Game Eighty: Cubs (40-39) vs. Braves (39-42)
Game Time - 6:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet/ESPN Monday Night Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Randy Wells (3-3, 2.43/1.08) vs. Jair Jurrjens (6-6, 2.73/1.24)
Updated - 3:39pm - No official word on the roster moves. Will update as soon as they are announced. Aramis Ramirez is at Wrigley.
Updated - 3:54pm C.T. - Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman activated from the 15-day DL
Sam Fuld and Kevin Hart Optioned to Triple-A Iowa - David Patton placed on 15-day DL with Groin injury
The Cubs figure to get a boost tonight with the return of Aramis Ramirez, as well as Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman. But it is the other roster moves the Cubs make that will impact the rest of the first half.
The Cubs have missed all three players, none more than Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez must not been seen as a cure-all for the Cubs' underachieving offense. They have remained in the race, despite poor play and wasted opportunities and Ramirez should help plate a few more runs ... but Ramirez has stated he will not be playing every day and will require extra time off the remainder of the season. Keeping Jake Fox with the big league team and his continued improvement, both offensively and defensively, figures to be one of the keys to the second half. The others: Milton Bradley, Alfonso Soriano and the bullpen.
The Cubs are 1-2 against the Braves this year and it is a must, at this point, to at least split the season series with Atlanta. While the offense must find a way to plate a few runs tonight against Jair Jurrjens, it all starts with Randy Wells ... and one win at a time.
For the first time in his young career Randy Wells will face a team for the second time tonight. One of the questions Wells has yet to answer is how will he fare the second time around league. Wells dominated the Braves the first time he faced them back on June 2 (one run on two hits in seven-plus with four strikeouts and no walks) and it will be interesting to see the adjustments made on both sides.
Randy Wells has won his last three starts and has not given up more than two earned runs in six of his last seven outings. He has pitched into or through the seventh inning in seven of his last eight starts. And has been one of the biggest surprises and bright spots for the Cubs in the first half.
Wells is 1-2 in his four starts at Wrigley this season with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP while opponents have hit .276 against him. Like many pitchers, Wells has thrived at night. In five night games Wells is 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. The Braves are playing much better since the last time he faced them in Atlanta and he will have to bring his A-game to the park once again. With Wells and Jair Jurrjens, one of the best young pitchers in the league, on the hill tonight, runs figure to be at a premium.
- Garrett Anderson - 1-for-3 with a home run
- Yunel Escobar - 0-for-2
- Jeff Francoeur - 0-for-2
- Chipper Jones - 1-for-3
- Brian McCann - 0-for-3
After missing Jair Jurrjens twice over the past year and a half (Jurrjens was scheduled to start the game at Wrigley last season in which Jeff Bennett broke Alfonso Soriano's hand and was slated to start the final game of the series in Atlanta that was rained out on June 4), the Cubs will finally face the talented, young right-hander.
Jurrjens has one of the best young arms in the league. He is coming off an impressive seven-inning outing against the Phillies (one run, unearned, on one hit with four walks and six strikeouts) and has not allowed more than three earned runs in a single start since June 5.
The Braves have trouble scoring runs, which has led to his .500 record. Jurrjens is an impressive 3-2 with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in eight starts this year away from Turner Field ... and is 1-4 in his last five starts with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
Jurrjens throws a lot of strikes but can be very inconsistent (38 walks and 89 hits in 102 1/3 innings). If the Cubs can make him work and play solid, fundamental ball they could outscore the Braves in what figures to be a low-scoring ballgame.
Tonight will be Jair Jurrjens first career start against the Cubs. Only Jeff Baker (1-for-4) has faced Jurrjens in the past.
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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Great weekend...let's keep the momentum and good news rolling!!!!
Hell yeah Aramis is at Wrigley.
I'm excited to see our mutual friend.
Sam Fuld and Kevin Hart are optioned.
David Patton put on 15-day DL, haha
Psh. Look at Neil being all professional.
Beat me!
Well, well...I'll do nothing. =)
Listening to ESPN 1000:
"I wonder if they called David this morning and said, 'Hey David, I hear your groin has been hurting you a little.'
'Uhmm, what?'
'Yeh, you're sore.'"
Lawl.
Awesome... I bet that is exactly how that went down.
Patton with a Groin injury...THAT
WAS A SURPRISE...MAYBE TO HIM TOO.
Tonight's lineup:
Fukudome - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Bradley - RF
Ramirez - 3B
Soriano - LF
Soto - C
Fontenot - 2B
Wells - P
Something about that lineup seems familiar...hmmm....looks real pretty with that 3B guy. Just need a Fox penciled in somewhere! GO CUBS GO and welcome back Rami...you have been missed!!!
Yeah any chance Fox can play 2B?
Fox can play 2b as well as Fontenot.
I am surprised that Soriano did not go to the DL. Aparently Hart and Shark have made an impression to stay for nother week til we get the dreaded Miles back ugh :(
When is Lou going to learn that he can't bat Bradley in the cleanup spot?
Also, put Fox at 2nd! He's gotta have better range than the 5'2" Fonte. We need his bat in the lineup.
Fox's glove was "suspect" (though I think he did pretty darn well)...I don't think his skill set corresponds well w/ 2B
And yes.
Fox is a corner guy.
You don't want him up the middle of anything.
Fox is serviceable in the corners and I expect him to get ample time.
Like to see the lineup w/ ARam's name in there. With the option of Fuld to AAA (which I'm pretty sure we'll see him again), I would say this lineup makes the most sense to me right now. W/ Sori in the 6 hole, he now will probably go 0-4 instead of the 0-5 he would go in the leadoff spot.
The season is starting to look up...good series against the Brew Crew, and the cavalry has arrived w/ reinforcements. I'm glad our guys are coming back on a home series, as I'm sure they will be welcomed SOUNDLY by the crowd at Wrigley
all that, assuming that Lou still wants Sori in LF instead of Fox
Now we'll watch Fox rot on the bench. Rather than platoon him in a LF, RF, 3B rotation, he likely sits in favor of Lou's overpaid vets.
Aramis will need 3 days a week off.
We'll see Fox.
Soriano will sit from time-to-time with his sucking.
We'll see Fox.
Read a report that said we traded Freel to the Royals for a PTBNL, and cash to cover his salary
***I know I'm kinda butting in on ya'lls party...I usually post on FoxSports message board, but they went through some "improvements" which left the site really AWFUL, so I'll probably be poking my head in here more often***
What do you know...Lou actually did something I was thinking about......
batting ARAM behind Bradley in an attempt to get Bradley going!!!
I'm not a fan of Bradley's...we'll see how it goes.
Welcome Back ARAM...keep healthy!!!
I was one of those hoping that Soriano would go on the DL through the All-Star break, but no such luck. Piniella must just really like the guy for reasons unknown to us mere mortals. Fox or Hoffpauir in left would make much more baseball sense right now and for the life of me, I don't understand Piniella's total stubborness where Soriano is concerned. The fact that he didn't move him back up to lead off, to be honest, was a pleasant surprise to me.
With a couple of order changes, this is the lineup, Lou and JH wanted at the start of the season. Successful "do-overs" are rare in baseball, and certainly Soriano and Bradley are cautionary players. My guess is that Lou is giving the "regulars" yet another chance, because going 5 - 2 with them in the last 7 before the break keeps a little hope alive.
I think in Lou's mind we have to have important contributions from Sori, Badley and Rameriz to win the Divison. He's probably right on that--at least on 2 out of 3 of them. Fox is Lou's wild card through the break, and he will get a couple of starts.
Don't look for ARam to be up to his old self. He'll need surgery in the offseason. Look for .256 BA with a lot less power.
The Patton move is simultaneously brilliant and everything that is wrong with baseball's DL system. How you fix it I don't know. Maybe something similar to basketball where you can only have 12 suit up but 15 on the active roster. I also think Fox will still get plenty of playing time. Aramis will need time off and Soriano needs time off. After hesitating to first play Fox at 3rd, Piniella finally did and stuck with him after he realized the guy could rake at the plate. Lastly, I've been trying to remain optimistic about guys like Bradley and Soriano and (knock on wood) I still think they'll turn it around but I had to laugh MarioC's comment that he likes Soriano batting 6th because now he'll go 0-4 rather than 0-5. Sad but true.
What?
You mean to tell me that Patton isn't really hurt?
:le gasp:
!
I read somewhere that Bradley is batting .310 since June 10th. He seems to be getting around better on the inside pitches when batting left handed lately. Too early. He is now fouling them off into the first base stands.
Hopefully he is coming around. Regardless of your thoughts on his signing, the Cubs need his bat in the second half.
bradley is also breaking less bats, which i take to mean that he's getting more of the sweet spot on the ball. either that, or he switched to ash in early june.
Looks like it's Fuld, Hart and Patton to the DL. I like it.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/07/cubs-welcome-back-ramirez-johnson-and-guzman-.html
is there anything in the rulebook that could stop the cubs from placing a healthy rule 5 player like patton on the 60-day dl at the beginning of the season? seems like an underhanded way of circumventing the spirit of the rules regarding role 5 players, but wtf.
RE: Patton
Here's the rules ladies and gents:
A Rule 5 player must remain on an MLB 25-man Active List (or 15-day or
60-day DL) for the entire MLB regular season following selection and
must accrue at least 90 days on an MLB Active List (25-man roster)
before the Rule 5 restrictions are removed. (If the service time
accrued on the MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season
following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 player into the next
season).
90 days = up to 3 months meaning he could stay on the DL for the rest of the year and next season he is ours to do with as we please.
Matt,
I am assuming the game won't be on my mlb.tv tonight....so, can you please find another streaming link...pretty please :)
420TV3 works with tvants
http://freemlb.com/games.html
So how many days does Patton have, more importantly how many more does he need till 90?
Also,
RE: sale of the team
Check out this Bruce Levine comment:
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4309203&name=levine
*******************************************
"A source close to the sale told me that the Ricketts family will be able to direct -- in an off-the-record capacity -- chairman Crane Kenney and general manager Jim Hendry in what they would expect for the future as far as trades and acquisitions by the trading deadline. In other words, Ricketts will be able to direct Hendry as to whether he can spend more money for the 2009 season."
******************************************
good news
Yo, Aaron.
I'm packing up for work now. I'll look when I get there.
You live in Chicago? So you're blacked out across the boards, eh?
nope, but last time, if I recall correctly, ESPN resulted in a blackout on mlb.tv if memory serves me correctly
Aaron, question...what do you think Ricketts might do with Soriano if he can't pick it up?...If mlb doesn't want him...Is Japan a viable option to recoup a little of his contract?
Suzy, I know I'm not Aaron but Soriano will be with the Cubs for the remainder of the contract unless someone is willing to trade for that contract ... abd he waives his no-trade clause.
There is nothing they can do with that contract. By my math, there is $90 million left over the next five years.
My math agrees with yours. I hope they figure a way to trade him...Fuld may not be the answer...but it was a huge pleasure to see his energy both in the field and as a true lead-off man....
as compared to Soriano.
D-LEE!!!
AWESOME DLEE!!!!
Milton's maybe starting to have a little fun?
Excellent catch by Milton!
The last few games it seems like Fontenot is having a better approach. Looking to drive the ball up the middle rather than trying to hit it out of the park. Could be a result of the team putting up runs and him being able to just try and get on base.
Excellent job by Fontenot to flip the order...
Wells with a single!
Kosuke with a double!
Nice two out hitting there.
Fukudome can look so bad sometimes and so good at others.
Damn Atlanta Bread Co...
So, I missed a good bit I see.
Someone fill me in?
Sorry to have to ask all the time.
Also, I forgot the Braves mean that I'm blacked out here. Grr..
Thank God it didn't cause a ESPN blackout.
Derrek Lee a two-run homer in the first. Kosuke led off the game with a single.
Mike Fontenot, Randy Wells, Kosuke, and Ryan Theriot with four straight hits with two hits. Kosuke doubled in Fontenot and Theriot drove in Wells with an infield single
Thanks a lot!
Good to see Sori hustling!
Alfonso Says, "Eff you ball."
Apparently, if you hit the ball to 2B you're guaranteed a single today.
Anderson's hit was the first hard hit ball all inning..
>.
Another ball not hard hit...
Wells doesn't deserve an error there...
At least he didn't stare down the official scorer like Escobar would have done.
Dude's a punk.
I hear he's on the block. I'd pass.
Like most braves on the block only the Royals are interested due to Royal's GMs previous connections to the braves.
Wells is a clutch monster!
Good job by Wells getting out of that mess.
Offense has to tack on...
Wells is indeed a hard-nosed fighter out there on the mound! How refreshing to watch him...win, lose, or draw!
Soriano 2-2 with a walk.
Maybe he's finally home in the lineup.
Fuku, rather.
Ummm....what?
Referring to Kosuke's CS, BTW
Now use Marshall right -- as a long man and not as a LOOGY.
Thanks!
Where in the hell did everyone go?
Haven't seen a night like this here in awhile..
Matt, I'm still here. Just waiting for a hit from the Cubs ... there goes Lee. A nice double to left center.
I do not ever remember an intentional walk before Aramis...
No...but it worked...it will take a little time to get his timing back.
Bobby Cox made the right call ... and man did Aramis look ticked off after he grounded out.
Ugly looking swing by Ramirez. Favored the shoulder.
I'd put Fox in for the remainder of the game.
And I'd make Fox the late inning replacement for the time being too. They are the same player until Rami gets closer to being game-ready.
I feel like we are going to need a
couple of more runs for Gregg in the ninth...for safety sake.
Needed that DP, that also means the bottom of the Braves lineup in the ninth.
Key Double play.
where did our offense go? Man...it looked good starting out.
It seems obvious to me that Jurrjens did not have his best stuff tonight, but the Cubs couldn't push across some extra runs when they should have. Cubs certainly should have had a more comfortable lead than they do now. That offense is trying to come alive but not there yet. Hope this doesn't come back haunt them as in past few weeks.
Come on Fontenot, you gotta swing at that!!!
I would have used Fox there instead of
Micah...Micah's been sitting too long...he needs a start.
I agree completely, Suzy. Micah definitely needs some playing time and his history tells me his hitting will return.
Charles, I don't see Micah getting time until we play the day/nighter with the Cardinals on Sunday...Lou won't sit Lee...nor should he...and I don't see him sitting Bradley when he's trying to get him going and the All-Star break coming up...It's really ashame...because Hoffpauir has an "A" game...
Suzy, I hate to admit this, as much as I'm a big Cub fan, but I wish Hoffpauir could be traded to the American League, preferably to the Rangers (home state and all and they could really use his bat and glove right now...Rangers just sent their struggling lst baseman to the minors yesterday). I wish I could put a bug in the ear of Rangers officials who could do this deal. It would be best for all concerned since I just don't think there's going to be a place for him on the Cubs. Micah desperately needs to play regularly.
Charles...only if you take Gregg and send
your closer back...lol
Seriously, I see Hoffpauir as great insurance and may actually get lots of playing time...depending.
What if DLee's bulging neck acts up again?...And in RF we have that piller of health...Uncle Milty...It would be just the Cub's luck to trade him and either one or both of those guys go down.
I really think it is premature to move him...unless he is in a package for a really big deal...like getting the Ranger's closer....Oh well.
Gregg damn well better do his job. The Cubs need to start this series on the right foot, and Wells certainly deserves this victory.
that AB to the journeyman pinch hitter for the Braves proves just how bad Gregg sucks. It took, what, 10 pitches to finally get him out...dude has no "put away" pitch whatsoever...that was pathetic...not to mention his constant 3-2 counts. Why doesn't Piniella ever learn?!?
Aaron, I watched in person this weekend F. Francisco, closer for the Tx Rangers, in action. Now that guy really does have a "put away" pitch and I saw up close what that can mean in the 9th in a close game. Do you think there's any chance Guzman will become the closer a little later this year? Uh oh, guess that would mean Gregg would have to blow a BUNCH of important saves for Piniella to even consider it, right?
Charles...he could get a groin pull like Patton...lol...Guzman is our best choice
right now.
i see you had to get your daily fix of bashing someone on the team.. that 10 pitch at-bat would've been very easy for him to lose his composure and walk him, but he got the out.. give credit when due man
actually, it's calling it like it is. I don't know what you've been watching, but when Gregg comes in the game, it's "close your eyes" and pray time. I know you think it's just me being negative...you've voiced as much before....but unless Lou makes the obvious changes (DL Soriano until he gets healthy, and play Hoffpauir or Fox regularly out there) and demote Gregg to middle relief, and install Guzman as closer...hell, even Marmol would be a better bet, though his walks are very concerning, even in his recent "good" stretch. Point is, at least those 2 have "put away" pitches.
Soriano is absolutely killing the team as well with his fielding/routes to balls, and his offense. I don't think for a second he wouldn't be out of this 2 month long funk he's been in already if his leg wasn't bothering him. Though I give him a lot of crap, I still think he can carry a team when he's "on", just as we saw in September of 2007 (wasn't it?)
So, I give credit where it's due, but I'm NOT a fairweather fan that sees a good performance one day, then says, "he must be out of his funk" or "he's a vital part of the team", etc., especially when it comes to veteran players. I always have preached a "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality with most this team. Why? Because with so many inconsistent performers, it's tough to decide whether or not an individual win is just a mirage or the beginning of a win streak...sorry if my assessment is a little too much for you...but it's honest.
side note...are you one of the proponents of no dodgeball at recess, because there's actual losers in the game?!? LOL
there is a time and a place for bashing a player's performance.. and tonight was not the time to do it to the closer who closed and did his job, for a cubs victory..
i'm sorry if my post was a little too much for that big head of yours.. but i was just being honest too
Couple of assumptions...
1)I hope we've seen the last of Miles.
2)I assume if we're still there after this week...Ricketts will OK a small to mid level trade...providing it is close
to income neutral or doesn't add too much
salary.
3)We have a lot of middle infielders with no standouts.
4) Pen is still a concern.
Aaron and others...what do we do?
Prado's reaction, lol.
MO continues!! And Lou's dog-eared "book" worked tonight.
CUBS WIN !!! CUBS WIN!!!
It didn't have to be a nailbiter but was.
Solid win against a very good pitcher.
Wells first Cubs' rookie since Kerry Wood to win four starts in a row.
would've been like 7 had it not been for an inept offense...dude still doesn't get much run support even when he wins.
I'll take a win, but man, when the hell is Lou ever going to learn with Gregg as closer. How many blown saves/close calls does he have to witness to finally make the much needed change? On the negative side Soriano still sucks. On the positive side, we got ARAM back, and it seemed to boost morale. On the flip side of that, he clearly looks like the hitter most of us feared he would be post-injury---a shell of his former self this year. Did the Cubs rush him back as they did Lee in 2006? I would have to lean toward the affirmative on that, judging by his scouting report at Peoria, where he was hitting everything pretty much opposite field. What that tells you is he lacks bat speed, NOT that he's driving the ball.
Aaron, you very well may be right about ARAM, but I think he needs a whole bunch of at bats before the club knows just how much the long layoff and injury will affect his swing, power, defense. Cubs will be quite fortunate to keep him healthy for the remainder of the season...that separated shoulder injury is SO problematic.
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
beautifull word Jim!!
Recap! Recap! Racap!!!
Let's Go Ne-il clap! clap! clap!
It's up...just posted.
Thank brooooo!
S
First....Gregg did not deserve the "dust up" here tonight based on this game. In fact, Oral Hershizer praised the nine pitch out and the inning.
Second....Gregg is not the long-term soulution as a closer--when you have Marmol and Guzman developing better suitablity for the top of the pen. Marmol is the better prospect, because he has the stuff to strike out 6 in a row in the All Star Game. (Yes, he has to throw more strikes.)
Gregg has been adequate overall in his last 10 appearances. He's pitched to a 1.80 ERA in 10 IP--allowing 5 H, 2 R (both earned), 3 W and hit two batters. He has struck out 8 and saved 5 games in 6 opportunities. And no, I didn't change the old rules for dodgeball. LOL
it's true that Gregg has been "adequate", but many on here have noted that when he gets outs....they're "loud," which tells you that what happened earlier in the season, (and all of last season) for him, is bound to happen again, and like I've said before...his recent success is due in large part to dumb luck than it is effectiveness.
Please keep in mind that unlike Wood, Marmol, and Guzman, Gregg doesn't have an "out" pitch. He plain sucks, and he shows the ball entirely too much in his delivery (which is also why he gets "loud" outs). Just look at the video of him. His funky delivery gives batters an extra look. Any little thing you give MLB hitters, they'll take advantage of it, and they sure have taken advantage of him. Why do you think he goes 3-2 on so many hitters? It's because he has to nibble. His fastball is straight as an arrow. His cartoon 12-6 curveball..might be 11-5...but anyhow...it drops too much out of the zone, and since he nibbles with his fastball, the other teams have a tremendous scouting report on him, where it probably goes like this:
1) will look to get ahead with fastball by nibbling at the corners
2) if he misses with the fastball, he will try once more, nibbling at the corners
3) if he doesn't get the strike called, he'll flip up a curveball. It's rarely accurate, but if he doesn't break if off to the outside corner enough (common issue with him), then you can sit on it, and hammer it.
4) Either way, always look straight fastball
I mean, it's so simple with him. 93 mph cheese with no movement is a hitter's dream. So, if they're just patient with him, they know what's coming, and can easily sit on his pitches. With Marmol, he's so wild...he's actually effective, because his sweeping slider is a true "out" pitch, and buckles a lot of knees. You never know if he'll accidentally throw a fastball towards your head (on accident), so you have to be prepared for the 95 mph head-high cheese AND the knee buckler. But, if you have a straight fastball in the low 90's, and a 12-6, or even 11-5 breaking pitch, guys can still hammer it, because a lot of times, that pitch will hang just enough in the zone to get the sweet part of the barrel on the ball.
Dumb luck is all Gregg has going for him right now, and beware....he's still getting hammered pretty well. It's only a matter of time before the law of averages catches up to him, and you'll see plenty of blown saves, and I'll watch as most Gregg supporters out there will be asking for his head.
Aaron, I don't think there is anyone in love with Gregg as the closer...with maybe the exception of the 2 most important people...Lou and JH....and at that it's keep your fingers crossed.
I much prefer Guzman as closer and have stated that on several occasions...but as long as he IS the closer...I have to root for him...because I don't want to see the Cubs lose because of him...and I'm pretty sure everyone on this site is close to that opinion....He just should not be the closer....shy of blowing a lot of saves...(which I do not want to see...I don't know how Lou will change...
he's slow that way.
Not only did the mispelled O.H. (abve) like Gregg's performance tonight, but so did Orel Hershiser, the color commentator on ESPN's coverage tonight-- and a pitcher of some note.
Jim...I don't think anyone here would have caught that.
For the record...my vote is for Guzman for closer...a little more reliable if his arm holds up.