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Game Thirty-Seven: Cubs (21-15) vs. Diamondbacks (23-14)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (5-1, 1.80/1.11) vs. Randy Johnson (2-1, 5.06/1.42)
Updated - 12:47pm C.T. - With the Rain in the Chicago Area - Both Carlos Zambrano and Randy Johnson have been scratched from their starts. Sean Gallagher is scheduled to take Z's place and the Diamondbacks will go with Edgar Gonzalez.
Happy Mother's Day from everyone here at the CCO....
For those of you old enough to remember Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood from SNL, "Today's word boys and girls is 'big'". It is the 'Big Unit' versus 'Big Z' in a battle of a former ace and future Hall of Famer against a current ace in a big series finale. The Cubs and Diamondbacks have played two very close games, despite the final score on Saturday, and weather permitting, today's game should be more of the same.
Lou Piniella's crew has a chance at a sweep against a pitcher the Cubs' organization has never beaten. Carlos Zambrano has been looking forward to today's game since the match-up was announced and hopefully Z will match the performances of Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster.
Carlos Zambrano's start to the season is the difference in the team's record from a year ago. At the end of play on May 10, 2007, the Cubs record was 16-16 and they were 7 games back of the 24-10 Milwaukee Brewers. While the Cubs are in second place in the division, a game back of the Cardinals, they are 6 games over .500 and playing much better ball than they did at the beginning of last season.
There is still a long way to go in the 162-game schedule but Carlos Zambrano's start has been one of the many bright spots in the first 37 games.
Carlos Zambrano is coming off an impressive outing against the Reds on a night he did not appear to have his best stuff. Zambrano struggled to start the game, ran up his pitch count and it appeared Zambrano would not turn in a quality start. However, Big Z turned his outing around, started throwing strikes and ended up completing 8 innings....his longest start of the year. Zambrano did not allow a run and surrendered just 3 hits to go along with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Carlos Zambrano, like most Cubs' pitchers, has struggled in the past against the D'Backs. Zambrano is 1-2 in 4 career starts with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Today will be Z's first start in a regular season game against Arizona since Opening Day back in 2005.
- Chris Burke - 1-for-8
- Eric Byrnes - 0-for-3
- Randy Johnson - 1-for-4
- Jeff Salazar - 0-for-4
After spending most of the 2007 season on the DL, Randy Johnson made his first start on April 14th and has pitched rather well. The Big Unit received a no decision in his first start against the Giants but did not allow an earned run in 5 innings. Johnson has won 2 of his last 3 starts while giving up 10 earned runs in his last 2 outings on 15 hits in 10 innings. The Phillies scored 4 runs on 6 hits against Johnson on May 6th in a 6-4 Arizona win.
The Cubs have never beaten the Big Unit. He is 12-0 in 13 career starts with a miniscule 1.98 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Johnson has not faced the Cubs since 2004....he threw 7 shutout innings and allowed just 2 hits while striking out 10.
In 5 career starts at Wrigley, Johnson is 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP....only 4 earned runs on 20 hits in 36 innings.
- Henry Blanco - 4-for-14 with a home run
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-10
- Reed Johnson - 5-for-12 with a double
- Derrek Lee - 4-for-22 with 13 strikeouts
- Aramis Ramirez - 3-for-17 with a home run and 12 strikeouts
- Alfonso Soriano - 1-for-8
- Carlos Zambrano - 1-for-3
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Trips to the Northside
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Today's possible lineup....but the weather is not looking good at all
Johnson - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fukudome - RF
Soto - C
DeRosa - 2B
Pie - CF
Gallagher - P
Well damn. That's one way to save my fantasy pitching stats. I was really banking on the Cubs slapping around Johnson, but I guess Edgar will work too.
Am watching the 1965 Jim Maloney no hitter in the rain delay. Did I hear Brickhouse right that Maloney threw over 170 pitchers in that game? If so, how times have changed.
Also great to see the interview glimpses of Vince and Lou again. They were so great together!!
Gallagher is going to pitch, due to the delay. Probably a good thing for me, to have last minute notice...he wasn't up all night thinking about his first MLB start and getting nervous. Here he can just be reactive and just do his thing.
Randy Johnson not starting either...and based on history, that is probably a good thing.
All the Sori haters will be glad to see the robust lineup of Pie, Johnson, Theriot, and DeRosa out there today. Should be an offensive display!
Better hope Ramirez, Lee, and Fuku have good games.
Bryan, yes you did. 170 pitches. Pitchers used to throw complete game after complete game with no pitch count. They counted them, just did not care.
Go look at Ferguson Jenkins' career stats.
First pitch @ 2:15 C.T.
Cant help but to wonder.......
After getting 4 hits yesterday, why would Lou sit Soriano today? Could it be that Sori's leg is still that much of a liability, and doesnt want to take a chance on some wet grass?
Jimbo, they do not want to risk further injury to Soriano's legs.
I hate to keep bringing it up, but my goodness what does Cedeno have to do to get his name on the lineup card?
Hey fellas. I really hope Gallagher pitches a good game today and makes it hard for Pinella to keep him out of the rotation.
Let's get the sweep!
Drew, Cedeno was in the original lineup
Drew,
Once Cedeno starts producing like the .255-hitting Johnson, then maybe...just maybe...Sweet Lou would put him in the game.
Didn't Edgar Gonzalez get the memo??? YOU CAN'T STRIKEOUT REED JOHNSON!
I would have liked to see Cedeno in the line up too. My guess is that with all the gusting wind Lou wanted to go with solid defense in left.
Good job Gally nicw sacrifice.
D-LEEEEEE!!! #10
Ok...I have seen enough of Gallagher to feel like he should be our 5th starter.
I hate to give up on Rich Hill, but his inconsistency is a real problem, and if he flakes in the playoffs, what good is he to us?
I think Dempster will come back to Earth, but maybe not until next year. Perhaps he is just going to have a career year this year, ala Lilly last year. Sometimes getting off to a great start gets a pitcher so much confidence that they ride the wave the rest of the year.
I also think that Sean Marshall was always steady, if not spectacular. I think he is a sub 4.50 ERA guy, and he will keep us in games. I think he makes a perfect 5th starter.
Big Z, Lilly, Gallagher, Demster, and Marshall.
Like others have listed here, I think you need a better #2, but if Pie gets his act together, or we get a solid CF at the trade deadline, then our team defense and bullpen should allow us to go far in the playoffs, provided we don't get an unlucky batting slump from our key core of Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Fuku.
Jason, are you saying you like Sean Marshall?
Jason...I like your rotation suggestion. Nice to see a second starter that throws in the 90's (Gallagher). The kid is looking good.
Gally has excellent stuff, but he would be 10x more effective and more efficient with his pitches if he got the first pitch strike more often. I think he could've saved like 8-9 pitches at the end of an AB just by getting ahead 0-1, 0-2 then moving to his good curve.
For example...he keeps using 1st pitch breaking balls...
He should use that low to mid-90's fastball to get ahead and then whack em with the hammer..
I don't have the same level of man-love that you have for him (as has been written about before) but, yes, I have never understood why they keep messing with his rhythm and confidence by not giving him the ball every 5 games.
Marshall started 19 games last year, and it looks like his ERA was under 4.00.
You can't hold 2006 against him too much, as he was a rookie...even Greg Maddux didn't have that great a first year.
Hubert, excellent points.
My main issue with Marshall in the rotation is that he is a Rich Hill/Ted Lilly clone with worse stuff and less velocity on each of their pitches.
Can't really compare to Lilly's arsenal, because he has a ton of stuff that he throws, but at least in comparison with Hill, Fastball, Change, Curve minus 2-3mph. I'd much rather have a power pitcher like Gally if he can get ahead early in the count.
Jason, I had to bust on you a little. You (and most) know I have always liked Marshall. Maddux saw something in him and that is more than good enough for me.
6 K's thru 4. Nice job Gally.
do not trade the kid....I think I love him!
nice job gallagher
Hubert, again I agree. Hill is a better option but just can't get it done. Marshall as a team's 5th starter is a good option, same as last season.
I would like Lieber to go back to the pen. I feel his value is as a long man and he has proved this much.
I can't same I'm all that surprised that Gally has 6K's thru 4.
I agree with the Lieber notion as well. A guy that throws a 4-seamer / slider only, with a topout speed of 91mph on the 4-seamer, plus the fact that he pounds the zone with it, is a bad formula for a SP lol.
Felix needs to get that worked out....at least he went oppo rotflamo.
Did Lou just call in Fox with the bases loaded? Are you crazy??? This is when you bring in Marmol, get out of the inning, and don't get any more earned runs on the rookie, keeping his psyche in good shape.
Oh geez...let's hope for the best.
As for Marshall...he doesn't have Hill's curveball, and he doesn't throw really hard, but neither does Maddux. It is about being a smart pitcher, and throwing strikes. Marshall is a physically good fit for a pitcher too, I think. He is very tall, and will always have that height/delivery to his advantage, and his velocity isn't likely to ever dramatically decrease, as it comes from his long arms and strides, and not from crazy stress on the elbow or shoulder. He should be healthy, and around for 10 years. Better than Steve Trout, maybe a Jamie Moyer type of pitcher.
Fox walked in a run...who couldn't see that coming. He is gonna walk this guy, too. WTF was Lou thinking. And no one was warming up, until they just got Wuertz going as well.
Another run walked in.
Honestly...this is all Lou's fault. Gallagher couldn't have done better than that crap?
And Gallagher came out so Fox could walk the next 2? why not leave Gallagher in and see what we can do in a real major league situation? bad move Lou. If you follow it up with Wuertz I guess the philosophy is to get your two POS relievers out of the way early in the game.
Intentional walks are never a good idea.
I would have liked Lou to have left in Gallagher.
I bet Marmol didn't come in because he's unavailable today because he pitched an unnecessary inning in the 9th yesterday when we were up by 5!
When the Cubs signed Chad Fox this Spring I said that we would be screwed if he made the 25 man roster anytime during the year. Well, guess what?
Our bullpen is playing a man short with this guy.
I also believe that Gallagher should have remained in the game.
For you little leaguers scoring at home (thanks, Steve Stone), that makes one strikeout and two ground balls towards the pitcher for Reed "BTS" Johnson. Johnson is now down to .250. At this rate, Soriano will have a higher avg than him by Wednesday.
Chad Fox is a great story, don't get me wrong. But the Cubs are still in this game and that is the third walk. He is all over the place and now he has to face the powerhouse known as Augie Ojeda.
Jason B:
I agree with you 100% on Soriano. The resentment towards Soriano is because we all KNOW that he has the ability and track record of producing it just keeps getting deeper into the season and he is still struggling. (Nice game yesterday)
Maybe that will fire up the offense...
Ah, another great comment about Soriano's track record. Johnson is still batting higher than Soriano, and only makes $13m less. And I do believe he plays just a tad better defense.
Back to the game, 3 more innings to go...let's get some runs Cubbies!
I don't really care about Johnson's avg so much as his OBP.
Come on Fonty..get on base for...
oh crap...Johnson/Theriot -_-;
WTF..Go Johnson..!
Jason...good job for our little league scorekeepers. Gosh, where was Soriano in that spot?
SORIANO!!!--- WAIT..... OH MY GOD!!! THAT WAS REED JOHNSON!!!!
(I'm still on Soriano's side, though)
Soriano would've done the same exact thing with that 94mph fastball right down BROADWAY...--;;
Nothing better than a Cub rally and Hubert having to eat his words. Ahh. Good day.
Wish I knew what "some guy" was doing on the field, haha.
REED!!!!! WOW!!
I don't care if I have to take back dissing Johnson or Theriot, as long as the Cubbies end up getting back in the game and winning.
Hubert...I think we all feel the same way. Let's get that win!
I mean, can't really diss Theriot today, but I can remark on the "Sad Theriot stat of the Day"
Felix Pie's RBI (w/ half the AB): 7
Theriot's RBI: 10
With all that said, he does have the highest AVG on the team lol.
Senor NASTY!
If we can sweep, Im liking the irony.
Baron....you beat me to it!
Senor NASTY!
Righties hit .080 of Senor Nasty!
whos our man crush regular?
Just out of curiosity Baron, what are lefties hitting.
It cant be too bad, right?
Did I just see Ramirez steal a base??
I know it was hit and run, but geesh. WOW!
That was some bunt!
C'mon, lets keep the good luck coming!!! C'mon Soto!!
Cary:
I like what Reed Johnson brings to the team but there is no comparison when both he and Soriano are on top of their game. The cubs claimed him off waivers from Toronto so lets not make him out to be all-star caliber.
lefties are at .207
I wouldn't be giving you guys such a hard time if you were even close to consistent or realistic about Reed "BTS" Johnson.
I am glad he hit a HR, too. I just want the Cubs to win.
(by the way...couldn't have had Marmol take care of the bases loaded crap earlier, instead of Fox? What a dumb rule that you only use a guy in certain innings...that is like saying games at the beginning of the year don't count as much as games at the end of the year)
I am a big believer is this type of evolution of a ballplayer:
1st year he can suck, and that can't really determine the future.
2nd year he can struggle a bit, but there should be improvement, and the beginnings of consistency are seen.
3rd year he realistically foreshadows the player he will be the next 5 years. If he has regressed at this point, then he likely has peaked.
I think this applies to both pitchers and hitters, which is why I think that, for example, Sean Marshall should be our 5th starter...he was trending upward from 2006.
Rich Hill has been erratic...and players like Reed Johnson haven't been consistenly getting better in their career.
Last year, Reed "BTS" Johnson had a whopping .305 OBP.
Compare that to Soriano, who had a higher OBP than Theriot.
Soriano has been hitting 30+ HRs for years. He, along with Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez, are proven producers on the major league level. That is why they get paid so much.
Lee got hurt in 2006, and was useless that whole year, and for most of 2007. He had no power. Now that he is fully healed, he is leading the team in HRs again...because he is rising to his natural talent level.
Soriano will also rise to his natural talent level. But he was injured, and is often a slow starter...so it is a bad combination for him this year. However, he is known for his work ethic...he puts in more BP than anyone else. He wants to play everyday.
He will finish above .280 this year, with close to 30 HRs. If his leg heals well, he will probably steal 10 bases or more the 2nd half of the season.
I don't dislike Reed Johnson...I just don't want Cub fans to allow Jim Hendry to "settle" for using a platoon system of a career backup and a struggling Pie, when we need to be going all out for the World Series this year.
A perfect example is Fontenot. He had a good run last year, but everyone suddenly thought it would be the Fontenot/Theriot connection for the next 10 years.
I am just being realistic. Soriano is proven, and over 162 game season, I want him in the lineup, and not Johnson.
Think they would have intentionally walked Reed Johnson?
What a great bunt!!
Good Job D-Ward!!!!!!
WARD!!!!
WARD!!!!!
Jason B. I agree fully. If Hendry can find a way to improve SS, CF or anywhere else there is a need, I dont want him to be complacent.
Fuk's fundamentals are terrific...
what a perfectly executed bunt
Wow! Huge smile on Ward's face. I love that!
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Nice final play by our little leaguer at short.
Great win!
ALRIGHT!!! Bring on San Diego!!
A GREAT WIN!!!!!!!
Jason B,
I can't agree with you more. I still have doubt that Spendry didn't go all out and look for another starter in the market 2007. Dempster and Marquis are not bad. They are just... getting old.
I think Marquis will rebound, and Dempster will get hit more as the weather gets better. But if we got lucky, then this will be his career year (remember Suppan and Weaver in 2006?).
Again, the front management is relying on luck (trial and error) a little too much. Why can't they just do it right ahead of others?
just got back from the game...crappy weather, but a hell of a game to see. mad props to Reed and D ward.
What song were the fans singing after Cubs beat Diamondbacks Sunday?