Ready for some fireworks
Yes, it's only the Fourth of July, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella wasn't downplaying the significance of this weekend's series with the Cardinals at St. Louis. The Cubs came into the game having lost seven of 10 and leading the Cards by two and a half.
"We have been struggling," Lou said. "We'd like to reclaim our momentum. So from that standpoint, it's an important series for us."
A first-inning homer by Fukudome and a fourth-inning blast by Soto helped the Cubs get a start. Big Z is on the mound tonight, and he's been economical with his pitches in the early going.
Jim Edmonds got a nice ovation from the Busch Stadium crowd, and why not? Edmonds gave the Cards eight pretty good years. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is in full head-game mode. He's either putting on a good act or he's genuinely miffed by Edmonds' comments about not wanting to be "tied" to the Cards anymore. All Edmonds said a couple weeks ago was that he wanted reporters to stop tying him to the Cardinals so he could get some Cubs history under his belt. He said in no way would La Russa get into his head because he's played on bigger stages than this. Such as helping the Cardinals to the World Series and helping them win one of them.
Maybe La Russa forgot that. Or maybe Tony forgot that Edmonds didn't leave on his own. The Cards traded him to the Padres with another year left on his contract.
Edmonds also said he didn't flat-out nix a trade to the White Sox last off-season. He said he was given an hour to think about it and needed more time. So that deal never happened.
Edmonds said that if was going to be traded, he wanted to be closer to home, as in San Diego. He laughed at how that worked out _ or didn't. The Padres released him in May after he got off to a slow and injury-plagued start.
Always something when the Cubs, Cardinals and Tony La Russa get together.
La Russa always has been and always will be a jerk off, I would expect nothing less from a club house lawyer. He would throw his mother under the bus if he thought he could gain a edge. I actually admired Edmonds comments whe he basically said, "Hey I am Cub now, leave the Cardinal stuff alone". I said in 2000 that the Cardinals made the best free agent pick up at the time and I think he helped St. Louis to a few World Series. The more La Russa runs his hypocrtical mouth, the less I want to hear from a bone head who wears his sunglasses at night. I am just surprised the human suppository didn't have Edmonds hit last night.
Bigger question, what is wrong with Mr. Hustle, Aramis Ramirez ? He is what 0 for 30 since the White Sox series.
My blood pressure is shooting off fireworks. Whew! Great win!
As for LaRussa, head games are hopefully all he has left as surely the birds can't keep it up all year. But I think Dave Duncan is the real brains, so what do I know?