Sox/Cubs series

[southsider2k5]

By Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune reporter

7:55 p.m. CDT, May 26, 2013

 

CINCINNATI — The Cubs are marketing the City Series as "Ivy vs. Concrete" in a misguided attempt to paint Wrigley Field as an idyllic ballpark and U.S. Cellular Field as bland.

 

But two Cubs players beg to differ.

 

Jeff Samardzija and Scott Hairston both are excited about Monday's opener at the Cell, where Samardzija will face left-hander Jose Quintana and Hairston is scheduled to be the designated hitter.

 

Both grew up in the Chicago area and have fond memories of going to games on the South Side as kids.

 

Samardzija started attending baseball games at the Cell in 1991, back when it was called New Comiskey Park.

 

"I've logged a lot of hours watching Sox games," he said. "I was a 'Big Hurt' fan, so I always tried to mimic his batting stance and try to go deep at the park. Obviously Bo (Jackson) was there for a while, and I played a bunch of sports, so I was excited about that.

 

"My first game was at the new Comiskey before they tore down the old one. They had Sammy Sosa still. It was so close to my house, right up the Skyway. It's always been a fun series, and I like Sox Park. It's kind of my backyard. My dad and uncles all worked at Bethlehem Steel and U.S. Steel, so that's an area I know very well."

 

 

 

North vs. South. Ivy vs. Concrete. Cubs vs. White Sox The Crosstown Cup will be decided Wednesday and Thursday at Wrigley Field. Tickets for both afternoon games are available. Buy tickets now »

 

At least the Cubs "Committed" campaign or "Ivy vs. Concrete" is more imaginative than "The Will To Win" and "Make An Impact"...gets people's tempers up a bit, so we can at least pretend to engage in the rivalry for those not feeling it

 

If it is so great, why the need to spend half a billion dollars to upgrade it or they would have to move??? I'll hang up and wait for my answer.

 

[caulfield12]

If it is so great, why the need to spend half a billion dollars to upgrade it or they would have to move??? I'll hang up and wait for my answer.

 

 

“[Quotable:] The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come..."

 

Ivy makes you think of the past, of tradition, of Williams and Santo and Jenkins and Sandberg and Banks and Sunday doubleheaders.

 

Concrete=cold, antiseptic, cookie-cutter stadiums, no personality, no memories attached

 

 

It's pretty smart conjuring up the past to cover up the sins of the present regime.

Edited May 27, 2013 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Of course, the Cubs' beat writer for the Sun-Times (Gordon Wittenmeyer) would pronounced him "the city's ace."

 

 

As if an All-America football career spent getting slammed by NFL-bound safeties wasn’t enough to prove his fearlessness and competitiveness, there was Samardzija on Monday night, pitching the best game of his professional career on what’s probably the biggest stage he’ll be on this season.

 

His first complete game. A two-hit shutout. The tone-setter in the four-day Crosstown Showdown.

 

The power. The swagger. The future. The ace.

 

Forget Chris Sale. The Cubs right-hander is Chicago’s pitching ace, as he proved in Monday’s 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

“That football mentality helps,” said teammate James Russell, who’s been around big-league baseball since his dad, Jeff, made All-Star teams as a starter, then a reliever. “He instills that fear in the batter, which a lot of guys don’t do.”

 

On Monday, Samardzija had a 98 mph fastball working in the first inning, threw 97 on his 100th pitch and until a one-out walk in the ninth had faced just one batter over the minimum.

 

“He was as good as anyone we’ve seen,” said Sox manager Robin Ventura, who compared him to young power-pitching Mets phenom Matt Harvey — a guy Ventura compared to Tigers ace Justin Verlander just a few weeks ago.

 

Harvey. Verlander.

 

“Stuff-wise, he’s as good as it gets in my opinion,” said Sox third-baseman Conor Gillaspie — the only South Sider with a hit until the ninth — of Samardzija.

 

What about Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg? Former MVP Joey Votto of the Reds drew that comparison when talking to a Cubs coach this season — and then said it was no comparison. He’d rather face Strasburg, he told the coach.

 

Russell, one of Samardzija’s closer friends in the clubhouse, isn’t surprised by the comparisons.

 

“He’s a little harder mentally and stronger physically than a lot of those guys out there,” Russell said. “Yeah, Strasburg’s got 98 [mph], but you’re not as timid getting in the box against him as you would be against somebody like Jeff.”

 

That’s why Samardzija is the front office’s next priority. Why he’s the manager’s best hope for a turnaround anytime soon.

 

Why he’s Chicago’s ace.

 

No doubt Sale has the recent results and the stuff from all those knobby left-handed angles. But he also has the recent bouts of soreness, the toothpick frame and the hold-your-breath mechanics with that skinny body that doesn’t inspire nearly the long-term confidence as the power-throwing Cubs ace with the Notre Dame football frame.

[Dick Allen]

Of course, the Cubs' beat writer for the Sun-Times (Gordon Wittenmeyer) would pronounced him "the city's ace."

 

 

As if an All-America football career spent getting slammed by NFL-bound safeties wasn’t enough to prove his fearlessness and competitiveness, there was Samardzija on Monday night, pitching the best game of his professional career on what’s probably the biggest stage he’ll be on this season.

 

His first complete game. A two-hit shutout. The tone-setter in the four-day Crosstown Showdown.

 

The power. The swagger. The future. The ace.

 

Forget Chris Sale. The Cubs right-hander is Chicago’s pitching ace, as he proved in Monday’s 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

“That football mentality helps,” said teammate James Russell, who’s been around big-league baseball since his dad, Jeff, made All-Star teams as a starter, then a reliever. “He instills that fear in the batter, which a lot of guys don’t do.”

 

On Monday, Samardzija had a 98 mph fastball working in the first inning, threw 97 on his 100th pitch and until a one-out walk in the ninth had faced just one batter over the minimum.

 

“He was as good as anyone we’ve seen,” said Sox manager Robin Ventura, who compared him to young power-pitching Mets phenom Matt Harvey — a guy Ventura compared to Tigers ace Justin Verlander just a few weeks ago.

 

Harvey. Verlander.

 

“Stuff-wise, he’s as good as it gets in my opinion,” said Sox third-baseman Conor Gillaspie — the only South Sider with a hit until the ninth — of Samardzija.

 

What about Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg? Former MVP Joey Votto of the Reds drew that comparison when talking to a Cubs coach this season — and then said it was no comparison. He’d rather face Strasburg, he told the coach.

 

Russell, one of Samardzija’s closer friends in the clubhouse, isn’t surprised by the comparisons.

 

“He’s a little harder mentally and stronger physically than a lot of those guys out there,” Russell said. “Yeah, Strasburg’s got 98 [mph], but you’re not as timid getting in the box against him as you would be against somebody like Jeff.”

 

That’s why Samardzija is the front office’s next priority. Why he’s the manager’s best hope for a turnaround anytime soon.

 

Why he’s Chicago’s ace.

 

No doubt Sale has the recent results and the stuff from all those knobby left-handed angles. But he also has the recent bouts of soreness, the toothpick frame and the hold-your-breath mechanics with that skinny body that doesn’t inspire nearly the long-term confidence as the power-throwing Cubs ace with the Notre Dame football frame.

The Sox offense has been horrible. If they want to declare him the best pitcher after he shut down the Sox, I wonder when the campaign to put Guthrie in the HOF will begin.

[LVSoxFan]

I'm not sure what took the fun out of it--I used to live for this series--but I'm guessing it was when we won the World Series. That kind of put an end to the non-stop arguing about who's the better team, because until the Cubs can claim that, they really can't say anything, can they?

 

That said, when they started taking it off weekends that was just idiotic. What used to be a for-sure tailgating weekend (at The Cell) now becomes a not-worth-it weeknight game. What used to be a before-and-after bar crawl (when at Wrigley) is not something people are itching to do on a Tuesday.

 

Too bad. My favorite games were always going to Wrigley and talking trash with the Cubs fans--plus being a north sider, I can actually walk to Wrigley.

 

But on a Tuesday night? Um, no thanks.

[Eminor3rd]

I think that because Cubs fans have embraced their rebuild, they don't care if they lose anymore. This won't be interesting again until there's at least SOMETHING at stake.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

Geographically fabricated sports rivalries are for people who know little about sports and need a reason to watch, and Major League Baseball was smart enough to begin taking full advantage of that in 1997. That's exactly what the Sox-Cubs series is--a mess of forced enthusiasm on often-mediocre baseball teams and beaten-to-death insults about Sox fans being poor and Cubs fans being drunk coming from Cubs fans who are likely poor and Sox fans who are likely drunk.

 

This is so pure.

 

Forget Chris Sale. The Cubs right-hander is Chicago’s pitching ace, as he proved in Monday’s 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

Oh, and Gordon Wittenmeyer...take it easy. A keyboard can be a dangerous thing. Maybe try wearing safety mittens when you're typing your next article.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Swingandalongonetoleft

[kitekrazy]

“[Quotable:] The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come..."

 

Ivy makes you think of the past, of tradition, of Williams and Santo and Jenkins and Sandberg and Banks and Sunday doubleheaders.

 

Concrete=cold, antiseptic, cookie-cutter stadiums, no personality, no memories attached

 

 

It's pretty smart conjuring up the past to cover up the sins of the present regime.

 

It does! I remember catching the end of Cubs games as a kid. Wrigley Field is great place to watch baseball. The outside of the Cell is a nice piece of architecture.

 

 

 

[Dick Allen]

There is ivy at USCF, and padded walls.

[kitekrazy]

I think that because Cubs fans have embraced their rebuild, they don't care if they lose anymore. This won't be interesting again until there's at least SOMETHING at stake.

 

I think Cubs fans care, not the fans of Wrigley.

 

I always wondered if the outsiders in the baseball world knew what a mess their organization is. They had some of biggest attitude problems, 2 great young starters who declined, signed attitude problems. ROY catcher that's barely in baseball. Former big time roid user. It was an embarrassing organization. I think the Cubune did a great job of protecting them.

 

[Big Hurtin]

Has there been any news on the rained out game? Any common off days to speculate?

[flavum]

Has there been any news on the rained out game? Any common off days to speculate?

 

Might be June 24, but the Cubs players have to approve because of consecutive days played.

 

They're probably waiting to see if they get the game in tomorrow.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

What's with the title of the thread ? It's Sox/Cubs not Cubs/Sox.

See leave it like that and Sox lose. I hope you mods are happy ! Maybe we can salvage the last game if you change it now.

Edited May 30, 2013 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[balfanman]

I realize that the Sox are just not playing good baseball right now, even in sweeping the Marlins they were all close games that could of gone either way. I do have a question though. As depressing as the Sox are to watch right now, if the series were reversed, would we be happier if they would of gotten swept by the Marlins and were now in the process of sweeping the Cubs?

[cabiness42]

I realize that the Sox are just not playing good baseball right now, even in sweeping the Marlins they were all close games that could of gone either way. I do have a question though. As depressing as the Sox are to watch right now, if the series were reversed, would we be happier if they would of gotten swept by the Marlins and were now in the process of sweeping the Cubs?

 

As fans we would probably be a bit happier, but the reality of how bad the team is wouldn't be any different.

 

[pettie4sox]

The Sox can still will the last two games and I think the fanbase will forgive them. The last team to win, in case of a split, wins the BP cup.

 

Yesssh.... (sarcasm)

Edited May 30, 2013 by pettie4sox

[elrockinMT]

Series is fun when it's on the weekend. Just another series otherwise.

 

 

I think you are right. Weekend series at Comoskey and then Stinkly would be more entertaining. I am not real enthused about interleage ball anyway

Edited May 30, 2013 by elrockinMT

[witesoxfan]

See leave it like that and Sox lose. I hope you mods are happy ! Maybe we can salvage the last game if you change it now.

 

We'll try it your way

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Worth a shot besides it didn't look right on a Sox site giving the other team top billing. Thank you.

Edited May 30, 2013 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[southsider2k5]

Did anyone note that even Wrigley drew under 32k paying fans for each game?

[Iwritecode]

I did. This series just doesn't mean as much to either side of town as it once did.

 

Sure it's great to have city-bragging rights for a couple of days but then we all have to go back to the reality that we are all watching a couple of 70-85 win teams.

 

[Dick Allen]

Did anyone note that even Wrigley drew under 32k paying fans for each game?

I wondered why Caulfied hasn't posted something about the impending doom of the franchise.

[Dick Allen]

I did. This series just doesn't mean as much to either side of town as it once did.

 

Sure it's great to have city-bragging rights for a couple of days but then we all have to go back to the reality that we are all watching a couple of 70-85 win teams.

I think part of it is the games are during the week, and the Cubs aren't drawing as well as they used to for any team. Even the Cubs are starting to have problems drawing people to watch awful baseball. Obviously, their definition of a poor crowd is very different from others.

Edited May 31, 2013 by Dick Allen

[kitekrazy]

I find it boring and over done. The Sox/Cub rivalry is pretty meaningless around August. It's always the failure to capitalize on weaker teams the always haunt the Sox down the stretch.

[Iwritecode]

I think part of it is the games are during the week, and the Cubs aren't drawing as well as they used to for any team. Even the Cubs are starting to have problems drawing people to watch awful baseball. Obviously, their definition of a poor crowd is very different from others.

 

Their last three weekday home games were against the Rockies. They drew 35,080, 38,123 & 38,083. Although they were all night games.

 

I think having weekday DAY games with jacked up ticket prices really killed them this year.