More On Forty Years Ago Today: Cubs vs. Padres Preview, Thursday 8/19, 9:05 CT

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 7:00 PM CDT in Game Threads Comment 77 comments

Ron Santo hugs Kenny Holtzman after his no-hitter on August 19, 1969. photo via www.nwherald.com

If you have not already read it, I commend you to BatCubFan's excellent post about Kenny Holtzman's first no-hitter, thrown 40 years ago today on August 19, 1969. While I wasn't at the game like BatCubFan was, I remember it well and what I remember most was the atmosphere among Cub fans -- both my age (12) and older -- after that game. As BatCubFan wrote, we were "on top of the world". It seemed as if the no-hitter was just another peak in what was going to be "our year".

Obviously, that "year" never happened, and in fact, the Cubs went 15-35 after that game till the end of the season -- something you never, ever in your worst nightmares would have guessed was going to happen on August 19, 1969. The Cubs were eight games ahead of the Mets, had just finished a stretch where they had gone 24-12 (including the 8/19 game), and the Mets were at best treading water; over the same stretch they were 20-17.

Sound familiar? Sound like 2009? OK, not exactly, but right now you have a hot Cardinals team that is 17-7 over its last 24 games and a Cubs team just barely keeping afloat -- 12-12 over the same 24-game stretch.

Each year is different and the comparison to 1969 is only superficial; the Mets started winning because their starting pitching simply would not lose and they had miracle games (example: on September 15, Steve Carlton struck out 19 Mets, then the major league record, but the Mets won because Ron Swoboda hit a pair of two-run homers in the at-bats when he wasn't striking out), and the Cubs simply stopped hitting, overtired because Leo Durocher had no bench to give them any rest. This year's Cardinals team is a more-than-solid team and the 2009 Cubs don't quite have the starting pitching that those Mets did.

And yet. The 1969 NL East race is only one example littered over the four decades since when a team came out of nowhere to make the postseason. And many of those teams -- 1978 Yankees, 1980 Phillies, and yes, even last year's Phillies, who were 3.5 games out with only 16 games remaining, won the World Series?

Is it likely for the 2009 Cubs to do that? No, of course it isn't. I see the numbers and I see who's on this team and if they keep playing like they have the last 10 days, they won't.

And yet. We know this team has talent; we have seen it shine through at times all year. All they need to do is to play the way they are capable for the next seven weeks. Starting tonight. Go Cubs.

Today's Starting Pitchers


Rich Harden Cubs	vs.	Mat Latos Padres

7-7	W-L	4-2
4.30	ERA	4.01
130	SO	24
47	BB	12
21	HR	7
vs. SD	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Rich Harden	7-7	21	20	0	0	0	0	111.0	97	59	53	21	47	130	4.30	1.30

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Mat Latos	4-2	6	6	0	0	0	0	33.2	27	15	15	7	12	24	4.01	1.16

Mat Latos is one of the new breed of Padres. He is 21 years old, making his seventh major league start, and his first facing the Cubs.

Rich Harden has been outstanding since the All-Star break: 2-1, 1.95 in six starts. He got rained out of his outing on Sunday and got pushed back to tonight. He has one lifetime start vs. the Padres, May 12 at Wrigley Field, a 6-2 Cubs win. He did give up a HR to Adrian Gonzalez that day, but then again, a lot of good pitchers have given up homers to Gonzalez this year.

Today's game is back on cable only, CSN Chicago and TV4 San Diego. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball.

Overflow comment threads will post today at 10 pm, 11 pm and 11:45 pm CDT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 77 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Can Lou please start Fuld instead of Soriano tonight ?

At least then I have a reason to watch the game.

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

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2009 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry Doggie...

Riot, Bradley, Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome, Soriano, Baker, Hill Harden

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Aug 19, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

SD's lineup

Cabrera, Eckstein, Gonzalez, Headley, Kouzmanoff, Venable, BBR, Blanco, Latos

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Aug 19, 2009 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh....you would think that Lou might

….try Fukudome at leadoff to try and get them back on track. They were winning games when he was leading off…mix it up!

by JB 23 on Aug 19, 2009 7:12 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this.

I just don’t understand screwing with something once it was working.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It would make too much sense to stick with something that's working - DUH!

Let’s go Cubs – at least make the last 6 weeks of the season interesting. Go win 9 of 11 or something. We know you can do it. It starts tonight, baby…

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

by DKT on Aug 19, 2009 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about they win

11/11

the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY

by jesus christos on Aug 19, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't want to be TOO greedy.

I’m guessing they won’t sweep the Dodgers, but stranger things have happened…

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

by DKT on Aug 19, 2009 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again with the flippity-flop

Why. The. Crap. Is. Theriot. Batting. Lead-off. ?

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well at least no Miles

I wish Dome would lead off though. What part of Dome ( or Fuld) at leadoff does he not like ? Does Sori’s ERA have to drop below the Mendoza line to get him on the bench for some games ?

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

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A lineup with 9 Aaron Miles'

average pitching and defense. Would win 17 games.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/milesaa01-bat.shtml#batting_advanced

It's shocking what you can miss sometimes. The amazing color changing card trick.

by shake n bake on Aug 19, 2009 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That many?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sori's ERA?

is he the new closer? :P

Dome’s not at leadoff because Lou doesn’t want two lefties in the 1,2 spots.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OOPS BA on Sori

ÅND SCREW THE LEFTY/RIGHTY thing. It has been SO successful so far.

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

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2009 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't necessarily

disagree with you. But I expect this is Lou’s reasoning.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, those darn 1964 Cardinals

who came out of nowhere to erase the Phillies’ 7 and a half game lead to take the NL Pennant. (I hope the year and games gained are correct, no time at work to look up)

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 19, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

6.5 game lead with 12 games left.

The Phillies lost 10 in a row.

I would have included the 1987 Tigers, who erased a 3.5 game lead with 7 to go (and were one out away from being 4.5 games down with 6 left, but won) — but they lost the ALCS.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maaaaaaaan

crazy nasty storms in the area…They may prevent/spare me from seeing the game tonight.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nah

It’ll blow over before 9 for sure.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not unless my power is knocked out

I don’t want to jinx myself or anything though, but when I lived closer to the ND campus and downtown, my power would go out all the time. I bought a home about 15 minutes away from downtown, not far enough to be considered country, but we’re not considered in the city, and our power doesn’t go out much.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had to visit your lovely state today

Why is it permanently under construction? In the 12 years I’ve transited through I-80/94/90/65, there has been massive construction.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good question

80/90 around here is never really that bad, except for when you get in the Gary/Hammond area to the Skyway.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Today I went to Goshen, and it’s just never-ending. However, today’s bad traffic was because of construction within Chicago proper. The Bishop Ford is a mess.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Goshen, you say? I work in Elkhart/Goshen

hope you were treated well by us locals.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Aug 19, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course!

Every time I’m there I’m treated right. I deal with the very nice folks at Goshen College.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I go to Indiana and 65 has been under construction now for three years. I would believe it if you told me it’s been going on for more prior. I’ve never seen anyone out there working on it.

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Aug 19, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's the thing

I seldom see actual construction going on.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, the weird thing is, the state has a butt load of money because of the toll road

Ever since it was leased out, we’ve pulled in a lot of money, and have been able to keep people doing road work employed. I just kind of see it as a neverending full time job for those guys.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have you ever driven south/east/west of Indy?

The roads are not in tip-top shape but there’s never construction. It must be that congressional district that gets the earmark.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More than a few times a year

And yeah, those roads are crap.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I-88 has been under construction since I moved here

over a decade ago.
I don’t know anything about how road construction is planned, but the whole “let’s rip up 50 miles of road at a time” thing seems to be extremely poorly thought out. There has to be a way to essentially have several teams of people, tearing up, surveying, prepping and rebuilding to minimize the amount of road that is being worked on at a time.
Maybe it just feels like it, but it seems like at any given time half a dozen major roads are torn up, but only 1 or 2 being fixed at a time

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Aug 19, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And wow, funnel cloud near downtown...

Moving northeast towards my area, definitely so if it strays more east than north.

Tornado warning in/near Chesterton too. Hope a couple BCBers on here that live there are ok.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chesterton looking scary right now

I hope everyone is ok. Michigan City is under the gun next. South Bend/Granger is clear. Things appear to be clear after this. Hope everyone else in Illinois or Indiana got through the storms damage free.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quote from our weatherman:

“The northside of Portage, IN was clobbered by a tornado.”

Take care readers if there are any there.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

There was a tornado that touched down multiple times in Chesterton and the northside of there is a mess. There’s a couple people that participate on here that live there, so please keep them in your thoughts.

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is one of

them Alli?

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I talked with her today

via email, but not since about 2:20 pm. I’ve dropped her another email.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe so

and I thought there was someone else too, can’t remember who though

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah man I hope

she is okay.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah thats us

Missed us completely. Our sirens didn’t even go off.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone! :-)

by Allie on Aug 19, 2009 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad you are okay.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for checking on me.

:-)

by Allie on Aug 19, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

baker goes deep tonight cause

he’s been reading the deromantics comments about his lack of power compared to thier deity and he’s out to prove them wrong!

by doofus cubs guy on Aug 19, 2009 7:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Works for me.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lou has done a 2/10 job this year. I think he has cost the cubs a lot of wins.

COOL BEANS!

by lexmarklover on Aug 19, 2009 7:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stupid storms.

Go Cubs!!!!

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 7:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We have storms here in Nashville tonight too

the weather Gods must be Cub fans…. They are unhappy

by LT on Aug 19, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ack, they must be

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How Do you win the world series??

Get a good team hot at the right time….Lets start it tonight…Go Cubs

"God watches over drunks and third baseman."- Leo Durocher

by BelieveinBlue2314 on Aug 19, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+ I wish you win

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Aug 19, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The End is near.........

At what point do we become “sellers”………. and what do we have to sell….? I know a few we can’t give away……!!!!

by James031 on Aug 19, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

we don't.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sellers?

..wont happen ….. sigh

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Aug 19, 2009 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A question about switch hitters - specifically Milton Bradley

If Bradley’s average and power numbers are so much higher as a righty, I wonder why he wouldn’t try batting right-handed against a RHP for a game or two. Just to see what would happen. What does everything have to be by the damn book??

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

by DKT on Aug 19, 2009 7:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What does everything have to be by the damn book??

to lou, yes

the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY

by jesus christos on Aug 19, 2009 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you do something that big, offseason would be the place.

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Aug 19, 2009 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smoltz a Cardinal....

by JB 23 on Aug 19, 2009 8:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

How do you smoltz a cardinal?

www.facebook.com/craighudak

by Craig in South Bend on Aug 19, 2009 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that's a question you really want answered.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol!

by JB 23 on Aug 19, 2009 8:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

good

hopefully, we’ll face him.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And hopefully, he'll suck as bad for them as he did for the Red Sox.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 19, 2009 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he'll probably channel

Ty Cobb, but sure, what the hell… :D

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2009 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could Lou stick

up for MB any more than he just did on the pregame?

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

whatd he say

the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY

by jesus christos on Aug 19, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He defended MB

not backing up Dome on the in the park homerun.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what would you have him do?

by galloway0023 on Aug 19, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stop making excuses

for this team.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Aug 19, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um

Que horror! The manager stuck up for a player? Shocking.

by galloway0023 on Aug 19, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LATOS

LIGHT EM UP

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Aug 19, 2009 8:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

too bad we arent at Wrigley

because this is my best year I am 10-0

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Aug 19, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey bud

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Aug 19, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly 40 years ago today

I turned nine.

It was August 19, 1969, one of those sweltering dog days filled with screaming cicadas and an endless starchy yellow sky, in which my life forever changed. My DNA code wonderfully shifted – my weltanschauung became a cosmic consciousness that transcended space and time.

It was on my 9th birthday, when Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter and a brand new Ferguson Jenkins mitt initiated me into the Cubs Nation for good. My parents sat transfixed before the shipping crate sized old color TV set at the house. I cradled that mitt on the floor by the TV. It smelt fresh and clean and was the color of Cracker Jack the way they made it at Sears and had Jenkins’ potent, boldly defined signature embossed black and stark in it’s palm.

It’s now old and cracked and covered in autographs, and it is the living connection to those first days of admiration, which, after a lifetime of citizenship in the Cub Nation I have never regretted. The suspense was there and Ken did his thing. And my father made sure I understood that the man who signed it was part of a baseball team we were watching that very day doing battle at a place called Wrigley Field.

I haven’t looked back yet. I may regret painfully what goes on at that old baseball cathedral all too often, and scream loudly and joyfully when other things happen ..
but I am a Cubs fan and Mr. Holtzman, thanks for the great memories.

Go Cubs.

Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..

coda

ELO, 1975

by cubnational on Aug 19, 2009 8:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs