Game Seventy-Five: Cubs (36-38) vs. Pirates (36-41)
Game Time - 6:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Randy Wells (2-3, 2.57/1.09) vs. Virgil Vasquez (1-0, 3.00/1.00)
June is over and hopefully the Cubs will be able to turn on the offense with the flip of the calendar. Lou Piniella's crew enters play tonight in fourth place in the central, 4 1/2 back of the Brewers, and just a game and a half ahead of the last place Pirates. The Cubs need a win in the worst way but more importantly they need to start playing more consistently and quit trying to win 10 games in one night.
The Cubs difficult 10-game road trip that began with the makeup in Atlanta on June 22 concludes tonight ... the Cubs have won only twice in the first nine games.
After tonight the Cubs fly home for a huge four-game series against the Brewers ... and they must not overlook the Battling Bucs. The Cubs have won three of the first five contests against the Pirates this season and while many think the Pirates are mailing in the 2009 season, someone forgot to tell them that on Tuesday night.
The Cubs will start to get a little healthier over the next few days. Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman are expected back ... and if the Cubs can pull off a few wins in the meantime their return might not be for not.
While the offense must do their job against Virgil Vasquez ... it all starts with Randy Wells and one win at a time.
After not being able to buy a win, Randy Wells has won his last two starts and will face the Pirates for the first time tonight. Wells beat the Sox in his last outing, the only victory for the Cubs at the Cell. The Sox managed only two runs on five hits (two solo home runs) in seven innings ... with two walks (one intentional) and six strikeouts.
Wells has done a good job away from Wrigley this year ... 1-1 in five starts with a 2.20 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. After his worst big league start against the Twins on June 12 (four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings), Wells has allowed only four earned runs in his last two games (four runs on 10 hits in 13 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks ... 2.64 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP).
Virgil Vasquez will make his second start of the year tonight for the Bucs ... and his second since 2007. Vasquez was inserted into the Pirates rotation after they demoted Ian Snell to Triple-A a few weeks back. Vasquez responded with an excellent outing against the Royals in which he allowed only two runs on four hits in six innings (two walks and seven strikeouts).
Vasquez was 0-1 in five games, three starts, for the Tigers in 2007, his only big league action, and posted an 8.64 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP.
Tonight will be Virgil Vasquez's first career start ... and appearance against the Cubs.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball...
I surrender ny rights to discuss sports contracts any longer....the Blackhawks just signed Hossa to a 12 year deal...different sport...different money...but still a ridiculous contract length for a 30 year old athelete.
The business side is passing me by.
That's just the nature of employment period. I mean, these athletes are far too overpaid, don't get me wrong, but the big thing they want is job security, because no one wants to turn into Scottie Pippen (who got paid very well, blew it all, and now is a bit more reliant on commentating income than he'd like to be).
And keep this in mind: everyone gets on that Soriano contract being "too long". But if we didn't offer him 8 years, someone else would have (and I don't need to bring up how "Hot Streak Soriano" helped this team out as much as he did).
John Mc Donough ok'd the Soriano deal, now he ok'd the Hossa deal.
... and if the Cubs can pull off a few wins in the meantime their return might not be for 'naught.'
;)
Milton Bradley is back in the lineup tonight :( Alfonso Soriano takes the night off, Sam Fuld leading off in LF.
Brewers just lost 1 to nothing....We need a big "W" tonight.
The starting lineup for YOUR CHICAGO CUBS ...... (cue lights and music)
Fuld-LF
Riot-SS
Lee-1B
Bradley-RF
Fox-3B
Dome-CF
Soto-C
Blanco-2B
Wells
(cue lights and music)
The starting lineup for YOUR CHICAGO CUBS .....
Fuld LF
Riot SS
Lee 1B
Bradley RF
Fox 3B
Dome CF
Soto C
Blanco 2B
Wells
D. Lee leads the Cubs in RBI with 39 7/1.... the last time it was that low 7/1... 1989 with Ryno leading the charge with 33...on a positive note Cubs won the NL East that year by 6 games
Per Ed Hartig and Carrie Muskat
Tonight's lineup:
Fuld - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Fox - 3B
Fukudome - CF
Soto - C
Blanco - 2B
Wells - P
Tonight's Lineup
Fuld LF
Theriot SS
Lee 1B
Bradley RF
Fox 3B
Fukudome CF
Soto C
Blanco 2B
Wells P
would people please stop posting the lineup.....Neil does it very well. We don't need 100 people trying to feel important...sorry, but Neil does a great job for us in that regard, and with this whole site anyhow
Agreed
i agreed. my badski
I take it you are hoping the Internet rumors about Bell are correct.
Not a problem with the lineup ...
Aaron...maybe it needs to ne posted 100
times without Soriano in the lineup.
I hope Fuld goes 4/4 or 5/5...or just has a good night...so Sori is benched for a while.
Something smells real good tonight...what is that...oh crap maybe it is an actualt Table Setter at the top of the order...Come on Sam, show Lou what a real Lead-off hitter can do.
Go CUBS Go!!!
BTW: Nice forcast by Suzy, and nice to hear the wounded Cubs are slated to return. "The Rise of the Fallen Cubs" begins tonight!
I was just at mlb.com and almost puked when I saw that Soriano was "in a tight race with Carlos Beltran to start the all star game". He should not even be starting for the Cubs right now let alone the NL all star team. Give me a break.
Neil is "all right" to a fault. We don't need the multiple roster postings.
Neil sustains the Cubs spirit splendidly--allowing only rare moments of dis-belief and frustration. The return of Rameriz, Guzman and Johnson, as Neil notes, is a big plus. If they are healthy enough and do excel, a turnaround could happen. A turnaround probably takes at least Aram and Guzman--and some signs of life from a couple of laggards.
Jim, the whole team is a laggard...we'll need more than a couple to show some signs of life....and the baseball gods will have to smile on us a lot...
Let's see...
balls lost in the ivy.
real angels in the outfield
sign a midget pinch hitter
(Bill Veeck's guaranteed walk)
Industrial wind fans behind home plate
(Only when the Cubs are at bat)
Soriano wears a sling that doesn't allow
him to swing at pitches in the dirt.
Bradley visits the dentist before each game...for a dose of nitrous gas to make him more bubbly(I don't think its banned yet)
Fukodome ges a 10 lb bat...he can't whirl.
Sandberg comes out of retirement at second.
Jenny Craig moves in with Soto.
Pinella actually drinks from the fountain of youth
THE SALE FINALLY HAPPENS.
If all that happens...we might turn it around.
GO CUBS!!! GO CUBS !!!
(But right now, I'm really debating WHERE
I wanr the Cubs to go...lol
That's some funny stuff right there SuzyS!
You know, Soriano making the team as a starter would probably work out for Charlie Manuel, I mean, if Soriano doesn't make it, then who does he choose? My guess would be that Soriano makes the team voted in or not solely due to Manuel's needs for the team, which won't be pitching, 1st, or short.
NO NO NO. Emphatic enough? Soriano is no all star this year.
The guy is enough to turn me into an LA Clippers fan.
Just caught the ars end of the conversation on espn1000 w/ Bruce Levine. Was he talking about acquiring ORLANDO CABRERA for the CUBS?!?!?!
Cliff:
Get used to it, here come all the rumors! All I care about is getting that third baseman...Aramis something?
I want to know more about this...this is new info and does NOT make sense at all for the Cubs .247 avg, with a .290 OBP wreaks of Alfonso Soriano. He also has 12 errors at SS, and was considered a cancer in the White Sox clubhouse last year...NO THANKS...EMPHATIC NO THANKS!!!!
Seems to me to be a typical Hendry trade, what if it included Soriano???Bradly???Fukudome???Would it still be an awful deal???
forgot to add...but it is VERY Hendry-esque to acquire someone like Cabrera like 5 or more years after he originally wanted him, just like Cliff Floyd, just like Jason Kendall, and just like Ryan Freel this year. Am I missing any? I guess you could add Milton Bradley to that list, because Hendry wanted him a few years back when he was DFA'd but I believe the Dodgers beat him to it.
Aaron, I did not hear Levine ... but you are 'dead-on' with him wanting Cabrera years back ... and all of those other players.
for whatever reason, Hendry's MO seems to be, "hey, now I can get this guy at a discounted price, when years ago they demanded the farm for him." Needless to say, he doesn't seem to check their stats, and I wouldn't be shocked in the least if it happened. I also wouldn't be shocked, if years from now (gasp) if Hendry's still the GM, when Peavy's on his last leg, he'd probably go for him, just as he would go for Furcal this year too...It's just unbelievable sometimes the way he operates. You do realize he coveted Soriano back in 2000 or 2001 I believe it was when the Yankees were supposedly going to send Soriano, Jimenez, and I can't remember the other players involved to the Cubs for Sosa, and I believe he turned it down...or maybe the Yankees turned it down...I can't remember
Sorry-ano as an all star is a joke period!
Tarp on the field in Pittsburgh ... WGN is saying the game will start on time.
Lilly and Wells are about it. And Wells is a fringe, if he had some run support or a bully that did not hate him for some reason, he might even be a lock... D. Lee has improved, but improved on nothing is something but it is not an all-star. No other offensive player deserves a sniff of St Louis. I support them, I am rooting for a turn around, but there is no way that any of the members of the Cubs Lineup have earned All star consideration, with the exception of Jake Fox in AAA.
Sammy!
Slammin' Sammy!!!
i don't like to be a cynic, but i gotta believe soriano was hoping sam fuld to strike out there
FULD....
DLEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Good things happen when the game is played the right way.
Bingo
Nice start! Hopefully they can keep on the gas pedal tonight.
HUH, leadoff guy get's on, and the #3 hitter goes yard for a crooked number in the first! Amazingly...I was just talking about the Cubs...They did that!
what did I miss? I couldn't get the game loaded in time....did fuld and Lee both hit home runs?
Fuld double, Lee Bomb to right
Aaron:
Fuld hit a double and Lee with the HR
Matt do you have a link for the game?
Whoda thunk at the beginning of the year that we would have Sam Fuld in Left, Jake Fox at 3rd, Blanco at 2B, and Wells SP. IN THE SAME GAME!!!!!
And if we had our best lineup Hoffpauer would be in right!
Agreed!
sad
speechless at the ineptitude of this offense...this seems to be very consistent with what we've seen all year...if we score any runs at all, it's usually because of 1...maybe 2 guys in the lineup at any given time. Rarely do we have good games by anyone else on offense. Fuld and Lee got us started, and everyone else has bombed...that's pathetic
Well aaron on the bright side it is only the third inning. Although based on recent patterns that doesn't matter a whole lot
Aaron, I have been agreeing with you a lot lately, but like he said it is only the 3rd and we have a lead. The O was not solid Monday either... but a win is a win is a win. All is not lost yet, just VERY close.
Theriot goin to right...what the heck is going on out there.
Do what you havn't done all season...get Bradley and Kosuke in....
Runners on second and third with less than two outs...uh oh, this just screams missed opportunity
Oh look RISP less than 2 outs ha ha ha
I am picking up on a theme.
mute point as Blanco grounds out.
Nothing new...there's no words for this...I'm laughing.
This might be one of the worst teams I have ever seen with risp. Just awful.
this is getting really painful to watch at this point. 2nd and 3rd less than 2 outs...LOL unbelievable.
This has gotten to the point where MAJOR changes need to be made, and it's CLEARLY NOT the hitting coach's problem, though I agree Joshua is better than Perry. But our approach at the plate has gotten a LOT of attention in the media recently, specifically with 2 strikes, and with RISP. We simply cannot continue down this path, and ignore the signs that we need to blow up this roster. Baserunning gaffes, mental errors in fielding miscommunication, poor bunting...I mean, you name it, and this team sucks at it.
Wells brought his "a" game as usual. He looks sharp.
The RISP thing has gotten very bad and I agree with Suzy it is laughable! I just cannot believe that professionals cannot execute, and that professional talent watchers (Hendry, Piniella) can't see that there is a MAJOR glitch in the team right now! And yet again another day goes by where they stand pat and do nothing!
A lead off hitter going 1-2 with a double and a BB... wierd!
If he steals a base I may fall out of my chair. Even more wondrous a 1st to 3rd hit and run.
Ouch, fell out of my chair
Gee...threat of a steal leads to an extra base. Baseball can indeed be so simple sometimes.
Oh oh, 1st and 3rd and one out.
UNREAL!
same old same old.
hee hee hee......same old same old. I'm out of here...later guys
Did I mention how unwatchable this team is....now I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and heading to the park
I would love to know the team batting average with RISP and less than 2 outs. It's gotta be less than .200
That stat could be generous. Seems like they get plenty of singles with runners on second with less than two outs, but can't score them. Too much station to station.
Furthermore an OUT in that situation can equal a run, especially with 0 out like we have seen sooo much this year. Fly ball, ground out to second, suicide squeeze. For god sake, touch the ball with the stick in your hands and make sure it is between the white lines... a verrrry simple game sometimes.
The Cubs hit .215 with RISP before tonight ... scoring position with 2 outs, .228
Stats from Yahoo Sports
Fuld is playing the game the "right way". Wonderful throw to the plate.
And he can hose a guy at the plate?!?!
FULD!!!!
So much for we would lose a cannon in left if Soriano was gone
You gotta love watching young kids play baseball, and play it properly. Wells, Fox, Fuld...nice!
What I love about these guys is that none of them have all the tools. They know what they can do and do it well.
I believe that with the addition of Ryno in the minor league system, it signaled a sea change. Ryno preaches playing the game "right" (See HOF Speech). I cannot wait for that era to begin. Does not hurt that he is my all time hero.
KOSUKE!!!! A double and a home run tonight.
Fuk-U-DOME clap clap clap clap clap
Fox, Koske, Soto all crushed the ball this inning, or so it has appeared on Gamecast!
Fukodome!!!
Isn't it refreshing to see someone in left that knows how to play...and does.
Amen SuzyS...what a refreshing change in LF.
Now if we can just get Hoffpauir inserted in RF we might have a lineup that might generate some excitement.
Perhaps Lou can get a 30-game suspension of this toss-out. Bummer.
What happened?
Wait a minute... someone decided to take off from here and the Cubs started doing well. Maybe somebody is a curse on the team :)
matt?
NAW..he means well and is just one of us.
Calling Fuld on base to lead off the 7th
YEAH LOU!!!! Maybe he did drink from the fountain of youth!
And ... the eruption has arrived. Questions over.
See you later Zen Lou.
Hey, it's Lou. Good to see you!
3thumbs up!!!!
What happened with Lou????
Wells beat out the throw from Vasquez. Lou ran out, argued for a minute, took his hat off, held it then slammed it to the ground.
Ejected!
Thanks Neil, On a positive note this is the last night game where I will have to watch game cast wooohooo, normal hours start next week!!! Thanks to the CCO for clarifying what happens and being my eyes!
You are more than welcome ... anytime.
I am very much liking the posts, and needless to say it is about dang time
Wells was safe ... no Kool-Aid here.
Good to see Lou showup
OK guys...send Fonzy to the DL NOW and we'll sweep the Brewers to get back in it....How's that for Bold predictions?
You gotta hope Fuld doesn't sit tomorrow. PLEASE NO.
Pat Hughes mentioned before the game 'a couple of days off for Soriano' but who knows.
He needs to sit.
And another hit by our new LF'er and leadoff hitter. How refereshing!
Called it!!!!!
It's all Sam Fuld, all the time!
Awesome...a lead off hitter that leads off!!!!
seriously, soriano has to be none too pleased with fuld's performance tonight
And he makes just a tad less $$$ than Soriano as well.
If Soriano is the 100% team player that he says he is he should be happy for his fellow teammate.
09shine...so what. I'm sure he'll be begging Lou to play tomorrow...That's why the best thing for him is the DL...get the knee healthy...watch all the video of himself looking horrible at the plate....blindly swinging at down and away...over and over and over again...and come back in a few weeks
ready to really contribute and be a little more selective at the plate.
Even a double play doesn't dent a new enthusiasm...we are playing decent baseball for a change.
Amazing what a little youthful spark like Wells, Fuld and Fox can do to a team mindset. Win or lose, I'll take this effort!
Damn it's nice to have someone at the top of the lineup who's a threat to get on base (and not swing at anything that's thrown up there)!! Anyone missing Soriano tonight? Just wish Theriot would learn how to hit behind a runner and go to right field INTENTIONALLY. Little fundamental things could go a long, long way in heading this Cubs team in a more positive direction. Why, why, why don't these guys practice these fundamental?
Charles, in defense of Theriot, the double play was started by the second baseman. He's gone to right tonight. It also helps with Fuld on base...
Thanks for that update, Neil. I didn't hear who started that double play. I guess I was thinking of starting Fuld and if the 2nd baseman covered perhaps there would be hole for Theriot to shoot at...maybe another time.
wowfuku...3thumbs up!!!
When he returns I'd like to see Lou try Reed Johnson in the 2 hole behind Fuld, and then move Theriot to #8. But I agree with Neal as well...Ryan's looked ok tonite.
And guys, another wonderful performance by Wells tonite. Again, refreshing to see his poise, and just throwing strikes.
In regards to Lou getting kicked out, Neil said,
"Will he make himself take off his uniform and go home?"
Just great stuff.
A productive out... nice play by Milton going to 3rd. Here we go again, On 3rd 1 out.
AND HE SCORES UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God forbid twice in one inning... but I will take what I can get.
LUNCH BOX WITH HIT!!!!
lollol
Head held high Fuld leads off the 9th!!!
Ok...so we are not perfect yet.
But I have a feeling.
...now let's see Marmol NOT give up any
walks.
I missed the game guys. How does Fuld look?
Fuld has done a very good job tonight. His second career outfield assist kept the tying run from scoring.
Get somebody up ... Marmol doesn't have it.
oh boy...here comes marmol!
The offense did some good things tonight, but I was kind of looking for an explosion of runs to help get a head of steam heading into the series with the Brewers.
For the record, I like a lot of salt with my crow.
Great job by Marmol to bounce back.
****Would not mind having Freddy Sanchez and Andrew McCutchen in Blue by next week
was that a new cutter marmol was showing?
good job by Marmol...he just scares me sometimes cause you don't know what you're gonna get!
CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!
Awesome...we're ready for the Brewers!!!
damn...a 123 ninth! CUBS WIN!
Wells continues to impress and Fuld did a great job in left and leading off!
I'll state the obvious....
If soriano was playng this game insteadof Fuld, we lose.
Fuld had 2 key hits, threw a guy out at the plate, and made sveral nice running catches that soriano doesn't even sniff
18M / yr for that piece of crap. How pathetic. Talk about "addition by subtraction" by not having him in the lineup.
I just hope they finally wake up and put him on DL to get him healthy. Cause right now, he's killing us.
cc002600...do you see now why I'm racking my brains on any way possible to
get out from under his contract?
One game and the difference of a real lead off hitter vs Soriano makes that all
clear.
Now Fuld may not be the answer...but he is definitely the answer right now...and far superior as a lead off to Soriano.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Great win tonight!
Hopefully the Soriano benching tonight and possibly tomorrow will do him some good. To win the division, we'll need Soriano to carry us for a few weeks at some point this season.
As for playing Fuld every day instead of Soriano, my thoughts are the same as they were when fans were calling for Hoffpauir to replace Derrek Lee ... it would likely cost the Cubs many games over the course of the season.
***I strongly agree....but they still need to drop him in the order PERIOD!