**The Official 2008 MLB thread**

[RobMoney$]

Opening Day of Baseball season is one of my favorite days of the year.
I called out of work today to go to the Phillies-Nationals game. Even though the Phitin' Phils lost, it was a pretty awesome day.

Teams I'm interested in watching this year include:
Philadelphia Phillies
NY Mets
Washington Nationals
Boston Red Sox
NY Yankees
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Oakland A's
California Angels
LA Dodgers




Opening Day schedule, All times EDT.

American League:

Toronto (Halladay) @ New York (Wang) 1:05 ESPN
Kansas City (Meche) @ Detroit (Verlander) 1:05
Tampa Bay (Shields) @ Baltimore (Guthrie) 3:05
White Sox (Buehrle) @ Cleveland (Sabathia) 3:05
Texas (Millwood) @ Seattle (Bedard) 6:40
Los Angeles (Weaver) @ Minnesota (Hernandez) 7:05 ESPN2


National League:

Arizona (Webb) @ Cincinnati (Harang) 1:05
Milwaukee (Sheets) @ Chicago (Zambrano) 2:20 ESPN2
Washington (Chico) @ Philidelphia (Myers) 3:05
San Francisco (Zito) @ Los Angeles (Penny) 4:10 ESPN
New York (Santana) @ Florida (Hendrickson) 4:10
Colorado (Francis) @ St. Louis (Wainwright) 4:15
Pittsburgh (Snell) @ Atlanta (Glavine) 7:10
Houston (Oswalt) @ San Diego (Peavy) 10:05 ESPN2

[Miho]

Still have faith in my Cubs.

[Videodrome]

Hopefully the Indians can pull it off this year.

[ToucanSpam]

I've been a die hard Blue Jays fan for years...and it's really hearbreaking to know we don't have a chance because we're in such a tough division.


I predict an 86-76 season. Still no playoffs.

[RobMoney$]

Did anyone see Fatty Gagne blow that 3-0 lead yesterday for the Brew Crew? He actually got beat out by a man at fist when Gagne had to run over to cover the bag. Then he gave up a homer to Fukudome.

[bigblu89]

Yeah, apparently he's gotten so big that he's having problems keeping his jersy tucked in.

It was so bad, the ump stopped the game to make him tuck it back in.

P.S. Johan like a mofo yesterday.

[Praying Mantis]

Flash should be Flushed for the Phils. That was a pitiful performanace; even after the reigning MVP tied with a 2 run jack.

[Laver1969]

Despite the Cubs losing, it was a great game. The city is now going nuts over Fukudome. Instant crowd favorite after a debut like that.

They need to take Woody out...shoot that old horse.

Go Cubs!

[Loppfessor]

Hopefully the Indians can pull it off this year.

Hell yeah baby....The Tribe is going to the World Series this year

[QueenAdrock]

Fuck the Nationals, I'll always be an Orioles fan. People who have made the switch are TRAITORS!

Actually, I don't really care. I'll watch both. It was pretty sweet to see the Nationals crushed by the Orioles last year, though.

I miss baseball. :(

[RobMoney$]

WOW, I knew Pedro wouldn't make it through a whole season, but 57 pitches in?

HAHAhaHahahaaa....stick a fork in him.

[Videodrome]

Fuck the Nationals, I'll always be an Orioles fan. People who have made the switch are TRAITORS!

Actually, I don't really care. I'll watch both. It was pretty sweet to see the Nationals crushed by the Orioles last year, though.

I miss baseball. :(

the Nationals have that new stadium though.

[AceFace]

i'm a NATS fan!

[RobMoney$]

i'm a NADS fan!


ORLY?

[AceFace]

RLY!

[bigblu89]

WOW, I knew Pedro wouldn't make it through a whole season, but 57 pitches in?

HAHAhaHahahaaa....stick a fork in him.

Pedro in a wheelchair is still better than a healthy Tom Gordon.

[jabumbo]

fuck all of y'all and your real baseball teams!!

[RobMoney$]

Pedro in a wheelchair is still better than a healthy Tom Gordon.

I wish Pedro nothing but a quick and speedy recovery.
I want him back blowing games for the Mets as fast as possible.

[bigblu89]

I wish Pedro nothing but a quick and speedy recovery.
I want him back blowing games for the Mets as fast as possible.

He ain't Glavine.

I mean, not every team can win on 3 straight intentional walks like Philly did yesterday.

And I mean this in a good way Rob, between what I've read so far here, and in the NFL Thread, you really seem to have the demeanor that embodies all the reasons the nation can't stand fans from the Philly area.

You know, the ones that won't give a rival team props, even after they win the whole thing. make every excuse imaginable for why their team crumbles every season. Usually has more fun booing his team as opposed to cheering them.

And I love every minute of it. (y)

[RobMoney$]

He ain't Glavine.

I mean, not every team can win on 3 straight intentional walks like Philly did yesterday.

And I mean this in a good way Rob, between what I've read so far here, and in the NFL Thread, you really seem to have the demeanor that embodies all the reasons the nation can't stand fans from the Philly area.

You know, the ones that won't give a rival team props, even after they win the whole thing. make every excuse imaginable for why their team crumbles every season. Usually has more fun booing his team as opposed to cheering them.

And I love every minute of it. (y)

If I have to hear another NY fan tell me how to be a fan...

Want to see the epitome of obnoxious fans? Come to Philly for a Mets game. The Mets fans come down and act like they own the stadium. Bunch of loud, fat Italians in wife-beaters and "Piazza" Jerseys screaming "F... the Phillies" while I'm trying to watch a game with my 12yo. They've been like that since I was going to games when I was 12. That made last years' Mets collapse all the sweeter.

You know it's real easy to be a New York sports fan. You've got 2 teams in every major sport, if one fails to make the playoffs, you all just jump on the other team's bandwagon. Your city has a parade like every couple of years.
We have 1 team in all 4 major sports and the last team to win a title was the '83 Sixers. That's 25 years, or 100 sports seasons since a team from Philly was won anything.
Does that explain why we have an inferiority complex as sports fans in Philly? It's easy to be a fan of teams that win all the time, try going 100 seasons without a title and still remain a loyal fan. Then you can talk to me about being a bad fan.

There's only one reason we "Boo" any player, and that's for not trying. We've become experts in Philly of being able to tell when a player is half-assing it and not trying to win. 100 seasons man, we don't have time for slackers, we need our players to try to win on every play. Anything less will get you a one-way ticket out of town, just ask Billy Wagner and Bobby Abreu.
A lot of times when we boo, it's not necessarily the player we're booing, but more the ownership. Like when we boo Gordon, it's not because he blew another game for us, but more the fact that our cheap-ass ownership still employs Gordon and even gives him the opportunity to blow a game for us.


I read yesterday that the Yankees payroll is $209 million dollars. The next highest payroll is Detroit at $138.6 million, and the Mets came in 3rd at $138.2 million. Phillies came in at 13th with $98 million.
I'm gonna laugh my ass off when the 1st and 3rd highest paid teams both fail to even make the playoffs.

[bigblu89]

I'm not telling you how to do anything, it's just that most of your comments feed right into the stereotype of the "Philly Fan".

Now, every team has their fare share of obnoxious fans, NY probably has more than their fare share, as they have a larger fan base. BUT, the whole "Just jump to the other team if you team isn't doing well" is a load of crap. Now real, self respecting, Mets, Giants, Rangers, Knicks fan, or vice-versa wouldn't be caught dead rooting for the local rival.

Are there a few "I root for ALL NY teams" fans out there? Yes. Do real fans hate those people with a passion? Yes we do.

[jabumbo]

philly fans boo'd santa claus



/end of discussion

[RobMoney$]

philly fans boo'd santa claus



/end of discussion


I'm glad you brought this up as it's a perfect example of what I'm talking about.


We weren't "Boo-ing" Santa Claus, we were "Boo-ing" a sorry excuse for a Santa Clause.
The Eagles, in their typically cheap way, marched out a drunken, skinny Santa whose beard was falling off and whose Santa costume was pathetic.
They were boo-ing Eagles management for being soo cheap that they couldn't even afford to hire a proper Santa.

[p-branez]

the tigers have gotten off to a slow start. really slow.
but they have plenty of time to turn it around.
world series in the d this year.

[jabumbo]

you still showed bad spirit and boo'd fucking santa



or what about the time that batteries were thrown at the baseball player. or the time that they jeered at michael irvin when he suffered a career ending injury.


i mean, you had a fucking jail cell in the old vet man....

[RobMoney$]

you still showed bad spirit and boo'd fucking santa



or what about the time that batteries were thrown at the baseball player. or the time that they jeered at michael irvin when he suffered a career ending injury.


i mean, you had a fucking jail cell in the old vet man....


Stop acting like Philly is the only place to throw batteries.
It's happened in other cities.
As for Michael Irvin, I spent years watching him taunt the fans every time he caught a pass. Turnabout is fair play in my book.
Aikman also had his career ended on the Vet turf the following year and nobody boo'd him.

That courtroom was put there because of the 700 level. You didn't come into the Vet wearing another teams' Jersey back then.
I watched them beat a 14yo. up for wearing a Marshall Faulk Jersey and security threw the 14yo. out and let the Eagles fans stay.
Those idiots have been "priced out" of the new stadium.

Some towns burn cars when their teams win a championship, which is just as bad. We haven't had that opportunity and I hope it doesn't come to that when we finally do win something.

[bigblu89]

One thing you gotta give NY fans credit for, is that the fans are rather civil about winning championships. They'll brag and boast, and even poke fun at the losers, but at least we aren't violent about it.

Thousands of fans spilled into Times Square from all the surrounding bars following the Giants Superbowl win, and oddly enough, all of the "pompous, dirtbag, douchebag" Giants fans didn't turnover or set ablaze a single automobile.

Bulls win the title 6 times in 8 years, and all 6 times, the ChiTown fans felt the need to riot like abunch of Euro Soccer Hooligans.

As for Michael Irvin, I spent years watching him taunt the fans every time he caught a pass. Turnabout is fair play in my book.
Aikman also had his career ended on the Vet turf the following year and nobody boo'd him.

So, if in tomorrow's Mets-Phils game, Pat Burrell pops a hammy legging out a double, you'd have no problems with Mets fan cheering the fact that he got hurt? I mean, Burrell has shit on the Mets for close to a decade, so Turnabout's fair play, right?

[RobMoney$]

So, if in tomorrow's Mets-Phils game, Pat Burrell pops a hammy legging out a double, you'd have no problems with Mets fan cheering the fact that he got hurt? I mean, Burrell has shit on the Mets for close to a decade, so Turnabout's fair play, right?

I hate being put in a position of having to defend "The Bat" because I think he sucks, but Burrell has killed you guys on the field, fair and square.
It's not like everytime he gets a hit against you he taunts the fans while rounding the bases. He plays with good sportsmanship. He's just a Met killer.
Just like Schnieder and Church were Phillies killers with the Nats.
Tell any of your Mets buddies who didn't like that trade that Schnieder & Church will do more to beat the Phillies and win you a division than Santana will. That was a great trade on the Mets behalf IMO and if either one of them happened to get hurt I'm sure no one would boo.

Irvin taunted the fans during the game, he mocked us in our own house on more than one occassion. He was a coke-addicted, gun-weilding, classless player.
I just look at it like we got the last laugh.

[ToucanSpam]

What do people think of the Jays this year? I'm hopeful thus far.

[RobMoney$]

So do you think Willie Randolph is asking Santana if he'd consider pitching on 2 days rest right about now?

[mathcart]

You know it's real easy to be a New York sports fan. You've got 2 teams in every major sport, if one fails to make the playoffs, you all just jump on the other team's bandwagon.

Showing a stunning lack of understanding of what it means to be a sports fan- this shit doesn't happen. Now that said I no longer have an animosity toward any of the "other" sports teams in my town, but they are not my teams, and they never will be. I rooted against the giants the 2 years they won the super bowl with parcells, and the only reason I was happy the giants won this year is because of how satisfying it was as a die-hard Jets fan to see the evil patriots lose! (I now think I understand the reason it seems to be so fun to HATE my beloved Yankees).
(n)

[RobMoney$]

Showing a stunning lack of understanding of what it means to be a sports fan- this shit doesn't happen.

Of course it happens, don't be so naive.
Are you gonna tell me of the 4 million people who went to the Giants Super Bowl parade, not one Jets fan was in attendance?

I work with several NY sports fans and the Yankee fans always root for the Mets over the Phillies, the same is true for football with the Giants & Jets fans supporting each other over other teams. It's like having 2 teams.

[bigblu89]

Of course it happens, don't be so naive.
Are you gonna tell me of the 4 million people who went to the Giants Super Bowl parade, not one Jets fan was in attendance?

I work with several NY sports fans and the Yankee fans always root for the Mets over the Phillies, the same is true for football with the Giants & Jets fans supporting each other over other teams. It's like having 2 teams.

For me, my thing is this...

With the Jets, as long as they don't win the whole thing, I don't care what they do. I don't root against them, but I also don't root for them, unless they're playing someone where a win will benefit the Giants. Like when they played (and lost) to all the NFC East teams last season.

The Yankees are a little different. While I don't out and out root AGANST them, I do find a little satisfaction when I see that they did lose. But once the playoffs roll around, I just as big of a fan of the team playign the Yankees as I am of the NY Mets.

There are people out there that play the "I just root for NY" card, but True NY Sports fans have ZERO respect for those people.

[bigblu89]

And David Wright uses a Beasties song (The 30 second Mark of "In 3's" from CYH) as his "theme" when he comes up to bat.

[bigblu89]

It took the Phillies starting an invalid at Short in order to do it, but the Mets finally beat the Phils after 9 straight losses.

That Bruntlett guy has played baseball before, right? He knows the goal of the feilders is to catch the ball?

[skinnybutphat]

I hope the Mets can stay healthy enough to keep the Cubs from going anywhere.

Cubs 'fans' are some of the worst fans in all of sports and a constant pain my ass.

Nick Swisher has really impressed me in the early going. I'm so glad Santana is out of the AL.

[RobMoney$]

It took the Phillies starting an invalid at Short in order to do it, but the Mets finally beat the Phils after 9 straight losses.

That Bruntlett guy has played baseball before, right? He knows the goal of the feilders is to catch the ball?


10 total walks dude. 4 errors, 3 of which were in the infield.


You're better without Castillo in the line-up and having Pagan batting second.

[bigblu89]

Yeah, that was an ugly game.

I hate the fact that they resigned Castillo, especially to a 4 year deal.

[ToucanSpam]

A's look pretty good. Jays keep blowing games late, BJ Ryan better come back soon.

[RobMoney$]

You're better without Castillo in the line-up and having Pagan batting second.

Christ, that was right on the money wasn't it.
Pagan hitting the game winner for you in the 12th

[mathcart]

Of course it happens, don't be so naive.
Are you gonna tell me of the 4 million people who went to the Giants Super Bowl parade, not one Jets fan was in attendance?

I work with several NY sports fans and the Yankee fans always root for the Mets over the Phillies, the same is true for football with the Giants & Jets fans supporting each other over other teams. It's like having 2 teams.

Naive? Really!
As far as measuring fair weather fans by attendance at a WORLD CHAMPIONS PARADE in your own city, are you kidding? Look, those things are a fucking holiday in your town when they happen. You gonna tell me everyone who shows up at any victory parade is a die hard fan- that day is as much about celebrating your CITY as about the championship. It always has been, so didn't give me that shit that its a measure of fair weather fans or whatever.
And as for your assertion that their aren't 4 million Giants fans, again, I have to ask, really? There are 10 times that amount int the NORTHEAST alone- not to mention the number of them nationwide, they represent the largest fan base of an sports team in this country (by several million I'd wager)- so no it doesn't seem impossible that 4 million Giant fans would show up to a victory parade. But even if they didn't, so what. As I said before those things (unlike the actual games and events of a season) are about the city. And as I said before Its not like Jets fan didn't have something to celebrate too- that victory really united Jet and Giant fans in a way I have never seen.
But this is all off topic, I actually think I have grown up enough in my sports fandon to be completely turned off by people hating on other teams. Look I love when my team does well and growing up I hated the bulls, red sox, and dolphins, but I feel a little embarrassed that sports brought me there. I no longer feel the need to hate my teams opponent, or any other teams for that matter. I think its stupid. If the other local team or some random team somewhere is doing well or having a good season I am happy for their fans because I know how exciting that is, particularly after not being relevant for a while. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of unlikeable players out there, but it seems to me the are WAY outnumbered by the unlikeable asshole fans. No matter how much I may detest the actions of some spoiled millionaires off or on the playing field, I don't wish for any of the nasty things that are screamed at players of visiting teams at games. I not saying you should sit there and only give polite golf claps but it seems easy to me to be really into your team w/out having to HATE the other teams. I know this isn't exactly what people were saying but I wanted to put that out in this forum. That being said I do hate to lose to the red sox. GO YANKS!

[RobMoney$]

Naive? Really!
As far as measuring fair weather fans by attendance at a WORLD CHAMPIONS PARADE in your own city, are you kidding? Look, those things are a fucking holiday in your town when they happen. You gonna tell me everyone who shows up at any victory parade is a die hard fan- that day is as much about celebrating your CITY as about the championship. It always has been, so didn't give me that shit that its a measure of fair weather fans or whatever.



You're actually making my point for me.
As a New York fan, you have twice as many opportunities as anyone else to have that "Holiday" being you have two teams in every sport. And I couldn't agree with you more, it is about celebrating your city and you have twice as many opportunities to do that. We haven't had that "Holiday" in Philly in 25 years.
New York has it all the time and that's why people in other towns hate NY so much. The Giants weren't even supposed to make the playoffs, Coughlin should have been fired years ago.


And as for your assertion that their aren't 4 million Giants fans, again, I have to ask, really? There are 10 times that amount int the NORTHEAST alone- not to mention the number of them nationwide, they represent the largest fan base of an sports team in this country (by several million I'd wager)- so no it doesn't seem impossible that 4 million Giant fans would show up to a victory parade. But even if they didn't, so what. As I said before those things (unlike the actual games and events of a season) are about the city. And as I said before Its not like Jets fan didn't have something to celebrate too- that victory really united Jet and Giant fans in a way I have never seen.

So again we seem to agree that Jets and Giant fans alike celebrate when either of them win, right?
And I didn't say there weren't 4 million Giant fans, I said of the 4 million that showed up to the parade, I'm sure all weren't die-hard Giant fans. I'm sure there were plenty of Jets fans who got to enjoy the "Holiday", even if it was just peripherally. It's better than not at all.
After 25 years a city starts to get an inferiority complex, and it's not the players as much as we boo the comotosed ownership most of the time. I want my 13yo. son to be able to expierence that "Holiday" as a kid, and a fan of his team. It was one of the highlights of my childhood, rooting for, and getting to see my team win a championship. I hold the ownership responsible for depriving my kid that expierence when they're too cheap to do what it takes to win. Seeing him expierence nothing but dissappointment year after year will give you a salty disposition after a while.


But this is all off topic, I actually think I have grown up enough in my sports fandon to be completely turned off by people hating on other teams. Look I love when my team does well and growing up I hated the bulls, red sox, and dolphins, but I feel a little embarrassed that sports brought me there. I no longer feel the need to hate my teams opponent, or any other teams for that matter. I think its stupid. If the other local team or some random team somewhere is doing well or having a good season I am happy for their fans because I know how exciting that is, particularly after not being relevant for a while. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of unlikeable players out there, but it seems to me the are WAY outnumbered by the unlikeable asshole fans. No matter how much I may detest the actions of some spoiled millionaires off or on the playing field, I don't wish for any of the nasty things that are screamed at players of visiting teams at games. I not saying you should sit there and only give polite golf claps but it seems easy to me to be really into your team w/out having to HATE the other teams. I know this isn't exactly what people were saying but I wanted to put that out in this forum. That being said I do hate to lose to the red sox. GO YANKS!


Yeah, GO YANKS! (http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10773677)

[mathcart]

ty complex, and it's not the players as much as we boo the comotosed ownership most of the time. I want my 13yo. son to be able to expierence that "Holiday" as a kid, and a fan of his team. It was one of the highlights of my childhood, rooting for, and getting to see my team win a championship. I hold the ownership responsible for depriving my kid that expierence when they're too cheap to do what it takes to win. Seeing him expierence nothing but dissappointment year after year will give you a salty disposition after a while.

Yeah, GO YANKS! (http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10773677)

No doubt on the salty disposition angle. I do hope Philly gets one of these holidays sooner than later Rob- it' s a little depressing nationally I think.

As for that last link, talk to me after the Sox have won 24 more championships then we'll talk, I'm not the least bit worried by what I'm sure is a hoax.
:p

[mathcart]

Yeah, GO YANKS! (http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10773677)

Crisis adverted (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3344825)!
:)

[RobMoney$]

"I hope his co-workers kick the [expletive] out of him," Yankees co-chairperson Hal Steinbrenner said.



...and I hope the construction worker sues Hal's ass off for that comment.

[Burnout18]

Of course it happens, don't be so naive.
Are you gonna tell me of the 4 million people who went to the Giants Super Bowl parade, not one Jets fan was in attendance?

I work with several NY sports fans and the Yankee fans always root for the Mets over the Phillies, the same is true for football with the Giants & Jets fans supporting each other over other teams. It's like having 2 teams.

The only Jets fans at that parade were the poor souls trying to get to work. Man, can you imagine a parade in your city for a team you don't like?

Did you ever think for one second, maybe, just maybe your Yankee fans Root for the Mets only because they are playing the Phillies?

Personally, as a Yankee fan, I really don't give two shits about the Mets, and thought thier collapse last season was pretty funny, and I enjoyed laughing at the Mets fans i know. So no, i am not a Mets fan, buy Mets team gear, or even ever been to Shea. Very few assholes have two teams.

Speaking of rooting for two teams, why the fuck do all the Phillies fans i know root for the Red Sox like they are the hometown team? In fact last time I was in Philly I saw multiple assholes wearing red sox shirts. I guess it is that anti-new york thing.

Oh btw you were wrong about Spags going to coach the redskins...

[Burnout18]

If I have to hear another NY fan tell me how to be a fan...

Want to see the epitome of obnoxious fans? Come to Philly for a Mets game. The Mets fans come down and act like they own the stadium. Bunch of loud, fat Italians in wife-beaters and "Piazza" Jerseys screaming "F... the Phillies" while I'm trying to watch a game with my 12yo. They've been like that since I was going to games when I was 12. That made last years' Mets collapse all the sweeter.


Want to see the epitome of obnoxious fans? Come to an Eagles game wearing Giants gear,,, see what people yell at you and your kids then. Ever hear the story about how a 17 year old kid in a giants jersey was beaten up while leaving "The Link" after the eagles collapse at home in 2006 (Game ends on Eli to Burress... sign of things to come). Ha, even this year during the Giants-Eagles game, Moose Johnston commented on how fans were still yelling shit at him even after all these years....

And amazing how in one thread you go off on "fat Italians in wife beaters" but in another thread you say you hate obama because of his bigotry.

[RobMoney$]

Want to bid on the cursed Ortiz Jersey?

BID HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120248650648&tr=y&auid=3582588) EBAY.

[bigblu89]

Once again, nothing but class shown by the fans at "The Bank" last night.

Cheering when Jose Reyes almost knocked himself unconscious on Utley's knee, then cheering when he was alright.

And once again, Johan like a mofo last night.

[RobMoney$]

Yeah, our lineup is in shambles right now due to injury.
Johan looked real nice, but that's the first time they faced him so I kind of expected him to do well. They even started getting to him in the later innings so I'm sure the next time we face him he won't strike out 10.

Maybe if Reyes wouldn't dance around the dugout for five minutes after hitting a Homer we wouldn't boo him getting an Utley knee to the forehead. To get respect you have to first give respect.
Reyes, like Michael Irvin, plays with no respect for his opponent. Don't taunt us and we won't taunt you.

Also, "The Bank" is purely an ESPN nickname. No one here is that corny.

[bigblu89]

Is a creative high five any worse than pointing to the heavens while stepping on home plate, or pulling a Jimmy Rollins and spitting in the direction of the Mets bullpen, like he did after hitting a 3-run homer of Heilman to give the Phils a lead late last season?

I personally don't consider it taunting if you're near or in your dugout. And it's not like he's directing it at the opponents or the fans.

But that's just me, because I'd probably be pissing and moaning about it as well if Reyes wasn't a Met.

Either way, it's nice to see the Mets take another series off the Phils. But as we found out last year, (or with the NY Giants a few weeks ago;)) it's not how you start the season, it's how you finish.

[Miho]

Chicago Cubs v. Arizona Diamondbacks; 7-2, Cubs win! Kosuke Fukudome's homer was classic.