September 2012
Cubs Delayed [UPDATE #3] 10:40 PM Start Time
The tarp is on the field, and the Cubs game will not start on time. We’ll keep you posted if and when a new start time is announced..
[UPDATE] Looked like the game was going to start around 8:00 PM CST, but another wave of rain came through, still expecting baseball tonight.
[UPDATE #2] It’s now 10:00 PM CST, and we are still in a delay, and nothing has been called yet, still waiting. Almost three hours and counting, at least 30 minutes of field prep after tarp is off, game might not start till 10:30 PM CST at the earliest.
[UPDATE #3] First pitch, 10:40 PM CST, not kidding.
- George
September 17, 2012 – Cubs Lineup vs Pirates
I should caution that this is weather permitting as widespread rain is supposed to cover the area by game time, I hope that’s not the case because I want to watch Anthony Rizzo hit baseballs, hard. Travis Wood gets the ball tonight as the Cubs try to win three out of four from the Pirates. I’m sure the Pirates will be very happy to be done with the Cubs this year as they are a big reason why the Pirates are fading down the stretch. Here is how the Cubs will line up tonight behind Travis Wood.
Thanks for reading, GO CUBS!
- George
2013 Cubs Convention Dates Announced / Moved to Sheraton
The Cubs Convention usually gets the baseball blood boiling in the dead of winter for most Cubs fans. I’m sure this year will be no different, today the Cubs announced that the 28th annual Cubs Convention will be held January 18-20, 2013 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers at 301 E. North Water Street. Yes, you heard correctly, new location this year.
Via the Sun-Times:
“We’re excited to offer our fans new experiences at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers for the 28th Annual Cubs Convention, as Cubs players, coaches, legends and executives come together to kick off the 2013 season,” said Wally Hayward, executive vice president, chief sales and marketing officer, Chicago Cubs. “The Cubs Convention is a great way for fans of all ages to gain access to the team, get excited for Spring Training and the season, and have fun in downtown Chicago with interactive exhibits, games and player panels.”
The Sun-Times also provides the hours
Cubs Convention will take place Friday, January 18, from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, January 19, from 9 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, January 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Get your rooms early, by early I mean you can start booking them in two days.
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 9 a.m., Cubs fans can book rooms at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers by calling the hotel at 800-233-4100 and asking for the Cubs Convention rate of $179 per night plus tax. Guests who book a two-night stay will receive a limited-edition authenticated, autographed photo of Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson. Hotel guests may purchase up to four Cubs Convention passes for a reduced rate of $20 each. Individual Cubs Convention passes for guests not staying at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers will be sold for $60 per pass at a later date.
We will be sure to provide you with the date the individual passes go on sale to the public.
Thanks for reading, go Cubs!
- George
Big Time Prospects Ready For Instructional League
As we heads towards the end of the season it starts to become a reality, there’s only a handful of Cubs games left this year. For most, this is a blessing as some fans can’t “bear”…. (get it?) to watch anymore given how bad the team has been and 
other sports have started. For this Cubs fan it’s not so great as I enjoy watching this team play, no matter how infuriating it is at times. With that said it’s time to start focusing on the off-season baseball that will take place, first up is the Cubs instructional league that starts today. This is an important step for many of these players as they are going to get more game experience, and another opportunity to impress the front office heading into next season. Below is a breakdown of everyone that will participate this year, the games begin on September 21. We will give you much more information on these players as our player cards come out, we will also do our best to give you results and box scores of these games, so stay tuned!
Thanks for reading,
- George
Rizzo’s Huge Day Fuels Cubs Comeback
For the second day in a row the Cubs got down early and stormed back, unlike yesterday, Anthony Rizzo made sure that the Cubs completed the comeback this time. Chris Volstad got the start today for the Cubs and was pretty horrible right from the get go. Volstad only lasted 4.2 innings giving up six runs on ten hits while walking three and striking out 
three. By the time Volstad left this one the Pirates had built up a 6-1 lead, but the Cubs were able to get a big chunk back in the bottom of the fifth. The Cubs were able to score four times in the fifth thanks to a Joe Mather solo shot, an Anthony Rizzo two-run homer and a Welington Castillo run scoring single. After all but squandering a five run lead the Pirates pushed across three more runs in the sixth to make it a 9-5 game. To conclude what might be the craziest two innings of the year the Cubs exploded in the bottom of the inning for five runs to take a 10-9 lead. The big blow was an Anthony Rizzo grand slam, the first of his career, and the second homer of the day giving him six RBI’s. Just for good measure the Cubs scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth, and Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth for a 13-9 victory. Alfsonso Soriano also had a big day at the plate going 3-for-5 with a double, and two RBI’s, that’s now 101 RBI’s on the season, that is an absolutely amazing accomplishment from Soriano. The final game of the four game set will be tomorrow night as the Cubs look to take three out of four.
Game Highlights:
Rizzo’s Grand Slam
Game Ending Double Play
DeJesus’ Two Run Single
Soriano’s RBI Double
Barney’s Great Play
Rizzo’s Two-Run Homer
Mather’s Solo Homer
Soriano’s 100th RBI
Thanks for reading,
- George
September 16, 2012 – Cubs Lineup vs. Pirates
Mather – CF
Barney – 2B
Rizzo – 1B
Soriano – LF
Castro – SS
Castillo – C
Sappelt – RF
Valbuena – 3B
Volstad – P
Go Cubs!!
-Mark
Cubs Rally Falls One Run Short
Sure these games don’t matter much to the Cubs, but watching them battle to the final out is at least fun to watch, for those of us who are still watching. Jason Berken, who was claimed from the Orioles made his Cubs debut today and didn’t have his best stuff but he didn’t get any help from his defense. Berken lasted four innings giving up six runs, only two earned, on eight hits, 
while walking one and striking out two. The Pirates were able to build a 6-1 lead by the fifth inning and that’s when the Cubs started to turn the tide in this one. The Cubs were able to push across two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3, but the Pirates were able to get one back in the seventh on Clint Barmes solo shot to push the lead to four runs. Refusing to quit the Cubs scored once in the eighth and two more times in the ninth to cut the Pirates led to one. Unfortunately the Cubs couldn’t tie it up in the ninth as Dave Sappelt struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat, and the game. Four different Cubs had two hits in this one, Anthony Rizzo, Alfonso Soriano, Starlin Castro, and Dave Sappelt. Darwin Barney also had a spectacular day with the glove as he made several fantastic plays to rob various Pirate hitters of base hits. Game three of this series is tomorrow afternoon, and the series wraps up on Monday Night.
Castro’s Trip..Double
Barney’s Great Catch
Game Highlights:
Soriano’s RBI Single
Valbuena’s RBI Single
Barney Great Play
Another Defensive Gem From Barney
Rizzo’s RBI Single
Thanks for reading,
- George
September 15, 2012 – Cubs Lineup vs. Pirates
Jason Berken become the 12th starting pitcher the Cubs have used this year as he faces Wandy Rodriguez and the Pirates in his Cubs debut. Here is a look at the rest of the lineup.
Mather – CF
Barney – 2B
Rizzo – 1B
Soriano – LF
Castro – SS
Castillo – C
Vitters – 3B
Sappelt – RF
Berken – P
Go Cubs!!
-Mark
Cubs Send Pirates Further Into Downward Spiral
The Cubs are enjoying the role of spoiler right now as they have won six out of their last seven, four of those being against the wild card contending Pirates. The 
Pirates have not only lost fours games recently to the Cubs but they have lost seven straight and are on the verge to falling back to five hundred for the first time in forever. Chris Rusin got the ball for the Cubs today and earned his first major league victory behind five strong innings. Rusin gave up two runs on four hits while striking out six. After the Cubs jumped out to a 4-0 lead the Pirates made things a little uncomfortable for Rusin and company by scoring once in the sixth and twice in the seventh to make it a one run game. Starlin Castro who had a big day at the plate opened the gap up again in the bottom of the seventh with his 13th home run of the season, a three run job to put the Cubs up 7-4. The Pirates would get one run closer in the eighth but that is as close as they would come as Carlos Marmol closed the door for his 20th save of the season, his 19th straight. We all remember how horrible Marmol was at the beginning of the year but he deserves major credit for his turnaround. In his last 19 save opportunities (since May 2) Marmol is 19-for-19 with a 0.49 ERA (1 ER/18.1 IP), wow, that is elite right there.
Rusin’s Postgame
Sveum’s Postgame
Game Highlights:
Rusin’s First Major League Win
Full Video Recap
Castro’s Huge Three-Run Homer
Rizzo’s Two-Run Double
Thanks for reading,
- George
September 14, 2012 – Cubs Lineup
The Cubs open a three game weekend set with Pirates today at Wrigley. Chris Rusin gets the ball in game one as the Cubs look to continue their strong play as of late. Both Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson return from injuries today.
1. DeJesus – RF
2. Valbuena – 3B
3. Rizzo – 1B
4. Soriano – LF
5. Castro – SS
6. Clevenger – C
7. Jackson – CF
8. Barney – 2B
9. Rusin – P
Thanks for reading, go Cubs!
- George
