Game One Hundred-Sixteen: Cubs (60-55) vs. Pirates (46-70)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Rich Harden (7-7, 4.30/1.30) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (10-8, 4.30/1.32)
Updated 4:35pm C.T. - Cubs-Pirates Game Postponed Due to Rain
Weather permitting the Cubs will complete their homestand and three-game series with the Pirates this afternoon.
Aramis Ramirez is expected back in the starting lineup this afternoon. Ramirez made an appearance as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning on Saturday and collected a single. If Ramirez is back, Lou Piniella should sit Alfonso Soriano in favor of Jake Fox. Soriano is not hitting and has become more of an automatic out than anything ... not to mention a defensive liability. Soriano was hitless in two trips to the plate against Ross Ohlendorf back in June and could use a day off before the long trip to the left coast.
The Cubs offense must be patient today against Ross Ohlendorf. The young right-hander tossed seven innings of shutout ball the last time he faced the Cubs in Pittsburgh ... and made the Cubs look rather bad in the process.
While the offense must do their job, it all begins with Rich Harden ... and one run and one win at a time.
Rich Harden has turned his season around since the All-Star break. After an inconsistent first half (5-6 in 14 starts with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP) that featured a stint on the DL, Harden has pitched rather well in the second half.
Harden is 2-1 in his last six starts with a 1.95 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. Teams are hitting 121 points lower against Harden in his last six games (.150) than they did in his first 14 outings (.271).
Today will be Rich Harden's 12th start of the year at Wrigley. He is 3-5 in the first 11 with a 6.31 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP ... during the day, 2-5 in 10 starts with a 6.66 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.
Back on June 29 in Pittsburgh, Harden beat a very different Pirates team in his first career start against the Bucs. The Cubs won the game 3-1 ... Harden allowed a run on nine hits in seven innings with a walk and nine strikeouts.
- Jason Jaramillo - 0-for-3
- Andy LaRoche - 2-for-3 with a double
- Andrew McCutchen - 1-for-4
- Lastings Milledge - 0-for-3
- Brandon Moss - 1-for-5
- Ramon Vazquez - 2-for-3
Ross Ohlendorf has not lost a game since July 25 and is coming off a win against the Colorado Rockies. Ohlendorf is one of the trio of excellent young starters the Pirates have in their rotation ... along with Zach Duke and Paul Maholm.
Ohlendorf has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last six starts ... and the last time he allowed more than three was back on July 5 in Miami against the Marlins.
Ross Ohlendorf has improved as the season has progressed. He was 7-7 in 18 first half starts with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Since the break, 3-1 in five starts with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has walked more batters but has been more successful.
Today will be Ross Ohlendorf's second career outing against the Cubs. He dominated Lou Piniella's crew on June 30 in Pittsburgh. The Pirates shutout the Cubs 3-0 and Ohlendorf scattered just four hits in seven innings without a walk and a season-high eight strikeouts.
Ross Ohlendorf is 3-6 in 11 road starts this season with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Teams are hitting .302 against him on the road and just .244 against Ohlendorf at PNC Park. This afternoon will be his first career appearance at Wrigley Field.
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-3
- Jake Fox - 0-for-3
- Kosuke Fukudome - 0-for-3
- Derrek Lee - 1-for-3
- Alfonso Soriano - 0-for-2
- Geovany Soto - 2-for-3 with a double
- Ryan Theriot - 0-for-3
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Couple of things:
1)Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 4 yeaterday
with a HR and a BB...bringing his average up to .240...on a very small sample.
2)With other batter's picking up the slack (at this point) It's time for Lou to give up the dream that Soriano will
have one of his patented hot streaks.
Send him down with a manufactured injury
to clear his head...and work on his swing....With Sept.1rst around the corner
this is the last opportunity to do that.
Just get another win today...(if we play).
Starting Line-up:
Fukudome CF
Bradley RF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
Fox LF
Fontenot 2B
Soto C
Miles SS
Harden P
Phil, thanks for posting the lineup
Your welcome!
Looks like lots of rain, or scattered at least.
Phil, the weather is concerning. They think the game will begin on time but there could be delays.
I just hope the offense is still patient and tries to win the game instead of 'getting it in'.
And for the record ... I do not understand sitting Jeff Baker and playing Aaron Miles at all.
The backend of the lineup has too many holes, automatic outs, against a very good starter.
Just traded automatic outs.
neil did lou say anything bout his plans with soriano?
I have not heard/read anything yet. As I mentioned in the game preview, I think that is the right move.
Glad to actually see Soriano not in the line up.
Theriot is sick, that is the reason for Miles in the lineup.
Also, Zambrano will make a rehab start for Peoria on Thursday which would put him back in the rotation during the next homestand against the Nationals.
This just seems like another one of Lou's typical days that he would rather get players an off day rather than put the nail in the coffin of a sweep. Hopefully this can be like Friday night where the "B" lineup put up big numbers.
Theriot was sent home and might not fly with the team to San Diego tonight. Miles will be at short for at least the next two games will be my guess.
Andres Blanco cannot come off the 'DL' until Thursday ... placed on 'DL' on August 4.
Actually, Theriot has needed a break for some time...He never really got it in Colorado.
I'm so happy not to see Soriano in the line-up...but then you have to counter
balance that with putting up with
watching Miles and Fontenot...vs
Theriot/Baker.
What an absolutely strange season it has been.
It doesn't surprise me Fuld is not starting after his run in the ivy yesterday...but what a beautiful catch.
...Aaron Rowen lite!!!lol
Ha... Zambrano saying he's getting on a new workout program.
There is going to be a delay.
At least the same amount of rain should arrive in St. Louis as does in Chicago and at about the same time. So any hardships that it may cause for the Cubs on this travel day, will also be the same for the Padres.
Gary, great point. I am a little concerned now on how Harden will pitch. He completed his warmup. Could see a lot of Caridad today.
Miles playing short? There's and 0 fer guarantee. He's useless and I hope when Lilly comes back tomorrow they DFA him.
Patrick, with Theriot sick and not flying with the team tonight Miles will not be DFA'd tomorrow.
Andres Blanco cannot be activated for another week, so Miles will be a Cub for a while.
I would rather see them let him go and bring up Darwin Barney. Miles has been a waste of a roster spot all year. Very disappointing. Says how much LaRussa can get out of players.
You could also say it shows how much Lou does not get out of his players.
The old guy's work-in-progress grading system is likely a little ill-suited for game day discussion, but we are all trying to figure out where the Cubs are as a team--and individually. So I'm thinking how to grade hitters, starting pitcher and relievers. I came up with the letter grades A, B+, B, C and D.
An A hitter is productive about 40 times per hundred AB's with a hit, a sac fly, a walk, e.g., a B+ guy about 35 times per 100, a B guy 30 times per 100, a C guy 25 and a D guy 20 times per 100.
For starting pitchers an A guy has a productive and/or quality outing about 16 times per 20 opportunities. A B+ starter is productive 14 times out of 20, a B guy 12 times, a C guy 10 times and a D guy about 8 times.
For relief pitches, an A guy closes or holds 9 times in 10 opportunities, a B+ guy about 8 times, a B guy 7 times, a C guy 6 times and a D guy about 5 times.
Examples of A hitters include Pujols, Chipper Jones, Jon Maurer, D. Jeter, Chase Utley and ARAM. A starting pitchers include Halliday, Santana, Sabathia, Dan Haren and Lincecum. A relievers include Rivera and Nathan.
I haven't finished thoughts on the Cubs. But I tentatively have ARAM a borderline A, and Lee and Theriot at B+. Should be B+s are Soriano and Bradley, who I think are no better now than C's. I'm judging Guzman now to be a B+ and Marmol and Grabow B's with upside. Mixing present and potential, Dome and Soto should/could be B + players.
We don't have an A pitcher now. I have Lilly and Harden tentatively at B+ and Z, D and Wells at B. To be developed (or shared here) are the rest of the
player grades, what it takes to be an elite team, and what to do with the players we have. Off the top, I'm guessing that an elite team needs a couple of A's, 4 or 5 B plusses and 5 or 6 B's.
All of these musings may be better thought about on off days or after the season, but what the heck, we're in a rain delay.
JimK, The thing about baseball that makes it so great...is it allows for those types of musings...One can take a small bite and be satisfied while another may go for the whole 9 course meal before they've had enough...and been equally satisfied.
I had a cousin in NH...30 years ago...before computers...kept every statistic on the Red Sox himself.
After work...he either played softball
or was busy listening to the Red Sox and keeping his stats up to date....
How he managed to get and stay married
along the way to raising 5 kids...I'll
never know...but today he is still a
Red Sox (and Patriots) season ticket holder.
All power to you my friend...I have neither the inclination nor time to go through those types of calculations...
but I would be interested in the results.
neil when are we starting?
No word yet. They are going to try.
WGN Radio is speculating 4:30pm.
No official word
2 more hours???????? is the rain that bad in chicago
Yep ... line coming through. Here is a link.
http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/local/USIL0225?from=recentsearch
It looks like they could get in about an hour of playing time before the next round moves in, but I guess they firgure that it's not worth it. I see the rain stayed north of St. Louis and they'll get their game in. At least the Pads are beating the Cards. Maybe their flight will not be able to get out when the storms move in later.
Ok...any thoughts on Boras/Strasberg/the Nats/...or Boras hold court on the top three picks of the draft...and none of them signed?
Hopefully it is the beginning of the end of Boras holding the draft hostage.
That much money should never be given to a rookie. I thought the same about Prior as well...
Yes...wouldn't it be nice for the game if Boras could no longer get a deal done.
Even Shark...how do you give a no trade
clause to a rookie?
If Stasberg doesn't sign with the Nats
for whatever they offers...(reportedly much more than Prior's deal)...then he's nuts...he could blow out his arm in a
Bill Moeller second....Then where is he?
Nagoya, I hope.
OK....I'm home now....thanks for holding the game up for me Neil... lol
Now let's play ball!!
Sorry, I could not bring you Cubs' baseball today.
At least I'm getting to watch some golf. Good battle going right now.
Just got back down here to the Texas heat after a week with relatives in "cool" Colorado Springs. Saw one Cubs/Rockies game last weekend but that was enough torture for one trip. However, I did totally enjoy a couple of Sky Sox vs. Nashville Sounds and Memphis Redbirds contests, getting to take a look a several very promising young players on each team. Cubs flasback: also saw Matt Murton and Corey Patterson in living color. Missed reading the comments of all the great posters but to be honest, it was rather nice to ignore the Cubs in their Rockies and Phillies series. Big baseball story down this wasy is the way the Texas Rangers are hanging very tough...just took 2 of 3 from Boston and only a meltdown by their closer Francisco on Friday night prevented a sweep. Boy do the Rangers have some impressive young ballplayers with a few more in the minors soon to contribute big time. With all that has happened and is happening with the Cubs, just don't see any playoffs in the near future of them. Hate to face the fact but they are hard to ignore.
Charles...Nothing like a true pennant race with a GOOD team. Texas SHOULD be excited...it's their first true race...I believe...and they have a nice team.
Glad you had a nice time...except for the Cubs game.
Game called according to wgn radio.
No way they lost the park...
This was because of ESPN, I bet...
Unless we just wanted to get off to our west-coast trip.
I think it has to do with flying west. Very long night. The Padres and Cardinals had a brief delay and are still playing.
Plus with the long delay, I would imagine Harden would not have been able to pitch. Would have likely seen Caridad.
Also, the Pirates play three night games at Wrigley Sept. 29 - Oct. 1. Likely a day-night doubleheader.
Just read my post and definitely need to do a better job of proofreading. Maybe the week layoff has dulled my already questionable typing skills or perhaps just can't read what I write anymore. Oh well, I know we all generally overlook such problems....we know what we meant to say, don't we. Sorry the Cubs are not playing this afternoon since I was ready to get the candid views of all of you out there. Thanks, Neil, for your continued hard work!
Delay now in St. Louis ... nope, playing through the rain.
Cards leave for LA after the game.
Just put the tarp on in St. Louis ... just updating.
Neil, who do you think goes tomorrow?
Harden or Lilly?
I don't know. I think they should push Harden a couple of days and keep Lilly on track. With Harden warming up today they could use that as his side session and let him pitch game 2 instead of Dempster. Allow Dempster to get an extra day as well as Randy Wells.
Suzy, they are keeping everyone on regular rest.
Lilly on Monday
Dempster on Tuesday
Wells on Wednesday
With Harden to pitch in the Dodgers series
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090816&content_id=6452302&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc
My guess would be that the make up would be on the final series of the year and be an if needed game.
Yep, as I mentioned above likely a day-night doubleheader on Sept 29 or Sept 30.
Sorry missed it.
I can't remember the last time there were this many rain outs. Damn, I am sure the Cubs would have won today. Now they have to win a double header and we all know how hard that is to do even against the Pirates. Also, now Gorzelanny has been pushed into the Dodgers series. Not what I wanted to see happen. At least the Cards and Pads will get in a lot later than the Cubs.
the Pads are beating the Cards right now...but I was just looking at the standings, and saw something I even overlooked before.
Do you guys realize that we have to have a 9 game swing just to be tied with the Cardinals?!?! Right now, barring the outcome of the game, we are 6 back in the win column, and 3 back in the loss column. That's a 9 game swing that we're hoping for. Additionally, in the Wild Card, we are 4 games back in the win column and 2 back in the loss column for a 6 game swing total. Unfortunately, in that case, you're hoping that 4 teams ahead of you (Rockies, Giants, Marlins, Braves) all lose, which is nearly impossible.
So, the only chance we have from here on out as I see it, is if we pull off a Rockies sort of September, going 21-1 to finish off the year...or even better.
It's times like these where you start hoping that Bill Hall passes through waivers, and Hendry has the brain power to sign him, and get rid of Miles, because when Theriot is out of our lineup, we're VERY screwed. I don't think he gets enough credit for what he does, because when he's out of the lineup, boy, you sure notice it. In fact, I'd argue that when Theriot and ARAM are out of the lineup, you feel it most. We never felt it without Bradley, Soriano, Fukudome, Fontenot, Soto, or even Lee early on. But ARAM and Theriot are so integral to our lineup, and I hope we get a back-up for him like Hall who can play almost any position and has power we so desperately need right now.
It's quite clear that we need offensive support. I can only hope the Pads close this one out, otherwise we're looking at a 10 game swing
Aaron, while indeed our chances are
extremely slim...they are not done.
-We are 3.5 out of the wild card (assuming Col. beats Fla in game 2.
Col and SF play each other 5 more times.
Atlanta is not infallible and then there is the Marlins.
Any way you cut it...we need to get Hot and WIN to get into the playoffs...if we do less than that...we don't deserve it anyway.
I don't anticipate we make the playoffs
at this point...but stranger things have happened.
Remember...in '69 the Mets were behind
us 8 1/2 games on August 17th.
One day...that role will reverse...and we WILL be the Miracle Cubs. Probably
not this year...BUT if healthy we do have the type of starting rotation that can put together a hot streak.
WHAT IF...Soriano And Bradley got hot at the same time? Unlikely...billion to one odds...but it sure would be fun to watch.
The Cardinals just came back in the ninth against Heath Bell ... five games back.
Well, now it's essentially 10 games behind. I watched the Cards come back against one of the most dominant closers this year, Heath Bell, with only his 2nd blown save of the year. Think we could've done that? Think again. WOW!!! I'm sorry to say it, but if we make the playoffs, hell indeed has frozen over, and we will go all the way to the World Series. But we all know that ain't happening, so I raise my glass, and make a toast, "here's to next year...maybe it'll happen then"
By no means am I an optimist, but I think looking at this thing as a 9 game swing or a 6 game swing is the wrong way to look at it. Here's what I'm thinking.
We are 5 games out right now. The Cardinals have won 9 of their last 11. They are due to cool down a little. It's the law of averages. There are about 28 game between now and when we play the Cardinals again. If some how we can pick up 3 game on them from now until that series we could be in good shape. If we are 2 games out when that series starts and can win 2 of 3 then we will only be 1 game out with the last 10 or so games left. I know this is gonna be a hard road, but that is the roadmap I see us taking, if we're gonna do this. These next few games would be a good place to start with St. L at the Dodgers and us playing the Padres. I realize the chances of us making the playoffs are slim but this thing is far from over...the is baseball people...anything can happen and it wouldn't be a surprise. ARAM comes back tomorrow...Lilly and Z come back soon. We can do this thing. Keep the faith!!!
We're also 3.5 out of the wild card with a month-plus left in the season. I'm still confident if we can just get everyone healthy.
The injuries have made a good (not great) team mediocre.
And remember. If we can just get into the playoffs, it'll only take one win to just be better than the 07 and 08 teams.
I'm with Gmmiller. Keep the faith, Faithful.
Its nice to see some Cubs fans keeping the faith. There is over a month left and we have like 27 of our next 31 games against teams with losing records( something close to that). We can defiantly do it, just got to believe like Gmmiller and Matt
For us oldtimers and those interested in the history of the Cubs....I just posted in the community section a link to a video interview with Jack Brickhouse.
I don't know how long the link will be valid...it's on the home page of wttw, the pbs station in Chicago.
Back, Back, Hey Hey!!!
I have to agree with the pessimists. I have been a Cub Fan my whole life and played and know the game, but we are done this year. The 10 game swing won't happen with this team, proof is watchng the Colarado series and seeing that we cannot compete with them. Then, we go home and get our asses kicked by Philly. Meanwhile St. Louis wins 6 of 7 or what ever theyn did. NOW we are 5 games out and we have our 125 million dollar LF who is our worst player off. and def., one of our best hitters on the shelf and needing to play a guy like Aaron Miles, 2 of your starters on the shelf, and having a horendous bullpen Marmol HAD so much talent and is ruined along with Hedilman and Gregg who just suck. NOBODY is hitting (well maybe last series against the worst team in the NL) It's pretty bad, after all the hype in spring training. Sorry, we need to clean house and get some hitters this winter so next year won't be disapointing.