Chicago

A few random shots of Chicago... the Biograph Theatre on Lincoln where the FBI got John Dillinger is still standing. Even more tourists can be seen snapping shots of the place that ever before since "Public Enemies" hit the screen. Other shots include the Jack Brickhouse statue across the street from the Wrigley Building and next to the Chicago Tribune downtown. Brickhouse was the long time sports voice of the Cubs, White Sox and Bears during his long career. He was the first of the Peoria sportscasters that went on the bigger things. The list included Jack, Vince Lloyd, Jack Quinlan, Phil Samp, Bob Starr, Chick Hearn, Bob King..yours truly and the long time voice of the Florida Gators, Mick Hubert. All except Hubert worked as major league play by play announcers in baseball, basketball or football.

The "American Gothic"is also located in that same area. (Harry Caray has a statue outside Wrigley Field.)

Also pictured is the Chicago River from the Michigan Avenue bridge.

I have left off any shots from Wrigley Field for reasons based on what went on there this week. The Astros play--mainly the pitching made it too far an ugly picture.

I was going to ignore the game Thursday, but it seems everyone was at fault almost. Cecil Cooper for making strange managerial calls early in the game. First having a position player, Jeff Keppinger sacrifice in the 2nd inning when light hitting Humberto Quintero and pitcher Russ Ortiz coming up. The Cubs were unimpressed. They were going right after Quintero, but a pitch by Kevin Hart got away and hit him loading the bases for Ortiz who promptly bounced into an inning ending double play. No way of knowing what Keppinger would have done had he not bunted, but giving away an out early with a position player is very questionable.

The second decision came in the bottom of the inning when with one out and runners on 2nd and third the Astros elected to intentionally walk light hitting catcher Koyie Hill (.206) to set up a double play with light hitting pitcher Kevin Hart coming up. Hart was retired, but not on a double play so the Astros had to face Kosuke Fukudome with the bases loaded. The end was in sight when Fukudome singled in two runs to take the lead. Before the inning was over the Cubs had scored four.

So, while it is legitimate to question Cecil Cooper for those moves we can't forget it was the team that failed to pitch or execute the rest of the game. Ortiz was absolutely awful and Tim Byrdak had to be pushed longer than desired due to the condition of the bullpen that has been practically wiped out by the horrid work by the Astro starters. Well, horrid in three and injured in the other.

That is why we show pictures of Chicago and none at the ballpark. Wrigley Field--as beautiful as it is-was a house of horrors for the Astros this week.

THE TRIP CONTINUES

The Astros move into St. Louis for a weekend series starting Friday at 6:30 with Astros Live Pregame on FS Houston. Saturday and Sunday games will both be aired on KTXH-TV20 and not on Fox Sports Houston. During Astros pregame on Friday we expect to feature a conversatin with new Astro Bud Norris as part of the show.