Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Cardinals – 05/12/11

May 12, 2011 By 70 Comments

Game Thirty-Six: Cubs (16-19) vs. Cardinals (21-16)
Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago

Casey Coleman (1-2, 6.29/1.77) vs. Jaime Garcia (4-0, 1.99/0.97)

Updated 12:17pm CDT – Info on Brett Jackson: Cubs say OF prospect Brett Jackson’s injury is to ligament of left pinkie. He’ll see hand specialist today. Apparently, no broken bone.

Weather permitting … Q’s squad enters play this afternoon with a chance to win another series. The Cubs have struggled in series finales this season, especially on Sunday. A victory this afternoon would not only mean a series win against the Cardinals but would even their record at 3-3 over the first six games of the nine-game homestand.

This afternoon figures to be difficult both on the mound and at the plate. The offense will have to deal with Jaime Garcia … while Casey Coleman and the pitching staff will have the chore of keeping Albert Pujols from beating them. Koyie Hill appeared to tick off Pujols Wednesday and in his next at bat he hit a two-run single.

The Cubs mentioned Wednesday that Welington Castillo could start today’s finale. Koyie Hill had a big night at the plate which will probably keep him in the starting lineup.

News and Notes
The Cubs announced Aramis Ramirez will leave the team following Thursday’s game to fly home to the Dominican Republic. Ramirez has family business to take care of and will miss Friday’s opener against the Giants.

The Cubs announced Wednesday that Doug Davis will start Saturday night’s game against the Giants. The Cubs will have to add Doug Davis to the 40-man roster (one empty spot, currently stands at 39 players) and send down a pitcher to make room Davis on the active 25-man roster.

Brett Jackson hurt his wrist/hand in the first inning of a game versus the Huntsville Stars Wednesday. Jackson singled, stole second and apparently injured his hand/wrist while diving back into the second base bag. Jackson left the Smokies Wednesday to fly to Chicago to be examined by team doctors.

This afternoon it all begins with Casey Coleman … Casey Coleman is coming off his best outing of the season. Coleman credited his outing with adjustments he made with Mark Riggins … and treatment on the plantar’s wart on his right middle finger. Coleman received a no decision but threw strikes and posted a quality start.

Coleman held the Reds high-powered offense to two run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work. Coleman has the ability to be a successful big league pitcher and he must build off his last performance.

This afternoon will be Casey’s second career start against the Cardinals. Coleman is 1-0 in two career games, one start, versus the Redbirds with a 2.00 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP.

Daniel Descalso (1-for-3), Matt Holliday (0-for-4), Jon Jay (1-for-4), Yadier Molina (0-for-1), Albert Pujols (1-for-2 with a double and a walk) and Colby Rasmus (1-for-3 with a walk) are the only active Cardinals that have faced Casey Coleman.

The Cubs offense has a tough task this afternoon … beat Jaime Garcia. The Cardinals very talented southpaw is coming off a complete game shutout against the Brewers. After taking a perfect game into the eighth inning, Garcia held a very good offense to just two hits and a walk.

Garcia has not posted a loss this season but the Cardinals are only 4-3 in his seven starts. The Cubs must be patient this afternoon, make him work and get into the bullpen. If they walk to the plate swinging it will be a very quick loss for Q’s squad.

Garcia is 0-1 in two career games, one start, versus the Cubs with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Q’s squad beat him last September in St. Louis when the southpaw was obviously out of gas. The Cardinals shut him down for the remainder of the season following his loss to the Cubs on September 13.

Jeff Baker (0-for-4), Darwin Barney (1-for-3), Marlon Byrd (0-for-3), Tyler Colvin (0-for-1), Kosuke Fukudome (0-for-1), Aramis Ramirez (1-for-4 with a double) and Alfonso Soriano (1-for-3) are the only active Cubs with limited at bats against Jaime Garcia.

Follow the CCO on Twitter: @TheCCO

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …


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  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Today’s lineup:

    Castro – SS
    Barney – 2B
    Byrd – CF
    Ramirez – 3B
    Baker – RF
    Pena – 1B
    Soriano – LF
    Castillo – C
    Coleman – P

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

      woooohoooo welcome to the show Castillo now prove you that you belong to stay son.

      • paulcatanese

        Richard,I agree with you. Don’t know how he made it into the lineup today,partialy believe the pressure put on JH and Quade with young
        players to have them play. It’s a no-brainer to play him, and wish him much success.

  • Ripsnorter1

    Brenly on Coleman: “This kid should win a lot of games for a lot of years.”

    • Jay Seanze

      do you always b**** about everything?

      • Ripsnorter1

        I like Casey Coleman and agree with Brenly. Therefore I am not complaining.

        • Jay Seanze

          ok good … i thought your quote was meant to demean Coleman considering how much he’s struggled in his last few starts.

        • Baron_S

          why exactly do you like Coleman? He is getting hit at a .300 clip and has a 7.52 ERA… He also has some pretty ordinary stuff — and has walked 17 batters in 25 innings — No velocity, No command —

          he kind of sucks actually

          • Ripsnorter1

            Why do I like Coleman? He’s 23 yrs old and has not reached his full potential. Last year, he made 8 starts, had a 4-2 record, and 3.33 ERA. He pitched 48.1 IP in those starts, gave up 46 H, and the BAA was .253.

            Compare him with Zambrano, 2010.
            Zambrano’s 2010 ERA was 3.33–exactly Coleman’s number. Batters hit him at a .246 rate–very close to Coleman’s numbers.

            I think he can improve on those numbers, and so does Bob Brenly, whom I think has something on the ball in the way of baseball talent evaluation.

          • cubtex

            Rip- His stuff will not get any better with age. If Coleman is in a major league rotation…..it is not a very deep rotation. He has extremely ordinary stuff and hopefully Cashner and Wells will be back sooner rather than later because it is hard to watch Coleman pitch every 5 days

          • diehardcubfan

            Some guy name Greg Maddux had pretty ordinary stuff and look were it got him.
            Coleman has the potential, let us see if he can harness it and commit to it.

          • John_CC

            Ordinary stuff?? Sorry, you are wrong, Maddux had amazing “stuff”, pinpoint control and a brilliant mind for pitching. This is silly, you are going to compare the best pitcher of our era to Casey Coleman because he doesn’t throw hard? Like I said, silly, ridiculous even.

          • Baron_S

            really — Is someone comparing Casey Coleman’s stuff to a young Greg Maddux… Someone spiked their Kool-Aid with Vodka!

          • diehardcubfan

            Excuse me, Greg Maddux did not have amazing stuff and pinpoint control his first couple of years in the majors. I should know I watched him pitch. He was 8-18 with an era over 5.00 with over 36 starts in his first two years.

            Maddux learned to pitch like Coleman will have to learn to pitch because he doesn’t have amazing stuff. .

            Watch some of Maddux old videos and he even admitted it took him some time to learn to pitch.

            I think you are the one silly and ridiculous.

          • cubtex

            Look at Greg Maddux’s minor league stats from 1984-1987 and compare them to Casey Coleman. It isn’t even close. I really do not understand this love affair with Coleman. Look at his numbers in the minors..they are extremely average.

    • cubtex

      For Iowa

  • jw

    Garcia has been very tough this year but usually goes just 5-6 innings unless he is in line for a shutout. It would be a huge boost to grind out a “W” today again their weak bullpen. Hope Castillo has a big day. Like the line-up.

    Pujols hug watch…any breaking news on more hugging?…Way to work it Albert. Crystal Harris’ hugs for Hef are more sincere than that. Make sure you get a baseball card Jim for being used again.

    Billy Sianis may have been right that the Cubs would never win another world series game at Wrigley…good chance the stadium will be torn down before then confirming the prediction. “Fun” fact…the Cards were the worst team in the NL prior to 1926… since then have won 10 Championships most in NL.

    • Ripsnorter1

      The fact is Pujols wasn’t trying to hug Jim Clueless. He was trying to pick his pockets.

  • Cloycub13

    Holy Baloney!!!! Castro back leading off, Castillo starting…did the lightening affect Quade’s mindset, that is my only reasonable response to this sudden enlightenment of a decent lineup. I would flip Soriano and Baker, but Baker has been hitting the ball well lately so Que Sera.

    Anyone clear on what Hill did to tick off Pujols…whatever it was it wasn’t smart, poking a sleeping grizzly with a stick usually ends up bad.

    Good luck Cubs, win a series for a change!

    • roland

      I think he resused to hug him

    • John_CC

      What are you referring to with Hill and Pujols?

      • Cloycub13

        Allegedly Koyie Hill did something, said something, looked at King Albert wrong, I do not know, but Pujols was not too happy. He glared at the Cubs dugout and then proceeded to rap a 2 RBI single… It’s irrelevant in the long run, but funny none the less. Need all of the comic relief we can get.

    • paulcatanese

      On Pujols and Hill, don’t really think it was Hill alone. I belive it was Gaza and his show of disdain for Pujols. More than once Garza flipped a look of disgust at Pujols and was returned(the same look) to Garza. Pujols likes to intimidate pitchers with his rep, and Garza wasnt buying it. Hill was just the closest to Pujols and the remarks were probably aimed at Garza. Pujols never took his eyes off the Cub dugout and just glared into it. Pujols does not like to be shown up and Garza certaimly did that. It’s just my take on it.

      • Cloycub13

        Thanks Paul, I had to go back to your post on Talking Live… It is always interesting when these guys show their human sides, never the less, usually a bad idea to tick off a great hitter.

        • Cloycub13

          In addition, I am really starting to like Matt Garza. I like his enthusiasm, I like his competitiveness, I like his youthful exuberance, I like his stuff, I like that he sits at the top row of the dugout and always is cheering for his team mates. Matt Garza is growing on me.

          • paulcatanese

            Agree, he was like a little kid in the dugout the night before, havent seen that too often,class act. He was really having fun. Growing on me as well.

      • John_CC

        Now I remember Keith or Pat commenting about something that had upset Pujols — I think it was Pat’s take that Albert might have been pissy about getting pitched around when the Cubs had a 9 run lead. I kind of doubt that and think your take is better, Paul.

        Pujols is one of those guys that rarely shows emotion or let’s it negatively effect his play. The Cubs – Card rivalry is, to me, as strong as the Yanks – Red Sox, which ranks both at the top. The only reason it is not as heralded a rivalry is that the Cubs have only competed for the division 5 times in the last 45 years.

        • paulcatanese

          Well John,I just figured that anyone who thinks there worth 30 mil a year for ten years has a tremendos ego and not be shown any dis-respect from a pitcher.I tought it was a classic on Garza’s part. He really thought he is better than Pujols,showed it, and thats the way it should be. If you still have the replay,the look of disgust by Garza toward Pujols is priceless and he got into Pujols head
          Loved it..

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Update from Bruce Miles on Brett Jackson:

    Cubs say OF prospect Brett Jackson’s injury is to ligament of left pinkie.
    He’ll see hand specialist today. Apparently, no broken bone.

    • paulcatanese

      Lets hope that they don’t get knife happy with Jackson, a ligament can be as bad as a broken bone though. Apparently he jammed it in his slide,painful nontheless.

  • John_CC

    alleluia! on the Jackson injury update. Thanks, Neil.

  • Cloycub13

    This is starting to look ugly!

    • cubtex

      Coleman just doesn’t have major league stuff.

  • GaryLeeT

    Is there rain or anything in the forecast that can halt this beat down?

  • John_CC

    Uh-Oh.

    Not a good start for anyone…a classic 9 pitch first inning for Garcia and now Coleman is getting pounded around arleardy.

    RBI single to the pitcher.

    Another RBI single.

  • GaryLeeT

    My favorite! At home embarrassments that are over before they start.

    • Cloycub13

      This team just can’t get out of their own schizophrenic ways! Embarrasing, Solid, Embarassing, Solid… pick one please, preferrably the solid thank ya much. That was an awful 2nd, could have been much worse.

      • diehardcubfan

        This team is definitely the modern day version of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Horrible second inning for Casey

  • Cloycub13

    Alright Mr. Castillo… Make something happen!

  • John_CC

    Coleman isn’t going to get through 5 at this rate.

  • John_CC

    You can’t walk the pitcher there…

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Coleman just walked Garcia … the pitcher. Speechless

  • John_CC

    Here come the “heart of the order”. Remember when that used to mean something? I do. I used love it when Ramirez was due up the next inning. Seems like years ago. (O, it was).

    • Cloycub13

      CPR… Paddles…. STAT…..CLEAR…CLEAR… sorry doc, we need a transplant for this “Heart”

      • diehardcubfan

        It needs to be legally declared DEAD so we can start over.

  • John_CC

    And now the heart of the Cards lineup…

  • John_CC

    Rasmus is solid. I really like him. For those of you that have seen Brett Jackson, is this a comparison at all? Jackson is faster, Rasmus more power…maybe I just want so badly to see some more solid young players on the Cubs surrounded by solid vets like Holliday, Pujols, Molina…

    I hate the Cards and I hate envy and I really hate being envious of the Cardinals!!

    and that’s the end of Coleman’s day…onto Russell…

  • Anonymous47701

    Revised List of Players who need to go by the All-Star Break or Off-Season.

    Ryan Dempster (he ain’t got it no more)

    Koyie Hill (New Bullpen catcher anyone?)

    John Gaub

    Jeff Samardzija

    Kosuke Fukudome

    Aramis Ramirez

    John Grabow

    Alfonso Soriano (To the AL if possible)

    Marcos Mateo (toooo darn wild)

    • studio179

      Berg makes your list to stay?

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Bases loaded, 1 out and no runs

    • PleaseStopLosing

      I love Cubs Baseball.

  • John_CC

    The Cards are erasing yesterday, inning by inning.

    Grabow!! This guy has to be on the top of Hendry’s moron signings. Has to be. Just because he wasn’t as high profile as Bradley or as many years as Soriano…3 years and whatever he gave to this LOOGEY is absolutely inexcusable. He has not had a solid series of innings in 2 years!

    It could be the worst 7.5M$ spent. Seriously, because his role is so easy to fill. Hell, Russell would have been better there for the last 2 years!

    And there goes another hit and run…

    • studio179

      I still put Bradley ahead of Grabow on Hendry’s ‘what were you thinking’ list. But I am not going to pull straws over it. That can be debated. One thing there is no debate. Grabow has been horrible. I can not give you one, not one instance where Grabow had a positive impact for the team.

    • diehardcubfan

      Yeap, all the good of yesterday is now all gone. This team cannot not seem to build on anything positive.

  • GaryLeeT

    For all intents and purposes, the Cubs should have considered themselves sellers on opening day, but after their performances in these last 2 series, it should be official.

    • diehardcubfan

      You forget that JH is in denial. Remember, we have been declared contenders. He must save face by continuing to deny what everyone else has figured out and that is admit that this team is going no where.

      • GaryLeeT

        Externally, they have to paint a clown’s smile on this team, especially when they need to fill those over priced seats, but I hope internally, they are buying one way tickets.

    • John_CC

      Really Gary, come on. All they have to do is put everything together at the same time and they’ll be fine. O, and then they have to do that at least 2 out of 3 games rather than 1 out of 3.

      Didn’t you hear Quade the other day, as long as they keep getting solid pitching, everything else will be fine…er…unless your pitching sucks, and then…I really wish he’d have explained how a team that cannot drive in runs will be fine as long as they get good starts from the pitching…

  • Anonymous47701

    Revised 2012 lineup idea

    Castro-SS

    Barney-2B

    Byrd-CF

    Colvin-1B

    Soto-C

    B.Jackson-RF

    Soriano-LF

    DeWitt-3B

    Pitcher

    Bench

    Baker-2B,3B,1B

    Camp-SS,2B

    Castillo-C

    Perez-LF,CF

    B.Snyder-RF

    • Jseward92

      uhh why dont you have any knew people on the team? this is the same team with minior league filling the spots of pena, ramirez, fukudome, johnson, and hill….you really dont think the cubs will sign anyone? you are nuts the cubs are gonna blow all of the money they have lol either they will give pujols 10 yrs 350 million or give it to someone else 

  • diehardcubfan

    Unfortunately not a good day for Mr. Castillo. 6 left on base and 2 strikeouts. Not a good introduction to the league.

    • paulcatanese

      No it wasn’t, and this is right in Quade’s wheelhouse,in his mind he has put
      Castillo out there for his critics and he has failed. Perfect opportunity for Hill to be number 1.
      Until Soto comes back

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs pounded by Cardinals 9-1 Thursday afternoon. Casey Coleman’s line: 6R, 9H, 4BB, 0Ks, 4.1 IP. #Cubs 1-for-9 RISP, 8 LOB

  • paulcatanese

    And the Cubs are back to reality unfortunatly.

  • paulcatanese

    Let me make a guess on Brett Jackson, head first slide?

  • Ripsnorter1

    I’m watching the race very closely this year. Pittsburgh is ahead of us with a 18-19 record. (We are 16-20). Pirates play LA tonight–LA of the pathetic offense. Garland throwing for LA vs. Morton for Pittsburgh. If Morton wins tonight, he’ll have 5 wins. I am rooting for him.

  • Ripsnorter1

    LaRussa has managed for 33 years–only 9 losing seasons, and only once lost as many as 90 games. I wish we had a manager this good.

    • paulcatanese

      You are right about LaRussa, he spends as much time studying his opponent as he does his own team. He will exploit every weakness you give him to win. He would never come to Chicago though, been here,done that. He is one of the best. Oh one thing Rip, we do have a manager that good, that can lose as many as 90 games,and if his contract is renewed can continue to lose 90 games.

    • Baron_S

      If LaRussa could work with a team having the resources of the Yanks or Red Sox — He’d have even fewer losing seasons..

      Poopholes and LaRussa — gotta hate em, gotta love em — they are both wizards.