Open Thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Saturday 5/17, 12:05 CT
by Al
on May 17, 2008 9:00 AM CDT
in Game Threads
Pittsburgh @ Chicago
Saturday morning notes:
- The Cubs are ten games over .500, which matches their high from 2007 (83-73). The last time the Cubs were more than ten games over .500 was the last day of the 2004 season.
- Twenty-eight years ago today, the Cubs and Phillies played the second-highest scoring game in modern major league history, the famous 23-22 game won by the Phillies on a day the wind was blowing out at about 25 MPH. The wind will be blowing out to RF today. Just sayin'.
- Daryle Ward might go to the DL. Or not. It appears aches and pains are just part of Ward's normal day-to-day experience and he may have been hurting when he hit the game-winning double on Sunday. So don't get those Micah Hoffpauir jerseys ordered yet.
- Ken Griffey Jr. may indeed be headed back to Seattle to finish his career. Does that mean the Reds are giving up on the season already?
- Lou on Carlos Zambrano's hitting; he thinks Z will want to participate in the HR-hitting contest at the Hall of Fame game (and why not?).
- Lou says the Cubs need to scout the opposition's pitchers, because the bottom of the lineups are hitting too well against us. Also, that article says Lou is going to start giving the starters more rest, including Geovany Soto and Derrek Lee.
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Zach Duke has already faced the Cubs twice this year, both times against Ryan Dempster. He pitched well in Pittsburgh, but the Cubs won that game in 15 innings. At Wrigley Fieldon April 20, the Cubs beat up on him and three other Pirate pitchers. Duke has had control problems this year, walking 18 and striking out only 16. Alfonso Soriano, hot right now, is 7-for-15 lifetime vs. Duke. Aramis Ramirez is 9-for-26 with 7 XBH (6 doubles, a HR). The wind is supposed to be blowing out again today.
Jason Bay has hit 5 HR in his career off Z in 34 AB (12-for-34, .353/.463/.912), and Xavier Nady is 8-for-20 with five doubles. Other than that, he's handled the current Pittsburgh roster pretty well. Z seems a man on a mission and has thrown consistently well all season. He needs a new picture, though.
Today's game is on cable in the Chicago & Pittsburgh markets. It'll have the usual EI blackouts due to Fox-TV's Saturday rules. For more see 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 1:30 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Can Zambrano...
Do the Homerun Derby? Anyway, Lou just gave Soto a rest on Thursday, why again?
by wrigleyrocker12 on May 17, 2008 9:05 AM CDT 0 recs
He's going to START giving them more rest...
that doesn’t mean he’s going to rest them both today. One might conclude that yesterday was evidence of Piniella starting to give Soto more rest. Perhaps today Piniella will start to give Lee more rest.
by SouthernCub on
May 17, 2008 9:21 AM CDT
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Z in the Derby
Absolutely not. ABSOLUTELY NOT! If he actually got invited, I hope Lou will advise him not to go. Pitching a couple of innings during the All-Star game is ok, but taking a bunch of all out hacks is not what I want my Ace doing the day before.
by californiachicagoan on
May 17, 2008 10:08 AM CDT
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Kicking butt and taking names
Right now the Cubs are kicking butt and taking names. Does that give anyone else a funny mental image of them walking through the streets kicking people and asking theri name?
We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.
by cubstoseriesby100 on May 17, 2008 9:12 AM CDT 0 recs
Being from the Pittsburgh area...
...there’s nothing like 10 Cubs wins vs the Pirates in a row. Too bad people around here can care less with hockey still going on.
Bleeding Cubbie Blue since 1985.
by Bricks and Ivy on May 17, 2008 9:15 AM CDT 0 recs
Well the Penguins are a good team
With the best young player in the game. I’d be watching them too. LOL
by AlabamaCubFan on
May 17, 2008 10:35 AM CDT
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gameday again...
sheesh, they really need to show more games on WGN. The entire Padres series wasn’t on it. This month doesn’t really have that many games on the Superstation either. Might get MLB.tv..
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on May 17, 2008 9:16 AM CDT 0 recs
Chanman, it is great
Be sure to go for the 19.99 package for one month, since get a second month free.
If you do it, be sure to download Mosaic.
The one program that has furthered my baseball addiction the most.
.... Edit #6: We're gonna go 156 and 6 this year, I can feel it!!!
by Beaushek on
May 17, 2008 10:15 AM CDT
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If you get it for a month
does it immediately start and you get it? Say I get it May 17. I keeps working until June 17?
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on
May 17, 2008 10:39 AM CDT
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Yes
that’s how it works, but you might need to cancel it on June 16 (i.e. call them up and say “don’t charge me for another month”. I think on the monthly plan they keep renewing it unless you tell tthem to stop.)
"Is there anything he can't do?" ~Len Kasper, 4/5/08, on Kosuke Fukudome
by JohnM on
May 17, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
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and right now
they have a thing where the second month is free if you use a mastercard. that’s what finally got me. two months for twenty bucks isn’t bad at all…
not super great on a mac, but it’ll do…
this is definitely the worst season for baseball on wgn i’ve suffered through. i’m on the west coast, so i can only really catch night games. and it seems like they’re all on csn now…
by billywan on
May 17, 2008 11:16 AM CDT
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true
Back in 05 and 06 you could catch probably nearly 1/2 the games. Now its only about 60 on WGN
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on
May 17, 2008 11:22 AM CDT
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That ship has sailed...
...those days are gone. Just be thankful there are some games left on WGN. Hopefully, there will always be some after the transfer of the team to new ownership.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on
May 17, 2008 1:33 PM CDT
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Griffey
If he does get traded, does that mean that Jocketty is tearing the whole thing down? It sure would seem to mean that Baker isn’t going to be long for the team, since he likes to win as many games as possible in the current year—late 2006 being an example.
by Shanghai Badger on May 17, 2008 9:18 AM CDT 0 recs
It's a good question...
and it’s a question that probably should have been asked BEFORE the Reds hired Baker. They were not really in position to compete, with players who are either too young or too old, and not enough in between. Too bad for them, I guess.
by SouthernCub on
May 17, 2008 9:26 AM CDT
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If he does go to Seattle before hitting #600....
I guess Walt will be tearing down those gigantic numbers, between the smokestacks, counting down to the milestone. What a waste of big numbered panels.
by MillsChC on
May 17, 2008 11:50 AM CDT
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streak
lets keep the streak alive.
It might beeeeee!! It could beeeeeee!! It issssss!! Homerun!! Holyyyyyyy Cow!!!
by cubsluver22 on May 17, 2008 9:23 AM CDT 0 recs
Z is different this year
I just feel really damn confident every time he goes to the mound this year that we are GOING TO WIN
he has decided to emphasize location and velocity change over just throwing the fastest pitch he possibly can – he figured out he can be overpowering without throwing 96mph, and the league should watch out.
if it weren’t for Brandon Webb’s UNBELIEVABLE 9-0 record, Z would be the frontrunner for the Cy Young in the NL. This game should be won today!
"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto
by CubbyBlues on May 17, 2008 9:52 AM CDT 0 recs
He's making the transition from
a thrower to a pitcher. Every godd pitcher must do this at some time during there career. Only a very small number of pitchers can live on there stuff because for most pitchers, its not consistent enough to win on a regular basis.
It seems that Big Z may be at a point in his career where he understands that the batter can get himself out more often than the pitcher can. If the average hitter is successful less than 30% of the time, that leaves a lot of room for the pitcher. I expect to see his win numbers to go up as his strikeout and pitch count numbers to go down.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on
May 17, 2008 10:00 AM CDT
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I liked the last part of the article--the quote from Felix Pie who went 0 for 4
But did score 2 runs in the game:
“It is good for me now that I am going to play everyday, get more at-bats,” said Pie, who reached on an error and was hit by a pitch. “I want to play hard, do my thing working on my hitting.”
by zevkalman on
May 17, 2008 11:01 AM CDT
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Heh
Rich Hill was stiff last night.
And that’s my Beavis and Butthead moment for the day.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh77 on
May 17, 2008 11:31 AM CDT
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yeah, but
WHY?
Is he actually injured? Does he need a better warm-up routine?
2008: The year we put it all together.
by drewishdrewid on
May 17, 2008 11:33 AM CDT
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It could just be one of those things that happens from time to time.
It could be due to his shift in mechanics putting stress on a different part of the body. It could be all kinds of things.
by cwyers on
May 17, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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They're not going to tell us
You just don’t get the kind of injury updates in the minors that you do in the majors. There just isn’t the media circus that swirls around every player. The one guy who covers Iowa got told “He’s stiff” and he probably leaves it at that.
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh77 on
May 17, 2008 11:37 AM CDT
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good pitching matchup
i have a hard time think Duke can stop our offense though
by columbusOHcubsfan on May 17, 2008 10:17 AM CDT 0 recs
You must be new here.
For years, that’s pretty much been ALL he’s done.
by cwyers on
May 17, 2008 10:22 AM CDT
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well aware
but our offense was hitting so well lately i didn’t think he could stop us. he didn’t pitch that well against us yesterday.
by columbusOHcubsfan on
May 18, 2008 9:14 AM CDT
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may i add...
he pitched great against soriano
by columbusOHcubsfan on
May 18, 2008 9:17 AM CDT
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yeah
for some reason zack duke has been a hazard for the cubbies since he came up
"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto
by CubbyBlues on
May 17, 2008 10:32 AM CDT
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In 10 career starts against our Cubs,
here’s Duke’s line: 66.2 IP, 72 H, 19 ER, 16 BB, 36 K, 2.57 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
In short, he’s gives the Buccos a quality start almost every time against our Cubs.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
by gary varsho on
May 17, 2008 10:34 AM CDT
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then today
needs to be the day we light him up!
2008: The year we put it all together.
by drewishdrewid on
May 17, 2008 11:28 AM CDT
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Howry
I’ve been trying to figure him out. Yeah, I know he gets better as the season moves on, but here’s what I’ve observed FWIW:
AFAIK, a lot of his problems seem to be that his fastball doesn’t move around as much as, say, Z’s or Dempster. A lot of his fastballs don’t seem to move around at all, and also seem to be raked by the opposing batters. Is that what other people notice, or am I just seeing things?
by zevkalman on May 17, 2008 10:24 AM CDT 0 recs
Yeah.
I think it’s why he pitches lousy in the early part of the season when his velocity is a little lower. He’s gotta have the velocity to make up for the lack of movement.
by sitrick2 on
May 17, 2008 12:18 PM CDT
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Guessing wont see Kerry today
having pitched three straight, hopefully we won’t need him anyway.
Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
by DC Cubbie on May 17, 2008 11:04 AM CDT 0 recs
Apparently Marmol's going to close today
according to the pre-game guys
It's fun to be a Cub right now. -- Mark DeRosa
by Emelie on
May 17, 2008 12:00 PM CDT
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reds giving up?
maybe. this season for the reds always seemed like the adam dunn and griffey trade tour. jay bruce is ready, and the young pitchers are getting better.
but the question is does this mean seattle’s giving up? because griffey’s not gonna help that team…
by billywan on May 17, 2008 11:18 AM CDT 0 recs
Phil Rogers
shot at the Cubs farm system is, bizarrely, unfair but accurate. Rogers writes
The Cubs’ farm system has improved since Tim Wilken was hired as scouting director, but two underproductive decades are evident in there being only five players on the All-Star ballot who started their careers in the organization. Baltimore and San Francisco (three each) are the only teams with fewer representatives among the 230 players on the ballot.
The problem is that pitchers do not appear on the all-star ballot. The Cubs had a drafting philosophy for over a decade of taking arms and then trying to trade them later for what they needed. So guys like Zambrano, Willis, Maddux, Moyer, Trachsel etc., don’t appear the all-star ballot.
Still, I have to say it was a dumb policy which yielded a lot more duds than successes. So while I disagree that just counting people on an all-star ballot is a valid way of judging a farm system, I agree that the Cubs draft choices were pretty bad for a while there. (Although not nearly as bad as during the Jim Frey era. Urgh.)
It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.
by Josh77 on May 17, 2008 11:30 AM CDT 0 recs
true
the Cubs have been historically known for making trades instead of developing people from the farm. Ie, Sandberg, Sosa, etc. Only Theriot and Soto are hitter products of the farm system. Only recently have they tried to go for a more offensive type of system by drafting Vitters and Colvin.
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on
May 17, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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The Farm
As we all know, the Cubs farm system has facilitated the acquisitions of Lee & Aramis who not only appear on the ballots, but in the actual game itself.
Yeah, it would be nice if we had a homegrown team, but, I don’t care about that. I just want the best team and the farm system is responsible for helping the big league team – in whatever form necessary.
by Jobu on
May 17, 2008 11:49 AM CDT
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exactly what I was stating
Lee and Aramis are indirect products of the farm.
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on
May 17, 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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OT
Mark Prior has “a tear in the capsule of his shoulder”. If he throws 1 pitch in the major leagues this year I’ll be surprised. I never thought bad about Prior until his infamous “employee comment”. I thought that was very telling about his overall makeup. Anyhow, good thing his injuries are not Cubs news anymore.
In other news, Guzman is throwing a little in EXST. He has the shut down type stuff that could really help the Cubs in the playoffs (future years) but he has been probable even worse than Wood/Prior with injuries. If you look at it, the Cubs have done a minor miracle in developing a winning team without Wood/Prior/Guzman as starters. A few years ago you could have planned for a staff with these 3 and been the envy of many organizations.
by Luis on May 17, 2008 11:53 AM CDT 0 recs
I think it'll be a while until Guzman can actually contribute in the Bigs
much less with the Cubs. For reasons unknown to me, there hasn’t been a lot of news on his Tommy John Surgery, but he’s just now throwing in a simulated game with 14 pitches. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’d be at “full-strength” by about 2010.
"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 17, 2008 12:02 PM CDT
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Really?
I thought he would be good to go for the 2009 season.
by Luis on
May 17, 2008 12:06 PM CDT
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Just my $0.02
Not really with anything concrete, I just feel a year rehabbing after 2008 will probably happen to him.
"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 17, 2008 12:08 PM CDT
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TV Antz is showing today's game
for those out of market folks:
http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=baseball
by 100 Years is Nothing on May 17, 2008 12:00 PM CDT 0 recs
Thank you soooo much!
Devin Hester, you are rediculous! -Jeff Joniak
by ARAM FOR MVP on
May 17, 2008 12:08 PM CDT
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How does TV Antz Work?
I tried linking to the game and nothing happens. I get that thing circling in the middle and that’s it.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, whadya say? The Cubs are going to win today!
by Cubfansince1957 on
May 17, 2008 12:17 PM CDT
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Has Zambrano ever NOT worn the blue unis this year?
"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 17, 2008 12:06 PM CDT 0 recs
I'm glad he
gets to choose again this year. I like them.
by sue369 on
May 17, 2008 12:07 PM CDT
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sure does. wish I was there
It's fun to be a Cub right now. -- Mark DeRosa
by Emelie on
May 17, 2008 12:09 PM CDT
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I wish I was
there too but we can cheer them together in here. :D
by sue369 on
May 17, 2008 12:13 PM CDT
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Blackouts anybody?
Are there any out of town people blacked out from the game? I am in Florida and have the MLB package and it isn’t showing…
by Vernonian7 on May 17, 2008 12:11 PM CDT 0 recs
I am blacked out unless it is on WGN, ESPN, or on the Nationals station.
by GateCity, VA Cubs Fan on
May 17, 2008 12:12 PM CDT
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for clarification
not on in your area does not equal “blacked out”
Cubs w/o Edmonds: 24-16, .600. Cubs w/ Edmonds: 2-0, 1.000 (updated May 16)
by joeschmitt on
May 17, 2008 12:16 PM CDT
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in las vegas
i have EI and the game is NOT on. in fact, there are 0 games on EI today.
Cubs w/o Edmonds: 24-16, .600. Cubs w/ Edmonds: 2-0, 1.000 (updated May 16)
by joeschmitt on
May 17, 2008 12:13 PM CDT
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MLB Package
I have the package and this is the first game they are just NOT showing….sucks
by Vernonian7 on
May 17, 2008 12:14 PM CDT
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Hate when that shit happens
The Blackout rules are completely ridiculous. I got lucky today that they’re playing Pittsburgh—I get FSN Pitt in my area.
"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 17, 2008 12:15 PM CDT
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K on McLouth on the outside
Soto helping out with the outside corner, 1 out
"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 17, 2008 12:11 PM CDT 0 recs
Bay DEEP to left field
Soriano catches on the warning track, 2 out.
"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 17, 2008 12:11 PM CDT 0 recs
gone yesterday
lucky wind
Raise the Jolly Roger!
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com
by Raise the Jolly Roger on
May 17, 2008 12:12 PM CDT
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Repayment for his HR yesterday,
which wouldn’t have been out, but for a generous wind.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
by gary varsho on
May 17, 2008 12:15 PM CDT
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good catch
It's fun to be a Cub right now. -- Mark DeRosa
by Emelie on May 17, 2008 12:12 PM CDT 0 recs
well Zambrano didn't seem too sharp there
but got out of it without any damage done
2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?
by Chanman25 on May 17, 2008 12:13 PM CDT 0 recs