September 13, 1908: Sketchy call gives the Cubs their 7th straight win. Also, a deadly dinner party

I guess you could basically argue that for every bad call that costs your team a victory (like this one that happened to the Cubs a week ago), they are then balanced out by equally crappy calls that play in your favor and give you a win, like today's game.

Today, a highly sketchy call (or non-call really), allowed the Cubs to score three unearned runs in the top of the first. That ended up being the only scoring done by either team in the game, and the Cubs picked up their 7th win in a row by a score of 3-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Here's what happened ...

The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, and batter Harry Steinfeldt hit a ground ball to the Cards' third baseman Bobby Byrne. Byrne fired home to nail Jimmy Slagle at the plate, and catcher Charlie Moran then pivoted toward first to complete the inning-ending double play.

Unfortunately for Moran, the now forced out Slagle proceeded to crash into his elbow as he went to make the throw, causing the ball to sail into right field. I mean let's be totally objective here ... Slagle was already called out on the force, so him crashing into the catcher is blatant interference and Steinfeldt should also be out a first place. Well umpire Hank O'Day didn't see it that way (which sounds like the title of a children's book BTW).

I did a very bad job today

O'Day made no call, and the Cardinals players were understandably livid and began to immediately argue the non-call. Problem is ... nobody bothered to go get the ball before arguing, so all three Cubs runners on the bases came in to score. O'Day didn't budge on his decision, the runs stood, and no player crossed home plate the rest of the day.

Cheap win for the Cubs? Yup!

Do we care? Nope!

Orval Overall was solid on the mound as he has been for the past month, going the distance on a four hitter while striking out eight. I know Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown is a future Hall of Famer and the ace of this staff, but he hasn't been nearly as effective as Orvie during this stretch run.

If I actually threw like this I'd get crushed

In other news, this front page headline from the Tribune today about a deadly dinner party was pretty wild. Apparently a young woman by the name of Florence Osborne decided to throw a dinner party for two gentleman friends of hers who lived in the neighborhood. She prepared a lovely meal of chicken, sweet potatoes, and corn (I'm hungry now).

At that time, her neighbor called to let her know that the two of them were on their way over. She said "OK," and informed her father that she was going to run down to the basement to get the dessert. However, instead of getting dessert she decided to shoot herself and commit suicide. WTF!!!

And that's it ... no real reason, no clues, and no explanation by the Tribune. Story over. Have a nice day!

They did have a picture of Florence in case you were curious ...

I may have been a tad bit emotional

In summary, the Cubs win puts them at 83-51 on the season. Also, for the first time in this entire seven game winning streak, the Cubs managed to gain some ground on the Giants! Granted, the Giants didn't lose, they just didn't play. No matter, the Cubs are now a game and a half out of first and also move into second place over the Pirates, who did lose 3-2 to the Reds.

The Cubs pack up tonight from St. Louis and make the long trek east to play the Boston Doves for three games after tomorrow's "day off" to travel. Meanwhile the Giants have one game left with Brooklyn and then get to have their turn to beat up on the lowly Cardinals for a three game set.