Game Thirty-Five: Cubs (19-15) vs. Diamondbacks (23-12)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ted Lilly (2-4, 5.97/1.41) vs. Dan Haren (4-1, 3.12/0.99)
Updated - 11:41am C.T. - Scott Eyre Activated - Sean Marshall Optioned to Triple-A
The Cubs start their longest homestand of the year today with the first of three against the best team in the National League. After posting a 17-10 record in April, the Cubs have won only twice in seven games to start the new month. The last time the Diamondbacks were in Chicago they completed a 3-game sweep of Lou Piniella's crew that unceremoniously ended the 2007 campaign. While the Cubs have appeared flat and out of sync for the last two weeks, if they are not fired up for this weekend's series....Lou has more problems on his hands than anyone realizes.
Piniella will send his top three pitchers to the mound this weekend and the Cubs' offense will face a test today in Dan Haren. This is a big series for the Cubs, after the way they played against the Diamondbacks last year, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Dave Kaplan called this weekend 'gut check' time for the Cubs....and if Lou's crew wants to be the best, they first have to beat the best.
This is an important homestand for the Cubs. The next 10 games will feature visits from not only Arizona but the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates....the Cubs other extended homestand of the season is not until the first of August (August 1st - August 10th) and it is only 9 games. They have played solid ball at Wrigley this year (11-6) and after a good start, have struggled on the road of late (8-9).
The Cubs had a rough road trip and hopefully they let it all go on Thursday and will report to the park today ready to play.
The last time Ted Lilly faced the Diamondbacks there was that whole glove throwing incident and after a rough start to the season, Lilly has pitched the way he did before his little temper tantrum in the desert. Lilly has turned in 3 quality starts in a row and with Rich Hill pitching for Iowa, Lilly is the only southpaw in Piniella's rotation....at least for now.
Lilly picked up the win in the Cubs' only victory last weekend in St. Louis. Lilly gave up 3 runs, 2 on solo home runs, on 6 hits in 7 innings with 4 strikeouts and a walk.
Lilly has not posted a win in 4 career regular season games, 2 starts, against the Diamondbacks. Lilly is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
- Chris Burke - 3-for-9 with a double and a triple
- Eric Byrnes - 4-for-14 with a double and a home run
- Stephen Drew - 1-for-2
- Conor Jackson - 1-for-2 with a home run
- Justin Upton - 1-for-2
- Chris Young - 0-for-3
The Cubs will get their first look at Dan Haren in a Diamondbacks uniform. Haren has given Arizona the best number two pitcher in the league after coming over in a trade from the Oakland A's this past winter. He has been exactly what Bob Melvin was hoping for and the duo of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have posted a combined 12-1 record in the first 35 games.
As good as Haren as been, his success has been mostly at home. Haren is 4-0 in 5 starts at Chase Field with a 1.93 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP....but on the road, he is 0-1 in 2 starts with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. While teams are hitting below the Mendoza Line against Haren in Arizona, .188, they are hitting a robust .302 when Haren is pitching on the road.
Haren will make his third career start against the Cubs' franchise. He faced the Cubs once in 2003 and once in 2004....both times at Wrigley. Haren has not fared too well at the Friendly Confines....0-1 in 2 starts with a 12.46 ERA, a 2.31 WHIP and the Cubs hit .410 against him.
- Mark DeRosa - 2-for-8
- Reed Johnson - 3-for-13 with a triple
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-4 with a double
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-4 with a double
- Alfonso Soriano - 5-for-13 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs
Update - According to a report on Cubs.com, the Cubs have activated Scott Eyre from the 15-day DL and optioned Sean Marshall to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs are wanting to stretch out Marshall for a possible return to the rotation. In other news, Kevin Hart made his second start for the I-Cubs on Thursday night. The most important stat.....no walks and 6 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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This is one series where I REALLY wish I was there. We'll find out if the Cubs are contenders or pretenders this weekend.
Go Cubs Go!!!
Back at the Friend Confines, everyone should be rested and ready to go. It is time for a little payback this weekend. Lets go Cubs.
Hey Chicago whata say?...Will the Cubs PLEASE WIN TODAY?!?!
Yes
Everyone needs to chill... ya the Cubs have been playing bad and yes this is a huge series but were still 19-15 and still going to be one of the quickest teams to 20 wins this season regardless of when we get our 20th... plus i do not see the Cardinals pitching holding up like it has this whole year without a healthy Carpenter and Mulder... and the Brewers didnt fare to well against the Marlins these past couple days... of course ill eat my words on that one cause the Marlins are always tought on our beloved CUBBIES.... GO CUBS THIS WEEKEND! You'll find me chillin in the bleachers saturday afternoon hopefully watching a cubs shalaking of Scherzer and the D Backs.
Oh and one final note before a great weekend in Chicago and great times at Wrigley Field... Stay Classy Cub Fans!!!
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fukudome - RF
Soto - C
DeRosa - 2B
Johnson - CF
Lilly - P
I like that Soto has moved up to the sixth spot behind Fukudome.
My prediction for the Day: Soriano leads off with a HR and goes 3-4. And of Course Cubs win.
I like Soto behind Fuku as well.
Good start Theodore.
I don't like Chris Young. Did Lilly throw his glove this time?
who didn't see the Chris Young homer coming?
For those keeping track thats 8 homers given up by Cubs pitching in the last 8 innings played....enough is enough...LETS GO!!!
Young completely has Lilly's number
I am already about 10 Old Styles deep! Come on Cubs, let's pull this one out!
Good job Lilly.
Now let's get the offense going.
We need to get D Lee and Fuku fired up again!
Lets go offense.
Lilly has his good stuff today, it is time for the offense to get him some runs.
OFFENSE, PLEEEEEAAAASE WAKE UUUUUUPPPPPP!!!!!!!
Lilly's pitchin his heart out.
Gotta back him up guys. Score some runs!
Time for Fukudome and Soto to get us started!!
I just smeared myself with BBQ sauce and frosting for luck! Let's go Cubs!!
Nice hit by DeRo!
Lilly's doing it all! YES!
I notice how when some of the Jihadic wing on this site start bashing a player they play well, Theriot, today DeRosa...Start bashing Lee, Aram, and Fuku, Please! You freaks!
Good job Lilly, way to help yourself out!!!
Nothin' like a two out rally!
Neil, your chant?
SORIANO!!!!! This is more like it.
I freaking love Fukodome. Even when he's struggling, he still helps out by forcing the opposing pitcher to throw more pitches and tire quickly. It's awesome!!!
Lee looks like he needs a day off, but man, Fukodome is as advertised.
Lilly is doing great today...we need to score more runs though
1 pitch, 1 out.
Like the start to the 7th.
Aaron, you are 100% right on Fukudome.
Lilly picked a great time to pitch one of his best games. Now let's get him the win!!!
Soriano with the big 2-out RBI
Nice to see Lilly's velocity back in the 92-94 range.
Go figure, Augie Ojeda with a hit against us.
Augie FU**ING Ojeda!
i strongly question the decision to remove Lilly...He was flat out dealing....Marmol's our best reliever, but the complaint has been about "saving" the pen...then we get a great performance, and he's lifted
A huge call!
Now's where Wood can prove his worth to this team and in his position....Can he hold this lead?
10K's for Lilly...how the hell do you strike out 10 guys throwing 86-87 mph...? Good for him...sheeze..
You dont always have to be overpowering to get the K, I believe.
Its like BB said. Mixing pitch speeds and changing eye angles gets hitters off balance, and Lilly did that really well today.
AWESOME GAME!!!! Stressfull as all get out but that makes them more sweet!
Great pitching by Lilly! Woody was DOMINANT! Made Young his bitch...9 pitches 3 outs!
Great Game!
I got to watch the last three innings. THAT WAS FUN!!!
Big win! I will have the recap up later.
Matt, sorry I missed your request.
Nice Rebound from Lilly Here...
and Marmol is Senor Nasty no.1
10 hits allowed in 22 innings.... filthy...
That was a very good baseball game...pure and simple...we played very well. Wood dominated, Marmol dominated, and most importantly, Lilly dominated.
Hubert, by the way....Lilly was clocked at 94 at times, and Len was commenting on how he's regained some velocity, but he's changing speeds really well, and that's what I like to see.
Well...i am very upset right now b/c i was driving home from college this afternoon and couldnt catch the game and just found out it was a national blackout on mlb.tv meaning i wont get to see it...oh well i guess it sounded like a great game and this was a HUGE WIN...Lilly was obviously great and I am assuming Wood was dominating...overall Great Day for Cub Nation
94 mph for Lilly? LOL dude. The radar gun must've been off. Lilly has never thrown a fastball over 92mph at any level...
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
hope they trade Soriano soon...what a bum.
(yes...sarcasm)
Jason...way to try to ruin a good game, and series of posts with your sarcasm.
So Soriano actually had a hit and an RBI. Woo hoo! Still batting under .200, and earning megabucks for the next 6 years. Yea, just a great contract.
Mike,
Soriano finished 1st in HRs, 1st in runs scored, 2nd in SBs, 3rd in RBIs, 2nd in doubles, 1st in triples, 1st in slugging percentage, and 3rd in BA for the Cubs last year...despite having been injured for a number of games.
If you paid attention to last season at all, you know he picked up his game in the 2nd half of the season, so I don't expect things to be any different this year.
He is a star and he produces. That is why he gets paid so much.
Is it just me? Or does Danny Haren have a huge head on a scrawny little body?
It's like an orange on a toothpick.
Jason, it like the "he picked up his game the second half of the year". Do you get paid in your job to perform half the time? Why don't we just ship Soriano home for from April thru May, and advise him that we'll call him when the weather warms up.
"He is a star and he produces". Keep living off last years marginal stats. 70 RBI's for $14m a year (30 of them coming on HR's). You really like those stat??
He was in the leadoff spot. His RBI's reflect who is on base in front of him. Leadoff guys score runs...and he led the team in scoring.
Derrick Lee hit 46 HRs a couple years ago, and only had 107 RBI's, and he did it in the #3 spot. Does that mean we should trade Derrick Lee, too?
Lee, Ramirez, and Zambrano are all streaky players. Most mlb players are streaky.
I suppose you think Chase Utley will hit 52 HRs this year, and that Brandon Webb will go 32-0?
162 game season...I will be glad to provide you some salt & pepper for your crow later this Summer.
3-4, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI...no one LOB.
Note that more runs scored than RBIs may have a little something to do with the the stats of the #6-#9 spots: 2-9, 1 Run scored, 1 RBI, 6 LOB.
If you need tabasco sauce, soy sauce, or even Taco Bell sauce to go with your crow, just let me know.