The Muskbox Runs, Fails to Hide, Answers One of Your Questions
Carrie, you clever little vixen. You took a long break from the Muskbox, only to have it spring up on a Thursday. I bet you thought I’d be too busy posting the Roundup, Skip’s Comment of the Week, and the Friday Night Fukudome to fisk it. The Muskbox will never escape my watchful gaze.
Don’t you think Wells should be in the discussion for Rookie of the Year? If he keeps up the pace he’s at right now, he could be in Cy Young contention. I think that he has been the most consistent Cubs pitcher all year and could be a staple of this rotation for a long time to come. I think we’ve found the starter we were looking for in Jake Peavy. Now, let’s go get Matt Holliday. What are your thoughts?
– Michael P., Wichita, Kan.
CARRIE: Wells’ competition pitching-wise will come from Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson, who is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in six starts. Hanson threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees on June 23 and then held the Red Sox to two hits over six scoreless innings on June 28. That’s not to downplay what Wells has done. A converted catcher, he was given serious consideration to being included in the Cubs’ bullpen at the start of the year. Instead, he went to Triple-A Iowa to get stretched out. Good move. I’m sure there are fans who would prefer to see Peavy in the Cubs’ rotation.
Or on our disabled list. And, yes, call me crazy, but I still would prefer if two-time All-Star and 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy were in the starting rotation instead of Randy Wells.
I read that Cubs starting pitching has 40 quality starts this year. What exactly qualifies as a quality start?
– Jason C., Des Moines, Iowa
Pretty much any one not pitched by Kevin Hart. AMIRIGHT?
CARRIE: That’s when a starting pitcher goes six innings and gives up no more than three earned runs. The stat was created by sportswriter John Lowe in 1985, when he worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Good for a 4.50 ERA. John Lowe has a strange definition of “quality.”
The Cubs have had a lot of games postponed so far this year and that has caused them to lose scheduled off-days. Why don’t they schedule any doubleheaders to make them up? Can you tell us when and where all of the postponed games are due to be made up?
– Patrick M., Cleveland
Also, can you please list the travel times to and from Wrigley Field to Naperville during peak rush hour traffic?
CARRIE: The April 19 game against the Cardinals will be made up Sunday as part of a day-night doubleheader. The May 15 game vs. Houston will be made up July 30 at 1:20 p.m. CT. The White Sox and Cubs will meet again Sept. 3 at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field. As to why they don’t play doubleheaders, it’s because that’s a great deal for the fans — two for the price of one — but not for the teams, who would lose the revenue.
It’s also because no one could stand sitting with a bunch of Cubs fans for seven straight hours.
I know every team has an emergency catcher, and a few years ago, it was Jose Macias. Who is the Cubs’ 2009 emergency catcher?
– Carter J., Lincoln, Neb.
Apparently, Wells. Or maybe Carlos Marmol. Or any of our other failed former catchers that the Cubs decided to put somewhere else on the field.
CARRIE: Jake Fox, who may get a start this weekend if Geovany Soto can’t play Sunday.
Apparently, Fox is so terrible behind the plate that 18 innings of Koyie Hill were Lou’s best option yesterday.
What’s up with Angel Guzman’s glasses? I’ve never seen them before. Are they to help him see the strike zone better like in Major League?
– Skip E., Armeinya, Iowa
You magnificent bastard, Skip. “Armeinya”? Awesome. Who’s claiming this one?
CARRIE: Actually, the Cubs had three relievers with glasses when Jose Ascanio was on the team. Kevin Gregg also wears them. Guzman had his eyes checked, and discovered he can see the catcher’s signs better wearing the glasses.
Glasses are used for improving your vision! The Muskbox never fails to enlighten.
How will the Cubs rotation set up after the All-Star break?
– Matt P., Tampa, Fla.
I bet they’ll probably go with a five-man rotation.
CARRIE: Right now, Rich Harden is slated to start July 16 to open the series at Washington, and Ted Lilly will likely go July 18. Lou Piniella wasn’t sure where Carlos Zambrano, Wells or Kevin Hart would be slotted. It may depend on how much Zambrano has to pitch Sunday night vs. the Cardinals. A note to the Lilly Fan Club: You’re on your own on getting to the All-Star Game. Lilly does appreciate the support.
That site is still around? Weird.
My 16-year-old son and I are heading to D.C. and Philly to see the Cubs play. Any must hit spots you recommend? Any chance of you buying us lunch?
– Peter M., Burlington, Mass.
Were I Steve Stone, this would be the ideal time to make a joke about Carrie picking up the check. Since I’m not Stone, I’ll just ask this question. What would drive a man to awkwardly ask Carrie on a date via a public forum? Insanity? Desperation? The Craigslist servers are down?
CARRIE: Check out the “Newseum,” which is near the National Mall, and the FDR Memorial and Vietnam Memorial are both special. Sorry, but no free lunch. I’ve got a tight expense account.
But not as tight as your bun, right? Right?
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BigFlax
PenFoe
StPatrick
CT
CactusMcHarris
What the hell were you drinking last night, Kerm? Jake Fox caught the last several innings of yesterday’s nightcap.
Also, I eagerly await the “All HJE Imposter” edition of the muskbox.
Also, can you please list the travel times to and from Wrigley Field to Naperville during peak rush hour traffic?
I was skimming the page and parsed this as an actual question to the Muskbox. And given the quality of the other questions, no alarm bells went off. It seemed right at home.
@Mike D. – We were all distracted by Marshall playing left field.
separate poll – brilliant move, or absolutely stupid move on Lou’s part?
Brilliant! If there was a sinking liner to left, the ensuing exploits would have been enough to make that game a little less depressing to watch. But in reality, it didn’t matter. Did anyone actually think the Cubs would get a man on in the ninth, let alone a run across?
@Mike D. – I completely missed that, and I was sadly stone sober.
@Jarritos – Marshall is a big guy, but all I could picture was him shattering his shoulder trying to make a diving catch.
Luckily, nothing happened.
Hendry probably told Lou to do it, hoping Marshall would get hurt. The only thing Jim hates more than Marshall is salad.
As with most things, it was a good move because it worked, and it would have been a bad move if it hadn’t. But with the bases loaded and no outs, most balls hit into left would have scored at least one run anyway, so I assume Lou figured it was worth the risk to be able to keep Marshall in the game.
I loved the move. Barring injury (which is such a freak occurence it really shouldn’t be factored that heavily into a decision process), the worst thing that would happen is a hard hit ball into left gets by Marshall like he’s Ryan Braun (or Soriano or Fox or Henry Rodriguez or Glenallen Hill) and the Cardinals are up 7-2 and the game ends very quietly.
If the umpires hadn’t decided that they were tired in the 9th and wanted to go to Casey Morans to hit on waitresses, Bradley and Hoffpauir both would have drawn walks and the game could have been very interesting.
Lou made the move that he felt gave the Cubs the best chance to go into the bottom of the 9th still only down 4-2. So it did work. The offense not getting those two runs in the bottom of the inning was completely separate.
Or Matt Murton. I think Thunder Matt and Sean must have DP’d Mrs. Hendry at some point. Jim got rid of one of them and it’s only a matter of time until Marshall joins him.
@Bad Kermit
too bad you weren’t just stoned, amiright?
Skip E. from Armeinya, IA? That’s me, bitches. I KNEW Carrie couldn’t resist a question about attire.
Get Peavy, keep Wells, and trade Crazy Legs while he still has any value.