Game One Hundred Thirty: Cubs (79-50) vs. Nationals (46-84)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Harden (8-2, 2.04/1.08, 3-1, 1.50/0.95) vs. Jason Bergmann (2-9, 4.50/1.37)
The Cubs have a chance today to accomplish a feat the organization has not been able to do since 1937 and that is win eight consecutive series. Lou Piniella will send Rich Harden to the mound in not only the rubber game of the series against the Nationals but in the rubber game of the homestand. The Cubs won 2 of 3 against the Reds and a victory today would give the Cubs a 4-2 homestand.
The Cubs' staff became the first in the majors to reach the 1,000 strikeout mark on the season on Saturday and figure to add to the 1,004 k's they have notched so far this season with Harden on the mound today. The Cubs have led the league in strikeouts in every season since 2001.
After leaving in the 7th inning on Saturday, Derrek Lee's status for today's game is uncertain at best. Reports indicated heat was applied to Lee's upper back spasms in order to try to get him on the field today. Look for Daryle Ward or super-sub Mark DeRosa at first base today.
According to several reports, Lou Piniella is planning on talking to Kosuke Fukudome before this afternoon's game. The Cubs need Fukudome to start hitting again and Piniella thinks Fukudome is "in-between". Piniella said Kosuke is "behind on the fastball and slightly ahead on the breaking ball" and one of the two have to be hit with consistency. Fukudome is a key down the stretch for the Cubs, along with Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano. The Cubs need Fukudome to perform somewhere in between his incredible start and his struggles in July....
In other news.... It appears Angel Guzman will be one of the players called up when the rosters expand on September 1st. According to a report on Cubs.com, Guzman will be eligible to come off the DL at the completion of his 30-day rehab assignment next Monday. If Guzman is one of the September call-ups a 40-man roster move will be required. The Cubs 40-man roster currently stands at 38 and many reports are suggesting Koyie Hill will be called up as a reward for a good season at Iowa and his loyalty to the organization. Hill's put together a very good season in Triple-A and deserves, for more than one reason, to be with the Cubs down the stretch. If Hill is added to the 40-man, that would leave one spot in order for the Cubs to activate Guzman from the 60-day DL.
Micah Hoffpauir and Felix Pie appear to be the other locks for a call-up next week as well as Jon Lieber being activated from the DL. The report on Cubs.com indicated the organization could promote players from Double-A to help the I-Cubs in the playoffs while players such as Pie, Hoffpauir and Hill are sent to Chicago to help with the bigger organizational goal.
While Rich Harden is not garnering the national attention that a certain southpaw in Arthur Fonzarelli's hometown is, Harden has been very, very good in a Cubs' uniform. Harden has posted a win in his last three decisions, the Cubs are 4-0 over the same span and his new team is 5-2 in his 7 starts since coming over from Oakland.
Harden will make a start today, in the daylight, after telling his new skipper he prefers to pitch at night in cooler weather. The results show Harden is better under the lights (6-1 in 11 starts with a 1.45 ERA and a 0.86 ERA) and Ryan Dempster's gem on Saturday could pay dividends again today for Lou Piniella. All but Carlos Marmol (2/3 of an inning, 4 pitches) and Sean Marshall (1 inning, 18 pitches) received the day off and if Harden has to be lifted after 5 innings, Piniella should have a rested bullpen at his disposal.
Like the remaining of the schedule, today is an important game for the Cubs.
Harden is coming off an impressive win against the Reds, his first at Wrigley, and for the fourth time in seven starts struck out 10 batters in 7 strong innings. Harden surrendered only 2 hits and the key was....no walks for the second time since making his Cub debut on July 12th.
Harden's line since coming to Chicago is impressive:
3-1 in 7 starts (42 innings), 8 runs, 7 earned, on 26 hits with 14 walks and 59 strikeouts.
Today will be the first career start for Harden against the Nationals franchise.
- Ronnie Belliard - 0-for-4
- Cristian Guzman - 0-for-3
- Willie Harris - 0-for-5
The Cubs will face Jason Bergmann for the first time this season after beating him once in two tries a year ago. Bergmann is coming off a no decision in his last outing against the Phillies in D.C. Bergmann gave up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings. The Nationals lost 5-4.
Bergmann's last win came in Colorado on August 7th and he tossed a gem. Bergmann held the Rockies to 1 run on 7 hits in 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and only 2 walks. On the road this year, Bergmann is 2-6 with a complete game in 11 outings, 10 starts, with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.
The Cubs must make Bergmann work. In his last 4 starts he has walked 11 batters in 22 1/3 innings and is 1-1 over that span with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP while opponents have hit an even .300 against him.
Bergmann is 0-1 in 2 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP....the Cubs beat him at Wrigley on May 4, 2007 and Bergmann allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits in 6 innings.
- Mark DeRosa - 0-for-2
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-3
- Reed Johnson - 0-for-1
- Derrek Lee - 2-for-3 with a home run
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-6 with a double
- Alfonso Soriano - 2-for-7 with a double
- Daryle Ward - 2-for-3 with a double
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Ramirez - 3B
Ward - 1B
DeRosa - RF
Edmonds - CF
Soto - C
Fontenot - 2B
Harden - P
Great at bat by Theriot....a 10-pitch walk
Here is something I posted on the board for the summary of yesterday's win. So I'll post it here where I'm sure there will be more traffic just to see what folks think:
Thoughts on Fukudome.
I saw on Rotoworld that Fukudome's BA since July 1 is only .199. I went to look at his other monthly stats as well because I remember his offense being on the decline before that.
Interesting notes from June-August (which has one week left):
BA: Has steadily dropped over 100 pts from a .264 in June to .145 in August
BB/K Ratio: He has totaled 34 walks from June-August. He has struck out 60 times as well during that time span. He's striking out almost twice as often as walking. He's at 93 total SO on the season.
OBP: Related to the BB/K ratio, his OBP has dropped over 150 pts from .387 in June to .236 in August.
RBIs: March-May he drove in 18 runs. June-August he's only driven in 26 runs.
HRs: Pre All Star break he had 7 HRs. Post ASB, only 1. Someone give the man some Wheaties!
Hits: Only 9 hits in August...ouch!
So here's big question: Has Fukudome's signing been a bust at least for this year? I'll take a stance even if others may not like it and say yes. Yes he's played some great defense this year but he's being paid for an all around game, not just one aspect. Yes he needed time to transition to MLB, but he's not a rookie and seemingly should be doing better in his transition. He's become an average, and in some cases, less than average RF. And my even crazier thought, I would even listen to trade offers over the winter.
Thoughts?
DERO!!! #18....4th game in a row
SOTO!!! #19
DERO is straight up rakin right now. I'll take that crow with some salt and pepper please
Rob...no, the Cubs do not trade Fukudome in the off-season.
I read your last comment on Brian McRae. I remember being very excited about him coming to the Cubs. In his first year of 1995 his line was:
.288/.348/.440 with 38 doubles, 12 home runs and 48 RBI's
Mickey Morandini in 1998, I will give you...
.296/.380/.385 with 20 doubles, 8 home run.
Kosuke through the first 130 games:
.262/.361/.382 with 22 doubles, 8 home runs and 47 RBIs
As far as his defense....who would you rather see in right field?
It is nice how it is always someone different stepping up and getting red hot on this team. I know, focus on this game, but looking ahead I hope our big guys like Sori and Lee get red hot in late Sept/Oct.
Both of the balls hit by Ramirez and Ward would have been home runs on any other day....
Baron and Trevor...good to hear from you guys
My man-crush on Rich Harden continues to be validated.
He is on pace to finish around 12-3 for the year, with an ERA around 2.10
If this guy can pitch a whole season, he should have a great shot at the Cy Young.
I don't know if Dempster can repeat his success next year or not, but I think you have to say his year isn't a fluke when you are this late in the season.
That gives us 2 aces in Zambrano and Harden, with a pseudo ace in Dempster, and a solid #4 in Lilly.
Gotta like that rotation for the playoffs. The only thing holding us back would be streaky hitting in the playoffs, and a Marmol implosion.
Why is Ward swinging on a 3-0 pitch with no outs and a man on 2nd? Come on, you gotta be smarter than that!
Harden....WOW!!!
Almost as impressive as the 11 K's is the 0 walks...
This is a perfect example of why you trade your farm prospects while they still have value.
Gallagher/Patterson/Murton = good trade by Hendry
Pie/Rich Hill/Corey Patterson/Guzman/Cedeno = bad no-trade by Hendry.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!!
Didn't realize Gallagher had to go to the DL. Obviously don't wish any longterm problems but glad that is an injury we aren't dealing with right now in the playoff run.
KOSUKE!!!!!!!
What the heck did Lou say to Fuk!
Trevor, most reports have indicated Lou told Fukudome to relax and drive the ball.
While no complaints with the potential of taking 2 of 3 this weekend, it's still disappointing that Marquis couldn't finish the deal on Friday after being staked to a 4-0 lead.
Where did the 2-2 pitch miss?
Okay...that was a makeup call by Mongo's favorite umpire.
Cubs are the first in the majors to 80 wins...
We're looking good and Pittsbugh is tied with Milwaukee in the 8th--with CC on the bench. Different forces are at play late in the year. The poor teams are relaxed and play well against the powerful.
We just need to keep up winning series and get to the post season healthy. At that point concens about Marquis will not matter as much because he will be a reliever. I would say we have 3 aces, since D certainly qualifies.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
In the 12th, Pirates had based loaded and no outs, and came up empty.
Geez!
And the Brewers win in the bottom half.
Milwaukee definitely won't go away.
If there's a plus to that game, the Pirates used a lot of their bullpen today, with the Cubs coming to town.