Game Ninety-One: Cubs (54-36) vs. Reds (43-48)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 189
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (9-3, 2.96/1.31) vs. Johnny Cueto (7-8, 4.63/1.34)
Lou Piniella's crew will try to win their third in a row behind Carlos Zambrano tonight. Johnny Cueto will make his Wrigley Field debut and the Cubs offense receives a second chance to beat one of the best young arms in the National League. Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin are expected to be in uniform tonight. Harden will wear familiar number 40.
In other news lost in Tuesday's trade.... The Cubs signed their first round draft pick on Tuesday, Andrew Cashner and he is scheduled to be at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. Cashner received a signing bonus worth $1.54 million dollars and $75,000 dollars for school. Cashner also received an invitation to Spring Training next year.
The Cubs' ace will make his second start since returning from the DL last Friday against the Cardinals. Carlos Zambrano tossed a gem in St. Louis and proved why he is so valuable to his team. The Cardinals managed 4 hits against Zambrano in 6 innings and he struck out 5 and walked 2 on only 87 pitches. Zambrano kept himself and his pitches under control and put together one of his better outings of the season.
Zambrano hopefully realizes he is the man with the Cubs and does not let the acquisition of Rich Harden affect his performance.
Big Z is 4-0 in 9 starts at Wrigley this season with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP and will face the Reds for the third time this year....2-0 in his previous two outings against Dusty Baker's team with a 1.20 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. In his last outing against Cincinnati, 8 shutout innings of 3-hit ball with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Tonight will be Zambrano's 26th career start versus the Reds, 30th game. He is 12-9 with a complete game in his first 29 outings with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
- Adam Dunn - 12-for-53 with a double, 6 home runs and 15 walks
- Edwin Encarnacion - 10-for-34 with 2 home runs
- Ken Griffey, Jr. - 14-for-37 with 5 doubles and 2 home runs
- Jeff Keppinger - 5-for-18 with a double
- Brandon Phillips - 8-for-30 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Joey Votto - 4-for-11 with 2 doubles
The Cubs will get their second look tonight at Johnny Cueto. The young right-hander beat the Cubs back on May 5th in the Queen City, 5-3. Cueto allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings, walked 2 and struck out 8. Cueto and the Reds beat Ryan Dempster on the night the Cubs' defense made two costly errors that accounted for 5 unearned runs off Dempster.
Cueto has pitched better of late after struggling through most of the first part of the season. While his record was only 3-3 in 6 starts last month, he posted a 3.47 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP....by far the best month of his big league career.
Cueto allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings with 8 strikeouts and a walk in a 5-3 win against the Nationals....and the start before, Cueto threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Indians and surrendered just 5 hits.
On the road this season Cueto is 2-5 in 8 starts with a 5.49 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP while opponents have hit .307 against him.
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-3
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-2 with a home run
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-3 with a double
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Subscribe
Another comment about Hardin. I watched a few innings last week when the A's were playing the White Sox's with Hardin piching. You can see why he is such a effective pitcher and also why he is injury prone. His mechanic's are horrible. He has a strange wind up. It almost looks like he is pushing the ball instead of throwing it. It reminds me of a pitching machine with an arm.
Of course this would also make it hard for the opposition to get their timing down on him but I can see where it would put some pressure on his joints in his arm. Crossing my fingers.
Agustin is very excited and would like to see Big Z show tonight why he is the boss in town! Agustin would also like to know if anyone has a link on what Harden's impression on being a Cub...I there was one.
Austin would love to see the Cubs go 2-0 in the Rich Harden era, although Big Z is still the man!
Matt is glad!
Agustin, go to ESPN 1000's podcast page and download the Waddle and Silvy cast.
His interview is the first segment of the 30 min cast.
Tonight's lineup:
Theriot - SS
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Soto - C
Edmonds - CF
DeRosa - 2B
Johnson - LF
Zambrano - P
Also, Cubs rotation after the All-Star break....
Lilly, Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Marquis
Matt is also watching the Iowa Cubs. Matt looked forward to watching Murton and Patterson, and can't no more.
Here's to hoping some more guys (like The Shark) step up.
Matt knows he sounds crazy, but if Jason Dubois stays hot like this isnt he at least worth a September call-up?
Dubois Iowa numbers:
.309 Avg
11 HR 24 RBIs
.421 OBP
All in 94 ABs.
As for Rich, he sounded really overwhelmed in the ESPN 1000 interview. He sounds like a cool and likable guy.
Dempster is also interviewed. He was excited to be able to sit in the corner of the dugout and speak in Canadian with someone, haha. Awesome.
Not too shabby. I have more confidence in that rotation then I did in the old one.
Also have Gauldin, Marshall, Lieber that can make spot starts.
Lieber is getting to be the lost man in the bullpen. Is Gauldin available in a relief roll????
I'm almost as excited to see him as I am Hardin.
BTW:
Here is the transcript to said interview:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1046947,hardenradio070908.article
Kerry Wood had a blister on his finger last night according to Piniella and that is the reason for no roster move today.
Should be one on Thursday. Wanted to make sure Wood was okay, before they made changes. Wood is available tonight.
Gamecast just said that Brad Thompson relieved Mark Mulder in the first. Does anyone know why?
Austin, apparently he couldnt find the zone.
No command what so ever.
Matt, Cory Provis (sp?) just said that he left with an apparent arm injury...sucks for him.
havent said this in awhile but, LETS GO GLENDON RUSCH!!!
And now Provus is saying its an arm injury.
Mulder hasnt been there all season. But this has to hurt them on the inside. A healthy Mulder has to equal Harden and Sabathia.
Ahhhh not a good start by Z...i cannot believe how well Adam Dunn hits Z, its so frustrating. Hopefully Aram will make up for his DP
I am really liking Aramis with the high socks.
And when did Jason Dubios get back into the Cubs system??
One run wont win this one.
Lets get after it!
Like that! GEO!
Bill Hall homerun...Brewers 1-0
Also I would like to see Jimmy Hoffpauir get the callup. .347 avg. .362 OBP.
What ever happened to Felix??
alright, lets not let this one get away
Maybe Ankiel can come in for Mulder?
From what I've seen from Mulder tonight, I dont how there would be much of a difference lol
Neil thinks the offense should get going....
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO!!!
Neil, have you heard any other rumors out there about more acquisitions by the Cubbies?
4 men left on base... very poor effort...The offense needs to going. This is a shambolic display.
We NEED to make these guys pay! Stop leaving runners on base. C'mon Fuk!
Baron....does Cueto get any credit?
Ill give Cueto some credit..
..some credit for having some substance on them shoestrings he keeps tying, I bet..
Lets score some!!
Sure he does Neil,
But I never excuse our offsense. It must put up runs, even if Cy Young is pitching. No excuses.
Atkins homer! Rox 3-1
RAMIREZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO-HOOOO!!!
Thats the Aramis I know!!!
Baron....well said.
Was he safe?
Trevor thinks Carlos just got hosed...
He was safe.
Damn.
FUKUDOME!!!!!!
Kosuke!
Neil likes two out RBI's....Kosuke and Lee!
You said it Neil! Two-out RBI's!!
Thats what I'm talking about.... Crush this nonsense team into oblivion...
Cards tied it up...
Agustin thinks Big Z is more like a Big A! Simply wow...
Or the Big E-Z.
Austin stood and clapped himself for Zambrano. Wow...he is unbelievable hitting and pitching...Holy Cow
When is Harden making his first start? Fri or Sat?
wow marmol and dlee!!
Austin, agustin did the same thing!
Jody...they are not sure on Harden. Could be Friday or Saturday...or after the break.
Why is Marmol pitching with a four run lead? Why does Lou use him SO much? Lieber? Gaudin? Cotts? Anyone else? Why does he abuse him like this??
Neil,
Drew thinks Zambrano is still the man and didn't let the Harden trade affect his performance.
WTF
Look at the bright side, at least Wood can get a save now.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Well, Milwaukee lost and St. Louis trails bottom 8th...
YES!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!! THANK YOU!!!
LETS GO PHILS!!!
Neil thinks that got a little too close.
Good win, great job by Zambrano!
Befor everyone goes to bed has anyone heard of any thing regarding another aquisition??
I am hoping we go after AJ Burnett....
CUBS WIN!!!
Until tomorrow CUBS Faithful
Thank you Wood! Any word on who the odd man out is going to be? It has be either Cotts, Wuertz or most likely Marshall. None of them deserve it though and Marshall is coming off back to back quality starts. I think I speak for most of us when I say I wouldn't mind trading Marquis (maybe though in Wuertz) for well anything but preferably a lefty in the pen. Even if Marshall proves he can't be a big league starter, Gaudin can still step in and maybe cough Hill cough could step up and be a surprise.
Drew...the Tribune is speculating Marshall to Iowa and Hoffpauir will take Murton's spot.
Mike Wuertz is basically the garbage collection man (ie come in when the team is being blown out)...
Aside from that he never sees a whiff of action, and truly is horrible.... while Marshall routinely gets the butt end of it all despite showing great composure on the mound most of the time....
That would be dreadful... We have Gaudin/Lieber for Garbage duty.... Wuertz needs to go down.
I am a little surprised we can't unload Marquis, given he is a decent #4-5 starter, and his contract, for a starter, is reasonable. Isn't there a contending team out there with some starting pitching injuries that could use Marquis to eat some innings? All I would want in return is a minor league prospect or two, and the Cubs could even eat some of the contract.
Then you let Marshall get his regular starts and continue to develop as a solid mlb pitcher. You also have the potential of Rich Hill making a comeback, and/or Lieber for spot starts.
Doesn't make sense to send down Marshall again, after such a good outing...way to mess with his confidence and momentum.
Jason....Marquis is owed a lot of money. The remainder of this season at $6.375 million and next year he will make $9.875 million. Couple that with his reputation, and he is hard to move.
Barry,
I'd like to see us go after Burnett too, but I'm guessing the reason JH may not deal for Burnett is that if Burnett gets hurt (decent chance of that given his history), he will not opt out of his contract at the end of this season and the Cubs would be on the hook for 2009 and 2010 at $12 million per season. I don't think JH wants to take on the risk of adding that type of payroll. I think it's much more likely that JH's next move is for a left handed reliever.