Game One Hundred Thirty-Seven: Cubs (85-51) vs. Phillies (74-62)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Sean Marshall (3-3, 3.52/1.15) vs. Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.81/1.35)
Updated - 10:55am C.T. - Carlos Zambrano scratched - Sean Marshall to start
Updated - 11:15am C.T. - Zambrano pushed back to probably Wednesday against the Astros
It's the last day of August and happy Labor Day weekend from everyone here at the CCO.... Lou Piniella's crew will take the field today with a chance to win their 21st game of the month (20-7) and in the process establish a new mark for wins in August. The previous high was set in 1984 when the Jim Frey-led Chicago Cubs finished with a 20-10 record. A win today would not only give the Cubs a winning record on the season series against the Phillies (3-3) for the first time since 2001 but would give them 10 series wins in a row of two or more games for the first time in over 100 years. The Cubs are 9-0-1 in their last 10 series dating back to July 24th.
The Cubs will need a solid outing today from Sean Marshall as he fills in for Carlos Zambrano. A report in the Sun-Times on Sunday morning indicated Zambrano is battling through a dead arm period. Piniella mentioned before Saturday's game that the schedule over the next two weeks would allow him to give not only Zambrano extra time between starts but Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster as well. Piniella mentioned on Saturday he might use Sean Marshall in a spot start in order to give his regular five a little more rest but gave no indication that spot start could come as early as today. With extra arms on the way Monday (Jon Lieber and Angel Guzman), Piniella will have plenty of options over the season's final month.
The Cubs must be patient today against Jamie Moyer and make him pitch to them....not the other way around. If the offense tries to hit his pitch it could be a very frustrating afternoon. The Cubs have not lost back-to-back games since July 25 - July 26 against the Marlins and with the former Indian pitching in the Steel City today, the Cubs will need to pick up a win to keep the current distance with their closest pursuer.
Carlos Zambrano is in need of a good outing today against the Phillies. Not only would a win today for Big Z be his 14th of the season but might get him back on track after a horrible month. After a winless August a year ago (0-4 in 5 starts with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP), Zambrano has posted just one win this month and his performance has been eerily close to the ones from 12 months ago. Zambrano is 1-1 in 5 starts with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP.
Zambrano's struggles have raised the question about which pitcher Lou Piniella would use to start a post-season series if the Cubs do make the playoffs. Without a doubt Zambrano is the number one pitcher on the Cubs' staff, it is up to him to prove it over the next 5 weeks. As Aramis Ramirez pointed out a few months back, the Cubs go as Zambrano goes....and it must start today with a win.
Zambrano is coming off a no decision against the Pirates in his last outing. He gave up 6 runs, all earned, on 8 hits in 4 1/3 innings, the second time in 4 starts that Z failed to complete 5 innings. The only positive concerning Zambrano in the past month, other than the offense he gives his team, is that the Cubs are 4-1 in his last 5 starts and 8-2 since he came off the DL on July 4th.
The Phillies and Brett Myers beat Zambrano back on April 11th in Philadelphia. Zambrano allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings with 7 strikeouts and no walks. For his career, Big Z is 3-3 in 7 starts versus the Phillies with a complete game, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
- Pat Burrell - 3-for-12 with a double and a home run
- Greg Dobbs - 2-for-3 with a double
- Pedro Feliz - 1-for-14 with a double
- Ryan Howard - 3-for-13 with a double
- Jimmy Rollins - 3-for-17 with a double
- Matt Stairs - 1-for-5
- So Taguchi - 2-for-7 with a double
- Chase Utley - 3-for-13 with a double
- Jayson Werth - 0-for-3
Update - 11:15am C.T. - According to a report on Cubs.com, Carlos Zambrano could start against the Astros on Wednesday. Jason Marquis will still face Roy Oswalt on Monday with Ryan Dempster scheduled for Tuesday against Brandon Backe. The report on Cubs.com is calling Zambrano's problem a 'dead arm phase'.
Here are Sean Marshall's numbers against the Phillies:
Sean Marshall pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Thursday's win against the Phillies and was one of the reasons Aramis Ramirez and Mike Fontenot were able to provide the dramatics in the 8th inning. Marshall will make only his third start today since July 1st. Marshall beat the Cardinals 7-1 in the series finale on July 6th and lost to the Marlins 2-1 on August 16th.
Marshall is 1-3 in 4 starts this season with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.
For his career Marshall is 0-1 in 5 appearances, 2 starts, versus the Phillies with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. This season no earned runs in 3 games (2 2/3 innings) with only 1 hit allowed.
- Pat Burrell - 3-for-4 with a home run
- Chris Coste - 3-for-4
- Pedro Feliz - 5-for-9 with a double
- Ryan Howard - 1-for-6
- Jimmy Rollins - 1-for-4 with a double
- So Taguchi - 5-for-10 with a double
- Chase Utley - 0-for-3
- Shane Victorino - 0-for-3
- Jayson Werth - 1-for-3
The Cubs will face the 'Ageless Wonder' today for the second time this season. The Cubs drafted Jamie Moyer in 1984, he made his debut with the Cubs in 1986 and 22 years later the organization that drafted him will try to beat him for the first time. Moyer must have a portrait of himself in the attic that shows his age, kinda like Dick Clark, or at least a mannequin with a left arm that is about to fall off. Whatever the case, Moyer continues to defy logic and Father Time.
Moyer is the true definition of a crafty lefty at age 45 and uses his changeup to perfection. Not only does he change speeds with regularity, but he does it with a fastball in the upper 70s to low 80s. The Cubs must wait him out today, and hit the ball to right field. If Jimmy Rollins is getting a lot of action early on, it could lead to the Cubs fourth loss of the season to the Phillies.
Moyer was shelled by the Mets in his worst outing of the season after an impressive start against the Nationals on August 21st (2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits in 6 2/3 innings). Moyer lasted just 3 innings in his shortest start of the season and tied a season high 6 runs allowed, all earned, on 9 hits without a walk and 3 strikeouts.
Moyer has been very good on the road this season (7-3 in 13 starts with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP) and is 1-1 in his last 5 starts with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP....despite the start against the Mets.
Moyer is 2-0 in 5 career starts versus the Cubs with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He received a no decision back on April 13th when Carlos Zambrano beat out a fielder's choice in the 10th that led to the winning run scoring on a throwing error by Chase Utley. Moyer allowed 4 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings.
- Henry Blanco - 5-for-11
- Ronny Cedeno - 3-for-8 with a double
- Mark DeRosa - 4-for-13 with a double
- Jim Edmonds - 6-for-26 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-3
- Reed Johnson - 10-for-30 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Derrek Lee - 4-for-6 with 3 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 0-for-7
- Alfonso Soriano - 10-for-47 with a double and 4 home runs
- Geovany Soto - 0-for-3
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-9
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Johnson - CF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
DeRosa - 2B
Soto - C
Fukudome - RF
Cedeno - SS
Marshall - P
The Pirates are just 'mailing in' the season. Already down 1-0, really would like to see them play the Brewers with the same intensity they play the Cubs.
They still have 3 more left with the Brewers when the Cubs are in New York.
One would think the entire roster realizes they are playing for jobs next season.
Gotta throw strikes....4 pitch walk to Utley
They really need to throw one in on Werth and push him back, he is WAY TO COMFORTABLE at the plate.
If the ump keeps calling those strikes, it is going to be a rough afternoon.
When was the last time the Cubs beat the Phillies in a season series? It seems like it's been forever. It would have been nice to answer in the first, but no way does 3 runs win this game.
Gary....2001.
2001? So it was not just my imagination. Come on Ronny it's been a while.
Marshall with the RBI!
Soriano must hit that ball to right and a lot deeper.
Good play by Cedeno to end the inning....
Why won't they pitch him inside? Get Jayson Werth off the plate....I do not understand this at all. BRUSH HIM BACK!
wow...not a good location on that pitch to Werth..hes not missing anything tho..
its so frustrating to see Moyer out there throwin 81-82 and getting quick, easy outs. i would rather face an oswalt, Sabathia, hard thrower type rather than a soft tosser like Moyer.
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!!
ok so the Brewers are up 7-0.
are folks ok with being up only 4.5 after today's game? i'm not really envisioning a come from behind win. the offense has had 3 big hits in this series (fontenot's homer, ramirez's grand slam, and soriano's homer). that's just one game for Werth against us.
So I think i'll be glad just to see the PHils leave town. always playing catch up in a series usually comes back to get ya.
been awhile since i've seen the Cubs strikeout this much..especially just looking at the 3rd strike
THAT WAS NOT A STRIKE ON THERIOT!!!!!
is it too early to add Werth to our list of Cub killers?
this game and the one yesterday....too many wasted opportunities...we didnt get the run in from 3rd with less than 2 outs in the 2nd inning...
Rob,
If on opening day you asked how I would feel about being in first place and 4.5 games up on September 1 ... I'd be thrilled. Still feel that way now.
Couldn't Lou have waited until the rosters expand tomorrow until he went into "rest for the playoffs" mode? The Phillies are a potential match-up for the post-season and if I were them, I would feel pretty good about their chances.
This ump has one of the most generous strike zones we've seen all year. Too bad we couldn't use instant replay on some of his sh*tty calls!
Not looking good here guys. The Brewers really have a lot of momentum.
maybe C.C. will have a "dead arm" for the rest of the season. 120 everytime out. Speaking of generous strike zones...i thought these last few days the umps have have had quite a large zone. anyone agree?
Isn't pitching Howry 2 straight days the equivalent of Lou saying "can't win them all" and just mailing it in until the next game?
Nice to see the "old" Howry. They're within striking distance... LET'S GO!!!
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!
Ben....I do agree and it seems to be one sided.
Jason I agree with Eric, Howry did his job.
I can't believe it's been since 2001 that we won a season series against these jags!
I totally agree with you Neil we get EVERYONE'S best shot, the Nat's, San Fran, Pittsburgh, all of them, and then I see the same teams play our rivals and it's a frik'n joke...even the managers are in on it. Against us they act as if it's the World Series and you never see them against St. Louis or Milwaukee.
The umpiring in this whole series has just been a travesty...against both sides.
I did go in hoping for a split so I shouldn't feel this frustrated but I do. Milwaukee is on a roll and have a ton of home games next month.
I'll be glad to see Werth and company leave but don't look now here comes Houston and their 21 wins in August....baseball fever...catch it!
Lets go Neil chant one more time....I'm ready for another huge comeback! Lets go CUBS!!!!
Fukudome better hit the weights in the off-season. He really leaves a lot to be desiered in the power categories.
Go Hank!!!!
Yeah Cory, the Astros just completed the sweep of the Cardinals and will come in with a 5-game winning streak.
Agustin....I did, I did.
I almost wish Blanco would've pounded his chest and yelled like that jackass Romero did yesterday, we have class tho.
Ward??
one down 2 more to tie!
Okay, DeRosa or Fontenot at short in the 9th?
Cory....my thoughts exactly.
Soriano hasn't been doing too well this homestand...or the last one either
is there any position that DeRo can't play?
Soriano has gone cold. Lots of runners left on base in the series.
Cotts is useless at getting Lefties out...
Come on Cotts, don't pull this sh*t 2 days in a row!!!
The bullpen has not been as good the last two days....
Where did that ball miss? Good pitch from Cotts to get Howard.
Maybe the third time....
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!
All I can say is hopefully the Phillies will not make the post season. If the Cubs make it they have the pitching to shut them down....22 hits in the last 2 games, all singles and 5 runs.
Very lackluster effort today.
They better come out firing tomorrow or we are in trouble!