Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 08/03/08

By Neil on August 3, 2008 35 Vote 0 Votes

Game One Hundred Twelve: Cubs (66-45) vs. Pirates (51-59)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (12-4, 2.80/1.22) vs. Ian Snell (4-8, 6.04/1.88)

Lou Piniella's crew began a stretch of 20 straight out of the All-Star break back on July 18th, the maximum amount of games a team can play without a day off. After winning 4 of the first 10, they have gotten a little of the "swagger" back and are 5-1 over their last 6 games with 4 left to play.

The Cubs will face the new-look Pirates for the last time this season at Wrigley today in the rubber game of the series. The Cubs ended their 3-game losing streak to the Bucs on Saturday and Carlos Zambrano must remain focused and in control this afternoon in order for the Cubs to post their 11th win in 15 games against the Pirates.

In other news.... According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Mark Cuban appears to be "one of the favorites in the bidding to buy the Cubs." Cuban reportedly turned in the highest initial bid at $1.3 billion and has not only received support from NBA Commissioner, David Stern, but from John Henry of the Boston Red Sox.

John Henry, along with Tom Werner, John Harrington and Larry Lucchino purchased the Sox in 2002 and turned around the once 'cursed' Red Sox franchise. The Sox have built a solid organization from top to bottom that spends as much money on the big league payroll as it does with player development and scouting. The result has been two World Championships under their leadership and Henry's group has built a model that every organization in baseball should follow.

According to the Tribune, Henry told the New York Times in an email that "he could think of no one better suited to reverse the fortunes of the Cubs for the long term than Mark Cuban"....stay tuned.

Carlos Zambrano is coming off a gem against the Brewers last Tuesday night. Big Z out dueled Ben Sheets and set the tone for the remainder of the series. Zambrano threw 8 shutout innings and allowed only 5 hits while striking out a season high 9 batters with 2 walks. Zambrano's pitch count has increased in his last few outings and today would be a good time for Zambrano to be efficient, pitch to contact and pick up a win.

Zambrano finished July on a positive note and won his last 2 starts. He was 4-1 in 5 games last month with a 1.78 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP after spending time on the DL at the end of June. Zambrano is 6-0 in 11 home starts this season with a 2.28 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.

Today will be Big Z's third start of the season against the Bucs....he is 1-0 in the first 2 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP while the Pirates offense has hit .283 against him.

For his career Zambrano is 10-6 in 22 games, 20 starts, versus Pittsburgh with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

Jose Bautista - 1-for-14 with a double
Ryan Doumit - 3-for-10 with a double
Andy LaRoche - 1-for-2 with a double
Nate McLouth - 5-for-16 with a double and a triple
Doug Mientkiewicz - 1-for-3
Luis Rivas - 0-for-1
Freddy Sanchez - 7-for-32 with a double
Ian Snell - 0-for-2
Jack Wilson - 8-for-39 with a double

Ian Snell was the Pirates' starter on Opening Day and to say the talented young right-hander has had a challenging season, to this point, would be an understatement....but he is coming off a win against the Rockies in Pittsburgh. Snell has struggled with his command all year and has walked 62 batters and given up 145 hits in 110 1/3 innings....his best month was April, 2-1 in 5 starts with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.

Last month Snell was 1-1 in 5 starts with a 6.20 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. On the road this season, 1-6 in 11 starts with a 8.12 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP while opponents have hit .346.

Today will be Snell's second start of the season versus the Cubs. He lost to the Cubs in Chicago on April 18th and gave up 3 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings with 5 strikeouts and a walk....the final score was 3-2.

Snell is 1-5 in 9 career games, 7 starts, versus the Cubs with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

Henry Blanco - 0-for-3
Ronny Cedeno - 2-for-5 with a home run
Mark DeRosa - 3-for-6 with a double
Jim Edmonds - 4-for-17 with a double and 2 home runs
Reed Johnson - 2-for-3
Derrek Lee - 6-for-21 with 3 doubles
Aramis Ramirez - 8-for-23 with 4 doubles
Alfonso Soriano - 6-for-12 with 3 home runs
Geovany Soto - 1-for-2 with a double
Ryan Theriot - 6-for-14 with a double and 2 triples
Daryle Ward - 1-for-2
Carlos Zambrano 1-for-2

Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....

Mike Cz.

Z

Harden

Dempster

Lilly

The Shark

damn.

Scott McMeekan

Being from Elkhart (15 miles east of South Bend) I've followed the Shark for many years, and even had a chance to meet him at a charity golf event a few years ago. He's the real deal, as far as a quality person. I too was unimpressed earlier this year though, and felt that maybe the organization was simply hyping Jeff a little bit. However, it seemed that when he was moved to AAA he responded positively....maybe it was having access to their pitching coaches versus Tennessee's, I don't know.

Regardless, I was excited (and a little surprised) at his call up, but pleasantly surprised at what he was able to do.

When he became a starting receiver at ND there were people who questioned whether he could be a great player, and he proved them wrong in an emphatic fashion. Similarly I think he's going to the do the same thing with the Cubs. As Aaron said, if he can develop a changeup that has the same release point and arm motion as his 96-97 fastball....well, let's just say that we would without a doubt have the best rotation in baseball.

Scott McMeekan

Aaron,

ROFTFLMAO!!!!! You typed exactly what the rest of us were thinking, even if it is R rated!!!

Candle, you are one weird, weird dude.

And for the record, I really dig No Rain.

Aaron

Candle....do you also feel it in your penis?

LOL

CANDLE fighter

Congratulations Cubs! You just won your 41st home game guaranteeing a winning record at home. I truly and madly mean it with my heart, brain, ears, nose, legs, ankles, lungs, lips, knees, elbows, arms and feelings elsewhere. You have my respect. Reed was indeed the armor in your tank. I can sense that the Cubs will break away from the succeedors behind them. You have presumbably the best rooters within this site.

I see and smell success in your season and hope you can welcome me back to be the enlightment in your path. Hopefully SOME things will this year for you and SOME won't (understandably so).

Please, Please, Please, Please make me really happy at some point this week and visit YouTube and play No Rain by Blind Melon. I listen to that song 10 times or more most days.

The Candle has spoken.

Peace out to all my hippies!!!!

Jim (Tinley Park)

NATION REPRESENT!

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

Joe S. (San Diego)

That 9th inning shows this is OUR year!!!

Loved Reed's immediate reaction!! Classic BB talking about bunt when Reed rips one out....

Marmol looking good....

Back to 5 up on Milwaukee....and hopefully 6 on the Redbirds!!

I LOVE this game.... (oops wrong sport)

Aaron

man, what an emotional boost those two jacks were. I was a little upset about Samardzija getting pulled after being effective...but, oh well.

Neil, about the Shark...I was not impressed by him in the minors with all the hype surrounding him. I thought he was a one pitch pitcher, in the mold of Howry. However, after watching him live now in several games, he has an excellent fastball with movement, a decent slider, above average split, and an average change (if he can improve that, he's got a VERY good chance at the rotation next year)

I hope they can ride this game's comeback success like they did earlier in the year in games like this, and mount an impressive run here

Neil

SO-RI-ANO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!

Back-to-back Jacks!

Aaron

REED AND SORI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jj

favorite cubs:

big z

fontenot

henry balco

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEED

Neil

REEEEDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt Haggard

Reed Mo'fo-in Johnson!!!

Neil

WOW!! Gotta throw strikes... Z deserved this win.

Joe S. (San Diego)

Love the Shark in his role right now with Marmol and Woody.....but sure can't wait to see him in the rotation....Shark, Z, and Harden...just NASTY....

Was watching the Angels the other night....they sure have a lot of free agents this year that would be great looking in Cubbie Blue....led by closer Frankie Rodriguez....he's expected to bolt Anaheim.

Neil

Matt, Zambrano is fine according to two reports. They wanted to limit his pitch count after throwing 125 against the Marlins and 118 against the Brewers.

Joe S. (San Diego)

So why did Z go just 5 innings? I dont hear them talking about an injury and nothing is here about it....

Neil

Okay Aaron the floor is yours....what do you think of the Shark?

Matt

Why did Big Z get pulled after the 5th? He was only at 82 pithes, right?

Aaron

where the hell was that pitch...right down the middle with movement...should've been inning over

Neil

ARAMIS!!! #19

Aaron, thank you for the update. I knew about Guzman and the surgery and they were hoping to send him on a rehab stint but I had missed he was actually in Daytona.

I think you are right. Remember Lou liked Guzman last year and he was the 'closer' for about two days in May before he got hurt.

Lou wants as many power arms as possible....

I think Lieber's days are numbered as much as I would not agree. I keep thinking of how well he came through early in the season before the game against the Reds.

baron

Z has settled down, and his hitting is just mind blowing... A .354 Average?? You kiddin me?

Aaron

Okay, here's the explanation:

-Guzman had TJ surgery last year, and has been throwing and rehabbing with the AZL Cubs all summer. The odd thing about all of this is that he only threw in one game with the AZL rookie ball Cubs, and then was promoted to Daytona. He did well in that one appearance, but it's a most puzzling move at first glance...here's why...Usually, when guys are coming back from TJ, shoulder surgery, etc.----anything that's kept them out of the game for a year, or more, they at least pitch in 2-3 games in rookie ball, then move to low-level A, and are re-assigned from there. The reason I say it's bizarre is that with Howry and Eyre struggling, I think it's very possible that they're expediting his move through his rehab to bring him back soon...but, who knows? As for his start in Daytona, he threw up the following line:

IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA

Guzman 2.0 3 3 1 0 2 0 4.50

and Ward, well, as an organization, we've always been fond of these all-world type pinch hitters, and they might have a good year, so we bring them back, and they stink it up...Lenny Harris, Mabry, and Ward are recent examples. Anyhow, they're a lot like relievers----very unreliable when it comes to counting on them to produce the same year after year.

I would've loved to see Hoff in there. He's more mobile than Ward, younger, and hits for better average, and could spell Lee who just flat out looks tired out there swinging lately.

Neil

Neil get very 'scared' everytime Z runs the bases but he gets the job done....

Three straight doubles from 7-8-9, when was the last time that happened?

Neil

Aaron, I knew about Wood but I did not hear about Guzman...can you explain?

Also, Pat Hughes just reported the Cardinals released Matt Clement.

Gary, on Lee. He was supposed to get the day off today but for some reason he did not. In the pre-game they talked about Lee getting Monday night off.

Not to get back on the Hoffpauir kick, but I think something is still wrong with Ward and I kinda wish they would DL him if something is wrong and bring back Hoffpauir. Please do not misunderstand this comment as a way to say Lee should be benched...the exact oppositite is in my mind.

Neil likes the way Z has settled down so far.....but did not like the at bat by DeRosa.

GaryLeeT

I am glad to see Geo has fixed his swing. He use to leap out of his croutch during his swing. Now he's keeping his body stil and taking it to right. Now, how do we get Lee to stop gounding to the left side?

Aaron

Neil, you hear that about Guzman, Fox, and Wood.....Wood and Guzman I like, but wouldn't that be something if we could get those two back soon.

I saw that stat line for Guzman last night, and it was decent, especially in his first tune-up. Honestly, if Guzman's velocity is anywhere near what it was at before (about mid to upper 90's), I think you have to bring him up in favor of a DFA for Howry or Eyre....Additionally, who leaves when Woody comes off the DL? Any ideas? I mean, Guzman probably won't be ready til September, so wouldn't require a roster move.

Aaron

man Neil, I think everyone but us are at Sunday cookouts...did we not get the memo?

Aaron

Neil,

His control seems a little off, but keep in mind, he's got ace quality stuff, but a 5th starter's mind....he lets entirely too much get to him, like the Soriano error. And for the record, as a former pitcher, I'd probably be just like him, as I'd been a part of entirely too many teams that gave up runs like that.

you gotta love Z's hustle and passion for the game though, right.

Neil

Neil liked seeing Soto go opo for the single and RBI....

Neil

Aaron, I thought Quade was in charge of the outfielders.

Neil does not like what he sees from Big Z today.

Aaron

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too, but DeRosa might've been a better option....

Soriano has to make that play btw....someone needs to talk to him about that. Do you have contacts Neil? LOL, j/k....but seriously, who works with the OF'ers? Is it Sinatro?