Game Sixteen: Cubs (9-6) vs. Pirates (7-8)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Hill (0-0, 5.00/1.56) vs. Ian Snell (2-0, 3.93/1.31)
The Cubs open a 3-game series today against those troublesome Pittsburgh Pirates. Lou Piniella's crew spoiled the first series of the year at PNC Park with a hard fought 3-game sweep of the Bucs....with the first two games totaling 27 innings. The Pirates will look to return the favor this weekend at Wrigley. After being swept by the Cubs, Pittsburgh took 3 from the Reds and then lost 2 of 3 to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Today is a big start for Rich Hill. Lou Piniella must find a way to get one of his southpaws on track. Look for 'Lou's Lineup Tinkering' to continue today as well after the less than spectacular offensive output on Thursday.
Rich Hill will make his third start of the year today and his second against the Pirates. Hill could not find the strike zone in his last outing on April 10th. He surrendered 3 runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in just 3 innings. Jon Lieber and the Cubs offense bailed him out and the Cubs completed the sweep.
Hill must throw strikes today, but most importantly a little run support and early runs from the offense might allow Hill just to pitch....instead of think too much.
Today will be Hill's 7th career start against the Pirates, he is 2-1 in his first 6 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
- Jose Bautista - 0-for-14 with 3 walks
- Jason Bay - 0-for-12 with 2 walks
- Ryan Doumit - 1-for-4 with a double
- Adam LaRoche - 2-for-7 with a double
- Nate McLouth - 1-for-2 with a double
- Nyjer Morgan - 3-for-6 with a double
- Ronny Paulino - 7-for-14 with a double and a home run
On a side note, Nate McLouth has hit safely in the Pirates first 15 games of the season. He is 3 games short of tying an All-Time Pirates' Record for the longest hitting streak to start a season....Al Oliver recorded a hit in the first 18 games of the 1972 season.
The Cubs will get their first look of the season at Ian Snell today. The Pirates very talented right-hander is undefeated and has been very good in his first three starts. Snell received a no-decision on Opening Day but has been lights out since. He beat the Marlins in Florida on April 6th and gave up just 2 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits in 6 innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks. In 18 1/3 innings this year, Snell has allowed 9 runs, 8 earned on 20 hits with 15 strikeouts and just 4 walks....almost a very impressive 4:1 ratio.
Snell is 1-4 in 8 career games, 6 starts, against the Cubs with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.... last season, 0-2 in 3 starts with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.
- Ronny Cedeno - 2-for-5 with a home run
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-3
- Derrek Lee - 6-for-18 with 3 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 7-for-20 with 4 doubles
- Ryan Theriot - 4-for-11 with a double, a triple and a walk
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Today's lineup with Eric Patterson at 2B...
Patterson - 2B
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fukudome - RF
DeRosa - LF
Soto - C
Johnson - CF
Hill - P
The Cubs have with so many average-to below average starting pitchers right now. Rich Hill,Jason Marquis, and Jon Lieber are 5th starters. The Cubs will need to score a lot of runs with them pitching. I'd like to see Kevin Hart get a chance as a starter this season. He showed his potential last year as a reliever and I think he would transition well into the starting rotation. I'd feel much better going into a game with Hart pitching then Marquis or Hill. Maybe it's just me.
i hope e pat shows up on time today. man, he could really be a player for us in the future. i am glad he is coming up with lou at the helm to keep him straight and on the right path. lets get some runs early and let richie rich pitch like he can. good luck hill!!!!! go cubs...
I really hope Hill has a quality performance today. If not, I hope we consider a plug-in of Gallagher or Samardjia while Hill works out the kinks. But again, here's hoping for a good outing today.
The Riot has the range of Vern Troyer.
The Riot has two speeds: junior higher or elderly.
Lots of runners again....
I understand your beef with the Riot, but you wanna try rooting for your players here a little man? I dont think Ive ever heard you say something Pro Cubs.
Starting to think your a Sux fan.
Well so called "junior higher" is now 2-2 with a triple and is batting .298.
Nice Job THE RIOT!!!
Patterson with a rough start...after getting 4 hits yesterday I was hoping to see Johnson at the top today.
How many guys are we going to leave in scoring position with 1 or no outs!!! Judas Priest!!
Runners left in scoring position in each of the first 3 innings...
GREAT AB DeRosa!!!!
Kosuke and DeRo!!!
That a boy DeRosa!
Geo!!!
Soto!!!
Geo!!!
Soto!!!
Ill give EPat some props. Nice hussle!
This is more like it!!!
We're underachieving with rsp's and on the mound, but we are ahead 3-1. Hopefully Hill starts throwing more strikes. Lou probably thnking it's about pen time. Keep grindin' Cubs.
JimK, Its funny that you say that...Did you see Kev Hart?
Too many balls and walks for Hill. If this was anybody but the Pirates, we would be in serious trouble.
Matt, our offense is carrying us right now. I will give props to the talented players like Fuku, D-Lee, and DeRosa that are rocking the ball right now, as well as our upgrade at catcher with Soto, but the sample size is too small to be hollering out Theriot is hitting .298. LOL.
I am pro-Cubs, just not pro-Theriot lol.
Im pro-every man on that roster. Try it sometimes. Thats all Im saying, man. I never see you get pumped when something good goes on..
You know, and I apologize for the off-the-subject matter, but I always held a bit of a grudge for the Brennaman's since Thom (I believe) was an announcer for us recently. Now I'm glad I held that grudge for so long. This was just posted recently on chicagocubs.com:
Fans at Wrigley Field traditionally throw the opposing team's home runs back onto the field, but after Adam Dunn connected Wednesday in the eighth inning, they got carried away and tossed 15 balls onto the field. Brennaman said the behavior was "obnoxious" and the type of action that "makes you want to see this Chicago Cubs team lose."
The article is actually a pretty good read after the first few paragraphs.
Weve had a few lengthy but to point conversations on out opinions about Brennaman the past couple of days. None of them were too flattering.
Johnson is on fire right now.
And Ward is Ice Cold.
Marmolade is electric.
Marmol!! Striking out the side...
WOW!! McLouth with the home run.
Man, that guy is off to a hot start.
These pirates will not go away easy, man.
Matt...No. I was looking for more Alabama players like Emeel Salem that I had in a post on the minor league report topic. I found Ryyme Hughes, a decent hitting prospect but not so good a prospect for first base.
Im familiar with Salem. Look up a guy name Ray Kruml with South Alabama. Very comparable to one of his predecessors, Juan Pierre. Lead off CF hitting around .380 with 30 SB leading off for USA. Light power but high OBP..
Id like some insurance for Kloser K.
Marmol's already put 12 innings.... 4 more than that work-horse Bob Howry... To bad opponents are hitting .441 against Howry(lefties pound him to the un-real tune of .667)
Gotta be careful with the kid...
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Pwn3d. Or whatever the hell those kids say, haha.
Cubs win.
Considering we continue to get no production from the leadoff spot, this was a nice win. Wood throws 6 pitches, all for strikes...not that's efficiency.
Cary - I agree... our lead-off spot is non-existent lately.
Let's hope we can turn it around.
One wishes Aram and Ward would start hitting and Hill would throw more than 46 strikes in 82 pitches to 20 hitters. But if you'e been following the game for a long time, you learn not to question success very much.
I'd like to see Hill throw first pitch sliders to most hitters. He controls it better than his fastball and his slider seems good enough to throw as a first pitch strike.
Just a strong rumor. But Inside the Ivy and the Cub Reporter is reporting that they have word that Matt Murton is being recalled and Patterson or Pie is going back down.
Just be on the lookout Neil and gang.
Big Murt aint in the I-Lineup either. It would be refreshing to see a Theriot-Murton-Lee lineup.
Matt, I am looking and listening. That is the only source so far.
Also, the Cardinal announcers said the said about the Cubs' fans according to a call on Kaplan's show.