Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs GameThread, Sep 1, 2008 3:05 PM CDT

Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Astros, Monday 9/1, 3:05 CT

by Al on Sep 1, 2008 11:45 AM CDT in Game Threads

Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs

Next Game

Houston Astros
@ Chicago Cubs

Monday, Sep 1, 2008, 3:05 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Roy Oswalt vs Jason Marquis

Sunny. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 90.

Complete Coverage >

Naturally, now that it's September and autumn is on the way, we are having the warmest spell of the year in Chicago, with temperatures, as yesterday, expected to approach 90 degrees.

And today, to enjoy the summerlike weather and hopefully, help contribute to the cause, the Cubs will add the following players to the roster, as they expand on September 1: Micah Hoffpauir, Koyie Hill, Michael Wuertz and Casey McGehee, all recalled from Iowa, and Jon Lieber and Angel Guzman, activated from the disabled list. Both McGehee (who will make his major league debut when he first appears) and Hill had to be added to the 40-man roster; there was one open slot and the other is from Chad Fox being moved to the 60-day DL. There was one move made yesterday that may have some significance later: Rich Hill was recalled from Iowa and placed on the DL. By making this move on August 31, the Cubs gave themselves four extra roster options for postseason play, as the rules make eligible the 25 players active on August 31 plus any DL slots -- as of yesterday, the Cubs had four (Fox, Guzman, Lieber and now Hill). The practical effect of this is that the Cubs can name up to four players NOT on the active roster as of yesterday to a postseason roster, if they want to.

Attendance watch: the season average is now 40,747, and the Cubs will pass the 3 million mark tomorrow night. They need 318,678 in the nine remaining dates to pass last year's record total of 3,252,462. At the current average, that will take eight dates, so the record should fall on Saturday, September 20.

Today's Starting Pitchers


J. Marquis Cubs	vs.	R. Oswalt Astros


9-7	W-L	12-9
4.52	ERA	4.11
74	SO	135
52	BB	41
14	HR	21
vs. Hou	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Jason Marquis	9-7	24	24	0	0	0	0	141.1	146	74	71	14	52	74	4.52	1.40

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Roy Oswalt	12-9	26	26	1	0	0	0	164.1	175	82	75	21	41	135	4.11	1.31

These two pitchers matched up on April 5 at Wrigley Field, and it was a decent start for Marquis, allowing four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Oswalt did about the same, giving the Cubs five earned runs in 6.2 IP. Marquis was gone from the game by the time the Cubs won it 9-7.

Oswalt has been good recently: 8-3 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 13 starts. But, he is 0-2, 9.75 in his last two outings at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had four extra-base hits in that April game, including a HR by D-Lee and a double by Marquis. Lee is a .326 lifetime hitter vs. Oswalt (15-for-46) with 3 HR. Marquis, a good hitter, is 3-for 12 (two doubles).

Good thing Carlos Lee isn't around -- he pounds Cub pitching, and hits .344 off Marquis. Lance Berkman is his nemesis (20-for-42, .476/.585/.714). If Marquis can keep Berkman down, he should do well today. He needs to be the "good Marquis" we saw last week in Pittsburgh.

Today's game is on WGN. 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 noon CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at xxxx pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 116 comments

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Comments

Lightem up!

by Rick B on Sep 1, 2008 11:51 AM CDT 0 recs

My first "FIRST"

Let’s do this! Go get ’em Cubbies…

Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!

by DKT on Sep 1, 2008 11:52 AM CDT 0 recs

I meant "SECOND"

Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!

by DKT on Sep 1, 2008 11:52 AM CDT 0 recs

Let 's get this series and Zeptember

off to a great start. Win, win win!

Go Cubs!

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 11:58 AM CDT 0 recs

Zeptember. I like that.

by Emelie on Sep 1, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

anything to help Zambrano snap out of it!

it is amazing that the Cubs went 20-8 in August with Z basically not showing up.

Imagine what we can do from here on out if we can get “good Z” back!!

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 12:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Shadows will be tough

on hitters in the early to mid innings with the 3:05 start. Heat will be tough on pitchers.

by santo4hof on Sep 1, 2008 12:02 PM CDT 0 recs

but GREAT for hitters

What do you say… big ARAM day?!? Actually, I think Soriano will go 3-5 or something, with a HR, 2 singles (stolen base)

"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Sep 1, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

wouldn't surprise me

after looking so lost at the plate yesterday, he’ll probably continue to mystify his critic by putting a few onto Waveland!

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Sep 1, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

"critics"

he has lots more than one, obviously!

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Sep 1, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Turn On The Lights?

Would that get rid of the shadow problem?

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

I expect nothing less then an undefeated September

Ok well maybe not that perfect, but I feel like we are going to dominate this month… After losing 2 straight, its on!
I predict….
A sweep of the Astros
2 of 3 from Cincinnati
2 of 3 from STL
2 of 3 from the Astros
2 of 3 from MIL
A sweep of STL
3 of 4 from the Mets
Lose 2 of 3 from MIL (only predict this end of season series lose because we will have clinched a playoff spot and it is possible MIL will be playing for more as they go for the wild card)

"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Sep 1, 2008 12:09 PM CDT 0 recs

wow

optimistic huh?

by cubswynn on Sep 1, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

wow.

I like how you think, son!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 1, 2008 12:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's What I Call Courage!

Anywhere between Southside’s 18-7 and JD’s 13-12 and I’ll be happy.

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hey Al...

Check out the post I just made in the Weather.com fanshot… see if you agree with my conclusion!

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/8/31/605126/wrigley-on-weather-com#comments

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 1, 2008 12:13 PM CDT 0 recs

Greetings from Hollywood

Only seen very brief bits of the last 4 games. Good luck today
Will be at Dodger Stadium tonight.

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

by Doggie Stalker on Sep 1, 2008 12:14 PM CDT 0 recs

Hi Hollywood!

Greetings from 8 hours in the future. Have a Dodger Dog for me!!!

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 1, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

dodger dog?

overrated…..clap clap clap clap clap

by cubswynn on Sep 1, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Just a long hot dog

The critical thing to understand is that major-league pitchers don't appear to have the ability to prevent hits on balls in play. There are many possible reasons why this is the case, and I don't really have a concrete idea as to why it is.

But the one thing I do know is that it is the case.

--Voros McCracken

by nbt on Sep 1, 2008 3:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Let's NOT let Berkman beat us!

After watching Werth hit rocket after rocket the last few days, I hope we don’t let Houston’s only dangerous batter hurt us. Seems like we’ve missed Oswalt some this year. He should be tough and this should be a good test of how we bounce back.

""At the end of the day, boys, you don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship." -- Steve Stone

by kentmeister on Sep 1, 2008 12:14 PM CDT 0 recs

To many body folds come back to haunt CC

Milwaukee wants 1-hitter changed to no-hitter. Go get em Bud.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by Employee22 on Sep 1, 2008 12:25 PM CDT 0 recs

all I want is for Suds to suffer a letdown today

like the Cubs, they had a GREAT August.

I guess I have to cheer for the Mets today. I feel dirty.

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

would you really want a no hitter if it came with an asterisk?

by cubswynn on Sep 1, 2008 12:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think CC made it clear that he has moved on.

I don’t think he wants a ruling to give him a no hitter. It seems that there is a good question as to even if he fielded it cleanly whether it would have been a hit or out, therefore the call—and that was a tough ball to field cleanly, thus the call. There were two reasons to rule that a hit and not an error.

Brewer fans and Yost have to move on. I think they have more important things to worry about.

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think the Brewers announcers have

mentioned this about 700 times so far today. Give it a rest. A win is the most important thing, and it is over now.

by LT on Sep 1, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Santana vs. Sheets

Go get ’em Johan!

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Whoa.

thats a nice match up.

The Walk: Weapon of choice for the 2008 Cubs

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 1, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Brewers up 1-0 early...

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

by Bump Bailey on Sep 1, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Given The Brewers' Collective Attitude

It would not shock me to see them print in their 2009 Media Guide an asterisk next to the game score with a footnote along the lines of “Umpire ruled an error on Sabathia as an infield single”.

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ownership

When people say that the owner will be picked by the end of the year, does that mean we won’t be signing any free agents, or trading for anyone?

Devin Hester, you are ridiculous! -Jeff Joniak

by ARAM FOR MVP on Sep 1, 2008 12:55 PM CDT 0 recs

good question

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 1:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

someone asked this question in the cubs.com mailbag

and hendry said the pending sale would not prevent him from doing anything

by cubswynn on Sep 1, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

People read the muskrat?

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 1, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope Marquis

can keep pitching like he did last time out. It would be nice to get another winning streak started today.

by sue369 on Sep 1, 2008 1:15 PM CDT 0 recs

First pitch thread posts at noon?

Don’t see it.

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

by Bump Bailey on Sep 1, 2008 1:37 PM CDT 0 recs

I think he

meant at 3 pm.

by sue369 on Sep 1, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

it's noon somewhere...

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

lol...so true

by sue369 on Sep 1, 2008 2:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Roy Oswalt is back to being a tough cookie

Don’t like the pitching matchup today. Not the way the Cub offense looked against Philly.

by MDBNIU on Sep 1, 2008 2:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Sep 1, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Neddie Just Pulled Sheets After 5 Innings

Interesting…..

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 2:18 PM CDT 0 recs

Very Intresting

by miamicanes on Sep 1, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

I just put it on. Why was that?

Sheets looked like he was making a motion down with his arm in the dugout. Villeneuva coming in.

THIS IS OUR CENTURY!!

by LAcarl519 on Sep 1, 2008 2:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

and with that

the mets begin to drool

by cubswynn on Sep 1, 2008 2:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

and so do Cub fans :)

"A catchers biggest concern behind the plate is to make his pitcher pitch a little better than he can" Roy Campanella

by Madison Cub Fan on Sep 1, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

groin injury is what they are saying on TV

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."

by DC Cubbie on Sep 1, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

heard dat too

"Sometimes I feel like as a Cubs fan if I’m not worrying about something, I’m not doing it right." - HalfBlindCubbieGirl

by CaliCub on Sep 1, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sheet pulled after 54-pitches

That is bad for the Brewers

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Sep 1, 2008 2:39 PM CDT 0 recs

With or without Sheets they still are a virtual lock to nab the NL wildcard

by MDBNIU on Sep 1, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

If the Brewers fall back to earth

I think the Mets Phills could get into the race.

But I agree the odd are long.

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Sep 1, 2008 2:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sheets is key in the playoffs though,

I can’t see them winning the 7 games needed to get in the WS without him healthy.

by Seattle Cubs Fan on Sep 1, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm most worried about Arizona...

Cubs NEVER have done well at Chase Ballpark. And yeah, the prospect of facing Brandon Webb, Danny Haren and the rejuvenated Randy Johnson in a short series scares the hell out of me.

by MDBNIU on Sep 1, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think. . .

that is true. But I would wager the Diamondbacks are equally frightened of facing Zambrano-Harden-Dempster in a short series, especially without homefield advantage. I think you may be discrediting this team too much.

by Seattle Cubs Fan on Sep 1, 2008 2:50 PM CDT up 0 recs