Game Nine: Cubs (5-3) vs. Cardinals (7-3)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Sean Marshall (0-0, 0.00/1.00) vs. Adam Wainwright (1-0, 1.74/1.55)
While a majority of the mainstream media thinks the Yankees and the Red Sox is the greatest rivalry in all of baseball, many throughout the Midwest will argue it's the Cubs and Cardinals...and today is the first meeting of the new season. The Cubs won nine of the 15 meetings a year ago.
Lou Piniella's crew enters play today a game behind Tony LaRussa and the Redbirds in the Central. Many of the experts figured the race for the central this year would be between the Cubs and Cards...and after the first ten days of the season, the two teams are atop the division.
The Cubs are expected to have Aramis Ramirez back in the lineup today while Milton Bradley will not return for at least another day. On the other side, the Cardinals lost a big piece of their team on Wednesday when they placed Chris Carpenter on the 15-day DL. Carpenter is expected to be out four to eight weeks.
The Cubs will send Sean Marshall to the hill for his first start of the season. Marshall has pitched well against the Redbirds since making his big league debut against them on a Sunday night in April back in 2006.
While Marshall tries to keep Albert Pujols in the park and off the bases, the Cubs' offense will have their hands full with Adam Wainwright...who has not pitched as good as his record and stats indicate.
It's the Cubs and Cardinals...Round One
Sean Marshall more than earned the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation this spring. Marshall dominated the Cactus League until his last two starts. He finished with a 3-1 record with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and eight walks in 26 2/3 innings...but that was then.
Lou Piniella needs a quality start from his second lefty today. With the short outing from Rich Harden on Wednesday, Piniella has a bunch of one-inning pitchers he can use today and if it gets ugly early, Marshall might have to take one for the team.
Marshall put together one of his best starts last season against the Cardinals. On July 6, Marshall held Albert Pujols and company to one run on six hits in six innings with a walk and four strikeouts. Marshall stepped up then...and a repeat performance would go along way to this weekend at Wrigley being a successful one for the Cubs.
Marshall is 2-1 in five career starts (nine games) against the Cardinals with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.
- Rick Ankiel - 1-for-4
- Khalil Greene - 0-for-6
- Ryan Ludwick - 1-for-8 with a home run and a walk
- Yadier Molina - 4-for-12 with a double and a walk
- Albert Pujols - 4-for-13 with 3 walks
- Brendan Ryan - 2-for-6 with a home run
- Skip Schumaker - 0-for-4
Beginning today, Cubs pitchers must cut down on the number of free passes they are issuing. While the Brewers, Astros and Rockies have very good lineups, the Cardinals have the best player in the game...and Albert Pujols always seems to be at the plate with runners on base.
Adam Wainwright has become the Cardinals' ace, especially with Chris Carpenter on the DL, but as good as his numbers look in the first two games, they are deceiving. Carpenter has struggled with his command and is throwing a ton of pitches...especially early in the game.
The Cubs offense must not allow him to get comfortable and must make him work. If they are aggressive early, it will be a long day.
Wainwright has walked eight with only 11 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. He faced a streaky Astros team a day before they went 18 straight innings without plating a run. Wainwright did not allow a run to Houston in five innings but he pitched from behind in the count most of the afternoon.
Wainwright was 1-0 in two starts against the Cubs last season with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP...for his career, 1-3 in six starts, 15 games, with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.
Today will be Wainwright's third career start at Wrigley (1-0 in 2 starts, 7 games, with a 6.19 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP)
- Mike Fontenot - 3-for-5 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome - 0-for-3
- Joey Gathright - 0-for-2 with a walk
- Koyie Hill - 0-for-3
- Micah Hoffpauir - 1-for-1
- Derrek Lee - 3-for-14 with a double and 5 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 7-for-21 with 3 doubles, a home run and 2 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 3-for-13 with a double, a triple and 2 walks
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-3 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 6-for-18 with 2 doubles
Look for Aaron Miles to be a factor in at least one game this weekend.
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Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Fukudome - CF
Lee - 1B
Hoffpauir - RF
Ramirez - 3B
Fontenot - 2B
Soto - C
Theriot - SS
Marshall - P
The first Cardinals series of the year. Let's get it started with a "W."
Glad to see Hoffpauir in right today.
Jim, no doubt about that. I see Hoffpauir having a HUGE game today. It's good to have our lineup back to 90% strength.
We're going to bounce back today and give the Cards a nice high heater today.
GO CUBS!
Neil, or anyone, is Jarret Hoffpauir any relation to Micah? Jarret has been a Cardinal farmhand the last couple of years.
I'm glad Hoff is getting the start today and I like that Lou has the original starting lineup out there except with Hoff in for MB. I'm a huge Theriot fan, but batting second killed his hot streak.
Man, it was brutal watching the Cubs fail against Marquis last night. He usually comes out of the gate strong.
Let's go Theriot!!!!
I don't think he is. I wondered the same thing.
The Hoff is here. Interesting.
Good luck to him. I like his pop right there in the cleanup spot.
Lou seems to have a lot of faith in his bat to put him there. Cool.
I love Cubs/Cardinals.
Maybe if Sori hadn't have jogged to that ball, he could've gotten there before it hit the wall?
If Marshall can dial in his curveball, he'll be alright today. So far he's kinda sloppy with it. Good first inning though... the run they got was a goof.
I like a patient Soriano.
His OBP must be through the roof.
Ugly play by Duncan. Made Khali look worse.
Get em on, Get em over, Get em in! Nice job by Lee and Hoff.
Oops, sorry about that, just meant Lee.
Well, that was ugly..
Ummm... is it Wednesday? Are these the Cards or Rockies?
The definition of insane is to repeat the same behavior and expect different results.
*shakes head*
Nail on the head.
That is twice that Lee has been up and there has been a stike em out throw em. He needs to be making contact if that is a hit and run call!
I'm following Gameday, do the hitters keep missing the hit and run or what? That didn't seem like a spot where Fuk would be trying to straight steal.
Lou's trying to avoid the DP with Lee up, I think.
He assumed Lee would at least make contact. Instead we get the strikeout/throwout..
I am not sure, but if they are missed calls, that makes about ten of them so far this season.
It is time for the Offense to WAKE UP!!!
Wow, except for Soriano the rest of the lineup is in a major slump.
Gotta wakeup and execute!!
FUUUUUUUUUUK!!!!
KOSUKE!!!!!!!!!
HOLY FUKKK
FUKUDOME!!!! That a boy!!
Man oh man.
Kosuke....
Yes sir.
Oh goodness...Heilman....
Really? K. Greene homers? C'mon.
That was a quick lead.
got to love this new bullpen
(serious sarcasim)
Make em pay Geo!!!
DUNCAN IS A ONE MAN CIRCUS IN THE OUTFIELD. Poor guy because he can hit. Adam Dunn is a better defensive player than him and that is a lot to say.
I know Fontenot is struglin' a bit but the dude does not give an at bat away. He fights...
...or Bradley...
Saw this coming.
With Milton.
Go get em Game.
Milton Bradley with his Cub debut at Wrigley!
Saw this coming.
With Milton.
Go get em Game.
I like this move by Lou, just in case LaRusa wanted to bring in a relief pitcher. Wouldn't matter due to him being a switch hitter.
C'mon, Bradley, good hitter's count!
Just a single here Soriano, that is all we need.
that was a dreadful strike 3 call... Woeful
I agree. Nevertheless it was a memorable debut! He is on pace to beat Bobby Cox on ejections this season.
Total horseshit...
2 balls were called strikes on Milt...
Neil, are some of these ads making it hard to refresh as more comments are logged in?
Matt, I think so. Are you on IE6, IE7 or Firefox?
Firefox.
When I refresh, it takes awhile for the site to recognize that I'm signed it. Says it is loading twitter, yardbarker etc.
Would IE be better?
Alright, I seen MB get ejected on mlb.. Bad call or too close to take? thanks guys
that strike 3 call didn't touch any part of the plate
From what the pitch by pitch thing is showing me, we just got robbed of two runs by walks..
Miilton ejected in his first game at Wrigley....
Gotta throw strikes in the 7th inning...rookie or not.
I don't like Cotts. Cut the mullet or go back to the Southside.
I want someone in the bullpen (besides Marmol) to step up and get outs!!
Join the club...these walks are killing me.
Where is this ump looking..?
Oh so now that spot is a ball...
That'll cost us the game..
Speaking of Marmol, what's wrong with him that they're not considering going with him today?
No sense in wasting him early in the game and now with a deficit.
Can't pitch him every game.
Our bullpen is brutal!! We've gotta be leading the league in walks. Is this the case Neil?
I will check, I know they were close a couple of days ago.
Pujols, first to third on a hit & run ground out to short....that says it all.
This bullpen sucks and it will cost us a bunch of games this year.
After watching a replay of Bradley's AB all 6 pitches wear balls. That changes the game.
God I hate loosing to the Cards...especially at home
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/byteam?cat=Situational&cut_type=48&conference=MLB&year=season_2009&sort=816
Cubs are no.1 in baseball in walks issued 7th inning or later.
Baron...thank you for saving me the time.
These walks are horrible. It's one thing when the other team earns it, it is another when you give it to them.
I have purposely tried to keep from commenting on here during the early part of the season, because I tend to get worked up too soon....however, after watching this garbage of a team play with a huge lack of effort and fundamental baseball, I feel I need to say something...
1)we have no heart. Did you see Poopholes take 3rd base while Miles fell asleep? We haven't even come close to smart, aggressive baseball all spring
2)Our pen blows donkey balls...seriously, I don't know if there's a worse pen in the game than what Piniella has to deal with. Other teams must salivate when our starters are out of the game. You can forget about the lead if you see Guzman, Cotts, Patton, Heilman, Vizcaino, or Gregg come in the game....especially Cotts, Guzman, and Gregg, in particular.
3)our fundamental hitting....well...it hasn't existed. How many times have we seen runners on 2nd and 3rd, or RISP in general, without any outs, and we've come away with nothing, or at most, just 1 run?!?!?!? I'm getting sick of watching this sh#$t! Bases loaded, no outs, Duncan gift-wrapping the game for us, and we can't score. We saw this in Milwaukee, we saw it in Houston, and now we're seeing it at home.
Harden should be our closer, and Gregg should be traded for cracker jacks. Harden is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, but like yours truly, always has extremely high pitch counts due to his high strikeout totals. Hell, my college coach, who perhaps was the worst in our entire conference even figured that one out, and made me the closer, and I excelled in the role, and threw even harder than when I was a starter in fall practice.
Our pitching in the minors doesn't look very promising either, with Atkins, Samardzija, and Hart all getting spanked around.
Jake Fox needs to be on this team, and we need to get rid of Gathright...he's a waste of a roster spot. Also, Soto needs to go on a rehab assignment, because he clearly is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY behind all the other hitters. He and Miles both are just embarrassing to watch up there.
I can't really take away too many positives. Am I the only one VERY concerned right now?
I'm going to do a quick team analysis:
SP'S
Z: our true dominant starter has been as advertised
Dempster: consistent
Lilly: better in his 2nd outing
Marshall: about what we thought...solid 6 inning starter--- 3 to 4 ERA
Harden: fragile as always, but dominant
PEN
Cotts: why is this no-talent loser still in the majors?
Vizcaino: ditto...he's been extremely fortunate he has only been in 3 games b/c of Piniella's lack of faith in him, or he might just have a 27.00 ERA right now
Patton: too inconsistent
Guzman: ditto
Heilman: ditto
Gregg: why did we trade our top pitching prospect for the would-be non-tendered Gregg?!?! absolutely retarded move by Hendry
Marmol:our only dominant and consistent reliever
POSITION PLAYERS
C-
Soto: this is why I hate the WBC...he's about a month behind everyone with the WBC and his injury
K Hill: should be getting more starts...very please with his play and his fire...I love the spiking the baseball move after the Brewers game---it showed he actually cares
1B-
Lee: why Piniella even thinks about batting him higher than 5 in our lineup is anyone's guess. He hasn't warranted that high of spot since 2005.
Hoffpauir: needs more AB's...rust shows when he doesn't play. This guy is an everyday player
2B-
Fontenot: underachieving thus far, but he's scrappy, and I like his attitude
Miles: exactly why did we trade DeRosa away essentially replacing him with this loser?
SS-
Theriot: overachieving yet again, and I love his attitude as well
3B-
ARAM: our one consistent hitter. He at least knows how to make decent contact with the baseball...Unfortunately, he's also our most consistent power threat
LF-
Soriano: our most powerful hitter thus far...too bad he has a hole in his swing the size of Lake Michigan, and is allergic to consistency
CF-
Fukudome: this dude is surprising the ever loving sh$%t out of me, and I hope he continues. I love the way he makes pitchers earn it.
RF-
Bradley: never one to be bashful...I TOLD YOU ALL SO...he's a great guy to have on a team, and shows passion and emotion that we so desperately need, but this guy is the epitomy of fragility. He can't stay healthy if you put him in a padded room all day, and never will. Also, he's not that great in the field, which is something everyone hated on Dunn about.
FYI: Dunn 7 games, 22 AB's, 4 runs, 8 hits, 2 doubles, 2 hr, 8 RBI, 11 walks, 6 K's, .576 OBP, .364 avg
Bradley 6 games, 17 AB's, 1 run, 1 hr, 1 RBI, 5 walks, 3 K's, .333 OBP, .059 avg
But, hey, what do I know?!?! I guess when I was rattling off Bradley's games played during his entire career, I must've been off my rocker, right? I mean, a guy that averages less than 100 games played per season is DEFINITELY worth $10 million, right? Did nobody wonder what happens if he can't play those extra 62 games? We needed thunder in our lineup with Lee regressing to nothing more than a glorified singles hitter. What the hell was Hendry thinking?!?!
Aaron:
I agree with most of your points.
No way is Lee a #3 hitter, Hoffpauir deserves a once a week start at 1B.
I actually like Heilman and Marmol in the pen, with Patton a ? the rest of them suck ass.
My line up would be:
Soriano LF
Fukudome CF
Ramirez 3B
Bradley RF
Soto C
Fontenot 2b
Lee 1B
Theriot SS
Pitcher
As for Adam Dunn vs Bradley it is a little early to pronounce victory. IMHO, Adam Dunn doesn't deserve a glove he is a Designated Hitter on a NL team. He will hit more HR's and drive in more runs but that is it. By the end of the season Bradley will be hitting over .300 with 15-20 HR's and 80 Rbis.
Aaron...thank you for the honest assessment today, though I'm sure you'll hear plenty on how it's only Week 2...but as we know, games count as much in April as they do in September.
The bottomline is that our payroll is the third highest in the majors, and as you stated, this group has no heart. A bunch of aging individuals...overpaid with contracts that are unmovable.
I placed a brief post yesterday on the Marlins. I'm not a local Fla fan, but happened to watch their games against the Braves. So today they completed the sweep of the Braves who had entered that series 5-1. The Marlins have a payroll of around $40m, but they're playing baseball the right way. Youth, speed, and hunger....you can't beat it...and we don't have it, that's for sure.