The last week of a non-playoff season as a player can be very bittersweet, because in some cases, this may be the last time you see some of your teammates. There are always some guys this year that you know probably won't be back next year. You develop a bond over a season or several seasons together and you get to not only know a player, but also know his family and what makes him tick, what football team he roots for - all the things that go into developing a friendship.

You look around the room at this time of the year and you realize that maybe as many as half those guys aren't going to be back in the room next year. It really makes it hard time. A lot of times it's hard to put into words how you feel about your teammates. You watch guys packing duffel bags or packing boxes to be shipped home and you are struck by the finality of the whole thing. You realize that "geez, we went into the season with some goals and we didn't reach our goals. Now it's all coming to an end. I don't feel very good about that."

Ideally, you use that feeling as a motivation during the offseason to come back next season and make sure it doesn't happen again.

bob

After wandering with our camera to different locations this season, we wanted to get one last set of photos on the blog this year to show you the Cubs experience from one of the Wrigley rooftops. Our great friends from the Chicago and Northwest Indiana Chevy dealers threw a party on Wednesday for the last home game of the year and were kind enough to invite us over.

Len & Bob made their initial visit to the bleachers as the Cubs wrapped up their home schedule on Wednesday. Despite a driving rainstorm, we all had a great day, dampened only by the Cubs loss. Huge thanks go out to Greg Gressle and our unbelievable WGN crew for all their hard work in making the day a success.

Just a happy coincidence, but the last time I remember seeing Charles Gipson making an out on the bases against the Cubs (before last night's play at the plate to end the game) was in June 2003. In the Sunday night finale against the Yankees that year, he was brought in to pinch-run and Joe Borowski picked him off to end that game and give the Cubs a win in the series. Ah, good times!

bob v

Hey Gang, we had a blast in the LF bleachers Wednesday, despite the result on the field. First off, and most importantly, we want to thank
all the LF regulars (particularly those whom we displaced) for being good sports about it. Because of the upcoming bleacher expansion, I know many wanted their "regular" seat for the home finale. Our hope is
that those who did have to move were cool with us being out there. EVERYONE was extremely nice to us and made us feel right at home.

That was my first game in the bleachers and I loved it. The sight lines were excellent...it's not a big park and basically you're right on top of the left fielder, so I definitely didn't feel like we were far
removed from the action. It took me awhile to figure out the angles of batted balls, but that's why we can look at a monitor! It was fun to
hear all the chants from the bleachers and it felt like I was watching the game with a couple hundred family members.

As for the rain, well...part of the gig. You never know what sort of weather you're going to get and we were probably fortunate we staved off the wet stuff as long as we did. To be honest, that part of it
made me laugh. Trying to keep my scorecard dry and trying to see through the umbrella...pretty funny. Somebody said to me earlier in the year, "Sometimes, you just gotta laugh."

Special props to Dave, Frank, Mike, and Greg who set up the audio for the broadcast. Also to Pete, Skip and Marc and the entire WGN crew for making it happen. And to Angie Adochio (our stage manager) and our great Executive Producer Bob Vorwald for hanging with us in LF, keeping us dry (as dry as possible!) and for sharing some of those laughs.

As far as I'm concerned, this should continue to be an annual event. We look forward to being out there again next year. And let's hope next time, the Cubs get 2 in the 9th to win it.

Len

* The Cubs lead the season series, 7-5.They look to win the series for the third consecutive season.
* Chicago is 39-38 on the road this season and needs to win two more games to notch its third consecutive winning road record.
* The Cubs are batting .270 as a team this season. The last time the Cubs batted over .270 for an entire season was back in 1945 (.277).
* Cubs slugger Jeromy Burnitz is one home run shy of 300 for his career.
* Chicago’s Derrek Lee needs three hits to record his first career 200-hit season. Lee would become the first Cub since Ryne Sandberg in 1984 to notch 200+ hits in a season.
* Houston’s magic number for the NL Wild Card is two. Any number of Houston victories and Philadelphia losses equaling two secures the wild-card berth for the Astros.
* Houston is guaranteed a .500 record or better this season, marking the fifth consecutive season in which the club has finished at or above .500 and the ninth time in the last 10 years (72-90 in 2000).
* Astros’ slugger Lance Berkman has nine home runs in September, which is two shy of the team record of 11 set by Richard Hidalgo in September of 2000.
* Houston Rookie Wandy Rodriguez, who felt tightness and soreness in his left shoulder after his loss to the Cubs last Friday, has been cleared to start tonight. Rodriguez has allowed just one home run in his last nine starts.

You might have heard us mentioning on the air that the Cubs held kangaroo court last week. There were some questions about it, so let me give a few details.

The idea is of kangaroo court is, in a very light-hearted yet instructional way, to talk about how to play the game properly. Some of the offenses that might come up and result in monetary fines are missing signs, throwing to the wrong base, failure to back up bases - just things that we take for granted, but when you fail to do them can cost you ballgames. This is a way for the players to police themselves, have a little bit of fun with it, raise a bit of money to donate to charity, and hopefully not make the same mistakes over and over.

Each court varies depending on the team you're talking about. The Cubs have had it twice this year; other teams can have it every road trip. I've played on teams where we made a bunch of mistakes and the local charities were very happy for it! We used to do it on a road trip as a bonding thing more than anything else. We'd cancel batting practice and get the entire team in the clubhouse, let the guys come in there and have some fun with it. As guys were getting fined for various offenses, it wasn't unusual for one of the coaches or the manager himself to stop the court and explain how the situation in question should have been handled. Then, we would proceed with the next case and go on, stopping if necessary for different instructions.

For the most part, players take it very well. Some guys I played with we were getting REALLY deep in their wallets, but I think they always learned from it.

Usually, the most senior member of the ball club acts as judge. Some teams have a panel of judges with veterans and some teams have one infielder, one outfielder, one pitcher, and one coach so that everyone is represented.

The funniest thing about the kangaroo court is how it unfolds. A player's name is called and his offense is read, then he is asked "how do you plead?" You've always got the chance to plead not guilty and appoint one of your teammates as your attorney. Once again, it's all meant to be in fun, but at the same time, learn something. If you pled not guilty, but were found guilty by the court, your fine was then doubled.

Sometimes a teammate would say "hey, pick me. I'll help you out because I've got a real good argument." Then you plead not guilty and he stands up and says "well, he's guilty. Of course he screwed up." You can really get some guys zinging each other in the kangaroo court.

Everybody for the most part always takes it in the right vein. It's not meant to be a punishment or single guys out, it is meant to make the team better.

Bob

I'm looking forward to my first real visit to the bleachers tomorrow afternoon for our game on WGN against the Pirates. The only time I've been out there was two weeks ago when we were collecting money for Hurricane Katrina relief. I was stationed at the bleacher entrance and there was a lull in the action, so I put down my bucket and ran up the steps.

It's a tremendous vantage point. From my time in Arizona, we had broadcast some games from the restaurant above left field and the pool in right field, but we always felt so removed from the action that it wasn't a fun broadcast. After running up into the bleachers the other, I can't wait. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Bob

* The Cubs have dominated the meetings between the teams over the past season and a half, doubling the scoring output of the Pirates while hitting triple the amount of home runs:

Pirates vs. Cubs – Last 22 Meetings (since 6/5/04)

Pirates Cubs
Wins 3 19
Runs/Game 2.6 (57/22) 5.2 (115/22)
Batting Avg. .212 (153/722) .280 (210/749)
Home Runs 11 32
ERA 5.07 (109/193.2) 2.42 (54/201.0)

* Greg Maddux’s looks to move one step closer to another 15-win season today against a Pirate team he is facing for the fifth time this season. Maddux seems to be getting stronger with each month since the beginning of June:

Greg Maddux, 2005 ERA by Month – June  September

June 6.48
July 4.15
August 3.55
September 2.53 (9/32.0)

-- Maddux is 14-2 with a 1.72 ERA (30/157.0) against the Pirates since the start of the 1996 season.

* Zach Duke makes his third outing since coming of the DL. Few rookie starting pitchers in Pirates history have posted a lower earned run average than Duke has this season:

Pirates, Lowest ERA by Rookie –- All-Time
(minimum 10 GS)

Babe Adams, 1909 1.11
Denny Driscoll, 1882 1.21
George Witt, 1958 1.61
Zach Duke, 2005 1.94
Tim Wakefield, 1992 2.15

* Derrek Lee is five hits away from becoming just the fifth NL batter in history to hit 45 or more home runs in a 200-plus hit season:

NL Players, Most HR in 200-Hit Season -– All-Time

Hack Wilson, 1930 ChC 56
Larry Walker, 1997 Col 49
Adrian Beltre, 2004 LAD 48
Vinny Castilla, 1998 Col 46
Hank Aaron, 1963 Mil 44

* Jason Bay has enjoyed quite an encore to his 2004 Rookie of the Year campaign:

Pirates, Most Extra-base Hits in Single-Season – All-Time

Willie Stargell, 1973 90
Kiki Cuyler, 1925 87
Adam Comorosky, 1930 82
Brian Giles, 2001 81
Jason Bay, 2005 80
Paul Waner, 1932 80
Brian Giles, 2002 80

* Getting out to an early lead has been a key component in the majority of the Cubs’ victories this season:

MLB, Highest Win Pct. When Scoring First -- 2005

Cardinals 70-23 .753
Blue Jays 52-18 .743
Cubs 49-18 .731
Astros 62-23 .729
Braves 60-23 .723

* Pittsburgh’s hitting with runners in scoring position has gotten better and better in each of the last few seasons

Pirates, BAVG with RISP By Season – 2001  2005

Season Rank (NL)
2002 .235 14
2003 .262 8
2004 .265 5
2005 .276 3

Ever wonder what it would be like to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game? Be careful what you wish for - it can be a nerve-wracking experience. We followed our friend Keith Melaragno of Pepsi at yesterday's game when he got the chance to live the dream. Keith is a die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool Cub fan and told us about his big chance.

This Wednesday (weather permitting), Len & Bob will be heading out to the bleachers to broadcast vs. the Pirates at 1p on WGN. We thought it would be a fun way to wrap up the first season.

If you have any suggestions for wardrobe, traditions that need to be upheld, or just want to drop us your thoughts on things to do that day, please post your comments.

We're looking forward to a great day and hopefully a fun broadcast on Wednesday.

One of the things I love about baseball is that every day you seen something different or unique. Today was no exception.

Geovany Soto has been with the Cubs as a backup catcher for 18 days and today he made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning.

Now, there's a big difference when your first big league plate appearance comes as a backup catcher. Soto was down in the bullpen warming up Michael Wuertz and had to sprint down to the dugout, take off his shinguards, mask, and helmet. He had just enough time to put his batting gloves on before going up to the plate for his debut. For the other bench players, they would have time to pick up the cell phone, call Mom & Dad, say "hey, turn on WGN, I'm gonna hit", then take a few practice swings down in the cage before heading to the on-deck circle, style and profile, then go to the plate for your first at-bat.

Backup catchers don't have that luxury.

In the 7th inning, he was back down in the bullpen, warming up the Cub relievers for the rest of the day.

Such is the life of a backup catcher.

Bob

Hey Everybody,

With just over a week to go, I thought I'd throw out a couple questions to chew on:

1) In your opinion, what has been "the" defining moment for this team? That is, if you had to break the Cubs' 2005 season down to one thing - an injury, a series, a stat, what would it be?

2) What has been the most memorable game (for whatever reason) - which actual game will stand out more than any other from 2005.

Feel free to post your answers and we'll read some on the air!

Len

The Astros come into Wrigley riding a hot streak of eight wins in their last nine games. Houston has had its ups and downs in the last six weeks; as recently as the morning of September 14, the team appeared to be in trouble in the NL Wild Card race.

Astros’ Streaks, August 13  Present

W- L WC Standing at End of Streak
8/13 – 8/28 5-10 t-3rd (1.5 gms out)
8/30 – 9/10 8- 3 1st (led by 0.5 gms)
9/11 – 9/13 0- 3 3rd (1.5 gms out)
9/14 – 9/22 8- 1 1st (lead by 2.0 gms)

So, the Astros have a two-game lead in the Wild Card with nine games to go. It’s worth remembering that one year ago, the Chicago Cubs were in virtually the same position, leading the Wild Card by 1.5 games over San Francisco and 2.5 over Houston with nine games to play in their season. Chicago proceeded to go 2-7 the rest of the way, while the Astros won seven of their last eight to snatch the playoff berth.

The Cubs could have a lot to say about who wins the Wild Card this season, as they play the Astros seven times in the last 10 days of the season. Because Houston’s other two remaining games are against St. Louis, the Astros have, statistically, a tougher remaining schedule than the Phillies.

Remaining Schedule – Astros & Phillies (9 games each)

Opp Win Pct Vs. Teams .500+
Astros .520 2 (@ StL)
Phillies .490 3 (@ Wsh)

Typical of this Houston team, its current hot streak has been spurred by stellar starting pitching. The Astros have also had a huge advantage when it comes to getting the clutch hit.

Astros’ Numbers, Own & Opponent – Last 9 Games

Hou Opp
Wins 8 1
Runs 50 (5.56/gm) 25 (2.78/gm)
Starters’ ERA 2.11 (14/59.2) 5.51 (29/47.1)
Avg w/RISP .314 (27-86) .141 (11-78)
When the Cubs last played at Wrigley Field, last Sunday, they defeated St. Louis 7-4. They’ll try to win consecutive games at the Friendly Confines for the first time since August 11-12.

Cubs – Last 7 Home Games Following Home Wins

W-L 0-7
Runs 16 (2.29/gm)
Opp Runs 40 (5.71/gm)

In fact, dating back to July 30, the Cubs have one of the worst home records in baseball.

Worst Home Records, July 30  Present

Pirates 8-19 .296
Orioles 7-15 .318
Cubs 9-16 .360
Diamondbacks 9-16 .360
Nationals 9-16 .360

On the morning of August 17, Brad Ausmus was hitting just .243. He’s raised that mark 23 points in the last five weeks, giving Houston one of the most productive catchers in the NL over that span.

Ausmus Numbers, August 17  Present
(with ranks among NL catchers)

Average .327 1st (32-98)
Slug Pct .480 3rd
Hits 32 1st
RBI 16 t-3rd

Note: ranks for avg. & slug pct based on min. 75 PA

Lance Berkman has also had a big month of September.

Most RBI by NL Players, September 2005

Matt Holliday, Col 24
Garrett Atkins, Col 22
Lance Berkman, Hou 20
Jason Bay, Pit 19
Andruw Jones, Atl 18
Ryan Howard, Phi 18

Derrek Lee’s 44-home run season is the 19th 40-homer season ever by a Cub. Lee could end up as only the second Cub ever to hit at least .330 with 40+ homers in a season.

Cubs All-Time – Highest Batting Average in Season W/40+ HR

Home Runs Average
Hack Wilson, 1930 56 .356
Derrek Lee, 2005 44 .337
Sammy Sosa, 2001 64 .328
Billy Williams, 1970 42 .322
Sammy Sosa, 2000 50 .320

Lee leads the NL batting race by two points over Albert Pujols, .337 to .335. It’s not exactly commonplace for the Cubs to have a contender for the batting title—they haven’t had a player rank in the NL’s top three in hitting since 1988, when two Cubs did it.

Cubs Ranking in Top 3 in NL Batting Average, 1980-2005

1980 – Bill Buckner 1st
1982 – Leon Durham 3rd
1988 – Rafael Palmeiro 2nd
Andre Dawson 3rd
2005 – Derrek Lee 1st

Friday - Wayne Messmer
Saturday - Glenallen Hill
Sunday - The Redwalls
Tuesday - Richard Petty
Wednesday - Grounds Crew

Well, 12 games to go over the next 2 weeks. Just a few random things
to think about with the season winding down...

1) This series in Milwaukee could be dubbed "The Battle for Third
Place." Small consolation I know, but every team wants to finish as
high in the standings as possible. Currently, the Cubs are a 1/2 game up on the Brewers, who are looking for their 1st non-losing season since 1992.

2) Speaking of .500, the Cubs need to go 7-5 to finish 81-81. Again,
small consolation, but nobody wants to have a losing record.

3) Derrek Lee is in position to win his 1st battle title. It would be a great to cap off a career year. At this point, he SHOULD win the MVP because statistically, he's had the best year of any hitter in the big leagues--1st in average in the majors, 1st in slugging and 5th in OBP. I fear the Cubs' record will really hurt his chances, but it shouldn't. He's been the best hitter in the game all year. Plus, he should win his 2nd Gold Glove.

4) Greg Maddux has 3 more starts and is 3 wins away from 15 for what
would be the 18th consecutive season. Also, Carlos Zambrano has a good shot to match his career-high 16 wins from last year.

5) The Cubs have a chance to play spoiler in a MAJOR way as they play
Houston in 7 of the final 9 games. You know all the other wildcard
contenders will be rooting for the Cubs the next 2 weekends.

6) Kind of a fun one - the Cubs have not lost a game in which Ryan
Dempster has had a save opportunity. His 2 blown saves resulted
ultimately in wins. It would be nice if he could finish the year with that record intact. What a year for a guy who's closing for the first time in his career.

There are certainly other things to look for as we count down the
schedule, but just a few I was thinking about today. Feel free to throw out some more on the blog and we can talk about them on the air!

Len

* This is not only one of newer rivalries in the major leagues, it’s also one of the closest, as only two wins separate the Cubs and Brewers since they played their first series in 1997.

Cubs Vs Brewers – All-Time

Cubs Brewers
Wins 61 59
Runs/Game 5.1 (611/120) 5.0 (600/120)
BA, Overall .255 (1062/4172) .256 (1057/4130)
BA, Runners On .263 (462/1754) .263 (467/1777)

* Jerome Williams was saddled with a 5.20 ERA entering September, making him a rather odd candidate to post one of the lowest monthly ERAs by any Cub over the past 20 years.

Lowest ERA in Calendar Month, Cubs – Since 1985
(minimum 20 IP)

August, 2003 Mark Prior 0.69
September, 2005 Jerome Williams 0.84 (2/21.1)
July, 1996 Kent Bottenfield 0.90
August, 1988 Jeff Pico 0.91
September, 2003 Kerry Wood 1.00

-- Williams’ ERA in September is the second lowest in the National League this month, trailing only the Dodgers’ Derek Lowe (0.79).

* While Derrek Lee has raised his average at Wrigley Field from 2004 (.282) to 2005 (.324) by 42 points, his improvement on the road has been even more profound.

Derrek Lee in Road Games, 2004 Vs 2005

2004 2005 Diff
BA .273 .359 +.086 #
OBP .339 .438 +.099 #
Slg .480 .689 +.209 #

# -- largest increase in MLB (minimum 400 total PA in 2004 and 350 PA in 2005)

-- With six more extra-base hits, Lee will join Sammy Sosa in 2001 (103) as the only Cubs to collect at least 100 in a single season.

* Milwaukee once was one of Neifi Perez’ favorite opponents, but not recently.

Neifi Perez Vs Brewers – Career
G R BA
Through 2002 29 21 .355
2003 & Since 20 6 .180 (11/61)

* J.J. Hardy could be back in the lineup on Tuesday. For a guy who was hitting just .202 through August 22, his bat has been missed the last few games. He leads a group of National League shortstops who’ve been hot over the past four weeks.

Highest Batting Average, National League – 8/23 & Since
(minimum 75 PA)

Randy Winn, SF .388
J.J. Hardy, Mil .386 (27/70)
Jack Wilson, Pit .385
David Eckstein, StL .374
Brian Giles, SD .367

* Carlos Lee has a chance of finishing with the highest home run total by any player in their first season with the Brewers.

Most Home Runs in First Season With Brewers – Since 1970

1978 Larry Hisle 34
1986 Rob Deer 33
2005 Carlos Lee 32
2003 Wes Helms 23

-- Hisle drove in 115 runs for Milwaukee in 1978, the only higher total by a first year Brewer than Lee’s 106 RBI this season.

* Doug Davis is the only National League lefthander to average at least eight strikeouts per nine innings this season.

Most Strikeouts per 9 IP – 2005 National League LHP
(minimum 100 IP)

Doug Davis, Mil 8.1 (183/202.2)
Noah Lowry, SF 7.7
Chris Capuano, Mil 7.3 (164/202.2)
Glendon Rusch, ChC 7.0 (103/133.1)
Andy Pettitte, Hou 6.9

-- Teddy Higuera averaged 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 1987, the only Brewer southpaw with a higher rate than Davis this season (minimum 100 IP).

This one came up at dinner the other night - if the Cardinals were to meet the White Sox in the World Series, as a Cub fan, who would you root for?

Send us your comments and how you arrived at your decision. NOTE - comments may not be posted till Monday as we're doing some work on the blog this weekend.

bob v

I had to laugh last night when we played the pregame soundbite of Dusty talking about the possibility the Cardinals clinching at Wrigley. He said "I ain't goin' to the party."

Dusty didn't want it to happen at Wrigley, but every manager has a grudging respect for those who are advancing on to the postseason. If anybody knows what a tough job it is to not only keep your team healthy, but also push the right buttons and put people in the right position to have a successful season, it's the other managers.

You have to appreciate the job that Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, and Bruce Bochy in the West (for now) for the job they've done to keep their teams on top of their respective divisions, as well as the teams who are still battling for the wild card spot.

You might not like them, but you certainly respect the job they've done.

Bob

Sorry we didn't have much on the blog yesterday, but we all spent several hours at the Wrigley Field gates working to accept donations for the Red Cross Katrina fund.

Cub fans are many good things, but above all, they are exceedingly generous as we learned again last night as the event raised over $200,000. We had lots of fun, especially Will Ohman and Jerome Williams. They weren't content to collect at the gate so they went outside the stadium to the corner of Clark & Addison to mingle with the crowd.

The entire team and front office were on hand to cover the entrances to Wrigley Field. Hope you enjoy the photos we were able to snap of the team pitching in to raise money.

bob v

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx

*West Tenn dropped the second game of the series to Jacksonville 1-0, evening the series up at one win apiece. West Tenn starter Renyel Pinto had a no-hitter through 5.1 innings, but took the loss after allowing a run over 7.2 frames. The remainder of the series, which will begin on Friday, will be played at Pringles Park in Jackson, TN.
*1B Matt Craig went 3-for-4 with three singles. Craig has batted .571 so far in the Southern League Playoffs.
*3B Casey McGehee was 2-for-4 on the night with a pair of singles.

* The Cubs have held their own vs. the Cardinals at home over the last two seasons and with the last four of the season with St. Louis coming this weekend, Chicago will have to win just about every one of them if they want any chance of winning the NL Wild Card.

Cardinals vs. Cubs at Wrigley – 20042005

Cardinals Cubs
Wins 6 7
Runs per Game 4.8 (63) 5.9 (77)
Starter ERA 7.68 (64/75.0) 4.71 (45/86.0)
Team BA .247 (107/434) .325 (149/459)
Home Runs 24 22

* However, about the only Cardinals’ starting pitcher that has been able to stop the Cubs over the last two seasons at Wrigley has been Chris Carpenter.

Cards’ Starting Pitcher Breakdown at Wrigley – 20042005

Carpenter All Others
Record 4-0 1-7
ERA 3.45 (12/31.1) 10.72 (52/43.2)
HRs Allowed 7 9
Cubs’ BA .296 (37/125) .411 (83/202)

* There’s almost no other pitcher that Derrek Lee would rather see out there than Jeff Suppan.

Active MLB Players, Best Career BA vs. Suppan (Min. 20 PA)

Jose Vizcaino .619
Derrek Lee .476 (10/21)
Brady Clark .474
Alex Rodriguez .433
Jose Guillen .417

* The same could be said about Albert Pujols vs. Mark Prior.

Active MLB Players, Most Career HRs vs. Prior

Albert Pujols 3
Bobby Abreu 3
Pat Burrell 3
Keith Ginter 3

* While the Cards will get to see Prior tonight, the Cubs will most likely see Carpenter on Sunday. Both pitchers have a pretty good shot at winning their games based on the following chart.

MLB Pitchers, Best Win Pct. – 20032005 (Min. 30 Decisions)

Chris Carpenter .800 (36-9)
Johan Santana .738 (45-16)
Jason Schmidt .723 (47-18)
Roger Clemens .701 (47-20)
Mark Prior .700 (35-15)

* It may not be Pujols who’s going best right now among Cardinal batters as David Eckstein has been on fire over the last 3+ weeks.

NL Players, Best Batting Avg. – Since August 22

Brian Giles, SD .397
J.J. Hardy, Mil .388
David Eckstein, StL .385 (37/96)
Carlos Lee, Mil .372

* In fact, the last 23 games have seen Eckstein reach base at least once in every one.

Longest Active Streak Reaching Base (Via H, BB, HBP)

Michael Young, Tex 24
David Eckstein, StL 23
Jimmy Rollins, Phi 20
Ryan Howard, Phi 17

* These teams have two things in common---neither needs many runs to win games and when each has a lead, they tend to hold onto it (except for the Cubs last night).

NL Teams, Most Wins When Scoring 4 Runs or Less in 2005

Washington Nationals 31
Chicago Cubs 30
St, Louis Cardinals 30
Atlanta Braves 30
San Francisco Giants 30

NL Teams, Fewest Losses Via a Blown Lead in 2005

St. Louis Cardinals 23 (Also leads MLB)
Philadelphia Phillies 25
Houston Astros 26
Chicago Cubs 27

Two guys made an impact in last night's game that we talked about then and will continue to watch for the rest of this year.

I've been impressed with Matt Murton and talked a lot about how he stays behind the ball and has a good-looking swing to go along with a great approach at the plate. I know a lot of people have questioned Matt's power or his power potential, but I think the fact that he's not worried about hitting home runs is going to work to his favor. He sprays the ball from foul line to foul line and is certainly strong enough to hit home runs. As he gets more experience and gets to know the pitchers in the National League, along with learning when to pick his spots where he can muscle up and look to drive the ball, I think he will hit more home runs. His approach right now is one that should lead to a high batting average.

Ryan Dempster survived a wild 9th last night, but overall, he has really settled into the role of closer.
He's 27 for 29 in save situations (the Cubs won the 2 games where he had a blown save). I think there were two questions we all had when Ryan took the role: would he throw enough strikes and would he be able to bounce back considering his previous arm injury? To me, he's answered both of those. He's had no problems going back-to-back-to-back, 4 out of 5, 5 out of 7. Early in the season when he was closing, some of the games weren't quite as solid as you would like to see. As the season has progressed, you can see that he looks forward to that 9th inning and he has been nails lately.

Bob

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
*West Tenn opened the Southern League Championship Series with a 7-4 win over Jacksonville.
*Starting pitcher Jae-Kuk Ryu went 6 innings for the win, giving up 4 runs.
*2B Eric Patterson was 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored.
*LF-1B Brandon Sing notched his third homer of the playoffs and recorded three RBI on the night, going 1-for-4.
*1B Matt Craig was 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

Hi Everybody,

Well, we've seen several new faces this year (including ours in the booth!). Guys like Matt Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Rich Hill, Roberto Novoa, John Koronka, Jermaine Van Buren...all young guys either making their big league debuts or at least Cub debuts in 2005 (Novoa had a little big league time w/Detroit last year).

And more recently, Geovanny Soto and now Ryan Theriot are with the big league club. Soto, a catcher who hit .253/4/39 in 91 G @ Iowa, has been with the team for a week and has yet to make his major league
debut. He's 22, hails from Puerto Rico and was an 11th round in 2001. Soto is a cousin of former Cubs IF Ramon Martinez. He was a 3B when he was drafted and was quickly converted to C.

Theriot (pronounced TERRY-oh) was called up Monday after it was learned Ronny Cedeno would miss the rest of the regular season with a fracture
in his left hand. Theriot, 25, was a 3rd round pick out of LSU in 2001 (same draft as Soto). He is from Baton Rouge, LA. In 2000, he was named to the CWS all-tournament team after helping lead LSU to the NCAA
Championship. Interesting story, he switch-hit early on in his pro career, but gave it up late in 2004. He was a career .252 hitter in the minors into 2005 and then hit .308 @ AA this year?batting RH exclusively. He played SS @ LSU (another Cubs farmhand who saw a little big league time earlier in the season, Mike Fontenot, was the 2B) and said he grew up watching Todd Walker play @ the same school. Now, they're teammates in the big leagues! Theriot is a middle IF by trade.

It's always fun to see guys come up here for the first time. I'm sure we'll get a look at both Soto and Theriot in action at some point here down the stretch.

P.S., Veteran PH/OF Ben Grieve is back. He'll join the club tonight.

Len

* For most of August, the Reds were baseball’s best road team, losing just twice in 17 games outside Cincinnati. But before and since that 17 game stretch, the Reds are a combined 13-38 on the road.

Reds Record on the Road with MLB Ranks

Thru 7/26 11-33 (28)
7/27 – 8/29 15- 2 (1)
Since 8/30 2- 5 (26)

The Reds are just the 18th team in NL history to post both an 8+ game road winning and losing streak (last – 2002 Phillies).

* Eric Milton is only the fourth regular starting pitcher in the history of baseball to allow more than two home runs per nine innings pitched, and two of those were in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Most Home Runs per 9 IP Allowed – MLB All-Time
(Min 1.0 IP per team game)

Jose Lima, 2000 2.20
Eric Milton, 2005 2.12 (39/165.2)
Sid Fernandez, 1994 2.11
Jim Deshaies, 1994 2.07
Dave Milicki, 2001 1.99

* And although Milton spun a gem in his last start at Wrigley Field, his career history at the friendly confines is not so good.

Highest Career ERA at Wrigley Field – Active Pitchers
(Min 4 GS)

Eric Milton 7.66 (19/22.1)
Paul Wilson 7.49
Chris Capuano 7.23
Shawn Estes 6.45
Jose Lima 6.27

* Adam Dunn has gone deep against the Cubs an amazing 17 times since 2003.

Most Home Runs Vs Any One Opponent – Since 2003

Andruw Jones vs. Expos/Nationals 22
Albert Pujols vs. Cubs 18
Adam Dunn vs. Cubs 17
Sammy Sosa vs. Reds 17

* Chicago’s pitching has been outstanding so far this month.

Cubs Pitching in September with MLB Ranks

W-L 8-3 (T-1)
Opp Runs/G 2.82 (2)
ERA 2.78 (3)
Opp BA .223 (2)
K/9 IP 8.16 (1)
HR/ 9 IP 0.65 (4)

* A successful September is nothing new for the Cubs, who are baseball’s best team in September over the last three seasons.

Best Record in September – MLB Since 2003

Cubs 43-22 (.662)
Astros 42-22 (.656)
Yankees 42-23 (.646)
Giants 40-22 (.645)
Red Sox 42-24 (.636)

* Carlos Zambrano has lost only once since the end of June.

Carlos Zambrano Since June 28

W-L 9-1
ERA 2.20 (25/102.1)
Opp BA .197 (71/360)
K/9 IP 8.1 (92/102.1)

Zambrano owns a career 2.14 ERA against the Reds.

* Nomar Garciaparra continues to thrive while playing the hot corner.

Nomar Garciaparra Batting as SS/3B – 2005

As SS As 3B
Games 26 16
BA .250 .350 (21/60)
OBP .305 .369
SLG .354 .633
AB/HR 48.0 15.0 (60/4)
AB/RBI 12.0 5.0 (60/12)

* The Reds took two of three from the Pirates over the weekend and finished their homestand 3-3. Cincinnati went 6-6 on its last roadtrip.
* With another one yesterday, the Reds now have 42 come-from-behind wins in 2005---most in baseball.
* The Cubs took three of four from the Giants in their weekend series and finished a 10-game roadtrip with an 8-2 record to retain their slim hopes at winning the NL’s wild-card.
* Cincinnati has taken five straight from the Cubs overall.
* Aaron Harang’s 3.60 ERA is best among all NL starting pitchers with a losing record in 2005. Harang is 3-0 with a 4.38 ERA in six career starts vs. the Cubs.
* Greg Maddux has won two straight outings, but is just 1-3 at Wrigley Field since the All-Star break. Maddux has started 46 career games vs. the Reds and owns an 18-15 record vs. Cincinnati. With four, maybe five starts remaining, he needs three more wins to extend his MLB record for consecutive seasons with 15+ wins (now standing at 18 straight seasons).
* The Reds are 52-2 when leading after seven innings this season--best in the NL and 2nd best in MLB (Yankees).
* Ryan Dempster hasn’t blown a save since July 24---a streak of 13 straight.

Possible? Yes.
Probable? No.

The Cubs have earned the right to be listed again on the wild card standings, so let's use the opportunity to look at each of the teams in competition for the last playoff spot. There will be plenty of time to ache over numerous missed opportunities this season - Dusty's teams seem to find their stride in September every year so let's enjoy this while we can.

My gut says a 16-3 run would win the wild card and 15-4 would land them in a one-game playoff. What do you think?

Houston (76-66)
*The Astros have 11 home games and 7 road games left.
*They host Florida for 4, Milwaukee for 3, then go to Pittsburgh for 4, to Wrigley for 3, St. Louis for 2 and finish up with 4 at home against the Cubs.

Florida (76-67)
*The Marlins have only 6 home games left and 13 on the road.
*They travel to Houston for 4 biggies beginning this evening, then host Philly for 3 before heading off to NY, Atlanta, and Washington for 3 games each. They finish the season at home against the Braves.

Philadelphia (75-68)
*The Phillies wind up with 10 home games and 9 on the road.
*They host Atlanta for 4, then hit the road for 3-game stops in Florida, Atlanta, and Cincinnati, return to Philly for 3 with the Mets, then finish at Washington.

Washington (73-71)
*The Nats head to NY for 3, then out to San Diego, before returning home for 3 with the Giants and 3 more with NY. Their last week consists of 3 at Florida and home for 3 with Philly to end the season.

CUBS (71-72)
*12 home games and 7 on the road remain for the Cubbies.
*They kick things off with 4 against the Reds, followed by St. Louis for 3 this weekend at Wrigley. After a 3 game set in Milwaukee, it's back home for 3 against the Astros and 2 against Pittsburgh. The Cubs finish the season with 4 games in Houston.

Milwaukee (71-72)
*The Brewers have 10 home games left and 9 on the road.
*They head to Arizona for 3 beginning tomorrow, then go to Houston for 3 more. Next up is a 9 game homestand with 3 each against the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds, before a season ending series in Pittsburgh.

NY Mets (71-72)
*The Mets finish with 13 home games and 6 on the road.
*NY kicks off a 9-game homestand with 3 against Washington, followed by Atlanta, and Florida. They head to Washington and Philly for 3 games each, then finish at Shea with 4 against Colorado.

bob v

Hi Len, Hi Bob.

Posted by Rich Lindberg at September 8, 2005 08:19 PM

LEN: Hi Rich! That was easy.

---

Dear Len
I think you are the best broadcaster in baseball. I have a couple of
questions. My first question is what is a good collage to go to to be a
baseball broadcaster because i'm 16 now and i know that is what i want
to be when you retire take your place, my second question is are you
guys allowad to do whatever you want when you have a night game in a
visiting city? Finally my third question is will you and bob be doing
this during the winter and keep us up to date with different MLB rumors
jeff
keep on doing your job.

Posted by jeff berta at September 8, 2005 09:15 PM

LEN: Hi Jeff, thanks for the nice compliment. There's no "one" school
to attend for broadcasting...in fact, there's no one degree that you
have to get. Mine is in public relations. The key is to get your
degree. And get experience broadcasting. Do the student radio and TV
stuff and get involved. On the road, I stay pretty close to the hotel.
I'm on-line a lot doing my homework, but I get out for lunch or dinner,
depending on the gametime. Last night, I was able to catch some live
music in SF, which was a nice bonus. And in the winter, I'm on the
internet every day following the latest MLB news.

---

What do you guys do when the Cubs game is on Fox or ESPN, in the
Chicago area? Do you just get the day off, during those situations?

Also, do you particularly like it when Fox or ESPN takes over a game?
It's almost like those announcers are stepping on YOUR turf. After all,
you both have been calling the Cubs all season, and then the "hot shot
ESPN announcers" come into town, like they own the place.

How do you feel about that?

In my opinion, I can't stand it when the game is on Fox or ESPN. Those
guys know baseball - I'll give them that - but they don't know the
Cubs, like Len and Bob.

Posted by Matthom at September 8, 2005 09:46 PM

LEN: Hey Matthom, we are off when Fox (Sat.) or ESPN (Sun. night) does
the game. I like to do every game personally, but we do basically 150
or so, and having an occasional day off isn't the worst thing in the
world.

---

Hey Len,
Here's a question I've often pondered.... are the broadcast teams privy
to all the injury situations or possible rifts in the clubhouse??
Or are you guys just told what the rest of us are?? Last year, and the
year before that, it seemed every player that was injured, we were lied
to about the seriousness of the injury. I can't tell you how many "he's
day to day" lines I heard last year, only to have the player miss a
month or two or in Holly's case, the rest of the season. Just
wondering.

Posted by lenny c at September 8, 2005 09:48 PM

LEN: Hey Lenny, we find out stuff like many of the reporters do. To be
honest, you're making a pretty ridiculous leap in logic when you say
you've been lied to. Why would a team do that? The truth is, many
times, the originally prognosis is in fact day-to-day, but injuries are
unpredictable and sometimes will take longer to heal than originally
thought.

Hi Len,

My husband and I live in Ponchatoula, La. an area that was affected by
Hurricane Katrina. we have been without power for a bit and without
cable TV until just a few hours ago. I guess under the circumstances,
we are doing great. When the cable was restored we flipped the channels
and found the Cubs game just starting! We were so excited. My husband
has been a life-long cubs fan and converted me many years ago. During
all this mess and difficult times, it was an absolute joy to find you
guys on TV. I can not clearly express how much just watching a simple
game means to my husband and me. It helps us find some normalcy in all
the tragedy. The blog has allowed us to catch up on the recent games
and that is great too! Just wanted to say thanks for being there, right
now it means a lot!
Royce and John Feltenberger
GO Cubbies!!!

Posted by John and Royce Feltenberger at September 8, 2005 10:56 PM

LEN: Wow, that's very heartening to hear that watching baseball has
helped, at least a little bit. We're certainly thinking about you and
praying for all those affected by the Hurricane.

---

Hey Len,
I was curious about one thing in particular about your broadcasts, what
do you do inbetween innings when there is a commercial break? Do You
and Bob have spirited conversation or do you just prepare topics coming
up in advance?

Posted by Brian at September 8, 2005 10:57 PM

LEN: Hi Brian, usually we take a few seconds just to chill during
breaks and I sometimes will check an out-of-town score on the computer
or something in my notes and yes, Bob and I might chat about a game
situation. Also, Pete and Skip and Marc in the truck usually let us
know what things they're thinking about in the upcoming half-inning.

---

I was just wondering if anyone had the email address to get a hold of
len and bob when they are broadcasting for WGN. I have a request for
them. Any help out there? Thanks:)

Posted by Misti at September 8, 2005 11:27 PM

LEN: Misti, we're @ wgncubstvbooth@aol.com.

---

Hey Len,
I just want to start off by saying how great a job you guys did this
season. I was a little skeptical at first (just like all of Cubbie
Nation) but you and Bob did an outstanding job througout this very
disappointing season. My question for you is What do you do when the
team is on the road? I understand that the players have all of this
down time, but when does your day really start? How do you prepare your
voice to call the entire game? I once heard that Jon Miller drinks a
scalding cup of hot water. Just curious if you have any rituals or
superstitions that you and or Bob do before each game.
Congrats on having a fine year and hopefully we will see ya next year.

Posted by Jerry at September 9, 2005 12:14 AM

LEN: Jerry, thanks for the nice compliment. We all have our own
routines. As far as how much time for me to prep, well, about 2 hours
on the computer per day at home (or the hotel) and I get to the park
between 3 and a half to 4 hours prior to gametime. And I've been
drinking hot tea lately too!

---

I'd like to know more about the players lives and interests. Are any of
them interested in photography or Cubs history? Who takes pictures
while on the road? Who has a pet?
Did anyone on the team get married during the all star break? Who lives
in Illinois year round? Do any of the players maintain weblogs or
websites? What nutritional regimens do they follow? Is anyone a
vegetarian? What kind of success have they had when using another
player's bat? Whose music do they enjoy? Whose autographs do Cub
players collect? (I bet Prior has some)
Do they watch the World Series? Do they "google" their names on the
web? Do they post on internet bulletin boards? Any cell phone horror
stories?
What is the latest funny travel story? What was the latest practical
joke in the clubhouse? What were their thoughts regarding the Ryne
Sandberg jersey retirement ceremony? What are their favorite baseball
books? If they have a college degree, what did they study in college?
What is the weirdest Cubs related item they've seen for sale? What do
their kids think of their job? What is on their Ipod right now? What
are they reading these days? What is on their Tivo right now? If they
were a fan in the bleachers and caught a visitors home run, would they
throw it back? Do MLB players have to share a hotel room while
traveling? Who rooms with who? What are their favorite restaurants
while traveling or while in Chicago? Are they recognized when they take
public transportation in Chicago?

Go ahead, click on my name to visit my webpage.

Posted by Diana at September 9, 2005 01:38 AM

LEN: Diana, wow, it might take the whole off-season to get to all that
stuff! Let me just say that we try to blend in personal bio info on the
players when we can during the broadcasts.

---

Who are your favorite play by play guys in baseball or all of sports,
what about color commentary guys?? Becides you and Bob of course.

Posted by Alex Catalan at September 9, 2005 06:27 AM

LEN: Alex, my hero is Ernie Harwell, Hall of Famer, former voice of the
Detroit Tigers.

---

First of all, any and all bloggers from the Gulf Coast, know our
thoughts and prayers are with you all. Thank goodness for baseball to
take our minds off of all the tragedy for a few moments....we're all
pulling for all of you.

Second, I've always wondered that too, Brian -- do Len and BB dicuss
what they've just seen until the commercial break is over, or do they
go into a Zen-like state and prepare for the next segment? If the
answer is a Zen-like state, I think BB should be required to show us
what that looks and sounds like. :)

I wanna know if you guys prefer day games or night games, just for your
own personal preference....do you get more or less "down time" in
either case? Also, are you able to hang with the players on the
bus/plane, or are they kinda off by themselves, preparing for/coming
down from the game? And probably most importantly, where are your
favorite places to eat around the country? :) You guys must know some
awesome places that aren't in the entertainment pages, and we're always
looking for good places to eat when we travel -- the more "authentic"
and inexpensive, the better!

BB, we know you're a rock guy -- who's your favorite band? Len, same
question....and no, the Indentured Servants don't count. :) You guys
are doing a great job, thanks for all your hard work and silliness --
the more fun you guys have, the more fun we have along with you!

Posted by Carrie C. at September 9, 2005 09:10 AM

LEN: Carrie, in the interest of time, I'll handle a couple of those. I
like a mix of day and night games. Day games at Wrigley are awesome.
Night games on the road are good because I get a little extra sleep in
the morning. My favorite band? Wow, too many to name but Tommy Keene,
the Romantics, Plimsouls, Figgs, DM3 are just a few on my list. I'm
digging Coldplay these days quite a bit.

---

Which stadium has the furthest to go to get to a restroom from the
booth? Do you have to run between innings?

Since you were with the Marlins, Len, what's your feeling on their
stadium situation as compared to Wrigley Field.

Posted by Brian at September 9, 2005 09:44 AM

LEN: Brian, probably Miller Park in Milwaukee--the bathroom is about 3
miles from the booth it seems! And I can't give you an update on the
Marlins stadium watch since I haven't read anything the last month or
so on it. I really hope they get it.

---

I am sickened to the point of hypertension over the shameless promo of
Dusty Baker prior to, and during, last night's game!

The ONLY thing saving Dusty from being the absolute WORST manager the
Cubs have had during my 60+ years as a fan (whose heritage and family
involvement in the game predate the National League) is the Cub lunacy
of the "college of coaches" and Lee Elia's rant!

I know, as do most other knowledgeable fans that MacPhail and Hendry
would like to save face and keep the overrated Baker around to at least
finsih out his overpaid contract, but I will actively do my best to run
him out of Chicago along with ANYone that supports his continuance as
Cubs manager, or those that have the unmittigated gall or sheer
baseball ignorance to suggest that he is a "good" manager!

I know that Len and Bob are getting the tough end of the stick, and are
probably caught in the middle with little option but to resign, but I
am sick of Trib/Cubs politics "spinning" the info broadcast on WGNTV
and WGN radio. It was this SAME political BS that chased away Chip and
Stoney, and the SAME political BS that prompted the gutless and
underhanded way Sosa was dealt with; and NOW the "spin" to save face
and promo Baker!

Just how stupid do you think Cub fans are?????

Posted by Gary Whiteley at September 9, 2005 11:22 AM

LEN: Gary, well, certainly you have the right to your own opinion. I'm
only going to reply to the "broadcast" part of it since that's the idea
here and my opinion is we do Cubs baseball, pure and simple. We talk to
Dusty on the pre-game when it's newsworthy, such as returning to SF.

---

Len, do you practice difficult names to pronounce? Maybe you have a
cheat-cheat to help you during the games? Also do you and/or Bob play
any Hold'em with any of the players/coaches? Thanks, Len and nice job
this year. Go Hank White!!!!!

Posted by Straw at September 9, 2005 11:24 AM

Straw, I usually ask either the other team's broadcasters or PR people
on the pronunciations. Or sometimes, the player himself (usually the
best bet!). And no, I don't play hold 'em.

---

Hi Len and Bob,

How much time do you actually spend with the players? (traveling,
pre-game, post-game, etc.) And where do all your stats come from? I
swear you guys can come up with the most random stats in the shortest
amount of time. I love it!

Posted by Sarah Krueger at September 9, 2005 02:08 PM

LEN: Sarah, by the end of the season, we spend as much time in the
clubhouse than we do at home it seems! And we have a vast array of info
at our fingertips and a great crew in the truck making us sound smart!

Sorry I didn't get to all of them, but thanks for all the great
questions. We'll do it again down the road...

Len

On Thursday, September 15, 2005, the Chicago Cubs family will join Major League Baseball in collecting donations on behalf of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Proceeds raised will benefit the American Red Cross.

Donations will be collected at all entrances to Wrigley Field prior to Thursday’s 7:05 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Collection efforts will begin at 5:05 p.m. when the gates open to the public.

Members of the Cubs family – current players, players’ wives, coaches, front office staff, former players, and announcers – will be stationed at the gates to collect contributions.

Current Cubs players will be present for approximately one hour (5:05 p.m. – 6:05 p.m.).

For a minimum suggested donation of $5, fans will receive an “I Pitched In – Hurricane Relief” button as a thank-you from the Chicago Cubs. Buttons will be provided while supplies last.

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
*West Tenn completed a three-game sweep in the opening round of the Southern League Playoffs by beating Carolina 11-2 last night. The Diamond Jaxx will return to action Wednesday September 14 when they open the Southern League Championship series against either Jacksonville or Birmingham.
*Carlos Marmol started and got the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing 2 runs.
*1B Brandon Sing was 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI.
*CF Buck Coats was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles an RBI and two runs scored.
*SS Ryan Theriot was 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored.

I'll be the first to admit. I don't know when to leave well-enough alone, but after we got so many entertaining posts and e-mails over the propriety of actually mentioning that Glendon Rusch had a perfect game and no-hitter going the other night, I decided to look back a bit, especially with fans throwing around terms like "respect" and "tradition".

Unfortunately, the entire broadcasts of the Cubs run of no-hitters in the 60s and 70s don't survive, but off the brief clips we do have, I was able to lift the following snippets:

1960 - Don Cardwell no-hitter vs. St. Louis
Vince Lloyd in the 8th:
"Musial just last year in the space of a few days not only ruined another no-hitter out here, but also ruined one out on the West Coast in San Francisco. And he also ruined one against Mike McCormack of San Francisco this year."

1969 - Ken Holtzman no-hitter vs. Atlanta
Jack Brickhouse in the 7th on a Hank Aaron drive:
"That's well hit. There, I believe goes the no-hitter. CAUGHT, CAUGHT by Williams. Hooooo-boy!"

Brickhouse in the 9th as Aaron faced Holtzman
"So now we have one of the great confrontations of the season: Kenny Holtzman the brilliant left-hander of the Chicago Cubs against one of the most dangerous hitters in modern baseball history, Hank Aaron, with 2 out in the 9th of a no-hitter."

1972 - Milt Pappas no-hitter vs. San Diego
Brickhouse in the top of the 9th:
"Milt Pappas trying not only for a no-hitter, he's trying for a perfect game. He's faced 24 men in 8 innings."

bob v

9/12 Eddie Sutton
9/13 Fergie Jenkins
9/14 Scott Turow
9/15 Trent Yawney
9/16 Bob Sirott
9/17 Randy Hundley
9/18 Pat Foley

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
*West Tenn holds a 2-0 lead in their best of five series against Carolina after winning last night 2-1. The Diamond Jaxx will try to complete a sweep tonight.
*Ricky Nolasco started and threw 8 shutout innings.
*RHP Andy Shipman allowed the tying run to score in his 1.0 inning of relief, but picked up the win thanks to a ninth-inning Diamond Jaxx rally.
*SS Ryan Theriot was 1-for-4 with a triple and scored the game-winning run.
*CF Buck Coats hit a two-out bases-loaded infield single to drive in the game-winning run.

Hi Everybody, the Cubs start a 4-game series in SF tonight after
beginning the trip 5-1. The big question this weekend is, if/when
Barry Bonds will make his season debut vs. the Cubs.

As we wind down the season, I thought I'd throw out a simple
question - we've tried to give you a good glimpse into what we do on a daily basis and some insight into the Cubs this year - the question is, is there anything in particular you'd like to know about anything
Cub-related? My thought here isn't that you'll ask our opinion of
players, etc. We can do that on the air and over a beverage. I'm
talking about the nuts and bolts of either our broadcasts or our
routines or our preparation. Again, we've done our best to bring you
along with us this year, particularly on the road. But if there's
anything we haven't covered, I'd be happy to answer your questions.
Just post a question, and I'll handle them in the next couple days.

Len

* Dusty Baker returns once again to the city where he won a National League pennant. Since Baker started managing the Giants in 1993, only Bobby Cox and Joe Torre have won more games.

Most Managerial Wins, 1993  2005

Bobby Cox 1,230
Joe Torre 1,125
Dusty Baker 1,085
Tony LaRussa 1,068
Lou Piniella 1,031

* Since Baker left San Francisco and joined the Cubs, the series between these clubs has been nearly even, with the Giants holding the edge in starting pitching and Chicago getting superior relief work.

Cubs vs. Giants Head-to-Head, 2003  2005

Cubs Giants
Wins 8 7
Runs/Game 3.5 (53/15) 3.4 (51/15) Starters' ERA 3.90 (43/99.1) 2.57 (28/98.0)
Relief ERA 1.43 (6/37.2) 3.96 (17/38.2)
Save Pct (Sv/Opp) 100.0% (1/1) 25.0% (2/8)
Home Runs 14 11

* For both the Cubs and Giants, when the pitching holds its own the team as a whole is awfully tough to beat.

Best W-L when Allowing 3 Runs or Less, 2005 NL

W-L Pct.
Atlanta Braves 60-9 .870
St. Louis Cardinals 63-11 .851
Chicago Cubs 51-9 .850
San Francisco Giants 47-9 .839
Cincinnati Reds 35-7 .833

* In San Francisco's last 12 games, Giants' starters have posted a combined 2.66 ERA (12/74.1) and have not allowed more than four runs in an outing. The Giants are 8-4 during that stretch.

* Derrek Lee has been fantastic all season long, but especially so against the NL West.

Derrek Lee vs. NL West Opponents, 2005

Games Played 30
Batting Avg. .412 (49/119)
Home Runs 8
RBI 27
Runs 26

* Since late June, Carlos Zambrano and Noah Lowry have been two of the toughest pitchers to hit in baseball.

Lowest Opp. Batting Avg. Since 6/28/05, MLB
(Min. 64 IP)

Roger Clemens, Hou .187
Chris Carpenter, StL .193
Carlos Zambrano, ChC .194 (65/335)
Noah Lowry, SF .201 (63/314)
Rich Harden, Oak .201

* Lowry is now 13-2 lifetime after the All-Star break, including a 7-2 mark in 2005.

Highest Career Win Pct. Post All-Star Break
(Active Pitchers, Min. 15 GS)

W-L Pct.
Noah Lowry 13-2 .867
Johan Santana 32-8 .800
Roy Oswalt 39-13 .750
Aaron Cook 9-3 .750
Tim Hudson 54-20 .730

* Since Randy Winn joined the Giants at the trading deadline, they’ve needed his hitting stroke in order to win.

Randy Winn in Wins and in Losses with Giants

Wins Losses
Games 18 16
Batting Avg. .408 (29/71) .200 (12/60)
Home Runs 5 0
RBI 11 2
Runs 15 6
SLG .831 .300

The passion of Cub fans never ceases to amaze me and last night was a good example, although I'll say straight up, I think the sentiment was totally off base (baseball pun intended). I had to laugh last night and today at some of the e-mails we got to the booth demanding that the announcers not mention by name or even refer to the fact that Glendon Rusch was pitching a perfect game.

A sampling:

"I am appalled that as an announcer, you do not know better than to not mention what was going on in order to avoid jinxing it."

"YOU DON"T MENTION PERFECT GAMES OR the fact that the pitcher hasn't LET ANYONE on base. It's a baseball superstition. Everyone knows it. How come you don't?"

"you never, EVER, talk about a
no-hitter when it is still going on. you dont even
reference that there are no hits or that the pitcher
is perfect. from the 5th inning on.
please dont do that again."

"Please tell the camera man to stay away from the
scoreboard (0, 0, 2) and please, please DON'T MENTION IT!"

I thought Len and Bob were having a good time with it and being fun in the way they danced around the actual verbiage with lines such as, "Glendon has gone through the Cardinals lineup twice without allowing a baserunner." We were also using the line score as often as possible to show the imporants zeroes on the St. Louis line score.

The bottom line is that the television broadcast is there to show you the game and tell you as a fan what is going on. Beyond the silly superstition, it's Len's duty to report the events of the ballgame. A perfect game or no-hitter needs to be mentioned just like any other important news.

We look forward to some great posts with your thoughts. Now, I have to go get my car in space 13, right under the ladder. Hope that black cat gets out of the way as I back out. Can't believe I broke that mirror this morning.

Bob Vorwald
Executive Producer
WGN Sports

AAA - Iowa Cubs (64-75
*Iowa’s regular season has concluded. The Cubs finished the season with a 64-75 record.

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (39-31)
*West Tenn ended their regular season with a 5-2 win over Mobile. The Diamond Jaxx clinched the second half championship with a 39-31 record in the second half, giving them home field advantage for the Southern League Playoffs. Their overall record for the season was 83-56.
*West Tenn begins a best of 5 series tonight against Carolina.

A - Daytona Cubs (69-66)
*The Daytona Cubs regular season has concluded. The Cubs’ overall record for the season was 69-66.

A - Peoria Chiefs (68-72)
*Peoria’s regular season has concluded. The Chiefs finished with an overall record of 68-72.
* 2B Eric Patterson was named team MVP. Patterson also won the Midwest League batting title with a .333 average.
* Three Chiefs players have been selected for the 2005 postseason All-Star team: 2B Eric Patterson, outfielder Ryan Harvey and right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher.

A - Boise Hawks (34-41)
*Boise lost to Spokane 3-1.
*Reliever Nick Thompson surrendered two runs in 1.0 inning of relief, suffering his first loss of the season.
*CF Davy Gregg had a stolen base to go with the lone Hawks’ run scored.

Rookie - Mesa Cubs (9-19)
The Mesa Cubs regular season has concluded.

Hey Everybody, one of the fascinating things for me about being an announcer is getting the chance to see all the different broadcasters' scorebooks. Everybody scores the game differently...it's one of the nuances that I absolutely love about baseball. And we kind of develop our own routines and styles and ultimately, scorebooks.

A brief history on my scorebook and scoring system. On the book, I originally used a book that Bill Schroeder uses in Milwaukee. Pretty simple layout and it had what I needed at the time (I was filling in on the Brewers telecasts). I had a couple things tweaked, but stuck with it through my first 2 years with the Marlins. While in Florida, I noticed Jon Sciambi (who was a Marlins radio announcer) had a book that I really liked--had bigger boxes for the actual game portion and it also had more space for notes. So, after the 2003 season, I borrowed a page from him and then basically chopped it up and added and subtracted what I liked and didn't like.

Basically, I came up with the PERFECT scorebook FOR ME. Not for everybody, but for me, it works. Now, I also must add that the book was not originally Jon Sciambi's. He had actually borrowed it from
Phillies' radio announcer Scott Graham. I'm not sure where Scott got it, but you can see where this thing leads. It's like my book has a family tree of its own! Anyway, at the start of 2004, I proudly walked up to Scott Graham at one point when I saw him and said, "You're gonna love what I did with your book!" He was...not amused. Actually, Scott was amused, but he acted like he was hurt that I would "deface" his scorebook. It's become a funny running joke between us - every time I see him, he drops a little dig about ruining his "perfect" book. But I'm telling you, that's how big a deal this stuff is among broadcasters!

Now on my scoring system. Pretty basic story on how I came up with my system. I had filled in a few times in Milwaukee on radio and Bob Uecker and Jim Powell actually share a book. Whoever is doing play-by-play will score the game. So, when I filled in with Bob for a weekend in San Diego, I needed to learn their system. I immediately liked it. Singles are scored with an "H" and the direction in which their hit. So a single to left is "H7" while a single to right-center is "H89." Doubles are "2", triples are "3" and HRs are "4."

Well, I of course put my twist on that as well. I use a coloring system to make it easier for me to see quickly what I need to find. So, I score all outs in black, hits in blue, walks/HBP/SH/SF (non-ABs)
in green and big plays (deep flies, great catches, etc.) in red. I also highlight (w/a highlighter) runs in yellow and runs scoring on HRs in pink or orange. I know it sounds (and looks) complicated, but I
swear, I do it all almost involuntarily now, almost like typing. It's become second-nature to me.

Bob Vorwald has taken some shots of my convoluted book for you to enjoy (or ignore, whichever you choose).

P.S., If you can learn anything about me from my scorebook, I think you'll find I'm rather.....ah....I like the word meticulous.

Len

Iowa Cubs (64-75)
*Iowa dropped their season finale to New Orleans 8-3.
*LF Ben Grieve went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
*1B Micah Hoffpauir was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI.

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (39-31)
*West Tenn ended their regular season with a 5-2 win over Mobile. The Diamond Jaxx clinched the second half championship with a 39-31 record in the second half, giving them home field advantage for the Southern League Playoffs. Their overall record for the season was 83-56. West Tenn begins a best of 5 series Wednesday at home against Carolina.
*3B Casey McGehee went 2-for-4 in the game with a double and 3 RBI.
*Catcher Jose Reyes was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

A - Daytona Cubs (34-34)
*The Daytona Cubs regular season has concluded.

A - Peoria Chiefs (33-37)
*Peoria edged South Bend 8-6.
*Angels Guzman started and went 3 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs.
*Reliever Michael Jones picked up his second win of the season with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.
*RF Ryan Harvey went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
*SS Joseph Simokaitis was 2-for-4 on the night with a double, RBI and a pair of runs scored.

A - Boise Hawks (34-40)
*Boise beat Spokane 9-6.
*Reliever Roger Everson picked up his fourth win of the season with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
*3B Brandon Taylor went 2-for-4 with a homer (7), 2 RBI and a pair of runs scored.
*CF Davy Gregg was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

* The Cubs are one of only three National League teams with a winning record this season against the Cardinals (Phillies 4-2, Padres 4-3).

Cubs Vs Cardinals – 2005

Cubs Cardinals
Wins 6 3
Runs/Game 4.4 (40/9) 3.3 (30/9)
ERA 3.06 (28/82.1) 4.11 (37/81.0)
- Starters 2.73 (19/62.2) 4.09 (28/61.2)
Batting Avg .294 (96/326) .235 (72/306)
On-Base Pct .347 (122/352) .299 (100/335)
Slugging Pct .479 (156/326) .389 (119/306)

* Mark Prior has pitched extremely well at Busch in his career, along with several other Chicago pitchers.

Lowest ERA at Busch Stadium – Since 2003
(Min 3 GS)

Carlos Zambrano 0.70 (3/38.2)
Roger Clemens 0.98
Kerry Wood 1.35 (3/20.0)
Mark Prior 2.11 (5/21.1)
Chris Carpenter 2.57

* Chicago is 3-0 already this month, and has been among baseball’s best in September since 2003.

Best Record in September, Since 2003

Giants 37-17 (.685)
Cubs 38-19 (.667)
Twins 38-19 (.667)
Astros 38-19 (.667)
Yankees 39-20 (.661)

The Cubs ERA (3.31) and opponent BA (.234) in September since 2003 are the best in baseball.

* And the Cubs have been swinging the bat quite well outside of Chicago recently.

Highest BA on the Road – MLB Since August 16

Cubs .294 (85/289)
Giants .288
Angels .288
Twins .284
Indians .280

* In 26 career games (23 starts) against the Cubs, Matt Morris is an outstanding 11-5. But in their last five chances, the Cubs have hit Morris hard.

Matt Morris – Last Five Starts Vs Cubs

W-L 1-3
ERA 9.36 (26/25.0)
Opp BA .363 (41/113)
HR/9 IP 3.2 (9/25.0)

Prior to his last five starts, Morris owned a career 3.18 ERA against the Cubs.

* Dusty Baker would be wise to get Corey Patterson into the starting lineup. Patterson has four home runs in just 33 career at bats against Matt Morris.

Most Career Home Runs Vs Matt Morris

Corey Patterson 4 (in 33 AB)
Jeff Kent 4 (in 51 AB)
Jeff Bagwell 4 (in 74 AB)

* Albert Pujols is in the process of completing perhaps the most impressive first five seasons of a career in MLB history.

Most Home Runs in First Five MLB Seasons

Ralph Kiner, 1946-1950 215
Albert Pujols, 2001-2005 195
Eddie Mathews, 1952-1956 190
Joe DiMaggio, 1936-1940 168

Most RBI in First Five MLB Seasons

Joe DiMaggio, 1936-1940 691
Ted Williams, 1939-1946 638
Chuck Klein, 1928-1932 607
Albert Pujols, 2001-2005 604

AAA - Iowa Cubs (64-74)
*Iowa routed New Orleans 13-2.
*Jon Leicester started and earned the win, going 7 innings and allowing 2 runs.
*2B Richard Lewis was 3-for-4 with a homer, 3 RBI and three runs scored.
*Catcher Geovany Soto went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.

AA - West Tennesse Diamond Jaxx (38-31)
*West Tenn shut out Mobile 1-0 in 11 innings.
*Diamond Jaxx right-hander Thomas Atlee picked up his third win of the season in 1.0 inning of shutout relief.
*RF Adam Greenberg was 0-for-5 with a walk.
*3B Matt Craig went 2-for-3 with a double

A - Daytona Cubs (34-34)
*Daytona was doubled up by Brevard County 12-6.
*CF Chris Walker went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base.
*3B Scott Moore was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

A - Peoria Chiefs (32-37)
*Peoria lost to South Bend 9-5.
*Reliever Drew Dickson surrendered five runs in 1.0 inning, suffering his second loss of the season.
*3B Aaron Smith went 2-for-4 on the night with a double and a pair of RBI.

A - Boise Hawks (33-40)
*Boise routed Yakima 13-5.
*Reliever Andy Santana pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, picking up his fourth win of the season.
*3B Brandon Taylor went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and 3 RBI.
*CF Davy Gregg was 2-for-5 in the game with a double, RBI and a stolen base.

Jim Hendry spent some time with us before the game today and took the time to answer some questions about this very frustrating season.

How do you and Dusty approach this last month of the season, balancing the desire to win games and at least get back to .500 with getting a good look at a lot of different players?
I think we will have a good balance of the two. I think our young guys are certainly capable of helping us get to .500. It's not like they're kids that come up and can't contribute, as saw yesterday. We also have decisions to make on people that may or may not be back with us, so we need to continue to look at them too. I think Dusty will achieve a fair balance of the guys that have been with us all year and the kids we saw do so well yesterday.

Are you getting a running start on what you might do in the offseason?
Yes, we're looking at next year hard. We've had to take a different approach than in the past few years to our scouting. Usually, we would be out advancing teams with our scouts trying to get ready for the postseason. This year, we've got those same scouts out seeing potential free agents for next year or possible guys that we might want to be able to trade for. It's a different September, so we're trying to get a month's head start. We're trying to turn a negative situation of not being in the hunt into a positive of trying to get an extra month's head start toward the offseason.

Ronny Cedeno has played well and also looks like he might be able to play second base?
Chris Speier has been spending some time with him at second; they were out there today during batting practice. He has played some second base in winter ball before, so we're very confident in Ronny's ability and feel that he can definitely be a factor for us next year at either second or short.

Is it too early to anticipate how busy you will be in the offseason free agent market or with trades?I think what we'd like to do is probably get into a fair amount of activity in both if possible. You certainly can't predict what kind of trade you are going to be able to make. You can get involved in the right kind of free agent deals and we've been active there the last couple of winters. It's a matter of taking the last month here and trying to decide which in-house guys and young kids and whether they are ready to stay and play, which veteran free agents we want to re-sign, and then try to hit the ground running once the season is over.

* It’s fair to say that the Cubs have owned the Pirates since June of last year.

Cubs vs. Pirates, Since 6/5/2004

Cubs Pirates
Wins 18 3
Runs/Game 5.4 (113/21) 2.7 (57/21)
ERA 2.53 (54/192.0) 5.21 (107/184.2)
Batting Avg .283 (203/717) .215 (149/693)
Home Runs 31 11

* And it’s hard to say who feels more at home in PNC Park. The Cubs have pulled out all the close ones at PNC since May of last year dominating the decisive innings.

Cubs @ Pirates, Since 5/30/2004

Cubs Pirates
Wins 10 1
1 Run Wins 5 0
Runs/Game 5.5 (60/11) 3.1 (34/11)
ERA 3.09 (34/99.0) 4.50 (50/100.0)
Batting Avg .276 (105/380) .246 (91/370)
Errors 4 12
Runs, Inning 9+ 16 1

* It should not be a surprise that the Cubs have dominated the Pirates in 1 run games, because only the lowly Royals are worse than the Pirates in such games this season.

Lowest Win Pct. In 1-Run Games, 2005 MLB

Royals 13-25 .342
Pirates 12-23 .343
Orioles 10-17 .370
Blue Jays 14-23 .378
Indians 20-30 .400

* The run support has not been there for Kip Wells all season, but since the middle of June Wells has coupled bad run support with bad pitching to win just twice in his last 14 trips to the bump.

Kip Wells First 13 Starts vs. Last 14 Starts, 2005

First 13 Starts Last 14 Starts
W-L 5-4 2-10
ERA 3.39 6.10
Opp BA .235 .283
Run Support 3.94 2.24*

* Lowest Run Support Average Since 6/14/2005.

* Wells mound opponent on Sunday, Jerome Williams, will look rebound from a frustrating outing last Monday when poor command, a tight strike zone, and bad Cub defense combined for an awful day. Williams has been best when he has some extra time between starts, but unfortunately he will be working on normal rest today.

Jerome Williams by Starts on 0-5 vs. 6+ Days Rest, 2005

0-5 Days Rest 6+ Days Rest
Starts 10 4
W-L 1-7 3-0
ERA 6.70 (38/50.1) 2.54 (8/28.1)
Opp. BA .313 (63/201) .179 (17/95)

* Jason Bay is three steals shy of his first 20 HR/20 SB season. Bay has picked the right spots to run this season.

Most Stolen Bases Without Being Caught, Season, Since 1951

1988 Kevin McReynolds, NYM 21
1994 Paul Molitor, Tor 20
2005 Jason Bay, Pit 17
1982 Jimmy Sexton, Oak 16
1989 Gary Thurman, KC 16

* After a miserable start to the season, Nomar Garciaparra has begun to regain the form that made him a Boston legend.

Nomar Garciaparra, First 31 Games vs. Last 5 Games, 2005

First 31 Games Last 5 Games
At Bats 109 17
Home Runs 2 3
Runs Batted In 8 7

* The Cubs have won eight of the 11 meetings this season, allowing three or fewer runs in each of the last seven contests.
* The Cubs have lost eight of their last 11 games, despite outscoring their opponents 54-52 in those contests.
* Chicago’s Neifi Perez is batting .531 (17-32) vs. the Pirates this season,
* Chicago pitcher Greg Maddux is 5-0 with a 1.73 ERA in his last nine starts in Pittsburgh. His last loss there was back on April 30, 1994.
* Pittsburgh has lost 16 of its last 22 home games, including the last five.
* The Pirates’ Ty Wigginton has 10 RBIs in his eight games since being called up from the minors.
* Pittsburgh pitcher Josh Fogg has received just nine total runs in support in his nine losses this season. Fogg has won just one of his 12 starts at home this season.

AAA - Iowa Cubs (63-72)
*Iowa was edged by Omaha 4-3.
*Bobby Brownlie (6-7) started and took the loss.
*2B Mike Fontenot was 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer (5).
*CF Calvin Murray was 1-for-4 and picked up his 18th stolen base.

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (36-30)
*West Tenn lost to Birmingham 8-7 in 10 innings.
*RHP Victor Ramos took the loss, allowing one run on three hits in the bottom of the 10th inning.
*DH Matt Craig had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs, going 2-for-4 on the day.
*RF Adam Greenberg was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
*Brandon Sing hit his 26th HR.

A - Daytona Cubs (32-33)
*Daytona lost to Brevard County 7-1.
*2B Enrique Cruz was 1-for-4 and scored the Cubs’ only run.
*LF Jeff Culpepper went 2-for-4.

A - Peoria Chiefs (31-35)
*Peoria lost to Beloit 7-2.
*LF Steve Harris was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
*2B Anthony Granato was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

A - Boise Hawks (31-39)
*Boise scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to beat Tri-City 9-8.
*RHP Roger Evenson struck out the only two batters he faced to pick up the win.
*SS Kyle Reynolds was 3-for-5 and drove in the game-winning run.
*CF David Gregg was 4-for-5 with four RBI.

Sunday at noon, WGN-TV presents "A Change of Seasons", a look at the Cubs, what went wrong, and where the team goes from here. Dan Roan will host the show live from PNC Park in Pittsburgh and will be joined by Len Kasper and Bob Brenly. We hope to have Jim Hendry as a live guest that day to go along with a feature on Derrek Lee, the latest news on the Cubs roster, and a look at the wild card picture.

Following the special, the Cubs take on the Pirates at 12:30p on WGN-TV. We hope you will be able to join us.

AAA - Iowa Cubs (63-71)
*Iowa lost to Omaha 6-2. Sergio Mitre took the loss, giving up 2 runs in 4 innings as a starter.
*3B Mike Fontenot 2-for-3 with an RBI.
*2B Richard Lewis 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

AA - West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
*West Tenn edged Birmingham 5-4 behind Jae-Kuk Ryu who picked up his 10th win, going 7 innings and giving up 4 runs.
*Outfielder Adam Greenberg went 0-for-2 with a walk, run scored and one strikeout.
*2B Eric Patterson was 0-for-5 with an RBI and two strikeouts.
*Diamond Jaxx closer Drew Shipman pitched a perfect ninth, picking up his 14th save of the season.

A - Daytona Cubs
*Daytona scored three runs in their last at-bat, giving them a 3-2 win over Palm Beach.
*Catcher Jacob Fox had a 2-run homer (9)to tie the game in the seventh inning. Fox was 1-for-3 in the game.
*2B Enrique Cruz went 1-for-2 with the game-winning RBI double.
*RHP Michael Phelps picked up his first win, tossing 2 scoreless, hitless innings.

A - Peoria Chiefs (31-34)
*Peoria beat Beloit 8-6.
*RF Ryan Harvey went 2-for-4 with a homer (24) and a pair of runs scored.
*DH Jesse Schmidt was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
*Chief right-hander Michael Jones picked up his first win of the season despite giving up three runs in 2 innings of relief.

A - Boise Hawks (30-39)
*Boise lost to Tri-City 8-5.
*Hawk reliever Scott Koerber surrendered 3 runs in 0.2 innings, suffering his first loss of the season.
*3B Brandon Taylor went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and an RBI.