Game Fifty-Seven - Cubs 5 Rockies 3
WP - Sean Gallagher (3-1) LP - Ubaldo Jimenez (1-6) Save - Kerry Wood (14)
Lou Piniella's crew started the month of June with a solid win against the Colorado Rockies and completed the 7-game homestand with a perfect 7-0 record. With the victory the Cubs set a new-season high with their 7th win in a row and for the first time since 1984 they posted consecutive homestands with 7 or more wins....a 15-2 record in the last 17 at the Friendly Confines. The last time the Cubs posted at least 7 wins without a loss during a homestand was in April 1970 when Ron Santo and company went 10-0.
The Cubs came from behind to pickup the win for the 6th game in a row. The Cubs jumped out to an early lead but after falling behind in the top of the 4th, they recaptured the lead in the bottom of the inning. The Cubs offense appeared flat at times on getaway day but came through with the big hit when they needed it. They managed only 9 hits with 3 walks and left 8 on base.
Aramis Ramirez, Jim Edmonds and Alfonso Soriano supplied the offense and Sean Gallagher won his third career big league game. Gallagher was effective and held the Rockies to 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Gallagher hit a couple of batters but did not issue a free pass and struck out 8 for the first time in his short career. The Cubs bullpen was very impressive once again. Michael Wuertz allowed an inherited run to score in the 6th and walked a batter but Scott Eyre, Bobby Howry and Kerry Wood kept the Rockies off the board and allowed only 1 hit without a walk and stuck out 4 over the last 3 1/3 innings.
Aramis Ramirez was 3-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI....and Alfonso Soriano hit his 13th home run in the 6th to give the Cubs a much-needed insurance run. Jim Edmonds picked up where he left off on Friday and finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, 2 RBI's and a bases loaded walk in the 5th. Edmonds doubled in Aramis Ramirez with the tying run in the 4th.
The Cubs improved to 15 games over .500 and 26-8 at Wrigley in front of the largest crowd of the season at the Friendly Confines....
Lou Piniella continues to get contributions from his entire roster. On a day without Derrek Lee in the starting lineup for the first time this season both Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds stepped up. Then there is Alfonso Soriano....while Piniella replaced him with Reed Johnson in left field in the 9th for the second time in 2 games, he still came up with another big home run. Soriano swung the momentum back to his team after the Rockies cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the 6th. For all of his faults in the field, for the Cubs to be successful this season they need the Alfonso Soriano that has been producing at the plate for the last month.
Sean Gallagher might have sewn up the 5th spot in the rotation with his performance on Sunday. Gallagher made a couple of mistakes but pitched ahead in the count most of the afternoon. He showed very good command and velocity with his fastball. Gallagher's lack of command on his breaking ball cost him a couple of base runners but all in all it was a very positive outing for the 22-year old right-hander.
Gallagher set a new career high with 8 strikeouts on Sunday and made a statement on the first batter of the game. Gallagher struck out Scott Podsednik on 3 pitches and retired the first two batters on foul tips that found their way into Geovany Soto's glove. Todd Helton appeared to hit a routine fly to Soriano for the third out of the inning but the ball went off of Soriano's glove....he recovered and threw a strike to Mark DeRosa at 2nd to nail Helton trying to advance on the error. Soriano's second error of the year turned into his third outfield assist.
Gallagher struck out 2 more in the 2nd and retired 6 of the first 7 batters he faced. Gallagher hit Yorvit Torrealba to start the 3rd and gave up his first hit of the game a batter later....Scott Podsednik hit a hard single into left. Gallagher retired both Cory Sullivan and Todd Helton to get out of the inning. The 4th inning was not as kind to Gallagher.
Garrett Atkins singled to center to start the 4th. Seth Smith followed with a double down the right field line. Ian Stewart singled to right to tie the game at 1. With runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, Omar Quintanilla hit a sacrifice fly to left. Soriano made a good throw to the plate, but it hit Smith in the hand and bounced away from Soto....2-1 Rockies.
Gallagher struck out Torrealba and Ubaldo Jimenez grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Rockies third run of the game came in the 6th. Gallagher struck out the first two batters he faced (Smith and Stewart) but gave up a double to left center on the first pitch to Omar Quintanilla. Lou Piniella made the slow walk and replaced Gallagher with Michael Wuertz. Wuertz could not find the strike zone, left a slider up in the zone to Yorvit Torrealba and Quintanilla scored on a double to right center. Wuertz walked Ryan Spilborghs and Piniella made the slow walk.
With the tying run in scoring position, Scott Eyre quickly fell behind Willy Taveras 3-0. After a questionable first strike call kept Eyre from loading the bases, Taveras looked at strike three to end the inning.
Bobby Howry was very impressive in his 1 2/3 innings of relief with 2 strikeouts and Kerry Wood threw a perfect 9th with a strikeout to earn his 14th save of the season.
Ryan Theriot started the Cubs' scoring in the 1st inning. Theriot reached on an infield single off the leg of Jimenez. The ball caromed off the left leg of the Rockies' pitcher into foul ground and Theriot reached with the game's first hit. Micah Hoffpauir advanced Theriot to 2nd with a swinging bunt and Aramis Ramirez drove him in with a single to right.
Aramis Ramirez led off the 4th with his team down 2-1 and reached on a bloop single to right. Kosuke Fukudome (0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts) struck out and Geovany Soto walked. Jim Edmonds stepped in and delivered a double to left that plated Ramirez with the tying run.
With runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1-out, Clint Hurdle brought his infield in with Mark DeRosa at the plate. DeRosa hit a grounder to Ian Stewart at 2nd base, the Rockies' 2nd baseman knocked the ball down, kept it in front but it got away and Soto was able to score the go ahead run. No RBI for DeRosa....but it led to a win. Gallagher sacrificed DeRosa into scoring position but Soriano flied out to right on a 2-0 count to end the inning.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the 5th after singles by Ryan Theriot and Micah Hoffpauir. The Rockies eventually issued the free pass to Aramis Ramirez after falling behind 3-0. With the bases loaded and no outs, Jimenez struck out both Fukudome and Soto. Jim Edmonds took strike one and then looked at 4 straight out of the zone....his patience forced in Theriot with the Cubs 4th run.
Sometimes it is not how you play a team but when you play a team. The Rockies were missing several of their key players but the Cubs still had to win the games. Clint Hurdle's team can hit and that point was proven on Friday. Lou Piniella has a good team right now, they are beating the teams they should.... and the next month will provide a good indication if the Cubs are just a good team or a very good team.
Carlos Zambrano will start the opener against the Padres in the first of seven out West on Monday. Shawn Estes was scheduled to take the hill but was placed on the DL on Sunday. Bud Black will send Cha Seung Baek to the hill instead in his second career start.
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I'm starting to root against Toronto now. If they fall out of it, they likely will make Burnett available and he'd be a great addition for us. I could also see the Dodgers making Lowe available if they're out of it, but I'd prefer Burnett. Cleveland could put Sabathia on the block, but I don't think we have the prospects to deal for him. Any other starters that might be available come July?
David:
I agree with you.
I really believe that we need a bona fide #2 starter. Our rotation could be something like:
1 Zambrano
2 {Burnett, Penny, Cain (Doubtful)}
3 Lilly
4 Dempster
5 Gallagher, Hill
I don't have much faith in Marquis.
Aaron Cook?
Vicente Padilla..nooo
Bartolo Colon could be on the market when Schilling comes back.
Penny is a high 4-seam fastball, over-hand curve type pitcher which will lead to more flyball outs...bad at Wrigley.
Jim, I'm with you on Marquis. Cain would be a dream, but the three untouchables on SF right now are Lincecum, Cain and Sanchez. SF is going to try to build a future around those three guys. I still think Burnett may be the best bet among those that will be available and reasonably priced. We could probably get him for Pie and a solid pitching prospect.
I think Marshall will get a chance to start a few games before the season ends. And he should be brought up for Wuerts as soon he gets streched out.
Hill makes me wonder. I like Ascaino.
Any thoughts on what type of trade value Marquis would have?
I'd actually rather see a left-handed upgrade in the pen over Cotts and Eyre. I'm having too much fun just wathcing this team right now to even think to much about what would make the better, but it is fun. Hell a starter and lefty bullpen help would be great!
Lew-
I think that Marquis would fit with a team that needs an innings eater. Usually, teams are looking more for prospects as a deadline trade as it is usually a salary dump for the non-contender. Names that will come up (again) are Pie and Colvin despite lackluster performance.
One more time... THAKYOU for not trading us Brian Roberts Baltimore!!! Keep it up Gallagher me love you long time!!!
Here is a complete list of Starting Pitchers due for free agency at the end of the year.
I do like the suggestion of Burnett who has the option to void the remainder of his contract. The Jays would rather trade him if he is going to leave, so hopefully he wants to return the good ol US OF A and wear the red white and blue of the Cubbies.
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Chad Durbin (31)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) - $7.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for '09
Brett Tomko (36)
Josh Towers (32)
Steve Trachsel (38)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Woody Williams (42)
Randy Wolf (32)
Nice thanks for that list. I heard today Prior is having season-ending surgery. Two things, can a season end before it began? And, Was it wrong of me to start laughing while hearing this report? He's getting paid for letting other people take care of his hospital bills. I need to come up with a scheme like that. Hmmm, if I could only have that one nice season...
Myke...too funny....you should have read all the posts from the previous blog of Talkin Cubs Live 6/1/08....I said I enjoyed reading Prior was out too...but not too many agreed with my take on it....
How do you figure Lilly being the no.2 starter over Dempster??? On what planet?
It wasn't my post that put Lilly ahead of Dempster, but i agree with that assessment. The "planet" being September of this year. It is possible that Dempster will prove better, but more likely that Lilly will prove to be the better pitcher by then. BTW, what happened to all the "Dumpster" comments from those who thought JH was foolish for not cutting/trading him in March? I think he's not as bad as people thought back then nor as good as he's been through 2 months of this year.
In an ideal world Dempster would be signed to fair one year (hometown) contract. That way he would surely be motivated in the offseason, as he was coming into this season.
This season is making me beleive that off-season preparation leads to in-season success. Several players showed up in great shape: Z, Demp, Gallagher, Soto, Woody, even Ramy. And the guys I didn't mention no doubt stay fit. Where other teams have been weakened by injuries, the Cubs have stayed healthier than most. Let's hope this thing continues to roll.
This is my prediction.
I know there would be better options but my prediction is that we will get Maddox once agin from the San Deigo Padres at the trade deadline.
Also would like to say, Isn't this fun!!!!!!!
Ah the challenge--what to do about pitching--ours and adding to ours. Here's a question. If Dempster wins 14 or 15 games, how many would give him a 4 year deal at $10 mil per year? I would.
I proposed before the season started that Burnett and Lowe could be additions before the trading deadline. Burnett has to opt out of his '09 and '10 $12 mil option years to become a free agent. He has limited trade protection which I presume doesn't preclude the Cubs. I would want to know that he wouldn't lose him at the end of 2008 to trade good talent for him.
Lowe looked very good in his recent "audition" against the Cubs. I would like an extension deal with him to give the Dodgers more than one quality prospects and wouldn't give them Vitters. I note Neil's reservation because Boras is his agent.
I now think trades for younger players or another established guy could be the way to go. Bedard is on my radar because he only signed a 1 year $7 million deal with the Mariners. They have troubles on the field and in the front office--and my guess is that Bedard will not resign with them. It would embarass them but the Mariners may well take Hoffpauir (to replace (final year) Sexson), Marshall and Russell. We would give Bedard a 4 or 5 year deal at $12 to $14 mil and have a solid #2 to go with Z. That assumes we think Bedard is a top of the rotation guy and that he would not be offered more money elsewhere.
I do think the Giants would trade Sanchez in a deal for what one of our posters some weeks ago called "our trash". That would be position players that they badly need including Hoffpauir, Cedeno and EPat (who is well above .300 at Iowa). I felt then and do now that they could start now for the Giants--although the DP combo might wait until Vizquel and Durham finish 2008. I think we would get a helpful lefty reliever in the deal too.
Another trade partner possibility is the Padres for Wolf or Young. I think we have capable middle infielders and some young pitching that we can spare in any deal, and the Padres might like Murton, Castillo or Colvin.
Because we are likely to see the league catch up to us some in the next 90 games and top pitching wins short series, I would like Z, Lilly, Dempster, Gallagher to be joined by a top of the rotation guy. I'm also looking for an acquired good lefty reliever to join Marmol, Wood, Howry, Lieber and Wuertz in the pen.
Love all the talk of pitching.....
As for Maddux....love him to death...but not sure I'd want him on the team again. Would be a nice touch to have him for a possible Series run...but I dont like him over who we have or what else might be available.
Bedard....true he only has a one year deal..but he's not elgible for free agency until 2010...only arbitration eligible, so he remains property of Seattle. I dont see them trading him afetr all the talent they gave Baltimore for him. I'd LOVE to have him, but dont think it's realistic.
Lowe....not a big fan of his...and also..guys...the Dodgers are in the race for the division....so....don't think the Dodgers are going to be making trades any time soon.
Wolf and Young....I've mentioned Wolf before....would be a good candidate. Young is not eligible for free agency and the Pads are not likely to get rid of him.
Our bullpen has been a bright spot, I dont think with the pitchers we have that we need to worry about a "lefty" in the pen. Woody handles the 9th and Marmol the 8th. We have Howry or Eyre for the 7th so we can go lefty righty that inning. Starters should be getting us 6 innings.
How about Aaron Cook as a possibility. He is having the best year of his career, and the Rockies are not doing very well at all. I think the Rockies may try to take adavantage of his increased value from his success this season and unload him. We do have the prospects to get him and adding him would make our rotation alot more dependable come the postseason
Random thoughts. First 17 games at home 11-6, second 17 games, 15-2. Make hay, Cubs! Road trip looks favorable, Padres and Dodgers, no pitching and no hitting. Make hay, Cubs! September will be here before you know it! Only 3 Cubs should make the All Star team. Too many makes us lose focus. Soto, Big Z, and D-Lee. Everyone else gets invited to Lou's Big All Star Bash, if he's not in New York. We ain't won nothing yet!!!
How about getting royal starter Jach Greinke
Another name to put into consideration Oakland starter Rich Harden if he is healthy.