Showing posts with label Cubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cubs. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Cubs Fan Gives All Fans A Bad Name
By now, you've probably seen the video of that stupid Cubs fan who doused Shane Victorino with a beer while the Phillies outfielder was catching a fly ball. There are so many adjectives one could use to describe this dumb, dangerous, cowardly act, and all of them may fall short of accurately describing this moron.
It is acts such as these that eventually give all fans a bad name. You wonder why athletes ignore your shouts of their name or seem standoffish when you approach them in public? It could be because they have experienced boorish behavior firsthand. Wouldn't that give you pause the next time you encounter an overzealous fan?
The thing that really irks me about this particular incident is that security got the wrong guy. Check out the video below. Pause it at the :20 mark and notice the fan in the hat and white t-shirt with sunglasses hanging from his collar. That's the actual guy who threw the beer, not the fan about three seats down who security eventually escorted out of the stadium.
This scene reminds me of what happened at the Palace of Auburn Hills when Ron Artest got plunked with that empty beer cup. The guy Artest went after was not the actual guy who threw the cup.
Say what you will about retaliation through violence, but I dare you to find anyone who wouldn't want to pummel some cat who threw beer on them. I'm not advocating violence against these type of jerks, but as Chris Rock once said, I understand!
Labels:
baseball,
Cubs,
fans,
Phillies,
professional athletes,
Shane Victorino
Monday, November 17, 2008
SEC Charges Mark Cuban With Insider Trading

Uh, isn't this exactly what Martha Stewart went to jail for? Oh well, so much for buying the Cubs--as if MLB owners were going to let him into the old boys club anyway.
WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal regulators on Monday charged Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with insider trading for allegedly using confidential information on a stock sale to avoid more than $750,000 in losses.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Cuban in federal court in Dallas. The agency alleged that in June 2004, Cuban was invited to get in on the coming stock offering by Mamma.com Inc. after he agreed to keep the information private.
The SEC said Cuban knew the shares would be sold below the current market price, and a few hours after receiving the information, told his broker to sell his entire stake of 600,000 shares in the search engine company before the public announcement of the offering.
By selling when he did, Cuban avoided losses exceeding $750,000, according to the SEC. At the time of the offering, Cuban was the largest known shareholder in the Montreal-based company, which later changed its name to Copernic Inc.
The SEC is seeking a court judgment against Cuban finding that he violated the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, an injunction against future violations, an unspecified civil penalty and restitution of the losses Cuban allegedly avoided.
Unless he is subject to an injunction, Cuban “is likely to commit such violations again in the future,” according to the SEC suit.
Attorneys for Cuban in Washington and Dallas didn’t immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.
Cuban, 50, also owns Landmark Theaters, a large national chain dedicated to independent films, and the HDNet cable television channel.
He is one of the richest people in the world, according to Forbes magazine, which pegged his net worth at $2.3 billion as of March 2007.
Labels:
Cubs,
Mark Cuban,
Mavericks,
NBA,
owners,
Securities and Exchange Commission
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Dodgers Beat Cubs, Move On To Face Phillies in NLCS

THE FRUITS OF VICTORY: With their 3-1 victory over the Cubs tonight, the Dodgers won their first playoff series since 1988 and swept an opponent in the postseason for the first time since 1963. Los Angeles will play in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night either in Philadelphia against the Phillies or right here at Dodger Stadium against Milwaukee.
KU-ROAD-A TO THE NLCS – Dodger starter Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant tonight, firing 6.1 scoreless innings and picking up the first Dodger series clinching victory since Orel Hershiser won Game 5 of the 1988 World Series. In 2008, Kuroda allowed just one run in 21.2 innings (0.42 ERA) against the Cubs.
MR. (Nearly) PERFECT- Dodger left fielder Manny Ramirez reached base three of four times tonight and finished the series hitting .500 (5-for-10) with two homers, three RBI, and four walks.
OUR FAVORITE POSTSEASON MARTIN – Dodger catcher Russell Martin went 2-for-4 tonight and banged out his second and third doubles of the series. Martin drove in five runs this series and is hitting .320 (8-for-25) in six-career postseason contests.
PADDING HIS LEAD – Dodger first baseman James Loney ripped a two-run double in the first inning, giving him a Dodger Division Series-record nine RBI. The two ribbies moved him past Steve Garvey (1981) and Eric Karros (1995).
BOYS OF SUMMER- Prior to the game, Dodger Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider threw out the ceremonial first pitch along with Dodger legend and Director of Community Relations Don Newcombe. Dodger infielder Nomar Garciaparra caught the former and Dodger first base coach Mariano Duncan the latter.
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT – The paid attendance tonight was 56,000, which is the seventh-largest crowd in Dodger postseason history.
D LEE HITS D BALL – Cubs’ first baseman Derrick Lee went 3-for-4 with two doubles and finished the Division Series with a team-best .545 average.
HIBERNATION- The Cubs were swept out of the playoffs for the second straight season and have now lost nine straight postseason contests, dating back to the 2003 National League Championship Series.
KU-ROAD-A TO THE NLCS – Dodger starter Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant tonight, firing 6.1 scoreless innings and picking up the first Dodger series clinching victory since Orel Hershiser won Game 5 of the 1988 World Series. In 2008, Kuroda allowed just one run in 21.2 innings (0.42 ERA) against the Cubs.
MR. (Nearly) PERFECT- Dodger left fielder Manny Ramirez reached base three of four times tonight and finished the series hitting .500 (5-for-10) with two homers, three RBI, and four walks.
OUR FAVORITE POSTSEASON MARTIN – Dodger catcher Russell Martin went 2-for-4 tonight and banged out his second and third doubles of the series. Martin drove in five runs this series and is hitting .320 (8-for-25) in six-career postseason contests.
PADDING HIS LEAD – Dodger first baseman James Loney ripped a two-run double in the first inning, giving him a Dodger Division Series-record nine RBI. The two ribbies moved him past Steve Garvey (1981) and Eric Karros (1995).
BOYS OF SUMMER- Prior to the game, Dodger Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider threw out the ceremonial first pitch along with Dodger legend and Director of Community Relations Don Newcombe. Dodger infielder Nomar Garciaparra caught the former and Dodger first base coach Mariano Duncan the latter.
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT – The paid attendance tonight was 56,000, which is the seventh-largest crowd in Dodger postseason history.
D LEE HITS D BALL – Cubs’ first baseman Derrick Lee went 3-for-4 with two doubles and finished the Division Series with a team-best .545 average.
HIBERNATION- The Cubs were swept out of the playoffs for the second straight season and have now lost nine straight postseason contests, dating back to the 2003 National League Championship Series.
NLCS Info:
Game 1: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Thursday, October 9
Game 2: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Friday, October 10
Game 3: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Sunday, October 12
Game 4: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Monday, October 13
*Game 5: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Wednesday, October 15
*Game 6: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Friday, October 17
*Game 7: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Saturday, October 18
* If necessary; all game times are to be determined
Game 2: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Friday, October 10
Game 3: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Sunday, October 12
Game 4: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Monday, October 13
*Game 5: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, Wednesday, October 15
*Game 6: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Friday, October 17
*Game 7: Los Angeles at Philadelphia, Saturday, October 18
* If necessary; all game times are to be determined
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Dodgers/Cubs Game Notes & Lineup-Game 2


► The Dodgers set club NLDS single-game records last night in runs (7) and walks (8) while tying the team’s NLDS single-game record for homers (3).
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS – With last night’s win, the Dodgers are 3-5 against the Cubs this season. However, all five Dodger losses were by two runs or less, whereas the three Dodger victories were all by three or more runs.
AND THE DODGERS INCH AHEAD… – Not only do the Dodgers have a 1-0 lead in the series, but last night’s win gives them a one-game edge in the 118-year, 2,025-game all-time series. The two franchises first played each other on May 29, 1890 in Brooklyn and since then, the Dodgers have a 1,013-1,012 record.
BEST OF FIVE – The Dodgers have played 11 best-of-five series in their postseason history and have won Game 1 in just three of those series. In all three cases, the Dodgers went on to win the series (the NLCS in 1974, 1978, and 1981). Two other times, the Dodgers overcame a Game 1 defeat to still win the series (the NLCS in 1977 and the NLDS in 1981) and five times they lost the first game and went on to lose the series.
MANNY LONGBALLS – Last night, Manny Ramirez hit his 25th postseason home run and 15 of them have come on the road. Both of those totals are Major League records. He also holds the all-time record for Division Series homers with 11.
► Ramirez has hit safely in 36 of his last 41 postseason games, with a .344 (54-for-157) average during that span.
HAVING A GRAND OL’ TIME – Last night, James Loney hit the 17th grand slam in NLDS history. It was the third slam in Dodger postseason history and first since Dusty Baker on Oct. 5, 1977 in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Phillies. The only other postseason slam for the Dodgers came the previous night in Game 1 of that series when Ron Cey hit one in the seventh inning off Steve Carlton.
► Loney’s four RBI tie him with Steve Garvey (1981) and Eric Karros (1995) for the most in a Division Series for the Dodgers. Loney now has seven career RBI in the NLDS which is the Dodgers’ career mark. He had three in the 2006 NLDS vs. the Mets.
MAURY’S BIG DAY – Dodger legend Maury Wills turns 76 years old today. Wills, who serves as a baserunning and bunting instructor for the Dodgers, will be honored on Oct. 13 at the “Sportswalk to the Waterfront” in San Pedro, CA. Also being honored that night is the late U.S. President Gerald Ford. For more information or to attend the event, fans can contact the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce at 310.832.7272.
‘PEN IS MIGHTIER – A trio of Dodger relievers pitched 3.0 scoreless innings last night, including Greg Maddux’s first relief appearance since saving Game 5 of the NLCS at San Diego on Oct. 12, 1998. The Dodger bullpen ranked second in the NL this season with a 3.33 ERA behind the Phillies (3.19).
A BIG DAY FOR Ks – On this date in 1953, Carl Erskine struck out a World Series record 14 Yankees in Game 3. Ten years later to the day, Sandy Koufax broke the record with 15 strikeouts over the Yankees in Game 1 of the Fall Classic and exactly two years after that, he fanned 13 Milwaukee Braves on two days rest (including Joe Torre twice) to give him 382 for the season, earning his 26th win and clinching the NL pennant.
FOOTING THE BILLS – Tonight’s starter Chad Billingsley ranked fifth in the NL with 201 strikeouts and seventh with a 3.14 ERA this season. From June 17 through the end of the regular season, he went 12-3 with a 2.78 ERA, which tied him for the most wins in baseball during that period with Mark Buehrle, A.J. Burnett, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and CC Sabathia. At just 24 years of age, Billingsley became the youngest Dodger to notch 16 victories since Ramon Martinez won 17 as a 23-year-old in 1991.
TURNING IT AROUND – The Dodgers were a season-high 7.0 games out of first place on April 25 but came back to win the NL West, matching the largest deficit the franchise has had to overcome to win a division or NL pennant. The 1966 Dodgers were also 7.0 games out of first on May 13 and won the NL pennant that season before losing in the Fall Classic.
PACK YOUR BAGS – After tonight’s flight home, the Dodgers will have traveled more than 58,000 miles from the time they reported to Vero Beach until Game 3 of the NLDS. The team will have made 37 flights, including their historic trip to Beijing, China in March where they faced the Padres in the first-ever Major League games on Chinese soil.
TOMORROW’S WORKOUTS – The Dodgers will hold a workout tomorrow at 3 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium, followed by the Cubs at 5 p.m. The media entrance will open at 1 p.m. for credential pickup and the Dodger clubhouse opens at 2 p.m. Manager Joe Torre and Game 3 Dodger starter Hiroki Kuroda will be available at approximately 2:30 in the media conference area.
ALL SOLD OUT – Game 3 and 4 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium are officially sold out.
Additional Notes-- Game 2
* The Cubs struck first in yesterday’s contest, scoring two runs in the second inning, but the Dodgers responded with seven unanswered runs to win Game 1 7-2.
* Los Angeles won its second postseason game in 14 tries since winning the 1988 World Series. The Dodgers seven runs were their most in a playoff game since also scoring seven in Game 5 of the 1988 League Championship Series against the Mets.
* Chicago has now lost seven straight playoff games, the longest streak in franchise history previously held by Cubs teams that lost six straight between 1989 and 1998.
* After the All-Star break, Chad Billingsley was 7-2 with a 2.99 earned run average, having won his last four decisions of the season.
* Carlos Zambrano has never defeated the Dodgers in three starts at Wrigley Field with Zambrano has compiling a 5.12 ERA in the starts. However, in his one home start against Los Angeles in 2008, Zambrano allowed only one run in eight innings, earning a no decision in 2-1 Cubs win in 10 innings.
* Russell Martin is 8-for-13 (.615 batting average) with one home run against Carlos Zambrano in his career.
* In 13 career Division Series playoff games, Mark DeRosa is batting .429 (12-for-28) and slugging .714 (20/28).
* With his seventh inning blast off Sean Marshall, Manny Ramirez became the first player in Major League history with 25 career postseason home runs.
Game 2 Starting Lineups
Dodgers:
Furcal. SS
Martin. C
Ramirez. LF
Ethier. RF
Loney. 1B
Kemp. CF
DeWitt. 2B
Blake. 3B
Billingsley. RHP
Cubs:
Soriano. LF
Theriot. SS
Lee. 1B
Ramirez. 3B
DeRosa. 2B
Edmonds. CF
Soto. C
Fukudome. RF
Zambrano. RHP
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dodgers Game Notes--Game 1

As a special treat for the fans, I will post all of the Dodgers daily game notes here on my blog throughout the playoffs. Enjoy!
OCTOBER BASEBALL – The NL West Division Champion Dodgers take on the NL Central Champion Cubs in the first game of the National League Division Series.
► The Dodgers and Cardinals are the only two National League teams to reach the postseason in three of the past five seasons.
POSTSEASON FLAVOR: The Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 1 has 24 years of postseason experience entering the 2008 playoffs. Rafael Furcal (7 years), Russell Martin (1 year), Manny Ramirez (9 years), James Loney (1 year), Casey Blake (1 year), and Derek Lowe (5 years) have all reached the postseason at least once in their careers. In terms of postseason series, those starters have played in a combined 38 playoff series (Furcal - 6, Martin - 1, Ramirez - 19, Loney - 1, Blake – 2, and Lowe – 9).
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? –The Dodgers and Cubs have never met in the postseason. After 118 years and 2,024 games, the teams are tied in the all-time series 1,012-1,012. The two franchises first played each other on May 29, 1890 in Brooklyn.
BACK IN ACTION – Rafael Furcal will start tonight at shortstop despite missing 125 games this season due to back surgery. At the time of his injury in May, he led the Majors with 49 hits, ranked second with a .366 batting average, and third with a .448 on-base percentage. Furcal has reached the postseason in eight of his first nine seasons in the Majors, with last year being his first season without a playoff appearance.
MANNY LONGBALLS – Manny Ramirez has hit 24 home runs in the postseason and 14 of them have come on the road. Both of those totals are Major League records. Since joining the Dodgers on Aug. 1, Ramirez leads all of baseball with a .396 average, .489 on-base percentage and a .743 slugging percentage.
► Those hitting directly in front of Manny Ramirez in the lineup are batting a combined .383 (82-for- 214). Russell Martin, who hits ahead of him tonight, is batting .321 (9-for-28) with four walks.
JUST LIKE THE GOOD OL’ DAYS – Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will work the first and last three innings on KABC 790 during the postseason. Rick Monday and Charley Steiner will call the middle three innings on radio. On the Spanish-language side, Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín will handle the play-by-play duties with Pepe Yñiguez and Fernando Valenzuela on KHJ/La Ranchera 930. The Dodgers are the only Major League team with two Hall of Famers on their broadcast team.
LUCKY NO. 13 – Dodger manager Joe Torre is appearing in his 13th straight postseason, one shy of the record for a manager, held by Bobby Cox (1991-2005). Torre has more postseason victories (76) than any manger in Major League history. He has finished in first place 14 times as a skipper – once with Atlanta and Los Angeles and 12 times with New York – the second-most all-time behind Cox (15).
BATTLE TESTED – The Dodgers’ 25-man postseason roster includes five players who have played in the Fall Classic – Jeff Kent, Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Juan Pierre, and Manny Ramirez. All five have earned rings – Kent with Toronto, Lowe and Ramirez with Boston, Maddux with Atlanta and Pierre with Florida.
BUILDING FROM WITHIN – Of the 25 players on the postseason roster, 10 were drafted and developed by the Dodgers – Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Blake DeWitt, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, James Loney, Russell Martin, James McDonald, Chan Ho Park and Cory Wade. Andre Ethier was drafted by Oakland but reached the Majors for the first time with Los Angeles.
WRIGLEY MEMORIES – Tonight’s starter, Derek Lowe, is the only Major League pitcher to win at least 12 games in each of the past seven seasons. Over his final 10 starts this year, he went 6-1 with a 1.27 ERA and held opponents to a .195 batting average. His best start as a Dodger came on Aug. 31, 2005 at Wrigley Field. The right-hander threw a complete game one-hitter, as he allowed a leadoff infield single to Jerry Hairston in the first inning and did not allow another hit, retiring 26 of the final 28 batters, including 14 in a row at one point.
TURNING IT AROUND – The Dodgers were a season-high 7.0 games out of first place on April 25 but came back to win the NL West, matching the largest deficit the franchise has had to overcome to win a division or NL pennant. The 1966 Dodgers were also 7.0 games out of first on May 13 and won the NL pennant that season before losing in the Fall Classic.
PACK YOUR BAGS – After tomorrow night’s flight home, the Dodgers will have traveled more than 58,000 miles from the time they reported to Vero Beach until Game 3 of the NLDS. The team will have made 37 flights, including their historic trip to Beijing, China in March where they faced the Padres in the first-ever Major League games on Chinese soil.
WHEN THEY WERE JUST CUBS – Among the former Cubs on the Dodgers’ postseason roster are third base coach Larry Bowa and coach Jeff Pentland, pitcher Greg Maddux, infielder Nomar Garciaparra, outfielder Juan Pierre, and General Manager Ned Colletti. Colletti is the 10th GM in Los Angeles Dodger history and the first to reach the postseason in two of his first three seasons.
ALL SOLD OUT – Game 3 and 4 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium are officially sold out.
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