Heading Home: Cubs vs. Pirates Preview, Tuesday 9/29, 7:05 CT
by Al on Sep 29, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
in Game Threads
88 comments
Dempster has a hard time accepting that he didn't pitch better when things were most upside-down.
"Sometimes just not knowing how to handle it all," he said. "Just life in general. I had a 3-year-old that's running around doing his thing and you're trying to give attention to him but at the same time, that's your daughter lying there with the tubes in and out of her and surgeries and all kinds of stuff.
"I wish I could have handled things a little bit better, especially when I came to the field, and tried to separate those two. At times it was a little bit tough."
As recently as a few starts ago, Dempster's most recent rough start coincided with another hospital procedure for Riley.
"He's human," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "And he handled it better than most people. But that doesn't mean it didn't have an effect. It did. Clearly."
I'm glad the Cubs signed Dempster to a four-year deal. He's exactly the kind of guy you need in your clubhouse -- and I'm sure that now that his family situation has stabilized, he'll be back stronger than ever in 2010.
Bruce Miles writes today about Jake Fox and what he's going to do this offseason to help himself improve. And Bruce notes that Jake (given name "Jacob") shares a name with a Hall of Famer:
Fox shares the same first and last name of White Sox Hall of Famer Jacob "Nellie" Fox. A native of Indianapolis, the Cubs' Fox says it's a coincidence, but one he enjoys.
"I knew that," he said of his name. "My grandparents went to Cooperstown when I was real young, and (the Hall of Fame) sells those little cards in the gift shop.
"They brought me one back of Jacob Nelson Fox. Jacob Nelson 'Nellie' Fox. So I always knew there was a Jacob Fox in the Hall of Fame. I thought that was really cool. I still actually have a card at home, but I always thought that was really cool."
It's a good story, but Jake Fox couldn't have been "real young" when that happened. Jacob Nelson "Nellie" Fox was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997 -- when the Cubs' Jake Fox was 15.
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NOTE: Kevin Hart's stats below are with the Pirates only. See the pitcher box above for his full-season stats.
After pitching fairly well in four starts for the Cubs (with a large number of walks), Kevin Hart has thrown... really badly in nine starts for the Pirates, going 1-7 with a bad ERA (6.93) and worse WHIP (1.82). This includes this game vs. the Cubs on September 9 in Pittsburgh, his only career appearance against his former team, in which he walked six in five innings and allowed four earned runs and a homer to Micah Hoffpauir.
The September 8 start in Pittsburgh was Ryan Dempster's only really "bad" start of the month; he allowed four runs in 6.1 innings, but got the win anyway. Since that start he has been lights-out in three starts, throwing 23 innings with a 1.17 ERA and only three walks and 16 K's. For those three starts he has a win and a pair of no-decisions. Since August 1, Dempster is 5-3, 2.75 in 11 starts, similar to his production of last year. He needs 14 innings to reach the 200-inning mark for the second year in a row, and he'll get tonight and Sunday to try to reach that milestone.
Today's game is on WGN and FSN Pittsburgh. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout. They seem a little lonely over there.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 8:15 and 9:15 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Does anyone think Colvin will play tonight?
Or maybe more Scales?
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If the wind's blowing out...
…Jake Fox should be in left field (assuming DLee’s OK). Maybe Colvin will make his Wrigley debut in CF.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ESPN radio
said that Colvin might be shelved for the year because he’s already played so many games this year.
Jerry’s been so distant lately and Lovie barely calls.- Just Dave
by Allie on Sep 29, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and yet wells continues to pitch...
what has the world come to
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 29, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lou just wants to see more of Scales in the OF
If they were going to do that, why bring him up at all?
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I ♥ Dempster
Personally, I would’ve taken the year off if I went through what he did. I wish him and his family nothing but the very best.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely. I cannot imagine the fear and worry that must have been on the Dempster's minds since the birth.
That he’s been able to perform as well as he has this year is inspiring. All the best Ryan to you and your family. After your last 2 starts, have a good off season and we’ll get ’em next year…
"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)
Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...
by Zeke on Sep 29, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the Pirates lineup...
…via a Pirates beat reporter, Rob Biertempfel, whom I just found on Twitter:
McCutchen 8
LaRoche 5
Jones 3
Doumit 2
Milledge 7
Moss 9
Young 4
Cruz 6
Hart RHP
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah...much better.
Got hit with a stomach bug – really knocked me out for the Giants series. On the bright side, I got to lie in bed and listen to all nine innings of Big Z’s complete game. It was rather dreamlike.
Thanks for asking!
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Caption idea:
“Damnit, is there anything that Bono doesn’t do?”
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Arrrr! Let's kick some pirate booty.
"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
by katie casey on Sep 29, 2009 5:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I both rue and lament the day I reminded you all of this quirk.
But I have no regrets.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ay, matie!
"Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts." - Leslie Nielson
by LAcarl519 on Sep 29, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ahoy, Dread Pirate Graybar!
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
(What's the ASCII code for the heart on a PC?)
Thanks.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
♥ ALT+3
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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
by eths on Sep 29, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Caption:
“Which way do I tilt this thing to pick up Pat & Ron?”
"Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts." - Leslie Nielson
by LAcarl519 on Sep 29, 2009 5:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Caption
Now where did I leave my gum…
"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 Sep 29, 2009 5:18 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Caption:
Maybe if i hold it this way, i can catch the ball better
by cubs1201 on Sep 29, 2009 5:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL-that should be Soto though
"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
by katie casey on Sep 29, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: The Padres called our office today to sell us on the idea of renewing our season tickets for 2010.
They’ve basically raised ticket prices by %8-9 across the board for our sections for 2010, but we could renew at 2009 prices! The guy on the phone was confused why we had a problem with this, because our argument was that they’ve just slashed payroll and Giles is coming off the books next year and they were out of the race by June and raising ticket prices in the middle of a recession on top of this seems not only extremely greedy, but also stupid. His only retort to this was that “Well, we’ve have the 6th best record in the NL since August, and we’re going to surprise a lot of people next year.”
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL - that sounds like a line from "The Office."
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
by dat cubfan daver on Sep 29, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So,
can you wait until, say, first day of Spring Training to buy these tickets? Or do you have to bite the bullet now?
Because, if you don’t buy those tickets, they are one season subscriber short for next year, which in turn, makes their payroll suffer, and eventually they’ll have to dump Adrián González on the Cubs.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our company has a block of 6 tickets, and the Padres "say" we have until Oct. 23 to renew at the lower 2009 price.
Of the 81 games we had tickets to, we were able to use about 50 of the games as comps to clients….maybe 2/3 of the time they would actually use the tickets they took. I don’t understand how the Padres can honestly expect people to be excited about watching them play baseball, and if so, would be willing to shell out more $ to do it than last year.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How's the "sale" going? Or, what has happened with that divorce thing?
There is not one chance they’ll increase payroll, right?
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not much on the sale front....
The guy on the phone was trying to make it sound like they were going to sign a big name this offseason. I suggested Milton Bradley.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mwahaha. First step in unloading Milton, complete.
Unrelated question to all… I read somewhere that the Cubs season ticket waiting list moves about 200 spots per year? Is that really accurate?
110 years from now I might have season tickets, yay!!
I don't care how long you've been around, you'll never see it all.
by Dou on Sep 29, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT: Chuck Knoblauch Arrested
for hitting wife. What an asshole.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That must the first time in a long time he's thrown something that found it's target.
::Ducks and runs::
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly, I was thinking along those same lines.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We're terrible people, you and I.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You would actually
be safer if you stood still.
Chicago
Cubs
We are the better CC.
by Zy Toro Young on Sep 29, 2009 6:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Just stand on first base, he'll miss high and right every time..
Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?
by BleedsbluinMI on Sep 29, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Caption:
Baker practices for his role in Hamlet this offseason…“Alas poor Yorick!”
"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes
by katie casey on Sep 29, 2009 5:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Caption:
“What the crap? Ok guys, real funny. Who took my helmet and replaced it with this souvenir cubs ice cream bowl helmet?” — What Baker doesn’t realize is, he’s merely picked up Theriot’s helmet by mistake.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Caption:
“Dammit, Sam. I told you and Mike to stop hanging out in here.”
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 29, 2009 5:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Anyone got some chloral hydrate? We need to make the Fat Lady a Mickey Finn.
So slim as the Cubs chances are, we stil have a tiny, itsy bitsy, dim glimmer of hope.
Go Brewers! We need you to beat the Rockies.
Go Marlins! Stop the Braves winning streak.
Go D-backs! The Giants are beatable, as the Cubs have shown how.
It’s getting close to 1 a.m. local time at my end, and I need to get some sleep. So after the Cubs victory, if some one would so kind as to post this for me. Enjoy the game and Guten Nacht.
Aegroto, dum anima est, spes esse dicitur – Eamus Catuli
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
by eths on Sep 29, 2009 5:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Are you drunk?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Terminal optimism in the final stadium, with only hours left.
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
by eths on Sep 29, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the Rockies won - it's over
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
by eths on Sep 29, 2009 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Caption: Gluing that little mirror in the helmet wasn't such a bad idea, after all.
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
by eths on Sep 29, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lineup:
Riot
Dome
Lee
Hoff
Baker
Fontenot
Soto
Fuld
Demp
"No enemy is more dangerous, than the enemy that has nothing to lose." Mark Grace
by GateCity, VA Cubs Fan on Sep 29, 2009 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
From @LenandBob
Ramirez out tonight with a sore left shoulder
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 29, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So we get Fronty instead of Fox.
Well Done, Lou!
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed.
And Hoffpauir in one of the OF corners. Sweet!
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 29, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't have a problem with bringing Lou back.
But why Fox hasn’t played daily since Soriano went down is mind-boggling.
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 29, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why they didn't play Fox at 3rd regularly after
Rami went down is something that continues to befuddle me. They gave him what, one start at Iowa and then nuthin.
Bizarre.
Jerry’s been so distant lately and Lovie barely calls.- Just Dave
by Allie on Sep 29, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LWDYWMTD?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm confused
Jerry’s been so distant lately and Lovie barely calls.- Just Dave
by Allie on Sep 29, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look What Do You Want Me To Do
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 29, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The worst part is...it's shouldn't have to be...
if someone would simply ask Lou the question.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LWDYWMTD
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 29, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I attempted to ask the Almighty Twittermyer the other day
and got nothing back.
It’s a question that may have to wait for the Cubs Convention, I fear.
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 29, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Convention will be filled with lots of good questions from the fans.
Hendry will probably get pissed like he did after 2004.
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They can vett all they want, some pissed Cub fan will get through.
They can’t force us to ask the questions they want. They have Carrie Muskat for that.
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Either the Cub reporters are stupid or they are covering something.
The Fox question is so obvious, why can’t they ask it?
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
its all about handedness my son
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 29, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It must be numerology...there is no other rational explanation.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just read the Carrie Muskat inbox feature
Thats 2 minutes I will never get back in my life.
Does anyone ever get useful info there?
by TJ11 on Sep 29, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Trying to follow the Twins-Detroit game on the SBN Twins site,
and I have to commend and thank each and everyone of you here for your comments throughout the games. We are a good bunch when it comes to PxP, commentary and humor.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 6:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
"I feel like I've improved," said Theriot to Judd on WGN.
Go nuts guys.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
at?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did look much better this year walking from the on deck circle to the batter's box....
except for July, he tripped like 3 times and dropped his bat twice. July was a brutal month for him.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
running out all of those fly balls probably helps his speed
The official slogan of your 2009 Chicago Cubs:
Why?
by jesus christos on Sep 29, 2009 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HItting HRs?
Striking Out More?
Walking Less?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gregg is shut down.
Praise Baby Jesus.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 6:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
At this point...
what the hell difference does it make?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 29, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
I won’t get to “say goodbye” to him on Sunday though.
by chilango2 on Sep 29, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jump!!!
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/9/29/1058268/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-pirates#comments
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 Sep 29, 2009 7:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
In Fox's defense...
One need not be elected as a Hall of Famer to have stuff displayed at Cooperstown. When I was there last year for example, I was surprised to find that Pete Rose has a whole wall for example.
The status as a “Hall of Famer” mostly applies to the hall with all of the plaques on the wall.
Anyhoo…maybe Nellie Fox had some souvenier stuff there before he was elected? Not really sure.
by CubsWin!Oregon on Sep 29, 2009 11:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He was specifically talking about the HoF postcard...
… of the plaque that every HoFer has. You don’t get those until you’re inducted.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Sep 30, 2009 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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