By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
Again the Cubs put up 13 runs. And while being six games over .500 and in first place is nice, the following two weeks will tell a lot about what this Cubs team is really about.
I’ll be at the game Monday when the Cubs open this stretch with the Mets. (I’ll be sure to write about the funny things I come across. Perhaps I’ll even post a few pictures.) After two games with the Mets, it’s Colorado, the improved-but-not-great Nationals, the Brewers and the Cardinals.
After that, it’s Arizona and San Diego. The Cubs are beating the bad teams and that’s something they haven’t always done. Staying healthy is going to be key, especially for Aramis Ramirez, who had four hits along with Ryan Theriot in Sunday’s 13-6 win.
Speaking of hurt, what do you do with Alfonso Soriano when he gets back? I think the Cubs have shown there are more capable leadoff men. I would never say “Take him out of the lineup,” but a couple of guys on sports radio made a valid point Sunday — “Lou Piniella says he plays the hot hand.” If that’s true, can he really rationalize putting Soriano at the top of the order when other guys are having more success in that spot?
Then the question is, “If not leadoff, where?” He’s not going to bat second, and I don’t think Lou wants to move Fukudome again. That leaves the six hole. I heard somebody say, “You can’t bat a guy that makes that much money that low.” I say you play to win, and when he starts hitting, he can move up.
Look for me at the game on Monday. I’ll be down the third baseline in the terrace reserved section.
On Friday, the Toronto Blue Jays wore throwback jerseys that were a powerdered-blue nightmare, defying all laws we currently have in society of what looks good and what doesn’t.
I’m by no means a fashion-minded person (I once had to make a list of what color ties go with what shirt so I didn’t look like a jerk when I went to work). But I’m baffled at how someone could have looked at these jerseys you are about to see and think, “Yeah, brown does look good with anything.”
Here are the 10 nominees for the worst baseball jerseys of… oh, we’ll say the 1970s through the 1990s (only because I’m pretty sure the collared-shirt jerseys of the 1800’s didn’t look, or smell, that great).
Nothing says Houston Astros like a giant black star on a field of oranges stolen from Breakout for the Atari 2600. – Thanks to Kiel from CV.
The 1974 Baltimore Orioles escaped from prison long enough to pose for this shot. Warden, please take them away. – Also thanks to Kiel from CV.
The 1976 Chicago White Sox could play a game of baseball and be ready for the beach with these jerseys featuring shorts — yes, shorts. – Thanks to JDV.
Like the surface of the sun, the Pittsburgh Pirates are HOT!
The Pirates also wore these fashionable engineer hats.
Just because your team’s mascot is a monk, doesn’t necessarily mean you must dress like one, San Diego Padres.
The Blue Jays jersey that started this blog entry.
After further review, these Phillies jerseys are no good.
Actually, this is how I still remember the Phillies. Does Mike Schmidt not play there anymore?
When Blue Jays and Cardinals mate.
There you have it. I hope your graphics card in your computer still works, because those colors are deadly. Drop me a line. Which one is the worst of the worst?
