Series Wins Are Always Good: Cubs vs. Nationals Preview, Thursday 8/27, 1:20 CT
by Al Yellon on Aug 27, 2009 11:30 AM CDT
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PrintYou'll hear nothing from me this morning about the current chances for the Cubs to overcome huge deficits. Instead, let's hear from Lou Piniella:
"I don't think anybody's packing it in. I don't see that," said Piniella, whose team is further out of first place than it has been since he took over before the 2007 season. "Remember, these teams are getting paid to play, too. We're not playing a beer-league team from across town. We're playing a professional team that's got professional players, and they're getting paid to play and beat you, too."
And from Alfonso Soriano, who returned to the lineup last night and went 1-for-4:
"It bothers me a lot," slumping left fielder Alfonso Soriano said of the slide and the booing and criticism that have come with it, "because we're not supposed to do what we're doing. We're supposed to be a better team than we are right now. We need to keep fighting."
"I think everybody in the clubhouse, we still believe we're in it," Harden said. "Nobody's down. We don't believe we're out of it. You've got to go with that mindset. We've got to win some games. You can't get too ahead of yourself and start thinking we've got to win however many in a row.
"Just plan on winning every series, I think we'd be in pretty good position at the end of the season."
From the same Bruce Miles article, Koyie Hill:
"It always feels good to contribute; it feels even better to win," Hill said. "With that being the pressing issue around here, I think it always is, but it's nice to get back on the right track."
Today's weather forecast is not encouraging for baseball:
Today: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
They will, as they did last night, hope they get a break of 3-4 hours this afternoon to play. There are no more makeup dates available, so if this game gets rained out, it would be held till the end of the season and only played if necessary.
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Randy Wells faced the Nats in Washington on July 18, had a rough time in the first two innings, then settled down. That night, the Cubs bullpen did an outstanding job. Randy has been consistent through all his 19 starts, having only a couple of bad ones and going at least five innings in all of them.
The Cubs used to have a catcher named J.C. Martin. One letter in the alphabet further, we have J.D. Martin pitching for the Nats. He has made seven major league starts; three of them were good, two mediocre, and two bad. He doesn't strike out many -- 13 in 34 innings -- but does allow a fair number of home runs (seven of them so far). This will be his first start against the Cubs.
The Cubs are on WGN for national distribution today. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Nationals site Federal Baseball.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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And I'm stuck at the office on a day I wanted to work from home
Bummer
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Im home and million things on the to do list this afternoon
So hopefully fun game to listen to while I get stuff done.
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 27, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
For some reason,
I’m optimistic about the weather this afternoon.
It defies logic, but I have a feeling they’ll get this game in.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Aug 27, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I hope you're right!
We need a W today… actually we need a whole bunch of them. But starting that streak today would be ideal.
Games are cool - 1 PM in Chicago is 8 PM here...
You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat. - Albert Einstein
Reed Johnson had some great comments on his blog today:
The thing about Chicago is it’s a really fair town. If you play hard and play the game the right way and you come up short, obviously, there will be disappointment but people will respect you for playing hard. The way we’ve played lately, I can understand why people are upset and have started to boo.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Aug 27, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions
You should post that as a fan shot
I was going to last night and totally forgot.
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 27, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
except if your Milton
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
or Jacque Jones or LaTroy Hawkins
No one questioned the effort of either guy — it was more an issue of attitude, mental mistakes and lack of performance (to varying degrees). It bothers me that the two most booed players pre-Milton are black — though remembering Todd Hundley and Kent Mercker makes me feel a little better. And remembering Juan Pierre makes me realize that not all black players who struggle become booing targets.
I think Cubs fans have a tendency to pick one guy each year who gets the lion’s share of the boos. Usually, it’s a high-profile, big-money player.
I think it’s worth noting, though, that Soriano has the right attitude when it comes to booing. Tune it out.
I am a big Bradley supporter
but I don’t think the fans that are hating him are racially motivated. I think they prejudged him based on his baggage and will not give him a break even though he’s doing well.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
It's possible
I was a big advocate of signing Bradley, and I still hold out hope that things will calm down and he’ll be a contributor for the next couple years.
But the guy NEEDS to stop talking. This is not a black/white thing, but his jawing with the media is right out of LaTroy’s playbook. It’s worth noting that Jones rarely said anything controversial, and other black players of previous years — Cliff Floyd, Daryle Ward — didn’t get boos.
I put no stock in any damn thing Hawkins says
Nothing was ever his fault. The man had the biggest victim complex I’ve ever seen.
White, black, Latino, Asian, Martian, Olympian, Hogwartsian, whatever, when you are the type of person to make up T-shirts that says, “Bud Screwed our Season” then you are not a winner.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Hawkins and Bradley are very different
(I know you didn’t mention Bradley but I thought I’d interject that here).
1. Bradley blamed umps, but then backed off.
2. Bradley didn’t blame his lac of production on it, he was just complaining that he perceived it was happening.
3. No matter what Hawkins did or said he didn’t deserve the treatment he got (booing after a big blow up is fine, but the constant stream of abuse was unwarranted and completely unnecessary, the fact that it continues whenever he comes in town is pathetic)
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Aug 27, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I seem to remember Jeremy Bernitz got booed a lot when he came over...just sayin'...
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
Maybe I don't remember
but it wasn’t this bad for him. He doesn’t have to deal with any of the crap that these guys have to deal with. The media loved his “Fundamentals” and “solid awareness in the outfield” and “great arm”. Generally, Bradley has all of those things, this year not so much though (and yes Burnitz was always a good RFer and was in chicago so whatever, but Bradley is a good RFer as well.)
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Aug 27, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Brenly says it best
Just concentrate on winning today.
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
He's not the best analyst in baseball for nothing, folks!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
More
“And for the Indians, no runs on…one hit. We only got one goddamned hit?”
“You can’t say goddamned on the air!”
“Doesn’t matter, nobody’s listening anyway.”
"You know, you should be a lot more careful crossing the street like that, otherwise you could die - if that bothers you."
He's not terrible
but, I would like if Bradley would take professional responsibility to criticize Theriot as often as he does Bradley, but whatever
Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...
by Buzz on the Moon on Aug 27, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions
No line ups yet
but maybe thats not a bad thing.
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 27, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions
Theriot, Bradley, Lee, ARAM, Dome, Sori, Fontenot, Hill
is the lineup. Sigh. Mike Freaking Fontenot.
Koyie Hill = Cubs win
Done deal sealed
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
at least he's going with the hot hand at catcher
Despite the fact that he rarely does that at any of the other positions
yeah, it's pretty clear
They lost with Soto behind the plate on tuesday, and won yesterday
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
That's just Lou being Lou.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
I can live with this lineup
Baker is showing signs of the glass slipper falling off.
I REALLY hope Soto finds his way back to being the #5 hitter again next year. I want next year’s lineup to look like this:
Dome, Bradley, Lee, Aramis, Soto, Soriano, Theriot, 2B
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Lou won't do that.
gotta split up the lefties. Unless our 2b is a mashing lefty, Dome will be left in the 5spot.
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Sigh... you're right, I know you're right
He’s never going to leave her.
Actually, I’m fairly sure Soriano starts the season at leadoff again next year. If it’s really the knee, then OK, whatever, let’s give it a shot.
Man, I’m such a battered spouse.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
really, you think he'll be back at leadoff?
huh.
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
you think so?
Recent sucktitude aside, didn’t Sori settle in at the #6 spot and do relatively well for awhile there?
I’d love to see Dome, MB as the 1-2 punch next year, but agree on the perceived need to break up the righties by putting Dome in the 5 spot. If that happens, I think Riot would be Plan B at leadoff, unless Hendry gets a bona fide leadoff guy in the offseason.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I think the knee injury will be blamed
and he will successfully lobby to get back to the leadoff spot.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Nah
I think the Cubs leave Sori at 6, trade MB, and get a lead-off type CF.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
who?
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Crawford would be nice
But he will cost an arm and a leg, and only has 1 year left till FA. I think he’s kind of overrated too, though he’s still pretty good
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
It'll probably have to be by trade
because you’re really stretching them defensively to put Damon or Winn in CF at this point in their careers.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
Damon in CF?
gag me
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
Wow
I just looked at Damon’s UZR this year and it’s below average in LF.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
His Arm makes Juan Pierre + Jacque Jones look like Roberto Clemente
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
Willie Mays
"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
He IS a proven ML hitter
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
Probably pretty cheap, too
"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
dead cheap.
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Getting at least one hit in 9 of his last 10 games
including a homerun doesn’t seem like the Glass slipper falling off to me. Compared to Fontenot who has 3 hits in his last 10, and I’ll continue to wonder why the Hell Lou thinks Fontenot is anything but a bat off the bench.
Guess
Sori’s knee doesn’t need surgery after all.
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
He didn't end up getting the MRI for some reason
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
This is pretty foolish on Soriano’s part. The Cubs aren’t playing for anything at this point, he should just get surgery
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
huh.
I don’t understand. Why can’t he get the MRI before a game, play anyway, and look at the results after. It’s not like they’ll give him surgery if they’re making a real run at things, and we should know that by the end of next week.
"I’m not going to allow Al Yellon to flush this thing down the crapper without a fight." (BLOU)
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Aug 27, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Or, you know, on the off-day on Monday.
This injury is the second-worst kind (after a career-ender), since it’s barely not enough to prevent him from playing
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
I do not blame Soriano for wanting to play
In fact, I admire him.
But Hendry and Pinella should be stepping in here. I think we have learned that 80 percent of Soriano is not enough.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
you gotta take them one day at a time and good lord willing things will work out //cliche'd
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
we just watched that movie
I hadn’t seen in a few years. With a season like it has been, it was a good reminder of why I love baseball so much.
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 27, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd love to see Lou and Alan perform the Lollygag scene...
though it might have been more useful a month ago.
HOLY CRAP WE ARE NINE GAMES BACK??
Jesus.
Anyway, will Randy qualify for ERA stats today? This will be our 125th game, and Randy has 120.1 IP. So with a game of at least 5 IP he would qualify, no?? According to this he would fall in the 6-8th range in the NL for ERA leaders. w00t!
Dan
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Don't worry.
It’s only 7.5 in the wild card.
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 Bill Potter on Aug 27, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
IIRC,
he was qualified after his last start, but the games have surpassed his innings again. He’s really close, so let’s hope for a good long outing from him today!
Go Cubs!!!!
no rain no rain no rain no rain no rain no rain no rain no rain no rain…
You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat. - Albert Einstein
Anyone near or in Wrigleyville
With current forecast?
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 27, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I am not anywhere near there (I wish I was)
But the weather does not look too bad right now, CubWorld.com
and I like watching the puddles gather rain..
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
by BleedsbluinMI on Aug 27, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
well that's better than...
♫ “…getting caught in the rain.” ♫
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I have half a brain
Probably no more, though, now that that song is stuck in my head. Thanks, ballhawk!
"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
Someone should put a Cubs logo on her gonfalon
"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
Yea for WGN
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
I needed this post today...
Like you, I’ve been very disappointed in this team, but it’s good to know the Cubs have a good perspective about things.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Yay for Brett Jackson!!!
Looks like the Cubs actually made a good draft pick this year.
240 PA’s this season:
.325/.425/.488
7hr/13sb
Linky
He’s like the California version of Fukudome!
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
I like that he's taking some walks, unlike Vitters this year.
Is he still striking out a ton?
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
29k's this season...31bb's
12.0% k rate
12.9% bb rate
Very acceptable ratios…
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Nice!
I remember his K rate being the big question mark with him coming in
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
I hope he turns out to be a nice replacement for Fukudome...
June of 2012 maybe?
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Caption
Eight ball, corner pocket.
If you think that’s lame…
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
For some reason, all I see is
“In a VAN down by the RIVER!”
I blame ballhawk.
"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
Is this game going to start on time?
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett
No tarp on the field from what I can see on TV
"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
I recant
This girl doing the SSB is one of the “draw-it-out” types.
"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
She sounds good though
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
BB on MB
“Never been considered a big-time power-hitter.”
"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
You know you wanna
"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
Hoppy Hoppy
Jumpy Jump
You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat. - Albert Einstein
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