Game One Hundred-Six: Cubs (57-48) vs. Reds (45-61)
Game Time - 6:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Rich Harden (7-6, 4.50/1.35) vs. Justin Lehr (0-0, 5.40/2.00)
Updated 3:49pm C.T. - Aaron Miles activated from 15-day DL - Jeff Stevens Optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Updated 4:17pm C.T. - B.J. Ryan requested and was granted his release today by the Chicago Cubs. Ryan felt "his velocity and sharpness would not get there" according to the Sun-Times.
Updated 2:49pm CT: The Cardinals lost to the Mets earlier today 9-0, putting the Cubs a half game ahead of St. Louis in the division entering play tonight.
The Cubs will face the Reds for the last time this season in Cincinnati tonight. The Cubs are 8-3 on the year against the Reds with three left against Dusty Baker's bunch at Wrigley in September (September 11 - September 13). The Cubs will enter play tonight tied for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals ... after Albert Pujols hit his fifth grand slam of the year in the tenth inning on Tuesday night that put the game away. Pujols tied Ernie Banks' All-Time mark of five grand slams in a single season.
If the game is on the line tonight in the ninth, the Cubs are expected to use Kevin Gregg to try and close it out. Gregg said Tuesday night he is ready to go after missing two days with a 'tired arm'.
The Cubs are not planning on activating Geovany Soto before tonight's finale against the Reds. Soto is slated to be back on Friday in the first of four against the Rockies in Denver.
Aaron Miles is expected to return from the DL tonight, with a pitcher returning to Iowa to make room for the underachieving Miles. Jeff Samardzija should be the odd man out when the move is made official. The Tribune mentioned Sam Fuld could be sent down today in order to make room Miles. Sending Fuld down would weaken an already defensively challenged team, especially late in games.
Aaron Miles has not performed anywhere near the way he did a year ago while he was in Cardinal Red ... it is past time for him to start earning his paycheck.
Jake Fox started in right field on Tuesday night in place of the struggling Milton Bradley. The Cubs are not contemplating a platoon with Fox and Bradley but Lou Piniella must continue finding a place for Fox to play every day. Fox was 0-for-3 with a run scored but he gives the Cubs another threat in the middle of the lineup ... especially on the road against right handed starters. Fox made the plays in right on Tuesday and maybe he should fill in for Alfonso Soriano tonight ... which would give Soriano two full days before facing the red-hot Rockies on Friday night.
While the offense must do their job against Justin Lehr, it all begins with Rich Harden ... and one win at a time.
Rich Harden has been very, very good since the All-Star break. After a disappointing and inconsistent first half (5-6 in 14 starts with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP), Harden has performed like the pitcher the Cubs traded for last summer over his last four games. Harden is 2-0 in the second half (last four starts) with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. Harden tied a career-high in strikeouts with 11 in his last game against the Fish but also walked three and left with a no decision after five innings.
Harden's performance on the road this year has been discussed ad nauseam over the last two months. Harden is 4-1 away from Wrigley this year with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP ... at night, 5-1 in eight starts with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.
Tonight will be Rich Harden's third start of the year against the Reds. He is 2-0 this season against Cincinnati with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP. Harden beat the Reds at Wrigley 7-2 on April 21 (two runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in six innings) and again 10 days ago at Wrigley 5-2. Harden allowed one run on one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings ... the lone run, a first inning homer by Joey Votto.
Harden has allowed three runs to the Reds this season in 12 innings ... two of the runs have come via the longball. Harden figures to give up at least one home run tonight, it is up to him to limit them to solo shots.
- Jonny Gomes - 0-for-2
- Alex Gonzalez - 0-for-3 with a walk
- Laynce Nix - 3-for-17 with a double
- Brandon Phillips - 0-for-8
- Scott Rolen - 0-for-6
- Adam Rosales - 0-for-1
- Willy Taveras - 1-for-5
- Joey Votto - 1-for-7 with a home run and a walk
Justin Lehr will make his second career big league start tonight. Lehr did not pitch in the majors in 2007 or 2008 and was 2-1 in 16 games for the Brewers, all out of the pen, in 2006 with a 8.62 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. In 2005, the 33-year old right-hander was 1-1 in 23 games with Milwaukee and posted a 3.89 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
Lehr lasted just five innings in his last, and only, big league outing this season. The Rockies scored three runs on four hits in five innings ... but Lehr's undoing was six walks and no strikeouts.
Justin Lehr will make his first career start against the Cubs tonight but his fourth career appearance. He last faced the Cubs on April 28, 2006 at Wrigley. The Cubs managed a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. Lehr does not have a record in three outings against the Cubs but has blown a save ... 6.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP (three runs, two earned, on four hits in three innings with a walk and two strikeouts).
- Derrek Lee - no official at bat, one walk
- Aramis Ramirez - 0-for-1
- Alfonso Soriano - 2-for-4 with a double
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
Mets beat Cards today 9-0...so we start the game 1/2 game up!!!
Aaro Miles was spotted at the Field earlier today.
Harden has owned the Reds, and he's on the road AND its under the lights! What more could we ask for?
Wow!! Ernie set that record back in the 50's and it still stands. I suspect that Pujols will have ample opportunity to break it. Although I hate Pujols, I wish he was on my team. The interview he gave the night of the HR Derby was impressive. He really is a great player and extremely intelligent as well.
I wish he was a Cub.
How can you hate Pujols? I mean, I hate *playing* against Pujols. And I hate the Cardinals. But it is impossible for me to hate someone how is that good at baseball and that genuine and modest. He is, hands down, the best player of this generation and of my lifetime.
I probably phrased that wrong. I hate that he is on the Cardinals. As a person, he is first class.
unfortunately for the time period we live in, we'd like a guy like Pujols to be clean, but let's never forget that he shared a locker room with McGwire for I believe 2 years....I think he is the greatest player we've seen since Mickey Mantle...most complete player anyhow (intelligent baserunner, excellent defense, high average, power, RBI, etc.)...but, as with every player that comes along these days, McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, and the like have cast a deep, dark shadow over the entire game. I'll wait 5 years for everything to come out, then I'll judge
Yes, you're right. Way rain on my already shitty mood today. I just want so badly to believe in just one great player from this generation. I wanted to believe in ARod, even though I strongly dislike him as a person, he is an incredible baseball player. Big Papi was disappointing, but, no, nothing is a surprise anymore. I just want to believe that Pujols is the one. But if ever he would have done it, I think a the young players were absolutely influenced by the guys they looked up to in their clubhouses. When ARod was in that Texas clubhouse, when Albert was around McGuire...who knows...
At least I'll always have Gracey.
This won't be popular but I don't have a probelm with PED's. Sports is under the entertainment industry along with music, movies etc. Why is it that an actres or actor can have cosmetic surgery and nothing is said about but when a jock does a roid he is a cheater. Actors doe the cosmetic stuff to get roles in movies but that is ok?
For one, roids have been illegal in this country for quite a while...while cosmetic surgery is not.
2)If all took roids openly it would be a level playing field...but it was never open...it was hush hush...giving the ones that did rois an unfair advantage...
making them cheaters kije Sammy.
3)Pujols is a genuine breath of fresh air...personality-wise...so I'm inclined to jump on his bandwagon...I hated Bonds
and Sammy/Albert Belle etc.
I too...want to believe Pujols is gifted
not tainted...but the sin of baseball is
we don't know.
4)As for Rose...in my opinion...he was THE greatest player of our generation.
A miserable human being and a gambler...
but truly the greatest between the lines.
He and "Shoeless Joe" should both be HOF.
If Ty Cobb is in...Rose should be in.
PEDs are illegal, facelifts are not. A more accurate comparison, keeping the Hollywood analagy, would be drug use by some Hollywood types and by musicians. (Some, I'm not casting a blanket over both industries)
But kids aspire to be athletes and movie stars alike, and I wouldn't want my kids emulating their substance abuse.
I think when it comes down to it, that is what everyone can agree on about steroids, it sets a bad example for those who look up to them.
Not the same league, Jim C. Not even the same game. If you said it about NFL, I might, might accept that.
But comparing a boob job or tummy tuck to cheating the game of baseball is like...well...like comparing Pamela Anderson to DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak. I don't think it is possible.
Anyone else unhappy that Stevens gets sent down instead of Samardzija? I don't understand that one.
Tonight's lineup:
Fukudome - CF
Miles - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Bradley - RF
Soriano - LF
Fontenot - 2B
Hill - C
Harden - P
Let's hope Fukudome gets on base every at-bat so Miles can only lay down sac bunts. That could be all he is good for.
Nice that the Cubs weren't as stupid as we thought...re Fuld for Miles....now if they could just get smarter and move Miles. Oh well.
I only bring it up because I read an article that Angelina Jolie had a bunch of work done on her body because she was tired of loosing roles to Meagan Fox and other young hotties.
Theriot gets his rest....No Fox...maybe Fontenot can hit a few dingers!!!
You're a fool if you think that this is something new. People have been cheating for decades. A little spit-shine on the baseball, stolen signs, and of course performance enhancers. They are all considered cheating so they are all the same. Baseball players have been doing it for years. If it wasn't steroids back in the day, then it was pill-popping or cocaine. Just got to accept that players will ALWAYS cheat. Thats just the way it is.
Is it me , or does anyone else hate this lineup??? On a different note, lets assume that Gregg continues to suck and Gorzy proves that he is the real deal... when Lilly comes back what are the chances of the Cubs turning one of their starters into the closer. If I had to pick, I'd take Harden. I really think he'd be perfect in that role. He's obvioiusly got the stuff, but most of all he can get a strike out when he needs it. I really don't think we can make it to the playoffs with Gregg as our closer. This race might come down to a game or 2 and I have a feeling he's gonna cost us a few more before the year is over.
Neil hates it. Atleast we are not facing Lincecum.
First of all, the odds of them converting a starter to a closer in middle of August in a tight divisional race are about slim:none. It would be a really dumb thing to do. And if Harden keeps dealing that way has since the break it would be far worse than any combination of lineups that include Miles and Fontenot and Bradley for the rest of the year.
Strong starting pitching is the first key to playoff success. You have to be in the game to worry about closing it. This is getting way ahead of itself, but I think this is just a ridiculous banter, you'd really rather have Gorzelanny starting games down the stretch than a healthy, nasty Harden? Really? What would the playoff rotation look like? Z-Demp-Lilly-Wells because all of them have done soo great in their limited playoff appearances? Silliness. And who says a Harden can even pitch on back to back days with the shoulder history he's had...I wouldn't risk that. He's finally pitching well and staying rather healthy for the first time ever and you want turn him into a closer 2/3 into a season?
Marmol or Guzman will step up. Or they wont and it will Hendry's fault for not pursuing a real closer.
and apukey: spitballs are part of the game, so are stealing signs, still not a fair comparison to Performance ENHANCING drugs.
So...BJ Ryan isn't with us anymore. Should I feel bad about this? Cause getting Grabow seems to have made him obsolete anyways.
The writing was on the wall when Lou insuated it would be wrong to have
3 lefties in the pen.
Gee, you're right about the line-up.
It stinks. I guess Bradley will have to
carry us tonight. lol
Is Justin Lehr a lefty or are they going to finally ask Milt to just hit from the right side? Sounds like control is an issue, so Milt should at least be able to draw a couple walks even if he does bat from the left. Precition 1-2, single, 2BB, 1K
He is a right hander.
wow...talk about our 'C' lineup. Miles at SS? Are you kidding me?!? Dude had 5 errors on a rehab assignment. This is an absolute joke. He's nothing more than a second baseman that can't hit...and can't field. So what's his usefulness? Oh, I get it...it's because he's a switch hitter. Hey, Hendry...I can do that too....all of us on the COO can do that!!!!!!!! Let's all knock on Hendry's door and claim to be the lefty bat he's looking for off the bench...LOL
Bradley's an absolute joke too. I cannot believe he's in the lineup against a righty. It's proof that yet again, Piniella just doesn't get it (or Hendry's forcing his hand). I'd be okay with Miles in the lineup, provided Bradley was NOT...but this has reached the point where it just doesn't make good baseball sense to have 2 anemic hitters in the lineup at one time. To put this into more perspective for you....
Miles is batting .203 on the year, with a .188 avg against righties.
Bradley is batting .248 on the year, with a .207 avg against righties
Koyie Hill is batting .211 on the year, with a .198 avg against righties
Rich Harden is batting .241 on the year, with a .250 avg against righties
As we all know, Harden's line is from a very small sample size, and pitchers are generally considered easy outs. That means that in our lineup today, we have 4 automatic outs. Just by basic math, with Miles batting 2nd, and Bradley batting 5th, with Hill and Harden back to back, that basically kills any rally that we might have. In fact, in order to score any runs, we must expect home runs from Fukudome, Lee, ARAM, Soriano, or Fontenot.
It's why Piniella and Hendry have to figure this thing out really quickly if we're going to have any hope of winning the division.
We all know that Miles doesn't belong on our roster...much less ANY MLB roster right now. We all have seen that Jeff Baker can't really hit. We know that Bradley CANNOT in any way shape or form, hit right-handed pitching this year, and we know that Jake Fox and Hoffpauir are well deserving of some playing time, multiple days in a row, as both Miles and Bradley have been given that opportunity, and promptly choked.
My recommendation long ago was that Bradley should go on the DL, and try to correct his swing at AAA (when Joshua was there) on a "rehab assignment". At least then, there was good reason for him to be on the DL with his leg issues at the time. That would've freed up significant playing time for Hoffpauir and/or Fox in RF. But as it stands now, Hoffpauir has gone cold with lack of playing time, Bradley is STILL cold, and Fox will probably follow suit if Lou doesn't find a way to get him in the lineup.
On so many different levels, Piniella and Hendry botched this season.
I hope they figure it out soon enough!
On a good note, it's almost time for Bradley to really have to go on the DL
for something...he's overdue...and I'm sure none of us would mind.
Thats awesome he sucks
also, RE: steroids, forgot to mention.
First of all, steroids are illegal, which was mentioned above, not just in sports, but in general society.
Secondly, even if everyone was taking them, they'd be putting their lives at risk due to health problems associated with repeated use of steroids...and birth defects associated with it.
Thirdly, NOT everyone was using them in 2003 anyhow. There were 104 names, I believe. There are 30 teams, each with 25 man rosters, which equals 750 ballplayers in total. That's roughly under 14%, which, per MLB rules at the time, justified testing everyone, as I believe the cut-off was if there were under 10%, they would just have random testing or something like that, instead of mandatory testing.
So, while 14% (104 players) is still a VERY large number, it is not nearly as bad as the media makes it out to be. In fact, most of those players have probably already hung 'em up anyway. You know, guys like Benito Santiago, Bret Boone, Roger Clemens, Richard Hidalgo, Jay Gibbons, Jeremy Giambi, Raul Mondesi, Carl Everett, Albert Belle, Jeromy Burnitz, Moises Alou, Mark Prior, Richie Sexson, Geoff Jenkins, Barry Bonds, Andres Galarragga, Paul Lo Duca, Eric Gagne, Luis Gonzalez, Ryan Klesko, Robbie Alomar, Shawn Green, Javy Lopez, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Raffy Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, Kenny Rogers...I mean, these are all suspected/confirmed steroid users that aren't even in baseball anymore, and by my count, that's 28 of them...you can add guys like Pettitte, Manny, AROD, Tejada, Jason Giambi, Brian Roberts, and Ortiz to that list as confirmed users, making it 35 players, and you still need to find about 70 more from either your own list, or from this:
http://thesteroidera.blogspot.com/
I'm willing to bet that:
Prior, Wood, Nomar, Thome are on that list
Prior, Wood, and Nomar are on the list, but a quick scan didn't reveal Thome. Plus, he has a squeaky clean past anyhow, so it's hard to imagine him on the list.
As for suspected Cubbies (current/former):
*Prior
Wood
*Alou
Derrek Lee
Cliff Floyd
*Milton Bradley
*Sammy Sosa
*Benito Santiago (briefly a Cub)
Carlos Zambrano
*Corey Patterson
Matt Clement
*Antonio Alfonseca
*Alfonso Soriano
*Nomar Garciaparra
and even Aramis Ramirez
The ones I put at asterisk next to are ones that have either been confirmed, or that I think really did it. I doubt ARAM, Lee, Floyd, Z, Wood, or Clement did it (or should I say...I HOPE they didn't)ARAM's been pretty consistent post-testing, Lee's been hurt, Floyd was hurt even during the steroids era, which, if he were taking roids, it most likely wouldn't happen....same for Wood, who was oft-injured. Z is an interesting case, because when he was coming up, he was throwing 98-99 mph as a starter consistently. Now he's in the low 90's consistently. But, he's got a big frame, and he's a very gifted athlete, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
He is way overdue for pulling a hammy. But Aaron, Bradley isn't necessarily the rally killer you make him out to be, dude knows how to draw a walk! As long the ump isn't out to git 'em, that is. So scoring hope lies in a Dome's continued hot bat, Mile not hitting into DPs, Lee and Aramis driving balls, and Milt drawing walks...then it just depends on which Alfonso shows up...the hot or the not - cuz there is very little in between.
Harden hitting .250 vs. righties deserves him a spot in the 5 hole in that lineup, doesn't it?
a lineup with miles should be:
Fukudome - CF
Bradley - RF
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Soriano - LF
Fontenot - 2B
Miles - SS
Hill - C
Harden - P
A lineup with Miles should be:
Fukudome - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Soriano - LF
Bradley - RF
Fontenot - 2B
Hill - C
Harden - P
Tied to bench, unable to move : Miles
Sorry - couldn't resist.
I was thinking that about Bradley too. yes we all know that for some crazy-ass reason Hendry thinks of his as a middle of the order bat, but the reality is his OBP is all he has going for him. hitting .248 with a an OBP of .420 or something, this lineup would be good time for him to hit in the 2 hole.
Life is too short to think that guys like Pujols, DLee, ARAM, Teixeira, Jeter, etc., etc., are into PEDs. For one thing their bodies look about the same as they always have. And it just wrong to taint their reputations/careers with no evidence whatsoever.
Well, the Miles trial begins anew tonight. My guess is that he gives a good showing. At least Riot gets a needed break, and he will need a couple more days off the rest of the way. Lou is looking for a decent SS. The "Old Style" book likely says that playing Bradley and Miles is OK in this game and much less risky than in the next series against the Rockies.
We ought to score enough to win tonight against Lehr. Harden ought to hold the Reds to 2 runs or less in 6 IP. My guess is that Miles gets 8-10 AB's to see if he's the player we expected. If not he sits or develops another injury.
I don't expect much from Bradley; and, if he's about the same, he sits two or three games in Colorado. Soriano has to start a productive streak soon; and, against a weak pitcher, tonight could be the night. ARAM, Lee and Soriano should carry us tonight. We do have Fox and Hoffpauir off the bench. The pen will be interesting (and scary).
I hate this lineup..
So much.
I just hope they prove me wrong..
ditto my friend.
I agree with you 100% Matt. I totally hate this lineup, but hope they figure out a way to score some runs.
wow..Miles is incredibly sucky, isn't he. Is that not the weakest pop-up you've ever seen by an MLB player that's NOT a pitcher?!? Funny thing is, he's had NUMEROUS weak hits like that this year
Lee, ARam and KFuk are the only real hitters in the lineup tonight. Maybe Harden too
excellent observation.. i agree 100,000%
A nailbiter in the making...and it doesn't have to be.
Hey guys...do you think the Cards will be able to resign both Pujols And Halliday?
Too many holes in the lineup...there goes Rolen.
Offense is gonna have to win this one.
WOW...unbelievable. 3-0 GAME OVER!!! I might as well turn it off, and do other things, especially with this lineup. John G was absolutely right about ARAM, Lee, and Fukudome being the only real hitters.
Top of 3rd, you watch, Koyie Hill will go down swinging, Harden will go down swinging, and Fukudome will bring the count to 3-2, then go down swinging once again.
Piniella's an idiot for putting this sham lineup out there with Harden throwing.
Gotta hold it at 3..
Man..This ain't me but I don't like our chances for once..
Harden doesn't have it.
Wait til it gets dark..
Maybe?
HUGE strikeout for Harden ... time to make this kid work.
Good job with Votto...3 is a gift.
It's doable if we can make some changes
in the line up...but Harden not long for this game...and our wonderful pen will get a workout.
Eight pitches for Lehr in the third inning ... so much for making him work
Neil, I agree...I wish I was actually right with my prediction, as it would've taken far more than 8 pitches in all likelihood.
what a horrible play by Fontenot. Do the Cubs scouts even pay attention to our own games to figure out our weaknesses and how to expose it?!? Does Hendry even watch the games at all?!? Brenly and Kasper have been harping on it all year with Theriot and Fontenot coming up to grab the ball instead of waiting for it. They've cost us several caught stealings already this year with no end in sight. It's unreal is what it is. Every team knows to slide to the outside of the bag, and there's no way that Theriot or Fontenot can come up with the tag. In fact, most of the caught stealings have been where Koyie Hill or Soto have thrown it right on time, where it's a bang, bang play. If they throw it slightly ahead of time, the runner gets to the outside, easily. It's unbelievable.
The Cubs' staff might look at this inning and others in the past where pitchers have gotten out of it as "no harm, no foul"....but they've been doing it all damn year.
Cubs offense blows a big one with Miles and Bradley in there.
Isn't it funny that when both of those jokers are out of the lineup, we actually WIN games. It's NOT rocket science...They really are THAT bad
Lehr is just having a field day with the Cubs lineup...
This lineup is probably anemic.
Cmon Harden/Cubbies...Just because theCards lost 9-0 we don't have to be
copycats.
Theriot needed a rest but couldn't you have put Fontenot at short and Baker at second?
Speechless?!?!?! How does a Major League baseball player miss a tag like that?
Koyie threw Phillips out twice in that inning ... I am still shaking my head.
We're going to miss Hill's defense when Soto comes back.
No hitter, No hitter, No hitter, No hitter
Jinx Jinx Jinx!
LETS GET ON THE BOARD NOW!!!!
Lee with the Cubs' first hit!
SORIANO...PREDICTABLE.
and that, my friends, is why I told you having Miles in the lineup would be an absolute killer. first out of the inning, Lee gets on, ARAM flies out, Bradley gets on, Soriano K's (which we all knew was coming in that situation)...it wouldn't be so bad with Theriot in there, as he most likely would've gotten on as well, and we might have a run, AND another shot, even if ARAM failed, as Fontenot would've been up after Soriano...anyway, it's just a real pathetic lineup
Aaron, bad thing is with the way they handled Blanco there is not another option in Triple-A, other than Darwin Barney. I liked what I saw in Mesa but he has struggled with the I-Cubs. They must have a backup infielder. One positive is Starlin Castro was promoted to Double-A.
I would like to say I am not blaming tonight on Miles, there are too many holes with this lineup ... and they are not facing a very good pitcher, no offense to Justin Lehr.
this is just sickening...I know what you're getting at...it's a team effort, but he kills the lineup, plain and simple. It's why we couldn't win early this year, despite leading the league in quality starts. See, it's not just his woeful average, it's ALSO the fact that he sucks at defense (we haven't seen today), AND I don't think the guy has made a single productive out all year. So, he can't get on base, his defense sucks, AND when he does get out, he can't move runners over. We've seen two very weak pop outs by him today. Honestly, I referenced this the other day talking about Todd Hundley just before he was traded, and I was watching him in the batting cage. Dude looked like a Little Leaguer, and in the cage, he was popping up balls consistently, and very weakly straight up, just like Miles is doing in game situations.
I haven't been to a Cubs game live yet this year, but I'm going to try to catch them on my vacation this weekend, and I'll bet money on it, that Miles looks like Hundley did in the cage in batting practice---like he doesn't even belong on any competitive team whatsoever.
Hendry's ego is really holding this team up from succeeding and playing consistent baseball. Benching Bradley when he couldn't hit righties early on in favor of Hoffpauir/Fox, bringing up Fox when ARAM went down, bringing up a catcher when Soto went down (as they clearly weren't going to use Fox), DFA-ing Gathright, Miles, and others early on. I mean, the sole reason he's sticking to his guns, is he wants to salvage his horrible moves, and try to audition for another team when the new owners come in. It's brutal watching Miles. He has no business being in a MLB uniform right now
Miles is a douchebag, Theriot is the man.
btw Kansas City DFA'd Freel today.
Due up-Fontenot, Hill, and Harden. That is not exciting at all.
Late arrival to the game and I am sickened by this lineup.
What does Aaron Miles need to do to get released? Murder? Sleep with Rosanne Barr? Break the sacred blood brother bond he must have with Pinella? The guy just strolls back into the team where he is given the responsibility to bat second and play shortstop (a position he can't play), woeful.
Lehr consistantly throwing stikes.
Miles does have the glove and Theriot needs the day off but that is no reason to put him in the 2-hole
gold glove...
Hey did you see the Cubs released Waddell
today....according to Muskat.
That was under the radar.
Suzy, I did not. Thanks for pointing that out. I wonder why. I never heard what the non-baseball related injury was.
That does open a spot on the 40-man. Without looking that should mean three open spots.
Yup...roster at 37...including DL guys they could remove...ie Fox.
yes...additionally, we have 2 more that could open on a moment's notice (transferring Cotts and Chad Fox to 60-day DL). So, technically, we have just 35 on the 40-man.
Honestly, with the way Castro is playing, I would not be surprised in the least if we see him this year. He's clearly unfazed by the advanced competition, and has already played well on a big stage (Futures Game). While he's still very young, at just 19 years old, we might just see him promoted this year if he keeps up this hitting. Neil was absolutely right....DL-ing Blanco really screwed us over, because we have no suitable back-up at AAA for Theriot...but we do have Castro now at AA. The jury is still out on him. It's only 2 games thus far, but I'm pleasantly surprised with the kid. Barney is hitting .250 now in 30 games at AAA...not exactly promising.
*side note...Brad Snyder has now been activated from the DL at AAA
That's a long leap from A ball to the majors all in one year...but the need is so great,...anyone you think might make it through waivers?
Soto just hit another bomb tonight (his 2nd down there). Castro is also 2-for-3 on the night, and is now batting .571 on his call-up to AA.
miles blows
F#$#$ hell
this is a crap lineup... Lou mustve been smokin crack this morning
Neifi Miles strikes again.
Ummmmm....offense...HELLO!
Aaron Miles has an OPS of .498
That is lower than Felix Pie ever had, Lower than Corey Patterson, lower than anyone.... OMG .... and he's batting 2nd?
Well, THE good thing is Miles just went below the Mendoza line with the last at bat...now a whopping .198.
I don't want him to give Lou or Hendry any glimmer of hope...so they HAVE to do something.
With a day off tomorrow, I see no reason to play this line-up. Lehr issued 6 walks and had no strikeouts his last time out, but in his very next start he's friggin Cy Young candidate?
Still speachless?!?!?!
LET'S GO OFFENSE! LET'S GO!!!!
Gritty outing by Harden.
Typical Bradley night...good for one single/1 sometimes 2 walksand that's it.
Nice Soriano...finally get on and promptly get picked off!
Here we are, August 5th, and Lou just plans to give a game away with this lineup. He's quite the strategy genius.
Take another nap Lou.
Sorry-anal
WOW....LOL....see, this is what happens when you bring sucky McSuckFace back....I'm not kidding you...he messes everything up. It was like when Bradley went down earlier, we were winning, then he comes back, sucks, and we start losing. Miles is the same way.
When you're in the 2 hole in the lineup, and you have an OBP in the mid 2 range, and an average below .200.....even if you had a solid glove (which he does NOT), you're still killing the team.
Soriano was caught napping. Why? Because the offense is lulling everyone to sleep. and it starts at the top. Theriot is such a great 2 hole hitter for us, that when he's out of the lineup, we're hurting
I can hear Lou in the postgame:
"Well, it's tough to sweep a team
in their home park".
BUT the reality is...he gave the game away with this line-up.
This is one of those games I'm glad I don't get on TV...cause it's much worse than watching it on Gameday when we have this horrific offense.
Miles can't hit AND he can't throw. Good think we brought him back up. I really don't understand the stupid decisions this year!
oh...now the Shark is in...(shouldn't we give him a new nickname...like "minnow"?)...anyway, game is going to be out of reach now....
LOL...and after I speak of his awful defense, we see first hand why he's the worst player in MLB right now...no hit, no glove=no usefulness whatsoever
I pray that Miles gets caught up in a PED scandal, he would get suspended and it would be hilarious.
You hope Miles is a pedophile?
I meant performance enhancing drugs but that too has its merits due to its long jail time.
Don't PRAY about Miles...I prayed never to see him on the field in a Cubs uniform...and you see the result.
Guess I've sinned too much!
That run was all manufactured by Taveras... with a bit of help from the Cubs defense.
all of this because of Miles' crap defense. If he didn't exist, we'd have 2 outs right now
The Cubs saw that the Cards lost earlier today and decided to stretch the upcoming day off into two. They just ooze "team on a mission", don't they?
oh, also, it won't show up in a boxscore, but that run should be un-earned
The only one I can think of that is happy with Miles would be Kevin Gregg. Miles takes all the heat off of him.
Well gents, it was a slice.
A slice of what, I don't know but definitely a slice.
Lehr for Cy Young...LOL! I know Theriot needed a day off, but with an off day tomorrow, we could've let him play and given Bradley another day off and let Fox play. Everyone would have liked that one!
After listening to this game there is one piece of good news.
Miles probably won't be back on the field til after Colorado.
This was completely predictable. Kevin Gregg comes in down by 4 runs and gets them 1-2-3.
Ass Hole!!!
John:
We have a great pen when we our trailing.
a guy like Lehr today, throwing in the mid 80's, is just what the doctor ordered for an older team lacking bat speed. Like Brenly said at the beginning, it would've been perfect for Hoffpauir too, to get him going, as he needs that type of pitcher right now.
Once again, Piniella, just like the game against Lincecum, was like, "well, I need to get guys rest, and don't care if we win"
Winning managers do NOT do that.
Well I'm back to discover that nothing worked tonight. Our guys must not have seen my script. I did forget about Indiana's Scott Rolen and see he hit one out against Harden. But not scoring against their guy is mind boggling. If nobody shows up, you don't win. Form went out the window tonight.
This is not the kind of MO they need heading into Colorado. They'll need to take 3 of 4 for a winning road trip. A tall order indeed, but anything less during a stretch run, would be considered a failure.
Theriot should not be in right now. Piniella wanted to give him a day off ... well give it to him.
What a stark contrast between the Theriot and Miles at bats.
wow, what a pathetic game all around....managing, hitting, fielding....NOT the way you want to end a series
on the bright side, Hendry got a birdseye view of the game with Jocketty....hopefully Jocketty was telling Hendry why the Cardinals never gave Miles more than one year deals, because he sucked....HOPEFULLY, Hendry just saw that the hardest ball hit all game was by Theriot, who wasn't even a starter
Well that's 2-1/2 hours of my life I'll never get back.
Weak show.
Shame, Shame, Shame on both Lou and the Cubs...they mailed it in.
Harden did well after he settled down....
Just Shame on them...it should not have happened.
You hit the nail right on the head.
Our offense has got less life in it than a hobos beard.
Pat Hughes just said that there were no highlights worth playing tonight. LOL
And Milton Bradley was player of the game. Only because he was the only Cub who got on base more than once.
Aaron Miles is a real spark plug. He wasn't hitting in Iowa; and up here he's now .198 BA, .235 OBP, and .254 slugging! L-O-U, you'd best bat him #2 in the order to get things going! lol
Aaron Miles was hitting .286 IN HIS LAST 10 GAMES AT IOWA. lol What a slugger!
87 AB/ 22 h/ 4 2B/ 0HR/1 for 2 in SB/ 8 RBI! And get this: 2 BB with 14 k's!!
Yup, he's a real offensive threat, right behind Albert Pujols and Manny!
The Aaron Miles experiment needs to end now. Not tommorow...not Friday...now. He's been given plenty of chances to perform. This isn't even like a Jim Edmonds "early '08" performance. Every single thing he did tonight was awful: played too deep on slow rollers, didn't charge balls hit to him, took his time attempting to throw out WILLY TAVERAS...those aren't even "I haven't played in the majors for a few months" type of mistakes: those are things that 10 year olds should know about the game.
Suck up the 1 million per year and ship him out. You need a move to bring up Soto? There it is.
Fox will be lucky to be on the team when they decide to activate Soto.
I'm kind of speachless...a complete game by Justin Lehr against the Cubs? What a crappy game! I hope everyone gets some rest tomorrow and comes out better on Friday. And I hope Miles gets lost on the way to Colorado!
I'm also so disappointed that Lou would put this lineup on the field knowing that the Cards had lost earlier and we had a day off tomorrow. You put your best possible lineup out there and let everyone rest tomorrow. This could have been a big confidence booster and put us in first by a full game. I don't get it, like most everyone on here.
Saban would cut him.
You're damn straight he would...LOL!
I didn't see the game, but after looking at the box score, all I can say is what an absolutely pathetic performance. And this, IMO, sums up why the Cubs will not win the Central Division this season. What a completely gutless choke job against a pitcher I have never heard of with a chance to take a much-needed one game lead in the standings. St. Louis is LOADED and you absolutely must take advantage of EVERY OPPORTUNITY they give you from here on out. Absolutely disgusting.