Cubs vs Cards tonight - pitchers on both sides often went to their mouths and visibly licked their fingers between pitches. Is it a matter of temperature? It was chilly tonight at Wrigley.
128980
It is to get a better grip on the ball for spin control.  However they should have wiped off their fingers prior ot actually touching the ball otherwise it is an illegal pitch.  It is considered an illeagal substance.
128016
Maybe NOT.  You should check other teams - Cardinals and Astros are definitely better in NL central.  Even Cubs could post better record the Brewers.  Other NL teams including Braves, Mets, Phillies (NL East), Giants and Dodgers (NL West) are all competitive for the playoffs.  Moreover, Brewers are in a very strong division, which is bad to them.
617250
This travesty is one of the few that still remain in sports today.  The league has cracked down on the changing strike zone and I know this will be worked on next year.  You are right on, though, it is a joke and a pity that they won't start making the call as it should be made as they do in all other levels of the sport!  Great question!
300933
Pitching is why the Cubs are losing. They have plenty of offense and play in an offensive haven called Wrigly field. Look at the scores of the last few days. 10-3 9-5 and 4-3, the only close game was teh 4-3. It was also the only game when the Cub's pitchers didn't get bombed. These losses were to the Padres and Giants, these are not exactly offensive powerhouse teams. \n\nMaddux is 5-3 with a good ERA. Thats one good pitcher. Looks like Zambrino has been ripped off by the relief staff, 1-2 with a 3.88 ERA means he lost a few Wins because of relief. The rest of the staff is stinking up the rotation or is batting practice for other teams. Teams win and lose by pitching. \n\nAs for Derek Lee he's not even having a great year. .318 with 3 HRs and 10 RBI aint much. It's true the Cubs are hurting for offense. When Todd Walker is playing first base you know they need some more hitting. All the hitting in the world doesn't make up for bad pitching as the Rangers have proven season after season.
663909
Didn't get to see many games this year. Though did get to see the Stro's and Cards late last year. Was kind of wierd, I was sitting outside the stadium on the rooftop looking through the glass at the game. The sound of the crowd still came though, and the silence like when Pujos blasted a homer. It was like watching him hit in a minor league stadium the ball wasn't even close to staying in the park. \n\nRefreshments were a two minute walk away, had the ledge to use for a table and tables all around. Nice breeze blowing so it wasn't real hot. Ballpark peanuts. Somehow they never taste the same anywhere you go except a ball park. \n\nThough I think my favorite game was the first time I saw Randy Johnson pitch. It was like he was handing the ball to the catcher he's so tall. The ball was in his hand one second, the next it was banging into the catchers mit, the batter looking as confused as me as to where the ball went :) Saw that game in the Astrodome. \n\nRemember as a kid watching the O's play in Baltimore. Was the first reguler season major league game I'd seen live. I'd seen exibition games, once saw Paul Molitor make an awesome leaping catch as a second basemen for the Brewers against the Dodgers in an exibition game. In that game there were at least 4 future hall of famers playing. Yount and Molitor were the two who really stuck out. Sutton didn't pitch that game but he was there, so were a couple others.
171784
I think it's when the pitcher comes in with a 3-run lead or less, or perhaps when the lead is 4 and there are runners on base. Let me check.....\n\n============================================================\nEDIT: OK, here is some info:\n\nRule 10.20 credits a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: \n(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and \n(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and \n(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: \n(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or \n(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or \n(c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.\n============================================================\n\nI guess if the reliever pitches the last 3 innings and came in up by 4 (and didn't blow the lead), then he can earn a save.
360609
GO NY YANKEES!!! i have friends that are like that to and tell them to kiss my butt and i am goin wit the NY YANKS cuz the other teams suck and i rubbed it in their face when they was the only team to make it into the playoffs this year......lol
248461
I was at the Cubs vs. Padres game today which all the cubs used them and most of the padres did, and i thought that it was a neat idea.  They all wore pink arm bands and breast cancer survivors sang the national anthem.  It was a nice touch for the MLB to do since baseball is the sport that more women watch than any other.  I liked the idea.
153345
For a Rotisserie League no doubt its Maddux. I dont have enough faith in the O's offence at this moment. The Cubs seem to me like they are going to do more in the Central this year.
570125
I agree with spring training. Get a spot at the fence where they enter and leave the field. Get there early before the game while the guys are starting to warm up, and if you know their names, call out and ask them. Be polite and don't hassle them if they say no, because then the rest will follow and you'll get nothing. Some of them won't do it no matter what, but most players are pretty cooperative.\n\nSure this may involve taking a vacation and obviously there are costs in that, but I'd rather pay for a vacation and some spring training tickets, than pay to stand in line at some meet and greet.
189420
It looks like the Cubs thought about bringing him up, but they decided their bullpen was a little worn out. Probably a good move, since you'll need a fresh pen later in the year. I imagine we'll see him before July, however.
105146
In every MLB park, except for the White Sox park (whatever it's called now) the pitcher faces in a south-west direction, they are all this direction, the exception in Chicago where the pitcher faces north-east (180 degrees from the others or "opposite") so it minimizes the 'sun factor' being in the players' (and umpires')eyes (especially the pitcher and catcher) for both during the day, and while the sun is setting at night; therefore putting his left arm "facing south", hence the south in southpaw, (obviously paw meaning hand).
65664
I don't think they do it by games, I think they do it by innings - some games take longer than others, and sometimes a pitcher may only pitch part of a game (hence the distinction between SP and RP).  Your local AD would probably have that information.
210127
THE CUBS BABY> THE FIRST EVER GAME I WENT TO WAS AT WRIGLEY FIELD WHEN I WAS SEVEN. IT WAS A BLAST AND A TIME I WILL NEVER FORGET. THIS IS THE YEAR BABY!!!!!!!
657737
well, you would want to get tix in sec 129-140 on the first base side or 104-116 on the third base side unless you have the money to get the box seats on the field or the bullpen seats but they are way expensive..if you don't get a foul ball you can buy a cubs ball at many of the vendors or in the park, and go out on clark almost to Waveland just pass the Mc Donalds where the players park and there is a fence there they sometimes come there to sign depending on the weather. I also have a friend that works for security at Wrigley...
122377
Not me.   The american players has been inactive  for the whole winter, while the caribbean teams has just recently completed  the Caribbean world series.  Venezuela was the eventual champ.   Cuba plays all year long.   Japan and\nSouth Korea probably practiced a lot under ideal temperatures.   The USA players are usually slow starters at spring training.  This time they went straight into the WBC  and the results has been a disaster.
177955
(tried sending this to ya but your contact info doesn't work?)  (and wow you really are a baseball fan! :)    lol Grimmy are you just trying to win my best answer (for asl question)? :p  lol what about a trade, i'll give you best answer for my q if you do likewise for my dancing answer haha....or for the baseball answer i just gave you - would be funny to see how the guys who gave ya a real answer to that one would respond to that lol! :D