By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
The Cubs needed a guy that could kinda play third base and that kinda got that guy.
The Andy MacPhail pipeline remains open from Chicago to Baltimore as the Orioles send a guy who was carried off the field after getting hit in the head by a throw to the Cubs for a guy that can jump over parked cars, and can talk about that one time he, like, hit a home run.
Freel has some versatility. He plays more outfield than anything else, but can play second and third — again, a poor man’s Mark DeRosa. Very poor. Like, Enron poor, but nonetheless another backup possibility.
Here’s the book on Freel: .976 overall fielding percentage in 8 seasons — .940 fielding percentage at third base. He’s a .271 career hitter with high marks as follows: HRs (8 in 2006), RBIs (28 in 2004), OBP (.375 in 2004), intentional walks (1 in 2003).
He doesn’t strike out much, but he’s not in Chicago for his bat.
By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
That just had to be said. First of all, I don’t get the train. Why a train? Really? And, B, there’s a hill and a flag pole IN PLAY in center field! And, 3, get out of here with your 315 down the left-field line. I’ve got guys in my sandlot baseball league that hit the ball farther.
The walls there just feel like they’re all around you. It’s like playing baseball in your living room, only you’re not using balled up tinfoil and one of those mini-wooden bats. (My brother threw one of those through the wall once while doing just that as a kid. Oops.)
OK, I’ll calm down now, ‘cus Alfonso Soriano does seem to like the juice box, even though he didn’t need any help from a short porch. He killed those pitches, and the Cubs wound up needing every single run since Chad Fox is so old. I’m not sure he’s got it in him. He is a good story (one that I typically like), but my job is to be observationally in the present, and he looked anything but a Major League pitcher Thursday night.
He struggled to throw strikes and resorted to simply chucking fastballs down the middle of the plate. I feel bad for him, because he has fought through injury to get back there, and he was pitching close to home, likely in front of family and friends, but you know Lou doesn’t give much slack to his relievers. (more…)
By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
Rich Harden dug dirt out of his fingernails as he sat between Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano.
“Hey, guys?” he said like a kid about to ask where babies come from. “What… what’s the eighth inning like?”
Dempster drew a long sigh, and smiled.
“It’s like being at the gate of heaven,” Dempster said. “A little further, and you’re there. But there’s always a chance Kevin Gregg is waiting to pull the trap door from under you.”
Zambrano simply rubbed his head and chewed his bubble gum.
Rich Harden, my friend. Welcome to the eighth inning. (more…)
By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
In the off-season, he’s a substitute teacher. But when he’s not teaching, he’s playing for the Chicago Cubs. He’s Bobby Scales. And his name spelled backwards is Ybbob Selacs (bwuh, ha, ha! <- Harry).
I like a good story. Here’s a guy that has spent over 10 years in the Minor Leagues — you know — just waiting for that call. Then he gets his first career hit in his first career pro game. That came Tuesday against the Giants. He scored a run because of it. Atta-boy, guy I’ve only heard of.
By the way, they kept the ball for him, and when they were throwing it into the dugout, the toss sailed high, bounced off the dugout top, and into the stands. Thankfully, the fan gave it back. (One question, does that happen everywhere? Or, maybe the better question is, does that happen if it’s not Bobby Scales?) (more…)
By Matt Veto, mveto@qconline.com
I had to endure my buddy Jeff giving me the business on Sunday. He said, “There was this guy, who worked for the paper that used to write this VetoPower blog… blah, blah, blah” (I stopped listening).
Yes, he’s right. I’ve been as absent as a Mel Rojas save lately, and I apologize for that. I don’t get paid to do this. There. The secret’s out. I’m simply crazy enough about the Cubs to donate my time to this blog and allow the paper to host it and place my goofy face with each post. (That’s a perfect swing, though, by the way.)
Anyway, I don’t feel like I’ve missed much. Just some average (ugly at times) .500 baseball, but the time I’ve spent not writing a blog, I’ve been talking friends and fellow Cubs fans off the ledge, while soaking in the badgering of Cardinals fans. (more…)
