Game One Hundred-Seven - Cubs 2 Rockies 6
WP - Ubaldo Jimenez (9-9) LP - Sean Marshall (3-7) Save - None
The Cubs long weekend got off to a very bad start when Carlos Zambrano was scratched fifteen minutes before game time with a stiff lower back. Zambrano could not complete his warm ups and Sean Marshall was called in to duty. The injury to Zambrano was the same back problem that forced him out of his start after three innings in Florida. Zambrano was throwing long toss in the outfield when he felt the discomfort.
The Cubs scored the first run of the game after a leadoff walk by Kosuke Fukudome and a single by Milton Bradley put runners on first and second with no outs. But Derrek Lee grounded into his sixth double play of the year. While Fukudome scored and gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead, the offense could not give their bullpen any breathing room.
Sean Marshall barely made it through the first inning. He gave up three runs and tossed 41 pitches, the most he'd thrown since his last start on May 31 against the Dodgers. Marshall left after allowing three runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings. Marshall threw a grand total of 62 pitches, 43 for strikes and will probably not be available for the remainder of the series.
Jeff Samardzija put together his longest outing in the big leagues. Samardzija tried to keep his team close but Chris Iannetta hit a two run, opposite field homer in the fourth that put the game away. Samardzija surrendered two runs on five hits in four innings with a walk and a strikeout. Samardzija tossed 73 pitches in his four innings and like Sean Marshall, will likely be unavailable for the next three games.
Aaron Heilman allowed the Rockies sixth run in the seventh inning after a leadoff triple by Carlos Gonzalez and a bloop single by Todd Helton.
The Cubs offense had their chances early on ... and Derrek Lee nearly gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead in the third inning. The top of the lineup did their job but the middle of Lou Piniella's lineup could not drive them in. Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley, in his first game hitting out of the two-hole, were a combined 2-for-4 with four walks and two runs scored ... while Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto went 0-for-11 with a walk and grounded into two of the three double plays on the night.
Alfonso Soriano collected the Cubs' only RBI of the night with a broken-bat bloop single into shallow left center that plated Milton Bradley in the sixth inning. The offense walked six times but managed only five hits and finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position ... they stranded seven on base.
The Cubs dropped to seven games over .500 on the year with the loss and a game behind the Cardinals in the central. But more importantly, they could be forced to put Carlos Zambrano on the DL ...
Sean Marshall made his ninth start of the year and his first since the end of May against the Dodgers. Marshall began the game on a positive note by striking out Dexter Fowler. Carlos Gonzalez followed with a double down the right field line on a 0-2 pitch. Todd Helton singled to center on 2-1 pitch to tie the game at one.
Troy Tulowitzki doubled to left center ahead of a single to right by Brad Hawpe. The Rockies took a 3-1 lead after one inning ... and never looked back.
For one brief moment in the third inning, the Cubs looked like they were going to at least tie the game at three ... or take a one run lead. Kosuke Fukudome reached on a two-out single to center. Milton Bradley walked. Carlos Gonzalez robbed Derrek Lee of at least a bases clearing double. Lee launched a 1-1 pitch from Ubaldo Jimenez into left center. When Lee hit the ball it looked like it was going to leave the park but the ball stayed in and Gonzalez made a great catch at the wall to preserve the 3-1 lead.
The Cubs had a chance in the fifth with two on and no outs but a failed bunt attempt by Jeff Samardzija and a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Fukudome ended the threat.
Milton Bradley walked to start the sixth inning. Derrek Lee then hit a weak grounder to Tulowitzki but Omar Quintanilla could not handle his throw and dropped the ball ... with Bradley sliding hard into second. Lee reached on the error but Aramis Ramirez struck out.
After Geovany Soto struck out for the third time against Jimenez, Alfonso Soriano broke his bat and blooped a single into left center. Bradley scored the Cubs second run. Mike Fontenot swung at and missed a 2-2 pitch to end the inning.
The Cubs dropped to 3-4 on the 10-game trip with three left to go ... Saturday is a new day that will likely see a roster move or two.
Ryan Dempster is slated to face Jason Marquis on Saturday night.
is it true that the cubs own the worst fielding percentage in the nl neil?
No, the Cubs own the third worst fielding percentage in the NL ... ahead of the Diamondbacks and Nationals.
Disheartened and concerned. A very ominous start to a key week.
Not much else can be said at this point.
Do you think that Zambrano's body by Chumley has anything to do with his back problems? Geez multi-millionaire staff ace, it's not that complicated. Stay away from the club house food table, do some conditioning, and get a Select Comfort bed. What a crunch time wuss.
I missed the game...but someone said
Soriano limped a little...is that true...
did he look gimpy?
Looking at the August schedules if the Cubs are anything less than 4 1/2 games out at the end of the month it will be a positive sign. I think it is SF or Colorado for the WC so the Cubs need to win the division to make the playoffs in 09. Z with his now regular injury problems will not help that and puts a lot of pressure on the the rest of the rotation and middle relief.
The Mets acquire OF Jason Duboise from the Iowa Cubs. Duboise was batting .302.
I dont know what the Cubs got in return maybe money.
Just saw that Jason DuBois of the Iowa
Cubs was traded to the Mets...he'll be assigned to the Mets AAA...No word on
what the Cubs got yet.
The Cubs received the infamous PTBNL for Dubois
Where did you see that?
Thanks Neil
Here ya go ...
http://iowa.cubs.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090807&content_id=6299788&vkey=pr_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451
Thanks!
It looks like it's the White Sox who have claimed Rios. He's making $6 mil this year and then $10 to $12 mil for the next several years. With Thome's 13, Dye's 12, Contreras' 10 and Dotel's 6 likely going away after this season, the Sox have both need and cash. Adding Peavy and Rios would be two excellent pluses, although Peavy was costly in terms of talent.
The rumor that Soriano's limp was caused by his insistance on always carring his wallet in the same back pocket is not true and may have come from a demented mind.
A few of things:
- Bruce Levine said he would not be surprised if the Cubs look at John Smoltz
- The Cubs did not see Zambrano's injury coming. Z threw his side sessions during the week and there were no problems.
- According to Randy Bush, if they would have known Z was hurt they could have adjusted the rotation instead of inserting Marshall fifteen minutes befoe game time.
- Z headed back to Chicago for a MRI, to quote Randy Bush, "looks like a DL stint" could be in the near future.
As mentioned a few weeks back, Soriano and Z's value to the Cubs and anyone else in a (difficult) trade would benefit greatly if they stepped up their performances. But that doesn't seem to be in the offing. Where's the "Neil Policy" of max 4 year deals for position players and 3 years for pitchers when you need it? (I like 5 and 4 years too.)
The Yanks - Red Sox 15 inning game last night, won 2-0 on ARods 2 run homer in the 15th is being called a classic.
The all-time classic in my view was the Braves - Giants, 16 inning master piece in 1963 won 1-0 on Willie Mays homer in the bottom of the 16th at Candlestick Park. Both 42 year old Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal (about 30) PITCHED COMPLETE GAMES. Both are Hall of Famers as is Willie. Marichal threw 272 pitches in the win. Yes, I said, "272" pitches.
Gramps and I watched that game in separate pubs. I got punished for arriving home very late. Gramps didn't and was warmly recieved on his return. He had called home and shouted, "Don't pay the ransom. I've escaped!"
lol Jim K
Amazing amount of pitches, but that was normal for them back in the good ol' days! And we never heard of sore arms, but then again they did not have the agents they have now that tell the GM's what to do and how to do it.
If Z only needs like 5-10 dayss then we'll be ok, we can back date him to the 1st of August. Then with the Shark being stretched out like he was yesterday he should be able to start 1 or 2 games.
I would send down Shark today and bring up Stevens, then in four/five days i'd put Z on the DL and bring back The Shark.
You might say why wait to put Z on DL? Well we know the Shark wont be able to pitch for a few games, so send him down and let him have a bullpen session in Iowa. Then put Z on the DL and Shark can be called up due to injury and start.
For some reason I dont believe this is that bad of an injury, but Im no doctor, I think it was stiffness and Larry and Lou took precaution, and want an MRI to see if anything it strained or tight.
Can't pull up Stevens unless there is an injury for 10 days. Stevens was optioned on August 5 to make room for Aaron Miles.
Mitch Atkins has not pitched since August 3 and would likely be called up if the Cubs make a move today ... which it sounds like they will.
They are really talking Z to the DL. I agree with your thinking but Stevens is stuck in Iowa unless he is called up due to injury.
Thanks Neil! Then they gotta DL Z.
Hopefully its no more then 2 or 3 starts. And yes I know Z is overweight but dont just say the back stiffness is because hes fat, look at Harden and Reed Johnson. This should keep him fresh for the stretch run.
Neil who do u want to start for Z? I hope its only for 1 then Gorzelanny goes in as Lilly comes off the DL.
Neil am I correct; I heard Lilly is coming back around the 18/19?
I would like to see Mitch Atkins get a shot. If they back date Z to last Saturday, he should only miss one start. Take advantage of a young pitcher with good stuff that no one knows much about ...
On Lilly I am hearing the same time frame, either in San Diego or in LA, but during the West Coast trip.
I would think they would make one more move today. Playing with a short staff and the unknown of Dempster, as well as his history in that park, they should bring up Atkins, send down Samardzija and stretch him back out. Use the Zambrano DL stint to get Stevens back up.
"Baseball beat with Bruce Levine"...in the Chicago Tribune is reporting
Zambrano on the 15 day DL.
According to Levine, "The Cubs are most likely to call up Jeff Stevens to replace
Zambrano."
-No further info is available at this point.
start the fire sale!
That is not an option.
It is always an option.
Seriously guys and gals, with Z and Lilly on the DL the rotation is Harden, Demp, Wells, Gorzo & Marshall??. That isn't exactly a championship caliber staff. And I'm talking division championship.
I know I am incredibly fickle by nature and am ready to throw in towel quite easily. And I am nearly there. Unless proven otherwise tonight, the season is over...for me.
How is it always an option? Too many no-trade clauses and high priced talent that cannot be moved. Not to mention the non-waiver trade deadline as passed.
Please explain ...