The Cubs couldn’t quite muster enough offense today. Jeff Samardzija was decent, save for a two-run homer to Paul Konerko in the first, and then hitting Konerko in the face later in the game (unintentionally). He also gave up the game-winning run.
Kerry Wood walked away from the mound on top – he struck out the only man he saw today. Seeing his son dash out of the dugout to meet Kerry as he strolled off the field one last time … it’s ok to have been a little choked up.
A moment to grouse:
The Cubs might have been in business when David DeJesus hit a gapper in the 5th. He reached second as the throw came in, and he slid in safely. As Gordon Beckham turned to tag DeJesus, Beckham hurled his whole body into DeJesus, knocking him off the base, and the umpire called DeJesus out. It was absurd. Dale Sveum came out to argue – he was really riled up – and was quickly ejected. The umpire, I can only assume Beckham’s maneuver was unintentional, and that somehow made a difference.
It’s a shame, but there doesn’t seem to be a great rule in the MLB Rule Book that says clearly “you can’t push a guy off of a base.” But, obviously, you can’t push a guy off of a base. The closest approximation is Rule 7.06 on Obstruction, which could have been called. If it were, DeJesus would have been awarded third base. As it was, the umpire made a snap interpretation – one that common sense screams was wrong – and the Cubs were screwed out of a great chance for a run.
But forget all that. Today was special.