News
Chicago Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!
Published: Sep 27, 2003 - 10:36 PM
CHICAGO -- All the Chicago Cubs needed to get to the playoffs was to believe.
They had to believe in Dusty Baker, the superstar manager who led the San Francisco Giants to the World Series last year, then brought his toothpicks and jazzed style to Chicago. They had to believe all the years of losing the Cubs have endured mean nothing. And they had to believe they could win despite corked bats, collisions, controversies and too many day games.
They had to believe in Dusty Baker, the superstar manager who led the San Francisco Giants to the World Series last year, then brought his toothpicks and jazzed style to Chicago. They had to believe all the years of losing the Cubs have endured mean nothing. And they had to believe they could win despite corked bats, collisions, controversies and too many day games.
The resilient Cubs clinched the final playoff berth Saturday by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-2, to complete a doubleheader sweep and win the NL Central Division. Next up: the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
"This is the first step in a four-step process," Baker said. "This is step one and we've got three more steps to climb. They're big steps, but I think this club is capable and willing to make those steps."
Baker couldn't have scripted the day any better. By clinching Saturday, Kerry Wood (14-11), the Major League strikeout leader who was penciled to go Sunday in the regular-season finale, will open the NLDS Tuesday at Turner Field.
And by settling the division early, the Cubs could celebrate Saturday night. There was plenty of champagne sprayed on each other and on the fans.
"The whole team came through together," Sammy Sosa said. "We never gave up. We've been through so many things this year. We just stayed together and supported each other and Dusty did an unbelievable job. For us to win the division here in Chicago, is like a dream come true."
The Cubs edged the Pirates, 4-2, in the first game behind Mark Prior's 10-strikeout effort. That win, coupled with Houston's 5-2 loss to Milwaukee earlier in the day, created a 1 1/2 game lead over the Astros. The win in the second game wrapped it up.
"I was just praying things would work out," Baker said. "My son (Darren) told me we were going to win and that Matt Clement was going to win. He said, 'You're going to win the doubleheader' and I said, 'Fine with me, son.' He said, 'You guys will be in first place by the end of the day.'"
From the mouth of babes.
It's only the Cubs' fourth trip to the postseason since 1945, which was the last year they were in the World Series. Chicago won the NL East in 1984 and '89, and clinched the NL Wild Card spot in '98 after a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. And it's also the first time the Cubs have won a division title at home since Sept. 20, 1932. They also beat Pittsburgh that day.
The current players don't believe in the "lovable loser" image attached to the Cubs for so long.
"It has no bearing. That's the first thing Dusty told us," Eric Karros said. "He said you have to respect history, but it has no bearing on what happens this year. We've approached the season like that and there's no reason to change that right now. You respect it, but that's history."
"History is great," Cubs reliever Mike Remlinger said, "but we're here to make more history. We come in and respect the game and respect the history of it and the stadium, but it really has no bearing on us. That's one of the biggest things we have to get through to our fans -- feel free to believe in us. Just enjoy it. The fun is just starting."
Most of the sellout crowd of 40,121 fans attended both games, and celebrated the Cubs' completion of an amazing turnaround from a 67-95 season last year. The fans were dancing in the streets and on the brownstone rooftops in Wrigleyville.
"They were unbelieveable," Clement said of the fans. "It's great to do this for the city of Chicago. They haven't had this for so long."
Sosa gave the fans something to cheer about early when he hit a solo homer, his 40th, with two out in the first. Mark Grudzielanek highlighted a five-run second inning with a two-run single and Moises Alou added a solo homer in the eighth to support Clement and lead the Cubs to their 11th win in the last 15 games.
Sosa became the first National League player with six consecutive 40-homer seasons when he launched his blast in the first. The ball cleared the juniper bushes backdrop in straightaway center, and was his fourth in his last four games.
"It's not about how many home runs I hit," Sosa said. "It's about the team that I have. We have such a great team this year. It starts with the manager, the coaches, everybody, they give us a lot of support. Championship teams, they have that. This is the first time I've felt that I'm in the right place."
Sosa now has 539 career homers, and 510 of those have come as a Cub. He's two behind Ernie Banks, who is the team's all-time home run leader with 512.
Clement (14-12) won his career-high 14th game, giving up seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander, who is pitching despite a strained right groin, struck out six.
"My biggest motivation was that I wanted 'Woody' not to have to pitch (Sunday)," Clement said.
"I'm so blessed," Clement said. "The good Lord put me and this team together for a reason. I'm just thankful I was able to help this team win. Hopefully the fun's just begun for us."
The Cubs rattled off four consecutive singles in the second, with runs scoring on hits by Ramon Martinez and Paul Bako. After Clement sacrificed, Kenny Lofton was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Grudzielanek followed with a two-run single to chase starter Ryan Vogelsong (2-2). Grudzielanek then stole second and catcher Craig Wilson's throw sailed into center, allowing Lofton to score on the error and open a 6-0 lead.
"There was a sense of urgency after we got the big lead," Clement said. "The adrenaline was going and I was trying to calm myself down so it didn't hurt me. I was just trying to get outs and make it no different than any other game."
But this was a different game. Lofton, a key in-season acquisition, made the catch of the day with one out in the Pirates' fourth with an over-the-shoulder catch of Jason Bay's fly ball to deep center. Plays like that make a difference.
This was the Cubs' first doubleheader sweep since April 18, 2001, when they took two against Philadelphia at Wrigley Field.
"This is great. This is great for the town of Chicago," Baker said. "I got letters from people saying, 'Please don't let this be '69 or '84 or '89. It's 2003. It's a different year and time and place."
"This is the first step in a four-step process," Baker said. "This is step one and we've got three more steps to climb. They're big steps, but I think this club is capable and willing to make those steps."
Baker couldn't have scripted the day any better. By clinching Saturday, Kerry Wood (14-11), the Major League strikeout leader who was penciled to go Sunday in the regular-season finale, will open the NLDS Tuesday at Turner Field.
And by settling the division early, the Cubs could celebrate Saturday night. There was plenty of champagne sprayed on each other and on the fans.
"The whole team came through together," Sammy Sosa said. "We never gave up. We've been through so many things this year. We just stayed together and supported each other and Dusty did an unbelievable job. For us to win the division here in Chicago, is like a dream come true."
The Cubs edged the Pirates, 4-2, in the first game behind Mark Prior's 10-strikeout effort. That win, coupled with Houston's 5-2 loss to Milwaukee earlier in the day, created a 1 1/2 game lead over the Astros. The win in the second game wrapped it up.
"I was just praying things would work out," Baker said. "My son (Darren) told me we were going to win and that Matt Clement was going to win. He said, 'You're going to win the doubleheader' and I said, 'Fine with me, son.' He said, 'You guys will be in first place by the end of the day.'"
From the mouth of babes.
It's only the Cubs' fourth trip to the postseason since 1945, which was the last year they were in the World Series. Chicago won the NL East in 1984 and '89, and clinched the NL Wild Card spot in '98 after a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. And it's also the first time the Cubs have won a division title at home since Sept. 20, 1932. They also beat Pittsburgh that day.
The current players don't believe in the "lovable loser" image attached to the Cubs for so long.
"It has no bearing. That's the first thing Dusty told us," Eric Karros said. "He said you have to respect history, but it has no bearing on what happens this year. We've approached the season like that and there's no reason to change that right now. You respect it, but that's history."
"History is great," Cubs reliever Mike Remlinger said, "but we're here to make more history. We come in and respect the game and respect the history of it and the stadium, but it really has no bearing on us. That's one of the biggest things we have to get through to our fans -- feel free to believe in us. Just enjoy it. The fun is just starting."
Most of the sellout crowd of 40,121 fans attended both games, and celebrated the Cubs' completion of an amazing turnaround from a 67-95 season last year. The fans were dancing in the streets and on the brownstone rooftops in Wrigleyville.
"They were unbelieveable," Clement said of the fans. "It's great to do this for the city of Chicago. They haven't had this for so long."
Sosa gave the fans something to cheer about early when he hit a solo homer, his 40th, with two out in the first. Mark Grudzielanek highlighted a five-run second inning with a two-run single and Moises Alou added a solo homer in the eighth to support Clement and lead the Cubs to their 11th win in the last 15 games.
Sosa became the first National League player with six consecutive 40-homer seasons when he launched his blast in the first. The ball cleared the juniper bushes backdrop in straightaway center, and was his fourth in his last four games.
"It's not about how many home runs I hit," Sosa said. "It's about the team that I have. We have such a great team this year. It starts with the manager, the coaches, everybody, they give us a lot of support. Championship teams, they have that. This is the first time I've felt that I'm in the right place."
Sosa now has 539 career homers, and 510 of those have come as a Cub. He's two behind Ernie Banks, who is the team's all-time home run leader with 512.
Clement (14-12) won his career-high 14th game, giving up seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. The right-hander, who is pitching despite a strained right groin, struck out six.
"My biggest motivation was that I wanted 'Woody' not to have to pitch (Sunday)," Clement said.
"I'm so blessed," Clement said. "The good Lord put me and this team together for a reason. I'm just thankful I was able to help this team win. Hopefully the fun's just begun for us."
The Cubs rattled off four consecutive singles in the second, with runs scoring on hits by Ramon Martinez and Paul Bako. After Clement sacrificed, Kenny Lofton was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Grudzielanek followed with a two-run single to chase starter Ryan Vogelsong (2-2). Grudzielanek then stole second and catcher Craig Wilson's throw sailed into center, allowing Lofton to score on the error and open a 6-0 lead.
"There was a sense of urgency after we got the big lead," Clement said. "The adrenaline was going and I was trying to calm myself down so it didn't hurt me. I was just trying to get outs and make it no different than any other game."
But this was a different game. Lofton, a key in-season acquisition, made the catch of the day with one out in the Pirates' fourth with an over-the-shoulder catch of Jason Bay's fly ball to deep center. Plays like that make a difference.
This was the Cubs' first doubleheader sweep since April 18, 2001, when they took two against Philadelphia at Wrigley Field.
"This is great. This is great for the town of Chicago," Baker said. "I got letters from people saying, 'Please don't let this be '69 or '84 or '89. It's 2003. It's a different year and time and place."
