Cubs lose to Marlins in 12 innings

deja' vu all over again......

The Bartman curse continues. We are now getting close to the fifth anniversary when the lovable, adorable Cub fans changed into monsters, starting a curse that still hexes the team because they blamed a poor nerdy guy for 17 runs crossing the plate all because he tried to catch a foul ball. Not until Cubs fans personally and profoundly apologize to this innocent fan, not until they build monuments in his honor will the Bartman curse be lifted. I am sure Bartman is willing to forgive and forget, but that's not the point. The point is that the monster fans were willing to blame a fellow fan rather than their miserable players. Well, the Marlins scored EIGHT runs in that inning after Bartman allegedly interfered. There was a lot of bad pitching and a big error by the Cubs shortstop, but how can fans keep blaming a fan for EIGHT runs? And Wood could have sent them to the WS the next night, in game 7, but he gave up SEVEN runs and Farmsworth another TWO .... Josh Beckett pitched four innings in relief in that seventh game to preserve a 9-6 victory. But it's so much easier to blame the fan....
And so the $20 million Marlins on a Saturday afternoon in extra innings beat the $100 million Cubs ... and the Bartman Curse continues.
-- This statement from marlinsmaniacs.blogspot.com

Sports writers might as well create the following macro in their word processors:

"The Cubs blew another outstanding outing from their starting pitcher with lousy batting and unreliable relief pitching."

This is getting old.

Second City better worry: there is a better comedy act... the Chicago Cubs.

Top Ten Things That Went Wrong For The Cubs This Week:

10. Letting football coaches "sing"
9. Using football players to pitch.
8. A new Wrigley trend: rally caps.
7. Coaches getting tossed.
6. Cups getting tossed.
5. A bullpen that can't toss.
4. 15 day "blisters".
3. "All Star" "sluggers".
2. Racist t-shirts.
1. "It's Gonna Happen."

Arrogance will only breed contempt and laughter.

The collapse is underway. This team will be 5 games out and in third place by the trade deadline. Hendry is still clinging to the belief that this is the team. It isn't. Even worse is that the Sox seem to be getting their act together. Maybe Cuban will bring us a World Series win. :-(

Royer wrote:

Sports writers might as well create the following macro in their word processors:
"The Cubs blew another outstanding outing from their starting pitcher with lousy batting and unreliable relief pitching."
This is getting old.

Do you really think the pen giving up 2 runs over 7 innings was a problem?

KPOM wrote:

The collapse is underway. This team will be 5 games out and in third place by the trade deadline. Hendry is still clinging to the belief that this is the team. It isn't. Even worse is that the Sox seem to be getting their act together. Maybe Cuban will bring us a World Series win.:-(

Oh so that is the new slogan. In 2003 it was Bartman's fault. The Billy Goat as usual gets the blame. In 2004 it was the last week collapse. In 2006 the highlight was the Michael Barrret cheap shot in the Sox game. Last year it was the WE GOT SORIONO... WE GOT SORIONO...MANTRA. We all know how that turned out. Now Lou blames the current collapse on injuries & the new mantra is Cuban Cuban Cuban. I got news for you, he spends money & his Dallas Mavericks are still chokers who blew the best record & highest seed in Basketball a season ago only to get beat by an 8th. seed. Golden State team. His Dallas Mavericks are chokers & whiners.....On second thought then, he fits right in to the Cubs Organization.

thats right.....the curse

Someone please fill me in. Why would they boo the ND football coach? Or is this just another example of Cub "fans" being Cub "fans." Drunk Arrogant Obnoxious

John Dorschner wrote:

The Bartman curse continues. We are now getting close to the fifth anniversary when the lovable, adorable Cub fans changed into monsters, starting a curse that still hexes the team because they blamed a poor nerdy guy for 17 runs crossing the plate all because he tried to catch a foul ball. Not until Cubs fans personally and profoundly apologize to this innocent fan, not until they build monuments in his honor will the Bartman curse be lifted. I am sure Bartman is willing to forgive and forget, but that's not the point. The point is that the monster fans were willing to blame a fellow fan rather than their miserable players. Well, the Marlins scored EIGHT runs in that inning after Bartman allegedly interfered. There was a lot of bad pitching and a big error by the Cubs shortstop, but how can fans keep blaming a fan for EIGHT runs? And Wood could have sent them to the WS the next night, in game 7, but he gave up SEVEN runs and Farmsworth another TWO .... Josh Beckett pitched four innings in relief in that seventh game to preserve a 9-6 victory. But it's so much easier to blame the fan....
And so the $20 million Marlins on a Saturday afternoon in extra innings beat the $100 million Cubs ... and the Bartman Curse continues.
-- This statement from marlinsmaniacs.blogspot.com

So you now propose that a curse is to blame for the Cubs losses? I have heard very few fans blame Bartman for the loss. If Bartman is ever brought up in conversation about baseball that I am having it is by a fan of another team. I live out in urine soaked San Francisco (this city is terrible) and Giants fans will bring up Bartman the second that they know I am a Cubs fan. So while Steve absolutely did not cause the Cubs to lose, you think it is reasonable to say that a curse is now causing them to lose? Good logic.

So much for the hot start following the All-Star break! Couldn't be much chillier.

Just hope it lightens up---! Thank gosh we don't go a whole season begging for a hit with a guy in scoring position.

Hack Wilson wrote:

Someone please fill me in. Why would they boo the ND football coach? Or is this just another example of Cub "fans" being Cub "fans." Drunk Arrogant Obnoxious

Maybe they are just Notre Dame fans not pleased with a program that has not won a bowl game in over a decade. Or they are fans of big ten teams and they can't stand Notre Dame. Do you think there are many places outside of South Bend that he would get cheered?

Yet another miserable performance from our lineup. I don't want to insult the Marlins because they are a good team, but when the pitching holds them to 2 runs through 11 innings, they should have been able to push across a third run in any one of those innings between the FOURTH AND ELEVENTH! When is somebody that matters (and no this does not include Chicago Tribune columnists or anybody on talk radio) going to call out this group of grown men displaying the mental toughness of Little Leaguers?

My, how we've missed those 0 for 5's
of SORRY - ANNO. It wouldn't be so bad if he was hitting the ball and having great plays made against him, but when a so-called All-Star continues to strike out on pitches up near his chin, it gets frustrating to watch.

Derrek Lee is still playing with no effort whatsoever to run out an infield hit. He looks too lazy to move and he's another All-Star.

It's not the umpires Lou needs to throw a tantrum with, it's those over paid so-called superstars.

I would imagine that Rich Harden is wishing he was still in Oakland, because the Cubs have certainly done nothing to help his cause. He's pitched his heart out - and for what?

Let's see what happens in Milwaukee this coming week. If the Cubs are swept, you can start the Magic Number to elimination game.

It gets just a little boring watching teams like Florida, with little known talent on the field and a ball park that is full only on opening day, come in an do it to the Cubs again and again and again. This weekend we're revisiting 2003. Remember the results then. It's no different now.

The Cubs have the talent, but unfortunately lacks heart, which teams like Florida count on for their success.

The Trade Deadline is still a few days away. Wake up Jim before the anniversary of the Cubs 100 years of futility is just that - Celebrating another year of underachieving.

At least the Sox showed heart last night in Detroit. Down to their final strike and then winning in dramatic fashion.

Maybe the Cus should take a page out of their book.

As a visitor from out of town who has been hearing Cubds hype all season, I must say I'm not so sure what all the excitement is about; your team is bland. I'd rate the Phillies, Mets, and Brewers as all more interesting teams to watch. And what about this Fukudome character? His numbers look good...for a utility second baseman. And those 'W' shirts sure are stupid--do Cubs fans actually pay for those?! I went ot the game today, but did not enjoy the team nor the atmosphere.

Oh the Humanity!

That game was funny as hell!

I'm not sure the Cubs could beat the Marlins AA team...Reed Johnson made a couple nice plays out in center...

No use to get upset - It's Over. They should trade the whole team for prospects before the trade deadline. I can't even defend them against Sox fans any more. I am giving up.

First, the obvious. MAJOR overhall of the hitters -- meaning, sit the overpaid slackers down until thei WANT to win this thing.
Second, the bad news:
** batters: 2 walks, 10 Ks
** 2 runs, one solo HR; 2 extra base hits
** top 2 hitters: 0 for 10, no Ws
Finally, some good news:
** 3-5 hitters: 4 for 15, 1 w, 2 xBH
** Fuko: 2 for 4, 2 Ws!!(keep those Ws coming, Fukudome-san!)
** PITCHING OUTSTANDING:
-- 20 Ks!!! 4 Ws
-- Hardin, lights out again in 5IP
-- Marshall, 3 IP, 1 hit, 1 ER, 5 Ks
What the he** else can the pitching staff do, besides throw a no-hitter??

Solution:
** back to small-ball until the hitters learn to hit again; make contact; advance runners; unexpected steals and H&R; bunts (even by Ramirez -- it would shock the opposition into inaction, and he would have plenty of time to lumber to second)
** give Lee, Ramirez, and Soto 2-3 days off -- except for small-ball batting practice; make 'em beg to get back in the line-up (Soto just needs to rest a bit).

Pete Rose once said something like he would try anything to add one more base hit per week -- because over a 6-month campaign, THAT was the difference between a 250-260 nobody and THE BATTING TITLE.
Teach the Cubs how to get on base again -- AND move 'em around.