Strike 'em out, throw 'em out, blow 'em out

The Chicago Cubs were being blown out by the Yankees in last night’s game at Wrigley Field.  Because of heavy use in recent games, the Cubs’ bull pen was pretty much worn out, so Manager Joe Maddon, a bit of a quirky guy anyway, decided to save their arms and sent catcher Miguel Montero to the mound in the top of the ninth inning.

Montero walked two batters but threw a scoreless inning. The Cubs lost 11 to 6.

It reminded me of a game played on the Fourth of July 1977 in which the Cubs were being creamed by the Montreal Expos.

A Cubs outfielder named Larry Biittner, who had pitched a couple times in the minors, had been lobbying Manager Herman Franks for a chance to pitch. With the score 11 to 2, Franks gave Biittner his opportunity in the eighth inning.

I watched that game on television, and I will always remember it, but not for Biittner's performance as a pitcher. What I remember particularly about it is that while Biittner was on the mound, some imaginative member of the WGN-TV crew put a graphic up on the screen that said:

BIITTNER PIITTCHING

That’s the only reason I remember that game. I generally like to forget games the Cubs lose 19 to 3.