The 'Worldwide Leader'. Again? Cubs vs. Phillies Preview, Sunday 7/18, 7:05 CT
by Al Yellon on Jul 18, 2010 5:00 PM CDT
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PrintJust to show you how quickly fortunes can turn in baseball: if Geovany Soto makes the play in yesterday's game -- and he should have -- he's a hero, the Cubs would have a had dramatic win and the game would have been remembered as one of the best of the year, in fact, one of the best in many years. It would have given the team three wins in a row over the defending league champions and maybe some momentum and some more hope for a miraculous comeback.
Instead, there are torches and pitchforks out for a usually lights-out closer who had a legendary meltdown. (The same closer got universal praise for his outstanding outing just one day earlier.)
As noted in the post below this one -- if you are reading this before 7:05 CDT and wondering why the game hasn't started yet, it's because the game time was changed from original schedules.
A fairly large thunderstorm blew through the north side of Chicago just before what would be a normal game time on a Sunday afternoon (1:20), dumping a lot of rain. But now it's clear again and though there is a chance of rain this evening, it looks like we'll get the game in. Tonight's lineup via tweet from Carrie:
#Cubs lineup Sun nite vs #Phillies: RF Colvin, SS Castro, 1B Lee, 3B Ramy, CF Byrd, LF Sori, C Soto, 2B Riot, P Gorzelanny
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Roy Halladay has thrown at least eight innings in each of his last three starts. Part of the reason for this is that he's a horse -- he leads all active pitchers with 56 CG -- but the rest of it is that the Phillies bullpen has been pretty bad. If the Cubs can get to Halladay relatively early, they can win this game; the Phillies' record in Halladay's 19 starts this year is only 11-8. In 12 innings over two starts vs. the Cubs while with the Blue Jays, he has a 3.00 ERA -- but two losses. Current Cubs are hitting .277 (28-for-101) against him -- but with only one walk.
Tom Gorzelanny has pitched very well since returning to the rotation -- a 2.25 ERA in three starts, although with 10 walks in 16 innings. Six of those walks were in the first of those outings (vs. the Diamondbacks). He also threw six shutout innings vs. the Phillies on May 19 in Philadelphia, a game the Cubs won 4-1. No current Phillies hitter has more than six career AB vs. Tom, and altogether they are hitting .220 (9-for-41) against him.
Tonight's game is on ESPN. Please email me if Joe Morgan utters the words "Banks Boulevard" so I can rip him a new one again. Most games are over by now, but here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at 7 pm CDT, and the overflows will post at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Woo Hoo!
Go Cubs, take the series! Getting past yesterday’s meltdown without any lingering damage would be good.
Believe or Leave ~Cubswynn 9/9/2008
Wow...
I’m shocked that Soto is in the line-up. I’m glad…just shocked.
Ron Santo - 8,143 ABs, .277 BA; 342 HR; 1331 RBI = NO Hall of Fame?
Brooks Robinson - 10,654 ABs, .267 BA; 268 HR; 1357 RBI = Hall of Fame.
Any more questions ?
I'm really glad too
I like this line up quite a bit actually. I like Riot at 9 and Castro moved up.
Believe or Leave ~Cubswynn 9/9/2008
Our three best hitters are 5-6-7.
I can’t wait for the day Lou is gone.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Can't disagree..
But this was a great improvement… and they won’t score 11 runs every game, but they also won’t be facing Roy Halladay. This lineup will score much more runs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 18, 2010 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm shocked too.
Lou is displaying some sense here which is pretty surprising.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Leaving soon
I expect Kasey to have his Piniella Jersey on to great me.
Grateful as I am that Theriot is not leading off, Castro & Colvin should be flipped.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
at the very least lets
Pick up a game on the Reds.
by cozmotaylor123 on Jul 18, 2010 5:07 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Reds lost but the Crudinals weren't so kind.
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I see the Sox closer...
did his best Carlos Marmol impersonation today…it was classic.
Ron Santo - 8,143 ABs, .277 BA; 342 HR; 1331 RBI = NO Hall of Fame?
Brooks Robinson - 10,654 ABs, .267 BA; 268 HR; 1357 RBI = Hall of Fame.
Any more questions ?
god that was hilarious.
Thanks to brazil for mentioning it in another thread. Hawk’s reaction at seeing the ball thrown into the dugout allowing the winning run to score was so funny…“Are you BLEEPING kidding me?………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………silence for a full minute….”and we’ll be back"
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Go Cubs! I want to see a win tomorrow when I awake!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
And the Cubs have delivered !!!!!!!!!!
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
I'm still too upset to read yesterday's posts, so I'll just ask my question here
does anybody know how often the potential tying run gets thrown out at home to end a game? (this was supposed to occur yesterday) I’m guessing about once every 2 years per team. I’m just wondering if that was discussed, and if there is any way to look that up. baseballreference.com probably, if one knows how to ask the question the right way
No idea how to look that up.
But it usually seems like a good team has something like 10-20 walk-off wins a year, if not more. Didn’t the Rockies a few years ago have like 30-some walkoffs?
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
10-20 walkoffs seems really high
You only have 81 chances for a walk off anyway. A really great home team wins maybe 55 games and I don’t see 20-30 percent being by walk off.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 18, 2010 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed.
I’d like seeing them myself but that number does seem very high.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Well Jessica now I'm gonna need to look this up!
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
I'm just hoping that Joe Morgan loses his voice for the next 12 hours. Nothing more.
"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.
From your lips to Godz ears!
on the sands of hesitation, lie the bones of countless millions, who, at the brink of the best, sat down to rest, and resting...they died. Author Unknown
Al your clock in the earlier post reminds me of the Doomsday Clock, most memorably from WATCHMEN:
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Tonight’s game is on ESPN. Please email me if Joe Morgan utters the words “Banks Boulevard” so I can rip him a new one again.
If you’ve never visited the now-defunct Fire Joe Morgan, please stop by and do so. It’s just about the greatest critique of the media I’ve ever read.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
There's got to be some sort of award we can give you after the season if you keep this up.
“The First Annual Ryan Theriot Scrappy Award”
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
I'll second that.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
"Look fellas..."
“I’m not an idiot. Its gotta happen on the field. Lo-Look, what do ya want me to do? Uh? You-you said what? My le-Leg’s on fire? Uh? Look fellas, could someone put that out for me? No-Now, what was the question?”
on the sands of hesitation, lie the bones of countless millions, who, at the brink of the best, sat down to rest, and resting...they died. Author Unknown
It could be worse TJ
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
Typical Cubs fan
Loving the guy who isn’t playing.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Jul 18, 2010 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Typical NBF...
saying typical things about typical Cubs fans.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
Typical BCB thread exchange...
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions
That analogy is so typical.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not either. Typical.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions
If you had AV had posted at the same time,
would that make you stereo-typical?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Jul 18, 2010 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Typicaly typical.
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
although if NBF thought Ryno would make a good manager
Anyone dissenting would also be told that also. I kind of find his condescending view of “most Cub fans” kinda humorous.
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey, Cubs fans are the most schizophrenic on the planet,
myself included. (And Ryno would not make a good manager, IMHO.)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Jul 18, 2010 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I think it's an honest question
Fontenot excels in a platoon role and actually hits it out of the infield every now and then. Why not play him a little more?
smart baserunning
makes great plays, good situational hitter
by jesus christos on Jul 18, 2010 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I was wondering about Baker myself
Perhaps he is mowing lawns for Lou.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 18, 2010 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions
The conversation with Lou probably went like this
Lou: Come to me, son of Jor-El! Kneel before Zod!
Jeff: What?
RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010).
Try to imagine Lou seriously quoting General Zod
RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010).
Dude, I don't even know who General Zod IS
"They say the glee team has lured straggler into sniper traps with cheery renditions of hit songs." "Really? And people fall for that?"
If we're lucky
Maybe they’re “showcasing Theriot”???
on the sands of hesitation, lie the bones of countless millions, who, at the brink of the best, sat down to rest, and resting...they died. Author Unknown
I hope so.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Um...sorry to say Jeff,
But Lou’s been playing him almost the entire season.
That’s one hell of a showcase lol
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions
We have three 2B......One plays all the time. The others do not exist to lou.
It does not matter how the starter has played. Yet lou has tried everything!
Theriot? he has.....He helps me teach my children how to run bases!
The other 2 do not deserve to EVER play according to Lou and since Lou knows all, I must agree!
Lou is amazing!
Tom Ricketts is amazing!
He's starting to slip.
He could use a hug, Ace.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions
What's a little more?
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions
TWSS...often.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Baker's been worse than Theriot
Though we really have no effing clue on Fontenot because he’s been missing nearly all season.
I like the lineup
But I do not like the fact that I have to watch it and listen to Joe Morgan. Meh…
A-well-a Byrd, Byrd, Byrd, well the Byrd is the word.
Shut up Joe Morgan
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
That should be a sig line, he he
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
I'll second that.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions
listening to it on radio tonight
happy for lack of cable.
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Man I wish I could use the radio.
Everytime a big play happens I’ll unmute the TV and curse myself for doing so.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Let's go Cubs, just win baby
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
i don't get colvin leading off
hasn’t his best tool at the major league level been his power?
Pitch a good game Tom.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
Where does one find how games the Cubs have hit into double plays
How many is the league average
I realize typical Cub fan thinking Cubs are hitting into more than average
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 6:53 PM CDT reply actions
If it was just him we won't have as many
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions
It's out there somewhere.
I saw day before yesterday in the Phillies blog “Exxon” Valdez had hit into DPs at twice the rate Lee has, if you can believe it.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Wow
well I was tempted to make fanshot/ post but wasn’t sure
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
That blog spot just had league leaders of hitting into DPs.
Which might be easier to google and look up.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll try again
I did find defense wise leaders turning them. Cubs are 3rd to last. Average 81. Cubs has turned 70, only Pitt & SF worse, with 69, 66.
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Found how many Cubs have into 78
Not sure league average.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2010.shtml
Re googling it with that info did help.
"Actually, Major League Baseball is more like Neverland
And the Lost Boys don’t have to ever grow up. Some do, anyway, but that is not a universal characteristic"
by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 18, 2010 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Caption
Starlin Castro, Master Thief Extraordinaire, attempts to pickpocket Carlos Ruiz’s batting gloves.
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart."
by windycitywarrior on Jul 18, 2010 6:58 PM CDT reply actions
Nice.
Been awhile since I saw a good caption here.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions
I lucked out on a pic I could work with.
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart."
by windycitywarrior on Jul 18, 2010 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Who sang the Star Spangled Banner?
She had quite a set of pipes on her!
by Blue Heron on Jul 18, 2010 6:59 PM CDT reply actions
LOL
Welcome to the club.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I cannot imagine a worse three-person nationally-broadcasted announcing team.
Miller
Morgan
Orel
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
Yep. Tonight will be much like having root canal when I'm feeling forced to hear what's going on.
"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach
by Sandberg's evil twin on Jul 18, 2010 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions
yes...
my wife made us change the game after the cubs got to 12 – said that the game sucked – told her it was the announcers and she agreed
Sipping the Kool-Aid since 1982 - Kinda
Currently 34,839 on the Season Ticket Wait List - Expected age of being #0: 119
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