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

Your First Place Chicago Cubs!!

While the hated St. Louis Bird Droppings languish in last place, the Cubs sit atop the NL Central!  Many that has a nice ring to it!  Our magic number is now 161.  And if we extrapolate the performances of the players yesterday, Anthony Rizzo will hit 162 home runs.  Brent Lillibridge will strike out 486 times.  And Carlos Marmol will almost lose every game for us.  But let's stay positive for a moment....

First of all.  A special thanks to Three Aces Bar on Taylor st.  and Benny the bartender for not judging me for drinking in the day time.  The lovable Lou Sears and I had a lovely afternoon drinking Left Handed Stout.  I also ate a delicious pulled pork sandwich, kale salad, and the best tomato soup ever for only 10$.  And yes.  That was a commercial.  The game seemed to zip by, as Samardzija just mowed em down.  9 strike outs, 2 hits, 0 runs, 8 innings.  Do we have a bonified ace now?  Lou Sears is convinced he's the second coming of Randy Johnson.  I still remain unconvinced until his fastball kills a bird.

Yeah...the Shark was great!  Let's hope this trend continues, and when the rest of the staff is healthy, we might actually make things interesting in the Central this year.  Like the Pirates last year.  Castro and Castillo had 2/3 of the Cubs 6 hits, which basically means that the rest of the team, besides Rizzo who homered didn't do anything.  Soriano struck out twice, and Lillibridge, that elf looking MoFo, was horrible.  3 Ks and an error.  We need our Dar Bar back and fast!  

OK.  Marmol.  WTF.  

He should not close a game ever.  It's over for him.  I'm sorry, but it just is.  Marmol was a great 8th inning guy.  But in the 9th.  He's a head case.  Why in the hell do pitchers treat the 9th inning with such a different energy?  Just go up there, execute each pitch, and get the guy out!  No matter what inning it is!  One pitch at a time.  Carlos Marmol is incapable of closing ballgames.  Period.  I have no idea if Fujikawa is any good.  All I know is, he got the save yesterday,and was pumped his fist when he got the fly ball to center to save the game.  So Dale.  Mr. Sveum.  Please.  Don't ever let Carlos Marmol pitch in the 9th inning.  Please.  Thank You.  

So who else sucked?  Lillibridge.  I actually think I hate him.  First of all, he's an ex White Sox.  Second of all.  He sucks.  and he looks like an elf.  Or a troll.  All I know is he's better off on Lucky Charms boxes and not playing second base.  I'd rather see Aaron Fucking Miles hitting weak scribblers to second than watch Brent "Magically delicious" Lillibridge play baseball.  Got it.   Dar Bar come back to us!!!

After the game, The lovable Lou Sears and I went over to the Billy Goat Tavern and met up with friends and did shots of Malort until we were either gonna sleep or fight.  Big thanks to our Bar Tender Jeff who kept me and the boys in line.  We capped off the night with an amazing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds concert at the beautiful Chicago Theater.  Seriously incredible show.  And the perfect end to what turned out to be the best opening day I've had in a looooonngggg time....

So what's next?  Edwin Jackson debuts for the North Siders against Wandy Rodriguez.  Wandy always seems to pitch the Cubbies tough, and we've seen a lot of him in a Houston uniform.  I actually wish he was on our team.  I'd rather have him than Scott Baker at this point. Anyhow, he's on the Pirates now, and we gotta figure out a way to beat him on Wednesday night.  I'm psyched to see what Edwin Jackson can do  for us.  We've got him for 4 years and 52 million.  So...he better not get injured, and he'd better win 80 games through 2017.  Got it?

Go Cubbies.

Let's Go 2013 Cubbies!

I'm just about to head down to Three Aces Bar on Taylor st. to watch our beloved Cubbies take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.  We better win this one, because it's one of our only chances to be in first place this year.....

There's a podcast, which i really don't remember recording with the loveable Lou Sears, because I drank too much Jesus Blood at Easter Dinner.  I'm actually scared to listen to the cast because i might end up going to AA instead of Three Aces.  Anyway...listen to it here.... http://sonranto.com/Sonranto/SonRanto_Cast/SonRanto_Cast.html

Today we got the Shark vs. AJ Burnette. The tattooed Burnette went 0-2 with a 7.36 era this spring, so that's pretty sweet on paper to face such a loser.  But last year he went 16-10 with a 3.51, which is pretty damned decent.  But hell, it's a new year, and we got our best pitcher going.  It's mullet vs. rocking tats...and I can barely contain my excitement!  Let's Tattoo Burnette!

Sucks that Dar Bar has a hole in his knee, so ladies and gentlemen, your opening day second baseman is Brent Lillibridge who has a leprachaun name.

Today's opening day lineup....

1.  DeJesus CF
2.  Castro SS
3. Rizzo 1B
4. Soriano LF
5. Schierholz RF
6. Castillo C
7. Valbuena 3B
8.  Lillibridge 2B
9. Samardzija P

Alright people.  I know this might be a tough year.  But let's cheer our asses off anyway.  In a year or two when we make a run at the Central you can say you were there when the team was in shambles.  This is any Cubs fan's chance to prove they're no fairweather fan!

Let's Go Cubbies!!