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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
1908 vs. 2008: Third Base
Between now and the end of the season we're going to compare the last Cubs championship team to this year's future championship team. Next stop: Third Base
HARRY STEINFELDT
Steinfeldt is the answer to the trivia question, 'Who was the other infielder besides Tinkers, Evers & Chance.' He was the third baseman during the Championship era--every bit as important to the Cubs as his Hall of Fame infield compatriots. (He's the one on the far left of this photograph. You may have seen this picture before with Steinfeldt cropped out.)
Steinfeldt was one of the first players that Chance acquired when he took over the general manager duties before the '06 season. He traded Jake Weimer, a left handed pitcher, to acquire him from Cincinnati. Steinfeldt was probably the MVP of the 1906 team that set a record for most victories. That year he led the league in hits and RBI, batted .327, and stole 29 bases. In the 1907 World Series he hit .471.
Although 1908 was a bit of a down year for Steinfeldt (he hit only .241), he remained one of the team's best clutch hitters. Batting 5th in the lineup, he was counted on to knock in the big runs. He probably wasn't as respected as the other infielders on the team for one reason, and one reason only. He had an iron glove at 3B. In 1908 he made 28 errors.
Steinfeldt was shipped out of Chicago after the 1910 World Series (the last year of the Cubs dynasty). He only played one more season in the big leagues, then tried to reclaim his lost hitting stroke in the minors, but never found it.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1914 at the tender age of 37.
ARAMIS RAMIREZ
Like his 1908 counterpart, Aramis Ramirez is THE clutch hitter for the Chicago Cubs. This year he bats cleanup, but he prefers to bat in Steinfeldt's old slot--5th. Year after year Aramis leads the Cubs in RBI, and seems to relish the most difficult situations. After the seventh inning, he's amongst the most feared hitters in the game.
Ramirez also benefits from the same thing Steinfeldt enjoyed with the 1908 Cubs--a slick fielding first baseman. Thanks to the steady play of Derrek Lee at first base, the error totals for Aramis have continued to decline. This year there is even talk about a possible gold glove. (That's something his 1908 counterpart Harry Steinfeldt could have never earned--despite the great play of Frank Chance.)
Ramirez starred for the Cubs in the 2003 playoffs, but struggled in 2007. It remains to be seen if he will reclaim his clutch playoff status in 2008.
HARRY STEINFELDT Steinfeldt is the answer to the trivia question, 'Who was the other infielder besides Tinkers, Evers & Chance.' He was the third baseman during the Championship era--every bit as important to the Cubs as his Hall of Fame infield compatriots. (He's the one on the far left of this photograph. You may have seen this picture before with Steinfeldt cropped out.)
Steinfeldt was one of the first players that Chance acquired when he took over the general manager duties before the '06 season. He traded Jake Weimer, a left handed pitcher, to acquire him from Cincinnati. Steinfeldt was probably the MVP of the 1906 team that set a record for most victories. That year he led the league in hits and RBI, batted .327, and stole 29 bases. In the 1907 World Series he hit .471.
Although 1908 was a bit of a down year for Steinfeldt (he hit only .241), he remained one of the team's best clutch hitters. Batting 5th in the lineup, he was counted on to knock in the big runs. He probably wasn't as respected as the other infielders on the team for one reason, and one reason only. He had an iron glove at 3B. In 1908 he made 28 errors.
Steinfeldt was shipped out of Chicago after the 1910 World Series (the last year of the Cubs dynasty). He only played one more season in the big leagues, then tried to reclaim his lost hitting stroke in the minors, but never found it.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1914 at the tender age of 37.
ARAMIS RAMIREZ
Like his 1908 counterpart, Aramis Ramirez is THE clutch hitter for the Chicago Cubs. This year he bats cleanup, but he prefers to bat in Steinfeldt's old slot--5th. Year after year Aramis leads the Cubs in RBI, and seems to relish the most difficult situations. After the seventh inning, he's amongst the most feared hitters in the game.
Ramirez also benefits from the same thing Steinfeldt enjoyed with the 1908 Cubs--a slick fielding first baseman. Thanks to the steady play of Derrek Lee at first base, the error totals for Aramis have continued to decline. This year there is even talk about a possible gold glove. (That's something his 1908 counterpart Harry Steinfeldt could have never earned--despite the great play of Frank Chance.)
Ramirez starred for the Cubs in the 2003 playoffs, but struggled in 2007. It remains to be seen if he will reclaim his clutch playoff status in 2008.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Plaque commemorates West Side Grounds
Finally! There is now a plaque commemorating the West Side Grounds where the Cubs played from 1893 to 1915. This is the ballpark where they won both of their World Series championships. Good karma may now return to the Cubs.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
1908 vs. 2008: Shortstop
Between now and the end of the season we're going to compare the last Cubs championship team to this year's future championship team. Next stop: Shortstop
JOE TINKER
By 1908 standards, Tinker was what we would now call a 5-tool player. He was among the league leaders in homers, RBI, and stolen bases (he led the Cubs in the first two categories), and was one of their steadiest fielders. In 1908, he also led the league in games played; a man that could be counted on to penciled in to that 7th slot in the batting order every day.
The ever steady Tinker was a crucial part of the championship club. In addition to his physical skills, he was a tough and gritty competitor--never afraid to let his fists do the talking. He once got into a fight on the field...after the game...dressed in his street clothes. He had a particular hatred for the Giants, stating: "If you didn't honestly and furiously hate the Giants, you weren't a real Cub."
His teammates loved Joe, except of course his double-play mate Johnny Evers. They only spoke to each other on the field, and only about baseball. Knowing their personal feelings for each other, it's amazing how well-oiled that Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combination worked. They were pioneers in many ways--using signals on the field to adjust to upcoming pitches. Opponents were amazed at how difficult it was to get a ball through that infield. (Hence, the poem penned in 1910).
All three men (Tinker, Evers & Chance) would eventually manage the Cubs. Tinker's chance came in the first season the Cubs played at what is now known as Wrigley Field (1916). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Chance and Evers in 1946.
RYAN THERIOT
Though he is the same age as his 1908 counterpart (28), Theriot is considered one of the young players on the 2008 team whereas Tinker was one of the grizzled veterans of his team. While Tinker was a power hitter, Theriot is more of a slap-hitter concerned with on-base percentage. And while Tinker was a fighter, Theriot is more of a calming force in the clubhouse.
But between the lines, the two men shared a common get-your-uniform-dirty grit. Theriot isn't afraid of stealing a base (though he occasionally overreaches in that area), and his play at shortstop is so steady that fans often don't even notice that he rarely makes mistakes.
It's no coincidence that the Cubs didn't start clicking until they put Ryan Theriot in the every day lineup. He has batted lead-off, second, seventh and eighth, but wherever he hits, he does something that the Cubs didn't do for many many years before his arrival; he takes a few pitches.
JOE TINKERBy 1908 standards, Tinker was what we would now call a 5-tool player. He was among the league leaders in homers, RBI, and stolen bases (he led the Cubs in the first two categories), and was one of their steadiest fielders. In 1908, he also led the league in games played; a man that could be counted on to penciled in to that 7th slot in the batting order every day.
The ever steady Tinker was a crucial part of the championship club. In addition to his physical skills, he was a tough and gritty competitor--never afraid to let his fists do the talking. He once got into a fight on the field...after the game...dressed in his street clothes. He had a particular hatred for the Giants, stating: "If you didn't honestly and furiously hate the Giants, you weren't a real Cub."
His teammates loved Joe, except of course his double-play mate Johnny Evers. They only spoke to each other on the field, and only about baseball. Knowing their personal feelings for each other, it's amazing how well-oiled that Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combination worked. They were pioneers in many ways--using signals on the field to adjust to upcoming pitches. Opponents were amazed at how difficult it was to get a ball through that infield. (Hence, the poem penned in 1910).
All three men (Tinker, Evers & Chance) would eventually manage the Cubs. Tinker's chance came in the first season the Cubs played at what is now known as Wrigley Field (1916). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Chance and Evers in 1946.
RYAN THERIOTThough he is the same age as his 1908 counterpart (28), Theriot is considered one of the young players on the 2008 team whereas Tinker was one of the grizzled veterans of his team. While Tinker was a power hitter, Theriot is more of a slap-hitter concerned with on-base percentage. And while Tinker was a fighter, Theriot is more of a calming force in the clubhouse.
But between the lines, the two men shared a common get-your-uniform-dirty grit. Theriot isn't afraid of stealing a base (though he occasionally overreaches in that area), and his play at shortstop is so steady that fans often don't even notice that he rarely makes mistakes.
It's no coincidence that the Cubs didn't start clicking until they put Ryan Theriot in the every day lineup. He has batted lead-off, second, seventh and eighth, but wherever he hits, he does something that the Cubs didn't do for many many years before his arrival; he takes a few pitches.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A new website for Cubs fans
A friend of mine has put together a website for Cubs fans that is a little different than the other Cubs sites out there. It's about the lifestyle of Cubs fans, and it's called www.mywrigleyville.comCheck it out if you get a chance. I contributed some of the content (descriptions of Cubs fans and top ten bandwagon tips).
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
1908 vs. 2008: Second Base
Between now and the end of the season we're going to compare the last Cubs championship team to this year's future championship team. Next stop: Second Base.
JOHNNY EVERS
Johnny Evers was such a vocal irritant when he was playing second base, manager/first baseman Frank Chance actually considered moving him to a different position so he didn't have to hear him talk. Evers was known as an aggressive competitor, and probably the most baseball savvy member of the Cubs. It was his heads up play in the famous Merkle game that led to the Cubs pennant in 1908.
1908 was also the season he really came into his own as a hitter. His .300 average was the highest on the Cubs, and one of the best in the league (this was the deadball era), and only one other player in baseball had a better on-base percentage that year. Once he got on the bases, he was even more dangerous. Despite his small size (he was only 125 pounds), he never hesitated to slide into the base with his spikes up. He was one of the best base-stealers on the team--in 1908, he swiped 36 bases.
Evers was a tough Irish-Catholic New Yorker by birth, and despite his heroics on the field, he didn't mesh that well with his teammates. (His nickname was "The Crab"). His double-play mate Joe Tinker, for instance, didn't talk to him at all. They despised each other.
He later managed the Cubs (1913), was fired by the Cubs (1913), and went on to win the MVP during a season he led the Boston Braves to the World Series championship (1914).
He was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance shortly before his death in 1947.
MARK DEROSA
When the Cubs signed Mark DeRosa as a free agent before the 2007 season, it's fair to say the signing was greeted with a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Chicago media and Cubs fans. After all, they had two young infielders on the roster (Ronnie Cedeno & Ryan Theriot). It seemed like just another example of the Cubs signing a mediocre veteran instead of letting the kids have a chance.
But DeRosa quited those critics pretty quickly with his gritty play, his versatility in the field (he has played every position except SS, CF and C), and his ability to get on base. Like his 1908 counterpart, DeRosa is a key member of the team who seems to get more than his share of crucial hits. Unlike Johnny Evers, though, Mark DeRosa's game is not speed--it's power. By the end of the year he will be one of up to six Cubs players with more than 20 home runs.
Some of his teammates consider DeRosa the MVP of the team because of all the different ways he helps them win.
JOHNNY EVERSJohnny Evers was such a vocal irritant when he was playing second base, manager/first baseman Frank Chance actually considered moving him to a different position so he didn't have to hear him talk. Evers was known as an aggressive competitor, and probably the most baseball savvy member of the Cubs. It was his heads up play in the famous Merkle game that led to the Cubs pennant in 1908.
1908 was also the season he really came into his own as a hitter. His .300 average was the highest on the Cubs, and one of the best in the league (this was the deadball era), and only one other player in baseball had a better on-base percentage that year. Once he got on the bases, he was even more dangerous. Despite his small size (he was only 125 pounds), he never hesitated to slide into the base with his spikes up. He was one of the best base-stealers on the team--in 1908, he swiped 36 bases.
Evers was a tough Irish-Catholic New Yorker by birth, and despite his heroics on the field, he didn't mesh that well with his teammates. (His nickname was "The Crab"). His double-play mate Joe Tinker, for instance, didn't talk to him at all. They despised each other.
He later managed the Cubs (1913), was fired by the Cubs (1913), and went on to win the MVP during a season he led the Boston Braves to the World Series championship (1914).
He was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance shortly before his death in 1947.
MARK DEROSAWhen the Cubs signed Mark DeRosa as a free agent before the 2007 season, it's fair to say the signing was greeted with a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Chicago media and Cubs fans. After all, they had two young infielders on the roster (Ronnie Cedeno & Ryan Theriot). It seemed like just another example of the Cubs signing a mediocre veteran instead of letting the kids have a chance.
But DeRosa quited those critics pretty quickly with his gritty play, his versatility in the field (he has played every position except SS, CF and C), and his ability to get on base. Like his 1908 counterpart, DeRosa is a key member of the team who seems to get more than his share of crucial hits. Unlike Johnny Evers, though, Mark DeRosa's game is not speed--it's power. By the end of the year he will be one of up to six Cubs players with more than 20 home runs.
Some of his teammates consider DeRosa the MVP of the team because of all the different ways he helps them win.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Spot the mistake
My son was showing me his Cubs baseball cards this morning, and I immediately noticed something was wrong with this Mike Fontenot card. Can you spot the mistake?
For one thing, Mike Fontenot is a left handed batter, and in this picture he appears to be following through on a right-handed swing. For another thing, he has Ryan Theriot's face.
I realize that they're both little guys who played middle infield at LSU and have scruffy unkempt facial hair, but really...
Does this mean the card is worth more?
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