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Message #: 17341
HAL avails himself of one final opportunity to screw the 1943 Cubs before proceeding on to the 1942 version, as the unluckiest team in league history finishes well down in the standings, behind some teams with far inferior talent and far superior luck (as we once again demonstrate the relative value of those traits). With the last home series of the year still outstanding, Cubs fans (if any) are waiting anxiously to see if their heroes will succeed in their quest for the all-time records in such enviable categories as runners stranded, and inherited runners graciously permitted to score by the bullpen.... Game 1: Tiny Bonham did his best for the Cubs, driving in 2 runs and handing over a 3-2 lead to the Arson Squad. Reliever Hank Wyse was easily up to the task of blowing the lead, an event which occurred in the PIN 7th with (of course) 2 outs. Sid Gordon batted with 2 runners aboard and rolled a column in which he had over a 99% chance of making an out. Facing the Cubs, naturally he found the hit. Hell, you can't expect to set records without that sort of thing happening as frequently as possible. The contest went into overtime to allow the Cubs to LOB runners #10 and #11 and finally in the 12th with (of course) 2 outs the choke was completed. Final score: 4-3. ====================================================================================== Game 2: Chicago had a 3-0 lead into the 6th, choked that away but regained a 5-3 lead and then blew it in (what else?) the bottom of the 9th via 2 blown x-plays at SS and 2B. Those 2 infielders were selected by HAL for 3 more blown-x's in extra innings but -- in an extreme rarity -- a Cub opponent was LOBbing as many runners as the Cubs (14 apiece today). Eight Cubbies reached base in the top of the 16th, all via singles and walks. Because there's not enough room on the diamond to LOB all of those runners, some of them had to score. Final score: 12-5 in 16. Lennie Merullo had 4 hits for the Cubs and at least that many blown-x's in the field. Peanuts Lowrey also added 4 hits to our total of 20, and relievers Murry Dickson & Ed Hanyzewski combined for 7 scoreless relief innings (!) with Hanyzewski getting the win plus a couple of ribbies in the 16th when he singled with the bases loaded. ====================================================================================== Game 3: The CHN offense LOBbed only 9 (1 for 8 with RISP) instead of 12 thanks to 3 timely rally-killing DPs but it was the most screwed defense in the majors which really hung Luckless Claude Passeau out to dry today. A 2-0 lead became yet another undeserved loss when the fielders choked up FOUR unearned runs. It wasn't the few lead gloves out there who did the damage (today and all series long), it was the good fielders such as Gold-Glover Marty Marion who had an especially brutal series. ====================================================================================== Game 4: The routine season-ending bench emptier, featuring 9 pitchers each working exactly 1 inning. This strategy -- which should have been adopted much earlier in the season -- allowed the bullpen chokers to go into their act early enough to permit time for a comeback. And the Cubs did come back, concluding this season of gargantuan underachievement with a 5-3 victory. As the game writeup said, a tad breathlessly, "Lon Warneke(4-7) was dominant in relief. He was flawless in his 1 inning." Actually, for a Cubs team 1 scoreless relief inning is a pretty remarkable performance. Good job, Lon. At this writing, the 1943 Cubs look to have lost the chance at becoming the all-time worst bullpen at allowing inherited runners to cross the plate, as we are down to a miniscule 49.5% in that category now. However we remain well on track to become the worst team in 50+ seasons of Smiley/Pre-Smiley at stranding runners relative to our opponents -- we're up by a whopping 31%! -- and will exceed the 1,300 mark, accurately reflecting the plethora of clutch hits our fortunate opponents always get as well as the barren wasteland which represents Cubbie clutch hitting. Alan |
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