Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Cubs (85-53) vs. Astros (72-66)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (13-5, 3.53/1.30) vs. Brandon Backe (9-12, 5.42/1.58)
The Chicago Cubs find themselves entering play tonight in arguably the first big game of the final month of the season. The Cubs are not just in need of a win, but for Carlos Zambrano to break out of his slump from last month. Zambrano's health is a major concern for the Cubs and a solid outing tonight could go along way at answering a few of the questions surrounding their ace. While Zambrano's offense has been very helpful this season, Big Z must concentrate on pitching. The offense must relax and give Z a little early run support in order to keep him focused on his 'day job'.
Lou Piniella's crew has two games remaining on a stretch of 16 in a row without a day off that began back on August 19th. They have won 9 of the first 14 and a win tonight would give them a chance to keep their unbeaten series streak alive....the Cubs are 9-0-2 in the last 11 series dating back to July 24th. Despite losing the last three in a row, the Cubs have a chance to win the series against the Astros and even up the season series versus Houston at 7-7....the Cubs are 4-3 against the Astros at Wrigley and 2-4 at Minute Maid this year.
According to a report in the Daily Herald, Lou Piniella talked about possible changes to the lineup with his coaches following the 3-0 loss on Monday. Bruce Miles reported that "Kosuke Fukudome's slump is getting to Lou" and Miles mentioned the possibility of Micah Hoffpauir giving the slumping Derrek Lee a day off....
Carlos Zambrano is in need of a good outing tonight against the Astros. A win would be a plus and his 14th of the season but his performance is more important than him posting a victory. The Cubs must have two goals tonight....one win the game and the other to receive at least a quality start from their ace with an improved arm angle and velocity.
Z blamed his struggles in August on the month itself. After going 0-4 in 5 starts with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP a season ago, Zambrano was 1-1 in 5 games last month with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Zambrano silenced a lot of the concerns last year when he returned to form and posted a 4-2 record in 6 starts in September with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Big Z must repeat that performance this month if the Cubs are going to hold off the Brewers and win the Central Division crown.
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 4 weeks. As Aramis Ramirez pointed out a few months back, the Cubs go as Zambrano goes....and it must start tonight with a Z-like performance.
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 had failed to complete 5 innings. The only positive concerning Zambrano last month, other than the offense he gave 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 in St. Louis.
Zambrano is 1-1 in 2 starts this season versus the Astros with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Astros beat him in Houston on July 19th and scored 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Zambrano walked a season-high 6 batters and struck out 3. Back on April 6th at Wrigley, Zambrano beat the Carlos Lee-led Astros 3-2 and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and no walks. Zambrano must throw strikes tonight and not repeat the walk parade from the first weekend after the All-Star break. No walks would equal a low pitch count and more innings for the Cubs' ace.
Zambrano is 11-7 in 24 career games, 22 starts, versus the Astros with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.
- Brandon Backe - 1-for-2 with a double
- Lance Berkman - 9-for-57 with 4 home runs and 14 walks
- Geoff Blum - 5-for-22 with a double
- Darin Erstad - 2-for-10
- Mark Loretta - 3-for-12 with a double
- Hunter Pence - 2-for-12 with a double
- Miguel Tejada - 3-for-6 with a home run
- Ty Wigginton - 0-for-4
The Cubs will try to beat Brandon Backe for the third time this season tonight. Backe is 0-2 in 3 starts against the Cubs this year with a 9.56 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. The Cubs have shown a lot of patience at the plate against Backe and must continue that trend tonight. The Cubs have walked 9 times in the 16 innings they have faced Backe this year.
Backe is coming off a rough month. He posted a 3-2 record in 6 games with a 7.82 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP while teams hit a robust .301 against him. Backe struggled in two starts, one against the Cubs and the other against the Diamondbacks in which he gave up 11 earned runs in each start.
The Cubs will have their chances tonight against Backe and must not leave runners left on base and in scoring position. Early runs would not only give the Cubs a little breathing room and relax the entire team but would allow their ace to concentrate on just pitching.
- Henry Blanco - 1-for-3
- Mark DeRosa - 4-for-11 with a double and 2 home runs
- Jim Edmonds - 5-for-16 with a double and 5 walks
- Mike Fontenot - 2-for-3 with a home run
- Kosuke Fukudome - 3-for-8 with 2 doubles
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-5 with a home run
- Derrek Lee - 4-for-20 with 2 doubles
- Aramis Ramirez - 8-for-21 with a home run
- Alfonso Soriano - 5-for-23 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs
- Geovany Soto - 0-for-3
- Ryan Theriot - 3-for-11
- Carlos Zambrano - 0-for-2
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball.....
Tonight's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Fontenot - 2B
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
DeRosa - RF
Edmonds - CF
Soto - C
Theriot - SS
Zambrano - P
I like the lineup. It's time for Z to throw strikes with movement and give up no more than 2 or 3 runs in 6 + innings. 89 to 93 on the fastball should work. It's time for the bats to score 5 or 6, and they should be able to tonight.
How about them apples? 92-95 with movement and mostly strikes! Keep it up Z.
good start partners!
Soriano IS the spark plug of this offense.
SORIANO!!!! I hope he gets as hot this September like he did last year.
SO-RI-ANO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!
Nice hard hit single by Derrek Lee
This is a good start by our Big three tonight.
The infield is in? 1st inning?
damn
Edmonds didn't come thru with the bases loaded despite an excellent at bat. You have to score to win, and we have 1 on the board. Soriano says, "It's on me tonight."
Good inning Z. Don't worry about the run. We'll get a few more for you.
We're getting good wood on Bakke. It's only a matter of time before we put up a crooked number. How about a quick 3rd Z? Man, I like his mid 90's stuff and control.
There's the quick 1-2-3....
LET'S GO OFFENSE, LET'S GO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!!!
Thank you for the quick inning Z. Here comes the top of the order. Let's rally!
Man, it seems that Edmonds DP really took the air out of the offense tonight. They should be pounding a puke like Bake.....again.
Okay...maybe its time for a new chant?!?!?!
Gary, I my opinion they hit him hard in the 2nd inning. Mr. Tejada took two hits away and one started a double play. They are at least making him work.....
Backe had a good inning, but the pitches are adding up on a hot, humid night. Set 'em down again Z.
Soriano has to make that catch.
The Cubs' offense frightens me with its Soriano dependence. God help this team if he doesn't in the playoffs.
The I-Cubs had the best record in the PCL. Can't Lou find any playing time for the stars of that team?
Good job by Z working around the mistakes in the field. Theriot must make that throw. At least it cost him just 1 pitch.
The offense needs to wake up....
Z has his groove on tonight. He picked up Sori and Riot's poor defense with no damage. 2 runners--o runs. Let's get some now Cubs!
DERO!!!
Sweet.
GEO SOOOOTOOOO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!
#21....80 RBI's
4 away from Billy Williams
Nice job DeRo and Soto! Everyone is hitting tonight, I like seeing this.
Tied at Miller Park....
The Cubs dugout is loose and focussed tonight. Guys are happy and ready to play. Thank you DeRo and Geo for the bombs: We got some runs.
OK Z, it's time for one of Neil's shutdown innings.
Come on Z, get outta this!
Hey JimK, I don't think he's listening.
I hope our offense sticks around tonight.
You're right Gary. Z is having a bad inning. No more damage Z. We can win a tie game.
At this point, I am all for just skipping a Zambrano start to try and get him right.
Z was right for 4 and then gave up a leadoff double on a bad pitch. His velocity is still good, and he seems to have his composure. Maybe he rebounds well next inning. Come on bats get the 5 or 6 that were called for tonight.
Enough of the DPs!!!!!!
somethimg wrong with Big Z?
As soon as I hear about Z, I will post. Listening to Pat and Ron as well.
Much more to think about here but I would rather see Guzman right now.
Bad inning for the bats. First two on and no runs. Z is out. I'm guessing Z had something like heat stress vs. an injury. Boy do we need a good inning from Howry.
Why is Bob Howry even on this team? Wasn't Guzman up and getting ready in the pen?
I'm done with Howry...Lou you can't put him in a tied ballgame!!!
You can see it coming. The Cubs relievers blowing it, the offense lamenting missed opportunities, and the Brewers with a big rally.
Howry doesn't have his three inch breaker tonight. Get somebody ready Lou--and quick. Three straight hits.
GET BOBBY HOWRY OUT OF THIS GAME. WHAT THE (BLANK) ARE THEY DOING? I do not understand this. Howry is done and it is September. Now Wuertz?!?!?!?!?!?!
I HATE BOB HOWRY CUT HIS OLD ASS ALL HE DOES IS BLOW THE GAME...where has he show lou where he can consistently get batters out?
Um I'm speechless...
My patience is gone for Bob Howry. He should not play a single out unless the Cubs trail by 40. Just cut him. I would rather see DeRosa throw an inning in relief than Howry.
BOB HOWRY SUCKS!!!
Offense better step it right away!!
Howry's out of the ballgame...oh, but wait, look who Lou's gonna bring in. Michael Wuertz. ughhh
If Fuku can sit, that HAS to be it for Howry. I mean come on. My theory is that Lou was giving him this one last chance to turn it around.
They won't cut him, but I bet that's the last high-leverage situation he sees all year.
5 batters faced and Howry gives up four hits and walks a batter, unreal.
Why couldn't he have gotten the double play with the first batter. Dammit!!
Earth to Lou and Cubs. Not every team is a Pirates team minus Bay and Nady or a Reds team minus Griffey and Dunn. How could Lou just sit there with an expanded roster and watch Howry give this game away?
My guess is that Howry must be dating Piniellas' daughter or something and that Wuertz is the godfather... I know it's not funny but we need another corageous come back today!
I am so confused about why Howry and Wuertz were used.
How about one of those 5 run innings now!!
Howry's time in the bigs is over. He had a lot of good days--but not this year with the Cubs. We can get back into this one. We needed to score more than 3 runs on three HR's and a lot of base runners early.
There you go SOTO!!!
THE RIOT with an RBI double!!
THERIOT with a big double.
Bringing in Sampson, great sinker must be patient.
Come on Cubs...Show the Heart. Quietly Theriot is having an all-star caliber season.
It's like Lou gets challenged with his decision to use Howry and then feels like he needs to defiantly put him in. Its like "I'll do the f***ing managing around here"
Gary,
I agree.
Lou is paid, what, $5M/year to "manage"?
That should be more than enough to satiate his ego...no need to make absolutely pointless moves (like using Howry) just to prove you can.
Yes, Lou, we all know you are extremely big and strong and powerful. Perhaps more powerful than the US military, more feared than Putin and Iran, and even in better shape than Michael Phelps.
There...are you happy now?
Now MANAGE TO WIN THE GAMES, AND NOT TO PROVE HOW SMART YOU ARE!!!!!!
Mighty Mike!!
a well deserved little BABE RUTH!
We got 3 back. Hold 'em Cubs!!
Fontenot with a clutch 2-out RBI.....
Message to Cubs offense, 'Please quit hitting the ball to Tejada. Regardless of his age, he can still pick it.'
Need to keep the mo....
Just me or are you all a little excited to see Guzman back on the mound in the bigs? This guy has been such a tease for the last couple years but he used to have really good stuff.
I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE ALL CAPS ON, SO I COULD SEE WHAT THINGS ARE LIKE IN JOET'S WORLD...SO DON'T MIND ME RIGHT NOW.
I THINK LEE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN THE 5TH SPOT...HE HASN'T BEEN A #3 HITTER FOR A WHILE. I THINK YOU PUT ARAMIS IN THE #3 HOLE, AND PERHAPS SOTO BATS CLEANUP, OR EDMONDS.
TOO BAD FUKUDOME CAN'T GET HIS ACT TOGETHER. I REALLY THINK THE CUBS WOULD RUN OFF 10 STRAIGHT IF FUKU GOT HOT AND THE OBP MACHINE GOT ROLLING AGAIN.
MAN...THIS ALL CAPS STUFF IS GREAT...I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TURET'S SYNDROME, OR I AM AT THE BOTTOM OF A WELL.
If it's ok, I'll tell you when the inning is over Trevor
Nice play Guzman!
Now lets Get Some Runs!!!!
GUZMAN THROWING MID-90S...THAT IS A GOOD SIGN. CONTROL A BIT ERRATIC, BUT THAT COULD BE NERVES AFTER BEING GONE A LONG TIME, OR JUST RUST. I REMEMBER KERRY WOOD AND DEMPSTER AND OTHERS TOOK A WHILE TO GET THEIR CONTROL BACK AFTER SURGERY. I THINK GUZMAN AND JEFF SZMARDIA AND SEAN MARSHALL AND RICH HILL MAY ALL PLAY BIG ROLES NEXT YEAR, WHETHER IN THE BULLPEN OR IN THE ROTATION OF IN THE FORM OF A TRADE.
WHO THE HELL IS BRIAN CAMPBELL...GO CUBS!
Trevor...like the great podcast duo used to say...
YES, I'M EXCITED!!!
Very funny Jason!
Trevor I am with you. Looked good first 2 batters then started falling behind. That was his problem before, not enough first pitch strikes and put himself in hitter's counts.
Not textbook, but a scoreless inning is still a scoreless inning.
I think Guzman will replace Howry. Guzman, Shark, Marmol and Wood is a solid bull pen.
I hope thwy use Marshall to spot start to keep Z, Harden, Dempster and Lilly fresh.
Guzman showed good stuff and command with a wind up. Less command from the stretch. But he held 'em. Now the Cubs have to tie or go ahead.
As we look back, Wuertz did well. He gave up a walk, got Tejada to hit into a double play and Berkman to ground out.
EDMONDS!!!! There we Go!!!
JIMMY BALLGAME!!!!!!
JIMMY THE OTHER WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!
Come on Bullpen!!
HOLLYWOOD!
I TURNED TO MY WIFE AND SAID C'MON EDMONDS YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN A WHILE, AND THEN HE HIT THE HOMERUN AND I TOLD MY WIFE THAT I CALLED IT...WHICH IS BASICALLY TRUE, I GUESS.
WE GOT A RUN IN THAT INNING, BUT I THINK WE TOOK, LIKE 8 PITCHES TOTAL. C'MON GUYS...GOTTA PLAY A BIT SMARTER THAN THAT. LET'S HOPE LOU PUTS IN THE PROVEN BULLPEN ARMS HERE, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND WIN THIS BAD BOY, GO CUBS!
We got the tie!!! Wow, this is hard work tonight. Now hold 'em pen.
Any word on Z?
Senior Nasty!!
....nazty....ztoff
I have not heard a word on Z....
Marmol superman. Time for bats to pull this one out.
Nice at bat Dome. Come on Soriano..
Good patience.....
COME ON LEE!!!!!! No better time than now!
Don't do it D-Lee... If you hit the ball on the ground..
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
WTF LEE!
Another double play?!?!?!?!? 4th of the night
Dammit!!!!
y did u see that coming
Mets are doing their job..Time for the Cubs to step up and do the same.
GOOD SITUATION FOR FONTENOT HERE...NO ONE REALLY EXPECTS ANYTHING OF HIM, CAUSE HE IS LIKE 5 FEET NOTHING, SO THERE IS NO PRESSURE, AND HE JUST GOES OUT AND KICKS BUTT.
I WILL PAUSE FOR HIS AT-BAT, TO PROVE MYSELF A GENIUS OR A DOOFUS.
OK...HE WALKED...NOT SURE WHAT THAT MAKES ME, SO I WILL GO WITH GENFUS.
SO NOW WE ARE BACK TO LEE, WHO SHOULD BE IN THE 5-HOLE.
OK...HAD TO CHANGE A DIAPER ON THE NEW KID, AND I COME BACK AND THE ASTROS ARE UP TO BAT. GOTTA ASSUME LEE HIT INTO A DP AGAIN.
LEE HAS TO BE THE WORST .290 #3 HITTER IN MLB RIGHT NOW...SHEESH.
DLee feels worse than we do--but not much. The issue now is that Marmol goes two, and he's not available tomorrow. Hopefully nothing freaky happens against Marmol, and we pull it out in the 9th.
Is it me, or does it look like Pence has osteoporosis with a humpped back?
Come on Ramirez, gotta make that play.
JIMK,
I GOT A RAISE THIS YEAR, BUT I AM PRETTY SURE LEE STILL MAKES ABOUT $13-15M MORE A YEAR THAN I DO, SO I REALLY DOUBT HE FEELS WORSE THAN I DO.
I THINK HE IS A SOLID MLB PLAYER, GOOD GLOVE, AND A GOOD HITTER, BUT DOES ANYONE REALLY NOT SEE THAT 2005 WAS AN ABERRATION FOR LEE? HE NEEDS TO BE OUR #5 HITTER. IF HE DOESN'T LIKE BEING MOVED, THEN HE CAN START PRODUCING, AND STOP HITTING INTO DP'S CONSTANTLY.
Pence didn't run well and Soriano never moved from left center until the ball was well past Aram. We're lucky Pence isn't on third. It was a tough play for Aram. Marmol keeps it a tie game!! Let's pull it out NOW!!
Brewers lost....
Bad bunt by DeRo. Come on Rookie!!
Missed opp for Dero.
Talk about some pressure for the newbie!
why dosnt lou put in Hoffpauir
No pi**ing match here Jason B, but you didn't let down anybody. Lee let down 24 teammates who are trying very hard tonight--so he feels worse than we do. You're right that he's a lesser 3 hitter than we would like. Maybe we try EJ in the 3 hole, but Lee could be the best we have.
two errors by Ramirez.
What is up with ARam in the field?
come on dp... lets get out of this and win it in the btm of the 10th
Here we go, time to end!!
pitching display by our two bullets marmol and wood!
He got 4 outs there.
Man, Soriano should have taken a couple of pitches.
Hank White heroics?
Come on Lee how about some Redemption here!
First two batters on and nothing..
D Lee has to be the most non-clutch hitter on the team. I'd rather have anyone but Cedeno than him at the plate.
Where did that pitch miss?!
Where did the 3-2 pitch to Berkman miss?
I have no words, what a kick in the junk.
You've got to be kidding me.
jesus christ.... F*** geoff blum... i hate him..
that suks. that was strike 3 on Berkman.
Jim. I believe his last clutch hit in Wrigley was in october 03.
Man I hope this guys have another comeback with in.
To say we had plenty of opportunities to end this in nine is a huge understatement.
Now the worst part is we have to watch Valverde pitch.
I am still pissed at Howry, I don't want to see him on the mound the rest of the year, period!!
i DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL THAT WAS BALL 4, WHEN IT WAS RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
SURE ENOUGH, NEXT GUY HITS A HR.
THAT UMP SUCKS.
THE SAME UMP THAT CALLED CRAP PITCHES AGAINST LEE LAST INNING...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THIS GAME IS GOING TO HELL IN A HURRY, AND WE HAVE WOOD OUT THERE FOR 2 INNINGS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY CAUSE A BLISTER OR ARM INJURY. DIDN'T WE JUST EXPAND OUR ROSTERS???? PUT IN SOME OTHER PITCHERS, LOU.
HONESTLY, WE SHOULD HAVE SIGNED GIRARDI, AND SAVED A COUPLE OF BUCKS. ALL YOU GET FOR HIGH-PRICED MANAGERS LIKE DUSTY AND LOU IS A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE CUBS AREN'T DOING WELL THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF LOU...THEY ARE DOING WELL BECAUSE THEIR PAYROLL IS ABOUT $20M HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND WE ARE, ON PAPER, PROBABLY THE MOST TALENTED TEAM IN THE NL.
IF LOU HAD JUST PUT IN GUZMAN, WHO WAS WARMED UP, INSTEAD OF HOWRY, YOU GUYS WOULD ALL BE SLEEPING RIGHT NOW, WITH THE CUBS UP 5-1/2.
WHAT A WASTE.
4 LOSSES IN A ROW, AND IF ANY REPORTERS CRITICIZE LOU AFTER THE GAME, HE WILL PROBABLY SPOT-START HOWRY IN THE NEXT GAME, JUST TO PROVE HE IS OMNIPOTENT.
I DON'T BLAME WOOD, BUT AS A 10-YR VETERAN, YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULDN'T LET A BAD UMP CALL DISTRACT HIM, AS I AM GUESSING THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE HR HE GAVE UP.
The oddest thing keeps happening to me when i talk about the Cubs tonight..when I speak of first base..for some reason the name Teixeira keeps coming out of my mouth..odd....
Some poor AB's, including two by Lee and Howry's fiasco likely have done us in tonight. And we have a depleated pen for tomorrow. Then you wonder if Z is sick, de-hyrated or hurt. We need some heros tomorrow.
I think we owe this guy!
some one please do something against this guy!!!!!
REMEMBER WHEN THAT GRAMATICA KICKER IN THE NFL HURT HIMSELF WITH HIS STUPID CELEBRATION?
I HOPE VALVERDE PULLS A GROIN AND A COUPLE OF HAMMYS DURING ONE OF HIS STUPID STRIKEOUT CELEBRATIONS, THEN I COULD LAUGH MYSELF TO SLEEP TONIGHT. THIS GUY WAS A FLUKE WITH THE DBACKS, AND HE IS A FLUKE NOW.
VALVERDE HAS "SWEATY JOE" BOROWSKI SYNDROME: SOMEONE FORGOT TO TELL THEM THEY REALLY WEREN'T MLB-QUALITY CLOSERS, AND THEY GET BY ON BS AND LUCK FOR 1-2 YEARS, BEFORE REALITY SINKS IN AND THEY WAKE UP ONE DAY WITH AN 8.35 ERA AND NO JOB. HERE'S TO HOPING VALVERDE'S DREAM WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN TONIGHT!
me 2 nick. I strongly dislike Valverde
Very sad loss. The offense battled but wasted huge opportunities. LVP=Howry
We'll get em tommorrow.
Gotta get this crap figured out tomorrow night, Can't keep counting on the brewers to loose.
I am right there with you Agustin, watching him pitch makes me sick.
We should have picked up a game tonight. Instead, we look bad late in a loss. Tomorrow is a real test for everyone. Now we await the condition reports on Z and who we have in the pen tomorrow.
13 left on base...that's not good baseball..even if you score 7...the Astros and Cards may not be out of this race afterall...sad sad sad
JASON B. FROM AZ, DON'T YOU NEED MY PERMISSION?
YOU MAY NOT USE THE EXPRESS WRITEN CONCENT OF JOET'S (MY) TRADEMARK OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, JASON B. FROM AZ. I ACTUALLY HAVE RESPECT YOU FOR BIG PAL.
HOW 'BOUT THEM NU WILDCATS... 30-10 WINNERS
While the Phillies and Asros are good teams, I think these last four games expose some weaknesses on this team. The bullpen other than Marmol is not dominant, the team is not as strong fundamentally or defensively as you would like and in tight ballgames there are just too many mistakes. The Cubs barring a catastrophe will make the playoffs but how far can they go against tough teams. Zambrano must be right along with Harden and Demspter to have a good shot but Zamrano has been off and on for two years and I think he his protecting soreness or tendinitis. I was at the game tonight and his velocity was mostly in the 80's and they were pounding him. Here's hoping they get a real scare about the postseason and get hot and play beyond themselves ala the White Sox of 05 and the Cards 06 at the right time (Zambrano needs to be DL'd or rested for mmore than 6 days so his arm can recover)