Game One Hundred-Five: Cubs (56-48) vs. Reds (45-60)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Tom Gorzelanny (3-1, 5.19/1.15) vs. Johnny Cueto (8-8, 4.06/1.34)
Updated 3:57pm C.T. - Andres Blanco placed on 15-day DL with left calf strain - Tom Gorzelanny Recalled from Triple-A Iowa According to the Sun-Times, Aaron Miles will likely be activated on Wednesday with a pitcher going down to Iowa.
Weather premitting ... The tied-for-first-place Chicago Cubs will have a new, yet familiar face on the mound tonight in Cincinnati. Tom Gorzelanny will make his Cubs' debut after being acquired from the Pirates last week along with John Grabow for Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio and Josh Harrison. Gorzelanny will wear number 22 for the Chicago Cubs.
Gorzelanny will make his first big league start of the year tonight. While he was up with the Pirates he pitched out of the pen. One of his three wins came against the Cubs in relief back on May 25. The Cubs are looking for Gorzelanny to make at least three starts while Ted Lilly is on the DL. Speaking of Lilly, the Cubs are still targeting an August 15 return that will include a rehab start somewhere in the Cubs' system.
The Cubs will have to make a roster move in order for Gorzelanny to start tonight. Jeff Samardzija should have punched his ticket on Saturday ... stay tuned.
Geovany Soto may be back sooner than expected. Lou Piniella mentioned during his pre-game show on Monday that he would like Soto back in time for the finale against the Reds on Wednesday. Jim Hendry was on hand for Soto's debut with the Tennessee Smokies on Monday night ... 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI. When Soto returns, the Cubs should send Micah Hoffpauir down to get him back on track for September.
Speaking of back on track, Aaron Miles might be returning to the Cubs soon. He is reportedly hitting better in Iowa (.253/.267/.299 in 21 games). The Cubs must figure a way to keep him in Triple-A until the rosters expand in September.
B.J. Ryan made his fourth appearance for the I-Cubs on Monday night in New Orleans. Randy Bush went down to watch Ryan throw. The former Blue Jay walked two batters in an inning of work. In four games for Iowa, Ryan has not allowed a run or a hit in 4 2/3 innings but has walked four and struck out three.
Before Monday's adventure in the ninth, Lou Piniella said he was going to try to get Kevin Gregg a couple of days off. Apparently Gregg is dealing with a tired arm ... no pain, just 'a little achy' according to Piniella. It will be interesting to see which pitcher Piniella trots out in the ninth if the game is on the line ...
The following will become a staple in the CCO game previews until it happens ... Jake Fox must be in the starting lineup every day. The Cubs offense is not clicking on the road and Fox would give them another slugger in the middle of the lineup. The Cubs have only four off days left on the schedule and regulars will need rest, Piniella must use Fox until his hot bat goes cold ... and if it never does this season, the Cubs will win a couple of more games that might have lost without him in the lineup. Fox can hold his own at third, in left and right and at first base.
While the offense must do their job against Johnny Cueto, it all begins with Tom Gorzelanny ... and one win at a time.
Tom Gorzelanny reported to the Cubs on Saturday. He reportedly threw a bullpen session for Larry Rothschild on Sunday and will officially be recalled from Triple-A Iowa in time for the game tonight. Gorzelanny has not pitched in a big league game since June 9 against the Braves, a one-inning relief stint ... and he has not started a game in the majors since September 10, 2008.
Gorzelanny was 4-3 in 15 starts in Triple-A this season with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP (30 walks, 85 strikeouts, 73 hits and three home runs allowed in 87 innings). Gorzelanny tossed two complete games and opponents hit just .228 against him.
In his last start on July 27, the southpaw gave up two earned runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
Tom Gorzelanny is 2-2 in five career starts against the Reds with a 7.54 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.
- Johnny Cueto - 0-for-1 with a walk
- Jonny Gomes - 0-for-3
- Alex Gonzalez - 1-for-4
- Ryan Hanigan - 0-for-2
- Brandon Phillips - 2-for-11 with a walk
- Scott Rolen - 2-for-5 with a walk
- Willy Taveras - 1-for-6 with a walk
- Joey Votto - 1-for-3
Johnny Cueto is coming off a loss to the Padres and a horrible month. Cueto gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings to San Diego with two walks and three strikeouts. Cueto finished his worst month in the bigs with a 1-4 record in six starts with an 8.16 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP ... teams hit .355 against him. Cueto's last win came on July 1.
Many think Cueto is simply running out of gas. Last year he worked 174 innings in 31 starts and has already thrown 126 1/3 innings in 21 games ... along with pitching in Winter Ball and in the World Baseball Classic.
The Reds' young right hander is 2-3 in nine home starts this season with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP ... Cueto has been better on the road this year for Dusty Baker (6-5 in 12 starts with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP).
Johnny Cueto is 1-1 in two starts against the Cubs this season with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Cueto dominated the Cubs on April 22 at Wrigley. He shutout the Cubs 3-0 and allowed just four hits in seven innings without a walk and three strikeouts. In his last outing against the Cubs on July 25, he gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
- Milton Bradley - 0-for-3
- Mike Fontenot - 0-for-6 with a walk
- Kosuke Fukudome - 4-for-15 with a double and a walk
- Tom Gorzelanny - 0-for-2
- Koyie Hill - 0-for-2
- Micah Hoffpauir - 0-for-4
- Derrek Lee - 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, a triple and a walk
- Aramis Ramirez - 3-for-12 with 2 home runs and 2 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 7-for-15 with 3 home runs
- Ryan Theriot - 8-for-19 with 2 doubles
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
The Gorzelanny era begins...I sure hope he's successful.
It would be nice to have a good drama
free win.
Go Cubs!!!
Drama free? I cannot watch the final innings anymore. Too much stress. I will die from this, that is the way I will go out.
Do you have your Cub's fan plot yet?lol
I will be creamated and placed in an urn.
It is cub decorated and this is all true.
Hope it's not unytil after we win the World Series...Jim
Chance are no, no he won't be. When you move from one team to another in the same league, the guys who hurt you the most will still face you the most, except now you get to deal with guys who have had the ability to watch you in games previous. So Gorzellany's 5.00 ERA will probably stay steady. The difference between Triple A and the majors is pretty big, and it isn't like Gorzelanny dominating down there is a new thing.
Not looking good for tonight. Raining all day in Cincy, no lineups and there is talk of either a doubleheader on Wednesday or playing on Thursday ... both teams are off
There is a link to weather.com at the top of this game preview.
saw this on mlbtraderumors, thought I'd share with you all:
****************************************
Among all players 36 and older only Raul Ibanez, Chipper Jones, Mike Cameron and Craig Counsell play the field and have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title.
****************************************
this is precisely why I'm advocating a firesale in the offseason (actually wanted it before, but you can't blame Hendry because we were like a game out of first near the deadline.
Lee, Fukudome, Soriano have to go after this year. I'd love to have a first baseman like the 10 years younger Chris Davis or Mitchell Moreland of the Rangers in favor of Lee, and really anyone in favor of Fukudome and Soriano. We need youth injected into our lineup. If we got rid of Soriano, I'd flat out replace him with Jake Fox straight up, and we'd probably get even better production. As for Fukudome, I'd replace him straight up with Fuld, and we wouldn't lose much there either.
Anyway, just thought I'd share...
Also, as I mentioned earlier, keep an eye on AA, as Castro was promoted last night. It should be interesting to watch that development. Heck, if Fontenot continues to struggle, we might even see a promotion of either Castro or Tony Thomas later this season.
Aaron, I don't disagree with you...but I don't think the Cubs will do it.
Reality is we'll be doing good if we can get rid of 1 of the starting outfield.
Lee will still be with us at the start of the season...if Hendry is still GM...
but might go in a midseason trade.
I've been watching the minor leagues all season for help at 2nd/short....
and was bummed out when Miles didn't go in some sort of trade package.
Let's see if we can get lucky and get a decent waiver deal.
Aaron:
If your last name by chance is Miles, would you change it?
yes...I would change it in a heartbeat. Dude is a midget, never could hack it at the MLB level, and had a career year last year, which is somewhat suspicious given his lackluster career. Problem with Miles has always been that he is a "bloop" hitter in the majors. That means he thrives off of luck. He doesn't really drive the ball, and if he doesn't get a bloop hit, he usually grounds out fairly weakly up the middle infield. Additionally, for a small "sparkplug" hitter that he was signed for, he has NEVER drawn many walks at all, and strikes out far too often for a short dude.
I will throw up in my mouth if I see this ass clown get much playing time down the stretch. I can't stand him. I remember going to Rockies games a number of years ago, and fans couldn't believe he was on the MLB roster, especially for the Rockies, because he always had such a low OBP, and he never hit for extra bases when they needed him too. Also, if memory serves me correctly, I think he was once suspended for a PEDs violation while with Colorado (I could be wrong though, as I tried searching for it online, and couldn't find it...I just remember reading about it a long time ago...guess I was mistaken). Also, I stood next to him at a White Sox convention when my buddy was still playing for the White Sox, and he's NOT 5'8" like the media guide listed him at. In fact, one of my college teammates was with me, and he was 5'6" himself, and took a picture with him, and was even with him in height.
There were a number of plays early on in the year that were hit just to his left or right, or just over his head that any normal sized player would've easily grabbed. He's NOT agile. He's NOT good at getting on base. He has NO power. He's NOT good with the glove. He does NOT get many hits, even in a full-time opportunity. In fact, the only thing that he really has going for him is a decent average (.284 career), which I can't even figure out.
There's two hours to game time...down here in Lafayette the top of the system blew through in about twenty minutes. The larger half right over cincy but it was moving a pretty good speed, so maybe some ball tonight, can only hope.
when did blanco get hurt????????????????????????????????????????
They must have a lot of confidence in:
Fontenot, Baker and the great Aaron Miles.
LOL...gotta love these "phantom" injuries. "calf strain"....LOL...that's hilarious. They probably were like, "we like you, you're young, and we want to keep you, so go on the DL, and collect a MLB salary, or don't, and you're cut loose, making 1/4 of that in the minors for another team. If you're a player, you'd go along with it too, provided you're getting a major league salary and can still travel with the team. Looks like Samardzija will go down in favor of Miles, and I don't like that...Samardzija's bat is WAY better than Miles...LOL
isn't it pathetic that a supposed MLB hitter is batting .253 in AAA with a .267 OBP? It's amazing that he's done all of this in 80+ AB's too. I would've given him a pass if it was less than that, but that's about 20 games worth of play, and he could only muster 8 RBI....AND he's a "big leaguer". Really? Even MLB players on injury rehabs crush the ball in AAA...much less the lower levels. Aaron Miles was downright pathetic at Extended Spring Training. Remember, these are guys that are high school level, and are learning the ropes. While Ryan Freel was crushing EXST pitching, going at times 3-for-3 or 3-for-4, or 4-for-4, Miles was hitting 0-fer, or if he did happen to get a hit, it was usually 1-for-4. I know, I paid a lot of attention to EXST stats a few months ago, because I was interested in Hak Ju Lee and Jae Hoon Ha, among others.
Aaron Miles does NOT belong on a MLB roster, nor does he even belong on a AAA roster...sorry to say. If you're an "established" MLB hitter, and can't even hit AAA pitching consistently, what the hell makes you think you could handle MLB pitching?!? Hendry's an idiot if he allows this to happen. Just admit your damn mistake HENDRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and get it over with...along with demoting Bradley to the bench vs righties, and Gregg to middle relief.
My goodness his ego really has destroyed this season. I actually believe Piniella when he says, "what do you want me to do?" He's probably been told by Hendry that he has to leave Gregg in the closer's role, and he has to play Bradley everyday regardless. I believe he's actually powerless in the whole situation, because if you look at Lou's resume, he's NEVER been afraid to bench underperformers, regardless of salary or tenure in the league. This year, however, has been filled with idle threats. I think in any normal season, he'd make the necessary changes long ago, but Hendry's pulling all the strings to save his job with the new owner, trying to salvage whatever he can from Miles, Gregg, and Bradley.
Yes, I think Lou should call it quits as well, as he's had plenty of brain farts this year with handling the team, and he looks tired, but still, I think Hendry's hand-cuffed him more than any of us could imagine both in terms of talent, AND with directions to play these jokers.
im with u aaron but i still have hope for this team to make it too the playoffs
This has been THE single most frustrating
season I recall...even without a bat...Blanco is so far superior to Miles it isn't funny.
Aaron, whats the rules regarding 15 day DL's. If the Cubs did not want to DFA
Miles...at what point did they HAVE to activate him?
Suzy, up to 20 days on a rehab assignment for position players, up to 30 days on a rehab assignment for pitchers.
Hey, Miles has been used as a pitcher...perhaps we can find a technicality and banish him for longer
So they HAD to do something with Miles.
The hole at second gets deeper....at least Fox is in the lineup tonight.
Bradley and Gregg getting "breathers"...
I like that.
In Aaron Miles' defense he did hit .300+ in over 130 major league games last year. I don't like him, and it was again a really stoopid contract to give him 2 years, totally unnecessary.
With the idea of this team somehow getting younger next year I looked quickly at the 2010 free agent class on the Cot's link...Justin Upton and Stephen Drew peaked my interest. Otherwise the FA pool doesn't look great. I'd give Felipe Lopez a shot too, tho he'll be 30. Really, any hope at getting younger will have to come through shrewd trades and use of the farm. So unless Jim gets kicked in the asscan, I don't see it happening. Just think, after this season Soriano's contract will be half over! I hate to image what he'll play like in 2014.
Re: Soriano...this is only the 3rd year of an eight year contract...another 5 to go.
eewhh...you're right. Dont' know why I thought he'd been around since 06. Guess it just feels like forever. 5 to go! Unbelievable. They have to find a trade partner for Soriano. He really should go back to Texas. He could be a productive DH there for the rest of his career. They'd have to eat half his contract, but it'd be worth it.
And look at that, Fox gets the start in Right! Thank you, Lou.
I don't think Texas could afford him...even with us eating a lot of salary.
They had to borrow from mlb just to
sign draftee's and make payroll.
sorry man...hate to burst your bubble, but Upton and Drew are NOT free agents next year. The only reason they have it listed that way on Cot's is because they are technically "free agents" under team control...if that makes sense. See, guys like Theriot, Fontenot, Marmol, etc. are all "free agents" next year too, and we can decline offering arbitration, thus making them free to sign anywhere (which was going to be the case with Gregg last year until Hendry foolishly traded Ceda for him).
The only position free agents that intrigue me for next year are:
IF-Hudson and Iwamura (if Rays decline option...unlikely), Chone Figgins
OF-Crawford (in unlikely event Rays decline option), Holliday, Ankiel, Blalock.
*Hudson, etc. replace Fontenot/Miles/Baker, etc. at 2B for us
**Crawford replaces Fukudome in everyday lineup (if Rays drop him), Ankiel does similar, and we can essentially have him replace Johnson's role on the team. Holliday would replace Bradley or Soriano, whomever we can offload, and Blalock would be our back-up option at 1B and 3B, and would replace Hoffpauir. Though I love Hoffpauir, I love Blalock even more (and he's younger than Hoffy).
I heard rumors that Jake Fox was going to be sent to instructional league this winter to learn 2B...I don't know if it's true, but that would be a HUGE development. Essentially, he'd become a more younger, powerful version of DeRosa, playing 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, RF, AND catcher. DeRosa could play everything but catcher, and is probably limited at his age now to just corner IF/OF.
I actually knew that, or sort of. I guess I just got ahead of myself.
Hudson: should have been the IN that Hendry pursued LAST winter...but then he got Miles instead.
Crawford: a legit left handed bat, speed, great defense, the power never developed but I'd take his 12-15HR and 50SBs and .300+ AVG every day over all of the current OF.
Chone = untility leadoff man! yes!
Blalock: wouldn't it be great to have veteran backup for Aramis?
I am just dying for the Gorzzzzelannny start!
If we're really lucky...some team will claim Miles off of waivers...that's the first thing I would do after activating him.
Tonight's lineup:
Fukudome - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Fox - RF
Soriano - LF
Fontenot - 2B
Hill - C
Gorzelanny - P
That line up would be PERFECT with the addition of Soto in there. Flip flop Soto and Fonty in the order and we are good to go!!
Agreed. This is an excellent offense, and it shows that Piniella has finally had it with Bradley batting against righties. He's given him every opportunity to right the ship, but batting around .200 from the left side when that's what you were signed for, and we're in the 2nd to last month of the season....has been plenty long enough for him to get it together, and now it's time to move on. Hoffpauir hasn't been hitting well, so you play the hot hand, and right now, that's Fox. I also think Fontenot should be sat in favor of Baker...but what do I know.
I'm just not sold on Baker....and he looks like a misfit at second base....I just assume keep our DP combo together...and hope for the best from lil Babe Ruth.
I would also spot start Fuld occassionally to see what he can do....Fukudome will need a breather anyway playing CF between Soriano and Fox...poor guy!!
Tarp is off the field. Not expecting any delays at the start.
Aaron Who? Second what?
Shoot me.
Hi everyone! I hope they get this one in. I want the guys to have a legit day of rest on Thursday.
And a chance for Lou to play that near-perfect lineup!
How about a five-inning complete game shutout win?
Not entirely impossible..has happened before!
Kosuke can do anything that Soriano can do in that spot...except better! =)
This is the star we were looking for in the winter of '06!
Nice catch by our $18m man in left. Geez!
Gorzy Warriors out of it.
Speaks a lot to his composure. You know he's gotta have butterflies now as well!
Good start for Gorzy
Gorzo overcomes Sori's error with 2 great outs!!! WOW.
Nice bloop double by Fontenot...
Even before the start of this game, I think most of us thought this Gorzelanny start would not go well. But the Reds might be the right team to sneak him through in a spot start.
Gorzy hits better than Sori too. LOL
I don't know how well received this comment will be but here it goes...
I'm expecting a good start out of Gorzelanny. And why is that?
Larry Rothschild.
Randy Wells, Kevin Hart, the starting five..
Every guy who has started for us has been brilliant. Granted a lot of those guys have talent beyond belief. But at what point do we start to get off Larry a little bit?
I think he's done an admirable job this year. And Gorzy having a few good starts will cement my point.
Now if he could have the same luck with the pen.
I'm sorry Matt, but I just can't agree with the Rothschild assessment. He couldn't develop Prior, messed up Hill, and now has Marmol all over the release point place.
I'd take Mazzone, Maddux or Brenly any day over LR as the pitching coach.
Bryan, did you see Hill apologized to the Orioles fans last week for his poor pitching?
I did not hear that. Unfortunately the young man has had a tough slide. Ever since we tried to change his delivery to hold on-base runners he's never been the same pitcher. I'm not totally blaming our coaching staff, but reality says he hasn't been the same since. I still remember the game in which he was lights out against the Braves...the local announcers were giving him rave reviews. Kinda like his last hurrah.
It is an unfortunate story...but it seems more mental now than anything.
I hear what you are saying, but it's Mike Mason, the Iowa pitching coach, who would have had more of an opportunity to influence the guys you mentioned.
Gotta quit swinging at his pitch, wait for a couple of called strikes.
Our offense is anemic again...what's going on?
Gorzy is dealing !!!
Hey Charles, did you see Feliz last night for Texas? 101mph!!!
Nice at bat by Gorzelanny, got the walk.
Gotta lay down the bunt here with Kosuke
wow what a catch
What a catch by Willy T, took at least a double away...
Anyone know if the Cubs have shown any interest in Heath Bell? Harold Reynolds mentioned he might slip through wavers and come to us. I was wondering if he is just talkin mess, or if it was actually being looked into in reality?
Heath Bell is only making a million this year. Although it would be a dream come true, I just don't see how he would slip all the way through to the Cubs.
I have not heard anything since the Internet rumor surfaced well over a month ago.
I agree with Gary, no way he slips to the Cubs.
LET'S GO OFFENSE! LET'S GO!!!!
Wow...5 innings shutout ball bt Gorzy.
Lets get some darn runs...you can't ask much more of this guy...give hin some support.
Come on Cubs. Provide Gorzelanny with a better fate than you did for Wells' first starts.
2 run double! Great job Koyie!
Maybe Fontenot should have"pulled a muscle"
Hill!!! We finally score!!!
Now , if we can get another walk.
Koyie with a well-placed two-out single...
You can't stop Kill Hill....
Gorzy...another "Z" in the making lol.
Gorzy, like Z, another in a long line of slugging Cubs' pitchers.
Kosuke hitting the ball hard today.
Kosuke with another hit...
Remember last year when Fukudome was credited with inspiring the other hitters to be patient at the plate? Maybe Gorzelanny can inspire the pitching staff with his no walk (so far) outing.
Gary, great idea! Wouldn't that be nice.
Nice shutdown inning for Gorzelanny, 74 pitches after six.
DLeeeee!!!!!! Number 22!
If Gorzy keeps pitching like this Rothchild will have to tweek his motion.
DLEE !!!...About 3 more runs and we can throw Gregg in there...so his arm falls off.
It's only one game, but Gorzelanny is doing what he did here in Indy the last few weeks--attacking the strike zone with good stuff. He reminds me of a young Steve Avery, the Braves lefty in the 90's. Hopefully he'll continue to remind us of Gorzelanny.
I think Suzy said it a few days ago. Gorzo was left at AAA as long as he was so the Pirates wouldn't wouldn't become elgible for arbitration at the end of 2009. I mentioned liking the Grabow and Gorzy adds when the deal was done, and, so far so good!
Should have said so Gorzy wouldn't become elgible for arbitrtion. I was multi-tasking on DLee.
What did I miss?
John G.....You missed an outstanding (2 hit, 7 IP shutout by our new "find" Tom Gorzelanny, some outstanding defense (except Soriano) and some bats that came to life late in the game.
It's early, but this one might be pen safe!
And Theriot had his high throw to Lee.
Why? Did they leave Gregg at the hotel?
Since Gregg has a lot of ups and downs, he's getting a tryout as an elevator operator.
I don't think they have those anymore JimK...are you suggesting he's obsolete?
They do have operators for relief, Suzy. Like when something goes wrong with the automatic starters.
Trouble is when someone wanted to get off at 9 he took them to 10.
Didn't that guy play second base for us back in '03 and '04?
Gorrrrrzzzzzzzzeeelllaaaaanny!
what a great name.
GORZELANNY...clap clap clap clap.
A few more like that and you've found a home in the hearts of Cubs fans!!!
Gorzy, Grabow, Guzman and Gregg (gag!!)
The G-Men
Here we go again. I'm getting that sick feeling and it's only one run.
Cmon bullpen, don't let this get close!
Good start by Gorzelanny, close the book on him just one run on three hits, a walk, a hit batsman and six strikeouts.
Guzman with a huge strikeout of Phillips!
The run his reliever's abetted was greatly outshined by the one he didn't allow early. Soriano played an out into a triple, and Gorzelanny struck out Cubs' killer Votto. Then he got Phillips. Man, that was sensational.
Okay!! Now that it's a 3 run lead, it's a save situation and they can bring in Gregg.
Gotta love our bullpen...no one else will.
Cmon!!!
Guzman always seems to pitch better in close games than with a healthy lead.
Leave it to the pen to A) Put a game out of reach in a loss. B)Blow a lead. C) Take the joy out of a dominating performance.
Ok...so who's next on the closer experiment...geeez!
NATION REPRESENT!
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!
Maybe Lou should get really creative...
How about our bullpen starts the game...for the first 3 innings and the starters always start in either the 3rd or 4th inning.
That way...we'll alwats know how mant runs we need to score!!!
I seriously think you are on to something Suzy
Geez. Maybe convert Gorzelanny to closer after Lilly gets back.
Winning close games is always a sign of a good team. So the Cubs decide to make all their wins close ones. (and a few of their losses as well)
CUBS WIN !!! CUBS WIN !!!
A Gorzelanny GEM!!!
The G-man did it !!!!
I would still give Guzman a shot at closing.
Good win ... a season-high nine games over .500
Kruk suggested putting Dempster back to closer.
First off...I tip my cap to Gorzelanny! What a great first start! So far, the trade is looking great. I don't know why I didn't think about Dempster back to closer, but that is an interesting thought. Guzman probably deserves a couple more chances, but if he doesn't work out we have to try something besides Gregg. If Gorzelanny can stay in the rotation and keep this up, it may be worth looking at.
Looks like Kevin Gregg was pitching for the Mets in the 8th, 9th and 10th tonight.
Damned Cardinals rallied from a 7-5 deficit in the ninth and just went up 12-7 in the 10th on a Pujols grand slam.
I know nobody wants to hear this, but they're going to be awfully tough to beat down the stretch.
I agree Jeff...I hate the Cardinals, but they have assembled quite a nice lineup.
Yes but the cubs do not need to take care of the Cardinals, they need to take care of winning games and that will get them to the playoffs. Division or wild card. Another win!!!