busch Stadium Jr., no one will care about offensive t-shirts. Unless they work for ballpark security, of course.

The Cubs and Cards renew the National League's best rivalry in what looks to be the most winnable division in all of baseball. The injury-riddled Cubs find themselves at 21-15, a game ahead of the injury-plagued Cardinals (21-17), but two games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers ... who have their own injury concerns now that Rickie Weeks is gone and Craig Counsell will assume the everyday responsibilities that come with being a full-time second baseman.

Seems like the NL Central job market is deep in lawn care specialists and doctors.

Defacto ace Theodore Roosevelt Lilly takes the bump against Joel Piniero in Game 1, and Ryan Dempster and his fancy glove trick will meet the return of Chris Carpenter in Game 2. In what will likely be the rubber match of this series, Sean Marshall (on extended rest) will square off against Cy Wainwright.

The pessimist Cubs fan in me sees the Cardinals winning two-of-three while. The Cubs fan that watched the Cards get swept by the Brew Crew over the weekend sees the Cubs winning two-of-three.

My bookie says take the under in runs scored.

I don't know who to listen to.

Cubs-Cards Reloaded

Today has got to better for the North Side Nine, right?

Carlos Zambrano is on the mound and I have to think after watching yesterday's bullpen performance, Big Z is not going to want to exit early today.

Nor do I want him to.

Zambrano is the Cubs big-name, big-money pitcher and I want him to pitch like that against the team's chief rival ... especially after a brutal loss.

While I'll put yesterday's loss on the relief (or lack thereof), maybe hitting coach Gerald Perry should tell Cubs hitters to aim toward left field.

Watching Chris Duncan patrol the outfield is like watching that kid in Little League who has his finger up his nose, hat on backward, counting clouds in the sky and one pant leg rolled up before a screaming liner comes his way.

Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

I'd be really excited about Cubs-Cardinals, but...

Adam Wainwright vs. Sean Marshall?

In one bullpen, you have Marshall, who is on about seven months rest, having not started a regular season major league game since Sept. 23 against the New York Mets.

Wainwright, well, he's the second coming of Cy Young if you ask Cardinals fans.

In any case, baseball's best rivalry is renewed today in Chicago with a four-game set that already has implications at the top of the division.

And just because I can, I'll drop this picture of Playboy bunny Holly Madison wearing Cubs gear.

I await to see our Cardinals expert's response.

TBDS Civil War has begun!

I wonder if Cupid does miracles

I know that winged baby probably has better things to do today -- (hopefully he's got something planned for me) -- but on the behalf of the SIU men's basketball team, I guess I could ask for a a miracle.

Archrival Creighton leads 42-19 at halftime. The Bluejays scored 44 in the team's last meeting at the SIU Arena.

I would also like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone watching this game, especially if it came on my recommendation. If you have plans, I suggest you start cashing in on those now. If not, I would start making plans.

And if it wasn't for work, my plans now would probably involve a bottle of Jack Daniels and a can of Coca-Cola.

But that's just me.

SIU-Creighton and the best dressed sports writer in the Missouri Valley Conference

I always said I'd wear/do something special if awarded the opportunity to cover the SIU-Creighton game at the SIU Arena.

That day has come. So here it is. For your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy.

Carolina Blue reigns supreme

The Duke Blue Devils had a 52-44 halftime lead against North Carolina.

At home. In Cameron Indoor Stadium. In front of the Cameron Crazies.

Didn't matter.

Tar Heels point guard Ty Lawson dominated this game by cutting through Duke's defense, scoirng 25 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go along with five assists and two steals as the No. 3 team in the country scored 57 second-half points en route to a 101-87 UNC win.

That's right. Tyler Hansbrough and his Tar Heel teammates are undefeated on Coach K's Court. It started with crashing J.J. Redick's senior night party and it ended tonight, turning the tables by scoring more points in the second half (57) than SIU did in its loss at Northern Iowa (55).

Yeah, that's a really, really, really good offense.

North Carolina-Duke: It's Awesome Baby!

Sports Lounge Episode V: Duke v. UNC [Daily Egyptian]

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope your popcorn is ready, college basketball's most polarizing rivalry is only hours from tipping off.

Duke v. North Carolina.

There are some people who love the Dukies. They love the swagger that comes with with black jerseys and black shoes. The pride that comes with the unpronounceable head coach who will likely go down as the greatest coach in men's college hoops history. The confidence that comes with having the refs on your side, no matter what.

Then there are those who bleed Carolina blue. They know what The Dean of College Coaches did in his time to build the storied Chapel Hill program and how much it means to them. They recognize the greatest basketball player in the history of the game (Michael Jordan) started his road to greatness his freshman when he sank Georgetown in the national title game with a little mid-range jumper.


In the end there are people who hate both teams. Duck Fuke! fans would heckle as the Blue Devils stole the spotlight of national stage. And in the same breath they would chant Go to hell Carolina! when the Heels were at the top of the mountain.

And while most of the state of Illinois despised me as I wore Carolina blue and celebrated Roy Williams' national title during the 2004-05 against the Fighting Illini, I didn't care. Like any human, I have my biases.

And to be completely honest, the only time I will root against North Carolina is when they will play my beloved Southern Illinois Salukis.

Until then, Go Heels!

See you on Valentine's Day

I have never been a fan of Valentine's Day, but for the first time (possibly ever) I am looking forward to February 14.

Am I expecting candy? No. Do I have a hot date? Not quite. Do I have big plans? Kinda.

Feb. 14 would be circled on my calendar had I buckled down and bought a 2009 calendar because it's payback.

Yeah, today's blogs are going to be centered around the world of the SIU-Creighton game. Expect the same when UNC-Duke rolls around. Or when Cubs-Cards gets started in April.

While the Bluejays walked away with the win tonight, they should keep a reminder in the back of their mind that they escaped with a one-point win against a short-handed Saluki crew in their own backyard.

Don't expect the same kind of friendly environment when you roll into the SIU Arena.

I H8 CR8N (and the reasons why)

The professional journalistic side of me puts this kind of story out for the newspaper. Fine and dandy. It details some of SIU-Creighton rivalry through the eyes of the Saluki head coach, senior leader, budding freshman star and former player now on the coaching staff.

Then there's the side of me that you guys know. The fan whose blood pressure goes up a little bit whenever the name Creighton is muttered.

That's right, the Missouri Valley Conference's best rivalry is renewed tonight at 7:05 when the Salukis travel to the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., to take on the Bluejays.

So get your game face on and get your wittiest heckles in order and prepare for a little lesson on why I H8 CR*N!

1. Their coach's name is Dana, which happens to be the name of the SIU women's basketball coach. How can a group of young men take a man named Dana seriously ...
2. ... especially when said coach takes a job at Arkansas, does the "ooo pig sooie" trick and turns around one day later to return to Creighton and everyone acts as if nothing happened ... LAME!
3. Blue Jays. Two words. That's how it should be. That is how any level-headed person would expect the team name to read. Nope, not in Omaha. They bring it together to where it reads "Bluejays" which makes no sense.
4. P'Allen is the name of one of their stars. Really? What kind of hallucinogen must you be on to name a child that. And then as a child, how do you not change your name to something respectable the minute you turn 18. Honestly, how can you take someone named "P'Allen" seriously?
5. Kyle Korver. Screw you Korver and all those 3s you nailed over the years. Screw your brothers, who aren't nearly as talented as you are but received scholarships because of their last name. And screw you for being a one-dimensional fantasy basketball player who really isn't that good at that dimension at the next level.
6. Creighton cheerleaders. Three words of advice for these young ladies: Get some sunlight. Had some drinks with a few of these fine young ladies a few years ago, but it was apparent to me that Omaha was a city deprived of sunlight and apparently tanning salons.
7. The Bluejays are the among weakest mascots out there. There might be no less intimidating than a Bluejay in the Missouri Valley. Even Evansville's Purple Aces mascot is a pimp with a cane. You can't f*ck with an angry pimp with a cane ...
8. ... as a continuation of that ... the Bird Cage? Of all the intimidating student sections, the least intimidating has to be one named after a Robin Williams movie.
   
9. Poor spelling. You expect that from drunks like myself, but how do you misspell a stadium? The Qwest Center? Really? Learn to spell you silly goofs.
10. They're Creighton, 'nuff said. Cubs fans don't like the Cardinals. Cardinals fans don't like the Cubs. Yankees fans don't like the Red Sox. Red Sox fans don't like the Yankees. Since the dawn of time there has been the Alpha male and his rival. And in the end, that's what it boils down to.

GO DAWGS!

From the cutting room floor

One of the things that makes the internet awesome is that there is endless space to create posts like this.

Unfortunately, because of the size of Thursday's Daily Egyptian, space was limited for the Cubs/Cardinals arguments that went into the paper.

So I present to you additional offerings, fresh from the cutting room floor.

Jim Edmonds

Once the bane of Cubs fans' existence, the former Gold Glove center fielder has switched alliances and is doing his best to leade the North Side Nine to new heights.

Edmonds will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest players to wear a St. Louis Cardinals uniform, but could ultimately go down in Cubs lore as one of Cubdom's greatest folk heroes if he keeps his act up.

His defense has been superb, and that was to be expected. But what he has done with his resurgent bat has kept him in the lineup.

"Jimmy Baseball" has hit 18 home runs since putting on the Cubbie blue pinstripes in May, providing the Cubs iwth the left-handed hitting power threat the Cubs desperately have been looking for.

Edmonds has also torched his formet mates with a two-homer game (resulting in a Cubs win) and has made several diving catches.

Harry Caray

It's true Cards fans, you had him first. Most of our generation remembers Caray as the lovable Cubs announcer who sang "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" to the masses at Wrigley Field, but Caray got his start working with the Cardinals.

However, Caray didn't become a national icon until joining the Cubs.

It's like what Jay-Z said about his hit song "Dead Presidents II" in the classic track "Takeover"

"You made it a hot line, I Made it a hot song."

caray might have gotten his start in St. Louis, but Chicago made him a superstar.

Wrigley Redux

Not only is WRigley Field awesome because of its orginiality, the fact that it has spawned copy-cats throughout the league.

Houston's MInute Maid Park has the brick backstop and the hand-operated scoreboard and San Francisco's AT&T Park has the bullpens that are in the playing field.

It is a testament to how awesome the beauty on Clark & Addison truly is.

Cubdom has stars, too

Cubs fans that reacted to Brian's story were rightfully upset that Mr. Feldt ignored Cub greats of the past.

It wasn't an oversight - Brian knows his baseball - so I'm going to defend my editor here.

But for every Musial, Gibson, Brock and Smith, the Cubs can answer with Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg.

Not to mention Greg Maddux (twice).

And Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, who had a Hall of Fame career despite having only three fingers on his pitching hand.

Writing stories like this put a smile on my face. Knowing that someone's gonna tweak out over what one of us says about our rivals gets my heart pumping.

That's why I've always wanted to be a part of this journalism thing.

Cards-Cubs rivalry about more than just the division

SalukiOrphan, one of the newest members of TBDS, provides another look of one of baseball's more storied rivalry.

If you're expecting Yanks-Sawks talk, then you can fughettaboutit.

Here's Cubs-Cards from atop the Redbirds' Perch.

As the days of September continue to wind down, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will face off in their final series at Busch Stadium this season.

The Cubs enter the series limping, losing six of the seven September games, but lead the season series 5 games to 4.

Chicago currently holds a nine game edge over St. Louis in the division. Look, they're not going to win the division this year. It's over. They're in third place, five games behind the Brewers in the NL Wild card race and I'm just about ready to wave the white flag there, too.

Still, that doesn't mean the Cardinals don't have anything to play for as the series resumes under the Arch on Tuesday night. This rivalry carries more weight than just a division crown, in fact, this rivalry is on par with Yankees-Red Sox.

The Cardinals have struggled against the Cubs in recent years, dating back to the Dusty Baker Era. Even when the Birds were on top of the National League, they still struggled against Chicago.

If St. Louis can take the season series from the Cubs, Cardinals fans can use the same argument Cubs fans have been using for years: "so what, we beat you in the season series."

Winning the season series from the Cubs would salvage an otherwise disappointing season. Otherwise, Cubs fans will be able to rub it in that they won the division and they beat St. Louis in the season series, to boot.

When that happens, all Cardinals fans will be able to talk about is how the Cubs blew it in the playoffs again.

'The Cadillac Of Baseball Rivalries' Is Renewed

Ed. Note: Yeah, I had to use a picture of Jim Edmonds, who is killing the ball as a Cub to the tune of a .279/.381/.588 clip with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in.

Back in January, when Cubs fans were desperately conjuring scenarios in which Ryan Dempster was dealt to a team in the North Pole and Kosuke Fukudome was projected to hit .330 with a .400 OBP, I came upon a story calling Cubs-Cards the Caddie of baseball rivalries.

And even though it takes a backseat to Yanks-Sawks, it's an analogy that hits it on the head. Because unlike Yankees-Red Sox, there isn't much personal hatred between Cubs and Cards fans...just that whole Brock for Broglio thing and that Sammy-McGwire thing and that Kent Bottenfield-won-18-games-for-you-how? thing.

It's purely a baseball thing.

Wanna start trouble at a bar? Tell a Cards fan that the Cubs have taken every season series since Dusty Baker took over the helm. Tell 'em they can't excuse Rick Ankiel's HGH-usage if they won't be willing to do the same with Barry Bonds. Tell 'em how much you love the Belgians.

They'll come back with 2006 and 100 years.In the end, it's baseball purest rivalry. Two teams representing what some would call the Midwest's finest cities in America's Game.

(Half-hearted joking sidebar: sorry, I'm not sold on a city whose main attraction is an arch...if I want arches, McDonald's has two.)

And in 2008, the stakes are bit higher.The Cubs are lead by nine All-Stars and are rolling with the best record in the National League, winning eight of its last 10 ballgames. The Cardinals in third place, six games back led by Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, whose out-of-nowhere season is seemingly a yearly occurrence for at least one of the Cards' everyday players.

And even though they're six out in the division, the Cards are sittin' pretty in the Wild Card standings, one game behind the Brewers who are bound to have another dugout slugout before this year is done.

A series win by the Cubs could push the Cards further (or is it farther?) out of contention. A series win by the Cards gives the Saint Louisans a glimmer of hope and something to brag about until the next series.

So park your Chevrolet (or Cadillac, in this case) and break out the Apple Pie because it doesn't get more American than this.