Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/29/09

By Neil on September 29, 2009 42 Vote 0 Votes

Game One Hundred Fifty-Six: Cubs (81-74) vs. Pirates (59-96)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.68/1.33) vs. Kevin Hart (4-8, 5.38/1.70)

Updated - 6:05pm C.T. - Kevin Gregg Done for Season

According to a report from ESPN Chicago, Kevin Gregg will not pitch again for the Chicago Cubs this season. Gregg is a free agent at the end of the year and many do not think Gregg will be re-signed by the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs begin their final homestand of the season tonight with the first of four against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs have just seven games remaining before packing it in for the winter ... then the work will begin for the Cubs' front office.

The Cubs are one win away from posting their third consecutive winning season. Not the way most figured the Cubs would finish the season but a goal still that must be accomplished.

Lou Piniella's crew is 9-2 against the Pirates this year but Pittsburgh is coming off a very successful series against the Dodgers. The Bucs took three of four from Los Angeles at PNC and are looking to finish the year on a positive note.

Derrek Lee is expected back in the starting lineup after missing the final three games of the Giants' series. Kevin Gregg passed his tests on Sunday and is expected to be available out of the pen for the remainder of the season. Gregg's time with the Cubs is reportedly coming to end ... he is not expected to be re-signed this winter.

Tonight is all starts with Ryan Dempster and just winning a ballgame ...

Ryan Dempster is finishing his season with an impressive run. Dempster will make two more starts (including tonight) this year and if everything goes as planned Dempster will reach his goal of pitching 200 innings this season. Despite spending time on the DL, Ryan Dempster has the chance to be the only Cubs' starter to reach the 200-inning mark (Ted Lilly - 170, Rich Harden - 141, Randy Wells - 158 1/3, Carlos Zambrano - 163 1/3).

Dempster has put together an impressive September. He is 2-1 in his last five starts with a 1.73 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP (his lowest ERA of any single month and second lowest WHIP of the year) and has pitched into and through the seventh inning in his last three outings.

Dempster has allowed only three earned runs on 19 hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts in 23 innings spanning his last three games (1-0) ... for those scoring at home that is a 1.17 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.

Ryan Dempster is 6-3 in 12 starts at Wrigley this season with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP ... against the Pirates this year, 1-0 in two starts with a 8.71 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP. Dempster beat the Pirates the last time he faced them on September 8. He allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Dempster has a chance to post a 12-win season if he can limit his free passes ... and receive run support while on the mound.

Ronny Cedeno - 1-for-2
Ryan Doumit - 2-for-9
Jason Jaramillo - 3-for-5 with a double
Garrett Jones - 1-for-3 with a home run
Andy LaRoche - 1-for-5
Andrew McCutchen - 1-for-4
Lastings Milledge - 2-for-7 with a walk
Brandon Moss - 0-for-1 with a walk
Steve Pearce - 1-for-2 with a double and a walk

The Cubs will get their second look of the year at Kevin Hart in a Pirates uniform. Hart has struggled mightily since the Cubs dealt him to Pittsburgh before the break. Hart is 1-7 with a 6.93 ERA with the Pirates, his only win came on August 17 against the Brewers.

Kevin Hart has the ability (and stuff) to be a very successful big league pitcher but he has yet to put it together. Hart struggles with consistency and throwing strikes. Once he gets in trouble he starts nibbling around the plate. The Cubs must make him throw strikes like they did on September 9. Hart walked six batters in five innings ... a season-high in free passes for a former top prospect of the Chicago Cubs.

Hart is coming off a loss to the Reds. He gave up eight runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. In his last four starts, 0-4 with an 8.14 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. Hart has walked 13 and struck out 13 in his last 21 innings.

The last time Kevin Hart pitched at Wrigley, he beat the Astros 12-3 on July 30 after six very good innings of work (arguably his best outing as a Cub) ... then was traded to the Pirates shortly after the 27th out was recorded.

Jeff Baker - 0-for-1 with a walk
Mike Fontenot - 1-for-3 with a walk
Kosuke Fukudome - 1-for-2 with a walk
Koyie Hill - 1-for-3
Micah Hoffpauir - 1-for-1 with a home run and 2 walks
Derrek Lee - 0-for-2 with a walk
Bobby Scales - 1-for-3 with a double
So Taguchi - 0-for-1
Ryan Theriot - 0-for-2

Let's Talk Cubs Baseball....

JimK

Who knows how it will end, but Jason Kendall, Jason Kendall, just hit a 3 run HR off Hudson Street to tie the Rockies in the 9th for the Brewers. Street's line looks like one of Gregg's bad ones.

Good night sports fans. I have to get up sometime in the morning. LOL

JimK

Rockies rally from down 2-1 to lead 5-2 in the 7th. Marquis is the pitcher of record--giving up the two runs in 6 IP. Braves had their 7 game win streak snapped by Florida. Rockies could lead by 3 games with 5 to play after tonight.

I sure wish we were in the Rockies shoes, but we simply didn't earn that opportunity. We likely win 85, and that will seem like an achievement in the retrospection of the off-season. Too many things went South to have won even 85.

John G.

82 Wins!!

ANOTHER WINNING SEASON!!! YAY!!!!

Well it's not what we wanted but it's better than a sharp stick in the eye.

JimK

You've pitched well to shut out any major league team. Demp does it!!!!!

John G.

Pat Hughes said it was Dempster's first shutout as a Cub. I assume he meant complete game shutout. I have to think he has held other teams scoreless, but maybe not a complete game.

Damn these guys are playing great now that Bradley and Sorriano are shut down. Of course it WAS the Pirates.

Neil

That was Dempster's first complete game shutout as a Cub and the third of his career. Dempster's last complete game was against the Braves on June 11, 2008.

Dempster has put together scoreless outings as a Cub, but this was his first complete game shutout.

Jim C (Tinley Park, IL)

NATION REPRESENT!

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

Recognize.

SuzyS

Nice complete game shutoiut by Dempster!!!

CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!!

John G.

Remember how Dempster sucked as a closer? Maybe they can turn Gregg into a starter.

NAAAHHHHH!!!!!

JimK

Fuld has another excellent game with 3 hits and solid D. New faces are emerging all over the place.

Oh, if we can work some magic re. the corner OF positions in the off-season. Bradly has to be gone. Soriano likely stays. We'll hope he regains some form. I, for one, don't mind an $18 mil guy on the bench or platooning--if he doesn't. Despite Lou thinking a new CF, and Dome in right, I prefer a big bat in RF.

SuzyS

Agreed. JimK...thanks for the info on

free agent draft picks. It was appreciated.

SuzyS

Marquis finished with 6 IP and 2 earned runs...4-2 lead. Not bad.

John G.

I hope the homeplate umpire was wearing a cup.

JimK

For the non-viewers, Micah replaced DLee at first at the start of the 8th. He was horizontal when he caught the foul ball.

Neil

Thanks Jim ...

JimK

Micah's layout to grab the foul ball will help Demp get through the 8th. What a play!

Neil

GREAT CATCH BY MICAH!!!

He's MONEY in the field tonight!

SuzyS

If he got regular ab's he'd hit as well.

He's one of those guys that has to play regularly to produce.

JimK

Marquis has given up 2 runs, 5 hits and 4 walks in 5 IP, and his team trails in a key game. The Braves trail late by 1 to Florida. It's hard to criticise 15 wins, but he hasn't done much in Septermber--again.

SuzyS

That was always Marquis MO...Great first half...fades at the end...It was no mistake he never got to start with the Cubs/Cards in the playoffs.

I gess we'll see what happens this year.

SuzyS

One of these days. Pittsburgh might get good again...right now...they are the difference between a winning and losing

season for us...doesn't say much about us this season...

Would like to see us beat the good teams on consistant basis someday.

The thing is...if we would have dumped Bradley and DL'd Soriano in early August

we might have made the playoffs this year.

To the end, this team was maddening.

Dorasaga

I heard that too, and my grain of salt spilt. The Pirates are on top, according to one of the few advanced that measure total ranges (Ultimate Zone Rating, available on fangraphs). But they are below the Reds, Phillies, while above the Roc and the Card.

How about the Rockies and Jason Marquis? Marquis just got out of some big jams with 2 earned runs. By reputation, they got one of the best double play combo, Barmes and Tulo. I can see how Marquis could survive as long as he induces more batters to hit into the ground, a luxury he might not have had while with the Cubs...

SuzyS

Actually Dorsaga, that used to be the recipe for success at Wrigley...ground ball pitcher with strong defense.

We never seem to achieve the defense part of it anymore.

JimK

Jones, Tinley Park hasn't hurt us tonight. He does have 20 HR's which is good for his half season. Demp pitches out of the leadoff double.

JimK

Agustin....My saying is that a big shot is a little shot that kept shootin'. I know you would like to see Baker get a lot of AB's. I'd like to see him get a shot at a full-time job. If he keeps shootin', he keeps playing.

At the start tonight, the Len and Bob said the Pirates were a top defensive team. They sure are stumbling tonight.

Neil

DLee with RBI number 110 and 111

Jim C (Tinley Park, IL)

Doumit really sucks catching the ball the guy has dropped 10 of hart's pitches.

JimK

Yo DLee! He can pick it.

Geo's base loaded DP was frustrating.

Back in the 60's, when men were men, helmets started being worn by most hockey players--guys like Hull and Mikita whom I got to see four or five times a year. One of the last holdouts was Gordie Howe, of the the Red Wings--the Babe Ruth of hockey. When he finally relented, he had the following exchange at a post-game press conference:

Reporter, Why would you wear a cup--but not a helmet. Gordie slowly responded, "I figured I could always get some guy to do my thinking for me." The press room exploded in laughter. That has to be one of the great sports responses of all time.

Neil

Great defense by Lee, started the DP from his knees.

JimK

You are a tough grader...Agustin.

With the Dempster new-style helmet talk from the booth, I'll tell my Gordie Howe helmet story a little later--unless someone says that I already have. (I don't keep track of 'em.)

agustin rexach

Well jimbo, this season was a wake up call.

And I believe we need youg guns playing and

hungry and effective management in the future.

:)

agustin rexach

If we get rid of rothchild, Gregg and Bradley

before the offseason, I believe it's a good start.

Piniella should retire and Getting Duncan would

be superb! Let's finish strong! Baker should be

a good bench player.

JimK

Baker just keeps doing productive things. This time a 2 run double. Where does he play?

I may have some skinny on Fox after his alma mater's H.S. football game Friday night. Two or three of his coaches and a couple of others are going to be questioned. The early report is that he always was respectful of coaches and adults when in H.S.

SuzyS

Fox must have really pissed them off.

Only Lee and Aram have a higher slugging percentage...Someday, I'd like to learn what really happened with him.

Other than that...this line-up is Ok.

I wonder if Gregg will ever get shot at closer ever again....anywhere. I doubt it.

Neil

Suzy, not for a team that wants to win. I actually do not see how he could be a setup man for a team that expects to win.

John G.

He is incapable of closing anything. Mrs Gregg probably has to yell at him to close the door when he leaves the house. He doesn't even own the house because he screwed up the closing.

JimK

Interest should focus on 4 through 8 in the order. They're all hoping for regular work and/or a spot on the 25 man roster next year. Outside of Dome, Lee and Demp, the lineup costs less than $3 mil. (Of course, we have a lot invested in the bench.) LOL

SuzyS

Problem is...it might be that way for a few years until Soriano fades into the sunset....Jim

Neil

Tonight's lineup:

Theriot - SS

Fukudome - RF

Lee - 1B

Hoffpauir - LF

Baker - 3B

Fontenot - 2B

Soto - C

Fuld - CF

Dempster - P

John G.

"Updated - 6:05pm C.T. - Kevin Gregg Done for Season"

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Kevin Gregg was done for the season in April.

Neil

I was waiting for that one ... sadly I cannot disagree.

JimK

I guess this countdown will go 7, 6, 5 ...1. We have shutdown. Demp should get a win tonight. Hart will want to leap over his old teammates in a single bound, but I don't think his underwear will let him (as the old Hanes commercials used to say.)

I did clarify in my own mind when draft compensation picks are awarded. Picks are awarded two ways: (1) If the free agent player is offered arbitration, refuses and signs elsewhere; and (2) If the player signs elsewhere prior to the December 1st date that ends the team's right to offer arbitration. A free agent offered arbitration has to reject going to arbitration by December 7th.

Type A and Type B free agents are compensated with draft picks. A team signing a Type A free agent loses its first round draft pick if the pick isn't #1 through #16. In the 1-16 case, the gaining team loses its second round pick.

A type A signing also gets the losing team a supplemental pick between the first round and the second round. In the case of losing a Type B free agent, the team gets only the supplemental pick between the first two rounds, and the gaining team loses nobody.

The main idea behind awarding draft picks is to compensate lower budget teams--who are expected to regularly lose some top players to higher budget teams.

Re. Harden who should be a Type A free agent (top 30% of players at his position according to several criteria), I would take the risk and offer another year at $7 mil. He'll likely reject that--giving us the picks. If he doesn't and counters at $9 mil, the decision could go either way. If he asks $10 mil or more, my guess is that we have him at $7 mil. That might cause us to make another salary reduction move.