Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Giants, Saturday 7/12, 12:05 CT
San Francisco @ Chicago
While we await the Cub debut of Rich Harden (and the end to this morning's thunderstorms!), here are a few photos from yesterday's win:
Mike Fontenot and Mark DeRosa collide going after John Bowker's popup in the 7th (note ball in Fontenot's glove)
LF bleacher fans celebrating A-Ram's HR
High-fives at the plate after A-Ram's HR
The thirty-sixth post-win outfielder bump at Wrigley Field this year
Click on photos to open a larger version in a new browser window. All photos by David Sameshima
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Note, our sports data provider has no available info for Rich Harden. Click here for Harden's baseball-reference.com page.
John Shea of ESPN.com writes about Rich Harden and tells a little bit about how Harden has learned to better prepare for starts this year to keep him healthy.
Rich Harden has already faced the Giants this year -- during interleague play on June 14. He threw 6.1 scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowing one hit -- a first-inning single to Randy Winn -- and two walks. A repeat of that performance, please, Rich.
The Cubs hit Kevin Correia pretty hard on in San Francisco on July 2. Jim Edmonds homered off Correia; with his rest yesterday, Edmonds will probably start today.
Weather permitting, of course.
Yes, I know. For those of you outside Chicago, you're pretty well screwed unless you live in the Bay Area (where it's on CSN) or have MLB.TV. My position on blackouts is well known. Here is today's MLB.com Mediacenter link where you can see the game if you have MLB.TV, or listen if you have MLB Audio.
MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)
MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Today's first pitch thread will post at 12 noon CDT, regardless of rain. The overflow comment threads will post at 1:15 pm and 2:15 pm CDT. If there's a rain delay and the other threads fill up as a result -- someone please post another thread in the FanPost section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Comments
CORREIA
LIGHT EM UP
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on Jul 12, 2008 9:03 AM CDT 0 recs
also.....
Harden
RING EM UP
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on
Jul 12, 2008 9:03 AM CDT
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nice to you back!
"We have a pretty strong belief that we are going to win those types of games. It's our confidence. "--Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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Third!

Was gonna go, now I’m not. Instead, I’m getting the coolant sensor replaced on my car.
Not exactly the tradeoff I wanted.
"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08
by drewishdrewid on Jul 12, 2008 9:05 AM CDT 0 recs
Ha
Im going, fortunate to live close enough to not leave until the tarp comes off.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
by Hammer on
Jul 12, 2008 9:06 AM CDT
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Why do you have to keep rubbing it in!
J/K I used to live in Wrigleyville and weekend games are the best days in the world
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
by El Borto on
Jul 12, 2008 11:21 AM CDT
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prediction...
harden 6.2 ip, 1 er, 9k
lots of cubs runs scored…edmonds to have a good day, ramirez also
"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." --Alvin Dark
by preachermancubsfan on Jul 12, 2008 9:34 AM CDT 0 recs
Hope you're right on all accounts there..
most importantly we win!! GO Cubbies!!
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 9:44 AM CDT
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Wow, not a very far-off prediction there.
"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement. Fans like that are special." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field
by northsider on
Jul 12, 2008 8:40 PM CDT
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Comcast
I live in Florida and I have Direct Tv and have the Comcast channel. Will I be able to get the game still?
by FLCubsGirl on Jul 12, 2008 9:47 AM CDT 0 recs
Outside Chicago and the Bay area
We are pretty much screwed (as Al put it). Its on comcast sports net but only in the regional markets. Its also on MLB.tv at mlb.com which costs ~$15.00 a month. Seems every Sat. I am never able to watch a game. The last month or so they have played on fox but in Portland, OR they show the other game (think it was Mets vs. Yanks) the other weekend. Oh well, I payed $160 for MLB IE and I refuse to pay another ~15.00 a month to just watch the game on Sat’s. I am a big fan but you have to draw the line and refuse to play ball with fox and MLB at some point.
Sorry for the rant :)
Go CUBS!
by jajonez77 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:59 AM CDT
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quick question...
ive always heard that going from the al to the nl is a transition that will leave a pitchers era about a whole point lower from not having to face a dh. that seems pretty drastic to me, is this true or what is more realistic?
"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." --Alvin Dark
by preachermancubsfan on Jul 12, 2008 9:47 AM CDT 0 recs
I think a whole point is a little extreme, but I think there are a lot of examples of pitchers having greater success once they move to the NL.
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Jul 12, 2008 9:54 AM CDT
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Exactly..
The whole point thing might be a bit much, but pitchers coming from the AL to the NL typically have great success early on. Lilly was a good example last year, but this year is coming back down to earth. Doesn’t always work that way (Santana doesn’t seem quite as dominate this year) but as a whole the trend seems to be a drop in ERA.
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
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Ted Lilly would um, agree
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
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yea..
last year was his example year. He fell back to earth hard this year..
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 10:32 AM CDT
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He started the year poorly, but he’s really done pretty well of late (excepting the windy game the other day). Before that most recent start, wasn’t he on a streak of about 9-2 with a sub-4 ERA?
by HereComesASpecialBoy on
Jul 12, 2008 10:58 AM CDT
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Lilly will get blown out occasionally
On games like thursday’s. He still gives the team a chance to win in a higher percentage of games, despite the fact that his ERA is higher than, say, Marquis’s
Zambrano viciously attacked a pair of watercoolers for the crime of being within his line of vision. It was a classic battle of man versus inanimate object.
by berselius on
Jul 12, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
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I agree with both you guys..
even when lilly is getting hit he still keeps the team in the game. He has been a good pick up for us over the last year and a half.
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:08 AM CDT
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Hindsight being 20/20...
I would have liked to see Lou leave Ted in there for a little while Thursday, to see if he settled down. He’ll have a bad inning once in a while but snap out of it. Obviously, though, Lou went to the pen and the horrifying trend of Dustyball actually working continued.
by SplintChesthair on
Jul 12, 2008 11:37 AM CDT
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Please hold off weather!!!
I just bought a 1 month subscription to MLB.TV for this game(and other Cubs games I don’t get on WGN). I can’t wait to see Harden pitch.
"Please move away from this vector and get into another coordinate pronto. There's no access for you in this quadrant." Mike Donnelly
by McRipper on Jul 12, 2008 10:00 AM CDT 0 recs
I can't believe I can't watch this game today.
Furious!
by TyCubsfan on Jul 12, 2008 10:13 AM CDT 0 recs
If it does get rained out today...
....would they play a doubleheader tomorrow or reschedule “if necessary”?
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on Jul 12, 2008 10:13 AM CDT 0 recs
I didn't think it was going to happen
Since I could of sworn it wasn’t in the schedule in Stars and Stripes a few days ago…
...but it appears the Harden Debut will be live worldwide on A.F.N.
WOOHOO!! I Don’t have to rely on MLB.tv like the rest of you suckas!!!!
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on Jul 12, 2008 10:30 AM CDT 0 recs
BTW, on a slightly unrelated note
I just got back from seeing “Hancock”
—Good movie! Now just 90 minutes until the game starts at 6!
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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sounds like you've had a great day ... and with a Cubs win it'll be a capper!
We never give up -- Aramis Ramirez
by Emelie on
Jul 12, 2008 10:44 AM CDT
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Only problem...
The movie cost 8 bloody quid (roughly $16)
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 10:54 AM CDT
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American Forces Network
It lets me, as a troop stationed overseas, get about 9 channels of American programming, including live sports events like the one at Wrigley this afternoon.
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
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AFN is everywhere in Okinawa
AM/FM radio, Cable/Satellite/Ground TV, inside/outside of bases….
I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.
by dragonsfanatic on
Jul 12, 2008 11:07 AM CDT
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It's necessary
With so many troops living on the local economy, outside the fences of the base, and all the local programming of course being in Japanese. That way the troops have at least one radio station to listen to, and pick up the one or two TV channels on cable or over-the-air.
However, as far as TV, the tv stations are slowly going away in favor of having all programming beamed to satellite decoders in each troops home… that way Americans still get the programming but the locals don’t get the tv shows for free that local tv channels pay dearly for and want their commercials watched.
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
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I'm not complaining ;-)
as I mostly enjoy educational messages on AFN – that sometimes too funny to me ;-)
I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.
by dragonsfanatic on
Jul 12, 2008 11:30 AM CDT
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we find them funny too :D
We never give up -- Aramis Ramirez
by Emelie on
Jul 12, 2008 11:54 AM CDT
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"Talk About a Die-Hard (Cubs) Fan" artcle in Japanese
This article, titled “Talk About a Die-Hard Fan” is well translated in Japanese, and our people know you folks better now…
Good night…. but tomorrow is the final of Okinawan local high school baseball tournament to decide our rep for Koshien Summer National (equivalent of Final Four in US), so I am very excited….
This future-promised, #1-draft-pick-promised two-seam pitcher, who won last national tournament, will pitch tomorrow here in Chatan…
Good night…
I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.
by dragonsfanatic on Jul 12, 2008 11:01 AM CDT 0 recs
Oh cool.
That hole in front of the mound just seemed really deep. His follow-thru leg is almost on the ground because his plant foot is so far in the hole.
by bikemonkey on
Jul 12, 2008 11:13 AM CDT
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Right
That’s what American pitchers in NPB have to deal with…
I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.
by dragonsfanatic on
Jul 12, 2008 11:16 AM CDT
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Sign him, Cubs!!!!! : )
"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement. Fans like that are special." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field
by northsider on
Jul 12, 2008 8:41 PM CDT
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About an hour to game time..
I’m really excited about todays game, can’t wait to watch Harden pitch in Cubbie Blue!! Lets get a big win today!!
Anyone else here board seems rather dead so far today
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on Jul 12, 2008 11:09 AM CDT 0 recs
tell me about it.
i got a rich hard-on. just playin
by china423 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:11 AM CDT
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Love the pics as always!!
Not to sound like a broken record, but for those of us who listen to it on the radio.,... they are great to see.
"We have a pretty strong belief that we are going to win those types of games. It's our confidence. "--Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 12, 2008 11:14 AM CDT 0 recs
lineup:
Theriot
Fukudome
Lee
Ram
Soto
Edmonds
DeRo
Fonty
Harden
by lexmarklover on Jul 12, 2008 11:18 AM CDT 0 recs
Still no rest for Soto
Oh well. He’ll get Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella
by JohnM on
Jul 12, 2008 11:20 AM CDT
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Soto no need rest
The last time Soto took a day off, the U.S. Economy plummeted. It was called Black Tuesday
"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
Jul 12, 2008 11:22 AM CDT
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I bet he gets tomorrow off..
Since he’s starting the all star game i bet lou gives him tomorrow off so he’ll have 2 days in a row off leading to that game..
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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I wonder about that
since I have a feeling he’s more concerned about winning on Sunday than on Tuesday, and he seems to think they can’t win with Blanco in the lineup.
''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella
by JohnM on
Jul 12, 2008 11:39 AM CDT
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Blaco gets the start tomorrow
says Lou
Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.
by Jayo525 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:44 AM CDT
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Also would the Cubs want their back up catcher in the game that is Hardens first start
or go with the AS catcher even if he prolly needs a day off
"We have a pretty strong belief that we are going to win those types of games. It's our confidence. "--Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:40 AM CDT
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Lous just said
It’s Blanco-time tomorrow
Zambrano viciously attacked a pair of watercoolers for the crime of being within his line of vision. It was a classic battle of man versus inanimate object.
by berselius on
Jul 12, 2008 11:44 AM CDT
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Probably wouldn't hurt..
to give a few guys days off tomorrow. Try and rest some of the starts for the second half.
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:50 AM CDT
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Hamsters don't need rest.
These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"
by slcathena on
Jul 12, 2008 12:01 PM CDT
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Anyone know what channel the game is on?
Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.
by Jayo525 on Jul 12, 2008 11:20 AM CDT 0 recs
CSN in Chicago only
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 11:21 AM CDT
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I hope I get
to see the game. I always have before when the games have been on CSN and started at 12:05. If not I will be devestated.
I’m sure Harden will shine in his Cubbie Blue.
by sue369 on Jul 12, 2008 11:23 AM CDT 0 recs
i don't even understand the blackout rule
whats the point of blacking out a game. just doesn’t make any sense. is it to make more money with mlb.tv or what?
by lexmarklover on Jul 12, 2008 11:24 AM CDT 0 recs
The theory is
If you can’t watch your game, you will watch the game that is being shown… aka the Fox game of the week. Of course, this theory is radically broken.
There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!
by sanantonecub on
Jul 12, 2008 11:25 AM CDT
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Don't know if this was asked earlier
but is that Al in the top left corner of that bleacher photo?
Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.
by Jayo525 on Jul 12, 2008 11:25 AM CDT 0 recs
I was wondering the same thing
Finger pointing to the sky in a white tee with blue ringer
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
by El Borto on
Jul 12, 2008 11:27 AM CDT
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weather right now?
"We have a pretty strong belief that we are going to win those types of games. It's our confidence. "--Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 12, 2008 11:30 AM CDT 0 recs
Not sure about the 60613 Zip Code
But in the SW ‘Burbs it’s a little overcast, but the sun looks like it’s trying to force it’s way out. Low 70”s.
"I love when they play that Go Cubs Win song."
by BMoney79 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:38 AM CDT
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Can't find the link to inside the park..
but this is what it looks like outside…...wow…super crowded!
http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Jul 12, 2008 11:40 AM CDT
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sunny skies right now :)
"We have a pretty strong belief that we are going to win those types of games. It's our confidence. "--Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on
Jul 12, 2008 11:41 AM CDT
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Yeah, doesn't look too bad.
I’m in NW Indiana, maybe 20-30 miles from Wrigley and it’s clearing up here…
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on
Jul 12, 2008 11:45 AM CDT
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I've been excited about this game..
since tuesday when the trade went through. Go Cubbies!!
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on
Jul 12, 2008 11:38 AM CDT
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Are people with EI getting the game?
Thinking of walking to the bar down the street to watch if so. Otherwise, MLB radio it is!
Zambrano viciously attacked a pair of watercoolers for the crime of being within his line of vision. It was a classic battle of man versus inanimate object.
by berselius on Jul 12, 2008 11:42 AM CDT 0 recs







