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Playing By Instinct
2005-06-08 14:26
by Derek Smart

When I saw on that interweb thingy I've heard so much about that Sergio Mitre had managed to retire the Jays in order in the first inning, the first time they had gone down so meekly at a game's start in the series, I started to get my hopes up that this contest would diverge from the script as much as the other two of the troika.

When Mitre got through the entire Jays lineup in 33 pitches without allowing a baserunner, then drove in Todd Hollandsworth with a double to score the first run of the game, giving the Cubs their first lead of the series, I was nearly sure of it.

When Corey Patterson - whom I lately excoriated for failing to learn anything at the plate - singled off the illustrious Roy Halladay to drive in run number two, I was finally positive that today would be the Cubs' day, despite what my instincts told me beforehand.

My instincts said, "Sergio Mitre has been very hittable in nearly every outing he's had at the Major League level. The Cubs will be lucky if he holds Toronto to four runs over six innings, like John Koronka did on Monday."

The reality was, while I didn't see him throw a single pitch, I can deduce that he was, in fact, not very hittable, by noting the small number of hits he gave up - two, to be exact. He also managed to only walk one man, and in the process of all this, let only a single baserunner get as far as second. That, my friends, is good work. Far better work than I expected.

My instincts said, "Roy Halladay throws strikes and keeps hitters off balance. The Cubs will be lucky to score at all on him, let alone score enough to support an outing by Mitre."

The reality was, that while the Cubs certainly didn't light Doc afire, getting seven hits in seven innings off a pitcher of his caliber is far from shame-worthy. True, the two runs they scored were a less than insurmountable obstacle - even tinier looking when Ryan Dempster put the tying run on base in the ninth - but it was enough to get the job done, thanks to the outstanding work of Mr. Mitre.

Looking at what my instincts were up to, I think I owe Sergio an apology on their behalf: I'm deeply sorry, Sergio, for allowing my instincts to doubt you. Sometimes they can get carried away, thinking everything that can go wrong will, and in this case, you were the target of their thoughtless negativity.

However, in light of today's result, I must inform you and the rest of the Cubs organization that my instincts have once again seen their way to divine a sad and miserable fate for the lot of you. I'm told at this time by my gut (the instincts' official spokes-organ), that the Cubs are about to embark on a historic losing streak spanning the remainder of the season, which is 104 games.

Not only that, but despite their obvious failure to make the postseason after such a disastrous run, the team's luck will be so bad as to actually lose another 11 consecutive contests in October, even though they will not be participating in a single game. I have no idea how such a thing will come to pass - seemingly impossible as it is - but my instincts say it, and so I believe it.

I'm saddened to be the one forced to reveal such a dismal future, but please bear in mind that I am merely the messenger. My instincts have no hidden agenda, and only report what they know, so blame in this case is fruitless. All that remains is for you to submit to your destiny and bow before the powers that dictate such events.

Or you can rage, rage against your fate and teach my instincts just how worthless and pitiful they truly are, showing them with every hit, every strikeout, every victory that they are the fools and you are masters.

Yeah, that could work, too.

Comments
2005-06-08 19:59:29
1.   cubby14
My grogginess this morning as I awoke lasted for only a couple of minutes before I bolted out of bed and rushed to my Mac and fired up the internet to catch the result of game 3, it being long over for me since I live in Japan. What followed was enough fist-pumping to last Tiger through 2007 as I was treated to reading about our shutout of the B-Jays to salvage the last game of this "eventful" series. The rest of my morning was spent in bliss as my oldest left for school and my youngest ran around babbling and the wife was just happy to hear we got that last one. I absolutely hated having to eat my words after being so sure of taking at least 1 of the first 2 games at the very least, with #3 being a big if, as in "IF Serge tosses an absolute gem, and we can eke out a couple runs and the pen stands firm". Well, those first 2 games I would rather not talk about, but man, getting that 3rd game the way we did, with Serge indeed tossing a gem and the pen being as stingy as we all know it can be, oh how sweet it is. My last words from my last comment were "Screw Halladay", and it feels great to not have to dine on those words too.
It was a thrill for Holly to get a couple hits in place of Jeromy too. And Corey with the RBI almost had me choking on toast. I'm THIS CLOSE to starting a "trade Corey for ANYBODY" coalition, because as earlier stated, the guy seems to learn absolutely nothing. All the talk about "prototype lead-off man", well, have you noticed the guy never leads off? Maybe it would be a good idea to let him do so once again and see if he won't pick it up, meanwhile taking some of the "runners in scoring position" pressure off of him since we so often seem to have the bottom of the order needing to come through these days. It seems like when he was up in the 1 or 2 spot it worked out best for us. Him and his solo homers would do us alot more good than his ineptitude in the bottom of the order finding himself up with outs and runners beyond 2nd, trying to do too much and ending up with zilch. Let him leadoff, then Neifi, Big-D, The Aramis, J-Burn, T-Walk, J-Dub/Junior/Holly, and Mike B. Man that looks like one smokin lineup if you ask me.
And let me just say this, after "Serge's Gem" as I will refer to it all year, we now have The Greg Maddux, The Glendon Rusch, The Carlos Zambrano, Koronka, and Serge. Quite different from our opening day 5 (with The Ryan Dempster closing), but hey, I'm liking our chances as it stands. I will refrain from talking about our DL regulars at this time.
2005-06-08 22:37:57
2.   aqc
cubby14,
I appreciate most of what you have to say.

However, being Corey's biggest fan, I feel I have to defend my guy. Yes, Corey has been struggling with RISP. I agree. Only 21 RBI is dismal.

However, this kid can play. I will take the likely .280 average and good numbers of steals and dingers. His defense is great. I know, he has made more errors this year, but he's no butcher. More often than not, he'll be the one who gets Vernon Wells at third than he'll be the one air-mailing everyone to the backstop.

Trading Corey for anyone would be madness. This kid is a star. He's younger than Dubois. Don't forget that.

I will stake my life on it, Corey will be an all-star very soon. Maybe not this year, but soon.

2005-06-08 23:14:42
3.   10man
Corey has the talent to be an all-star, but until he humbles himself and actually starts learning to put into practice the lessons he is hearing from his coaches and teammates, he will fall short of that goal.
2005-06-09 04:32:53
4.   Todd S
Mr. Patterson has no plate discipline. I'm amazed that Major League pitchers ever throw him a strikes It's not a minor problem, but a major one. Until he fixes this part of his game he'll be a liability at the plate. He could significantly increase his steal attempts if he would just learn to only swing at strikes. (And further increase them if he limited himself to good strikes.)
2005-06-09 06:10:50
5.   rynox
I think the Cubs messed up not getting Urbina.

ryno

2005-06-09 08:27:03
6.   chicagoburke
Mitre sounded good on the radio and looked good in the highlights…I wonder how much the "day game effect" had to do with his performance. They were playing a AL team that plays indoors 81 games a year and 75 of the other 81 are night games…90 degrees in the sun is quite different…Add in the fact that they probably had a bit too much Wrigleyville after win #2 and the 1:20 start snuck up on them…

Spoken like a true cubs fan…try to explain away the good things…

One thing I can appreciate, a win is a win…now, they should immediately trade him (packaging Macias) for a right handed bat off the bench…

2005-06-09 10:15:58
7.   rynox
Danny Graves and the Mets have agreed to terms. He has a number and everything, just not finalized yet.

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