Making Up Is Easy To Do: Cubs vs. Braves Preview, Monday 6/22, 6:10 CT
by Al Yellon on Jun 22, 2009 4:00 PM CDT
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PrintIn recent years, the Cubs have not had many postponements on the road. The reason for this should be fairly easy to figure out: they play anywhere from 15-18 games a year in domed stadiums (Houston, Milwaukee, Arizona) and nine or ten more in California, where rainouts are rare. That's 24-28 games, about 1/3 of the road schedule, played in cities where they are almost guaranteed to play.
The last road postponements before the June 4 game in Atlanta that is being made up tonight -- and I use the plural for a good reason -- were September 3, 4 and 5, 2004, in Miami against the Marlins, due to Hurricane Frances. One of those games was played September 10 in Chicago as part of a doubleheader, and the other two were played as another doubleheader in Miami on September 20. (The Marlins then had two more games against the Expos in Miami postponed the following week because of another hurricane, Ivan, and since they were already in Chicago, played two games vs. the Expos at the Cell.)
While there is a 20% chance of thunderstorms in the Atlanta area tonight, that's not atypical for this time of year and they'll do their best to get the game in, although the Cubs have to fly out to Detroit right after it is over.
And that's when the Cubs begin their six-game interleague road swing. Here are Lou's lineup plans:His plan is to use Jake Fox and Micah Hoffpauir in the DH role or at first base or in the outfield if Milton Bradley or Derrek Lee takes the DH spot.
Piniella plans to rest Ryan Theriot and possibly Bradley and Alfonso Soriano against the Braves.
Bradley is most familiar with the DH role, having done it with the Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. Last season with the Rangers, Bradley was the DH in 106 of his 126 games.
Soriano has played in 63 of the Cubs' 66 games but continues to slump at the plate, going 5-for-35 (.143) on the homestand. He has been bothered almost all season by a sore left knee.
In fact, that's exactly what Lou has done tonight. Lineup via Twittermyer:
Theriot, ss; Fukudome, cf; Fox, lf; Lee, 1b; Hoffpauir, rf; Soto, c; Fontenot, 3b; Blanco, 2b; Dempster, p
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Derrek Lee is hot right now and so facing Javier Vazquez is excellent news. D-Lee pounds him -- 20-for-50 (.400) with seven doubles, three HR and 16 RBI. Other Cubs, not so much, except Alfonso Soriano has also homered off him. Career-wise, Vazquez has been hit pretty hard by Cubs teams -- 3-4 in 16 lifetime starts with a 5.17 ERA. He throws strikes -- is tied for the NL lead in K's with Tim Lincecum -- and doesn't walk people (only 18) so this game should, at least, move along.
Ryan Dempster had been pretty good about limiting his walks this year, until his last outing vs. the White Sox where he walked six. His career numbers vs. Atlanta are poor -- a 5.31 ERA in 25 appearances (14 starts). A lot of that was from his time in the NL East with the Marlins, when Atlanta hammered him several times. He does pretty well vs. current Braves; only Chipper Jones and Nate McLouth have homered off him. His last start vs. the Braves was an excellent one: a complete-game win on June 11, 2008, with no walks and 11 strikeouts.
Today is a cable-only event: SportSouth in the Atlanta area, CSN Chicago for us locals, and on Extra Innings. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SBN Braves site Talking Chop.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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GO CUBS GO!
Time for a 5th in a row.
"No enemy is more dangerous, than the enemy that has nothing to lose." Mark Grace
by GateCity, VA Cubs Fan on Jun 22, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions
Yea, not looking good....
at least to start on time. A storm is coming through right now and and will most likely delay the start to this game. Fortunately, nothing showing up after this storm.
From Wittenmyer's Twitter:
cst_cubs Tarp just rolled out on field. So much for no rain.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Looks like the radars have cleared up, at least for now.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I looked at the forecast early this morning, and got quite a chuckle
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
The last road postponements before the June 4 game in Atlanta
Er? Wasn’t the Houston series played in Milwaukee a road game postponement? I seem to recall some kind of big deal about those games…
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
Was that really a postponed series though?
Or just a rescheduled one?
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
what's the difference?
other than it was rescheduled for the next few days?
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 22, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
I seem to remember a certain pitcher throwing a pretty good game too.
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
Sheesh.
I completely spaced on the Houston series from last year, maybe because the circumstances were so unusual.
But yes, those were the last road postponements. The 2004 Marlins series was the last one before that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Hey all...
… back from a long weekend of camping and concerts, but luckily didn’t have to miss much thanks to the wonder that is the iPhone MLB At Bat app and a set of speakers.
Really incredible to watch hundreds of people in a field in the middle of nowhere cheer as great things happened on WGN radio, or run up to give you a five when they see your Cubs shirt from 20 yards away.
Lee is on fire, the pitching is as solid as it has been all season, and it seems like Soto, Bradley, and even Fuk are starting to trend back up.
Have a good afternoon everyone!
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
You're right about Bradley and Soto
Bradley – last 7 days – .400/.478/.500/.978, even in his last 28 days he has posted an .854 OPS.
Soto – last 7 days – .250/.471/.833/1.304 (he is 3 for 12 with a double and 2 home runs, 5 walks).
last 14 days – .313/.421/.688/1.109
p.s. – I love baseball-reference.com
"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg
+ million on the love for baseball-reference.com
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
One thing I can't quite understand
is that why Lou tends to rests all the regulars on the same day. Versus spacing it out during a 2 week period. Wouldn’t be better to just have one regular off every couple of days versus emptying out the bench for the same game.
Knowledgeable baseball fans…enlighten me.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
well, he's just benching
Soriano and Bradley. Not exactly ALL of the regulars.
But your question is a good one. Also, I’m a little shocked that J Fox is hitting third.
Yeah I exaggerated a little on this game,
but I remember the Lincecum game when he did empty the bench for one game.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
Sadly, I paid my own money to go
to that game. I left for the park thinking I was lucky to see wee little Timmy. When the lineup was announced, I was a little peeved as the chances for a win were diminished even more.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
IIRC, it was surpisingly close.
I think we only lost 3-2.
But I’m still curious as to that reasoning, sometimes I wish I was a sports reporter.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
It was close and we left the park playing the what if game.
What if Bradley had two more at bats, what if…
Was cool seeing Bobby Scales get his first hit.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
I like it...
…he is having the hot hitting Lee behind him to give him protection. Always best to give the less proven guy (who can hit when he gets his pitch) the highest level of protection.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I don't know.
Maybe he’d planned on resting Bradley all along, since today was supposed to be an off day, and Sori just so obviously needs it… He’s NOT resting Riot, note….
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 22, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I love Lou
but he does a lot of things that don’t make sense to me.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
I loved him the last couple of years...
this year are I am starting to reconsider.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
When players perform...
…the manager looks like a genius. When the don’t, he looks like he has no clue.
For the most part, fans give managers too much credit and far too much blame for the team’s performance.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
For the most part you are right
but one of the things that has bugged me was the last couple of years Lou had put the hot hand in the lineup. Of course not replacing the superstars, but the role players that were hot would find their way into the lineup.
While this year, he has seemed to stick with some guys just waiting for them to come out of it. Specifically thinking about when Hill was hot early and Soto wasn’t, why Lou keep him on the pine for like 22 days was just a really bad decision IMHO.
So the manger does control who plays, how often they rest, the lineup, double switches, how often a bench guy plays…so he does control something over a hitters performance.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
Every year...
…tends to be unique and stands on it’s own merits. For that reason, you can’t always compare years on a “side by side” basis and wonder why this or why that. Piniella doesn’t need me to defend him, but I do tend to have a high degree of confidence in his ability to make lineup judgement calls, and happen to think that is one of his strengths as a manager. In regards to Soto, Piniella knows he is going to need him to win the division (as he knows he needs Soriano) and is probably willing to let them play out of their funks to regain their strokes. With another year and another player, he may act differently, but he has always had a good perspective on his players abilities.
Lou’s not perfect, and sometimes he makes the wrong call (as do all managers), but for folks to all of a sudden say “he doesn’t know what he’s doing”, sort of flies in the face of logic. He may not get tossed out of games as often, but he is basically the same guy he has been for the last 20 years or so he has managed.
As always (at least 90% of the time), Piniella is not going to win or lose this division by himself, that will be mostly determined by how the players on the roster perform.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Straw man..."he doesn’t know what he’s doing"... I didn't say that.
I am disagreeing with the moves he has made this year as opposed to how he has managed the last couple of years. I was not advocating putting Soto on the bench for any period of time, just give Koyie an occasional day in there when he was hot.
I don’t know if it is worth it to put the same guys out there day after day waiting for the stroke to come back and put yourself in difficult positions to win games. Sure we need both Soto and Sori to produce over the course of the year, but sometimes having them watch a game or two will give them the rest/motivation to get out of their slumps.
I am not sure about your percentage either, but I wouldn’t blame him for all our failures also.(on that we agree) But if Sori doesn’t have another multiple hit again this year, would you blame Sori? Or Lou for keeping him at leadoff? Extreme example, but the manger has to do things to win games too.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
I didn't mean...
…it was you who said Lou doesn’t know what he is doing, it was a general statement from what I have read on this board.
I don’t completely disagree with what you said, but will say that I do think Lou has a good read on how to handle hitters and their slumps. Could it have helped to sit Sori or Soto? Sure, that is very possible, but we will never know.
One thing I have made very clear, is my dislike for Soriano in the leadoff spot. This goes back two years and I just got tired of talking about it. I disagree with Piniella on this one and always will. One thing to consider though, the club has had a tendancy to hit better as a team when Soriano is contributing, and no matter where he hits, they need him to score the way they are capable.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Prob overreacted a bit on the straw man. Apologies.
We are on the same page with Sori at leadoff, I hope I am wrong when I say this, I don’t believe we can go farther into the playoffs with him at leadoff. (And before I get flamed, I would rather be wrong with the Cubs winning it all than right on that topic) But you and me are outnumbered on this one.
The one thing we do know is that we have struggled for far too long as a team that wasn’t supposed to struggle this much. Players vs manager, interesting debate to how much blame goes to manager or player.
I do think there is a difference between Lou of last 2 years and Lou this year, just my perception.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
Agree...
…Soriano is the type of streaky hitter that often gets completely shut down in the playoffs (good pitching, high end scouting reports). For this reason, it is even more crucial to not have someone with his tendancies to hit leadoff during the playoffs.
If you watched the Phils last year, their top two guys in the order caused havoc on the base paths and broke the opposing ptichers concentration quite often. They made the other hitters better, by allowing them to hit more mistakes.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
OK...I can't help but laugh at Vazquez's photo.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jun 22, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions
It's like he's telling you
“So dips**t, what’re you gonna do about it?!?”
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
all these artistic pitcher photos
very odd.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 22, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
He could also be saying
“You can’t tell, but I’m not wearing pants.”
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
waves hand in front of... face
you can’t see me.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 22, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions
You know when your dog poops on the carpet...
…and you yell at him 3 hours later when you get home and he has NO CLUE why you’re yelling, so he just tilts his head and wags his tail? I bet Vazquez is wagging his tail in that picture…
That's why you drag his butt over to the poop, and rub his nose in it...
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 22, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Which is completely ineffective
The only way to correct behavior like that is to do it at the time.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
I defer to your expertise...
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 22, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Are you suggesting to poop on the carpet to train the dog?
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
No
I’m saying doing something later doesn’t help your dog at all.
And rubbing their noses in it doesn’t work either. All that does is scare and confuse them… which is about the last thing you’d ever want to do while teaching them.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
It works with cats, I can tell ya that...
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 22, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I figured
but I’ve been working for years to get people to NOT do those things.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
That's why I defer to your expertise...
You gonna watch or listen to the game tonight?
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 22, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
For a bit
But I have to help a friend out with her doggy obedience class tonight, so I’ll miss a couple hours of it.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
don't forget to rub teh dog's nose in the poop
I hear that works really well.
:P
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 22, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
That ignores the fact that, in general, dogs LIKE poop.
Unfortunately, as much as i love the animals, they just aren’t smart enough to feel guilty for something if they aren’t caught in the act. The connection cannot be made.
Also, pointing. They don’t get that either.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on Jun 22, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Middle of the lineup looking strong...
…haven’t been able to say that for a while
Vasquez...
…has a 6/1 strikeout to walk ratio, and that is stellar to say the least. He must have made some adjustments since coming over from the Sox.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Fukudome will be covering a lot of ground tonight
Let’s hope that the Cubs don’t have to worry too much about defense in a blowout win :-)
And Vasquez’ WHIP…1.01. Wow.
yeah ...
reminds me of the power-pack outfields of the late-90s — G. Hill, Sosa and H-Rod.
Good thing there was usually a skinny and fast dude to run
things down in CF.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
Willie Wilson?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jun 22, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Dempster, I believe
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
Javier Vazquez photo caption
What you say about my momma?
Join the BCB Flickr Group: http://flickr.com/groups/bleedcubbieblue
Fox and Hoff in
the outfield together? Yikes…hope Dome has his running shoes on tonight. Let’s keep this winning streak going guys!!!!
Hey Jessica, I see Sam Fuld got married at St. Ambrose Church in Des Moines today. Both of their families were there for the wedding.
St. Ambrose is amazing... the second coolest church in Des Moines, IMHO. Awesome stained glass.
Congrats to Fuld. Hopefully he can put together a few good months, stop crashing in to everything and breaking himself, and we’ll see him later this season.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on Jun 22, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm an architecture nerd.
Westminster Presbyterian in Beaverdale is amazing too, and has some of the coolest stained glass I’ve seen outside of Europe.
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"
by AndrewJStone on Jun 22, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
predictions:
7-5 men in blue…
demp- 6 inn. 3 r 7 h 4 b 3 k
lee- 2-5
fox 1-5 hr.
fontenot-3-4 hr.
Interesting.
I hope Demp does a little better than that, though. Vazquez may be dealing.
"I'll never forget how I felt last October." ~Kosuke Fukudome
Ok Ill predict...
4-1 Cubs win
Dempster goes 7.1 innings, let up 1 HR
Fox 2 run HR
Fukudome an RBI
Theriot 3 hits with a RBI
Don't assault me and I won't assault you, because you don't know what I will, or won't, do. I'm going to end it with that. - Milton Bradley 2003 to Paul Lo Duca
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jun 22, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Gonna make a shameless call:
1st Major-League HR for Fox tonight.
Cubs2410 gets an amen.
"Bite my shiny metal ass!" -- Bender Bending Rodriguez
"Life is just one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead."
by The Jade Scorpion on Jun 22, 2009 5:25 PM CDT reply actions
Where is BLou to tell us if they'll play the game or not?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jun 22, 2009 5:27 PM CDT reply actions
Still in Fargo for tonight's game
My club level ticket languishes on my coffee table. Oh, well
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Gave Ticket Away
I bought a ticket for the June 4 Atlanta game. I’m not going back to Atlanta this year, so I gave it to someone who will be there in August to see the Braves play.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
What are the chances we start this game on time?
Dont have CSN, and about to take a bus to the bar to watch the game.
Don't assault me and I won't assault you, because you don't know what I will, or won't, do. I'm going to end it with that. - Milton Bradley 2003 to Paul Lo Duca
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jun 22, 2009 5:46 PM CDT reply actions
Looks better
on the radar. Hopefully on time/near on time start.
There is no infinity button for failing in sports. At some point, things turn. They always do. - Bill Simmons
nice
Thank you.
Don't assault me and I won't assault you, because you don't know what I will, or won't, do. I'm going to end it with that. - Milton Bradley 2003 to Paul Lo Duca
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jun 22, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions
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