Summer Baseball Tour 2011 #2

FLORIDA MARLINS AT CHICAGO CUBS 
JULY 17th 2011

MARLINS 7 – CUBS 5

Wrigley Field

GAME RECAP

The Marlins opened the game with a 3 run inning, courtesy of home runs from Greg Dobbs and Hanley Ramirez. The Cubs replied right away, the 1-2-3 hitters banging out three consecutive double and scored 3 runs of their own. The Cubs scored their 4th run in the second inning and the Marlins replied in the fourth. A blown call in the eighth inning that would have been the final out cost the Cubs three runs as reliever Kerry Wood was unable to recover. Aramis Ramirez added another RBI double to make the score 7-5 but the damage was already done and the Marlins left Chicago having won 3 of 4 against the Cubs.

CITY:

Metropolitan Chicago is home to 9 and a half million people, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the United States. Filled with many famous landmarks, Chicago is a city of powerful charm and historic relevance. Sports are clearly an important part of the everyday fabric and even as a Pacific Northwest guy, I can attest to Mike Wilbon's assertion that Chicago is North America's best summer city.

HOME TEAM:

The Chicago Cubs are one of the iconic franchises of Major League Baseball. The Cubs roots can be traced back all the way to 1876. Of course, the Cubs are famous for losing, not having won the World Series since 1908, and have been given the nickname the Lovable Losers. Franchise icons include Billy Williams, Andre Dawson, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, and Ron Santo. Three years removed from consecutive NL Central division titles, the Cubs are now seemingly miles away from that elusive World Series crown. Apart for the middle infield duo of Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney, the rest of the lineup is filled with pricy veterans. Carlos Zambrano was the Cubs de facto ace the last time the Cubs reached the postseason; the game has changed, a strong rotation led by an elite ace is essentially required to be considered a true contender. The Cubs desperately need an influx of talented youth. As of July 16th, the Cubs are 38-57 and 12.5 games back of the division leading St. Louis Cardinals.

GAME SETUP AND CROWD:

It was a classic Cubs afternoon game on a hot summer Sunday in Chicago. The announced attendance was 37,634, but to my surprise, half were gone by the ninth inning. I understand that the Cubs are bad but I’m never in favor of leaving early. 

GRADE: 7 stars

The left field bleachers at Wrigley Field

STADIUM:

  

Wrigley Field is located on the North side of Chicago in the neighborhood of Lakeview. Unlike the majority of its Major League counterparts, Wrigley is situated in the midst of a largely residential district, reminiscent of European soccer stadiums. Built in 1914, Wrigley is the second oldest stadium currently in use behind Fenway Park. Wrigley, also known as, the Friendly Confines is arguably the most unique ballpark besides maybe the aforementioned Fenway. The ivy laden outfield walls; the iconic manual scoreboard that stands elegantly above the centerfield bleachers; the bleacher seats a top the surrounding apartment buildings; the traditional seventh inning stretch and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". Wrigley is steeped in rich history and provides baseball fans with a trip down memory lane.     

GRADE: 9 stars

View from Section 514 at Wrigley Field

LOCATION OF THE SEAT: Section 514 – Row 5 – Seat 3

We sat in the upper deck down the third base side of the field and had a good view of home plate and of the infield. Our view of the outfield and scoreboard was obstructed by a foundation pole. We were covered by the stadium roof, which was a bonus considering the sweltering heat.

Unfortunately, the people around us had zero interest in the game, something that will incessantly irritate me.

Grade: 7 ½ stars

The infamous Bartman play

OPPONENT: Florida Marlins

The Marlins and Cubs do not have a rich rivalry but there is one playoff series that will forever link the two ball clubs: the 2003 NLCS. 

*CUBS FANS MAY WANT TO SKIP THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH* 

The Cubs, needing five outs to capture their first National League pennant since 1945, were up 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo hit a foul ball into the stands down the third base side. Cubs leftfielder Moises Alou attempted to reach into the stands and make a play on the ball when Cubs fan Steve Bartman interfered with the ball and Alou was unable to record the second out of the inning. The Cubs proceeded to let in 8 runs in that inning and lose the game.The next day, the Cubs lost game 7 and the World Series drought continued. Bartman was villainized and blamed for the loss of the National League pennant.

I sincerely apologize to any Cubs fans that labored through the last paragraph and I do not blame you at all if you heeded my advice and skipped the paragraph altogether.  

The Marlins have a young core of position players, like shortstop Hanley Ramirez, first baseman Gaby Sanchez, and corner outfielders Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton. Talent-wise they probably aren’t as bad as their record indicates, but an injury to ace Josh Johnson and a bad first half from Ramirez have contributed to the Marlins losing record. The Cubs lead the all-time head to head matchup 76-75 but the Marlins hold a 39-37 advantage since 2000. As of July 17th, the Marlins are 45-49 and 13.5 games back of the division leading Philadelphia Phillies. 

GRADE: 5 stars

Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells

QUALITY OF STARTING PITCHING:

RHP Chris Volstad (5-8. 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Randy Wells (1-3, 6.80 ERA)

In a battle of middling starters, Chris Volstad and Randy Wells have both struggled this season. Volstad doesn’t make hitters miss (career K/9 of 5.68) and hasn’t improved at all since his acceptable rookie season in 2008. Wells has not pitched over 6 innings in any start this season, has not recorded a win since the beginning of April and has a WHIP of 1.73. Volstad and Wells are what I would call C+ to C Major League arms. The upside of a poor pitching match up? Lots and lots of runs.

GRADE: 2 stars

21 year old Cubs SS Starlin Castro made his first All Star appearance in 2011

ALL STARS:

CHICAGO

LF Alfonso Soriano – 4 time AL All Star, 3 time NL All Star, 4 time Silver Slugger award winner

- In his prime, Soriano was a 40 HR – 40 SB threat, now he’s an overpaid defensive liability who no longer steals bases.

July 17th: Soriano flied out to center in his lone at bat as a pinch hitter.

3B Aramis Ramirez – 3 time NL All Star, 2008 Hank Aaron award winner

- Ramirez has been one of the most productive third baseman of the last decade, and a mainstay in the middle of the Cubs lineup since 2003.

July 17th: Ramirez was 2/4 with 2 doubles and two RBI’s.

1B Carlos Pena – 1 time AL All Star, 1 time Silver Slugger award winner, 1 time Gold Glove award winner,

- Pena is boom or bust. He’s a power hitter with a low average who strikes out a ton but counters that by drawing an inordinate amount of walks.

July 17th: Pena was bust today, going 0/4 with 2 strikeouts.

C Geovany Soto – 1 time NL All Star, 2008 NL Rookie of the Year

- Soto was named an All Star during his rookie season but hasn’t matched the production since.

July 17th: Soto was 1/4 with one run scored.

SS Starlin Castro – 1 time NL All Star

- The future of the Cubs franchise, Castro appears to be one of the Majors brightest prospects.

July 17th: Castro was 1/3 with a walk, one RBI, and 2 runs scored.

FLORIDA

SS Hanley Ramirez – 3 time NL All Star, 2 time Silver Slugger award winner, 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, 1 time NL Batting Champion

- Ramirez has struggled this season, but from 2006 to 2010 he was one of the best players in the league.

July 17th: Ramirez hit a solo HR in the first inning and finished the game 2/4 with a walk.

1B Gaby Sanchez – 1 time NL All Star

- Sanchez represented the Marlins at the 2011 All Star game in Phoenix.

July 17th: Sanchez was 0/4 with a walk and a strikeout.

RECAP: Hanley's having his worst season to date, the Cubs stars are fading fast and Castro, Sanchez, and the Marlins future have yet to establish themselves as nationally recognizable stars.

GRADE: 5 ½ stars

FOOD:

There is only one true food option at Wrigley Field: A Chicago style hot dog. Made with 100% Vienna beef and topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, and mustard, the hot dog is a Chicago classic. The only element absent from the hot dog I had at Wrigley then the Chicago style dog I ate at Portillo’s downtown was the pickle, which as weird as it sounds, was a fantastic complement to the hot dog itself.

Next stop on the Summer Baseball Tour 2011: Back at Wrigley Field, Monday, July 18th when the Philadelphia Phillies pay a visit to the Chicago Cubs.