Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Baseball season is winding down its steaming summer days and clutching October with the corner of the eye. Teams are making their final roster adjustments as they prepare for a plethora of September call-ups. Arms are sore and injuries linger. At this point in the season, you are either already thinking about next season, or you are one of the few at the pinnacle of the playoff race. The Chicago Cubs know that now is the time to arrive.
The Cubs came into the 2009 season with thoughts of a division title. While the Albert Pujols led Cardinals (congratulations to John Smoltz with a chip on his shoulder) seem to have a different vision year after year, the Cubs had a threatening nucleus to look forward to. Manager Lou Piniella showcased a lineup with Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome, last year’s NL Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto, and newly acquired Milton Bradley as the core. The Cubs looked primed for a much needed trip to the postseason.
Now, as we head into the last month of the regular season, Soriano is hitting .243, Soto an abysmal .212, and Fukudome .274. Is Fukudome really supposed to be hitting .274? Ramirez’s season was injury plagued and Bradley has been mediocre. Alas, the Cubs find themselves trailing the Cardinals in the division and the Rockies and Giants for the wild card.
“They don’t realize how tired you get during a baseball season,” Piniella once said.
The pitching staff has done its job, but if no one other than Derrek Lee or top shelf prospect Jake Fox can swing a big stick, the Cubbies will be getting ready to hibernate early this fall.
Music from the vaults
What would house music sound like on Mars? Perhaps the Beta Band had something like that in mind when forming 1998’s “The Three E.P.’s.” The title is accurate, as the album is divided into swerving layers of psychedelia, indie-pop/folk, funk, soul and trip-hop. The first track, “Dry the Rain,” starts slowly with the branding lyrics, “this is the definition of my life” and pours into an onslaught of horns and battering bass lines. “Monolith” is a trippy, sixteen minute kaleidoscope of varying samples and “Dr. Baker” is a measured drama with menacing keys. Find this album, bob your head to it like John Cusack did in “High Fidelity” and enjoy.
— — Edited by Anna Kathagnarath
Sarraf: New season brings many questions
Can the Royals turn it around? Will Bonds break the home run ...
Shroyer: Past year holds memorable MLB highlights
From record-breaking home runs to record-breaking losses, 2007 has been a year ...
Morning Brew: A tough time for sports ...
Morning Brew: MLB lacking satisfaction
This season’s injuries and lackluster performances have been disappointing.
Dwyer: Power bats must produce for Kansas ...
With focus and renewed rhythm, the Jayhawks could see postseason play.
Ramirez’s drive helps push softball team
The senior infielder has been called the “heart and soul” of the ...
Morning Brew: Managers choose pitching, defense over ...
Efficient defense and accurate pitching has been favored even over the best ...
Brew: A look at the upcoming MLB ...
C.J. Matson looks at Albert Pujols' effect, the revamped Marlins and the ...
Coach starts small to dream big
Coach Ritch Price reflects on his experiences throughout the years that led ...
Morning Brew: Bronx Bombers are truly MLB’s ...
The Nielsen Company’s conclusion that the Cleveland Indians are the most-hated MLB ...
Big 12 baseball season looks bright
Weather can't stop the start of the Jayhawks' new season.
Baseball heads to Stanford for series
The Kansas baseball team heads west to take on Stanford. The Jayhawks ...
Morning Brew: Taking a swing at MLB ...
The Kansan steps into the batter’s box as America readies for opening ...
Music Reviews
Hall leads new starting rotation for Jayhawks
Left-hand pitcher likely to be an important player this season
Montemayor: Dire straits in the next week ...
Breckunitch: Showing off this week’s best and ...
These musicals and showtunes reflect how teams in the NFL performed this ...
Last minute Fantasy Football advice
Columnist Kelly Breckunitch provides insight before the first weekend of NFL football. ...
Brew: baseball fans should enjoy the next ...
Although the Big 12 realignment has caused a headache, there's at least ...
Morning Brew: Failed freebies hurt team
Missing free throws could cost the Jayhawks the NCAA tournament.
Jorgensen: Royals give fans no hope
For most, the start of the baseball season is an exciting time. ...
Slugger in the spotlight
Junior third baseman Tony Thompson leads by example.
Fall Sports Wrap-Up
Each KU fall sport team had its ups and downs this season. ...
Brew: Braves blow chances of postseason
The Brew’s take on Atlanta dropping the ball
Kealing: Royals are asset to community
When money is tight, sometimes it is hard to find something fun ...
Morning Brew: How other unfortunate teams overcame
Other football teams that just can’t seem to get it together, and ...
Brew: American League loaded at first-base position
Jonathan Rosa lists first basemen that he predicts will be All-Star contenders.
Former KU baseball player tears his shoulder ...
Music review: The Mountain Goats
KJHK’s weekly guide to sonic consumption.
Tigers shoot for North Division Title
Missouri started 6-0 last season but dropped five of their next seven ...
Five Kansas baseball players get drafted
All five Jayhawks will head to the major leagues, but Freeman made ...
Morning Brew: Another sport Americans can watch
Szefc joins baseball team as assistant, third-base ...
Baseball team hopes to repeat 2006 success
The team will depend on experience and pitching for wins.
Gore finally breaks out in week 12
Fantasy owners had been wondering what happened to Chad Johnson, Frank Gore, ...
Morning Brew: Why root for the Saints?
There ain't no question about it-The New Orleans Saints deserve a Super ...
Kansas baseball hopes to improve for the ...
The Jayhawk baseball team hasn’t started a season at 2-4 since 1999. ...
Team hopes bats heat up in Arizona
Four games highlight baseball team’s weekend in the Peoria Spring Training Classic.
Brew: Don't forget baseball come fall
Though football is kicking into high gear, baseball still has some excitement ...
Morning Brew: Pitching key to success
Depth in the baseball team’s pitching staff looks promising for this season.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID