Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Red Sox – 05/20/11

May 20, 2011 By 76 Comments

Game Forty-Three: Cubs (19-23) vs. Red Sox (23-20)
Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
Coverage – TV: WGN TV, MLB Network – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 89
Location – Fenway Park, Boston

Doug Davis (0-1, 1.80/1.00) vs. Jon Lester (5-1, 3.28/1.25)

For the first time since the days of Babe Ruth, the Chicago Cubs will play a series at Fenway Park. The Cubs franchise last played at the Red Sox home park in the 1918 World Series. The Sox won the Fall Classic four games to two, the last time the Sox were the World Champs until 2004.

A report surfaced that suggests the Cubs may have thrown the ’18 World Series against the Sox … but that was then.

The Cubs are in the midst of a very difficult seven-game road trip. After giving away the first two in Cincinnati, Q’s squad saved a little face in Miami with the sweep of the Marlins. The Cubs will play a very good team over the next three days to open Interleague play for the 2011 season.

The Red Sox have won six in a row and after a horrible start to the year, the Sox enter play tonight three games over .500 … just a game and a half back of the first place Tampa Bay Rays.

News surfaced Thursday that the Cubs and Sox will wear throwback uniforms Saturday. Both storied organizations will don the uniforms worn during the 1918 World Series.

Mike Quade has not announced who will serve as his designated hitter this weekend. Quade said he’s thinking about inserting Alfonso Soriano in the DH role tonight with Reed Johnson playing either right or left field against the Sox southpaw. Jeff Baker will be in the starting lineup tonight but Quade was not sure where he would play in the field as of Thursday night.

The Cubs will also see a very familiar face this weekend. Rich Hill is now a side arm reliever for the Red Sox, the team he grew up rooting for.

The Cubs and Red Sox played a three-game series at Wrigley Field in June of 2005. The Cubs won two of three against the defending World Champions. Greg Maddux beat Bronson Arroyo in the opener 14-6 (Friday, June 10) and Todd Wellemeyer took the win over Wade Miller in game two 7-6 with Ryan Dempster picking up the save (Saturday, June 11). Glendon Rusch suffered the loss in the Sunday night game against Tim Wakefield, 8-1. Wakefield is scheduled to start Sunday night against Matt Garza.

Tonight it all begins with Doug Davis … Doug Davis will make his second start in a Cubs’ uniform. Davis took the loss in the rain-shortened game last Saturday at Wrigley Field. Davis was a victim of the Cubs horrible defense and Mother Nature. Davis allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits in five innings. Davis walked only one batter and struck out six.

Davis was solid in his first start but will face a much better offense tonight.

Tonight will be the seventh start of Davis’ career against the Red Sox. The veteran southpaw is 3-2 in seven career games, six starts, with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP … at Fenway, 1-1 in three starts with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The last time Davis faced the Sox was as a member of the Diamondbacks on June 24, 2008. Arizona lost 5-4 to the Sox at Fenway and Davis took a no decision.

Red Sox Career Numbers against Doug Davis

  • Mike Cameron – 17-for-51 with 6 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 11 walks
  • Carl Crawford – 1-for-2
  • J.D. Drew – 2-for-10 with a home run
  • Jacoby Ellsbury – 1-for-4
  • Adrian Gonzalez – 7-for-34 with a double, a home run and a walk
  • David Ortiz – 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
  • Dustin Pedroia – 1-for-5 with a home run and a walk
  • Jason Varitek – 3-for-11 with a walk

The Cubs will get their first look at one of the best southpaws in the game tonight. Jon Lester is coming off a win at Yankee Stadium. Lester held the Yanks to four runs on five hits in six innings with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Lester has been dominant at Fenway this season. The 27-year old lefty is 2-1 in three home starts with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP … just five runs on 19 hits with six walks and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Tonight is Jon Lester’s first career start versus the Cubs.

Marlon Byrd (1-for-9 with a double), Reed Johnson (0-for-3), Carlos Pena (10-for-34 with a double, five home runs and five walks) and Alfonso Soriano (1-for-3) are the only active Cubs that have faced Jon Lester.

Follow the CCO on Twitter: @TheCCO

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …


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  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Tonight’s lineup:

    Castro – SS
    Barney – 2B
    Baker – 3B
    Ramirez – DH
    Pena – 1B
    Byrd – CF
    Soriano – LF
    Johnson – RF
    Hill – C

    Davis – P

    • Cheryl

      Again, why is Hill catching? I don’t understand it. But at least Ramirez is DH. 

    • paulcatanese

      Yes Neil,lets play flip-flop again with Castro, he was just starting to adjust
      and is moved again.
      I asked that Aram was due to a rest, little did I know,Quade’s idea of a rest.
      At least Aram only has to walk from the dugout to home plate and back again.
      I like Byrd and Johnson tonight although Johnson hits with a higher trajectory
      on his fly balls and has a better chance for the long ball.
      Byrd can do damage against the wall.
      Soriono at best should DH tonight .
      With a lead, I expect Campana to relieve in left.
      Just gotta wait and see.

      • John_CC

         So ridiculous.  Wouldn’t it be just as easy to go: Barney, Baker, Castro?

        Hill vs. Lester?  Oye.

        • paulcatanese

          Yes John,it would. Laast night Castro looked pretty comfortable and had some good swings i.e. the two run double. If he indeed adjusted its just plain stupid to move him back to leadoff where he has to think differently and just try to get on.
          His self confidence is a natural for the three spot. But then what do anyone of us know?
          Castillo also would have been a good choice for tonight. He hits for power and as
          everyone knows “the natural” dosen’t from the right side. 

  • ZT

    I dont know why Quade is having Soriano play in the field rather than to DH him. He can’t play defense in a regular field why would he be better playing them balls off the green monster.

    • GaryLeeT

       Another Quade head scratcher. I am sure both Johnson and Byrd have had experience there from their days in the AL.

      • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

        Johnson has the most experience with the Monster from his days as a Jay

    • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

      You are not the only asking why Soriano is in left

    • paulcatanese

      Thats easy,theres a Manny Rameriz bathroom in the left field wall. Now two famous for their fielding left field is about to take place tonight, Manny and now Soriono, there ought to be a plaque out there. 

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Update on Cashner from Sun-Times:

    Cashner to get 2nd opinion on shoulder Sunday with noted surgeon Lew Yocum. 

    • John_CC

       uh-oh.  What you mean is “final opinion” from Yocum.  No one ever leaves that office without the bionic surgery. 

  • cc002600

     I have a stupid question….I just noticed on Iowa’s website that Colvin has only 4 AB’s (1 game) so far ….didn’t he get sent down like 5/6 days ago ?    Does this mean he’s riding the bench there, too ???    WTF !!!!!!!!

    I don’t get it.

    • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

      Iowa has played only one game since Colvin reported.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    From the Tribune:

    Good news for Randy Wells and Cubs: Hendry says Randy Wells to return to rotation next Friday or Saturday against Pittsburgh. 

    • John_CC

       That is great news.

      Do you think the 5th spot is still open, Neil, and will be decided based on Davis tonight and Coleman’s one more start before next weekend?

      • Ripsnorter1

        I know you asked Neil. but here’s my feeling: Coleman to minors immediately upon Wells’ return.

        Why? “Doug Davis is a vet,” says Jim Clueless. “His experience is invaluable. Besides, Doug Davis is LHP and we lack a LHP on our starting staff. And I told Casey Coleman that staying in the bigs is all about performance. We just don’t give playing time away. It has to be earned. Like Colvin, he needs to go down to AAA Iowa to learn that he has to earn playing time. Our sub .500 record is all his fault. etc. etc. etc.”

        Just rewind the Tyler Colvin tape, and insert “Coleman” every time the Clueless one says “Colvin.” 
        But remember this, John: Jim Clueless, Tom Ricketts and the Cubs are all about building from within. The Cubs do not build with FA Major Leaguers. They are all about youth.

        • Ripsnorter1

          It is my belief that Castillo and Coleman are basically persona non grata in Wrigleyville.  

      • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

        No I do not. I think Coleman will be sent down as soon as Wells is ready. I would not be surprised if Coleman is then given a little break. From the way I understand it he’s still dealing with the wart on his finger, that would give that a chance to heal.

  • Baron_S

     oh boy!! don’t embarass me Cubs — I did a lot of faux-smack talk with my office neighbors today….. 

  • Ripsnorter1

     I think you’ll see why Doug Davis is not a MLB pitcher anymore. Oh, he’ll be on the Cubs’ roster alright, but he just couldn’t make any other roster in MLB. Remember, we are 30th in quality starts. Let’s see if we get two innings out of this guy tonight. 

    Bullpen Day.

    • Baron_S

      I’ll take one out right about now 

  • Ripsnorter1

     I forgot to mention about Coleman and Doug Davis: Davis is now owed $900,000. That’s right–so the Cubs aren’t going to cut him loose and lose $900,000 over two starts. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Coleman to minors. 

  • GaryLeeT

    Should I feel good about only 2 runs scoring in that mess of an inning?

  • Ripsnorter1

     BIG POPPY is going to nail one right here.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Rough, rough start. 

  • Baron_S

     Phew!

  • Ripsnorter1

     I can’t believe it. No wonder the BoSox stink this year. 2nd and 3rd and zero outs, and can’t score. WOW!

  • Baron_S

     nice inning for Davis — 

  • Baron_S

     I never appreciated how solid of a defensive player Youk is though I get to see him everyday. 

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Barney continues to impress

    • paulcatanese

      Neil, Barney is the only major leauger out there now with the glove. And he does continue to impress,,,,,everyone. 

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Aram with a double off the monster

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Excellent relay by Castro

  • GaryLeeT

    Doug Russell is doing great.

  • Aaron

     So I missed the start of the game, and I don’t know if the recap I’ve read thus far I believe on ESPN had it right….
    But supposedly Hill had a passed ball, and then an error.

    Is that true?

    If so….WOW!!!

    • Baron_S

      he has been ok —

      that error should have been Jeff Baker’s completely.

       

      • John_CC

         I just saw the replay…it was a pretty crappy throw to third, a low liner that skipped a couple feet in front of Baker. Bad play by all.

    • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

       It was a passed ball and a throwing error for Hill in the first

    • paulcatanese

      Yes Aaron it was, and a lot of turning his glove the wrong way. As you have said Hill is a very very poor defensive catcher. And I totaly agree with that. One comment by the announcer was that since Soto’s injury Hill has had most of the starts. Well the Golden boy has about worn himself out of a position if Quade could see that. At the very least Castillo should start against lefthanders but
      won’t.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs trailing the Red Sox 4-2 after 3 1/2 innings. Cubs out
    hitting the Sox 7-6 but 2-for-9 with RISP and 6 left on base

  • Baron_S

    8 hits given up and 3 walks by Doug Davis in 3 2/3 innings — not good

  • Baron_S

     goodnight – game over!

  • GaryLeeT

    Watching Maine pitch makes me want to claw my own eyes out.

  • studio179

     That was a terrible inning!

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Reed with a nice double off the monster

  • studio179

     The Cubs let the Red Sox gets the runs right back.

  • Ripsnorter1

    I’m going to call this a quality start by Doug Davis. He went 3.2 IP, which is a little more than I expected (2.1 IP). Also, he only gave up 7 earned runs, and that, too, is a little less than I expected (8). So let’s just call this a quality start by Doug Davis, shall we?

    Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny are laughing themselves to death right now. 

    Doug Davis will not be released, sent down, or put in the bullpen since Jim Clueless is paying his $900,000 to pitch for us. Tom Gorzelanny cost too much, so we got Doug Davis instead.Don’t forget this is all entertainment.

  • Ripsnorter1

     If you can’t take a walk, get hit by a pitch. 2X tonight for Byrd. Helps the OBP.

    • paulcatanese

      Yes, and mix it with two more strikeouts and he had a night to remember. 

  • Ripsnorter1

     The tactful Pat Hughes said, “Doug Davis didn’t really pitch all that well tonight. He didn’t fool too many batters. The outs he did get were generally hard hit right at somebody.” 

  • Tom U

     Congratulations to the Daytona Cubs, their 3-2 win over Palm Beach was their 30th of the season 

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Maybe the Cubs are taking notes on how to work a count …

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Russell with another good inning

  • Aaron

     5 runs, 12 hits, 3 errors
    10 runs, 15 hits, 1 error

    What’s wrong with that picture? The Cubs are absolutely dreadful. Inept doesn’t even begin to describe this offense. The Red Sox just put on a clinic tonight, and proved how amateur the Cubs really are.

  • Ripsnorter1

     Russell could be another Marshall–not a good starter, but a fine reliever. 

  • GaryLeeT

    The Sox played tonight like they were going up against a real MLB team, but the Cubs showed up with clown noses, and orange wigs on.

    • The Maven

      Great comment!
      I often wondered if it was just me that heard calliope music when Quade holds his post-game press conferences.

      • Dorasaga

         LOL The Cubs management is quite an exotic being to us fans.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs pounded by the Red Sox 15-5 Friday Night. Doug Davis: 7R,8H,3BB,3K,3.2IP; Scott Maine:3R,5H,.1IP Cubs 4-for-14 w/ RISP,10 LOB; 4 Errors, PB
     

    • Ripsnorter1

      Not a bad game by the Cubs–if you were betting against them.  

  • Aaron

     I think most of Cubs Nation stopped paying attention to this game. Maybe I’m wrong. I stopped watching around the bottom of the 5th inning I believe. 

    Given the lack of comments, I take that as a generally apathetic fan base. The most hilarious part of the game was when Salty hit the bomb, and Clown Kenney caught it. He didn’t look upset at all. If it had been any other executive from another team, you would’ve seen an utter look of disgust on their face. Nope, not Clown Kenney. He looked like he was having a good old time. VERY indicative of Cubs management, actually. They don’t even give a damn that they just looked like amateurs tonight

    • GaryLeeT

      When I saw Kenney and Ricketts next to each other, I thought ” my God, they could be twins” Maybe Kenney is old man Ricketts’ love child. That would explain a lot.

    • Dorasaga

      Sometimes I wonder if these guys in suits are Citi executives. They got their bail out money, so need not give us a damn. We fans are damned.

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

         Kenny is a Tribune Lawyer thats strength is bying corporations. That may be the reason he is still there. Maybe the Ricketts can not make a move on that job until after there loans are payed off in 2012 ? I know that Tribune has a seat on the board until then atleast. Maybe Kenny is there seat?

        • Dorasaga

          Hmm, if Kenney’s part of the board… Shouldn’t the media let us know before? Curious. I don’t think he is, because then the executive (Kenney) would be under his own monitor (the Board) for being a shareholder of the organization, and we can make a joke out of some “white-collar crime”… LOL

      • Aaron

        that’s precisely why I’ve been asking fans to stay away, to stop spending on tickets, merchandise, the Convention, and even Spring Training.

        Here’s one thing I know, given my connections (I have a friend that owns a very large ticket company). He told me that with the Cubs, a vast majority of tickets that are sold are NOT to Cubs fans, but rather to ticket brokers, who have been banking on the Cubs’ fan base and draw for about the past decade. They’ve even banked on it the past 2 years, even though sales have been smaller. They’ve ended up eating a lot of their tickets the last 2 years, and still made out slightly above even, because they were able to turn a profit on early transactions that sold at just above market rate. 

        But he said nobody is even buying tickets right now, and they can’t even give them away. He said if the losing continues, and fans keep staying away, the brokers won’t come back next year, and the Ricketts will rue the day they bought the team, because the brokers have carried them BIG time, even though the product has sucked.  

    • paulcatanese

      I for one fast forwareded the tape of the game after the fifth and just shut it off. 

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs pitching threw 211 pitches, 118 for strikes Friday night. Sox tossed 137, 97 for strikes.

  • Aaron

     on the bright side, all 4 of the Cubs’ minor league teams won tonight, including the Iowa Cubs, who made a huge comeback late, after trailing 10-4 in the 6th inning, and won it in walk-off fashion, with an 11-10 win.

    If only the MLB team had that kind of fight in them…hmmmmmmmmmmmmm…how to get that? OH, that’s right….if you give younger players a shot, they’re hungrier, know how to play together, and are not fazed when they’re down in games. Already this season, we’ve seen the Daytona, Tennesse and Iowa clubs come from behind in several games in which they were down big early. 

    I hope the Cubs brass is taking note……

    oh wait, no, they just collect the money, and party at Fenway without a care in the world.

    It’s about damn time Cubs fans stuck it to them. They should’ve done it long ago with the Tribune, but I guess the Tribune figured they could easily sell the team at any time and turn a huge profit. Think about it for a second……After 2003, the Cubs didn’t reach the playoffs again until 2007, an absence of 4 years between playoff runs. They saw a huge drop in attendance, realized that they’d have to spend big in order to keep fans coming, so they put the team on the market, authorized a spending spree, and sold the team. 

    Ricketts doesn’t have the same luxury, because his purchase was heavily leveraged, so he couldn’t turn a profit selling the team even if he wanted to. The Tribune made something like $830 million with the sale of the team. Ricketts would actually lose money if he sold. 

    Therefore, if Cubs fans stay away, either he’ll default on the team like McCourt has done, and MLB would seize control of the team, or he’ll have to hire bright baseball minds to turn around the franchise, and hope the fans come back. Either way, I think the Ricketts won’t be around very long. Joe Ricketts in particular should be crapping his pants right now given the viral video that’s been going around talking about how dumb they think Cubs fans are. They won’t be able to last in Chicago with their type of leadership (or lacktherof) right now.

    • paulcatanese

      Liked it Aaron. And it will come to pass without change.Too bad that there is not a minor league team close by, think you would see a lot of Cub and Sox
      fans there. Or a College team, all of those offer good entertainment and above all the kids hustle and want to play. 

  • paulcatanese

    And for the encore tommorow night Quade will play musical chairs with the lineup.
     

    • Aaron

      I also saw in the box score that Campana struck out…..I guess that means that like Castillo, we’ve probably seen the last of him for quite awhile….Pretty pathetic isn’t it? Especially with Koyie Hill’s piss poor defense and game calling behind the plate, and his dreadful bat.

      Meanwhile, the Cubs have Castillo rotting on the bench, and Clevenger is now batting .480 upon his promotion to AAA and has 1 double, 1 triple, 2 hr, 6 RBI,  and a .536 OBP in his 7 games. Prior to that, he had .356/.410/.567 line in AA with 8 double, 1 triple, 3 hr, 18 RBI.

      I will never understand the Cubs management…All I have to look forward each day with this team, is checking Neil’s site, hoping to see: “From the Wire….Cubs fire Hendry/Kenney/Quade, etc.” or “From the Wire….Cubs trade ___________(insert veteran), and call-up __________(insert prospect name)”

      I hate to wish ill on anyone like that from a firing standpoint, or even hoping that they come down with some personal issue where they have to resign/retire both in management and with veteran players….but in reality, that’s EXACTLY what has to happen.

      I can honestly see a scenario in which Hendry would bring back Hill, Johnson, ARAM, Grabow, Pena, etc. If Pena hits even 15 home runs, chances are Hendry will try to re-sign him. And it’s almost a guarantee that Hendry will bring back Hill next year. GIVEN!!!!!!!!!! Doesn’t that blow your mind?!?!?

      So like I said, the ONLY way to cut him off at the knees, and prevent him from making the general idiotic roster decisions he usually makes, is by STOP FEEDING THE MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop going to games. Stop buying merchandise. Stop even giving a damn about the team….until changes are made.

      Once that happens, the Ricketts will have no choice but to get rid of Hendry, because if they’re wise business people, which I believe they are, they’ll recognize that Hendry is wholly incapable of making the right moves to get the organization back on track.

      • The Maven

        The new kinder, gentler Aaron? 

  • Dorasaga

    Aaron, you’re about right that the owner will lose money, if we use Forbes’ baseball biz report:

    http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_land.html

    The Cubs is worth 773M by estimation. But you might note that when the Ricketts bought the clubs for 830M, in 2009, the Cubs was deemed a value at 700M. Tom instantly lost 130M.

    So whatever it is, the Ricketts might found some surplus value out of the Cubs than what the expert outsiders found out… Perhaps, marketing value, or even connections to other financial giants?…

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

       Forbes doesn’t put the value of the stadium into their equations so that is probably the 130 million difference. They also got 51% of Comcast Chicago and 20% of WGN to have a insure their spot on the network. So when the Economy comes back and they get out of the loans with Tribune in 2012, they will probably be ahead.