Andy White: The Unsung Hero

What a game! While I had to listen to the game at work, I was able to catch the video of the back-to-back jacks and Soriano's walk-off hit on Mike and Mike Eric The Silliest this morning. The best part about it, they played the radio call from WGN instead of the tv feed. You know, the one where Ronny goes crazy, like always. The Silliest claimed he would only get that excited if he was rolling around naked in a pile of money. Welcome to my world! I mean the rolling around naked, not the money.

I haven't been able to post much about Andy White this week. With the return of Ojo the Unlucky from the DL, Uncle Lou has been questionably putting him in the lineup. I'm sure it's just a case of the lefty-righty matchup. Hey Lou, Andres IS a switch hitter. Unfortunately, Andy hasn't taken advantage of his few chances, as he has gone 0-8 since I called out cubbiejulie last week. Personally, I think she put a curse on him, as she hates anyone that isn't McDreamy or Harden's Ass. Now she can finally brag about Blanco being below the Mendoza Line and take another 15 minutes of her podcast ripping on players on the team she roots for. Thursday continued the struggles for Andy White, as he went 0-3 at the plate.


But it was his ability to play fundamental baseball which silently helped the Cubs win the game against the hated Meth Heads. In the bottom of the ninth, Reed Johnson, batting for Kosuke led off the inning with a single. Andy White was up next and was asked to lay down the sac bunt to move Reed over to second, which he did perfectly. Fundamentals haven't been the Cubs strong suit this year, and I don't think I have enough digits to count the number of failed sacrifices this year.

After Ojo wasted an at-bat, Soriano came through and hit the game winning bloop single. Cubs win! Go Cubs Go! Spilled beer everywhere! JDot breaks his streak of 13 losing games in person!

Congrats Andy White, without you, the Cubs couldn't have done it.

Go Andy!

Soriano to Take Andy White's Place at Second?

Lou Pinella is looking for answers, although maybe a little too late. In the ninth inning, Lou moved Soriano to 2nd base. This is very stressful, as I have shown what the Aaron Miles Effect can have on a player. Plus, Sori is the player of the month on my cursed Cubs calendar. I don't think we can afford to lose him, although at this point, punching babies or puppies is probably a better option than what Lou has done this season. There is only so much "non-coaching" he can do. Obviously fundamentals is not something the Cubs are into. It's gonna take a lot more than Andy White's awesomeness to right this ship. Moving Sori to 2nd in order to free up the outfield for another power bat? We have power bats? Let's just get it fucking done.

Go Andy!

Not Even Andy White Can Save This Parade

In a day that saw everyone hit the ball, Andres went 2-3 with a walk, a double and 2 RBI's. That of course was Tuesday, when it looked like the Cubs were turning it around. Blanco was over the Mendoza line, I could smirk in the face of cubbiejulie, and life was good. Then what happened is what I like to call, "the Aaron Miles Effect".

You see Aaron Miles is like Ojo the Munchkin. Despite his happy-go-lucky, hugging everyone (including the enemy) ways, everyone knew him as "Ojo the Unlucky". When he is told this, Ojo discovers rationalizations for this, including the fact that he was born on Friday the 13th, is left-handed, and has a wart under his arm, and he begins to believe that bad luck follows him wherever he goes.

And so Aaron Miles is back, and has infected 2nd base, which is evident in the fact that Blanco went 0-4 today with 2 strikeouts and an error, which almost cost the Cubs the game. So GFY Miles, you midget fuck. Trust me, this has nothing to do with Andy White being mediocre.

Go Andy!

Andy White Can Kick McDreamy's Ass

STFU cubbiejulie! If anyone listens to the LOHO podcast, you have noticed that julie has started a new segment in which she rips on the Andres Blanco. Way to pick out the one guy that can play his position in the infield on the team to beat up on.

Yes, we get it, you are in love with Mark DeRosa. If McDreamy was still on the team, the Cubs would be 53-1 (no one's perfect, not even Andy White). Obviously it was his clubhouse presence which led the team to the NL's best record last season and he is the ONLY reason why the Cubs aren't that good this year. OMG, he can play like every position, and his ass is so fucking spectacular!

GFY cubbiejulie! And sorry John and Steve (the writers for WAIW and guests on the LOHO podcast this week), but you can kiss my arse for agreeing with her (although one of you did point out that he has been the only reliable glove on the team, the sound quality on that shit sucks so I couldn't tell which one). But really? Blanco is just a slightly different version of Miles? Come-on! I haven't seen Blanco hugging opposing players, or striking out in big situations.

I will be the first to admit that Blanco isn't the Cubs answer for offense. And with a team that is in such a need for runs, from anyone, you need to play players that are hitting. It only makes sense. But this team is also losing almost every game in which they commit an error. Blanco has yet to commit an error and has a 97% FPCT throughout his career, and is spectacular defensively, going deep into the hole on more than one occasion to rob hitters of a base hit.

Plus, Miles is a veteran player who is on the last leg of his career, if he even had one. Sure last year he put up some decent numbers, but this year he is horrible. On the flip side, Blanco has never seen more the 90 AB in the bigs, and that was all the way back in '06. He has needed sometime to adjust to big league pitching, and his numbers have only improved since being called up.

Unfortunately, cubbiejulie will probably get her way and Blanco will be sent back down once Miles is able to return to the Cubs after his DL stint. But don't go crying in your underwire when Miles returns to his suckitude and your'e looking again for a decent 2nd baseman.

Notes: I still read and enjoy both LOHO and WAIW and I do realize that Miles is an above average 2nd baseman throughout his career. Even though cubbiejulie, John and Steve have valid points, Andy White still never played for the hated Red Birds, so I'm right, and they're wrong. Oh, and the Chicago Now Network SUCKS!

The Hits Keep Coming Like it Was Mike Brown House Party!

Andy White got his 3rd hit last night late in the game, although was stranded because the bullpen BLOWS! That's right, because of the game on Tuesday, and TRL was pitching like his usual awesome self, Lou decided to put him up to bat in the 7th inning following Andy's 2nd double for the year.

The Cubs could have used the insurance run too, as the game went into extra's for the second night in a row. Luckily the bullpen was a little more stable this time around and was able to hold onto the tie until HoffPOWER hit in the go ahead run in the 11th.

Andy was pitch-hit for in the ninth by Soto, who took a walk and later flied out after Micah's go ahead hit.

Santo really loves the kid, and I got a couple "quotes" from listening to the game. Ronny thinks Blanco "can really play" and has the right "attitude" and "fits in well" with the club. While we all know that Andy isn't tearing it up on the basepaths, he at least is making up for it in the field. A definite improvement over Miles (who is back hitting in AZ), Freel, Fontenot, Scales, or even Soriano in defense, Lou is keeping him in the lineup regularly.

Plus the kid hits from both sides, and actually hits lefty's hitting lefty better than righty.

Let's see if we can get this game in today, and maybe Andy can pick up his first Cubs Dinger!

Go Andy!