A Cub Fan's View Of The Monday 3/30 Game

by Al Yellon on Mar 30, 2009 9:24 PM EDT

Hey, Royals fans. Remember me? Al here from Bleed Cubbie Blue.

In past years we've had a little fun with each other when I've, um, said some not-so-complimentary things about your team. (I think you guys still owe me a photo of Will in a BCB T-shirt.)

I was at today's 8-8 tie game at Surprise. And this year, your team actually looks pretty good. Click here for my recap, which includes some compliments for several Royals, particularly Alex Gordon, who is a stud.

Good luck to you guys this year. You're the only AL Central team we don't play.

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its weird that the royals never play the cubs

I believe its happened once in interleague…

by Freneau on Mar 30, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

its a distance thing

by wildthang on Mar 30, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Not necessarily.

It’s not that much farther than Minneapolis, although the Cubs are playing the Twins in Chicago this year.

I think it’s just luck of the draw. The Cubs have played the Royals five times in interleague play, every year from 1997 through 2001, but that was the last time. The Cubs have won 9 of the 15 total games.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

its more than luck of the draw

its the NL Central’s odd size, they have an extra team compared to other divisions, also, the Cubs and Sox have that home and home every year that further skews things.
This year the Centrals play each other, yet some teams miss each other, due to the extra teams in the NL.
Last year the AL Central was paired up with the NL West, yet the Sox played Pittsburg because someone has to do it.

by e-gus on Mar 31, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Right, but...

… the Cubs have played the AL Central twice since interleague play started rotating, in 2006 and 2009. The Royals were skipped both time.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with this and am bummed

I’ve been to Wrigley once many years ago and it was cool. I’d really love to take a weekend in Chicago and watch the Royals play there but it just hasn’t been happening. Believe me, I’ve been watching and hoping for it.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Mar 31, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Probably not for another 3 years.

I’m guessing we get the AL West in 2010 and the East again in 2011.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Or this October

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 31, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

you like the smell of piss that much?

Wrigley is over-rated.

by e-gus on Mar 31, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Let's be friendly

Or at least civil.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Mar 31, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

ha

I guess I simply don’t remember the piss.

When I went to Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2005 I was kind of struck by the bare starkness of the concourses and concessions. I guess I had really expected more since these days I mostly attend Safeco Field, one of the new breed. The Stadium was always a place of awe because of 70s baseball and it still was on the inside. It was fun listening to some bawdy Yankee broad yell at some Orioles fans near us. They did their best dishing it back. Eventually we snuck down to the lower lever between home and first.

At any rate, I’d like to experience Wrigley again in my “adult” stage.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Mar 31, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I went in 2007

I was frankly a bit disappointed. It was in September and the Cubs were way out of it, so the crowd was pretty lackluster in fairness.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 31, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

That must have been 2006, not 2007.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Al

If you are still reading comments in this thread, what is your opinion of Fukudome? I see that he hit horribly from mid-June on last year. Do you think he’s going to rebound or do you think he’s toast?

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Mar 30, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, that's a tough call.

I really would like Fukudome to succeed. It’s hard to believe that someone who was such a good hitter in Japan would come here, have a great first half and then absolutely tank it.

He hasn’t had a great spring, either in the WBC or in the 3 games he’s played in Arizona. Today was typical — four balls not hit out of the infield (though one was hit hard) and then the home run, after he botched a play in CF.

He’s going to have to adjust to the pitchers or he is going to fail.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s going to have to adjust to the pitchers or he is going to fail.

That’s my concern. When he first faced MLB pitchers, he didn’t hit for much power, but he made good contact, showed a lot of discipline at the plate and was therefore a high-OBP guy. But it looked like MLB pitchers adjusted to him and figured how to get him out in June. And once this happened, he wasn’t able to adjust to them and then hit very poorly for the remainder of the season. It kind of seems like if he could adjust, he would have at some point in the season. I guess we’ll see if he has any more adjustment left in him. Also, is he just going to be the Cubs fourth OFer this year?

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Mar 31, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

As of now...

… the plan is for him to platoon in CF with Reed Johnson. But I know that Lou Piniella will bench him quickly if he can’t hit and he’ll give Johnson the job fulltime.

Your analysis is accurate. The one thing he still has in his favor is his plate discipline. Despite the poor .217 BA in the 2nd half, he still managed a .314 OBA, which isn’t horrible.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Cubbies

Please, please beat the Red Sox in the WS this year. I can’t stand for them to win again.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Mar 31, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Cubs in the World Series?

thats a good one.

by e-gus on Mar 31, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh

No wonder, you’re a White Sox fan. I’m sorry, good luck with that.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Mar 31, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm happy the Royals don't get the Cubs

they are the runaway NL Central favorites right?

Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!

by mazoboom on Mar 31, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Ah-ha

Respect for our club by Al? In all seriousness, that really gets me excited for the season. Good luck to your Cubbies. They should be able to take the NL pretty easily.

Yes, I'm still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.

by royaldaddy on Mar 31, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions