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Open Thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Thursday 5/1, 1:20 CT

Yelloncard_tiny by Al on in Game Threads

Milwaukee Brewers @ Chicago Cubs


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Milwaukee Brewers
@ Chicago Cubs

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 1:20 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Yovani Gallardo vs Carlos Zambrano

Complete Coverage >

Alfonso Soriano is expected to be activated for today's game and the corresponding roster move -- not official at the time I am writing this, but likely -- should be Matt Murton's return to Iowa. Many bytes have been spilled at this site discussing where Soriano should bat, but regardless of how the rest of us feel, Lou says he'll lead off.

This is now the fifth time in the last two weeks that the Cubs have played a day game following a night game. I'm exhausted following this. I imagine the players might be worn down a little after last night, too. With Z on the mound today, a series win, which the Cubs could use, seems very possible.

If you have not yet seen this inspirational story about a women's college baseball game in Oregon, which aired on local and national TV news programs this morning, it's well worth your time. (Hat tip to Jesse from the SBN Twins site TwinkieTown for the link.

Today's Starting Pitchers
Carlos Zambrano
C. Zambrano
Cubs		 vs. Yovani Gallardo
Y. Gallardo
Brewers
4-1 W-L 0-0
2.21 ERA 0.64
32 SO 9
9 BB 5
2 HR 1
vs. Hou -- vs. Cubs
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Carlos Zambrano 4-1 6 6 0 0 0 0 40.2 37 10 10 2 9 32 2.21 1.13
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Yovani Gallardo 0-0 2 2 0 0 0 0 14.0 10 1 1 1 5 9 0.64 1.07

With the goofy schedule this year, Z, like Ryan Dempster last night, has already faced the Brewers -- on Opening Day, when he shut them out for six innings in a game the Cubs eventually lost in extras. Prince Fielder hits him pretty well -- .333/.448/.625 with 4 doubles and a HR -- but he handles the rest of the Milwaukee club pretty well. He is 9-8, 3.99 vs. Milwaukee lifetime in 21 appearances (20 starts).

I had not remembered this, but Gallardo was the starting pitcher for the Brewers in perhaps the signature game of the 2007 season for the Cubs, the Aramis Ramirez walkoff game. He pitched six innings and allowed two runs. It's the only time he's faced the Cubs in his career. He started this year on the DL, but has pitched well in his two starts since returning.

Today's game is on WGN, also on cable in Wisconsin on FSN, and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Today's overflow comment thread will post at 2:45 pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 440 comments

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Comments

Display:

First!

Lets go cubbies!

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 11:01 AM CDT   0 recs

Soriano has a huge return game today.

We can all hope, anyway. In reality, I simply hope that Z continues to pitch well. That’s all we need for another win and a series win.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 11:02 AM CDT   0 recs

Al, it was softball

Women’s baseball? Really. I’ll cut you some slack because you are tired.

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on May 1, 2008 11:05 AM CDT   0 recs

Oregon Softball

Thanks Al, for the link to the women’s softball article. It’s nice to read articles like this instead of the usual bad news that is written every day.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on May 1, 2008 11:15 AM CDT   0 recs

coming soon

to a Lifetime Made-for-TV movie near you. :P

I can’t imagine such a thing happening in a college baseball game, but hey, wherever you can get it…

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 1, 2008 11:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why not? Because guys are too manly to do that?

The point is it wouldn’t have happened in any professional sport.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 11:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just got this image of DLee, DeRo, Theriot and Aramis...

...trying to move Prince Fielder around the basepaths. They make it as far as second base and say, “Sorry, dude, you’re gonna have to settle for a ground rule double.”

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on May 1, 2008 11:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Great article... YES...

But considering the circumstances of how the girl injured her knee… kind of silly. First she missed first base altogether after hitting the home run, then she jacks up her knee going back to touch first base. According to the rules, someone on her own team could have have pinch-ran and touched all the bases and the same result would have occurred. But for what its worth, its nice to know that good sportsmanship still exists in collegiate athletics. Was it ESPN worthy? Not sure. Worth reading? Definitely.

I'm kind of a big deal

by chi-townbleacherbum on May 1, 2008 12:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

article

I thought I read somewhere that if the team put in a pinch runner she would only get credit for a single and 2 RBI’s.

Wendyzman

by wendyvhz on May 1, 2008 1:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True

the initial interpretation by the umps was that she would only be credited with a single. It turns out that this interpretation of the rule was wrong, that a pinch-runner could have been inserted and the hitter would still be given the home run.

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on May 1, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is what I love about sports

No, you’d never see this in a pro game, in any sport, but seeing the character these young athletes have and what they’re willing to do for one another… It makes me proud to be a coach.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

by HectorVillanueva on May 1, 2008 11:34 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This might be an unpopular thought........

a variety of guys are ripping on female softball in comments. Here was an article about something positive in sports…. and so many of the comments were about how they didnt like softball.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. (personally I’m not a softball fan either) but its about sportmanship… not the game itself. I don’t get the hate.

by Madison Cub Fan on May 1, 2008 11:58 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This can be

a fresh start for Soriano today. Hope he takes advantage of it.

Pitch a great game Z.

by sue369 on May 1, 2008 11:19 AM CDT   0 recs

Free Tickets!!

Sorry, I know this isnt the right place for this post but because game time makes it a time sensitive matter I hope to get a pass.

I have 2 tickets for today that I wont be able to use. If anyone is interested I’m near Madison and Wacker and can meet you in the area. email tony412@sbcglobal.net asap!

FU-KU-DOH-MEH! clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!!!!

by tony412 on May 1, 2008 11:35 AM CDT   0 recs

Oh MAN if only I lived in Chicago.

Sigh.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 11:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

damn this job

and it’s schedule!

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 1, 2008 11:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oregon Softball Game

Wow. Nice article… I’m glad to see there is still some magic left in baseball… :O)

by TheHawkRules on May 1, 2008 11:42 AM CDT   0 recs

Thanks Al

For that great story!

by Madison Cub Fan on May 1, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sori

Hope he does well.

My only concern is that the team/fans will sit with baited breath during his at-bats from here on waiting for his breakout.

To me, it seems that is what happened earlier this month and I hope it doesn’t happen again as it can create a distraction.

"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett

by The Ryno and I Know on May 1, 2008 11:45 AM CDT   0 recs

What is going on with the Diamondbacks?

are they going to win 120 games this year, are they really that good? they just aren’t losing, it’s kinda scary

by dogcatratcheese on May 1, 2008 12:02 PM CDT   0 recs

They're playing way above their heads right now, obviously.

That said, I don’t see anyone but the Dodgers challenging them for the division. They’re a good young team. That said, we have a pretty good team too – they’re only a half-win up on us based upon Pythagorean records. So we’ll see.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 1, 2008 12:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

playing way above their heads right now

I agree. The D backs ARE a talented and legit club.
But it IS a long season, and they haven’t played everyone in the league.

The Cubs are just as solid, and in the end – injuries aside – I believe the Cubs will be right there with them, if not better.

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 1, 2008 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"playing over their heads"???

I don’t know how anyone can say that. If by “playing over their heads” you mean that they won’t win 120 games, then yeah, I guess you can say that. You’re talking about a team who last season played in the NLCS and had the youngest team and as expected (atleast by me) that young core is only better this year. You look at that team with players like Upton, Jackson, Hudson, Drew, Reynolds, Byrnes and Young and their loaded with talent. Their bullpen with Medders, Qualls and Lyon and their the best team in the NL. Not too mention that they could have the best hitter coming off the bench in the NL in Owings who allows them to go 1 deep and they’re the team to beat in the NL>

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 1, 2008 12:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have blindly agreed with cwyers

I forgot that everyone wants an explanation.

I did say the D backs are a good team.
And I also said that I feel that the Cubs are just as good, and it will all play itself out over the length of the season.

But most importantly – it’s just an opinion.
And I am a CUBS fan, and this is a CUBS blog.
And I don’t really care all that much about the D backs, until we play them of course. :-)

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 1, 2008 1:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Um.
I don’t know how anyone can say that. If by "playing over their heads" you mean that they won’t win 120 games, then yeah, I guess you can say that.

So… by “playing over their heads” we mean “playing better than you could expect over a full season.” Which is exactly what it means. I don’t see the issue here.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 1, 2008 1:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Heh...

Me neither. :-)

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 1, 2008 1:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's not an issue to me......at all.

But anytime I hear someone say a team is “playing over their heads” It’s usually a criticism. For instance, the Orioles are “playing over their heads” right now. I think it’s rather obvious or goes without saying that because the DBacks won 20 games in the month of April that they likely will not maintain that pace, because if they had, they’d set the single season record for Wins. Would you consider the Cubs of “playing over their heads” right now? Because right now they’re on pace to win 102 games, which I think is very unlikely. So yeah, you could say that the Cubs are playing over their heads, but I don’t think you would. The DBacks for some reason are the Rodney Dangerfields of the NL and that they don’t get any respect and teams just refuse to believe that they’re as good as they are. But they are. I know because I watch every single one of their games. I think the main reason why people don’t want to give them much respect is that they play in the PST and not many people in the midwest or East Coast get to watch many of their games To compare the DBacks with the Cubs, the DBacks have the better rotation, the better bullpen and are better defensively. The only glaring edge I would give to the Cubs would be their bench. I would give the Cubs a very slight edge on OFfense. They will run away with the NL West and the Dodgers won’t even be able to keep up with this team. They will win the West by minimum of 8 games. That’s how good this team is. I apologize for the lack of paragraph breaks but BCB is not allowing me to break them up as they get wrapped and run past comment box.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 1, 2008 11:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

God help us then

Webb and Haren will be pretty touch to beat.

I don’t know how far the Cubs can go in the postseason with our current starting rotation. I was expecting Hill to take a big step forward but so far that hasn’t happened (it may yet). I don’t trust any of Lilly/Marquis/Dempster/Lieber in the postseason.

To be honest, I would be happy if this team can go in consecutive years to the postseason. That would be an acomplishment in itself. I want them to win playoff series but with the starting pitching we have it will be tough.

by Luis on May 1, 2008 12:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im very scared

of facing the D backs in the playoffs they have such a good pitching staff which i dont expect to change, sure the hitting will go down but pitching wins playoffs.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 1, 2008 12:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Indeed

And especially dominant pitching, which they have. The success of the Cubs in ‘03 was mostly based on the dominance of Wood and Prior who basically won the Atlanta series. When they faltered in the league championship the club lost. The Cubs pitchers outside of Zambrano are not of the dominant type and that hurts you in the postseason. Last year the starters were second in ERA but that was based mostly on having better 4-5 starters than anyone else. Again, that doesn’t help you in the playoffs where the 4-5 guys are mostly redundant.

by Luis on May 1, 2008 12:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yup

I hate thinking about the D backs.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 1, 2008 12:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

DBacks are looking scary

Especially if Max Scherzer, one of their top pitching prospects who in 114 IP in the Minors had 144 K’s, can step into the rotation and contribute. He was called up Tuesday and in 4 1/3 IP didn’t give up a hit and struck out 7. That to go along with Owings who is 4-0 and Randy Johnson who obviously isn’t what he once was, but it looks like he’s the 5th starter in that rotation. I think they’re going to run away with the West and like you said, going to be tough to beat in the playoffs.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 1, 2008 12:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

They're not going to win 120

But they’re a real good team. They certainly could win 96-98 games.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh77 on May 1, 2008 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Breaking news

Clemens cheated…again. with someone new.

Even more breaking news! The sun rose today! I woke up with bad breath!

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on May 1, 2008 12:23 PM CDT   0 recs

This one (Daly) actually looks hot.

In all fairness, it would probably be difficult to avoid her charms. As to the “first one”, well, not worth breaking up a marriage for someone like that.

Anyway, what’s up with Clemens? He was on top of the world last year. Couldn’t do anything wrong. Now everything is tumbling on top of him. Frankly speaking, I respected him as a pitcher, but nothing more than that….

by zevkalman on May 1, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The pics of her in the Yahoo article...

Um…. the use of the word “hot” is reaching….. or maybe the sarcasm went over my head on that one.

by MillsChC on May 1, 2008 12:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks

for that twitter link

by gewurztraminer on May 1, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Poor guy.

You know he’s getting sick and tired of this.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 12:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

He’s in control of his own destiny. He doesn’t give Lou a reason to keep him around.

So nobody has to see the scroll bar on my posts!!!!

by McRipper on May 1, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Unless injuries require otherwise

we may have seen the last of him.
And I do feel for the guy.

"I'm retiring to the bedroom to finish this one up. I have tried the floor, both couches, and the recliner and haven't found the lucky spot." - Cribbs463

by Bluelou on May 1, 2008 12:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh for Pete's sake.

Baseball players are streaky. Good (and bad) outcomes tend to cluster. That’s how Soto can strike out in eight straight at-bats and then go out there and have two three-run homers the next time he plays.

Expecting a ballplayer to time those streaks around whatever the hell selective criteria you want to use isn’t fair, and more to the point it isn’t rational.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 1, 2008 12:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bah

Beating a dead horse. Murton has been dreadful with men on base 3 years in a row (2005-2007). In 12 Abs this year with runners on he has a .398 OPS. I call this a trend. It’s not impossible for him to turn it around but it’s probably (perhaps highly probable) that it will continue. In the minor leagues the year he has most at bats (400 or so, 200 with bases empty and 200 with runners on) he has the same awful split. At one point one has to say enough.

We’d all like to have 10,000 Abs worth of sample of size but short of that the guy has had chances to prove his worth and hasn’t. Is he better to have as a bench guy than Fontenot? Probably. Hell, if he was left handed I’m pretty sure he’d be in the big club. However, in the end, this are just minor dealings.

by Luis on May 1, 2008 12:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The year was 2005

What I mentioned in terms of his minor league stats. I don’t see the data for the splits concerning the years prior to this one. He had a different split in 2007 but that was based on a much smaller sample size. In general the overwhelming evidence have him beign pretty bad with men on base.

by Luis on May 1, 2008 12:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When has he ever had a good streak?

They’ve all been bad IIRC.

So nobody has to see the scroll bar on my posts!!!!

by McRipper on May 1, 2008 1:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Welcome to the world

of the marginal baseball player. He’s not the only one.

by rlpete on May 1, 2008 1:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Y'know

I still gaze at that every day when I’m at work. Wonder what my officemates think? The Murticorn is fabulous though.

"Just because you've had enough/ doesn't mean you wanted too much." -Dean Young

by Kegler on May 1, 2008 12:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Len & Bob's podcast studio...

If you like hacky jokes & bad improv then check out the video podcast up on WGN.com today. They’re showing the inside of the brand new “podcast studio”.

One interesting thing about it though…it looks as if they’re actually in one of the apts. in the building that was being constructed during the season all last year, the one they would show during the podcast promos during the games.

And I did like the Steve Stone joke…and Bob yelling off the balcony for someone to get their dog away from Len’s car.

by MillsChC on May 1, 2008 12:33 PM CDT   0 recs

Ha ha...very cool. Thanks for posting!

BB actually referred to the “podcast studios” in his BCB interview this past February. And he did so in response to a question I came up with. (Hey, I try to be contributor.)

This video podcast is funny stuff and worth a look. I like the smoking jackets and Len’s George Hamilton reference.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on May 1, 2008 12:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lineups?

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 12:52 PM CDT   0 recs

From Gameday:

Milwaukee

Weeks 2B
Cameron CF
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
Hart RF
Hall 3B
Counsell SS
Gallardo P
Kendall C

Chicago

Soriano LF
Theriot SS
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
Fukudome RF
DeRosa 2B
Soto C
Johnson CF
Zambrano P

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on May 1, 2008 12:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you

SORIANO

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 1, 2008 12:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I will be

interested to see what this lineup can do today. Except for maybe subbing Cedeno for Theriot, this may be the best offensive lineup we can field. (of course some of the players positions in the batting order could and maybe should be switched around).

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on May 1, 2008 12:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Probably a minor quibble

But why not switch Johnson and Theriot?

"When you have a fat friend there are no see-saws, only catapults." --Demetri Martin

by Reddevil on May 1, 2008 12:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not to mention,

A lot of innings could have Johnson-Zambrano-Soriano. I actually like that setup.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on May 1, 2008 1:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good to see Soto in there today after a Night game

I guess the blowout which allowed him to sit early, is the main reason for that.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 1, 2008 1:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

More like "stumping" my head into a brick wall.

Because that’s what I feel like doing every time he is put in the game lately.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on May 1, 2008 1:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Attention, everyone

if Soriano stikes out, grounds out, or goes 1-4 for the day; it’s not the end of the world, its not a reason to trade him, it’s not a reason to bench him, and it’s certainly not a reason to sully his good name.

Please, remember this.

"I think Hendry still has a few years to serve on his 'grand larceny' sentence before he can shop in Pittsburgh again" - ballhawk

by NittanyCub on May 1, 2008 1:06 PM CDT   0 recs

Thanks for the comment.

Now he’ll hit a leadoff solo shot.

"Anything under 5 pitches is a bad at-bat."

by Fukumania on