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Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Reds, Wednesday 8/20, 7:05 CT

Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs



Next Game

Cincinnati Reds
@ Chicago Cubs

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008, 7:05 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Bronson Arroyo vs Ted Lilly

Clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Complete Coverage >


At the risk of getting a little ahead of myself, I herewith quote Bruce Miles' article on the Cubs' chances of winning 100 games:

To win 100, they would have to go 24-14 over their final 38 games. That's a tall order, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

No Cubs team has won 100 since the 1935 pennant-winners, who then fell in six games to the Tigers in the World Series.

In other words, winning 100 games guarantees nothing, although it should be more than good enough for the Cubs to capture their second straight National League Central title and their third in six seasons.

Manager Lou Piniella led the 2001 Seattle Mariners to a record of 116-46, but that team fell to the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

Still, 100 victories would be symbolic, and it would be the strongest showing by a Cubs team since the 1984 division winners captured 96 wins.

That was written before last night's win, so the mark needed in the remaining 37 games is now 23-14. In their last 37 games the Cubs have gone 25-12, and that includes a 1-5 stretch right after the All-Star break. Since (and including) the game on July 23, the first game back from the DL for Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs are 19-6. Not predicting, but it sure seems within reach.

First things first: win tonight.

Today's Starting Pitchers
Ted Lilly
T. Lilly
Cubs
vs. Bronson Arroyo
B. Arroyo
Reds
12-6 W-L 10-10
4.32 ERA 5.51
141 SO 125
54 BB 50
27 HR 24
vs. Cin -- vs. Cubs

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Ted Lilly 12-6 26 26 0 0 0 0 154.0 154 77 74 27 54 141 4.32 1.35


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Bronson Arroyo 10-10 26 26 0 0 0 0 143.2 168 95 88 24 50 125 5.51 1.52

This isn't the Bronson Arroyo from two years ago, who blew through the NL and blasted homer after homer off Glendon Rusch. This Arroyo has given up a ton of runs and got roughed up pretty good by the Cubs on July 10 at Wrigley Field, although the Reds won that game, hitting Ted Lilly, tonight's starter, pretty hard. Mike Fontenot homered off Arroyo that day, and of the Reds' seven homers that day, only two (by Edwin Encarnacion and by Brandon Phillips) were off Lilly. Of the other five, two were by Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr., who aren't on the team any more. Plus, the wind was blowing out that day and it won't be tonight. Votto has been a particular nemesis to Lilly, going 4-for-9 with that HR. Lilly is 7-2 in his last 14 starts with a 3.44 ERA.

Today's game is on WCIU in Chicago, so it's one of the handful of remaining games that may be difficult to find if you're not in WCIU's range. It is on FSN Ohio, so it should be on EI. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

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". As yesterday, today's first pitch thread posts at 7 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 163 comments

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Comments

Display:

Let's get to 30 over!!!

GO CUBS!

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 20, 2008 4:00 PM CDT   0 recs

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 20, 2008 4:05 PM CDT   0 recs

Fifth - I love it!

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 4:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll bet that fifth

will be gone by the fifth tonight!

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on Aug 20, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

MAGIC NUMBER

LOWER IT

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 4:05 PM CDT   0 recs

Add that to

the “one-liners for overflow threads” post!

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 20, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that's too

jinx-y. You can’t call for the number to be lowered until we win or the Suds lose.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

fair enough...

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 20, 2008 4:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No more jinx talk

I wish I had the kind of power to affect the outcome of games by what I post on BCB, but I do not.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 4:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

just don't tempt

the baseball gods. I don’t mind the odd post about the magic number, but over-confidence will kill us.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

At the risk of

making some people a little more squirmy. Does anyone have the magic number or a link to where it is at?

by Morg98 on Aug 20, 2008 5:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep

here

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 20, 2008 5:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Come on. People need to get over this.

It’s going in my signature soon if this keeps up.

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 4:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yah, if you keep this up

you could jinx the thread!

Reed Ballgame - best CF in the MLB

by californiachicagoan on Aug 20, 2008 4:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

can you jiinx a jinx?

i have a friend who knows how to triple stamp a double stamp, i’ll ask him

by cubswynn on Aug 20, 2008 4:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lloyd?

You can’t triple-stamp a double-stamp!

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

do you like

Gladiator movies?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ever been in a turkish prison?

Reed Ballgame - best CF in the MLB

by californiachicagoan on Aug 20, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ever seen

a grown man naked?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey Drew, check out BlueMike's diary about night games.

In the comments, he accuses you and I of being the same person.

by sackings108 on Aug 20, 2008 4:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hahaha!

He did that with me and drewish too!

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone that disagrees with Mike must be the same person,

because there could be only one person on earth who would actually challenge the genius that was bestowed upon him at NIU…

by sackings108 on Aug 20, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

so does that mean...

that there are only two people that frequent this board?

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not exactly.

I think there are three. All of us who disagree with him, who is actually one person. Then there’s “bluekoolaide” who seems to agree with Mike, and then there’s mike. That’s all 3.

by sackings108 on Aug 20, 2008 4:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he who has the sock-puppets

frequently accuses other people of having them himself.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hmmm...

I must be missing something. D’oh!

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

drewish?

But I’M drewish!….. if you’re there…. and I’m here…. what’s going on here?!?!

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry

by mambochicken23 on Aug 20, 2008 4:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No, I'm Sparticus!

the funny thing is, he posted about something that he was instantly proven wrong on — like in 30 seconds — on something he could have googled in 10 seconds. I didn’t even bother with it.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i hope that gets deleted.....

i knew i shouldn’t have wasted my time reading it, but then i thought the replies to whatever he said would be enough to make it entertaining…..and it was

pound sand up your ass? lol classic

by cubswynn on Aug 20, 2008 4:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I handled it!

that’s ok, just go read and then carry on about your business, citizens…

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Do the Angels play today?

they do! Can they lose? THEY CAN! Can we have the best record in baseball?

You bet!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:06 PM CDT   0 recs

Tampa Bay

has actually passed the Angels for the best record in the AL. They play each other tonight. We’re tied with Tampa.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Aug 20, 2008 4:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

alright.

if the Angels win and we win, we have the best record, right?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We already have the best record

Just win baby!

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If we win

we’ll be tied at least for sure. If we win and the Angels win, we’ll have the best record in baseball all to ourselves.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Aug 20, 2008 5:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't remember a time in my life I have eber been this excited

about a mid-August Cubs game. I can’t wait till 7pm.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Aug 20, 2008 4:13 PM CDT   0 recs

And the best part is,

I feel this excited EVERY DAY!

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 20, 2008 4:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

TWSS

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ZING.

you sir, are ON today…

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 20, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm like a PUMA.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

sure.

women walk all over me all the time.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Insert witty Lance Berkman comment here

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 20, 2008 4:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

DEFINITELY

not a cougar.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 20, 2008 4:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

HA HA WHO HE AHAHA AH!!

And I thought my Jokes were bad

Photobucket

"I guess you had some lean years, and didnt have to beat it hard" - Craig Sager

"Soriano deep to left!! THAT BALL'S GOOOONE!! A HOME RUN!! OHHH BABY!!" -Len Kasper 8/06/08

SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .293 22 HR 61 RBI

by Galvan316 on Aug 20, 2008 4:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that makes me wanna see that movie again

wonder when it’ll get to the cheapies

by cubswynn on Aug 20, 2008 4:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Cheapies?

I haven’t seen a cheap theatre in ages. I miss the $1 cinemas.

I don’t think if there were a lot of them that it’ll get there anytime soon. It’s still doing far too well, and I hope it eclipses Titanic sometime soon.

by McCarron on Aug 20, 2008 5:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wanna see this pencil disappear?

“It’s….. GONE.”

Wait a minute... who am I here?

by malicedoom on Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM CDT   0 recs

TADA!

"I guess you had some lean years, and didnt have to beat it hard" - Craig Sager

"Soriano deep to left!! THAT BALL'S GOOOONE!! A HOME RUN!! OHHH BABY!!" -Len Kasper 8/06/08

SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .293 22 HR 61 RBI

by Galvan316 on Aug 20, 2008 4:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

do you wanna know how I got these scars?

…god I love that movie.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Aug 20, 2008 4:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

My father

was a drinker…and a fiend and one night he goes off crazier then usual…..Mommy gets the kitchen knive to defend herself… He doesn’t like that NOT ONE BIT………so me watching he takes the knife to her…. laughing while he does it turns to me and he says…. WHY SO SERIOUS!!!…….. comes to me and says WHY SO SERIOUS!!! and he puts the blade in my mouth…. LETS PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACE!!!!

"I guess you had some lean years, and didnt have to beat it hard" - Craig Sager

"Soriano deep to left!! THAT BALL'S GOOOONE!! A HOME RUN!! OHHH BABY!!" -Len Kasper 8/06/08

SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .293 22 HR 61 RBI

by Galvan316 on Aug 20, 2008 4:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

For more quotes....

… read the script. It got posted up yesterday, it’s a fun read.

http://joblo.com/scripts/The_Dark_Knight.pdf

by McCarron on Aug 20, 2008 5:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The only way Bronson Arroyo could scare me these days...

…is if he picked up a guitar and started singing. I know Ted has had his trouble with the Reds this year – don’t look now but he has a 9.35 ERA in 8.2 inning pitched – but it’s time for him to bring the Lillyhammer down for some sweet redemption.

GO CUBS!!!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM CDT   0 recs

Wasn't it Dunn that did the bulk of that damage?

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 20, 2008 4:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Me Adam Dunn

Me hit ball hard. Where ball go? Ball land on street! Me run bases. Adam Dunn bestest hitter ever!!!

by SuperContext on Aug 20, 2008 5:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Adam Dunn no run fast on bases..

me hit ball long ways so me can jog

"Go Cubs Go"

by mkcubs21 on Aug 20, 2008 5:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have a feeling that ball..

might still be in the sky somewhere.. He just smoked that ball out of the park.

"Go Cubs Go"

by mkcubs21 on Aug 20, 2008 5:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

His guitar work

is pretty good. I’d agree with you on the singing.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Aug 20, 2008 5:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

fun with numbers

in reference to Bruce’s math regarding getting to 100 wins…

The Cubs have 37 games left. Milwaukee 34. If the Cubs go 19-18 for 96 wins, the Beers have to go 23-11 to get to 96. In other words, if the Cubs play .500 ball the rest of the way, the Beers will have to win ~2 of every 3 just to catch the Cubs. Lou isn’t going to let the Cubs get over confident, so I’m going to say the Cubs will go 21-16 (98 wins) which would force the Beers to go 25-9 to tie.

Linus: Life is rarely all one way, Charlie Brown. You win some, you lose some. Charlie Brown: Really? Gee, that'd be neat.

by CyberCyclist on Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM CDT   0 recs