Game Eighty-Two: Cubs (49-32) vs. White Sox (45-35)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 178
Location - U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
Sean Marshall (0-1, 5.40/1.72) vs. Mark Buehrle (5-6, 4.04/1.31)
It's game three of round two....it's the Cubs versus the Sox, it's the North Side versus the South Side....it's the final game of the 2008 Crosstown Classic. The Cubs will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the White Sox, as well as try to keep from losing their fourth game in a row for the first time this season. The Cubs' Interleague schedule concludes tonight on the last Sunday in June and Lou Piniella's crew is in need of a win.
The Cubs have struggled on the road, even within the Chicago city limits, and are not playing with the same confidence away from the Friendly Confines. In recent history, the Cubs have played better on the road than at home and while the play at Wrigley is the sole reason the Cubs are still in first place, the Cubs must learn how to win on the road....and fast. After tonight's game the Cubs play four in San Francisco against a team that can pitch but has trouble scoring runs then they conclude their longest trip of the year with three next weekend against the Cardinals.
Some point at all of the runners the Cubs have left on base over the past week, but the starting pitching and defense have been the problem. Free passes, extra outs and 38 runs allowed over the last 5 games are all recipes for a 1-4 record.
After a bad outing in his first start of the season subbing for Carlos Zambrano, Sean Marshall will get another shot tonight at picking up his first win of the season. Marshall was very good the first time through the Orioles lineup, but the second time was an entirely different story....and there wasn't a third. Marshall gave up 4 runs on 7 hits in 4 2/3 innings but struck out 7 and walked only 1. Marshall has shown he can win games at the big league level and tonight he might get his biggest test in a Cubs' uniform.
Marshall has been successful in the past against the Sox and Lou Piniella needs another good start out of the often forgotten southpaw.
Marshall is 1-1 in 2 career starts against the Sox with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Last season Marshall pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings on the South Side and allowed only 5 hits while striking out 3 and walking only 1....the Cubs won 3-0.
- Joe Crede - 1-for-3 with a double
- Jermaine Dye - 1-for-3
- A.J. Pierzynski - 1-for-5
- Jim Thome - 0-for-3
- Juan Uribe - 4-for-5 with a double
The last game of the series will not get any easier for the Cubs offense. Mark Buehrle has been lights out of late and his season record is very deceiving. Buehrle is 3-0 in his last 5 starts with a 1.89 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He has not allowed more than 2 earned runs in a start since June 1st and the last time he gave up more than 3 was May 27th in Cleveland. Buehrle is 2-2 in 6 starts at the Cell this year with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
Buehrle will be making his 10th career start against the Cubs. He is 3-4 in his first 9 starts with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Last season, 0-1 in 2 starts with a 3.29 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. The loss to the Cubs came on June 22nd at the Cell, Lou's crew plated 2 runs (both solo home runs, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez) on 4 hits in 7 innings in a 5-1 win.
- Ronny Cedeno - 3-for-6
- Mark DeRosa - 6-for-20 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Jim Edmonds - 1-for-2 with a home run
- Derrek Lee - 5-for-9 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Matt Murton - 1-for-9 with a double
- Aramis Ramirez - 3-for-10 with a double and a home run
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-4
On a side note....Happy Birthday to 'Mr. Stay Classy Cubs Fans'.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Happy Birthday Brian! Lets get you a classy win!
Tonight's lineup:
Fukudome - RF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Soto - DH
DeRosa - LF
Edmonds - CF
Blanco - C
Cedeno - 2B
Lineup looks strong tonight. Let's go Cubbies!!
Happy B-Day Brian,
How about a Cub Victory tonight!!!
Buerhle has the earned credibility of a top of the rotation guy with a career 112-81 record and 3.82 ERA. A plus for us is that several of our hitters have seen him several times and had some success. Marshall is relatively unknown to the Sox, and that can be a plus for a pitcher if he is throwing well. After the first two games, our guys should have the edge in motivation. If Marshall holds the Sox to 3 or fewer runs in 5 + innings, I think we win. That a heavy burden for Marshall, but in a sort of offbeat logic, he can use the underdog mindset to keep his composure and throw his pitches with confidence.
I cringe when I see Blanco's stick in there...especially when we are down on offense right now. Hopefully they boys can get something going tonight.....we currently are tied with Tampa for the best record in baaseball...despite some of us (including me) referring in previous posts to the Cubs having lost their hold on the ML lead, Boston did get to 50 wins before us, but also had one more loss, so we held the lead by percentage points. We are dead even with Tampa as of this moment...so if we win...we're still on top....if we lose....Tampa has it.
Even more incentive is that St Louis won....so we need the win to stay 3.5 ahead...otherwise it falls to 2.5 .
Did everyone note the good game AJ Burnett had today? 7 IP 1 ER 4 H 4 BB 11 K's Jim Hendry....pick up the phone and make an international call...........Toronto is in last and 10 out....they should be ready to deal....
Also make the call to KC about Meche...they are in last and tied with Cleveland at 9 out. Go ahead and call to Cleveland about Sabathia give them open call to our minor leaguers....whoever they want. Throw in Ronny Woo Woo if need be. (We'll bring him back as a free agent).
Seattle is well out of it in last at 17.5 out....(despite their sweep of the Padres)...see what they want for Bedard. He lood good today against the Pads. 5 2/3 1 ER 3 H 3 BB 3 K's
Speaking of the Pads, call out and see if Greg wants to come home. Third time could be the charm. Maybe bring Wolf with him. An extra lefty wouldnt hutr and certainly the two of them would be nice to have. If nothing else an extra pitcher to keep the others fresh in September and hopefully october.
Hope Carlos had a good bullpen session today and is on his way back at the end of the week in St. Louis.... that will be a huge series....hopefully we'll have Reed back and a healthy Carlos on the mound.....That will be a HUGE series....
Blanco makes you cringe? What part of his .293 batting average and 5 RBIs as a backup catcher who hasn't even played most of the season is bad? Heck, every time we're itching for hits, he's usually the one who gets it.
Also, Meche isn't worth a single player in the farm system. Despite his overpriced contract, he hasn't even come close to performing to it this season, and a change of scenery won't help him.
Wow, a 6 pitch inning!!?? We have to have more patience.
Come on Cedeno, you saw that Buehrle just walked Blanco. Why are you swinging at the 1st pitch?
Bases loaded has become a death knell for the Cubs. You know you're on skid row when us fans are in horror that the bases are loaded. Guaranteed no-runs.
Cedeno should have taken a pitch or two...not a good at bat.
Happy Birthday Brian!
Why is it when your going bad the umps have to add to the misery? That was a blatant strike three to Thome on that curve and frik'n Crede swung at that pitch! Why?!!? It makes me sick!!!!
Way to go Lou, maybe it will wake up our anemic offense w/ RISP. We're playing pathetic baseball right now and it doesn't help when the umps miss calls like that. Did you catch both of them are minor league umpires?
Way to battle out of that Marshall! Let's get some runs!
Yeah Blanco makes me cringe.....you do know this being his 10th MLB season his career average is .225!! He's only hit over .250 ONE time in his career. And he's only hit over .236 TWICE! lol So I think you are misguided by his cutrrent average....give him a few more starts....it'll drop. He catches a GREAT game...but couldnt hit his way out of a brown paper bag!
As for Meche...I never said he would be my fiorst choice...but he certainly isnt as bad as you make him to be. Perhaps you havent looked at his stats as closely as you seem to look at Hank White's....
He's 6-8 on a last place team....ERA is 4.66 not great...but better than some of what we've gotten. Further he has stuck out 82 to only 35 Walks.
Also if you look....he was horrid in April 1-4 7.81 ERA. In May he was 2-3 3.65 and in June even better 3-1 3.13. So he has improvde steadily on a crappy team. So I think he wouldnt be a bad add at all. Sure I'd rathe have Sabathia or Burnett...but Meche is not a bad third choice.
The ump's BS took away from my other rant....Cedeno take a damn pitch...he was struggling, and Fukudome why throw to 3rd?!!? That's the type of junk that enables loosing streaks. The boys are trying too hard. Getting outta that inning is huge! LET"S GO!!!
Good job getting out of the inning unscathed.
Did you guys hear that these umps are from the minors and filling in for the vacationing MLB umps? Maybe that's why they had a short fuse tonight.
First off, great job by Marshall getting out of that jam.
Second, MLB must do something about the umpires. Consistency for both teams on balls and strikes!
Third, umpires want to be front and center way too much nowadays.
That was come of age inning for Marshall. Let's hope he can get 4 more of those. We are getting some bad calls but you can tell we came to play. Cedeno was 3 for 6 against Buehrle who only walked Blanco after 9 pitches. So IMO it was not bad to swing at a hittable fastball in this situation.
Come on, Marshall. We need a spark here.
why are my comments not being posted?
Saldaclam....they should be. Make sure you are entering the same email address. That is how commentors are pre-approved here.
I am going to make a bold prediction. Well, maybe not "bold" because it costs me nothing to make one, but if the Cubs don't win this game, they will not be in 1st place 1 week from today.
Umps 3 - Cubs 0 - Sox 1
Third bad call....
the umps need to get there fucking heads in the game we cant afford this now come on
Maybe the worst umpiring I've ever seen. Unbelievable.
Joe Morgan just can't get over the fact that Ryno was better than him and is a shameless Cub hater.
A lot of pitchers we've mentioned in trades were on the mound today. Burnett was outstanding in a 1-0, 11 strike out win over Atl., and Lowe was outstanding in a 1-0 loss to the Angels. Sanchez was outstanding in in a 4H, 1 R win against Oak. Bedard gave up 1R on 3H in a 5.2IP win over SD. Laffey and Blanton were hit hard in losses. Maybe JH can get one of today's strong performers. Bedard and Burnett seem the most likely unless the Dodgers falter and Lowe is willing to move.
Gary, I totally agree with you. He is the reason that I don't enjoy watching games on ESPN.
I don't wanna be that guy but these umps are deciding this game and that sucks!!! OMG! Brian Anderson going deep means you are in a really bad funk....this cannot end soon enough!
Morgan is painful to listen to.
what a weekend!!! I just know Monday's going to suck
Morgan is a grumpy old man that thinks everything was better in his day and nobody today is as good today as they were in his playing day. He's jealous of Sandberg's popularity and really just a plain and simple jerk-off! You know he calls the "basket" at Wrigley Bank's Boulevard? He call's it that because he insinuates that Mr. Cub padded his homerun totals with that "basket". Which is a joke considering they didn't install the thing till Ernie Banks was in the twilight of his career....hell we've all seen his 500th homer and it was hit weel into the bleachers in left! Morgan is a tool and I wish he would just retire!
Man I can't stand the sux!
Marshall has pitched well outside the two home run balls and relatively efficient (78 pitches). Our pitches just need to work on keeping the ball down. And offense please come on!
I think we should've sent DeRosa...we need to try and get something going and Cedeno is coming up.
Cedeno just made me eat my words!
Other than 1 long ball, Marshall has had a strong outing. He could help us, but not at the top of the order. Buehrle has exhibited top of the order form tonight, and our bats badly need to get going.
I can't believe Lou spilled his guts like that, got tossed, and the team responds with a whimper.
Rich Harden is 5-0, with sick Marmol-like numbers...
Please, Hendry, make the call, and make this trade!!!
Hopefully Buerhle is out, and the Cubs can get after the Sox's pen!
I like that Marshall smiled at Lee after handcuffing him on the throw to first. Marshall is cool out there. He did telegraph the ball Swisher hit by showing extra effort. Re Cedeno's second swing at a first pitch and hit. I'm probably allowing too many smarts, but Buehrle thought he won't swing again at a first pitch and Cedno thought he's going to groove it thinking I won't swing.
Let's hope the Sox pen falters in the 8th and 9th. Excellent 7 inning job Marshall. Lee and Rameriz have to hit!
Gary, I agree with you on both counts....I guess because it was me, everyone jumped all over me before when I said that about it being a season-killing deal with them getting swept by the Rays, losing the series to the Orioles, and getting swept by the Sox.....not exactly what you want from a title contender mid-way through the season.
If you need proof that it's not a great outlook, consider our greatest competition---the Cards:
Their 10-game records are solid:
April: 7-3, 6-4, 6-4 (one day in May)
May: 4-6, 6-4 (series win against Rays),6-4 (3 in June)
June: 6-4, 4-6, 2-1 (so far
Cubs:
Mar/April: 6-4, 8-2, 4-6 (3 in May)
May: 6-4, 5-5, 9-1 (4 in June)
June: 7-3, 4-6, 0-2 (so far)
The 8-2, 9-1, and 7-3 stretches are carrying us so far. For the most part, it's been wildly inconsistent. I look at both, and without the last few games that aren't included, they're leading us with 6 series wins to 5 series wins. In April, they won every single series. We have yet to accomplish that.
So while I understand some of you.....actually like 99% of you on here love to dismiss my comments as always being negative, I'm just stating facts.
Do I hope we lose? HELL no!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been a fan all my life.....But I was talking to my uncle the other day about '69, and he was telling me that everyone was thinking we were going all the way finally, and they got complacent....Given the competition at the top of the Central, I don't think we can afford that.
The other day, I was merely suggesting ways that we might be able to get better. The only name that came to mind was Lee, because with the Indians and A's (Sabathia and Harden) looking to contend this year, you have to give them help as well, and make it a win-win for them too, but I got hammered for that on here....
I don't want to see another '69...I'd be devastated...I already am after watching our great play early on evaporate in front of my eyes. Now, I'm a realist, and I know a lot of this has to do with Johnson (who is the grinder we sorely miss), Z, and Soriano out for the last 2 weeks or more, but we STILL have Lee and ARAM, and are not getting it done....
It scares me....especially watching are big men flail away at everything like they have been
btw...I think Joe Morgan is an absolute turd...and as I'm speaking, we just blew our last chance
Aramis should've taken the weekend off!
Looks like he did take the weekend off Cory!
IMO, I think Lou has some real ass chewing out to do tonight. I can think of a bunch of players that need it. And some are guys that to this point in the season, are bona fide players, but still need to get an earful.
This weekend was just pitiful.
And, Morgan sure didnt help any.
There we go. Time to switch to Ice Road Truckers.
Good night, all
i can't remember but does anyone else know how long Morgan has been doing the ESPN night games, etc., because was it me or wasn't Harold Reynolds the one in his spot before? I know he got fired from the harrassment deal, but man, I loved that guy....I can't stand Morgan. You can tell he's anti-Cub from the outset of every telecast just by the way he talks about the past...and even present. He has sour grapes from playing second fiddle to Sandberg. Maybe it's just an ESPN thing though, as they're all about the East Coast---Mets, Yankees, and BoSox
Nobody has to apologize for getting down on this team when they are stinking up the place like they are right now. I am 48 years old and I had my heart broken in 69 as a kid, broken when that ball went right under Durham's glove in 84 and Gonzo's error on a sure DP in 03 that would have saved the day. Like all Cub fans, and until they prove otherwise, we have earned the right to exhibit all the pessimism that this franchise justly deserves.
I'm not sure how long Morgan has been on ESPN, too long though. But I was always a fan of Reyonlds too.
I just think they need to do a better job of holding guys accountable....For example, when Patterson blows it like he did in the field, and perhaps changed the outcome of the game, you don't just sit his ass on the bench to prove a point, thus hurting the team because you're playing one less guy, but you SHIP his ass to AAA....For ARAM, you bench him a game or two and put DeRosa in there...for Lee, you put in Ward, or call up Hoffpauir when you send Patterson out, and give Lee two days off to think about his piss poor performance.
IF you look at us the last 4 series (tampa, Sox at home, Orioles, and Sox in bridgeport), we've been outscored 70-55....
I sure hope there's accountability and something happens....you'd think Lou's tantrum would've done it, but maybe only a trade will get their attention
We need to go to S.F. and have a good series to gain some momentum for the weekend.
That and we just need to get healthy.
We need to go to S.F. and have a good series to gain some momentum for the weekend.
That and we just need to get healthy.
The Sux pitched Linebrink 2 days in a row. What, the game wasn't close enough to bring in Marmol? This team is a mess. And don't give me that injured player crap either. Zambrano only pitches every 5th day, Johnson is a platoon player, and Soriano is only 1 of nine other hitters. Essentially, this is the same team (less Fukudome) that pissed down it's leg in last year's playoffs. They need fresh blood, and in a hurry.
He's Back still not knowing that an opinion that a first half poor series is a season killing deal is not a fact. The fact that the Indians are tied for last place, are 9 games out in the AL Central and may not expect to contend seems like it could better define "fact" than "He's Back" thinks (above). Please man up Mr. Facts Challenged and recognize that a rational, generally fair-minded, occasionally wrong jury of your peers has asked nearly unanimously that you stop mixing in the many self aggrandizing half truths and absurdities with your occasionally meaningful comments.
guess JimK just proved my point, didn't he, Gary, Jim (TP) and other rational people on here....point is JimK, it doesn't really matter what Gary just said right before you, does it? It's the fact that I said ANYTHING that got your blood boiling...LOL...that's hilarious....sleep well buddy
Gary, When your ace is down, and the team leader in HR's goes down and was one of the hotter hitters at the time, That IS going to make a difference. And yes Johnson is platoon player, but having him down also hurts your bench.
So nick, you are saying that this team can't persevere through injuries like all teams experience? Zambrano had not been that great for quite a few starts before he went on the DL and Soriano is always injured, so they should have a plenty of experience in playing without him. Championship caliber teams rise to the occasion and would at least tread water with a .500 record, weak teams lose 8 of 12 ball games. Hell, even when they were healthy, the Cubs could not beat a good team on the road. Anybody here think they can win a World Series without winning a regular season series from a good team on the road?
Nick, I agree with that...but aren't we also supposed to be a good team without them?
Our rotation is a known weakness, even with Z in it...so I agree that losing him is terrible, though as was pointed out, he only pitches every 5th day....couple that with our pen struggles, and it's easy to see why we're in an extended funk right now.
Even losing the way we did today, you have to commend Marshall for his performance...My goodness, the Sox were swinging super hot bats, and he only held them to 3 runs...and even that was skewed by awful umpiring....I'm not trying to make excuses, but I guarantee you that we'd probably be playing extra innings at this moment if it weren't for the atrocious umpiring....or maybe even gotten by with a much needed win. Honestly, with Marshall up today, I thought it was game-set-match with a sweep, but he made it much more interesting...again, 3 runs given up is amazing given their lineup.
I still can't believe the 9th inning....as if it weren't enough that we didn't play interested the whole game, we have to get doubled off to put icing on the cake....DeRosa can't be that far off the bag in that situation....you make sure it gets through, and if it does, you're still in good position to score....what an idiot!!!! (shaking head in disbelief)
Man, I never knew we'd miss Soriano this much, but can you guys think of how many games the last several weeks that we would've pulled out with a victory if we had him coming up in the 9th....I guess my theory last year that you need at least 3 bashers in your lineup at any given time holds true....because the theory goes that if you have 3 bashers/RBI guys, that your much less likely to have all 3 in a funk than you are at having both if you only have 2 (which we have currently). I wouldn't call Soto a basher either, as he has no track record...Lee, ARAM, and Soriano do have a track record though.
Anyway, let's hope this is just a mirage, and our road miseries will not continue, because if they do, and we're playing one of the worst teams in all of baseball for four games (Giants) and can't get it done, then I think you're staring at the Cards ass as they run away with the division
Aaron... I'm not going to keep up this debate--so you will have the last word if you want it. But I will point out that Gary's and my posts were nearly simultaneous. It's a fact that I had no knowledge of Gary's post so your last comment is another failed attempt to capture reason where none exists. Two final points: It's closer to sad than hilarious that you found humor in an incident that you imagined but that did not happen. Second I would say to Gary, having now seen his post, that we do need some fresh blood. I supplied a pitchers' list earlier tonight. But it's also true that a then playoff team and a now NL leader are pretty good starting points for being a contender.
Before the All-Star break we have 7 games against the Giants, 3 home games against the Reds, and we get the chance to play our closest adversary three times. So basically, 10 "easy" games and 3 tough ones where you have a chance to directly affect your standing. I predict we enter the All-Star week up 5 games.
JimK -- you are better than to reply to the likes of Aaron and Gary. Since I decided to not even bother I've had a much better time on here. It's therapeutic. Just don't bother with them. Like any pest, the easiest way to rid yourself of the issue is to ignore.
Gary, I am not saying that at all. This is the first time really all year that we have been in a little bit of a funk, and the injuries sure the hell aren't helping us. And it is just not the injuries to Soriano, Big Z, and Johnson, but Fukudome has been banged up a little as of late missing two games, Edmonds has been playing with a banged up foot and hamstring, Theriot missed some time with a swolen hand. So yes the injruies are going to take a toal on a team, guys aren't going to be able to get their normal rest, some guys are going to be playing out of position.
It took us 2 1/2 months into the season before we finally lost 3 in a row, and that happened to the first place Rays who also swept the Red Sox and Angles, and up until the Orioles series, we hadn't lost a home series since the FIRST week of the season, and now all of a sudden we are a weak team? Do I agree we need to start winning on the road YES, and I also agree a #2 starter needs to be aquired, and I am pretty sure everyone else here does to, but every team will go through a spell like this, this does not make us a weak or bad team.
Uhhhh last I checked this morning the paper told me we were still in first place, were percentage points from having the best record in all of baseball.....seems Big Z is ready to take his turn on the mound against rival St Louis.....and we should have Reed back to use then too.
Where is the freakin panic mode coming from???? It's about to be July 31 and we can bet we will be buyers.....I'd bank on Greg Maddux coming home and probably AJ Burnett. (Still would love CC though)
Joe, C.C. would look good in Cubbie Blue wouldn't he?!
CC would be awesome....and would give us another pinch hitter too!!! Did you see that mammoth shot in LA??
I don't know that we will spend what it takes. I hope we do because he's going somewhere for sure...and I'd ratehr have him on our side than against us.
I do hope we bring Greg home for the ride too..... I bet he'd come cheap. The Pads want to do the right thing for him.....
Call me a fool, but I'd also bring Hill right back up here and see if he can cut it. Quit wasting time in the minors. Drop him in for a start and say son, go kick some ass.