Game One Hundred Fourteen: Cubs (67-46) vs. Astros (54-57)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Harden (6-2, 2.04/1.09, 1-1, 1.11/0.90) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 3.61/1.31)
Updated - 12:28pm C.T. - Scott Eyre Designated for Assignment - Kerry Wood Activated
Lou Piniella's crew will try to figure out the riddle that has become the Astros' pitching staff today behind Rich Harden. After a disappointing, wet and delayed loss on Monday night, the Cubs offense will try to put up crooked numbers this afternoon against Wandy Rodriguez.
A win today is a must against a division rival at home after dropping two of the first four on the current homestand.
The Cubs could activate Kerry Wood before today's game according to several reports. A report on Cubs.com mentioned that Wood would be used in middle relief for at least one outing before Lou Piniella will use him in the closer's role again. The report stated that Carlos Marmol, Bobby Howry or Jeff Samardzija could fill in for Wood one more time.
A report in the Sun-Times suggested the Cubs could still be looking to trade Scott Eyre in order to make room for Wood on the active roster....and mentioned Eyre, along with a million dollars, could be sent to either the Red Sox, Rays, Phillies or Yankees in a waiver trade for a prospect. The other option could be to send Sean Marshall down to Iowa, a move the Cubs do not want to make according to the Sun-Times.
In other news, Rich Hill was put back on the Minor League DL with back spasms. And Jason Marquis' next turn in the rotation could be skipped....stay tuned.
Rich Harden will make his 5th start for the Chicago Cubs today and could easily be 4-0 as a Cub, instead of 1-1. Harden has done his part and has allowed just 3 earned runs on 14 hits with 8 walks and 39 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings. Harden is coming off his first win since being traded to Chicago in the first week of July.
Harden held the Brewers high powered offense to just 1 run on 6 hits in 7 innings, a solo home run by Prince Fielder, with 9 strikeouts and no walks. Harden was very efficient on the mound, kept his pitch count down and completed 7 innings for the second time in 4 games....the key was, he threw strikes and for the first time in a Cubs' uniform he did not walk a single batter. Harden must throw strikes once again today and not give the dangerous Astros' offense any help. At Wrigley this season, Harden does not have a record in 2 starts with a 0.87 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
Today will be Harden's first career start against the Houston Astros.
- Geoff Blum - 1-for-4 with a double
- Darin Erstad - 5-for-26 with a double, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts
- Carlos Lee - 3-for-9 with a triple
- Miguel Tejada - 0-for-3
Alex Eisenberg sent the CCO an article on Rich Harden's mechanics. The article is posted on Baseball-Intellect.com and Eisenberg writes for the Hardball Times and Baseball Digest as well. Eisenberg used side-by-side video comparisons of Harden's delivery and there is also a link that discusses both Chad Gaudin and Sean Gallagher. This is an excellent article and well worth the read....
Rich Harden Article from Baseball-Intellect.com
Chad Gaudin/Sean Gallagher Article from Baseball-Intellect.com
Wandy Rodriguez will make his second start since the All-Star break against the Cubs. He shutdown the Cubs offense in Houston and the only mistake he made was a solo home run to Carlos Zambrano in 6 2/3 innings. The Cubs hit Rodriguez well but did not walk once and could not come through with a clutch hit when they needed it.
Rodriguez built on his start against the Cubs and beat the Brewers in Milwaukee with just as dominant a start. He held the Brewers to only 1 run on 3 hits in 6 innings of work....but, Rodriguez is coming of his first loss since June 21st. The Reds lit him up in Houston and scored 6 runs, all earned, on 9 hits in 4 2/3 innings....a rare bad start for Rodriguez at Minute Maid Park.
Rodriguez was 3-1 in 6 starts in July with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP while opponents hit .313 against him. In June, his best month of the season, he was 2-2 in 5 games with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
Rodriguez is 3-1 away from Minute Maid this season in 7 starts with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.
Rodriguez has had the Cubs' number in his last 4 starts against Lou Piniella's crew. He is 4-4 in 9 career starts versus Chicago with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Today will be his 5th career start at Wrigley Field and Rodriguez is 1-3 in his first 4 with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP.
- Henry Blanco - 1-for-5 with a double
- Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-10
- Mark DeRosa - 2-for-11 with a double and 3 walks
- Jim Edmonds - 1-for-7
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-3
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-6
- Derrek Lee - 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 4-for-21
- Alfonso Soriano - 0-for-6 with 2 walks
- Geovany Soto - 1-for-5
- Ryan Theriot - 8-for-14 with 3 doubles and a home run
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Update - According to a report from the Sun-Times, Scott Eyre was designated for assignment on Tuesday morning by the Chicago Cubs in order to make room on the active roster for Kerry Wood. Wood was actived from the 15-day DL on Tuesday morning.
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Johnson - CF
DeRosa - 2B
Fukudome - RF
Blanco - C
Harden - P
While I certainly wanted Woody back, I feel sorta bad for Eyre. The report indicated he was pretty shook up about this, and it's too bad he couldn't find his form again.
That said, LET'S GO CUBS! The 'stros have had our number recently, but I think Harden is up to the task. Let's get our bats talking again! Really hoping that Theriot and DeRo have benefited from the time off.
And how does Bob Howry still have a job?
Nice quick inning by Harden, now lets jump all over Rodriguez right away.
There you go Lee, come on Aramis.
Just like you asked Nick?
Walk and a double!!
Damn, Rami..
Another HBP for Johnson! I love it!
now a few runs here would be nice.
DE-RO!!!!
There you go DeRo!!
"Captain DeRo, he our hero..."
I'm only able to watch on gameday, but it seems like Harden's pitches are missing up quite a bit. Neil, are you watching in on TV?
Man! Hank and Harden!!!! LOVIN IT!
Everyone else out there working too hard??? We've got action against Rodriguez!
Harden helping his on cause, and Soriano driving in the run!
No DP, D-Lee!
meant "own" not "on"
Scott, parroting Neil:
Let's go Rammy, let's go! (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
good job Reed.
Blow it wide open boys!
DeRo strikes again!!
hello guys! score looks pretty good right now. I have to give props to Hank, he has come up big time in little time. Harden can fly! and looks like the stros' did hit rush street last night.
Nice to see Rami break out of his slump, and Derek has three hits already. So far so good!
Harden was missing high in the 2nd.
Offense needs to crank it back up
Neil,you said it...he has missed way too much. No need for him to be still pitching.
Come on! Blum's frik'n batting .220 something! A single and 2 run dong??!!
How about a few more runs next inning.
How bout us getting outta this inning!
Oh no...
Its Bobby..
Good Point Cory, I read the outs wrong on Gameday.
Not Howry!!
Howry.? PSYCO music please chuin chuin chuin!
Howry.! now some ALELUYAH music!!!!!
Phew..
Good job.
Now, sit him down.
PPHHHHEEEEWWWWWW!!!
Man, would have been nice to get at least one there.
Oh god..He's still out there..
Bob Howry does it again!!!!!!!!!
Why did Lou leave him out there?
Lou Pinella is a lunatic sometimes.
Why in the world is howry still pitcjing in MLB? another lead down the drain!!!!!!
...worthless.
Should have walked the SOB when first is open...
This has got to stop at some point man. He can't miss a bat, I feel sorry for the guy but Lou has to know better.
Unreal!! Please god tell me this is the last we have seen of Howry.
Go figure. Bob effing sux. What a joke. SHould released his stupid ass.
Is that a senior moment?
The media had better call him out.
Howry has lost his spot on his roster. He is serving a HR about every 3 ABs...
You reap what you sow.
I hate Bob Howry....glad we went out and got some bullpen help at the deadline....Howry sucks. Oh well it's only a game, just like to take advantage of playing bad teams. Also glad we could get that run home with first and third with nobody out, great execution.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Cubs for firing SCOTT EYRE and not BOB HOWRY. Hope it was worth it, because you got rid of an average pitcher and kept around the one who will most likely cost us a pennant.
What are Pat and Ron saying?
My neighbor came over and needed a hand and when I left we had 1st and 3rd with nobody out and DLee up....I come back to see frik'n Carlos Lee hit a homer to put them up 7-6???!!!
Do I even want to know WTF happened??!!
We DFA'd the Wrong guy.
1st and 3rd no out and our 3 and 4 hitters make three outs on 3 pitches. Unbelievable. Is it even possible anymore for Bob Howry NOT to give up either a game tying or go ahead home run?
Tied! new ball game.
Yep, they might have DFA'd the wronng pitcher.
if you have never listed to a game on the radio you have to at some point. Santo is so funny to listen to especially when things go wrong. you can tell he wants to curse but can't. it's great.
Now 2nd and 3rd no outs. For the love of everything Harry Carrey, we HAVE to get some runs here.
DeRo came to play today.
Good job by Fukudome to get the run in.
::sigh::
Fresh start..
Lets get some more.
I'm right there with you nick.
Thank God. If Howry somehow qualifies for the win I'm going to vomit.
Just wait for them to bring in LaTroy. I can't believe how bad Bob Howry has been. What a douche.
Well that's one spot where "flyout Fukudome" can actually help you. New game and as long as Howry is out our bullpen should give us the edge.
Randy is fun to listen to.
I say make it a three man booth.
I'm not even kidding, haha.
Come on Geo!
I wouldn't worry about Fukudome. Yeah he's not great now, but come playoff time the guy will be a huge asset.
no surprise there with the strike out. as great as Soto has been he has been even worse with 2 strikes and down in the count.
I was just breaking his balls but for the money he's making he better be an asset GETTING us to the playoffs as well.
I duno about the three-man booth, but Randy is hilarious.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! SORIANO!!!!
CHANT IT NEIL!!!
WOOHOO!!!
First Cub to 20 and he's even missed half the season!!!
BIG SHOT!!! THat a boy Sori!
SORIANO!!!!!!
I love you Soriano!
SO-RI-ANO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!
Keep tacking on!
Soriano is hitting out of his mind right now. 0-2 pitch, watching on gameday so someone tell me where that pitch was and where it landed. Insane.
Ryan,
It was middle in, and Sori cranked on it, planted it in left center about 15 rows up. From my vantage point in my living room, anyway!
I've been thinking...Soriano in the lead-off spot issue is a non-issue right?
DLee with the second bloooooooop! and great jump there by Theriot with the SB!