Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs Favored To Win 3rd Straight NL Central Title
Sunday, February 15th, 2009 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Chicago Cubs are once again favored to win the National League Central Division title for a 3rd straight year. For an inside look at the race for the NL Central division title, take a look here with Jeff Passan spring training division tour.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all turns out. Check back often to the Ticket Chest Blog for more updates on your favorite MLB teams.
Cubs Sign Jim Hendry to 4-Year Extension
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 | MLB, Sports | 1 Comment
The Chicago Cubs gave Jim Hendry a 4-year contract extension on Monday, October 20, 2008, which will keep Hendry in Chicago through the 2012 season. Jim Hendry has been the General Manager of the Chicago Cubs since July 2002. The Chicago Cubs have had 4 winning seasons in his 6 seasons as General Manager, including 3 NL Central Division titles in 2003, 2007 and 2008. The Cubs had the most victories in the National League in 2008, with 97. That regular season success, however, has not translated into post-season success. The Chicago Cubs have been swept out of the post-season the last 2 years by the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, but in 2003, the Cubs came within 5 outs of advancing to the World Series for the first time in over 50 years before losing to the Florida Marlins in Game 7 of the NLCS. Hendry knows he has work to do with the pending free agency of 2 important pitchers – Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster – the need for a dependable lead-off man who can set the table for the middle of the lineup, and holes to fill in Center Field and Right Field. Hendry has developed a good nucleus of executives, player development personnel and scouts during his 6 years, and he is confident that he will be able to find the winning combination to secure that first Cubs World Series Championship in more than 100 years.
Update: Our 2009 Cubs tickets are now on sale. Here
Cubs Choke Again…
Monday, October 6th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
Cubs 2008
For the 2nd consecutive year, the Chicago Cubs were swept out of the playoffs with a 3 games to none disaster against the NL West representative – this time the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dodgers Manager Joe Torre (ex- New York Yankees Manager and winner of 4 World Series titles) bested friend and Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Pinella in the short 3-game set. After the Cubs fell behind 4-2 on James Loney’s Grand Slam off of Ryan Dempster in the 5th inning of NLDS Game 1, the 2 teams could have called it quits and saved a lot of time and money for players and fans traveling cross-country to Los Angeles. The Cubs bumbled their way to a 10-3 loss at home in NLDS Game #2 (each Cubs infielder committed an error in the contest), and then showed no heart in the decisive 3-1 loss in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The Cubs bats did not show up for a 2nd consecutive year – although the team had numerous opportunites to score in all 3 games, the Cubs only scored runs in 4 of the 27 innings played. The Cubs hit only one home run all series, and productive stars Left Fielder Alfonso Soriano (1 for 14 just as he did against the Diamondbacks in 2007), Third Baseman Aramis Ramirez (2 for 11), Catcher Geovany Soto (2 for 11) Center Fielder Jim Edmonds (2 for 10), each had atrocious series. With runners in scoring position, the Cubs got only 2 hits in 28 bats. On the opposite side of the ball, Manny Ramirez had 5 hits in 10 at-bats, including 2 home runs, 5 runs scored and 3 RBI’s in the series. The top 3 hitters in the Dodgers lineup (Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin and Ramirez) did all the damage in NLDS Game #3 – 4 for 9 with 3 weeks and all 3 runs scored – and for the series, hit a collective .371 with 11 runs scored and 10 RBI’s. 100 years has come and gone for the Chicago Cubs – will it be another 100 years before we see a Cubs World Series Championship? Ask Cubs fans, and most will likely say … yes!
Here We Go Again… Cubs Lose in the Playoffs?!
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The Chicago Cubs turned in another lackluster playoff performance, losing 7-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of more than 41,000 diehard Cubs fans at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. After taking an early 2-0 lead on Mark DeRosa’s 2nd inning home run, the Dodgers scored the next 7 runs en route to a dominating win over the deflated Cubs. It was the Cubs 7th consecutive post-season loss. Ryan Dempster walked 7 batters in less than 5 innings of work. Twice, he walked the bases loaded in an inning. He worked out of his own-bases-loaded jam in the 3rd inning, but his luck ran out in the 5th inning when James Loney crushed a 1-2 splitfinger fastball over the center field fence for a Grand Slam that put the Dodgers ahead for good. The Dodgers added home runs by Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin, and although the Cubs out-hit the Dodgers 9-8, they never managed any other threats throughout the rest of the game. NLDS Game #2 features Chad Billingsley for the Dodgers and Carlos Zambrano for the Cubs in a must-win game for the Cubs.
What is going on in Chicago?
Thursday, September 25th, 2008 | Sports | 1 Comment
This could be the year for the Cubs and Mayor Daley is worried about the bars. What is going on in Chicago? In 2005 when the White Sox won the city was fine. With so many problems in the city of Chicago you would think Daley would have better things to worry about. The article below is a must read. – Mark -ticket chest blog
Bars and restaurants around Wrigley Field that ignore the city’s call to voluntarily cut off liquor sales after the seventh inning could face a dire alternative: Area residents could vote them dry, Mayor Daley warned Tuesday.
One day after bar owners reacted angrily to the city’s proposal, Daley defended it as “common sense.” He argued that Cubs fans who’ve been drinking up until the seventh-inning stretch of potential title-clinching games need, what he called, “some smoothing time” before the celebration begins in earnest.
“This is about the Cubs. This is about where they worked so hard all year to get to. This is not about a lot of fans and a lot of drinking. We don’t want to see any incident outside, because if there is, that whole area will be voted dry tomorrow. Those citizens will get together and say, ‘I’m gonna vote every precinct dry. I’ll even vote Cubs Field dry,” Daley said.
“They’re gonna have their reveille in the street. But, I don’t want first responders hurt. I don’t want any citizen hurt. I don’t want to see an ambulance trying to drive down the street loaded with people,” said the mayor. “We don’t need your cameras up there showing people getting injured. They’re gonna win it on the field and not on the street. You can drink as much beer for seven innings as you want. Give me a break.”
The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this week that bars and restaurants surrounding Wrigley would be asked to voluntarily stop serving alcohol after the seventh-inning stretch — just as they do inside the ballpark — to prevent Cubs playoff celebrations from turning ugly.
The proposed sevenh-inning cut-off would apply only to potential title-clinching games and last until the game is over. It would affect roughly 40 establishments on Sheffield between Newport and Irving; on Clark from Irving Park to Newport and on Addison from Wilton to Racine.
Bar owners reacted angrily, arguing that customers who don’t get served will get up and leave and never come back.
Daley was not sympathetic.
“Then I’ll have someone buy their place tomorrow. It’s not gonna cost ’em any business. They made enough money all year. I’m sorry. We’re just talking about common sense. That’s all this is. Because I’ll tell you one thing — if that community sees something they don’t like, they will not have a bar. They will not have a liquor license. They will vote it completely dry,” the mayor said.
Despite the mayor’s vigorous defense, local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) has not yet signed on to Daley’s proposal. Tunney, owner of Ann Sather’s restaurants and a former liquor license holder, said bar owners need to have their say at a meeting Monday.
“I’m concerned that there’s a precedent here that needs to be thought out. On any given special event, the city could come in and restrict liquor sales for public safety reasons. This throws a new wrinkle on a way to manage this and a concern that this could be used at a moment’s notice. There will be a concern about having an ever- widening scale of prohibition,” Tunney said.
“The first blush is, ‘Oh, my God. This is ridiculous. As a business operator, I know how to handle crowds.’ If I step back, count for 10 seconds, sleep on it, maybe we can tweak it and make it even better for the city and the community. I think we’ll get some movement from both sides.”
Tunney said the Daley administration initially wanted the seventh- inning cut-off to apply to all playoff games, not just potential title clinchers. They also wanted to implement it last weekend, when the Cubs clinched the Central Division championship.
“I said there wasn’t enough notice,” he said.
–FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter – Chicago Sun Times
Chicago Cubs Clinch NL Central Title
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
With a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs clinched back-to-back NL Central titles under 2nd-year Manager Lou Pinella. The Cubs eanred back-to-back post-season appearances for the 1st time in 100 years – the Cubs played in 3 consecutive World Series from 1906 through 1908 – the last time the Chicago Cubs franchise actually won a World Series. Ted Lilly recorded his 15th win of the season – his 2nd consecutive season in which he has won 15 games for the Cubs. The Cubs 94 wins is tops in the National League and all but assures them of having home field advantage through the NL Championship Series. The Cubs extended their lead over 2nd place Milwaukee to 10 games – its largest lead of the season. The Chicago Cubs can now focus their attention on resting players for the post-season and setting up the pitching rotation to start the playoffs on Wednesday, October 1st at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.
Zambrano No Hits Astros
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano threw his first career no-hitter on Sunday, September 14th in a 5-0 win over the Houston Astros. After a 12-day layoff to heal a sore shoulder plagued with tenditis, Zambrano needed only 110 pitches to win his 14th game of the season and become the 1st Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter in 36 years. Zambrano allowed only 2 base runners – Michael Bourn reached on a walk in the 4th inning and Hunter Pence was hit by a Zambrano pitch in the 5th inning – and he struck out 10 Astros batters. Alfonso Soriano homered to lead off the game in the 1st inning and the Cubs added 4 runs in the 3rd inning on a 2-RBI double by Derek Lee, an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez and an RBI double by Geovany Soto. The game generated much controversy – the 3-game series was supposed to be played in Houston, but because Hurricane Ike was supposed to crash through the Gulf Coast and Houston, Texas throughout the weekend, MLB was forced to re-schedule 2 of the 3 games in a venue where weather would not play a role. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig seletced Miller Park – home of the Milwaukee Brewers – depsite the fact that the stadium was only 90 miles from Chicago. Astros players and fans as well as baseball critics felt that this gave the Chicago Cubs an unfair “home field” advantage as Cubs fans generally travel well for games played at Miller Park. The Chicago Cubs ended up sweeping the Astros in Milwaukee 7-1 the next day. Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the 7th inning and the Cubs ended up holding the Astros to only 1 total hit in the 7-1 loss. Jim Edmonds, Geovany Soto and Derek Lee all homered for the Cubs.
Cubs Sweep Brewers in Milwaukee – 5-Game Lead!
Thursday, August 7th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
Rich Harden pitched the Chicago Cubs to a 4-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, July 31st, with a solid 7 inning effort in which he struck out 9 batters. Jim Edmonds homered twice, including a grand slam in the 5th inning that broke the game open giving the Cubs a 5-0 lead. Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome also homered for the Cubs. The Cubs defeated the Brewers 6-4 on Monday, July 28th behind a solid effort from Ted Lilly and clutch hitting from Derek Lee; 7-1 on Tuesday, July 29th behind a strong pitching performance from Cubs Ace Carlos Zambrano; and 7-2 on Wednesday, July 30th behind a strong pitching performance from Ryan Dempster. It was a pivotal series for the Chicago Cubs who had struggled mightily after the All-Star break. While the Cubs had lost 4 of the first 10 games played after the All-Star Break, the Brewers had won 8 of their first 10 games played after the All-Star Break, cutting the Cubs lead in the division to only 1 game. The 4-game sweep definitely gives the Cubs some breathing room heading into the final 2 months of the season.
Cubs’ Pitchers Shine in 2008 All-Star Game
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The city of Chicago sent 9 players to the 2008 All-Star and the performances of the Cubs’ pitchers did not disappoint. Cubs Ace Carlos Zambrano pitched the 3rd and 4th innings and did not allow a run. Zambrano only gave up 1 hit and struck out one batter. Ryan Dempster pitched a perfect 9th inning striking out all 3 batters he faced. Dempster’s dominating performance helped send the 2008 All-Star Game into extra innings. Carlos Marmol preserved the tie for the National League in the 13th inning with another dominating performance by a Cubs pitcher. Marmol did not allow a hit or a run and he struck out 2 of the 4 batters he faced. Only one hitter reached against Marmol – on a fielding error by Florida marlins 2nd baseman Dan Uggla – that was Uggla’s 3rd error of the game. Carlos Marmol replaced Cubs closer Kerry Wood on the National League squad since Wood is battling a blister on his finger.
The hitters from Chicago fared much worse than the pitchers. The only Cubs or White Sox player to reach base in the 2008 All-Star Game was Cubs 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez reached base with a walk in his only at-bat of the game. Cubs Catcher Geovani Soto was 0-2 with a strikeout; Cubs Right Fielder Kosuke Fukudome was 0-2 with a strikeout; White Sox Left Fielder Carlos Quentin was 0-4 with a strikeout (he also left 4 runners on base); and White Sox 3rd baseman Joe Crede was 0-1in his only at-bat.
The American League won the 2008 All-Star Game 4-3 when Michael Young drove in Justin Mourneau on a sacrifice fly with 1 out in the bottom of the 15th inning. The American League representative in the World Series will now have home field advantage during the World Series.
Categories
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Oct | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | ||||
