Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Nationals, Sunday 8/24, 1:20 CT

His stuff is just vicious. And he looked phenomenal (sic?) in his last outing. If he can keep his pitch count down, and mow down batters with his usual ease, then today’s game will be enjoyable to watch. Hope D-Lee is ok.

Yes, I’m worried. He’s an important part of the team that is not performing to his career numbers. And, you said more than once this year that you were, too, Al.

There’s more to it than double-plays. He hits weak grounders. A lot. On 3-1 and 2-0 counts. He’s already tied his career high for hitting ground balls for a full season, and it’s August 24. He rarely drives the ball to RF anymore, frequently takes hitters’ pitches and questions the umpire on a lot of strikes.

It’s not like he’s scalding the ball right at people and Theriot happens to be on base when he does it.

Someone asked in that fanpost who we’d want up with the game on the line. Not Lee, not now. I’d want, in order:

Ramirez
DeRosa
Soto
Edmonds/Johnson
Lee

Look, I like Lee — a lot. He’s a good person and a solid baseball player. I wouldn’t drop him in the order just yet. I wouldn’t sit him other than to keep him fresh for the stretch run. But he’s not the Lee that we’re used to seeing — and I’m not even talking about his 2005 career year. It’s a concern, because the Cubs will need him to be able to get to where they want to go.

Al’s differentiation of Harden’s and Bergmann’s stats against the other team and individual players has me wondering again. Is a pitcher’s record/ERA against a particular team not that informational given occasional roster and lineup changes, both offensively and defensively, in both dugouts? I know it’s mentioned a lot, during telecasts and whatnot, but why is it worth mentioning? If the batter/pitcher matchup data can be a bit spotty in this case, isn’t the team/pitcher matchup data spotty in almost every case?

Last year Albert Pujols and Carlos Lee both led the NL with 27 GIDPs. I’m pretty sure both of those guys are excellent hitters.

I’m not too worried about D. Lee. Yeah, he might not be the hitter was in the last few years, but he doesn’t need to be with everyone contributing the way they are. I do agree with Badger, though, that he needs to start driving the ball the other way.

And let’s hope his back spasms aren’t too bad, but if he does go on the DL, I suppose Micah Hoffpauir can be called up before September. He’s still raking in AAA, and he was hitting pretty well for the big league club when he was up earlier, and that was in limited playing time. I’m not sold on Daryl Ward playing 1B everyday, even if it’s just for a week or two.

No AFN coverage today. I can watch the Astros/Mutts though. But I won’t.

So… what movie should I put on? I was going to watch some House episodes since I got the Seasons 1-3 box set in the mail the other day, but the damn discs are defective! I watched “Untouchables” earlier today, picked it up for 3 pounds yesterday. A great movie at a great price!

Another day of overtime, another day where I miss the Cubs game.

At least I get to hang out here.

Hopefully I’ll be around tonight. Saw Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band last night in St. Louis. 3 hours 20 minutes straight. Epic.

Dan

1. Soriano
2. Theriot
3. Ramirez
4. Ward
5. DeRosa
6. Edmonds
7. Soto
8. Fontenot
9. Harden

Len reports DLee’s upper back spasms feel better.

…on Harden Strikeouts today?

JUMP!!!!