Game Seventy-Seven: Cubs (38-38) vs. Brewers (42-37)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.69/1.33) vs. Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.86/1.66)
Will Soriano or Fuld hit leadoff for the Chicago Cubs this afternoon? Lou Piniella said Alfonso Soriano would be back in the leadoff spot before Thursday night's game but sounded less sure following another solid performance from Sam Fuld. The Cubs must have a healthy Alfonso Soriano in order to win on a regular basis in the second half. With Soriano not producing it might be better for him to hit lower in the order for a while and ride out the spark that Fuld has given the team.
This afternoon might be a good time to slide Fuld over to center and put Kosuke Fukudome in right. Milton Bradley is not hitting from the left side and is just 1-for-10 lifetime against Jeff Suppan. Right now it is all about winning ballgames ... entering play today there are five teams in the central within three games of first place.
Phil Rogers sparked a lot of controversy following Carlos Zambrano's last start against the White Sox. When Big Z heard about the online poll, his response was "fine, trade me to Boston". For the Cubs to turn their season around the good Carlos Zambrano must continue to take the mound ... and not the bad Carlos that was on full display on the South Side last Sunday.
The Cubs offense must keep it up this afternoon against Jeff Suppan ... but it all starts with Carlos Zambrano and one win at a time.
Carlos Zambrano is coming off a horrible outing against the White Sox. Ozzie Guillen and company punched all of his buttons and knocked Zambrano out in the sixth inning. Zambrano allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts ... by far one of his worst games of the year.
Until his last start, Carlos Zambrano appeared to be on the verge of taking the next step in his development. He was pitching to contact, going deep in games and putting his team in position to win every time he took the mound. Zambrano has the talent and the desire; he must put his last start behind him and give his team another long, quality start today.
Big Z, like Rich Harden, has struggled in home (1-1 in five games with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, opponents hitting .268) this season and in day games (1-2 in six starts with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP, opponents hitting .288). This afternoon will be a tough test for the Cubs number one pitcher.
Today will be Zambrano's second start of the year against the Brewers. He received a no decision in a 6-5 Cubs win back on April 11. Zambrano gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Zambrano is 10-8 in 24 career games, 23 starts, against Milwaukee with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
- Ryan Braun - 5-for-19 with a double, a home run and a walk
- Mike Cameron - 1-for-13 with a walk
- Craig Counsell - 6-for-26 with 2 doubles and 6 walks
- Prince Fielder - 11-for-30 with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 walks
- Jody Gerut - 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 walks
- Bill Hall - 8-for-41 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 6 walks
- J.J. Hardy - 2-for-19 with a home run and 2 walks
- Corey Hart - 6-for-19 with a triple and 2 walks
- Jason Kendall - 10-for-33 with 2 walks
- Jeff Suppan - 0-for-5
The Cubs must use the same approach at the plate today as they did the first two times they faced Jeff Suppan this season ... make him throw strikes and do not swing at his pitch. After years of struggling against Jeff Suppan, the Cubs have beaten him twice this year. Suppan is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings ... eight walks and four strikeouts with 10 hits.
Jeff Suppan is 2-2 in his last six starts with a respectable 4.28 ERA but a very high WHIP of 1.78. Teams are getting their hits (.331 batting average against in his last six games) but have scored on 16 earned runs (19 runs on 47 hits). The Brewers won five of his seven starts between May 16 - June 17 but have lost the last two games Suppan took the ball.
Suppan is coming off a 7-0 loss to the Giants. He surrendered five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings (Ryan Sadowski picked up the win in his first big league start). Suppan has pitched rather well on the road this year, 4-1 in nine starts with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. If the Cubs can make him work and get into their pen early again, it could pay dividends in the last two games of the series.
Suppan is 6-8 in 21 career starts against the Cubs with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.
- Andres Blanco - 1-for-3 with a double
- Milton Bradley - 1-for-10
- Mike Fontenot - 3-for-8 with a walk
- Kosuke Fukudome - 3-for-8 with a double, a triple and 4 walks
- Koyie Hill - 0-for-3 with 2 walks
- Micah Hoffpauir - 2-for-6
- Derrek Lee - 21-for-47 with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 9 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 9-for-43 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 3 walks
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-8 with 2 home runs and 2 doubles
- Ryan Theriot - 8-for-19 with a double
- Carlos Zambrano - 3-for-7 with a triple
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Subscribe
Time for Lou to move Sori down to the 5 or 6 hole.
Fuld has given him the perfect excuse.
Going for 3 of a hoped for 11 game
winning streak.
Fuld must lead off.
We cannot afford both Bradley AND
Soriano in the lineup at the same time.
One or both should get a 2 week vacation
soon...to the DL to straighten themselves
out...what's the new fad in DL?
"Anxiety Disorder?"...Both Soriano and Bradley qualify...for giving Cubs fans
extreme anxiety disorders.
JH has to move at least one of the 3
underperformers in the outfield.
AND the bullpen HAS to be fixed.
Time for Lou to move Sori down to the 5 or 6 hole.
Fuld has given him the perfect excuse.
Today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Fox - 3B
Fukudome - CF
Fontenot - 2B
Hill - C
Zambrano - P
BUMMER LINEUP. Hope LOU gets to manage the Joliet Jackhammers soon.
Maybe Soriano learned something from Fuld
...but I doubt it
SORIANO - WHIFF
BRADLEY - WHIFF
FUKODOME - WHIRLYWIFF
FONTENOT - WEAK GROUNDOUT
HILL - ????
We have 4 out of nine guys in the lineup
I have confidence in....and one is the pitcher.
"Z" better throw a nono today.
Did you catch Aaron-itis or something? That sounds like something I would say...LOL
but seriously, what is Lou thinking? Bradley's swing left-handed is SOOOOOOOO ugly, and he's so far behind fastballs. Von Joshua said it himself...he can't even catch up to an 80 mph fastball with the way he swings.
As for Soriano, he sucks right now, and should've been DL'd LOOOOOOOONG ago. But you're absolutely right, we now have 4 automatic outs in our lineup. Nice going Lou...when we need this series so badly, you pull this crap. Unbelievable!!!!!!!
If you told me Fukudome would revert back to 2008 in April, I would've said you were nuts. If you would've said Fontenot would be hitting around .220, I would've said you were out of your mind. If you said Soriano would be hitting .230, I would've said you need to check yourself into a clinic. And yet, we're in July now, and all of that has happened. There is no statistical evidence that says any of the 3 will come out of their funks. Additionally, there's ALL the evidence in the world suggesting Bradley CANNOT hit left-handed, and yet Lou runs him out there consistently, instead of Hoffpauir, who has shown he's actually better than Bradley defensively.
I hope I'm wrong, but before the game even starts, this smells like defeat to me
Aaron...you really do not have the corner on frustration with this team...
you just vocalize it more often.
I love the Cubs...I hate this team.
Soriano has to have something on Lou...
maybe he caught him in women's underwear or something.
There is absolutely no reason for him
to be batting leadoff today.
btw...check out mlbtraderumors.com
re: Twins interest in Pirates players.
I saw that....Sanchez would've been FAR better than Baker...and though he would've cost more (in prospects and dollars, I just don't get this move)
I read another article talking about how confusing the Baker trade was to begin with. Consider the fact that ARAM was coming back, and Freel was a logical DFA candidate. Well, now, obviously you're not going to deal Baker after you just got him, so Fox, Hoffpauir, or Fuld are option candidates, which is NOT good for the team, whereas, prior to Baker, they could've kept all of them. In addition, with Johnson coming back, that means you lose another...so...
option candidates include: Blanco and Fontenot on the IF (I vote Fontenot)
Hoffpauir, Fox, and Fuld for OF
It will probably be Blanco and Fuld that get the boot, but I wouldn't put it past Tweedly Dee and Tweedly Dumb (Piniella and Hendry) to option Fox back, which would have Cubs Nation up in arms, and they would probably lose some of the fans (including me...at least for this season) if they did that
I'm inclined to agree with you...re Fox.
It's why I hope against hope they DL
Sori or Bradley or Fuko...any combination of those guys will do...but I
think it would help Sori and Fukodome...
with Bradley...you run the risk of losing him mentally for the length of his contract...but he would probably benefit as well.
Between Blanco and Fontenot...I agree.
Neil,
Where do you find the lineups so early?
Ive looked and cant find em.
Thanks.
Eric
Neil,
Where do you find the lineups so early?
Ive looked and cant find em.
Thanks.
Eric
The Score announced the lineup a little while ago. From day-to-day it varies. Radio, Sun-Times, Cubs.com etc...
That's ridiculous to take Fuld out of that lead-off spot after what he has done. If Piniella just HAS to put Soriano back in, put him down deep in the lineup and move Fuld over to center and Fukodome to right (his best defensive position). For crying out loud, is Piniella a slave to Soriano and Bradley and afraid to put their non-producing butts on the bench for a while longer? I don't get it...does NOT make good baseball sense and will backfire on him in this game and the rest of the series.
I was hoping for Fuld to start for Fukudome and leadoff. I'd be okay with Soriano and Bradley in the lineup if Fuld plays center. Maybe we can get that tomorrow!
D Lee has torn up Suppan's pitching; let's tear into him early today!
Go Cubs Go!
Lou has lost his balls.
He might as well as have Soriano make out the rest of the lineup too.
Absolutely ridiculous that Fuld is not in the lineup! He has done nothing but produce in the last 2 games, both at the plate and in the field. I am so tired of Lou keeping the highly paid underproducers in the lineup. Well past time for a change in management.
And with every game being a two-game swing it's ridiculous for Lou (aka Dusty) to bring Soriano back into the lineup at leadoff. Typical tailoring to the high contracts...screw what's working, huh Lou??
If Soriano strikes out in his 1st at-bat today there will be an uproar at Wrigley.
WHY IS FONTENOT STILL STARTING?
Small correction to today's lineup:
Soriano - LF
Theroit - SS
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Fukudome - CF
Fox - 3B
Fontenot - 2B
Hill - C
Zambrano - P
LF OUT
SS ON BASE
1B ON BASE
RF OUT
CF MAYBE
3B ON BASE
2B OUT and error
C OUT
P Home Run
RF out when batting lefty when batting righty maybe
Also does anyone no the address to Wrigley Field.
Thanks
Same as Jake and Elwood's ...
1060 West Addison, Chicago 60613
Thanks Neil!
Waldo, depending on what you want to send them...you might call their marketing department at (773-404-2827)
so it gets directed to the right person/department.
who would I talk to and thanks?
Whoever answers...state what you want and ask where you should be directed to.
ie...At the same address...I wanted to get a note to Santo last year...(He gets millions) but was told to send it to
Chicago Cubs
Community Relations
1060 W. Addison
Chicago, Il.60613
( I never quite got through but got a nice email from an intern in the marketing dept....and this is what he suggested.)
Thanks Suzy
put very well...this was precisely my contention all year that we could NEVER sustain a rally because of jackasses like Soriano, Bradley, and Fontenot in the lineup on an everyday basis...now, add FUNKODOME to that list, and you see how badly we're screwed
Well I'm leaving shortly to drive to Dallas with my younger brother to celebrate his birthday with a Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Rays game tonight in Arlington....gametime temp should be about 102 degrees! Ugh. I thus won't be listening nor watching this upcoming Cubs game, and to be honest, that's fine with me. I'm rather PO'ed with the starting lineup Piniella has decided on, plus Zambrano is not that dependable pitcher who can be counted on in a big game like today. Hope my fears will prove groundless but I DON'T THINK SO. There seemingly has been a little life pumped back into the Cubs very recently, but Piniella's stubborness to start Bradley, Soriano (particularly at leadoff), and Fontenot will suck the life back out and play into the Brewers' hands who, I guess, are VERY pleased. Look for a long afternoon, posters!
Have a good time, Charles.
I know they have great barbeque and steaks down there...have some for us!!!
Did anyone see the article in the Sun Times that mentioned the 2008 record with and without Soriano?
At least record-wise, the team seems to be following the same formula this year as last, except that it's Ramirez and not Soriano on the DL. Maybe there is something to be said about getting healthy as Lou has stated.
Still would prefer something like this for our lineup today:
Fuld- CF
Theriot- SS
Lee- 1B
Fox- 3B
Hoff- RF
Blanco- 2B
Soriano- LF
Hill- C
Question for all:
What would be your moves to get Johnson and ARam back on the roster?
Question for all:
What would be your moves to get Johnson and ARam back on the roster?
Well, not that we can affect anything, but I would choose optioning Fontenot for ARAM, and disabling Soriano or Bradley until they get their swings right, and in the meantime, trying to work out a trade getting rid of Soriano, Fukudome, or Bradley, so we can keep Fuld, Fox, and Hoff
I was thinking something similar. How much work will Samardzija really get now, or could another one of our relievers use a little time to work out sore shoulder/elbow etc to make room for Johnson?
Fontenot should be sent down for ARam since we just picked up Baker, we wouldn't be down an infielder.
Pitching hasn't been our big weakness, it's been our bats. Besides, we can always make other adjustments after the break; let's see how well our guys have hit ATL and StL!
Am I the only one who sees management's strategy today? Lou knows that Suppan hits a lotta bats, and JH wants to do some show-casing for trades. They are hoping that Sori, Bradley, Dome, Fontenot and Z do well. When they do (as I think they will), Leo's famous bus will be backing up at Wrigley to take two or three of the underachievers outta there. The productive Z, if he goes to Boston, will set us up for a bright future. LOL
The worst case, of course, is that the Cubs lose today. Even that sad possibility let's Lou say to the guys he sits (or that JH moves off the active roster) "Don't tell me I didn't give you every possible chance! Now get the hell out of my face. I'm putting our best eight on the field going ahead." July 3rd is the day that the lights went out in Wrigley--for a couple of guys not getting the job done.
JimK...Zambrano goes to Boston...JH
probably gets Big Papi in return...not a bright future...I have little faith.
Afternoon Cub fans...agree with everyone on the Soriano thing and personally feel as if he should be the only member of the team dealt!!!!!! BUT, we know that probably won't happen, so they will have do it with him.
GO CUBS GO!!!
Soriano just sucks!
and wouldn't you know it, weakly grounds out, Theriot out, and Lee K's....setting the tone at the top matters....A LOT!!! not doing so, exposes our weak offense even more. You talk about pressure...that's a lot of pressure on the rest of the team to be the hero if the top part of the lineup can't get on.
I love the Fuld-Theriot tandem at the top...I feel they can do real damage, but when Soriano is the automatic out at the top, we're so screwed thereafter, because everyone is out of normal roles at that point
Nice catch by Soriano in left center
The Brewers are hammering the ball today with nothing to show for it. If we don't start scoring, this could end up being a very LOOOOOOOOONG day....Zambrano's leaving a lot of pitches middle in. McGehee, Cameron, and Hardy have all smoked pitches thus far. That's not a good sign
That Lou is not getting skewered alive for this lineup today is quite interesting..
Dusty would have been severely RAVAGED by the faithful.
Aaron, I'd be interested to get your take on that.
there's no doubt something is cooking....either "showcasing" Soriano, Fukudome, or Bradley....or just trying to save face from an abysmal offseason for Hendry by trying to get them going.
Either way, it hurts the team, and if it was Lou circa 2007-2008, there's not a chance these guys would be in the lineup.
It is my belief that the Suntimes article regarding Lou and Hendry's relationship is right----being that it's rocky, and not the same as it was, because it's probably ALL Hendry's directive to get these guys in. Piniella would never do that, and never has...Even if you were a 10 year vet, he'd still sit your ass on the bench if you were underperforming. Hell, he even did one of the most unpopular thing in Mariners history (management even disagreed) with AROD, the teen sensation being sat on the bench for not producing early in his career. Low and behold, he got it together in the minors, and hasn't been back since.
Lou wouldn't put up with Jones, Izturis, Barrett, etc. in the past. So, given his history, you'd have to think that Hendry was the one pulling the strings. Fukudome was downright horrible last year, AND this year. While I recognize $40 million in crappy production kind of legitimizes playing them, you still have to think with Lou's competitive fire, that he would've sat these guys long ago, unless he faced pressure from Hendry to do otherwise.
I don't think Hendry's as big into winning as he is in saving face, because it's quite clear when we run a lineup out there without Bradley, Soriano, and Fukudome, you HAVE to love our chances of winning the games, right? Because with a .230 avg, .296 OBP, Soriano sure as hell isn't doing anything. In fact, I can't remember his last RBI...ditto Bradley and his 17 RBI. Fukudome with the whirlybird, and now the double play ball that ended our chances of scoring....it just makes you wonder.
Fuld-LF
Theriot-SS
Lee-1B
Hoffpauir-RF
Fox-3B
Soto-C
Baker-2B
Fukudome-CF
that's a hell of a lot better than the bullsh$t that we're running out today...and most of this season. You get rid of your 3 worst hitters in the lineup (Soriano, Bradley, and Fontenot)
It's a NO-BRAINER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aaron,
A) I've only got radio today...does Z look that bad?
B) I could never believe Lou is this bad...you might be right.
C) Zambrano!!!...I knew his bat would be needed today.
Only one hit against Suppan in three innings?!?!?!?!
It is not surprising at all that this team reverts to offensive ineptitude with the multi million dollar whiff in LF.
this is already looking very ugly today...my guess is that the Brewers hammer no less than 3 homers today, and we get shutout
This inning is looking REAL ugly
There goes Z....why can't he keep it together?
Good job of allowing only 1 run.
I have to admit it was HUGE to get out of that with one frustrating run.
intentional on Lee getting plunked??????
Yep, for Zambrano hitting Prince.
Well, that was for Fielder.
Bradley needs some jacks to justify his existance.
That was a nice piece of hitting by Milton
Flyball ties it come on Fuky
Fuk sucks ass.... He is much more Kaz Matsui than Ichiro or Hidkei Matsui
Ok Lou...put in the "scrubs" so we have a chance.
Sadly I agree, it is a bad thing that our bench players outplay our "star's". I have never seen it sooo pronounced before.
by the way...something's wrong with Z's arm....he came up weird in the 1st inning, and has been going off-speed ever since
Aaron, on gameday...Z is throwing mostly breaking stuff...80-83 mph...Fastball clocks at 88-89 mph.
Suppan is an absolute stiff, having allowed no fewer than 7 hits and averaged 2 walks in his last 4 starts. They had some momentum going from last night, but then Lou produces some piece of crap line-up that has no chance to succeed. I just don't understand him. There is no way for any line-up to absord 5 horribly slumping batters like Soriano, Bradley, Fontenot, Fukudome, and Hill. This game was over before it started.
OFFENSE OFFFENSE OFFFFFENSE
Offensive offensive offensive
Speechless...Hill was the key to the inning.
Alright Z Way to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a mentioned I like salt with my crow...nice piece of hitting by Zambrano
Soriano has produced enough lazy flies to know how to get one here.
We got em just where we want them now!!!
Next inning:
Lee...single
Bradley ...walk
Fuko...walk
Fox...Grand slam.
lol
Is there no abject humiliation among the batters that Big-Z has pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball AND has the only RBI of the game...
Soriano 0-3 --- i mean, pardon my french, but its a fuc#$%^ disgrace
The real disgrace was batting Sorryano at lead-off. If Theriot had been at lead-off, at least he would have gotten that 2nd run in the 5th.
Even more so after Fuld's tease of Cub fans showing us what a real lead off hitter can do.
Baron, is that French?
Oui, mon Amis
Ok not a single...but DLee on base.
Now for Bradley's walk
I think as the fans we deserve an explanation as to why our 18 million a year LFer is still playing with a line of
.227 avg 14 HR 32 RBI's and a abismal .712 OPS.
AND LEADING OFF. There is no excuse that would make me or anyone else on here understand the reasoning. But I would still like an explanation.
Maybe today will send a message to the powers to be that Soriano and Milton cannot be in the same starting lineup right now...
Neil, we've been hoping all year....not a chance. They've had a full body of work to go off of now. They have to be the worst braintrust ever not to see that
Bradley...just X?>@*%x#%& !!!
had Lou not sent Lee earlier in the game, that would've been 2 GIDP's for the disgrace that is Bradley...unbelieveable
I feel like if they don't get it done here, they'll lose.
Neil...any way to print out our comments and get them to Lou?...It would be better if we started with yesterday's so he could not accuse us of being Monday morning quarterbacks...so he knows all the world was against this line-up
before he did again...Copies to Crane Kenny and JH so they know how pissed off Cubs fans are.
I like it.
KOSUKE!!! WITH A STRIKE!
Like this whole season and the standings I do not know how we are in this game, but we are...probably despite ourselves...But alos like the season and this game, there is still reason to believe!!! WE ARE NOT DONE YET!!!
What an inning by Heilman!!!
Just got back in.
Great job by Heilman!
1-1 tie. Inept offense. You holding up, Aaron?
no, because I want Bradley off this team NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Derek, Wait for your high cheese and launch it
thank you Len for saying what we all felt: "it's hard to get anything going without the top of the lineup setting the tone"
LOL...that was a slap in the face to Bradley:
"with a runner in scoring position, you would think they'd probably put Lee on, and take their chances with Bradley grounding into another double play...but with 2 strikes, I guess it doesn't make much sense."-Brenly
Way to battle Milton!
Look, I know everyone would love to see him hit the ball but this beats a K.
A walk is no better than a single, remember.
It's a start.
I agree Matt, On base is on base!
Isn't it amazing how when pycho and Sori are in the lineup, we go back to the same inept offfense we've seen all year ?
but when Fuld was in the last 2 games, it felt like last year ??
Lou has really gone soft.
I like Baker. I hope he's come to play ball.
He's got the skills to come in and be productive.
This would be a great spot to introduce yourself.
Finally, Lou gets the memo....Fukudome should NEVER hit with a lefty pitching...let's hope Baker makes it a memorable debut, then goes into LF for Soriano with Fuld going to CF for Fukudome
Look at you, all prophecising and stuff.
Fuld in.
No such luck... Fuld does go to CF. Just gotta hope for a walk off.
This game is just a microcosm of the season so far...14 innings anyone?
That ball was hit too hard for my tastes...
That one too...
Gregg continues to get hard....but outs. Remember what I said before, right? His recent success has been a product of dumb luck and nothing more
At least he's tossing strikes...I guess..
Throwing strikes is not dumb luck. Continuing to walk tying and winning runs in front of giving up a hard hit is not luck.
Ugh....
Milton's not helping himself...
I know it's a sunny day but gosh, man...
wow...Bradley continues to impress with his ineptitude
The bass on my stereo just went out, so I can only assume Milton Bradley did something stupid that's going to cost us the game.
He lost the ball in the sun...it hit him on the head...Kendall on second.
Way to use the noggin, Milton.
I honestly hate Bradley on this team...not the person, just the fact that he's on the team....he sucks at the plate, in pressure situations, and in the field
For me, it's a toss up between Bradley and Soriano...never had a Cubs team where I hated 2 players so much...
And like you...not the person...the player.
One phrase comes to mind:
Cancerous polyp.
It's almost like he's spread to the others..
and here's why Gregg sucks....he's got nothing to cover for Bradley's mistake
Aaron, you are exactly right but at least he was able to today.
I hate Kevin Gregg, let's hit a fairly inconsequential batter to bring up one of the most feared 1-2 punches in the NL!
He always has to make it interesting doesn't he... HUGE!!!
wow...he actually got out of something
Well, as Jack Brickhouse used to say...
"any old run will win it."
Hey if we really wanted to lose the game we would have put in Marmol and that way he could have walked the first batter and the double would have scored him.
Just in front...
Fox does that soooo often. If Jake would learn to wait just a millisecond...
He crushes EVERYTHING.
uhhhhh Fontenot Vs a lefty... come on LOU
mmmmmm holiday weekend crow
Spicy!
Pretty funny...Fuld still comes up with an opportunity to win it.
damn....Fuld still hit it hard....no fault by Fontenot there...you have to go on that with first instinct to try to win it....especially with the horribleness on-deck in Soriano
Another extra inning hair puller.
Damn..
Can't fault Mikey.
Fuld almost did it again. Man. He looks like a totally different guy.
I met him in AA last year and he just seemed so lifeless -- going through the motions.
Something had to happen last year.
uhoh...Gregg for 2 inninga?
Oh man bringing Gregg in for multiple innings never seems to be a good idea... Oh well free baseball at Wrigley
Help I am suffering from a black crow overdose hack hack hack
Cubs just signed lefty Casey Fossum to AAA....I know Cotts went down, so it's probably just insurance, but could this possibly mean that the Cubs are ready to deal Marshall in a bigger package. You have to wonder, don't you?
Who is Casey Fossum?
once a highly touted prospect of the Red Sox I believe, he's bounced around from the Rays, D'Backs, Tigers, Mets, and Yankees. He was never able to fulfill his promise
Thanks Aaron.
Gregg's seemed to pitch better in his second inning or on consecutive days...
Weird.
there are also new rumors about Javier Vazquez and Escobar being on the block.
Boy, if we could package a Theriot, Fontenot, and Marshall for Escobar, we'd have a legitimate run producer at SS, which makes our lineup stronger...Or, in my previous mentioned trade of the 3-headed monster to Toronto, where we keep Wells and Ryan, and send Rios to the Braves for Escobar...would make a ton of sense.
Could we get Escobar and manage to keep Theriot somehow?
Darwin Barney? Yes, everyone knows I'm a Theriot homer but he's one of only two full-time Cubs hitting over .280.
I'd kill for both in the lineup..
Aaron...I don't see us winning anything
with Soriano and Bradley....THEY HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM...no matter who else comes or goes.
Yep... the only move of consequence this season to make a serious WS push is to extrecate Soriano or Bradley.
o for 5.
Sorry Freaking Ano---0-5 if they are showcasing him for a potential deal... that was one hell of a showcase!
Escobar's a punk by the way.
Aaron, as much as you hate Bradley, understand that Yunel is Milton-lite.
I love this move. Milton being walked for Geo.
Fine by me...
Bradley should NEVER under any circumstances this year be batting higher than 6th, and Soriano shouldn't be batting higher than 7th.....they're killing the lineup. The bad part is, if you bat them there, you have them back to back....
boy the Brewers just did us a favor, intentionally walking the abomination that is Bradley
Bradley walks intentionally haha...
have they looked at his RISP ?
c'mon...grand slam Foxy
Hah!
FOX WINS IT FOX WINS IT FOX WINS IT !!!!
CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!!
Nice at bat by Fox, lets not take another one tomorrow. Cub Win Cubs Win.
Nation Represent walk off walk
They singing go cubs go go cubs go hey chicago whatdya say the Cubs got a gift today!!!!
TWO IN A ROW!
SWEET DAMN THAT WAS CLOSE!
How did Fox take that? He never walks?
I hate it for the ump. You never, as an ump, want it to come to something that close. You could see it on his face.
In hindsight, that was indeed a ball.
Go call and good eyes Fox!
THE WHOLE EFFIN SHOW, Jake Fox!
Fact is with a different lineup...we probably would have won in nine.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH!!!!
walk will do....we might've gotten a gift, but the Brewers got several borderline strike gifts earlier both pitching AND batting that nearly cost us the game earlier....
good, hard fought win......Soriano and Bradley not withstanding
Lou see what happens when you play Soriano, you score 2 and get lucky to get a win. Seems to me the way that the whole season has been. Get a grip, get a clue and sit Soriano and Bradley!!!! Trade one, sit the other and play the guys that play it right, play it hard, and actually want to win.
Solid Win ... more than a borderline call.
Here in Indy, we're proud of Jake. He didn't exactly rake, but we'll take it!!
no kidding cloycub13, the Cubs got a gift...Ken Macha should be fired for walking Milton Bradley....I'm laughing my ass off there. Their players had to be beside themselves that they were doing that. Bradley is HORRIBLE left-handed. What were they thinking?!?
That was easily the play of the game... I was laughing at the dots on gamecast..
also....need to give props where it's due...though Gregg still sucks, and nearly gave up the game in the 9th...he at least pitched a good 10th, and though Heilman is equally as bad....Heilman got his ERA under 4, so props to him on that. Now, our back end of the pen doesn't look so awful with 4+ ERA's all over the place.
Also, please consider where our offense came from tonight:
Theriot, Fox, K Hill, and Zambrano...and Fuld almost won the game with a line drive. Bradley and Soriano did nothing to help us win the game, in fact...they almost caused us to lose the game with their crappy AB's, and crappy defense. Ken Macha won the game for us today by walking Milton for us...THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT!!!!!!!
3 in a row for a hoped for 11.
Just 8 more to go.
Kudo's to:
Z when he didn't have it.
and an rbi.
-Gregg for 2 innings no runs...amazing!!
The Defense...except for Milty.
Milty for not throwing the ball in the stands...and keeping track of the outs.
Fontenot for getting it going in the tenth...and Fox four fouling 4 off before the walk.
Thumbs down to JH and Lou for the lineup.
3 towards the 11...Lets go Cubs!
There's no "respecting Milton Bradley" on that walk...when you have a guy at third with one out, you have to play for a force out. All it takes is one bobble or a trip or a misstep and that's the game if you pitch to him. Playing for the double play is a "last hope" sort of thing, because you can't just assume Bradley will get out.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Neil, for real though....there are some sites that claim to have the "ear" of the Cubs brass. Your site is the best, and judging by comments I've seen on other sites, I think it's an absolute joke, and slap in the face that Cubs management hasn't done ANYTHING right this year in improving the lineup....Fuld, Fox, Hoffpauir....all 3 of them have been relegated to bench duty for the most part, especially Hoffpauir. Hoffpauir and Fox were hot early on, yet weren't played. Then Fuld gets hot, and they put him on the bench.
It's NOT Lou's call...believe me. So, back to my point....if Cubs management really cared about winning, and cared about the fans, they'd take action. Soriano and Bradley would be benched in favor of Fuld and Hoffpauir respectively until Fuld and Hoffpauir, playing on an everyday basis, play their way out of the lineup...that's the only reason Soriano and Bradley should be playing right now---is if others fail, because they've repeatedly shown that they're failures. Expecting them to "show up" all of a sudden in the 4th month of the season is almost mind blowing. Soriano hasn't had a home run in over a month...ditto Bradley. Neither have managed RBI's in the same span either, at least from what I can remember. Meanwhile, Hoffpauir has won a game with a hit, Fox has slammed 3 hr in a week, and almost has equaled Bradley's RBI output, and Fuld has shown glimpses of being the true lead-off hitter we've been missing for the last 3 years... ...actually 6 years if you count all the way back to Lofton in 2003.
I don't care about egos...you bench those underperforming wastes of space, and you play the hot hand...when those guys go cold, then you play the veterans again...it's simple unwritten baseball rules. If you want to have success, you have to do that, and good managers do that. Leyland, Scioscia (especially), Francona, etc. They don't care about egos, they'll bench your ass until you prove you can play...and they're well respected for it. Piniella's idle threats clearly go in one ear and out the other, as he's proven he won't follow through with the threats. Hendry, meanwhile, hasn't made a single damn move to improve the team.
While JimK and I liked Baker before....I think we'd both agree that he wasn't the true answer for us, and merely a back-up...and this year, his avg, hovering around .130 isn't going to cut it (I know he hasn't played much, but still, when Hendry's only moves have been swapping Gathright essentially for Baker....in ARAM's absence, he's a moron)
Aaron, thank you for the compliment and I will work on what Suzy suggested. I spoke with John McDonough several times, and even interviewed him for the site, but as far as Jim Hendry I have not.
The new ownership might open up a few avenues as well ... you never know.
Dave Kaplan just reported that Soriano will be dropped to the sixth spot in the lineup Saturday.
I really hope that is right. I think Soriano after a DL stint could benefit hitting behind Leee and Aram.
good news....VERY good news. Hopefully that means Fuld in for Bradley or Fukudome (praying it's Bradley)
I heard him report that also...lets see if it's true.
Neil, can I listen to Kaplan online? If so, can you provide a link?
Here ya go...
http://www.wgnradio.com/
thank you Neil. Is he on a lot, or just occasionally?
Aaron, his show 'Sports Central' is on from 7-9 every night, except for when the Cubs play. He usually does the post-game on WGN following afternoon games.
Walking Bradley, than Soto to get to Fox has to be one of the worst managerial calls I have ever seen. I don't care what the laws of baseball tell you. With two outs a man on third and Milton Bradley comes to the plate you pitch to him. He's hitting like .120 with RISP. Let alone he was hitting left handed and couldn't touch a fastball over 80. WOW!
Thank you Brew Crew.
I think that call will ultimately be something that starts pushing the Brewers away from Macha, because when you make a call like that, it's a statement that you don't trust your defense and pitching.
In fact, I know this may be a bit of a jinx, but I don't think the Brewers win the next three or four games...
Jim...we'll never know...the one thing Uncle Milty IS decent at is drawing walks...so it might have happened that way anyhow...but again...we'll never know.