Results tagged ‘ Kevin Gregg ’
Again–Gregg Loses Another Game With Homerun
I was a little nervous for this game because Ted Lilly was just coming off the disabled list for his shoulder inflammation and they did a surgery on his knee. I didn’t get to see this game, but from everything I have read he had a pretty solid outing and it was given up by two things–the two things that have plagued the Cubs all year. Lack of run support and Kevin Gregg.
It suprises me that Piniella has waited this long into the year to realize that maybe Kevin Gregg is not the closer that the Cubs need. He has lost so many games for us with the homerun ball that it’s unbelievable. I know the guy has to be feeling pretty crappy, but feeling bad doesn’t win us ball games. Sure Wood blew some saves, but everytime they brought him in I was confident that we would win. Why did we trade him again? Sheesh. They mentioned Marmol as being one of the options and I just laughed, that guy has no control this year. He may not get us the loss by the homerun, but he walks about three of every five batters and then they get a hit every now and again. Oh and the hit by pitch…so if they are patient with him, chances are they can score some runs there.
Derrek Lee hit another triple, this one was a leadoff and Aramis Ramirez drove him in for our only run. I know we left something like ten on base, again. Got to find a way to get those runs in, boys. Give the pitcher some breathing room. You know, seventeen runs is a nice number to let that pitcher just go about his business knowing he has some room to work with if he makes a mistake. Might need all of those if Gregg is closing the game.
Sadly with not watching this game I didn’t get to see my Fontenot, but I watched the video highlight and that was a nice diving start to a double play in the sixth that saved a run. Lilly is very happy with it as you can see in the above picture. It’s nice to know we still have some defense after looking a lot like a little league team recently.
We are now six games out and not much more season left. The Cubs better hit a serious hot streak if we even have a shot and hope the Cardinals actually start losing some ball games. I don’t for see us getting anywhere near where we need to be, unfortunately. Last year we had a winning ballclub and then Hendry traded everyone, so now we have miss matched pieces that cannot possibly make a whole in the last month or so of the season. One thing I fear happened is they took away our chemistry. Hopefully they don’t get stupid in this off season and start trading our starting rotation. It needs to stay with Big Z, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden and Randy Wells. They would be crazy to let Randy Wells go or end up in triple-A, with few bad outings he has been a solid arm in that starting rotation.
Well, here is hoping we can win today. I get to watch it, but I will only get to see the first hour as I will have to go to bed because work comes very early in the morning. Good luck to my Cubbies and I hope that Theriot gets to feeling better soon. I would much rather have him at short. Miles is another one that was really good for the Cardinals, but hasn’t shown much for us this year. Here’s to another day and another chance. Go Cubs Go!
Final Score: Padres 4 Cubs 1
~Milli~
Cubs Fight, But Lose In Extras
This blog is my first real game blog since coming back from Colorado. Yahoo Sports pictures aren’t working right now, so it will be pictureless. This was an odd game, Harden pretty much dominated through most of it, I have never seen him pitch so well. Then Rollins tied it and Harden seemed to lose his command.
Carlos Marmol was his same erratic self and walked in a run giving them the lead, but we came back to tie it in the ninth, sending us to extra innings where it remained scoreless until the twelth when the Phillies got another homerun off Gregg and we couldn’t catch up.
How about Milton Bradley? He had a 4-5 game in Colorado and numerous hits yesterday to go along with three amazing catches in right field. He is finally starting to look like the player that we expected him to be the whole time.
Jeff Baker has really been showing some stuff, too. He’ll see the majority of playing time at second, which is sad because I prefer Fontenot. How can Fontenot fight for a position if he is stuck on the bench? That being said, it is nice to see Jeff Baker producing for us finally. I have questioned this trade since we made it.
Yesterday’s game was probably the only one we had a chance at winning against the Phillies, but hopefully the Cubbies will be swinging harder today and make some great plays to win. With all of the injuries to our key players, it’s hard to make a run for the post season. We are still in second, though, we just need to step up our game.
Then there is Ryan Theriot. Holy crap this guy is amazing! He has been in 105 games this year and doesn’t look like he is slowing down. I believe there is still just one game he has been kept out of and he leads the team in three catergories…runs, stolen bases and average. I knew last year that we had something special in him, this year everyone has come to the same conclusion.
Well, here is hoping that today goes better for us and we can get back on a winning streak. Go Cubs Go!
Final Score (12 innings): Phillies 4 Cubs 3
~Milli~
*Note: If anyone is interested in seeing some more pictures from my trip like batting practice and the game you can always visit my facebook page and look at them there. You can search me under Millisa Rose Harvey.
Fontenot Gives Cubs Early Lead In Win!
I love when Randy Wells is on the mound for us. This guy can pitch! Nothing over powering, but perfectly placed pitches keep him streaking in the wins. He has eight right now, one behind our team leader, Lilly. The Cubs would not be in first right now without him and I hope that he continues on this way so that next year he can contend for another starting spot in the rotation, there is no reason he shouldn’t get one at this rate. Not only was his pitching fantastic, he hit his first career double in the second inning!
Mike Fontenot got us off on an early lead and it was great to see him get two hits in this game. I love this guy and get frustrated right along with him when he gets good hits on the ball, but someone in the outfield is always there to get it. Hopefully this will help keep him out of the slump and we’ll see the Fontenot we are used to.
In the second inning, Bradley was hit by a pitch and Soriano singled, setting the ground work for Fontenot to hit a 2-2 pitch to almost the deepest part of the park.
Ryan Theriot went without a hit and so did Aramis Ramirez, that was really weird, good thing Fontenot and D. Lee were there to drive the runs in! Theriot did have a sac bunt in the eighth which put Fukudome on second for D. Lee to drive in on the double.
I’m sure Gregg feels bad for his two blown saves so now it’s time to get over it. A closer will blow saves, just like starters will have bad outings. I think as Cub fans we are hard on Fontenot and Gregg because we lost two of our most beloved players from those positions. I’m going to try very hard not to bash Gregg anymore and hope that he gets more comfortable and doesn’t blow too many more saves on the year. As a team, we are loooking fairly good, now if we can get the bullpen pitching going and keep the offense rolling, we might have a shot.
Marmol still looked very erratic, thank you to Piniella for getting out there and barking at him. I don’t know what he said, but he seems to pitch better when he is angry for getting yelled at. He sure cleared up and ended up with the save.
Let’s beat those Reds again today and take the series. Keep it rolling for Colorado when I come watch them beat the Rockies. 
Go Cubs Go!
Final Score: Cubs 4 Reds 2
~Milli~
5 Days Until Game Time!!
Derrek Lee Once Again Saves Kevin Gregg
Carlos Zambrano was unusally erratic last night and managed just three innings. Later it was said that he had a stiff lower back, which could be why he was having so many problems finding the strike zone. Hopefully his next start, he’ll be a little more sharp and back to the Big Z that we are used to.
The Cubbies started out very strong in the first two innings. Fukudome was walked in the first and later erased on Blanco’s FC (Theriot starting the night with a rare one off). Lee singled and Blanco moved to third. Rammy doubled Blanco and Lee in, with Lee making a great slide to get his hands under the catchers legs. Doesn’t have to be pretty just has to get the job done.
Then Rammy would move to third and score on a wild pitch and throwing error. In the second, the Cubbies tacked on another three runs with Fontenot starting the inning doubling, Hill grounded to second base which moved Fontenot to third. Fukudome walked again, followed by a walk issued to Blanco to load the bases. Lee singled again scoring Fontenot and Fukudome and then Rammy singled Blanco home. Score was quickly 6-0, however the Marlins would fight back in the eighth to come within one run of us.
Ryan Theriot leads the team with the most games played, now sitting at one hundred. I believe he has had one complete game off this year. Talk about Hill being a work horse, Theriot has also been a staple to this team all year. He came in late to this game. Striking out in the sixth, singling in the eighth and then hitting a beautiful two RBI triple in the ninth. So I’m thinking 8-5 we have the game locked down. In comes Gregg, who looked very sharp for the first two batters and lost it tying the game at the end of the inning to take us into extras.
Derrek Lee hit his twenty-first homerun, which is more than he hit last year, to make the score 9-8 and thankfully we were able to hold onto it. Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch and later left because he was dizzy. I sure hope he is alright, we can’t afford to lose him again. It’s no joke that the bats started to warm up when he was back in the lineup. I saw cute little Fontenot help him into the clubhouse. Did I mention I am a huge fan of Fontenot’s?
So in a wild game where we saw the lead swap teams a lot in the final innings, Zambrano erractic, Marmol load the bases with one out and somehow manage to keep the lead and Gregg who tied the game blowing the save and still gettting the win for it. The most crazy part being Soriano moved to second…then to third…then to second…hmmm…at least it worked out and no balls were hit in his direction.
Rest Theriot so that he can play on Saturday!! Against the Rockies!! So I can see him and start Fontenot! I must see the Cajun Connection. I won’t get to watch todays game because it isn’t showing on my networks so I will keep track of it via the Cubs website. Go Cubs Go! Let’s beat the Marlins and then go on to beat the Reds.
Final Score (ten innings): Cubs 9 Marlins 8
~Milli~
6 Days Until Game Time!!
Rammy Flexes More Power In Cubs Victory
It is great to have Rammy back! I didn’t get to watch this game, but I hope the Cubs are putting it together now. The last three games we have looked great, minus Heilman’s pitching. I’m glad they brought Gregg in for that last out, because Heilman was giving up too many long balls.
Soriano and Bradley also homered in this game and Theriot extended his hitting streak. Yay! I don’t have much I can write about because I didn’t actually see it, but we put up
another W, so that makes me happy! I almost forgot to mention D. Lee’s triple!! Go Cubs Go!
Final Score: Cubs 5 Reds 3
~Milli~
14 Days Until Game Time!!
Bad Calls Set Tone in Cubs Loss
Another disappointing loss. We had two very bad calls against us, but the first one with Fukudome sliding into second before the ball and getting called out was the worst! He was running before the pitcher even threw the ball, how the heck did he get called out at second?! It was ridiculous and you know what is just as ridiculous as the bad calls? Keving Gregg letting two runs score and really putting it out of reach for us.
Kevin Hart did not have amazing pitching, but somehow he kept us in it. I don’t know how. I knew with that call against Fukudome, we would lose. Every time we get a bad call in the begining of the game, it kind of sets the whole tone for the entire game. Then to hear that Soto may end up on the DL, it just keeps getting worse.
We are at the five hundred mark and still in thrid, so I guess that is the good news.
Hopefully this off day will recharge the batteries of the offense and we can score some runs against the Cardinals when they come to town this weekend.
Rammy had another hit this game, which is more than I expected so I’m glad to see him getting some hits, when he is fully back, hopefully that will help. I knew that too many people rested all of our troubles on his shoulders and it was unfair to not only him, but this team. Because we have a team that should hit. If Milton Bradley could get going that would really be great. We are spending a lot of money on him and Soriano for no production that is where it is really hurting us right now.
Not much to say about this game, I wish someone knew how to help this team pick up some hits. We were getting some yesterday, just not enough in order to score the runs we needed. Theriot was added back to the game late when Soto was pulled out, he had another multi-hit game and has been one of the constants on this team. Fontenot did not start in this game, but came in to play in the end and hit into a DP. The DP was not our friend yesterday with Theriot, Fontenot and Lee all hitting into DP’s. Congrats to Fukudome for his homerun, the only run we put on the board. Go Cubs Go!
Final Score: Braves 4 Cubs 1
~Milli~
Micah’s Late Heroics Blown By Kevin
This was a pretty entertaining game to say the least. We struck first and had a lot of chances to get more runs, especially when we loaded the bases with nobody out, but once again we didn’t capitalize as much as we could have.
Up until the eighth inning I was thinking that Lou had flipped his lid. They had to have a scouting report that said the Tigers starting pitcher was dominating lefties and it definitely showed throughout the innings he pitched. Once they went to their bullpen our lefties got some hits. Hoffpauir with his two run homer that gave the Cubs the lead in the late innings and Mike Fontenot with a single that was erased with a fielders choice.
It is upsetting to get the feeling that when your closer comes in you are going to lose. It shouldn’t be like that. I know that Kerry Wood isn’t pitching very well this year, it might just be the change in atmosphere, but last year he came in and you knew you had a chance at winning even with just a one run lead. He blew six saves throughout the course last year. Gregg, I believe, has already blown three. I just don’t have the confidence to back him up, of course, maybe last year it didn’t hurt as bad because we were playing so well and could afford to drop a game occasionally. This year we are teetering at the five hundred mark.
I sure hope that Reed Johnson is better soon, Fukudome needs to have a mental break. The guy has one good game and everyone is like he is back, but then he gets nothing again. He’ll draw his walks, but a hitter like Fukudome needs to get those hits.
So in the eighth inning, Micah Hoffpauir hit a two run homerun that put us in the lead. Marmol kept it for us and we went into the ninth, with one out I thought for sure we would be fine and Gregg could have a chance at closing it down. Then they got their two run homerun and we lost. I’m not naive enough to think we will always win in that situation, but once in awhile it would be nice. That being said, we are still in the running and today is another day.
I feel the need to talk a little bit about Brandon Inge. I hope this guy is as standup as he seems. The announcers zoomed in on his new ‘tattoo’ and explained the story. Brandon had made it to visit a kid in the hospital and his name was Tommy. If the story the announcers gave was correct, apparently he told this sick little boy that he was always giving his autograph and that he wanted Tommy’s. He signed Brandon’s arm and Brandon played with it there. The story was sweet and I couldn’t begrudge him the homerun he did hit, hoping that Tommy wanted him to hit one for him. I enjoy stories that take you a little deeper into the lives of baseball players. I think sometimes we forget that they have families and do charity work, much like everyone else. They just happen to go put their uniforms on everyday and go to work playing America’s favorite past time.
Now it’s time to mention Derrek Lee. Yesterday, he hit a double in the sixth inning, not only stretching his hitting streak to twenty games, but it was his 1600th career hit! This guy is on fire, I really hope that Piniella doesn’t pull him to DH. While he is hitting, let him stay in the game. Also, the errors he saves over there at first, we need him. Congratulations, D. Lee.
Ryan Theriot is also on a hitting streak right now. I believe with his hit in the first inning yesterday that stretches his to nine games. Theriot had a lot of multi hit games last year and has almost done half that already this year, I really believe the things he does for this team is over looked. One day he will break out and everyone will realize how amazing he is.
Let’s win today! Go Cubs Go!!
Final Score: Tigers 5 Cubs 4
~Milli~
Soriano Delivers Clutch RBI in Ninth
Alfonso Soriano won the game for us…? Who would have thought? I thought by the seventh we were going to lose again, but the team really came through.
The bench capitilized on errors with Micah Hoffpauir reaching on one in the eighth, Soriano singling and after Theriot and Bradley were retired, D. Lee came up and hit a three-run homerun to make the game 4-5 with the Sox still winning, but our team finally looking like the bats had come alive. After D. Lee hit his homerun, Soto came up and said watch, I can do that too. He homered and tied the game. Gregg held the White Sox in check for their half of the ninth and we saw some more bench players. Reed Johnson came in to single and Blanco laid down a perfect sac bunt, sending Reed to second. Miles grounded out and Soriano singled. By the time Soriano was up there were already two outs, so Reed was able to just take off and not worry if the ball was caught or not so when it dropped he was already crossing home!
The Cubs won 6-5 on a game that we were behind up until the eighth inning. We are back at five hundred and I hope this wakes us up. We split the series with the White Sox and next we get to see the Indians. This is a series for me, that I have trouble choosing one team. I am a diehard Cubs fan, but I can’t help but hope DeRo does well. I miss him.
This is a picture of Soto running the bases after his fourth homerun and that’s the Cub’s fans cheering in the background. We never stop believing and I truly hope that the guys realize win or lose, they will always have the best fans! I’m glad that the White Sux are out of our territory now bring on the Tribe!
Oh and I have to find a spot for my Fontenot. Today he hit a single and walked. Hehe, I almost forgot this picture of him breaking up the double play by running into their shortstop. I love the picture so I’m going to post it, too.
Final Score: Cubs 6 White Sox 5
~Milli~
*I just liked this picture!
When Things Are Bad…
…this is just the way they go. Our outfielders collide, the bats sleep and nothing seems to go in your favor. How do we end this slump? *shrug* I believe that is the million dollar question right now. No one has answers for it. Maybe Hendry should rethink all of the changes he made this year because that has to be part of the problem. With what had been such a fantastic team, too many bad trades were made.
Honestly, I’m surprised that Soriano could collide with Fukudome going for a fly ball when he rarely runs for the ball anyway.
I honestly can’t say that most of the guys are playing without heart. I think D. Lee said it the best when he said, “We’re just not hitting. You can try too hard. Hitting is almost the opposite. You really have to relax, and the more at-bats you go without a hit, the more you press. We have to find a way to settle down.”
For all of the lack of offense we are still just three and a half games back, we are still totally in this. I believe we’ll be the come from behind team. Right now nobody is expecting much and then all of the sudden the offense wakes up and supports our great starting pitching and maybe Hendry realizes that Gregg is not closer material and Marmol is better just left in the bullpen finding another setup man. There was a comment that said Ascanio and Waddell should be our setup and closer. However, I think they should mention Guzman. Though the last time I saw him he struggled, he has been really good out of the bullpen this year. It’s hard to keep the good ones in the bullpen rested when we’ve been playing so many extra inning games and he is a strikeout pitcher.
Ted Lilly is making his bid for the All Star Game and I would love to see him get it. He is better this year than last year and hopefully our bats can back him up today as we finish the series against the Twins.
I love the Cubbies so much and wish I had the magical answer for them, however, I do not. So I will be here watching every loss and the few wins until they find their stride again. Let’s get some hits today and score some runs. I’ll be watching!
Final Score: Twins 2 Cubs 0
~Milli~
Clutch RBI By Micah Wins it in the Eleventh!
I would say a big thanks to Micah Hoffpauir is needed for us finally winning a road baseball game. Last nights win broke our 0-7 road losing streak and hopefully will help us to break out and start showing our potential.
This time even our bullpen didn’t let us down after Lilly pitched a great game only allowing one earned run. Guzman, Marmol and Gregg all pitched well to help keep it a tie. So all and all I would say that the team worked well together last night.
Ryan Theriot struggled at the plate again, going 1-4, with two double play balls and a hit by pitch (in the rib cage…again), but defensively he probably had the best game last night. I’m glad to see him going about his business in the field even though he must be frustrated with all the double play balls he has hit as of late. Of course part of that is just the way the pitcher is pitching, keeps the ball on the ground so that they can turn the double play.
Mike Fontenot keeps showing that he wants to be in the line-up and that he is working out of the long slump he found himself in. Coming through in the fourth inning with a
two RBI double after Theriot was HBP, Fukudome singled and D. Lee walked. I don’t think there was a ball hit better than that one the whole night for the Cubbies. Fontenot also hit what worked as a sac hit to move D. Lee from first to second in the eleventh. Then Johnson singled, sending Lee to third and that’s when Hoffpauir hit his single and gave us the winning run.
The ninth inning looked good for us with Lee singling, but then Fontenot popped up a bunt and Johnson flew out. We used a few pinch hitters. Fox came in and was hit by a pitch and Soto walked to load the bases, however, Scales ground out to third to end the inning.
Good job to everyone, it was a great game. Wells is probably wondering where his bullpen was Tuesday when he handed them a four run lead, but that’s just the beast of the game. Play well tonight, Cubbies, take the series! Go Cubs Go!
Final Score: Cubs 3 Braves 2 (eleven innings)
~Milli~
mlblogsmillirose
Recent Comments