Game 3---Cubs 8 Cardinals 4

Product---Jumbo Hot Dogs
Temperature---43 degrees (night game)

Scene I
Bottom of the fourth, Cards up two-zip. Barrett and Ramirez are on base, with the hitless Jacque Jones at the dish. Ponson is really working him, but Jones stays alive, fouling off a couple of pitches. Finally, the count reaches three and two.
I’m walking along the first base line, somewhat trying to sell my final two dogs in the load, but mostly trying to follow the action. I bump into a fellow vendor, whose face I recognize but don’t really know his name. We each stop walking and glance towards the field.
“This is huge” I comment. He responds, “He’ll strike out.”
Pitch is thrown, and before we know it, the ball is ‘Gone’ like Kanye and Cam’ron. The crowd goes crazy, I’m pumped, high fiving anyone I see wearing blue. My fellow vendor, he just puts his head down and walks down the next aisle.

Scene II
Now it’s the eight, and the Cubs haven’t scored since Jones’ blast. Puljos’ fifth inning RBI single gave the Redbirds a four-three advantage. I’ve sold my last hot dog of the night, and I’m on my way to the commissary to check out and head home. I see Walker’s on first with D-Lee walking up to the plate. I decide to stall and stay on the field level to watch Lee’s AB. Ball, passed ball, Walker to second, ball, ball. Now we have two on for Aramis. Still nobody out. I decide to make a run for it. I sprint towards the com, quickly check out, and emerge in the right field concourse. About seven workers, either fellow vendors or the guys who work in the com making the food, are huddled around the TV. I see Barrett’s now up, bases packed, still no outs. He fouls off a couple pitches, then takes ball three that was oh so close to being strike three. One guy plays Joe Morgan in this situation and analyses that we’d gladly trade two outs for a run, especially since we’d still have a runner on third. Next pitch to Barrett, and before we see it on the screen, the sound of extreme yelling can be heard. As they play unfolds on ESPN, we see what all the yelling is about. Barrett cranks one out to Waveland, clearing the sacks and giving the Cubbies a 7-4 lead. Again, high fiving all around, and the chant of “SWEEP” begins. My time is done, and I leave Wrigley, smile on my face, win in the bag.

Observations:
As a Bears fan, I am concerned. Rex Grossman, who I have been a big fan of since his days as a Florida Gator, threw out the opening pitch. I was at the Bear-Falcon game when Rex returned, and I know what he can do tossing around the pigskin. But this opening pitch scared me. Rex flung this thing about as hard as possible, and the ball finally reached the ground after it ricocheted off of the net 10 feet behind the plate, about 15 feet high of the catcher. If Rex can’t hit a receiver who is sitting still, how will he be able to hit Mark Bradley (He’ll be a star in year 2) over the middle when ______ (Insert opposing NFC North Pro Bowl defensive player here, I can’t think of one off the top of my head) is rushing him? Kyle and Brian, better get loose now…I saw Peter Gammons roaming the stadium last night. I didn’t have the courage to approach him, but I would love to sit down with that guy and just talk baseball and journalism…Business was amazing all weekend, and last night was no different. I did five loads of jumbos, which at $20 a load, equals 100 bucks in commission. Tips were also pretty good, providing me in an extra $72.75…Good to see that Hendry read my letter and gave Derek Lee the extension he deserves. Put down five years, 65 million, and I’ll sign wherever you need me to…The Cubs are now 1-0 when my best friend Brian is field-side in his section 109 seats…Wow, we just swept the Cardinals. Everybody said that the White Sox won their division in April and May, and this is a great start if we look to do the same.