Game Eighty-Seven: Cubs (51-35) vs. Cardinals (49-38)
Game Time - 7:15pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Carlos Zambrano (8-3, 3.13/1.33) vs. Braden Looper (9-5, 4.26/1.40)
Updated - 5:30pm C.T. - Zambrano Activated - Jose Ascanio Optioned
Happy 4th of July from the CCO.... How American is this? Apple Pie, Chevrolet, Baseball, Fireworks and the Cubs and Cardinals on Independence Day!
Lou Piniella's crew opens a big 3-game series tonight in St. Louis against the Cardinals. The Cubs have not played well of late and will receive a boost by activating Carlos Zambrano from the 15-day DL before the game. Piniella stated Zambrano will be on a pitch count in the 85-90 range and his team needs him to complete at least 6 innings of work. Jose Ascanio will likely be optioned down to make room from Zambrano with Sean Gallagher, for now, taking his place in the bullpen.
Tonight will also feature the return of Jim Edmonds to St. Louis in a Cubs' uniform. Edmonds should be greeted warmly, but those that had a problem with Edmonds donning a Cubs' jersey can only imagine what it will be like to see one of their favorite players of all-time in Cubs colors.
The Cardinals won 2 of 3 in their first meeting of the year at Busch Stadium (May 2nd - May 4th) and the two archrivals have 12 games left this season, starting with the first of three tonight.
The Cubs' offense needs Aramis Ramirez to start hitting tonight. Ramirez is 0-for-his-last-21 and has not hit a home run in his last 64 at bats since leading the Cubs to the 3-game sweep over the White Sox.
Alfonso Soriano will rejoin the Cubs today in St. Louis after undergoing another round of X-rays on Thursday in Chicago. His broken hand has healed to the point where he will start hitting off a tee before tonight's game. There is speculation that Soriano could return as soon as next weekend's series against the Giants at Wrigley....the last before the All-Star break.
On June 2nd the Cubs began a very difficult 32 game stretch that featured 23 of the 32 away from Wrigley Field. The Cubs are 15-14 in the first 29 games and have won 4 of the 9 series with 2 ties. Starting with today's game, the Cubs have 38 left at home and 38 remaining on the road....and after this series, 38 of the Cubs last 73 games are at the Friendly Confines.
The Cubs are 115-93 in the history of the organization on the 4th of July....
Carlos Zambrano is scheduled to make his first start since June 18th in Tampa. Zambrano left the game in the 7th inning with what was diagnosed as a strained right shoulder. Reports have indicated Big Z is feeling fine and some have speculated that Zambrano being shutdown for 2 weeks could help the team down the road.
Tonight is a big game for the Cubs but most importantly Carlos Zambrano. Forget the rivalry, forget the standings, the Cubs must have a healthy Carlos Zambrano for the remainder of the season in order to compete for a division title.
Zambrano was not pitching well before being placed on the DL. He was 1-2 in 4 starts with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP while opponents hit .317 against him. Zambrano was struggling with command, and himself, in his last 3 starts after being nearly unhittable for the first two months of the season (4-1 in 5 starts in April with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, 3-0 in 6 starts in May with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP). Zambrano's strikeout to walk ratio was horrible, 13 strikeouts to 12 walks, and after listing stat after stat, Zambrano needed a break.
Zambrano is 4-3 in 7 road starts this season with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP....tonight will be Big Z's first start of the season against the Cardinals. Last year, 3-0 in 3 starts with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP versus the Redbirds.
Big Z's career numbers versus Albert Pujols and company.... 8-4 in 19 games, 18 starts, with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
- Rick Ankiel - 0-for-4
- Chris Duncan - 3-for-12
- Troy Glaus - 1-for-3 with a double
- Adam Kennedy - 3-for-6
- Aaron Miles - 8-for-25 with a double
- Yadier Molina - 4-for-21 with a home run
- Albert Pujols - 11-for-47 with 2 doubles, 4 home runs and 6 walks
- Brendan Ryan - 0-for-3
- Skip Schumaker - 3-for-11 with a triple
The Cubs offense will face Braden Looper for the first time this season. After a rough month of May (2-3 in 5 starts with a 6.37 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP), Looper was solid in June and compiled his best numbers of the season (3-1 in 6 starts with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP).
Looper has pitched better on the road this season than at home. He is 4-3 in 9 starts with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP while opponents have hit .295 against him. Looper gives up his hits, but always seems to limit the damage. Looper received a no decision in the Cardinals 9-6 win over the Royals in his last outing. Looper gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits in 3 1/3 innings with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts....his shortest outing of the season.
The Cubs have struggled against Looper and his sinker in the past. The former reliever is 3-3 in 4 starts, 36 games, with 4 saves against the Cubs, a 2.37 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Last season Looper was 2-1 in 4 starts and held the Cubs to 5 runs on 17 hits while striking out 17 and walking 9 in 27 innings....a 1.67 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.
- Henry Blanco - 2-for-8 with 3 walks
- Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-5
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-11
- Jim Edmonds - 0-for-1
- Mike Fontenot - 0-for-7
- Derrek Lee - 4-for-15 with a home run
- Matt Murton - 1-for-7
- Aramis Ramirez - 4-for-17
- Geovany Soto - 1-for-3 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 3-for-11 with a walk
- Daryle Ward - 1-for-7 with a double and 2 walks
The offense must be patient against Looper and make him work.
On a side note.... Shaun and his wife welcomed the newest Cubs fan into the world at 12:03am on Friday morning. Congratulations on the birth of their son!
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Update - As expected, the Cubs activated Carlos Zambrano from the 15-day DL and optioned Jose Ascanio to Triple-A Iowa.
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First off.....congrats to Shaun and his wife on the addition to their family!!!!
I sure hope Big Z comes out and dominates......the team is getting back together and we need him. Having Soriano possibly as soon as next week is great news as well. Hopefully Jim keeps the phones going all through the all star break to come up with some help. If we don't get CC, I'll be happy with him going to Milwaukee....less of a concern that he will cause us problems in the playoffs.
Sure would like to get Burnett and Maddux sooner than later. Also get Marmol some rest and hope thats his issue. I know it's an unpopular thught, but I would bring Rich Hill back and try and boost his confidence and give him a start. See if you can lift him out of his funk. Give him a short rope for sure....but he has too good of stuff to have just lost it. Seems more of a confidence issue than a mechanical one.
As long as I am on my soap box....I'd love to get rid of Blanco. I know he has a good arm. I know he is "schooling" Soto...but in order to keep Soto fresh in September/October we need someone who can catch more and yet provide some sort of offense when he does. Blanco is hitting well above his 10-year career average so it's not likely to last. I'd have liked to have seen Pizaa picked up before he retired.....THAT would have been a nice back up and nice bat to have on the bench. In the NL all your bench players are key. Zambrano is more of a threat off the bench than Blanco. Heck, Marquis and Dempster may be as well.
Hope everyone is having a safe and happy 4th.....Let's go CUBBIES!!!!!
That would be Piazza I was trying to state to have as a back up catcher....... damn keyboard lol
Thank you Neil for serving up more story lines than anyone else could imagine. This game and series is very important as series go, but next year this time, more of us will remember that Shaun and his wife's son was born on the Fourth of July. Congratulations to them all! When the Cubs win tonight Shaun, please consider other names for the boy than Carlos or Lou.
Based upon the prelim info, it looks like Z ought to pitch around Albert tonight. Just throw a lot of strike one's Z, and ease off your rage pedal. And it's past time for Aram and DLee to step up big time and carry the offensive load.
Joe S....You were leading the big sausage race until you got to Hill, Piazza and Blanco. To have a chance, Hill and Piazza would have to be able play soft toss throw and catch from 60 feet, but there are no recent signs that they can do that. Blanco is excellent defensively and is a decent contact hitter.
And here's a dreamland question for you. Since we are talking of putting most of our best prospects in a deal for C.C., is their a chance that the rebuilding Pad's would accept that kind of package for Peavy?
Tonight's lineup:
Johnson - LF
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
Soto - C
DeRosa - 2B
Theriot - SS
Zambrano - P
Thanks Neil for your kind words. We are in the hospital right now getting ready for the game. I thought the Cubs were going to lose on the day my son was born, but he wouldnt have any of it as he arrived just after midnight. Now they MUST win today. I emailed Len and Bob with the news, so listen for a possible announcement on tonights broadcast.
Big game tonight...Lets go get a W.
Shaun, Heidi and Vance
KOSUKE!!!
With Zambrano on a pretty low pitch count, he really needs to throw strikes. If he pitches a typical game, he would be out by the 5th. But judging by that 1st inning, this may not be a typical game for him.
shaun I wish nothing but the best to you
and your family! Congratulations with the
Brand new Cub fan! It is never early to teach
him that blue rocks and that red doesn't! Needless
to say...I'm EXCITED!!
4 words: forget Burnett and Sabathia
2 more words: Rich Harden!
6 more words: congrats on the new baby, Shaun!
Ball Four was actually strike 3. A composed Z got past that and the swinging bunt it. So far so good. Let's get a couple more early runs for Z.
Awesome - a 4th of July baby. Congrats to you and God Bless the newest Cub fan!!
GEO!!
SOTO!!!
GEO!!
SOTO!!!
SOTO with NUMBER 14!
Geo goes yard!! I do wish we could score a couple on these HR's. Yes...I'm anxious at 2-0. Come on guys, let's put up a crooked number.
Lee's lead off double wasted as Aram and Edmonds look badly overmatched, Soto walks and is out on a short passed ball double steal. We're tempting fate!!
Z pitches around a swinging bunt hit by Albert and a walk getting 2 infield outs. Great job Z--4 hits (2 swinging bunts) 87 pitches and a shutout in 6 innings. That should it for Z.
JimK...I agree with you on the Lee double and the at bats by Ramirez and Edmonds. Soto being thrown out hurt....
From the detached look on Marmol's face in the pen and Howry's great 7th of relief, I'm guessing Howry pitches the 8th. Lou probably told Marmol that he has the night off.
Lou is getting a little too cute. He had Cotts and Wood up. Then Marmol got up--maybe because he has gotten Albert out. Howry get the first two outs with 3 pitches, is now pitching to Albert and Marmol is back in the resting postion. Albert hits the fair pole and we are now 2-1. It will be Cotts against Ankiel.
As much as I do not like the result, Howry had to pitch to Pujols. #300 in his career....WOW, 28 years old.
Maybe we add another Neil to the great ones--Finnell and Armstrong. Cotts struck out Ankiel!!! How about getting an insurance run for K. Wood.
It's a 1 run lead and up to Kerry.
Soto is coming back to life. Now
let's see Kwood step up for for Z and
the team! A good inning is needed
It's a 1 run win and Kerry was up to it. Glaus hit one out but foul by 20 feet. That was an old fashion ball game, and a much needed win.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
CONGRATS TO SHAUN AND HIS WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big win!!!
KING K!!!
Thanks Jim (Tinley)
Thats all I wanted for Vance, a W on the day he was born. Beautiful. Have a good night everyone and happy 4th of July.
welcome to earth little shaun...you just
witnessed your first Cubs win!!!maybe by
the time your 20 you will think of the Cubs
as the Yankees of the past!
One more thing Shaun...you will allways know
the age of little Aramis!!
Oh, and congrats Shaun. I missed the big news.
Came in a little late and didnt read the talkin pregame.
Big time props and congrats man.
Do we have another Heidi ready to have a baby tonight among our legends. That's the only change I see that led to this Cubs' win. It's a tough job, buy someone has to do it!!!
What a great win... Congrats on the baby Shaun!
Z is the pulse of this team... Despite being a little whacky.... it's not just his talent, but the energy that he brings....
He is worth his weight in gold -- and thats a lot of weight.
Oh, I see. Shaun goes out and has a baby and gets all of the attention. Well, his podcast teammate over here is single without kids. What? No credit for that? You think it easy? Geez. Where's the love?
Great win for the Cubs tonight. Z looked great.
And whoop-ti-do on the kid, Shaun. Great work. It's not like any other guy couldn't do it. But to be single, come on man, that's not easy, especially when you look like I do.
In all seriousness, I can't think of a better birthday present for Vance.
Congrats, Shaun. Your son is going to have a great life!
"Vance, when you were born then Cubs had not won the World Series for 100 years. Now they have won 9 out of the last 11 years. And Daddy's internet buddy Aaron, still thinks they suck."
I kid, I kid, I kid ...
Congrats Shaun! What a great day! Cubs win! A new Cubs fan! Life is good!
would anyone possibly have a copy of the 7-4-08 cubs game with the cards? we had a grand opportunity to come up from florida and go to the game with our 2 yr. old grandson...obviously his 1st cubs game.. we are HUGE fans so i made a nice poster for him to carry...HOLY COW, MY 1ST CUBS GAME..well the tv guy did put us on but unfortunately our VCR didn't work properly and we are desperately looking for a copy of that game to purchase...CAN ANYONE HELP? our email address is rbarron1 @ comcast.net