Game Eight: Cubs (4-3) vs. Pirates (3-4)
Game Time - 6:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Ryan Dempster (1-0, 1.50/0.83) vs. Zach Duke (0-0, 3.18/1.94)
Updated - 4:14pm C.T. - Carmen Pignatiello Optioned - Sean Marshall Recalled
According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs have optioned Carmen Pignatiello to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Sean Marshall to take his place in the pen.
Lou Piniella's crew returns to action tonight against those dangerous Bucs after pulling out a win in the 12-inning, 4 hour 47 minute marathon on Monday. Tuesday ended up being a well-timed day off for the Cubs with the fact Piniella ended up playing a majority of his roster....and using all but Kerry Wood in the pen.
The Cubs play their first game of the year under the lights tonight at PNC Park. The sloppy play over the first week of the season is cause for concern, but today is a new day. And as bad as the Cubs have played at times, they are still a game over .500 and have won 3 straight.
Ryan Dempster will make his second start of the year and will look to prove his first outing was no fluke. Dempster picked up an impressive win against the Brewers last Thursday. He held Milwaukee to just 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts in 6 innings.
Dempster is 3-7 with 9 saves in 37 career games, 12 starts, against the Pirates with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Last year.... 1 save in 5 games with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP; at PNC, Dempster allowed only 1 earned run in 2 1/3 innings (2 games, 3.86 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP).
- Ryan Doumit - 2-for-4
- Chris Gomez - 5-for-13 with a double and a triple
- Nate McLouth - 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 walks
- Xavier Nady - 4-for-8 with 2 home runs
The Cubs' offense will face another challenge tonight in Zach Duke. He received a no decision in his first start of the season against the Braves last Thursday. Duke allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, on 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings. The Cubs were able to knock around the very talented southpaw a year ago, but he was hurt. All reports have indicated Duke is healthy this season and a healthy Zach Duke has dominated the Cubs in the past.
Even with his health problems last season, Duke is 4-2 in 8 career starts versus the Cubs with a complete game shutout....a 2.10 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Last year Duke was 0-1 against the Cubs in 2 starts (7 runs, 6 earned, on 17 hits in 10 2/3 innings) with a 5.06 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP. However, in 2006....2-1 with a complete game shutout in 4 starts with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.
- Ronny Cedeno - 7-for-16
- Mark DeRosa - 0-for-6
- Derrek Lee - 8-for-20 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Aramis Ramirez - 7-for-21 with 4 doubles and a home run
- Alfonso Soriano - 5-for-11 with a double, a home run and 2 walks
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-12 with 2 walks
Reports late last week indicated Piniella would hit Kosuke Fukudome behind Alfonso Soriano in Wednesday night's game but after Monday's marathon, Piniella said Fukudome would continue to hit behind Aramis Ramirez.
From the Newsroom
According to a report in the Sun-Times, Scott Eyre's return has been delayed and was shut down for the past week due to "persistent discomfort in his elbow." The report indicated Eyre was scheduled to start throwing again on Tuesday.
The Sun-Times mentioned the Cubs could turn to Sean Marshall to be their left-handed option out of the pen. Marshall threw 3 no-hit innings in his first start of the year with the I-Cubs last week.
CCO Site News
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I see Soriano showing his good stuff tonight--home run and a double.
It's Time to Deal! The Indians left fielders are 1 for 25 and Borowski is having a Lilly start (He can't get over 85 on the radar gun. There back up catching is iffy. They have left handed pitchers out the wazoo. Our lefty pitching is iffy.
The deal: Murton, Fox, and Petrick or Roquet for lefties Aaron Laffey (23), Reid Santos (25) and a good position player prospect. Laffey pitched well in the bigs at the end of '07 and is doing well at AAA. He starts or relieves and is called a ground ball machine. Santos's line at AA Akron in '07 was 8-3, 2.72 and 1.99 in relief. Laffey will help us right now.
Today's Lineup:
Soriano - LF
Johnson - CF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fukudome - RF
DeRosa - 2B
Soto - C
Cedeno - SS
Dempster - P
What is the current status on Lahey? The Phils dropped him last week, so I assume he heads back to the Twins? If so, perhaps he can be the PTBNL from last off season (though I can't recall who that was for).
Mark I have not seen where Lahey ended up. I thought he would end up being the PTBNL as well...it was the Craig Monroe deal.
It's a shame to see such a short leash on Piggy. I think we should give him another shot, because, as I've said before, I think it is important to keep Marshal throwing every 5 days, because Lieber isn't anymore. There goes our immediate starting pitching depth. Wonderful.
Anyways, here's to getting 7 runs early and HOLDING THE LEAD tonight!
is this game on an HD channel? i have comcast and only see it on channel 10 which is not HD. Anybody know?
guess not... it's a bad night to have a HD tv.
check that, i found it... MOJOHD has it on and it looks great (channel 174 on Comcast)!
Cliff, according to Comcastsportsnet.com, Comcast SportsNet Plus HD telecasts on Comcast channel 174
Quick question for you guys in Chicago...I am from Wisconsin and go to the University of Minnesota so whenever a game is on CSN it is blacked out therefore i purchased mlbtv for my computer and it works great for the price and allows me to catch all the games. But i was just wondering what the difference b/w CSN and CSN+ is.
I think ESPN has a ESPN+ channel as well... to the best of my knowledge it is when the Comcast film crew does the game but is not shown on Comcast Sportsnet because of other obligations (bulls game tonight). I could be wrong though so...
Ryan - too many Old Style while pre-gaming... i typed your name where I should have typed mine.
HAHA Cliff...yeah i have always wondered that and your probaly right...thanks
So no white logo's under his eyes and he goes 2 for 2. HUH. Sorinao needs to dump the new black eye strips.
Dempster's looking good again.
They should make Marquis the bat boy and bring up Marshall.
Baron....Marquis has the flu was sent back to the hotel and Marshall was recalled today. You might get your wish on Friday.
Why are the Cubs the only team in baseball with the inability to score from 2nd on a single..
just curious... how many leftys have we faced thus far? for the last 5 years (probably more) the cubs have looked awful against southpaws. i know we beat one yesterday...
Duke usually does great against us and I don't want to jinx us but it sure would be nice to beat 2 straght.
We have 1 run on 8 hits...-_-;
Cliff, this is the 2nd time the Cubs have faced a lefty starter this year.
Man! Dempster deserves some support.... another not-clutch hitting show. Duke is VERY hittable for all other teams -- to the tune of .302 in 2006, .359 in 2007 and 10 hits in 5 innings in his last start....
I am kind of biased cause RC is one of my favorite players...sadly i know...and nothing against theriot but i really think ronny should be our starting ss...he has showed he can work counts and is very athletic at short...i am sure i know the answer but what do you guys think?
I do not understand why Len just said Marquis might miss his start tomorrow (Thursday). Thursday is Hill's turn in the rotation, not Marquis'
Ryan, I have always like Cedeno. But his 2 cent head makes it hard for a manager to trust him.
Yeah i will agree you must take the good with the bad with RC and most of the bad is just dumb plays
Neil, that bit about Marquis spot apparently is the truth. Lou was telling Ron the same thing today on the redio pregame show. So, I dunno what the story is there.
Who's the new red head pitching for us tonight? I've never seen this guy before?
Matt, yeah I heard the same on the pregame show. But I thought I missed something. Cubs.com still has Hill as Thursday's starter and Yahoo did last night....I was doing research for Talkin'
Wow! All these hard hit balls to the track, and we score from an error. Gotta love baseball! Marmol to Wood sounds good!!
hey guys just got home and put on mlb gameday and looks like Dempster is having another very good outing, and Soriano is having a nice night. Dempster has looked that good huh?
The Gold Glover!
Nick, Dempster did a great job.
What a play by D-Lee!!! Marmol is all over the place.
Nail biter tonight. It'd be nice to get an insurance run or five this inning.
Neil:
Ron just said Lou wanted to pitch Hill against the lefty hitting lineup of the Phillies, so with the offday, he intends to pitch Marquis tomorrow. However, Marquis went home tonight because he was sick, so "we'll see."
Good analysis by Brenly on Pie's swing. And hopefully he is right and Gerald Perry can correct it...or at least make it more consistent.
Oh c'mon!
Damn..
All of those extra runs left on base...
this goes on the offense...
real lousy performance from them against a AAA team.
really sad for dempster...such a good outing wasted
not over yet
Dempster really deserved a win tonight.
Someone better step up next winning and win this thing.
Agree 100% David - but...and yes i am very pissed we he couldnt close it out...woody had nasty stuff tonight and if he would have used the breaking ball early against bay this game would be over right now
Despite the ND Dempster pitched a great game.
Wow, who would have thought that he might be our #2
starting pitcher.
Anyone else thought Fukudome looked safe?
Yeah Jim, Dempster could even be our #1 if Zambrano doesn't continue eating his bananas!
Huge play by Sori right there
Hell yes! Soriano!
I sure hope Z is hydrated for this bat.
Not makin it easy for me to have your back, Riot!
Neither Theriot nor Pie had good at bats there.
there is 0 consistency to this offense.
Its either 2 runs or 10 runs.-- The situational hitting sucks when it is needed most
Baron...too many free swingers.
2-out walks...
Aramis go to right!!!
the worst possible way to get out for ARAM
he hacked at 2 awful low and away pitches there.....
Well, thanks Kerry....I am $100 richer......I called it at the comercial. I knew he's blow it! Dempster pitches a 1 hitter and can't even get the win. PATHETIC!
Man i am so pissed...Pissed at Lou for taking out Cedeno b/c theriot just cant get it done and pissed at mark for being a PATHETIC cubs fan but that just me as someone who is true to my team and who would NEVER bet against them
Ryan Theriot has a .520 OPS after 8 games... that is truly absymal ... spark plug or not
Yeh, that is pretty disgusting about Mark, heh. The Spark Plug needs a charging.
Rick Ankiel has as the same number of HR as D. Lee and has more RBI than anyone on the Cubs roster...
How can that happen? How is this possible? Where is the bloody thunder... This game started 4 hours ago...
I can't believe we havent pushed a run across yet...this is making me angry...at least theres Bud Light (if they sold Old Style in Milwaukee, I'd have it) to keep me relaxed
This bullpens gonna need a charging too after logging this many innings this early.
Ok Fuk! Lets do it this time!!
Ok Rami! Lets do it this time!!
Aramis right is still open!!
time for ARAM to hit his first HR of the year...
Incase u 4got Austin...Aram hits first
Or the stands in left are open too!
Aramis!!!
YAAAAAHHHHHHH!
ARAM....on cue!!!
Let it be recorded that I said it was time for ARAM to hit his first of the year...
Great timing
RAMI!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Go Cubbies!
ARAMIS RAMIREZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH DAVID!!! GOOD CALL!!!
Great call David!!!! (but I actually think it is his second of the year), but still great call!!!!!!
Great call David!!!! (but I actually think it is his second of the year), but still great call!!!!!!
Great call David!!!! (but I actually think it is his second of the year), but still great call!!!!!!
Great call David!!!! (but I actually think it is his second of the year), but still great call!!!!!!
I'm stoked we go the lead, but I can't help but be discouraged by Wood not closing this thing out.
That Pirates Parrot needs to be shot in the balls
Sorry about all of the repeated post guys.
Noooooooo! I somehow just dozed off while listening to game and missed ARam's HR!
Oh well, I'll catch the replay on Sportscenter. Let's close out this thing!
c'mon now! get it done!!!
Its okay Nick, were just as excited. =D
WOW!!! Fell behind 2-0
NOOOOOO!!!!!! You have got to be Kidding me, unreal!!!
OMG! are u serious?
Eff me sideways...Good lord
that parrot is super annoying ...
where is the irate cubs fan at PNC when u need him -- give that feathery fiend a right hook to its beak
OMG! are u serious?
It was that god damn parot dancing behind the plate i know it...whoever said that thing should be shot i am with u
Time to start double fisting...
this is rediculous, at least we have Marshall if this thing goes all night
Time to start double fisting...
this is rediculous, at least we have Marshall if this thing goes all night
A rare case that a wild pitch is not good....
Is this 2007?
I uh....I'm 38...been a Cubs fan for forever....can somebody for the love of Christmas tell me why we cant hit left handers and why we cant beat the douchbags from the bottom of the "comedey central"???? You all heard the same thing I did, LaRoach had 2 f'ing hits all year!!!!
let's see if it works again...
time for Felix to hit his first HR of the year...
fingers crossed
YES!!!!!!! PIE!!!!!!
PIEEAAYYY!!
Make em' pay Pie!!!!!!
Alright!!! NOW FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY CLOSE THIS OUT!!!
Im sorry but i just have to say cause i am jacked and happy for him...YEAH KING FELIX!
I had so many bad thoughts running through my head about PIE, and he proved me wrong. What a clutch hit.
David...do you have the lottery numbers?
Way to go PIE!!!
Excuse me if Im not really overly calm heading into the bottom half of this inning.
Yep Curt. Remember the Cardiac Cubs moniker?
good job by felix...
didnt work out as well as it did with ARAM...but at least he did come through
Nice Job Pie, now can we PLEASE finish this game out?!?!?
nice job by Felix...
horrible day for D-Lee...hope its just a one day thing
LOVE YOU FELIX!!!!!
LORD:
Please end this game now.
-Austin
THANK YOU!
Lets hear it Jim from Tinley!!!
phew... im beat!!
Finally....thank God
almost blew the save once again
A wins a win as a win!!!!!
WOW. I was going to watch a movie before bed. If these games keep taking 5 hours...........
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Way to get the win!!
Dear Cubs, can we please just beat the Pirates tomorrow 10-0 in ONLY 9 innings
'Hey Chicago, whataya say, the Cubs finally won today!'
See ya all tomorrow!
Ill be dipped in sh** and fried in butter! Wow.
Hey guys, just wanted to say 'Thank you'. Without going back and checking, I think this was the most comments on Talkin' in its 3 season history.
As Len said, "It's all about the 'W'"