Miller Park is probably my favorite park after Wrigs. I'm sure a big part of that is how much I love the Brewers, but seeing the Cubs play there is always a treat. There is always an air of rivalry, even though it's pretty half-hearted.
Angela and I came with our signs, and someone on the field took this picture and put it on the Cubs tumblr account.
Little tip for all you little kids (even at heart) out there: it's a lot easier to meet your favorite baseball player when they're on the road. There will be some players that will never come over and say hi, even if you traveled to the moon for them, but many of them appreciate the effort. Miller Park is one of those parks that you can get right next to the visitor dugout. Since the Cubs players had seen Angela and me at so many games already, they knew we were real fans and many of them came over during the series.
First came Adrian Cardenas.
Here's a close-up of Adrian's beautiful eyes.
A newly-healed Steve Clevenger came over to say hi. He was so, so happy, and I commented on his exuberance. He said, "Alex, why be miserable?" Those words resounded in my mind and heart the rest of the season. There is something about Steve, no matter how rough it got for him, the ups and downs of his health and his batting average, that was rooted deeply in an optimism I couldn't understand. At this point, with Soto and Castillo injured, he was clearly their go-to catcher. Things were going well. David Kaplan openly said he should be our everyday catcher, and many other sports experts agreed. A broadcaster in Milwaukee referred to him as a "throwback" catcher, a catcher who played hard offensively and defensively. Dale Sveum said he was the best backup catcher in baseball and perhaps the best catcher on the Cubs. He was clearly a guy who was at the perfect point of getting a chance at the big time.
But for how long? That is what I worried about for him. How long before pitchers figured him out? How long before the mental side of baseball kicked in and he was thrown off his game by a few raucous opposing fans, or the fairweather Chicago fans? That smile would probably fade.
Back to this day, though...he posed for these astounding photos. And he looked so happy to see us! You would have thought we were his grandparents flying in from Baltimore for a surprise. He made us feel so important. He was good at that.
Joe Mather and me.
Starting lineups
Some dugout time
At Miller Park, the visitor's bullpen is located right under the right-center field bleachers. You can get super close and talk to the players.
Ryan Dempster was pitching today.He had pitched quite well, with a great ERA, I think under 2, but he had gone 18 straight starts without a win, thanks in large part to the Cubs bullpen blowing his leads and a lack of hitting. Also, the Cubs had an 11-game winless road streak. And now I'm going to give away the ending-Dempster pitched a perfect game into the sixth inning and did not allow a run. Stud. But pretend you don't know that because I am going to tell you the whole story.
Finally game time.
Good old Lester Strode.
First inning, Castro singled.
Ryan Braun was back in the lineup after an injury. I love him.
David DeJesus walked.
Then Soriano homered, giving the Cubs an early three run lead.
We were sitting in the right field bleachers near David DeJesus.
Here's Ryan Braun in the first. He didn't do anything but I just wanted to show you.
Angela and I show off some of our signs.
Stud.
Here's Ryan Braun again.
Poor Gallardo.
The fastest man alive, Tony Campana, reached on an infield single in the fifth. He would not be picked off. Too fast.
In fact, Campana is so fast that you can't even see him going to third on a little Castro single.
Furthermore, on a DeJesus sacrifice to the pitcher, Campana scored. This guy is seriously such a beast on wheels. Here are some Cubs enjoying our 5-0 lead.
The sausage race commenced in between the top and bottom of the sixth inning. Another reason to go to Miller Park. You need to see this.
In the seventh, Ryan Braun doubled. He is so good at baseball. But he was left on base.
I don't know what they were looking at, but I bet it was amazing.
This controversial call came in the top of the eighth. Castro had doubled, but was then called out at third on a DeJesus fielder's choice, meanwhile DeJesus reaching second. I think Dale was unhappy with Castro being called out. But the call stood.
DeJesus then reached third on a wild pitch by now-pitcher Manny Parra. Soriano was intentionally walked. Then The Clev singled, driving in DeJesus. Cubs up 6-0.
The Clev scared off the pitcher so Tim Dillard came in to relieve, and the outfielders had a great time.
Then Darwin Barney singled, driving in Soriano and moving The Clev to third.
Ian Stewart was intentionally walked.
Darwin Barney, who had advanced to second on a throw earlier, waits patiently as Dillard gets pitching tips.
Her favorite/
There were tons of Cubs fans at the game, including this Tyler Colvin fan. I miss Tyler.
Anyway, with the bases loaded, Adrian Cardenas (batting for Dempster) walked, driving home The Clev. The Cubs ended the eighth inning up 8-0. As a Cubs fan, I was so happy. I didn't get to enjoy this very often.
Shawn Camp was in to relieve a flawless Dempster in the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, my favorite truck driver Cory Hart came in to right field. He's usually on first these days.
I want to talk about these boys, James Russell and Randy Wells. I would like to comment on their lives, getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to put their feet up in the bullpen and pitch an inning every week or so. I think it's fine. Other people don't.
David DeJesus walked. Then Jeff Baker hit a home-run. Cubs are up 10-0. Here's Bryan LaHomer just because I like him.
Here's Ryan Braun grounding out in the bottom of the ninth.
Here's Jairo Ascencio's debut for the Cubs in the ninth. Maybe it wasn't his debut, but I'd never seen him play before.
Cubs win 10-0!!!!!!!!!
A couple of happy Cubs fans.
We left, excited to come back tomorrow.
All my photos from this day can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150891485988786.415909.511233785&type=3
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