Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Phillies – 08/23/06

Angel Guzman (0-3, 6.68) vs. Brett Myers (8-6, 4.40)

With Roster Moves – O’Malley Placed on 15-Day DL – Ryu Recalled from Iowa

Another game and another rookie starter for the Cubbies. Angel Guzman is scheduled to take the hill for the Cubs tonight, still in search of his first career win. Guzman was very impressive in the 3 scoreless innings he threw last Tuesday against the Astros in the 18-inning marathon. Guzman allowed just 2 hits and struck out 3. Tonight will be Guzman’s 6th career start but could he be better served right now out of the bullpen? Guzman has struggled as a starter and is 0-3 in 5 games with a 9.15 ERA (21 runs in 20 2/3 innings). He has allowed 29 hits, 18 walks and 21 strikeouts. In 3 games out of the pen he has allowed just 2 runs in 10 1/3 innings (1.74 ERA), 6 hits, 5 walks and 12 strikeouts. As a starter he has averaged 4 1/3 innings and 89.2 pitches per start (446 pitches, 263 for strikes), as a reliever he has thrown 181 pitches, 115 for strikes. Many organizations have started their top prospects in the bullpen and allowed them to grow into starters….the Cubs should use that strategy with Guzman.

The Cubs will face Brett Myers who has had a rough stretch of late. In his last 4 games he has allowed 21 runs on 32 hits in 20 innings (9.45 ERA) but is 2-1. Myers throws strikes and rarely gives free passes, on the season his strike out to walk ratio is close to 4 to 1….where a Major League pitcher should be. Myers does give up the long ball, 23 on the season and 7 in his last 20 innings, the most of any on the Phillies staff. The Cubs aggressiveness might actually payoff tonight….Myers will deliver the ball it will be up to the Cubs to hit it.

Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….

Roster Moves – For the third day in a row the Cubs placed a starter on the DL. The Cubs placed Ryan O’Malley on the 15-Day DL with a medial left elbow strain and recalled Jae Kuk Ryu from Triple-A Iowa.