Game Eighty - Cubs 4 Braves 2
WP - Randy Wells (4-3) LP - Jair Jurrjens (6-7) Save - Kevin Gregg (15)
The Cubs won for the fourth time on the homestand (4-1) behind another solid outing from Randy Wells. Wells became the first Cubs' rookie to post four straight wins since Kerry Wood accomplished the feat from April 30-May 17, 1998. Wells allowed only two runs on seven hits in six innings ... with no walks and four strikeouts. Wells even got into the act offensively. He singled and scored in the Cubs' two-run second inning.
Derrek Lee continued pounding the ball on Monday night. After recording ten RBI in the four-game series against the Brewers, Lee gave the Cubs a two-run lead with one swing of the bat in the first inning. Lee ripped a 3-2 pitch from Jair Jurrjens into the left centerfield bleachers ... the two-run shot was his 16th of the year and just the seventh longball served up by Jair Jurrjens this season.
Kosuke Fukudome recorded two more hits in leadoff spot. Fukudome is 5-for-11 out of the top spot in Lou Piniella's lineup with a double, a triple, three runs scored, a walk and two RBI. Fukudome led off the game with a single and was on board for Derrek Lee's home run.
Mike Fontenot started the two-out rally in the second that proved to be the difference in the game. Fontenot reached on a two-out single to center. Randy Wells followed with a single to left and Kosuke Fukudome doubled in Fontenot with the Cubs' third run. Ryan Theriot plated Wells with an infield single to the hole at short. Fontenot, who had a horrible June, is 8-for-his-last-19 with three runs scored, two doubles, a RBI and a walk.
Sean Marshall, Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg did not allow a run over the last three innings and surrendered only two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Monday night was only the second time all season that Lou Piniella had the everyday lineup on the field that he left Mesa with back in March. The Cubs won for the sixth time in their last eight games and for the first time since June 22 are two games over .500 with a 41-39 record ...
Randy Wells notched the Cubs 52nd quality start of the season, the most in the majors, with an impressive second outing against the Braves. Wells continued to show poise and confidence on the mound and for the ninth time out of 10 starts allowed less than three earned runs.
Wells bent but did not brake again. He pitched his way out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the fourth. The main reason for Wells' success so far has been his ability to pound the strike zone and limit his pitches. Wells began the sixth inning with a low pitch count of 75 and finished the night after throwing 87 in six innings, 56 for strikes.
Nate McLouth continued to kill Cubs' pitching on Monday night. McLouth (3-for-5 with a home run) led off the game with a single to center on Wells' second pitch of the game. Wells then retired the next three batters and got out of the first inning.
Yunel Escobar (2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) reached on a one-out single to left center in the second inning. After Casey Kotchman flied out, Matt Diaz hit a deep fly to right on a 2-1 pitch. Milton Bradley made a game-changing catch in the ivy to end the inning.
Randy Wells retired the Braves in order in the third but ran into trouble in the fourth.
Chipper Jones and Brian McCann reached on back-to-back singles to start the fourth. Garrett Anderson hit a grounder on a 0-1 pitch to Derrek Lee. Lee threw to second and forced McCann but Anderson beat out the return throw from Ryan Theriot. Yunel Escobar followed with a single to center on a 1-0 pitch, Jones scored the Braves first run.
Casey Kotchman reached on a tough error by Randy Wells to load the bases with one-out. With the Cubs up by a score of 4-1, Wells struck out Matt Diaz swinging and Jair Jurrjens grounded out to short on the first pitch of the at bat to end the inning.
The Braves other run came on a solo shot by Nate McLouth to start the fifth ... his 14th of the season and fifth as a Brave.
Following McLouth's home run, the Braves managed just three more hits in the final four innings of the game.
The Cubs showed in the second that they are capable of manufacturing runs off of a very good pitcher. Alfonso Soriano led off the inning with a lineout to Chipper Jones and Geovany Soto flied out to right. Mike Fontenot singled to center on a 2-0 pitch. Randy Wells lined a single into right on a 1-1 pitch and with two outs the Cubs had runners on first and second.
Kosuke Fukudome doubled to right on a 1-0 pitch, Fontenot scored and Wells advanced to third. Ryan Theriot followed with a hard grounder to the hole at short. Yunel Escobar made a fine stop but could not get the ball out of his glove. Theriot hustled down the line and beat out the throw. Wells scored the Cubs fourth and final run.
The Cubs loaded the bags in the third inning with one-out and came away empty. After an excellent at bat, Milton Bradley walked. Aramis Ramirez lined out to third for the first out. Alfonso Soriano ripped a double into left center on a 2-1 pitch. Geovany Soto walked but Mike Fontenot hit a soft grounder to Kotchman at first and Bradley was forced at home. Escobar then robbed Randy Wells on a ball that appeared to be destined for left field. Escobar made his signature strong throw to first to end the inning.
The Cubs managed only two more hits after the third ... a double by Derrek Lee in the seventh and a double by Geovany Soto in the eighth. The Cubs finished the night 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
The return of Aramis Ramirez appeared to fuel the Cubs offense for the first couple of innings. Ramirez finished the night 0-for-4 and stranded three on base. The Cubs survived the two months without Ramirez and posted a 24-25 record in the 49 games he missed.
Ryan Dempster is scheduled to face Javier Vazquez on Tuesday night.
Good solid win. Nice tittle Neil, very wells!
Great win.
Does anyone know if someone has signed Ben Sheets?
To the bst of my knowledge, Sheets is still available.
There was a piece on him last week,
it appears he will not pitch this season...the Rangers were following him closely and have apparently given up on him for this season.
He is targeting a comeback in 2010.
I'm sorry...I cannot confirm where I saw this....but it was fairly reliable.
last I heard, even the Rangers (whom he was rumored to be signing with for sure) have soured on him, at least for this year. Rumor has it he won't even be ready until September at the earliest now.
good recap, Neil. I missed all the initial scoring, and I understand it was very solid. However, from about the 4th inning (when I started watching), our offense was pretty poor...not very good AB's. Lee and Soto punched the ball really well, while everyone else kind of watched.
I stand by my original "wait and see" approach with this team. I didn't like ARAM's 2 AB's that I saw...not very good. Especially with the groundout with the bases loaded, he almost pulled up in pain. Did you see that? It's quite clear that the Cubs rushed him back too soon, just as they did with Lee in 2006, which was my biggest fear with this.
Remember earlier in the season, Neil when I preached cautious optimism with Wells? I believe my statement was, "the first time through teams might be a breeze" but it's the 2nd and 3rd where teams have a scouting report on you, and you might get lit up.
Well, guess what? He passed the test with the Braves...It's his 2nd time facing them. We'll see how he does against the Central 2nd time around...in case you're curious, here's his stats against the Central:
Brewers: 5 IP, 5 hits 0 runs, 2 BB, 5 K's
Astros: 6 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 3 BB, 4 K's
Reds: 6 2/3 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 BB 4 K's
Pirates: 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 runs, 1 BB, 4 K's
The Cardinals will be interesting coming up. We'll see what he can do with them, but otherwise, he's looked VERY good against the Central.
I think Wells will always hold his breath with our pen though, as he's left at least 4 starts with the lead, only to see the pen fail...or our offense not score anything.
I still think for our offense, we need to make a few moves, 2B seems to be the one likely position we'd upgrade at either with Mark Teahen or Freddy Sanchez...or perhaps even Felipe Lopez. Outside of that, reading Hendry's comments to Chris De Luca, it seems like he's not going to do anything unless Ricketts forces his hand...which further proves that he's clueless. We're 4 months into the season now, and he should know this team is not capable of making a run in the postseason...or, even worse, possibly not making it at all. Our leaky pen keeps rearing its ugly head. Harden is clearly NOT the same pitcher he was last year, and needs to be traded before he loses all value. I guess we can take draft picks, but would he even qualify for Type A, and would any team even want him? Honestly, with the performance I've seen from Ascanio at AAA makes me think you gotta give him a shot in the rotation. He's just plain dominated starting games. Why not give it a try, and ship Harden off. Additionally, if you're the Cubs brass, you have to at least visit the Vernon Wells, Alexis Rios, BJ Ryan trade for Soriano, Fukudome, and Bradley, (or other pieces)...trading bad contracts for bad contracts in hopes changes of scenery will help all parties involved. It's true Bradley and Fukudome seem to be doing better with Von Joshua's teaching, but they're still liabilities on the roster.
To Soriano's credit, he's said he sucks right now, and he's been a stand-up guy all year calling out his teammates lack of effort early on, Bradley's garbage, etc. But, to his detriment (and the team's), he continues to think that playing through pain helps the team. Like Jose Contreras, he should go on the DL, request a rehab assignment to get himself right, and come back stronger in the second half.
So, if we are to make changes at this point (realistic ones), they'd be as follows:
1) Gregg is demoted to middle relief with Marmol as set-up and Guzman as closer
2) Soriano placed on DL, and not activated until he's 100%. Fox and Hoffpauir split duties, with Fuld returning for defense/lead-off if Fukudome struggles like 2008 in 2nd half
3) Fontenot is packaged in a deal for Sanchez, Lopez, or Teahen
4) Harden is traded to any team outside of the Central looking for a starter (preferably AL), and whatever we get back is gravy, so long as we get at least one top prospect
5) Miles is DFA'd/traded, and Blanco is optioned/exposed to waivers...sorry guys, but Neifi/Izzy part 2 just doesn't excite me
6) Patton transferred to 60-day DL to finish off the season, and either Parker, Hart, Papelbon, Gaub, or Stevens is added to the roster, and brought up once Blanco is optioned
So, to wrap up, my favored team/lineup would be:
Fukudome/Fuld-CF
Theriot-SS
Lee-1B
Bradley-RF (don't like it, but let's face it...he's playing)
ARAM-3B
Fox-LF
Sanchez/Teahen-2B
Soto-C
bench: K Hill, R Johnson, Hoffpauir, Baker, Fuld/Fukudome. (in this case, Teahen would make more sense than Sanchez, with his ability to play more positions, but if you go with one less OF, and keep a Fontenot or Blanco, then it makes sense to get Sanchez)
Rotation: Z, Lilly, Dempster, Wells, Ascanio
Pen: Marshall, Heilman, Gregg, Hart, Samardzija, Marmol, Guzman
Aaron:
I called it on Patton a few weeks back. I new a DL stint was looming for him.
He was on the roster for the 90 day threshold and now they can transfer him to the 60 day dl and have him back in September with the rest of the call ups.
I guess Hendry can say "Mission Accomplished."
I also believe Miles will get a 60 day stint as well, he would be eligble to return in September as well. Who knows, if he plays well maybe he would make the playoff roster if the Cubs make it.
I agree the team needs an upgrade at 2B, or they could put Theriot at 2b and get a SS. I doubt that they switch Theriot this late in the season.
I also am getting tired of Harden. Without question he has the best stuff of any of our starters, he also is our worst starter at the moment.
I definitely remember you saying that about Patton. I never thought about that with Miles (the 60-day)...I actually think the player's union would have something to say about that one. They are very protective of veteran players. With Patton, they could care less.
Here's some issues to think about. Come September, who do you call up? Right now, our 40-man consists of 21 pitchers (3 of which are on the DL...and a 4th--Cotts, that should be on the 60-day at some point). We have Waddell, Patton, and Chad Fox on the 15 day. So, technically, Patton, Fox, and Cotts could be transferred to the 60-day, thus dropping the 40-man down to 35. Others in the minors that are on the 40-man include:
pitchers: Ascanio, Atkins, Berg, Hart, Mateo, Stevens
infielders: Scales
outfielders: Fuld
*Waddell and Miles are the others that would make it 35 players on the 40-man
So...potential 40-man additions, include:
Pitchers: Gaub, Parker, Papelbon, or Cashner, Perkins, Fossum
Infielders: Spears, Barney, Camp, Smith, Thomas
Outfielders: Snyder (if he can get healthy), Deeds, Colvin, Adduci
Catchers: Robinson, Clevenger
If I had my pick, it'd be Clevenger, Snyder/Adduci, Barney, Thomas, and Cashner, which would make a full 40-man roster. At the end of the season, Cotts, Miles (in all likelihood), Heilman, Gregg, Harden, Chad Fox, Waddell, Baker, R Johnson, and Scales most likely will not be on the 40-man. So that frees up about 10 spots over the winter for guys we need to protect in the Rule 5. I don't have the list available, but there's probably a handful of guys we'll need to protect.
Anyway...that's just my take on it all. As for our immediate roster, I'm just not sure there's anything we can do outside of what I mentioned last night with either Teahen, Sanchez, or Lopez coming our way.
I also think a major boost to this roster would be putting Soriano on the 15 day DL, then having him go on a rehab assignment to get his swing back, and inserting Fox and Hoffpauir into his spot, with Fuld coming in late in games for defense, and/or starting in place of Fukudome (if he struggles again). I just think that with ARAM's bum shoulder, you simply cannot have both he and Soriano in the same lineup. That's two guys with significant ailments affecting their performance.
I agreed with the move to DL Patton, but I also think we should've done the same with Soriano.
Aaron, what is your thinking on Clevinger over Robinson at catcher for call ups?
Aaron, love your posts...always something to think about.
1)It's way too early to think about September call-ups...Too many health variables on this team...will ARAM hold up?...Will Milty fall down...Will DLee's
neck bulge return.....Soriano's knee/leg etc...How they hold up for the second half...along with any type of trade we might make....will ultimately determine the make-up of the team AND the September call-ups.
2)Re: September...if we are in a close race...we play 10 of the last 12 on the road...with the road trip consisting of Milwaukee/St.Louis/San Francisco...and the last 2 games at home against Pittsburgh....Tough September schedule.
3)The Soriano to the DL thing is a no brainer...which JH and Lou seem to be
lacking these days (brains)....and I'm all for that.
4)Given Hendry's statements yesterday...
I'm not hopeful for a meaningful trade...2nd base can definitely use an upgrade...more importantly...we could use another flamethrower in the pen...
preferably a Lefty.
I will say Hendry surprised and pleased me for getting anything at all for Freel.
Given that I, like you, consider Ascanio
a good option for the fifth spot in the rotation...I would like to see Harden traded now, packaged with Miles...for either the 2nd base spot or the flamethrowing bullpen help...that would free up Miles remaining contract through next season and half of Harden's 7 mil
for this...to play with.
Hendry still needs to tighten up this team...although they each bring something different...you've basically
got 3 players...Baker/Fontenot/Blanco
vying for the same position right now...
but if ARAM goes down again...you need them.
---Neither Blanco or Baker have options left.
btw...Bako is at AA Philly right now...saw that going through Phillies
organization for trade possibilities...
slim and none for matches.
Jay's Halladay is hitting the trade rumor mart...and that could affect our trade potential for Harden.
I don't think JH will bite on Sanchez...
due 8 mil next season...and I think he'll be traded before JH even moves.
I was SOOOO ready for Aramis to smash it when they walked Bradley right in front of him to load the bases. He did, but it went foul...and was actually caught one-handed by a fan on the 1B line.
re: Sheets--I haven't heard ANYTHING about anyone considering signing him yet...for all I know, the guy is sitting at home eating Cheetos waiting for the phone to ring
I don't know what Sheet's injury status; however, I have said before and still think the cubs should sign him to a one year incentive based deal and put him in the pen. He has the make up to be a great closer. Don't know if he would be able to go everyday, even every other would be a nice addition to our pen.
Reed Johnson said this in an article by Bruce Levine talking about how Reed will leadoff against lefties:
"I'm really comfortable in that role," Johnson told me. "My goal is to be a scout in that spot, see a lot of pitches that not only will help me but my teammates. If I see a lot of those pitches, my teammates will be able to see that starter's entire repertoire. "
Leadoff hitter with an approach and attitude that his at-bat sets the tone for the game. I think I like this approach better than the 'I want to hit a home run to start the game' approach.
I like Soriano, and do understand that when he's hot... HE'S HOT! But lets keep him in this six hole so when he's hot there will be a few guys to greet him when after he steps on home plate.
Here is a litle bit on Ben Sheets that he cant pitch this year.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/sheets-may-not-pitch-this-year.html
On Sheets: I really don't think the Cubs have any shot at him. He's expressed on many occasions that he wanted to either go to the Rangers or back to the Brewers, though with the Brewers, there wouldn't be any "hometown discount" given. Now, granted, Sheets will definitely be a good, cheap target next off-season (or potentially this season), but if just depends on whether they try to push his contract as "damaged goods" or as "potential Cy Young". Because the first team that offers him the potential Cy Young contract will get him.
I have more on the sale in community blog.
can someone explain to me how the Player To Be Named Later thing goes? Is it dependant on Freel's production with them (that is, the better he does the more they have to compensate us), or is it just a wild card that we get to ask for someone later?
Mario, depends on the deal. I don't know our particular deal...but it is stated
as "either cash consideration or a player to be named later"...sounds like a crap shoot...
But in other deals...for instance...Pirates/Braves in the McClouth
deal...the Pirates will get a player to be named later...and they have a list of
3 minor league pitchers from the Braves organization....They have until September
to select the player...and will watch to see how each of the 3 does this year...before making their selection.
Considering Freel was on waivers and likely to go for nothing...Hendry did well to get anything for him...I'm sure part of it depends on his performance...
but it will be a low level player.
just adding to SuzyS' post...
when they agree on the 3 players, usually it's either someone that will need to be protected on the 40-man roster (so they need flexibility when rosters expand in September...and to see what we have in our own system that might be ahead of them. It's basically a roster flexibility move. Generally the PTBNL is a dud, though in bigger trades like the DeRosa to St. Louis deal, or the Sabathia to Brewers deal of last year, etc., the PTBNL is significant, and they're just monitoring their progress.
Another side of the coin, is recent draftees CANNOT be traded until they've been in the organization for one full year. That means that draftees signed in 2008 (Cashner), most likely can't be traded until August of the following year (unless they signed in June or July). I think if you look at Hendry's track record of recent "minor" trades, he favors former first round draft picks that may have flamed out with their current organization. Recent ones include Brad Snyder, Mike Fontenot, Matt Murton, Scott Moore, etc.
He usually gets these players as throw ins or PTBNL if they've been in their drafting parent organization for 3-4 years, and have performed below expectations. And I understand his thought process...Obviously, to be a first round pick, the drafting team had to see something special in you to warrant that high of a pick. So, he figures with better coaching (LOL...
In my view, Sheets won't be considered by the Blue. Starting pitching is not our need, and the bucks that someone will pay him if he heals will be better spent elsewhere.
The Jays have announced that Halladay is on the market. That likely ends my Z to the Red Sox whimsey unless Halladay doesn't want to pitch in NY. Halladay makes $16 mil in the final year of his deal next year, and he has been more dependable than Z. There is a chance that the Yankees could respond to Halladay going to the Red Sox with interest in Z--but they don't have as much to offer us as the Red Sox. Z is a keeper for us, even being overpaid, so his continuing presence only hurts if there are better uses for his dollars.
The excellence of Wells is yet another example of a player greatly exceeding expectations when given a chance. He simply has excellent command of good stuff. I remember his giving up 5 hits and 5 runs in 2/3rds of an inning late in spring training--and Neil saying that he just punched his ticket to Iowa. Guzman and Fox (coming out of 2008) are in that category too.
Then there are our players on the disappointing side of the expectations coin. They are our achilles heel in 2009--unless a couple of them really pick it up.
The Cards have high expectations guys going positive this year. Wainright and Carpenter won 11 games combined last year and Carpenter didn't win a game. They will probably win 25 + this year. That turnaround for last year's 88-wins Cards and Albert the Magnificent are why I think the Cards have to be favored in the Central
Ah, senior moments. Make that "unless Halladay doesn't want to pitch in Boston" above. I suppose NY is operable too.
Of course, everyone here knows that this series and the Cubs--Cards series coming up next are more than critical. If we can go 5-2 in the last seven before the break, "maybe" could have significant meaning.