Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Rockies – 09/29/06

Carlos Zambrano (16-6, 3.43) vs. Josh Fogg (10-9, 5.62)

Well it turns out the Cubs do have something to play for….4th place. Going into the last 3 games of the season the Cubs are tied with the Pirates for last in the Central. The Pirates were just swept by the Astros and they finish the season in Cincinnati….Go Reds!!!

Today Carlos Zambrano will look to set a new career high in wins with 17 and if anyone thinks he will not be swinging for the fence….well, you know better. Zambrano needs just one dinger today to break the Cubs All-Time mark for Home Runs in a season by a pitcher and to tie the National League record. More important than the home run is for Zambrano to finish the season on a positive note….like Sean Marshall and Rich Hill have already done. Zambrano has had a great year and will anchor the Cubs unknown rotation in 2007. Zambrano has won back-to-back starts after two rough outings against the Pirates. Zambrano won last Saturday in Cincinnati and threw quite well despite one bad inning. In his last 2 starts, both against the Reds, he has allowed just 4 runs on 10 hits in 14 innings of work (2.57 ERA) but he has walked 7. Zambrano, like the rest of the staff, must cut down on walks allowed next season. Zambrano is 1-3 in 6 career games against the Rockies with a 3.24 ERA.

Josh Fogg beat the Cubs in Colorado back on August 12th….that was the night Angel Guzman could not make it out of the 3rd inning. The Cubs scored 4 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits in 6 innings of work….Matt Murton hit a home run off of Fogg in that game. Fogg has been horrible of late; he is 1-0 in his last 4 starts with a 7.40 ERA. He has allowed 17 runs on 31 hits in 20 2/3 innings. The Cubs will have plenty of chances against Fogg….they just have to take advantage of them. Fogg is 5-7 in 18 career games against the Cubs with a 6.10 ERA.

Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball for the last Friday of the Season….