| |
Chicago Cubs:
The Chicago Cubs have come out strong this season. The Cubs currently have an incredible 45-28 winning record, which puts them in the #1 spot in the National League Central division and #1 in the National League overall. The Chicago Cubs are led on defense by All-Star pitchers Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano. Lilly is entering his tenth year in the league, with a solid 77 strikeouts and a great 5.13 ERA thus far this season. Zambrano has pitched for 8 wins and 66 strikeouts, leading the league in innings pitched with 106 innings. Silver Slugger Zambrano is also known for batting, although we haven't seen much of him on the plate this season, because the Cubs want to keep him rested for pitching. All-Star silver slugger Derrek Lee has taken over offensively in his absence with a solid 22 RBIs and 8 home runs this year. Tickets are selling fast as the Cubs look to carry their league-leading record into the playoffs and attempt to bring home the World Series Championship.
It was October 6, 1945, the Chicago Cubs were
in the midst of a 37 year world championship draught and they
just won two of three in Detroit heading back to Chicago with
a 2-1 lead. William “Billy Goat” Sianis walked up
to the Wrigley Field with his billy goat Murphy, like he usually
did because he bought a ticket for the goat too, to go and watch
the Cubbies play. When he got there he was greeted by a number
of ushers that informed him that his goat wouldn’t be able
to enter the stadium. Sianis appealed the decision and he got
word from owner P.K. Wrigley himself that Murphy wouldn’t
be able to come in because “He smells.” At that point
Sianis raised his arms in the air and told the ushers that “The
Cubs ain’t gonna win no more,” and “Never again
will the World Series be played in Wrigley Field.” The
Cubs went on to lose the next three games, and the series, at
Wrigley. Which brings us the 2003 NLCS, the Cubs have a 3-2 series
lead, and Mark Prior had a three run lead with two outs in the
top of the eighth inning. A ball was hit into foul territory
and as left fielder Moises Alou went to catch it, a fan interfered
and kept Alou from making the final out of the inning. After
that the Marlins went on an 8 run two out rally and won the game
8-3. The Cubs then lost the next game, extending the streak without
a pennant to 59 years and 96 years without a World Series victory.
Cubs’ management was determined to fill the gaps they had in their team
last year. They signed free agents Greg Maddux, Todd Hollandsworth, LaTroy Hawkins
and traded for Marlin first baseman Derek Lee. With these acquisitions they helped
out their staff and added some much needed depth in the field.
The Cubs are lead by right fielder Sammy Sosa in
the field and with his bat. Other sluggers joining Sosa are
left fielder Moises Alou, center fielder Corey Patterson,
third baseman Aramis Ramirez and first baseman Derek Lee
who add pop to a lineup that is looking toward the World
Series.
The reason that Cubs fan has such high hopes of breaking
the curse is the pitching staff. The Cubs are lead by a pair
of flame-throwing right handers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior,
even though Prior started off the season on the DL. They are
joined by future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano.
Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, is widely known for its brick walls around the
field and the ivy growing on the outfield wall. The field is also known for the
bleachers in the outfield. People love to enjoy the game in the friendly confines
of the outfield bleachers that overlook Sheffield and Waveland Ave. It was also
the setting for Babe Ruth’s famous “called shot,” when Ruth
pointed to the bleachers in game 3 of the 1932 World Series and then proceeded
to hit it there.
Are you a Chicago Cubs Fan? Check out Chicago-Cubs-Tickets.com! |
 |