Game One Hundred Forty-Three - Cubs 13 Brewers 7
WP - Aaron Heilman (3-3) LP - Yovani Gallardo (12-12) Save - None
For one of the few times this year the Cubs patience at the plate led to a win. The Cubs walked a season-high 12 times and the Brewers pitching staff hit three batters ... including Aramis Ramirez in the sixth with the bases loaded that forced in the eventual winning run. The Cubs pounded out 11 hits to go along with the 15 free base runners.
Derrek Lee walked four times and drove in three runs with a single and a double in his other two trips to the plate. Lee's three RBI on Tuesday night ran his season total to 101 ... the second time in his career Lee has topped the century mark in RBI (107 in 2005).
Ryan Theriot walked in each of his last four at bats. Theriot drove in a run and scored three of the Cubs' 13 runs.
Geovany Soto is finally coming alive at the plate. Soto tied the game at five with his 11th homer of the year in the bottom of the fifth and came through with a big two-out, two-run single in the sixth that gave the Cubs a three-run lead. Soto has driven in 12 runs in his last six games.
The Cubs scored their last eight runs on just four hits and plated at least one run in each of the last five innings.
The Cubs offense jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings against Yovani Gallardo. Ryan Theriot knocked in the game's first run with a two-out single in the second. Of Theriot's career-high 52 RBI this season, 27 have come on two-out hits.
Carlos Zambrano drove in the Cubs' second run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Derrek Lee followed three batters later with a two-out, two run double that gave Zambrano a comfortable lead.
Zambrano started the game very strong. He tied a season-high with eight strikeouts in the first three innings ... and even contributed at the plate. Zambrano finished with nine strikeouts, a new season high, but Zambrano allowed a long two-out single by Yovani Gallardo in the fifth to get the best of him.
Big Z lost it after the Gallardo single. He allowed seven straight Brewers to reach, threw 40 pitches and gave up five runs ... again, all with two outs. Zambrano went from putting together one of his best outings of the season to finishing with one of his worst. The Cubs' Opening Day starter allowed five runs on six hits in five innings with four walks and nine strikeouts. Zambrano threw 103 pitches and was bailed out by his offense.
Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect sixth inning and qualified for the win.
The Cubs' pen shutdown the Brewers offense until the ninth inning. Jeff Samardzija gave up the final two runs of the game.
The Cubs improved to seven games over .500 for the first time since August 9 and have won seven of their last eight games ...
Carlos Zambrano was excellent over the first 4 2/3 innings. Zambrano faced the minimum in the first and retired the Brewers in order in the second. A year and a day after his no hitter, Zambrano had no hitter stuff.
The Brewers first hit came in the third with one out, a triple to right center by Alcides Escobar. Zambrano struck out Yovani Gallardo swinging for the second out ... with the Cubs up by a score of 1-0. Zambrano walked Felipe Lopez on four pitches but struck out Corey Hart swinging to end the inning.
Zambrano allowed just a one-out walk to Prince Fielder in the fourth and retired both Jason Kendall and Alcides Escobar with ease to start the fifth.
With the Cubs up 4-0, Yovani Gallardo ripped Zambrano's first pitch over Bobby Scales' head in left. Gallardo trotted to first on what should have been a double. Felipe Lopez walked and Corey Hart followed with a double over Kosuke Fukudome's head in center. Gallardo and Lopez scored, 4-2 Cubs.
Ryan Braun lined Zambrano's first pitch to left, Hart scored the Brewers third run. Zambrano then uncorked a wild pitch that advanced Braun to second. Fielder was intentionally walked and Casey McGehee reached on a infield single to the hole at short ... that was originally ruled an error on Ryan Theriot.
Mike Cameron stepped in and singled to center. Braun and Fielder both scored, 5-4 Brewers ... and Zambrano stood in the middle of the diamond watching the play instead of backing up home plate. On the 40th pitch of the inning, Jason Kendall struck out swinging to end Zambrano's night.
Carlos Zambrano has just one win in his last seven starts dating back to late July.
After Milton Bradley struck out swinging with the bases loaded in the first, the Cubs got on the scoreboard in the second. Mike Fontenot walked to start the inning. Bobby Scales struck out on a 3-2 pitch, Fontenot stole second and scored on a single to right by Ryan Theriot.
Mike Fontenot reached on a swinging bunt up the first base line to start the fourth. With Fontenot running, Bobby Scales doubled off the wall in right. Fontenot had to pause before rounding second and had to stop at third. Carlos Zambrano then hit a 1-0 pitch into right center that plated Fontenot with the Cubs' second run.
After Ryan Theriot walked on four pitches (one of four, four-pitch walks on the night for the Cubs), Derrek Lee doubled to left center. The ball one-hopped the wall and hit off the bottom of the basket. Scales and Theriot scored and gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead.
Geovany Soto tied the game at five in the bottom of the fifth after Zambrano's five run meltdown in the top half. Soto hit his 11th homer of the year into the bleachers in deep left center into a 15 MPH wind.
With the game tied at five, Ryan Theriot walked with one-out in the sixth. Theriot stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Jason Kendall. Gallardo hit Kosuke Fukudome in the hand on a 2-2 pitch ... the first of three hit batters. Todd Coffey replaced Gallardo and walked Derrek Lee to load the bases with one out.
Aramis Ramirez dug in with the game tied at five and was hit on the elbow by on a 2-2 pitch from Coffey. Piniella said after the game Ramirez was fine. Theriot scored the go ahead run ... 6-5 Cubs.
Geovany Soto singled to center on a 3-1 pitch. Fukudome and Lee scored, 8-5 Cubs. Milton Bradley was robbed of a base hit on a nice pick by Prince Fielder but his throw to second was low and got past Escobar. Ramirez scored, 9-5 Cubs. Mike Fontenot followed with a single to left. Soto scored, 10-5 Cubs. Bobby Scales grounded into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play.
After a perfect seventh inning by Kevin Gregg, the offense went back to work.
Jeff Baker singled to right. Theriot and Fukudome walked to load the bases.
Derrek Lee walked on four pitches, the Cubs ninth free pass at that point, and forced in Baker with the 11th run of the game. Following a fly out to shallow left by Ramirez and Soto striking out looking, Milton Bradley was hit on a 1-2 pitch that forced in Theriot ... 12-5, Cubs.
Jeff Baker singled to right with one out in the eighth. Theriot and Lee walked for the fourth time to load the bases. Micah Hoffpauir pinch hit for Esmailin Caridad and walked to force in Baker with the Cubs' 13th and final run. Geovany Soto flied out to left center to end the inning.
19 ...
Rich Harden will face Braden Looper on Wednesday night.
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Tyler Colvin or James Adduci could be brought up from Double-A if Fuld's hand does not heal enough for him to play.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-16-cubs-bits-chicago-sep16,0,826965.story
I saw Colvin before TJ Surgery and he had a great arm. I have read that he is throwing the ball extremely well again.
I'd kill to see Colvin.
Even after the injury, Colvin had major league talent. He's just never been able to put it all together.
Maybe he can catch fire the last month/minus of the season.
With the Rockies loss, the Cubs are 4 out in the loss column. I'm trying to keep whatever faith I can...
The Rockies did it 07...
I've caught a few games recently online, and while we've won quite a few, none of them have been pretty. The Cubs continue to load the bases with less than 2 outs, and come up empty-handed and/or score just one run. It's really quite pathetic.
I'm sure many will point to the 13-7 score, and say the Cubs did an excellent job of getting on base and coming through with the big hits, but what I'm going to point out to you is astonishing...and very representative of this pathetic team of underachievers. (Neil, you mentioned this in your recap)...
Cubs stats:
12 walks
3 HBP
11 hits
1 reached on error
*only 3 extra base hits (2 doubles, 1 hr)
13 runs
And, one might say, "what the heck are you complaining about..we still got the win?"
Bradley left 5 runners on base all by himself, and would've had 8 left on base, had it not been for the hit by pitch. Fukudome, Fontenot, and Soto all continued to perform poorly with runners on...especially the bases loaded, striking out in crucial situations with RISP, less than 2 outs.
I do not like the way this team is constructed at all, and is it really to anyone's surprise that the teams we're beating up on have even worse problems than we have?!? We swept the Pirates, won 2 of 3 against the woeful Reds (couldn't even sweep them), and have taken the first 2 against the reeling Brewers. We have 3 against the Cards after this series, then 3 against the Brewers, then 4 against the Giants, then round out the season against the Pirates and D'Backs.
I think it's very reasonable to assume that even though we are now 5 1/2 back in the Wild Card (4 in the loss column)...and currently 7 games over .500----after games against the Cards, Brewers, and Giants coming up, I bet we'll be an even .500 team, barring some miracle collapse by the Cards, and Giants who are getting hotter every day.
Our offense just does not show up. How you can get on base a total of 27 times, and only come up with 13 runs is beyond comprehension. I can't think of an uglier offensive performance than we've seen from this abysmal team this year. Not even the Giants or Nats of recent years could compare to this class of clowns.
I thought before that I had answers to fix this team, but I really don't. Unless we trade a valuable piece to the rotation...thereby weakening one of our biggest strengths (ie.-trading Z, Lilly, or Dempster), I just don't see this team getting younger, which is absolutely the way to go to improve the team.
We are stuck with the following players (for better or worse): Lee, ARAM, Soriano, Fukudome, Z, and Dempster. Teams would lineup to take ARAM, but with all others...even Z at this point, we'd probably have to take on a good portion of their salary or another horrible contract just to move them. Lee's resurgent year might've salvaged some value...but get real...who is going to want a 34 year old first baseman who has only two 100+RBI campaigns to his credit?!? We'd never want to trade ARAM...mostly because we have nobody that can provide insurance at 3B in his departure. When you start looking at the roster from a logical standpoint (ie.-age, trade value, money owed, productivity, etc.), you begin to see that this team would have to trade valuable, cheap young guys like Guzman, Marmol, Fox, and Wells just to compete next year, thus making our roster exponentially worse off than it already is. The likelihood that we can recover from this mess is even worse when you put it in that perspective.
Furthermore, then comes news that Hendry has been all but assured of his job going into next season, and you're left wondering: "how does any owner in his right mind come into a situation where his GM has spent over $200+ million on horrible contracts with very little trade value, and he'll be saddled with for the next 4-5 years without any relief in sight...and still give the GM a vote confidence?!?" When you think about that....it makes you wonder how serious Ricketts really is about winning a World Series...or is he worried about upsetting someone's feelings like Hendry or Kenney's by firing them?!? If it's that...then he's subscribing to the Hendry playbook to please everyone, and that CLEARLY has run its course, and is NOT how you want to run a franchise so desperate for a championship.
Putting it in that perspective, the guys I would go very hard after in the offseason are as follows: Dunn, Crawford, BJ Upton (yes, I know he's having a horrible season, but he's very versatile..can play ss, 2B, CF, RF, LF, 3B, has power, AND is a stolen base threat, AND is only 24 years old), Eric Young Jr., Chris Davis, Hank Blalock, Seth Smith, Brandon Wood, and Dan Uggla (notice, I'm excluding minor leaguers). All of these guys are under 30, and all have either proven success at the big league level over time, or have the upside to warrant an acquisition.
In the case of Uggla, Crawford, and Dunn, economics might allow a trade, even though they've been valuable to their respective teams.
I would pretty much make every single player in the system available except for the bats we have at Peoria, and the lower level arms we have as well, and Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro. Everyone else, as far as I'm concerned should be trade bait.
Blalock is a free agent that'd add depth at 3B and 1B, so he wouldn't cost any prospects. Wood, Davis, and Upton would be "buy low" strategies, while Smith and EY Jr. would most likely cost the most in terms of prospects.
I just think it's time to start over, and we have to rid ourselves of Theriot, Fontenot, Blanco, Reed Johnson, Bradley, Soriano, Fukudome, Lee, and Hoffpauir, and bring in young guys like Upton, Uggla/EY Jr., Wood, Smith, Crawford, Dunn, Davis, and Blalock respectively to take over for these guys.
I realize that you can't just go out and trade for all of these guys...I'm merely suggesting some names. If the Cubs want to compete for years to come, they need to hang onto the likes of Jay Jackson, Rhee, Antigua, Archer, Vitters, Castro, Jackson, Flaherty, Burke, LeMahieu, Ridling, Carpenter, Huseby, etc. But others like Colvin, Coleman, Cashner, etc. should definitely be available. I just cannot fathom going into another season with a team like we had this year.
I guess if you were to start the process, parting with Z to the Red Sox like JimK has suggested numerous times makes a whole lot of sense, because you could ask for Bard and Bucholz straight up, and you just plugged 2 holes in your rotation in one swoop...supposing you also traded Lilly, who will be 34 years old. That would probably be the ideal move, especially if we could also land a position prospect like a Reddick or something in return as well. If we traded Lee to the Angels and nabbed Wood, along with other prospects, that would be even more ideal, especially considering some of the prospects landed could be packaged with our own prospects for guys I mentioned above, thus not completely depleting our system.
I think one of the things that gets lost in all of the posts is the fact that over the past few years, we've had HIGHLY successful minor league teams. We've won championships all over the place. In fact, on his way up, I believe Felix Pie won a championship at every single stop along the way. Do NOT discount that as a factor with our recent winning seasons at the MLB level, especially when you look at the young talent infusing a sort of energy into our team that we were lacking prior to their arrival in respective seasons. So, I am not advocating depleting our entire system to win now, because I think that winning culture in the minors totally manifests itself at the MLB level when they're called up.
As for Colvin and Adduci coming up... at this point, what do you have to lose?!? Patton sucks, and should be DFA'd. Soriano can be placed on the 60-day, as can Chad Fox (though I think Hendry's delusional, trying to save his roster exemption for the postseason roster which he hopes we make...LOL). Hoffpauir and Fox aren't playing regularly, Bradley and Fukudome are floundering down the stretch, Fuld is hurt, Soriano is clearly done for the year, and we have an infielder (Scales) playing LF on a regular basis recently. I've been an advocate of Adduci's all season long, and think he's earned it...Colvin?!? not so much....but, again, as I've said before. At some point, you have to bite the bullet and bring up your first round picks, even if they're a marginal MLB talent...because you want at least some return on your investment. Colvin's had long enough to prove himself, and came on late down the stretch to finish off with a decent season. Let's see what he's got...it's about time!!!!!
Aaron, I love your posts.
I'd like to see the Cubs get younger in a hurry...but think it will be a slow process with JH still at the helm and
the contract/finance issues we have.
I've neen following the Smokies a bit and like what I see. Too bad we can't
wait a little a ride the wave they are making...complete with Sandberg in 2011.
Last year they won FSL league championship (A ball)...this year maybe
AA.
Next year???
My major doable hopes for the offseason:
1)Make a good upgrade at 2nd/ss
2)Pray JH doesn't resign Heilman...my gut tells me he might.
3)According to reports...Soriano has degenerative cartiledge in his knee.
People always get worse, never better from that sort of thing. Tell him he will be a platoon/bench player until such time that we can find a suitable
DH taker for him...to save his knee.
At some point, we will have to eat the bulk of his contract to put him in a position where he might have some success...That's reality...or hope he retires for medical reasons and maybe the Cubs insurance for such things alleviates the pain a little of the financial mess.
Unless we are extremely lucky, I think we
have Z/Bradley/Fukodome to start next season...But a midseason trade might be doable if they perform better and the financial debris will be a little less.
Same thing with management...Ricketts
might bide his time and see how the Cubs start next season...there's nothing to say he won't make his moves midseason to
generate interest if the Cubs falter out of the gait....It does take time to get acclimated....I don't see Kenny and Hendry surviving long unless we happen to win a world series (unlikely).
We may get better just from subtraction of players like Miles and Gregg.
-Pray JH doesn't resign Heilman...I have a feeling in my gut that he might.
Even Hendry knows we have to get better at second and ss. Moving Theriot might be the answer at second...though I'd like EY Jr better....Castro has to improve defensively soon (too many errors) or they may have to try him at other positions.
Figgens would be another mistake...since his best position is third. So I hope JH
doesn't waste any time there....
The Marlins might hold onto Crawford since they alleviated financial pressure
trading Kazmir...but he might be a midseason trade candidate.
-Look to Texas and their financial woes
with a ton of talent for a trading partner...we may come out with some great talent...but will have to ease their financial pressure along the way.
I know...you like Moreland and Davis...
but what else?
I'm looking forward to seeing both Adduci AND Colvin soon.
I've been following the Smokies a bit and like what I see. The thought occurred
to me...that we might just ride the wave of their winning ways...along with Sandberg in 2011.
If JH doesn't screw up again this offseason...(and it should be better
just because he has to answer to Ricketts now)...we should be OK until Ricketts makes his move to bring in
new management.
Man thats alot of changes.....Im not sure if you want me to be rooting for the Chicago Cubs or the Peoria Chiefs....
There are alot of problems with the team...yes...but cant we enjoy the hot streak and maybe see what miracle might happen? Lets bust out all the negativity at the end of the year.
And where are all those D. Lee haters??????
Aaron, no offense, but who cares if the wins are "ugly". Plane and simple a win is a win, they both read W on the record.
Joe - I am a big fan of DLEE, but I will admit, I was pretty hard on him in April, but he is havin one hell of a year, where would we be without him!
Matt - Keep the faith bud. Not only did the Rockies do it in '07, but I read somewhere yesterday that in '98 the Giants were in 3rd place, 4 games out, in the Wild Card with like 5 games to go and they were able to force a playoff game with us.
It is never over till it's over.
Did you see where the Tigers let Magglio Ordonez's contract vest for 2010? For $18 million. He's hitting .294 with 7 HR and 40 RBI. Sure, that's better than Bradley by 1 RBI, but I would have even released him rather than pay this 35 year old (at least, he says he's 35)this kind of money for Bradley like production.
Apparently, JHendry isn't the only incompetent GM in baseball. Ricketts, by holding onto JHendry for another year, has already proved that he's just another incompetent owner of the Chicago Cubs. I already thought he was nuts to pay $900 million for this load of bad contracts. Now this proves it.
Good Morning All...nothing like a few wins and an Aaron post to get the juices flowing again. It's been quiet here for awhile.
1)Rip...Mags vesting makes no sense in a business sort of way...BUT from an emotional..."We're going for it" sense...it is completely logical...Mags
is hitting well lately and can help propel Detroit into the playoffs.
As Soriano's production (or lack of production impacts us...Mags impacts Detroit.)...But I'm with you.
2)I hope we didn't lose an emotional
"Z" for the rest of the season with all the trade rumors...and his response to them. I'd like to see him finish strong.
3)After the pitching the Red Sox gave up in the Martinez trade...they are reportedly very protective and careful
of the rest of their pitching prospects.
They will have to absolutely be
convinced of value to let them go in a trade.
"Z"'s meltdown after 2 outs in the fifth
is not the way to convince another team
of his value...he has to step up...both for us...and himself...I don't think
his contract will be that easy to move.
4)While I watch everyday...I won't allow myself to think playoffs...my goal is to not let the Cards clinch in our faces in St Louis...and maybe take 2 out of 3 in St Louis this weekend...in other words...
play well to the end...I still expect us to come up short.
Maqgs 2009 = off the juice
Cubs achieved one goal with last nights win:
Even if the Cards win today and sweep the Cubs...they can't clinch while the Cubs are in St. Louis.
At a 10 game magic number...If the Cards win all four and the Cubs lose the next 5...that still leaves a magic number of one.
Wouldn't it be sweet if the Cubs won the next five?...tonight will be tough vs.
Looper...and they day after an offensive explosion.
once again, the red sox are not going to give us bucholz or bard much less both of them for a head case. If he can't keep his cool in a game that has little or no meaning then why would boston or any other winning team be interested in his services. The process to fix this team is going to take more than just one offseason and a bunch of minor league players. The only way we are getting rid of zambrano or bradley is to eat the majority of their remaining contracts. neither of these guys are worth the type of money they are being paid. Zambrano is lazy and a bad influence in the clubhouse. Who wants that on there team other than hendry?
Man it is soooo hard not to hold out hope for a miracle. The Cub fan inside of me is saying it is still mathematically possible. The realistic human who has been heartbroken many times by this team says why bother.
As we all know the problems are going to be hard to fix, and after the SD series we all started focusing on that. But, quietly and secretively our beloved blue has put up a decent September. A Sweep of the Reds and we would only be 4.5 out, but as it is 5.5 is bad, and just bordering on hopeless. Here is to rooting for The Blue this eve as we cement our dominance over the Boo Crew. But an added root for Matt Cain! Yep, he goes against the Rox tonight. Let's get the win, and continue to wake the sleeping optimist in all of us.
Let's Go Cubs!
I'm sorry, but if the Cubs finish around 90 wins, how is this team so horrible?
As they play now, they are clearly better than the bad teams like Pittsburgh, Reds etc., but need to improve against the better teams. A player or two will do that.