Game One Hundred Forty: Cubs (72-67) vs. Reds (63-78)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 175
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago
Randy Wells (10-8, 2.84/1.22) vs. Johnny Cueto (9-10, 4.39/1.33)
Can Lou Piniella's crew tie their longest winning streak of the year? The Cubs have posted five victories in a row twice this season (May 10 - May 16 and July 22 - July 27). Not only would a win today equal their longest stretch of the season, a victory would give them double-digit wins over the Reds for the first time since 2006 (9-4 in the first 13 match-ups of 2009).
Alfonso Soriano will get a second opinion on his left knee before have surgery to repair the injury that has hampered him most of the year. Soriano's season is reportedly over but for some reason he feels the need for a second opinion on what should be a routine knee scope. According to multiple reports over the last week, Soriano's days as the Cubs leadoff hitter are over.
Quick note ... Friday was the first day since July 30 in which the Cubs won a game and the Cardinals lost a game, on July 30 the Cubs owned a half game lead in the Central Division.
Today it all begins with Randy Wells and not mailing in the remainder of the season.
Randy Wells is coming off another good outing and another hard-luck loss. Wells was once again the victim of no run support in his last start against the Mets. The Cubs managed only two runs and Wells surrendered two runs, one earned, on seven hits in six innings. Wells did not issue any free passes and struck out two in third straight quality start.
The Cubs keep talking about limiting Wells' innings but has yet to do it. If the Cubs want him in their rotation next season, and possibly beyond, they must shorten up his outings or skip one or two of his starts over the last three weeks of the season.
Randy Wells has been one of the few positives this season ... the Cubs need to make sure he is not a one-year wonder.
Wells is 6-4 in 11 home starts this year with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
Today will be Randy Wells' fourth start of the year against the Reds. He is 2-0 in the first three with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
- Jonny Gomes - 2-for-9
- Ryan Hanigan - 4-for-8 with a walk
- Paul Janish - 0-for-3
- Laynce Nix - 1-for-6
- Brandon Phillips - 3-for-8 with a walk
- Adam Rosales - 1-for-4
- Joey Votto - 1-for-5 with a walk
The Cubs will get their fourth look of the year at one of the best young right-handers in the league in Johnny Cueto. Cueto has a bright future but has tallied a lot of innings and thrown a lot of pitches in his first two years under Dusty Baker. Cueto has been very good of late after a rough July (1-4 in six starts with a 8.16 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP) and August (1-2 in four starts including a trip to the DL with a 8.22 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP).
Cueto is coming off an impressive win against the Braves in which he allowed just one run on three hits in six innings with two walks and nine strikeouts. In his last two starts, two runs on six hits in 11 innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks.
Today will be Cueto's 15th road start of the year. He is 6-5 outside of Great American with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
Johnny Cueto is 1-2 in three starts this season versus Chicago with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.
- Milton Bradley - 0-for-3
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-9 with a double and a walk
- Jake Fox - 0-for-2
- Kosuke Fukudome - 5-for-18 with a double, a home run and a walk
- Koyie Hill - 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and a walk
- Micah Hoffpauir - 0-for-4
- Derrek Lee - 8-for-22 with 2 doubles, a triple and a walk
- Aaron Miles - 0-for-4 with 2 walks
- Aramis Ramirez - 4-for-14 with a double, 2 home runs and 3 walks
- Alfonso Soriano - 8-for-18 with 3 home runs
- Geovany Soto - 5-for-14 with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run and a walk
- Ryan Theriot - 8-for-21 with 2 doubles
Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....
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Today's lineup:
Fukudome - CF
Theriot - SS
Lee - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Bradley - RF
Soto - C
Scales - LF
Blanco - 2B
Wells - P
Neil (and Suzi),
Picking up on Suzi's remarks from your game summary yesterday, I do think EY jr would be a perfect fit for us, but I'd rather not do a multiplayer deal with Lilly included.
My question....what about Z and Harden straight up for EY? Z needs to get out of Chicago and Harden....well, we saw yesterday what we get 50% of the time with him.
Just wondering.
Scott, Harden is a free-agent after the season. The Cubs have not given any indication if they will try to re-sign him or not. It will depend on how much payroll they can add once Ricketts takes over. Right now they have almost $116 million committed to 10 players ... not counting arbitration eligible players or automatic renewels (0-3 men).
As for trading Zambrano. He is owed a ton of money and has a no-trade clause. Moving him to a team like the Rockies is unlikely considering their payroll limitations. There is only a few teams Zambrano could be traded to if he is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
You don't Z would trade the downside of pitching in Colorado for the upside of hitting there? LOL. Hell, look Cy Marquis! Unbelievable.
I am all for moving Z for young position talent, but not straight up for one prospect, I don't care who it is. Z is more valuable than that.
Scott...I replied on the previous thread.
Kosuke's hitting coach is back with the team
Milton looks like a different hitter when not hitting in the two-hole.
You're right Neil...Lou shouldn't mess with that.
I hope we get Wells some run support today...he deserves it.
And a tip o the cap to the CCO boys at Mullen's today.
More ugly defense and a bizarre play. Errors by Lee and Ramirez in the inning...
Good play by Theriot to cut down Cueto at the plate
Third error of the inning, Theriot dropped the ball.
Wells is holding it together rather well...pardon the pun.
Theriot makes an error...bases loaded.
DLee/ARAM/Theriot all make errors...we should be out of it.
AND people want to try Soriano at second?
Excellent job by Wells to pitch around the horrible defense and just allow 2 runs.
That could have been a lot worse...still 2 runs on three errors.
Wells at 53 pitches after 3.
We need offense.
Another infield single on Theriot...
Another hit past Theriot. Should have made the play. They really need to move him to second, just not a big league shortstop.
The defense has really let Wells down today.
Today is not Randy Wells' fault. He will be given the loss, if they lose, but it was the Cubs' defense that cost him.
While there are 'only' three errors at this point. Theriot had two plays a big league shortstop must make and Derrek Lee kicked another one.
All five of the runs Wells allowed just be unearned.
Wells walks in a run...Lou brings in Patton???...with the bases loaded?
The post office is open...and the Cubs are in line to mail it in.
If they are trying to protect Wells for next year...they should start one of the other young pitchers next time out.
On what do you watch you games on? MLB-TV
I have MLB Extra Innings and my Saturday games are blacked out..
I'm on radio...try TV Ants.
LET'S GO OFFENSE! LET'S GO!!!
Soto just missed a home run, hit just below the basket.
Now it's a game...lets hold em
Justin Berg should be in right now. No reason for Kevin Gregg to pitch again in a Cubs' uniform.
Agreed
Theriot swings at the first pitch after Kosuke walks to start the inning. Speechless?!?!?!
SOTO!
With his second double, tied the game and got Wells off the hook.
Now we have to win it....was it a close play at the plate?
Yes it was. Perfect relay from Stubbs to Janish to Miller. It was the right call by Quade to send him. It took a perfect play to get the out.
Thanks Neil,
We need to score a run or 2 this inning
so Rodriquez is irrelevent.
Why? Why?
Aaron Miles?
Why is Miles in there?...Mr.automatic out
along with Soriano.
If Aaron Miles is still on the roster
coming out of Spring training next season
...I may have to switch team allegiance for A year.
Unless we can straighten Marmol out...we might have to sign a closer.
Suzy I don't think so. He was 8-for-8 in save opps since being named closer, and still is. He had a bad outing today.
Also John Gaub and Blake Parker are internal options. Can't keep spending and getting older.
Besides there is no one available worth having.
You're right Neil...I just hated seeing Carlos giving up 2 walks after 2 outs and then losing.
I wish Gaub were up to watch...and I'm not familiar with Parker.
I agree with you re Theriot...he is a gamer...but no shortstop....He's also fading a bit...didn't get enough rest during the season.