Game Ten: Cubs (5-4) vs. Cardinals (8-3)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 3.00/1.50) vs. P.J. Walters (0-0, -.--/-.--)
After winning three in a row, the Cubs have dropped their last two and will turn to Carlos Zambrano today to put an end to their first multi-game losing streak of the year. Lou Piniella has used his pen a lot in the first nine games of the season, a quality start of seven innings or more by Zambrano today would go along way toward a win.
The Cubs are expected to be without Milton Bradley once again today. Bradley could return for the third game of the series on Saturday.
The Cardinals took game one of 16 on Thursday and own a two-game edge in the division after nine games. Thursday was the first of 10 straight against the Central Division and it will not get any easier after the weekend series...starting with the Reds series on Tuesday, the Cubs play 20 straight without a day off.
Lou Piniella voiced his displeasure over the bullpen following Thursday's loss...changes are coming, it is a matter of time.
Kyle Lohse was originally slated to make this start but with the injury, and subsequent trip to the DL, for Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals pushed Lohse back a day and called up P.J. Walters to make the start today.
The Cubs have not fared well in the recent past against pitchers they have not faced before...especially rookies. Zambrano will have to keep his team in the game while the offense tries to figure out the righty.
Carlos Zambrano took a step back in is last start after picking up the win on Opening Day in Houston. Zambrano struggled through six innings in the Cubs 6-5 win last Saturday in Milwaukee. Big Z allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Zambrano's velocity was down and his command was not as sharp against the Brewers as it was against the Astros. Zambrano needs a good outing in his first trip of the season to the Wrigley Field mound.
Zambrano was 7-2 in 16 home starts last season with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP...and both losses came at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Albert Pujols and company beat Zambrano badly in the two games in Chicago last season. The Cardinals plated nine runs on 10 hits, with four home runs, in 4 1/3 innings on August 9...and the start following his no-hitter on September 19, the Cardinals scored eight runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings. Many view that start as the reason Zambrano was not on the hill for Game One of the NLDS.
Zambrano dominated the Redbirds on the 4th of July in St. Louis and finished 2008 against the Cardinals with a 1-2 record in three games with a 12.75 ERA and a 2.17 WHIP. The Cardinals hit .364 with 20 hits and five home runs in 12 innings.
Big Z is 9-6 in 22 games, 21 starts, against St. Louis in his career with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.
- Rick Ankiel - 0-for-6 with a walk
- Chris Duncan - 3-for-14 with 2 walks
- Khalil Greene - 1-for-18
- Ryan Ludwick - 3-for-4 with a walk
- Yadier Molina - 6-for-26 with a home run and a walk
- Albert Pujols - 14-for-54 with 2 doubles, 5 home runs and 7 walks
- Skip Schumaker - 7-for-19 with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run and a walk
- Joe Thurston - 1-for-5 with a double
P.J. (Philip Dewayne) Walters was called up from Louisville on Wednesday and will make his big league debut this afternoon. Walters was ranked as the Cardinals' 17th best prospect by Baseball America before Spring Training began.
Walters was among the leaders in the Cardinals organization in strikeouts and in strikeouts per nine innings last year for the second season in a row. He throws his fastball consistently in the mid to upper 80s, will touch the low 90s...but his best pitch is a screwball that he calls his changeup.
Walters will keep the ball down and as a deceptive delivery according to Baseball America.
The Cubs must be patient and make the rookie work. If they go to the plate swinging it they will leave Wrigley this afternoon with a .500 record.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
I just saw Carpentar has a torn Oblique and is out for about 6-8 weeks. That guy just can't stay healthy.
Now, down to business! How about we start the weekend off right with the start of a new winning streak!
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Fukudome - CF
Lee - 1B
Hoffpauir - RF
Ramirez - 3B
Soto - C
Fontenot - 2B
Theriot - SS
Zambrano - P
I'm with you, Nick. We're due for a "comfortable" win: a well played and pitched game with some timely hitting.
Be nice to see Hoffpauir and Soto get going today. AND whomever the relivers are...to throw strikes!!!!
It's another new lineup--with Micah Money/ Hoff Power, etc. in the four hole. Most individual games are won by 4 or 5 position players doing something important that day and 2 pitchers giving their team solid performances. It would be exciting to have 4 or 5 guys step up today--and Hoffpauir be one of them.
Yup! I don't think we've seen the Cubs
show us a well played nine innings yet...
maybe todays the day!
Good job in 1st, Z!
nice strong inning by Z.
Micah Money!!!!! RBI Double.
Hoffpauir with a double...1-0 Cubs
ARam RBI single. Lee scores.
Soto hit it hard, but it's a double play. Nice inning Cubs!!!
did you notice both aram and soto looked bad swinging at the inside changeup...must be some pitch...we should have jumped on him more.
time for a Big Z jack!
Z gets his first walk since 2006 to load the bases with no outs. Sori looked bad the first time up. But he likely smashes one here.
lou really needs to bch-slap some sense into soriano.. both abs were embarrassing to watch
Sori strikes out again--on 4 pitches. Two breakers low and away--well off the plate. Dome gets a sacrifice fly. Lee hangs tough, but strikes out on another low and away curve ball. Cubs up 3 zip.
Let the rookie of the hook.
Walking the 8th place hitter before the pitcher...can't do that.
WOW!!!
Unbelivable! We are so over-rated.
It is the 10th game of the year and you are saying we are overrated? Wow, should we even play the remaining 152 games?
Z holds Pujols to a sac fly, but Ludwick hits a too good pitch out. Cards up 4-3. We can come back. Settle down Z!!!
i wish they woulda showed a better replay of that pickoff at 2nd by zambrano.. i thought he was out based on the one they showed.. and yes i'll blame this inning on the umpires
Cubs need to play smarter...starting with Sori. Bases loaded, no one out, z gets on four straight balls and Sori swings at 3 straight...still can't get that out of my mind.
So much for a well played game.
I can't believe our offense is this bad!
Soto is now
1-16 (0.62) with 5ks 0 BBs with a .200 OPS...
Talk about slow start.
Micah Money 2 for 2!! Cards pitcher has a late breaking slider that K's Aram and Soto. He throws nothing in the 90's. LBR picks up the slider, but pitcher knocks down a hard hit ball. Cubs do not respond--yet. Z needs to forget about the last inning.
The Cubs are 8th in the MLB in batting average with none on base
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byteam?cat=Situational&cut_type=58&conference=MLB&year=season_2009&sort=722
And --> 28th with Runners in scoring position
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byteam?cat=Situational&cut_type=39&conference=MLB&year=season_2009&sort=722
This is a big problem
Baron...where did they rank last year? Hitting in the clutch...against good teams has been our problem for a few years...I think.
Actually, a lot better last year Suzy
Last year they were 7th with runners in scoring position
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byteam?cat=Situational&cut_type=39&conference=MLB&year=season_2008&sort=722
Baron...thanks for the research...Suzy
Z pitches out of trouble with no damage. Can the bottom of our order get something going? I missed the 1/2 inning, but nothing happened.
Pujols walks--OK--but Ludwick loops one just off LBR's glove. Duncan a sac fly to right and Pujols scores from third. That would be small ball by the middle of the Cards order. No more damage. Cubs down 2.
Now, it's our turn. What will we do with it?
SOTO!!! Finallly... break out man...
Well, looks like we have to get another run back.
this happens every time without fail.. we'll come back to tie the game and the pitching in the very next half inning will give back the lead.. and give back any momentum the team might have had
This is irresponsible management and horrible judgment. Forget the fact the bullpen is bad: you put them in after your starter's given up 7 runs and thrown over 100 pitches, especially if he's your starter. Marmol's a good option, Vizcaino seems to be hot right now...you have plenty of options, so go with one!
Ludwick with another one...
Nice work earlier by Lee, Aram and Soto to tie it up. Z just can't keep it in the park today. Ludwick makes it a 2 run gap with another homer in the 7th. The Blue bats may not be done yet.
hopefully Lou gets in their ear, because they're playing like horseshit right now...bases loaded again less than 2 out, and we can't do much of anything...Soto finally learns how to hit, and we give up the run immediately.
The difference is the Cards are playing like they want the division. Our players don't even know what a sense of urgency is. If you listened to Wainwright's comments last night, he said it's early in the season, but these games count just the same as the back end of the season, and they were happy to set the tone early to the Cubs. WOW!!!
We need players like that. Unfortunately, we're stuck with the likes of Lee, who I know is probably a good guy, but overpaid, old, and seems like he could care less when he's playing. We need Bradley healthy, or else Hendry looks even worse (which helps my opinion of him, but doesn't make me feel good nevertheless). Our pen sucks. Our bench is listless. I mean, if Bradley's out, we have K Hill, Gathright, Miles, and Reed Johnson. Johnson's the only one worth anything. K Hill probably should be starting in place of Soto right now. Looks like Soto needs Blanco more than ever right now to get in his ear. But even K Hill...is probably overachieving. Honestly, if they want to send a message, I'd send Cotts and Gathright packing, and bring up Waddell and Jake Fox respectively.
This team needs a wake-up call. I'm speechless...I don't even know how to describe this horseshit we've been watching. Last year I lamented that we weren't built for the postseason. This year, I wonder if we're even built to reach the postseason.
As much as it pains me to say, the Cards deserve to win the division, and so do the Marlins and Dodgers in their respective divisions. They all play like they want something more. It almost looks like our guys are playing to collect paychecks. They aren't showing much emotion at all. Gregg pretty much took the air out of our sails early in the season, and ever since his blown save we've looked lethargic. I'm not even sure we could "earn" the Wild Card.
Who knows what'll happen later in the season when it warms up....but it doesn't look like a bright future for us this year...sorry to say..
Help Wanted.
Professional baseball team Chicago Cubs is looking for any pithcher that's got a pair and can get outs. Salary: up to $18,000,000 per year.
Thank goodness we moved Lee back to third spot so we get the usual production we get from him.
Dome doubles. Aram singles him in with 2 outs. Soto walks, come on LBR!! Not this time. We're within 1.
Aaron....Who are you trying to kid with the "As much as it pains me to say it." It doesn't pain you at all. "Soto finally learns how to hit?" Give us and the rookie of the year a break. Other than a bad outing by Z and some poor at bats by Sori--what else looked like doomsday in this one? I could be wrong, but it just looks like you are looking for "I told you so's" 10 games in.
Hey guys. Just in.
Been keeping up via texts.
From what I've seen, this game has just been aggravating across the boards. Has it been?
Good thing nobody is on in front of Soriano we have a chance.
That however....was not not aggravating!
Go Fonzie!!!
SORIANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO-RI-ANO (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)!!!!!
Can't believe somebody was dumb enough to throw him a strike, but I'm sure glad Perez did. Now the hard part. Holding the opposition to a scoreless inning.
i think lou bch-slapped some sense into soriano..
let's have a 1-2-3 9th ftw!
Matt....there's been some big plusses that you will see in the box score. Z gave up homers and Sori looked terrible against slower breaking stuff. But Sori just put our gutless wonders (in some eyes) ahead. Come on Marmol!!!
Gracias Senior!
Leadoff walks in the 9th?!?!?!?!
CanNOT be walkign and hitting guys with a ONE run lead!!
5 days...Marmol hasn't pitched in 5 days...gee, I wonder if there'll be any rust issues (he says as he gives up a 4 pitch walk, then promptly saves the Cubs' season by taking out Pujols).
I sure hope Lou has the short hook..
The bullpen can not be allowed to blow this one..
WOW!! Hit Pujols on the first pitch
I loved seeing Derrek's fist pump on the double play.
These guys do have heart.
CUBS WIN!!!!
Marmol recovers very quickly usually...as he did today
Big win!! And it's only April 17
The hopeful and supportive 8--the crepe hangers 7. Let's get another win tomorrow.
Heart attack kids!!!!
(But really an early MUST WIN...GO CUBS!!!
Optimists and Supportive 8. Crepe hangers 7. Let's get another win tomorrow.
Crepe hangers???
That would be as in the casket draping surrounding the deceased and departed, Suzy.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Glad to see PJ Walters have a OK outing since he is from Mobile, AL where I live.
But more important Cubs WIN!!
Roll Tide Roll!
Its good to see a fellow Jag have an okay outing.
Good to see you Pete.
Where you from?
Y did marmol close
Did I say Optimists.....find an occasional acorn!! The bats picked up Z today and Marmol has claimed the closer's role. Z should be OK next time out.
It would have been nice if Gregg and Marmol had all of the right stuff, but it looks like Marmol is our man. Micah has stepped up--which Lou was probably expecting. As the poem said, the blue are finding form early in the season. It's not time to cut and run for the Blue or the rest of us.
which radio station has best post game coverage.
ESPN 1000.
Especially on night games when ESPN is broadcasting Chicago Baseball Tonight.
Thanks
wow...crow tastes good...but I'm still not sold on this crew. You can't be leaving the bases loaded, less than 2 outs and come up with just a run like we've been doing, if anything at all. Our pen still looks shaky, and Z sucked ass today, but it was nice to see thunder in Soriano finally come through. I love Hoffpauir in the 3 hole...don't know about the rest of you, but I want to see this lineup:
Soriano
Theriot
Hoffpauir *until Bradley gets back
ARAM
Fukudome
Lee
Soto
Fontenot
JimK,
I said that about Soto because it's true. Piniella said he was behind, and the coaching staff thought he was overweight because of the WBC. He does not belong in there right now, and K Hill should be, but I understand why Soto's in---because of last year, and I can respect that, but he's really really hurting the team right now
Neil y did marmol close and not gregg
JJ...Piniella said last week that if he gets either Gregg or Marmol up in the pen then they are coming in the next inning. He is not going to warm either one of them up then sit them down.
I did not hear after the game but my guess is Marmol was going to throw the 9th to keep the Cardinals from tacking on to the 1-run lead...and once Soriano went deep it became a save situation.
Koyie Hill isn't a starter. He'll give you a good game at the plate, but he'll also give you four that aren't so good. Defensively, Soto and Hill are similar. But offensively, Soto is far better than Hill. This is the reigning RotY we're talking about, and even in a "sophomore slump", he's still better, offensively, than a lot of other catchers. So keep him in and give him a chance, cause all it's going to take it one long ball and he'll be right back.
Also, Marmol HAS to be the closer now. He's shown better stuff than Gregg, more command than Gregg, and has break to his breakers. Put Gregg at setup and let him rack up some holds. Meanwhile, keep Marmol closing games and let him show you why he was an All-Star last year.
That's twice already in the young season that Soriano has given us the lead in the late innings with a 2-run shot. Remember the game in Milwaukee when he hit a 2 run blast in the 9th inning to give us the lead?
Sounds clutch to me..
And Marmol saved both games...
Heard on wgn tonight that one of the announcers saw Gregg going into the dugout after the game and he was walking
very "gingerly" on his knee. That could be the whole story with him.
Suzy, that was Kaplan and a very concerning statement as well. I heard the whole conversation with Hollandsworth.
On a non-Cubs note, you know who's looking pretty good right now? Bartolo Colon. You know who the Cubs could have got this offseason? Bartolo Colon. Still not sure at all why we didn't at least look at him, and if we did, whatever scout said to pass on him should be fired.