Game One Hundred Eighteen: Cubs (70-47) vs. Cardinals (65-54)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ryan Dempster (12-5, 2.93/1.15) vs. Chris Carpenter (0-0, 1.00/1.11)
Yesterday is gone and tonight is a big game for Lou Piniella's crew....it's the Cubs versus the Cardinals in the important rubber game of the weekend series. After a thrilling extra inning win on Friday and the Cubs' ace getting shelled on Saturday, tonight is a pivotal game for both teams. The Cubs have not lost a series at home since dropping 2 of 3 to the Orioles back in June and a win tonight would not only keep that streak alive but would give the Cubs 6 wins on the 9-game homestand....Ryan Dempster is 4-2 this season following a Cubs' loss.
Tonight is the last match-up against the Cardinals at Wrigley until the longtime rivals meet-up for the final three games on the Cubs home schedule, September 19 - September 21....the two teams will square off for the third time this season in St. Louis from September 9 - September 11.
The Cubs will face the Cardinals' ace for the first time August 26, 2006. Chris Carpenter received a no decision in a 2-1 St. Louis win, but that was then and he has not faced the Lou Piniella led Cubs that features a much different roster. Only one, possibly two, of those players figure to be in tonight's lineup....one that has good career numbers from top to bottom against Carpenter. The key to tonight for the Cubs' offense is....they must make him work. Carpenter is making only his third start of the year and threw 67 pitches (36 for strikes) against the Braves in his return from the DL and tossed 51 in 5 innings (33 for strikes) against the Dodgers in his last start.
In other news.... Micah Hoffpauir just keeps on hitting in Iowa. Hoffpauir hit 4 home runs in four consecutive at bats on Saturday night and tied a modern Pacific Coast League record in the process.
There was a big injury on Saturday night in Cincinnati. Bronson Arroyo hit Carlos Lee on the left hand with a pitch in the 3rd inning and broke his pinkie. Lee is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Lee being out of the Astros' lineup, for what could be the rest of the season, will have an impact on the Central Division race. Houston has three left with the Brewers in Milwaukee (August 18 - August 20), three left in Houston against St. Louis (August 29 - August 31) and six left against the Cubs (September 1 - 3 in Houston and September 12 - 14 in Chicago).
Finally....a well-respected journalist for the Dallas-Morning News, Evan Grant, thinks the Cubs will reach the World Series this year....just a little food for thought following Saturday's loss. While all of his points are valid, Lou Piniella must keep his team focused and winning a series at a time. A long winning streak at this point of the year is unnecessary, the Cubs focus must be on winning series after series....starting with the one tonight against the Cardinals.
Ryan Dempster is coming off a loss to the Astros in his last start, but he was beaten more by Mother Nature than the Astros' offense. Dempster allowed 2 runs in 5 innings on 5 hits with a walk and 7 strikeouts but once the rains came and the two hour and 45 minute delay, Dempster was done....and so were the Cubs. The game was called with Mike Fontenot at the plate in the 8th inning after the second rain delay.
Dempster has been very good since the break, despite his 2-1 record and his team's overall record of 2-2 in his 4 starts. Dempster has allowed 4 runs, all earned, on 18 hits in 26 innings with 8 walks and 22 strikeouts. Lou Piniella needs a similar performance tonight in order for the Cubs to win the rubber game of the series.
After starting the season 10-0 at Wrigley, Dempster has lost his last 2 outings at home and for the season is 10-2 in 14 starts with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.
Tonight will be Dempster's first start of the season against the Cardinals. He is 4-5 with 15 saves in 34 games, 8 starts, with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP.
- Rick Ankiel - 0-for-1
- Chris Carpenter - 0-for-4
- Troy Glaus - 2-for-3 with a double and a triple
- Cesar Izturis - 2-for-10
- Adam Kennedy - 1-for-4
- Felipe Lopez - 3-for-17 with a double and a home run
- Ryan Ludwick - 2-for-2 with a home run
- Aaron Miles - 1-for-8
- Yadier Molina - 3-for-8
- Albert Pujols - 7-for-24 with a double and a home run
- Skip Schumaker - 1-for-7
Chris Carpenter will make only his third start of the season tonight and his fourth since 2006. Carpenter has been very good in his return from Tommy John surgery. The former NL Cy Young Award winner missed all but Opening Day of the 2007 season and made his first appearance of this year on July 30th against the Braves in Atlanta.
Carpenter pitched into the 5th inning (4 1/3 innings) and gave up 1 run on 5 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. In his last outing he completed 5 innings and did not allow a run on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts and he did not walk a single batter.
Carpenter has been very successful in the past against the Chicago Cubs. He was 7-2 with 2 complete games and a complete game shutout in 13 games with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP before his last set of injuries....but his success against the Cubs came against an entirely different roster.
- Henry Blanco - 3-for-11
- Ronny Cedeno - 2-for-10 with a double and a home run
- Ryan Dempster - 0-for-4
- Jim Edmonds - 5-for-14 with a double
- Reed Johnson - 0-for-4
- Derrek Lee - 11-for-35 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 9-for-37 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Alfonso Soriano - 10-for-25 with 2 home runs
- Ryan Theriot - 0-for-1
Buster Olney on the Soriano-Carpenter Match-up
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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This is an enormous game. 6 Game Road trip to Atlanta and Florida coming up, which is not going to be easy at all.
There aren't many must-win games in early August, but this one would give us a decent cushion going into the next 10 days.
Damn, I thought the Nats might give the Cubs a gift today against the Brewers, but they choked away a 4-1 8th inning lead.
The Cards have been very aggressive at the plate, so I think Dempster's splitter will take care of that. A fresh off the DL Carpenter on a pitch count, and a horrible pen, should spell victory for the Cubs.
The Brewers just put a 3 game smackdown on the Nationals like a good team is supposed to do.
Losing this game will mean a 3 game lead with 6 road games in the NL east coming up.... This game is of PLAYOFF level importance..... possibly the single biggest game of the year for the Cubs
I dont like the phrase "must win" but tonight is huge.
With the offday tomorrow, we could be up by either 3.5 or by 4 by Tuesday.
A win would be nice. Lets get on this guy. His pitch counts have to still be monitored. So lets get into the pen!
Tonight's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Fukudome - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Edmonds - CF
DeRosa - 2B
Soto - C
Cedeno - SS
Dempster - P
Yes, stick the struggling Fukudome in the two hole where he began his steady decline...
I'd would rather Cedeno there actually.
DeRo even more so..
Matt...I understand why, but like you I question Fukudome behind Soriano. Maybe this will get him going.
I'm still taking comfort in the possibility that our win over CC was the most important game of the year--followed by the next day win over Sheets. I think we will score 4 or 5 runs tonight and win.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!
One thing the Cubs have proved is that they come through in clutch situations.
I agree that if the hitters are patient--we get Carpenter out early.
I also question Fukudome in the 2 spot rather than DeRo or even Cedeno..
Lets Go Cubbies!!
I think Fukudome is in the 2 hole because Lou wants a better chance for the bottom of the order to get on ahead of Soriano. Even at his worst, Fukudome use to be able to move a runner over. Now, he's lucky to make contact. 2nd on the team in Ks and at his current pace he's looking to post about 120 for the year.
Gotta go after Pujols with 2 outs, cannot walk him.
Patience....patience....patience....patience....
Way to go Fukudome, damnit!! And Lee, way to show some patience. Come on guys, get it together!
5 pitches...3 outs. That is playing right into Carpenter's strength. I would rather see them look at strike three a couple of times than what just happened.
It took Dempster 10 pitches to retire Carpenter....
Hello Guys.
Great Hustle by Rami! good sound baseball all around!
Aramis' hustle got that run in....DeRosa with the sac fly.
I thought, like everyone else, that Edmonds hit that one out.
GOOD MANUFACTURED RUN. WAY TO GO ARAMIS!
CARDINALS 0 CUBS 1 END OF 2ND
Hey Agustin! Good catch by Edmonds...
Only 6 pitches for Carpenter....
I hate to keep bringing this up, but Carpenter is like Sabathia....make him work. He is only an 80 pitch limit tonight according to ESPN and he has thrown only 24 after 3 innings.
Nice catch Hollywood!!
JIMMY BALLGAME!!!!! Great catch, robbed Carpenter.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!
I hate to say it, but Kosuke Fukudome, his .270 Avg, 8 HR in Mid-August, and .770 August are a pretty big failure... He is not Ichiro, He is not Hideki Matsui.... He is somewhere between Hideki and Kaz Matsui, which is really not worth the money.
His defense is nice, but hitting-wise, he is really mediocre, no question about it
if fukudome cant get out of this slump i say we gotta call hoffpauir up and start him in right i mean we cant afford him not getting any hits anymore and hoffpauir is just ripping it up in the minors (4 homers yesterday) u guys agree?
This is particularly relevant given how certain posters on CCO were slathering their saliva all over his #$#% for much of the pre-season, like he was the 2nd coming of Hank Aaron
Disgraceful offensive showing here.... Ridiculous.... Mark De-Rosa couldn't reach 1st base despite a bauble at 3rd.... he runs like a catcher... which is inexusable
The Shark and Marmol should pitch 2 innings each if necessary in this game.... Howry should be sitting in the clubhouse.
The good feeling I had at the beginning of the game is leaving me with each passing inning that the Cubs, again, do nothing against the 2nd worst pitching staff in the NL. I mean, 6 runs in 3 games at home?
Hey Neil. Edmonds with the first atbat in the game that makes Carpenter work, Cub players please take note.
baron easy there bro! you are going to have a heart attack before the game ends! I feel your pain but I believe Fuku will step it up soon.
wow two on for Pujols!@#?
On a positive note, Dempster almost deserves to be a game 1 starter in a playoff series...... who would have imagined..... he is pitching just superb.... the miserable offense does not deserve him
D is DYNAMIC!! It's time for our hitters to get a couple. Come on Soto. Lay off the outside breaking pitch.
Fu#$#%%$ disgraceful.. These GDP
s are awful... Only 2 of our hitters are over .290 on the season.... I am going to have a freakin anuerysm with these morons
C'mon Cedeno....6-4-3 double play
52 pitches after 5 for Carpenter...
I agree about Fukudome....He is not worth the money or hype....great he has an excellent arm...not like we cant find that. Hell...Bring Back Sammy to play against lefties!!!
Why are these batters not being patient? Good Lord.....
I also agree get Hoffpauir up here NOW.....let him spell Lee, Fukudome and Soriano and Ward.
Anyhow hey I need help with my fantasy football league...anyone wanna play?
I have a cbssportsline.com league that is private with 5 spaces left. Draft day is next Sunday at 9:15AM PST/11:15 CST.....Would love other Chicago Fans in on it...if interested please sign up ASAP so we know the league is full before draft day....
Here is the link:
http://freemeeting.0.football.sportsline.com/splash/invite/4714/281596/44213b7d9cce3ba5df4910beab331510
The league password is dabears
If you have trouble with the link just go to cbssportsline.com sign up for a fantasy team and then search private leagues with the draft date as mentioned above. League Name is San Diego Ballers.
Hope to see ya there!
seriously,
for all the sammy haters... is a .375 OBP,12 HR and good defense a lot better than a .270 hitting bopper? At least Sammy Struck fear in the soft-tossers, if not the heat throwers.....
Sammy over Fuk, in a freakin heartbeat. mebbe not now though... the 1998-2000 Sammy? you got to be joking --- or an imbecile
what a play --- RONNY!!!! sheiat
Why is Theriot resting when the team had a day off before and will have another after this series?
What a shame.
Man, Dempster and the Cubs sure needed that short inning.
Great play by Derrek Lee!!!
Let's try this for the third time...
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!
D. Lee!!!!!!!!!
It worked that time Neil...double, ground out, single...way to go!
There you go Neil! clutch Lee there.
Hit it out Edmonds for barons health!please!
Wow. That's really a shame, even if it is a Cardinal.
3 runs, and Adam Kennedy's complete humiliation!! TERRIFIC
YEAHHHH!!!!!
Good inning for the offense....bad base running.
Gary, well said.
This is the perfect situation for Howry ... 6 run lead.... let him eat 2 innings here
Tonight's version of Tinkers to Evers to Chance: Dempster to Hitters to Pen.
side note...Joe Morgan talks about Pujols even when he is covering a TampaBay and As game.
WOW DEMPSTER, GREAT CATCH!!!!!!!!!!!
Dempster pitched like an Ace.... can't say enough about him... a Top-Notch performance...
What happened to Carpenter? Left the room for a min
He apparently got hurt, shoulder related in the middle of the Edmonds at bat.
I agree baron, he is a tough competitor with great stuf and fields his position like the best of them!
My Cubs are coming to town next weekend, but I can only go to 1 game. I just made my decision on which one it will be. Way to pick up the team Demp, after they got their ass whipped the day before.
I don't know who puts up the highlight videos on mlb.com's Gameday, but I don't get how they don't put obvious highlights...such as the entire Cubs' sixth inning...OK, maybe not all of it, but at least the run scoring hits?
There is only one way out for Fukudome.....sepuku! Or, maybe a platoon untill he gets his mo-jo back.
Joe, I signed up.
baron, Fuk started the season off very hot and has no doubt dropped off as the season has carried on. He is, however, a very good player in his FIRST season in the MLB. He was an excellent player in Japan and once he gets used to the grind of ball in the US, he will adjust and give the Cubs solid play for quite some time.
Good play by Theriot....
I'm thinking Carie Muskat there Duas! [just kidding]
good inning by Woody.
Valparaiso, IN's Samardzija brings back memories. In nearby La Porte, we let the 5-year younger neighbor kid play in our sandlot games when we were a player short. He later broke my record for pass catching in H.S. He starred in baseball and basketball for Notre Dame. He played a couple of years of pro basketball for the Detroit Pistons and probably 13 or 14 in the major leagues as both an effective starter and an effective reliever. Maybe 120 wins and 200 + saves and 1 world series. I'm guessing that only the oldster's here know who I'm talking about. Google Ron Reed when you get a chance.
As an aside, when my son was 10 and we were in Clearwater, I asked a Phillies security guard to take a message to Ron that we were there. He sent a message back that he was pitching the next inning, and then he would see us. After his inning, he came into the stands with an autographed baseball and a 10 minute visit. That kinda made our day.
The 2008 Cubs are for real!!!!
GREAT CATCH BY FUKUDOME!!!!
ok... that was a sensational play by Fukudome......
lets get this win here... WHOOOOO!!!! I still hate Monday mornings... but they are much better with a Sunday nite Cubs win. :)
What a catch by Fuk!
Filling in for Jim in Tinley...
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Except for Sex with Angelina Jolie, I can't think of a better way to end a Sunday -- GG!!
Great immitation there Neil! BTW where is Jim TP, in the game?
Cubs Win!!!
Agustin....he's on vacation, but I would imagine glued to a TV tonight.
lol! Neil he is in the Bahamas searching for WiFi!!!
Good night guys!Cubs Rule!
does anyone know if they are planning on skipping marquis spot in the rotation against he braves. i have tickets and was wondering what the matchups will be. thanks bo
Bo...Marquis will not be skipped.
Here is the next 6 games:
Tuesday - Harden
Wednesday - Marquis
Thursday - Lilly
Friday - Zambrano
Saturday - Dempster
Sunday - Harden
....at least for now.
Dear Fellow Great Creatures,
I am sincerely loving the make-up of the Cubs season. They have a well-rounded team. They have the hitting, pitching and defense. They receive clutch hits and their pitchers strike out a lot of batters.
I am in dire straits right now. Please accept my warm regards! I really want to root for them versus every opponent, but I am deep-rooted in the Marlins and I always root for my state.
I have nothing but respect for what the Cubs stand for. They play the game like it is supposed to be played. They have even-kieled players. I am glad you beat the Cardinals. I watched the game tonight. I like A. Ramirez, A. Soriano and D. Lee almost (eek) as much as Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. My only wish is that you can welcome me back before I retire or conclude from this site. I truly and madly do feel some love here. I am trying to share Cubs insight with you, but my true heart is elsewhere. Please help me and others if you have any ideas how I can be of more help!
I KNOW that I was called and ordained to be the light source for you guys. I've known it since early July, but delayed bringing it forth until late July. I do love you guys. I'm not going to lie to you. When the Cubs/Marlins match-up later in the week happens, you know where my true rooting will be. Lets just have a clean series and no intentionly throwing at batters. May the best team win!
I was thinking of not writing anymore due to fun-making remarks from others. I have exceeded that level in my life now. I truly and madly realize that. Aaron, I know how passionate you are as a Cubs fan. To you, they should never struggle. You are a great creature.
I say yes and no to answer JimK. I say yes to my bellen viewic beliefs. That only means that I never shave my beard and live without war. Great creatures, especially males, should have a flowing beard. I do make mistakes at times. I get mad. I lash out remarks to others when challenged. I say no to my views about it not mattering who wins. It does matter who wins. All you can do is root. I believe in being competitive and executing fundamentals in sports and life. I already knew that you didn't hate me. I sensed it my your speech. You eluded to on Wednesday vs Houston on Talkin' Cubs live that I am not one of you nor that I want to be. You are mostly correct, but I do want to enlighten you guys with my speech. I am learning to talk cohesively without hate now and am coming into the realm of unification to the trio group of Marlins, Rays and Cubs. I will get better and thanks for asking for forgiveness. I will grant it to you.
Jim (Tinley Park), thanks for understanding. I mean no ill will to the Cubs like you said on one of the posts from August 6th. Both you and JimK are great creatures in my book. I am not the most coherent person, so a lot of Miami people pick on me. I do want to meet you, but know I can pass forth some correlation of these details incase I never meet you. BTW, your post came from Talkin' Cubs live on Wednesday against Houston.
When I either close at times with "The Candle has spoken" or "Peace out to all my hippies", I am letting my path come within these great creatures. I KNOW they will proceed to the next step and accept me as my hippie status. To others, they see it as boredom or letting me follow after nature's course, so they reject my enlightment. I have amazing status with these rooters and only hope that they will figure that I am neither insane or trying to be funny.
I really wish for 4 or 5 people meet me in Miami and have a bowl of soup with a cup of grape juice for supper and watch the Cubs vs Marlins. This is probably beyond hope, so I'll close by saying something uncommon...
Share your love, speak peacefully, eat some soup for soul purposes and I'll speak to you later this week if you want me to and if not, then, I will send in my retirement letter next Monday. I really, really see you all as great creatures.
Hey Candle, please hold off the Marlins' talk until after next Sunday. Not a fan of that organization and I can truly say you are the first fan I have ever 'met'.
Wow. Is this a place for Cubs fans or spiritual enlightenment? For someone who is so enlightened you are totally self invloved. If i want to shave and not have a flowing beard that is my choice as i live in the land of the free. I also have never liked the marlins organization. Dan Uggla played horrible in the All-star game get over it.
Candle puncher no one comes on here to read your silly ramblings... that is what Aaron is for, just a joke Aaron. When Aaron has is venting sessions THEY ARE ABOUT THE CUBS!!!!! Not whether anyone on here is a good creature. By the way Hippies died off in the 60's they are called posers now.
You sounnd like a geniune person so please we are going to need you at a 2, your at about a 10 now.
JimK,
Great Ron Reed story! I remember him from the late 70's/early 80's Philly teams.
Candle I have nothing against you, but I swear to God I could not grow a beard of any kind because of my condition. I have tried believe me, so I guess I'm not a great creature, but atleast I'm a Cub fan. Any way I HATE THE MARLINS with all my "cojones" and I hope they end up LAST...truly,honestly, really really really, not joking, dead honest,with all my body, mind, bones, hair and BEARD that I ain't got. I love you too and I promise to miss you once you leave. Thanks for understanding, as a human being you rock but as a Cub fan...you are mediocre...so keep rooting for the Rays and if they get to the World Series, the Cubbies will gladly kick their candle fighting ARSE!!!
No Hard feelings, hopefully see ya in October.
Trevor thanks for signing up....love to get a few more from CCO to play....keep that Chi-Town flavor in the league....
I think Candle has gotten into someones stash of Old Style.....MAN I WISH I COULD GET THAT OUT HERE!!! Had to buy some froze White Castles tonight and thats not even close to the same.....