Cubs still alive as they close series at long-dead Pirates
Chicago Cubs still alive as they close series at long-dead Pirates
Let's see, rainy afternoon game involving a team I don't like at all and another team that is closing out its 17th consecutive losing season. Sounds like fun.
Holy cow, holy Toledo, holy crap. Talk about an afternoon game that spells L-O-S-E-R-S.
This begins what should be a four-game journey with the kings of losers, the Pirates. I don't mean that in a mean way. I love just about everything Pittsburgh, except for when their guys have beaten my guys (Oilers, Astros). The Pirates were incredible, especially at old Forbes Field back in the 60s, against my Colt 45s/Astros. The MLB duo in Pennsylvania used to kill Houston when we would come to the Keystone State.
Then there's that whole Oilers-Steelers thing in the late 70s, well, let's not go there. But finally I visited the fine City of Pittsburgh as an older, wiser, no too much, man. I love Pittsburgh, great people, great town, cheap place for old guys like me to drink. Spent 81 hours there in my life and saw three MLB games, one college football game, must've walked 25 miles, drank like a fish, met at least 53% of the town of Punxsutawney who stuffed me with their fine tailgate fare, got a Brian Giles bobblehead doll, a Pirates cap, a Primanti's sandwich and maybe spent 17 bucks, 18 tops.
So I feel sorry for Pirates fans, I really do. And I really hate the Cubs, I really do.
None of that has a thing to do with this game except for the fact that on Monday, Chicago opened the series by handing the Bucs a 4-2 loss, their 82nd loss of the season to set a new MLB mark of 17 consecutive losing seasons for one franchise. The Pirates built off that loss by allowing the Cubbies to paste them on Tuesday by a 9-4 count, laying a seven-spot on Zach Duke and the Bucs in the top half of the first inning.
That first inning was delayed by a pregame ceremony honoring Pennsylvania homeboy Arnold Palmer who will turn 80 on Thursday. The Pirates probably wish they could have delayed the start of the first to another time when they had a winning team on the field. That would mean going back in time to 1992 or forward a hundred years when they finally pull out of their franchise funk.
There’s just no reason at all to bet the Pirates today, none, nada, zero. Derrek Lee is hot and I’ve got a good feeling about the Chicago hitters today. Even though Crazy Charlie Zambrano is, well, crazy and often a frustrating head case on the mound, I still like his chances today against the Pittsburgh lineup a lot more than I like Kevin Hart facing Cubs batters.
At the same time there’s absolutely no fun in it for me to cash a winning ticket on the Cubs. So to spice the play up for me, I’m going to back Chicago on the run line this afternoon, Cubs -1½ (+115).
STARTING PITCHERS
Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. (ET): Carlos Zambrano (14-9, 3.80) vs. Kevin Hart (4-6, 4.67)
WEATHER
Oh good lord! Why can't we have the rain down here in the bee-yootiful Texas Hill Country? This game should go the distance, but with a 40% chance of rain you never know. Temps at first pitch should be in the upper-60s, low-70s. for first pitch, in the 60s and at least muggy is the forecast for the most part. Winds are listed at 6-9 MPH out of the East (in from left field).
Let's see, rainy afternoon game involving a team I don't like at all and another team that is closing out its 17th consecutive losing season. Sounds like fun.
Holy cow, holy Toledo, holy crap. Talk about an afternoon game that spells L-O-S-E-R-S.
This begins what should be a four-game journey with the kings of losers, the Pirates. I don't mean that in a mean way. I love just about everything Pittsburgh, except for when their guys have beaten my guys (Oilers, Astros). The Pirates were incredible, especially at old Forbes Field back in the 60s, against my Colt 45s/Astros. The MLB duo in Pennsylvania used to kill Houston when we would come to the Keystone State.
Then there's that whole Oilers-Steelers thing in the late 70s, well, let's not go there. But finally I visited the fine City of Pittsburgh as an older, wiser, no too much, man. I love Pittsburgh, great people, great town, cheap place for old guys like me to drink. Spent 81 hours there in my life and saw three MLB games, one college football game, must've walked 25 miles, drank like a fish, met at least 53% of the town of Punxsutawney who stuffed me with their fine tailgate fare, got a Brian Giles bobblehead doll, a Pirates cap, a Primanti's sandwich and maybe spent 17 bucks, 18 tops.
So I feel sorry for Pirates fans, I really do. And I really hate the Cubs, I really do.
None of that has a thing to do with this game except for the fact that on Monday, Chicago opened the series by handing the Bucs a 4-2 loss, their 82nd loss of the season to set a new MLB mark of 17 consecutive losing seasons for one franchise. The Pirates built off that loss by allowing the Cubbies to paste them on Tuesday by a 9-4 count, laying a seven-spot on Zach Duke and the Bucs in the top half of the first inning.
That first inning was delayed by a pregame ceremony honoring Pennsylvania homeboy Arnold Palmer who will turn 80 on Thursday. The Pirates probably wish they could have delayed the start of the first to another time when they had a winning team on the field. That would mean going back in time to 1992 or forward a hundred years when they finally pull out of their franchise funk.
There’s just no reason at all to bet the Pirates today, none, nada, zero. Derrek Lee is hot and I’ve got a good feeling about the Chicago hitters today. Even though Crazy Charlie Zambrano is, well, crazy and often a frustrating head case on the mound, I still like his chances today against the Pittsburgh lineup a lot more than I like Kevin Hart facing Cubs batters.
At the same time there’s absolutely no fun in it for me to cash a winning ticket on the Cubs. So to spice the play up for me, I’m going to back Chicago on the run line this afternoon, Cubs -1½ (+115).
STARTING PITCHERS
Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. (ET): Carlos Zambrano (14-9, 3.80) vs. Kevin Hart (4-6, 4.67)
WEATHER
Oh good lord! Why can't we have the rain down here in the bee-yootiful Texas Hill Country? This game should go the distance, but with a 40% chance of rain you never know. Temps at first pitch should be in the upper-60s, low-70s. for first pitch, in the 60s and at least muggy is the forecast for the most part. Winds are listed at 6-9 MPH out of the East (in from left field).