Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Mets – 08/05/07

Jason Marquis (8-6, 4.22/1.32) vs. Tom Glavine (9-6, 4.38/1.38)

The Cubs will conclude the 3-game series against the Mets and the 7-game homestand tonight with a chance to finish with a 4-3 record against two of the top teams in the league. This is a rematch of a game in New York on May 14th. Neither Jason Marquis nor Tom Glavine received a decision and the Mets won the game in the bottom of the 9th when Michael Wuertz walked Carlos Delgado with the bases loaded to force in the winning run, but that was then and this is now.

The Cubs’ bullpen will be without Carlos Marmol and Ryan Dempster tonight. Lou Piniella stated Marmol will not be used to give him a much-needed day off and Dempster will not be used due to his ineffectiveness against the Mets. So there is a very good chance Kerry Wood will make an appearance on the Wrigley Field mound. While the Cubs try to hold off Tom Glavine’s date with history, the offense must get in gear and take what Glavine will give them, but it all starts with the adventure that is Jason Marquis. After struggling to record a win from May 14th to July 1st, Jason Marquis has won 2 of his last 3 starts and 3 of his last 6. Marquis beat the Phillies his last time out and was the only starter to record a victory during that series. Marquis held the high-powered Phillies offense to 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings of work with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks. In his last 3 starts Marquis has allowed 11 earned runs on 17 hits in 18 2/3 innings (5.31 ERA) with 8 strikeouts and 8 walks.

Tonight will be Marquis’ second start of the season against the Mets. As mentioned, he received a no decision in New York on May 14th. Marquis allowed 4 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings with 3 walks and 1 strikeout.

Marquis is 5-4 in 12 career starts (19 games) against the Mets with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.

• Marlon Anderson – 4-13
• Luis Castillo – 7-19 with 2 RBI’s
• Ramon Castro – 5-11, with a double, 2 home runs and 3 RBI’s
• Carlos Delgado – 4-7, with a home run and 2 RBI’s
• Shawn Green – 7-23, with a home run and 4 RBI’s

Marquis has pitched extremely well at Wrigley this season. He is 6-2 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 12 starts at the Friendly Confines. Marquis’ biggest problem is himself….he has shown this over and over throughout his career. His team needs the ‘good‘ Marquis to take the hill tonight in primetime and give them a very important series win at home against the best in the NL.

The Cubs will face future Hall of Famer, Tom Glavine. Glavine will look to become the first 300-game winner since Greg Maddux accomplished the milestone back in August of 2004 in San Francisco against the Giants. Glavine would be the 23rd pitcher in the history of the game to reach the 300-win plateau and the first to do it in a Mets’ uniform.

Glavine received a no decision his last time out against the Brewers in Miller Park. He held the Brewers to 1 run on 2 hits in 6 innings with 5 walks and 2 strikeouts. In his last 6 starts Glavine is 2-1 with a 5.14 ERA and has walked more (15) than he has struck out (13). The Cubs must make Glavine work tonight and capitalize on the walks he will give them.

Glavine has struggled on the road this season and is 3-5 with a 5.53 ERA compared to a 6-1 record with a 3.14 ERA at Shea. Tonight will be Glavine’s second start of the season against the Cubs, like Marquis, he received a no decision and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Glavine is 14-13 with 6 complete games in 34 career starts against the Cubs with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. At Wrigley he is 6-5 in 15 starts that includes 3 complete games with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

• Cliff Floyd – 13-33, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 7 RBI’s
• Jason Kendall – 8-40, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s
• Derrek Lee – 15-52, with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 3 RBI’s
• Jason Marquis – 2-5 with 2 RBI’s
• Aramis Ramirez – 11-21, with a double, 3 home runs, 6 RBI’s and 5 walks
• Alfonso Soriano – 7-18, with a double, a home run and a RBI

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….