Game Eighty-Three: Cubs (41-41) vs. Cardinals (47-40)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Harden (5-5, 5.35/1.49) vs. Chris Carpenter (6-3, 2.32/0.82)
The Cubs return to the field this afternoon, weather permitting, after a much-needed day off. The Cubs showed a lot of improvement in Pittsburgh last week and carried the momentum into the four-game set against the Brewers seven days ago ... but then went back to struggling with the bat in the final two games of the Braves series. Lou Piniella's crew must crank up the offense this weekend and play smart fundamental baseball ...
The Cubs enter play this afternoon 3 1/2 games back of the division leading Redbirds and the next three days (four games) could impact the rest of the season. The Cubs are 3-6 in the first nine games against St.. Louis this season (2-1 at Wrigley Field) and since 2006, the Redbirds are 8-18 at the Friendly Confines. The Cardinals swept the three game series in St. Louis the last time these two teams faced off ... the Cubs managed just two runs the entire series. The Cardinals do not return to Chicago after Sunday's day-night doubleheader this year and the longtime rivals face each other only three more times this season (September 18 - September 20 in St. Louis). If the Cubs do not play well in this series and keep the Cardinals within reach they could very well be staring up at them in the standings for the remainder of the year.
The Cardinals will be without Mark DeRosa for the series. The former Cub is on the DL ducking Ted Lilly once again ... but Ryan Ludwick is heating up and Albert Pujols is the best player in the game.
Rich Harden stated he was embarrassed with his last performance and if does not pitch better this afternoon this game will be over in a hurry. The Cubs had chances against Braden Looper but against Chris Carpenter the scoring opportunities figure to be few and far between.
Geovany Soto is expected to miss the entire series and could be placed on the DL before the game according to Jim Hendry. Soto is expected to be re-evaluated on Friday morning and the Cubs will make the decision then ... Jake Fox will serve as the Cubs' backup catcher with Koyie Hill as the starter behind the plate for the entire weekend.
Reports on Thursday indicated Alfonso Soriano would be back in the starting lineup in the fifth spot behind Aramis Ramirez with Milton Bradley possibly hitting behind Soriano. With Soriano and Bradley struggling mightily right now, it might not be a good idea to put them back-to-back in the lineup ...
The Cubs are expected to recall Jeff Stevens from Iowa to replace Kevin Hart on the active roster. Hart was optioned down on Thursday to make another start in the minors before returning to the Cubs after the break (his start could come with the I-Cubs or the Peoria Chiefs). Hart is expected to start either the fourth game of the Nationals series or the first game against the Phillies on July 20.
Bob Brenly has the weekend off and former Cub, Keith Moreland will join Len Kasper in the booth ... maybe Zonk can get the offense going against Chris Carpenter.
While the offense has their work cut out for them against Chris Carpenter, it all starts with Rich Harden ... and one win at a time.
Just when it appeared Rich Harden hit rock bottom against the Tigers two starts ago, he went out in his last start and proved it could get worse. Rich Harden said he was embarrassed about the shortest outing of his big league career against the Brewers. Harden barely made it out of the second inning after giving up seven runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. Harden served up two more home runs and following the five-run first inning, the game was basically over before the Cubs swung at their first pitch.
With Ryan Dempster sidelined from two to four weeks (most reports are indicating a month and three starts), the Cubs need Rich Harden to step up and pitch to his ability ... especially at home.
There is no other way to put it ... Rich Harden has been horrible this year at Wrigley, especially during the day. Harden is 2-4 in eight home starts with a 7.65 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Opponents have hit a robust .289 against him at Wrigley and nine of the 15 home runs he's served up have come at his unFriendly Confines.
Harden's season must start today ... and it will be far from easy.
Rich Harden was on the winning end the last time he faced the Cardinals. The 10-3 Cubs win in St. Louis was one of Harden's best of the season. He allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. The Cubs need that kind of performance this afternoon in order to win the first game of the series.
Today will be Harden's fourth career start against Albert Pujols and Company ... he is 2-1 in the first three with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.
- Rick Ankiel - 1-for-3 with a home run
- Ryan Ludwick - 0-for-6
- Yadier Molina - 1-for-4 with a home run and 2 walks
- Albert Pujols - 1-for-6 with a double and 2 walks
- Colby Rasmus - 0-for-3
- Skip Schumaker - 1-for-6
- Joe Thurston - 1-for-2
Chris Carpenter is the definition of an ace and is one of the two reasons the Cardinals are in first place in the NL Central. Carpenter has given more than a boost to a questionable-at-best-rotation without him. After spending the first month of the year on the DL, Carpenter has been just about unbeatable in 12 starts since his first start back against the Cubs on May 20.
Carpenter was 2-3 in six starts last month with a 3.67 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. In 41 2/3 innings he issued just five walks while striking out 25. To put it simply, Chris Carpenter will not beat himself.
The Reds managed only one run on five hits in seven innings against Carpenter his last time out. Carpenter walked only one batter and in his last three starts (17 innings), two free passes and 15 strikeouts.
The Cubs have always struggled against Carpenter and must take advantage of the one or two opportunities they will have today. Following his last start against the Cubs, Derrek Lee said he was the best pitcher he's faced this year ...
This afternoon will be Carpenter's second start of the year against the Cubs (no runs on three hits in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts on May 20) and the 16th of his career (8-3 in 15 games with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP).
- Milton Bradley - 3-for-11 with a home run and a walk
- Mike Fontenot - 0-for-3
- Kosuke Fukudome - 0-for-4 with a walk
- Reed Johnson - 0-for-4
- Derrek Lee - 13-for-40 with 2 doubles and 2 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 11-for-39 with 3 doubles, a home run and a walk
- Alfonso Soriano - 12-for-31 with a double and 2 home runs
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-4
- Ryan Theriot - 1-for-3 with a double
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Subscribe
I know the game took place Wednesday (which, in retrospect, would've been better off rained out), but I can't even begin to fathom this one going on. I've had nearly pitch black skies with thunder rumbling since about 3 or 4 this morning and it hasn't gone anywhere (nor does it look like it will).
Where do you live? It is a little cloudy in Tinley Park, nothing to fret about.
Bo...in the world of keep the faith, I was at the Cubs Indians game 6/19. Drove from Madison to Chicago in a blinding rain storm, Torrential until I got 1 block from Wrigley, it stopped. The game was a gem, 8-7 extras as if we have forgot, and when we got to the car, about a block or so away, BOOM the skies opened up again! It's 9:38, about 4 hours from game time with a slight delay I could get home in time to watch the game...Something tells me that there is reason to feel good today! Have faith and GO CUBS GO!!!!!!
PS. Mr. Soriano, I know you were not happy about riding the pine, but your performance so far this year has warranted demotion to A ball, riding the pine is a generous gift to your multi million dollar contract. However there is one way to get your spot back... catch and HIT THE DAMN BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Lou instead of Bradley and Sori back to back...why not just trot out the Lincecum lineup! oooooo bad memories...too soon...nahhhhhhhhhh this would rank up there as another boneheaded lineup if it come to fruition.
1) If they don't get it in...it could work to our advantage...postponing it
until September??? When we might be playing better...and be healthier.
2)re: all the Sanchez talk yesterday...
just read he hasn't played in 6 days
with back problems. (mlbtraderumors.com)
We don't want or need that...and evidently neither does Colorado. So
that means EY Jr, is intact...and a possible target for us.
3)Cloycub...thanks for the kind words.
4)Great article by Morrissey today in the Trib...(Chicagotribune.com)
5) When we do play...LET'S WIN !!!
GO CUBS GO !!!!
Good morning all.. Just wanted to give you a report from last nights game in OKC..Bobby Scales 3-4, he can flat out hit very impressive. Clevenger can handle the bat very well. #21 John something extremely classy, we were sitting in outfield bleachers, since I was only one in Cubs gear he threw me 2 balls and chatted a lil bit with us. I asked him when he's getting the call, he just shrugged. ha... take care all go cubs and iowa
Thanks for sharing, Jeff. It's always nice to hear our farmhands doing their job, and even better knowing another Faithful enjoying his "day for two"!
:-)
I think if this game is postponed, it will be made up on August 24th. The Cubs play at home the next day at 7 and the Cadinals play at home the next day at 7.
It is a monday and that will work the Cards are not far away. That is when I think they will play. The only problem is it will be 18 straight game.
Just a note...that forecast looks exactly like the one that was on for the 6/19 game...good things are coming today, can't tell you why I think that, just something.
I like that attitude...if you're going to the game...Maybe you can give Soriano a nudge for those elusive Home Runs we've been waiting for.
I wish I was going...sadly Wrigley is about a once or twice a year dealio. BUT, I will definitely toss him a perverbial mental nudge, as if all that took, the guy would be Babe Ruth by now.
Per Muskat on Cubs.com Soto to 15-day DL and could miss up to a month...No replacement has been named and the Cubs will play down a man today...Great just flipping great!!!!!!!!!!!!
not a good thing, considering Soto's power was returning, and he was starting to drive the ball...however, he still looks incredibly out of shape...so....might not be the worst thing (though, inactivity might cause him to add on even more pounds).
The prudent thing to do is just add Clevenger to the 40-man, and bring him up (put Chad Fox on the 60-day----though, we technically don't need an extra spot freed up---just sayin'), and we could kick the tires on either Toby Hall, Paul Lo Duca or Javier Valentin (all of whom are free agents right now)
This makes our offensive problems even more acute right now, and we MUST put Soriano on the DL, otherwise you lose 4-5 AB's in your lineup every day to his crappy approach. Additionally, Hoffpauir should play every single day that a righty is pitching in favor of Bradley.
As for outfielders that we absolutely should go after, I would think we should kick the tires on Wily Mo Pena (free agent) and Geoff Jenkins...then put them in AAA to get some AB's (unless they're ready), and go with Sam Fuld in the OF until Soriano gets back. See, what this does, is it allows you to at the very least DFA Bradley and place Soriano on the DL. Right now, outside of Sam Fuld, we don't really have anyone ready to step in at the MLB level in the OF. We need more depth, and it has to be a power hitting/RBI threat...and both Pena and Jenkins fit that description.
2 words to solve this new ugly problem at backstop...JAKE FOX...thoughts????
Aaron, they WILL NOT DFA Bradley with another 2 years on his contract...trade and absorb most of his salary...but no DFA at this point. How far away is he from his 75 starts that vest the third year?
Speaking of Soriano, he was quoted as saying that he was mad for not being informed he wasn't playing the day before, and he said he came prepared to play. This bugs me on so many levels, When your getting paid to play a sport, let alone $18 million, shouldnt you come prepared to play everyday whether you know your playing or not?
I think Lou should keep benching him, get him mad enough to waive his no trade.
Even if he waives his no trade...he still as $90 million left (AFTER this season)...who would take that on?...given how he has played?
I was going to say something about that yesterday, but held out....because some on here might say I'm being too negative...LOL...
Every single player should come prepared to play, unless you're not a fleet footed pitcher (who can't be used pinch running)...even so, if it gets to extras, even those non-fleet footed pitchers should be prepared to see some action and start stretching. Our head coach in college repeatedly told us that....at any point in the game, he could use anyone, whether due to injury, pinch running, pitching, pinch hitting, etc. Unless you were injured, there was absolutely NO reason to come unprepared to play.
In fact, the Cubs should bench him just for saying that indefinitely. If I were Hendry I'd be absolutely livid over that statement. Because, I'd be like, "so you're telling me you won't be prepared to help us if we need you to pinch hit in a late game situation with runners on?" Unbelievable how "stand-up" and smart he can sound one second (mentioning his struggles and he deserved demotion), then completely sounds idiotic the next moment.....guess that pretty much represents the feel of this team overall
I think once or twice a year is more the norm these days...bleachers are no longer $1.50 per ticket like they were when I started going.
Yes,it would be nice if mental nudges worked...I'm sure we would have won 100 games by now...if that were the case...but still...Soriano should at least get lucky soon...or hit the DL.
Suzy, you rightfully called me on being a bit too negative about this Cardinal series, BUT you and I both know the Cubs are not playing good, fundamental baseball. Anything can happen in a game, as you say, but momentum and the intangibles (like team chemistry) certainly seem to be heavily on the Cardinal side right now. I think the Cubs are lacking in confidence and without that, they will not beat a Cardinal team that is growing in that elusive "confidence" factor. The pressure to produce is weighing heavily on several Cubs right now, making it even more difficult to play winning baseball. The Cubs are just NOT a very good team right now...it seems at times that almost everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Tough to watch...But stay on me to see the sun peeping through these clouds!
Charles, you are right on, probably.
But I have seen so many strange things in baseball that have impacted a game,
a team, a season....to know thaT it can all turn on a dime.
Do you recall the Red Sox of 1967?...Yaz/Scott/Petrocelli/Tony Conigliaro/Jim Lonberg etc.?
The Red Sox hadn't had a winning season since '58. The AL wasn't settled that year until the last game of the season
with four teams a game apart going into the last game of the season.
In midseason that year, I went to Fenway
for a doubleheader...against Jim Fregosi and his Angels. The Red Sox really didn't have that belief in themselves...
but I witnessed 2 of the strangest plays
ever...that I believed helped launch them to the pennant.
1)In the first game, the Sox behind 2
runs late in the game...with men on 1rst and second...2 out. Yaz lofts a high fly ball into right...very catchable and an easy out. But just as he launched it...a huge flock of seagulls flew right in the path of the ball and the RF completely lost it...Yaz ended up with a triple...2 men scored...and the Sox went on to win.
Same day...game 2...later in the game...
Sox down by 1...men on 2nd and 3rd....
Tony C. at bat this time...skies dark and threatening with rain. Tony C. launches a high pop fly to shallow right...at the very same moment the skies got really dark and a drenching downpour hit...the pop fly was lost in the rain...2 men scored...rain delay and no more scoring after that...Red Sox win by one....the Red Sox won 2 games that day on really freak plays...and won the pennant that year on the final day of the season by one....So anything can happen...and it is why I refer to the
"baseball gods" all the time.
The "gods" have not been kind to us this year...but then, they can be fickle and it could change in a flash.
Great, great memories for you, Suzy. I'm jealous. I saw my first major league game in St. Louis in 1956, after a long overnight roadtrip from down here in Texas. The autograph I came back home with that thrilled me more than all the others was none other than Harry Caray's. Twenty years later, I got to sit with Harry in a broadcast booth at old Arlington Rangers Stadium while he did a White Sox/Rangers game. He again signed that same old scorecard from 20 years before....a keepsake that I dearly treasure. Bet you have some items from your old Boston days which mean the world to you. Take care.
I'm sure your baseball memories are just as great Charles...and I have some minor
mementos...but nothing like your Haray Caray story...I'm envious of you! ! !
Um...sat next to Boog Powell on a flight from Miami to the Virgin Islands once...talked to him for 20 minutes without knowing who he was untl I noticed his world series ring...we had a great time...he was on his way down to St Croix for a Miller Light Commercial...and we were both avid scaba divers at the time....my only brush with baseball fame.
Starting Lineup:
1. Johnson - CF
2. Theriot - SS
3. Fukudome - RF
4. Lee - 1B
5. Ramirez - 3B
6. Soriano - LF
7. Fontenot - 2B
8. Hill - C
9. Harden - P
By my count is that Milton on the bench for 3 straight days with the off day???
Hoffpauir woulda caught that one that got past Lee.
According to Cubs.com, Geovany Soto will be placed on the DL today. The Cubs are looking outside the organization to add a back up catcher. Soto could be sidelined for a month! Not good!
I don't understand why they would look elsewhere when they have two young and productive catchers at AAA.
Yeah, I it sounds like they would have called up Mark Johsnon, but he's on the DL at AAA. I guess they want someone with big league experience instead of brining another young guy up.
What do you all think about this trade?
Hoffpauer and the needed pitching prospect/s for Brandon Inge. Inge can fill in behind the plate for a bum Soto. He is a great glove at third to back Ramy if needed. I also think we can play him at second. Very decent bat also, lots of pop. I haven't look at his OBP and K's.
Detroit needs an RBI man with Mags sucking it up.
Thoughts?
The Tigers wont do it, Inge in there most productive player along with Mags. Also Maggs is platooning now. If they do it I would but they wont.
I REALLY agree with that trade. BIG TIME!!!!! It makes sense on so many levels...Problem is, now with him being an All-Star now, I just don't see them trading him, and even if they did, at 32 years old, the price might be entirely too steep for him.
Conversely, let me pose a serious question about this trade:
Statistics show that non-steroid eras (and post now), players start regressing considerably after 32 years old. So, with basically a career .260 type hitter, low 3's OBP (around .310-.330 range), I just don't think it'd be worth the cost, which would probably be no less than either Hoffpauir or Fox, Marshall, and another prospect. Dude has 19 hr, 54 RBI, .264 avg, .360 OBP, which dwarfs the pace of his career high (age 29) of 27 hr, 83 RBI, .253 avg, .313 OBP.
Remember, this is a guy, almost in the mold of a Kevin Gregg, where the Tigers couldn't wait to get rid of him, and had there not been injuries, he would've been DFA'd himself. I'd say, "maybe he's a DeRosa-type player...a late bloomer" Problem is, DeRosa was never a full-time player until his 30's, while Inge has been full-time since he was 27, and doesn't have much to show for it.
That being said, you accurately pointed out a need for a back-up at 3rd and catcher. If you get rid of Hoffpauir, that means Fox essentially slides into his spot as back-up 1B, LF, and RF, as well as helping out at 3B and emergency catcher...so, I like that trade for those reasons---it provides more depth. but at the likely cost, I don't think it'd be worth it for typically a league average player at best. (other than this year)
Its a month...not the season, we don't need to give up Hoffpauir for a catcher. Thats just stupid. We need at ST fill in.
Thinking out loud....If I'm JH...I feel like I'm getting backed into corners I don't want to be in....we don't want to take on any more aging contracts right now...with not 1 but 2 highly paid underperforming stars...look for another plug in for Soto...that gives us little punch.
Another injury or losing streak probably puts us in a sellers mode....and then it must be done calmly.
If they bring up Clevenger or Robinson...
who covers their spots in the system...I don't think we are strong at catcher...
hence...looking outside organization.
WGN radio is reporting that Sotto may miss much more time than 15 days...so they need someone proven behind the plate.
FA catcher: Paul Lo Duca, Toby Hall, Javier Valentin, former Cub Rob Bowen, Gary Bennett, and Johnny Estrada. Any of them worth signing?
doesn't seem likely at this point...it'd be logical, but not likely. None of them are playing right now...at least to my knowledge...even in Indy Ball, so the chances of them being able to step right in are fairly minimal at this point. Rumor has it that we're pursuing the trade market for another team's back-up catcher. Who could could that be?
Here's a short list:
Hendry Blanco-SD
Chris Coste-PHI
Ronny Paulino-FLA
Kelly Shoppach-CLE
Greg Zaun-BAL
Yorvit Torrealba-COL
Brayan Pena-KC (my first choice on this list) .319 avg, .353 OBP, 2 hr 5 RBI; 27 yrs old
Paul Phillips-COL (just DFA'd) .310 avg, .388 OBP, 1 hr 7 RBI; 32 yrs old
Love to have Blanco back.
Tarp on the field. Likely under a delay to start
Neil,
Now that Soto is on the DL, who do you think will be called up tomorrow? Robinson?
Thanks!
I would hope so. Robinson has played well enough, earned a trip to the Triple-A All Star game.
First pitch slated for 1:55
Neil,
While that might be true...The other day I did some analysis on Clevenger vs Robinson. I just don't like the historicals at all with Robinson:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/chris-robinson.shtml
look at this year's stats for example:
197 AB's, 22 runs, 62 hits, 14 doubles, 3 triples, 1 hr, 32 RBI, but a .315 avg and .320 OBP (WHAT?!?) and 4 walks vs 29 K's
Clevenger this year (combined AA and AAA):
190 AB's, 22 runs, 59 hits, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 1 hr, 21 RBI, 16 walks 21 K's, .310 avg, .378 OBP
So while their AB's, runs, hits, doubles, etc. are all pretty much the same, there's a HUGE disparity in their avg and OBP spreads. Robinson's is +5 on the OBP side, which should tell you that he's been getting a LOT of dumb luck this year to be hitting .315 (which is FAR off from his career average), while Clevenger is at a +68, which tells you that he has a keen eye at the plate, and will get a good amount of hits, while keeping his average up around the .300 level which it's been near that his entire career
Koyie Hill is a back-up...nothing more. And I'd prefer that he stay there for awhile. If you go out and sign a back-up, or you bring up a back-up like Robinson, then you're adding yet another automatic out to your lineup. But if you do the prudent thing, and get a catcher like Clevenger, or perhaps even Pena from KC, then you have guys that could easily step in and be an everyday catcher for you.
Aaron, I do like Clevenger based on what I saw in Mesa. I mentioned the fact before he should have an upper hand on Robinson since he recieved a non-roster invite to spring training.
However, I have been impressed on what I have read this season about Robinson, plus he has more experience behind the plate than Clevenger.
I agree that Clevenger is the better long term prospect than Robinson but he might be better served in Triple-A getting as much time as possible to continue his development.
Game to start at 1:55.
On the fly, this will be quick. We can't sweep if we don't win this one. GO BLUE!!!
Hi, Jim. You may have read that Tommy Hunter of the Rangers pitched another sterling game last night in Seattle. He should have been the winning pitcher, but his bullpen gave up a three run homer with two outs in the eighth to lose the game. Tommy pitched shut-out ball for six strong innings. What a nice surprise for the Texas club!!
Per Muskat, Santo left the game with illness...Get well soon Ronny!
Wow ouch this accuscore thing that supposedly and allegedly predict winners of games on gamecast has Stl a 61%-39% favorite. I have never seen a road team get that big of a spread on that hypothetical cheesy hype-o-meter...The Cubs are doomed LOL, always relished the underdog role!
WOW again...that did not take freaking long at all.
We'll win today...I feel it...1 run down or not...we're going to win!!!
We really have to win these 4 games with most of the cardinals looking like 70's porn stars.
Also how do you take Lee out of the 3 hole the way he has been hitting? Fukudome was doing alot better of a job than Sorryiano.
Must be a Cubby Occurrence
Just looking at gameday...Harden's fastball appears to be back...93/94mph
vs the other day when it was 88/89 mph.
Thats promising...let's hope the bats are back.
Talk about being over matched from pitch one, Fontenot stood no chance.
Hoffpauir woulda had that ball that Lee just missed. Sorry-oh-no saved that one from being an inside the park home run. Pujols can really run!
Hardin ain't got it.
Here we go............game over.Playing like a bunch of clowns again, letting Poujols beat ya. We ain't scoriing ANY runs. 3 is enough for Carpenter. He just stuck out the side last inning. Maybe next time.
They have their work cut out for them early...this has not been a good sign as of late...let's buck the trend.
Harden helping the cause and narrowing the staff's batting gap to Milton...thanks Aaron.
I say thanks because I believe it was you that mentioned the pitching staff's HR's RBI's and Avg compared to Milton. They were sobering to say the least.
Harden at Wrigley vs Carpenter? Come on, this game was over before it started. Who cares if the Cards score 1, 3 or 6 runs, it doesn't matter.
I think that the DL stints of Dempster and Soto are the straws that broke the camel's back and this team has officially checked out. Go Bears.
AINT DONE YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Faithful will of a Cubs win never gives up.
Yeah, this is a 500 team, sure.
But we should win this one, to accomodate the "standing boo," for the least.
:-)
on gamecast... did I miss a standing boo...darn that would have been fun to see.
Gary...have faith...we are going to take this one.
Just what most of us were afraid of....this may not even be competitive. You don't think Carpenter will throw a shutout do you? Nothing like sending a message to the Cardinals early....the WRONG message.
DLEE DLEE
YES !!!!!!!!!DLEE !!!!!!!!!
D-LEE!!!
DLeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
Harden can't stand prosperity...don't know what's wrong with him but something isn't right. Boy, the Cubs need him to deliver in a big game like today!
Need a shutdown inning.
You know, I say those things just dare them to prove me wrong. I am glad I'm wrong about this games prediction. Still, lately, unless Lee homers, they don't win.
Good job by Harden on sut down inning...
but at 76 pitches after 4...not much left.
Need to score here to allow for Pujols solo homer next inning.
Some things are uncertain but Pujols in a big game like today is a certainty. Must be nice to have a guy like that who puts a team on its back and carries it that well. Nice call, I guess, Suzy!
Psychic much?!?!
You caught that...HAH!!!
Harden's got a nice little stroke.
Harden 2 for 2?
Harden--can he play LF?
WHAY THE FUCK do you pitch to PUJOLS???? He has 41 HR's!!!! YOU BUST HIM INSIDE ALL GAME AND IF YOU HIT HIM....SO WHAT....EVERY F-ING TIME!! Ludwick should get one in the back now...man up Harden....with that name (RICH HARDEN) you should have SOME BALLS!!
Harden is a better hitter than he is a pitcher as of late.
Harden here is a little free pitching advice from a totally incompetent non professional...THROW STRIKES ESPECIALLY TO PITCHERS WHO HOLD A .143 AVG.
Good job to get out of that...Harden.
101 pitches...that should be it for him...wish Ascanio were still up...don't
really feel confident in Shark yet...we'll see.
We need to score...
Good time for ARAMs 1st Homer back from DL.
Was gonna say nee a clutch hit here but Sori is up.
LOL...BUT IT HURTS
I would have gladly eaten some juicy crow there but felt I was safe posting that and yes it does hurt.
even tho he doesnt have the hits to show it, soriano is def hitting the ball better
How about a DP here, do not want Pujerk up with men on.
or a walk to get to Pujerk with 2 men on Great Job Heilly
Again on Heilman...BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
.3 IP 1 single 2 walks
or .1 however you are supposed to put that.
Reed Johnson is a very valuable platoon outfield with great fielding instincts.
How's that for positive??
Heilman stinks.
E-Rameriz.
3 BB this inning for Heilman. Now you know why he has been totally ineffective this year: no control.
7-3. Sorry-oh-no does it again.
No E for Sorry-oh-no. No E for Rameriz. But they both were E's in truth.
aaron heilman shouldnt be allowed to put a major league uniform on
Let's be positive: at least the crowd is booing. I'm not the only one tired of the Cubs' losing ways.
MY GOD....Soriano is a clown! He's a joke out in left...125 million?? It's amazing...Heilamn is just as bad...WTF???
EVERYTIME, Heilman walks a potential run. OH wait until Marmol gets in. Lou is just as bad for playing these idiots!
Speechless...
Essentially it's "game, set, match", and over!
And nice to see Lou's comatose look during that 6th inning debacle.
Turn out the lights, the party's over! No big surprise....Soriano is just a shell of the player he once was and an embarrassment in the field. He shouldn't be out there, but Piniella doesn't have the guts to sit him. Those "warts" on this Cub team I have mentioned several times recently are all exposed in their ugliness in this preview of things to come!
Ok when youre going bad at the plate like Soriano is, you don't carry it out to the field. Clearly he let his troubles at the plate get to him after he lined out to end the previous inning. Pujols 1st to 3rd on a routine base hit, and then the drop. Get him out of there.
The only good thing to say here...is I don't think Heilman will be wit us 2010.
The Mets screamed him out of town last year...and it looks like we have to do the same...thanks JH.
This is a pitiful exhibition, isn't it, Suzy. Now that the Cardinals see up front and in person just how bad the Cubs are playing in this game, it might get even uglier before the weekend is out. I don't think I can stand to watch (or listen to) a club playing such poor baseball in such important games.
Guys, I can't say it enough times.....good Defense is soooooooo underrated.
Bad defense will absolutely kill you. It never ceases to amaze me
that Lou keeps putting that slug out there in LF every day, AND EVERY DAY HE TURNS SINGLES INTO DOUBLES, DOUBLES INTO TRIPLES, AND DROPS OR MISPLAYS EASY FLYBALLS. 2 MORE EXAMPLES TODAY.
In case anyone forgot he turned Pujols double into triple by dropping the ball twice in the corner when he tried to pick it up. And of course the dropped popup with the bases loaded.
HOW CAN YOU KEEP PUTTING HIM OUT THERE !!!!! His knee is clearly affecting his play.
PUT HIM ON THE DL !!!! or release the guy.
its embarrassing.
and oh by way, I didn't even mention his pathetic hitting. his numbers speak for themselves.
This is why the Cardinals are the class of the NL Central. This was a statement game.
Like the rest of the season...we've stated it.
and oh by the way, smardijza is overrated....he'll let in 2 runs, I bet
The Cubs are a circus today and Soriano is the head assclown.
And how is that exactly? At least Soriano got on base. There's plenty of other guys who haven't. Is it his fielding? Cause last I checked he's got an outfield assist to his credit.
No, there is no reason he is. It's just "trendy" to hate Soriano nowadays.
I'm not sure why trendy is in quotes, but Soriano definitely lost his focus in the field today. He should have 2 assists. How do you let Pujols go first to third on a base hit to left when all Soriano had to do was move three paces to his right? How does it take 30 minutes to dig the ball out of the corner and allow a standup 3B to Pujols? Soriano should take time off to rest his knee.
The guy doesn't hustle, can't run for sh$%t anymore, can't hit a breaking ball, swings at down and away breaking pitches everytime to strike out, and his fielding fundamentals stink. I've seen little league players with better fundamentals. The guy obviously is impossible to coach because if he would listen to his coaches and take things to heart then we would see some fundamental changes and differences in batting and fielding.
Thank goodness Aaron is away today, and missing this. This game would really inspire him.
Bryan...we'll hear it sooner or later...and it will be all true and salt in a wound.
Well Cub fans we have to hope and pray for 3 of 4 but I agree the cards are the class of the division and we are light years behind right now. Tomorrow at 3PM is a must win game. ABSOLUTE MUST WIN!
Well, I can just hear Piniella's postgame press conference, "What can I say, we just didn't play well today. You can't give up runs like we did and expect to win." No lie? Why didn't we think of that? He has no clue how to right this sinking ship and it shows...I personally think there probably isn't any way this season will be rescued. We all could see it coming, couldn't we?
Soriano=assclown
Astros just picked up Chris Coste on waivers after philly released him. Would have been nice to have him as the backup catcher.
Sorry-oh-no dropped a flyball with the bases loaded. A run scored, but the threw the ball to second for an out. So Sorry-oh-no did not receive an error, but got an outfield assist! Looks great in the box score, but it cost the Cubs a run.
But let's be positive: it didn't show up in the box score! lol
IF Cards sweep, season hopes for the Cubs is completely over. They ought to be sellers, but the contracts are so expensive, they can't sell.
It has been MORE than a month since Sorry-oh-no hit a HR. And he doesn't drive in runs. ANd he doesn't catch the ball. And he doesn't hustle. Other than that, he's worth $138 million!
Don't worry...Soriano will turn it around! LOL!!!!!
The guy is a BUM. Just watch, he and Bradley will start hitting after the team is 10 games out.
mike fontenot doesnt even care he just struk out
Later boys...better days are coming...but I don't know when.
What's the deal with Bob Brenly getting three days off? Did he make too many negative comments about Sorry-oh-no?
Stevens paying dividends on the DeRosa trade.
Blanco rotting on the bench. Fontenot not hitting. His one hit was a dribbler that Carpenter kicked. Blanco can do that a with better glove.
I told you before the season began: last year's collapse vs. L.A. is still hurting. And JHendry is incompetent.
Totally agree on all accounts, Rip!!
Charles...you were right and I was wrong...too many holes on this team...and no one move to fix it.
Blue and down. But hte sun will come out.
Unfortunately, Suzy, it's not difficult to be "right" when predicting negatives about this Cub team and season. Gee, I wish Micah, Fox, Blanco could see a lot more action. Piniella sounds almost pitiful; he can't figure out what to do...as you say, far too many holes on this team. Hendry has undone the club with all his disastrous moves and they can't recover any time soon.
Hoffpauir ought to play more.
Cubs got 9 hits, 1 HR, 2 2b, 6 singles. Can't score without the HR.
At least the shark got the first 1,2,3 inning of the game. It only took 8 innings. Can't win to many games when your team does that and they just stop scoring runs.
Hoffpauir, Fox, Blanco, and Fuld should become Cub regulars sooner than later.
wanna hear something interesting ?? per the guys on the score today, You know what is behind the comments from soriano about wishing he had some notice about not playing the next day ??
Well, they say that Sori is a biiiiiiig partier and likes to spend his nights in the gin mills. so if he knew wasn't going to be in lineup next day, I guess that means he could have really let loose the night before. Nice !!
It does makes sense when you think about it. What a jackass this guy is.
and oh by the way, when Pie was here they were very worried about him being influenced by soriano.
don't worry, guys, only 5 more years to go with this guy !!!!!! wooho !!
And that's totally not true at all. A girl I went to high school with used to hook up with Eric Patterson when he was a Cub, who just so happened to be sharing a suite with Soriano. Patterson would take her out all the time, but she said Soriano was always asleep when they got back between 3-4 in the morning. Now between 3 and 4 may not seem like a big deal, but it really is if you consider that most bars in Chicago don't close until 3am or so, and that most people who go out in Chicago that don't plan to go to an afterhours bar wouldn't get home until around 3 or 4. No sir, the Chicago nightlife is a forte of mine and Soriano is no partier.
Now, that's not to say he's the most bashful person in the world, according to this girl. Let's just say he's given her an eyefull one or two times leaving his room.
Is the girl hot?
Not particularly, no. But when you're a bench player for a big league team, you really can't expect a super-model for those types of hookups.