Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Braves, Wednesday 8/13, 12:10 CT
by Al
on Aug 13, 2008 9:00 AM CDT
in Game Threads
Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves
The Cubs catch a bit of a break with the rainout -- instead of Rich Harden facing Charlie Morton, Harden will face Jorge Campillo, who's thrown very well for Atlanta, in tonight's game. Instead, Morton will face Jason Marquis.
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Here's what I had about Morton in last night's pregame thread:
Charlie Morton will be making his 11th major league start tonight, and first vs. the Cubs. Most of the previous ten have been pretty bad, but five days ago threw seven shutout innings vs. Arizona, the best outing of his career. It appears from his gamelogs that if you can wait him out, you'll draw walks and score often. Sounds like a plan for the Cubs tonight.
Two years ago, Tony LaRussa left Marquis in twice to take ten-run-plus poundings. One was from the White Sox and the other was by the Braves on July 18, 2006. Marquis' other three career starts vs. his former team weren't much better, including June 9, 2007 as a Cub. His career ERA vs. Atlanta is 14.04. It can't get worse. Can it? Actually, if you can keep him away from Chipper Jones (4-for-6 vs. Marquis, 3 HR), he's pretty good against the rest of their current players.
Today's first game is on WGN, also Peachtree TV (TV channels from last night. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
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".
Here's how today is going to go. The first game's first pitch thread posts at noon CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 1:00, 2:00 and 2:45 pm CT. The pregame thread for the night game will go up probably around 4:30 pm CT, but it could be later if the first game goes long for any reason. That'll serve as the first pitch thread for game two, and the game two overflow times will be listed there. Finally, I'll recap BOTH games tomorrow morning.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Get the ball rolling, Marquis...
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 13, 2008 9:01 AM CDT 0 recs
indeed
keep it low.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on
Aug 13, 2008 10:15 AM CDT
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Excellent.
I can agonize over Marquis during the day and watch Harden tonight.
Predicted line on Marquischnick: 5 IP, 4 Earned Runs, goes 1 for 3 at the plate.
C’mon team, get the offense clicking early today.
Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.
by N Oakley on Aug 13, 2008 9:03 AM CDT 0 recs
I would LOVE
if Marquis could give us 7 or 8 today…If we can score some runs early, I have a feeling he might be throwing a LOT of pitches…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 9:10 AM CDT
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ummmm.....
Sadly, the only way Marquis goes 7 or 8 is if Lou leaves him out to rot LaRussa style. IMHO.
Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.
by N Oakley on
Aug 13, 2008 9:16 AM CDT
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Marquis went 6.1 against Houston last week...
and 7 twice against San Fran last month, and six in each of the others. He could very easily go 7 today against the collapsing Braves if he’s on his game. He could also just as easily get shelled. But he’s certainly capable of giving us 7 innings against a team like the Braves.
And given that Harden shouldn’t be expected to pitch deep into the game, it’d be really nice if he did to save the bullpen from having double the work.
by SouthernCub on
Aug 13, 2008 9:53 AM CDT
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Agree it would be really nice if Marquis went at least into the 7th inning today
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:04 AM CDT
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Oy...
The major drawback of this DH, despite the better matchup for Marquis, is that Marquis is pitching the first game of a DH… in what will likely be hot humid mid-afternoon weather = probable short start for Marquis and taxing the bullpen in the first 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
Aug 13, 2008 10:24 AM CDT
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Today's Atlanta weather forecast is...
This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind around 10 mph.
Doesn’t sound too “hot and humid” to me. You worry too much.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 10:33 AM CDT
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I don't think that worrying about how long Marquis will pitch
can be classified as “worrying too much.” Marquis has averaged 5.2 innings per start over the last year.
by sackings108 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:39 AM CDT
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Forget the last year, look at the last two months.
He’s eaten up innings pretty well.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 10:47 AM CDT
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Wouldn't it make more sense to look at a prolonged period of time,
where we might see real trends emerge, than to cherry pick the last month and decide he’s become an innings eater?
by sackings108 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:50 AM CDT
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I would think that recent trends (over the last month)
would be more indicative of how he might do today…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 10:52 AM CDT
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A regression to his personal mean is much more likely
than for him to continue an unsustainable recent trend. Look, I think Marquis is fine as a number 5 starter, but to expect someone who never has gone deep into games, career wise, to start doing so consistently is a little odd.
by sackings108 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:57 AM CDT
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I don't think anyone expects Marquis to go 7 innings every game.
All anyone has said is that, recently, he has been going deeper into games than his career average, and that it is not out of the question for him to do so against a lineup that, sans Chipper Jones, has been struggling all year.
by Flatley on
Aug 13, 2008 11:01 AM CDT
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Saying he never has gone deep into games...
is false. The guy has a long history of going deep into games. In 2005, he went seven or more innings 15 times. In 2006, he did it 12 times. In 2007, he did it 8 times. Even this year, he’s done it five times. To EXPECT him to do it may be silly. To say it’s a reasonable possibility is not at all silly, especially against a light-hitting team like Atlanta.
by SouthernCub on
Aug 13, 2008 11:10 AM CDT
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I agree with you, I just don't think we should expect it.
by sackings108 on
Aug 13, 2008 11:12 AM CDT
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You shouldn't expect it from almost anyone...
Only Zambrano should be expected to throw 7 innings. Dempster has only pitched through the seventh 9 times this year, and Zambrano has only done it in 12 of 23 starts. But against a team like the Braves, it’s a reasonable possibility, even for Marquis who has only done it in about 25% of his starts the last 1.5 years.
My only real beef was with the statement that Marquis doesn’t have a history of pitching deep into games. In fact, that was pretty much his biggest value when the Cubs signed him.
by SouthernCub on
Aug 13, 2008 11:17 AM CDT
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The good news is we finally have a well rested bullpen
That bad news is after today we won’t. I would have to think that Lou holds either Marmol or Wood out of the morning game so that we have somebody to close out tonight.
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on Aug 13, 2008 9:06 AM CDT 0 recs
Busy day for Al!
A lot of stuff going on with the double header but I know you can do it! Brewers are charging, we need to get a couple of wins in Atlanta against a not very good team. We can do that. Let’s play two today and get ‘em both then worry about tomorrow. Sounds like a plan. Go Cubs!
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 Aug 13, 2008 9:07 AM CDT 0 recs
Game on CSS (Select Areas)
Charter/Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) will carry the Peachtree TV feed for the 12 noon central game in Georgia (outside of metro Atlanta), Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. That will be in place of World Team Tennis today. Comcast is the biggest cable provider in GA, TN, AL, MS.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on Aug 13, 2008 9:14 AM CDT 0 recs
One Game at a time
METS FALL BEFORE THEY RISE IN ‘69 Aug. 13, 1969 | The Cubs beat the Padres, the Cardinals beat the Dodgers and the Mets lose to the Astros—with the Mets falling into third place behind the Cardinals, 10 games behind the first-place Cubs. It’s the Cubs’ largest lead over the Mets in their ill-fated season.
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on Aug 13, 2008 9:16 AM CDT 0 recs
Prefer to Think of '84 and '89
That’s when the Cubs held on to leads over the Mets to win division titles.
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on
Aug 13, 2008 9:34 AM CDT
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Hear, hear.
That ‘69 date is… well, a bad memory for those of us who lived through it.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 9:39 AM CDT
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You can throw that picture of the
girl Cubster uses as an avatar on the list of bad memories. (I’m sure the girl/woman is fine normally, it’s just that photo)
Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.
by N Oakley on
Aug 13, 2008 9:42 AM CDT
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Agreed.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 9:57 AM CDT
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Unfortunately.....
Bad memories are a part of Cub’s history. I don’t recall ‘84, ‘89 or ‘03 ending well. I am just trying to keep from getting “giggly” just yet.
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on
Aug 13, 2008 10:46 AM CDT
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Suggested future avatars...
1. Garvey waving his fist while circling the bases
2. Will Clark singling up the middle for the Giants
I mean, if you really want to be reminded of how things ended, which is crazzzzzzzzy. Jump on the giggly train, man!!!
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on
Aug 13, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
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Or some old Trumpet Player
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on
Aug 13, 2008 11:09 AM CDT
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Or this one:
I can haz ur fowl ball?
make/art
by neverAcquiesce on
Aug 13, 2008 11:14 AM CDT
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No habla gibberish
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on
Aug 13, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
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How about
3. Garvey waving with all 11 of his kids?
by StevenABQ on
Aug 13, 2008 11:19 AM CDT
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I know the feeling
People at work come up to me and say how well the Cubs are doing and I just nod my head in agreement. They always say that I sure don’t act excited and I say because of ‘69, ‘84, etc. I just can’t allow myself to get too up because I’ve been let down too many times before. I’m enjoying this season but not letting myself get to excited about it.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
by tucsoncubsfan on
Aug 13, 2008 11:55 AM CDT
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Thank you...
You better expressed what i was trying to say. I love what the Cub’s are doing… but I have been crushed time after time. I am still holding my breath. I believe that it is “Gonna Happen”... but I am not going to get overly confident quite yet
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on
Aug 13, 2008 12:10 PM CDT
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This team
Is better all the way around than the 69 and 84 team though. Not to say you shouldn’t be gun shy about stuff…but we have alot to look forward to, IMHO.
by StevenABQ on
Aug 13, 2008 1:24 PM CDT
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Better than '69 team?
Not so sure. Maybe
"We’ve still got a long ways to go, I don’t like to get giggly over things in July. But the team’s playing well, they really are. They’re playing with confidence, and it shows."
by Cubster on
Aug 13, 2008 2:07 PM CDT
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Yeah
As sentimental as one can get about it, I think talent-wise this team is much more well rounded. The bullpen is stronger, as is the rotation. Its not to take anything away from the ‘69 team…and it may even be an unfair pitching comparison considering the changes in pitching since that time…but I think overall the team is stronger, again IMO.
by StevenABQ on
Aug 13, 2008 4:52 PM CDT
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can someone tell me
what time the night game is tonight?
and which stations are carrying todays games? work is lame and has some weird sites restricted, like cubs.com (if they only knew how much time i spent on bcb haha)
by cubswynn on Aug 13, 2008 9:39 AM CDT 0 recs
It's on the left sidebar.
I always keep that info there. But here you go:
1st game: 12:10 CDT, WGN
2nd game: 6:10 CDT, CSN+
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 9:39 AM CDT
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wow
i’ve search this site high and low before looking for it…..thanks al
by cubswynn on
Aug 13, 2008 9:46 AM CDT
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Today
is the PERFECT situation for Sean Marshall to be used. I would love for the Cubs to have a good lead in the middle innings and for Lou to use Sean for 3-4 innings to close out the game. Then we would have a full bullpen for the night game. Would be wonderful to only use 2 pitchers this afternoon.
I know, if wishes were horses…
by Archie on Aug 13, 2008 9:46 AM CDT 0 recs
I'd love to see both Marquis and Harden go seven...
(with reasonable pitch counts for Harden, of course), and have to only use Marshall for two innings. Then, you can use the rest of the bullpen like a normal game and not overwork anyone. And you’d still have Marshall available two days later.
by SouthernCub on
Aug 13, 2008 9:55 AM CDT
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It would be nice, but that's extremely unlikely.
Marquis and Harden have the shortest outings on our pitching staff.
by sackings108 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:40 AM CDT
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I didn't say it was likely...
I’d guess probably a ~33% chance of Marquis doing it (given the opponent), and similar or maybe slightly less for Harden (due to his pitch count, not his performance). A 10% chance of it happening for both seems about right to me.
by SouthernCub on
Aug 13, 2008 11:19 AM CDT
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Marshall may have to start on Sunday.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 9:58 AM CDT
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Why not throw Marquis out there on 3 days rest
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:00 AM CDT
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You can't be serious.
It’s tough enough for Marquis on 4 days rest.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on
Aug 13, 2008 10:04 AM CDT
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He is the only starter whose arm I'm not worried about
You have to think he can squeeze out at least 4 innings. That way we don’t have to save Marshall.
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:06 AM CDT
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I like the Match ups today... The only draw back from this DH today
is that Harden can’t start Sunday against the Fish (who they typically have trouble against). That and DH’s usually end in a split.
"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 Fishbone2 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:04 AM CDT
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Maybe it will actually be a blessing...
With the off-day on Monday, Harden can now take an extra day and start Tuesday against the Reds at Wrigley…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 10:08 AM CDT
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Harden against the Reds sounds like a no-hitter waiting to happen
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:10 AM CDT
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And no Adam Dunn!
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 10:11 AM CDT
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Its okay to say it now
Come the 8th inning Tuesday when its happening, then I will keep my mouth shut.
Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs
by nji232 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:17 AM CDT
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hate the dh
too me it seems like dh’s help out the weaker of teams (this case the braves) bc it is so hard to sweep
by cubswynn on
Aug 13, 2008 10:08 AM CDT
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Actually
The stat’s that Al provided yesterday showed that DH’s are swept about half the time…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 10:10 AM CDT
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hmm well shut my mouth
i’m really off my game today, sorry guys
by cubswynn on
Aug 13, 2008 10:11 AM CDT
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I was surprised at the stat...
It seems like they are more often than not split…Oh well…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on
Aug 13, 2008 10:16 AM CDT
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Me too...
I guess it’s 50-50 today.
"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 Fishbone2 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
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If they are swept half the time
doesn’t that mean they’re split the other half?
"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."
by flachimesa on
Aug 13, 2008 10:34 AM CDT
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Yep... Kind of a useless stat.
"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 Fishbone2 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:36 AM CDT
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"That's why we kick your butts in football almost half the time."
make/art
by neverAcquiesce on
Aug 13, 2008 10:38 AM CDT
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Those are great bragging rights :)
"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 Fishbone2 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:43 AM CDT
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That's ok
72% of all statistics are made up anyway.
by Archie on
Aug 13, 2008 11:22 AM CDT
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Yabbut
It’s just two games in a row. It’s hard to win both of those, two, even if they are played on different days.
by Shanghai Badger on
Aug 13, 2008 10:37 AM CDT
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Which is why
We may not see him today relieving Harden.
I’m somewhat confused, though. Marshall is rested, so why not throw him TODAY instead of Marquis? Then save Marquis for Sunday (when he was supposed to pitch, I think) and let Marshall relieve him (he’d probably be good to go for a few innings by then).
I’m just worried, given our recent track record in Florida, that last night’s rainout is really gonna come back to bite us.
by Chadnudj on
Aug 13, 2008 10:27 AM CDT
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Harden was supposed to pitch on Sunday
If Harden had pitched yesterday Sunday is his 5th day. So now the Fish see: Z, Demp, ?
"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 Fishbone2 on
Aug 13, 2008 10:35 AM CDT
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Well
THAT’s where my argument falls to the ground. I was certainly hoping you wouldn’t bring up that particular point, but I can see that you’re more than a match for me.
by Archie on
Aug 13, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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For the record...
...I really like having the Minor League reports on the front page. Josh puts so much hard work into them, and I think the added exposure is nice. I sometimes miss out on them because I don’t think to check them, or just miss them, so now hopefully everyone (including myself) will be able to enjoy them everyday…
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 13, 2008 9:46 AM CDT 0 recs