Deadspin
Because we are committed to the month of October affording us as little sleep as possible, we stayed up and watched the whole Cubs-Diamondbacks game last night, and we don't quite understand all the fuss about Lou Piniella pulling Carlos Zambrano after the sixth inning.
Sure, Zambrano had looked great. But so had Brandon Webb, who's the real reason Arizona won. Zambrano is notoriously fragile in the brain, and giving up the winning run might have caused him more trouble than overextending his arm might have. Also, Carlos Marmol is awesome, though he wasn't last night. It just didn't work out that way.
Do you really want a guy like the Dustbag, who can only think one game (hell, one minute) at a time, or do you want someone who can see the big picture? Lou knows, that if our hitters start hitting, there WILL be a Game 4, and we are actually set up better for Game 4 than if he wrung Zambrano out for every last pitch he had. He also knows what he has with Marmol, and maybe when the chests get tight and men reach for their nutsacks, maybe instead of reflexively reaching for Marmol, he insteads opts for Wood or Howry.
We are a bit bewildered by the histrionics of Piniella's move. Of the three teams who lost yesterday, the Cubs would seem to be in the best shape. The Phillies are down 1-0 at home, and the Angels just looked bedazzled. The Cubs lost to the best pitcher in baseball. It happens. Now if they lose tonight, it's probably time to freak out. Not that Cubs fans would ever do that.
Gordon Wittemeyer Has Proven He Is A Witless Ninny [Goat Riders Of The Apocalypse]
Comments
Who are we kidding Cubs fans... Save the hassle and jump off the bridge now... Do it...
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey...
The Cubs lost to the best pitcher in baseball.
Johan Santana pitches for the Diamondbacks?
Is that Valverde? And why is he flashing gang signs at me?
Piniella also said he'd pull out during a sexual encounter with Bea Arthur. He's confident in his spooning abilities.
NINETEEN OH EIGHT!
NINETEEN OH EIGHT!
I understand Brian Griese is starting Game 2.
WestSiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide
Hey Cubs fans, don't worry: just whip out those WS games 3 and 4 tickets. They should help you find comfort, right?
A bit of deadspin inside information: Brandon Webb killed Bob Gibson and ate his soul on Tuesday night, and therefore became the best pitcher in baseball.
The Cubs lost to the best regular season pitcher in baseball.
i believe the best postseason pitcher in baseball made his case loud and clear last night
Big shocker. This exact situation was predicted in the book of Revelation- just ask Kirk Cameron or a Colorado Rockie of your liking.
So Augie Ojeda goes from getting pity ovations at Wrigley for pinch-running to being a postseason starter?!?!
I still like the Cubs' chances.
@lieutenant winslow: You mean Josh Beckett?
@Matt_T: Till I die.
titty sprinkles
Tedy Bruschi is not impressed with Jose Valverde's shocker variant.
@lieutenant winslow: The Yankees don't play until today.
Can we not spend the next week talking about that fucking goat again?? I'll cut somebody if that happens...
@lieutenant winslow:
Good article on your boy Kimbo in Maxim. Since he trained in martial arts for a MMA match, he says he won't street-fight any more because he might kill someone.
@OhTheHugeManatee: I don't know what that means so I'm going to say "yes".
Please, Cubs, slay the Diamondbacks. FOX is already up Byrnes' ass...I don't even want to think about what will happen if his team is still alive when they get coverage.
Well, at least the Indians have Borowski this time around. Oh wait, the Cubs still have Dempster.
@Phony Gwynn: I think we're forgetting about Brett Tomko
1 in the pink, 2 in the stink.
@goathair: Thumb in the uterus.
Jim Lampley's ex-wife has the same kind of problem with her hands
@StupidAngelos: Probably have his dog run around the outfield. Or that stupid hot tub over the right field fence.
"Mr. Wilbon, would you say it's time for Cub fans to crack each other's heads open, and feast on the goo inside?"
Hey! Has anyone noticed that Eric Byrnes is quirky in an endearing way? And what hustle!
Did I really just watch Bruce Lee fight in French?
Don't worry Will, we're not.
When did Little Richard start pitching for the D-Backs?
@Gourmet Spud: As soon as they're done tightening their chests and reaching for their nutsacks.
Your avatar might be getting some interesting emails and phone calls today.
The Cubs lost to the best pitcher in baseball.
Santana? Sabathia? Peavy? Carmona? Beckett?
Oh. It's just Brandon Webb.
@ClueHeywood: "Grit" and "hustle" is middle-aged-sportswriter-speak for "White Guy who's okay at sports".
I hope the Diamondbacks make quick work of the Cubs. I just won't be able to tolerate all of this 1908 crap if they get anywhere near the World Series.
@Shea Guevara: Yep. See also "Posession Receiver" and "Deceivingly Fast"
Yet? The Cubs fans have been in panic mode since April... of 1909.
Ok, homer alert again...
I don't know if I'd say the Cubs are in the best shape of the G1 losers. Webby made the Cubs best hitters look silly. (but did get hit hard by Zambrano...???) Now the Snakes will get at least to G4, where I would love to see the look on 'Brano's face if Owings takes him deep. Oh yes, Webby comes back in G5 on full rest, all the pressure in the series is on the Cubs, with everyone picking them, then there are goats, Bartman, and the like.
@McBain: Webb > Carmona and Peavy
@Off The Baggie: Should a guy from Minnesota be telling people to jump from a bridge?
@McBain: After Monday's outing, you may want to strike Peavy from that list.
Bring in the Cum Dempster!
@ClueHeywood: Keyshawn is white?
The Cardinal fan speaks the truth. Pinella made the right move. Ramirez, Lee and Soriano going 1 for 13; and the Cubs leaving 8 on base is what lost this game.
"Don't Blame Me... I'm Supportin' Orton!"
OK... I'm very disturbed right now.
Yesterday I made my once a week or so comment here on Deadspin which poked fun at Jay Mariotti's new picture that was on display in yesterday's post about him.
Well I woke up a few minutes ago and had a voice mail waiting for me. It was a couple of minutes of some dude ranting about Lou Pinella pulling Zambrano early (personally I would have pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the 6th but that's neither here nor there.
As I listened to this drunk sounding venomous rant, my mind raced trying to figure out who the caller was. Then the verbal hurricane subsided and after a moment, that voice said... "This has been Jay Mariotti from the Chicago Sun-Times."
Now, I know he's got that new phone thing his doing but absolutely no one I know would go through the effort to sign me up for something like that as a prank.
I am so crapping my pants right now.
Apparently you don't fuck with the Mariotti either.
Oh yeah, I forgot about this...
Did anyone see that douche with the light-up Cubs sign right behind home plate when Valverde was pitching?
Can you really "panic" when you already know they are going to lose?
@ILoveIt: I cant believe he actually got away with that for a couple pitches before the 2nd base upm busted him!
I almost wanted someone to get a hit while that was going on, just to see a couple enraged D'Bax fans (there has to be a couple, right?) pounce on him and give him a swift beating.
I take no issue with Piniella pulling Crazy Carlos when he did, but I just don't understand why he didn't pinch-hit for him with the bases loaded the previous half-inning if he knew he was going to pull him so soon afterward. I know Crazy Carlos is pretty damned good at the plate for a pitcher, but I have to think at least one of the guys on the Cubs' bench (allegedly the best bench in the playoffs according to Baseball Prospectus) would have been better there.
Oh, and um... Anchorman reference.
CUBS WOO! CUBS WOO! CUBS WOO!
@Barry Lutz: agreed, Daryl Ward should have taken that at-bat if we were pulling Z anyway an inning later
@Barry White Stripes, Office Left Winger:
Yeah, that guy should've gotten the beatdown, with his skintight blue T-shirt and '80s douche hair. I think he might've had a diamond stud earring, too. I wish someone would've taken the sign and broken his jaw with it.
@Barry Lutz: Yep. That's the bigger issue in my mind. That being said, I'm guessing Lou was thinking about his two earlier at-bats and Ward's thumb.