Chicago Cubs @ Florida Marlins GameThread, Aug 17, 2008 12:10 PM CDT

Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Marlins, Sunday 8/17, 12:10 CT

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 10:30 AM CDT in Game Threads

Chicago Cubs @ Florida Marlins

Next Game

Sunday, Aug 17, 2008, 12:10 PM CDT
Dolphin Stadium

Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.

Complete Coverage >

According to the Tribune, Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol and Jeff Samardzija did a photo shoot yesterday for a Sports Illustrated feature on the Cubs bullpen. We ask only one thing: don't put this on the cover! That link also talks about whether Carlos Zambrano's focus on his hitting is affecting his pitching. Z says no, and I agree, but I will repeat what I said in the recap: I thought it was the wrong choice to send him up to bat for Bob Howry last night. Z does need to focus on pitching right now, not hitting.

Onward. There's a game to be won this afternoon. Note the weather forecast above: hot and sticky.

Today's Starting Pitchers


R. Dempster Cubs	vs.	C. Volstad Marlins


13-5	W-L	4-2
2.92	ERA	3.03
139	SO	26
62	BB	18
11	HR	1
vs. Fla	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Ryan Dempster	13-5	25	25	1	0	0	0	157.1	121	58	51	11	62	139	2.92	1.16

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Chris Volstad	4-2	7	6	0	0	0	0	38.2	35	14	13	1	18	26	3.03	1.37

Chris Volstad threw six decent innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 26, but was long gone before the Marlins won that game in the 12th inning. Aramis Ramirez homered off Volstad that day -- the only HR he has allowed in 38.2 innings so far this year. A-Ram pinch-hit last night, so hopefully he'll be able to start today.

Ryan Dempster was a Marlin for 4 1/2 seasons and won 14 games for them in 2000 and 15 in 2001, making the All-Star team in 2000. He has never started a game against them in Miami. During his career he has been tormented by Luis Gonzalez (11-for-19, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 5 walks), so look for Gonzalez to possibly get a start today. Unlike other Cub starters, Dempster has handled Hanley Ramirez pretty well (1-for-6). He started vs. Florida on July 25 at Wrigley Field, and like Volstad threw six good innings, but was not involved in the decision (a 3-2 Cub loss).

Today's game is on WGN again, so with the FSN Florida (EI) coverage, it should be available nationally. Also, the Brewers/Dodgers game is on TBS this afternoon at 3 pm CT. For the rest of today's TV games see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

As always, 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". Today's first pitch thread posts at noon CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 1 pm, 2 pm and 2:45 pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

First?

Lets win today…please…

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 17, 2008 10:31 AM CDT 0 recs

i imagine we'll use most of the

varsity starters today

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 10:33 AM CDT 0 recs

Good. I was on varsity.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up 0 recs

those left field dodgers fans are useless

kapler goes into the third row to catch a homerun and the fans didn’t decapitate him

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 10:35 AM CDT 0 recs

Just watched the replay

Kapler made a hell of a catch. When he caught the ball, his glove was a full foot above the nearest fans. He protected the ball by bringing the glove in. There’s little that the fans could have done to get the ball away.

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 17, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

he has to bring it out of the stands

someone should have……ummmmm….made that more difficult.

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yes, but again, he protected the ball

Unless you’re suggesting assaulting the guy, I don’t see what they could have done.

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 17, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Can you post the link?

Didn;t catch it.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 17, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

Watched it on the Brewers site

Try here

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 17, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

Somewhat OT

I don’t like that MLB doesn’t allow highlights to go on other sites like YouTube. If people are watching your “product”, don’t you want it as widely available as possible? I mean, sometimes I want to watch some old Bo Jackson clips or something…and I can’t.

Rant over.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

this is the same business

that tells us we can only watch one MLB game on a saturday afternoon, even if you buy their EI package.

I feel your pain. It all does seem like cutting off your nose to spite your face on the part of mlb.

by DWChaney on Aug 17, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

And that catch was awesome

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's what he was suggesting.

Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!

by sue369 on Aug 17, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

but yes, it was a great catch

hate them low walls

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

low walls helped

but man, that was spectacular. There was leather being flashed all over the OF last night, three other nice brewer catches – one Corey Hart play that was a clumsy version of Reed’s dive into the wall. I still think the Endy CHavez catch in the World Series takes the cake, but Kapler’s grab was close.

by Harry Pavlidis on Aug 17, 2008 11:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

two fans in front row _stay seated_

one that goes up tries to catch the ball with his hat

that punk yankee fan jeffrey maier would tried at least

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

The Marlins have a lot of good young starters

Eh?

Chicago Cubs Humor and Parody at The Cubs Brickyard

by AceCubbie on Aug 17, 2008 10:37 AM CDT 0 recs

Every year

that seems to be the case. I think out of all of the teams in the majors, the Marlins are the most annoying just because of how pesky they are.

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 17, 2008 10:40 AM CDT 0 recs

I also hope

the the guys are not on the cover of SI but do look forward to reading the article.

Looking for a win today.

Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!

by sue369 on Aug 17, 2008 10:42 AM CDT 0 recs

That SI link is broken for me...anyone else?

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

same here

by Blaze22 on Aug 17, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Shoot.

That’s not supposed to be a SI link… it’s supposed to be a chicagosports.com link talking about the SI shoot. I’ll fix it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

Fixed.

You should be able to read the link now.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

thanks al

by Blaze22 on Aug 17, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

Al...my father and I got tickets last night...

…for that last home series, against the Cards. Bleachers Friday and nosebleeds Saturday. First trip to Wrigley in years. I’ll contact you later today – we would both like to meet up with you, sit together, hang out, whatever. I’m looking forward to a very special weekend.

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

Email me.

Would love to have you sit with us for the Friday game. That should indeed be a great weekend of baseball.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think we're safe

I think some skinny superhuman kid from Baltimore will be on the cover.

"You get one extra flare a week -- just one -- a gork, a ground ball with eyes, a dying quail -- just one more dying quail a week and you're in Yankee Stadium!"
-- Crash Davis

by mlf on Aug 17, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

ENOUGH WIT SI!

I want no focus on this team, I want no ESPN coverage, I want the world to let these Cubs do what they are doing and only discuss once it is all over (with what we want to happen).

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 17, 2008 10:44 AM CDT 0 recs

even from

‘lil sis’ erin andrews?

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Well

I’m a reasonable man. I can make that exception.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 17, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

but only cuz the fellas consider her

their little sister

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think

that the Cubs getting no coverage is highly unlikely at this point. I say, enough with curses.

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 17, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

The worst part about having a good Cubs team and/or making the playoffs?

Fox/ESPN discussing the Cubs as if our essence consists solely of curses, 1908, and “Lovable Losers”. I can’t STAND that type of coverage.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Aug 17, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed...

That’s really lazy sports journalism

"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott

by Reddevil on Aug 17, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

LSA

It’s ridiculous. I wish I could figure out a way to get them to stop.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

uhhhh....

win some titles?

worked for the bosox

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

As far as Fox goes

I don’t think it will ever stop. They are the epitome of lazy journalism and out and out hackery. ESPN, on the other hand, is more about entertainment, so they’re sold on the fact that curse talk and blah blah blah will sell viewers as well.

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 17, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

Let us win big today!

Let us win, and hope the Dodgers beat the Brewers and even more hope that the Reds and Volquez somehow someway stop the Cardinals. We better be on this upcoming week, look at St. Louis schedule, they won’t lose again for another 10 games.

by graceunderpressure on Aug 17, 2008 11:11 AM CDT 0 recs

volquez today

so we miss him. that’ll work

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cards Schedule

Talk about a relaxing rest of the month! At least they play Brewers for 2 games. Regardless thats going to help us one way or another…

by ak123 on Aug 17, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

maybe if they get close enough,

they’ll want howry

by tim815 on Aug 17, 2008 11:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Why is Howry not in the SI picture ?

I am shocked his is not considered a bullpen ace. Ok Ok he pitched a scoreless inning last night. FYI Eyre pitched 2/3rds of scoreless inning for the Phillies last night.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 17, 2008 11:38 AM CDT 0 recs

Oh, you and your Scott Eyre love.

Hope we light him up in two weeks.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 17, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up 0 recs

I have soft spot for "stevie"

because he was funny, very nice guy ( not that Howry isn’t I just know that much about him)
who wore his autographed Maddux Jersey when he came to Chicago to sign his contract but
honestly I do NOT hate Howry. I think it is hard to tell which one was really worse except that
Lou’s constant faith in Howry and the fact that he basically NEVER liked Eyre disturbs me. Oh
Yes Howry “throws strikes” but that makes no difference if those strikes sail over the bleachers..

Sadly I would like to see Howry traded or discover arm fatigue and Wuertz brought up.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 17, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs