I always seem to hit the worst of Chicago’s traffic at critical, frustrating times in the Cubs game I’m then listening to. Today, it was the top of the 7th, as the Cardinals (apparently) got some favorable calls at the wrong time for Jake Arrieta, and then dinked and dunked their way into a couple runs, knocking Arrieta out of the game. The Cardinals had the tying run on second base when my screams and steering wheel pounding became too much for me to continue safely. I turned the radio off until I’d reached my final destination … just in time to hear Anthony Rizzo send one out the opposite way into the teeth of the wind. So that was cool.
Of course, by the time I got up to a TV, I watched Neil Ramirez serve up a meatball two-run shot to Mark Reynolds, forcing Joe Maddon to burn Jason Motte in the first game of a doubleheader in which the Cubs had been up by five runs. Even when the Cubs beat the Cardinals, there’s still just a little in there to frustrate you.
However, come on! It’s a win over the Cardinals, something that’s been in short supply this year. Enjoy it!