Now that we are a full 7 games into the season, it's time for my first turning-two post of the year. Hopefully it will be the first of many posts this season as that will mean that a.) I actually have time to write blogs and 2.) that our boy The Riot pulls out of this mini-slump and has a good season.
I actually made it up to the 3rd game of the season against the Brew Crew with fellow blogger Kyle, braving the cold and frigid Chicago April...I'm convinced that no city residing outside of the Siberian tri-province area has colder April's than Chicago... needless to say no Wrigley field honey's wearing pink Cubs halter tops on this day.
I of course was wearing my Ryan Theriot T-shirt jersey on top of a long sleeve tee....which was under a running pullover, giant Purdue fleece lined hoody, and my ski jacket. You may call me a pussy, I just call it being practical. Your only other choice is to drink yourself into oblivion, and with Wrigely Field beer prices rivaling that of a tank of gas ($6.25 for a waxy cup of flat Old Style to open the year) I decided to layer up.
The game started off in typical Cubs fashion with Ryan Dempster giving up two quick runs in the first. It appeared to be a long day in the making. But Dempster settled down and the cubs offense finally woke up, aided by new comer Fukudome! (always pronounced like there's and exclamation mark at the end) who doubled and scored in the second inning. I'm really going to like this guy, he has all the Theriot qualities...disciplined, hustler, humble. I tell ya, i really like these japanese players, they all play the game the right way...
At any rate i had many chances to cheer for The Riot on the day, especially when he doubled and drove in a key insurance run in the 6th. Then was able to scream like a love sick school girl when he took off and stole third with less than two outs. Riot should have scored but Derek Lee (aka "The Unclutch") struck out and left Riot stranded. No matter, the Cubs won behind a Kerry Wood 9th inning and first save of the year. Woodrow looked really good, and it was good to see him pitch again. When I say that Kerry really looked good, i mean he didn't leave the game holding his arm or writhing in pain, so all in all it was a major improvement.
On a side note, i had the opportunity to see Prince Fielder in action...and that man. I mean he's officially taken over from Albert Pujols as the fattest man in baseball. The guy is a monster...and to top it off the uniform he wears is about 5 sizes too big for him, not an easy feat to accomplish...I wonder if they have a "Big and Tall" store for MLB uniforms...
Prince is kinda like the anti-Tommy Boy. Instead of fat man in a little coat...he's fat man in a giant uniform. To top it off, he rode the socks up high for the game which causes his over sized pants to bunch up at the knee making it look like those little pants jockey's wear at the Kentucky Derby. Nothing like seeing a 350 pound man dressed like a jockey on the baseball diamond. I really could stop laughing at him, maybe it was the cold....and as usual, i have no point.
Unfortunately, in the games since then Theriot has struggled a bit and sat out for a rest in Monday's game. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come. Riot did factor in big time in the win however by walking in the 12th then stealing 2nd AND 3rd! scoring the winning run on an Aramis sac fly. We're talking pure hustle, single handedly manufacturing that run. Hopefully that performance, along with Ronny's key error and overall "hands made of stone" defense help keep Theriot as our main starting shortstop for the rest of the year.
Go Cubs go
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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7 comments:
When Theriot stole 3rd in that 12 inning, it was on a wild pitch that bounced hard off the back stop. Any other player would have been loafing it to third and would have been gunned down. Riot took nothing for granted and barely made it to 3rd as it was. It was a huge hustle play that won the game for the Cubs.
A lot is made of Ryan Theriot’s excellent plate discipline by the media and fans. We of course know this is nonsense.
In 2007, Ryan Theriot saw 3.53 pitches per plate appearance (P/PA). Theriot saw fewer pitches per plate appearance than all but 4 Cubs who had at least 50 at-bats. A few of the players above him: Felix Pie, Henry Blanco, Jason Marquis, Ronny Cedeno and Koyie Hill. You know, the real patient hitters on the team. The 4 players with fewer P/PA? Ted Lilly, Cesar Izturis, Rich Hill and Carlos Zambrano.
That’s right. Among Cubs players with at least 50 at-bats in 2007, the only position player who saw fewer pitches was Cesar Izturis, the man who Theriot replaced.
Theriot so saw few pitches last season that among all MLB players with 500 or more plate appearances he ranked 140th out of 162. Among players with 400 or more PA, Theriot ranked 184th out of 216. Among all players with 50 plate appearances or more, Theriot ranks 424th out of 543. Only 120 players in Major League Baseball last season, most NL starting pitchers included, saw fewer pitches than Ryan Theriot did.
get a clue. You guys are idiots
At least with Ceasar Izturis playing SS in STL, the Cubs won't be ranked 16/16 in offensive production out of the SS again.
Hopefully Riot can grit the Cubs to 15/16
Dude, get an ID and own up to your comments. Everybody loves the superstars, including us. We just like to see a player that still loves the game, works hard, hustles, etc....We realize there is more to baseball than just HRs and numbers. Apparently the baseball ignorant don't realize that. If you need help with that, look at the little things that win World Series. Its typically a gritty player with speed. Boston can thank a guy like Dave Roberts....oh but wait, Dave Roberts never put up MVP type numbers, therefore he apparently shouldn't be playing Major League Baseball.
You get a life. If you don't like our site, please go to the thousands of blogs dedicated to the elite players.
Mr. Anonymous, you can join us at our blog of an elite player... if you'd like. But be forewarned, we're Theriot fans as well.
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