Posted Messages
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Message #: 16985
After our surprising home sweep of the Dodgers, the Cubs reported for work at Ebbets Field and.... just keep in mind one thing as you read on: These. Are. The. Cubs. I assure you that the outcome of this game was in no way rigged, and there was no cheating or other shenanigans of any kind. Every roll and split card really happened. =============================================================================== The Dodgers initially appeared to be suffering a major hangover from the train ride back from Chicago to Brooklyn, as the visitors took a 7-0 lead after 2 innings. Those two innings featured 4 BRN errors, 2 walks, and just 3 hits all of which were singles. A fifth Brooklyn error in the top of the third helped extend the Cubs' lead to 9-0 and Claude Passeau switched into cruise control on the mound for the overconfident road team. Jumping on the sloppy play bandwagon, the Cubs donated an unearned pity run to our opponent in the 3rd, but got it right back on a Bert Haas solo home run. The Dodgers responded with a 2-out, bases-empty rally which seemed laughably inconsequential (resulting as it did in just one run) and Chicago led 10-2 after 4 innings. Even though the Cubs had switched to defensive-oriented substitutes in the field -- hardly necessary with such an enormous lead, right? -- *now* it was time to show the Dodgers just what sloppy play is all about. The score became 10-3 when Dodger SS Arky Vaughan singled home a run following a pair of free passes. CHN shortstop Lennie Merullo continues to have a higher batting average than fielding percentage, and his error loaded up the bases for Brooklyn with 1 out in the bottom of the 5th. An x-play hit out there to Bill Nicholson in right field was good for not one base, not two bases, not three bases, but -- you finally guessed it -- a 4-base howler which was effectively a Grand Slam, just of the highly unearned variety. What had been 10-3 was suddenly 10-7, and if you think you've seen all of the microscopic-probability events, you haven't seen a damn thing yet. Shockingly, the Cubs did not simply roll over and play dead. Brooklyn's 5-run 5th was answered with a 4-run 6th for the Cubs, unaided by Keystone Cops' defense or any walks (aside from an IW). Pitcher Passeau came through with a bases-loaded 1-run single and lightweight gloveman Jimmy Brown cleared the bases with a double which put his team back on top by a touchdown, 14-7. Brooklyn made it 14-8 in the bottom of the 6th, but 3 straight hits off of BRN reliever Johnny Podgajny (4 IP, 12 hits, 8 runs) ramped the lead back up to 7 runs and brought on BRN reliever Curt Davis to squelch the Cubbie rally, which he accomplished by getting his first batter to hit into a timely GIDP. Passeau finally registered a scoreless inning after 4 straight failures in that area, and we moved to the bottom of the 8th with the scoreboard still showing 15-8. With 2 outs and a man on first, Dolph Camilli singled and Vaughn came up and rolled a HR 1, fb(B) 2-20. Guess what split card he got. 15-11 now, and these rallies weren't so laughably inconsequential anymore. Rookie John Burrows was summoned to protect our miniscule 3-run lead. He did finish off the Dodgers in the 8th without further damage then entered the bottom of the 9th with that same margin and just 3 outs left to get. Burrows got out #1 easily enough, then loaded the bases via a walk and 2 singles as the tying run (remember that 9-run lead once upon a time?) stepped to the plate. Chicago ace closer Murry Dickson strode to the mound somewhat less than confidently but traded out #2 for run #12 on Augie Galan's sac fly. Luis Olmo was next, and Dickson retired him to end the contest with a final score of 15-12. Not so fast. There's a little '$' next to that out. The single chased home run #13 and Vaughn came up again and rolled..... a HR 1, fb(B) 2-20. Again. Guess what split card he got. Again. The Cubs pull off the most incredible choke in the history of the league -- after all, who else could have done it? -- and lose by the score of 16-15. Alan |
| Quick Index: Teams | Leagues | Managers | Postseason | |
|
|