Did You Guys Get TWO Past the Goalie in This Week’s Muskbag?

This may have already been discussed in the Shoutbox while I was recovering from the rooftop game, but I’m pretty sure not one, but two Sons of Jim Essian got questions into this week’s Muskbag. Meaning it’s the greatest Muskbag ever. Shall we?

Could you please enlighten me as to what a suspended game is? I thought the Cubs game on Aug. 4 would qualify since the Cubs were batting in the eighth and a full inning had not been completed. Last year or the year before, the Cubs had a lead in a game and it was suspended. The Cubs eventually won, but what exactly is a suspended game?
– Michael D., Traer, Iowa

How do you keep an idiot in suspense about a suspended game? Click here to find out.

CARRIE: First of all, Monday’s game was considered an official game because the Astros and Cubs had completed five innings. The game could’ve been ruled a suspended game if there was no score. I’ve included the rules from the official Major League Baseball rule book. To simplify, the rule of thumb is go back to the last completed inning, and if the outcome is no different than in the inning when they actually stop the game, then the game is not suspended.

Rule 4.12 SUSPENDED GAMES:

(a) A league shall adopt the following rules providing for completion at a future date of games terminated for any of the following reasons:

(1) A curfew imposed by law;

(2) A time limit permissible under league rules;

(3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment).

(4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on.

(5) Weather, if the game is called while an inning is in progress and before it is completed, and one of the following situations prevails:

(i) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to tie the score, and the home team has not scored.

(ii) The visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not tied the score or retaken the lead.

(b) Such games shall be known as suspended games. No game called because of a curfew, weather, or a time limit shall be a suspended game unless it has progressed far enough to have been a regulation game.

And if that doesn’t answer your question, please see Rule 10.17(c). Chuck is wrong.

I bet a friend a rib dinner that no pitcher has led the Cubs in wins and saves in different years and yet there are two — Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster — who have a chance of doing so this year. Has this been done before? I want my ribs.
– Frank N., Evanston, Ill.

What’s up, Fork?

CARRIE: Lee Smith actually led the Cubs in wins and saves in the same year. In 1986, Smith and Scott Sanderson shared the team lead with nine wins each. Smith also was the Cubs’ saves leader that season with 31. The ‘86 Cubs finished 70-90 and in fifth place.

The team lead was NINE wins that year? Good God, that team sucked. I guess that’s what happens when Ron Cey and Brian Dayett have the top two slugging percentages on your team.

It looks like Zambrano could be vying not only for the Silver Slugger Award but also for the National League Cy Young Award. Has any pitcher won both in the same season?
– Christian P., Janesville, Wis.

If Jason Marquis hasn’t done it, no one has done it.

Tom Glavine won both awards in the same season twice — in 1991 and ‘98 — and Fernando Valenzuela did so in 1981.

Good thing I got the Fernandomania vaccine before I read this week’s Muskbag.

Why is Hoffpauir still in the Minors? He’s hitting everything down there, and when he was in the Majors, he was batting .380. Also, Daryle Ward is hitting .220 but Lou Piniella uses him in crucial spots. Shouldn’t Hoffpauir be that guy?
– Colton O., Mount Carroll, Ill.

No. Rot in hell.

CARRIE: Ward has one thing that Hoffpauir doesn’t have…

A great big bushy beard?

CARRIE: …and that’s experience.

Damnit.

CARRIE: And that counts a lot when a team is contending for a postseason berth. Congrats to Hoffpauir for his recent four-homer game. You will see him in September.

Daryle also has the heart of a champion, the smile of an angel, and the stomach of a water buffalo.

What is the prognosis on Jon Lieber and Chad Fox? Will either be able to help in the stretch run?
– Paul B., Indianapolis

Getting Jon Lieber and Chad Fox back is just like making a trade for two old, crappy pitchers. Or for one Steve Trachsel.

CARRIE: Lieber is close, and will make another Minor League rehab start soon, while Fox will begin throwing in Mesa, Ariz., this week. They could help in September. Right now, the bullpen appears to be in good shape with the addition of rookie Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs are also keeping an eye on Kevin Hart and Michael Wuertz, both at Triple-A Iowa.

Good- No, GREAT to know that the Cubs are making sure to watch their players play baseball.

CARRIE: And to those of you asking about Angel Guzman, who had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery about a year ago, he was expected to make two starts for Double-A Tennessee, beginning Tuesday, and if all goes well, he’ll move up to Triple-A Iowa, and should join the Cubs for the final month.

“[Guzman's] on a mission to be here [in the big leagues] in September,” Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita said.

And to those of you who asked about Angel Guzman, I say, “Why?”

Even though the non-waiver Trade Deadline has passed, can the Cubs still make a trade for a player to help out the bullpen? Maybe they can make a run at the Rockies’ Brian Fuentes?
– Sam M., Deerfield, Ill.

I’d rather they just try to get Phil Nevin again.

CARRIE: Teams can still trade for players after the July 31 Deadline, but the player has to clear waivers. A player is placed on the waiver wire, and all the other Major League clubs have the opportunity to claim him. If more than one team claims him, the team with the worst record gets first dibs. For example, if the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers both claimed a player, the Nationals would get him. And, I don’t think Fuentes is on their radar.

What if the Cubs, Cardinals, and Brewers all claim the same guy? What would happen in that instance? Just curious. I was just wondering which of those three teams would have the least priority, since it has the best record. Is it the Cubs?

Hello from Armenia. I heard that the Cubs’ No. 1 Draft pick in 2000, Luis Montanez, got called up by the Orioles. I was thinking, whatever happened to another Cubs No. 1 pick, Ben Christensen?
– Jim E., Yerevan, Armenia

I hope you bought yourself an ice cream sundae after getting this question answered. This is an A+, gold-star, best in show, cherry-on-top question dipped in chocolate. Fantastic. Who is claiming this one?

CARRIE: Christensen, the No. 1 pick in 1999, is no longer in baseball. He was released by the Cubs in May 2004.

Everyone can go home now. The internet is over.

If a guy wanted to have a fence covered with the same type of vine at Wrigley, what type of ivy is it?
– Josh W., Bremen, Ind.

Two weeks in a row with ivy-related questions? Really?

CARRIE: It’s a combination of bittersweet and Boston, or English ivy. Sorry, but the grounds crew won’t release too many details. And I have tried to grow seeds at home and have failed.

Did Carrie just admit she grows her own weed?

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