Game One - National League Division Series
Cubs (97-64) vs. Dodgers (84-78) - Best of Five
Game Time - 5:30pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: TBS - Radio: 720 WGN, ESPN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184, 189
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96/1.21) vs. Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24/1.13)
Baseball's second season begins today on the North Side of Chicago. After the final out was recorded last year, Lou Piniella met with the media and after answering all of the same questions finished with.... "This is just a start fellas. We are going to get better at this. This is just a start. We will convene next spring and take this thing further."
Lou Piniella has kept his word so far....as Jim Edmonds said to the team before the celebration escalated after clinching the division, "Keep your eye on the prize." The Cubs get back to work today, with the next step....BEAT L.A.!
Joe Torre's team has flown under the radar for the last month and could be the one team that no one wants to play in a short series. The Dodgers are not the same team the Cubs beat five times out of seven games at the end of May and early June. Not only did Ned Colletti add Manny Ramirez at the trade deadline but Casey Blake from the Indians as well. Rafael Furcal has returned from spending a majority of the season on the DL and is expected to make the start today at short and hit in the leadoff spot. The Dodgers could easily be the last team standing at the end of October.
The Cubs have been on a mission all season and today, like all game ones in a short series, will set the tone for the entire series. With the uncertainty that is Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster must put his team into position to win the game while the offense must not swing early and often against Derek Lowe. This lineup has struggled against Lowe and they must make him elevate his sinker.
The Cubs offense has shown throughout the season they are capable of taking pitches and making the opposition work, tonight will be the first test to see if they learned anything from the fantastic regular season they put together.
Patience, defense, pitching and more patience are the keys for game one....
The Cubs and Dodgers have been playing games since 1890 but today will be the first time they have faced one another in the post-season. The All-Time series is tied at 1,012 wins each (2,024 games in 119 years) and the Dodgers have one of the best post-season managers in the history of the game.
Any casual fan looking at this series might see a mismatch on paper, but the farthest could not be from the truth. In order for the Cubs to make it to the next round they will have to play mistake free ball and not give the Dodgers any help. The second half Dodgers are just as good as the Cubs, if not better.
The Dodgers posted a very impressive 17-8 record in September regardless of the opponents they faced (Padres, D'Backs, Rockies, Pirates and Giants) and the Cubs' pitching staff will have to deal with a loaded lineup that includes one of the best post-season hitters in the history of the game. Manny Ramirez has hit 24 career home runs in the playoffs and since being traded to the Dodgers his line is just plain scary: .396/.489/.743 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI's in 54 games.
The Cubs must make the Dodgers' pitching staff throw to them and get the ball up. With the cooler weather in Chicago along with playing at night at Dodger Stadium, home runs for the Cubs could come at a premium. The Cubs have won games all season without relying on the longball and in this series it must be more of the same. Smart baserunning, taking the extra base when possible, hustling out of the box, hitting behind the runner and both sacrifice flies and bunts will pay a huge part in getting past the Dodgers and into round two....in other words, smart, fundamental baseball.
'The Big Three' will play a huge part in the Cubs success but the depth at the bottom of the lineup will give Alfonso Soriano more opportunities to drive in runs. As much as the Cubs need a solid series from Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, players such as Geovany Soto, Mark DeRosa, Ryan Theriot and Jim Edmonds must continue where they left off against the Cardinals when the games "still mattered."
Another player Lou Piniella needs a contribution from is Kosuke Fukudome. It appears Mark DeRosa will be in right field but Fukudome should be inserted for his defense and in the eighth spot in the lineup. If Fukudome can give the Cubs anything at the plate, his defense will more than make up for his offensive defencies....every run and every base in a post-season game is important and Kosuke has the ability and experience in right field to change a game....or at least keep one close.
Ryan Dempster will make his first post-season start tonight after a very impressive year as a starter for Lou Piniella. Dempster was 14-3 in 20 starts at Wrigley this season with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP while holding opponents to a .229 batting average. Dempster was 7-2 in 13 starts in the second half and was 2-1 in 5 starts in September with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
Dempster faced the Dodgers twice this season and posted a 1-0 record in 2 starts with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP....the Dodgers hit .250 against him. Dempster beat the Dodgers at Wrigley on May 26th (3-1) and allowed 1 run on 7 hits in 7 innings with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. He received a no-decision at Dodger Stadium on June 5th. The Cubs won 5-4 and Dempster allowed 3 runs on 3 hits in 5 1/3 innings with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts.
- Blake DeWitt - 1-for-5 with a double
- Andre Ethier - 5-for-11 with 2 doubles and a home run
- Rafael Furcal - 6-for-28 with 3 doubles
- Nomar Garciaparra - 1-for-4 with a double
- Matt Kemp - 1-for-5 with a double
- Jeff Kent - 9-for-33 with a home run
- James Loney - 1-for-4
- Russell Martin - 2-for-7
- Juan Pierre - 5-for-12 with a double
- Manny Ramirez - 1-for-1 with a double
Derek Lowe has been one of the hottest pitchers in all of baseball over the past month. Since August 31st Lowe has allowed 2 earned runs on 21 hits with 7 walks and 21 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings (6 starts). In September, 3-0 in 5 starts with a 0.59 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. Since the All-Star break Lowe is 7-3 in 14 starts (with a complete game) with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP while opponents have his just .226 against him.
If Lowe has a weakness, it is away from Dodger Stadium....5-6 this season in 17 games with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP with a .292 opponents batting average.
Lowe is 1-0 in 2 starts against the Cubs this season with a 1.93 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The Cubs hit .204. Lowe received a no-decision at Wrigley Field on May 28th. The Cubs won 2-1 and Lowe allowed no runs on 4 hits in 7 innings with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Lowe then beat the Cubs at Dodger Stadium on June 7th (7-3) and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
The Cubs must make him work and run up his pitch count. In his last four full starts Lowe threw 404 pitches in 27 1/3 innings....an average of 14.78 pitches per inning. If the Cubs do not run up his pitch count they will find themselves in a 0-1 hole in the Best of Five.
- Henry Blanco - 2-for-6 with 2 doubles
- Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-2
- Mark DeRosa - 1-for-8 with 2 walks
- Jim Edmonds - 5-for-30 with a double and a home run
- Mike Fontenot - 3-for-5 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-5 with a walk
- Reed Johnson - 4-for-11 with a double
- Derrek Lee - 11-for-28 with a double, a home run and 2 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 2-for-13 with a double and 2 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 13-for-53 with 2 doubles and 3 home runs
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-5
- Ryan Theriot - 2-for-10 with a double
Let's Talk 11 Cubs Baseball....
I think that the key to this series could very well be the homefield advantage.
If the Cubs and its fans(that means us) make wrigley field the last place the Dodgers want to be. Keep the intensity up. No let up. Make it feel like they have no chance in hell to overcome the will of Cub Nation(I know a little Cheesy, but you know what I mean). Then we can get by this first round. A sweep of the first two games would be big. Lets have "GO,CUBS,GO!!!!" sung so much that the Dodgers catch themselves humming it when they go back to LA for game three and four.
Total Domination. Make them fear us.
If you cant tell I'm starting to get hyped.
Lets do this.
LETS MAKE HISTORY!!!!!!!!
I'm with ya, man.
I bombed a spanish test. Halfassed my other classes. Reading nothing but Cubs stuff.
I CAN'T WAIT!
LETS DO THIS!!!!
Neil, I dont wanna steal your thunder.
So I'm just gonna tell you that the lineup has been posted on .com.
Why in the hell is Kosuke batting second?
Tell me about it!
I've been at work all day here in San diego and keep combing the internet looking for any Cub related news I can find.I found tickets for Saturday's game in L.A
I am SOOOOO ready for this to start.
From San diego,
GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
(can you hear me?)
I can hear you here in Ohio, Bardo!!
Matt - Neil is slammed at work today, please post it for him.
Today's lineup:
1 Alfonso Soriano LF
2 Kosuke Fukudome RF
3 Derrek Lee 1B
4 Aramis Ramirez 3B
5 Geovany Soto C
6 Jim Edmonds CF
7 Mark DeRosa 2B
8 Ryan Theriot SS
9 Ryan Dempster RHP
Interesting to see #1 in the 2 hole, let alone in the line-up.
I'm wondering if Fontenot would be better suited to face Lowe instead of DeRosa.
If they couldnt hear ya Bardo....lemme help....
GO CUBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO READY!!!!!!!
I love the line up....I'll sacrafice Kosuke's bat for his defense and arm in a short series playoff....hopefully he can suprise and get the stick back going.....
Patience Hitters....just like all year....make Lowe work!!!!!!
Lou.....keep em all loose.......
GO CUBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dodgers Line Up
1 Rafael Furcal SS
2 Russell Martin C
3 Manny Ramirez LF
4 Andre Either RF
5 James Loney 1B
6 Matt Kemp CF
7 Blake DeWitt 2B
8 Casey Blake 3B
9 Derrek Lowe SP
On the bench: speedster Juan Pierre, slugger Jeff Kent.
Kent is just coming back from a knee injury and Torre would rather keep the guy with more range in the line up and use Kent as a PH. Also, Furcal returns to the lineup after missing 125 games with a bulging disk....hopefully will show alot of rust!
Neil knows that, just as Smokey reminds us not to start forest fires, he must do his best to deter suicidal tendencies borne by some of the Faithful. And so Neil is very forthright in pointing out that we face a strong competitor tonight. His intro to "play ball" is highly informative and almost perfect. Neil does omit Reed Johnson from individual mention. I have ID'd Johnson as one of our standouts to be which (of course) settles that.
It looks like tonight's lineup stacks high OBP guys in the 7 and 8 holes for Soriano. It also looks like Lou thinks Dome is capable of an offensive contribution--however unpredictable that is based upon 2nd half performance. I was going to mention earlier today that I would start Johnson instead of Edmonds because of Johnson's far superior past performance against Lowe. I would have put the Riot in the two hole and Johnson in the 8 hole. But it could be that Edmonds will recall his post-season days of yester-years for us and be a standout contributor tonight.
My first wish tonight is that D has a 1, 2, 3 first inning. That would get the Blue settled down to taking care of business. We're with you Cubs....Win or Tie!
My guess as to why Fukodome is in the second spot is that:
One- Even when struggling he can bunt, move runners over, doesn't strike out much, walks a lot, basically he can do the little things that a #2 guys is suppose to do. Plus his pateince will set up the rest of the line up like earlier in the year. Believe its evidence that Lou expects a lot of small ball. Low scores.
Two- hitting second will give him some protection in from of Lee and Ramirez. Could just get him out of his slump.
Three- makes a righty, lefty, righty, righty, lefty matchup at the top of the lineup instead of righty, righty, righty, righty, lefty combo if they had Theriot there. Makes it harder in later innings to get favorable matchups for torre, which he likes to do. Will have to use several pitchers to get the right matchups to do it.
Its kind of a chance, its something that he tried earlier in the season that didn't quite work. But with the small ball factor it may be worth a shot. Fuko is a veteran(even though this is his first year here)and is use to big games. If he's going to break out this is the time to do it.
We'll see.
By the way, jimk
Good point about the OBP at the bottom in front of Soriano. Good Point
OK TBS just showed a priest in the Cubs dugout blessing the dugout and pouring holy water in there as well.......
Whatever it takes!!!!!!!
My wish: Soriano, D-Lee, and ARAM show up to the ballpark...
Remeber last year? They went 0-for...
Well, the time is here,
No reason to fear,
If your mind is unclear,
Simply have a beer.
It's postseason fun,
No way were one and one.
With ARam, DRos n DLee too,
Not to mention, good ol' sweet Lou,
Let us not fret on history low,
Instead let us yell with our hearts GO CUBS GO!
lets play some baseball boys and girls,
I feel great about this postseason.
"one and DONE"
need an editor
Well said.
Very well said Justin.
Lets do this...........
Fukudome is in there because Lou doesn't want to put DeRo in RF because of his calf so he plays second.
DOUBLE PLAY!!!
WOOHOO!
Let's hope for more of that from Manny!!!!
Nice start Cubbies!!!
Double Play!!
Thank you, Manny B...
Like Ernie said: "Let's play two!"
:-D
Good start for Demp. He's not getting the borderline calls tho... just as long as Lowe doesn't get loose calls either...
Nice inning for D. Ump not calling low stikes led to the walk, and D got Manny to hit into a DP. That IP should dismiss any early jitters. Now, can we show some offense in inning 1.
Nice job Dempt. How about we jump all over Lowe right away!!
Nice job Dempt. How about we jump all over Lowe right away!!
Is it just me or does this crowd seem unusually quiet?
Maybe there's too many stuffy high-rollers who can actually afford these tickets?
Whatever... lets give em something to cheer about!
Like myself, Eric, I think they are just plain nervous.
In Deff Leppard words....Hysteria!
Sori couldn't wait to SO on balls at his shoe tops. Lee gets a patient walk. Ump is squeezing Lowe too but he retires Aram routinely. Inning one belongs to the pitchers.
Aright --- Nice warm up inning for the offense made Lowe throw 20 pitches which ain't bad....
Cmon Dempster...
I don't mind Fuk in the lineup, but I question the 2 hole. Look up his stats in the 2 spot compared to 5. He has been flat out bad batting second. But that was the regular season, it is playoffs now, the past means naught!
On the crowd..the crowd just needs one big Cubs play to explode.
Nice Job Demp....
lets get them bats goin
Does TBS have the ability to show a replay or get real announcers? This braodcast is a joke. 2 close check swings for a potential strikeout and not a single replay.
DEROSSSSAAAA!!!!!!
YYEAHHH!!
DEEEEE-RRRRROOOOOOOO!!!!!
very nice... I like...
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAPTAIN DERO!!!!
D-Ro!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEROSA!!!!!
I thought it was going to go foul....
I guess he's okay, hah!
OK, if they ever show that "Jumbotron over the scoreboard" graphic again, I might just punch my TV.
that's why Fuko is in the game...nice catch
This ump seems to have a VERY small strike zone
The Dodgers have not played a team over .500 for a month, and the last time they did they were swept in a 4 game series. I think they have inflated stats and a selfworth to go with that.
Is a check swing ever going to be called a strike?
C'mon Dempster...gotta throw strikes, quit helping them.
Demp is having a hard time throwing strikes!!
BTW, these announcers are the worst!!!!
Where did they get this announcing crew? I am surprised Chip Caray got sent to the Red Sox series... wouldn't have minded him...
Nobody with any Chicago connection here
4 walks already...eek...not good..that could definitely hurt at some point
Baron...I agree, small strike zone.
A VERY nice catch by Sori
Good job by Sori to get there.
Phew, I thought it was gone.
Nice catch by Soriano!
Theriot saved a run right there...
It's amazing that TBS doesn't have a better announcer than Dick Stockton. He should really stick to football, where he's marginal there at best.
HUGE strikeout for Dempster...32 pitches in the inning though.
Great job Demp getting out of it...lot of pitches thrown tho....Also, Lowe had to run the bases...
D-Lee seems to have shown up at the park...but Sori and ARAM are still missing...better tardy than never
OK...let's wake up the offense in our next turn...please! Tack on kids...
D has clawed his way through 4 with some good defense behind him. His hand warmer could be working better and his pitch count is up. I'm beginning to wonder what the pen may have tonight.
Let's go bats. Give us some more breathing room.
Come on Dempt, help your cause!!
I'm worried these walks are gonna catch up.
Sweating bullets, guys?
Can not put two guys on for Manny!!!
Matt, I am with you. C'mon Dempster throw strikes!
100+ pitches already... I would get Marquis up here -- This ain't a bad situation for him to throw 1-2 innings.
Come on Dempster get outta this!!
No freakin way...
This is F#$#$ bulls$%$ --- After 7 walks, when is enough enough on a guy.... what do you need 11 walks??? #$#$#$