Game Eighty-Six: Cubs (51-34) vs. Giants (37-48)
Game Time - 6:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 189
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco
Sean Gallagher (3-3, 4.36/1.38) vs. Tim Lincecum (9-1, 2.38/1.24)
Updated - 3:46pm C.T. - Reed Johnson Activated - Eric Patterson Optioned
The Cubs will attempt to do tonight what only one other Major League club, the Rockies on April 29th, has done this season....beat Tim Lincecum and win their first series on the road since taking 2 of 3 from the Blue Jays nearly three weeks ago. After tonight's game, the Cubs will have played as many games at home 43 (33-10) as on the road 43 (18-24). Lou Piniella's crew must improve their performance away from the Friendly Confines and will try to post back-to-back road victories since the Toronto series.
Aramis Ramirez is expected back in the lineup tonight after missing the first 3 games in San Francisco for the birth of his child....and Reed Johnson is expected to be activated from the DL as well with either Eric Patterson or Matt Murton the likely candidates to be optioned to Iowa to make room on the roster for Johnson's return.
Sean Gallagher impressed his skipper during his last outing on the South Side on Saturday and earned tonight's start. Gallagher gave up 4 of his 5 runs in the first 2 innings before settling down and giving up only 1 run in the last 4 innings....unfortunately it was a game tying home run by Alexei Ramirez after the Cubs had taken a 1 run lead in the top of the inning. Gallagher appeared to grow up on the mound that afternoon, after a little "pep talk" from Piniella, tonight will be his first opportunity to prove he not only listened to his manger but heard what he said.
Gallagher has yet to post a big league win on the road. He is 0-3 in 5 starts, 7 games, with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Gallagher has shown improvement every time out and after posting a 2-1 record in 4 starts in May with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP....he was 1-2 in 5 starts last month with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in his first full month as a Major League starter.
Gallagher has faced the Giants just once in his brief career....and earned a save. Gallagher came on in relief of Carlos Zambrano in a 12-1 Cubs win at Wrigley on July 18th. Gallagher, by rule, picked up the save after working 4 innings and allowing only 1 run on 4 hits with 2 walks and no strikeouts....his best outing of the 2007 season.
- Rich Aurilia - 0-for-1
- Ray Durham - 1-for-2
- Fred Lewis - 0-for-2
- Bengie Molina - 0-for-2
- Randy Winn - 0-for-1
The Cubs offense will have the pleasure of facing arguably the best young arm in the National League in Tim Lincecum. The young flame-thrower has struck out 114 batters and walked only 43 in 109 2/3 innings. Lincecum was drafted by the Cubs in the 48th round back in 2003 but opted for college instead and was taken by the Giants as the 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Lincecum is coming off a 7-inning gem against the A's. He allowed only 5 hits and no runs while walking 3 and striking out 11....the second time this season Lincecum has notched 11 k's in a single game.
Lincecum was 2-0 in 6 starts in June with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP....at AT & T this season, 2-1 in 7 games with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Tonight will be Lincecum's third career start against the Cubs, he is 0-1 in his first 2 outings with a 2.51 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Cubs beat him in San Francisco 5-1 on August 21st of last season, he allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 8 innings with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk. At Wrigley, the Cubs and Rich Hill beat the Giants 3-2. Lincecum received a no decision and the Cubs managed only 1 run on 2 hits (home run by Koyie Hill) in 6 1/3 innings.
Lincecum is an extremely arrogant pitcher on the mound and can get under his opponents skin. If the Cubs let him get comfortable, it could be a very long, frustrating evening.
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-4
- Jim Edmonds - 0-for-5
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-6
- Aramis Ramirez - 0-for-6
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-7 with a double
Update - According to a report from the Sun-Times, Reed Johnson was activated from the 15-day DL and Eric Patterson was optioned to Iowa to make room for Johnson. According to the Sun-Times, Johnson will start tonight's game in left field.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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Alright two bats back...Ramirez and Reed......one more on the way soon in Soriano.....thank goodness. And Big Z tomorrow..... now lets kick it in gear.....
Lets defeat a good pitcher and head off to St Louis on a good note!
I really don't get why Patterson gets sent down over Murton. E-Pat had one bad (ok terrible) game in the field and he gets banished from ever seeing the field again. With getting a righty bat in Johnson back what use do we have for Murton? At least Patterson brings a left-handed bat, with speed and a little pop of the bench. Just over a week ago we had a dynamic duo at the top of the order in Fukudome and Patterson and now he can't make the team over a ground ball hitter with less speed and questionable defense?
For once Neil, I will wholeheartedly agree on the caliber of pitcher... Lincecum is electric.... Sean Gallagher has to have a great game for us to have any chance.
Baron....for once?
Tonight's lineup:
Johnson - LF
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
Soto - C
DeRosa - 2B
Theriot - SS
Gallagher - P
I am a huge fan of this lineup!
Im betting Reed gets HBP tonight.
Anyone else think Soriano should be able to run 100% when he returns. He was starting to run before the injury. The hand just gave his legs this much more time to heal the legs.
Matt....GREAT point and my thoughts exactly on Soriano's legs.
Here are my line estimates for Gallagher and Lincecum tonight. Gallagher 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R and 5 SO. Lincecum 7 IP, 6H, 3R and 6 SO. And, I think our pen will get a save. I phoned that in to the ballpark, but they decided to play the game anyway. Some talk about me being a CCO--Chicago Cockeyed Optimist. Let's Come Up With The Surprise Tonight Cubs!!!
agreed about EPat, though the comparison is a little tough, because BOTH can be streaky...and BOTH seem to be in a valley (peaks and valleys) right now. Lou seems to have a hard-on for Lee in the 3 spot, though. I just had a thought that made me giddy like a school girl. Reed/Fuku in 1/2...ARam the RBI machine in 3 to knock at least one in, Edmonds @ cleanup to knock the rest in with a dinger, then Lee is up with the bases clear...so it's a single ground out, and not GDP. Ehh...while we're making assumptions...
Neil,
I just meant that you are more of a glass half-full guy when analyzing the Cubs offense.... and praising the opposing pitcher...
I don't think a single pitcher the Cubs have faced the past month, Kazmir included, is of the caliber of Lincecum... This time, 1 run in 7 innings would be understandable
Baron...I agree, I do that probably too much.
On another note, the D'Backs just scored 6 runs without making an out in the 9th to beat the Brewers 6-5.
Welcome back Reed.
Good job by Reed to get it started....Lee with the RBI.
ugg...leadoff walk? Geez...if you have to put the first man on base, make sure he's got a nice bruise to show for it!! lol
So glad to have Reed back!
96mph fastball, 82 mph curve, with command at his age....
This kid is simply filthy....
lincecum might have the best pure stuff ive ever seen hes the next big thing
I cant believe the Cubs drafted him
This guy's stuff is way better than Prior's ever was.... One of the few times this season, I have been excited to see the OPPOSING pitcher.
yeah...when Edmonds was up, the kid put up 4 fastballs that were all in the EXACT SAME SPOT, then got him to ground out on a changeup. nice job
wait the cubs drafted this kid?
The Cubs were the first to draft him before he went back to college...
Jim Hendry should have given him a personal lap dance... Wait.. that wouldn't work, would it??
Did everybody check out the DBacks' & Brewers' box for todays game? Wow, giving up a 6 spot in the bottom of the 9th has to be rough on the Brewers' psyche.
r u kidding me gallagher throw him fucking heat and make him hit it stop hanging offspeed pitches
Ugly..
Yes, JJ....the Cubs drafted him out of high school in 2003....went to college instead. Was taken as the 10th pick after his junior year.
Gallagher just gave up a hit to the pitcher. If you look close enough you can see smoke coming out of Lou's ears....a triple?!?!?
3-1 Giants
5 base runners in 2 innings for Gallagher... better get the bullpen warm early..
Even you cheerleaders have to be realistic about the prospect of the Cubs' pulling out this one.
You have two outs and the pitcher up...
Its a 3 run defecit after 2 innings Gary.
Give me a break. No, I aint worried.
hmm...4 runs w/ 2 outs in the bottom of the 2nd...sounds like the ingredients for a batch of Cubbie kool-aid...
On another note, how many TV guys do the Giants have?
Ive heard 5 guys in 4 days!
Fukudome is hitting .249 since June 1 with 4 HR...
In his prime, Edmonds had more power, a similar average and better defense than Fuk...
I have been severely dissappointed in Fuk of late... .816 OPS on the season isn't horrible, but it isn't anything special
Lincecum is the true definition of nasty, man!
He can be wild, so lets get after it!
Lincecum has thrown 71 pitches through 4... If we can make him work.... He should be over 100 through 6 and let us into their bullpen
I would like to see Ryan start stealing bases again..
At aleast Lincecum has a fairly high pitch count and should be well over 100 by the 6th. There certainly won't be any scoring by the Cubs, until he's out. And Matt, if you think they will......did I mention I live next to the Everglades?
Fukudome makin him work...
88 pitches through 5... If i see any 1st pitch swinging in the 6th, I'm going to blow a gasket
Aint knocking ya man. But I sat down all the way through the 8 run comeback against Colorado.
From that moment on I told myself I wouldnt give up on this team this season. I'm keeping the faith. This is a crazy game and anything could happen.
Everglades? Explain.
Lincecum's pitch totals last month:
100
83
103
108
109
116 - last outing
88 tonight after 5
Good numbers, but Ill be damned if hes showing any signs of it.
This bullpen is fearsome, too.
They are a move and season away from being really good.
Neil you are the man.
Wow, hes being pushed a littler...
109, 116 -- for a 23 year old power arm.... Bochy is apparently from the Dusty Baker school
Matt,
An old saying goes "and If you believe that I have some swamp land for sale too"
Other than that 2nd inning, Gallagher isn't looking too bad.
Haha, I like that Gary.
Nice hitting Hollywood.
Damn, Geo..
Good pitch.
DERO MY HERO!!!!!!
NEVER GIVE UP!!!!
WHOOOOO!!!
DeRosa!!!
Why did Theriot swing at the first pitch?!?!?!?!
I happily eat crow on the "Cubs won't score any more on Lincecum" prediction.
I cant talk ya into a pom pom yet, can I?
Mikey, Mikey he's our man!
If he can't do it....
...
...Kerry can!
Off the subject but....I want a World Series. Lets send Gallagher, Cedeno, Hoffpauir, Murton, Ascanio - whatever it takes to get Sabathia. Another stud pitcher is the last piece of the puzzle. Go Cubs!
I want another starter, too.
But I found this to be a worthwhile read.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings
Gallagher does just a little better in the 2nd, and this one stands Cubs 3 Giants 2--about as predicted. We can pull this one out too. Get it done Cubs!!!
That may be one of the ugliest ABs I have ever seen from Derrek.
We're right there now. Aramis Edmonds and Soto are up in the eight.
A strike out annd dounble-play would be nice.
Another 3-run homer served up by Marmol....
Alright, Marmol has some problems..
This has to get fixed..AND SOON!
What is up with Marmol? I don't get it.
If youre going to make a mistake, dont make it up in the zone.
Make it low...
Marmol needs to be be beaten.....
DISGRACEFUL... TERRIBLE... INEXCUSABLE...
GGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
AaronB....sorry to say, but those players will not net Sabathia. Much, much more.
I guess Marmol is Spanish for: I only pitch well in April and May. Maybe Jim Hendry needs to acquire a bullpen guy as well because Marmol has been horrible.
Matt - good article. There may be something said to chaning a good thing - which is what we have.
And the Yankees have been trying to buy a World Series win for 5 years without any luck.
It's still hard to not want sabathia in blue pin stripes.
Their ancient hitters (in particular) have schooled our young pitchers, Gallagher, Marmol and Ascanio. That's not acceptable. One guy maybe, but not two or three. I'm blacked out and am wondering if anything looked out of sync for Carlos.
Matt... The Stark story you reference makes sense (few trades get done mid year and some don't help), but JH should be able to add a couple of pitchers before long. I do think that Hart may be an answer in the pen pretty soon. He's had two strong outings in a row.
I think most people have forgotten that Marmol really tanked at the end of last year. I saw in person, the Marlins pound him hard. If I remeber right, he fell off last year right at about the 50 inning mark as well.
My beef is that he also pitched in the latin leagues as well.
He really hasnt been shut down for a good amount of time for quite awhile.
Just getting in fronm work....was following on line what a horrid game.....
Matt as for the Giants announcers, I've been stuck with them on my cable package and it's only two guys....Duane Kuiper is play by play and Mike Krukow is color. I like Krukow...he reminds em alot (and sounds alot) like Mark Grant of the Padres.
Well....lets rally up for St Louis!!!
I hate to say it, but I will... The Cubs will fall out of first Sunday and won't recover all season long...
Their road record dictates that they have weaknesses that can't be overcome. I wish it weren't true... but our starting pitching is mediocre.
Well, I would expect us to pick up Fuentes from Colordao....nice LH bullpen guy who can close/set up. I would actually DL Marmol to rest his arm. Dont want to crush him with a trip tp the minors..especially when what he needs is rest. Make up an injury and shelve him for 15 days.
Neil, I bet if Hendry offered all 5 of the players mentioned earlier for Sabathia he would indeed be able to get him. Cleveland is getting nothing but a couple draft picks if they hold him and he leaves as a free agent.
First off the Mets are spanking the Cards 9-0 in the 5th....so we should still end the nigth 2.5 up. The only way we lose first is by a sweep....do you really have that little faith in the team??? Thats really sad about quite a few Cubs fans.....
At least we won't lose ground tonight. Brewers lost and Cards are losing 9-0. Marmol has to join K. Wood as shut down studs in the pen or we can't succeed late in the year. And we need replacements for Cotts, Ascanio and Eyre. Marshall and Hart could fill two spots, but I sure would like a veteran like Marte. Yes, another quality starter to go with Z, Lilly and Dempster is also on my wish list.
After tatooing Lincecum for 3 runs, we give up 5 AFTER HE LEAVES???
Unless you have kool-aid flowing for blood, you must SURELY see something wrong in that!!!!!
Also for all the "die hard fans" that seem to think the Cubs are collapsing (even though we still have the BEST record in the National League) perhaps you might look at the standings and see it's not just the Cubs struggling....
Going into today the records for the last 10 games are as follows:
6-4
Dodgers, Brewers, Astros
5-5
Giants, Cardinals, Pirates
4-6
CUBS, Reds, Phillies, Marlins, Braves, Mets, Nationals (yes the entire NL East)
3-7
Dbacks
2-8
Rockies
1-9
Padres
So you see most of the NL has scuffled in the last 10 games. The team chasing us has only been one game better.
So, for heavens sake, relax....enjoy the fact we have THE BEST RECORD in the NL...and our ace pitcher is back....and our ace outfielder is soon to be back....
I agree with the statement, "Marmol should be shutdown". I think he is tired. Pitched in winter ball and was used a lot at the beginning of the season. A DL stint might be good just to keep him from being used.
Joe S. if they can get C.C. for those players....make that deal ASAP. If the Brewers get involved, they have a deeper system with bigger impact prospects.
Believe me, I hope I am wrong.
JP....take a breath. Long season and few teams are winning on the road. If the score holds up in St. Louis tonight, the Cubs will be 2 1/2 up.
Maybe if Lou was not the manager, I could see that happening, but he will not put up with a team not performing. I do not see the team tanking, regardless of what happens in St. Louis.
The key to the Cardinals series is making their starters work and get into the bullpen.
Neil, I agree with you there....
Marmol is, outside of Wood, our most talented bullpen arm....
What is happening to him is SUPER alarming...
think about this --- Game 5 of the NLDS.... 8th innning -- 1 run lead.... you KNOW Marmol is the guy that has to be up.... Are you going to put Howry and his ~.300 BAA up there?
Marmol has looked like the rest of the bull-pen, barring Wood -- for the past 2-3 weeks....
On top of that, is there really a debate about what price is too high for CC Sabathia? Really? What do we have done in AAA?? Hill, Patterson, Hart???
Does anyone really thing anyone on our AAA roster is a potential superstar? CC is kinda fat, so i probably wouldn't give them everyone.... but Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Eric Patterson, Mike Fontenot -- for CC Sabathia is an absolute NO BRAINER.....
oops -- sorry
Gallagher, Cedeno, Hoffpauir, Murton, Ascanio
for Sabathia is also a NO BRAINER.
Neil,
"Long season and few teams are winning on the road. If the score holds up in St. Louis tonight, the Cubs will be 2 1/2 up."
this is what i was talking about at the start of the night..... that might be 'positive thinking' but it also might be 'wishful thinking' unless some positive steps are taken. Somehow scraping through and winning the division should not be the priority... Explaining why we are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals, who aside from Pujol's, don't have a single player of ANY reputation or proven ability, is really not the approach that will lead to a World Series.....
Since C.C. is going to be a free agent after this season, will we be giving up most of our farm system just for a 3 month rental? Actually...if he can help us win the title, it doesnt matter..lol.
I don't think that package would come close to getting CC. Since we don't have any superstar prospects, I think we'd have to offer 4 very good ones ... maybe Vitters, Samardja, Pie, and Gallagher. Ken Rosenthal had an article last night that the Brewers might be offering LaPorta and Escobar too ... if that's true, Cleveland should jump on it.
XM is reporting that Manny Parra couls be included in the talks with the Indians as well.
David....Samardzija has a no-trade clause.
Thanks Neil. I didn't realize that about Samardzija (and never seem to be able to spell his name right). Wow ... putting Parra, Escobar, and LaPorta on the table has to make the Brewers the clear front runners for CC.
Neil and David... Now that you have 'splained the plan, it looks like Milwaukee has first dibs on C.C., if he is traded. The Mil. Journal Sentinel is full of reports on the possible deal--with LaPorta and third baseman Taylor Green (Hi A) and their last year player of the year being mentioned. The Indians need a third baseman and a power guy in left field. Other better known prospects Gamel and Escobar are mentioned--with SS Escobar seeming to be the guy the Brewers would least like to trade. Part of the Brewers' motivation is this could be their last chance to team another stud with Sheets.
The Brewers are in the enviable position of having not committed to the "Star System" (5 contracts and $75 million) with a total payroll of $81 mil and Sheets at the top with $12.5. The Sentinel says Sheets may be let go at the end of the season--their not wanting to bid more for his services. His $12 mil and Gagne's 1 year and $10 mil would enable paying C.C.
You wonder if C.C. would opt to stay in Milwaukee--knowing he has some preference for his home, L.A. area. Losing him after giving up top prospects would be a huge price to pay. My prior view has been that the Dodgers had the best shot. I think our chances are slim and none, and slim has left the building unless we put guys like Marmol and Vitters in the deal. I wouldn't do that unless I knew C.C. was signable long term.
JimK...One thing worth mentioning, the Brewers should receive two picks for losing Sheets (Type-A, player) if he leaves and it they land C.C. (Type-A, player) they would receive two more.
Ive got an idea.
How abut we just go on a massive winning streak and force Milwaukee to 10.0 + GB.
Then theyd have to consider on being buyers or not..