Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs GameThread, Oct 2, 2008 8:37 PM CDT

The Biggest Game Of Z's Life: NLDS Game #2, Cubs vs. Dodgers, Thursday 10/2, 8:30 CT

by Al on Oct 2, 2008 5:00 PM CDT in Game Threads

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs

Next Game

Thursday, Oct 2, 2008, 8:37 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 60.

Complete Coverage >

I have gotten bashed before for calling games "must-win". But I think all of you agree that tonight's game comes under that category. The starting time, as we have discussed before, is bizarre -- there's no reason it couldn't have been at least 30 minutes earlier -- meaning that we're not likely to be finished at Wrigley tonight till near midnight.

Which Z will show up? The no-hit Z? Or the one who stomped off the mound in his next start before Lou even got there in the second inning? It needs to be the former. Most importantly, the big bats have to start hitting the way we know they can.

A reporter from the LA Times named Jim Peltz hung out with us in the bleachers for about half of last night's game. My friend Jeff and I got quoted. I thought that was a pretty good article which captured what it's like out there without resorting to the usual tired old "drunken bleacher bum" garbage.

I received an email today from Chris Speakman, who does sports-related art at his site Sports Propaganda, up to now concentrating on the Red Sox in his native Boston. Here is his first Cub-related poster (done in what he calls "1940's propaganda style":

The Gratuitous Geo Photos don't appear to be working too well. So let's try this one, an Upper Deck 2005 baseball card image:

Today's Starting Pitchers


C. Zambrano Cubs	vs.	C. Billingsley Dodgers


14-6	W-L	16-10
3.91	ERA	3.14
130	SO	201
72	BB	80
18	HR	14
vs. LA	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Carlos Zambrano	14-6	30	30	1	1	0	0	188.2	172	85	82	18	72	130	3.91	1.29

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Chad Billingsley	16-10	35	32	1	1	0	0	200.2	188	76	70	14	80	201	3.14	1.34

Z's season record, which no doubt the TV yakkers will make a big deal of, vs. the Dodgers is 0-1, 4.91. However, that includes this outstanding performance on May 28 at Wrigley Field, when he was taken out behind 1-0 after 8 innings -- that was the game where he threw 130 pitches and started to get the "shoulder discomfort" after. He gets hit hard by Russell Martin (8-for-13, a homer -- which was hit on June 7 at Dodger Stadium).

Chad Billingsley is also 0-1 vs. his opponent, the Cubs, tonight, with an identical 4.91 ERA. In Billingsley's case, though, the Cubs hit him both times -- a two-run homer by D-Lee on May 26 at Wrigley Field beat him, and he gave up homers to Mark DeRosa and Kosuke Fukudome on June 5 at Dodger Stadium, which helped the Cubs to a 5-4 win, though they had to come back and win it off the Dodgers' closer, Takashi Saito, after Bob Howry blew a 4-3 lead.

Today's game is on TBS again. I'd suggesting turning the sound completely off before you get the idea to maybe throw a brick through your TV.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Once again, a reminder that you can find the overflow comment threads, including the first pitch thread, on the right sidebar of both the front page and any interior page in the box headed "RECENT STORIES IN GAME THREADS". I'm going to post five additional threads after this one: first pitch thread at 8:30, then every 45 minutes after -- 9:15, 10:00, 10:45 and 11:30 pm (all Central time).

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 2, 2008 5:02 PM CDT 0 recs

oooh I like the latest gratuitious geo photo the best

such command!

That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou

by Emelie on Oct 2, 2008 5:03 PM CDT 0 recs

Is it safe to say this is a must-win game??

I sure feel like the answer is a definite YES!!!

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Oct 2, 2008 5:04 PM CDT 0 recs

YES!!!

by Carolina Cubbie on Oct 2, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm not 100% sure of this but

I believe the only team ever to come back 0-2 in a five game series is the 1984 Padres.

So what I’m saying is yes, this is a must win!

(This story was produced by BCPDnewservice. Our motto: If you don’t like this story then suck it!)

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Oct 2, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

i think the red sox did it

against the A’s

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

they did a few years back..

Your 2008 NL Central Champs: Chicago Cubs!!! Go Cubs Go

by mkcubs21 on Oct 2, 2008 5:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

That is great news!

(This story was produced by BCPDnewservice. Our motto: If you don’t like this story then suck it!)

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Oct 2, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

2003 I believe

by dbaltman on Oct 2, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

that was the year

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 2, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

2001 Yankees, anyone?

vs. The A’s? the play of the ages – Derek Jeter to Posada to get Jeremy Giambi – was in that series, IIRC.

by CubFaninNY on Oct 2, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Two words for tonight

Just Gotta.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Oct 2, 2008 5:04 PM CDT 0 recs

Career Defining Start

Tim McCarver said, as they showed Ichiro watch Bernie's homer: "Ichiro, like Knoblauch who watched Boone's homerun, both short."

by MintSkoal on Oct 2, 2008 5:05 PM CDT 0 recs

Do they sit Fukudome tonight??

or leave him in for the defense against that lefty lineup??

If they leave him in he has to be dropped to the 8 hole I believe…

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Oct 2, 2008 5:05 PM CDT 0 recs

he'll play

That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until the final out -- Lou

by Emelie on Oct 2, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ya,

Why was he in the number 2 hole last night. I wondered about that last night. Was Lou trying to space out the lefties in the lineup?

by 100yearitch on Oct 2, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

My guess

is that he was hoping to capture a little mojo from an unexpected source, and also give Fukudome-san a vote of confidence. Bit of a roll of the dice…..

"[Lou Piniella] might be over 100, but he still has a lot of fire in him." - Ted Lilly, Sept. 10, 2008

by CaughtInTheVines on Oct 2, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

looks like my last Cubs game of the year boys

having not won the chance for NLCS tickets in any of my or my friend’s entries so far

LETS MAKE IT A GOOD ONE BIG Z!

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 5:06 PM CDT 0 recs

We need a Cub statement blowout tonight reeeeal bad......

The Dodgers need to be smacked down hard.

by Carolina Cubbie on Oct 2, 2008 5:07 PM CDT 0 recs

I'll

take any win…but a blowout would be great!

reassert our offense…and would be so much less stressful…

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Oct 2, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

You're not lying

about turning off the sound on TBS. Those fools couldn’t call a home town highschool game. It makes me nostalgic for the espn morons.

Go cubs Go.

Don’t dispair friends, they can do this!!!!

Let's get some runs!!!!

by Colorado Cubbies Fan on Oct 2, 2008 5:08 PM CDT 0 recs

Alright. It's time for Zambrano to show us why they call him "El Toro" !

Biggest start of his life. I’m not nervous at all. I’m confident that Zambrano will hold them down, and that the bats will win the day. Cubs 6, Dodgers 3.

GO CUBS GO!! GO CUBS GO!! GO CUBS GO!!

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 2, 2008 5:08 PM CDT 0 recs

Definitely a must win game....

I think i’ll be avoiding bleedcubbieblue tonight during gametime….there were way too many bandwagon pessimists yesterday already anointing the Dodgers with the series. It was driving me and others crazy.

by aznsensation on Oct 2, 2008 5:09 PM CDT 0 recs

If it gets bad

I’ll start a seperate game thread. If you leave you let them win.

by sue369 on Oct 2, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Listen to her..she knows what she's talking about!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 2, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Does an 18 lb.

Northern count? He was lots of fun to reel in.

by sue369 on Oct 2, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sue has my vote now

SWL – Undecided

(This story was produced by BCPDnewservice. Our motto: If you don’t like this story then suck it!)

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Oct 2, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Is that from

the Sound of Music???

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Oct 2, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

thanks...i'll definately look for a game thread if that happens

but i feel the cubs offense will be awake tonight. So hopefully the thread will be good tonight

by aznsensation on Oct 2, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hope so too.

by sue369 on Oct 2, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thank you Sue!!!!!!!

Believe or Leave ~Cubswynn 9/9/2008

by slcathena on Oct 2, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

You're welcome

by sue369 on Oct 2, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

My kingdom

for a victory!

The day we lose our will to fight - Is the day we lose our Freedom.

by sanantonecub on Oct 2, 2008 5:09 PM CDT 0 recs

do you have a large kingdom? I will see what I can do....

"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08

by JB 23 on Oct 2, 2008 5:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Can you request

That the artist do a Rosy the riveter style poster with maybe Soto or D-Lee or Big Z? Or something?

I think it’d be cool :)

by hmlee on Oct 2, 2008 5:09 PM CDT 0 recs

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 2, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

I see a great game until the 6th or 7th..

when Aramis Ramirez wins it for us with a big homerun…

Cubs win 7-4…GO CUBS!!!

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Oct 2, 2008 5:10 PM CDT 0 recs

Baseball is so quirky

You play 162 games to see which team really is the best, then throw the dice on a best of five series…. In an older world the Cubs would be playing the Angels in the World Series right now.

by Carolina Cubbie on Oct 2, 2008 5:11 PM CDT 0 recs

On a side note....Please TBS stop showing Frank Caliendo commercials...A part of my soul dies every commercial break because of him

by aznsensation on Oct 2, 2008 5:11 PM CDT 0 recs

My campaign and this team stand on the precipice of greatness...

Let us lock arms and move forward together in the full knowledge that our best days are ahead of us!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 2, 2008 5:11 PM CDT 0 recs

Full speed ahead Captain.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 2, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Make is so, Number One.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Oct 2, 2008 5:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Uhm....should we be moving forward over a precipice?

Not being disrespectful or anything….just sayin’……

"[Lou Piniella] might be over 100, but he still has a lot of fire in him." - Ted Lilly, Sept. 10, 2008

by CaughtInTheVines on Oct 2, 2008 6:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Another game key

Its been more than a few days since Wood and Marmol last pitched. I wonder if it would have served the team well to let both shake off the rust last night. I just hope if its a close situation late in the game that these two have their stuff.

by dmlichte on Oct 2, 2008 5:11 PM CDT 0 recs

Don't worry, they will.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 2, 2008 5:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't care if

we win by only one run, I just want a win. I just want the Z that doesn’t get rattled to pitch tonight.

by sue369 on Oct 2, 2008 5:14 PM CDT 0 recs

Roll call: Where ya from? What do you think will be the final score.

Jimmy from GI. Final score: Cubs win! 6-3.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 2, 2008 5:15 PM CDT 0 recs

4-2 Cubbies

Jody Davis was born on Monday, November 12, 1956, in Gainesville, Georgia. Davis was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 21, 1981, with the Chicago Cubs.

by waynemessmer on Oct 2, 2008 5:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Where ya from Wayne?

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Oct 2, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

oops forgot

Chicago, Belmont/Racine

Jody Davis was born on Monday, November 12, 1956, in Gainesville, Georgia. Davis was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 21, 1981, with the Chicago Cubs.

by waynemessmer on Oct 2, 2008 5:18 PM CDT up 0 recs