Cubs vs. Sheets

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jul 29, 2008 10:36 AM CDT

Sheets has pitched against the Cubs 24 times with a 10-7 record.
He has pitched 155.2 innings against us, which is the third most only to the Astros where he has pitched 172 innings and STL where he has pitched 156.1 innings.
Sheets E.R.A. vs. the Cubs is 3.76 and he has let up 21 HR to the Cubbie franchise.
According to his past, Sheets is most vulnerable during the 4th inning, allowing batters to hit .284, which is the most compared to any other inning.
He has a 3.51 ERA at home compared to a 3.98 ERA away in his career.
Now everybody seems to always talk about lefty v. righty and its importance, but in Sheets career there isn't much of a contrast. Against RH batters he is letting up a .254 BA compared to LH batters hitting .258!

Just thought I would play with some numbers against Sheets in anticipation of this big game. The following is a list of how our team has fared against the 6'1 195lb right hander.

Soriano: 12 Plate Appearances, .273 BA, 0 HR or RBIs
Theriot: 13 Plate Appearances, .154 BA
Lee: 51 Plate Appearances, .327 BA 6 HRs, 12 RBIs
Ramirez: 61 Plate Appearances, .192 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBIs
Fukudome: 6 Plate Appearances, .400 BA,
Derosa: 22 Plate Appearances, .286 BA
Soto: 5 Plate Appearances, .333 BA
Edmonds: 59 Plate Appearances, .204 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBIs
Zambrano: 14 Plate Appearances (the most AB against any pitcher) .357 BA, 5 hits, 2 RBIs
Johnson: 7 Plate Appearances, .200 BA, 1 hit, 1 RBI
Cedeno: has never faced sheets
Fontenot: 4 Plate Appearances, .250 BA
Blanco: 8 Plate Appearances, .000 BA (Ouch)
Ward: 36 Plate Appearances (the most against any pitcher), .206 BA, 1 HR 4 RBIs

LETS GET EM CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEAT THE "SHEETS" OUTTA THE BREWCREW!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Sheets isn't AS dominant

Sheets seemed unstoppable earlier this year. However lately he seems good for 2-3 runs per game. If the Cubs play like they did last night I can see them getting 3-5 runs off of Sheets. I think tonight might be just as interesting of a game.

by ak123 on Jul 29, 2008 10:49 AM CDT 0 recs

You're right

SInce the trade for CC, it seems like sheets has kind of gone into a little cocoon. He has been good, but he hasn’t been as good as he was in May and June. It seems like his big 12-6 curve has not been breaking as much and that could be the main source of his problems.

As for Big Z, the Brewer bats seem to get up for big time pitchers. They hit Lincecum, Cain, and Webb pretty hard within the last month. WIth that being said, I hate watching Zambrano and the nasty movement he puts on his pitches.

It should be another wild game. I was thinking after the game that it would be cool if the World Series was in a neutral stadium. It makes the games so much more fun to watch when the crowd is constantly cheering or booing the cheers and this is coming from a Brewer fan.

by brewfan2 on Jul 29, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not neutral stadium

From a Cubs perspective…fans have waited long enough in Chicago for a World Series. If we get one, it should be in Chicago. However perhaps game 1 is played somewhere neutral? Who knows…

As for Sheets that’s interested that a Brewers fan agrees. Don’t get me wrong. I think he’s been very good. He just hasn’t been “feared” like perhaps he was at the start of the season or all of last year. That being said he’s fully capable of a CG Shutout if he has the opportunity and that’s what makes this game even more interesting than last nights because Z can do equal damage as Sheets.

by ak123 on Jul 29, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

No nuetral site ever. Period.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agree

I hate how the Super Bowl is at a neutral site.

by dr stabbingworth on Jul 29, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Neutral Stadium

I have always hated how the Super Bowl is played on a neutral field. When the Bears made it to the Super Bowl recently, it really sucked that so many die-hard season ticket holders either watched the game at home or had to pay thousands and thousands of dollars to see the game in Miami. And that goes for both the teams, not just one or the other (if it were played in Chicago for Indy fans, etc..).

The reason that Chicago is pulling so hard for the Olympics in 2016 is that it’s great for the city in terms of publicity (which leads to tourism) and also for the people who work at hotels and restaurants (TIPS!). A large sporting event is such a reward to a city, and us Cubs fans have been waiting WAY to long for a World Series for it to be played in D.C. or New York or any other park or city that isn’t Wrigley Field Chicago, Illinois. I would also guess that every fan or every other team would feel the same way.

by BeboThoughts on Jul 29, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

Um... you really shouldn't play a single deciding championship game at a field of home advantage

In the case of the Super Bowl… they got it right.

The Bears may have a few more Championships under their belt if the old NFL championship games back in their days of dominance were played on a neutral site that provided better weather conditions. But, that’s not how it worked back then.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Weren't the old Bears built for bad weather conditions

i.e. Running the ball and smash mouth defense

by brewfan2 on Jul 29, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Try playing football on ice... not so easy.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

Both teams play on the same field, in the same conditions

by brewfan2 on Jul 29, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

You obviously don't know the story of the Sneakers game vs the Giants...

The 1934 NFL Championship Game…

And the re-occurance of the same thing in the 1956 NFL Championship game

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 4:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

It would seem to me that the Bears should have learned their lesson after the 1934 game

by brewfan2 on Jul 29, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Good Point

I never thought about the season ticket holders getting screwed.

by brewfan2 on Jul 29, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

He hasn't gone more than seven innings

In his last five starts. It’d be key for him to go seven or less to get to the horrid Brewers bullpen.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 29, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Probably why

Fukudome got the night off last night. I’m betting on Edmonds too even though Johnson as been very hot lately. Another guess is rightly/lefty as much as possible to make it difficult on the Brewer pen.

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 Jul 29, 2008 11:20 AM CDT 0 recs

Its time

for fukudome to snap out of it and tonights the night.

Dear SBnation, We need our own server here at BCB seeing how its became very slow due to enormous amounts of traffic. P.S. Impeach Bud Selig!!!

by cubsluver22 on Jul 29, 2008 11:25 AM CDT 0 recs

he's been snapping out of it

still takes some ugly swings at low balls, but he’s been hitting a lot more, it seems.

by nathew on Jul 29, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

he will snap out of it

when he adjusts to how is being pitched and quit dancing in the box

Let go cubs

by cubsfaninkc on Jul 29, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

the secret of Sheets is to lay off his big 12-6 curve and make him

throw strikes in his FB and then hit that FB. Unlike CC going 124 pitches deep into the game yesterday Sheets has gone deep only one out of the last 4 (his last start @ STL) before that he went 5, 5 2/3, and 6 IP….meaning we should see their bullpen if we are patient.

He has walked 8 in his last 4 starts, 18 in his last 9 starts….averaging 2 passes a game, while striking out 55 (5.5) although take out SF’s 11 K’s and his K ratio is down to about 4 a game. His ERA over the month is 3.04, June 3.09 and May 3.53 (April he had 2.09).

All meaning we can get this guy for 3 or 4 runs by the 6th. That means Zambrano needs a solid game as well. Since coming back Z’s ERA is 2.30, going 7, 6 1/3, 8 and 6 IP, Z who is changing from a big power pitcher has walked 8 although 2 games were zero, and has 19 K’s over the 4 games.

It seems that the difference is basically one-run and a few more outs—-meaning the bullpen at the end of the game.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jul 29, 2008 11:29 AM CDT 0 recs

looking at the BrewCrew's hitting prowess against Z

Only three big guns have hit him consistently, Fielder, Braun and Hart

Fielder is batting .308 has a HR and 4-2B’s on 26-AB’s (8-hits)
Braun is batting .333 also has a HR on 12-AB’s with also a 2B (4-H)
Hart is batting .286 has a 3B on 4 hits on 13-AB’s

the rest are not a problem, he has given up 5 HR’s also to Weeks, Branyon, and Hardy

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jul 29, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agree...

...Sheets fastball is as straight as an arrow, but he can be dominant because he has such a good breaking ball that is always in the back of hitter’s minds.

A good pitcher creates indecision for the hitter, and that is what Sheets does. He becomes hittable when he struggles with the breaking ball, and guys just lay for his heater.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 29, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think we see a lineup tonight of:

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

by cubs2410 on Jul 29, 2008 11:32 AM CDT 0 recs

I like the 4 lefties, in the lineup

Fonty and Fukudome will make him work as will Theriot at the bottom but I could also switch Fukudome and Theriot as well.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jul 29, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

Crazy thought Lou would never do

Let’s bat Soriano 8th. Theriot is still hitting put him ninth. That gets him on base for Soriano who’s hitting everything.

by ak123 on Jul 29, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

Two things

No DeRo? I’m sorry but I think he should be playing tonight. Let Fonty come off the bench.

Z hitting 9th? He should hitting behind Soto (j/k…kind of).

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jul 29, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Swap Fontenot and Dome

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's good,

You can’t burn Fontenot though, put DeRo at 2nd. LBR as lefty off the bench.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 29, 2008 12:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

na, id give LBR the start

you have ward off the bench

by cubs2410 on Jul 29, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

put z 8th

and dome 9th. z has a better chance of driving in runs than dome. plus if dome gets on he might create issue for sheets and make it more likely to leave a fatty over the plate for Sori

Let go cubs

by cubsfaninkc on Jul 29, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

i wouldn't mind seeing that

but only when Z is pitching. not all the time like Tony La DUI.

by nathew on Jul 29, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dome should have a better chance at driving more people in then Z

I say put Theriot or Johnson 9th, and I mean that outta respect for Soriano, because if Theriot continues his OBP tear, Soriano could be in a position to drive him in

"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jul 29, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

dome

is basically last in RBI for regulars, hes not an rbi guy, hes on OBP guy and thats fine, we just did not get the run producer we thought he could be

Let go cubs

by cubsfaninkc on Jul 29, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Good lineup but...

I bet Fonty will bat higher. Maybe switch with Geo.

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun

by Bump Bailey on Jul 29, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

the official lineup as listed by yahoo...

Soriano
Theriot
Lee
Ramirez
Fukudome
Derosa
Fontenot
Soto
Zambrano

Durham
Hardy
Braun
Fielder
Hart
Branyan
Cameron
Kendell
Sheets

"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jul 29, 2008 6:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd bet money this is the players on the field

but I could also see some tinkering in the lineup with theriot, fukudome and fontenot

by cubs2410 on Jul 29, 2008 11:42 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks for putting this together

Good information here

"What a great call! Your doing a fantastic job, but people expect me to come out here and be upset. So I'm gonna kick some dirt, you understand?" - Lou Pinella

by Lou In Blue on Jul 29, 2008 12:24 PM CDT 0 recs