Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals GameThread, Sep 11, 2008 7:15 PM CDT

Keep It Going Thread: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Thursday 9/11, 7:15 CT

by Al on Sep 11, 2008 3:29 PM CDT in Game Threads

Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals

Next Game

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008, 7:15 PM CDT
Busch Stadium

Partly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 75.

Complete Coverage >

As if the Cubs didn't have enough to worry about, possibly heading into a hurricane tomorrow in Houston, they'll very possibly have to dodge raindrops tonight in St. Louis:

This Afternoon: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Light east wind.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

We've been over this in several other threads, but I wanted to repeat my position: asking the Cubs to fly into Houston, either tonight, tomorrow or Saturday, in the face of evacuations, storm damage and power failures, is completely ridiculous. Friday's game has now been officially postponed, with no rescheduling yet announced.

I am well aware that the Astros stand to lose quite a bit of money if they don't play the games in Houston this weekend. It seems to me that MLB could make up the money to them somehow, and playing the games on a neutral site makes the most sense -- Atlanta, St. Louis, Milwaukee, anywhere but Houston. If they haven't made this decision by gametime tonight, let's hope they do the right thing before the Cubs leave St. Louis.

Today's Starting Pitchers


R. Harden Cubs	vs.	T. Wellemeyer Cardinals


9-2	W-L	0-0
1.99	ERA	4.14
167	SO	35
49	BB	27
11	HR	9
vs. StL	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Rich Harden	4-1	9	9	0	0	0	0	54.0	31	11	9	6	18	75	1.50	.91

A reminder, the above stats are for Harden with the Cubs only. See the pitcher box for his full season stats.

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Todd Wellemeyer	12-6	28	28	0	0	0	0	168.1	155	73	70	21	51	116	3.74	1.22

Rich Harden will be fine -- just fine. Yes, he hasn't thrown in 12 days -- but that's missing one start, even though Ted Lilly has started three times since then, due to having two off days in between. We knew he'd have to rest from time to time -- he's been handled the right way. He hasn't faced the Cardinals since 2004, and Adam Kennedy, who faced him quite a bit in the AL (7-for-22) is the only current Cardinal with more than four AB against him.

Todd Wellemeyer is 2-1 vs. the Cubs this year -- who knew he could ever be an effective starter in the majors, after washing out as a Cubs reliever? That includes this blowout Cub loss at Wrigley Field on August 9, the only game St. Louis won in that series. No current Cub has more than 10 AB against Wellemeyer (Reed Johnson, 4-for-10). Mark DeRosa is 3-for-7 with a HR.

Today's game is on CSN again -- good news if you think the broadcast channel has anything to do with the record. My EI listings show both home & road telecasts listed, so if you have EI you should get 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 7 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CT.

And as suggested, today's post will also have a gratuitous picture of Geovany Soto:

via www.mlb.com

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 454 comments

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Comments

first

Go Cubs!

by rgonzale on Sep 11, 2008 3:32 PM CDT 0 recs

aww,,, thanks for the Geo photo, Al

This is the time now where people that are getting the job done are the people that are going to play. Plain and simple. -- Lou

by Emelie on Sep 11, 2008 3:32 PM CDT 0 recs

I aim to please!

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

by Al on Sep 11, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

You aim too please

by tootle on Sep 11, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

TWSS

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 11, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

And close the damn lid!

"I see the playoff schedule posted in the paper, and that stuff makes me nervous because you can't take anything for granted. We have a great team. We have a really good team. We're playing well, but we haven't won yet." - Jim Edmonds, 8/31/08

by dat cubfan daver on Sep 11, 2008 4:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

he's so

DREAMY… Think he can call the unicorn?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

It makes my day

by coral on Sep 11, 2008 4:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

I agree thanks for the Geo photo

"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 11, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

3rd

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Sep 11, 2008 3:33 PM CDT 0 recs

Houston series..

…I’m being told from a friend who works for the ABC affiliate here in Houston that this weekend’s series is being postponed. Not sure exactly what that means. My guess is they’ll have the Cubs wait and see if they can’t get the series in on Sunday and Monday or at least 2 of the games.

"I'm petrified of nipple chafing. Once it starts, it's a vicious circle." Andy Bernard

by TXCub on Sep 11, 2008 3:35 PM CDT 0 recs

Muskat's sources agree

Games in Houston are not expected to happen, announcement coming before tonight’s game about rescheduling. According to Cubs.com:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080911&content_id=3457639&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

by Qixotl on Sep 11, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Smart move.

The next smart move would be to reschedule for a neutral site.

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

by Al on Sep 11, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hopefully that's what MLB has been working on all day

is contacting a team (Atlanta) and working out the logistics of those folks staying to work the series.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Sep 11, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

According to Gordo

St. Louis was rejected as an alternate site.

linky

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 Sep 11, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

That article says...

The Cubs had suggested the Astros fly to St. Louis to play the series there, but that was rejected, possibly because it would give the Cubs the advantage of not having to fly anywhere.

That’s exactly what the Marlins did in 2004, played at the Cell because they were already in Chicago. So it was good enough for the 2004 Marlins, but not for the 2008 Cubs? Please.

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

by Al on Sep 11, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

The Astros

strike me as little whiny children in all of this . . .

“But, we wanna play the games at our field” (said in the whiniest voice possible)

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 Sep 11, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly.

The Marlins, at that point in 2004, were still in playoff contention.

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

by Al on Sep 11, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

But as I mentioned in another post............

…………scheduling at Busch will be difficult as other events are already set to take place at the stadium this weekend.

There is some camp out event on Friday evening and a concert – I think – on Saturday night. Not sure they can get things shuffled to make STL work.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Sep 11, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

not to mention all the rain that supposed to hit STL

over the weekend.

i’d suggest somewhere like MIL, where you could be guaranteed to get the games in regardless of weather.

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

The only difference is money.

The Astros were hoping to fill the ballpark against the Cubs. However, the Marlins never have big attendances, not even when they were contending in 2004.

What Drayton Mclane doesn’t understand is that if Houston is hit as expected there is no way that emergency management want thousands of people moving through a disaster area to watch a ballgame, even assuming power and transportation are available there. Those are big ifs at the moment. At that time, his team isn’t going to be able to move to a neutral site, either, even if such a site can be arranged in such short order. That’s another big if.

In short, McLane’s avarice and MLBud’s condescending attitude may cause the postponement of 3 or all 4 games. They should have moved out of Houston for at least 2 games this weekend.

by Fraggin Judge on Sep 11, 2008 7:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

OK...if that's what they're whining about...have the cubs fly to Chicago and back to St. Louis

The best defense is a good offense

by kcjones on Sep 11, 2008 5:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

But that was the Home team

that didn’t have to fly. In this case, it would be the road team. The home team gets a lot of say in this, and the road team is not supposed to get an unfair advantage.

I’ve maintained all along that they would never permit the games to be played in St. Louis.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Sep 11, 2008 7:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

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

by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 11, 2008 3:35 PM CDT 0 recs

Blindingly Funkified

That’s what our campaign sign says to me, SWL. Brilliant.

"We are not equations with hats." -Dean Young

by Kegler on Sep 11, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

which one is Sue?

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Isn't she flying one of the planes,

defending our freedom and the like?

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Sep 11, 2008 3:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

does she fly like paper

get high like planes?

name that song

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Sep 11, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

One of the only tracks I can think of where the remix is better than the original.

by SuperContext on Sep 11, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

I just downloaded a remix of that song myself.

Big M.I.A. fan here.

by dat cubfan daver on Sep 11, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm just sayin.

two people in the poster. One is SWL, the other is Sue.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

that picture is from Woodstock

you can’t see all of the drunk people laying in the grass.

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 Sep 11, 2008 3:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

uh-oh

scandal strikes the SWL/Sue campaign!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 3:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

My vote is going for

Galvan316 and halfblindcubbiegirl

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

SORIANO WATCH: AVG: .291 27 HR 69 RBI

by Galvan316 on Sep 11, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

They are full of empty promises

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 11, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

i didn't know we were making that announcemnt official!

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

outed!

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, you lobbied to be on your own ticket

But were denied.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 11, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Which announcement is that again?

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

that badgers have a tendency to be nosy?

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hmmm....a bit touchy

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

lol

oh c’mon that was funny!

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah it was -- my attempt at a humorous reply failed

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

not your best effort.

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's been a long day....

Maybe during a game thread?

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

I dunno if I'll be in there much tonight

Ginger & I have agility class. :-)

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

There's a joke in there somewhere

But dammit, I’m not finding it

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

and just before everyone gets weird.

THIS is Ginger. :-)

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

well, I knew that...

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

i know you did

but i meant everyone else…

besides you’re already weird. :-)

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Surely you can't be serious

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

you should know by now

i’m usually NOT being serious.

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

No, no, no

The correct response is:

“I am serious. And, don’t call me Shirley.”

Sheesh. Young-uns.

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well when can you say?

Well, not for another 4 hours.
You can’t say for another 4 hours.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been . . . baseball. It rules over America like an army of steamrollers." Terrance Mann
Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Sep 11, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

I think she is

but who the heck is Shirley?

Join the BCB Flickr Group: http://flickr.com/groups/bleedcubbieblue

by tony412 on Sep 11, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

its official

i now have to run all responses past Tony… b/c he at least got it right.

Now, where'd I put that button....

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Sep 11, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

He was closer, yes.

Never saw “Airplane!”, I take it.

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Closer.

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

I was always a Mary Ann person myself

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been . . . baseball. It rules over America like an army of steamrollers." Terrance Mann
Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Sep 11, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Damn it. You found the joke.

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

by Shanghai Badger on Sep 11, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

because THAT

makes it not weird? :P

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Sep 11, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

God you make me laugh!!

by sue369 on Sep 11, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

TWSS

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Sep 11, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fail

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

by dtpollitt on Sep 11, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

OT

anyone know where to find a decent Cubs beach towel, I tried the Cubs.com site and they had one for an ridiculous amount of money that didn’t look very good

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Sep 11, 2008 3:35 PM CDT 0 recs