Open Thread: Cubs vs. Giants, Sunday 9/3, 1:20 CT

by Al Yellon on Sep 3, 2006 10:02 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

Well. Now THIS is a mismatch.

Today's Starting Pitchers


A. Guzman Cubs	vs.	J. Schmidt Giants


0-4	W-L	10-8
7.20	ERA	3.37
46	SO	152
28	BB	67
5	HR	16
vs. SF	--	vs. Cubs

Not only is Guzman coming off the worst start of this year, and thus his career, but the Cubs are facing one of their biggest nemeses -- Schmidt is 10-5 lifetime with a 2.65 ERA against them, his best record against any team that he's started against more than seven times.

That includes this 2004 one-hitter against a Cubs club that was far better offensively than the current version.

However. Schmidt is also coming off his worst start of the year, a 3.1 inning, seven-hit, eight-run (four earned), two-homer pounding by the Braves last Tuesday.

Notes: here is the Melissa Isaacson article on Fredi Gonzalez I referenced in yesterday's recap.

Here is today's Rick Morrissey column, on the treatment Dusty Baker gets from fans and media.

From the Tribune Cub notes, we could have a pretty odd-looking lineup today:

With catcher Michael Barrett very doubtful for Sunday's game and John Mabry nursing a sore back, the Cubs may have a problem at first base.

Derrek Lee is scheduled for a day off after playing two straight games, which might leave backup catcher Henry Blanco manning first and call-up Geovany Soto catching.

A foul ball smashed Barrett in the groin area during Saturday's game and he was taken to the hospital for observation after complaining of sickness. He could miss several days.

Blanco has played exactly once at first base in his career, in this goofy Dodgers/Rockies game in 1997. A better choice would be to give Matt Murton a shot, to see if he could handle 1B.

Finally, have yourself some fun today: my SB Nation colleague John Sickels has posted "You're The Cubs GM" this morning. Go over there and fix this mess!

MLB.com Cubs Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Also

The Trib reports today (and I saw this in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune yesterday) that Phil Nevin called Ron Gardenhire and suggested that he be traded to the Twinkies.

Two things about this:

I think it's nice that we have to rely on players to suggest trades to our GM. Nice work, Jim.
You know this ship is going down fast when Phile "Clubhouse Cancer" Nevin wants out of a clubhouse that he could run hog-wild in.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

Well...

... maybe he'd had his fun here and wanted to ruin another clubhouse.

I'm surprised that the Twins, who have a reputation as running a very tight ship, would want someone like Nevin. He doesn't seem to fit there.

It'd be quite the irony if Nevin wound up getting a key hit or two the last weekend of the season against the White Sox, which might put them out of the postseason.

by Al Yellon on Sep 3, 2006 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Perhaps

the fact that the man who runs the "very tight ship" in Minnesota facilitated the trade should tell you that perhaps Nevin is not nearly as bad as Melissa Isaacson would like us to believe.

All will be fixed in 2006

by DSZ on Sep 3, 2006 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Phile=Phil

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Why exactly is Michael Restovich not here?

Hey Jim how 'bout calling it quits after the 8th Jaeger Bomb at Murphy's? We actually have legitimate first basemen who could have been in Chicago for today's game.

19 more losses until we're rid of Jimbo the Hut.

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

Re:

"Why exactly is Michael Restovich not here?"

That's the $64,000 questions, isn't it?

I'm going to say" "Because Hendry has bungled this roster to the point of no return," Dick.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Bonus Round:

What is Andy MacPhail's preferred ascot color?

a: teal
b: mother of pearl
c: carolina
d: crimson

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Restovich...

... isn't on the 40-man roster. Now, you could make a good argument that he SHOULD be, but bringing Restovich back would require a 40-man roster move.

by Al Yellon on Sep 3, 2006 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Fine

Get rid of Novoa!

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Or Rusch.

n/t

by Al Yellon on Sep 3, 2006 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes that was my implication.

n/t

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Not really

Restovich isn't really a legitimate First Baseman. He's mostly played LF and RF, with only a few spare games at First.

That said, I'd love it if Restovich were with the big league club right now. You're right-- he would be a better option at 1B than Henry Blanco (or John Mabry and his .648 OPS).

by Romero on Sep 3, 2006 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Not a legitimate first baseman

Yup. BUT HE HAS PLAYED THE POSITION! This is Blanco's SECOND professional game at first. Not second Major League Game, his second professional game. Not having a first baseman available AFTER THE ROSTERS HAVE EXPANDED is criminal. Its a KC Royal, worst team in the league move. Oh wait...

by Frustrated Fan on Sep 3, 2006 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Hank White at First

by 08Cubs on Sep 3, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Its nice to see

Rick Morrissey is throwing is hat in the ring for the worst Tribune sportswriter, the final voting is going to be close but if I hand to handicap it the preseason rankings would be:

Phil Rogers
Rick Morrissey
Paul Sullivan

Honestly, why do ANY of you you subscribe to that paper?

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 10:37 AM CDT reply actions

Uh

because I keep hoping that my subscription fee will purchase a quality FA?

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I

called the Trib, they said that your subscription fee is paying Boom Boom's salary. See, money well spent.

President of the Dusty/Hendry Bashers Club aka Cub Fans for a Better Future

by kessinger on Sep 3, 2006 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Well damn

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

I think the rooftops brought us Neifi.

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

What does Mike Downey have to do...

to crack the top three. He's trying his hardest.

by Thelonious on Sep 3, 2006 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

One bright spot

Next year our manager will be either Fredi Gonzalez or Joe Girardi, either one of them is better than any we've had in a decade. Small steps.

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Sep 3, 2006 10:42 AM CDT reply actions

Things I was wrong about, '06

Cubs with a .500 record.

Cedeno would become a solid everyday player.

Matt Murton would struggle to hit .250 for a season (but was right about his crappy fielding)

Prior would re-establish himself

Small ball on the North Side would be great

Dempster would have 30-35 saves.

DLee would hit in the high .280's and have 100rbi's

Aram would finally have a great April/May

Beat Iowa in all sports. Go Illini!

by TheEman on Sep 3, 2006 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

It's amazing

that even with the increased roster size we have to use Blanco at 1st. It's not like we haven't had a problem there all year. Hendry, get your head out of your butt and callup someone. And demand that Baker play him.

OK. That was my fantasy of the day.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Sep 3, 2006 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

game on in the background

and I got confused when I saw Murton at the plate in the 1st. I think 5th might be the highest in the order he's batted all year!

by false cognate on Sep 3, 2006 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

I could have sworn...

that I heard someone yelling "where's greg at" during Bonds's AB. I hope my ears were right.

by Thelonious on Sep 3, 2006 2:28 PM CDT reply actions

im grossed out now

did anyone see the guy stroking the microphone in the background of pat hughes. ughhh!!

by tbizzle83 on Sep 3, 2006 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

DJ Len

Spinning a little "I Wanna Be Sedated" after Guzman goes down and Wuertz coughs it up.

That's about right.

by JohnM on Sep 3, 2006 3:11 PM CDT reply actions

Another injury?

GameDay reports:

"Angel Guzman left the game due to an injured arm".

Anybody have anything more on this?

by Romero on Sep 3, 2006 3:27 PM CDT reply actions

i don't know any more...

but it was also after throwing 5 straight balls, on a day where he was showing very good control.

The Cubs better shine 'fore twenty-oh-nine!

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 3, 2006 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

They...

made two trips out to the mound...trainer and all. He thought he could keep going but a few balls later they were called back out. I think they were looking at his forearm...

Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery. -Bertrand Russell

by thekansasian on Sep 3, 2006 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

He kept spreading and flexing his fingers

Looked like maybe a cramp.

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

62-100

The way the Cubs are playing right now, and considering the teams left to play, I wouldn't be surprised if they win only 7 more games.

by firebottle on Sep 3, 2006 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

SS would be happy...

For some reason, he is obsessed with that number...like nothing will be done with 99 losses.

Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery. -Bertrand Russell

by thekansasian on Sep 3, 2006 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Come on DLee! Grand slam!

by thing85 on Sep 3, 2006 4:14 PM CDT reply actions

Alright, sac fly, I'll take it.

by thing85 on Sep 3, 2006 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Did anyone else notice this?

When Felipe Alou came out to change the pitcher yet again this inning, Bob Brenly made a fairly loud disgusted sigh. It made me chuckle.

by Zachary on Sep 3, 2006 4:19 PM CDT reply actions

I don't blame him.

He probably wants to go home already

by thing85 on Sep 3, 2006 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow Cedeno

Way to end the Cubs' only hope of tying this one up.

by thing85 on Sep 3, 2006 4:22 PM CDT reply actions

This time

Brenly's disgusted sigh was definitely noticeable.

by JohnM on Sep 3, 2006 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Ladies and Gentlemen

Wade Miller is on the mound (in the bullpen).

"It's hard to put your finger on it. You have to have a dullness of mind and spirit to play here." --Jim Brosnan

by cubbiejulie on Sep 3, 2006 4:26 PM CDT reply actions

Jason Schmidt

He's probably not going to put together another really good season like he used to do, but I would really like to see him in a Cubs uniform next year if the pricetag isn't ridiculous. I have a feeling he's going to get a lot of money from someone though.

by Zachary on Sep 3, 2006 4:36 PM CDT reply actions