Cuuuuuuuuuuubs Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

I never thought I'd have an opportunity to say "Sweeeeeeeeeeeeep" this entire year!  Things for the Cubs were looking bleak as hell after the last road trip, but we've triumphantly come home to Chicago to win 3 in a row against the hated Black Sox!  Damn, I wish I was there!  But alas, Son Ranto is in NYC where last night I did witness another Crosstown Underdog, The NY Mets sweep the hated Yankees.  It was pretty sweet.

My sis got me bleacher tix for my birthday.

But yesterday's Cubs game!  I walked from the Courthouses of lower Manhattan, where I finished my divorce paperwork, up to 54th st, all the while listening to Pat and Keith describe the Cubbies spanking of the White Sox.  I can always say I was in Times Square when pitcher Travis Wood hit a Grand Slam.  Look at that sweet swing!!!

I was in Times Square when Kurt Cobain died too, so I'm happy to have the memory replaced.  Actually, a lot of crazy stuff has happened to me in Times Square, but we won't go into that today....  But with timely hitting, aforementioned pitcher's Grand Slams and homeruns by Nate Schierholtz, and Luis Valbuena, the Cubs completely dominated the White Sox in the Three Game set, winning 8-3 in the finale, 9-3 on Wednesday, and 7-0 on Monday.  I wish Tuesday's game had been played and not rained out.  Jackson was looking good, and we were already winning 2-0.  But alas, we will just have to complete the true sweep later in the season.  

So I ask?  Who in the hell are these Chicago Cubs?  Is it just that the White Sox actually stink.  No.  I saw them beat up on the Red Sox a few weeks ago.  Is it the warmer weather?  Is it streakiness?  Confidence?  Chicago itself?  I think I may be hitting on something.  Most teams have a disparity in their road and home splits.  But I'm not talking about Wins and Losses as much as the players general  ability to play better when they sleep in their own bed.  Not in a hotel, where they get shuttled around on buses.  Eating food from new restaurants.  Trying to figure out where to buy weed.  You know, the normal every day things that are made more difficult when you don't know the area very well.  Just a theory.  Probably wrong.  But I'm going with it.  Who knows?  Maybe they just feel better in Pin Stripes.  

Now, this is not a Son Ranto column unless I complain about something right?  What in the hell is up with Welington "Beef Castle"  Castillo and Catchers interference calls.  In the 10th inning of last weeks Cincy finale, and yesterday.  Castillo's glove has gotten in the way of the bat.  Catcher's interference is not a very common thing to see in a ball game, probably less common than a balk.  So why is it happening twice in a week?  Luckily, the Cubs have won both games it's happened in.  The catching defense is pretty lack luster.  Dropped third strikes and foul tips that could have been K's.  Wild pitches and passed balls, and now, freakin' Catcher's interference!  the other big question is, why in the hell did Sveum sit Navarro the day after he hit 3 homeruns?!  Not gonna make a huge deal out of it.  For most of the games, Navarro's been frustratingly slow and fat.  I guess he know's where to eat on the road.  

Another complaint I have is the Cubs runners watch the play instead of the coaches.  They lose valuable seconds watching how far the ball went.  Especially on homerun balls that end up hitting the wall.  It's a problem, and it shows either a lack of trust in David Price, the third base coach, or a lack of fundamental coaching.  If I were manager, I'd put a stop to it.  Here's a hilarious picture of Castillo tumbling over third base....he was here....

But unfortunately, ended up here....

and then pathetically....here....

Travis Wood also bit it in the second inning, tripping over second base....

But then he hit a Grand Salami in his next at bat so as not to run the bases.  He must have learned that trick from Navarro who hates running more than MLB pee tests.....

Let's keep the train moving!! What do we have going today?!  

The Diamondbacks come to town.  Matt Garza, who was a little shaky in Cincy last week goes against Wade Miley, who looks like a total freak...

Then again...so does Garza!

Battle of the freakazoids!!!  

Let's Go Cubbies!!!

http://www.sonranto.com

Cubs Almost Win; Lose Anyway

In the Chicago Cub's 2013 effort to lose in new and exciting ways,  the Cubs last night gave up a 2 run lead in the bottom of the 13th to lose to the Reds.  What was the culprit this time?  Defense?  Sappelt's misplayed ball in Right field?  Michael Bowden getting shelled for the loss?  Certainly, these plays directly effected our loss in the 13th.  But the game should not have gotten this far.  The Cubs got 11 hits, 4 walks, and benefited from 3 Red errors, and you're telling me we could only score 2 runs until the 13th inning where we got 2 more?

Well, except for the homeruns by DeJesus (to lead off the game) and Luis "I put arsenic in Ian Stewarts Cheerios" Valbuena, not one of the Cubs other 9 hits were for extra bases.  And many of the singles came with 2 out in the inning, not giving much chance to get the guy in.  Starlin Castro, who's hitting streak is now at 14, also left 4 men on base.  Anthony Rizzo, presumably our best hitter, as he is positioned in the 3 hole went 0-6 with 3 strikeouts.  He is batting .191 as well. Terrible! Speaking of strikeouts....umm...we struck out 16 times last night.  Granted the Reds relief pitchers looked damned good.  Especially fireballer Aroldis Chapman.  But damn!  It's hard to move runners up when you can't make contact.  Some of these swings and misses are just embarassing!  There was actually a moment in Sundays game when Luis Valbuena struck out and looked at his bat as if there must have been a hole in it.  Apparently there are holes in many of the Cubs' bats.  Oh...did I mention that pitcher Travis Wood has a higher batting average than our starting second baseman Darwin Barney, and 2 of the 3 pinch hitters we used last night?  This is getting sad people....

Son Ranto and Lou Sears explain it all in the most recent podcast....

Ok.  You want a bright spot?  A glimmer of hope?  Our starting pitching has been excellent.  Over all, top notch.  I hope it can last, but with our defense kicking the ball around out there, it's a matter of time before exhaustion will set in from all the extra pressure put on by constantly having to get 5 outs an inning.  Stay Positive Ranto!!  Umm....Starlin Castro made a couple of nice plays last night.  It's those routine grounders he can't quite seem to handle... damnit Ranto!!!! Stay Positive!!  Ummm errr...David DeJesus is turning out to be a power lead off man?  He already has 3 homeruns and he only hit 9 last year....and his wife is smoking hot!!   There I got through at least one Cub without both a positive and negative to share.  Whew!!!  David D for MVP!  (of the Cubs anyway).  Although to get excited about 3 homeruns, and someone elses hot wife is pretty pathetic.....Damn!!!!  Can't do it!!!  I have something bad to say about all of them!!!  Except......starting pitching.  It's been great.  Keep up the good work boys, and lets hope these guys behind you can learn how to, score runs, and, well, just not look so terrible.

So what can I say?  Let's get em tonight!  We got 'The Stache' Carlos Villanueva vs.  Reds lefty Tony Cingiani, who I understand mades a killer baked Ziti in the off season.   I think we can win at least 1 of these games in Cincy...right?  Cant we?  I'll be hanging out with the Lovable Lou Sears at Three Aces Bar at 1321 W. Taylor if you want to come by.  We will be the best looking guys in the bar, so you can't miss us!

So listen to the podcast, give us free tickets, and say hi!  sonranto@gmail.com or http://www.sonranto.com