Game One Hundred Fifty-Three: Cubs (79-73) vs. Giants (82-71)
Game Time - 9:15pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco
Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.91/1.43) vs. Tim Lincecum (14-6, 2.47/1.06)
Lou Piniella's crew will face one of the best in the game tonight in Tim Lincecum. The last time the Cubs faced Lincecum, Piniella ran up the white flag before the game's first pitch. The Cubs' skipper started his B-Team on a Thursday afternoon at Wrigley back on May 5. Piniella shouldn't make the same mistake again tonight.
Derrek Lee's status for tonight is uncertain. Lee aggravated his sore neck stealing second base in the ninth inning on Thursday. Micah Hoffpauir replaced Lee in the field in the bottom of the inning.
Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano and just winning a ballgame.
Carlos Zambrano is coming off one of his better starts of the second half. Zambrano did not pick up the win but was inline for the victory last Sunday against the Cardinals. Zambrano left the game with his team up 3-2 but Kevin Gregg blew another lead and Zambrano received another no decision. The Cardinals scored only two runs on five hits in six innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
After dealing with a lot of scrutiny in the media, and within the Faithful, Zambrano threw the ball very well against a team he has struggled mightily against over the past two seasons.
Carlos Zambrano is 6-2 in 14 road starts this season with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. In his last four starts, 1-0 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.
Big Z will make his first start of the year versus San Francisco. He is 4-1 in eight career games, seven starts, with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP ... at AT & T, 2-1 in three starts with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
- Rich Aurilia - 4-for-16 with 2 walks
- Fred Lewis - 1-for-2
- Edgar Renteria - 12-for-31 with a home run and 7 walks
- Aaron Rowand - 0-for-7
- Freddy Sanchez - 8-for-34 with a double and 2 walks
- Juan Uribe - 3-for-21 with a double, a home run and a walk
- Randy Winn - 6-for-11 with 2 doubles, a home run and 2 walks
The Cubs will get their second look of the year at 'The Freak'. Tim Lincecum is arguably the best pitcher in the National League (no lower than the fifth best) and could win his second straight NL Cy Young Award this year.
Tim Lincecum is coming off a rare, short outing and a loss. Lincecum lasted just four innings against the Dodgers and gave up five runs on four hits in four innings with four walks and three strikeouts.
Lincecum has recorded 247 strikeouts and walked only 63 in 211 1/3 innings.
If Lincecum is capable of struggling, he has over his last three starts. Lincecum is 1-3 in his last three starts with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.
Lou Piniella ran out a B-Team lineup when Lincecum faced the Cubs at Wrigley back on May 5. Lincecum beat Sean Marshall, who was still in the rotation at the beginning of the second month of the season, but the Cubs were in the game until the eighth inning and Jeff Samardzija happened.
Tonight will be Tim Lincecum's sixth career start against the Cubs. He is 3-1 in the first five with a 2.55 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.
- Mike Fontenot - 1-for-10
- Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-7
- Koyie Hill - 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk
- Micah Hoffpauir - 0-for-3
- Reed Johnson - 1-for-5 with a double
- Derrek Lee - 6-for-16 with 2 doubles and a walk
- Aaron Miles - 0-for-7 with a walk
- Aramis Ramirez - 1-for-13
- Bobby Scales - 1-for-3
- Geovany Soto - 0-for-3
- Ryan Theriot - 3-for-14 with a double
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Tonight's lineup:
Fukudome - RF
Theriot - SS
Ramirez - 3B
Hoffpauir - 1B
Baker - 2B
Scales - LF
Hill - C
Fuld - CF
Zambrano - P
Ramirez out with sore shoulder, Baker to 3B and Fontenot to 2B.
I think it is the same lineup with inserting them into there places like Bker is batting third and Fontenot batting 5th.
Where is Fox he can play 3B and the Cubs do not need Fontenot in the lineup he look clueless yesterday unless they are showcasing Fontenot.
Kevin gregg is out due to left sore knee.
Harden's stay with this team is over, especially if Piniella and Hendry are back. Read between the lines:
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4502251
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"He doesn't want to pitch and we respect his wishes," Piniella said. "I spoke with him briefly and he's not going to pitch any more. He's done a real nice job here and the staff has done a nice job of keeping him nice and healthy."
Harden, who has been limited to long toss after complaining of some arm fatigue, has struggled with high pitch counts and failed to make it past the fifth inning in his last four starts.
Eligible for free agency after the World Series, Harden lasted three innings last Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. He is 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 starts.
Harden said he was healthy and would have stayed in the rotation had the Cubs remained in contention for a playoff spot. He said it was a precautionary matter.
"We want to thank him for his contributions," Piniella said.
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The last line, "we want to thank him for his contributions" certainly seems code for ("don't let the door hit you on the way out")
If a pitcher asks his team not to pitch, and he's an impending free agent, usually that spells the end of his career with that team.
His career 3.39 ERA and 50-29 career record will be sorely missed, but I just don't think the Cubs will take another injury risk on this team, especially given the current payroll situation.
With Z, Lilly, and Dempster all making over $10 million/year, I don't think we can add him, as he'll likely cost $10 million at the very least. Funny thing is, I think him and his agents have a point. If guys like Gil Meche, Oliver Perez, etc. are making $10+million/year, and don't have the same stats to back up their earnings, and Harden does..then I could see the point. But from the Cubs perspective, I also see the risk in taking on another big contract, and so his time with the team is likely over.
Aaron, possibly, if we want to roll the dice on an injury risk...we could probably get Sheets a lot cheaper then Harden...But we might be better off suffering through an AA rookie like Cashner trying out.
New Lineup:
RF Fukudome
SS Theriot
1B Hoffpauir
3B Baker
2B Fontenot
LF Scales
C Hill
CF Fuld
P Zambrano
Thank you for posting the updated lineup ... and for the record, Gregg has been 'out' a majority of the year.
I know that but he might of just thrown his last pitch as a cub, thank you, hoping.
what a pathetic lineup...jeez
linceum might throw a no-hitter.
Theriot with the first hit...
Good thing we're not going to the playoffs...we're so banged up.
Rockies just beat the Cardinals
Neil, Aaron.JomK and all...I don't usually do this...but I'm going to ask for prayers.
My little brother, a diebetic amputee that went blind last year is not doing well. He's been 3 years in bed at either
a nursing home or hospital. He's been a fighter all the way...17 operations and a great attitude...never complains.
He was a voracious reader...dealt in antique books and pictures...and was a huge Cubs fan like me...I take him dinner most nights...and sometimes we listen to the games together...it gave us something good focus on.
Tonight, like the Cubs season, he is ebbing.
Suzy, you got it. I send you guys my best and will keep you in my prayers.
Prayers are with you and your brother.
Thankyou Gramps.
Hey Suzy,
Awfully sorry to hear that! keep your chin up lady :-)
Thanks for your kind words Baron.
I'm off to see him again. It was just a weak moment last night.
Suzy,
I will definitely do so....on a side note, however, I don't know how you feel about things like this, but there are alternatives for your brother not offered in the US.
Stem cell therapy has been very effective. I know of a great resource site on it:
http://www.istemcelli.com/
and EmCell Clinic in Ukraine (that one's far away, but it's one of the best in the world, as they've treated just about everything you can think of with stem cells with great results). Clinics use both adult and embryonic, so depending on your beliefs, either way, it should suit your needs.
I know of a case where a lay was blind from glaucoma for like 15 years, and went to this place called Integrative Medicine in Mexico, and they treated her with stem cells, and she walked out being able to see.
I'm not trying to push things on you or your brother, but it is a very promising treatment, and worth at least looking into
I'll keep you both in my prayers
Another bad throw by Theriot, Hoffpauir short-armed and got the error.
Z pitching like an ace tonight.
Theriot with a nice single up the middle to plate Kosuke
Good recovery by Z not allowing the single by Lincecum to rattle him.
Great hustle by Z ... and a nice slide at second by Fuld
First, Suzy, my prayers have been said.
Second, Neil after the emails, I did try going to the site via Google, and was able to sign in. I'm not sure what that means since 'chinery is not one of my strengths.
Thirdly, Z is pitching well for the "Who" tonight--as in who are these guys in the starting lineup with Z.
Let's hope Z continues and that the pen is ready when needed.
Jim, thanks for the prayers...
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Z is amazing tonight...I think he was stung by the earlier comments...Good to see him fighting.
Little Sammy gets a hit against the Big Unit
It worked Neil...Double Thanks...I'm signing off for the night.
What a great game by Carlos Zambrano ... CUBS WIN!