On Deck: Chicago and Milwaukee

In our ever present need to cover sports first hand, XL and I are getting ready to do some road work this week. We are headed to Chicago and Milwaukee to see some baseball, but more importantly: baseball in August that counts. That's something we can't get in Baltimore these days. XL and I have been to 13 stadiums together (Oriole Park, RFK, Nationals Park, The Vet, Citizens Bank Park, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, PNC Park, Jacobs Field, Busch Stadim II, Kauffman Stadium and Tropicana Field) in addition to that, I have been to Shea and we both have been to Memorial Stadium. So, it is big for us to add three new ballparks to our list, and even bigger when one of them is Wrigley which is one of the crown jewles of baseball.

We will be updating the blog with pictures, impressions and notes about the games. We luck out a bit in getting to see 4 teams who are in the playoff hunt on this trip, even though we miss out on seeing CC Sabathia in Algonquin for the good land. Here is what we will see:

On Thursday at 2:20 central time we see Carlos Zambrano (12-5) take on Cincinnati at Wrigley. The Reds will throw Aaron Harang (3-13) and knowing the way baseball can work, they will somehow get a win in this game they should lose by 20.

Friday is a big day for us, as we will attempt the North Side/South Side double header. First up will be another game at Wrigley as Jason Marquis (8-7) will toe the rubber against the Washington Nationals. The Nats will send out another pitcher with a rubbish record in John Lannan- I don't know her name. Lannan? Lanolan? Like sheeps wool>- a lefty with a 6-12 mark. Just as soon as the Cubs game ends, XL and I will hop on the red line and head south to see the Sox take on the Rays in a possible playoff preview. For the Sox it will be John Danks (10-5) taking on Edwin Jackson (9-8).

After that long day in Chitown, we'll get up first thing on Saturday to take a bus to Milwaukee. Once we get settled in Beer Town USA we'll head to Miller Park to see Jeff Suppan (8-7) battle Pittsburgh's promising young righty Jeff Karstans (2-2).

Once the sun rises on Sunday we'll know a bit more about the crazy NL central race and have a good idea how bad the injury bug has effected Tampa. XL and I will also, undoubtedly, have gas, sleep deprivation and need of a bit of a break. That said, I'm sure we will have had a great time, and many new stories.