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Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Monday 8/25, 6:05 CT

Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates



Next Game

Chicago Cubs
@ Pittsburgh Pirates

Monday, Aug 25, 2008, 6:05 PM CDT
PNC Park

Ted Lilly vs Jeff Karstens

Clear. Winds blowing from left to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Complete Coverage >


Fun with numbers:

The Cubs are 11-4 vs. the Pirates this year -- 7-2 at Wrigley Field, 4-2 in Pittsburgh. The two losses in Pittsburgh both went extra innings, as did two of the wins (the first two games played there, back in April). In fact, those two Cubs extra-inning wins -- on April 7 and April 9, are the only extra-inning games the Pirates have lost at home this year (they're 5-2 in extras at home, 6-2 on the road, including their loss yesterday at Milwaukee, where they managed to load the bases with nobody out in the top of the 12th without scoring). So get a comfy chair tonight; you may be in it for a while.

Also: Mark DeRosa, not known for power hitting, now has 18 home runs and has homered in four straight games. The club record for such things is five, set by Hack Wilson in 1928 and tied by Ryne Sandberg in 1989 and Sammy Sosa in 1998. I learn this from Paul Sullivan's notes column today, in which he also points out:

The Cubs are the first pitching staff to have 1,000 strikeouts in 2008. They've led the majors in strikeouts every season since 2001 and could break the Dodgers' record of seven straight seasons of leading the majors, from 1957-63.

Not that K's are the be-all and end-all, but that's still mighty impressive. The Dodgers won two pennants and a World Series (1959) in those seven years, won 102 games and lost a playoff to the Giants in another (1962) and had a winning record six of the seven years, missing only the "readjustment" year when they moved from Brooklyn to LA (1958).

Also, for those interested, click here to view the playoff fact sheet sent out by the Cubs to season ticket holders (link opens .pdf file).

Today's Starting Pitchers
Ted Lilly
T. Lilly
Cubs
vs. Jeff Karstens
J. Karstens
Pirates
12-7 W-L 2-2
4.25 ERA 2.25
148 SO 11
56 BB 8
27 HR 4
vs. Pit -- vs. Cubs

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Ted Lilly 12-7 27 27 0 0 0 0 161.0 156 79 76 27 56 148 4.25 1.32


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Jeff Karstens 2-2 4 4 1 1 0 0 28.0 23 8 7 4 8 11 2.25 1.11

After pitching really well in his Pirates debut vs. the Cubs on August 1, and even better (a two-hit shutout) in his next start vs. Arizona, Karstens has started to get hit around a little bit, losing his next two starts -- both at home, while the wins were on the road -- and giving up two homers in each one. I think the Cubs will be better prepared to face him tonight. Karstens did walk four Cubs on August 1, so if they can wait him out they should do just fine.

The day after Karstens shut the Cubs down, Ted Lilly did the same to the Pirates. Lilly is leading the NL in homers allowed, but has allowed only two in his last four starts, comprising 26.2 innings, and gave none to the Pirates in that August 2 game. Since his slow start, Lilly is 7-2, 3.45 in his last 14 outings.

Today's game is on cable and BOTH feeds are scheduled to be on EI, so if you're outside Chicago you should be able to see Len & Bob. 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". Today's first pitch thread posts at 6 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 199 comments

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Comments

Display:

2.5 hours and counting...

Come on Lilly!!!

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 25, 2008 3:31 PM CDT   0 recs

second!

go cubs!

cubs = love

by cubs ftw on Aug 25, 2008 3:33 PM CDT   0 recs

rokkin!

it’s a baseball blog, let’s talk some baseball!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Coming off the ASB following a roadtrip to Houston and AZ Cubs were 8 games under .500 on the road

They are now at .500….

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

by Ivy Walls on Aug 25, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No extra innings

tonight please. Wonder what the odds are on DeRo hitting a homer tonight? That would just be crazy if he did. Hope Lilly is spot on tonight and it’s a quick win for the Cubs.

by sue369 on Aug 25, 2008 3:35 PM CDT   0 recs

and when are you not?

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

by Ivy Walls on Aug 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't always

explicitly root for home runs, but the streak is an exception…

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 25, 2008 3:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

here is a clue from baseball players and coaches

Hit the ball hard, hit it on the nose, nail it…..drive the ball

Hitting a HR is more than simply hitting the ball hard, one has to elevate it and drive it,,,,hitting it with backspin.

Hitting the ball hard means line drives through the infield, balls in the gap, balls driven over or beyond OF’s…..

When watching the game my father in law always remarked that I would say things like ‘hit it hard’, drive it…..

My father being a former coach like to say when a runner was on 3rd base…..wild pitch….but then more importantly nail it, only give the defender one step reaction.

HR’s come in bunches because everything comes together while lifting the ball.

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

by Ivy Walls on Aug 25, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Attempting to lift the ball

is the surest way of grounding out. Uppercut swings lead to more topspin, not backspin.

Reed Ballgame - best CF in the MLB

by californiachicagoan on Aug 25, 2008 5:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

TWSS!

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. - Homer J Simpson

by MikeOxbyg on Aug 25, 2008 3:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I looked for the odds on a DeRo HR

But could not find any. I did see that the over/under on Lilly strikeouts is 5.5.

by gocubsgo22 on Aug 25, 2008 3:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks.

He said yesterday that he’s never played like this before in his career. I hope it conitnues for him. He’s a team first guy.

by sue369 on Aug 25, 2008 4:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, there was a great interview...

…with DeRo on Comcast Sportsnet last night. He was talking about how he really wants to seize the moment and win it all this year. He said something about not wanting to have to go back to spring training next year and “start all over.” He also spoke of leaving games and seeing all of the fans out at the bars celebrating and how it makes him want to savor every moment of this season. Typically great stuff.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 4:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Glad to see

he appreciates my binge drinking :)

Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 25, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I didn't see that....

… but I’m glad to hear that DeRo, and the other players too I hope, are enjoying this as much as we are. He really seems to get it.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 4:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Isn't this the Cubs' 50th game against the Pirates this year?

Or does it just feel that way?

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Aug 25, 2008 3:35 PM CDT   0 recs

Look at the Brewers' sched for the final 6 weeks

They get 50 against the Pirates then!

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was looking at that before

and also noticed (again) that we don’t have the easiest last month and a half of the season. Let’s build a bigger lead, starting tonight

When you're eight games behind, it's like eight miles; when you're eight games in front, it's like eight inches. ~ Ron Santo

by gwood on Aug 25, 2008 5:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know

like sue said above, please, just no extra innings. Let the pirates pitchers be tired and the players not snappy.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Karstens has pitched well

I am guessing Edmonds, Fukudome, Ward and Fontenot might be in the lineup, maybe play DeRosa at SS to see if he can play there too?

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

by Ivy Walls on Aug 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT   0 recs

did this guy

dye his eyebrows?

Wait, are they not the same guy?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Weird, huh?

Karstens and Gorzelanny look eerily similar – both to each other and to Butthead.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

eerie.

Maybe the X-Files should get involved.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The truth is out there...

…on the mound. Pitching. For Pittsburgh.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 4:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Since I am not good with the picture thing

You could extend this to Jack Wilson and Steve O from Jack A$$

"Aw, how could he (Jorge Orta) lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico." -- Harry Carey

by TheRiot Police on Aug 25, 2008 4:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Butthead.

Light him up.

make/art

by neverAcquiesce on Aug 25, 2008 5:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is the division series

still a 2-2-1 format? With the “home” team getting games 1,2 & 5? TIA

Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!

by Ihatethecards on Aug 25, 2008 3:57 PM CDT   0 recs

Yes.

Click on the fact sheet for the schedule.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 3:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Does the best team in the NL...

get a choice of starting the NLDS a day earlier or having an extra off day during the series?

I think the Red Sox (as the best team in the AL) had this choice last year. Doesn’t that “option” rotate to the NL this year?

Just wondering how those NLDS dates are set in stone.

Eamus Catuli!

by wrigley_boy on Aug 25, 2008 4:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good question.

October 1, the first date listed on the sheet, is a Wednesday. Presuming the Cubs have home field for that series, they’d get two days off before the series, and two days off DURING the series.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 4:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't like all the off days

They’re good for your pitching rotation… but the boys are used to playing everyday… that much rest is bad. Just ask the Rockies.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Might work well for guys like Harden, though.

It also means you need only an 11-man pitching staff, so you can have an extra bench player (Hoffpauir, maybe).

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 4:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True

I just think that much rest kills any mojo your offense may have gained.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me? Playoffs?

one game at a time.

"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 25, 2008 4:23 PM CDT   0 recs

Derrek back in lineup

Sori
Riot
Lee
Riot
Edmonds
DeRo
Dome
Soto
Lilly

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Scrappy so good he hits twice!

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 25, 2008 4:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's gonna hit a single in the two-hole...

…then hit another one in the four-hole and score from first. Yeah, he’s that fast.

Yes, sir!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 25, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's what you get with scrappy speed.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 25, 2008 4:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Riot hit in the 2 hole and the 4 hole

Impressive. Does he get a ghost man if he is already on base.

"Aw, how could he (Jorge Orta) lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico." -- Harry Carey

by TheRiot Police on Aug 25, 2008 4:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Dammit

Sorry Thats Rami. I suck.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You don't suck. You were just overcome

with the influence of scrappiness.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 25, 2008 4:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whitenmyer's twitter is hard to read sometimes

but i just can’t type today. not enough caffeine.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't sweat it. It's all good with the boys in blue!

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 25, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

TWSS

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

by Bump Bailey on Aug 25, 2008 5:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Over/Under on DP's he hits into tonight.....2.

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

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 25, 2008 4:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Onwards and Upwards

All season long, that’s been the goal. All season, reached.

.500 play: April 6th
5 games over: April 19th
10 games over: May 16th
15 games over: June 1st
20 games over: June 15th
25 games over: August 13th
30 games over: August 24th

It’s only reasonable now… we build for 35 over. If we keep aiming for higher goals, we don’t need to worry about anyone in second place.

Onward and Upward.

I won’t be watching or in the chat tonight, since it’s a midnight start for me. Hope I wake up to good news.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Aug 25, 2008 4:33 PM CDT   0 recs

Aw, no one

to drink with tonight. Sleep well.

by sue369 on Aug 25, 2008 4:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Shh!

Don’t tell anyone, but my liquor cabinet is unlocked ;)

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Aug 25, 2008 4:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Your secret

is safe with me……thanks ;-)

by sue369 on Aug 25, 2008 4:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

To Higher goals!

We’re in the lead. Take care of our own and nothing else matters

by chitownhawkeye on Aug 25, 2008 5:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

awww...

I’ll keep the brownies warming in the oven

by Emelie on Aug 25, 2008 5:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

has to be an euphemism LOL

"We've had our ups and downs, but as long as you have a reason, something to fall back on and a plan, that's all there is to it," Soto said.

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 25, 2008 5:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We only have to go 20-12 the rest of the way to win 100.

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

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 25, 2008 4:34 PM CDT   0 recs

Only.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

with this team?

only indeed!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 4:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

True

but i want to win 11 in Oct more.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 25, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

all part of the service

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

20-12 is 32 games.

In their last 32 games the Cubs are 22-10.

Just sayin’.

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

by Al on Aug 25, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs