Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Rockies – 10/01/06

Wade Miller (0-2, 3.57) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (0-0, 0.00)

THIS IS IT, the last game of the year…. Will today be the last game of the Dusty Baker Era? There are also several players that could be making their last start on the Northside….Juan Pierre, John Mabry, Wade Miller and Henry Blanco are free agents, Aramis Ramirez is expected to opt out of his contract and the coaching staff is expected to not be retained. Today is definitely the end of the season and the end of several players’ careers with the Cubs.

There are a couple of interesting story lines….Can Juan Pierre steal 2 bases on the final day to reach 60? Can Wade Miller win his first game of the season? How will Dusty handle what could be his last game? Jim Hendry did announce on Saturday that he will announce on Monday what future Dusty has with the organization. How will the fans in attendance react when the game is over? Wade Miller had a good game against the Reds last Monday. He held them scoreless on 3 hits in 5 innings of work with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Miller has improved every time he has taken the ball….not only stat wise but velocity and command. After a horrible debut against the Braves he has given up just 3 earned runs on 8 hits in 14 2/3 innings (1.84 ERA) but like the rest of his teammates walks has been his Achilles Heal….15 walks and just 16 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings….too many base runners, 28.

Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to make his first career start. In 1 inning against the Dodgers on September 26th he did not allow a run on 2 hits and threw 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. In the Minors this season (AA and AAA), he was 14-4 with a 3.80 ERA, 150 strikeouts and 83 walks in just under 152 innings.

Just enjoy the last game of the year….Go Bears later tonight against the Seahawks and let’s hope this off-season proves to be what this organization needs in order to build a winner and to not make deals that work as band-aids again for an apparent 1-year fix.