Pittsburgh Has Been Good To The Cubs: Cubs vs. Pirates Preview, Tuesday 9/8, 6:05 CT
by Al on Sep 8, 2009 4:00 PM CDT
in Game Threads
87 comments
PITTSBURGH -- As I noted yesterday, the Pirates have become the Cubs' favorite punching bag (well, they have for a lot of teams, but the Cubs in particular). The Cubs have now won 10 of the last 13 games between the two teams at PNC Park; 12 of the last 14 overall; are 21-6 against the Pirates since the beginning of 2008 and 69-40 against them since 2003.
That's why it's good news that this Cubs team has six remaining games against the Pirates. If they are going to go on a miracle run with 26 games remaining, it's good to have nearly a quarter of them against a team they beat with regularity.
For those of you who read northpaw22k's FanShot about Prince Fielder and the Brewers' weird walkoff celebration on Sunday, you weren't the only ones upset; the Giants and one of the local writers in the Bay Area were also less than thrilled:
Look, I'm not against players having fun on the field. It's a game and fans buy tickets to be entertained. Every time a college football player gets flagged for the tiniest bit of exuberance, I shake my head. Let the kid enjoy the moment a little bit, huh?
But if you have any knowledge or appreciation for the culture of baseball, you know Fielder's stunt was over the top. It was disrespectful. And if he's going to pull stuff like that, he's got absolutely no right to take umbrage the next time a pitcher gets revenge with a fastball to the ribs. Hey, he's got plenty of built-in padding, anyway.
Fielder can risk retaliation if he wants. But it seldom ends there. He's putting his teammates at risk, too, and possibly putting his pitchers in a bad position. But I guess they all were active participants, so maybe all of them should be on alert.
100% correct, in my opinion. I have no problem with celebrations. But this one was way over the top.
More Cubs notes: our old friend Kevin Hart has been moved up in the Pirates rotation and will start against Z tomorrow afternoon. Also from that link:
Outfielder Sam Fuld on Sunday aggravated a minor wrist injury he suffered making that face-banging catch in Los Angeles two weeks ago and is limited for now to playing defense. He did it in the seventh inning Sunday, chasing down Dan Murphy's triple.
The tight hamstring that forced Andres Blanco out of Sunday's game in the seventh inning will probably sideline him for at least another day or two, manager Lou Piniella said.
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Zach Duke has made 125 major league starts. 16 of those are vs. the Cubs, more than against any other team. He's got a decent 3.13 ERA in those starts, but is only 4-7, and 0-2 with a no-decision this year despite a good 3.38 ERA and going at least seven innings in all three starts. That's kind of what the Pirates are -- they aren't really bad, just not good enough. (No wonder he isn't smiling in the photo.) Current Cubs are hitting .335 (83-for-248) vs. Duke with 7 HR, including a pair by Jeff Baker in only 9 AB.
Ryan Dempster has started only once vs. the Pirates this year and it was one of his worst of the year, on May 25 at Wrigley Field. The good news is that five of the eight position players in that day's starting lineup are no longer with the Pirates, including Freddy Sanchez, who homered off Dempster. No current Pirate has homered off him and in Dempster's last outing at PNC Park, coincidentally vs. Duke on April 9, 2008, he threw seven one-hit innings. A repeat of that would be real nice.
Cable-only for TV today, in Chicago (CSN) and Pittsburgh (FSN). For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
I'm going to stick to two overflow threads for the time being: tonight at 7:15 and 8:30 pm CDT. If things get too busy, please post a FanShot overflow; if I see there's a lot of activity the next couple of days, I may go back to three.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Are we sure
that Fielder’s antics were planned? He is a big boy.
I heart the riot. (www.riotshirts.com)
by RIOTSHIRTS.com on Sep 8, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How much will he cry when he gets drilled?
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
by cubswynn on Sep 8, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He won't cry
He’ll just want to talk it over with the pitcher after the game.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In their clubhouse?
Change is inevitable; progress is optional.
by Devin B on Sep 8, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup, per Wittenmyer
cst_cubs Fuky playing vs. LH Duke, batting 7th. Lineup: riot, milt, lee, rami, baker, soto, fuky, scales, demp.
by chilango2 on Sep 8, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No Soriano, Johnson or Fuld
Guess you could put Fox there, but we know very well how Uncle Lousty likes to manage.
by chilango2 on Sep 8, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fox certainly isn't hurt
He was getting loads of work fielding fungos at 3B during batting practice on Saturday and looked fine. Actually, I was moderately impressed by how well he fielded. Still, his recent ABs have been rather ugly with his getting fooled easily, though he will not improve without seeing more pitches.
by Qixotl on Sep 8, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Somebody mentioned the other day
that Fox has been “figured out” by opposing pitchers, which seems to answer why he doesn’t start that often. This doesn’t bode well for any ideas of using him as trade bait with an AL team this offseason.
by chilango2 on Sep 8, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But if we package him with Miles and Soriano...
… somebody will give us a magic swan!
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but Bobby Scales is the next Albert Pujols?
please. Lou has another favorite, so he’s playing him
by Illicat on Sep 8, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he was a "favorite" he never would have went back to Iowa
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 8, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not a fan of Scales in left, or Riot at leadoff
but Lou is a moron, so this lineup hardly surprises me
by Illicat on Sep 8, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the fact that Dome is getting a chance at a lefty.
He is an expensive platoon guy. Put him out there for the rest of the season and see how he does.
The rest of lineup doesn’t matter since I see no hope for this year. Yeah Fox could play a bigger role next year than Scales but really it doesn’t matter all that much.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 8, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that is an atrocious line up
people who swing at the first pitch should get punched in the face
by jesus christos on Sep 8, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe the Giants
should have gotten his ass out then and not allowed the walk-off HR. He made fun of his weight by jumping up, landing on the plate, with his landing knocking his teammates over. Weak complaint. And typical tough-guy sportswriter who would soil himself if he had to defend himself versus Prince.
I hate crybaby’s who complain about other people’s antics after LOSING. Go out and win the damn game and that’ll shut ’em up.
by socalbob on Sep 8, 2009 4:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Respect
I didnt like the antics. But hey I dont like then they un-tuck their jerseys while still on the field either. Hell you are even taught to run on and off the field. Baseball is one of the sports we have left without lenghty pre-thought celebrations. I feel like it is disrespecting the game. And would be upset to see the Cubs pull stuff like that.
by Kchance on Sep 8, 2009 4:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Fielder sure is a big fat baby when a pitch comes near him
Hopefully there will be a few more coming his way soon. The Brewer players deserve it for going along with it. What did their manager think of this?
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
big baby? really?
Let’s see. He gets hit with a 95 MPH fastball with 2 outs in the 9th inning of a blow out—they were down over 10 runs—because Manny Ramirez get grazed with a pitch? And he’s a baby because of that? Fielder is a class act who plays the game the right way and plays hard.
And now you advocate him getting thrown at because of a post-game celebration? You must have never had fun in sports and most definitely never been hit with a ball over 55 MPH to think it’s ok. Amazing.
by socalbob on Sep 8, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if by class act, you mean chasing the opposing team
down the clubhouse tunnel, or throwing a punch at one of his teammates then yeah, he’s a class act
by Illicat on Sep 8, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was pretty classy and exactly what I was talking about.
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nice
Let me have a 95 MPH fastball drill you in the thigh for no reason and see how you react. And the “punch” was a mere slap to Parra to wake him up from mentally quitting. Hardly condemning.
by socalbob on Sep 8, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"mere slap to wake Parra up from mentally quitting"?
Well, that’s certainly one way to look at it.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 8, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
drilling the other teams star player is part of the game
get over it
people who swing at the first pitch should get punched in the face
by jesus christos on Sep 8, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no it is not
“Get over it.” What a weak reply. Get over yourself.
by socalbob on Sep 9, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fox isn't playing vs a LH????
Scales is? 4 Scales starts in LF??
WHAT THE FUCK???
Lou is an asshole and should not be brought back. He has lost it.
When would you use Fox at this point? No Soriano, a LHP, a smaller ballpark,
Fuld and Johnson are hurt…..What else will it take?
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 4:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I said it before-If Scales was so fucking important why was he sitting at Iowa for months instead of being here
Suddenly he is our 4th outfielder ahead of one of the few consistant hitters we had all season. I just don’t get it. I was giving Lou some leeway but its over. He’s managing like a fool. I wish someone in the press would ask him where exactly Fox can play and what would have to happen for him to play.
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So wait...
… how do you feel about this lineup?
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Needs. Moar. Fox.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lou could run my grandmother out there...
and we’d probably still beat the Pirates. Let’s go ahead and pencil in two more HR’s for DeLee…
Get 'em on, Get 'em over, Get 'em in!
by DKT on Sep 8, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But is your grandmother a Fox?
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about this fox?
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You could shine a light in her ear
And her whole skull would light up like a Jack-o-lantern. Teh hawt, for sure, but dumb is always a turn-off for me.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Debatable.
“I don’t want to have to be like a Scarlett Johansson – who I have nothing against,” she says, “but I don’t want to have to go on talk shows and pull out every single SAT word I’ve ever learned to prove, like, ‘Take me seriously, I am intelligent, I can speak.’ I don’t want to have to do that. I resent having to prove that I’m not a retard – but I do. And part of it is my own fault.”
I’ve found its pretty hard to actually determine the intelligence of somebody you’ve never held a conversation with.
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"I resent having to prove that I’m not a retard"
Then quit coming off as one. Not too tough there, Hawking.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
… without getting in to a whole media and sexism debate, its fair to say that it is pretty hard to show anybody your intelligence if all anybody can think about is your boobs.
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or if you only ever work for Michael Bay
That stupid Kenneth Branagh just never returns her agent’s phone calls!
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
overrated.
Chicago
Cubs
We are the better CC.
by Zy Toro Young on Sep 8, 2009 5:25 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I say yes please
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
by Ace Venom on Sep 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that Fox should be playing.
But I think this answers your question about why Scales was in Iowa for months, instead of on the major league roster.
by Jody Jody Davis on Sep 8, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too soon.
We’ll be able to laugh about this one day, i’m sure (i’ll always remember the dude in the Miles jersey i saw at the Bears game last week), but for now, i can’t bring myself to think about the day he was signed.
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of these days, we'll all look back on this
Laugh nervously, and change the subject.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because Miles is here-I agree that's why.
But Why is Scales in LF FOUR GAMES IN A ROW?
With Fox sitting there!!!!
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know who would be a good guy to have in LF
This guy has a .952 OPS since the All-Star Break. I wonder how the Cubs could get their hands on a player like that.
by Jody Jody Davis on Sep 8, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing was that the Orioles could afford to let him work out his swing for half a season. They weren’t expecting to win. We were.
Change is inevitable; progress is optional.
by Devin B on Sep 8, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
Of course, the Cubs also found a way to give 123 pre-ASB at bats to Aaron Miles (compared to Pie’s 107 for Baltimore).
by Jody Jody Davis on Sep 8, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Aaron Miles is a proven ML hitter.
Ugh that makes me sick. Sometimes you just make the wrong choices.
Change is inevitable; progress is optional.
by Devin B on Sep 8, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 32-year-old Miles batted .317 in 134 games for St. Louis last year, and has a .289 career average and .329 on-base percentage. Though he’s spent much of his six-year career in the leadoff spot, Miles carries a .272 average and .305 on-base percentage in the top spot.
thats a healthy soriano like OBP
people who swing at the first pitch should get punched in the face
by jesus christos on Sep 8, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude
One day, you’ll figure out that you can contain your thoughts in one post
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Sep 8, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
two home runs tonight from
the baker! dlee gave him somo mojo
by doofus cubs guy on Sep 8, 2009 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Tonight is Game #137
I wonder how many different lineups Lou has used?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Sep 8, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
137!
“My manager used 137 different lineups…”
“In a row?”
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Sep 8, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting, from Twitter:
Alfonso Soriano says he’d like to play again but also is considering surgery on left knee before regular season ends #cubs #pirates
Cubs OF Reed Johnson may be shutdown for rest of season; his left foot isn’t responding well #cubs #pirates
http://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 5:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There you go- Scales everyday for the rest of the year.
Why not bring up someone else if he won’t play Hoff or Fox in the OF. I mean we have a bunch of guys nicked up, why would we have to play people out of position?
by TJ11 on Sep 8, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also...
Samardzija, last of Sept callups joins team. Lou says he’ll gat him a start or two, not sure when.
Follow me on twitter @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Sep 8, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
October 6th
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Al, I can be one of the biggest traditionalists you'll find and re: Fielder's walk off, I laughed.
I know I should be upset. I know this should irk me no end. But it doesn’t.
It looked like it was pre-planned for just such a situation. And frankly the sight of the huge “bowling ball” Prince knocking over his teammates at the plate like ten-pins just struck me as funny.
The jersey untucking ticks me off more than the home plate antics.
That being said, it’s only funny if it’s a one time thing. If it happens every time he hits a walk off, then it loses it’s humor.
And, pitchers have a way of evening things out when the time comes.
The Brewers are going nowhere. It was a home walk-off towards the end of a losing season. People should just let it go.
Quia tuum es fatum titulis discidiis, vexillinis limbis nationalis,
gloriam seriis mundialisque, nunc et in saecula saeculorum...
Amen.
by Zeke on Sep 8, 2009 5:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think my problem with it is this
It’s pretty representational of The Brewers as a whole, and to a greater extent, Bud’s reign over the league. I mean, lets face it, the team is a complete sloppy disgrace. From the jerseys, to the repeated antics from Prince and others, to firing their manager when they were still in the hunt, etc. they’re just a disgrace. It’s hard to think of another team full of a bunch of knuckleheads, who are also a big mismanaged bunch of losers.
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Sep 8, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You mean besides us?
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 8, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree Zeke, I'm not offended in the slightest.
Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton
by KaliCub on Sep 8, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't care who is in left...
as long as the Cubs win. I wish they would put me in left.
by Cubbiegoon on Sep 8, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You must not care much about them winning then
www.facebook.com/craighudak
by Craig in South Bend on Sep 8, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
C'mon bra
Don’t make me seem like “That guy”
by Cubbiegoon on Sep 8, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you can flail at pitches out of the strike zone and botch routine flyballs
You’re qualified.
by Jody Jody Davis on Sep 8, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good luck tonight Ryan.
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 8, 2009 5:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
Although I’m probably just going to sit around and watch the game, not really do anyth…ohhh – gotcha.
Nevermind.
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that which I won't mention happens,
then some one may want to use this.
Guten Nacht & GO CUBS!!!
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 8, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
make me
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 8, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harry calling the Sandberg HRs on "The Sandberg Game"
Goose-bumps galore.
by chilango2 on Sep 8, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is the game delayed?
They’re still playing an inane interview on GN, and it’s 6:04.
by chilango2 on Sep 8, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They're waiting for Al to throw out the first pitch
"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
by Clutch16 on Sep 8, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or towel.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 8, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jump
Good luck guys… Go Cubs. Guten Nacht (endgültig)
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 8, 2009 6:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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