A Pleasant win, Theriot gaff, but teammates pick him up

The word pleasant doesn't come into my vocabulary very often. I guess it seems kind of "girly", but I think its the appropriate word for last nights win vs. the Dodgers. To start with, the ESPN commentary was actually enjoyable. Mainly because of my affection for Rick Sutcliffe and the numerous flashbacks to his career and adoration for the Cubs and Wrigley Field that he spoke of so often during the game. And Chris Berman....well let's just say that Berman and Sutcliffe would have my vote any day over Miller and Morgan for SNB.

The conditions were nasty with a windchill of 35 degrees at game start. I actually remember thinking last night how glad I was that I didn't have tickets to this game. Don't get me wrong, I always want to be at Wrigley, but the comfort of my 70 degrees at home with ESPN HD was quite comfortable. You are prepared for these conditions during April. You are not prepared for them at the end of May. It's kind of like how warm 50 degrees feels in January but how cold it feels in June. You track me?

Hiroki Kuroda was pitching a gem last night. Sean Gallagher was pitching well also, albeit not quite as well. The conditions really kept the bats at bay last night as a stiff wind was blowing hard in. Fast forwarding to the 7th inning, the Dodgers had taken a 1-0 lead on a 2-out rally in the 4th. The scoring run was almost thrown out at home by Alfonso Soriano, but the throw hit baserunner James Loney in the back prior to sliding into home. Defensive gems were all over the place last night for the Cubs. I remember 3 great plays by Kosuke Fukudome, a diving save by Lee, and a nice caught stealing from Geovany Soto.

The Cubs looked as though they might be shutout this evening with the conditions and I thought how unfortunate that would be for Gallagher. He pitched 7 strong innings and then was pulled for a pinch hitter, one Ryan Theriot after a Ronny Cedeno walk. I knew for sure Theriot would come through witha rock solid bunt. Well he didn't. It was as bad a bunt as I think Theriot could ever make. It went sharply back to Kuroda who fired to 2nd to get Cedeno. I was disappointed and I knew we'd get negative comments on our blog about Theriot this morning. So far none though! A couple of bright spots did come out of this however. First, give Theriot credit for hustling down the line. A lot of players with that bunt would have been victim of a double play. Theriot got down the line and no throw was able to be made.

Now The Riot was on first with Soriano at the plate. I was really begging for Theriot to steal, but Soriano drew the count full which allowed Theriot to start running on the pitch. Keep in mind Lou called this same play for D. Lee earlier in the game and was a strike em out throw em out victim. Lee was out by 2 miles btw. Soriano hit a sharp single to Juan Pierre in left field. Theriot was on the move, but his relentless hustly, along with Pierre's lack of an arm got Theriot to 3rd, only one out. I knew this was the game. Either Theriot scored or we'd lose.

What unfolded from there was pure beauty. Fontenot hit a slow grounder to 3B. Theriot didn't blink and came blazing home. Soriano was also running on the play (full count) so Blake DeWitt rushed the play and ended up missing the ball. Game tied 1-1. After Lee flied out and moved Soriano to 3rd, Ramirez singled home Soriano is a classic AB vs Broxton, and then Fukudome smoked a double inprobably down the 3rd base bag to get Fontenot home. The inning was awesome, the Cubs had Marmol and Wood ready to go. We were not going to blow this game.

Theriot delivered a single in the 8th as we were threatening again, but Soriano ended the inning by hitting into a double play.

For all of those that claim Cedeno is a better shortstop that Theriot, did you see the awful throwing error Cedeno had on a pretty routine grounder? I'll admit Cedeno likely has more range than Theriot, but you won't see Theriot airmailing D. Lee. After all, the guy is like 6-6....how do you throw it that high?

Anyway, a very poor AB by Theriot was overcome by hits from Soriano, Ramirez, and Fukudome and a timely error by Blake Dewitt.

I know the conditions really favored the pitchers, but could Sean Gallagher be a #5 starter for the Cubs? He'll for sure get another start or two, let's hope he continues to improve. He's been an admirable 5th starter so far.

And this just in....I still really hate Jim Edmonds (nice picture). I hate how he can't hit. I hate that he stuck it to us for so long as a Cardinal. I hate that he is getting so much playing time. I miss watching Zambrano plunk him at least once a game during their matchups (In Search of Lost Cool section). Can we please just cut him? If not, then I urge Lou to only play him as a late inning defensive replacement for Soriano. PLEASE?

THE RIOT!